Best Laid Plans

To try and stop some of my misery, I actually made a very simple to do list for today. (see previous post)

Vacumm
Edit three chapters
Exercise

Totally doable – right?

Well I didn't do any of those things. Instead I visited with three ladies in my church, then went to my mom's and canned 18 jars of salsa. My mom called in the morning and told me she had everything ready for me to come over and can. My mom is kind of like that, so how could I say no.

Now I've decided to make my to do lists at the end of the day.

Made 18 jars of salsa - done
Made dinner - done
Soccer meeting - done
blog - done
shower - done
groceries for the salsa - done

Wow, I did a lot today.

How to feel Miserable

I found this on facebook and had to share. I think I'm underlining way too many of those.Today I will take try not to constantly compare myself to others.

How about you? Are there any you want to work on?

Osmosis

The informal definition: "Osmosis" is the process by which information or concepts come a person without conscious effort.

I can't tell you how many times I sat down at the computer last week and hoped this would happen. That all the words and stories that were inside of me would just flow out of my head and onto the computer screen, but unfortunately life doesn't work that way – at least not for me. I've come to accept that now.

I've had my crit partner's notes back for a week now and although I've looked at them, I haven't applied them to my book. I just keep looking at my documents sitting on my desk top, hoping that inspiration will spring, but I've come to the conclusion that inspiration doesn't spring unless your writing. It usually doesn't happen with the first sentence and maybe not even the second, but if I keep writing eventually I will get there.

Remember nothing happens by osmosis.

How about you? Do you find you have to be writing in order for inspiration to hit?

Different Hair

Today while perusing through msn.ca, I came across this little headline: 10 Hairstyles Men Love

And since I have been having bad hair days for the past few weeks, I clicked on the link hoping it would give me some ideas of what might be appealing.

Here's what it said: Long bangs, pony tails, long and straight, messy bob, short and pinky, long and wild, pixie.

One of the commenters on the article said this: Might have been easier to write what men don't like.  I think this article just about covered every hairstyle there currently is.  Maybe just say; clean it, no split ends and no weird colours? 


I think this article is another reminder that everyone's tastes are different whether it be hair, clothes, music, tv shows, or books.


What we have to remember is to wear, listen to, watch, and write things that you like, because that's all that really matters.


Just for fun though? What kind of haircut do you like on a man?

Seeing the whites of their eyes

Have you ever said you'd do something months in advance and then when the day arrives you wonder what the heck you were thinking.

I can imagine some people who sign up for a marathon would feel this way, or if you decided to go back to school after you're married with three children.

For me it was a in person critique group.

In May my local SCBWI chapter put out a notice that they were going to start an in person critique group. I thought it was a great idea and promptly sent an email expressing my interest.

Fast forward three months.

Last Monday I got an email from Angela Ackerman (aka Bookshelf Muse) that we would be starting this week. I can't tell you how many excuses went through my head.

Then two days before we met I decided if I really want to be a writer, I needed to try this.

I have to admit I wasn't nervous about getting my own writing critiqued, I just didn't know if I had anything to offer other people. And really it's one thing to offer feedback in an email, quite another to look at them while you're doing it.

But I went... and you know what? It wasn't nearly as scary as I thought it would be. Angela was a great host and I learned a ton by reading other people's work. So I'm excited about this critique group. It may be just the thing that motivates me to write more than I have been lately.

What about you? Do you do most of your critiquing face to face or with your computer? Which do you prefer?

Maybe, just maybe

Maybe the girl who always dresses like she's come straight out of fashion magazine, is jealous of me because I can go out in public in sweat pants and a t-shirt.

Maybe the girl who can't leave the house without make up, is jealous of the fact that I can go the whole day and forget to wear any.

Maybe people are jealous of the fact that I can leave my dishes in the sink for the day while they wish they didn't feel the need to have a perfectly clean house.

Maybe there are some people who drive a big fancy vehicle are jealous of me because I don't have to worry about my mini van getting a little scratched up.

Maybe some published authors are jealous of the fact that I don't have any deadlines to meet or editors to impress.

Just remember, you never know who might be jealous of you.

Have a great weekend. Hope the weather is good where ever you are.

So many prizes

YA Confidential is having a great contest. Page critiques, query critiques by agents, and a ton of ARC's up for grabs.

Go check it out.