Swimming, I mean WRITING!

Once again I am back at it. After a couple months break to jump start my Perfectly Posh business, I am back in the writing saddle and have found a nice balance between the two, I think. Of course, these are only two of my three jobs, Mommy being the first. :)

I am still looking for good playlists. I don't care what you use your playlists for. Personal enjoyment while you're checking Facebook or when you're gaming. Mine isn't up to par and I feel like I need to take a whole entire day to build a good playlist in order for it to work well enough for whatever I'm writing. If not playlists, then maybe just a song or two that you feel inspired or energized when you listen to it. Please share.

Update on the projects I have going on right now. I've finished the short story I was working on. It is currently in the editing process and I have a meeting with a gentleman and his wife who have both read it to get feedback and ideas to improve. I'm excited because I've wanted to brainstorm ideas for a while, for this story and a couple others. Kind of like a campfire, just without the s'mores and maybe with pizza.

I am all caught up on the transcribing of what I had written a few years ago in my notebook onto the computer for the novel. I have also found two other stories, I'm sure I intended them to be shorts, but will have to see how they develop, in my notebooks! Surprise!

And job number 1 is waking up from nap. Until next time, keep written!

Going Crazy....Not....

And it appears I've done it once again. Procrastinated. Though, you have to give me credit, at least I have to give myself credit, because I did write a little bit of the battle scene for the short. Yay. It's ok. Needs some work, yes, but at least I have the shell of it down. Now to learn the ins and outs of Dropbox so I can seamlessly work between the iPad and the laptop. I have an idea, I just want to make sure I'm doing it all the most proficient way possible.

Also, I've gotten back into my Perfectly Posh business. I took a small hiatus during wedding plans, the actual wedding, taking care of military dependent stuff after the wedding, a big trip across country and finally consolidating to one car for the family. I love my new wheels that my hubby picked out for us. Where we currently live, it's not completely necessary for us to have more than one car. So, until we get settled in Fort Lewis, Washington, we'll be saving tons of money with the one.

Of course, there is that little thing of writing again that put Posh on hold even longer. I got a burr up my butt that told me to write, write, write and that's all I allowed myself time for, aside from my everyday responsibilities. So, here I am, ready to figure out a balance between home and family and Posh and writing. I want to do all, and succeed, so I have to find a way to make it work. Even if its particular days that I only write during the week, marked on the calendar, and others that I do nothing but Posh. It will be hard work, but I'm sure it will be worth it.

Once again, I think on all that my sister has done with her crazy life, military wife, parent, sometimes single parent, to two rambunctious boys who require extra attention and still has managed to published several books, working on three? others currently and has her own small publishing company. Before that, by just a few days, she was also a dance choreographer/instructor with another side business added with it. Wow. Like I said, crazy. But she managed it without GOING crazy. So, here's me, trying my hand at NOT going crazy.

Again.

My New Friend

Recently I purchased an iPad for myself as well as my 15 month old daughter. With hopes to make it easier to write on the go, as well as an education device for Aurora. So far I am rather surprised as to just how much I am willing to share it with her. I would have thought I would keep it to myself for the most part and when I needed to entertain her she would use it while sitting on my lap, supervised. We've been running errands the last couple days too, with Michael home for a long weekend before going back to work for a long two weeks. I hardly see him when he's on this hectic schedule and I get most of my writing done. Mostly I think because I don't have the tv in the background as a distraction and I try to spend more cuddle time on the couch when we have free time while he is off. Makes for a slow writing week. Starting Monday, I should be back to my old writing and transferring self. Especially now that I'm more versatile with the iPad. Plus we have a new table and chairs that are counter height, making it much harder for little baby hands to grab and touch my pad of paper, pens, iPad or computer as well as the most important, coffee. :)  

We will be running more errands tomorrow in Victorville, but on the I've, since Michael does most of the driving, I should be able to get some notes done for the battle scene for the short. I want to get that done by the end of this month. Get it turned in for a few contests. Finally. I had planned to finish it in January but we ended up having quite a few last minute business stuff to take care of so I had to put it on hold for a couple days. With my trusty new iPad, I should give it a name...., I should be able to jot a few notes.... I hope. Lol 

I'm going to try out a new writing app I downloaded, see how it goes. Are there any other writers who use iPads? If so, which app do you use and why do you like it, or hate it? 

In the Chaos, a novel is born....sorta

A whole bunch of chaos has been going on around the Buschman house lately. Saturday, we drove out to Arizona, a 6 hour drive, to trade in Michael's two cars for an Acadia Denali, a beauty! Not only did we get a sweet family car out of the deal, we are saving over $200 a month, including insurance. After this week, after we sell my car, we will be saving a little more. I know, I know, this is a writer's blog, but hey, when is a writer's life experiences not reflected in what he/she writes?!

