It Has Been a While....But I'm Back!

Although I haven't written on this blog in quite some time, I have been writing. I have almost completed three books. One is a recipe book, another one is a health and fitness journey book, and the third is a middle grades fantasy adventure tale.  I am really excited about getting these books finished and the prospect of getting them published.

I have so many more ideas in brain (notebook) that I am itching to write about. There is no telling which manuscript I will be working on next. but know that I am always writing.

I am going to sign off for now....but I will be back soon to have a very informative writing post. Check back often!

I look forward to seeing you next time!

Life Happens....Oh Does it Ever!!

As you can see from my previous post that I was moaning about writerly fear. However...just for the record...I did finish my manuscript that I was working on during NaNoWriMo. As a matter fact, I finished with just over 130,000 words.

However, I haven't touched it to begin the revisions. As my title of this post suggests...I have been having some personal issues that have prevented me from enjoying many of the activities that I can get myself into....this includes my writing.

It does look like things have smoothed out somewhat here and so I am hoping that I can get back to the grind (smile) and make some revisions to get this manuscript done and published. We will see.

I will be posting about my triumphs and trials as I begin and complete this process...so please check back often and see where I am in the revision process. I may even give a few tidbits of my story line on here.

I look forward to seeing you again!!

Writerly Fear??

As I sit here and think about the multiple WIP that I have stored on my hard drive right now, I wonder why none of them are finished. Why haven't I polished any of them up and gotten them out before the readers? Is it because I don't think the story line is good enough? Is it because I don't think I can write well enough? Then I come back around and think to myself, what is wrong with me and my writing style? Through reflection on all of these questions I have come to realize the real "roadblock" is FEAR!!

FEAR of my heartfelt, wrung out of my body stories NOT being good enough to make it in the writing world.

FEAR that even though I read voraciously of other authors (and some of them are NOT good writers) that I will be even worse than the worst of the ones that I've read!!

FEAR has had a stranglehold on me at the throat for many years....at least when it comes to writing fiction. Oh...I always second-guess my non-fiction writing as well....but I know it is factual and I have have a good academic writing style...so not really any worries there. But....writing the fun stuff...you know....that fiction that allows others to transport themselves to other worlds and times....well that is where my FEAR steps in and grabs hold.

So here's the deal.....I decided this year that I would join up with the NaNoWriMo month and pound out that novel....you know ACTUALLY get one finished. Then starting in January begin to edit and polish.....and actually get some feedback on it from....NO...not family and close friends....I want REAL feedback and I don't really think any of them would give it to me straight...I think they would just polish it up and tell me it was good...that is NOT what I'm wanting. So, none of them will be allowed to even see it until I've had an impartial party or parties to examine it thoroughly.

What I want to know is how do you get past the fear of writing and putting yourself out there to possibly be ripped to shreds. I know the "ripping" isn't personal....I do! But, these words in all these chapters...well they are my babies and I really hate to see them in danger....ok...guess I should quit personifying my words but after sweating over them...it is hard...bet you know that too!!

Please leave me a comment...telling me if you had this fear or a similar one....and how you got past it. I really need to know. Also...would you please join my website by using the Google friend connect button on the right?? I would really appreciate the follow!!

Oh yeah....This post is part of a HUGE blog hop....check out all the links to other blogs below....there is a wide variety of different topics being covered. Could very well be something you want to know on one of these blogs.

Hours Away From the Beginning of One CRAZY 30 Day Experience

As I sit here and write this post...we are only 6 hours and some minutes away from the beginning of probably one of the craziest 30 days any of us could endure. Why do we do it? Who knows...Just to say we did, maybe!!

NaNoWriMo 2011 is probably one of the most anticipated events that I am going to try to endure this year. OK...so this year is almost over. But, I have anticipated it since the beginning of 2011....so that has to count for something.....RIGHT?

My Gifted/Talented students have been busily laying out the characters, plots, settings, etc for each of our books that will be written during this next 30 days. YES!! My students have anticipated this crazed event almost as much as I have...so at least I will have company on my adventure.

To all of the other NaNoers.....I wish all the luck and writing speed that is possible......we will do this together!!!

Here's to 12:01 am...November 1, 2011.

2 Days Until the Start of NaNoWriMo

I have a confession to make. The first year NaNoWriMo began...I was a participant for ....oh.....about 3 days. YES....I gave up!!

Fast forward to today....Will I give up this year....I really don't think so. I kind of have a fail-safe method this year to make sure that I don't. I guess you might be wondering what my fail-safe method is for NaNoWriMo 2011.

Well...I teach 2nd - 6th grade Gifted/Talented students and decided this year it would be a GREAT idea for them to also participate....in the Young Writers Program....so everyday when they write.....I also write...This has to work!!

But that is not the only reason I believe I will achieve my goal this year....I have promised myself that I will be a winner of NaNoWriMo 2011 this year.

I WILL meet the 50,000 word goal.

I want to have a viable novel fleshed out during the 30 days of NaNoWriMo this year....so after the first of 2012...I can edit and polish to have a publishable novel.

I know that 50,000 words does not a novel make.....not in length or quality. However, I have made it my MISSION to be successful in 2011 with this goal.

So BRING IT ON......NaNoWriMo 2011....here I come....dragging my 2nd - 6th grade Gifted/Talented students with me all the way!!!

NaNoWriMo - Only 9 Days to Go!

I have heard about NaNoWriMo for many years and have contemplated joining in on this harrowing 30 days of writing that elusive novel. I just never actually took the step and signed up....at least not until this year. Back in May, I decided this was the year for me to tackle the NaNoWriMo challenge. So I joined up and now I am awaiting November 1 with excitement and that bit of fear that I think must come with the challenge. Can I really 'spit' out a novel of 50, 000 words in just 30 days? Am I dedicated enough to make sure that I write a specific number of words each day in November to ensure the goal is met? I guess we....meaning ME...will find out soon enough.

After all...if you do the math....it really doesn't seem that daunting of a task. Let us take a look:

50,000 words divided by 30 days = 1,667 words each day.

Now that really seems doable when you look at it this way. Don't you think? I may actually be able to do this!

Let us look at this another way.....If I only type about 30 words per minute (and I actually type much faster...:)

Then it would take less than one hour to type this 1,667 words each day.....this is looking better and better all the time.

I know what you must be thinking right about now.....why am I doing this if I don't believe I can get the required number words down in the time permitted. It is the challenge that I am looking for....but more than that...I want a publishable novel at the end, too!

I have been preparing for November 1, 2011 for a few months. I have laid out several possible plots with ideas of how they could play out. I let these ideas stew for a while and the ONE idea that just wouldn't let go is the one I chose for this challenge. I have been working on plotting (something I've never done). I've always just sat down and written what I wanted and it came out however it chose.

This time....I am ready!! I have my characters...what I feel are fully developed in that they feel to me like they could be real-live human beings and my theme, conflict, and resolution is all worked out....well as much as I can work it without the actual writing. I know once I begin there will be some changes. The characters will take over and make the changes whether I want them to or not. It always happens. Why should this time be any different?

Why don't you come join me on this wild, wonderful ride for the month of November. Sign up and write your own novel in 30 days. You just may become addicted!!

Come on over to NaNoWriMo and join the fun!!!!

Plotting to different WIPs at the moment....thoughts are crashing around in my head like crazy! I should be working on the two HUGE projects for my graduate classes...but the voices in my head will not stop!!