It never fails that I'm working on one project, that another idea comes along when I'm not working on my writing. Then things will come up that remind you of the idea. They will either help enhance it or squash it.
You can't always trust what your brain is doing while you are playing with stain and polyurethane, even if you open windows some and crank up the ceiling fans. However, one idea might be fun to play with in the future.
I've been reading a lot of historical novels based on the late 1800's recently. I'm even critiquing one over at the Christian Writer's Forum. While staining the shelving system my husband built for our living room, I had one of those 'what if' moments that geared into the late 1800's society.
What if the values and some of that way of life survived all the changes of technology to exist today? A far fetched alternative reality, don't you think? Well, I kept mulling this over during my staining times and here and there.
Then I get reading Julie's post from yesterday over at the Christian Writers Forum Blog and also on her blogspot at TheSurrenderedScribe. It's about how media has affected how Generation X'ers see marriage, but it can be applied to most anything. Media plays a big part in our lives and it seems that each generation takes it to the next extreme, but then asks, "Why are kids the way they are these days?" It isn't the kids shoving the media at them, but the parents. Maybe not directly, but people the age of the parents are making this stuff and some are parents.
This brought me back around to how we lost those values from the 1800's generation by generation. Some may really be outmoded, but others are timeless and should have never been lost. So what if they did not change as technology advanced? I'm right back to my 'what if' I started with, and without the stain fumes. I may not write about this idea this year due to other projects and ideas in the works, but this is one that will be mulled over and at least played with in my idea book. Who knows, it might bloom into an interesting alternate reality book or it might stay forevermore in the realms of ideas only. Time will tell.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Editing Takes Time
I did manage to spend a couple hours editing last night. It included the joy of taking all the red marks on my hardcopy and putting them into the computer. I also had to break down my chapters into new files, since most of the chapters were too long. The original manuscript was single spaced which really isn't good for editing nor is it the format publishers want it in for submission.
After two hours, the first two old chapters were done and printed out as the four chapters it turned into. These first few chapters of my book were the easiest due to the least amount of editing. The big edits start in chapter 5 of the old manuscript, so I honestly can't say how many hours I'll log for NaNoEdMo for acquiring a clean and properly formatted copy.
Once I have that all organized, I have the fun of doing one more big edit. This edit includes more dispersion of the information leading up to the finale of the novel. Some is dispersed, but not enough. The ending is more like an info dump even if it reveals an interesting twist. I want to lead up to the twist while leaving it a mystery. This will prove an interesting editing phase.
Then I do the knit-picky editing of wording to polish it up. I have a tendancy, as many do, of throwing in extra words like 'that', 'really', etc. Good ole passive voice loves to rear its head when active voice would give far more punch. When you work as an engineer writing technical documents all day that use passive voice, it gets rather entertaining reading a manuscript to find you couldn't leave ole passive voice at work.
This novel will turn into something publishable soon enough, but some days it needs to come after my writing homework assignments. Or some short item comes up wanting attention like an inspirational article I did print all the critiques for when I do sit down to polish it.
Now to head out so I can work on some of this for the evening.
After two hours, the first two old chapters were done and printed out as the four chapters it turned into. These first few chapters of my book were the easiest due to the least amount of editing. The big edits start in chapter 5 of the old manuscript, so I honestly can't say how many hours I'll log for NaNoEdMo for acquiring a clean and properly formatted copy.
Once I have that all organized, I have the fun of doing one more big edit. This edit includes more dispersion of the information leading up to the finale of the novel. Some is dispersed, but not enough. The ending is more like an info dump even if it reveals an interesting twist. I want to lead up to the twist while leaving it a mystery. This will prove an interesting editing phase.
Then I do the knit-picky editing of wording to polish it up. I have a tendancy, as many do, of throwing in extra words like 'that', 'really', etc. Good ole passive voice loves to rear its head when active voice would give far more punch. When you work as an engineer writing technical documents all day that use passive voice, it gets rather entertaining reading a manuscript to find you couldn't leave ole passive voice at work.
