Out of the Office - #49

Almost ready to get back to writing.

Almost.

I took one more day to catch up on some reading, jump into a new mini-class (a week long intense course in motivation - for writing and life), and I even had a couple glasses of wine with dinner.

It was glorious.

Are any of you taking time to enjoy life lately? I hope so, it's quite refreshing and I want the best for all of us!

Day of Relaxing - #48

Today I took some me time. Which included:

-social time with a bestie. It was her birthday and we hadn't had "us time" over coffee in forever. So, it was a must. And it was absolutely delightful. Like a metaphorical cup of espresso and a therapy session and the best ever shopping spree all wrapped into one.

-organized my desk area. It was nothing but pure clutter after the chaos of the last few weeks.

-took a drive and absorbed the bright sunshine, warm breeze, and creek view while I sang along (out of key) to my story's playlist.

-a little at home spa treatment. Which is just a fancy way of saying: long bath, deep face scrub, and painting of my nails: fingers and toes.

All of this is in preparation for my upcoming return to regular life post TWN (two week notice).

Now, I'm off to bake some sweets.

Hope you've had a relaxing day, peeps!

Two Week Notice COMPLETED - #47

Finally.

I am finally done with the old job.

No more construction work - constructing shelves; rigging devices to carry awkwardly shaped, heavy objects; pre-drilling* pilot holes before screwing anchor bolts into cement; and designing floor plans over and over and over and over and, you get the point.

*Though, I will admit the power tools were fun and badass. Makes me want to start my own business. You know, I'll come pre-drill for someone, but the rest of the installation is all them ;-)

That said, I'm glad I stuck it out and waited until I had another position lined up. I'm glad I was able to help my awesome, fantastic, considerate supervisor before leaving. I'm glad I learned to trust myself and stand up for what I know is right.

Back to classwork and writing and the new job soon.

Tomorrow will be a day for complete relaxation. Tuesday will mark the first day back at writing. And the new job will only be a couple days a week for now.

I don't know about you all, friends, but I'm ready for a glass of vino!
Here's to new journeys *cheers*

Happy writing!

The Countdown is Almost Over - #45 + #46

I didn't post yesterday because I was doing something very important after the second day at my new job. I repeat: something very important.

After work I came home and ate dinner and chatted with the family, and then I waited. I'd been expecting an email this week that would tell me my Very Important item was ready to be picked up.

It happened.

And now this cuteness is in our life:

@Samantha Sessoms

Oh, and today was the SECOND TO LAST day at the old job. 

That is all. 

Happy writing!

New Job - #44

New Job is awesome, you guys. 

I'm couriering for two local hospitals. It's good pay for only a few hours, low stress, and important work. 

Best of all, in a completely selfish way, the majority of the day is spent in the car going back and forth between the hospitals. Which is about a 45 minute drive each way. And during that time I get to listen to my story's playlist, brainstorm and outline, and use my phone's voice recorder to dictate any prose or dialog that takes me by storm. 

It. Is. Fabulous. 

Another bonus - if I have time, after I get caught up on my writing goals, I can listen to books from my current TBR pile and finally get to all the books I've been dying to read.

And the landscape isn't bad to gaze at, either. Take a look:

@Samantha Sessoms

*whispers, so I don't jinx it* All the peace, and spring breeze had my story-brain swirling and I took some notes on my WIP today. No word count yet, but I'm getting back to that sweet spot. 

Any exciting news in your world, friends?

Food for Thought - #43

It's getting close, you guys. My two week notice at the old job will be up after I finish work on Sunday. And I'll be working at the new job tomorrow and Friday. Which technically means that  I only have two days left at the old job. Two days!

The countdown begins now. Yes, even though it's four days early - that's how my brain rolls these days.

In other news, I want to share something with you that is not writing related. I'm always on the lookout for food tips. Lifestyle change, cooking, new foods, trivia, etc. Any awesomeness related to food. I don't usually say too much on here because, well, sometimes food theory can be a subject as touchy as religion and politics.

