Missed two days of writing last week, but I still got 16 handwritten pages in. The rest of it was previously written material. Not too bad. Not sure how many typewritten pages that turned out to be, but I was able to submit the 1st 30 pages for my CWII class. Here’s hoping I have better movement this week

Still stuck in Chapter One. But I was able to crank out 5 pages. It’s 12 pages long, but probably won’t type up like that. And I’ll still be using already-written stuff.

Today was definitely a good day.

I’ve started the revision process for Book 2 yesterday for my CWII class. 4 pages yesterday, 3 pages today. I don’t consider that bad. My goal, whenever I’m in Writing Mode, is to write at least a page.

Normally, I would be doing this on my breaks and at lunch. But since I have two other classes, I’m writing during my hr lunch. Not so much at home. Yet.

The 1st 30 pages are due next Thursday. Hoping to have a better day tomorrow.

Today’s word of the day is brought to you by Sunday Scribblings: The book that changed everything

Make Your Creative Dreams REAL
A Plan for Procrastinators, Perfectionists, Busy People, Avoiders, and People Who Would Rather Sleep All Day
by SARK
May 2004, Simon and Schuster, ISBN: 0743229215

First of all, I’d like to point out that SARK is one of my favorite authors and literary crush. I am a SARK disciple and pray at the alter of SARK. If she were a cult, I’d join and never look back. I’ve met her several times and have had the pleasure of attending a couple of her workshops. And each time, I’ve come away feeling energized. She has the most amazing presence. Her regular attire of lounge pajamas could be the reason, but I’m sure that’s only part of her charm.

This book changed everything…for my writing. Because SARK (a.k.a. Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy) introduces the Micro Movement Wheel.Click image for bigger view

It’s to help you complete a huge task in increments of 5 sec-5 mins. As you can see in this example, the “dream” is in the middle and each of the 12 sections has a task. Each of these can take 5 sec-5 mins, until eventually, you get further every time and have reached your “dream”.

I applied this activity to my writing, but call it Writing Movements. When I actually have Writing Movements, they get posted here. The results of the Writing Movements, not the actual writing itself. I’m superstitious like that. But I digress…

It works! I’ve finally found something that works for me! Hallelujah, praise the Lord, pass the biscuits!

I use this when:
1) I’m not feeling very productive
2) Trying to crack through writer’s block
3) Procrastinating about writing.

This book was made for me because my other middle name is Procrastination (it’s just not on my birth certificate). I love all this woman’s books, but this one has a special pocket of my heart. The one for writing.

Technorati Tags: Sunday Scribblings, Make Your Creative Dreams REAL, A Plan for Procrastinators, Perfectionists, Busy People, Avoiders, and People Who Would Rather Sleep All Day, SARK

Friday – Had a mtg with one my mentors for one of my classes next semester and it went quite well. The Sunny House session was canceled due to the PA being sick.

Saturday – Spent the better part of the morning shopping for a dress for the company holiday party. Found it on clearance at Dillard’s. $33! Not bad, eh? I never really like to shop at department stores like that because they’re usually too expensive. I think I got lucky this time.

I also went to see NEW MOON. I may have to see it again because I got irritated with the teenybopper girls talking and hooting every time Taylor Lautner took off his shirt or he appeared shirtless in a scene. Or when Rob Pattinson appeared shirtless. Truly annoying. I don’t think I was ever that obnoxious at that age.

Anyhow, I thought it was okay. Nothing to jump up and shout about. I felt that way about the first one, too. I wasn’t really impressed. It just seems like the actors are trying too hard to act. Or something. With the HARRY POTTER movies, I can honestly say that out of all of them, THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE is my favorite. It was really, really good. With these movies, so far, I can’t say that. Maybe they’ll get better? One can only hope. However, if I absolutely had to choose, I would be Team Jacob for two reasons: 1) He’s buff and 2) He’s warm. Like, “108 degrees over here”. That would be a plus for me because I’m always cold.

