::Big Sigh::

I miss having time to blog and I miss being able to write and edit my story earlier in the evening. Honestly, I think that's why I'm struggling with the edits is because my brain is complete mush when I arrive home that to think about another thing that is important will make the remaining contents of my brain spill out. Hence, the title of my post this evening.

I think the missing key ingredient to my story is more details. I'm still having trouble getting into a guy's mindset and maybe that's a good thing. I still think about the story all the time: when I'm driving or when I'm cleaning. Perhaps I'm thinking about the storyline too much. Either way, I intend to read over the story again before passing it off to more friends and family to read. Any suggestions on how to get in a guy's mindset? (If you are thinking drinking beer and watching porn, I'm going to say I'm not a fan of either; so I encourage you to come up with a different answer.) Do I want to know the answer to the previous question?

New reads

Hello,

So I finally figured out what book to purchase with my Borders gift card. The winner is Letters From a Nut. It is written by a friend of Jerry Seinfeld. This guy wrote companies and dignitaries with the most ridiculous of requests: buying a mannequin from Nordstrom's because it looked like his dead neighbor, writing a hotel to see if they found his missing tooth, etc. It's really quite humorous.

Also, I renewed my library card and checked out Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen. If you recall, I am reading it because my boy, R-Pat, is going to be starring in the movie. While I love R-Pat, I don't think he would be a character match for anyone in RoV. Any suggestions though because maybe that is one way to drum up some publicity, we can get the actors on board first so the book will take off and then they can make a movie.

Editing the story is going well, I have been making minor plot changes and have surpassed the 70,000 words which is very exciting. I will keep you posted, but it may be sporadically this week because I'll be MIA for work.

:;Relieved Sigh::

I survived my work week, my car did not. Some engine light came on and caused me to be paranoid so it is being repaired. I'm also getting some "new wheels." No, really, my car needed new tires. Haha...my jokes are awful when I'm tired. Nevertheless, my car should be fine and in the meantime, I'm driving around in my dad's pick up truck. It makes me want to run over people who can't drive. Yep, I'm that girl. I think it has something to do with the fact that I'm high up and I could some major off roading in that vehicle if I chose to. Maybe if my master's degree doesn't pan out I should consider truck driving as a career if I'm going to use that logic. What would be a good handle for me?

I am partially mad at myself because I did some editing the other night when I was getting to the point of teetering on the line of being functional and just staring off into space. Of course, I was editing a crucial part and want to add stuff, but I don't want to do it when I'm so tired, therefore I have this urge to edit, but not enough energy to do it well. My bad joking telling remains unharmed.

I apologize if this post makes no sense what's so ever. I just wanted to write and I'm afraid to edit my story because I don't want to undo all the crap that may pour out of my fingers. Going back to the truck driving handles, I have to confess that I placed my own job hunting woes into Andy's story. At one point, I have him talking to the infomercial on the television about becoming a medical technician or truck driver. Prior to starting my current job, I made it to that point myself. I suppose you have to hit the low points to know that high points are good.

Anyway, I'm sure I'll read this post tomorrow morning and will be like "What was I saying?" I promise I'll write some posts in the morning when I'm a more functional human being.

September 19, 2010

I was rereading Andy's story and it was like reading it for the first time. I had changed some things in the story line the first time around that I don't remember changing and I know that it doesn't match up for what I wrote at the end of the story. Some author I am, I forgot my own story.

I am less nervous about coming up with an extra 22,000 words to work into the story. Right now, my word count is about 70,000. Not too shabby. I think I'm going to reread the story before sending it off to friends and family for their opinions. It can be done! It will be done!

So I have a confession for you and I'm well aware that you may think less of me after reading it. As you may know, I have a small crush on the Twilight series both books and movies and when Rob Pattinson showers, he can look oh-so-yummy. I was stalking R-Pat on imdb.com and found out that he is going to be in the new movie, Water for Elephants, based off of the novel by Sarah Gruen. So now I'm on the search for this book because I want to read it before seeing the movie with Mr. Pattinson. Don't judge me because you probably have a secret like this too. I was going to borrow it from the library, but to my dismay my library card is not functional. I bet it expired because it still has my maiden name on it written neatly on it. Judging by the neat cursive, it's at least ten years old.

