Believe in yourself. After that, everything is easier. ~ Larry P ~
Last January when I wrote out my goals for the year I listed taking part in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and attempting to write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November. It's the last day of October and I'm still somewhat on the fence about whether to participate.
Or am I?
On Friday night I officially registered at the NaNoWriMo website. I started plotting a book (the fifth, and last, I think, of the cowboy books). I've caught up on cleaning projects. I pre-planned several blog posts. I cooked and froze some meals so that I won't have to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. My schedule is cleared.
So, why the reluctance to commit? Isn't that a guy thing?
Maybe it's a fear of failing or the fear of success--another rough draft on my list of not-quite-finished manuscripts that I want, really want, to complete.
I'm eager to start a new project. That's one of the most fun things about writing.
So why not just do it, you big chicken?
Okay, okay, I'm in. Come Tuesday, right after I take my daily walk, I'll be at the computer, making the magic happen again.
Just to prove I'm serious, I'll share the back cover blub I wrote for this story, Take Me Home, last March:
He's the perfect man
Witty, urbane, handsome and rich as Croesus, big-time sports agent Shadow Markham is a man's man and a woman's dream.
She's a hardworking woman
She's shaken the dust of ranch life off her shoes. Lindsay Palmer is ready for the bright lights and big city diversions of Denver but she never dreamed her boss would be the main attraction. Or that he'd drag her screaming and kicking her Jimmy Choos all the way back to the country.
Or that she'd want to stay there, forever, as long as he was there. I'll let you know how it goes.
Happy writing!
Monday, October 31, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
Why I Love Fall
In addition to being able to write outside, there are a couple more reasons I love fall.
Here's one:
After a couple days of rain my roses decided to bud.
There's still one to go and I'm looking forward to seeing it. We've got some rain scheduled for this weekend and I wonder if there will be a repeat show.
Flowers always inspire me.
So do mild temperatures, gentle sunshine and the friend I had lunch with today.
Of course, most everything inspires me, except mosquitoes, and dang, if we don't have a bunch of those this year. Maybe if they'd leave me alone I'd have time to clean the moss off the flower beds! That does not inspire me!!!
Happy writing.
Here's one:
There's still one to go and I'm looking forward to seeing it. We've got some rain scheduled for this weekend and I wonder if there will be a repeat show.
Flowers always inspire me.
So do mild temperatures, gentle sunshine and the friend I had lunch with today.
Of course, most everything inspires me, except mosquitoes, and dang, if we don't have a bunch of those this year. Maybe if they'd leave me alone I'd have time to clean the moss off the flower beds! That does not inspire me!!!
Happy writing.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Begin at the Beginning
Gosford, Texas, five miles, the sign read.
Tucker Richmond eyed the barren landscape and laughed. “More like godforsaken, if you ask me.”
A hazy recollection hit like the ground rising up after a bad toss from a rank bull.
Godforsaken. His bruised and battered memory replayed the moment; sweet, feminine laughter accompanied by the music of birdsong and a kiss as brief as the rippling of a swiftly moving stream.
Then, fast as it came, it disappeared.
All but the phantom ache of a broken heart.
He laid his hand atop his chest, reassured by the measured beating he felt there. “Still alive, old buddy,” he told himself. “Head as empty as a rain barrel in a drought, but still alive.”
The exit came up fast, but not as a surprise. He’d been heading for it for days—-even before he’d left home, it seemed. Toward a girl named Shea Osborne. A ranch named the Busted Heart. Memories of a life no longer his.
He bore to the right.
This is the opening page of Married in :08 (that’s eight seconds, for all you city slickers). It’s the first of the cowboy books, or cowgirl books, I guess I should say, as the series is titled The Cowgirls of Gosford.