Anyways, tomorrow we get our taxes done. Woot! A couple more personal family stuff going down this week as well. More to come on that later, if anything happens with it. After a doctor's appointment last Friday, and a diagnosis of STRESS, STRESS and more STRESS, I was prescribed a muscle relaxant and extra strength Aleve to help control my migraines (aka Stress Headaches). Apparently my body stores the massive amounts of stress over the past 10-15 years and this is the result. I am in the process of learning when and how to take the muscle relaxer, since it makes me feel like I've just had two drinks and shouldn't drive. It also kills my writing drive. Ech. I've figured out that if I eat a certain way before and after, it metabolizes better and I'm not so loopy or falling over. Yay!

Back to the writing. I'm a little stumped with this one particular character's name. He is supposed to be the main male character's adopted brother. He is naturally suspicious and a little paranoid of everyone and every thing. He also deals out punishments of upholds the law that has been set by his brother. I don't want to give too much away, but he dresses like a punk rock. Think Abby from NCIS, Dad. ;-) So, to the right of this blog, you'll see another poll on what you think this guy's name should be. At the moment, he is seventeen years old, and was adopted at age twelve. Before adoption, he took care of himself on the streets, and as a smaller child he was in and out of foster care. I hope the background is enough for you all to give your best opinion. If you feel that none of the names I've suggested fit, by all means share in a comment! I'm hunting for ideas. All that I've come up with just don't seem to fit......

Well, happy writing writers. I've got to get going, baby should be waking up soon, then it's more errands to run and some play on the playground, maybe a walk. It's so NICE outside again today.

Flashbacks

I just couldn't force the writing of the battle scene on the short, so I decided to take a break for a couple days and work on the novel. I still have 5 days until the short is due for a contest, and even if I don't finish, I have another I can submit. I just didn't want to write a scene that my heart wasn't into at the time. I think I will watch the Two Towers (epic battle part anyways) to get into the mood, gain some groove.

At the moment, I'm having flashbacks on my time in high school. Kind of bitter sweet. I hated high school while I was there, and now I miss some times there. Notice I said SOME times, not all. There were definitely things I am happy I don't have to relive. As I'm sure is the case with most.

While I'm thinking on high school, I'm also thinking of the crushes we have while we're there, the awkwardness of it all. Where the main character is now. A jittery, confused mess of emotions and hormones.
YAY!

Funny, now that on the subject, I can't help but be jealous of the time I had to write. I finished three novels and a lot of shorts while I was in high school. None I would ever share with anyone else. On the planet! I'm still trying to figure out a way to remove them from the websites that already have them posted. Oy! Thank goodness I used a pseudonym.

It's been over three years since I started writing the story I'm working on now, I'm calling it The Hunt, until I find something better. And I'm kind of glad sometimes as I retype it, that I took that break. There were a lot of things I found needed changing and for the better! I'm liking it much more now than I did then. Especially the writing style. Even though I have brain farts in my personal Thesaurus and have to keep using the one online.

And here I go. Almost caught up and ready for Chapter Three. Finally. It's been stuck at Chapter Two for three years now. And any other pages I've written have been in spiral notebooks.

Yay!

Theme Song

Know those movies and shows where the main character has this little song or ditty playing in the background when they've stood up for something, made a life changing decision or revelation, a theme song? Well, this is mine. I had to share. I know it changes frequently, along with my life and the current goals that fluctuate over time, but currently, this is it. Enjoy and share what yours is. Double dare.

Shorts and Naps

I find myself torn in the evenings after the baby goes down. I really want to write. And, after about an hour or doing just that, I start thinking about the grown up shows I have DVR'd to watch. Since the baby is asleep, it's hard not to turn he television on and watch at least one show. But even one takes out a lot of that time that I could be writing. It's just down time. I go to my "nothing box," and enjoy someone else telling me a story for forty-five minutes. In the past, I would stay up until the wee hours of the morning to write, but that's just not realistic anymore. I try to tell myself that it's ok, I write better, and more, during nap(s) anyway. But the last couple days haven't been very good nap times, so I've been missing out solid writing times, only bits and pieces here and there. It looks like I got a whopping three pages done in the last two days. Major bummer. Of course, I'm also making it all up as I go along. The main points are constant, but the details and fill are all as I type, so that's ONE reason it's taking so long. But mainly, it's lack of time.

And here I am, watching Arrow as I type this. Which, could be considered progressive in a way. Since I use this as a thinking place. When I write in this blog, a lot of ideas come to me for the stories I'm working on. :-)

It sucks, but I'm looking forward to getting this short done so I can focus on the novel again. Though, it has done me a lot of good for inspiration and practice for the novel's story. So, I guess I should shut up, suck it up and finish it. Preferably, ASAP.

