7-7-7 Meme from Sidney Williams

Ok, I've been tagged.  Sidney Williams listed me in this meme over at his blog:

1.) Go to page 77 of your current MS.
2.) Go to line 7.
3.) Copy down the next 7 lines/sentences, and post them as they're written. No cheating.
4. Tag 7 other victims ...er, authors.

Well, since I don't have 77 pages in my current WIP (only around 30 or so) I went with page 7.

Her sarcasm was lost on Jeff. His eyes widened. “You had a trust fund?”

“God, you’re an idiot. It’s a good thing I like you or I’d been dumping this soup over your head right now. I still can’t promise I won’t.”

Jeff shook his head. “I’m sorry, Al, but I can’t believe that you, of all people, had never heard of Midnight Ink.”

She shot him another sour look, hating how she’d been made to feel more foolish than she already did. It wasn’t like she was plugged into the whole world of body art. Her tattoo and piercings were done by other delinquents like herself, in abandoned buildings and unsterile conditions, but Jeff didn’t need to know that.

“Well, obviously I didn’t, so just tell me what you know.”

That's mine.  I won't tag anybody, but if you'd like to share yours here, I'd love to see them.

Nature + Vacuum = No Love

(Huh. That equation is also true with me in the place of nature. My carpets can testify.)

The saying that "nature abhors a vacuum" is apparently true. Remember my grand plan last month to get rid of those two hours wasted online every evening?

I did get rid of them - and immediately, my day job exploded with work. I've been working 10 - 12 hour days, 6 - 7 days a week, ever since I "freed" those "extra" two hours.  That'll teach me.

What have you been up to?

Keeping Track

What would you do with an extra two to four hours per day?

Lately, I've been keeping track of how I spend my time. After a careful watch for the past couple of weeks, I noticed that when I come home from work, I tend to spend about two hours on the Internet reading emails, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc.  Occasionally participating, but mostly just reading. 

Wow. 

Then, depending on what's going on that day, there could be another two hours either taking care of chores, spending time with my daughter, and/or watching Netflix. 

That's definitely two hours per day that could be repurposed, with a good chance of some days having four!

So, my friends, I'm taking those two to four hours back. For at least the next thirty days, I'll check my email during my lunch break at work in case there is some important business matter that needs addressing, but otherwise, I'll be refraining from the Internet.  I'll miss catching up with everyone, but if you need me, you can email my yahoo account: katesterlingwriting.

The goal is to spend those extra 2 - 4 hours organizing, writing, and exercising. In other words, working on those boob wishes: first draft of Midnight Ink complete, lose 10 pounds, and get my bedroom organized.

God willing and the creek don't rise, I'll be back in about a month to let you know how it went.  Or, if I slip off the wagon, maybe I'll update my Twitter or Facebook status with a mini check-in. :)

Of course, I'd still love hearing what's new with you, so don't hesitate to email. I'll have an hour during lunch for that. :)

Analysis Paralysis

There I was, merrily typing away this weekend - 2K+ each on Friday and Saturday - and got up this morning to try to put in at least two more today.

I'd had a long dry spell that I always blamed on the day job and lack of time/energy, etc.  But the truth was that I just didn't know where the stories were going. I was afraid I couldn't create a believable, exciting enough plot. I got tangled up in doubts and couldn't seem to extricate myself to move forward. The harder I tried to force it, the worse it got.

Until this past Thursday evening.

While thinking of something else entirely, a line I'd read somewhere flashed in my mind. "Plot is simply what the characters have to go through to reach their goal."

Aha!

I'd been fretting over action, intrigue, etc., but it all hinged on goals. What did my characters want? What were they trying to achieve?  Simple, right?

I suddenly felt very relaxed and simultaneously energized. I let that epiphany settle in for the next several hours until I was totally at ease with the idea. Lo and behold, Friday evening, after already having worked twelve hours, I sat down and easily added another 2K+ words to a manuscript. Didn't even break a sweat. Got up Saturday and did the same thing. In fact, I could have written more, but I deliberately held back so I wouldn't wear myself out.