This novel will turn into something publishable soon enough, but some days it needs to come after my writing homework assignments. Or some short item comes up wanting attention like an inspirational article I did print all the critiques for when I do sit down to polish it.
Now to head out so I can work on some of this for the evening.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Life Interrupted
I was on a good roll with writing, but then I let other life needs interrupt. In the end it worked out fine because I did something else I love to do.
I did a lot of writing/editing at the end of last week knowing I would spend Saturday doing things with my husband and getting out of the house. It turned into a great day together with a lot of shopping for things we needed and splurging for a few things we wanted.
We acquired a piece of molding, stain and polyurethane for finishing the bookshelves my husband has been working on for the winter. Since he had to work overtime Sunday evening, I decided to start the staining. I had no desire to sit down, which ruled out any editing I had planned to do. I cranked up "The Message" on XM radio and set out to see how the staining would go. Setup is always a little tedious, but once I got on a roll, I kept on going. Next thing I knew it was nine o'clock and I had everything assembled thus far stained.
I decided to continue with the polyurethane on Monday after work. Three hours later, the glossy shine and the oils of the polyurethane had made the grain pop out all the more on the oak wood. The golden oak stain with the glossy polyurethane finish had proven a good choice.
Of course, this led to my husband trying to tell me I was in a hurry for my book shelves. I told him I had a lot of fun doing it, so figured I might as well go to the end before cleaning up. I think he felt more upset due to not accomplishing as much on a work day as I can. I had to remind him that he gets up with me at breakfast after only five hours of sleep and then he needs to go back to get the remaining 2 or 3 after I leave. If he didn't do this, we would really feel like ships passing in the night with our different work shifts. This leaves him with 2 or 3 hours to put into a project before work around everything else. I usually have 5 to 6 hours straight to use after work.
So I may have some nicely stained bookshelves, but I had to just chill last night. I need to do some writing tonight. These past four days put me behind the insanity of NaNoEdMo and accomplishing 50 hours of editing in the month of March. I also want to finish another homework assignment this week. After looking over the critiques of my inspirational article again, I feel inspired to crank out the suggested changes I feel would work for my writing style and submit the revision for a final critique.
Now, I did manage to critique three more chapters of a novel for a member over at the Christian Writers Forum. That is just as important to me as getting my own writing done. It actually helps me look at my writing differently knowing what a critiquer should look for.
Crazy me also has the next writing how-to book for our Missing Pages Book Club and I need to read some of it for tomorrow night's discussion. I could not make any sense out of it last night, but I think my brain is recovering from whatever had it sleeping last night.
This all proves writing is a huge part of my life now and it feels weird to take some time off from it to do something else.
I did a lot of writing/editing at the end of last week knowing I would spend Saturday doing things with my husband and getting out of the house. It turned into a great day together with a lot of shopping for things we needed and splurging for a few things we wanted.
We acquired a piece of molding, stain and polyurethane for finishing the bookshelves my husband has been working on for the winter. Since he had to work overtime Sunday evening, I decided to start the staining. I had no desire to sit down, which ruled out any editing I had planned to do. I cranked up "The Message" on XM radio and set out to see how the staining would go. Setup is always a little tedious, but once I got on a roll, I kept on going. Next thing I knew it was nine o'clock and I had everything assembled thus far stained.
I decided to continue with the polyurethane on Monday after work. Three hours later, the glossy shine and the oils of the polyurethane had made the grain pop out all the more on the oak wood. The golden oak stain with the glossy polyurethane finish had proven a good choice.
Of course, this led to my husband trying to tell me I was in a hurry for my book shelves. I told him I had a lot of fun doing it, so figured I might as well go to the end before cleaning up. I think he felt more upset due to not accomplishing as much on a work day as I can. I had to remind him that he gets up with me at breakfast after only five hours of sleep and then he needs to go back to get the remaining 2 or 3 after I leave. If he didn't do this, we would really feel like ships passing in the night with our different work shifts. This leaves him with 2 or 3 hours to put into a project before work around everything else. I usually have 5 to 6 hours straight to use after work.
