Category Archives: Blog

Before and after

On a cold November night, the glow from my computer monitor and the clack of the keys were the only indication that something was awake at three in the morning.

The story excited me. It was different and out of my comfort zone of chick lit. I had tried my hand at mystery writing, a genre I knew one day I would end up in. And it fit better than a glove.

That was my second experience with National Novel Writing Month, NaNoWriMo for short. It was the first time I really took it serious (the first time was a disaster.).

Unfortunately, I didn’t reach the intended goal—50,000 words in November—but for a beginning writer the exercise highlighted the cracks in my preparation. It showed me what I needed to concentrate on and what if really took to finish a book. Among the lessons I learned is that writing needs to happen every day, regardless of fatigue or social calendar. If writing is the priority is needs to be a priority. It deserves nothing less.

So this year, when I made the decision to give it another go, I was determined to win thinking that my previous experience and my journalism writing skills would help.

I was wrong.

Now, toward the tail end of the first week, I find myself behind by a day and stumped in chapter two of my novel. Not a good sign.

It seemed that the lessons I learned the first time were the ones I quickly forgot. But what freaked me out is that I had lost my discipline. That was disturbing.

For a day job, I write for a newspaper. I work in the world of harsh writer’s realities—deadlines, cynical editors, literature in a hurry.

To succeed despite the landmines, tenacity (read: stubbornness )is needed. Focus. Determination. Time management. All the things that should make me a successful

NaNoWrioMo participant.

But I’m still behind.

I’ve read other journalists turned authors that the skills they learned being reporters have help them adjust to the writing life. What they failed to talk about is the self-editing.

With shrinking newsrooms, reporters have to self-edit themselves more now than ever. And when that self-edit is on deadline, it happens as the story is being written.

So my problem is calming my self-editor–chaining her up, dumping her in a boat and let it float away. That has been difficult. Even as I write this now, my self-editor is over my shoulder, reading every word.

So here’s to relearning the lesson and the disabling of my editor.

Gifts for writers, the real story.

Through the yearS, I’ve seen lists upon lists for people trying to find the right gift for writers. Though some have been better than others, none have really conveyed what writers really need or want for the holidays.

See, writers are troubled souls. Writers were meant to write and storytellers are born to, well, tell stories. Everything else we do isn’t as good. So shopping for us can be difficult.

Here’s the shopping list:

  • Don’t get us writing journals. Just don’t. I have 10,000 of them and don’t really use them for journaling, that’s why I have a blog and a friend with vodka in her freezer. What would be better are small notebooks, the kind that can fit in pockets or purses. Those are super useful for when us writer types have to jot down some notes. I go through those like water.
  • Books. Eh. This is a hit or miss. If it’s the latest bestseller, that’s great! But unless they’re Stephen King, it’ll be next Christmas until we’ll be able to read it. A better alternative is a book that could be useful for research. Say, for example, a writer is writing a book about a former cop turned detective. A book about police procedures or how to become a private investigator would be useful. They’ll thank you for it.
  • Experiences. In addition to books, writers have to use other means of research. Paying or arranging for a lesson or experience that their character will have is valuable. If the character they’re writing about is a dance instructor, get some dance lessons for them. If the character is, again, a private investigator, arrange for an interview and a ride along.
  • Help, and lots of it. When writers write, everything else falls by the wayside. Dishes grow legs. Laundry smells more like landfills. Basic cleanliness is non existence. A great gift would be to offer to clean or take care of some cleaning issues. This is most especially important when a writer is in the middle of a project and/or a deadline is approaching. Offer to wash dishes, cook a meal, take some laundry home. Or paying some cleaning service to do it is just as good.
  • Errands? We don’t need no stinking errands. I can speak for writers when I say I have missed many a bill payment deadline because I couldn’t think past what was going on on the page. Offer or pay someone to run some errands once in awhile. For example, been meaning to go to the store and get some food for that past two weeks but between writing and working, no time. Get it?
  • A writing getaway for one. Not everyone can afford those writers workshop weekends. I’ve never gone to one. They tend to be expensive so if getting one of those for the writer on your list is not feasible, do the next best thing. Pay for a hotel room or a stay outside of their comfort zone. Although I do 99 percent of my writing in a home with little distractions, sometimes getting out of the house is best for getting my work done. This doesn’t have to be expensive. Two nights at the Comfort Inn is great. Of course, if you REALLY love the writer on your list go for a weekend cabin in the woods or on the lake. (total cheap here in Louisiana. Hint, hint)
  • Organizing the future. Writers by nature are not organized so getting them a calendar ain’t that helpful. BUT if you fill that calendar with deadlines for writing contests you think they would/should enter…well that’s just thoughtful.
  • Reference books. To this DAY I don’t know when to use effect or affect. But grammar and usage books have help me along the years. Nice dictionaries and thesaurus are good. Mystery writers would love a book of poisons. The Writer’s Market would be awesome. I personally have enjoyed The Pocket Muse.
  • I got yo’ package right heah! One of the best writing gifts I got was a care package. It had the latest issue of Poets and Writers (Writer’s Digest is good too.) a candle, some pens, pocket-sized notepads, snacks, bottled water, and an issue of Glimmer Train. This is a great idea for the writer who is starting out. This idea can also be customized for other types of writers.

