Nichole Ellis ~ Adventures in Writing

A Bright & Sunny Day

2008-07-13T08:11:00.000-07:00

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

Thursday Thirteen ~ #1: 13 Keepers

2008-07-10T11:04:00.001-07:00

Here's my maiden Thursday Thirteen!

13 books on my Keeper Shelf
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

Some other Thursday Thirteen Participants You Might Like to Visit:
Word Trix, Savannah Chase , Shelley Munro

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

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Creative Outlets

2008-07-09T21:10:00.000-07:00

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.

Why the English Language is Hard to Learn

2008-07-06T19:11:00.000-07:00

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

Which Jane Austen Heroine Are You?

2008-07-02T14:24:00.000-07:00

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).

Take the Quiz here!

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

Inspiration...

2008-06-27T21:15:00.000-07:00

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

Peaceful Easy Feelin'.....

2008-05-25T03:35:00.000-07:00

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

Feels good to be home...

2008-05-20T00:03:00.000-07:00

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

MERCY!!! Time flies...

2007-07-24T22:53:00.000-07:00

So sorry for the delayed absence loves. Life has been hectic.

Never fear though. You've all been on my thoughts as much as my writing.

Most recently I attended the RWA National Conference in Dallas where I was blessed to spend time with two of my favorite authors on the planet! Thanks to their kind words and tough love, this aspiring author has been re-energized and writing daily.

While in Dallas I also attended a wonderful workshop by Todd A Stone. If you are unfamiliar with Mr. Stone, he has a wonderful how-to book out titled "Novelist's Boot Camp." From his camo kilt and his charming way of making everything seem simple, to even his adoration of his wife (who was the Mod for the workshop), Mr. Stone is one of the most memorable speakers I've had the pleasure to listen to in a long time! The 2+ hours flew by. I sincerely hope the RWA invites him back again.

Since I've been home I've been working with a paranormal story which has been partially written for a few years now. It's been my "play" story. You know, that one you don't really intend to publish, but it's such a fun guilty pleasure. After getting much tough love from some dear pals (those two cooky writers I adore) I decided to go for it and finish it up.

The twist this time, however, is that I will write the synopsis FIRST! EEK.

In case you didn't realize, I'm not exactly fond of writing a synopsis. Perhaps one reason I have failed to submit anything yet... I digress. At any rate I promised my pals I would give their way a try and see.

OMYGOODNESS! I already see a new chapter one in this mindless story, a bunch of holes have been filled and thanks to some valuable advice, I've been able to start putting together a potentially publishable story. Scary, I know! LOL

So, I'll have my hands full in the upcoming months, but hopefully will remember to check in with you all and let you know how it's going.

XOXOX
Nichole

HOW Contest Results

2007-01-13T01:29:00.000-08:00

Last fall I entered the Heart of the West contest.

I did not enter with hopes of winning. Odd? I told you I was warped, lol. No. I entered the contest to get objective feedback. This mission was for purely selfish reasons.

I had a new story idea and I began to doubt myself. Was I really weak in such-n-such area? Did I really know how to do such-n-such as well as I wanted to believe? So, after working on it for a bit, I decided one sure way to discover the truth was to send it out--with no outside crits. This was another learning lesson.

How much could I trust myself and my writing?

Each person I dealt with was gracious and helpful. If you ever wish to enter a contest, this is one to consider. I had the good fortune to draw judges who were both gracious and honest. Some of the more positive comments included, "You have talent." Or, (ad libbing here) "You have a way with droll dialogue." A big surprise came in the fact that my issues with pacing seemed to have improved greatly. And it was nice to discover that my hard work on eliminating prosey writing has paid off. :) The non-surprise was the fact that I still have issues with my heroines. GRRR. Can I help it if I connect more with my heros? I love my men, lol.

All in all, I learned that I can rely on my instincts. I know what I need to really concentrate on for the moment, and what I can move to "keep watch for, but improved" category. That alone feels liberating. It's freed my mind from the hand-holding I believed I needed from my crit partners. I'm not a child who has to run to them with every little detail.