So I may have some nicely stained bookshelves, but I had to just chill last night. I need to do some writing tonight. These past four days put me behind the insanity of NaNoEdMo and accomplishing 50 hours of editing in the month of March. I also want to finish another homework assignment this week. After looking over the critiques of my inspirational article again, I feel inspired to crank out the suggested changes I feel would work for my writing style and submit the revision for a final critique.
Now, I did manage to critique three more chapters of a novel for a member over at the Christian Writers Forum. That is just as important to me as getting my own writing done. It actually helps me look at my writing differently knowing what a critiquer should look for.
Crazy me also has the next writing how-to book for our Missing Pages Book Club and I need to read some of it for tomorrow night's discussion. I could not make any sense out of it last night, but I think my brain is recovering from whatever had it sleeping last night.
This all proves writing is a huge part of my life now and it feels weird to take some time off from it to do something else.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Getting Out of Isolation Mode
Writing causes a great deal of isolation because it is a solitary job. For the best writing time you will find yourself alone. If others are in the house, you are probably writing while they work on other things or sleeping. I know if I'm home with my husband and I manage to do writing related things it is because he is doing other things. If you let it, your writing can reduce you to only seeing your family and people at church (if you don't have a full time job).
I know I need to get out and be with people now and then. There is the need to be connected. How will I write about people if I don't know people?
It still does not prove easy, but I've become the secretary/treasurer of our Women's Ministries at church. With my crazy need to write, spend time with my husband and hold down a full time job, I find my desire to go out and do extra things squelched most days. I have taken this knowledge of myself and working on getting more interest in the ministry. I've set the goal of getting way more literature out in advance for what we are doing in order for the women to actually see what we are doing and what will happen next. If I don't at least try this enticement, then I won't know if it will actually help gain more involvement. I do understand that schedules don't always workout and many with teenage kids have after school things that block out even a once a month women's ministry meeting.
Will it work? Who knows. Maybe some things will get going on different days to actually accomplish some projects.
In the long run I know it will help me. I am enjoying fellowshiping with the women of my church and getting to know them better. I'm learning more about who I am as a person and what causes me to get irritated and what does not. Then I can learn how to change my feelings or at least redirect them in a way that solves my internal issues while accomplishing something with a team. It's a trial, so there will be learning. Hiding from people just to do my writing will hinder my growth as a person and hinder my understanding of how people tick.
Besides, doing things as a group can be quite enlightening and entertaining. You can accomplish more and in the end you still have plenty of writing time around the group activities. So get out there and live and see how it can enhance your writing along the way. Don't believe me? I find that I can still get in 20 hours a week of writing/editing with a full time job, women's ministries, church, family and friends.
I know I need to get out and be with people now and then. There is the need to be connected. How will I write about people if I don't know people?
It still does not prove easy, but I've become the secretary/treasurer of our Women's Ministries at church. With my crazy need to write, spend time with my husband and hold down a full time job, I find my desire to go out and do extra things squelched most days. I have taken this knowledge of myself and working on getting more interest in the ministry. I've set the goal of getting way more literature out in advance for what we are doing in order for the women to actually see what we are doing and what will happen next. If I don't at least try this enticement, then I won't know if it will actually help gain more involvement. I do understand that schedules don't always workout and many with teenage kids have after school things that block out even a once a month women's ministry meeting.
Will it work? Who knows. Maybe some things will get going on different days to actually accomplish some projects.
In the long run I know it will help me. I am enjoying fellowshiping with the women of my church and getting to know them better. I'm learning more about who I am as a person and what causes me to get irritated and what does not. Then I can learn how to change my feelings or at least redirect them in a way that solves my internal issues while accomplishing something with a team. It's a trial, so there will be learning. Hiding from people just to do my writing will hinder my growth as a person and hinder my understanding of how people tick.
