Random Musings, Part 1

I title this part 1 because I always have random musings, so there will be a sequel to this.

First, I promised, in my last post, to let you know if the character that I placed on Death Row gets a reprieve or not.

Drum roll please..............


Steve lives!

He does have a purpose, if only in the first part of the book. He won't be back once my protagonist leaves Denver for his home town in the mountains. We all have more than one friend. I just have to be diligent in the way they interact when they're all together.

Next!

I'm working a seasonal job right now and someone asked me if it was fun. You see, this company rents inflatables. The company is Blaster Bouncer . We have three locations; Denver, Chicago and Pittsburgh. I'm the Customer Service Manager for all three... Where was I? Oh, yes, fun. Yes and no. I love the company, love the owners, love my office mates, love the guys that drive long hours and set up bounce houses and other inflatable games and such all day, love the guys who come in and clean them, even the customers most of the time. What's not fun is telling someone that the company is cancelling their order because the wind is too high (really, safety first people), making calls to people to tell them their credit card declined, listening to the few people who just like to complain (mostly trying to get a discount), and the sometimes long hours and incessantly ringing phones. It's all part of the business, so I'll take the good with the bad, because this is a good company, with good work ethics, run by good people.

This past Saturday, I went to the Farmer's Market at Southwest Plaza Mall. My friend and fellow writer, Jody Romero, has started a business and is peddling her wares at the local markets. Her new company is called Kuzala! (it means happy in Sanskrit). She makes gluten free, low glycemic, cookies and biscotti. So far, my favorites are her chocolate chip cookies, which taste like the unhealthy kind, the cranberry/chocolate/pecan biscotti, mocha biscotti, and wild berry shortbread. There are many more to try.

I looked around the market, at all of the mom and pop, cottage industries and reflected on something a friend posted on Facebook:

I know several people with small businesses, and I'm proud to support and promote them!

Which brings me to my next ramble.

I'm going to throw my daughter a Bon Voyage party with a little help from my creative friends. Two of those friends have a business called PSMIYO (PS Make It Your Own). I met Pam Smerker of Pamela Smerker Designs and her partner in creativity, Dawn Rumin about six years ago when doing a fund raiser at the high school. We've been friends since.

They will be helping me with the decor/theme of the party and I have no doubt that it will be fabulous. I believe Dawn has her wheels turning with themes of travel and the UK, and Pam has started a board on Pinterest so that we can all post ideas for the party. I'm so excited!

I've also been musing about the blessings of belonging to my writing groups. The first group I joined is called the  Golden Wannabe Writer's Group. It's a MeetUp! group led by writer's coach Janet Lynne Roots. We meet at Read, Write & Brew (I did a blog review on 6/9/12). It's such a great venue for readers, writers, students, musicians and groups. I highly recommend checking it out whenever you're in Golden, Colorado. GWWG is the group that got me going and the support, feedback, and friendships that have come from this group have been priceless. Janet's instruction has been invaluable as well.

From this group has stemmed a small critique group, which started with myself and Lisa Fender. We've recently added Janet Baltz another member of GWWG. The benefit of this small, personalized group is immense. Love these ladies and respect their feedback. Thank you for the support!

My third group is the RMFW Tuesday Night, SW Plaza Critique Group. There are groups like this all over the Denver Metro area, all springing from The Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers organization. I joined this group after my friend Mindy (also of Blaster Bouncer fame) coaxed me into coming to one of their monthly seminars. I've been bizarrely attracted to this group ever since. I love them and I hate them. I have learned so much from the critique I get. Sometimes I leave feeling elated, sometimes I'm deflated, but something keeps me going back, like some sick addiction or masochistic thing.  No matter how I feel, everything I've gotten from them has been valuable.

I have to stop rambling now. Got pages to print out for tonight's torture at critique tonight.

Thanks for reading my meandering post! ~RGC

To Kill, or not To Kill

I have a dilemma.

I know that sometimes "you must kill your darlings." And, I'm not the squeamish sort, but I'm having a really hard time deciding whether or not to do away with one of my characters. The problem is, I find reasons for him to be there. I can also see him "not there," at least not physically in the scenes.

