W. J. Howard: Monday's Whine

Showing posts with label Monday's Whine. Show all posts

I've Been Thinking

I was up kinda late last night, thinking about what I'd write about today. No...make that over thinking about what to write. So I didn't actually fall asleep until around midnight. After the fact, I probably should of gotten up and just wrote this damn post, but I didn't, and now it's 9:30 A.M. and I'm finally writing it. Let me warn you in advance that you might get snared in the babbling a bit.

So what did I think about. Mostly about not writing in this blog anymore. Lately I've seen a lot of posts in other blogs with advice on what to write in a blog. Number one (or maybe two :-)), don't write about yourself. I have to say I can't argue with this way of thinking. I also have to say I glance over other blogs where people rant on like I was or just talk about themselves. This includes writing about the struggles of writing. It's what I do for a career, right? So by writing about writing, I'm essentially writing about myself. Except of course if I'm writing about writing from a technical perspective, and guess what? There are lots of other people who write about writing and publishing, and I love reading their blogs, but I personally have no interest in doing it myself.

So I thought about how much time I spend blogging, yet again. If you've read my blog in the past, I've been complaining about this for awhile. And the answer is TOO MUCH TIME! I get sick to my stomach when I think about the amount of time lost on blog posts when I could be writing fiction. But, I've decided not to dwell on it. Reason? I also thought about popular writers who've written over ten books. Not many of them feel the need to blog regularly, yet here I am with three blogs. Well, technically two. The Courier's blog is the actual book. Another reason I've decided to not sweat it is because I'm a toddler when it comes to fiction writing. I'll admit I don't like to always think of myself as such a youngling because I wrote nonfiction for so many years, but they are completely different animals. So trying to portray myself as a seasoned author or give advice about fiction writing really seems absurd considering I'm not even published.

I really sorta figured it out last night while finishing up the parts of Mary Kay's book I wanted to read. These are some of the wisest words I've ever heard:

"We fail forward to success."

I'm not a professional blogger. I'm a fiction writer. I want you readers out there to read my fiction, not my life story. So, struggling every week to add content to this blog is one of my failures because I'm not producing what I want you to read. Admitting your failures is a huge step, and so now I breath a sigh of relief and give up this blog. Well kinda. The whole format will basically change/return to a home base with links to my fiction accomplishments. Sorry, but this also means the Writer Wednesday Blog Hop ends, although I'll add influential links as I find them.

So, in closing, I leave you to go do what I long to do...write fiction...

Weekly Whine: Busy, Busy, Busy

No time to whine this week. Gotta finish up Bloodleggers part one early this week. Actually need to finish up part one and two before the end of the week. YIKES! We're trying to get ahead by at least a month, and I'm holding up progress.

But just for fun, what would an event like the St. Valentine's Day Massacre be like if the gangsters were vampires?

Weekly Whine: Contradictory Feedback

We're on day 4 with no sun here in Denver and I feel like all my energy has been sucked out of me. The good thing...I'm wearing a sweater in June. Hate the heat. It's supposed to clear up today, and I can see the mountains, so at least no walking beagles in the rain today.

Anyways, I'm lacking motivation to write today, so I put in Drag me to Hell right before I sat down to write this. Get the heart pumping; wake me up. I know nothing about this movie other than a vague memory of the commercials last year. It just started and I'm not impressed with the gross gypsy woman and her curse on the pitiful Christine. Great timing with the storyline, considering the banking industry. Wrong target though. Can we please drag a few upper executives of the major banks to Hell...please.

I'm pretty excited that Literary Agent Rachelle Gardner is running a series this week in her blog on contradictory feedback. This has been my greatest challenge as I make my way through the feedback from my critique group. Best piece of advice she provides this morning.

It's important for you to go with your gut and stick with your vision. Don't allow anyone to take away your voice or an important part of your message. However, if you're a newer writer and you're not sure you've found your voice yet, you can allow those critics to help you refine your voice or find your vision. It's a delicate and tricky balance - figuring out which changes feel like you're improving the work, and which feel like compromise. Only you can decide.