New Mission: Finish Short Story (without going crazy)

Accepted....

Playlist Blues

I find it very interesting how important the music I'm listening to while I'm writing needs to coincide with the events that I'm currently working on. For instance, easy thoughts, describing something of beauty, I like to listen to Norah Jones, Nickle Creek, some Enya, or the Two Towers Soundtrack if I ever find it. And right now, I really wish I had my old music, also on the same missing USB flash drive as my writing, to listen to. There was a great playlist created for the battle scene I'm working on now....well, first the sex and then the war. :) Teehee.

Having a girl waiting for you at home makes going to war worth it, right?

So tell me, fellow writers, what does your playlist include for a good battle/fight scene?

I'm currently in search of an online writers workshop or class. Not sure which one I'm going to go with, or which community I'll sign up through though. I know I need to really work on my detailing, and I was to find a class or workshop that will help me with that. It's all about finding the right one. These types of things usually cost a pretty penny, so I want to be sure that I'm going to benefit from it before I throw my money away.

If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears!

Well, best get started, I really hope I can get more than just the one paragraph I finished last night. It appears I write best during nap breaks. Heh.

TECHNIQUES FOR CREATING POWERFUL, EXCITING, REALISTIC BATTLE SCENES

I came across this article by accident. It was meant to be. It's very short and to the point with great information and things to think on when writing the battle scene. Check it out, writers. Let me know what you think. And feel free to share any others you may find.

TECHNIQUES FOR CREATING POWERFUL, EXCITING, REALISTIC BATTLE SCENES

Osmosis - Brain-To-Computer

Eh, I hate writing war. It seems WAY too slow a process than it does when played out in my mind or from what I see on a movie. Once again, the writing part of me who struggles to just GET IT OVER WITH! in the sense, why can't the battle scene just appear, and then I can close it and viola, done!

As if. This battle is supposed to be a twist between Two Towers and Deathly Hallows, but without any animals or wands. My characters wont be using horses or any other Middle Earth creatures. So, here I am, looking at the page where I'm supposed to type in the prep and training and then the battle. I know what's supposed to happen in the battle and the outcome, and I'm waiting for my brain and computer start some sort of osmosis link and be done with it? So far, no such luck.

I really want to take a break on this piece, hoping the drive will come to me and it will all turn out AWESOME. But I really can't. The contest deadline is in 4 days. And I need to give myself time for editing....Yeah, I believe I'm going to have to suck it up and get it over with.

Get'er done.

Off I go!

Half way there.

Grumble Grumble.

Three Cheers!

I'm really proud of myself. I have been getting a lot done on my short story about the Tuatha de. Of course, it's just the first draft. Hope to have it done by tomorrow night and start working on editing. I know I will want to work on some detailing in a couple parts too. Once that's officially done, I can worry about getting my 40,000 words done for the fellowship.

I'm really buttoning down on making sure I make time when I have it available to me, to write. This last week, every moment I've been awake and not running around with children, i.e., naps and bedtimes, I've been writing. It may sound like I'm slacking on my homemaker chores, but really, I've been able to work it to where while the baby is awake, I'm cleaning or what have you, which allows me to write when she sleeps. With the washing machine on the fritz this week, it's also kept me from obsessing over the disaray in my kitchen which has caught the overflow of miscellaneous items that usually go into the laundry room while I wait for repairs to be finished.

Dear Powers That Be, please let it be fixed by tomorrow. If not, I will be inviting myself over to my fiend Kelly's house for coffee Saturday morning. :)

Hearing about my sister publishing another book, recently, has helped me to stay focused. If she can do it, with her crazy schedule, I do believe I can. I guess it's just about me, not the obstacles I come across daily.

Cheers!

Poof!

The second short is going well. I've got it all figured out in my little head. Never was one for outlining. Only time I make those is when I'm writing and want to make note of happenings for use later on in the story. :)  Forever I thought I HAD to outline everything, which sucked when all I wanted to do was get the ideas down. If they just hung out in short lined, abbreviated words in a A, B, C format, I'd die. And so would the story. Drive, gone. Poof!

This short will have a battle in it eventually, and since I've never written anything more than the quick street scuffle, I believe I might have to promise Michael more of the royalties to help me with those scenes. Teehee.  I can tell he's getting a small kick out it when we talk about the stories though. I know I'm twisting story a little though by making some old legends space aliens...don't worry, they aren't bug eyed or green and no, it's not Star Wars. I wonder if by doing this though, I risk losing half the audience I was originally going for. I'll just have to risk it and see how it goes.

