May the good times and treasures of the present become the golden memories of tomorrow. Wish you lots of love, joy and happiness. MERRY CHRISTMAS

A new creation.... Short Stories

I have participated in some short story challenges, and thought I would create a blog for those, but I have also done photo and poem challenges as well. for now.... i am just blogging the stories. :)

I hope you enjoy!

Whew! I survived NaNoWr and no one died!

Wow I cannot believe that I was able to actually do it. So I managed to throw-up 50,000 words in 30 days (well 29 days) and became a WINNER! YAY!!!

I can honestly say it was not my best work but I am still proud of the accomplishment. I will say the hardest part of the challenge was not being able to edit. Although having a family that says they are supporting you and actually supporting you... well.... that's something completely different. When my husband said I was getting crabby about this contest I asked him - YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! Then proceeded to make him understand. So he went out on Saturday and spent it with some friends. which gave me a whole day - at least 8 hours worth to do nothing but write - okay that's not true because I still had Mommy duties, but that's just normal. Duh.

So my family did come through at the end, and I was able to achieve my bragging rights. I am glad it is over. But I am WAY inspired, which makes me all giddy. I can't wait to get back to my second book and make it a masterpiece. :)

ta-tah for now!

Back on Track!

Well after being caught up in pushing my first book, and other adventures, my second book was book on the back burner. So the last week I have been chomping at the bit to write write write.

But I don't get much time, since the family has been working on our halloween project. I am trying to tweek what I have in the evenings....well until Next week... YIKES NaNoWrMo starts.... Deep breath I need to get my character list completed....

Well I am going to be writing like a mad woman. I might have to take a day off work just to focus completly.

Now that sounds like a FABULOUS idea.

NaNoWriMo -- Yeah I'm in!

I have been learning so much stuff it only seems appropriate that I also participate in the National Novel Writing Month. It is 30 days of intense writing. I was intimidated by all this at first - but I got a buddy on another forum that is doing this also. I don't know if I will be able to complete the task - but I am up for the challenge.

This also means book two is on hold. Which is fine for the moment, but I need to be careful that I don't loose interest in my characters (as I have in the past) I already have "fans" anxious for the second book. YIKES! Which makes me feel real good, but I don't have any reviews posted anywhere on my first book.

It makes me a little nervous.

Most everyone that reads the first chapter (as the sneak peek) was very anxious for the book, and those that have the book have said that the first chapter has a lot of information. Goes back to that telling and not showing I suppose. Again still learning! I have expanded on my short story that I submitted into a small competition, and I am trying to figure out how to create an Anthology or Series of sort for it. It is a fun piece, and I am curious how far it will go.

I still need to work on a timeline - and get my characters and places set up for my NaNoWriMo or I am going to waste time. hmmmm guess I should do that before the NaNoWriMo starts!

Unimportant...

Each day changes my perspective of what needs to be a priority. I have so many things I want to do, and things I want to accomplish, but the important things are those that are around me every day.

It is those people that touch my life in some way shape or form that reminds me that regardless if I succeed in being an author or an accountant that is unimportant.

I need to succeed in being me.

I need to succeed in being a good wife and mother, friend, cousin and daughter. I enjoy learning, and sharing. When those things I enjoy become tedious or no longer enjoyable, it is time to take a step back and take a deep breath.

Regroup, reorganize, "Restart" and I am off again. :)

Bored bored bored!

I am trying to chill with my second book.... testing the waters with a new line of thought. Step back from the second book before doing anything drastic - like "REWRITE" and just take a deep breath.

Issue is - my brain can't handle it.

I need to write, or something. So... I am working on a different story - this is just GREAT (in a bad way). I don't want to work on a different story I need to regroup and plan a little better for book two. I was lucky - real lucky - at how the first book went. (minus the copy-editor that would have caught my sentence structure and word issues... ugh!)

Speaking of that I spoke with a gentleman the other day - fascinating man. Truly a wealth of knowledge. He knew books - lots of them - and he was given a copy of my book prior to it going to the publisher, because I wanted his feed back - problem was we couldn't get together to review what he found until after I had already approved the book for print. I just thought it would be another person that fell through that I was hoping to help. Well he had GREAT ideas, and he also made me realize that I could approach my second book with a little more 'overview' by creating a historical graph and a growth chart. I always jotted things down, lots of notes scattered about - duh put them in one accessible place dummy!