I do go with my gut, but I've reached a point in my group where I have my favorite critique members. And recently I've gone against my gut and experimented with a few suggestions that turned out helping the story flow better. Interesting lesson and more contradictions.

Drag me to Hell is over. My rating, 3 out of 5 stars. They set it up, so it was very obvious how it was going to end. All in all, the movie reminded me of a cutsie long and predictable Tales from the Crypt episode.

It's Monday! What are You Reading?

What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme, hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Currently Reading: Road Trip of the Living Dead by Mark Henry & God Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert

Listening to: Blood Trail by C. J. Box

Just Finished: Moonshine by Alaya Johnson & Small Favor by Jim Butcher (LOVED IT!!)

Next up: Dance on Fire by James Garcia Jr.

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Weekly Whine: Morning Coffee's a Must

See below for It's Monday! What are you reading?

I don't really have anything to whine about today. I'm over my latest bout of anemia as of yesterday and actually had the energy to get out of bed at 3:50 A.M. this morning. Still had to head to the Keurig brewer first thing and watched the strongest brew stream into the cup. Ahhh...the aroma of morning coffee.

I got a bunch of yard work done yesterday. I love yard work! Really gives you the time to be productive and ponder, all at the same time. My poor backyard garden was seriously neglected after being ill the last couple years, so getting it back in order really makes me happy and peppy too :-). It was pretty hot yesterday though, and I HATE the heat--there's a tiny whine. Can't wait until we move up to the mountains full time. House in the mountains looking out on Longs Peak, where you see snow for most of the year, is the definition of heaven.

I have a confession. I missed the cutoff date for the contest. I worked my ass off editing The Courier and pulling my hair out with the synopsis, and it was nothing but painful. When the anemia got bad last weekend, I gave up and used my "lack of energy" as an excuse not to finish. The deadline came and went last Tuesday, and I didn't care. In fact, I was relieved I didn't enter. What it all came down to is that I lose my enjoyment for writing when I enter contests. So, NO MORE CONTESTS!

Off to add this week's forum topic to Vamplit Writer's. This week's question is who our vampire alter ego would be from literature, movies or television. The question came to me while watching Ultraviolet for the 20th time this weekend. Another movie I loved that no one else seemed to enjoy. So it's, no contest. I'd be Violet.

Oh, another movie we watched over the weekend that I thought was awesome, even after my son warned me young people really hated it was Gamer with Gerard Butler. Michael C. Hall plays another psycho in the movie. The man sure has talent for such roles.

WOW! I may not of had a lot to whine about, but I sure had enough to natter through.

It's Monday! What are You Reading?

No Whine Zone

In honor of Memorial Day, there will be no whining today. Instead, I will reflect on my own time serving our country and thanking God that since WWII my close family members who have served during wartime have all returned home safe.

In addition, I'm starting a new section, joining What Are You Reading?

Currently Reading: Moonshine by Alaya Johnson & Small Favor by Jim Butcher

Just Finished: To Your Scattered Bodies Go by Philip Jose Farmer & White Plague by Frank Herbert

Next up: Road Trip of the Living Dead by Mark Henry & Dance on Fire by James Garcia Jr.

What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme, hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Powered by Linky Tools Click here to enter your link and view the entire list of entered links…

Weekly Whine: Approaching the Half Way Point

A rude awakening came to me last week when I read Mini Check-up: Where are you on your goals for 2010? a post on Writer's Inspired.

According to my calendar, July 1 will bring us to the 182nd day of 2010, leaving us with 183 days to complete our goals for this year.

UH OH!

After I read Mary Jo Campbell's blog post, I told myself I'd sit back this weekend and think about my own accomplishments, critically, and try to figure out a make-up plan. Well, I did yard work instead. I didn't blow off setting a plan though. Yard work provides a lot of time to think things over. So in between rose bush pricks and scrapes all over my arms, I realized I've accomplished quite a bit this year. It may not be what I'd hoped it be, but I've been no slouch.