No, I didn't final, but I definitely won a minor battle and grew in the process.

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Winter Hits Hard...Again

2007-01-13T00:20:00.000-08:00

Hello friends! It's 2 a.m. and I'm snug in my home while freezing rain glazes the trees and ground outside. This photo is from our last ice storm in December (yes, it's all ice!). One reason I've been AWOL.

How were your holidays? Our family celebrates Christmas and we enjoyed spending time with our loved ones. I'm a little sad it's over, but am looking forward to the new year, so full of promise. I don't make resolutions. Do you? What did you resolve to change or do this year?

I have sure missed our chats and there is so much to share that I'm going to break it up into individual posts. Don't want you to get dizzy and pass out. lol

I leave you with another pic to enjoy. It always amazes me that something so beautiful can be so treacherous.

Stay warm and do something fun for yourself. XOXOX

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Tagged Again

2007-01-02T21:50:00.000-08:00

Okay, I've been tagged by my pal, Word Trix. (Sorry it's late, sweetie. It's been "that" kind of month.)

Four jobs I've had:
1) Bakery Assistant (yes, could make those little roses)
2) Typist in banking trust
3) Office Manager for ad agency
4) Leasing Agent for apartment complex

Four places I've lived:
1. Here
2. Here
3. Here
4. Here...It's a running joke that we've got too much Mississippi mud between our toes to allow us to leave for good, lol. My family has lived in this area since early 1700s.

Four favorite foods:
1. Chocolate
2. Mac N Cheese
3. Southwest Chicken
4. BBQ chicken

Four movies I could watch over and over:
1. The Phantom of the Opera
2. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
3. Princess Bride
4. The Mummy

Four TV shows I enjoy:
1. Heroes
2. Numb3rs
3. House, M.D.
4. Eureka

Four places I've traveled:
1. Las Vegas
2. Dallas
3. All over Florida (Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale, St. Augustine, blah blah blah)
4. Heck, all over the Southeast (New Orleans, Nashville, Atlanta, several places in Arkansas, blah blah blah)

Four places I'd like to visit:
1. Scotland!
2. Australia
3. Italy
4. Greece

Four websites I go to daily:
1. My yahoo groups (quite a few)
2. FlyLady.net
3. Splitcoast Stampers
4.

Four people I'm tagging to do this too:
Jolie
Cindy
Ciara
Sharon

Happy Thanksgiving

2006-11-23T09:14:00.000-08:00

Happy Turkey Day to all my U.S. friends!

Today is family day. And my diet plans are in jeopardy. We were just informed that there is a huge buffet at my parents' house this year. MMMMMMMMM...........

Tomorrow I will be one of those crazy people who get up at the crack of dawn to catch a good deal. On the upside, I'm almost finished shopping, so it's fun to stand back and watch everyone else go crazy. If you're like me and love to people-watch, you know this is the best time of year to observe. You have those individuals who are all about spreading good cheer, and then the others who are all about getting that last toy. Some mighty interesting characters have been created during these times, lol.

Actually, it's more about the "sisterhood". Every year the girls get together, have our grown-up pajama party to gab and eat and look over the ads. There's even been a facial or pedicure thrown in. Everyone settles down about midnight, so I'm hoping to write for at least an hour before crashing in the chair for a few hours. We'll get up, grab a granola bar or something, then head out the door. Shop. Snack. Shop. Shop. Snack. Shop. Shop. Eat brunch! I can't begin to tell you how many times this annual tradition has helped us keep our sanity through job tribulations, marital issues, children's angst and more. The sisterhood rules!

Sunday we'll enjoy a second feast--told you my diet was in trouble--with my dh's family.

I wish everyone a happy holiday. Enjoy your loved ones (related or not) and take a bite of pumpkin pie for me!

HUGS!

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A Little Magic

2006-11-21T06:14:00.000-08:00

It appears my new tiara is working some magic!

I have managed to get down 5,593 words so far this week and it's only Tuesday morning. I've surpassed my weekly goal and now have 21 new pages of work.

