Avoiding writing

It's November and there are a lot of writers out there trying to write the great american novel in 30 days. I'm hiding. Trying my hardest not to write.

Now I'm not doing it conciously. I'm sneakier than that. Like right now. I told myself I was going to write a scene in Paris or Bust. Just one scene, nothing earth shattering like an entire novel. But what am I doing? Updating this blog instead. This weekend was suppose to me my big push to get the other three chapters done before my friday meeting with my writer muse. (She's a real person, really)

So I'm going to cut this a little short and see if I can get started. Just a paragraph. Maybe only a sentence but something that moves the storyline down the road just a little. And then I have two new assignments. One story that I really have to finish. And three chapters due by Friday. Do I know how to procrastinate or not?

Later.

Thoughts on

I was reading a blog today about how to be successful at writing. One opinion was you have to make contacts. The other was write the best piece you can, submit carefully, and pray. At my day job, social networking is king. It's who you know and your relationships that get you promoted. However, there is a cavet. You have to be good at what you do as well. Yesterday a new chair was announced for our Diversity Team (which is a big deal). It was a woman who has joked with me that we are the two up and coming's and it's a race to see who gets promoted first. I got the senior level three months before she did. Now we are both on our paths to supervisor. We both are on this D team. She was picked to be a chair. I wasn't.

Now, I know I'm busy. I have a huge project that is coming up in November. I have residuals from the cancer issues. I write and edit the company newsletter. But that's not why they picked Helen. They picked her because she was visable.

She attended the off site events. She marched in the parade, moved the boxes for charity, and cheered on the Pinewood Derby car. She was doing.

Now, my takeaway from this is being involved. Yes, conferences are nice because you meet editors, but are you doing? Are you in a writers group? Are you giving back?

I haven't been as much as I know I should be. I've been letting my distance and my health issues get in the way of what I really want. I goal for the moon then wander around the planet looking for pieces to a spaceship, hoping they will fall into my lap.

The Cheshire Cat gives Alice some advice in her wanderings. When she said she doesn't know which path to take, he tells her if she doesn't know where she is going, either path will do. Sometimes I'm too much like Alice. It doesn't much matter where I end up.

With that I have to go wander the desert for 31 more years to find my path....
Lynn

The pool has already closed!

Must be a sign that summer is over. And I didn't even get to go. Ok, I went once but that was the night they were doing a swim meet there and the pool was closed. Bummer. I walk down to the park with the dogs and get to look at the cool blue water every day I walk but now, no incentive.

The work newsletter I edit and write for came out this last month on Leadership to rave reviews from the management. I was really excited about the edition although it was a little long.

I never heard back from Women's World on my follow up on my query even with another follow up so I guess that piece is not going to happen. But at least I got a bite on a query. I have a couple essays rolling around in my head that need to get out so I can send them off.

Great news, I got final confirmation that I will have an essay in Chicken Soup for the Divorced and Recovering Soul in Bookstore on my birthday, October 7th this year. I'm so jacked!

But other than that, I'm not writing much. I sent an essay into the Chicken Soup for the Golfers Soul. I've been thinking about my three novels in process. And I'm close to finishing a story with my mentor's help for True Romance.

So that's the scoop from Illinois. I'm planning on walking down to the local festival this afternoon and seeing if they have any pronto pups. I'm craving one bad.

The things we read

Ok, I'm swamped. My writing is stalled, totally. My fantasy job didn't come to pass. My budget is in the toliet. And my arm is swelling bad due to the lymph node removal.

Now, that being said, good things are also happening. We just bought a new car (didn't mention above that the Nissan decided to stop running for a while, got fixed, then something new broke...), had a nice annual review at work, had major woman's mag editor call me on a query I wrote (need to follow up on my followup...) and have been reading some great books!

I have finished Maggie Sefton's complete back list and now am ready to go out and buy Dyer Consequences. It's part of a murder mystery series that I just love. I can identify with her main character, she isn't the babysitter that goes down into the basement when she hears a noise, but she does get herself into some dicey situations.

