The Girls In The Basement

The Girls in the Basement are making me very aware of their presence lately. I am seriously surprised that the outside world cannot see the girls working, kneading, shaping, forming all the thoughts, ideas, and story lines running through my brain.

While I sit and watch TV Chloe, Ardel, and Vivian sit quietly whispering back and forth to each other working and reworking a plot point, or an awkward paragraph. And every so often a certain point or just the right word will work its way up to my awareness and BAM! I have to turn off the TV and pick up a composition book and pencil and write, write, write what the girls are dictating to me.

Whew!

The girls have been working overtime lately and I Love It!

New to me authors to read

This is so awesome! THE LAST WILL OF MOIRA LEAHY www.theresewalsh.com, Out of the Shadows by Joanne Rendell http://www.joannerendell.com/, How to Buy a Love of Reading by Tanya Egan Gibson http://www.howtobuyaloveofreading.com/, Life After...... Yes by Aidan Donnelley Rowley http://www.ivyleagueinsecurities.com/, The Truth About Delilah Blue by Tish Cohen http://www.tishcohen.com/, The Spinster Sisters by Stacey Ballis www.thepolymathchronicles.blogspot.com/,

Good reading for many months to come!

Yeah!

I am so thrilled! I got to talk to Julie today and it was great. We talked about her book (also talked about my book) and I am officially crossing my fingers for her and the query letters she sent out!

Oh and thanks Jules for the "pen name" idea...lol Mona indeed!

Did some more work on the MIP today and filled out a few more job postings as well. I plan to get back at both of these tonight. I really need to find a job or else win the damn powerball...*grin*

Talked with my BFF today from Colorado for just a few minutes and I am happy to report that she and her girlfriend are going great guns. This really makes me happy as I know that she will be taken care of and will have someone to love her and that my friend is what I wish for those who read this blog.

That you find someone that will love you through thick and thin, good times and bad and think of you every second of every hour of every day.

Have not talked with family for a couple of days...am thinking I should probably call.

Oh yeah, gave ownership over of my yahoo group to someone who wanted to update and change it a tad. I had lost interest in it after almost 5 years and well, it was time. I am still a member of the group but now I do not have to worry about trying to keep it updated.

Okay that's enough for today....

Okay, Okay

Well, today I have done about 3 hours worth of editing on my book. I finally worked through some of the trickier (read confusing) parts of the plot. I am very happy that I finally got my head out of my ass or to put it nicer--I no longer suffer from severe cerebral anal inversion.

Now, don't think I have smooth sailing from here on out, oh no, there are still some sticky plot points I need to work through (read that as redundant).

I am finding that in allowing time to go by since I wrote the manuscript I am able to take a big step back and read it with fresh eyes. I tried to edit it like 2 weeks after I wrote it and I thought it was just the best thing ever written and was sure that publishing house would scoop it up as is. Thank goodness I did not embarrass myself and send it out that way. With the passage of time I am able to see the flaws and big huge holes (Grand Canyon size) that I just could not see earlier.

Okay, so that is the update for today...tomorrow who knows what you will get or if you will get anything...so enjoy it while it lasts....lol

Oh and Happy New Year to all...I do hope this year will be better than the last...can I get an Amen!

Another Artist's Date

I don't know what's going on but yesterday I had another artist's date. I wanted to go to the local gourmet shop (needed some cheesecloth) and since I was in the area I then went to this Used Book shop that the local library donates books too (also citizens can donate too). I found 4 cookbooks and then received 2 free books one is Virginia Woolf an Illustrated Anthology and the other is Favorite Poems of Emily Dickinson.

So many artist's dates this week and I wanted another one today....lol, but that was not the case. Oh well, can't have it all. I will have to think back on these extra "dates" when I can't get out of the house.

Wrote a 400+ word of flash fiction, it seemed to be well received by the ladies from the group, so I am pleased. I really liked my characters and am thinking about making them into a full blown story. I will have to think hard on that. Time to get the girls in the basement busy, they have been some lazy bitches lately.

A mini artist's date

Yesterday, after reading an exercise in chapter 1 of the Artist's Way, I went to Walmart and looked around in the office/school supplies. There I found 2 booklets that are "encouraging" and "retro" types of stickers. Also, found some stars, a pair of children's scissors and some colored pencils. According to the exercise you should buy yourself some of these "silly" items and give yourself a star when you do your morning pages, or add a sticker of encouragement to what you are doing with the exercises, or just when ever you want to. Sort of like when we were in grade school and got gold stars put next to your name. Ohhhh, the pride that was felt, the feeling of being able to do anything. And knowing that someone else thought you were terrific.

