Blog Archives
Stranger than fiction?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction has to make sense. ~Tom Clancy~
Reality is often a strange place to live. I’ve heard true stories and seen things that I wouldn’t dare put in my fiction writing because no one would believe it.
The way my mind works, I have to bounce things off The Curmudgeon to see if he thinks it is believable. He makes for a great technical adviser but sometimes his imagination is a tad lacking and I have to ask others their opinions.
Having a wild imagination isn’t always good for a writer. Fiction that doesn’t sound real enough will put off a reader faster than a skunk’s butt backing up to him/her. It has to be believable enough to suspend disbelief.
Thus, even real situations that sound too fantastic to believe will lose readers. They must always make sense if only in terms of making sense for the story.
I still want my old desk top
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I’m glad The Curmudgeon shies away from using my new lap top. This is a good thing because it means he’ll leave it alone all the time once my old workhorse is back home. Yeah, the lap top is cool, but I’m used to my desk top and I miss it.
I did have a difficult time getting used to the mouse pad, so when I am using the lap top at my desk, I hook my mouse up to it.
I have no idea how long my old work horse will be in the computer hospital–not much longer I hope. However, if he can save most of my hard drive he can keep it for as long as he needs to.
I still want to shoot the malicious turd who malware bombed me. I had some pictures on that computer I hadn’t saved to my flash drive yet. {Sigh} I hope they aren’t lost forever. Hell, just shooting them isn’t good enough–they should suffer through a bunch of torture first then get shot.
You all stay healthy and have a good one!
Posted in My blog
Tags: Author, Bones, Bull Terriers, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Doggoned, Multiple Sclerosis, Novel writing, Writer
Oh, muse of mine, return to me
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Oh, please muse of mine come kick me in the a** and jump-start my writing. Seek me out and hold a gun to my head–make me write.
Take the blank spaces in my brain and fill them to overflowing with words. Make the words dance and the voices come back to sing operas.
Make my fingers fly over the keyboard telling the tales locked up inside me.
Tags: Author, Bones, Books on writing, Doggoned, Novel writing, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
Write the perfect want ad
Posted by doggonedmysteries
My body is flabby. My brain is flabbier. I am out of shape both physically and mentally. Although I’ve quit smoking and am eating healthier meals I find I’m gaining pounds by leaps and bounds.
I’ve tried exercising but since I’m basically a very lazy person I tend to fade fast. That also goes for any writing exercises I’ve tried. My brain tends to overload rather quickly.
At this point, I’m beginning to think that I not only need a personal trainer to kick me physically back into shape, but I also need a personal writing trainer to tie me to my desk and hold a gun to my head.
Maybe one that does both. How does one write that want ad? How would you write it?
Posted in healthy living, Misc, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, Books on writing, Craft of writing, Doggoned, Heart smart, Multiple Sclerosis, Novel writing, Post A Day 2011, Writing
Writing exercise
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Take a line from one of your books and improve on it, exaggerate it, go over the top!
Curiosity got the better of me; I tugged the gate open and slipped into the run.
Curiosity grabbed me by the scruff of the neck, threw me through the open gate, and into the run.
I blushed for the second time.
I felt the heat of blood infuse my face and knew it looked like a red neon sign for the second time. I could almost picture the cartoon arrow flashing above my head ‘look here, look here!’
Posted in My books, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Doggoned, Multiple Sclerosis, Novel writing, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
It’s only 88 days from now
Posted by doggonedmysteries
A peek at an idea for you…
Brad surveyed the ancient Victorian home with a jaundiced eye. “If I hear one moan, one groan, or one chain rattle, I’m out of here.”
“Aw, come on. It’ll be fun.” I tugged on his sleeve leading him up the steps.
“Fun for you, maybe.”
“Yeah, I always enjoy hearing a big strong man scream like a little girl.”
“Keep it up and I won’t go in there.” He gave me a look that would curdle milk.
“We’re getting paid. Other people have to PAY to go to this house.”
“Remind me, why are they paying us?”
“The say their ghosts are angry about something and they want us to find out what it is before they open the house to the public for Halloween.”
“Yeah, that’s the part I don’t get. We’re private detectives not freaking ghost busters.”