I got up this morning, determined to do it all again... until I read this blog on believable characters. 

It's a great blog, it really is. But things like that tend to bring me to a screeching, doubt filled halt.  Suddenly, I was hung up again on not being good enough. Were my character flat? Cliches? Unoriginal? 

Oy vey! How could I possibly write a novel? I'm not nearly good enough!

Now I'm trying to recover from the doubts again. It took me the past two YEARS to come to grips with plot. Now I have to deal with character, too?!

You know what?  I'm just going to try to not worry about it right now.  Just keep writing until the darn thing is finished and then go back to see if the characters need more work. At that point, I can use Rick's great blog as a thermometer to see they're ill. And I'll be grateful for it then.

Right now, I just need to stop worrying about it and get on with the process. Like Nora Roberts says (I think she said it) "You can fix a bad page, but you can't fix a blank page." 

Though, actually, I think you fix the blank page by filling it up with stuff - even if it's bad. :)

Winter is Coming...

So said the Starks.  (For those of you who don't get the reference, it's from "Game of Thrones")

Anyway, it's currently 12 degrees and snowing here.  I thought it wasn't supposed to snow when it got that cold?  What gives?

I think it also speaks to the winter of my life - I swear that last night I came up with a good topic for posting today, but for the life of me, now I can't remember what it was! Getting old...

What's new in your neck of the woods?  The weather treating you ok?

I'm thinking of doing another "boob wish month" - anyone want to join me?

The Man in the Red Jacket

This post may ramble a bit, because I haven't thought any of it through, but am just going on the feeling that I want to mention these things.

From the window my desk faces (as well as from my balcony) I can see the apartment building next door.  For the past five years, an older gentleman in a worn, red jacket stood in one of the doorways there and smoked.  We would watch each other, he and I, but never say a word.  A small smile or nod of acknowledgment from time to time, but neither of us knew anything about the other - other than he smoked in the early morning and evening, and wore a red jacket.  I wrote in the early morning and evening, and sometimes took fresh air on my balcony.  Over the years, I somehow came to feel very fond of this old guy, as did my daughter, Emily.  She would see him in the afternoon, riding his bicycle around the parking lot and found him charming as well.

The day after Christmas, he was working on the roof when he suddenly fell off and died from the impact.  My daughter and I didn't know right away it was him - only that someone had fallen and died.  We both said the same thing at the same time: "I hope it wasn't the old man in the red jacket."  Sadly, it was.  And even though it would have been tragic no matter who had fallen, our first thoughts went to him.  There were other people living over there, but he somehow touched our hearts without ever having spoken a word.

We later found out this poor man had no family, and the other people in his building didn't know what to do about the body. He was originally from Mexico, and his remains were left to the state of Illinois.  Emily and I were heartbroken when we heard this news, and I have been saddened ever since.  Just yesterday, I thought I saw him in his doorway and in a flash of a second was so happy to see him before I remembered he was gone.  I started crying and couldn't stop.  It was just too sad that this poor man lived and died alone, far from home and whatever family he started with.  No one to say goodbye to him, no one to mourn him.  As I cried, my cats gently walked up to me, eyes worried, then climbed on my lap and started licking my hands. I realized they were upset because I was, and so I began to soothe them as they soothed me. 

In that moment, I realized that even though I never knew him, the man in the red jacket did not go unmourned or unmissed.  He is still remembered fondly.
May he rest in peace.

And now for the rest of the year....

I've heard that how you spend either New Year's Eve or New Year's Day is how you'll spend the rest of the new year.  Not that I believe it or anything (grin), but so far, it has always proved true for me.  So, this past weekend I made sure to be productive. :)

Of course, NYE wasn't as productive as NYD, but I'm telling myself it was still time well spent - mainly relaxing, getting caught up on blog friends' posts, spending time with my daughter, and planning ahead for the following week.  Yesterday involved a lot of cleaning, organizing, reading, plotting, budget forecasting, cooking, and making healthy food choices.  If the rest of the year goes the same, I could live with that. :)

Sidney Williams had a nice blog about the challenge of keeping the old tooshey in the chair and the hands on the keyboard, and I took away some good tips from his link to the Pomodoro Technique.  I'm putting them into practice today.