Sunday – I didn’t do. One. Damn. Thing. I hung out in my pj’s and robe and battled a headache all day. Needless to say, it was the most aspirin I’ve ever taken in one day. I think my first mistake was taking them when I first woke up…and then watching t.v. in the dark. When I should’ve been sleeping. That headache never had a chance to properly go away and it just lingered. Ugh!

Writing Movement – I dropped out of NaNoWriMo. I wasn’t enjoying it, as you might have noticed from the last week’s update. I would just rather write at my own pace.

School Daze – Working on the final draft of my paper that’s due Monday. I still have to send in the self-eval for Math class and I have to make my Social Justice project for EIS look pretty. I’m going for a PowerPoint presentation on that one and using some of the Mentoration posts from my Non-Profitation blog.

Yeah, so that’s it. How was your weekend? Where will you all be for Turkey Day?

Technorati Tags: Dillard’s, NEW MOON, Taylor Lautner, Rob Pattinson, HARRY POTTER, THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE, NaNoWriMo.

Friday – Week Two at the Professional Artist Series in which I’m volunteering. It’s poetry, but still writing. Week One was a good session, too.

Saturday – We’ve started a two-part activity with the girls at The Gurl House. It’ll be something they can use wherever they go. Mr. Maul and I went to see 2012. Is it just me or is Hollywood been interested in making –end-of-the-world type of movies lately? THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW was a walk in the park compared to this movie. I was actually squeezing Mr. Maul’s hand, wincing, and bobbing and weaving in my chair like this was in 3D. It wasn’t, for the record. And I wasn’t holding his hand because I was scared, we just sometimes hold hands while watching movies. This was a bit of a nail biter and when the world was falling apart—literally—there were a couple of “Holy crap, there is no way they’re gonna make that” scenes. I also found it interesting that–SPOILER AHEAD–out of all the places that got hit, Africa ended up being the “Safety Zone”. Afterwards, we stopped by BN and I picked up “Dani Noir” by Nova Ren Suma. It’s in my YA TBR pile. Yes, I actually have a YA TBR pile. It’s a shocker, I know, so sit down before you fall down.

Sunday – I pretty much hung out with the ISO girls all day. Well, almost all day. We were doing membership photos and to get 13 women to look like something out of the 40’s (hairstyle-wise), well, you shouldn’t be surprised how long that takes. I got there close to 1pm and didn’t leave until close to 9pm. Some got there at 10am (if they needed help with hair), so you can imagine the long day for that person. The actual picture taking didn’t really start until around 3. It was a bit crazy, but fun.

School Daze – Research paper is due this Sunday, although our core faculty person is giving us an extra week because she hasn’t read them herself yet. We’ve only been getting critiques from our peers. And I still need to write up my self eval for my Math class. Which I’m done with, btw. I’m getting ready to decided what I’m taking next semester and I’ll be meeting with a mentor for one of those classes this weekend. I’m looking forward to getting started working on that Study Contract.

Writing Movement – Nothing for three days. Not even while I was at work. I’ll be talking about that in the Weekly NaNo update momentarily.

So, how was your weekend? Anyone looking forward to seeing NEW MOON this weekend? I won’t be there at midnight, of course, but I have plans to see it this weekend.

Technorati Tags: 2012, THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW, Dani Noir, Nova Ren Suma, NEW MOON

CLICK ON THE ICON TO VIEW MY PROGRESS.

I didn’t write anything for three days (Friday, Saturday, Sunday). Not even during my breaks or lunch last Friday. With the daily required word count, and my normal writing process, I should, for all intents and purposes, be writing close to a chapter a day.

Two weeks in and I’m still working on Chapter Two.

Writing this particular book for the challenge has proven difficult for me. I’m feeling a little lackluster about it and that’s a little alarming to me. I could blame it on the interference of school and trying to readjust to that. Or that Auntie Flow is here for her monthly visit. But it’s none of those things.