Anyhow, I was super appreciative when a link was shared on twitter last night, so I wanted to share it with all of you. Lately, I've been looking for more ways to incorporate real, preservative free food into our family's diet. Yes, there's the obvious - fruit and vegetables - but I've been looking for quick tips for a family on the GO. Because, you know, that's all I do lately - go, go, go.

Here is a great link that shares all that fun info with meal, snack, and school lunch suggestions (right side bar for links): 100 Days of Real Food

Do you guys have any tips for working these foods into our daily, hectic schedule?

Happy Writing!

Hanging Out to Dry - #42

I have nothing today, guys.

My two week notice will be over soon. Which is wonderful, because then my life will be back to crazy-normal instead of crazy-exhausted-clusterfudge-mindsuck, or whatever.

Anyway, I have no great links or cool inspiration today. Sorry to disappoint.

Check back tomorrow. I know I will ;-)

Happy writing!

A Writerly Auction - #41

There is a blog that's hosting a writer/reader friendly auction for those affected in West, Texas, as so many fundraisers arose for Boston. This way, hopefully, as many people as possible from last week's tragedies can be helped. 

The blog is being hosted by the lovely Angi Nicole. 

The auction does end in the morning, but I just saw it today on twitter because of my busy schedule this past week.

"Remember - when destruction and hate try to take hold, love and creation will outshine them every time." - Angi Nicole.

If you'd like to help, go check out the blog: West Texas Relief Auction.

Warmly,

Samantha

Something Fun - #40

My brain is mush today, y'all.

I've been using words out of place in my sentences all day. I tried to think about classwork while I was moving inventory around today; yet nothing came to me. Then I tried to eat my dinner - soup - with a fork.

Yep, my brain is on vacay, and I sincerely hope it comes back soon.

In the meantime here are some movies I'm excited about:









Any movies you're waiting to see? Read any great books lately?

Knowing When to Take a Break - #39

It's with a heavy heart and much guilt that I write this post, you guys.

I'm beating myself up and feeling like a failure for just thinking about doing this. But, I know that it's something I need to do for my sanity and well being.

During the next week, actually until May 1st, I will not be working on my story. There will be no more word counts until I can fully concentrate on my writing without muddling through brain fog.

As I've previously stated, I'm working out a two week notice at my former place of employment. It has been very labor intensive and mentally exhausting. I don't want to get into too much detail on the blog, or turn this into a gripe fest, but just know that everyday until May 1st, I will be working 8 to 10 hour days there, then coming home to life responsibilities and cramming in classwork when I can. Oh, and falling into the shower before bed each night. You know, as one does when they can barely stand up.

Anyway, back to business: at first I wanted to continue my classwork and writing during this strenuous time. I made the decision to do this 365 day blog and damn it, I was going to stick with it. However, since last week when I rearranged my writing/class schedule to alternating days, I've realized I'm pushing my self past acceptable limits - physically and mentally. I've found that I am in crappy shape (seriously, I could not save my family if we had a zombie apocalypse right this minute, guys!), and on top of it I'm exhausting all my creative juices trying to problem solve that which is known as: you two turn a clusterfudge into perfection, a.k.a. my old job.

Please know this was a very hard decision for me.
I wanted to succeed at this blog project. I wanted to document every day of the outlining/drafting/revising/critiquing/rewriting/querying process. But, I guess this is actually as much a part of the process as the writing and business of trying to get published.
I've noted previously that life gets in the way, and things change, only this time I'm finding that I cannot recovery a day or two later like I have in the past.
For better or worse this is how my process is going thus far, so at least I'm documenting it honestly!

I'll still post everyday and share as many interesting links and ideas as with you all as I can.

Hope you've had a wonderful Saturday!

Coming Up With Ideas - #38

This week in class we're working on generating ideas and making the good ones great.

Again, I can't get into too much detail because it's a class I'm paying to take.

Anyhow, the practice Holly Lisle is teaching us is fabulous. It immediately made me wonder if other published authors worked this way. If they all worked with their muse equally.

