Category Archives: Writer
Bath day for the pups…Oh no!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I dread it. Gavin and Patty are long over due for baths. Why? Because every time it’s a struggle to bathe them. Well, the bath itself isn’t the struggle. It’s getting them to the tub.
Take Gavin, he will do anything for a cookie except follow you upstairs. He hates baths. He knows all the signs that there’s a bath in his future. He knows that if you are on the stairs offering him a cookie this is not a good sign. If you’ve taken the dog towels from the basement laundry to the bathroom, he knows someone is getting a bath. He hopes it is Patty.
It isn’t, he goes first. I put a leash on him, fill my pocket with cookies, and spend 15 minutes coaxing him upstairs and into the tub. Once he’s in the tub, things go fast. He’ll sit in the middle of the tub with his ears flattened to his head but he doesn’t fight it. Once the bath is over with, he loves the drying part. Then he dashes downstairs to pounce on DH and show him how clean he is. I think he also tells Patty that she’s next. Neener neener neener.
Ah, Patty. Patty weighs 65 lbs, as does Gavin. She hates, hates, hates getting wet. She makes bathing Gavin easy. When she gets wind of a bath in her future, she hides in the back of her crate. There aren’t enough cookies in the world to convince her that a bath is a good thing.
Have you ever tried to pry a 65 lb, stiff legged, dead weight dog out of a crate? It isn’t easy. Nor is it easy to drag that stiff legged, dead weight dog up a steep flight of steps, into the bathroom, and lift her into the tub. Whereupon she goes into her ‘you hate me, poor pitiful me’ act as soon as the first drop of water hits her.
Meanwhile Gavin giggles downstairs because he’s already had his bath and has a tummy full of cookies.
Posted in Dog related, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
How many ways can you say crazy?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Tonight a friend of mine (Jackie) and I were discussing the many ways you can say crazy. There were the old stand bys of one sandwich shy of a picnic, his elevator doesn’t go to the top (some even say it hasn’t left the ground floor), the lights are on, but nobody is home. Then she hit me with ‘her cheese has slid off her cracker’ and I fell on the floor.
It was downhill from there. We got worse. They came swiftly nuttier than a fruitcake, one step short of Bedlam, and answering the cuckoo. He’s one taco short of a combo plate, one brick short of a load, one egg roll short of a PuPu platter. His rocket is not working on all thrusters.
And worse. She’s such an air head, that the only thing that keeps things from going in one ear and out the other, is the “For Rent” sign in the middle. He is a few fries short of a happy meal. He has verbal diarrhea and mental constipation. I think her sewing machine is out of thread. Some drink from the fountain of knowledge, but he just gargled.
Have you any to add?
Posted in Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, funny, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Writing, using others as soundboards
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I am fortunate to have a husband, a critiquing group, another mystery writer (Dave), and a good friend (G) to bounce ideas off when I need to. Without them, I’d probably be stuck in some dark padded cell neatly decked out in a white coat that buckles in the back.
Granted Dear Hubby will sometimes roll his eyes when the idea I have makes no sense, but he will help me work through it until it does. He has also come up with some ideas I didn’t think of and they have been great.
When I’m in the throes of writer’s block, Dave will ever so kindly get online and have a long BS session with me in IM. He never fails to help me find new angles, red herrings, or scenes.
When I hand my finished chapters to my critiquing group, they will catch things I didn’t see. Boy, do they catch them. They will let me bounce ideas off them on chapters I’ve not yet written.
Don’t be afraid to use others as a soundboard. However, be aware that some people aren’t going to be helpful. Then there will be other ones, where you will wonder how you ever did any writing without them.
Posted in My blog, My books, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Rewriting, or why doesn’t that editor on my shoulder shut up?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
“There that chapter is fixed.” I stretch and let out a satisfied sigh.
My little editor taps me on the shoulder. “Why did you take out that scene?”
“Because it didn’t work with the changes I made. Besides, the new scene is better.”
“But I liked that scene. It was a good scene.” The editor kicks me in the temple.
“Ouch. Shut up. It’s not going back in. It doesn’t work.”
“And yet you kept that awful dialogue on page sixty one,” he says with a sneer.
