You better THINK!

Too many people believe that the internet is a place where you can say whatever you want, regardless of how cruel or untrue it might be. Flame wars break out on a daily basis. Rumors get scooped up and spread like gospel. Individuals are vilified before facts are verified. As an author, we're public figures. Sure, not to the extent of actors or politicians maybe, but we're still out there.

The next time I start to post something that's more than just a daily observation on life or an update on the mad behaviors of my feline staff, I'm going to run the content through this checklist:

T - Truthful
H - Helpful
I - Inspiring
N - Necessary
K - Kind

Can you imagine how much nicer the world in general would be if everyone decided to THINK before they spoke?

Learning to Bounce

The late cowboy star, Gene Autry, said life isn't about how high you climb, but how well you bounce.

For the business of writing, truer words could not be spoken. A writer's life is often a roller coaster ride of ups and downs. You final in a contest, then get your results back to find the one judge who kept you from winning hated your heroine. You get a call from an editor who asks you to do revisions, only to have them ultimately pass on the work. You sell your first book, but can't get a contract on a second no matter what you propose. Readers love your new series, then your publisher cancels it.

This is the writing life. We rise and fall every day, probably more so now with the uncertainty of the industry and the ever-changing publishing landscape than ever before. Many authors I know are having to re-invent themselves or seek new ways of publishing their work.

They're learning to bounce. Because the writer who falls and doesn't get back up is the writer who will get left behind, who will disappear, whose career will be over.

So no matter where you are in your path, learn to be resilient. Don't let one person's opinion keep you down.

Get out there and bounce.

I woke up hungry

I woke up hungry and thinking about food, a sure sign that while my head knows it's time to get back on the diet, my body is rebelling.

I'll be honest and tell you that my appetite is frighteningly large. My capacity for food outdoes some men. I fight it, but it's always there.

But I've eaten like a death row prisoner having their last meal for long enough. Today I must return to eating healthy and getting some exercise. (Not to rub it in for those of you in other parts of the country, but the weather here is gorgeous and I plan to head out for a spin on my new bike later.)

With that in mind, I'm off to the store to fill my fridge with fruits and veggies. Conference season is fast approaching and besides being healthy, I'd like to fit into my clothes.

Are you dieting? Exercising? What approach are you using?

Win a book!

I'm over at Jennifer Shirk's blog today talking Writer Routines (my routine specifically). Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of All Fired Up!

Checking In

I'm still alive and kicking, in case you're wondering. Just buried in edits and other writing. Still I wanted to pop in and say hi and give y'all a chance to tell me what you're up to.

So. What have you been doing with yourself lately?

Taking a break

My writing work is a little overwhelming at the moment so I'm taking a break from blogging and most social networking for a little bit. Not sure if that means a week or a month, that really depends on how much I get done and how long it takes me. I won't be reading or commenting on blogs, playing games on FB, spending hours on forums, etc. Mostly I'll be head down in the many writing responsibilities that I have, trying not to hyperventilate or melt into a puddle of nerves.

Of course, Caturday will still go on. ;o) And you might see me on Twitter once in a blue moon, because hey, who hasn't got time for the occasional 140 character blast of information?

If you need my attention, email me! Thanks!

I'd rather be reading

But I have too much writing to do! If I get my 5 pages done today, reading will be my reward. Besides the writing, I have to make a trip to the post office - which means getting out of my "work clothes" and into clothes that can be seen in public, and I need to work out and fold some laundry. See, this is where an assistant would be very handy. A real assistant, not like the one in the picture. I have plenty of those.

Today is like a whole day designed especially to make me miserable. Not the writing part tho, because while writing is super hard work (and anyone who tells you different is a BFL (Big Fat Liar), I'm starting to get into the swing of this book and I'm enjoying the pain, I mean, writing process.

What are you up to today?

PS. Friday is my birthday. Just giving you plenty of time to prepare. ;o)

I'm a steppin' machine

So yesterday I posted that the first day with my pedometer on I only managed 7500 steps. Well that changed yesterday. Maybe because I was more conscious of my movement, I'm not sure, but I did 12,424 steps. About 6 miles. Three of those miles were on the treadmill as part of my workout, but still, they count! I'm pretty psyched about that number and am hoping to repeat it today.

I also had a little breakthrough with my workout yesterday - I ran for five minutes straight without stopping, falling off the treadmill or crying like a little girl. I've been running for small intervals for a while now but never really more than 1 or 2 minutes at a time. I guess that work is starting to pay off. I'd love to be a runner. Seems like they can eat whatever they want.

Today needs to be a big writing day for me. I'd love to hit 3k words for the day.

Hmm. I guess I'm all about the numbers lately. 3000 words, 12,000 steps. Kinda bizarre for someone as math-challenged as me.

You've got to move it, move it!

Yesterday, I did two things to improve my life as a writer:

1. I bought a new chair, a Herman Miller Aeron, because it seems to be the one chair most writers mention when they talk about "great chairs" and the chair I have now...well, let's just say I have a love hate relationship with it. I loved it when I bought it, but now I hate it. It didn't hold up well at all and sitting in it has become a study in tolerance.

I can't wait to try this new chair out. I hope it arrives soon. I have high hopes! I'll keep you posted. (For those of you on the fence about spending this much cheddar on a chair, I'd like to remind you that you can write it off.)

2. I've started wearing a pedometer to measure my steps. I've read numerous places that you should shoot for 10K steps a day or about 5 miles. I only managed 7500 yesterday so clearly I have my work cut out for me. (And that figure included my work out time on the treadmill.) It doesn't take a genius to see that the writing life is way too sedentary.

What have you done to make your life better lately?

