EW

Ramblings on writing, crafting and life.

I am woefully behind in postings. I realize this.  Lots has happened since the “Holy crap! I’m done!” moment.

Several hat fails. In making hats for the family, I managed to make a few that fit the youngest, but not the head intended. (Actually I think one was even too small for that, and it got felted into a bowl) Will post pics at some point.

Christmas preparation gaiety: We’ve made the infamous Peanut butter Fudge aka candy crack. And some chocolate truffles. No worries Floridians who are out of the fudge loop. We are planning a second batch for mailing. I snookered M into getting an enormous xmas tree. (he swears it weighs 150 pounds) It looks really lovely in the front windows. Between gifts from the extended family, and my own insane shopping, this year looks to be our first overblown Christmas in years. The short people will be in present heaven.

Agent querying and beta readers: I jumped the gun a tad, and sent queries to 4 agents. Just four! And got my first official non-response rejection earlier this week. That was a trip. It seems regardless of preparation for the fact of rejection, the actuality of it is still a bitch. There were tears, emotional swings, swearing off of writing…who me?? Melodramatic?? In all seriousness though, I was devastated. Even though I thought I’d prepared myself, even though my logical brain was expecting rejection, even though I KNEW it would happen. And that just pissed me off. I mean seriously–what was I doing crying? M had a brilliant idea though, and brought home a sweet little bottle of pinot noir last night. We toasted my first official rejection; and in making it a small ceremony, I was able to let it go. On to new and improved rejections! Maybe ones with actual letters this time! Also, sent the book out to my wonderful beta readers today! Here’s to notes.

I hope everyone out there is having a wonderful Holiday Season.  Whatever you celebrate, with whomever, may it be amazing.

Ok, so now that I have your attention.

My first novel is complete! Editing…all of it!

7 and some odd years, 2 babies, a house purchase, a foreclosure, a major surgery, two major moves, and various and sundry other life happenings later, I have a completed book. And I’m told, it doesn’t suck! (ok…he might have said it’s really good, but I’m still working on not opening the file every five seconds to be sure it hasn’t disappeared on me)

I’d like to think I come out the other side bearing gifts aside from a book I’ve written. Meaningful ones such as better writing chops. Better editing skills.  But the biggest thing for me, in this moment, is belief. Belief in myself, and my ability to finish something. Not just a little something. Those I’ve always been able to manage. But the big things, stymied me. I’ve started and put away more novels than I care to admit. But this one, this one I finished. And to me, that is an enormous shift in self perception. I no longer dabble at writing, but I’m a writer. I no longer give up when things are difficult and life sucks, I finish. And while I’m sure that I’ll forget all of this at various points in Book 2’s progress, at the moment…I’m basking.

Next up, getting it printed and shipped off to the wonderful, amazing folks that have offered to read it and give me impartial notes. And I can start outlining book two (I’m looking at my bedroom wall, where several neon colored post it’s have already taken up residence.) and book one of the YA series. M lodged a token protest when I mentioned festooning our bedroom walls with brightly colored, color-coded post its, for both books. Personally I think he’s just so damned happy for me that as long as I don’t end up sticking them on him, I’ll be good.

We had a long weekend. 4 Days as M took Friday off as well as having today’s holiday. There were ferry rides, walks along rivers and through forests, visits with friends, blackberry picking. Lovely…really.

There was also the back to school shopping madness. M insists that I forget our tendency to last minute this event. Every year. As I bemoaned the crowds and the dearth of…well, frankly, everything on their damned lists, he reminded me that I bitch every year. Only to forget the next and leave it till last minute again. What a daft cycle! First I tried denying it (also habit apparently) then as I thought, I wondered if maybe…just MAYBE he was correct. This year I asked my oldest to remind me of that very moment next year. Should I be tempted to once again leave it. Sad thing is…I think I asked her that last year. And she did her level best. Mentioning on and off for weeks now, only to have me tell her to stop pestering about it. Hopefully next year will be the jolting reminder that I need as I told her to remember to mention that I told her to tell me. lol. I don’t hold out much hope, but one must keep trying. We still have things on the lists not gotten, since everywhere we went seemed to be a wasteland for school supplies. We’ll finish tomorrow. That’s me being positive, in case it was difficult to recognize.

As a result of the near constant comings and goings, I haven’t edited a single page this weekend. It being 10:14 and me freshly fortified with a cup of iced coffee, I’m thinking perhaps I should crack the magnum opus and get something done so I don’t feel a complete failure.

Well…no more so than usual at any rate.

So the Direct TV people came today and hooked us up to a nifty dish, and High Def Goodness. Nearly 300 channels of High Def Goodness. Yes, yes. It gives me pause as well. Especially after having been tv-less for a couple of months. I’d gotten not just used to it, but appreciative of the quiet. We still had Netflix, and the streaming movies they have. And For one or two shows, Hulu. (Who doesn’t LOVE Tim Roth and Lie To Me??? I mean, really. ) Football season approaches, however, so no TV was a BAD thing. Direct TV offers this very spiffy package where you get every damned game in existence, plus every channel on this planet, and a few from other planets.  That’s what we got. And now I have a tv sitting ten feet from my bed, staring at me with that blankly challenging screen. Whispering it’s 300 channels of mind-numbing, hours killing programming. And much like the clown doll in Poltergeist….I’m pondering throwing a coat over it before it tries to eat me.

