For once the rain clouds have cleared out. Here in the Midwest we have seen so much water lately, it's quite a relief to see the sun! The most lovely news is that it's supposed to be sunny all week, nary a rain cloud in sight.
After spending some time with the family today (hopefully outside), I hope to work on Touched. I have a goal to get the first draft finished by mid-September. I am using a new route (as mentioned in previous blog posts) and made a plan using two-different books...The Novelists Boot Camp by Todd A. Stone, and First Draft in Thirty Days by Karen Wiesner. In the past wrote first, figured it all out last. Alas, I'm not that great a pantser. LOL
Hope your Sunday is as wonderful as our weather. Take care of you and we'll chat later.
Always,
Nichole
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Thursday Thirteen ~ #1: 13 Keepers
These are not in any particular order, but all have a special place in my heart. My keeper shelf is actually an entire book case, but these are some of my most beloved for one reason or another.
~ Charming the Prince by Teresa Medeiros
~ The Pursuit of Marriage by Victoria Alexander
~ How to Seduce a Duke by Kathryn Caskie
~ I Waxed My Legs for This? by Holly Jacobs
~ Wild by Lori Foster
~ The Wife Trap by Tracy Anne Warren
~ The Dark Highlander by Karen Marie Moning
~ The Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn
~ A Secret Love by Stephanie Laurens
~ A Dangerous Beauty by Sophia Nash
~ Spirited Away by Cindy Miles
~ Trouble in High Heels by Christina Dodd
~ The Sea King by Jolie Mathis
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Creative Outlets
I know some writers have more than one creative outlet and it can be difficult to rein in one to work on another. Just wondered if any of you out there struggle with this. Or has work on one taught you something that helps with the other?
I've been working hot and heavy, preparing Touched so I could enjoy the luxury of sitting and typing to my heart's content. However, my brain was a bit tired from the work and I took a break to pursue another favorite creative outlet--stamping! I love making cards and goodies for friends, working on family scrapbooks, etc. I've been scrapbooking for over a dozen years now and stamping for about five years now. (Writing has been a passion since before I can remember, lol.) For the past two days my kitchen table has been covered with cardstock, patterned papers, ribbons, adhesives, decorative scissors, buttons and more! Thank goodness we ate out! Anyway, I made a few cards and felt refreshed and excited about my writing project again.
Apparently, though, my brain isn't always as sharp as my X-acto knife.
Today I was at a loss when I took the boys to Chat 'n' Chew at the library. I forgot the laptop so couldn't work on Touched. In a last ditch effort to get something creative accomplished in that hour I stopped off at Walgreens on the way to the library on the pretext of buying snacks and drinks. I bought a notebook, and since I wasn't sure if my dd had taken the pens from my purse again, a new package of ink pens. You must understand, I don't do a lot of writing long-hand (unless you count the crazy to-do lists).
We arrived at the library, I go the boys settled in their group, then I sat a table not too far away so they could find me as soon as it was over. As I sat in the children's section, with little voices ringing out (I'd forgotten the iPod too) I started to panic. The blank pages in front of me were intimidating! I wasn't "seeing" my story.
Before long though, a card I'd made last night popped into memory. I began to think about the card and for kicks wondered what my character would think about it, what changes she would make on it and it wasn't long before I could transfer the thoughts to paper and move back into the plot and even create a very rough outline to expand upon this week! Made a few cat-scratches, started over a few times, but it's down and it's a starting point!
Would I have been able to do it with the laptop? Maybe--probably. Yet I can't help but wonder if I would have thought about it so thoroughly if I had the delete button right in front of me. I even thought of a few things to help close up a plot hole or two because my mind had to slow down and seriously concentrate. I was able to feel the tone of what the characters wanted, how they felt, feel their emotions as I wrote it down in careful cursive. That allowed me to really expand on certain weaknesses and make the most of their situation (and mine).
Yes, I made a few "boo-boos" that needed correction, but just as paper crafting has taught me, there are no mistakes, only opportunities for embellishments.
