Back from the dead

I am back from the dead. I was so sick last week, it was ridiculous! I literally was useless for a whole week. Anyway, I'm am feeling like a human being and back to blogging.

While watching Friends seasons (I watched three in their entirety) on the couch, I tried to put two things into perspective for novel writing purposes. First, I was on so many anti-biotic and over the counter meds that the one afternoon I felt hung over, which is a feeling that I have experiences only a few times. In college, I was never the party type because feeling hung over always made me feel wretched. I found it all to be pointless. I wanted to not take the OTC stuff, but yet it was my saving grace to being able to breathe. In a small way, I guess I was an addict.

Secondly, I literally lost a week of my life. When I finally returned to work, I was stunned to see the date. I questioned whether it was correct or not. I refused to believe that it was so late in the month despite it being the shortest month of the year. In Going All In, one of the characters does get ill and spends some time in the hospital. I think feeling absolutely useless as if time has no continuum will serve this portion of the story well.

So while last week was extremely unproductive, I plan on using some facet of it for my writing.

Identity

As you know, I have two jobs at the moment. The full-time one is in my field and the part-time job is in retail. While there are major pros and cons to the part-time job, I left very angry the other night and it only fueled my desire more to find a permanent full-time job. Jokingly at some point the other evening I said, "I'm smart, I have a Master's degree." I wouldn't dream of saying this seriously to anyone because that is rather narcissitic and big-headed. However, in retail, you are to have no identity and I have been threatened with a warning if I ever speak of my education again.

"Excuse me (insert name of person who complained whoever they may be), I spent nearly a quarter of my life-time in college to earn that degree and last time I checked, you can't take away my education," is what I would like to say to them. After all, it's not like I told a customer they fat in the dress they wanted to purchase. Anyway, I have to admit that this really hurt me because my education is a part of me. It would be like writing Andy without his passion for all things sex related or Anne without her value of friendship. Kim Zylinski doesn't exist without her education.

I may start to have an identity crisis at my part-time job. I'm open for suggestions as to how to avoid a meltdown on the sales floor. What am I to say if someone notices my Duquesne ring? I suppose I could have some fun with it like "I bought it off of Ebay" or "It's actually a knock-off." I think the latter would be place me in some hot water with Duquesne at that point as their ring is one of the most recognizable in the country. Feel free to float out your ideas.

6K more to go

I'm rocking and rolling the editing and coming up with awesome ideas. I have been submerging myself into scenes as if I was there hearing the language first hand and seeing the characters in real life. If the characters aren't real to me, then I don't think anyone else will see them in that capacity. That makes me sound like I'm delusional. I may be able to hear them speaking, but I promise I'm not following the actions they say.

Anyway, I have a little over 6,000 words to go and with my two rather large scenes that I want to add, I think I will make it. I was doubting myself after reading through the story and thinking "I don't know where to add anything!" It is a bit worrisome...how do I as a perfectionist perfect something that can't be perfected but clearly is not perfect. (Are you still with me on that one? I'm on a sugar high because I may or may not be sampling the cookies that I'm baking). And because I know you are curious, I'm baking chocolate chip cookies-an oldie but goodie!

I keep promising that I'm going to revamp my web-site and I will. It's important and it deserves my attention when I'm not tired. It's my priority this weekend-3 day weekend from both jobs! I intend to squeeze it in between drinks with friends and a small shopping spree. I still haven't spent my cash from Christmas. Yay, for a new spring wardrobe. Anyway, if you have any other fabulous ideas for my web-site, please share them!

Dialogue

It was brought to my attention today by someone reading through the "Future Works" portion of my web-site that I like writing in dialogue. Very true, I do. I like to play the scene out in my head with all the words and write it down. I know I mentioned it before, it took me a day and half to figure out the perfect dialogue for the end of RoV. I suppose that is why I'm 7K words short of my goal. I write the dialogue and build the details around it later.

Plus, I love talking. I could chat little ear off. I love learning and hearing about other people's hobbies and places they have visited. Also, I'm weird and like public speaking. Give me ten people or a hundred...I'll stand up in front of them all day and speak. I think 150 people has been my max audience to date. I'm up for a bigger audience.

Going back to my 7K word goal...I was reading through RoV for the billionith time and then it hit me. I am lacking core scenes with Andy and his mom. In RoV, I have Anne and John interacting several times to build that relationship/dynamic. I don't have much with Andy and Karen. Karen gets a bigger role this time. After all, she is the mom and don't we have a whole day devoted to them?

Speaking of manufactured holidays (not that I'm knocking Mother's Day), Happy Valentine's Day. My beloved is at class tonight. Just me and my other loves: Sadie and Tess, the two best kitties ever! It's okay though, I got a card, flowers, and chocolate in addition to a home cooked meal from my husband. So yes, whatever you are doing or whoever you are with I hope you love it or them. Valentine's day is all about the love. I love to write so I'm going to go do that.

I've been editing!

I am back to editing my story, Going All In, and I feel like I have a fresh pair of eyes when reading it. I was too attached to the project. I am happy that I have the motivation to write again. I intend to edit a little after I finish blogging because my hubby gave me the gift of time by doing some extra chores around the house this week. Thanks again Z!

I received positive feedback from someone who read my book. They liked the relationship between and Anne and Andy. I have to say that that aspect of the story turned out stronger than I ever anticipated when I was writing. Initially, it was going to be the secondary relationship; but as you may know, it took on a life of its own. I think that produces the best work when something is unexpected and I know it is a major part of the reason that I love the chapter where Mark and Anne meet. I had no idea how I was going to write him into the story and then that chapter poured out of me. It was an amazing feeling when I was writing it.

Anyway, I will keep you posted with my editing and my quest to write 8,000 more words for my 90K word count goal. I know I can do it.

Go Steelers!

The Good with the Bad

On my journies to yoga class tonight, I had a moment of brillance because I found one of the missing pieces to Andy's story...the title! I finally have a title for Andy's story! Ready....Going All In. Boom! Elated that I finally had a story title to go with my story and essential a minor theme to play out in the book (where I could easily add scenes in) I continued to drive feeling hopeful that my meditative state at yoga would only increase my probability of working out the finer details of Going All In. (The more I use the title, the more I like it).

However, like all good things, they come to an end. My excitement instantly evaporated when someone backed into my car while we were driving. I'm fine, just mad as hell, and my car is driveable with a tiny dent. Nevertheless, my car that I worked so hard for has yet another scratch (add that to the hit and run from the mall and a dent from a football because I parked too close to football practice one afternoon). P.S. If you can't park your car well then don't drive it.

In an attempt to buffer this craptastic incident with two good things, I would like to share my other big news that I'm not entirely sure I have shared because I had the flu earlier this week. I have a book reading at Northland Public Library on Wednesday, March 23 at 7 pm. It will include myself and three other local Pittsburgh authors. I encourage all of you to attend and please bring some friends. I'm very excited for the opportunity and I hope it serves to help me with my New Year's Resolution, which is to get my novel out of my attic.

I hope your day went a little bit better than mine!