What I did confirm is that I'm burned out on The Courier. All I've been working on is the writing, editing, outlining, and planning of five separate books and frankly, it's driving me batty. I haven't written a poem or short story in the longest time. I live and breath Barry, Nina, Margery, and the new characters.

When I worked at corporations, I never worked one project, mostly because I'd get bored like I am now. So I've starting a new project with an old co-worker, fellow writer and long time friend. Surprisingly, this new project, which we started last week, has provided impetus for The Courier as well.

I'm not going to provide any information about the new project, since we're still working on our pitch. Hopefully we'll have it done by Friday, so this week's question may be all about the new project and the new writing partner. Stay tuned!!

Weekly Whine: Kindle Book Prices

Last week I got half way through One for the Money by Janet Evanovich, which I picked up from the library. The book was suggested to me and I'm absolutely loving it. So, I decided I'd buy the book plus the next couple in the series for the Kindle, but only until I checked out the prices. Now, these books were published ten plus years ago, so there's a mass market format available for sale as well, but the cost of the mass market format is a dollar less than the Kindle version. I'm not paying more for a Kindle version!! Even if it is only a dollar. And since I got the Kindle, I won't buy paper anymore. For me it's a matter of the wasted resources put into producing a paper book and shipping it to my house. Sure I know it costs money to convert a book to kindle and ship it via cyberspace, but the cost to our environment is much less than the cost of recycling the paper, producing the ink, printing a book, and shipping it via ground. Doing my part for the environment is more important to me, but that doesn't mean I'll pay more for a eBook.

Wait a second, did I just contradict myself? Maybe. It's just that I've been reading a lot about the evolving publishing industry and I don't feel sorry for publishers and authors that didn't prepare for the transition. Nor do I buy into the fear factor of eBook pirating based on music pirating. Whole different market. And don't try to tell me that authors are powerless. I live with a lawyer and know better. So until they get their act together, Scribner lost out on the sale of 3+ books, and I'll continue to get the paper books from the library.

Note that most of my opinions on the changing face of publishing come from A Newbie's Guide to Publishing and my dear friend Gaynor Stenson, the new publisher at eBook Undead in the U.K.

Weekly Whine: Where's Your Phone

I've gotten in a bad habit of leaving my phone in the car or letting the batter run out for days. Has gotten me in some trouble with family. I've never actually been one to talk on the phone, so it's more of a life long habit. After all, I'm a writer, not a speaker. Okay, lame excuse. So this week is more about people being pissed off at me. Uh oh!

Other than that, I'm moving The Courier to a Blogger blog. Was hoping to have the move done over the weekend, but yard work and laziness got in the way. Two main reasons for moving: 1) I've hated all the templates I've used for The Courier on Wordpress, and 2) I'm too cheap to pay the annual cost to change the CSS. Already pay for my personal website, and considering I'm a starving writer, I really don't want to add to the cost. Look for the switch over sometime later this week.

Oh, and I'm in synopsis hell this week. I want to bring my synopsis to critique group this week. I need eight pages for the contest. I'm really looking forward to reading it, but I'm not looking forward to revising what I already have. Will let you know how it goes next week.

Weekly Whine: Breathing is Good

Those damned trees and their beautiful flowers are shutting down my windpipe. We needed one of our heavy shows to take the flowers off the trees, but it never came. We had one, but it was ineffective. I guess I shouldn't complain too much, because it's not actually as bad as I've experienced past years. And if I take a Benadryl before bed, the day is easier to get through.

I started reading Expiration Date by Duane Swierczynski last night and love it! Finished watching the second season of Lost last week too. I'm hooked! I pick up season 3 from the library today...WHOO HOO! Oh, and we watched the third season of Dexter over the weekend. Awesome! Not good for catching up on editing though. So, I'm cutting the whine short again this week and am off to work on The Courier.