This issue has been rumbling in my head for a couple of weeks now. Why is this so hard?

Help!

I've put this question to a few of my literary friends. It's a mixed bag of answers, mostly the pros and cons are even. It feels a little like a tug-of-war.

Keep him.......no, don't keep him....ugh! That flag in the middle doesn't budge.

I'm going to have to sleep on this one more night. Tomorrow, I have a big decision to make and make it I must. I'm at a point where the rewrite won't be horrendous if I do it now.

Tune in next Tuesday to find out. Did he face the gallows, or get a reprieve?

Hmmm, there's also a lovely butcher knife in my kitchen dr....







Bwahahahahahahahahahah

A Place to Relax, Reflect, and Regale

A Review


I was introduced to Read, Write & Brew when my writer's coach had our group start meeting there. It's a combination coffee shop, used book store, and meeting place. They host authors and musicians and the coffee is great.

Our group, The Golden Wannabe Writers Group, meets there the first and third Saturdays of the month. The owner, Jefferson, is a great host. You won't find a better venue for reading, meeting, presenting, studying, and most of all drinking coffee. While you're there, find a book you haven't read, they have a great selection.

I'm writing my first novel and this place has made an impression on me, so I'm including it in my book (with Jefferson's blessing).

If you are ever in Golden, Colorado, check out this little gem.

Cheers!

If at first...try, try again.

Hello,

I'm back.

The heading on this post is something my parents always told us growing up. I'm not sure where the quote is from...actually (after looking it up) The proverb has been traced back to 'Teacher's Manual' (1840) by American educator Thomas H. Palmer and 'The Children of the New Forest' (1847) by English novelist Frederick Maryat (1792-1848). "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."

The past month has been full of good news, bad news and all sorts of business.

Prior to my last post, my friend and critique partner's father died. Right after that, my daughter graduated from University of Wyoming with a BFA in Theatre & Dance, Technical Theatre-concentration, Lighting Design. About four days after that, she found out that she was accepted to The Royal Welsh College of Drama & Music, into their MA program for Theatre Design.

Up until recently, I was working two jobs. It was as if I had no time to do anything other than work and sleep. My writing suffered from this as well as life in general. Last Thursday, my temporary contract ran out with one of the jobs. So, I'm down to one job, with a weird schedule, and it's seasonal to boot. I'm looking for something permanent, full-time, because I'm not being supported by my writing yet and one paycheck in the household doesn't cut it.

I attended the memorial and life celebration of John Wright, my friend Lisa's father. Complete with clown noses to remember his love of performing that role. He has a beautiful family that will carry on his legacy.

Last Wednesday, another dear friend, Ava, lost a parent. Her mother gave up her struggle with age and is now singing arias with the angels. We will miss you Lucille 'Loretta' Ruby Curry. You were a class act and a dear lady. I attended her beautiful  memorial and celebration of life. The reception featured a slide show with music from operas and musicals that she performed in, in New York, Denver, and Central City.

Now my life will consist of looking for that permanent job, finding scholarships and grants to help fund my daughter's tuition, getting her ready to leave home to study in the UK, and last, but certainly not least, writing.

Yes, I'm determined to get this first novel revised and ready. To flesh out the other two, whose ideas and scenes are waiting patiently in notebooks to be typed in. Today is the first time I've set down to simply write, in a while. Yea!

I'm also asking for the support of family and friends. I need feedback, I need encouragement, I need support and to know that someone out there wants to read my work. I can't tell you how writing makes me feel. Just know that this is something that makes me really happy. To weave a tale in my head and put it on paper. To have characters take on a life of their own and start telling me where they want to go. To have a manuscript that is complete, although it needs revision, is the biggest high.

Now, to take all the hand edited pages and apply them to the pages in my computer. Also, work on a suggestion from my writing coach that will help with my revisions.

I'm going to write now. You my ask yourself, "Isn't that what she's been doing on this blog?" Well, yes, but it's not my book.

Until next time...