Besides, doing things as a group can be quite enlightening and entertaining. You can accomplish more and in the end you still have plenty of writing time around the group activities. So get out there and live and see how it can enhance your writing along the way. Don't believe me? I find that I can still get in 20 hours a week of writing/editing with a full time job, women's ministries, church, family and friends.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Bad Emotions
I'm not sure why it happens, but I actually did not feel overly right yesterday and I woke up feeling like could spit nails this morning. There is absolutely no reason for any of this. Only bad thing about yesterday was that my job was boring, but that definitely doesn't get my blood boiling. I think the worse that happened was something I was trying to type up got obliterated and not being in the right frame of mind it came off worse. Other than that it was just another rainy day.
Even talking to God and praying didn't seem to help much at first. It was two hours after I got up that I felt like I had an even keel again emotionally. I even called to apologize to my husband because I know I was not helping his morning any even if I didn't lose it until he finally did. I guess he wasn't doing so well either, since he is trying to get over the cold I gave him. I only have minor congestion that is just bad enough to be annoying at times and more due to it seeming to lag on for days.
So I manage to find my equilibrium and I can function at work. Whether emotionally or mentally off it is not going to go well for the day if you know you have to do a huge amount of number data entry for a project. It probably wouldn't help me if I were home trying to edit my novel either. Though if I were home I would have some good Christian bands playing in the background to help sooth the beast within.
Hopefully it is gone for awhile and doesn't come back without a reason ever again. I doubt this since I am only human. I can definitely see why we should not be ruled by our emotions because sometimes they just don't make any sense at all.
All I know is that the Bible study, some lying down and then having the Christian music going made it so I actually did three hours of productive novel editing last night. I'm quite sure if I did not lean on God and rely on His Word to help get my mind and emotions on the right path, everything could have gone far worse.
Maybe I'm just feeling cabin fever and wanting it to be spring real soon now that I survived to March. ::laughing:: All I know is that I definitely was off kilter for some reason I can't determine for sure.
Even talking to God and praying didn't seem to help much at first. It was two hours after I got up that I felt like I had an even keel again emotionally. I even called to apologize to my husband because I know I was not helping his morning any even if I didn't lose it until he finally did. I guess he wasn't doing so well either, since he is trying to get over the cold I gave him. I only have minor congestion that is just bad enough to be annoying at times and more due to it seeming to lag on for days.
So I manage to find my equilibrium and I can function at work. Whether emotionally or mentally off it is not going to go well for the day if you know you have to do a huge amount of number data entry for a project. It probably wouldn't help me if I were home trying to edit my novel either. Though if I were home I would have some good Christian bands playing in the background to help sooth the beast within.
Hopefully it is gone for awhile and doesn't come back without a reason ever again. I doubt this since I am only human. I can definitely see why we should not be ruled by our emotions because sometimes they just don't make any sense at all.
All I know is that the Bible study, some lying down and then having the Christian music going made it so I actually did three hours of productive novel editing last night. I'm quite sure if I did not lean on God and rely on His Word to help get my mind and emotions on the right path, everything could have gone far worse.
Maybe I'm just feeling cabin fever and wanting it to be spring real soon now that I survived to March. ::laughing:: All I know is that I definitely was off kilter for some reason I can't determine for sure.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Zipping Right Along
Time and what I'm managing to do with it is zipping right along. Even the needed do-hardly-anything day yesterday helped immensely. My husband even called into work and we both pretty much worked on getting rid of our colds. I'm sure I gave it to him for that matter.
It made it close to 50 yesterday, but turned the world into soupiness as the snow melted. Our road is pretty much a mud pit due to the dirt they throw on it during the winter. So it warmed up after all that snow we had when I posted only three days ago. Of couse, today it stays cooler and rains all day. I'm ready for warm weather where I can get out without having to wear boots for a walk or too many layers. Actually I'm ready for some nice 70 degree and sunny days. I'm finding it far too easy to be lethargic these days.
