A Work in Progress

Read Jumping Jenny Joe I really dislike it when voting is required for a manuscript to take first, second, third or to even place at all in writing contests. I'd prefer the expert to choose. I mean, what makes the average reader an expert, after all? On the other hand, that is exactly why the average reader should make the final say as to whom should be first, second or third. The public buys the book, therefore the public should be able to vote on their favorites. They know a good story when they read it! Now, here's when I tell you to vote for my little story . See, I wrote this cute little rhyme-y children's story. I read to it my youngest, and he kept wanting me to read and reread it, so I thought "okay, why not enter it into a constest?" If I win, the book is published. If not, that's okay. All's fair in writing and publishing... or something like that. Anway, vote for my story. There's a 400 to 1 chance I could be printed. Not great, bu

So, I've sort of been not blogging as of late. Sorry. Life kind of takes precedence sometimes, even though I would like to blog. But I find there's a blending of laziness, busyness and life events, which prevent me from being at this site. The whole doing what we don't want to do and don't do what we ought to, that the apostle Paul spoke of in the Bible. It's a mean and vicious cycle. Pumpkin Pie Amazingness Having said that, here's a lovely pie that I would want to make, but probably won't. Totally off subject, and a procrastinating sort of project. Sort of ... would be good for that big meal we're all partaking of this thursday. Interested in making this too? Click on the link for recipes at Family.go.com which is part of the Disney co. Great ideas abound at that website! Have to say, if you're in the middle of serious life events, like lack of job, lack of initiative, lack of motivation perhaps, etc, there's a call for submissions for

So, this is cool... remember that Jane Austen contest I told you about many months ago? The one where you had to enter your own story in the style of Jane Austen? Well, they just released the book and my story was in it, along with 55 others. It was a fun write, one that was harder that I thought, but also entertaining and enlightening. Who knew how hard it would be to use long words, an ancient vocabulary and extremely wordy and unintelligable sentences? (Okay some intelligent sentences; Jane was a genius. Me? Not a genius) The thing is, not a whole lot of people actually entered this contest, so had YOU entered this one, you would have probably gotten in too! Mine wasn't exceptional. But, they published it anyway. Go here , to Amazon, to see the cover and a few excerpts. Let this be a lesson: always enter writing contest and call for submissions and send your work to agents... even if you think it's a long shot, it can never hurt to try. Because seriously, coming from

Hey you writers! It's almost time for NaNoWriMo. What is this , you ask? Just the most inspirational month of your year. It's National Novel Writing Month. Here's how it works. Let's say you have a book in your head that you want to write, but the motivation or focus isn't there. NaNoWriMo takes care of these two things at once. Here are 6 reasons how and why you need to sign up to do NaNoWriMo. 1. This is proof that thousands of people out there are just like you. You can write, you can do it. And you are not alone! 2. You have one month: 30 days, to get 50,000 words down. They don't have to be perfect. Just written. 3.Once you see how a little bit every day (or roughly 1666 words a day) equates to a whole book, well that'll motivate anyone to write! 4. You can write about anything you want. 5. You can write an outline even, and go by that everyday. 6. You have a network of people you can talk to in your part of town or

From this months' October issue of  Ladies Home Journal I have this absurd fascination with Autumn. I think it's because when one lives in a climate with a hot summer, the yearning for cool weather comes to the forefront of our minds -- especially when, a few days before the first day of fall, it's 98 degrees! We have seasons here in Sacramento too. Which makes this yearning so much harder. I  know it's coming; I know the sweaters and boots and cool walks, the pumpkins and hot coffee are headed this way. It also reminds me of school. And I don't think that ever goes away. Though I've been out of college for years, I smell the autumnal air and it reminds me of going to class, happy for a new year, and ready to accomplish something important. Or even better, school shopping with my kids makes me want to buy pencils and paper for myself. So, I do. And this is where the writing comes in because Autumn is a wonderful time for it. No more swimmi