I won an ARC of More Than This by Margo Candela. Loved it! Her main character, Evelyn, is a poor little rich girl that you really can like! And the leading guy, Alexander, mmmmm, yummy. The situations that these two find themselves in are fun and interesting and keep you reading to the end to see if they ever even meet.... This book will be out in August, 2008. Put it on your must buy list!

I also won a copy of I Shall Not Want, by Juia Spencer-Fleming. More of a traditional mystery with an unconvential love mixed in. Very topical and based in today's world. Still in my currently reading pile.

So the postman has been nice to me, bringing me great summer reading tucked in with those pesky bills.

And here's an opportunity for you to cash in on the free book train. http://upforgrabs08.blogspot.com/2008/07/book-giveawaythe-heretics-daughter-by.html
The Heretics Daughter by Kathleen Kent. It's a story deep in the Salem witch trial period of the other side. I'm hoping to win the ARC so I can read this before it goes on sale in September. And if I do, the ARC will be passed on to a new winner from my blog site. (Wishing us all luck!)

Anyway, I am going to get serious about writing this fine Saturday morning as well as all the cleaning and shopping that needs done, so I'll sign off here. I also have to hit the library for books on CD for my new CD player in the car. Who cares if I drive 2 hours a day if I'm deep into a story.

Happy summer.

MIA (missing in action) post

I am very sorry it's been this long. March came and went. April it seemed like I was getting ready for the trip to Vegas, and now, I've been recovering. So time (and money) have been my enemy this last couple of months.

The good news is my time has been fruitful. I am deep in the interview process for a job as a training writer. My writing test is being reviewed now and then if I pass that I have one more interview before they make a final decision. I am so jacked. This is the job I was meant to do. Let's hope they agree.

My children's story came back with a thanks, no thanks, again. I need to go research children's magazines to see if I can get it placed it a home. I am in the middle of writing a confession with help from a professional confessor. Of course it's the middle so I'm feeling overwhelmed as ususal. And Hunt Road is stalled as the critique group said I needed to tighten up my first person POV.

And, we got married in Vegas this year, so my name has changed to Cahoon after being with the guy for 8 years this August. So now, I have to change my name in all the bills, bank accounts, etc. It's been a pain. We are trying to clean up our credit so we can buy a house. And put some money away in savings for a down. The nice thing is Jim isn't out of town for weeks like he was last year.

So wedding announcements are addressed and waiting for me to get pics copied and put into the envelopes, then that will be done. I'm working on some book keeping for Jim's old business. And trying to lose some weight and build back some muscle.

So yeah, I'm all over the place with this post. More of a to do list than a post this time. I was going to write about walking in the Koman Race for the Cure, but this is what you get.

Have a great day.... Lynn

March Madness

So I haven't written in a while. I have been writing this am in my Hunt Road mystery/suspense novel. It's going pretty well although I had to go back through all the chapters and make sure I didn't name the cat twice (I did) and get my desciptions and names for my characters. So I've started a hunt road notebook and maybe that will help me track timelines and the story plot. I'm in a critique group and used the older chapters of Hunt Road for my first critique.

Highlights turned me down for a scholarship. What were they thinking? Oh, well. I have had lots of thanks but no thanks this winter, but maybe spring will be kinder to me. I finally wrote and submitted a story for True Confessions. I have three things out for that group of Trues.

I'm interviewing for Senior this coming week after passing the initial screening, the test, and now finally the interview. This process is overwhelming and I'm losing sleep over facing the board for my grille, but I know I'm going to be ready for whatever they throw at me. (I hope....)

Vegas is three weeks away. I'm stoked. I hope we have fun, win lots of money and throw excellent darts. We have another major dart tourneyment the weekend before we leave too. So maybe we will win some traveling money there. :)

Reading: I finished A Jury of One, Laura Bradford, A Killer Stitch, Maggie Sefton and I'm working on The Survivors Club, Lisa Gardner and A Shop on Bloom Street, Debbie MacComber.
I'm lucky to have such great books right now to read.

