Brilliance Captured!

Three weeks ago, February 5 to be exact I came upon a Facebook post about Aqua Notes. I know this because posts are dated on Facebook. Talking about Facebook, what about that new timeline format. I don’t know about you, but I hate it! I keep putting off changing over. If I ignore it, maybe it will just go away. But I digress and need to rein in my meandering thoughts. As I was saying on February 5, my Facebook friend Michelle McLean posted about Aqua Notes. She said she had gotten them as a Christmas present and they were great. When I saw them and read, “No more great ideas down the drain!” I knew I had to get my hands on one of these nifty note pads.

I was always having my most brilliant wordy ideas in the bath and shower. It’s were genius never fails to strike and I rarely have pen and paper at hand. I did attempt to capture these golden thoughts a few times, but the paper always ended up too soggy and the pen wouldn’t write over the water spattered page.

Imagine my excitement when I read Michelle McLean’s post. I just knew I had to have one of those notepads. Michelle directed me to Amazon…where else? It seems you can get anything imaginable on Amazon. I excitedly placed my order for not one but two Aqua Notes. On February 14 the box containing my Aqua Notes arrived. Oh the excitement! I ripped that box open, ran upstairs and positioned my note pads re instructions, one in the shower and one on the side of the bath. I was ready. Those brilliant ideas would be captured and I was on my way to being sought after by every agent and publisher this side of the North Pole. I couldn’t wait to take my first bath.

Well nothing came to mind on that first bath. Never mind I comforted myself, there is always tomorrow morning’s shower. Alas, no brilliance then either. For the next 15 days I stared at the unused Aqua Notepad in frustration.

Last night I decided to ignore the Aqua pad. I put on my music, closed my eyes and let my mind drift. And guess what? Words started to pop. Words then formed into sentences. I was thrilled when they began to sway and flow with the tempo of the music. I revelled in them. “At last,” I sighed, ”but will I remember them?” Exasperated voice in back of head roared, ”Write them down on your friggin notepad you eejit!” My eyes shot open with the fright of voice’s roar. I thanked voice for the reminder, though I bristled slightly at the name calling. I seized the moment, grabbed the Aqua Notes pencil and scribbled down the brilliance that was searing through me. Finally I captured some of those dazzling ideas and inspired word formations.
It was worth the wait!

Michelle pens two blogs:
Michelle McLean
        &
Operation Awesome
Drop by and say Hi!

A Writer? Moi?

Once upon a time a long, long time ago, in a land far, far away lived a girl who spent her time dreaming up stories of fairies and magic and mystical lands.  Words flowed from her pen, committing them to one page after another.  That is when she knew she wanted to be a "Writer.".

Then one Christmas Santa Claus gave her a red and cream typewriter, with it's own case.  She could bring it everywhere she went and she did. Now she pounded keys to form the words that shaped her stories.  The tales no longer only existed in her head and her dreams.  But dare she call herself "A Writer."No, she daren't.

So she had to look twice when reading the new blog  Real Women, Real Stories  created by fellow blogger Len Lambert to see her name listed on the Our Writers page.  What a surprise!  Someone actually graced her with that lifelong coveted title.  So let me tell you......she was walking around with a big silly grin on her face until a thought crept into her consciousness and struck terror in her. What if she doesn't live up to the title her friend Len so graciously bestowed on her? What if the words she commits to paper are just plain yawn inducing?   So what do you think she decided to do?  She decided not to think about it and delight in the thrill of being called "Writer."

What is Real Women, Real Stories?  It began as "an idea by Michelle Alba Lim to gather stories from women in her circle, ones she had met over the years and that she admires. But after a year, the plan evolved into gathering stories from women worldwide, with uplifting and inspiring stories that we can share to the world by turning them into a book.


Most importantly, a percentage of the proceeds will go to:
International League Against Epilepsy.

We are looking for more stories before the first draft is submitted to the editor. Please hurry and submit your story. Once we've reached 21 stories, we will inform you if you've made it or not. Don't despair if you haven't made it. There are plans for a Book 2, depending of course to the number of submissions to complete another book project. In the meantime, please help us make this book project a success!"

Stop by have a gander, join the group.  I am going to head over there again for at least the 100th time tonight and gaze at my name under the page heading of "Our Writers." 

Still grinning!!!!