So, I am taking on a writing challenge today. Awesome blogger, and author Rachael Harrie , has a writing contest for those who are interested in participating (tomorrow is the last day). This is a flash fiction contest, so the content has to be short. In this case, under 200 words. There is one requirement: to begin the story with the words "The door swung open." That's pretty cool. And if you want to make it even harder on yourself, end it with "The door swung shut." If you like it even more difficult, keep it EXACTLY 200 words. This is what I decided to do in order to learn the most. Though flash fiction is difficult --trying to develop, and execute an actual story within 200 words is excrutiating -- it can be done and is a fantastic writing excercise. Below is my story. Go there today and enter your story! The door swung open. It glided like a dove hovering over the ground, and reminded me of Grandpa’s pond on the ranch in winter, when the ducks w

I've been down-for-the-count with a cold I caught from my youngest son. The irony of this all is that I assumed I would get even more writing done now that he's in school, having just begun all day kindergarden. While I do have uninteruppted time, being sick is not condusive to writing, especially when all I want to do is lie down. So, yes, it's an excuse. But hey, it's legitimate. Now, something for you: Have you heard about Hallmark's card contest? They have one or two contests every month devoted to great pictures -- and most importantly, well placed and perfect writing to go with it -- by people like us, and NOT their in-house writers. Here is an example, as I won one of their contests last year. If you're like me, you have a ton of pictures on the computer that are going to waste. And if you're a writer,  then this is the perfect contest for you. Go to Hallmark today and find out the latest contest. Enter it and you never know ... the whole world may s

Calling all children and young-adult writers! If you haven't heard about the most educational, fun, crazy and inspirational three days of our writing year, then you MUST go to Writeoncon.com and sign up for  hours of packed, fun-filled days of writing skills, tips, trade secrets, author- advice and agent-wisdom. This is some of best stuff you'll ever find in one place (Well, other than a writer's conference in person). But, that's what writeoncon is. A conference, but online - and one that you writers can't miss. It starts the 16th and goes through the 18th. Sign up today. And get this: it's all FREE! Writeoncon Be there (in your sweats, with coffee and chocolate in copious amounts)!

Though I've briefly written about this before, in a previous blog post When Not to Write , I wanted to go into further detail about the notion of creativity in writing and movie-viewing. Though I don't recommend writing after watching a movie (as the writing can be horrific, like a knock-off Gucci bag to the real thing) there is something to be said for finding a way to rejuvenate the ideas and inspiration we once had for a story, or novel when watching something both amazing, and inspirational. For example, last week, I went to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2. While JK Rowling's writing is pretty much INCREDIBLE (that lady is a master of storytelling), what really lights my writing fire is knowing that her ideas, her brain activity and education, actually went somewhere ... as in phenomenal, once-in-a-lifetime, everyone-loves-you, let's-make-a-movie-out-of-all-your-books type of success. And sitting in the ice-cold theater, with the AC set at 65 degre

So, I was on vacation for forever! Well, maybe 11 days. But, if sure felt like forever, and it also felt like about 10 minutes, all at the same time. Here is some of what I was up to: And, I actually not only answered a few emails, but wrote down some book ideas as well. I'd say it was a vacation well spent. I had a relaxing time, and didn't feel guilty about not writing either. Do I want to get back into the writing "saddle"? Not really, but I am going to do it anyway. I've got nothing to lose... even if all I want to do now is be on the beach. Happy writing!

Okay, so we all know the well-worn cliche of "no pain, no gain." This goes for weight loss (yes, less food equals less weight) and exercise (must do the treadmill, if I want to see the muscles through the fat) and even beauty (yes, a shower is necessary, even though no one but you is around to smell you.) Perhaps it's a summer problem, or just a phase I'm going through, but this overwhelming desire to do absolutely nothing -- instead of something -- ripples through my veins (and flabby calf muscles) in the middle of our summer. Just writing a blog post is like pulling a boulder into the chair with me. How do I work with this? It's in the way. It (boulder and writing) is too heavy. Really, this is just me being lazy. So what I've been writing for years without much gain. I love writing anyway! I should be glad I have hands and fingers and get to be creative. That's amazing. Just because I feel like not writing, doesn't mean I should -- or shouldn&#

