NaNoWriMo

What the heck is that? NaNoWriMo? A very intense undertaking. Groups of writers, thousands actually, take part in an attempt to write 50,000 words of a novel in only one month. I've been doing this for about five years now and it has helped produce two of my four completed books. I've only completed the 50,000 once but the exercise helps me get into an entirely new book. The idea is to start from scratch. A virgin idea and take it to 50,000 words. It's really fun but it gets hectic when you need to write over 1600 words each day. If you miss a day that's over 3000 to write the next day. Now, I normally edit as I write my word and my goal for a week is 2000. That means I must increase my efforts five fold.
I haven't decided to actually do it this year what with other projects pressing in on me. I may use it to help in my work-in-progress. Whatever I decide, it's a daunting task indeed.

Don't Feel Like It

When you get up and get going of a morning how do you motivate yourself? Most will offer up the coffee angle. A cup rejuvenates and jump-starts the body. At times my dog is my motivator. The last thing I want early in the morning is a sloppy French kiss from my dog. I just want to turn over and grab another few winks. Not to happen. This toy poodle with the quickest tongue in the West is persistent. She'll sit as close as possible and tongue jab until her point is over-driven home. I can never say to her, "I don't feel like it."
I know the dreaded winter wake up calls are coming. Ten below and we have to go out and clear an area of the front yard of snow to allow her to daintily add color to the turf.
Don't get me wrong. This ten-pound dervish is as much a part of the family as am I. She rules the household and is fully aware that she does. If I don't have a treat for her at the proper time the whiner queen lets us know. Her favorite is peanut butter. A dollop on the end of my finger is whisked away with the aforementioned mouth tool. My wife and I can never say peanut butter in front of the dog. And even the letters 'PB' are verboten. That tongue flicks out and we are given the sob stare. A stare guaranteed to bring a sob because she looks so forlorn and my wife believes the dog's heart is breaking.
I have to hand it to that dog. She has even survived a death-defying wake-up call at 2:30 am. If ever I would be tempted to do severe harm to her that was the morning. I groaned and whined, but trudged down the stairs half-dressed and grouchy. We returned to bed and I was rewarded with one more thank you. A slobbery good night kiss. She is so precious.

Among the Missing

Yes, I've neglected my blog for a couple of weeks. The first week was because of an online workshop I conducted with an author friend, Pepper Smith. That was intense. I spent 42 hours on the computer that week and my eyes were beginning to roll back into my head. But, it was a great time - we had almost 8000 visits to our sessions. So the next week I chilled and pried my eyes back to their rightful place.
Next year we'll be giving another week-long session on suspense at the Muse online conference in October and then in December again for the Romance Writer's of America, Fantasy and Paranormal group. Looking forward to doing both and hope my eyes can take the strain.
I'm sadly peering out my office window at the almost barren trees. The colors have been beautiful the last couple of weeks, and now all that beauty has provided a blanket for my lawn. I keep waiting for the wind to blow those leaves into my neighbor's yard. Not cooperating so far.
I can't believe it's going to be November on Sunday. This year has flown by. And each year it goes faster. Reminds us to take each day as if it were our last.

Too Many Activities

Had a query by a friend. How do you keep everything straight? You know what? I don't know. I guess if you are passionate about something you keep it in the front of your brain. I seem to be passionate about many things. Church; over twenty yahoo groups; volunteering (see previous post); three novels in progress; promoting my work; talks at various service organizations, libraries, book signings; teaching writing on the Internet; and now as an agent for an author client. Even for me it sounds like a lot. But, isn't the old saying, "If you want something done, give it to a busy person." still applicable? I've always been busy. An unfortunate part of that 'busy' is that I have little time to read for entertainment. I forced myself to join a book club to get in some reading time. (Uh, I know - another activity) But it is a help to my writing as well, so I consider it a part of my work effort.
I feel I function better as a busy person. Keeps the body and mind healthy. I guess I'll continue as long as God allows me.
Hope you have enough activities and not too many.

Too old

We senior citizens are a generational group more cliched than any other group I know. We're all doddering, wheezing, senile creatures who should be put in a home, according to many young people today. Couldn't be further from the truth. I just attended a luncheon provided for the many volunteers of Dove and RSVP. Last year this group volunteered over 97,000 hours of community service. That was done with 571 individuals. These people are vibrant, skilled former professionals or just concerned citizens. And yes, some even motor around in walkers. I met one lady who is 86 years old and has been volunteering for over thirty years. I asked her how she did it. She looked up with sparkling eyes and said, "It keeps me focused and involved." Then she shuffled over to her table and answered her cell phone. Talk about inspirational. And the meal they served was absolutely fantastic.
Think about your own situation. Could you spare an hour a week to help? There is someone out there who needs it.

Jump Start

I was asked a familiar question the other day. Where do you get all your ideas? I always have a flippant answer, but it got me thinking. Where do they come from and I guess the best honest answer is from observation. I watch people wherever I go. I wonder what they are doing, what they do for a living, why they have that expression on their face? I also eavesdrop. I know, that's not polite. I try not to be obvious about it, but I love hearing how conversation evolves. Do you notice how we sometimes change subjects quickly when we have a thought? Can't really do that in writing. The dialog must flow and only add to the plot.
But, back to the point - see how easy it is to get sidetracked?
My ideas come from looking at a situation and posing the 'what if' questions. Take a innocuous scene and make it bad or more interesting. Then take it further with more what ifs. Pretty soon you will have a conflict and some adventure or romance or maybe a murder.
And most important - write down that idea. If you don't, it'll disappear.

Interview With Ferlin

I've created an interview with the "bad guy" from my first novel, Shepherd's Pie. PI Mike Shepherd has a nemesis who is as nasty as he is diabolical. This is what he has to say.

Daddy loved country music. Probably why he tagged me with the name Ferlin Husky to go with the last name, Lewis. Never thought too much about it, though. I was a tough kid. Always won my fights despite being shorter than most of the kids in my grade. That’s cause Daddy taught me how to fight. Kneein’ and scratchin’ is allowed. Also ’cause I had two of the meanest brothers you’d never want to meet. Just to get a meal, I had to out-grab at least one of those two, an’ they had me by at least twenty pounds apiece.
After me, I guess the second-toughest fellow I ever met was Mike Shepherd, the PI who nailed me for a seven-year stretch in the federal pen. Then that SOB had the nerve to come after me again once I got out. I warned him to stay away. Even grabbed that pretty little gal of his, but he wouldn’t stop. And when I began gittin’ rid of his neighbors it sort of ticked him off. I got to admit it; he’s one tough bird. I outsmarted him so far, though, and I can keep up the pressure as long as he wants. I’m not goin’ back to prison. No way.
One thing in his favor, that favorite restaurant of his sure does serve up some great grub. I snuck in and sat right close to him and ate dinner. He had no clue. My disguises are really good. I’m a trained survivalist you know. Got my secret hideout and lots of weapons. He comes my way you can slap a tombstone on his grave.
And I made the Ten Most Wanted from the Feds, thanks to him. I’m kind of famous. Well, even so, I got one thing to say. Just nobody get in my way. Nobody.
Catch up with Mike Shepherd as he and Ferlin chase each other around Chicago and the suburbs in Shepherd's Pie . And check out the recipes from Mike’s favorite place to eat – Rosie’s Home Cookin’ Restaurant.