I think I'll up the ante another 5,000 words this week.

Wish me luck. For now I'm off to begin decorating for the holidays and read some of my new book! I'll have to let you know about it soon.

Thanks again, Kathryn!

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Five Things about Me...

2006-11-20T08:44:00.000-08:00

Well, it seems everything comes with a price, lol. Word Trix tagged me back to share five interesting things about myself that people don't already know.

Hmmm...this could be good or bad...here goes:

1) I once repelled out a two-story window using sheets tied to a bed leg. Yes, it worked; however, it was so dark that I misjudged the distance and let go too early (about five feet instead of two). I have since repelled off cliffs, but didn't know what I was doing that first time so I clung to the linens for dear life. Good experience for writing. I know how it feels, haha.

2) Famous people (non-romance novelists) I have met include Lee Greenwood and Sammy Davis Jr. And yes, Mr. Davis said, "Baby," when he talked to me. It was a fun moment.

3) I brought a wheeled Samonsonite, a box of Hershey chocolates and a butane curling iron to a survival weekend. Survived spending the night under a little cliff in 0-degree weather (it was February 1st).

4) I laugh when I'm nervous.

and finally....

5) I absolutely love to bake--cookies, cakes, and pies--but I do not care to eat sweets. Go figure!

Tagging Cindy--dish with us!

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Big Week Ahead

2006-11-20T00:21:00.000-08:00

Wow, can you believe that it is almost Thanksgiving here in the U.S.? Where has the year gone?

In the hustle and bustle of the upcoming holidays, it will be a tad more difficult to keep goals, but I must press on, so I'll be posting weekly goals here for accountability. Usually I write in chronological progression, beginning with the first page of the first chapter. Last week, I gave in to temptation sketched out scenes as they came to me, be it a moment alone with the hero, the ending or just a splash of punch on an evening gown. While I didn't meet my goals (shy of 1,000 words), it was so much fun I plan to do it again this week.

And soon I'll have a tiara to wear while I write! Yes, you heard me correctly, lol. I won a wonderful tiara and signed book by Kathryn Caskie on her guest blog day at Romance: By the Blog. Big thanks to Kathryn for such a wonderful time and to Michelle for having such a fun guest.

My goals this week are relatively simple. As we do not travel for Thanksgiving, I see no reason not to keep a minimum of 5,000 words for the week. More would be wonderful, but I figure 1,000 a day is a good goal for the next few weeks. Check back later this week and I might have a snippet for you to enjoy, in appreciation of your support.

On that note, I leave you to your dreams. May they always be sweet.

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Goals ~ Extended

2006-10-29T00:21:00.000-07:00

Hi all! It seems like it's been weeks since we actually chatted. Between family, writing and baseball it's been nuts around our household. Ah, but it's definitely not boring!

There were a few moments to catch up on some minor reading and I found an interesting tidbit in the November issue of Prevention Magazine. It's about goals and I'd like to share with you.

In the article Your Winter Stay-Healthy Guide, Amanda MacMillan proposes that there are certain things we can do to help keep ourselves germ free (or closer to it) this winter. In the section of the article titled "What to do Every Week," she suggests that setting goals.

"Challenging situations can work to your advantage"

She claims that working toward a goal will help "provide a health boost" to a person's immune system.

"The best prescription is to set your sights on a reachable target, says Fleshner."**

So gang, we've been given yet another reason to set weekly goals.

I'm working on mine. Are you?

Well, back to the grindstone. I've got an extra hour tonight. That reminds me, don't forget to change your clocks and your smoke detector batteries tonight!

SOURCE: Prevention, November 6, 2006 Edition
ARTICLE: Your Winter Stay-Healthy Guide AUTHOR: Amanda MacMillan
**Monica Fleshner. PhD

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World Series Champs!

2006-10-27T20:40:00.000-07:00

CONGRATULATIONS to the World Series Champions, the St. Louis Cardinals!

Way to go REDBIRDS!!