Buy it at Amazon There is something so perfect about a devotion. Maybe it is because a verse is singled out, and focused on, which in turn gives insight into something so simple, but profound. Or maybe it's because the writing is short, but always incredibly sweet. Maybe it is because there is usually a personal application through the whole thing that makes it easy to relate to. Whichever the reason, or all three, I'm honored to be in this devotional book that just came out a few weeks ago, called Faith and Family: A Devotional Pathway for Families.   Here is a picture I took of it yesterday when I got it in the mail. Christian Devotions compiled this work. They are a fanstatic website that delivers a daily devotion, and keeps archives of them for one to peruse any time they want. They also have a radio program, many books, and several of the founders speak regularly at conferences, meetings and gatherings year-round. They are devoted to devotions! Their slogan is:

So, here I am, turning 35 today. Haven't accomplished what I thought I would accomplish, and have already accomplished what I never thought I wanted. Life is sort of like that. Now that the hill approacheth --that yucky-ish one with the big 40 on the top of it-- I've begun thinking about what I want for the next milestone year-- what it is that I want to have done, or helped, or begun. Here's a small list. 1. Trip to Holy Lands : Okay, so I know this is sort of a really vulnerable area right now, but it doesn't change the fact that I want to go. I've wanted to visit for the past five years, and figure I have another five to get there. It is rather difficult trying to scrape the cash to get there with children's private school tuition, a college education savings fund, and pay cuts, but I'm not giving up. Mark Twain wrote fondly of Israel. And if the witty and cyncial author loved it, no doubt I will too. Someday, I will get to Jerusalem. 2. Book: So

Authonomy I found this crazy cool website, called Authonomy . It's not a website I've ever seen before. Not only does this site allow you the opportunity to submit your work -- work that other writers, bloggers and professional editors will read and possibly critique -- but you gain feedback from all of these groups, thereby increasing your chances of being published. Oh, and did I mention that this site is a part of the HarperCollins company? Wow! This site reminds me of Amazon's Breakout Novel Award competition, only much more hands-on and ... friendly. It reminds me of submitting manuscripts to an agent, (which it is!) only this site is much more hands-on and ... friendly. You see where I'm going with this? And who can't use this? Though I haven't actually created an account or submitted a chapter or two, it might be just want we need to get that book published. Check it out! http://www.authonomy.com/

So, I was talking to a writer friend of mine this week, and she mentioned that she was having a problem getting everything done that she needed to do. This included work, home, marriage and kids; everything she wanted to do, and everything everyone else wanted her to do. I sympathized with her because I, like most people, find myself in this situation frequently. But for once, I felt like I could actually give her some sound advice. Just that week, I had turned down two rather important offers-- one dealing with my kids' school, and another with more editing-- and I actually felt fine about it. There are times to say yes, and moments when we have to do more in 24 hours than should be legally allowed. But because writing is important to me, I've learned to say no in order to focus on just that. I understand we are here to love, give and serve. I get that. But, we’re also to do what’s in front of us to the best of our abilities. If we’re overburdened, how then does this rea

Sometimes, just saying this question outloud -- "What would Jessica Fletcher do?" --can be the absolute best way to work through a scene, or maybe in the extreme case, your entire novel. I know, it totally sounds hokey ... at best. But, it's true! If you've never watched an episode of Murder She Wrote, or really an episode of almost any crime/drama, then you need to. It can help to focus in on what it is you're trying to explain, reveal, hide or introduce in your story. In reality, detectives -- or in her case, unofficial detectives -- rarely solve a murder case within the time frame that these shows take place in. However, that's because the show is limited to an hour or two. If it isn't short and quick, our attention wanes, we get up for a snack, or we will change the channel. In our writings, even if things don't move quite this quickly, we too need to move the plot along. Otherwise, no one will want to read our words either! Watching J. B.