Here are a few fun links to published authors and their answer to the dreaded Where Do You Get Ideas question:

Neil Gaiman

Maggie Stiefvater (ideas & plot bunnies)

Stephen King (scroll down a tad)

Word Count: 0 (classwork day)

Happy Writing!

Branching Off - #37

Remember when I said this week and next were crazy busy because I was working out a two week notice at one job, and starting another. 

Yeah. That. 

At the old job I've enjoyed playing with power tools, floor-planning, and extra time with my soon to be former supervisor. Especially in the semi-empty, new store location. Even more so since we're the only ones working there right now. It reminds me of a Lifetime movie. Like we're two rebel girls that shoved all of our lifesavings into a back pack and moved to a faraway, perfect small town to start over. Where we open an eclectic book shop, hoping nothing will go wrong because our budget and nerves are so stressed from the drama we put in our rearview. 

And then he walks into our store. On opening day. 

And nothing will be the same ever again. 

Until the next movie. 

Yes, these are the corny moments that pass through my head when I'm this exhausted. Remember the power tools I mentioned? Do you know how much muscle you have to put behind those to pre-drill and bolt and sand and... My muscles hate me. They're quick to scream at me; every time I bend or stand or turn. It sucks.

Part of the reason I'm so tired is the speed with which our store relocation happened. There was only room for so much planning. Which left us busting our butts to get everything spaced out for the movers, and constantly shifting inventory. Now my supervisor has only two weeks to get the new store open and we are not on track. We still have inventory everywhere, no shelving to make a floor plan, no signage out front, and a whole other store full of stock that has to be moved into the new store. 

The quickly drawn-up plan doesn't work anymore because of the problems listed above and major hiccups between my supervisor and the owner. In the meantime, my supervisor and I have been bouncing ideas off one another, hoping one will stick. 

Ever heard the phrase, "hands tied?" Yeah. I'll let you know how that goes.

So, anyway, after another long day, I got back to writing this evening.

The outline is giving me some minor problems again. 

This time my muse didn't want to be bothered with the schedule, or brainstorming. My muse had an idea and wanted to run with it, so that's what I did. For better or worse I took a new direction. The next scene should wind back around to the outline, and if not that's okay for right now too.

My seeming nonchalance may be exhaustion from everything else, though I doubt it. I think I'm finally starting to trust myself and my muse. Planning your outline is great, but finding a new path can be even better. 

Word Count: 547

Happy writing!

New Schedule - #36

For the next two weeks I've decided to alternate class/writing times every other day. This gives me more time to pay attention to each individually, and a tiny breathing room for anything unexpected (see yesterday's post for examples).

Today, I used my allotted time to focus heavily on classwork.

Back to words and story tomorrow.

In the meantime you can check out THIS AWESOMENESS if you have an extra minute. It quite possibly represents my past two days.

Word Count: 0

Are any of you taking classes? If so, how are they going?
Feel free to leave a link in the comments to share the course love.

Life & Schedules - #35

Life completely derailed my schedule today.

My class/writing schedule was: 2 hours a day.
No matter what days I worked, or when the kids were in school.

Today was packed with work and running around and events I'd forgotten about.
See, I'm switching career fields due to a set-back in hours at my current job. Funny enough, I started working out my two week notice beginning today, and noticed I'll be clocking more hours this week and next than I've ever worked in one month there.

I'm helping set up a new store location. It's labor-intensive, busy work, but enjoyable. So it evens out, I guess. Only problem is I've literally set aside every extra hour I have for the next two weeks to help them.

I didn't factor in my usual class/writing time. I was so focused on helping them with the store while training for my new position, that I didn't think about unexpected mishaps in any given day.

It'll work itself out in a day or two, I'm sure. My writing/class time has been figured back in with enough buffer for unexpected, minor events.

This probably just sounds like whining at this point because I'm too exhausted to see straight.
But, this is a learning experience for writing too. Things come up. Life doesn't stop living. We have to accommodate and make changes, so that we can get back on track and keep ourselves disciplined to our craft (job/dream/lifestyle) whatever it may be.

Word Count: 0

Hope your day was more relaxed, friends. Happy writing!