I think it’s the pressure of forcing myself to write every day. Of knowing that I have to write every day, that I have to pound out a certain amount of words each day, that’s getting me down. Writing is fun for me, but it stops being fun when I have to do it. I should want to write, right? Because I can’t get the words out fast enough. Because I’m hearing conversations in my head. Because I’m picturing scenes in my head.

When I read blogs of other YA authors, I was jealous that they could write fast. I wanted to be like them and be able to crank out three chapters in one night. If they posted something about their writing process, I would try it. And then wonder why it didn’t work.

Because I’m not them.

I’m me.

It took me a long time to realize that I have to find a process that works for me.

Outlining a story first doesn’t work for me.

Answering 100 questions about my characters doesn’t work for me.

Committing to a certain daily word count doesn’t work for me.

Forcing myself to write every day when there’s nothing to squeeze out doesn’t work for me.

National Novel Writing Month doesn’t work for me.

I’d like to think that my writing process could change. Maybe if I don’t do an outline next time. Maybe if I work on an anthology of short stories instead of a novel. Maybe I can try other writing challenges and work my way up to this one. Maybe I’ll try harder to write on the weekends. That’s a lot of maybes.

I know me. I know the way my mind works. I know the writing process that works for me. I may not get to 50k, but I’ll be writing on my terms. And it’ll still fun.

This is going to be a short one.

Friday -Signed up to volunteer for a 6-week Professional Artist Series session through Free Arts AZ. It’s a Creative Writing one and the first session was this evening. Will post that later in the week. Took my niece out dinner to celebrate the fact that she was one of 10 people to get accepted into the Herberger Institute for the Arts. If you’re a Theater major at ASU, your goal is to get into this place. You get two semesters to try and if you fail, they make you change your major! I know, a little pressure, much? You have the choice of writing three essays or writing two essays and performing two monologues.

My niece said a lot of the students don’t get in because they take the easy way out and just do the three essays. You think they’d do the monologues. I mean, they chose theater as a major, after all. She said she did an easy monologue from Othello and one she did in her class last semester. I am SO proud of her, I’m bustin’ a gut. They have guest speakers from the industry come and talk to the students and she’ll have an opportunity to audition for plays that show at The Herberger Theater and Gammage (where Phantom of the Opera is playing right now). These two places–well, Gammage more than the other–is like Arizona’s version of Broadway. Did I mention how proud I am of my girl? In ten years, she sees herself acting. And so do I.

Saturday – Had a fun time at The Gurl House with modeling magic clay (interesting. Dries a little foamy. It’s weird), and this one will be posted later in the week, as well. Quickly checked out White House Black Market for a dress for my company’s upcoming holiday party. I like long dresses–ankle length–and they didn’t have any. Will be checking out the mall this weekend. Did some laundry to prepare for the event on Sunday…

Sunday – Volunteered my time at the 15th Annual Palette of Homes Tour. Got to see how the other lives for the first time. And they live well. Lucky you, you actually get to read about it now. LOL. By the time I got home from this event, I was tired and hurting a little. Didn’t wear the right shoes for standing.

School Daze – It’s almost over but the cryin’. And yes, there was some of that. Here’s a quick recap.

Writing Movement – no comment.

My first two books are being reissued through a new publisher and they received new covers. SECRETS AND KISSES is now available in both E-book and paperback format. I received the new cover today for DANCE JAM PRODUCTIONS. What do you think?

DJPcover.bmp

You can still view the old cover here. My web designer is in the process of moving–again–and has yet to upload the new cover images.

That’s it for moi. How was your weekend?