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Woohoo! Cards Are Up to Three!

2006-10-26T21:16:00.000-07:00

Though the rain put off game four (last night), the St. Louis Cardinals WON tonight!

Go CARDS!

Magic Number: 1

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I've Been Tagged!

2006-10-24T21:06:00.000-07:00

What a darling Cindy Miles is. Thanks sweetie!

1) One book that changed your life...
That would have to be the REAL MOTHER GOOSE. You feel like laughing, don't you? Go ahead! I still smile when I think about it. It's one of the first books I owned and as a matter of fact, I still have it. It sits just two shelves down from my romance reference books. It inspired me to be silly, to let my imagination free and to simply enjoy reading.

2) One book that you've read more than once...
CHARMING THE PRINCE by Teresa Medeiros. It's one of my favorite books. I can't explain why other than the fact that it's my "feel good" book. Any time I need inspiration, or need to be brought out of the blahs, this book will do it for me.

3) One book you'd want on a deserted island...
It would be a toss-up between Dummies Guide to Getting off a Deserted Island (why not, they have everything else) or CHARMING THE PRINCE. (See #2)

4) One book that made you laugh...
Oh, Mercy! I shouldn't admit this, but I'd overlooked a book by a favorite author. Anyway, I picked up ONE KISS FROM YOU by Christina Dodd. It was such a wonderful read I devoured it in one sitting, chuckling all the way through it, then laughing until I cried at the end. Ms. Dodd had me in stitches. It was "unexpected" and I am now going to have to purchase this book for my keeper shelf.

5) One book that made you cry...
My high school Geometry textbook. I still have nightmares about this book.

6) One book you wish you'd written...
EMMA by the esteemed Jane Austen. Enough said.

7) One book you wish had never been written...
My high school Geometry textbook. **shrug** At least I'm consistent, lol.

8) One book you're currently reading...
I am currently between books and my TBR list is falling over so it's hit or miss what is next. Tell me what you are reading!

Thanks again for the tag, Cindy! This was fun. Hmm, who's next? Heather? Are you game?

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Magic Number: 2

2006-10-24T20:57:00.000-07:00

Woohoo! The Cards just won their second game of the Series.

GO CARDS!

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Just Another Manic Monday

2006-10-23T17:54:00.000-07:00

Yes, the Bangles are running through my head today, chasing my characters around.

Why?

"Save As" is a very valuable feature. I'm laughing now, but at 7 a.m. this morning I only wanted to sob.

Let me explain.

As you know, I managed to find some serious writing time this weekend. I wrote 21-1/2 new pages. Well, at 4 a.m. Sunday, things started to get a little fuzzy. I had some ideas for upcoming chapters and wished to key them in before I forgot--thought I had used the "Save As" feature. To my horror (only fitting for October), I discovered that I hit the "save" button instead and erased my entire chapter.

Thanks to a great pal (and some other darling friends) who let me whine in email. The understanding support helped tremendously. I imagined what she'd say if we were having latte's and then I put my big girl panties on and dealt with the situation. Progress so far? Nine pages rewritten from memory. I'm going to work on the next 12 or so pages tonight. Then I need to write two more chapters this week to keep goal. Thank goodness for crockpots and take-out.

So, now you know how my week started. What happened on your Manic Monday?

whoa-oo-ohhh...

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Game One Down!

2006-10-21T20:48:00.000-07:00

I had to pop in again to say, "GO CARDS!"
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A day to myself...

2006-10-21T12:47:00.000-07:00

It is a rare day indeed that I have time (and the house!) to myself.

So instead of some drawn-out blog about the joys of such blessed events, let me just shout, "YIPPEE!"

Plans? To type until my fingers are numb. That's right. I have an outline and another chapter to finish on my current wip. Thankfully it is a first draft and shouldn't be difficult since I've been noodling it for a couple of days now. The goal I've set is one new chapter per week.

Take care of yourselves while I get lost inside my head.

If it's sunny in your locale, go play. If it's gloomy, find a good book and snuggle down for the afternoon.