He made me think about things I REALLY had not thought about. I knew I wanted this, this, and this to happen, but did I want that in chapter eight or 20? So it wasn't writers block that was giving me a cause to pause it was the anxiety of wanting everything in this book. I already see this will be more than just one book - yay... I think.

*RESTART BRAIN in 3....2.....1..... YIKES!*

So, I am cold turkey - gone almost a whole day - and now I CANNOT sleep, perhaps it is my hot tea.... who knew! It is supposed to be relaxing -- oh maybe that is because it is not chamomile tea and Earl Gray.... oops! (Tomorrow's Grocery list - Decaf Earl Gray - CHECK!)

I think I might dabble in a new story type - perhaps it will be a novelette when I am finished? Some of my favorite authors have an awesome realm of imagination - I could switch it up a bit.

Jim Butcher - you are my Novelist Hero!

BACK TO WRITING - whew glad that brain restart happened I was getting nervous.

Short Story

I wrote a short story for a forum contest, no prizes, just submitting for review by peers, and voting. The rules - limit 1000 words.... do you know how HARD that was! Voting is still going on until Sunday - so I guess I will see how I do. But so far I don't have that many votes, but that's okay because it is the first time I ever did anything like that either.

Downside - now I have another piece that I want to add to it. I think another Novel has been concieved, it will have to be a different series cause it just won't fit with The Legacy Saga, but now I need to start working on learning some sailor metaphors, and more about life at sea. I could flounder around and build the story, but I think it is better if I have details.... FLOUNDER - geeze did I just write that. Yup guess I did.  So I might take a break from book two in the Legcay series and jot this new book in the making down.... I better - I don't need to forget. haha!

Ahhhh....DEEP breath!

I get sometime at lunch to blog, but it is never long enough. I get too wordy sometimes, so it might be good that I don't get too much time.

I am home and listening to my princess's cartoons, and knowing that I won't get anything done until she is in bed. So while I was distracted, for the moment, I thought I would write something. Unfortunately there is nothing profound or inspiring that comes to mind.

I am listening to the sounds all around me, and wondering how this melody of chaos translates into the balance of Life. I want to have quiet, and shut out the world, but I cannot be an island to myself (not an original idea) but I am sure everyone has felt like that from time to time.

10 mins of quiet time is "regroup" time. It's not enough for me to regroup. I reread what I wrote, and that can take a while, and then I am ready to write - unfortunately that's about the time that I need to put on the "super powers" of wife or mother.

Right now... I need to go kill a nasty bug for my husband -- ha-ha... nah the princess squeals.... off I go.

Fare-the-well!
~Michelle

Trying to stay focused

Well with my book fresh out and thinking on what else I need to do to get my name out there, I am trying not to loose focus on family, work, friends, and of course my second book. It feels odd not dedicating time to writing while I am networking. Eventually I will get the hang of it.... I better or I will have to give up something. :)
I love my hobby, and everything else, so perhaps I should sleep even less to get more done.

When I grow old

I never want to look back and say I should have. I could have.
I don't plan to. I am looking forward and thankful that I have the support of family and friends on this forward adventure. Nothing is better than being surrounded with love.
*hugs*

Restless

I am just simply restless today. I just want to go go go go go..... and I can't.
I better go running tonight. I hope this day will end soon. I can't wait to get home and focus on relaxing.

Fascinating people

Although I am new at the blogging and social networking gig. I am amazed and astounded to find so many people that are genuine! Seriously though I do have to approach things with caution, but it has been SO much FUN!

Not something one could find ten years ago. I remember the first online chatting - AOL (Oh yeah baby!) I was totally there. It became kind of an obsession. Now I am obsessed with reaching out to more people and getting to know them a little better.

I approach things as honestly as I can, but have to take people for their "face" value. It is amazing though electronically how one can just open up. Fear, anxieties and hope all out there in the open. It is scary business being open because it can also bring issues.

Being public and networking on my own is not "safe" by any means. It really is outside my comfort zone. I do tend to come off as naive. Perhaps it is because I approach things with a light heart, and laughter, even if I am quaking and shaking on the inside. I try to suppress those feelings best I can. Not that it works, but I try.

Just doing my videos was tough because I didn't like the lighting or how I sounded or was I distracted or my eyes did they move too much. I know silly things to worry about but things that I thought.