I've been working hot and heavy, preparing Touched so I could enjoy the luxury of sitting and typing to my heart's content. However, my brain was a bit tired from the work and I took a break to pursue another favorite creative outlet--stamping! I love making cards and goodies for friends, working on family scrapbooks, etc. I've been scrapbooking for over a dozen years now and stamping for about five years now. (Writing has been a passion since before I can remember, lol.) For the past two days my kitchen table has been covered with cardstock, patterned papers, ribbons, adhesives, decorative scissors, buttons and more! Thank goodness we ate out! Anyway, I made a few cards and felt refreshed and excited about my writing project again.
Apparently, though, my brain isn't always as sharp as my X-acto knife.
Today I was at a loss when I took the boys to Chat 'n' Chew at the library. I forgot the laptop so couldn't work on Touched. In a last ditch effort to get something creative accomplished in that hour I stopped off at Walgreens on the way to the library on the pretext of buying snacks and drinks. I bought a notebook, and since I wasn't sure if my dd had taken the pens from my purse again, a new package of ink pens. You must understand, I don't do a lot of writing long-hand (unless you count the crazy to-do lists).
We arrived at the library, I go the boys settled in their group, then I sat a table not too far away so they could find me as soon as it was over. As I sat in the children's section, with little voices ringing out (I'd forgotten the iPod too) I started to panic. The blank pages in front of me were intimidating! I wasn't "seeing" my story.
Before long though, a card I'd made last night popped into memory. I began to think about the card and for kicks wondered what my character would think about it, what changes she would make on it and it wasn't long before I could transfer the thoughts to paper and move back into the plot and even create a very rough outline to expand upon this week! Made a few cat-scratches, started over a few times, but it's down and it's a starting point!
Would I have been able to do it with the laptop? Maybe--probably. Yet I can't help but wonder if I would have thought about it so thoroughly if I had the delete button right in front of me. I even thought of a few things to help close up a plot hole or two because my mind had to slow down and seriously concentrate. I was able to feel the tone of what the characters wanted, how they felt, feel their emotions as I wrote it down in careful cursive. That allowed me to really expand on certain weaknesses and make the most of their situation (and mine).
Yes, I made a few "boo-boos" that needed correction, but just as paper crafting has taught me, there are no mistakes, only opportunities for embellishments.
Sunday, July 06, 2008
Why the English Language is Hard to Learn
It's been a long weekend, even longer to my mind as I didn't get a chance to work on Touched. My youngest child was born on Independence Day so we had double-duty this holiday weekend! It was fun, but exhausting and I'm desperately craving some write time. So, instead of rambling about various topics I thought I'd share a "cute" grammar lesson.
This is from Karen Fox's website, though she doesn't claim authorship either. It's real fun if you try to say them out loud, quickly, and without pre-reading them, lol.
Enjoy!
Reasons Why the English Language is Hard to Learn
1. The bandage was wound around the wound.
2. The farm was used to produce produce.
3. The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4. We must polish the Polish furniture.
5. He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6. The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7. Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
8. A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9. When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10. I did not object to the object.
11. The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12. There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
13. They were too close to the door to close it.
14. The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15. A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
16. To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17. The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18. After a number of injections my jaw got number.
19. Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
20. I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
21. How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
And now that you are thoroughly tongue-tied I leave you to try and squeeze out some write time.
Always,
Nichole
This is from Karen Fox's website, though she doesn't claim authorship either. It's real fun if you try to say them out loud, quickly, and without pre-reading them, lol.
Enjoy!
Reasons Why the English Language is Hard to Learn
1. The bandage was wound around the wound.
2. The farm was used to produce produce.
3. The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4. We must polish the Polish furniture.
5. He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6. The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7. Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
8. A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9. When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10. I did not object to the object.
11. The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12. There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
13. They were too close to the door to close it.
14. The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15. A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
16. To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17. The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18. After a number of injections my jaw got number.
19. Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
20. I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
21. How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
And now that you are thoroughly tongue-tied I leave you to try and squeeze out some write time.
Always,
Nichole
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Which Jane Austen Heroine Are You?
My pal, Word Trix, had this on her blog recently and thought I'd give it a whirl. I'm not so sure I always have a good head on my shoulders (sometimes feel a touch of silliness of Marianne Dashwood or Emma Woodhouse in me, lol).
You are Elizabeth Bennet of Pride & Prejudice! You are intelligent, witty, and tremendously attractive. You have a good head on your shoulders, and oftentimes find yourself the lone beacon of reason in a sea of ridiculousness. You take great pleasure in many things. You are proficient in nearly all of them, though you will never own it. Lest you seem too perfect, you have a tendency toward prejudgement that serves you very ill indeed.
All possible results: Elinor Dashwood, Marianne Dashwood, Elizabeth Bennet, Fanny Price, Emma Woodhouse, Catherine Morland, Anne Elliot
You are Elizabeth Bennet of Pride & Prejudice! You are intelligent, witty, and tremendously attractive. You have a good head on your shoulders, and oftentimes find yourself the lone beacon of reason in a sea of ridiculousness. You take great pleasure in many things. You are proficient in nearly all of them, though you will never own it. Lest you seem too perfect, you have a tendency toward prejudgement that serves you very ill indeed.
All possible results: Elinor Dashwood, Marianne Dashwood, Elizabeth Bennet, Fanny Price, Emma Woodhouse, Catherine Morland, Anne Elliot
Friday, June 27, 2008
Inspiration...
Love & Marriage.
What could be more inspirational to a romance writer than a wedding?
That blush of new love, the glances, the touches, it is all just so, so--sigh...
I'm back, fully rested after aiding my SIL with her wedding. Here are some pics I took for the couple and hope they inspire some flutters in your heart as well. The intimate ceremony was followed by some fun with family, then a large informal reception at the park a couple of days after. Through it all the bride and groom beamed and couldn't keep their eyes off each other. Sigh...
Now, am ready to settle in with the laptop and work. Ya'll take care and I'll catch you later.
Always,
Nichole
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Peaceful Easy Feelin'.....
It's 5:30 on a Sunday morning, having my tea in a semi-dark room and the birds are chirping outside, otherwise it's quiet.
We have a barbeque picnic today, but hoping to get some work accomplished sometime today. I would love to get some more characterization finished on touched, some more index cards marked and whatnot. Also need to work on wedding favors for my SIL. We've finished her invitations and announcements. I even did the centerpiece. Now it's on to the reception items.
And yet, at this moment, I'm going to savor the day.
Hope you all have a restful weekend and get a chance to enjoy that peaceful, easy feelin' as well.
Always,
Nichole
We have a barbeque picnic today, but hoping to get some work accomplished sometime today. I would love to get some more characterization finished on touched, some more index cards marked and whatnot. Also need to work on wedding favors for my SIL. We've finished her invitations and announcements. I even did the centerpiece. Now it's on to the reception items.
And yet, at this moment, I'm going to savor the day.
Hope you all have a restful weekend and get a chance to enjoy that peaceful, easy feelin' as well.
Always,
Nichole
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Feels good to be home...
It's been quite some time since I've been in here, some time since I've done a lot of things.
It's been a long road filled with adventures (emergency surgery, taking on the kids' education, blah blah blah) but won't bore you with all that.
Let's just say it feels good to finally be home.
Over the next few weeks I'll be sprucing up the old place, giving it a new coat of paint, scooting the dust-bunnies outside and airing the joint.
But for now, let me slip into this chair and....AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
It's been a long road filled with adventures (emergency surgery, taking on the kids' education, blah blah blah) but won't bore you with all that.
Let's just say it feels good to finally be home.
Over the next few weeks I'll be sprucing up the old place, giving it a new coat of paint, scooting the dust-bunnies outside and airing the joint.
But for now, let me slip into this chair and....AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
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