Oops, forgot to mention that my mom finished reading the last chapter I released of The Courier on Textnovel and she loved it. That'd be the chapter where Barry goes head to head against the hellish monster and gets his head bit off. She said she'd like to distribute the novel out to friends, especially teachers. Funny, but I've been thinking of doing the same thing. I'd really like to get the novel read by young people and teachers are certainly a route.

Weekly Whine: Crunching the Numbers

Look at the hair on this kid. Is he adorable or what?!?! I'd be crying too on such a bad hair day...LOL!

It's another slow start Monday. But I don't care this week. It's a gorgeous day today, so I've been in and out of the house, trying to play ball with the beagles. Now beagles are not a breed known to participate in more than a chase the ball--when I feel like it. Believe it or not, I've got Charlie trained to play fetch. Our little porker, Howie, is more inclined to sit and watch the ball, figuring he gets enough exercise from moving his head. Today, they are both pooped out from weekend walks totaling about 12 miles. So I'm doing all the fetching.

Over the weekend I felt like I needed to re-prioritize yet again. This time I tracked the time I spend on each task or thing I do, kinda like I did when I was a Project Manager, and I found that at the rate I'm going, I'll complete the first courier novel in five years. YIKES! I'll end on that note and get back to editing.

Weekly Whine: Slow Going

Slow going this morning. Hope that's not setting a pattern for the week. I guess it's only 6:00 A.M., but I've been up for two hours. Should have gotten some new writing done, but screwed around on housework and blog posts instead. Guess it all has to get done some time, so at least I'm ahead of the game on a few other "to do" items.

I kept a list of stuff to whine about this morning, so here goes it...

Wine headaches to start. Is it the sulfates, I wonder? I can't seem to drink much more than a glass of wine these days without getting a horrendous headache. Okay, maybe it has something to do with my getting older and my hormones changing. That's the part no one wants to admit.

So incredibly happy to be back at my critique group regularly. Of course, now I'm even further behind on the editing.

I went out to Goodreads yesterday and counted the books I've read this year. 18 completed so far, and 2 thrown against the wall at the 100 page mark. Not too bad.

I picked up a bunch of new releases from the library, so the list of books I'm reading is far beyond the usual four. Angelology, I Am Ozzy, and Expiration Date top the list of new releases. Last week I only finished one book, Children of Dune. LOVED it! Yes I'm becoming a crazy Dune fan. Do they have a name?

Oh, not doing book reviews anymore. Too time consuming, and I'm thinking risky. My reviews had gotten so short anyways. Have also though that as an writer, I can seriously nit-pick at books I'm reading, but do it more as a way to improve my own writing. Also been running into some egos of authors I can see bashing other authors out of spite. Hello people, it's a job, just like when we worked for the man. Oops! Ran into a lot of egos there too. What is it about people needing to feel superior? Maybe I'll save that one for next week. So, if I love a book I'll mention it here. Otherwise it'll get 2 stars over at Goodreads and I'll move on without mentioning it.

Monday's Whine: A Cup of Coffee and a Positive Outlook

Have you ever noticed how you wake up Monday morning with a positive outlook on the upcoming week, then once you're a quarter through the day, the blues settle in? Well here I am, with a cup of coffee in my hand and my positive outlook. Although I'm two hours into my day and ready to go back to sleep. That'd be one good way to get past the blues.

I don't really have anything to whine about this week, so I'm cutting this week short. Off to write some new Courier II.

Monday's Whine: Starting Late

Oops, I forgot what I was going to write about this week. Give me a minute...

Here's a good place to start. It's 6:00 A.M. in Denver and I got up an hour late. Great start to the week. Finished breakfast and got side tracked by housework when I was supposed to be writing new stuff on the next courier novel and writing this post.

I found two book series I'm enjoying. Thorn St. Croix series by Faith Hunter and Dark Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon. The Dark Hunter series are paranormal romance novels, so I may have finally found a romance series I can stomach.

I still haven't figured out what I'm writing about this week for the Wicked Writer's blog, so maybe I'll take off early and figure it out after I finally writer my new words for the day.