So, that was a fun time buying those items, and then today I had to go to Office Depot, and while browsing I found some Post It Page Markers. They are about 1" wide and 2" long and have a picture along with a saying on them. The post it page markers I bought have the words "dream", "believe" and "imagine" on each of the markers respectively. This or rather, those words are what the Artist's Way is all about. Dreaming the dreams of what will fulfill your inner artist, Believing in yourself, knowing that you are an artist, and Imagining all that you can be. I found those posts its today and knew it was providence.

Balking

Alrighty then, reading my first assignment in The Artist's Way, I am already balking at it. Sigh. Why can't I just do it. Damn censor that is in my head keeps working overtime. I need to kick it in the ass and push on. Damn it!

Artist's Date

Today I am hoping to get to Barnes and Noble for my artist's date . I have been trying for a week now to get there, but with my mom's health the way it is, I can't seem to get out of the house. I really need this, to just walk amongst the books, to take in the smell of the coffee brewing, to find just the right book that I can sink my teeth into. To walk in with hopes and to walk out with dreams. I really, really need this date.

I read a paragraph in The Artist's Way today that really hit home for me. It made me want to jump on my morning pages and really get to work on the assignments.

Well, it doesn't look like I will get to go to B&N today. Damn it

It is now 2:48 pm and I got home from B&N about an hour ago! Yes! I finally got to go, and you have no idea how much it did for me. I was only in B & N for maybe 30 to 45 min, but oh boy, did I get a lot done in that time!

Let's see I bought:
2 books by Patricia Briggs (she is my new favorite writer right now). A Food & Wine magazine. I want to see what all the fuss is about on Top Chef, they are always talking about this magazine. A Risotto Cookbook, that was on the bargain books shelf. Paid $6.98 for it. Has 40 Classic and Contemporary Risotto Dishes. I am a big rice fan (huge, big) and am always looking for new ways to cook rice. And last but not least, I got my own copy of Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way. Now I can take back the library's copy, and not have to worry about highlighting my copy. WoooooHoooo!


Well, I am going to dive into my books now. I am so excited. You really have no idea now much this means to me. To actually get out of the house for something other than grocery shopping. Some "me" time...an actual Artist's Date. Holy fucking shit!

Time to get my butt in gear

Okay, enough procrastinating! Time to get back to my writing. I have put it off too damn long and I am damn tired of being scared of it!!!

So, I am going to buckle down and get 3 more chapters done by next week. This is a pledge I am making to myself.

I owe it to myself to work through this scaredy cat phase and get on with what I love to do...WRITE, WRITE, WRITE!

So what if no one else thinks it is good, I do and that is what's important right now. When I get it finished, then I can let someone else see it.

Get to it girl, get it done grrrrrrrrrl....NOW!

Collage Part 2

Well, I am slowly getting the material together for the collage. And I have changed my mind again on the main chracter...sigh. Anyway, I need to just get a few more things for the collage dealing with the minor characters in this project.

On to other things:
I am so fracking tired of red tape concerning some title work. The damn bank lost the original and I have to jump through hoops to get a duplicate. This pisses me off to no end but if I ever want to sell then I need all my ducks in a row...so to speak.

I checked out another blog site 'word press' tried it, didnt buy it, found it way too complicated to use--not user friendly at all. So I will stick with Blogger for now, I just wish they offered more templates to choose from. I would so love a 3 column template. Oh well.

Joined a new group on yahoo--for lesbians over 40, guess I qualify for that...lol.

Changing my mind....again

Okay, I have changed my mind again about my main character for my book. I am leaning towards Amanda Peet....sigh....am wondering why I am having so much trouble trying to figure out my main character.

Hmmmm....am thinking it is because I am the main character and I just can't picture anyone else in that role.....could be.

Raining

It is a lovely day, it is raining! A nice slow drizzle of a rain. My favorite kind. Great day to read, or watch movies or to take a nap. Nothing like a cup of tea, a good book, a nice warm blanket and off you go to another world. Heaven!

Went to Staples and got the Easel pad I had been wanting, damn things are expensive 30 dollars for 2, but they are big ass huge mo fo's...and hopefully will last a long time. Am also gathering pictures and other things for the collage, I cannot believe how my thought process is going with this. My imagination is soaring. I am so excited!

I have changed my mind about my characters look. I think I am going to go with Charlize Theron as the role model for my main character. Will decide for sure later. Damn, didn't have any trouble finding the role model for my second character, I knew from the get go who it would be.

Collage

I am very excited, I have been reading up on collages and post it notes...how to create a collage for writing. To get your characters down, basically to just get inspiration...or to kick it in the ass and get a move on! I am anxious to try this. I know what one of my characters is about, but unfortunately the main character I have a fuzzy outline for her. So hopefully this collage will help me a lot!

I have already downloaded pics of what a couple of my characters look like-sort of...one of my characters looks like Kate Moennig from the L Word, and the other character looks like Samantha Brown from the Travel Channel.

Now, I just have to find other stuff that helps with their character definition and story progression.

