Writer's Log

Today's ending word count: 23,662.

Hats off to all the writers who sit down and do the work! I've been pretty frustrated lately - my mind is grinding on the middle part of the story - I need to be visited by my muse. Each sentance I go for is like going to the well and pulling up a bucket of water and hoping the well isn't dry.

More tomorrow.

Writer's Log - Weekend Report

Current word count: 21,822. I'll keep writing tonight until I break 22,000.

Thanksfully I still have tomorrow for writing before the work week begins.

If I get stumped, I can work on:
- Blurb
- Cover Design
- Author Biography

I also gotta make some soap this weekend - one of my other creative activities. Wonder what scent I'll make. I think I need something snappy like Lavender Spearmint. Anything for clarity of thought and relaxation, right?

People Watching as Character Fodder

I've always enjoyed watching people. Whether you watch for behaviors, listen for conversation or speech patterns or ponder their choices on clothing/jewelry or hairstyles, you'll find that a nice stretch watching people in action (especially when they are in their own world) will have you thinking WHY? And then comes the inevitable hypothesis formation.

For example, there's this guy I've seen who has worn jean shorts over his jeans. Day one, I wondered, maybe he has a hole in his jeans? (But then why wear them over his jeans...) Is his behind cold? Is he biking and this keeps his pants from riding up? Is he too hot and is wearing them so he has them in case he needs to take off his jeans? Again...why on the outside?

Day 2...Same routine, different pair of clothes...but jean shorts on top of jeans, again. I am completely puzzled and I want an answer!

Any theories why someone would do this?!

Current word count: 20,336. Supposed to have a "Girls Day" today. But I'll see where I can get to and resume tomorrow. Lots of rain this weekend, so writing and staying in doors fits the bill.

Writer's Log - Back on Track

I've hit my stride again and the momentum is gaining. I'm at 20,108 words after finally starting in again last night after a slump.

Part of it is, I have a hard time getting in the zone with outside emotional distractions. As soon as I'm worried about a friend or family member, I have a hard time shrugging it off and mentally I shut down. I'm nearly ready to quit answering my phone on weekends because it seems like it's never good and even if it was, any time on the phone is time not writing. I need a writer's cave with sound proof walls.

One thing that motivated me last weekend? Watching Hearts in Atlantis. I'd never seen it before and really enjoyed it. Stephen King is a phenominal writer and watching his books come alive on screen is always a delight. (Although I will never watch The Green Mile ever again. I cried too hard.)

What, or who, movitivates or inspires you?

Writer's Log Entry

Up to 17,676. Slow day writing....got lots of other things done. Horse fence, fencer...etc. *sigh* Time to read Pumped for Murder by Elaine Viets while under the covers.

Maybe tomorrow I'll skip ahead to a scene in my head to shake things up...and then go back and write the middle to join up with that? Who knows.

Making the Leap to Dreaming

Ever since I was a child I had dreamed of being one of three things...an artist, a lawyer or a writer. I think the lawyer bit came in because I was sick of things being UNFAIR when I was a kid. As an adult, my mind is always hovering between why and why not...I'm a Libra, so I really fit my horoscope for this. I also enjoyed problem solving. And I was a horrific perfectionist. I've tempered that a bit. But as a child....I was plain scary. Everything had to be perfect...which is probably why being an "artist" got squeezed out of me - I was never courageous enough to take that big leap and not be self-aware. I made a better crafter, making things that had purpose that were beautiful (soap, ceramics, cooking).

But as I grew, and grew up, into the adult I am today I had lost that hold on believing in a dream. I had plenty of goals. But a dream? I had let go of that long ago - so long ago I'm not sure when (although I have my sneaking suspicions but even I don't like to go there). And so when a coworker left work to pursue her dream, I suddenly found myself bubbling with envy. I was so happy and excited for her. But it made me realize: What was my dream? Was I going to work the rest of my life in the career I have with a job I do enjoy...but hate the politics, the being at the mercy of budget cuts, the routine. Hmm. It was at that time that Jon Konrath and Amanda Hocking's success with epublishing came to my attention.

And while I have no expectation of getting to that level, I can dream of being a writer again. Being a writer is so much more than just the story. It's about it fitting with who I am. I am free when I am writing just for me in that moment. And later, yes, I dream of success. But I also think of my novel, plotting and characters. Endless possibilities created through my hard work and imagination now feels possible again.

Oddly, what I have noticed....is that I am dreaming while I sleep again. Amazing, bizarre, frantic, wonderful dreams. And that is so exciting because for a long times it has just been anxiety dreams of work or white noise.

I'm Blaming the Weather on my Slow Writing this Weekend

It's 10:30 a.m. Sunday morning and I am only at 15,066 words. Remember, my goal was to get to 20,000 by the end of the weekend. So I guess I could still make it. But I might not. This cold weather in Minnesota has been the absolute pits. The lack of sunshine and warm air seems to have me in a bit of a funk. Partly because I end up sleeping in too long because it's never bright enough to feel like the sun has risen. Well, here's to May Day and the hope of sunshine.

Hmm. 1:55 p.m. and I'm up to 16,833 words. Not bad.

It's so crazy, but I am constantly inspired by other writes at the Writer's Cafe on Kindleboards. It's posts like this that make my eyes practically roll back in my head. All these writers are sharing their stats for the month of April sales. Wow!

Few more words added...at 17,003.