Technorati Tags: Herberger Institute for the Arts, The Herberger Theater, Gammage, Phantom of the Opera, White House Black Market, 15th Annual Palette of Homes Tour, SECRETS AND KISSES, DANCE JAM PRODUCTIONS

So, at my job on Friday, my dept and two other depts had a potluck and costume/food/cubie decoration contest. My co-worker and I dressed up as superheroes: CLICK FOR BIGGER VIEW

Unfortunately, neither one of us one. Highly disappointing, to say the least. Granted, Lisa’s costume was store bought, but mine was custom made! I think Jennie should’ve won first place for her KISS costume: CLICK FOR BIGGER VIEW

But she got second. Instead, we all got beat out by a store bought, black shredded dress and wings costume called Goth Angel. Yeah. Whatev. The reactions we got made up for losing. The Gurl House visit was canceled on Saturday due to the fact that, well, we had no girls. LOL. All of them were spending time with families, and the one girl we would’ve had was moved to another house. So, I have no weekly posting. I’ll actually have two next week as I’ve signed up to volunteer for a Creative Writing Professional Artist Series. It starts this Friday, the 6th, and ends Dec 18th (the next day is our final day at The Gurl House). Christina Hammerton is the Professional Artist in Residence and will be conducting this series. I’ll just be there to lend a helping hand. And possibly do some writing, too. It’s at another group home for girls and the age range of the participating girls is 16-18. Those posts will be titled The Sunny House.

Saturday night, Mr. Maul and I wore different costumes this year. Instead of our usual Darth Maul and Storm, we did Little Sexy Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf: CLICK FOR BIGGER VIEW

No, he’s not wearing a mask. They’re latex pieces glued to his face. Pretty realistic, eh? I could barely look him in the face. Kinda freaked me out a little. LOL. He passed out candy to trick-or-treaters and it was funny to hear their reactions. We walked down Mill Ave with a group of DSG’ers. We’re known (me excluded) for doing Star Wars costumes, but surprisingly, very few did this year. We had a Vader, of course, but we only had a couple of Troopers and Biker Scouts. A few of our people did characters from TRUEBLOOD. They were really hoping I would be Tara, but my scalp needed a break from the braids. Still, we all had a good time and you can see the pics HERE.

School Daze – Since I didn’t have a Gurl House visit on Saturday, I was able to work on my paper. It took me a good part of Saturday and nearly all of Sunday to finish and post, but I did it. Of course, it didn’t help that we didn’t get to bed until 530am, and then slept till 1pm. It is so hard to write non-fiction, let me tell you. Writing fiction is so much easier.

Writing Movement – Saturday afternoon, I took a break from writing the paper and went out to do some research for Book 3: The Family Jewels. Draven is 17 and a junior now (in the first two books she’s 16 and a sophomore). She’s got a new PT job and a new assignment: catching a family of jewel thieves. I basically scoped out her new PT job (working at a gym), the jewel thieves’ home (a very nice affluent area right near my job, actually) and a place of business for the mother (a 39,000 sq foot antique mall. It was freakin’ AWESOME. I can’t wait to write some scenes in that place). As you all may, or may not, know I’m attempting to write Book 3 during NaNoWriMo this month. And I got off to a great start, too….by losing a whole day of writing.

Thanks in part to waking up at 1pm and having to work on a research paper. So, let me break it down for you in the terms of how much this sucks for me. When I write, I don’t go by word count, I go by page count. If I can write at least one page a day, I’m golden. I shoot for 12 chapters, 12 pages per chapter. 50,000 words in 30 days, roughly works out to 7-8 pages a day. Again, 12 pages per chapter. Do you see where I’m going here? So, to make up for yesterday and to get my quota in today, I’m basically going to have to write my ass off. More so than usual. And since I handwrite first (I write mostly at work during breaks and lunch), I’ll need to write more. Sigh. I’ll try to give you guys weekly updates.

So, that’s it for moi. How was your Halloween?