I'll admit it ... the title of this post sounds suspiciously a lot like a travel article, or a top ten to see while you're in Aruba. But this post is more about being writer/reader productive -- without actually feeling like you are working -- while on vacation (or holiday, if you're on the other side of the pond). Even when I'm on vacation, I still have this infinitesimal -- and sometimes grand -- urge to write. Something. Anything, especially when a postcard doesn't quite cut it as literary work. If this sounds like you, yet you don't want to write too much because heck, you are on vacation, keep a tiny notebook with you. Jot down story ideas, characters flaws for your hero, write a poem as you watch the ocean, or end that novel with the final two hundred words you were trying so hard to write back at home. While vacation is just that, vacation, it doesn't mean you have to abandon all creative writing. That's sort of like cutting out your oxygen

I don't know if any of you are looking to be published, or need a great agent, but if you've tried to find the right agent, it can be grueling. All those requirements, or quirky specifics, and every agent is different. Some are big-timers, and some are small-town folks. And if you're like me, and you don't feel like shelling out 30 bucks for an agent book -- the kind that list all the agents all of America, along with their info, in really small print -- then you have to check out AgentQuery . They are a database of agents, and yes, I'm warning you, it's overwhelming!  But, really,  AgentQuery is like finding a gold mine. Oh, and did I mention that most of it's free? Jackpot! I've been casually going to their website for a couple of years now. The agents' info --all thousands and thousands of them --stay relatively current, you can specify to the city what you are looking for in an agent, or an find agent by genre or category; those who special

Normally, I don't like to toot my own horn. It just doesn't sound right, doesn't ring right, doesn't jab with me or float my boat. Cup of Comfort on Amazon That being said, I'm going to do all of the above. I have to tell you about a little book that published me. Okay, so the book isn't just about me. It's also about 40 other ladies who wrote fantastic words and essays and were chosen to be in the Cup of Comfort line of books, called A Cup of Comfort for Christian Women. This book is seriously inspirational. I had more fun reading through it than writing my own story. It is a wonderfully encouraging book for other women, touches the soul, ministers to the heart, and puts a little more happiness into all of us. The book is great as a gift, great for yourself, and great to have around when you need specific encouragement in a specific area. Okay then, enough said. I am happy to be officially "published" in a "real" book (a nat

ra I'm always forgetting correct grammar rules. I mean, always. And did I mention my punctuation is pathetic? Well, it is. There's a really cool website that I just found, and it's called "Grammar Girl." Well, actually it's really called "Quick and Dirty Tips," and I'm certain I am not italicizing and parathentizing correctly here. But, if I really want to know the right way to write, this lady has the answers. There are a bazillion tips for careers, work, lifetstyle, pets, etc. Hence the name "Quick and Dirty Tips." But, it's the grammar section that really spoke to me. This section is filled with quick tips, written in a way that will make me always remember a particular rule the next time I need to use it. Like, How to Speak English like the Irish , or How to Write Grammatically Correct Photo Captions, or Commas with Adjectives . Useful, funny and insightful ... all at the same time. Way cool! There's always a quick ti

So, I'm sure many of you out there could use a little ego boost with your writing. What if there was a great way to do this, and maybe make a little money ( really little money) from it at the same time? You can. I just recently signed up to be a part of the Yahoo!Contributor Network.  What this means is that I am able write about whatever I want, whenever I want and have it all (almost) published. Some of you may think this is a waste of time, or maybe even beneath you. But, I don't look at it like that. In order to be a better writer, we have to actually write, as often as we can, when we can, and learn, learn, learn the craft -- from content to editing. And to be published during that journey? Wouldn't that be swell? Well, here's an example. I reworked an article I wrote months ago about how just doing a few simple things to your house, can make it look new again. I called it  Live in a New House (... without having to move). It was published almost immediately,

Are you in love with writing? Or just in love with the idea of being a writer? This is a question everyone who writes, or wants to write, needs to keep at the forefront of their mind before they sit down and decide to make a career out of it. I think someone famous said, "If you want to act like a writer, you can ... find a black turtleneck, act depressed all while hanging out at the local cafe." But, I don't know who said it, or the right wording or any of those important things. However, I do remember the meaning behind it. The gist is this: Are you a real writer or a pretend one? Are you an author because you can't live without writing -- because it's in your DNA -- or are you just playing dress up? A friend of mine gave me an article to read about a Belgian author, Amelie Nothumb who spoke of this same perplexity. What it comes down to is this: Writing, or being an author, isn't perplex. We may be perplex people -- and incredibly eccentric -- b