Now hiring

I can't seem to shake this foggy feeling. I just want to nap! Or lay by the pool. Which would lead to napping. Problem is napping accomplishes nothing. And I have tons to do. Such as:

1. Shop for a fountain so the landscaping can be completed.
2. Shop for food so we can continue eating.
3. Write so I can meet my deadlines.
4. Workout so I can keep fitting into my jeans.
5. Do laundry so those jeans are clean.

Anyone want to volunteer to be my assistant? The pay is zero but you get pool privileges.

Words for the Writer

Just a few observations this Friday on what it means to be a writer...

1. It's a hard job, don't kid yourself otherwise. Not only will you wear out your brain at times, but you may also wear out your hands and your back from hours spent at the keyboard banging away.

2. Rejections happen to everyone at every stage of a career. That means from the unpubbed to the author with 25 books to their name. Don't take it personally.

3. The further in your career you get, the more people are going to want from you.

4. Reviews can kill your spirit. Fan mail can revive it.

5. No matter what book you write, no matter the subject, no matter what lists the book hits, you will not please everyone. Don't try. Worry about pleasing yourself and your editor. That's all you can control.

6. Stress happens. Figure out some coping mechanisms.

7. The good days - and there will be good days - are phenomenal.

8. Learn to take time off. You've got to recharge your creative batteries.

Moving at the speed of light

I have a lot to do this week. A lot. I mean, I always have a packed week, but this week is extra busy since I'm leaving next week for a writer's conference. That means there's extra stuff to do to get ready, like hair and nails, making sure laundry's done, getting Hotrod situated to survive while I'm gone, figuring out what I'm going to wear. I even have to whip out a short synopsis. You know how it is.

On a side note, my sooper seekrit project is just about ready to turn into my agent and be submitted to the editor, so fingers crossed! I'm pretty happy with how it turned out - so much so that it's inspired me to finish another sooper seekrit project that's been languishing undone on my computer.

What are you working on?

Work Day!

Today is going to be a work day as Louisa Edwards, Roxanne St. Claire and I put the final touches on our workshop for tomorrow and do a few practice run-throughs. We're also going to be brainstorming book ideas for each other. Have you ever done that with a group of your writer friends? You should really try it - it's amazing what you can come up with!

Have a great weekend!

Going for gold

Yesterday was the winningest day in the history of American achievements at the Winter Olympics with a total of six medals for the day. Compare it to the year the games were held in Calgary - six medals was the American total for the entire games. Three of yesterday's medals were gold - Lindsey Vonn, Shaun White and Shani Davis - all amazing to watch, all inspiring in their own way.

In fact, the games have been pretty inspiring in general. All the personal stories and small details that get revealed help to shape the way we see the athletes, not just as competitors, but as people. From the Chinese pairs skaters who've been together for eighteen years to the Canadian skier whose brother's cerebral palsy inspires him to train harder, the stories are what connect us to these athletes. We empathize and we root for them, even though they represent different countries.

For the writer, there's a lesson in that. That emotional connection is so important in our characters, whether they be the hero or the villain. We must create that connection so the reader cares. If the reader doesn't care, it's far too easy to put the book down. (Or to continue the Olympics theme, change the channel.)

Something to think about when you work on that WIP today.

Giving up on Wednesday

I'm thinking about eliminating Wednesdays from my blogging schedule. As my writing schedule increases, something's got to give. Wednesday might be the day to go. What do you think? I'm curious.

If you blog, how many days a week do you post? Would there be a better day to go silent? It's not like I couldn't blog if I really had something to say.

Have a great day. I look forward to your input.

The only jeans a writer will ever need!

You may not believe this, but the perfect jeans have just been invented. Perfect for writers, that is.

Check out PAJAMA JEANS! Are they jeans? Are they pajamas? YES!

Wow. The very idea is kinda scary. I mean, I barely put street clothes on now. These could ruin me. Good thing they don't come in tall.

What do you think? Would you wear them?

Why?

Why do unpublished writers worry so much about things that don't matter? If you haven't written a book yet, designing a book mark is sort of pointless. If you haven't finished a book, but you have eleven on again/off again projects, who cares what your pen name is?

I understand the excitement of that new idea, the one that takes over your brain and woos you with whispers of greatness, but if you let every new idea take you away from the book you're currently writing, you're never going to get anywhere. The key is finishing. Even if the book sucks. Finish it anyway. Push through, get to the end, then set it aside. I guarantee you'll have learned something. I've gotten better with every book I've written. You will too. That's just how it works.

Focus on the now, not what could be. Write the book. That's how you get published.

Icky Friday

It's raining and windy and apparently a tornado just passed by us. So, you know, fun day here. We lost power once this morning and I wouldn't be surprised if it happens again.

I've got a busy weekend ahead - our niece is coming for a visit tonight, then I've got a chapter meeting tomorrow, church on Sunday and writing to squeeze into the cracks. What's up with you this weekend?

Stuck?

Ever have one of those days when you're stuck for an idea? Or none of your ideas seem to be enough to come up with an actual story? Maybe you have a character, but you don't know what they're doing or why they're doing it? All you need is the handy dandy plot generator!

Try it out here. What did you come up with?

Now let's go write!

Argh!

There's been a little too much hammer time at my house recently, and I don't mean the dancing, diaper-pants kind.

See, the leak in our roof is being repaired. Which is great. I'm happy it's being fixed.

The noise level of the repair? Less happy. And today the demo guy is coming to rip out all the drywall that got ruined. Can't. Wait.

Really, it's a wonder I've gotten any writing done at all. Maybe this weekend will be better. What are your plans for the weekend?