Monday's Whine: Changing It Up

Last week I changed up my index cards, completing them in a different order. So so smart of me. I got a ton more done, especially writing. First thing every morning, at 4:00 A.M. I get up and write until 7:00 A.M. I didn't think my mind would be in any shape to write at that hour of the morning, but I'm finding I'm actually more productive. There's something about being up that early in the morning that I've always loved anyways. Everything around you looks and smells different. It's a good feeling.

Why can't someone invent a stove top that cleans itself? I spent two hours yesterday, tearing apart our stove top/grill combo. Now my hands are a mess. Had to cut off all my nails. ARGH! Those Mr. Clean Erasers are wonderful though. Like magic.

The Writer Wednesday Blog Tour is getting out of hand. I probably added twenty new blogs to my feeder last week. I'm trying to figure out a system to better weed through all the posts. Stay tuned.

Cold/flu virus finally seems to have broken. And, my son is gone for spring break. WHOO HOO! I love the guy to death, but a week apart for a Leo and a Taurus is a gift from God.

Monday's Whine: On Tuesday

Oops! I'm posting a day late. Give me a break. I got that cold/flu virus mid last week. It's dragging on too...ARGH! It's about all I have to whine about because it had me knocked on my ass for days, so nothing else could really happen to piss me off...LOL.

On a positive note, we migrated over to our new website design over at the Wicked Writer's Blog. Yeah! Check it out...

And now, back to blowing my nose.

Monday's Whine: Men are Good

Very good news. I started writing the second Courier book last week. Not so good news. I have so much editing to do on the first book my head is spinning. Still it felt soooo wonderful to start the next book on my hand held recorder while walking the dogs. I'm going to leave it to an hour a day on the recorder, so I can really think through the storyline in book two and catch up on editing the first.

Cold/flu virus #4 of 2010 has invaded our home. So far I haven't gotten sick, and am doing all the Voo Doo spells I can, short of signing a contract with Margery, to keep it out of my system. ;-)

Now on to my Monday morning whine... Last night I started reading yet another romance novel that depicts the male figure as a womanizing beast. Now I haven't read many romance novels because they've never really been my cup of tea. But recently I had a few paranormal romance authors highly recommended to me. So what the heck, I ordered them up from the library and away I read. I got 100 pages into the one I read last night and threw it to the side, sickened by the set up of a relationship between the heroine and an archangel who was more like a fallen angel. This was another novel where I got to a point I had to ask, how was the author hurt by men and projecting her own experiences into the story.

I've had absolutely wonderful men in my life who would fight to the death for me. That's the sort of guy I like reading about. Prince Charming, who will come and rescue me. Although we watched the Shrek movies over the weekend, and Prince Charming in those movies is even a bastard. Is the strong male figure in romance novels dead? Are we women alone in saving ourselves?

Monday's Whine: Living on Adrenalin

Okay, I actually started this week's whine on Tuesday, just one day after last week's whine, when I woke up from a nap realizing I was iron and B12 anemic, again. I forced myself into an adrenalin rush to get my index cards done and suffered the rest of the week as a result of it.

First of all, I think this behavior is something we women do really well, especially when we have small children. Second, we get so good at it, to the point it becomes a habit. But in my case, mixing it with the anemia is a recipe for too many crash and burns. I ain't doing it anymore.

A couple weeks ago I whined about needing more exercise and a better diet. I'm extending that plan to meditation. About four years ago I meditated, a lot. It's what helped me realize how out of whack my physical body had gotten, and sent me on the path to finding out I have Celiac's Disease. At that time I slowed, then stopped mediating to concentrate 100% on my physical health and here I am today.

I'd also like to whine about today being March 1st already, and I'm still screwing around with the first book of The Courier. It's like someone just slapped me across the face with a cactus. ARGH!!

Side note. I'm loving picking the pictures of whinny kids and baby's every week. There's certainly plenty of 'em, and today's little guy is especially adorable.

Monday's Whine: Oops, Did I Project That?