Well, I better get going and doing all the stuff I need to on this almost warm spring saturday. Happy Easter to you all.

New Year, New Picture

But I always put a pic from the year before, so what's up with that?

Anyway, this is me during the bad hair days of this Chemo summer with my very pricy (thanks Insurance) wig, that still looked like a wig. Sigh.

So GOOD NEWS - Mammo was clear. Went and got the bone density thing over with and next week is the Oncologist. I'm pretty happy. After Tuesday I will start using the R (remission) and S (survivor) words when it comes to the cancer.

So what else am I doing besides running to the doctor? I have my test for Senior in two weeks so I'm making a study book this weekend. I have to have a 90% to go on to the interview.

I have three lunch dates with hopefully future co-workers in the Corporate Training Department between now and the end of the month.

I have my first Open Doors (newsletter for work) editorial staff meeting next week to do assignments for the first edition out in early March.

Writing, well, I was unable to send Matt and the Kangaroo to Highlights contest since my theme was supposed to be stories in the future. Missed that deadline. So I sent it to Cricket instead.

Other than that zip writing this week. I hope to get some in this weekend along with two walks.

I'm reading the ARC (advanced review copy) of News Blues by Marianne Mancusi. Very fun. Maddy is a character you can relate to and love! It will be on sale in March 2008.

Just checking in

I've been a bit freaked lately. I have my mammogram next week. It's been a year almost to the day when I found out that I had breast cancer. So I'll be glad when this week is over and my tests come back clean. We've also been fighting with the budget lately since Jim didn't get his bonus check yet from when he was on layoff. But things seem to be getting better.

My writing is still stalled. I just don't know how to get started and then how to sustain. But I am thinking about writing and I'm doing a lot of reading.

I'm trying to do weight watchers. So we'll see if I can lose some of this weight I've been putting on. I walked on Saturday and then again today. And I went and washed my car today. So I'm trying to be more active.

Reading: Just fininshed, Princess Academy, Shannon Hale. Loved it. Also just finished Sleeping Murder by Agitha Christie.

Writing goals: Finish Hannah by end of February. Write/enter essay for E. Bombeck's contest. I read all her books when I was a kid. and write Matt and the Kangaroo for the Highlights contest. Good news it's only 800 words. Bad news, I have to have it in the mail by Thursday.

Happy New Year 2008

It's a good day. I need to start seeing the good in every day. I worry so much anymore. I wish this was one thing I could get away from. But it's one day at a time I guess.

I've been avoiding my goals. I'm working on the Senior stuff but I put off talking to the other supevisors (fear) but now I've scheduled time with all of them, talked to two, and should be ready to write my letter of intent as well as my leadership accomplishment list on Wednesday for Angie to review and then off to Jason. I'm taking Friday off so it's a four day week for me. :)

I think I do have to get serious about me and my upkeep. That includes working out, eating right and taking care of things like eyebrow duty. I'm going to dye my hair (which is about 3/4 of an inch long now, thanks for asking) today. I invested in some good career clothes that I do like and now I need to look at some boots that are a little more stylish but yet comfortable. I think I can find a casual yet put together style that really fits me. Even at this higher weight.

Writing has been slow lately but I wrote up a ghost story for Fate just need to edit and find a picture of me to send it off with. The pays kind of small but if it gets accepted it's another credit. Other than that, no writing at all.

Reading: Just finished Knit One, Kill Two by Maggie Sefton. I really like her Kelly Flynn series. I read one of her's last month too, A Deadly Yarn. I can learn a lot by disecting her books and seeing how she works the story through the characters eyes. I've been very happy with the books.

Also reading Dating is Murder by Harley Jane Kozak. I'm having trouble getting into it. The names are totally throwing me as they are all German or something, the story just had this hidden edge to it like it knows a life I don't know at all. Now, don't get me wrong, I like being brought into a world that is different than mine, but it feels like everyone's talking English but the words all have different meanings.