Stranger Danger

Hello,

I told you that I would be MIA this past week and bad news kids, I'm going to MIA this coming week too. Come Monday will be the start of my work marathon of close to 50 hours in 4 days. Yay, I'm so excited. This is the last week of this crap, I promise you that.

Needless to say, I haven't had time to do anything with my new novel or my old one. I have thought of some minor plot ideas for the story, but haven't put them into place. Since I've been in a different bridal store locale, there is more inspiration for my crazy bridal shop exaggerated non-fiction or sarcastic fiction novel. It's a different crowd of customers and a whole new level of crazy.

I appreciate you hanging in here with me with my new crazy hours at work. I miss blogging and telling you my random thoughts more frequently.

Back to Basics Again

I don't know why I stray from my plan that has worked so well for me in the past, but I do. Perhaps I do it to add spontaneity as I lack the money and vacation time to do one of those last minute travel deals to a random city. Maybe I just want to find a more effective way to write a novel. Whatever my reason, I end up going back to my roots of rereading and editing until it's done right. This works for me so I'm going to stick with it.

I have been editing my story (for which I thought of two potential titles) and adding a bunch of new things. I will probably read through it again before passing it out to my "original editing crew," who are composed of family members and close friends to get their opinions on it. Then, I will do another round of editing. Viola, another finished novel.

Between now and the end, I would like to increase the story line by 22,000 words. Yep, you read the screen correctly: 22K. This sometimes seems like a daunting task, but I CAN and WILL accomplish this! Where is my cape, I'm feeling like a super hero once again?! (Don't you wish it was grammatically acceptable to use two punctation marks at the end of sentences. Is that really George Clooney?! We won a million dollars?! What do you mean, you are taking me to the psych ward?! Do you see how great two punctuation marks can be?! Three is overkill. See what I mean?!!

Okay, now on a serious note, I may be MIA this week. I am being exiled to a different work location for a few days to cover some shifts. So my seven minute commute is going to become an hour long commute-yay, I'm so excited.

Did you sense the sarcasm in my last statement?!

September 10, 2010

Last night, something rather funny happened. I finished blogging and then I began writing Mark's story and I got stuck. It turns out, writing a trilogy is not like writing a research paper. I didn't know if I wanted to use flashbacks and I didn't want to repeat myself in the stories unnecessarily. Needless to say, I ended up going back to Andy's story to do some major editing. Now I know that writing a trilogy is not like a research paper.

As a side note, to my story above I had a one-sided conversation with my cat about this problem. "Sadie, what comes after Chapter 1? Where am I going?" She yawned and proceeded to curl up in my lap not caring about my dilemma.

Anyway, that is my situation as I know it and I definitely found it amusing enough to share with you.

September 9, 2010

Last night, while starting my third novel, Mark's story, I thought of an interesting concept to look at writing. Keep in mind that up until this past December, I have been in school continuously since kindergarten. I ended up having a conversation with myself that went a little like this: "Kim, you haven't even really fully finished the second story and you are writing the third story."

Then, I was like "Oh silly Kim, it's kind of like a really big paper where Mark's story is the conclusion and Andy's story is the body."

"Hmm, a really big paper you say? Well, I suppose I have successfully written papers where I had a strong introduction, not so great body, and kept rolling with the conclusion."

And it should have been at this point in the evening where I should have checked myself into Western Psych because I was having a conversation with myself, but no one else was home to notice so I kept writing. Anyway, I thought it would freak me out that I was starting a whole new story with the same characters without finishing the second one, but I'm going to run with it for a little bit to see how I do. I might have to abort it for my "back to basics" plan. Either way, it's going to be interesting.