Find Love - #34

Today just doesn't seem like a day for posts, friends.
No tales about the writing journey or word counts.

Please, find the love that is around you. Experience it, share it, get lost in it.

Remember that love is what gets us through. Not the small pieces of hate that shatter our worlds here and there.

@Samantha Sessoms

My thoughts, and whole heart, are with everyone in this time; family, friends, or any one person that was affected by today's events.

Warmly,

Samantha

The Dreaded Middle - #33

I'm getting close to that place, y'all.
You know the spot - the part of your MS that makes you scream at the walls of your office and ask the invisible muse that's obviously taken a sabbatical, "Why? Why did I ever write this piece of crap idea? It was never going anywhere. It was never The Idea. There is no way to come back from this ginormous mound of manure."

You've never felt that way?

Oh.

This is awkward.

Wait, some of you have?

Maybe it's just a personal quirk of mine, but I seem to hate my ideas when I move toward the middle of the outline. And if this is anything like my other first drafts, I know that once I get to the other side of the middle everything will be okay.

It's the getting to the other side that bothers me. Will this ever get easier? I sure hope so.

Until then, here's something funny I saw on twitter today. It'll make you smile after listening to my writing woes:

Click here.

Word Count: deleted all the words from the coffee shop today, along with 1,834 from two other scenes

(I'm slacking on my daily goals. Time to kick myself into gear and get it together!)

Hope you guys are not experiencing mopey, middle of the MS blues like I'm having.

Words, and Where I Found Them - #32

Writing has been with me since I can remember (yep, I'm one of those people). But I lost my dream somewhere along the way.

One summer, I spent a great deal of my days with my aunt while my parents worked. She wasn't the most attentive babysitter, but it wasn't too worrisome as I was about 7 and fully capable of punching a straw in a Capri Sun and smearing peanut butter and jelly on bread if my belly started talking to me. Anyhow, my aunt would give me coloring books to occupy my curiosity from All Things That Are Off Limits. The themed coloring books were boring.
So, I cut out pictures and lined them up to create scenes. Then I'd write a story along the tops and bottoms of the pages, and color the illustrations. Two staples on the left side, and Voila! I was published.
I sold my mini-books lemonade-stand style.
Well, I sold at least three.

The rest of my writing journey snaked in and out of this fashion - writing stories to occupy life's lulls - throughout middle school and high school, only I wasn't so public about selling my ideas. Or showing anyone, really.
Writing and I had a rough go after high school, especially whenever Responsibility and Wise Career Choices wanted an argument in my future.

Then I decided to attend college in 2004 (five years after I graduated high school). As an adult student with two young children. This is when I rediscovered my writing dream that I had pushed far, far down inside and filed away under "illogical".

Ordinary, paper-work heavy orientation was held in the Hollins Room:

@Samantha Sessoms

If I'd known what I was about to experience, I probably never would have walked through the door. Too insecure. Too suspicious. See, I had developed a built in BS detector, if you will, a standard to live by: if anyone said you could fulfill your dreams, no matter what they were, and make a living at it, I ran the other way. 

It had to be too good to be true. It had to be a sales pitch.

I took a seat in the front row and my whole world changed course:

@Samantha Sessoms

Women, much like myself, spoke and shared their stories of being beat down by 9-5 mundane work and were looking to do something for themselves. To find their dreams. I listened to these women tell stories of their first semester on campus. The supportive faculty. The networking opportunities. The daydreams of a new future from merely walking around the knowledge-rich campus. 

Desire to explore all the creative outlets I suppressed growing up began crawling up from those dark, dusty places inside me. I wanted to be free to feel that way again. I wanted to love writing again.

I spent the reception chatting with those women, looking through these windows into my own future:

@Samantha Sessoms

Somewhere between that room and that year's vacation, here:

@Samantha Sessoms
(The beach is, after all, my most treasured place)

I rediscovered my love of words. My love of imagining characters and stories. The need to write them down, again.