“That was good dialogue. What makes you say it was awful?”
“Would anyone truly say that? Is it realistic?”
Beads of sweat break out on my forehead. I pop up the page and read the dialogue aloud. “I think it’s realistic. I don’t see any problem with it.”
“Okay, I’ll let that slide, but—“
“No buts. It’s time to move on to the next chapter.”
“Okay. In the first scene, you need to—“
“Shut up! Let me do it. I know what I want to do here.”
The editor flops onto the back of my chair and whines, “You never listen to me.”
“Do too.”
“Do not.”
“Have it your way. Now, chapter thirteen, page seventy seven. Scene one stays as it is.”
“Are you sure about that?”
Posted in My blog, My books, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
For what are you thankful?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I promised Dave, that sometime this month I’d do a post on what we are thankful for, so here goes.
I’m thankful for every moment with my Dear Hubby, the love of my life, may we have many more years ahead of us. I’m thankful that I’m healthy. I’m thankful that we have a roof over our heads, our mortgage is paid, and we have food on the table. I’m thankful for the love of two silly dogs.
I’m thankful for the love and support of my wonderful Aunts and Cousins. Have I told you all lately how much I love you?
I’m thankful for all my wonderful friends who never fail to lift my spirits. I love you guys too.
I’m thankful to be able to follow my own path in life.
I’m thankful to be who I am, all I’ve experienced—the good and the bad, who touched me, who I’ve touched, and for those who have gone before me. I’m thankful for the joys of living and the lessons of loss and grief.
I’m thankful for the people who take time out of their day to read what I write here.
Posted in Holidays, Misc, My books, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Food, gifts, happy, Home, Humor, joys, lessons learned, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Thankful, Thansgiving, Writer, Writing
You can pick your friends, you can pick your nose, but you can’t pick your relatives.
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Some family holiday meals are as pleasant as playing with an angry grizzly bear. We don’t do them any more. Instead, Dear Hubby and I enjoy a quiet meal at home without having to endure in laws or out laws. We don’t go away for the holidays.
For some reason, at certain of these ‘holiday meals,’ Dear Hubby and I found ourselves seated at the children’s table. Two children sat at the adult’s table because they’d raised a fuss over having to sit with their peers. We didn’t have kids, we were well over twenty one, but there we were at the kiddies’ table. (Not a smart thing to do with us.)
I guessed it was some perverse torture set up by the parents of the spoiled brats…um children. Therefore, we became the ringleaders of mischief. Do not leave us to our own devices…you WILL pay. DH’s specialty is food fights. He is very subtle and no one has any idea how these battles begin—well, I do but no one else does.
I specialize in telling bad fart jokes or engaging in other antics that will make milk come out of a child’s nose. (I warned them not to seat us there.)
Posted in Food, Holidays, My books, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Food, Holiday meals, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
It came from the north
Posted by doggonedmysteries
A cold front brought wind and rain mixed with snow. The storm didn’t last long. However, while it was here the rain and snow pelted sideways hard and fast. Gavin and Patty rang the bells to go out. I opened the door and they saw the rain. They beat a hasty retreat.
The pups no longer wanted to go out. I got those ‘are you insane?’ looks from them. They hadn’t been outside in hours and yet they decided they could wait.
Patty took the couch and Gavin, his chair. For several hours neither one moved. Dear Hubby went up for a nap. I worked on my book. All was quiet.
Gavin rang the bells to go out.
Posted in Dog related, My books, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Peeling back the layers
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Every person has layers, like onions. They have layers to their personalities, their life experiences, and even their dreams. In creating characters, we need to remember this. We need to give them those all important layers. Without them, our characters fall flat.
We don’t need to write every detail but we need to know the minutiae behind our characters. We need to know the little nuances that will make them unique and real to the readers. We need to bring them to life.
How do we do this? Some people make complicated charts, lists, and countless outlines. I’m lazy I don’t. I have a one paragraph character description, maybe two, or three for major characters, in a file for each book I’m writing. The most important thing is to peel back the layers and show the character’s goals, needs, and morality.
You need to show what drives the character. Once you know what drives each character, what is beneath each layer, you’ve given them those all important three dimensional lives that will make the readers come back for more.