And there you go. Some gift ideas. This should help you out or at least get your started for what to get me, err, the writer in your life this Christmas.

What are you watchin’ tomorrow?

So my apologies to my BFF USA Network. I meant to post this earlier but, you know, day job.

But I’m posting it now and that’s important. *smile*

Ladies and gents, tomorrow is the premiere of White Collar, a new USA series.

I got a chance to watch the first episode a couple of weeks back and let me tell ya, it’s hot. No lie.

Now I could review the first episode but I’m going to let you guys make up your own mind but I will chime in on somethings.

1) I heart the references to the rat pack in the pilot. Just do.

2) The mystery is inventive. A MUST if you’re on the same network as Psych (and if you’re taking their slot while they’re on break.)

3) Now, is it going to fill the gap that Psych has left until next year. No. Can’t lie. It’s a different kind of show. The humor is different. The timing is different. Matt Bomer’s character, Nick Caffrey, is no Shawn Spencer (even though at times he can be Shawn-ish). But you shouldn’t compare it anyway. So Psych fans, don’t jump all over this show yet.

4) With that said, it doesn’t mean that it’s not worthy of being on the network or being part of the Friday night line up. It’s a different part of the palette, a bit more sophisticated but still the same.

5) Ladies, eye candy. Observe:

Okay, since this is a writing blog. I wanted to link to the interview with Jeff Eastin, creator and producer. He started as a writer. Let me tell ya, if you wanna be a writer and work in TV click on this link and learn something.

FYI, check out the Matt Nixon (Burn Notice creator) reference.

Are you a fan yet? Show it by following the show on various social media outlets:

Or just learn the lingo:

So, what are you watchin’ tomorrow?

It’s about setting priorities, folks

Okay, so October has nearly come and gone. So, I’m looking at the calendar and see there are TWO weeks left and then BAM! It’s NaNoWriMo time. That’s National Novel Writing Month for those not in the know.

I have my novel idea and it’s ready to go but here’s my problem, Christmas is already around the corner. For me that means I need another short story to put up on the blog. Those take time. Lots of it. And it takes even more energy to promo it.

What to do, what to do. This is usually the time of year I say to myself — Self! You need to take a break. You’ve been writing all year.

But I have been taking breaks and pacing myself. I don’t need a break, says the writer who has named her writing time and routinely goes into work with bags under eyes.

Sometimes I wish I could clone myself to do what I need to do and want to do. But since technology hasn’t caught up to me yet, I’m going to have to do what I can to do what I want to do.

And if that means I’ll be going crazy during the month of November, so be it!

Bring on the crazy.

My anniversary

Yesterday was a hard day. Such a hard day. But a year ago to the day, it was even harder.

I made a phone call that in retrospect, I’m glad I did but the ramifications of it I still feel today.

I don’t usually get too personal in this blog. Frankly, my writing life is more personal than my other lives but since it was such a tramatic event and since it effected me as a writer, I’ll mention that it happened.

Wish I could say more but really, this entry was just to commemerate that moment in my life — the day things started to turn.

A year later, I can’t tell if it’s for the best yet.