Simply enjoy yourselves this weekend!

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What color are your toes?

2006-10-18T10:38:00.000-07:00

Er, toenails, to be more precise.

Why?

Besides the fact that this writer is in desperate need of a pedicure, I have wondered what people do when they get a rejection. Even as I chatted with friends, I put forth an idea to help make it easier and now it won't stop running around in my mind. The more I think about this, the more it makes sense (but that could just be me, I am a little warped at times, lol). Wonder what you think about it.

We celebrate like mad when we get a request, very short edits on a draft, and (yippee) that big sale. We break out the dancing shoes, eat that Godiva chocolate or do something really awesome. But what do we do when we get a rejection, or even a poor contest score? We lick our wounds and hide out. It's human nature to throw ourselves a pity party.

I'm not saying to ignore those instincts. Self-preservation is a good thing. And hiding out can give us the time to develop a thicker skin so the next rejection doesn't sting as much.

I am proposing that we set a time limit. Tell ourselves we only have such and such time then we pick ourselves up, drag a brush through the snarls, take a shower and refresh ourselves to do it all over again. Then, I suggest we do something special for ourselves to help the improved writer move on. Make it something we look forward to doing and save it for our treat. The theory being that eventually our pity time will become less and less and we'll be ready for the next round. Who knows, we may even begin to send out more work!

What does this have to do with nail polish? Hang on, the convoluted thought processes that make up my brain are straightening out...

Nail polish. Oh yes.

I choose pedicures for my rejection reward. Even if no one else sees my little tootsies, I know when they are painted and it makes me feel prettier, more confident. They are dressed to the nines and if I need to remove my shoes (never know when someone needs a foot model) they will be ready to face the world--just like the writer in me. And that's what this is all about, right?

Think I'll make up for past rejections and go paint my toes now.

What do you think of "Passionate Plum?"

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"Feel The Touch Of Destiny"

2006-10-16T22:44:00.000-07:00

Before I begin, I need to warn you, I am not a film critic and I usually don't like to post/blog about movies. That said, my husband took me to the theatre last Friday to celebrate the 11th anniversary of our first date (isn't he romantic?). What film was it?

One Night With The King
"Feel The Touch Of Destiny"

While the movie might not be everyone's cup of tea, I found it delightful and a fresh change from the bang-bang, shoot-em-up movies--or worse, the just-plain-dumb movies--that have glutted the theatres lately.

It is the story of Esther and how her destiny with the King would save her people.

I will tell you that the scenery and costumes were incredible. As you can see from the image above, the locales were rich and romantic--a definite visual treat.

And while I was disappointed that it did not focus even more on the romance aspect (I'm a romance-writer, what do you want??), I thought scenes between Esther and the King were touching. You also see her passion for her people come through as she discovers the true depth of selfless love.

I thought Tiffany Dupont was excellent in the role of Esther, bringing a charm and liveliness to the role that is unique to her. Other members of this cast include Luke Goss, John Rhys-Davies (you LOTR and Indiana Jones fans will remember him), Tommy Lister, James Callis (you Bridget Jones fans will recognize him), Peter O'Toole, and Omar Sharif.

An interesting little tidbit...
Though this movie was only shown in 909 theatres it broke into the top ten grossing movies its first weekend. Source: Yahoo! Movies (box office charts)

Goals, Schmoals

2006-10-16T21:16:00.000-07:00

Another Monday has rolled around and what did you do today? Did you prepare for the week?

Too often we find ourselves twiddling our thumbs, surfing through web, basically doing whatever it takes to avoid setting goals. (Unless you are a born organizer, then you're excused from this post.)

I'm no different from most of you out there. I loathe setting goals!

Why?

Because I get sick and tired of that whiny inner brat who yells "na-nana-na-na" at the end of each week when I realize I haven't completed one gosh-darned thing. And then I start making excuses. You know the ones.

"Little Johnnie had an earrache and needed some love."

"SuperAuctionSite had that vase I've been looking all over for and I had to wait for the auction to end!"