So different than the Sefton books. I felt like I could be Kelly, if I had gone the Accounting Degree rather than Poly Sci. I think next I'll read the Elizabeth George that my work friend Sarah gave me. Mysteries are so different from each other.

Christmas Day

Wow, two posts in two days. See I do write when I'm stressed. Actually I was looking for the date that Jim quit his job last year and thought it might be in my blog, but no luck. So what I thought I'd comment on was my two new years resolutions for 2007 and see how I did.

1- Be healthier at the end of 2007 than I am in the beginning. Steps to include limiting worry, losing weight (at least 20 pounds this year), exercising 3-5 times weekly, limiting alcohol and sweets, and eating healthy foods, like fruits and veggies 3-5 day and 3 servings of dairy a day.

Well, I am healthier. The cancer is gone ( I hope) and I am feeling stronger by the day. I didn't realize how much chemo and radiation took out of me. So this goal of losing 20 pounds needs to be uped to 40 and put back on the list for 2008.

and 2-Write more! I have set up a writers notebook with a calendar and writing opportunities listed on each month. I have joined the Open Doors newsletter staff at work and had one article published. I think this will teach me more about real journalism processes. I have drafted a children's mystery story for the Highlights contest due this month. And I will pick one novel I've started to finish this year.

I had forgotten the reason I set up the notebook. I used it so much for doctor appointments and keeping myself on track with medications. But I had three Open Doors articles published and was asked to be co-editor for 2008.

I had one essay published in Grit. And I have one in the final consideration stage for a Chicken Soup book.

I mentioned I sent three chapters of a middle school book to Highlights for their scholorship contest and maybe I'll get the mystery story written for next month.

Finishing a novel, nope. But I have four good chapters and a theme/plot for my romance. Hunt Road is still just sitting there. And of course I started a new one based in Cambia which I actually wrote in yesterday.

The other project I will finish within the next three months (see a deadline, I can set them, I just have problems with the execution), is a story for True Confessions.

This one is still in my brain but not on paper or sent off. Funny I've been thinking about doing this for years. Just can't get it on paper.

Anyway, those are my focus goals. Of course, I set getting my budget under control (not totally in my court), increasing my pay at work and getting a promotion?

I have a pretty good budgeting system going. This month is a little off due to Christmas. Jim's on layoff so until he gets his first unemployment check I'll be a little freaky. I got a lot of tests completed (have three left), took the truck course and now am working on Senior. So I jumped my pay 5k in a year and a half.

So I think even with the breast cancer, I did pretty good on my focus goals for 2007. Now to reevaluate 2008. I know I want to write more and submit what I write. I made under $200 for writing in 2007, this year I want to make it four figures.

I want to get back in my health in 2008. Lose weight, start exercising, build muscle back.

As far as work, I want to make senior in the first quarter and have a promotion by the end of the year.

But I will be adding to those focus goals as I rethink them in the next week.

What are you doing for the next year?

Christmas Eve

Well two days of my Christmas Holiday are gone already. Today seems to be packed with to do's as well. Jim's still not finished with his shopping. I have to make a salad for tomorrow. No desserts as everyone is on a diet. Maybe I'll make some cookies to send off to Alex.

I'm not writing. I'm dreaming a lot but not writing. It's like I sit down and all the ideas that I've had over the week just fall out of my head only to return while I'm driving the hour into work. I'm thinking about trying the switch to 4 10's. It would save me almost $50 a month in gas and a full day in driving a month. I wonder if I would be less tired and more available to write on Friday's.

JIm is on lay off until the first week of March. This should be interesting.


We have two upcoming dart weekends one in January in Sullivan MO and one in Springfield IL in February. Both should be fun and we should be able to win at least enough money to pay for the weekends. I'm hoping.

Friday night darts is really fun as I get to play with Jim every game. He's working with me on some of my strategy issues and I think it's helping, especially with my 01 game. We will play mixed cricket in February so we'll see what I've learned.

Merry Christmas to all.

