Category Archives: Writer
Robert Burns 250th birthday
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Sunday marks the two hundred fiftieth birthday of Scotland’s national bard, Robert Burns. If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t have “Auld Lang Syne” to sing every New Year’s Eve. How many people know all five verses of the song? I wonder what he’d think about having it in common use two hundred and fifty years after his birth. It’s an amazing feat when you think about it.
Robert Burns worked hard to revive and preserve traditional Scottish song, much of which, without him would be lost today. In our town, there are many planned festivities to honor him. Art exhibits, readings of his poetry, and several places are having Burns suppers. This features the Selkirk Grace (Burns version of a traditional dinner toast), a piper leads in the chef who carries the Haggis, immortalized in verse by Burns. All stand while his poem “Address to a Haggis” is recited. Along with the suppers, there are often Scotch tastings. It’d take a lot of Scotch tasting to coax me to eat Haggis. I’ve tried it and I don’t care for it. However, I could go for a lovely scotched egg or two.
Sometime during your Superbowl festivities on Sunday, lift a glass in honor of the man.
Posted in In memory of..., 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
A caregiver’s break
Posted by doggonedmysteries
After Dear Hubby reassured me that he would be fine for a few hours, I got out of the house for a small, much needed break. I scooted off to our local Borders carting my manuscript along. I bought a large coffee, two writing magazines, and the DVD DH wanted. I settled down at a table with highlighters, a notebook, a pen, and my manuscript. I spent the next two hours sipping coffee, marking up the print out, making notes in colors on the pages, and writing out ideas in the notebook of where I can expand certain chapters. It’s the most work I’ve been able to do on the book in weeks.
Feeling more at peace and that I’d accomplished a lot, I left Borders and went to the grocery store. Yuck, I do hate shopping. However our cupboards were running to almost bare so it was a necessary trip.
When I arrived home, DH had the dogs in their crates, and the front door opened, he’d heard me pull into the driveway. It didn’t take long to unload the car.
Posted in MS related, 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, 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
Weaving the fabric of a novel
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Today I printed out my book, all 200+ pages. Now I can go through it, edit, make notes, and find continuity problems, double check plot points. I can do it anywhere instead of at my desk and my bedroom floor seems to be an ideal place. This also lets me lay out the printed pages and (by using colored sticky notes and paper clips) visualize where the book’s strengths and weaknesses are.
Why am I doing this? I have reached the dreaded sagging middle. The spot in the book where you know you must up the ante, raise the stakes, gracefully weave the threads, and make sure you aren’t boring your reader to death.
I have the ending written. I have a basic outline. What I need is to work all my threads together into a tight weave and join that to the ending in a seamless bond. That’s not as easy as one would think. I may have to clip a few threads, tug them out, and possibly work a new thread or two into the story.
This does sound like weaving fabric doesn’t it?
Posted in My blog, My books, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Love, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Beads and bedlam don’t play well together
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I wanted to sit down, listen to my French course, and work on a necklace for which I had an idea. I needed to get my mind off my book for a little while and relax. It didn’t happen. When I pulled out my boxes of beads Gavin started shaking his head repeatedly. This is not a good sign since he’s subject to a chronic ear infection.
Gavin’s ear was bothering him again so I spent some time cleaning it out and babying him. Poor dog hates having his ears cleaned but with a few cookies to aid me, I got the job done. Tomorrow we’re making an appointment to take him to the vet. He hates going there so this should be fun-NOT!
Once I settled Gavin down, I started to get out my beading board. Then I looked at the clock, realized that Dear Hubby was hours late returning home from his pain management appointment, and began to worry. Trying to call him on his cell phone didn’t help since all I got was a busy signal.
Then DH arrived home, he hadn’t made his appointment, instead he’d been in a minor fender bender and sat for over two hours waiting for the police to arrive. Don’t worry he’s fine and his truck only had some paint transfer on it.
It’s no surprise that at this point the whole idea of working on a new necklace design escaped me.
Posted in Beads, hobbies, Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Taking a French course for fun and a conference
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Salut all! Last year I met Marie and Pierre at a writer’s conference. They are a charming French couple who are a lot of fun. Upon meeting them, I dug around in my brain and dragged out some of my junior high school French. (We’re talking about a long, long time back.) I don’t remember much, but some I’ve never forgotten. Marie was delighted that I knew what I did. We quickly became friends.
She’s coming to this year’s conference. I decided to surprise her by dusting off and brushing up my French. The other day I bought a Learn to speak French course. I’ve completely surprised myself with all that I am remembering.
When I see Marie and Pierre in May I hope to be able to stumble along and at least give them a few laughs.
The next step is to have her teach me a few words that one will never find in a French course. I have my priorities you know. One has to be able to cuss people out and done in French, it sounds much nicer. Rather reminds me of this definition of diplomacy: “The ability to tell someone to go to hell in such a way that they actually look forward to the trip.”
Posted in My blog, My books, Uncategorized, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing, Writing conferences
Downloading updates for my new Word program
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I feel as though I’ve been online forever today. It never fails with Microsoft; you have to spend hours downloading security files and fixes when you put in a new program. They send their programs off to the market before they have them working properly and leave it to the consumer to update them. Gee, thanks Bill.
If I didn’t like using Microsoft Word, so much I wouldn’t buy a newer program. The program is so friggin’ expensive I couldn’t possibly buy the newest one on the market. Office Depot ran a sale on Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 this week and I bought it. I would’ve rather bought just Microsoft Word but that was way out of my price range- nearly three times the price. Go figure.