We all have a moment when we decide what to do with our lives.
I came about this moment in my journey like a snake stretching out on blistering asphalt under the bright summer sun - persistent, though a little unsure, but too damn content to care about getting my head run over because the pleasure far outweighs the risk.
And I've never felt more at home with myself; or looked back.

Word Count: 429

Where did you find your words, friends?

Finding a Writing Community to Suit You - #31

It's been a month of posting, you guys! How freaking cool is that?

I want to give you something. But what can I give you over the internet?
Cyber hugs?
Pictures of chocolate?
Recipes?
Reading recommendations?

Okay, I'll stop. I already know what I want to give you anyway: A suggestion for your writing.

This month I've offered up my own writing experience, some helpful links, even links to what inspires me. These offerings are what I find important about a great writing community: a positive environment full of like-minded (meaning of the writing variety, not opinions and such), goal oriented people.

One of the best places I've found to create your own writing community is Twitter (especially if you live in a smallish town, like me, or just can't find any other writers working in your genre/market close by).

Are you on Twitter, peeps? If not, go handle that. You'll want it for a link I'm about to share.

So, you have your Twitter account all set up and you've followed and chatted with other writers and you're ready to share in the journey.

What better way to get on board than to write with your new friends? Actually join along in writing sprints.

Without further ado, here is a link to write in 30 minute sprints from 8PM - 2AM EST every Friday. (Though, it's become so popular you can often find someone to sprint with all day on Fridays and sometimes during the rest of the week)
Check out Friday Night Writes: @FriNightWrites
You can do all the normal Twitter things like chat and cheer others on, but the wonderful hosts of Friday Night Writes also give prompts, jokes, awesomeness, and encourage word counts with celebration.

Go check it out and use the hashtag: #writeclub

Say Hello! to the fantastic admins that lead the Friday Night Writes group when you head over:
@MeganWhitmer (founder)
@Darci_Cole
@AngiNicole722
@inukeyou
@CareyTorg

Go sprint with a lovely, supportive writing community!

Word Count: 1393

Happy Writing!

Time Off - #30

I snuck away to daydream today.

There was classwork to do. Story to write. A house to clean. Jobs to interview for. Etc, etc.

But I was a rebel, you guys. I jumped in my car and took off to find a slice of quiet. Just so happens it was during my most precious time of the day. 

The Golden Hour. 

Melts my heart, y'all. For real.

Apricot hues all warm and gooey. Dark, mysterious shadows, yawning into the first hint of nightfall.

This time of day has given me chills since I was a child. It holds so many adventures and opportunities and secrets and laughs and otherworld-ness and possibilities and, and I can barely find words to fit the awe its golden-ness blankets me with every single time.
My stories live in the Golden Hour. It possesses my imagination. 

The quiet mischief I found today gave me much inspiration. Inspiration that fuels my motivation. 

Only problem was that I lost track of time. So, no word count today, but I had my trusty notebook in my bag and I have pages filled, waiting to be transferred tomorrow. Guess that could be my word count, but that feels like cheating.

Oh, and there was one other problem. I left my cell phone in the car so I wouldn't be distracted. I said I lost track of time, right? Yeah, it was dark before I thought I should take a picture for the blog. Then I glanced up from my relentless note taking to see the glow of sunlight behind the mountain ridge. Oh. Oh, is right. 

But, here, watch this trailer. Its stunning imagery and melodic tone most accurately conveys my feelings and experiences with the Golden Hour during my many years pinning over its mysterious glory. More so than I can find words for at this time, anyway, without posting scene excerpts from my book or making this blog post a novella.

Ah. Simply exquisite.

Happy Writing!

Be Active - #29

The small lesson I learned while brainstorming the past two days: there is more adventure and pleasure in writing a character in action than having everything already laid out.

Seems obvious, right?

Still, I found that this mistake was holding me back. My characters already did X, they already had Y, they already knew Z.

Well, not all of them, but you get the idea. I had nothing for my characters to do, or learn, in the scene that went barreling over the cliff into dullsville.

Until I went back and found where things slowed down. Now, I can get back on track.