Tucker is a rodeo man, a bull rider who’s sidelined for the time being as he recovers from the accident that took away his memory. He travels from Oklahoma to Gosford, Texas to find Shea Osborne, the girl his parents say was the love of his life. He doesn’t expect to find a beautiful woman who has moved on from her childish fancies of love to raise twin five year-olds who look suspiciously like him.
This is the writer’s lot: we find stories and characters we fall in love with. Sometimes the writing goes well and editors fall in love with those stories and characters, sometimes something is missing.
My goal is to finding the missing parts, one word at a time. I know I can do it because I love writing, I love Shea and Tucker, and I believe in happy endings. I hope you'll stick with me because you do, too.
Happy writing!
Tucker Richmond eyed the barren landscape and laughed. “More like godforsaken, if you ask me.”
A hazy recollection hit like the ground rising up after a bad toss from a rank bull.
Godforsaken. His bruised and battered memory replayed the moment; sweet, feminine laughter accompanied by the music of birdsong and a kiss as brief as the rippling of a swiftly moving stream.
Then, fast as it came, it disappeared.
All but the phantom ache of a broken heart.
He laid his hand atop his chest, reassured by the measured beating he felt there. “Still alive, old buddy,” he told himself. “Head as empty as a rain barrel in a drought, but still alive.”
The exit came up fast, but not as a surprise. He’d been heading for it for days—-even before he’d left home, it seemed. Toward a girl named Shea Osborne. A ranch named the Busted Heart. Memories of a life no longer his.
He bore to the right.
This is the opening page of Married in :08 (that’s eight seconds, for all you city slickers). It’s the first of the cowboy books, or cowgirl books, I guess I should say, as the series is titled The Cowgirls of Gosford.
Tucker is a rodeo man, a bull rider who’s sidelined for the time being as he recovers from the accident that took away his memory. He travels from Oklahoma to Gosford, Texas to find Shea Osborne, the girl his parents say was the love of his life. He doesn’t expect to find a beautiful woman who has moved on from her childish fancies of love to raise twin five year-olds who look suspiciously like him.
This is the writer’s lot: we find stories and characters we fall in love with. Sometimes the writing goes well and editors fall in love with those stories and characters, sometimes something is missing.
My goal is to finding the missing parts, one word at a time. I know I can do it because I love writing, I love Shea and Tucker, and I believe in happy endings. I hope you'll stick with me because you do, too.
Happy writing!
Monday, October 3, 2011
Finally Fall!
I finally got the cool(er) weather I was hoping and I've moved my study to the porch.
There's my little computer, my calendar and the printed manuscript of "Married in :08" which is my new (or should I say, ongoing) project, along with my neighbor's lovely fence.
"Married" is the first in the series of cowboy books. It's the story I love the most and has always been a thorn in my side because I just can't seem to get it to be the book I know it can be.
The characters, Shea Osborne and Tucker Richmond, are wonderful, but their story is a train wreck (there, I said it). But, there cannot be a series without a lead story, and "Married" is it. Sooo, from now on, until my fingers fall off--now there's an image to go to sleep on--I will work on it every day until it's finished.
And I mean, finished for the last time, because goodness knows I've thought it was finished a dozen times before.
Tucker and Shea deserve their happy ending and I'm determined to give them one. Not to mention their children, Brandon and Brianna, who have been stuck at age five for lo these many years, unable to grow up. Now that's a noble goal if there ever was one.
I'll keep you posted on my progress. Happy writing!
There's my little computer, my calendar and the printed manuscript of "Married in :08" which is my new (or should I say, ongoing) project, along with my neighbor's lovely fence.
"Married" is the first in the series of cowboy books. It's the story I love the most and has always been a thorn in my side because I just can't seem to get it to be the book I know it can be.
The characters, Shea Osborne and Tucker Richmond, are wonderful, but their story is a train wreck (there, I said it). But, there cannot be a series without a lead story, and "Married" is it. Sooo, from now on, until my fingers fall off--now there's an image to go to sleep on--I will work on it every day until it's finished.