Last class

Turned in my last "voice" class assignment. The 6 week long class seemed at times to take a year, having to delve deep within and find the true voice. It was a good class and I enjoyed it very much. Now I need to get back to my writing.

Colored my hair yesterday, from blonde to light amber brown, sort of a reddish brown. Not too sure I like it yet, I was a blonde for over a year and it is a change. Am thinking I might just go all the way and become a red-head.

Damn, it is chilly today, supposed to rain later maybe, you just never know.

I need to watch the damn movies I rented. I need to quit renting movies and then not watch them, I have wasted so much money doing that....grrrr

Not much to say today, not in the best of moods.

Authors

Lately I have been reading different authors web sites and blog. I must say I have been enjoying them very much. Bob Mayer (I have enjoyed his Area 51 writing under Robert Doherty books and also writing as Greg Donegan, The Atlantis series). Then there is MaryJanice Davidson and her Undead series, a funny and new slant on the "vampire" genre. For a new writer with a fresh look at magic, vampires, werewolves all done with a sense of style and humor there is Kim Harrison. Jim Butcher and his Dresden files are just in a word...spectacular. Then there is Laurell K. Hamilton and her Anita Blake series, I must confess I haven't read much of her lately as I feel her later books are not as good as her earlier books. I will probably get crap for this, but there is just too much sex, sex, sex, and too much I, I, I, in her books. Her other characters seem to really take a backseat to her Anita Blake character and it has made her books seem the same old same old. Another new writer is Carrie Vaughn and her "Kitty" series, yes this is a werewolf book, that is so much more than that, it makes the point, that being different, is not a bad thing. Which in this day and age is something we all can take pointers on.

Another day

Another day and I haven't written anything. Sigh! Just been playing around with this blog trying to get it to look how I want it, and it is not going well. Big Sigh! I really need to quit this crap of getting so bogged down with stuff that doesn't matter. Heavy Sigh!

Sitting quietly wrapped up in Zeke’s arms, Nik let her mind unfold to the events
of the past couple days and specifically the kiss. She told Zeke about the looks
they shared, the handholding, the winks, and the kiss. That long, slow,
passionate kiss that left her weak in the knees. How she wanted nothing more
than to just fall right into the sack with Kate and stay there for all time, but
now her fears were getting the better of her, and she poured it all out for
Zeke. “So what makes you think she is going to break your heart, and for gods
sake, why wouldn’t you want to love again?”
“Well you know, after Deanna, I don’t think I could face it again.”
“You’re an idiot, you know that, and absolute idiot. You think that Kate is anything like Deanna, or that it will happen again. My god, the laws of probability are in your favor.” Crying now in Zeke’s arms Nik tried to shut out the memories of Deanna and that awful night. The night when her world came crashing down and she found out it had all been a lie. Nevertheless, the memories would not let go; they kept her firmly back in that time.

Reading over my words, trying to decide if this is good or not. Thinking I am too tired to make a decision right now. So much to do and so little time.

Thoughts

Reading a blog of writer (Barbara Samuel)http://www.barbarasamuel.com/ I really understood what she was saying about writing a book is like a marathon. It doesn't happen overnight it takes time and lots of it. I also agree that there is a 'brewing time', when thoughts and ideas roll around in your head and then you have to get them down on paper or computer disk or whatever. Lately I have really been "going to town" on my story, except for a few days here and there when I have been Lazy with a capital L. Speaking of Barbara, I am so excited about a class in 'voice' that she is offering even thought I can't really afford it, I am going to do it! As i stated in a previous post, writing is something I have wanted to do since I was a teenager, I can't really explain to a non writer or a non reader the feeling, the drive, the need, the want, to put word to paper. It is just something that I have to do, now whether anyone reads it, likes it, or if it is published is another story, but, it is something I have to do. The need to get it on paper and out of my brain. To see the words take shape and become a fully fleshed out story. Sometimes I have problems with a character, so I have to put or lay that character away for a time, let it 'brew' some more as Barbara says. If I am really having trouble, I tend to draw on something that has happened in my life and work it into the character and story. Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn't, but with this current story, I have had to go to that well and pull from it. Story telling is a gift, and to pass that gift on to someone else is a blessing.

Lazy

Well, damn, I have been so bad at not doing any writing. It's not that I am stuck, I just am so frigging lazy. Working on Chapter 7, I know where I am going with this chapter and yet I can't seem to get my lazy ass in gear....argggghhhhh!

Welcome

Welcome to my blog. I am a writer of lesbian fiction. Or, at least I try to be a writer. I have wanted to be a writer since the age of 14 when I read Gone With The Wind straight through. I was hooked. For years I tried and failed at writing the great American novel, until I finally figured out: Write what you know! So, as the title of my blog states, I am writing what I know. Now, I feel I am finally able to put two words together and have them make a story.