Posted in Holidays
Tags: Author, Dead, Doggoned, Fiction, Mysteries, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
I have hit a milestone
Posted by doggonedmysteries
This is my 1000th post! When I began this blog, I never thought I’d keep posting daily for a long as I have. I’ve only missed posting on days I was too sick to get out of bed or when I was away at my writer’s conference.
I never thought I’d have return readers or, much less, a small following, but I do. To you my dear readers I say thank you for without you I wouldn’t have made it to this milestone.
You encourage me to keep writing even when I feel crappy. Writing on this blog has become a way to keep my hand in while my brain is out of gear on my mysteries.
I hope when we sell the house and things are back to a semblance of normal around here I will have no more problems with my books and can finish them in short order.
I promise you, if you hang in here with me during this rocky time, I will get them done.
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
A clean desk brings discovery
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I should clean off my desk more often. I had no idea I had two of Donald Maass’s ‘Writing the Breakout Novel’ workbooks. Maybe this is a cosmic hint? Can you guess what is going into a basket for the 2012 Pennwriters conference? (That is unless you want it, Dave.)
I know my muse isn’t happy with me. Heck, I’m not happy with me. I can’t seem to concentrate when I sit down at the computer to write.
DH says it’s because I have too much on my mind. He feels bad that I’m doing all the work at his mother’s house along with everything at home. Hey, if I don’t, no one else will. He certainly can’t do it.
Once we finish over there and get the darned place sold, things should settle down here and I’ll get my concentration back.
G and I are going over today to begin packing the leftover sale stuff up for Goodwill.
Posted in Misc, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
OMG, I can’t believe we’re doing another one!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
After last weekend I knew we needed to do another sale. Up at six really doesn’t sit well with me but I am doing it none-the-less.
Do me a favor and keep all appendages crossed that we clean out the house today.
(Groan) I hate mornings.
Posted in Misc
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
Gremlins in the house
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We have a problem with gremlins in this house. Things disappear, reappear, and disappear again. Now I am missing a large tablet, several favorite pens, and a big package of double ‘A’ batteries. Therefore, I’m guessing our gremlins needed paper, pens and batteries.
Are our gremlins writers? Did they need batteries for their remote controls?
DH claims he hasn’t seen the missing items. Gavin and Patty don’t have thumbs so they can’t write and I have no idea what the pups would need with batteries.
If there were kids in this house, I’d know where the batteries went. I’ve known kids who were guilty of swiping batteries from parent’s remotes to power their stuff.
Usually, our gremlins return the borrowed items. I only need to be patient.
Do you have gremlins? What things do they borrow?
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Beads, 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
A multitude of things
Posted by doggonedmysteries
My desk chair needs replacing. The hydraulics are dying and when I sit in it, it slowly sinks to level too low for my desk. It makes me look like a three-year-old trying to type at Daddy’s desk. Maybe, when we sell the house, I can afford a new chair.
Over the next two days, I need to make some posters and flyers for our last-ditch effort sale of the MIL’s stuff. We need the house empty so we can paint. Painters don’t charge as much if they don’t have to paint around furniture. Big surprise yesterday, one of neighbor’s came over to the house while G and I were there and bought $51.00 worth of stuff! Yay, more money for the paint the house fund!
We enjoyed a lovely PA Dutch creamy cucumber salad made from the cucumbers I picked a few days ago. They were delicious.
Things have cooled down here, a wonderful relief from the heat and humidity of the last few days. I opened the windows last night and turned off the AC.
I hope you all have a lovely day today.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
I do know where this day went
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I typed the letter to the insurance company and had DH sign it. Then I made copies of the policies (again) and the claim form he’d filled out and mailed ages ago. Tossed everything into an envelope and mailed it.
I took the dogs out, ran to the grocery store, came home and worked on the pond, watered the plants, took the dogs out, and fed them. After that I cooked our dinner, we ate, I washed the dishes, took the dogs out, and sliced cucumbers. Then I put the cucumbers in a bowl, salted them, and put them in the fridge to sit for a couple of hours.
I fed the fish. I sat down to catch my breath for a little while. I put eggs on to boil, cut potatoes into cubes and put them on to boil. I cut celery and onions made the dressing for the potato salad and put it over the celery and onions. I put that bowl in the fridge.
Eggs done, cooled them, peeled and chopped them, and added them to the potato salad bowl. Drained the potatoes and added them to the bowl. Then I put the bowl in the fridge.
I washed all the prep dishes.
I sat down at the computer and began to type this….
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Food, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
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