Write On to Build On





I am back tapping at the keys, adding more words to my WIP.  The one I was working on before I threw all my energy into my family cookbook, 'The Food We Were Raised On'. (shameless plug, check it out) 

For the past few weeks I dithered....not a word or idea could be found floating around in the head.  Then I took the bull by the horns and joined this group.  And !VOILA!  Words....why...because I am accountable.  Accountable every single day.  I log into the group and tell my fellow Write On to Build On partners exactly how many words I have managed to tap out on my keyboard each and every day. This is just what I need.....I need to be accountable.  I finished the cookbook because I had a deadline.  I am now feeling quite confident about finishing my WIP. An added bonus is the amazing support and encouragement of each member.  I am making a point of following the group mantra:

"This group was founded on 01/10/2012 to motivate us to write. Any day we don't write, we'll owe $1 to the charity Build On. We can check our totals every three months to see how we've done and make our donation. Besides posting we  keep a personal account of the days we don't write. Writing a rough draft or editing counts, as does working on short stories, vignettes, and flash fiction. We post and make a comment thread of our daily progress at the end of each day. "

This wonderful idea is the brain child of Theresa Milstein of

Theresa's Tales of Teaching Tribulations and Typing Teen Texts

and

Fellow coordinator Lydia King of The Word is My Oyster

Our charity can be found at:
http://www.buildon.org/our-programs/

Since joining this group I owe $1.00 to Build On but I have also added a whopping 1984 words to my current and ongoing WIP! WOW thanks Theresa and Lydia... you are STARS in my book...well not actually in my book..........

  You know what I mean!

A Book, A REAL Book!

The Food We Were Raised On


Well here it is, the project I evasively mentioned here! The writing project I actually finished!!

I wrote this cookbook for my children.  A keepsake of sorts, but friends and family members who encouraged me throughout the process and helped with the endless edits thought it worthy of a larger audience. Since it is a collection of family recipes, photographs and the memories associated with them, I wondered how interesting it could possibly be to anyone beyond  family. But then I thought why not? Why not give my little cookbook an airing and see where the chips (hehehe) may fall.

When I finally held the finished product in my hands the sleepless nights, frustrations, multiple swear words and hours of editing seemed to melt from memory. A Book, a REAL Book...... I chanted like a three year old with giddy excitement!



Can you see the silly big grin stretching from ear to ear!   

The Food We Were Raised On can be found on the self-publishing site Blurb. 

Let me know what you think.

It's A Launch Party for Janice Horton's....Reaching for the Stars

                                           

Wish I Was Here!!!!!

The beautiful village of Mougins, France. My dream retreat for writing and all things creative. Strolling to the cafe overlooking the valley and the mountains in the distance. Drinking in the scenery while sipping a cool glass of wine and chatting with fellow Mougins residents. Sauntering down the narrow cobbled streets with artist galleries tucked away at every corner and in little alcoves; allowing inspiration and beauty engulf and replenish me.

Ahhh how I wish!!!!

 It's Launch Day for Janice Horton's

‘Wish I Was Here...’  and

She's Holding a Blog & Twitter Party!

Reaching for the Stars is now available on Amazon.UK or Amazon.Com for Kindle at the special launch price of just 95p or $1.40.  I have my copy!!!!

 

Peruse other Party Bloggers Wishfulness  Here!

Enjoy!!!



Ideas Come A Poppin

As I said in this earlier post I actually finished a project. Not my WIP but a Christmas project. What a thrilling feeling that is. I had come to a standstill with my current WIP and wondered if I had it in me, the ability to finish anything that is.

Like most I have been very busy with Christmas preparations. Not a time conducive to the flowing of creative ideas for a stalled WIP. But yesterday I actually got the urge to look at my WIP and add some notes. Ideas just sort of popped into my head. No prompting, forcing, mulling or stressing, just pop and there they were, ideas. These new ideas are now written on post-it notes and attached to printed pages of said WIP. I feel like I am getting back in the zone. My completed Christmas project has made me realize, I do actually have it in me to finish a work. I am so excited, I am feeling enthusiastic and my fingers are eager to get back to the keyboard with my fresh new ideas.

I hit a road block awhile back, stalled and in frustration stashed the offending WIP under the bed. I am not a descriptive writer; it does not come naturally to me. I am more of a character inter-action sort of writer. When reading I have a tendency to get bored and skip over long descriptives, anxious to get back to character action. Proof of the ‘You write what you read’ mantra. Still some descriptives are necessary. The story cannot be conversation from beginning to end, now can it!?!

I have learned so much from my recent BETA reading. A big thank you to Nicole Zoltack, Where Fantasy & Love Take Flight and Sherry Chaisson Auger, Sherry Auger for that. I have a better understanding of gauging chapters, what I need to develop and what might be best left alone. A big huge 'Thank You,' fellow blogger/writer friends.

And on that note I will say...have a wonderful Tuesday all!

Mother Nature Glistens

Last Saturday we got our first substantial snowfall. Like all first snowfalls it had a magical, mystical aura. The glistening white glow swathed the earth and instilled a calming silence. It truly is the Winter Wonderland of song and postcard.

