writing and rewriting

Earlier this week I met with my writing group. I was excited to see what they had been working on for the month and I was excited to share what I had been working on.
Currently I am working on a novel and my main character is in sixth grade. She gets to the first day of sixth grade and finds out that she is in a class with her almost step brother. I was happy to hear that my writing friends like my character and my story and to find out things that I can do to make it better.
I have done NaNoWriMo twice but it is so much nicer to write a novel slowly and to really have a handle on where it is going and to have the time to get to know your character and have them develop over time.
Whenever I hit a writers block I go and interview my character.
It has been fun to hear what people think and get ideas and see what their questions are.
I went to a critique group last month and one of the writers was so clear in her writing that as a reader you always knew what the character was doing and why.
In other news I finally figured out my scanner. Really I never installed the software since I have a Mac I thought it wasn't important for me to do but then I could never scan. So I downloaded the software for the device and now I can scan. I spent some time yesterday scanning old family photos of grandparents and such.

Last night my front brake cable on my bike broke which left me with a very inadequate back brake.
So I took my year old bike to the bike shop where I felt like a person who goes to the dentist without brushing and flossing first. The guy working on my bike told me that I had been hard on my bike. I guess that it is hard not to be hard considering the pot holes and bad roads.
My back brake was completely malfunctioning. I tried to explain that it had been like that for forever and that I asked about it when I brought the bike in last summer for the 90 day tune up but that since I had never known any different that I never didn't push the issue.

But really this is a story about my cat. When I brought my bike home my little cat had to check out the bike and she took special interest in the new brake. So it must have met her approval. I know that animals have a heightened sense of smell but I had no idea it included new bike parts.

I'm a winner

I was excited to be able to attend the MNSCBWI workshop today. There were two authors presenting on the Nuts and Bolts of Children's Writing.
It was fun to connect with friends who write for kids and to see so many familiar faces from classes and events I've gone to over the years.

There was a drawing for door prizes too and I won a door prize. There were books to chose from. Since the book with the pink cover had already been picked I chose the On Christmas Eve by Ann M. Martin and it's signed.



I must admit that in my youth I read could not get enough of the Babysitters Club series by Ann M. Martin. I think at one point in time some friends of mine and I even tried to start our own version of the Babysitters Club. We were not as successful as the kids in the books but I still did a lot of baby sitting.

What I'm reading

This week I read the book Miss Spitfire Reaching Helen Keller by Sarah Miller. I have to say it was one of those books that I had a hard time putting down.
The story is told from the perspective of Annie Sullivan and follows her first month of trying to teach Helen Keller. Through out the book there is some background on Annie Sullivan like her memories of the time she spent in the almshouse and her memories of losing her brother. I know that I have seen the Miracle Worker but reading about it I found myself turning the pages. I think the moment when Helen finally makes the connection of water and the finger spelling really means something is really a magical moment. Also reading about this bond that this student and teacher had was really amazing.

New Wallet

Yesterday I got a new wallet.
I carry a wallet because I don't carry a purse. I can't remember purses. I lose purses.
Normal people go to a store and buy a wallet or maybe get a wallet for Christmas. Not me. I go to work.

L: What is that? Is that your wallet?
Me: (looking at the fire hazard receipt holder in my pocket) Uh yeah.
Note- Now I am preparing for a lecture on the state of my wallet. How I should take some time to clean it out or just get a new one or whatever but no here's what happened next.
L: It's perfect. Can I have it for the show. I'll let you pick out one from stock.
Me: Uh sure. Let me clean it out.
L: No I like the stuff. Just take what you need and leave the rest in there.
Me: Cool
So I get rid of some things I don't need anymore like my Northwest Airlines frequent flyer card and a bunch of receipts and I get a new wallet. Despite all the sensible choices I chose one with flames and a chain. I ditched the chain but kept the flames.

Today was the annual May Day festival at Powderhorn Park.
As I was sitting and waiting for the parade to start I heard a kid across the street yelling "Baby Mohawk!" "Baby Mohawk!" (Note: Babies with mohawks are not an uncommon sighting during May Day)
Then the kid across the street started yelling "Baby Blue Mohawk!"
I looked around me and realized that I was sitting next to a Baby with a Blue Mohawk who will now be called Baby Blue Mohawk.
I managed to get the mohawk in a picture which makes me happy.


So Happy May Day!

Cat Blog

I've been thinking of starting a cat blog. Or rather letting my cats blog. Not sure what they would write about. Napping? Toy mice? Eating?
Is this really a way for me to avoid my own writing?
I got two rejection letters in the mail this week. Does not meet editorial needs.
Now I am just trying to decide where to send my latest creation which has to be sent out like right now because it is a story about Christmas.