Whenever the writing bug isn't as pesky as it should be -- bugging me until I write something long --sometimes I go for little bits - like short story little bits. Chicken Soup for the Soul If writing novels or long stories is your thing, then writing a short story is going to be difficult. Having to think about dialogue, background, imagery and plot in 1500 words or less, is a challenge that many people have a hard time with -- me included. However, this is where you have a chance to work at your skills. By writing in a few words, what would normally take a paragraph or two, we learn to activate our passive writing, condense our wordiness, and perfect our action scenes to precision. Of course, what I'm talking about mainly has to do with fiction. And going from long fiction to short fiction is tough; it's almost like using a completely different side of our brain. But, let me throw a wrench into this mix: what if you wrote a short piece of non-fiction? If the

So, it's not that I don't like writing. That's like saying I don't like coffee. Neither one is true, and neither will ever happen in my lifetime. However, when things around my life get busy -- things that have nothing to do with writing-- it seems that this is not only the first thing to go, but the first thing I don't want to do. Okay, so sometimes I do want to write, especially when things get out-of-whack. It's an outlet of sorts; to get away from what I find myself so wrapped up in, and I can escape to a world of unreality. But more often than not, like right now, I just can't get the will power to sit down and write anything major. Why am I telling you this? Because, going through a dry spell, a writers' slump, is a normal thing. We go through periods of writing non-stop for days, thousands and thousands of words, only to look back a week later and wonder how we did that and now, more importantly, how we are going to write one measly sentence.

One of the last resolutions I talked about --in my first post of the year ( click here )-- was to find a way to sit down and write a letter or note (amidst our busy life) by hand. A real letter. A real written letter. As in, to write it: as in pen to paper sort of thing. The idea is so vague and distorted now -- as if it were a dinosaur that we don’t want to reckon with anymore -- that we seem old-fashioned if we write something out, even a thank you note. But, if you really want to appreciate the art form of writing again, then that dino needs to remain alive and active and not extinct. Because today is Valentine’s Day, let us briefly discuss this idea of actual writing. If you have a loved one, someone you cherish and are planning on celebrating Valentine’s day with (or even if you’re not and just wanting to wish them a happy day) then you better have actually written out that note. Text messages and e-mails, in my humble opinion, don’t count. Whip out a red or white pie

Do you LOVE Jane Austens' work? Do you LOVE writing? Do you have a secret dream to write just like her? (Or in my case, to jump at the opportunity to write like Austen because it is so ridiculously hard?) Then check out this great contest called Write Like Jane , where your love for both Austen and writing make a perfect combination ... just like Ms. Bennet and Darcy.

I had good intentions last year to read a book a week. That's 52 books. It really shouldn't have been an issue. Certainly I could find something worth reading, with the library so close by. And that there were tons of things I loved to read about, well, I had this 2010 New Year's resolution in the bag! I fell very short of that goal. And it is why I revamped my goals for this year (by a lot) to only one book a month. Before you tell me that this can't be right, that it seems rather extreme, like I should be horrified at reading so little, don't say it. At this point in my life, with a dog, my busy kids, cooking, housekeeping, working, editing ... reading has almost become laborious. In 2010, I forced myself to be something I wanted to be, and was still failing. After failing my own others-driven goal, I knew I had a problem. It is understood that writers are supposed to read. This is a school-driven, author-proven, writer-demanded way of living and thinking.