And I mean, finished for the last time, because goodness knows I've thought it was finished a dozen times before.
Tucker and Shea deserve their happy ending and I'm determined to give them one. Not to mention their children, Brandon and Brianna, who have been stuck at age five for lo these many years, unable to grow up. Now that's a noble goal if there ever was one.
I'll keep you posted on my progress. Happy writing!
Monday, September 26, 2011
Weather Obsessed
I’ve been a little obsessed with the weather in the past few weeks, ever since I caught a whip of fall in late August. (Yes, I can smell fall. It’s a gift.) I’m eager to move the writing operation out onto the porch where I can catch a breeze and see the birds at the feeders.
Over the weekend the weather folks began pitching what wonderful weather we were going to have for the first of October. Sunday morning they were saying temps would be in the mid 80s. By Sunday night, the estimate had gone up to 86 or 87. This morning they were saying 88 or 89. My question: How is this fall? Even in Florida, nearly 90 is not autumn.
I have to cut them some slack, though. They seem to be as desperate for fall to come as I am. Since this was the third hottest Florida summer on record, I feel their pain.
I suppose I must be patient. I promise, though, that I will not be one of those people who complains about cold weather during the winter.
Unless it freezes. Then, all bets are off!
Happy writing.
Over the weekend the weather folks began pitching what wonderful weather we were going to have for the first of October. Sunday morning they were saying temps would be in the mid 80s. By Sunday night, the estimate had gone up to 86 or 87. This morning they were saying 88 or 89. My question: How is this fall? Even in Florida, nearly 90 is not autumn.
I have to cut them some slack, though. They seem to be as desperate for fall to come as I am. Since this was the third hottest Florida summer on record, I feel their pain.
I suppose I must be patient. I promise, though, that I will not be one of those people who complains about cold weather during the winter.
Unless it freezes. Then, all bets are off!
Happy writing.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Back in the Saddle
We got some much-needed rain in Central Florida. This morning everything is washed clean in more colors of green than you can count. Still hot (expecting 90s) but not so humid. That’s fall where I live.
Last night I took some time to scout out where I am in my various projects and realized I’d gotten behind on my goals for the year. Delusions of grandeur had me thinking that I’d be preparing The Cowboy Way for submission at about this time, but alas, it came in second in the Touch of Magic Contest and the editor who read the finalists only ranked them and did not comment—and also did not ask to see any of the manuscripts.
One of my Noodler sisters gave me the idea of writing a novella about the settling of fictitious Gosford (where all the action takes place) and I’ve spent way too much time thinking about that. I’m also preparing for NaNoWriMo and spending a lot of time plotting what will happen when Lindsay Palmer and Shadow Markham are thrown together at Tucker Richmond’s rodeo school.
Who are these people, you ask? Stay tuned…
Happy writing.
Last night I took some time to scout out where I am in my various projects and realized I’d gotten behind on my goals for the year. Delusions of grandeur had me thinking that I’d be preparing The Cowboy Way for submission at about this time, but alas, it came in second in the Touch of Magic Contest and the editor who read the finalists only ranked them and did not comment—and also did not ask to see any of the manuscripts.
One of my Noodler sisters gave me the idea of writing a novella about the settling of fictitious Gosford (where all the action takes place) and I’ve spent way too much time thinking about that. I’m also preparing for NaNoWriMo and spending a lot of time plotting what will happen when Lindsay Palmer and Shadow Markham are thrown together at Tucker Richmond’s rodeo school.
Who are these people, you ask? Stay tuned…
Happy writing.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Taking a Break
Hey, guys,
I'm going to be on a short break, hopefully not longer than a couple of weeks.
In the meantime, enjoy these last few days of summer. Live, laugh, love, and write, write, write.
I'm going to be on a short break, hopefully not longer than a couple of weeks.
In the meantime, enjoy these last few days of summer. Live, laugh, love, and write, write, write.
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