I went to visit my Dad in California and had the most wonderful time.
We went hiking in the hills where he normally hikes. The trail we were on was part of Bidwell Park which is the the largest municipal park in the country.
We went to the Sierra Nevada Brewery which was really fun. I used to work in a brew pub so it was fun to sample the different beers.


We went to San Francisco for a couple days since I had never been and my Dad thought it would be fun for me to see.
We went to Fisherman's Wharf and saw the Sea Lions who took over Pier 39. We rode cable cars, visited Chinatown and went to Ghirardelli Square. The next day we rented bikes and biked across the Golden Gate Bridge.



We biked all the way to Tiburon but my future recommendation would be to bike to Old Mill Park and then bike back to Sausalito. I think it was just too long a distance with nothing touristy to look at in between Old Mill Park and Tiburon and it is really hilly.

I didn't get much of a chance to write but I did take a picture of a plaque of Robert Frost.

And the winner is not...

I spent this weekend spreading the word that I had won third place in The Meltdown Challenge at my Y. A team weight loss competition at my gym. Third place comes with a $50 prize which was really going to be exciting until I got an email last night that there had been a mistake in the tally and we had not won third place. OK so that is kind of a bummer. I feel like we should get good sportsman prizes since we were told that we had won and then it changed. But I guess that I will probably just have to accept that although there is no cash prize that I lost 10 pounds and probably feel a little better about myself then I did when I started.
I have gotten stronger as well and I am at my summer biking weight even though it isn't summer yet. woo hoo.

what stresses me out

Today I had an appointment at my little part time job. While I was there I talked with my boss about possibly changing how I get paid for rentals or changing how much I see of the restocking fee. So my boss said that we couldn't change the amount I get paid but if I wanted to stay and work a couple hours cleaning in the storage areas that I could. I said that I couldn't stay any longer today explaining about my busy week. Rental on Monday, Babysit on Tuesday, Matinee on Wednesday, errands on Thursday and Rental on Friday.
My boss said that he could tell I had baby sat because I had seemed stressed. Meaning that baby sitting stresses me out. I don't actually think this is the case. I think that not being able to write stresses me out. Running around and doing a bunch of other things that aren't writing leaves me with very little time to write. So instead I am thinking about stories I have written or story ideas I have in my head. I get stressed because I think about how I am not working on my writing.
In addition to getting stressed I get frustrated because I know that I should be setting side the time to write and not saying yes to everything. I am working on not being frustrated with myself when I chose to do something other than writing. Being frustrated means that I come back to my writing and write about being mad at myself for letting other things get in the way of writing.
I feel like it is better to be a little busy now and to take these opportunities to make a little extra money right now in hopes that I won't have to work two jobs at the same time and really steal time away from my writing.
I have been working on a story which I have been writing in a notebook for now until I have the time to sit and write at my desk on my computer. It is going really well and is really fun to write.
When I've written my NaNoWriMo novels in the past I have just written and not really worried about revising and structure. This time around I am taking my time and really thinking about chapter and timeline and plot.

What I'm reading

In addition to trying to write I also try to read a lot. Since my interest is in writing for teens I tend to read a lot in the teen fiction genre. This weekend I read a book that has been out for a couple years now and has been on my to read list for a while and it just happened to be at the library that I stopped at to return my books.
From the moment I started reading Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher I was hooked. The main character gets a set of cassette tapes mailed to him with no return address. The tapes are from a girl named Hannah who is dead. Being on the tapes means that he is one of the reasons Hannah is dead.
From the moment I started reading I was pulled into the story. I think I was driven to find out how the main character falls into the story. I think this story really makes you think how you treat people. Maybe what each of the people on Hannah's list did was small but it all added up to make her feel like no one cared for her. Like when she needed a friend or a kind word the most they couldn't be found.
When I read this book besides being totally engrossed in the story it made me want to be a better writer. I feel like this book is so well written and it makes me return to my own writing wondering if I picked up something I wrote and this book which one would I keep reading. How do I make my writing the kind that can't be put down?