On a good point, I definitely was not lethargic on Sunday. I got about 25% of my sci fi novel in outline mode. So far one scene jumps out that needs editing, but not much. Finding I'm wanting to leave the worldly stuff in there to a degree to show how it contrasts with how the character feels and changes by the end of the novel. I just don't want anything risque scampering around in the pages. ;)
The interesting thing is the outline is way different from the one for the homework assignment I did using the young adult novel idea. However, both are helping with the writing process as needed for each story. I'll be able to go back to the YA novel more easily now with what I have done for the homework assignments in order to finish writing it. The sci fi novel, I'll know where I need to edit, delete or add scenes in order for proper flow and timing of the plot as well as keeping the character arch true.
I think the in depth outline I'm doing for the completed sci fi novel is going to wind up being around 25 pages or more by the time I'm done. I'm guessing it will take a minimum of 12 hours to complete due to it taking 3 hours for the first 25% of the story. I would love to have it done by this weekend, but we shall see how that goes. Only good thing is that I'm back to my normal work schedule which might actually help me get things done.
I think I'm up to doing a workout when I get home before I plunge into my outline. The moving around will help immensely. This nerve issue with my left arm will hopefully get some relief if I get in the stretching and weight training the physical therapist told me to keep doing. Due to the crummy weather, I'll hop on the treadmill if it is in a place where I can get it plugged in. Use of the equipment we have at home is random now based on the fact we have pieces of book shelving being assembled taking up living room space and crowding out the exercise equipment areas. It will all lead to even more organizing and getting things where they belong in the house once done. Less clutter will even help the den and how I arrange my writing areas.
When I feel fried on my novel editing, I'll grab my article and work on the suggested edits from the critiques I got. I could try a story for the faithwriters topic of the week, too. Now what was that? Yup, definitely in novel mode at the moment.
It made it close to 50 yesterday, but turned the world into soupiness as the snow melted. Our road is pretty much a mud pit due to the dirt they throw on it during the winter. So it warmed up after all that snow we had when I posted only three days ago. Of couse, today it stays cooler and rains all day. I'm ready for warm weather where I can get out without having to wear boots for a walk or too many layers. Actually I'm ready for some nice 70 degree and sunny days. I'm finding it far too easy to be lethargic these days.
On a good point, I definitely was not lethargic on Sunday. I got about 25% of my sci fi novel in outline mode. So far one scene jumps out that needs editing, but not much. Finding I'm wanting to leave the worldly stuff in there to a degree to show how it contrasts with how the character feels and changes by the end of the novel. I just don't want anything risque scampering around in the pages. ;)
The interesting thing is the outline is way different from the one for the homework assignment I did using the young adult novel idea. However, both are helping with the writing process as needed for each story. I'll be able to go back to the YA novel more easily now with what I have done for the homework assignments in order to finish writing it. The sci fi novel, I'll know where I need to edit, delete or add scenes in order for proper flow and timing of the plot as well as keeping the character arch true.
I think the in depth outline I'm doing for the completed sci fi novel is going to wind up being around 25 pages or more by the time I'm done. I'm guessing it will take a minimum of 12 hours to complete due to it taking 3 hours for the first 25% of the story. I would love to have it done by this weekend, but we shall see how that goes. Only good thing is that I'm back to my normal work schedule which might actually help me get things done.
I think I'm up to doing a workout when I get home before I plunge into my outline. The moving around will help immensely. This nerve issue with my left arm will hopefully get some relief if I get in the stretching and weight training the physical therapist told me to keep doing. Due to the crummy weather, I'll hop on the treadmill if it is in a place where I can get it plugged in. Use of the equipment we have at home is random now based on the fact we have pieces of book shelving being assembled taking up living room space and crowding out the exercise equipment areas. It will all lead to even more organizing and getting things where they belong in the house once done. Less clutter will even help the den and how I arrange my writing areas.
When I feel fried on my novel editing, I'll grab my article and work on the suggested edits from the critiques I got. I could try a story for the faithwriters topic of the week, too. Now what was that? Yup, definitely in novel mode at the moment.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
First Day of NaNoEdMo
NaNoEdMo started today, but I didn't. I'm actually at work due to the project through the weekend. I'll finally get my weekend some time this coming week. Then I'll crank through some editing.