Also, if you haven't read Edie Ramer's Cattitude yet, it's available free until tomorrow.

Charles Gramlich also has a new, humorous book out:  Days of Beer: A Memoir of a Beer Drinkin' Man.

And I'm happy to report that Avery DeBow is planning to get back into the writing and publishing scene this year.  I look forward to seeing what she comes up with.

These are just a few things off the top of my head - I'm sure there's much more news.  How are you hoping to spend this year?

Woof... I mean, Meow...

Ok, so this was on the front page of Yahoo, so you may have already seen it, but I loved it so much I had to post.  Especially since this cat looks exactly one of mine - the sneaky one!

Settling in

Wow - I can't believe I haven't been here since October.  Maybe because all of November was taken up with trying to get a new job, then the past two weeks have been taken up with working said new job.  I've been pretty tired, but it's still a good thing.

Just wanted to check in to see how people are - it's fuh-reezing here right now.  This blog comes to you courtesy of two pairs of pajamas, two pairs of socks, and a robe. :)

How's by you?  What's new and exciting?

Bits and Pieces

In keeping with the last blog post on those bits of prose and poetry coming to you from nowhere, I had that experience again.  Only this time, I was just waking up and could hear this song still playing from a dream I had.  That has happened before, as well, and usually the song had some deep meaning with what was going on in my life at the time.  This time, if that's the case, then it's just darned depressing. :)

Nevertheless, because the experience was still sort of cool (especially the music), I thought I'd share it.  This first bit was set to music in my dream and stayed with me most of the morning before another one started on the train ride into work.  If you recognize it from a song I may have heard and forgotten, let me know.  I always wonder where these things come from.

---------
The dying starts the day we're born
we leave this life tattered and torn
broken down, beaten and shorn

Somewhere along the way you forgot
to strike at the curves life threw you
And as you sing your last refrain
you realize you're the one who remains
of all your friends and all of those who knew you

Round and round you twist and turn
and all the while the fire burns
in your gut and lips with all the truths unspoken
reminders of all the promises you've broken

---------

Then you fell for the demon's kiss
the pride, the pain, the deluded bliss
that shreds the seams and transplants
your skin with his

You threw away the gold in haste
chasing after jewels of paste
Too old now to even try
all you can do is say goodbye

It's all been wasted

--------

Depressing, huh?  I hate to think about what that says.  The last time I heard a song in my dreams that I didn't recognize, the message was fairly positive.  This one, not so much. :)

Nevertheless, it always fascinates me when these things pop up from nowhere and I have a moment to capture them.

Now, in other news, I've got a coupon on Smashwords to read UNMASKED for free if you're interested. Just use coupon code JK69V.  I'm also going to be interviewing for another job this week - it's a stretch for me, so I'm not going to get my hopes up too high, but it sure would be nice.  All prayers, good wishes, and good lucks welcomed. :)

What's new and exciting in your life right now? Any unexpected muse visitations?

Oh! And in time for Halloween, check out Edie Ramer's ghost stories blogs.  Fun stuff - just scroll down a little to start reading them.  I have a couple that maybe I could add there...

Magical Mondays on a Sunday - The Creative Process

Occasionally, something a little strange will happen with my art or writing. These are things that I normally wouldn't tell anyone about because they might start to question my sanity.  I certainly would never mention them my doctor, lol.  And yet, I've heard tales of others with similar experiences.  Those who spoke of characters who refused to act a certain way (and I thought the writer was cracked until it happened to me), and some who spoke of "voices in their heads, talking so fast they had to hurry to write it all down" and how they "sometimes had to tell those characters to either stop talking or come back later."  I really worried about those writers.

