Category Archives: Writing
Going, going…GONE!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I’m outta here until Monday night, folks. Take care! PW Conference here I come!
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
The Pennwriters Conference/my working vacation begins tomorrow!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Today I will pack my suitcase. Everything else I’m taking with me is stacked on the kitchen table and chairs ready to load in my roommate’s car first thing tomorrow morning. If I forget anything, I’ll be surprised.
I did the wash so DH can’t complain he has nothing clean while I’m gone. The pond filters were backwashed and I added water to the pond.
Y’all have a great weekend! I’ll be back writing on my blog Monday night.
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
Conference preparations and odds and ends
Posted by doggonedmysteries
G dragged me (kicking and screaming) into Coldwater Creek and I bought some clothes. Yes, me, I did it. No, there wasn’t a single dress involved. I didn’t find any that I liked. However, that doesn’t mean that I won’t wear one sometime during the conference. There is that cocktail party….
Today I need to make a Target run and pick up the dog food our pet store was out of, soda for DH, ink for my printer, batteries for the camera, and chocolates! Then I need to do a couple loads of wash so DH doesn’t complain that he’s out of anything while I’m gone.
All I need to do on Wednesday is pack everything, take care of the dogs, and get my haircut at 5:30.
Thursday morning my roommate arrives we load her car and off we go!
While I was dragging my feet shopping, DH was fielding one phone call after another. First, there was the call from CBS on Your Side about the electric company—DH told Jim Donovan I’d call him when I got home. Then there was the call from the nursing home, now they are claiming they want even more money than the bill that came on Saturday had on it. It’ll be a cold day in hell. They don’t know it’s not good to make the Irish-Indian mad. DH says that there’s nothing scarier than having this redhead on the warpath.
I talked to Jim Donovan, a very nice man, and he’s looking into the electric company problem. While I had him on the phone I happened to mention the problem with the nursing home…he said once we take care of the electric company we’ll start on that too. I told you we weren’t going to roll over for all this nonsense now didn’t I?
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, CBS, Coldwater Creek, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Jim Donovan, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
Time to get ready
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I am counting the hours until the Pennwriters Conference. I picked out sessions that I want to attend. I’ve begun packing. My snack stash is ready. Business cards are printed, as are envelopes for housekeeping tips, and manuscripts I will work on are ready to print. I have lists to go over as I load my stuff into my roommate’s car so I don’t forget anything. It’s only Monday and I KNOW the next few days will crawl by.
Isn’t it Thursday?
I pity my roommate since I know I’m going to be that child in the car who says, “Are we there yet?”
I hope no one warns her. Last time she did mention duct tape…
OMG the conference is almost here and my hair is a mess!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I had to beg for an appointment to get my hair cut in time for the Pennwriters conference. I meant to call and get it cut months ago. Time got away from me. I meant to make an appointment with my stylist a couple of weeks ago but things got hectic, and I forgot until the next time my hair was driving me crazy.
With the weather getting warmer, and my hair long and thick enough to make me pay in sweat, I couldn’t stand it any more. The wooly cap had to go.
This time I left sticky notes all over my computer, the bathroom mirror, and the coffee pot to remind me to call yesterday. Yes, if I hadn’t done that, I probably would’ve forgotten AGAIN. My brain hasn’t been functioning well for the last couple of months.
I called right after I had my first cup of coffee. They had no openings. ACK! My stylist is the only one I trust to make this mass of frizz look good. I begged and pleaded. I explained I needed this unruly mop cut and under control for the writers conference. Although it is true, I didn’t want to use it, I am ashamed to say that I even played the death in the family card.
The day before I leave for the conference my stylist will cut my hair. PHEW!
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pennwriters, Pennwriters conference, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
I reserved my room at the laughing academy.
Posted by doggonedmysteries
They said they’d keep the light on for me and they mailed me the keys.
The conversation went like this:
“Hello, is this the Jolly Time Laughing Academy?”
“Yes. How may I help you Madame?”
“I’d like to reserve a room please. I’m on your regular customer list.”
“Would that be the usual or would you like one with deluxe padding this time?”
“How much more will that cost?”
“We’re running a special this week. It won’t cost any more than a regular cell…um…room.”
“Does it include the usual meds, meals, and fancy lace up the back jacket with funny sleeves?”
“Why, yes it does. And will Madam be staying her normal length of time?”
“Yes. Could I have one with a view of the gardens?”
“Why certainly. Would the south garden suit you?”
“I think that will do it.”
“We’ll leave the light on for you.”
