Feel it in My Bones

You know that feeling of confidence, that no matter what anyone says, they can’t shake you. You just feel it so strongly, right down to your bones.  That’s how I feel about this manuscript. 

Yes, every manuscript a writer always feels “this is the one.”  And yes, I’m saying it for the fourth time now.  But the difference is, the first three I “hoped” this was the one.  Now I know it.

How, do you ask? 

The simple answer, you just know.  But it’s not a simple answer.  It’s complicated on all kinds of levels.  You don’t want the simple answer, now do you.  Fine, let me see if I can unravel it for you.  I wrote this baby uninhibited.  No over thinking.  No preconceived notions.  Just pure straight, set my perfectionist meddlesome habits to the side and wrote.  Secondly, when I got to a thick spot that felt like cold molasses under my feet, I kept walking and allowed myself to write the crap. 

Along the way my confidence on the piece has grown.  Each step I have felt more secure.  (Unlike my other pieces where I faked it until I made it.)  Now that I am in the editing stage, my confidence is tenfold.  Sure, there are all kinds of plot holes, useless plot threads, areas of weak voice and a whole bunch of what-the-heck-am-I-trying-to-say spots but I see them coming a mile away.  Unlike previous manuscripts where I had no idea what was wrong with it. (Couldn’t see the forest for the trees syndrome.)

I am very well aware that admitting my confidence in this manuscript has probably sealed its fate as permanently unpublished.  But I really don’t believe that or care.  

I’ll be done in a month or so.

I’ll query it.  

And I’ll let you know how that works out for me.

(Psst.  Is it just me or can you hear my twang in this post?)

Image Source: Free from Stock.xchng.

Anna and the French Kiss Giveaway!

Head on over to my blog friend's...blog. (Yeah, not the best phrasing.)

Nicole McLaughlin's Writing Blog

She's having a "Describe your first kiss in 100 words contest" and her hubby will be the unbiased judge.  Whoever wins, gets a copy of Stephanie Perkins new book "Anna and the French Kiss."

Don't forget to follow Nicole.  She's sweet and saucy, all wrapped up in one.

Good luck.  And may the best woman win.
(Thank you, I will.)

Fire by Kristin Cashore

She is the last of her kind . . . . It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. In King City, the young King Nash is clinging to the throne, while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. War is coming. And the mountains and forest are filled with spies and thieves. This is where Fire lives, a girl whose beauty is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her. Exquisitely romantic, this companion to the highly praised Graceling has an entirely new cast of characters, save for one person who plays a pivotal role in both books. You don’t need to have read Graceling to love Fire. But if you haven’t, you’ll be dying to read it next.

"Fire" is the second book in the Graceling Series.  If you have not read the first, what are you waiting for?  I don't know why it took me so long to read it either.   I hesitated giving "Fire" 4 stars only because I wanted more romance (and kissing) and for it to happen quicker.  Cashmore has a very slow going way of unveiling the romance.  Slower here than Graceling, but because the world and overall story is so strong and the characters so rememberable (even if their names are hard to remember) I loved the story.  It's medieval meets fantasy, in a very realistic world.  There's the action and intricacies of war without detailing battle scenes.  There are other romances and twists and love triangles around every corner.  This book is set in different world than Graceling but the two worlds are connected.  So you will be learning new territories.  Also, (mini SPOILIER) it happens before the time of King Leck.  From what Cashmore wrote in describing book 3, Bitterblue, I believe the two worlds will collide. And I have a sneaky feeling who Bitterblue will fall in love with.

What's up with me?

Well besides hugging my porcelain best friend the last couple of days, I am now in the mountains.  See for yourself (from our balcony):

Yes, that is the slopes right there.  So needless to say (but I'll say it anyway), I am not going to be posting anything worthy until Monday.  And even then "worthy" will be subjective.  When I'm not snowboarding --only done it once before, ouch--  I plan to read a few books, critique for some friends and maybe, just maybe edit my own stuff (though right now I'm in a pickle on how to clean up.) 

Have a great weekend!

P.S.If you haven't read "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett you are truly missing out.

Lost Comments

You can do it however you want to but for me, one stop shopping is best.

How many times have you wrote a novel in the comments, pressed the comment button and hastily exited just as your comment refreshed to the second page for word verification.  Doh!  You can go back, but your marathon comment is G O N E, gone.

Arrgh! Frustrating...very seldom do I try to rewrite them.  I just move on.

Let me save you from losing precious comments.

• Under your "Dashboard" settings, click the "Comments" tab.  
• Under "Comment Form Placement" select "Pop-up Window"  
• Comments will pop-up in a separate window, with word verification (if you have that on) and all on one page. So when your followers press "Comment" their job is done.  No sneaky second page to throw them off.

That's all I wanted to say.  Carry on.

Brain Power Elsewhere

My brain is being lent out to edit my manuscript right now AND next week the kiddos have a week off school SO I'm feeling a crunch time this week.  I'm going to take a one week hiatus (maybe two if next week proves crazy.)  See you all when I get back.

Liking the Writer Skin I’m in

Okay, I’ve recovered from my aneurysm.  Phew!  I know, I probably lost like half my followers but the brain has to do what the brain has to do.  On to my skin.

All things writerly make me feel like I have finally found the right skin to be in.  I usually reserve my true self, in light of being judged or thought of as odd or even just plain weird.  My close friends know me ~pretty well but I still tend to curb my more askew thoughts for the fear they might not “get me.” But you know what the best thing about my writer skin is?  I surrounded by a bunch of other weirdos.

Yep.  There are lot of us out there, some weirder than others but we writers all seem to have the same sense of humor.  Why is it when I read a corky thing another writer does, I feel more confirmed as a writer?  Like being proud when we’ve not showered in days and have thoroughly ignored our families all for the sake of our manuscript. As Kiersten points out:   Writers love their crazy Or when Kristin Cashore talks about her writing process I realize how much all writers have in common:

“When people knock on the door, I hide. When my phone rings, I yell, "Oh, who the hell is bothering me now?!" and don't answer.” 

(I’ve made those exact statements.) 

So this writer skin, makes me feel like I can be me, a little more than I usually allow.  And I like it.

(Don't ask.  I was in a weird mood when I wrote the text on this image.)