Until it happened to me.

The other day I had just come home from work, put my backpack down, and was getting ready to fix dinner when WHAM.  This woman started talking very clearly in my head and I ran to get to the computer because here is what she was telling me:

They say the Devil is in the details, but I’ve never been too detail oriented, which might explain why, when the Prince of Darkness came calling one Saturday night, I had no idea who I was dealing with. Or rather, with whom.  Yeah, that detail I get.  The Grammar Maven, that’s me. No, really, it is.  At least, during my day job at the Milford Herald.  (But just between you and me, I like to leave work at work, ya know? So don’t hold this against me.)

Now, where was I? Oh, yeah. Dancing with The Devil. He strode into Billy Goatz Bar-n-Grill pretty as you please and told me to dance. With him.  That’s right; he didn’t ask. He commanded. And struck as I was by those big blue eyes with long, dark lashes, and deep, deep dimples next to the sexiest smile you’ve ever seen, well...what’s a girl to do?  I danced. 

With him.

For him.

Because of him.

As the night wore on, he told me his name was Rob. Which turned out to be true.  Because before daybreak, he’d robbed me of both my virtue and my sanity.

See, while I was boogying with Beelzebub, one of his henchmen stole my little sister.

Now, I have NO idea where that came from.  Is it from another book I read sometime and just don't recall?  I truly don't know.  If any of it sounds familiar to any of you, I'd like to know.  I'd hate to be plagiarizing someone and not even know it.  And I have to wonder if that woman's voice is just my own "inside my head reading voice" repeating something I've read and stored subconsciously.

But now I'm intrigued by the story.  I only got that little bit before the voice went away, but then a day or two later she added this:

Now, even if I have to die and go to Hell to get her back, I’ll do it.

And. Make. Him. Pay.

But dangit, no more news since then.  And while I really like this start, I need more than this. But since I'm not sure where this came from, or where it's going, I'm letting it sit and continuing to work on my Midnight Ink WIP that I'd posted here before.

Anybody else have weird writing moments?

Just 'cause

It's been a month since I posted, and I can't stand seeing myself advertise for so long!  How is everyone doing?

Interview with Cover Artist Rebecca K Sterling

Today I'm interviewing cover artist Rebecca K. Sterling about how she became a freelance book cover artist.  In a few days, she'll tell us her process for making covers, and give some samples so you can see. 

Kate: Good morning, Rebecca. Thanks for joining us.

Rebecca (yawning): My pleasure. Shame it had to be so early though. We artsy-fartsy types generally like to sleep late.

Kate: Yeah, me, too, but it couldn't be helped.  Anyway, so tell us, how did you get started in the cover art business?

Rebecca: It was something I'd wanted to do for quite a while, but really didn't know how to get started. I  was suffering from the common Catch 22 of no experience/no job offer, so I just pouted for a while and began making covers for some of your own works in progress... by the way... where are all those books?

Kate: We're not here to talk about me. What happened after that?  Did you build a portfolio and go banging on doors with it?  Emailing art directors?  Offering illicit services if they'd hire you?

Rebecca (looks quickly from side to side): Where did you hear that?  It's not true! 
Actually, I still didn't do anything with it because I was too intimidated by all the great cover artists out there.  I figured I didn't stand a chance, so I just kept making them for fun and practice.  Then one day I saw that Sable Grey from Cobblestone Press was hosting a cover art workshop for the publisher's anniversary, and from that workshop, they were going to choose one intern to work with them for a while.  Sort of like The Apprentice, but the boss had better hair.

Kate: So, what happened next?  Did a lot of people show up?

Rebecca: Oh, yeah.  At first.  But soon it was down to just a few die hards, and the competition got really - and I mean REALLY - stiff.  I mean, I was up against PJ Friel and Kendra Egert, for crying out loud!  Who did I think I was?  And at the end, I believe we were the last three.

Kate: What happened next?