The other day I had a fun idea for a middle grade novel. I started writing it in my journal. I was thinking about something that I think Flannery O' Conner ( I think) once said that anyone who has survived childhood has enough to write about for the rest of their lives. So I started writing a story based on a childhood experience of mine. Well it is more inspired by something from my childhood but I think the character is going to take off.
I have been worrying about work and the economy and writing about how that has effected my writing. For the last year I have been trying to say no to a lot of extra stuff so that I can focus more on my writing. This past year was the first year that I had actually been employed year round at my full time job. This meant I didn't have to worry about finding part time work but instead have been able to spend more time taking writing classes and writing in general.
I had a great experience taking a children's writing class and now we still meet as a writing group. It has really made me a better writer. It has given me a lot of confidence as a writer.
The other day my tooth started hurting. A lot. So much that going to the dentist seems to only option to get rid of the pain. So I am going for what will probably end up being a root canal. ew.

Yesterday was a good writing day.
I was able to channel some of the stress and concern I feel about the economy into an idea for a story.
I also got a contest submission in the mail.
Even though winter is hopefully winding down here in MN and spring will hopefully be arriving soon a couple of the things I am writing are winter pieces. This is good since magazines look into the future and are hopefully looking for winter pieces in the summer.
The good things is that when I go to my writing group on Tuesday I will have things to share instead of having to say that I have been a slacker for the last month. yay.

Sisters

my sister and I

I am currently working on a kids story. In the story the main character's little sister is always ruining her toys. Usually by accident. I have been trying to think of things that little sisters do but I am trying to keep the little sisters actions more accidental. So far I think I have come up with some things that the little sister does that kids can relate to.


I am into fitness. I love to swim, bike, run, swing a kettlebell and play sports. But I must admit that sometimes I need to slow my movement down in order to think about a story. Good ideas always come to me when I am walking. When I want to work out a problem in one of my stories I take a walk. New ideas occur to me when I am walking as well.
I am also able to get story ideas when I am swimming. But this happens less frequently.

Today on my walk home from the coffee shop I had a great story idea so I am excited to play around with it.

stress and writing

Lately it seems that all the stress in the economy has stifled my creativity a little when it comes to writing. Instead of spending time writing I have been spending time worrying about how much I will be working in the next year and once again I have been taking any chance to work in addition to my normal full time job. These little jobs tend to take away from the time that I would usually set aside for writing.
I find it hard to write and set aside time for writing when I am thinking about what I should be doing to ensure that I continue to have a steady income stream. Should I find a part time job that I can work more at when I have time off from my full time job or should I pick up more work at my old job? The problem with working at my old job in addition to my full time job is that the work there is full time which means working 72 hours a week and driving 1 1/2 hours a day. It means leaving my house at 7:15 a.m. and not getting home until 11 p.m. This leaves me with no creative energy to write and then when I do come back to writing I feel like I have taken huge steps back.
This week I don't have a lot of other things going on so I will be able to get some writing done.
I feel like I still have deadlines for contests I want to enter and since I had been concentrating on submitting some things that I had written I feel like I need to get back to that.
I am looking forward to a half day writing class I am taking in April.
My writing group meets next week so hopefully that will get me back on track as well. I am working on a couple things including a story that I would like to send to a magazine for tween girls.

Decisions, decisions

Last year I attended a conference here in Minnesota for children's writing. It was a lot of fun and I was really looking forward to attending again this year. Until I saw the brochure and saw that the price went up $100 from last year with no option to save money by only attending for one day of the conference.
So now I have decided to use my gift certificate for classes instead. I got so much out of the last class I took including a writing group that is made up of the members in the class. I would rather pay for another class and get to go to spend 6-12 weeks working on a story.
I recently read a book called Chapter by Chapter by Heather Sellers. In the book she talked about how in order to write a book you need to write. I have been trying to apply this to my life but the economic downturn has got me kind of worried which means that instead of writing I am doing things like baby sitting or picking up more hours at my second job. Then at the end of the week I realize that I have not gotten any writing done and that I haven't spent nearly as much time revising the things I have already written.
Writing is really something that needs to be done on a regular basis. I am finding that if I write everyday I am more ready when new ideas come. I am more perceptive to ideas for stories when I am writing on a regular basis. When I take time away from it I have a hard time getting back into the groove of writing. I end up spending time feeling guilty for not writing and thinking about all the things that took me away from my writing in the first place.