Now don’t get me wrong. TV can be educational, entertaining, and basically…a very good thing. But it can also be a vast time sink. With huge chunks of our lives and brain cells being scoured away, never to be regained. For the short people there are built in limits. Parental controls. An hour a day. That’s only responsible right? But me?? What about me, when I’m up and sleepless at 2 and 3 am? Which I am, and often. When previously I would have read, or even plucked away at the book. Will I now just turn the tube on because it’s easier. I mean, I can still knit and watch Gordon Ramsay, right?!?

Much like a crack addict that has been clean for a couple of months, someone just dropped a vat o’ crack in my house, and I’m a bit aflutter. Maybe if I pull the blankets over my head…it won’t notice me.

Ok…so I found this cool, if slightly nutso thing. National Novel Writing Month. NaNoWriMo , as it’s affectionately termed, occurs in the month of November. It’s been going on for years now, and somehow, I’d missed even a hint of it till last year. I found out too late to participate last year. But this year, I’m thinking why not?!?

Well really, if I’m honest, there’s an entire host of “why nots” I’m just choosing to be illogical and think that I might be able to crank out that YA (or some of it) when under an enforced, if fun deadline. Top that off and the last day lands on my Birthday. What a present to give myself, eh? A nearly completed second novel. Best self gift ever!

Ok…ok…so book one isn’t clean yet. I’m going to bust ass to try and have it done before the 1st. And if it’s not, well then…I work on both. Again….Why not?!?

So…Anyone out there want to join me? Anyone care to take up the crazy person gauntlet of attempting 50,000 completed words in 30 days??? C’mon! I could use compatriots in word deluge and hyper-caffeination!

This editing hat doesn’t fit terribly well. It’s a bit tight around the brim, and scratches behind the left ear. I’ve been assured it will fit better with wear. Stretch itself and mold to my skull, till I am unaware of its presence. Here’s hoping. I’m through Chapter 6. Still plugging. I’ve also managed to plot out the next four books of the series thematically. Book two has enough of a sketch to get to writing the outline as soon as one is out the door. Then there’s the YA series. Book one’s outline is midway. And it’s begging to be fleshed out and made real. Everything hinges on getting this cleaned up and fixed. So nothing for it but to keep pushing through, clinging to the assumption that this will get easier with practice.

In other, more crafty news… My stash, sadly, still resides in boxes in Florida. But I found a local yarn shop in Anacortes. Ana Cross Stitch. Lovely place. Friendly, helpful staff and a very pettable selection of yarns. M was sweet enough to let me drag him and the short people in there last weekend. I spent a good half hour wandering around drooling. Then finally settled on two skeins of Workhorse fave, Cascade 220. One in dark brown on in oatmeal. I’ve cast on a ribbed watch cap for M, going Dark, light dark wide stripes as he wanted “a halo” hat. Heh.

He might well deserve something of the sort since he’s gotten behind me on my yarn and fiber dyeing. I’m currently putting together a little business plan type thing. Costs etc. So we can look at me taking over part of the garage for a yarn dyeing business! I know…swoon!  More to come as the idea develops.

Well, there has been editing progress! Hooray progress!

Got chapters 1-3 cleaned, and am halfway to having 4 under my belt.

Fixed the dreaded Latin that was bollocks due not least to a bad online translator. It is now not only grammatically correct (crosses fingers and toes), but is also bearing it’s companion statement in English…which, yes, I forgot to write down the first go round. The mind boggles.

So now it’s the rest of 4 through 21, then 25 and BAM! Done! And off to my very patient and kind volunteer readers. Yes. You people whom I love and adore, and who know who you are and all that.

Next check on the list.  Sleep.  And start afresh tomorrow.

That’s pretty much the sentiment every day I wake now.  Discounting this morning as I hardly slept at all thanks to one restless short person. But generally speaking, I’m in love with this place, this house, the roses around the house that I keep discovering. My sudden and obsessive urge to garden (yes…I’ve already planted the flower seedlings and have the veggies happily sprouting away). The weather shift was impressive. Going from 90 degree days to 60 degree ones has made all the crew happier campers.

Now that we’ve somewhat settled, I’ve been digging back into book one. Apparently, people are ready to read this damned thing for me! Who knew??? Heh. You lovely people know who you are …and it’s coming soon. Promise. Mostly because I’m ready to be done. Book two’s notes have started streaming..and holy hell I can’t wait to start writing that sucker. So really, It’s incredibly good motivation.

The only thing I can even think to kvetch about …I packed all my yarn…and my needles…and my WIP’s. ALLLLLLLL of it! What in the heck was I thinking. I moved to absolutely perfect knitting weather. And I’ve got squat to do. Oh well. Boxes are streaming in slowly but surely. The stash will arrive soon, and I figure it will be like Christmas as I’ve forgotten half of what’s in there. (and no for you Ravelry.com folks) I’ve been avoiding pining over my stash on the site. It’s too sad.