Rebecca: Well, I knew there was no way in Hades' undershorts that I was going to win against them, but I was still happy just to have participated to the end.  I spent three long days working around the clock churning out theme after theme that Sable threw at us.  On the final day, I just collapsed, satisfied that I had at least gotten valuable experience.  And a day or two later, I received an email saying I'd been chosen.  I was completely flabbergasted.

Kate: I would imagine so.  I've seen PJ and Kendra, and frankly, my dear - they're much better than you are.

Rebecca: Hey! A little support here, if you don't mind!  This is MY interview after all.  But yeah, they're awesome, so in the end, Sable decided to take on all of us.  I was really glad.  And now, we've all passed from the internship phase to being full-fledged artists with Cobblestone Press, and I just love it.

Kate: That's great when someone gets to do the work they love - I'm happy for you! I'd also like to hear how you come up with the ideas, but we've run out of space here.  Perhaps another day?

Rebecca: Sure, if you bring bagels next time.

The Stuff We're Made Of

Others have written about this subject far more eloquently than I will be able to, but I'm feeling a need to write about it anyway. (Actually, I'm feeling a need to avoid the Packing & Cleaning Beast that is currently hulking just behind my shoulder; its hot, fetid breath scorching the back of my neck.)

Anyway, a few years ago, I moved across country and gave away nearly everything I own except for a few very important items: computer stuff, art stuff, family stuff. It was so liberating that I swore I'd never accumulate so much stuff again.

Fast forward six years...

Where in the heck did all this stuff come from?! I'm not a rabid consumer - I'm not, I tell you!  Books, furniture, miscellanea - how did it accumulate?  Why did I allow it?  I was doing fine without a sofa - just a couple of folding chairs in the living room... wait!  That was my daughter who wanted a sofa so she wouldn't be embarrassed when her friends came over. And oh, yes! My boss was cleaning out her storage locker and had an old sofa to give away. 

Sofa explained. Check.

Come to think of it, most of the furniture I can attribute to my daughter's influence coinciding with people I know having junk they wanted to get rid of, and I took it on.  Sucker!

So, now I'm stuck trying to sort, pack, clean, and get rid of everything before the end of the month, and have no idea how I'll manage it.  I've made another vow that NEVER AGAIN will I fall prey to the "gotta have stuff" mindset.

However... I was recently also in the hospital. They took away my purse, my clothes, everything I had with me while I was getting ready to be moved from the ER to my room.  It nearly caused a major panic attack. Wait! You can't take my stuff!  I felt so stripped, so horrifyingly bare. 

As they made off with my things, I had a little roll of mints in my hand that they hadn't seen and I didn't mention.  I held onto those darned mints as if they were the Holy Grail and my key to salvation.  After all, who was I if all I had was what they had given me?  How could I function if I didn't have some of my own things with me?  Yet in just a few moments, I had another revelation. Nearly everything I've ever had was given to me at some point, and I was actually in the hospital because I hadn't been able to let go of things. 

I put the mints down before they wheeled me away. Now, I'm hoping that this time, I can leave everything else behind as well.

Romance Readers Paradise

To find out more, you can visit Cynthia Eden's blog about a fabulous give-away some authors are having.

http://www.cynthiaeden.com/romance/big-romance-giveaway-fun/

Discombobulated

Hi there - thanks again to all who helped choose the next WIP. 

I haven't posted more on it for two reasons: one, I realized I really didn't like the direction the next scene was going in (seems a bit cliche) so that needs to be redone.  If you'd like to see what I plan on cutting/editing/rearranging, it's above under "cutting room floor".  There, you can at least see what happened after Caroline left the shop (which is where Midnight Ink ends in the candidate tab above).

The second, is that my health has taken a turn for the worse for the past two months, resulting in two hospital stays, and now a leave of absence until September. Now, that last bit sounds like it would be a blessing writing-wise, but unfortunately, that's not the case. My concentration is completely shot.  At some point in time, I may blog about it all, but for now, suffice it to say I'm a bit under the weather.  And some weather we've been having, huh?!  Even Maine had 95+ heat, which is something unheard of for them.