I didn't think I had anything to whine about this week until I put together a list of suggestions for the Wicked Writer's second quarter blog topics. I mentioned that writing about writing was getting boring in my email to the group. And in my post last Friday, I projected bored. C.J. mentioned I started whining three weeks ago, and I hadn't realized it until I went back and read the post Rebel Writer without a Cause. Oops! I guess the title even reeks of it. But everyone is in agreement that we'll start writing more for readers as well, so hopefully my bad attitude will cease. So sorry fellow bloggers and readers.

On a more positive note, Betty Crocker makes an AWESOME gluten-free brownie. My main issue with other mixes has been the consistency being more like a cake. Sorry, but brownies need to be oowie gooie. Even the other non-Celiac's in the house had kind words to say about the brownies. I've tried all the other new gluten free baked goods by Betty Crocker and so far I'm pretty impressed. So kudos to Betty and no whining here.

Monday's Whine: Sick...AGAIN!!

This week, I'm whining about being sick for the third time this year. What's up with that?!? Totally ruined our Valentine's Day weekend. Had to cancel our dinner reservations yesterday.

This is certainly no way to start the new year. So I've decided I'll get it all over with for the year by the end of February. No more illnesses this year. No exceptions! But how the heck do I avoid getting sick when everyone keeps bringing home virus after virus. Luckily no one's brought home H1N1. Maybe I should move into one of those bubbles. Okay, a little drastic.

I don't think I can get any more organized than I am with my index card system, so health has to be my next challenge. I even have index cards for working out, although they haven't been used much this year. I stopped my workout program the end of last year. Bad move! Being ill has made it too hard to get back into it though. I'd rather sleep...zzz. I've also started another detox using my favorite book, Detox Yourself. Oh, and the workout program is P90X. If you know anything about it, it won't be fun getting back into it. It kicks butt!

Stay tuned, this will be the topic of posts for a few weeks, at least.

Monday's Whine: A Woman and a Writer

Sorry for posting so late today. I've gotten too involved, preparing for next week's post on organizing. Oops! Maybe I should have done that this week.

Just as a reminder, I've decided to use Monday as a whining day, but in a more constructive way. Basically, last week I posted, Started 2010 with My Head Spinning, and whined that I just can't seem to "get with it" this year. As a way to help myself, "get with it," I'm blogging about things I'm doing to leave the whining behind.

My journey begins with reminding myself that I'm not just a writer and desperate housewife. Well, not exactly desperate, but the other half of my day is spent as a housewife/domestic goddess and mother to my 15 year old, who is working on completing his high school diploma, online at home. Yeah, it's me and him, together all day, how I'd wished it had been when he was preschool age. Let me tell ya, being a stay at home mom for a teenager who's home all day is less a walk in the park, not that it wouldn't have been easy when he and his older bother were young. It is a topic for another post though.

Every year, the holidays get a little too domestic for me, because I absolutely love decorating and cooking and baking and playing hostess. And by the end of it all, I'm a total zombie. As of last week, I realized I'm having a hard time pulling out of my zombie state. So, when it came time to choose an area of my life that needed a pick me up, the choice was easy. I added woman back into the mix.

I invited a friend over for lunch, who also happens to be a Mary Kay lady, and we played with makeup. How much fun was that!! She gave me gobs of samples that I tried all week long. I have to admit, I had gotten a little lazy about making myself beautiful every day. What a difference in feeling, going through each day looking your best. So THANKS to Kristin Henning for reminding me to put some effort back into appearance.

Also gave myself a pedicure rather than going out for one. There's something really rewarding about doing it yourself. I always feel I do a better job anyways. Oops, there's that perfectionist in me, rearing its ugly head.

Best of all, I planned a sexy night in with Michael. I won't fill you in on the details, but I will say it more than made up for all the $$$ spent on Mary Kay cosmetics. ;-)

All in all, it was a great week of reminding myself that fulfilling womanly desires can easily wipe away the pressures of writing.

It's Monday! What are You Reading?

It's Monday! What are You Reading?

About W. J. Howard