Time Off

I am taking a week or two off from blogging. We've had some rough seas for the past while, and finding our way out of them is keeping us plenty busy.  I'll miss you all, and will try and update soon. Have a great week!

What's Up Wednesday

What's Up Wednesday

What's Up Wednesday is a blog hop created by Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk as a way for writers to connect with other writers. You can join by using the link on their website.

What I've Been Reading

I am almost finished with Darkness Watching by our own Emma L. Adams. I'm enjoying it very much, and think it will be the first of many books I read by her. When I finish, I plan to start This Shattered World. Yay!

What I've Been Writing

I wrote the first page of my new book, Lost Magic. It wasn't much, but it was a start. 

What Works For Me

I don't know if this works for me, actually, but I'm about to try the Turtle Method of writing. I just made that up, by the way. But the Turtle Method is where I try to do something every single day to get this book written. Even if it's only a page, or half an hour of writing, I need to get going if I'm ever going to build momentum. I'm buying myself some stickers today so I can add them to my calendar.  

What Else Is New

Last week I raved about how nice it was to finally get to watch some TV, after months without a break. Well, I've never been known for my moderation, and I kind of went off the deep end with Gilmore Girls this week--hence the only getting one page written. I think I'm ready to get back into the real world though. Cross your fingers for me.

**After reading Jaime's plea that we all try to comment, I decided to mention something. I've got a problem. It's probably something with an easy fix, but I haven't figured it out yet. I was just trying to comment on Katy Upperman's blog, and somehow, my comment vanished into the ether, the way it does almost every week. Her blog is not the only one I have that problem with. It seems like it's the same ones again and again. Always wordpress blogs, but not all wordpress blogs. I've always wondered if the comments were getting screened first, and if they appear after a few hours, but I don't think that's the case.  I'm mentioning this here and now, because of Jaime's plea that we take the time to comment on blogs. I try hard to comment on as many as I can every week, and I feel really badly that there are some WUW bloggers who have no idea how much I enjoy their blogs. I've always wondered how I could let them know, so if anyone knows what I'm doing wrong, I would love to know. Does anyone else have this problem?** 

What's Up Wednesday--In Which I OUTLINE A BOOK!!!

What's Up Wednesday is a blog hop created by Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk as a way for writers to connect with other writers. You can join by using the link on their website.

What I've Been Reading

I read Requiem for a Gypsy, a murder mystery set mainly in Slovakia, with several forays into the rest of Europe. I chose to read it because helpful books and websites about the modern day Roma are few and far between. I enjoyed the book. From a purely research standpoint, it was the most helpful thing I've read, but it still wasn't very helpful. Though the Roma were in it, the titled gypsy was a metaphorical gypsy, not a real one. I'm thinking about rereading Vodnik, a wonderful fantasy set in Slovakia. I should have done that from the start, but who knew I'd have such a rough time finding information? 

What I've Been Writing

I outlined yesterday!!!!!!!! I was at the dentist, waiting for my kids, and finally I ran out of excuses. Now I know why I've been dragging my feet so much--this is a complicated story I'm trying to write. One of the character's stories happens out of sync with the other characters, so I think I'm going to have to tell it by flashbacks. In fact, late last night I decided it might simplify everything if his whole story is a mystery the other characters need to solve. Also, there are a boatload of POV characters. I can't say much more at this point, except to say that...I'm writing the sequel to Hidden Magic! It's finally happening!

What Works For Me

When I'm researching a setting, I find that reading fiction gives me a much better sense of place than nonfiction does. Nonfiction doesn't supply me with the details, or the sensory images I need to place myself somewhere I've never been (I've never made such a huge leap as trying to write a story in Slovakia. I'm really terrified, and wish I could afford to go there and do some research. But I'm not, so fiction is the next best thing.)  

What Else Is New

On Monday, I finally had three hours to myself. It has been months and months, and I was in dire need of some ME time. I'd thought I would get it over a week ago, but then there were snow days and sick days and teacher work days, and my kids stayed home so much they very nearly forgot they went to school at all. On Monday I had a list of things to do as long as my arm, but I ignored it. Instead I lay on the couch and watched three and a half episodes of Gilmore Girls. I can't believe what a huge difference that has made in my mental health. I even had the headspace to OUTLINE yesterday! I'm a writer again!