Now you know these weren’t sitting on the shelf all this time. You’d think that since it is 2009, all the updates and fixes would’ve been in the 2007 programs when they sent them to market this year. Hell no. Why in the world would they make things easier for the consumer?
Anyway, you’ll have to excuse me. I have about 5 more updates to download…
Posted in My blog, My books, Uncategorized, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Bull Terriers, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
New keyboard makes a huge difference
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I knew my old keyboard was getting bad. When is it time to get a new keyboard?
When you have to pound the keys almost as hard as you would on an old manual typewriter, it’s time for a new keyboard. When you hit a key and it stutters on the letter, it’s time for a new keyboard. When you have to pound some keys to make them work, it’s time for a new keyboard. When your husband, who is watching TV with the volume cranked up, complains that your typing is so loud it is annoying him, it’s time for a new keyboard.
If by the end of a night of writing your hands feel bruised, it’s time for a new keyboard. If your writerly friends make fun of it, it’s time for a new keyboard. When your friendly neighborhood computer geek looks at yours and says, “Wow, that’s a real antique!” It’s time to go buy a new keyboard.
This one is from a friend of mine: When the keys begin to fly off and land on the floor like rats deserting a sinking ship, you know you need a new keyboard.
Posted in My blog, My books, Uncategorized, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Bull Terriers, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Ten seconds to hook a reader
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Yes, it’s true. That is the approximate length of the time that it takes for someone to decide whether to purchase your book or not.
Did the above title hook you into reading more of this? Did it make you pause?
What does a person look at in those ten seconds? I will read the blurb on the back and look at the opening line. If I like that, I’ll read the first paragraph. Get me that far, make me want to read more, and I’ll most likely purchase the book.
Are you now thinking of your novel’s opening line, first sentence, and first paragraph?
Do they need punching up? What are you waiting for? Go do it.
**I have a page set aside for comments on my books. Let me know, do they hook you or not?**
If you want ideas on how to hook your readers, many books are available that will help. I’ve listed a couple below.
Noah Lukeman’s The First Five Pages. A Writer’s Guide to Staying Out of the Rejection Pile published by Simon and Shuster in 2000. I suggest that if you haven’t read it or added it to your writing library, go forth, and do so.
Hallie Ephron’s Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel, how to knock ’em DEAD with style. Not just for mystery writers this book is great for all fiction writers.
Posted in My blog, My books, Uncategorized, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, books, Books on writing, Coffee, Craft of writing, Fiction, Hooking your readers, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writer's guides, Writing
Pumping up your writing
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Do you tend to overwrite and lean to the flowery? Do your metaphors and similes ramble along for pages? That’s okay if you’re writing for style, not so much, if you are writing a mystery, suspense, or horror novel. You don’t want to bore your reader to death. It is best to put the brakes on overdoing the stylishness. I know many a reader who will skip over those long segments of description to get to the meat of the story.
I am guilty of not doing enough description. My writing is sparse and tight-too tight, it seems. My critique group tells me, “show me more, I want to see where you protagonist is.” I groan and make notes of where they beg for more description. Then I struggle to give them more. After all that’s why I go to the critique group. They see my weaknesses and help me to correct them.
In each chapter I toil to raise the odds, end them with cliffhangers that drive a reader to go on to read the next one. I’m getting better at cranking up the tension in small ways too.
I’m still learning. I never want to stop.
Don’t get me hooked on a game
Posted by doggonedmysteries
A friend of mine got me hooked on an online game. This is not a good thing for me I really don’t need something else begging for my time. My browser isn’t fond of it. It locked up my computer for quite a while tonight.
Once I finally was able to get back online a friend I’d been instant messaging was gone. So I went back to try the game again-not a smart idea. I got hooked on it and wasn’t going to let it beat me. I made it through all the levels they gave you only to find out if I wanted to play more of it I had to buy it.
I’ve decided that although the game was fun I erased the link after spending too much time on it and I refuse to buy it to play more.
Posted in My blog, My books, Uncategorized, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
My cousin’s art blog
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Tonight I was so busy working on my book that I couldn’t think of anything to write about for my blog. Then it occurred to me to send you over to see what my cousin is doing. She’s quite the talented artist.
I haven’t seen her for about thirty five years and we only recently managed to get in touch because her sister directed me to the blog. You’ll find the link to her blog in my blogroll-Carol’s art blog.
She has quite a collection of her work there so do take the time to check through her back blogs.
Have fun!
Posted in Misc, My blog, My books, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
That white fluffy stuff
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Here on the east coast, it’s been pouring for two days and it’s still raining. I’m glad all this rain isn’t snow. If it had been, we’d be under several feet of the white fluffy stuff by now. It has commonly happened to us here in the past. I’m happy that so far this winter I haven’t had to go out and shovel snow.
Over the years, I’ve taken pictures of the pathways we had to dig through the deep snow in our yard so the dogs could go out. Our dogs aren’t little guys. There was one year when Dear Hubby’s (four-wheel drive, extended cab) Chevy pick-up truck couldn’t make it out of our driveway because the snow was up to the top of the hood.
I heard that Louisiana and Mississippi got snow. Some areas even had a significant amount of snow, eight inches. Therefore, to those of you in Mississippi and Louisiana I say drive carefully that white stuff is slippery. In areas that get snow on a regular basis, gong under the speed limit when there’s snow on the ground is normal. We learn this early.
Another snow tip: If you spray your shovel and snow blower chutes with cooking spray the snow slides off easily.
Posted in Misc, My blog, Uncategorized, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
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