That title seems horribly incongruous. Yet, I mean every word of it. Let me start this post by asking you a question: Can editing really be your friend? Let me ask a second question: Is editing really necessary? Well, here's another question to think about while you ponder the veracity of the first two: Does the sun rise every morning? The answer to the third question is the answer to the other two as well. Yes. You must edit. You must go back and get rid of the excess. You must face the daunting task of wiping away scores of words from your computer -- the very words that fill your heart with joy. You MUST do this because those superfluous words do nothing for the story. As in, they are only there because it sounds good. Sounding good is really not good, in the literary world. Because most of the time when you think you sound good, you sound like a prolific seal, barking up a storm over nothing. And that, my friends, is no good. Good writing comes from knowing how to ed

Somehow, in one way or another, I end up writing (even if in brief) about coffee in my blogs. This is a habit (not just the writing, but drinking) for a lot of writers, because it really may be the only thing keeping us in our chair -- trying to do what we were called to do -- but suffering horribly at times because of that enormous wall called “writer’s block.” But this post isn’t about walls, and blocks and such. It’s again, about the coffee. Did you know that Swedes (as in the folks of Sweden) are the highest coffee drinkers per capita in the world? My maiden name is Swedish, even though I’m a mix of all things European. And a whopping ¼ of me is Finnish. Though Finland isn’t Sweden, it IS next door to it. And I think that counts as a good explanation as to why I love the black gold so much. This picture is of my most favorite coffee mug in the world. My blog friends Erica and Christy are having a blogfest about coffee cups today. Each blogger is supposed to post their favo

So, this post is about music. Why? Because author extraordinaire Alex J. Cavanaugh  is doing a music blogfest. For those who chose to sign up and write about this subject, like me, we get the opportunity to muse about the top ten songs that have inspired us the most over our life. This is a rather subjective and varied blog idea, because sometimes the strangest music can inspire us, or move us, or allow us to remember a time or place or moment or person ... for the rest of our lives! And that is also why it is such a grand idea to make a list of the most inspirational songs: to remember, to pontificate, and think about such like: Wow, that song was awful, but I sure loved it! Warning: This list is going to be majorly filled with eighties music. Why? Again, for the reasons listed above. I was age "ten and up" in the mid-eighties. Talk about an inspirational and impressionable time of anyone's life! Because of that, I feel the eighties were good to me. And I don&

Okay, so as my second resolution stated from the January 1st post, I don't wish anyone to acquire carpel tunnel from writing. That's not only painful, but really sad. However, if you did happen to get sore wrists, say without the Carpel Tunnel, then that may be a good thing for this year. Why? Because it means you are spending a whole lot of time doing what you told yourself you should do: write! The literal act of writing is probably one of the hardest things anyone will ever do--even for "authors" too (crazy people who want to make a living through writing.) But, take your plumber, or your firefighter, or your teacher and make them sit down to write a book, and really, they're not going to want to do it either. Writing, creating a world, visualizing dialogue and characters, scenery and hidden plots, well that's practically like coming up with an organized way to take over the world. It's that complicated. Yet, it isn't impossible (the writi

Remember how my last post listed "resolution" type blessings on your writing life? Well, I want to get into those blessings with a little more detail. This week, it's the "May your minds be full of creative, change-the-world-with-your-story- ideas " aspect. I know. You may think I'm kidding, or that I wrote that one as a joke. But as far-fetched as it sounds, it isn't a joke. Realistically, a change-the-world story is a crazy concept. We don't necessarily know what and how to change the world; or if what we write will make a difference to anybody. Can we change the world? Should we try to change the world? Well, if you are passionate about what you write, then (and this is the kicker) it doesn't matter. What you have to do-- as a writer wanting to write something worth ... something -- is make sure that your words are as truthful, honest, heart-felt and real to what you feel and believe as possible. If you are happy with this, if you ar

Wishing you a wonderful new year for all of you writers, readers and bloggers. May your minds be full of creative, change-the-world-with-your-story- ideas. May Carpel Tunnel Syndrome not set in until late, like after Thanksgiving, of this year. May everything you write have that "just what the editor was looking for" quality. May editing be your favorite --well, at least one of your favorites --hobby this year. May reading "for fun" actually happen more than twice this year (and not  while at the dentist). May your new year resolutions have something to do with writing an actual letter by hand ! May your coffee (or tea) pot remain full, pressed in, running over and never-ending. Now seriously, blessings and God's favor on your life this year.