Running and Writing

A few years ago I became a runner. This has helped me so much as a writer.
I am not a gazelle who is going to win prizes or running shoe endorsements so running give me time to think about things that I am writing about. I think a lot about how to solve problems in my writing when I am running.
Since I finish races in twice the time as people who finish first I obviously run for different reasons. But this not coming in first all the time, well ever, has taught me self acceptance. Before I started running I would write in fits and starts and I would submit my work and it would get rejected and I would think that meant I wasn't a writer. Not winning races does not make me less of a runner just as not having my work in a book or magazine doesn't make me any less of a writer. Although it would be really cool to have a book published.
Groups are very helpful for both things. My running group pushes me to be a better runner. Those ladies push me to run farther and faster than I would on my own. My writing group does the same thing for my writing. It is so great to be connected to both groups.
Running is something you have to do on a regular basis if you want to be good at it. This is true of writing as well. No one would expect to run a long distance without first training for it. You run, you train and you work up to the distance. Most people do not wake up and say "I think I'll run 10 miles today" without having done some running before. The same is true for writing. It is something that needs time and practice and the more I work at it and make time for writing the better I get.
They both take commitment. There is always something that would be better than running 5 miles or writing 5 pages but once I do it I can cross it off my list of things to do and go about my day feeling accomplished.

Writing goals

I don't really consider it a new years resolution because I started working on it in December. I think I just figured why wait until the new year to start?
I have been trying to focus more on writing. After taking writing classes and filling my toolbox with writing tools I feel more confident about writing. I am focusing on writing, revising and submitting stories.
So far I have been doing well. I have a couple projects that I am working on and I have actually been working on them.
Actually having stories that I have written that I need to revise is good motivation. Instead of turning on the computer to a blank page I find that I get to revisit a new friend.
As many writers know looking at a blank page can be very scary. Just getting enough written before an inner editor takes over to tell you what is wrong with it can be a race.
The challenge for me is saying no to other things that come up. So the real goal this year is to treat writing as more of a job. I have been writing to do lists and I have been doing tasks from said lists. Tasks include sending out submissions, working on new stories and revising stories that have already been written. So far it seems to be working.
Having the list has been helping me take the writing more seriously. Now when people ask me to do things like baby sit I am able to put my own limits on how much I can do because I have tasks that I have to do for my writing.

The slim Cat

A few weeks ago I got an interactive cat feeding toy or a ball with holes in it to feed my cats. This is what cable will do. I watch one episode of Housecat Housecall and all of the sudden I decide that my cat is bored and needs interactive feeding toys so he will stop begging for food.
After reviewing the directions I realized that both of my cats were on the fat side of the picture.
The result with the slim cat so far is that at night I feed them real food in a bowl so that they will let me sleep. Then during the day I put their food in the Slim Cat toy.
One strange side effect is that my cat has decided to try to escape when I open the door to my condo. The good thing is that I have a condo and he just escapes into the hallway. The bad thing is that he seems to be looking for a new home and would paw at neighbor's doors to get to this end.
This is a cat who has never really ventured past the door mat and whose idea of adventure is to go into the laundry room while I wait with the door open. Now all of the sudden he is running up and down stairs and hallways in my building.
They have also begun to leave their toy mice in a pile in front of my bike. I am not sure if they see the bike as an extension of me or perhaps they hope to make an alliance with the bike so the bike will feed them while I am away even though the bike goes where I go.
On a positive note Snoop did look thinner as he ran up and down the stairs and hallway of my building in an attempt to escape his new starvation diet.
*Note: I am not feeding them less food just the method of feeding has changed.

biking laws

Today I was reading a story in the Downtown Journal about cops writing more tickets for bicyclists.
The story was bout a guy who got a $128 ticket for rolling through a stop sign. The car actually turned on its sirens and everything according to the story. Really was the bike running a stop light that big a deal.
As a cyclist I see cyclists rolling through stop signs and riding the wrong way on one way streets and riding without lights at night.
While I know that cops are cracking down on cyclists I think that some of this is unfair. For example there are some stop lights which are controlled by sensors and the sensors do not sense bikes so I can sit at certain stop lights until a car comes to change the light or I can wait until it is safe for me and then go.
I think that maybe the city needs to be educating people about biking. I know that bikes and cars should share the road but does the cyclist riding at night with no lights on the wrong side of the street know that?
One thing I have noticed this summer more than ever is that there are more bikers on the road and people have strong opinions about that. There was one kid who tried to tell me that his mom yelled at a biker that he should be riding on the bike path and not the road when bikers actually have a right to be on the road. There are always the people who think that bikes should be on the sidewalk.
But really I wonder if people who are in cars are even more unhappy about being in those cars. I mean gas is $4 a gallon, there is always traffic or road construction and then you see people on bikes, with smiles on their faces riding past and it has to be frustrating.
The other day while waiting for a light to change a car came up behind me and wanted to make a right on red. The kept inching closer and closer to me and revving their engine and turning up their Green Day. Really why aren't there laws against harassing people on bikes like this person was doing. The thing that really bugged me about this was that I was near a school and could have been a student.