September 8, 2010

I did it! I finished the rough draft of my second novel! It's no where near what I want it to be and I certainly am not sending it off to the publisher any time soon, but I finished a second novel! It is a totally exhilirating feeling! How many people can say they have written one novel, let alone two? I'm guessing not many and the fact that I did finish it gives me hope that maybe, just maybe, I can take my writing career somewhere. Or vice-versa, maybe it will take me places, either way I think it would be an exciting journey.

As crazy as it sounds, finishing the second novel makes me feel like I'm on the brink of big things. I know I have talked about this before and all I can compare it to is the fact that when you are planning a big event such as a wedding, starting a new job, expecting a new member of the family, etc. you get excited over the anticipation of it coming. However, I don't know if a writing career is coming so I want to be excited, but I don't want to get all worked up over nothing. Nevertheless, I feel like Superwoman flying into a new world of possibilities; I'm just lacking a real life cape. I suppose I could fashion one out of a bed sheet and fly around my living room.

I want to apologize for being MIA on my blog the past two weeks or so. My nephew and in-laws came to visit this past weekend and work has been keeping me busy. Those crazy brides just keep rolling in requesting crazy things. Not to mention, I was finishing my second novel. Now if you excuse me, I am going to attempt to write a third novel so I can present the whole trilogy to an agent or publisher.

September 7, 2010

This is my 58th entry for this particular web-site for my blog. How crazy is that? How crazy are you for reading all my thoughts? You don't have to answer that question because we both know what the answer is and it's okay to be a little crazy.

I am still searching for a new job or hoping that I find an avenue that allows me to make writing my career. My fall back plan is winning the lottery. Do you ever do that? Think about winning the lottery? I don't need millions of dollars, I think I just want a quarter million to cover the bills and then I would travel. I don't mind working because I would need something to keep me busy. Maybe I could do something completely different like become a florist or a pastry chef.

Do you feel a little crazier reading my blog now?

Trilogy Ideas

So I was talking to someone the other day and she mentioned that "they" (you know, that group of experts for a particular field) say that if you are going to be a writer, you are kind of golden if you have a trilogy lined up. I thought "Fantastic" because I'm almost two-thirds of the way there. Have I mentioned that I have big plans for Mark from RoV? I have great challenges in store for him. I think about his story a lot. I know his perspective will have a little wisdom that comes with age behind it. In fact, his story line is my motivation to finish Andy's story-line because you can't have one without the other. At least I can't. Andy's story can't be floating out in limbo for all eternity, I have to reign it in and finish it.

Recently, I have been embracing my inner child. I think it will be good for my writing. My two and half year old nephew is visiting me and I pulled out some of my old toys for him. After I type this blog, I may go build a wee waffle house just for s's and g's. I think when you have new experiences or refresh the old memories, it can enlighten your writing. I imagine that the people who work for Pixar and Disney are probably among the happiest on Earth because they get to hang out with their inner child a lot. I know I certainly do when I see new movies such as Up or Toy Story 3.

Anyway, the wee waffle people are calling to me to come build them their dream house complete with elevator, separate master suites, and a kitchen that would make Emeril envious.

September 1, 2010

This year is flying, isn't it? Just the other day, I realized that Christmas is only four months away. Christmas! I'm sure all the major department stores will start decorating for the occasion shortly.

So the past few nights, I haven't slept because I have too many ideas bouncing around my head. It's rather annoying and upsetting that I don't have more time to write them down. Then, it becomes frustrating because if I write them down, will anyone care that I wrote them down, or am I just entertaining myself by writing them down. Yep, this is the crap that keeps me up at night. Now I can't blame my mind completely, the neighbors can be a bit obnoxious every so often and my cats and husband make awful bed buddies. However, more often than not, it is ten thousand stories keeping me awake.

Anyway, enough complaining about my lack of sleep. I have renewed motivation to call various places in order to get my book out there. I had coffee with another self-published author and she gave me the lift I needed. So I hope to hit the ground running once again with phone calls and starting more book readings.