I would love to take photographs of myself all dressed up and "medieval" just cause that's what I like, and would have so much fun with it. My daughter would love it too - of course when she grows up she is going to be a rock star, scientist, horse trainer. Awesome huh? And I just wanted to grow up being a teacher - instead I am an accountant that writes for a hobby. :)

I like to make people laugh, but I also want to be taken seriously.

So blog blog blog.... :)
Have a wonderful day!

My book is here!

Monday - Yay!

Well back to the work week and I have found my rhythm - well for a moment at least. I think I am about to chop again at my manuscript slicing away a nice chunk of 100 pages or so - no fears - i save all those cut aways. I think I probably have another disjointed novel just from all the outtakes.
Oh well - back to writing....

Tense...

I have a tense issue. Now my book is in print and I have been told about those pesky errors I missed.

So.... I am just tense, present tense, past tense, too tense, makes no sense. ha-ha!  I could be a poet! having  no copy editor I have tense issues.

Ugh! 

My goal was to be published- that was all - now that I am published I want recognition, a fan base, and success at something I truly enjoy doing. I am writing a blog because it is something that helps, but I find myself getting lost in my social network, and my writing is going to the back burner. 

It's okay - just one more thing to be tense about. I will succeed. I am confident that something good is going to happen. 

Another day... in my world

Today I spent mostly just doing a lot of nothing. I wrote for a little, but then wanted to do more, so I got out the Dremel and began to carve away. My Medallions are looking great in stone, now I just need to transfer them to metal, or something. I contemplated making a new You Tube video, but don't feel like getting all gussied up for the production - just kidding. I need to make a better video. But then I want to add music, then I want to.... well I get distracted from writing, and then another day gone, and the story waits...anxiously for me to continue, they scream at me in my sleep - finish me. Okay they really don't scream at me, but it sounded good. :)
So after doing a little blogging/facebook/myspace/and whatever else, I am going to get a glass of fruit punch and get back at it. Yup... I'm crazy like that. I work better at night anyway.

Fascinating Fantasy

It is truly amazing to look at all the outlets and find people that are really and truly interested in reading fiction and fantasy. I am also amazed at the scope of brilliance behind creating such fabulous work. It is a little intimidating being such a green writer. I have always preferred to write, and was thankful for two years of homeschool to concentrate on that passion. There are more ways now than ever to publish, but is the market there for my fiction.
Self doubt, and insecurity is not an option. This is a ruthless field and I might just be too nice. I love a good story - but don't want to read anything while I am writing.
Several Indie writers caught my eye on the Amazon forum, but I want to write. My brain is throbbing with all the visions I want to put into words, but the only time I get is when the child sleeps, and the husband plays.
I don't sleep much any more too much to write and not enough time in the day to do it, and then can't neglect the family on the weekends. So after 8pm cts that is my creative time - although it seems like my chapters end with my characters going to sleep. Hmmm guess I better make sure I am not sleepy.

Well - off to watch the princess dance. She has my iPod and won't leave.... next I will need to prepare her snack, I refuse to peal grapes though.

Great Jumpin Beans - Guess what I just got!

Well it is official I got my very first copies of my book. I am so excited, nervous and happy. I have my doubts about how successful I will become - but I am my own worst enemy and my worst critic. I didn't want to share anything before because I thought I would be laughed at or made fun of - but that comes with the territory.
Although this weekend I met a GREAT group of people that really care about helping. It is really rare to find people that don't say things out of spite or malicious just to because they don't want to help. Not these people. They are true and honest (might not want to hear what they have to say - but with teeth clinched I listened)
My first book is just the beginning. I love to write - and shame on me that for the last week - just haven't had the urge to.
Then after my first encounter with some "Real" people via internet. I got really bummed out. Again - SELF doubt...... and I have to stop that. I have so much to look forward to.
Perhaps I won't get enough sales to reach "Traditional" publisher status - but I just might. I might have enough "raw" talent that I intrigue them.
Perhaps I can change the image of Fantasy fiction - or not...... It's a lot of fun to day dream - but I like making things work in my world.

Learning learning learning

Accepting that I don't know enough is the first step in becoming a better author.

You can Order!

Now you can order directly from the publish house. Although I probably could be doing this a little differently. It is here, and I am ready to get out there and become FAMOUS!

Yippee

WAHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! my book cover is on the website! Check it out!

Creating a Social Network

SO I was talking with a friend that said that I needed to create a blog in order to help get the word out that I was getting published. Since I am Independently published and have a very small budget I am blogging here too. So..... this is the next step in becoming famous.... Right?