I've done it again. I didn't mean to, but it's happened again. I must be cursed.
I find these wonderful little restaurants and spend a few hours on a certain day writing. They aren't busy enough to make me leave my table after my meal, but they also are not 'hurting' for business. At least, I never think so. I eat my meal, have my coffee, write, and leave a generous tip.
But time and time again, the restaurants close.
Today, I am again without a favorite restaurant. This is at least the fourth time this has happened.
Now, I don't suppose I can take all the blame. The recession has done wonders for the family restaurant. Sadly. People can't afford to eat out as often, so they go to the chains that might have lower prices. Yet, the family restaurant serves a good meal for a decent price and usually welcomes with open arms, their customers.
I sigh as I write this. I've got to find another restaurant soon. I write at home - who doesn't - but taking my story out to a different location gives it an added depth, a refreshing momentary glimpse into something else. I consider my workroom as quiet and good for writing, but after awhile, the trees look at me and refuse to move me. Perhaps it's the snow. I need some green. I get that at restaurants. A different view of life.
Life is good, if interesting.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Nine Inches!!!!
Another storm on Thursday night had me spending another night away from home and my trusty-rusty computer.
Nine inches of snow here in one 12-hour period! I thought that was wild, until my son sent me video from Utah - they had 37 up in the mountains. 37 inches. Can you even believe it?
Planning on spending most of the day writing. I've felt its loss this last week. Though I have been thinking about it. I've got another story I'm writing and I haven't done anything with that for a week or two. I'd like to post the next chapter today or tomorrow. It's a short piece.
But 'Blue' is still in the midst of testing and I've got to get Kaspar cracking!
Life is interesting - have a good one!
Nine inches of snow here in one 12-hour period! I thought that was wild, until my son sent me video from Utah - they had 37 up in the mountains. 37 inches. Can you even believe it?
Planning on spending most of the day writing. I've felt its loss this last week. Though I have been thinking about it. I've got another story I'm writing and I haven't done anything with that for a week or two. I'd like to post the next chapter today or tomorrow. It's a short piece.
But 'Blue' is still in the midst of testing and I've got to get Kaspar cracking!
Life is interesting - have a good one!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Incommunicado
We had a hellacious ice storm here on Sunday night. From about 4am on Monday morning, I sat on my couch or walked from the bedroom to the living room, wondering when the trees around my house were going to fall.
I've got three huge oaks nearby - within spitting distance - and they creaked and groaned all night. Limbs were falling (not big ones, thankfully) and they littered the roof. The wild winds kicked them about and all you could hear was their skittering (like a thousand raccoons).
My border's dogs were nigh beside themselves. She even medicated them, trying to help their anxiety. It was useless. If I could have medicated myself, I would have!!!
Finally, the electricity went out at 5:30am. Never came back till this afternoon (Tuesday) around 3ish.
Thankfully - my daughter and her husband put me up at their house for the night and the border stayed with a friend. We are both gtrateful that the power is back.
Of course, I went to the grocery store on Sunday (it's Murphy's Law) and so I'm going to be pitching some stuff. Hopefully not all of it.
Don't mean to spend time here in the writing area to speak about such things, but, needless to say, I didn't think of the book once. Just prayed the trees didn't fall on the house. The ice is still out there. Tomorrow, it's supposed to start melting before the next freeze comes on Thursday night.
I will be very grateful to have this winter over with - I think.
I've got three huge oaks nearby - within spitting distance - and they creaked and groaned all night. Limbs were falling (not big ones, thankfully) and they littered the roof. The wild winds kicked them about and all you could hear was their skittering (like a thousand raccoons).
My border's dogs were nigh beside themselves. She even medicated them, trying to help their anxiety. It was useless. If I could have medicated myself, I would have!!!
Finally, the electricity went out at 5:30am. Never came back till this afternoon (Tuesday) around 3ish.
Thankfully - my daughter and her husband put me up at their house for the night and the border stayed with a friend. We are both gtrateful that the power is back.
Of course, I went to the grocery store on Sunday (it's Murphy's Law) and so I'm going to be pitching some stuff. Hopefully not all of it.
Don't mean to spend time here in the writing area to speak about such things, but, needless to say, I didn't think of the book once. Just prayed the trees didn't fall on the house. The ice is still out there. Tomorrow, it's supposed to start melting before the next freeze comes on Thursday night.
I will be very grateful to have this winter over with - I think.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Exploding Scenes
The speaker yesterday said that we should read our writing at least 100 times or more. I was glad to hear that. I write ... hm... I suppose oddly. I write a chapter or so, then I read it and edit almost right away. The next day or so, I read it again and do some more editing. Then I leave it go again.... Everytime I write anything on it, I read the whole thing and then concentrate on the current chapter. Must read chapter one a hundred times or more! LOL
As for scenes - she suggested we 'explode' them... look at them and make sure we answer all the questions our readers might have.
I tend to implode. I'm trying to get out of that habit. I went back to a scene I wrote the other day. I'd been thinking about it in my sleep. I thought I'd add at least a hundred words or so to it. But when push came to shove, I only added about fifty. I just couldn't quite bring myself to add more. The scene seemed perfect. We'll see what my editor thinks. She was at the conference, too.
Also - there' s that bit about making sure a scene is succinct. You know - cutting out things that don't 'further' the story or our understanding of the characters.
There's seems to be contradictions here. I'm sure I'll figure them out and learn. The process is never easy, is it?
Life is interesting.
As for scenes - she suggested we 'explode' them... look at them and make sure we answer all the questions our readers might have.
I tend to implode. I'm trying to get out of that habit. I went back to a scene I wrote the other day. I'd been thinking about it in my sleep. I thought I'd add at least a hundred words or so to it. But when push came to shove, I only added about fifty. I just couldn't quite bring myself to add more. The scene seemed perfect. We'll see what my editor thinks. She was at the conference, too.
Also - there' s that bit about making sure a scene is succinct. You know - cutting out things that don't 'further' the story or our understanding of the characters.
There's seems to be contradictions here. I'm sure I'll figure them out and learn. The process is never easy, is it?
Life is interesting.
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