Update from the cold

So, I sent off my Thanksgiving essay to an online contest. Didn't win. But I have one more essay done for possible submission later. I finished three chapters of my children's novel, Hannah Rides the Pony Express and sent it off with a scholarship application for the Highlights Convention next summer. Then I let someone from work read it. I was nervous about the comments but they were good. And then she said something else.

"I know you know how she travels in time and it was very effective when I read it, and I don't want you to tell me, but it got me thinking how is she going to get back."

Now as much as I loved the comment about Hannah's move to the 1860's was effective and believable, it got me worried since I don't have this whole story in my head and frankly I'm not quite sure how she gets back. But this friend thought I did. Am I starting writing too soon before I plot out the story? Do I let my characters tell their own story too frequently? All I know is after we talked, I was excited to get back to Hannah in Martha's cabin and finish the story so I can find out how she finally gets back to her families vacation to Utah.

So it's the first week of December and I have a four day weekend at Christmas. Yea! We have darts this weekend and then I think we are done with darts except league until the first of the year when the traveling season starts. And it doesn't end until May!

So if I'm going to write at all today, I better get going.
Later

Happy Thanksgiving

Ok, I'm very sad about Thanksgiving, we ate out, at a buffet, a really bad buffet and I got no turkey or ham. But in the middle of this sadness, I realized how lucky I was. Because I wasn't the elderly man sitting by himself eating his very bad Thanksgiving buffet by himself. All dressed up but no one to share his meal with. If it had been just Jim and I, we would have taken this loney man under our wing and invited him to our table. Jim's folks would have had a fit if we had invited him to the table with the 7 of us. So even during the 3rd worst Thanksgiving dinner of my life, I had something to be thankful for.

I am a relationship junkie. Having that special someone sitting next to you, being able to laugh that the coffee was the best part of the meal, and then sitting together on the couch watching television, that's my idea of heaven. And that being said, maybe my Thanksgiving wasn't as bad as I had thought.

Lynn

Fall colors

Well the temperature finally dropped and the trees are changing their colors and losing leaves quickly. We went from 60-70 degree days to 40-50 and frosting nights. But it's nice to have three seasons at least, I don't really know about their winters here yet.

My training for work went fine. It was fun working with the projector and the wireless mouse for the powerpoint. I had a lazer pointer available, but during practice I was shaking so much I didn't think it was a good idea. And I was chosen for the Diversity Team which will get me a whole bunch of writing and newsletter experience. So that's where my year looks like it's going. I'm probably not applying for Senior in January, Jason doesn't think I'm ready unless I do a few more projects to get me in the "leadership" mode. And the examiners thought they were being pushed at IDHW.

Writing has been slow, but I signed up for NANO so I'm hiding from that. I am trying to work out a deal to do job descriptions for a recruiting company but that's a while away it looks. I have started a story about Hannah and the Pony Express, but I get a great start at things and then just peter away. Hum, what does that tell me about myself. Scared of success? Probably.

Darts are coming back. My cricket game is getting better and better and I'm doing quite a few tons lately. Haven't had a busting night for a few weeks, knock on wood.

Now I just need to relax and start working out again. Eat healthy and work out 4-5 times a week. That should drop some of this weight soon.

Later.

Fall Cleaning

Well, my birthday has come and gone with little trepidation this year. Have to say I'm glad I'm 47, the alternative didn't look so good. I've had a few issues to deal with this year but I'm healing up from the radiation and starting to feel stronger from the chemo, but now I have to go have three teeth pulled. I'm suppose to have four but my insurance only covers a $1000 a year and I think financially, I'll keep that one wisdom tooth until it decides to give me trouble or at least until my insurance year changes. I got the hospital bill part for the radiation last week. $42k. Thank God for insurance. I can't even imaging the emotional toll this would take on me without it. I'm still struggling financially due to the co payments and such but it's a drop in the bucket compared to what it could be and I'm seeing a light a the end of the tunnel.