Anyhoodles, that's where I've been/where I am.  Hope to catch up to you all soon.  I do try to read your blogs - just haven't been commenting much.  I do know that Edie Ramer's "Galaxy Girls" is out now, and Charles Gramlich's "Ember Starr" is coming soon, so I'm stoked about that.  Check them out! :)

Drum roll...

And the winners are:

$20 Amazon Gift Card:  Kallypso Masters

Art Package: Mark Diehl

Congratulations, Mark and Kally! 

And to all of you who gave such valuable feedback, thank you from the bottom of my heart.  Since you were such good sports, if you would like to receive e-book copies of MANAGING MAGGIE and/or UNMASKED, just send an email to katesterlingwriting@yahoo.com and I’ll be happy to send them to you (if you’re over 18!).  Just let me know if you'd prefer pdf or kindle versions.

And if you've already read those books, there are other giveaways lined up for the weeks ahead, so stay tuned. :)

Thanks again to everyone who participated! 

OH! I almost forgot - Midnight Ink won the "excerpt to be continued" contest. Congratulations, Ink. ;)

Win a $20 Amazon Gift Card

Ok, as a holiday weekend bonus, I'm adding to my earlier request (and prize). 

To be entered to win a gift from Amazon, all you have to do is help me choose between the two excerpts posted above (see tabs re: Candidates 1 & 2).  That's all: just read two short excerpts, tell me which one you like best and why you chose it over the other.

(And hey - if you hate them both, just tell me why you hate one less than the other, and you'll still be entered to win!) :)

As an added bonus, if you're an indie author, you can also be entered to win a free cover art package if you choose.  Just let me know in your comment whether you wish to also be entered for the art package.

The winner(s) will be announced July 8, 2011.

Promos and Motivation

I've read a few books lately on Indie publishing, and it seems the thing they stress the most is social networking - promo, promo, promo.

Being a naturally reclusive type, that is a bit hard for me.  However, it did occur to me that while I might have a hard time self-promoting, I don't mind at all to promote other people's work when I like it.  In fact, I started to wonder why I'd never invited any of the authors whose cover art I did to come by my blog and talk about their books.  Seems a natural thing to do, right?  And why haven't I done more book reviews?  I've read tons of books this past year - many by my blogging pals.  I could have been active in promoting them - I have no problem pumping up other writers on my blog, facebook, and twitter.

So, to those of you I've overlooked:  My deepest apologies; I'll remedy that situation very soon.

To myself... maybe I need to create an alter ego to peddle my own stuff? lol

Meanwhile, I've got three - count 'em three - WIPS I want to finish this year, but I'm finding it hard to stay focused and motivated.  However, I did narrow it down to two to focus on, but I still need to choose one to finish first, and decided to ask for you help in choosing by posting two excerpts to vote on.  You can find the candidates in the header tabs above.

With that in mind, I also decided to take a page from the awesomely talented Avery DeBow and try a Mad Lib (or, as she called it, Bad Lib) approach to finish the chosen story. Avery had posted a bit of a story each week, and asked for people to supply words which she had to include in the next week's excerpt. Her end story was incredible, and while I don't have the same amount of talent as Avery, the utter horror and shame should I fail to produce something might just be motivation enough to keep me going.

Mind you, both of those ideas fill me with utter terror.  You might not bother to show up.  You might hate both excerpts and refuse to vote.  You might hate the mad lib and not participate.  You might hate me.

And worst of all, I might be incapable of producing anything usable in such a manner on a weekly basis.

Oh, well.  All I can do is try.  If you don't want to play along and torture me even more senseless than I already am, I suppose I could just randomly pick words out of the dictionary.  It does lack that motivating, public humiliation factor, though.

UPDATE 6/30: By the way, if you participate, I'll promote your book across facebook, twitter, amazon, etc., and you'll be entered to win a free cover art package should you wish to receive one.  Just let me know.

Old School Vampires

Just discovered these guys today and had to share. :)