On Not Writing

I'm not writing. Between the unpacking, general house-setting up and lack of an office, I'm not writing. Not that my head is any emptier of stories - it isn't. My current WIP keeps spinning around, little scenes playing themselves out on my brain screen. My characters are nagging me. "When are you going to get back to us? We have things to do, trouble to get into, havoc to wreck!"

Hah! My hero just wants to kiss the heroine again. I know how he is.

Despite the need to write, I'm just not. I want to but I can't seem to get to the place where I'm capable of doing it. The stress (or whatever you want to call it) of moving and getting resettled has just sapped the creativity out of me. At least that's the way I feel. Maybe I'm not drinking enough coffee.

I will tell you this...the prospect of getting my office set up excites me. My new office furniture, including my new desk!, arrives Tuesday. I can't wait. I get the feeling when that happens, I'll be writing my little fingers into nubs.

Do you go through times like this? When you just feel out of sorts about writing because of other things going on in your life?

Swimming Against The Tide

I know that romantica/erotic romance is the "hot" thing right now, no pun intended, but I can't get into it. I don't want explicit sex in the books I read...for me, that's a turn off. It's just too much infomation. I have a pretty vivid imagination and I prefer to use it instead of having every sweaty detail described to me.

Also, one wrong word and I get pulled out of the scene. I immediately go through this whole thought process of why did the author call it that or why would she say X instead of Y? I find it nearly impossible to get back into the scene when that happens.

So, is it just me? Or am I all alone? I realize the numbers for this genre indicate I'm in the minority but I'm just curious if anyone else feels this way.

Just wanted to add...I have many friends who write romantica - just because this genre isn't my cup of tea doesn't mean I won't continue to buy their books to support them as writers. A sale is a sale is a sale...even if the buyer doesn't read the book!

It's Tough Eating Ice Cream With A Plastic Spoon

In case you didn't know, since my last post, hubby and I have moved to Florida. The house is great and when I uncover the cable that connects my camera to my pc, I'll get some pics up and show you. The view from the lanai overlooking the lake is really relaxing.

Another truckload of crap...um, I mean household goods...arrives tomorrow. This is actually a good thing because this truck has the guestroom furniture on it and we already have several folks planning visits. Also, my treadmill will be arriving. Not that I have any energy left after unpacking boxes and finding homes for stuff all day. Man, moving sucks the life out of you! But someday, I'll want to work out again. I'm sure of it.

Meanwhile, the unpacking continues and I still haven't found our silverware. My kingdom for a sturdy spoon!

I'm For Sale!

Check it out!

Ain't that cool?

The Auction Is Live!

From Lani Diane Rich:

As many of you know, author Marianne Mancusi (A CONNECTICUT FASHIONISTA IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT) returned home from the RWA national conference to discover that she had no home - it and all her belongings had burned to the ground while she was in Reno. While we're grateful that neither Marianne nor her dog were hurt, the loss of everything she owned - including childhood photos and mementos, things she can never replace - was simply devastating. Now there's a single girl in Boston who needs absolutely everything, so the girls here at Literary Chicks (http://www.literarychicks.com) are circling the wagons, and the writing community has come out like gangbusters to show their support by helping us set up this AMAZING auction to benefit Marianne.

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZmariannefirefund

Items include signed books from...

Jennifer Crusie
Mary Jo Putney
Alesia Holliday
Michelle Cunnah
Lani Diane Rich
Dierdre Martin
Melissa Senate
Toni Blake
Gena Showalter
Lori Avocato
Joshilyn Jackson
And many, many more...

Also, critiques (NOT submissions, but who doesn't want to get their name in front of these people?) from...

Chris Keeslar, Sr. Editor, Dorchester
The Knight Agency
Stephanie Kip Rostan, agent, Levine-Greenberg
Beth de Guzman, Editorial Director - Mass Market, Warner Books
Kelly Harms, former Avon editor, now an agent with the Jane Rotrosen Agency
Brianna St. James, editor for Ellora's Cave and Cerridwen Press
Steve Axelrod - agent representing authors Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Alesia Holliday and more top hitters
And many more...

Not to mention critiques from authors...

Jenny Crusie
Alesia Holliday
Michelle Cunnah
Lani Diane Rich
Karen Rose
Lori Avocato
Joshilyn Jackson
Natalie Collins
And more...

Anyone who would like to donate to Marianne independently of the auction can find out how to do so at http://www.literarychicks.com.

This could quite easily be among the best opportunity this year for aspiring writers to get their name in front of big hitters, and it's definitely a great opportunity for readers to get signed books from their faves. So if you can promote, we'll really appreciate it, and if you can't but would like to forward this e-mail to people you think might be interested, that would be fantastic.

Thanks so much for your time. We appreciate you beyond the telling of it.

J Lani

A Writer In Need

Author Marianne Mancusi came home from Reno to find her apartment had been struck by lightning and burned to the ground. She lost everything. If there is anything you can do to help please check out http://www.literarychicks.com/ for details of where to send donations and the like.

The Real Reason Nora Didn't Emcee

http://www.livejournal.com/users/corrinalaw/9282.html

Home From Reno

The RWA National Conference was amazing, wonderful, inspiring and fun. Loved it! I am, however, so tired I am almost incapable of rational thought.

I'll post the lowdown when I am coherent again.

Missed you all!