We went to visit our daughter after the snowfall. The beauty on the drive was captivating. I was surprised and delighted to spot a flock of wild turkey, easily seen against the whiteness of the fields. Hawks could be seen perched on branches of trees dressed only in white. Deer braved hunters and moseyed out into the openness, making for a picture perfect winter scene! I was afraid to look away in case I missed some other wondrous sight.

Yes, the first snowfall is filled with enchantment. Mother Nature dressed in glorious spellbinding beauty.

Of course I will have something else to say in a month or two….but for now, I am enchanted with the beauty and peacefulness Mother Nature has showered on us.

I Did It!!! Yes I Did!

I apologise bloggie friends for my lack of presence lately….I hope to get around to your blogs over the next few days and catch up on the goings on in bloggerland! I have been so out of touch it feels like I have just emerged from the outer edges of the universe. But hey, I did it. Believe it or not I finished a project.

I was only lamenting a short while ago on the multiple unfinished projects stashed under the bed (here) …so to speak!

I know many of you who took on NaNo may be shaking your heads thinking, What is she going on about! For me this is a major achievement. I Finished a writing project.

The idea for this project began to formulate in my mind’s eye last summer. I outlined what I wanted to include and how I wanted it to look. I ran my idea past my friend Libby as we sipped wine at her kitchen table. I often have what I consider to be wonderful ideas until I voice them. More often than not they fall flat and with a splat! I was pleasantly surprised and encouraged by Libby’s enthusiastic reaction. A thought just occurred to me ….could it have been the wine…..No! No! Banish that thought from your head. Banish it I say!

On my return to Wisconsin in September I began my project in earnest. The past month has been exhausting, frustrating and exhilarating. I enjoyed the process, the ups, the downs, the sleepless nights and the nights filled with dreams of being chased by words and pages. But when I pressed the publish button a feeling of lightness flooded over me. Accomplishment and lightness. I did it!

Memories of Winter Afternoons

If on cold winter afternoons when I arrived home from school the aroma of freshly baked scones filled the house I knew…. it was movie afternoon. I loved movie afternoons. The films were broadcast on “The Early Show” from 4:30PM to 6PM. If a film ran longer than 90 minutes, it was shown over two afternoons. Mom loved films and kept a watchful eye on the schedule.

Siobhan, Trisha and I settled ourselves on the sofa Mom covered earlier with a brown blanket. Then Mom joined us in the sitting room with a tray holding a pot of tea, four cups and scones stacked high on a plate, topped with melting butter and jam. Movie afternoons were the only time we were allowed to eat in the sitting room. A real treat.

Easter week, we watched films every afternoon. Mom, Siobhan, Trisha and I sat together sipping tea and savouring scones watching ‘Quo Vadis,’ ‘The Robe,’ ‘King of Kings’ and many others.

The smell of freshly baked scones always brings me back to those cozy winter afternoons in our sitting room.

Projects, Projects Everywhere!

Is it the first Wednesday of November already? That means it's time to add another installment to  Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure Writers Support Group. It seems like the first Wednesday of October was only yesterday and I subjected bloggie friends to major whinging and whining about my writerly insecurities.

This month instead of whinging I will air my most shameful writerly secret. Here it is, I have way too many unfinished projects stashed under the bed. Five to be exact.  Yes, you read right....Five.  Are you tsking at me and shaking your head. 

I have a tendency to stumble and fall when trying to incorporate descriptives to a story. A weakness of mine. Or as with my latest unfinished project when I tried to write a love scene. I wrote the scene, but was very unhappy with it…so off I toddled to Eason’s/Borders and bought multiple books I felt confident were bursting at the seams with love scenes. My postman was also very busy delivering the many tomes I ordered online. Just as a side note…..my arms are a few inches longer from carting the many shop purchases home.  The postman's biceps also showed noticeable improvement! Now that I think of it, shouldn't he be thanking me?!?

So I read and read and read. This proved quite a helpful exercise, “but”….isn’t there always a “but?” I had this brainwave for Christmas presents. It is writing of sorts if you class creating a keepsake as writing. Which I am doing, because it makes me feel better! I really can’t go into detail as those on the receiving end of this project may be lurking. It is taking much longer than I thought it would. I need to have it completed within the next two weeks, so it will be printed in time. This is proving to be hair pulling pressure.

I decided to take my friend Jim Lawn’s advice and publish my project with Blurb. Jim published his, "The Book of Silence," in Blurb and was very pleased with the results.  "The Book of Silence," is filled with beautiful photographs taken in the Dungarvan locality.  Check out Jim’s Website and peruse his other works. 

Do you have any waiting to be finished projects stashed under the bed.  How many? Do tell….