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
It may take a bit longer than I expected
Posted by doggonedmysteries
When I finished writing my first book, I felt a deep sense of accomplishment. It took me several years to find my voice. I did what felt like a million rewrites to make the book a solid submission. I agonized for months over writing a proper synopsis. I even wrote a second book of the series and had three more mapped out to write.
I pitched it to an agent at a writer’s conference. “Send it to me,” She said.
I did and within a few weeks, I’d signed a contract with her.
What happened then? My agent submitted it to one publishing house after another all of whom turned my book down. I have some of the nicest rejection letters I’ve ever seen. Nonetheless, I remained unpublished. I pulled that first book and set it aside with the second one and the other three I’d mapped out in the series. I had a new idea.
I’m not a fast writer. I often have daily life interfere with my writing existence. However, I am a writer and I will finish my books but it may take a bit longer than I expected.
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, publish, Writer, Writing, Writing and Editing
My muse’s idea
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I jumped about a foot in the air when my muse popped into the room and said, “When are you going to sit down at your computer and do some real work?”
I’d been writing a list of things I needed to do over at the MIL’s house. Once my heart settled down to its normal rhythm I replied, “I wish I knew.”
“You need to stop agonizing over that house, take some time for you, and WRITE and I don’t mean lists!”
“I agree but if G and I don’t do it it’ll never get done.”
She leaned against the doorway, folded her arms across her chest, and said, “Sunday is Easter. You and G aren’t going over there. It would be a good time for you to make an effort.”
“It could work if DH and the dogs leave me alone long enough.”
“Maybe he’ll take a long nap? Go to bed early that night?”
“I can hope.”
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
Gearing up for the Pennwriters conference
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Although I’ve neglected my writing the last two months, I haven’t given up on it. (I promise I’ll get to it again once the MIL’s house is situated and on the market.) My hotel room is reserved, my conference fee is paid, and I’m ready for my working vacation.
Basket fillers are piling up so our yearly donation of baskets to the conference will be ready to go on May 12. I’m not sure how many baskets we have as of yet but it looks to be, at the very least, four or five so far. I do have to buy a few things to enhance the baskets. There’s nothing like some good chocolate tucked in among books to tempt one to buy a ticket.
I’m looking forward to seeing all my Pennwriters friends.
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pennwriters, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
Finding fresh ideas
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Fishing season began today without us. We never go for the first week or so. There’s too many first timers around. After a couple of weeks they soon get bored and find other things to do, which leaves the river banks clearer for those of us who enjoy going all the time.
I look forward to sitting on the riverbank and daydreaming or bird watching while my hook awaits the nibble of a fish. It gives my brain time to relax and that helps stir up the writing urge. Since it’s been a long time that we’ve gone fishing, I’m hoping for some fresh ideas.
I carry a notebook and pen along with me to write down things I see, hear, smell, and even the taste. There’s nothing like the taste of a picnic lunch along the river. Another bonus I’ve found is that there’s never a shortage of characters along a riverbank.
Posted in Misc, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, fishing, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
From where does your inspiration come?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Now that’s a question I’ve heard many times. It isn’t an easy one to answer. My writing inspiration can come from a well-turned phrase in an overheard conversation. It may come from something I see in a newspaper that makes me wonder ‘what if?’
Your neighbor hauls five heavy bags of garbage to the curb. What goes through your mind? My mystery-twisted mind wonders if he cut up a body and is disposing of it.
Scenes run through my head all the time. Unfortunately, lately they don’t seem to make it to my computer. This too shall pass as things settle down around here.
Now it’s your turn. What inspires your writing?
Tags: Artistic inspiration, Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writer Resources, Writing, Writing Exercises
Muse vs. editor
Posted by doggonedmysteries
“No, no, no you need to continue writing to the end. Stop editing as you go,” my muse told me.
I longed to bang my head on the keyboard to shake things loose in my brain. “I can’t think straight enough to write at the moment so I thought doing some editing would be a good idea.”
“Do it! Do it!” My little editor jumped up and down suddenly beside himself with excitement.
“Pull yourself together,” I told him as I grabbed the, now two, editors from my shoulder and placed them on my desk. “One of you hanging around here is enough.”
An evil grin spread over my muse’s face. “I can take care of them.” She stood and made as if to catch them.
I didn’t like the look in her eyes. “Um, that’s okay. I think he can handle it.” I leaned close to the two dancing editors and whispered, “You’d better hide. I think she means it.”
Their faces turned red, then there were two small pops, and the editors were gone.
“Rats, it would’ve given me great pleasure to smash them back into one.” My muse flopped back into Gavin’s chair and flung her legs over the arm.
“Too much pleasure I think. Let’s get back to the book.”
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Copy editing, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Editing, Editing and Proofreading, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing, Writing & Editing
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