Archive for December, 2006

There are days when I feel a bit like a little girl looking through her papa’s reading glasses. Fuzzy. Out of focus. I sit at the computer, staring at the blinking cursor and wait for some miracle to put me in the zone. Trouble is, eventually I start to wander away from my original intent, drift to the internet to check email and kill time, and then suddenly, I’m completely adrift in a sea of procrastination, and can’t find my way back. Though I’ve suspected for quite some time now that this method is not working for me, LOL, I’ve just convinced myself that it is time for change.

But how? My first thought was to figure out what time of day the writing bug ‘bites’ me. Easy. It’s usually later afternoon. Sounds good, except, by that time, both my boys are home from school and clamoring for my attention.

I have a couple of hours in the morning when both Daredevil and Science-Boy are at school that is usually ideal, except my brain doesn’t seem to want to function and I usually end up throwing the time away in some sort of procrastination wasteland.

So, here’s the deal. I need to train my brain to ‘get to work’ during those morning hours. Great. I can do it. If I commit to writing from 9-11 every Monday through Friday morning WITHOUT getting on the internet during that time for 21 days, I should be able to make this a habit.

But I can’t do it without a little help from all you writers out in blogland. How do you find your focus so you can get down to business when you sit at the keyboard? Does listening to music do it? Lighting candles? Brewing a cup of tea? Editing previous chapters of your manuscript?

What ‘magic’ ritual snaps your brain into focus and puts you back in your story? 

Besides the fact that it’s Daredevil’s sixth birthday tomorrow (Monday, Dec. 11th), I’m celebrating because Her Own Best Enemy took first place in the Where The Magic Begins contest!!!!

I have a feeling I’ll be partying this entire week…but unfortunately, I can’t party too hard because I still have a lot of work to do to polish this manuscript up to get it ready for submission!

But, still … I feel awesome!!!!

This is the time of year when, inevitably, I start thinking of all that I accomplished (or more apropo, what I didn’t accomplish). I didn’t land a mega agent. I didn’t sell. I didn’t even get all the projects completed that I had hoped when I started 2006 with a bright eyed, bushy tailed optimism.

It’s been a tough year. Life got in the way of many of my writing goals….and procrastination got in the way of the rest. But, you know what? I can’t look at this past year and think of it as anything other than a resounding success. I think I will always think of 2006 as “The Year of the Great Learning”.

Yes, I’ve learned so much while writing Her Own Best Enemy. It’s my first romantic suspense project and the most challenging thing I’ve ever written — but it’s also, hands down, the best. And it’s because I learned some essential fundamentals about putting together a kick butt story along the way. I’ve started. I’ve stopped. I changed direction. But, for once, I have a clear vision. A vision that, perhaps, was missing from my previous stories.

I’ve learned how to put together a hero’s journey that rocks. I’ve learned how to plot — imagine that! Plotting has always been the thorn in my side, but this year I took a couple of fantastic online workshops that helped me get to the heart of a character’s motivation and plot from the inside (internal GMC) out (external GMC). I’m amazed at the difference it truly does make in a story.

And, maybe the most valuable lesson of all….I’ve learned to be patient. Well, at least, somewhat. I admit, I’m not the most patient person in the world when it comes to something I want, but I’ve learned to step back this year. I’ll achieve my publishing dream when I’m ready. Whether that’s with Her Own Best Enemy or something else down the line.

In January, I embark on a renewed quest. I’ll start sending Her Own Best Enemy out into the agent abyss and hope that I’ll find one out there that loves it and believes they can sell it. I’m already bracing myself for the pile of rejections I’m sure to rack up.

But, win or lose — Her Own Best Enemy will hold a special place in my heart for all it’s taught me along the way.