Technorati Tags: Christina Hammerton, TRUEBLOOD, NaNoWriMo

On this Saturday morning’s episode of The Gurl House: paint and shaving cream. Yes, it’s as messy as it sounds. Mr. Maul spent some time with his BF, but when he got home that afternoon, we went to look for more stuff for his Halloween costume. We hit up Savers, where he found a nightgown and then Bubbles of Joy to pick up some claw gloves. And no, I’m not gonna tell you what his costume is. You’ll just have to wait and see when I report back next week. On Sunday, we had a late, late breakfast (we’re talkin’ late morning, early afternoon) at our favorite place, Original Pancake House and then we hit up the mall. For the past few years I’ve been Storm for Halloween, but took a break a couple of times. In 2004, I left the cape in the closet and wore a trench coat as Niobe (THE MATRIX): CLICK FOR BIGGER VIEW

And in 2005, I “grew” some horns as Darth Maul’s wife. If the Sith are allowed to mate, I imagine she would look something like this: CLICK FOR BIGGER VIEW

Great make-up job, yes? The hubby’s real good at that. For the record, breathing was not an option in that corset. This year, I’m only doing Storm at work. I’ve decided to be something else this year for the actual event (again, you’ll see next week). And it involved buying these sexy heels that I will probably only wear once:

I found these puppies at Hot Topic and had one helluva time trying to get them closed. They didn’t buckle—or snap—because really, that would’ve been too easy. Instead they button. Yes, button. Revolutionary, I know, but I’ve come to discover that only shirts and jeans are allowed to have buttons. Not shoes. I’ll be breaking them in this week, a little at a time, because my feet are already protesting at being crammed inside these babies for hours on end.

At this store called Shiek (I’m really hoping this was spelled wrong on purpose), I picked up a pair of Dereon’s:

Yes, Dereon as in Beyonce’s clothing line. Now, I can wear the shoes with the jeans. LOL. I may want to hurl every time I hear “Single Ladies”, but I like the design of some her jeans. And these are the only pair of shoes from her line that I would wear in public and not feel like a complete and utter dorkus.

School Daze – Working on my research paper this week for my EIS class: The Art of Healing: The Benefits of Art Therapy for Young People. I get to read books like The Freedom Writers Diary by teacher Erin Gruwell as research. By choice, not by requirement. If you’re a writer, you need to see this movie. And read this book. If you’re an aspiring teen writer, or you write for teens, then you really need to see this movie. And then read this book. I had an English teacher like Erin when I was in high school—Mrs. Smith—and she is the very reason I stuck with the writing. Not that I was ever thinking about quitting, but the encouragement was always positive and consistent. The rough draft of my paper is due this Sunday, so wish me luck. I haven’t done a research paper since college.

Writing Movement – I’ve been preparing for NaNoWriMo. Last week, I got two more chapters outlined. Altogether, I now have 6 chapters. At this point, I’m going to stop. On the blogs I’ve been reading lately, there’s been some posts about preparation for this challenge. On one blog I was reading (can’t remember for the life of me which blog it was) about the tips for getting through it. Turning off the editing mechanism won’t be hard for me. I tend to write the first draft all the way through without editing anyway. However, the “no time for getting stuck” part (a.k.a. writer’s block) may trip me up. As I mentioned in last week’s Weekend Wrap-Up, I’m a pantser by nature.

When I have a story in mind, the only thing I have is the title, the names of the characters, and a vague idea of the plot. The story itself emerges as I write. For this challenge, I decided to outline first and I’ve discovered that it’s really, really, hard. And I don’t like it. You have to know how the story is going to play out ahead of time and it was difficult for me to picture that. In regards to the “no time for getting stuck” tip, I’ve decided to stop the outlining process at Chapter 6. I’ve got a good start. I think I’m just going to wing it from that chapter on. If you’re looking for a writing buddy, look me up at DravensMom.

So, how was your weekend?

Technorati Tags: Savers, Bubbles of Joy, Original Pancake House, Niobe, THE MATRIX, Hot Topic, Shiek, Dereon, Beyonce, Single Ladies, The Freedom Writers Diary, Erin Gruwell, NaNoWriMo