"The dog ate my goals."

Yeah, all those excuses--some real, some not so real--add up. And the pile of excuses burdens you with guilt. And if there is one thing I hate worse than setting goals, it is guilt!

A few months ago, I had a "eureka" moment. I accomplish more when I set goals.

Do you reach your goals each week?

Well, no I don't, and to tell the truth, it doesn't always bother me too much. What matters is I can look back over the week and show actual work. Show new pages, edited pages, contest work, research, whatever needed to be worked on. More often than not, my goals were not realistic to begin with (a chat for another day), and I accomplish a lot more than I thought I would. Most weeks, I'm proud enough of what I did accomplish to shut that inner brat up for what I didn't. (She really hates that, lol)

When I don't set goals each week, guess what? You're right. Nothing gets finshed. Before I know it one day has bled into the next until Sunday rolls around again and I have nothing to show for the week.

So yeah, I still hate goal-setting, but I'm sure as sin going to do it. It's the only way I'll succeed. You too.

Ta-ta for now loves. I'm off to post my goals to my critique group.

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Chocolate Cheesecake Day

2006-10-07T20:55:00.000-07:00

Today it was gorgeous out, so mom and I took advantage of the good weather to spend some quality girlie-time together. We started the morning out at a clothing exchange. Yawn. I saw the sun come up this morning. A rare event, indeed. Then we shopped around for new stamping and scrapbooking supplies (my other creative outlets), and even popped into a yard sale or two, sharing chuckles over some very, er, interesting finds. And we talked...oh how we talked, lol. Next to my husband, my mom is my biggest fan and dear friend. I LOVE YOU, MOM!

What did you do today?

Well, since it was a quiet week writing-wise, I thought I'd share one of my favorite chocolate recipes with you instead of agonizing over my lack of output. So, without further ado, here is the link to one of my favorite cheesecake recipes straight from the Godiva Chocolate website! It's easy and oh-so-scrumptious!

Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake

ENJOY!!

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The Vampire Who Loved Me

2006-10-02T19:56:00.000-07:00

What have you been reading?

I've just finished another charmer by Teresa Medeiros (website, teresamedeiros.com) titled "The Vampire Who Loved Me." (Published by AVON books)

In this follow up to After Midnight we are reunited with the Kane/Cabot family members who are desperate to determine whether Julian Kane is a monster or a man in search of his soul ~ and his heart. Portia Cabot ~ still in love with Julian after all these years ~ believes in the strength of love and will not easily surrender Julian's heart to the chilling vampiress who owns his soul. Together, Portia and Julian must break the lure of dark desires for if not, Julian will forever belong to the night.

This was a great read, perfect for the month of October. It already has a spot on my keeper shelf. It's fun and easy to read, yet will keep you reading well past the witching hour! I definitely lost track of time reading this one. My sister-in-law, who normally despises paranormal stories, fell in love with the series earlier this year, if that tells you anything.

If you haven't read After Midnight, I suggest you go out and get it first, then sit back and enjoy the ride!

Another Medeiros classic, great for spunky heroines and sexy-as-midnight heroes and adventures to satisfy a lot of reading appetites.

THANKS Teresa for sharing your talent with the rest of us!

A new day dawns...

2006-10-02T19:29:00.000-07:00

So it's night and I'm not exactly beginning from scratch; but, hey, it's a new blog!

What is this about?

I am a gonna-be romance novelist (thinking positive here) and would love your company as I take this trip into the wonderful world of publishing. At present, I have several wips going and hope to finish them--with your encouragement. I hope we share a lot of laughs, a few tears and tons of cyber chocolate (no calories!!).

Your thoughts on romance today, books you're reading, chocolate and descriptions of the hunk who moved in down the block are welcomed with open arms. Heck, we might even share a few great tidbits about everyday life.

For now though, a yummy little Godiva is waiting and my hero is yelling from the mental closet I locked him in. Sigh. Better go let him out; he gets touchy about being alone in the dark.

Sweet Dreams,
Nichole