Two Cups of Coffee and No Food

I've done this a few times in the last week.

Wondered why my body felt as if it was fuzzy or teeming with electricity.

Then that heel of the hand to the head duh moment occurs.

I had two cups of strong coffee and didn't eat a thing.

So, when I look up from my laptop and the job applications that I've been sending out and see that it's two in the afternoon, I've looked at all the job boards have offered for the day, and I'm shaking from malnourished brain cells, running on caffeine fumes, I shouldn't be surprised.

It's also December. Not really my favorite month, but I do like the holiday that it was bequeathed with. What I don't like about it is the commercial, coma inducing, frenzied shopping that goes on. I avoid malls and other retail establishments, if I can, in normal months and on normal days. Even going to Panera Bread, at SW Plaza Mall, for my critique group borders on insanity to me. Just goes to show how masochistic I've become in my pursuit of writing.

This year, I'm not yet in the spirit of things. For one, we haven't had that much snow. Even in the mountains. That is not a good thing in Colorado. A few days ago, it was like September in the weather department. What's with that?

Seeing lights go up on the houses has helped a bit, ours are up too. Maybe if I decorate inside, it'll be more festive. However, I like seeing a bit of snow around this time of year. I feel a little bit like Bing Crosby and entourage in White Christmas, when they get to Vermont and there's no snow on the ground.

Anyway, I'm going to make the best of things, avoid people crushing mall crowds, ignore all the ads TV and internet, and concentrate on what the season is supposed to be about. Love.

Love your families, even if they try your patience sometimes. Life is too short not to. Love your fellow man/woman/child. I know this is a hard thing to do, but believe me, a little act of random kindness goes a long way.

Okay, that's my caffeine induced, ramble.

If I want to drink coffee and not eat anything until after two in the afternoon, that's my issue, right? (Just don't tell my daughter. I just lectured her on how she needs to eat and not skip meals).

Love and peace to you this Christmas season,

RG

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....







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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...

The Importance of Being Ernest

I want to say, that it is very important to have a critique partner or group. That person or persons can put things into perspective that you, as your own worst critic and editor, may not see or catch. Just sitting at Starbuck's and discussing the plot of your book can bring that AHA! moment or the subtlest of changes that help the flow of your prose.

Make sure that you establish ground rules, even if they are unspoken/unwritten. When my critique partner and I met for the first time, we barely knew each other. We each brought something to read, but we also found out a little about each other and what we wanted to get out of the "business" of our meetings. We would not demoralize, humiliate, be hypercritical or mean. We would be honest and supportive, offering suggestions and constructive criticism. I would liken it to a couple who are courting, everything is tentative at first, but as the relationship grows, a more open dialog is established. Pretty soon, you each know how to approach critique with your partner.

I am truly blessed with a critique partner, who is becoming a good friend as well. I also belong to a writing group where learning craft is the focus, but we manage to throw in a little critiquing from time to time, and the people in it are honest and constructive, never destructive. That is key!

So, cheers to Lisa and the Golden Wannabe Writers Group! They are awesome!

Regards,
Robin