For example: If your character has a quirk, don't just have other characters talk about it, or know about it, have the character show the quirk in front of others. Let us see it happen.
If you character has a crappy job, don't just show your character stressed after work, or gripping about work, show them at work in the middle of the chaos.

And this is not just a difference between showing and telling. They were being shown... just not shown doing anything. The characters were not active in their journeys. It was dreadful!

And, of course, the action or emotion that you're taking the time to show should be relevant to the story and advance the plot. Give your characters something to do. Make them active!

Okay. I get that this is all newbie 101 stuff, and is obvious to all of you super talented people out there. But, somehow between classes, writing, and life, I forgot this simple lesson for two and half scenes and it caused me great turmoil for a few days. I do not wish you the same.

Word Count: 302

Happy Writing!

Out of the Office. Have Some Coffee - #28

Major story overhaul today.

Well, outline to be more precise.

And it was only three scenes.

All right, I guess it was really only a major overhaul of a teeny section of the outline. But totally necessary. So, you know, I don't wander off into irrelevant story-land when I start drafting again tomorrow.

Since I have no great links, or wise words, or word counts to share today, you should have some of my favorite Iced Coffee.

No really, here is the most fabulous recipe for Iced Coffee. Concocted by one of my favorite chef's, Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond:

pic via @Pioneer Woman's website
(click on the picture to go to her site for the recipe)

Word Count: *brainstorming, outlining*

Happy Writing!

Brainstorming - #27

When I get stuck during drafting I have to stop and do two things:

1. Go back through the latest scenes and figure out where the story started to take a wrong turn. Delete everything after that moment.

2. Get lost in music and ask my Muse how to fix the story.

Needless to say, I listened to a lot of music today.

Some favorites:








Aren't they evocative? Don't they make you want to create?

As always, support the artist and purchase the music if you're going to listen to the tracks as much as I do.

Word Count: *brainstorm sessions*

Any music suggestions? Do you write, or brainstorm, with music?

3 Rs: Reading, Relaxing, and Rewriting - #26

Had a nice day relaxing with the kids. We went to the park and walked. Then I kept the bench comfy while they re-mulched the playground.

I even got in some good reading time.

On my Kindle, I'm almost done with:

Pic via @Jamie McGuire's website
(click on the cover for more info)

After the park, we stopped by the bookstore. I bought a YA Hardcover for when I finish Walking Disaster:

Pic via @Nina LaCour's website
(click on cover for more info)

Heard anything good about these titles? 

If it's bad - don't tell me. Okay. Thanks :-)

Though, I'm always up for reading recommendations. Feel free to leave a suggestion in the comments at any time. Share the book love!

Word Count: 453 - 453 = 0 

(I wrote a couple beginnings on a new scene. Quite a few times actually. This number was the last effort before I erased the text for the last time so I can go address my outline/draft and find where I went wrong. Back to the drawing board tomorrow!)

Things Change - #25

Today was full of changes: good and not so great.

Mr. Sessoms decided to pick up something sweet from Fresh Market this evening. I expected cannoli, as they are his dessert of choice. He picked up ice cream. Jeni's Goat Cheese with Red Cherries to be exact.
You guys.
You know how I feel about cherries, right? It was the best change in dessert EVER!

Tonight is the last night of spring break for the kiddos - the last night to do all the After Normal Bedtime activities of the past week: The last night to stay up super late building an entire new dimension on Minecraft. The last night to snack way past dinner. The last night to giggle in Dad's face while he snores on the couch.
But instead they've decided to head to bed early and read.
Greatest change of today. No, of the week. The silence is the most exotic noise I've heard in what feels like years. I said this was a great change, right?

And the Not So Good.
I was told today that my job's current location has a new official move-out date. The store had been scheduled to close and relocate later this month. Seamlessly. No interruptions in work schedule, etc. Now, the new official date is this upcoming Thursday. And with the new date and other underlining situations, there is no official word on when I'll be able to return to work.
Yep. Things change.

What do you do?
Devour the ice cream. Gobble up every delicious scoop.
Appreciate the kids. Give them extra kisses and hugs for the extra piece of quiet they've unknowingly given you.
Secure a new job interview. Make changes.