To make things more interesting, I'm fighting off a lovely cold that has me sleeping extra when I can just so I can manage to be here through the weekend for this project. I'm so tempted to add on some vacation days to just disappear for more days to recuperate.
On a good note I actually got my writing assignment I discussed in the last post done and sent in on Tuesday. Then, while sitting here for this project one night, scribbled out the character biography I needed for the next assignment. I typed that up this morning and reorganized it. I also dug through what I have done of the draft to find a scene where dialogue and action are the primary sources for knowledge of the characters involved for the reader. I need to recheck that it states no more than 4 double spaced pages and not at least. My brain is suddenly scared that I read it wrong, but I'm not handing it in until I get the other assignment back from my mentor. At least, I'll have this assignment ready to go as soon as she's done with that one. I need to get one more extra lesson squeaked in at the least to be sure I am caught up again.
The outlining I mentioned actually went really well. It helped determine where I've gone already with what I do have written in rough draft and solidified more of the idea for the rest of it. The character sketch ended up having some of the ideas in it as well. Due to how well it went for this, I'm definitely starting off my NaNoEdMo with a scene by scene outline for the sci fi novel to really find where the plot needs work or the character arch seems to sag. I bet this will take a few hours in of itself. The one for the YW novel used in the lesson took me around four hours minimum to do. However, part of it is not written and I could make up most of it. For the sci fi novel I have the entire thing written and then I need to mark where things should change and outline how to make the change flow in.
Only time will tell in how much it will take to truly edit what I have to. Needless to say, despite crazy work hours and other life interruptions, I have a feeling I'll be needing 50 hours to do a lot of this editing. Now to see if I have 50 hours in one month to do it. Oh, wait. I bet I do! I used to spend around 20+ hours playing internet games like EverQuest in a week and still get some stuff done. I think I do sleep more now, though. ;)
It might as well snow if it is winter, but could someone convince March that since it came in like a lion that it better be a lamb by the 15th. :P I'm ready for spring, but have 7 inches of new snow instead.
To make things more interesting, I'm fighting off a lovely cold that has me sleeping extra when I can just so I can manage to be here through the weekend for this project. I'm so tempted to add on some vacation days to just disappear for more days to recuperate.
On a good note I actually got my writing assignment I discussed in the last post done and sent in on Tuesday. Then, while sitting here for this project one night, scribbled out the character biography I needed for the next assignment. I typed that up this morning and reorganized it. I also dug through what I have done of the draft to find a scene where dialogue and action are the primary sources for knowledge of the characters involved for the reader. I need to recheck that it states no more than 4 double spaced pages and not at least. My brain is suddenly scared that I read it wrong, but I'm not handing it in until I get the other assignment back from my mentor. At least, I'll have this assignment ready to go as soon as she's done with that one. I need to get one more extra lesson squeaked in at the least to be sure I am caught up again.
The outlining I mentioned actually went really well. It helped determine where I've gone already with what I do have written in rough draft and solidified more of the idea for the rest of it. The character sketch ended up having some of the ideas in it as well. Due to how well it went for this, I'm definitely starting off my NaNoEdMo with a scene by scene outline for the sci fi novel to really find where the plot needs work or the character arch seems to sag. I bet this will take a few hours in of itself. The one for the YW novel used in the lesson took me around four hours minimum to do. However, part of it is not written and I could make up most of it. For the sci fi novel I have the entire thing written and then I need to mark where things should change and outline how to make the change flow in.
Only time will tell in how much it will take to truly edit what I have to. Needless to say, despite crazy work hours and other life interruptions, I have a feeling I'll be needing 50 hours to do a lot of this editing. Now to see if I have 50 hours in one month to do it. Oh, wait. I bet I do! I used to spend around 20+ hours playing internet games like EverQuest in a week and still get some stuff done. I think I do sleep more now, though. ;)
It might as well snow if it is winter, but could someone convince March that since it came in like a lion that it better be a lamb by the 15th. :P I'm ready for spring, but have 7 inches of new snow instead.
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