Work is fine as usual. Nothing big going on. Well, I guess that's wrong. I'm doing a training for the whole NVA group on 11-1 on the 15 cent certification tests. With this training under my belt, I'll be able to apply for senior in January and then I'll be at the top except for supervisor for my team. So then on to other challenges.

Writing. I rewrote or retyped the first four chapters of my romance novel that is tenatively called Paris or Bust. Its the story of Sandra who's recently divorced, had been seeing a married man (Tom) and meets Chance through a singles ad she posts. Their trials start when her work (and Tom works with her) starts to drive a wedge between them and she is faced with the choice of moving up in her company or a more laid back life with Chance. Or is it that simple? Do women have to choose between the men in their lives or a truely successful career. Or is a successful life focused on a career that you work to live rather than live to work? We'll see what Sandra decides.

I've started a murder mystery based in Cambria, Ca. It's the story of an amature PI who finds her friend dead of apparently natural causes. After all Miss Emily is pushing 80. But Jill thinks things are looking a little fishy and goes off to discover that the small town mayor and his council are doing more for Cambria's future than just keeping the small town a tourist trap. And while she's looking, she finds plenty of other possible suspects in Miss Emily's past, a past she kept hidden for more than 30 years. Jill is trying to finalize Miss Emily's will, keep her own business going, and deal with the mysterious nephew who has popped into the picture, looking for his piece of the pie.

So between that and trying to figure out a budget to get all these bills paid, that's my life. What's going on with you?

Busy busy busy

Ok, that's a lie. How about tired, tired, tired? I have one more radiation treatment and my skin has broken so now I am tired and hurt. But this too shall end and after next week, it's all healing from here.

Oh, and getting teeth pulled next month. Boo Hiss, but maybe I'll start feeling better in November.

No writing going on but one of my essays is under consideration for a chicken soup book. I'm pretty excited. I've had the same writing goals all month with no progress. But as a good excuse, I am tired and on lot of pain meds. Maybe next month will be better.

Jim's been out of town and I went to visit him last weekend. It was a blast in Peoria. We hit the Octoberfest on the River front, saw the River Barge dock on the shore, and walked the shore of the Illinois river looking for sea shells, which we found. Ate out at Cheddars (excellent) and had breakfast at Perkins (which I totally miss out here. But they don't heat their maple syrup! ) God, I'm missing Idaho.

He's back for the weekend so I'm sure we will be busy this weekend getting lots of stuff done, but for right now, it's nice having him on the computer in the other room. Didn't a couple just get divorced because they were on line chatting each other up without knowing the other one was their spouse? The new marriage. Two people, two computers.

Dart Season is upon us

So we had the first of the season of tourneyments yesterday. I drew a big dog but we were still out in three. Jim took 6th which he was happy with and got him more points. Then we drove into St. Louis and played in a second tourneyment which was fun and again, out in three but I shot a lot better. So maybe my darts are coming back a little. Some girl was hitting on Jim to make her old man jealous and of course I got into the game. I hate it when I react instead of thinking things through. So I cried all the way home. I know the only thing I can control is my reaction, so why aren't I controlling that!

So today is rest up and get ready for the week to begin again. I started thinking about a new short story, wrote a page then wondered where the story was going so stopped. I think I'm good with scenes not stories. :)

Countdown continues

I'm a 1/3rd of the way last Friday. So by this friday I'll be 1/2 way done. The radiation makes me tired. I can feel it after I leave and driving home. But I did some dishes last night and made dinner, and even stayed up to 9:30, a new record!

Labor Day weekend was kind of boring, I should have called home but forgot. And Labor Day I spent in bed, reading and watching TV. We went to Harrahs on Sunday and spent way too much money but had fun and we don't go a lot so I guess it's ok. I'm just trying so hard to pay off these old bills and hospital bills so that we can start saving for a house. I really miss having my own home. Once they do get paid off though we should be able to sock away quite a bit. I dreamed I was buying savings bonds last night. When I worked for DHW, I bought bonds but they got spent down during the divorce. So I guess I'm subconsciously thinking I should be saving more.