Things will change again.
Still, I'm looking at these little moments as learning tools for achieving my writing dreams. The world of writing is a business after all. There will be great moments, and there will be let downs; there will be changes for the good, and for the bad; and through it all I will find my smile.
Because there will always be more change to come.

Word Count: 275

Here's to keeping positive and going after new doors of opportunity.

Prankster Weather - #24

Remember yesterday's glum post about spring time snow? Remember how that did not make this writer happy?

Today looked like this:

@Samantha Sessoms

Yep. Sun. Fairly comfortable warm temps. And most importantly - No Snow.

Either VA is messing with me, friends, or there is a Sun God and she is tired of listening to my incessant whining. Let's hope it's the latter, and that she continues to bless me.

Word Count: 204

Happy Writing!

Spring is Not Spring - #23

It was 63 degrees two days ago.

My glum early-spring tweets turned into joyous #SpringSpringSpring - how spring had finally found us in Southwest VA.

Then this happened today.

@Samantha Sessoms

In three hours.

@Samantha Sessoms

And it hasn't stopped.

Not to sound like a snowy-spring downer, but COME ON. My sanity needs warmth and sunlight.

I may need to run away to the beach.

Word Count: 276

Hope you all are having snow-free spring weather!

Coming Up With Ideas - #22

As a writer, I sometimes wonder if I'm using my last idea. If a new seed will ever grow again after my current WIP.

This, of course, is solved as soon as I pick another story from the metaphorical story garden. However, when I'm knee deep in that new WIP, I wonder again if it will be my last.

The bigger problem here is the worry of how I'll come up with ideas on deadline. After all, as we can agree, publishing is a business. 

I found the answer. 

No lie. 

In class this week we worked on what our teacher, Holly Lisle, calls a Sweet Spot Map. Ah, you guys! It is a mind-blowing, in-your-face, idea engine. Seriously.

I can't go into detail because it's a class, BUT you can attend each lesson individually without joining the entire HTTS Ultra course I'm taking. Check out lesson 3 in Holly Lisle's HTTS Ultra class here. 

Word Count: 295

(I'm noticing that I'm getting fewer and fewer words while the kidlets are on spring break, but there's still words. So I won't beat myself up... yet.)

Happy Writing 

Expanding the Creativity - #21

With the kids on spring break, I've been looking for ways to entertain them so that I can continue with my writing/classwork schedule. My kids are 12 and 9 years old, so they're not in need of constant supervision during crafts or anything, but they did want some extra Mom Time.

So, I sat with them and crafted.

You know what I learned? Or re-learned, as it was (because it's one of those things that you always knew, but often forget with the hum-drum of normal life)?

Creating beyond the story-realm has renewed the vitality of my writing journey. It also lessened my stress level.

And I've found that anything that creates less anxiety = The Best of Things.

Babygirl and I baked cookies, made jewelry, and crafted perfume; while Littleman and I built lego towns and sketched storyboards for a comic series he wants to start.

I was so zoned out I forgot to snap fun photos to share with you guys. Sorry about that.

But I can give you a link to how I got the perfume kit. It was purchased a while ago through Jessica Verday's site - Abbey's Hollow - and was designed for the MC in her debut novel The Hollow. The site for Abbey's Hollow is closed, but you can learn more about Jessica and The Hollow series on her site. She blogged about Abbey's Hollow and the perfumes here. Check it out if you haven't already!

Word Count: 212

Happy Writing

Monthly Goals - #20

It is time for some more goals. The WIP is coming along and soon I will need to send it out for critique, and then rewrite until my eyeballs dry out.

What shall I do while my paper-child is out being torn to shreds?

More writerly things of course.

(these goals are about holding myself accountable for my own schedule. I'm not implying that other writers want or need to complete any of these actions)

Months to Come - 

*Draft and revise WIP by the end of May.

*Create author website for blog/twitter links by the end of June.

*Revise WIP using critique partner notes by the end of July.

*Outline next idea in August. 

*Draft query and contact agents between August - September.

Word Count: 523

Happy Writing!