Posted in My blog, My books, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Stitching seamless scenes
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Do your scenes give your reader the maximum effect? Does each one move your story forward? They do? Well then, you are well on your way. All you need do now is seamlessly connect the scenes. Make the story flow, be logical, and compel the reader to keep turning the pages.
Cue the sound of car tires screeching to a halt. “What?”
Not so easy is it?
As many writers do, I agonize over each scene I write. Did I build the tension in that one? Have I thrown enough conflict at my protagonist? Did I end the last scene with enough oomph to carry on to the next one? Are the goals clear enough? And on and on….
If your scenes fall flat and the connections are rough, sometimes you need to step back for a day or two and then read what you’ve written with fresh eyes. Read from the last scene to the first one. This can often make the raw connections jump out at you and you’ll see where you need to fix them.
Dear Hubby says that some days watching me write is painful. I tell him, that some days writing is like wrenching each word out of my brain with an upholstery needle. On good days, the words flow and the scenes stitch together as if run off on a sewing machine.
Posted in My blog, My books, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Summer versus winter
Posted by doggonedmysteries
In the wee hours of the morning, the sound of a distant train, crickets, waterfall, and fountains I’ll miss it in the winter. Instead, I’ll hear the steady breathing of two sleeping dogs, the furnace running, wind howling, and the murmur of the TV that never stops.
The scent of fresh mown grass, flowers in bloom, and warm garden soil. Instead, I’ll smell dogs, a stuffy house, and many meals cooked.
Instead of the warmth of the summer sun on my face and arms, a gentle breeze, and the grass tickling my feet. I’ll feel cold, the crunch of snow under my boots, the slip of ice, and burn of cold winds.
Instead of watching flowers bend in a breeze, radiant sun shine, trees full of green leaves, and insects playing tag with each other. I’ll watch snow blowing across the yard; icicles drip and hang from the eaves, and sunshine turning snow and ice into gleaming diamonds.
The taste of grilled foods, fresh fruit, vegetables, and berries picked a moment before. Instead, I’ll taste hot soups, stews, and comfort, stick to your ribs foods.
Yes, I enjoy living where I have four seasons. However, three of them, spring, summer, and fall are my favorites. I’ve lived in warmer places, colder ones too. Where I live now suits me.
Posted in Misc, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
That’s a wrap…for this week.
Posted by doggonedmysteries
It’s been a long week. In the last two days, the weather improved drastically. We had a temperature of 75 degrees today and plenty of sunshine. Whoopee!
I now have a working oven light. Another whoopee! I no longer have to use a flashlight to check on things cooking in there. My next door neighbor’s dear son came in today and was able to remove the end of the broken bulb. Thank goodness for tall people with long arms!
Dear Hubby is feeling much better since the oral surgeon removed the stitches. In addition, I realized I haven’t heard him complain of a headache since the removal of those broken teeth. That one deserves a big yippee!
The pups are happy and healthy. {Knock on wood there.} I posted a new picture of Patty in the Bull Pen, and if you scroll down a few posts, you’ll see Waldo the owl.
I managed to finish another chapter in my book without going postal.
My kitchen is clean and I did some yard work today. I do need to figure out how to plug the hose for the little gargoyle fountain since I’m worried that he might freeze and crack over the winter. I’ll be bringing him in with all the other garden statuary until spring rolls around again.
Posted in My blog, My books, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Food, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Writer, Writing
A buffet of possibilities
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We write chapters of our life with each day we live, every turn on our path, and bump in the road. When we stumble, we can either move forward or fall on our faces. I am of the move forward school of thought.
Keep moving forward don’t turn back. I’ve burned a few bridges, but then haven’t we all burned one or two? When you live with regrets, regrets will kick you in the shins, beat you over the head, or eat your heart out. I won’t live with them. Regrets make lousy roommates.
I’d rather dine on the buffet of possibilities. I want to lift the tops of the chafers on the buffet and snack. I want to drink the heady wine of discovery. I will dance with the future. Hand in hand with my love move forward. I will help him over the bumps, pick him up when he falls, and together we’ll write more chapters. In life, there are always possibilities.
Posted in My blog, Uncategorized, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
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