I finished the truck book and sent in my final test. I have some wiggle room so I don't have to get a 90 but that would be nice. I got my raise, 4%. I guess that's good. Over a year, I've gotten 13% total with all the test raises. But I only have 3 tests left I can take. I guess I'll really have to push for senior.

Anyway, just wanted to pop in this am and get some thoughts down. Writing, none, since the short story. Reading, finished Mary Higgins Clarkes newest, I've heard that song. and Night of the living Deb by Susan McBride. Started an older Iris Jonhonst (I'm really butchering her name).

One week done, five to go.

I read somewhere that a cancer patient's life is based around treatments. How many weeks done, where they are in the cycle. I'm finding that to be very true. I am trying to focus on other parts of my life, but the cancer part keeps taking center stage. And I know its short term. But its overwhelming sometimes. I feel like running away (my usual response to danger) and giving up everything I have. Which is not a good sign. Maybe I need to schedule a mental health checkup? I've done so well, maybe not falling apart is a bad sign. Anyway, I am one week and 1 day into this process. I feel ok but tired. I want to do so much and I feel like I'm in stall mode.

Well, I finally passed my review of smart goals for work and now I get a raise, but I don't know how much only that it will go back to July 18th. Next week I'll probably start training the new girl to take on Texas which will lower my stress level totally. I am finished with Chapter 9 of the truck book and only one more chapter to go and I'll get a $500 bonus! That is if I don't blow the next two tests. I have a 94% average over the test so I have a little bit of wiggle room. But I'll be honest and say I'll be glad when it's done.

We bought a new digital camera yesterday. Jim's been playing with it but he wants to go to the Red's game and use it to take pictures of his favorate players. I think it will be fun to go. I'll need to scrounge up some tickets. We went once this year and saw the Reds play and it was really fun. Peanuts and beer. This time I'm getting a t-shirt!

I have my short story edited and ready to go next week. Now to pick a new project.

Have a great week.
Lynn

Radiation and writing

You would think that those two things are so far off the table, but they're not. Anyway. I started radation on Friday. 4 pm which means I have to be at work at 7 and then off by 3:30. I've been swamped at work and unable to catch up this month. So no overtime for me for the next 6 weeks. It's not so bad but a little scary, watching the machine round around you and knowing that radiation, which is suppose to be a bad thing, is going through your body every time you hear a beep. I wonder if they aren't just testing human's for some evil alien plot to rule the world.

So now you know where writing comes in. During my last simulation, I planned a short story I was going to write for Family Circle contest due at the end of the month. Then after reading what won last year, as I was looking for guidelines such as length, I realized it just wouldn't do. The subject matter was a little dark. Imagine that! I know I look like Pollyanna on the outside, but get me writing!

Anyway, I had whitled this story down to what would have really worked, but since I couldn't use it, I went with "What She Left Behind." It's kind of a story about moving and leaving things and the corresponding woman who died and left behind things. I really like it. It still is a little dark, and I might have to tweak the ending a little, but it works. Lots of detail. Lots of thought. The only bad thing is there is little dialogue which could kill me. I have two weeks to finish and get it in the mail.

Reading: I finished Laura Bradford's Forecast of Evil this week. I'm into St. Louis authors right now so I can say, I read your book if I ever meet one of them! It's a mystery, which I've learned from my studies is different from suspense or a thriller. The book is based on a closed setting (like Agatha Christies books) where an island is snowed in with a serial killer on the loose. It's the middle book in a series so I'll have to go back and get the other before I read her new book, just out.

I can't listen to books anymore as my CD player went out in my car. So I still don't know how Lifeguard by James Patterson ends. And please, don't email me. I'm going to get the book and read the last few chapters.

I also pulled out the 2008 Writer's Market and made some notes on possible markets for my work or where I'd like to try. I have a couple ideas that I think I'll get cracking on next week.

I'm feeling good but pushing myself a little too much. We played darts last Saturday and Monday and I did fine. Didn't lose a lot of energy even though I've been off for about six months.

Later.