Baby is waking up, gotta jet! Happy writing, Writers!

Mission - Teething?

Mission: To mail short story fiction to contest before 3PM today.

Obstacles: Aurora + Teething

Yeah....I was the classic haggard mother at her wits end with a whinny toddler in a stroller refusing anything I gave her, until finally, YES!, she's entertained by my wallet. About two minutes or gnawing on a corner of it, I notice she's actually chewing on the corner of my brand new health insurance card. Saved, with just a soggy torn edge, I'm left with a screaming child once again. 

It's crazy that only one person was working and it was packed, with a line through the door. But then that's Fort Irwin for you. Finally, what was supposed to be a 10 minute, tops, stop, after 30 minutes Aurora and I were on our merry way.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Now for the next project. Working on adding to the second short story, involving the Tuatha De Dannan. I think I can make it to just under 8,000 words, which is perfect because there are about three other contests that have this word requirement. And, while doing this, I'm refining the characters and outline of the YA novel. I've found two fellowship awards for unpublished manuscripts. For those who don't know what this is outside of Middle Earth, it is when your manuscript or beginning pages or manuscript is accepted with the promise of you completing it for a monetary award. This way, while you're working on it, you aren't worrying about your bills. Usually, you are also agreeing to a contract for rights to publish said story. Typically, a writer would submit their completed work to a publisher in hopes of being published. Only AFTER this happens or even after the book hits the market, does the writer receive royalties or money percentage. Either way works for me. :-)

So, big goal to have at least 40,000 pages by March for first fellowship and work from t here. 

For the other writers reading this, what are your writing goals this year? 

SMILE!

Tomorrow is the day I submit at least one of my short stories for a contest. I'm thinking I'm not quite ready with the other, so much more in the head to add to it. I can submit that one for a couple more contests the end of January and through February. At least while I wait on pins and needles for my failure notices, I will be busy writing more on the novel. It's nice to talk with Michael sometimes about the plot and character background. He's got some good ideas and adds interesting twists that I wouldn't have thought up alone. Though I do have to reel him in at times when he gets a little too carried away.

I'm still a little weary though on just how much I can actually get done, whether I willing or not. With Michael's work schedule, my writing time is restricted to naps and a couple hours after bedtime. Doing it this way, I'm afraid I'll lose the drive and rhythm. Especially if I start working. Not that it will keep me from looking for a job, it's just weighing on my mind. My sister, Julia, amazes me with all that she's accomplished over the years with two young boys and a husband in the military. Granted, they go to school now, but it hadn't always been that way. Plus the times when the husband, Eric, goes on deployment for the better part of a year.

I just hope I can learn from her and kick my own ass when that time comes. SMILE!!!

Annnnd....GO!

Yawn. Stretch. Eye rub. Where's the coffee....

I'm back!

It's been quite a while, just about 3 years exactly, since I've really sat down and written anything more than a resume or Facebook status, but I think I'm up to the challenge. I remember using this blog back in 2009 as a way to keep me on track. Now I think I will use it not just for that, but also to speak out some theories. Feel free, to any who even read this blog, to share ideas if you will or knowledge on a mentioned subject.


Currently, after much searching and tearing through boxes, I am forced to type everything up by hand. All that I had printed hard copies of anyways. For the work that never made it to paper, will probably forever more remain in the mystery of my sick computer and missing flash drive. :(

Well, I can't dwell on it. Will only make me insane. One short story is in the final stages of it's editing process and will be sent to two contests in a few days, with monetary prices. Fingers crossed. Another short in the telling process, nearly there, and should have a final draft ready for another couple contests in February. Bring me some money. The husband and I are trying to cut back as much as we can on things, like many others out there. Consolidate our bills and expenses where we can. Also, I am looking for a job, nothing big, just enough to add to the bank account and help with bills. My previous job had me driving 76 miles there and back each day after we moved onto Military post housing. So, now that we are settled, a small job a little closer would be perfect. Until that happens, I'm kicking my butt into gear with some story telling! I'm excited, but still have my reservations. I am a classic procrastinating writer. Odd though, because in High School I could write Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan fiction like it was no body's business. Aside from the dozens of short stories I did, I believe I wrote two novel length stories that could have been sent for publishing, all before I was 17. Now that I've graduated, from school and taste in television, it's hard for me to get past a couple chapters. Fall of 2009 I made it to chapter 2 of my latest ambition, and it sort of dropped off the face of the planet. It may have had something to do with the crazy psycho coworker who started at the office around that same time, though. Yeah, the procrastinator in me wants to lay the blame at his feet. Ha ha!

So, I guess this is me saying NO! to procrastination. Patty Humble.....think we should start a support group?

Annnnnd, GO!