Saturday, October 31, 2009

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

I'm Sliding Toward Home!

I'm through 10 more pages! Another new 1-page scene added. Only 30 pages to go! (And part of that is the epilogue that won't need much work at all.) I'm getting excited now and since I can't update my progress meter from home, I'm going to post my numbers throughout the night so you can see and perhaps throw a cheer my way.

5:21--39,855
7:42--40,440
9:17--41,330
11:00-44,090

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Ugh Revisited


I've been adding scenes to FP (roughly about 10 pages) and it's soooooooooooo slow going. I LOVE what I'm keeping, but finding those last few lines to transition the new scenes into the "old" scenes is maddening! I'm so close. I can almost taste it. And yet, I can't get those damn words off the tip of my tongue!

LATER: I DID IT, I DID IT, I DID IT!!! ONTO REVISING THE LAST 45 PAGES TOMORROW!

Monday, October 26, 2009

What's In A Name?

I have a habit of thinking faster than I can type. As a result, I come up with:

Leexi
Lexxi
Lexii
Lexiee

I don't know about you, but all I can think of when I see these is: PORN STAR. What do you think?

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Update

NaNo is pretty much a go for me.

FP revisions are still coming along. I'd hoped to spend a solid day yesterday working on it, but I did little writing and much celebrating. One of my nephews had a birthday and a soccer game and then I stayed over my brother's house. (I know, bad Lexi!) I'm in a difficult spot with the revisions because it's going well, but I know I need one more new scene to bridge where I am and where I next need to go. I believe once I tackle this scene the rest of my revisions should come easier (notice I did not say easy). It feels like I've been stuck for days on this particular section...and I have. But slow and steady progress is better than no progress at all. I'm hoping and praying I can finish this manuscript before November 1. If I can't get enough done this week, I might have to skip out on Halloween festivities and work.

For now, I'm off to work on lesson plans, report card grades and grading papers. A teacher's job is never done!

Friday, October 23, 2009

To NaNo Or Not?

For a few years now I've toyed with the idea of trying NaNoWriMo. I've usually been too busy with revisions to consider it, but this year I SHOULD be done with FP revisions. Also, the new suspense is clamoring in my head for more time with the muse. So I'm wondering if I should join. One of the local libraries is having a bunch of NaNo events that I can totally see myself joining and enjoying. I know that I won't be able to write a 50,000-word manuscript in 30 days, but I am interested in pushing myself and my muse to see just how much I can accomplish without killing myself or my muse, or neglecting the day job. So, what do you think? Anyone else joining?

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Rollin' Along

I'm making steady progress on my revisions now and I'm pleased to say I'm ahead of my new schedule a bit. (Tomorrow morning I'll update the progress meter. For some reason I can't update it from home anymore. Technology is great when you understand it and it works.) I expect to finish the heavy duty revisions by the end of this weekend. Then I'm going to revise the synopsis next Monday. Then I'll take one more read through to make sure all my ducks are in a row. THEN I'll mail it! Of course, after that will be a big celebration...with a margarita or two. Or perhaps a scotch since the story is Scottish.

Monday, October 19, 2009

I WILL WIN THIS FIGHT!

After grading some papers, plotting my weeks' lessons and watching football yesterday, I took up the pen again for FP revisions. Got some sound advice and encouragement from Cat and Jenna (Thanks, ladies!) and I think I'm starting to head in the right direction to save my last 50-60 pages. I'll force my butt in the chair and my fingers on the keyboard this week for some late nights re-crafting of the glorious story I'm slowly falling in love with again. I'm behind the schedule I'd planned for myself, but I'd rather it be late and awesome than on time and just ok. I want a chance to "Wow!" the editor and hopefully the time, effort, and energy (not to mention the blood, sweat and tears!) I'm spending will do the story justice.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

You Know It's Bad...

...When you'd rather clean the house than work on revisions.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Thursday, October 15, 2009

A Painful Decision

I've decided to stop playing the new CD I bought for my birthday that is basically inspiring me to daydream about my new characters. I'm putting it back in the case and storing it on a shelf until I hit the "send" button with FP. The hero and heroine HAVE to understand!

Hey, World!

Just coming up for air. Some stuff is going on in the family (other people, not me) that's taking my concentration...or most of it. But it's no excuse! Tonight I'll get back to FP (cuz I wanna). My new goal for having it ready to mail is next Friday. I SHOULD be able to meet that goal providing the world doesn't crash down around me!

Saturday, October 10, 2009

The Morning After

The birthday was wonderful! I had a lot of fun. Now it's time to get my butt in gear and finish my Scottish masterpiece, Fractured Paradise.I'm NOT going to be overwhelmed. I'm NOT going to run screaming like a wild woman from the revisions. I'm NOT going to be a slacker! I'm going to take one step at a time, one chapter at a time, and give the manuscript the finishing touches it needs so that the editor loves it as much as I do.

Friday, October 09, 2009

HAPPY FRIDAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Yes, that's right! 38 years ago today, I decided to make my presence known to the world! I'm celebrating today with my students during lunch (okay, I bought cupcakes for us) and then dinner & drinks with some friends. Have a Happy Friday wherever you are!

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

I Got Nothin'


For the last 2 nights I've done nothing on FP. I've been overwhelmed with the day job and last night I fell asleep on the couch around 9:30. Tonight, I just wanted to read someone else's work so I finished Tracy Wolff's book and started one by Emily McKay. I'll get back to FP, probably tomorrow night for a bit and then at the weekend I expect to get a lot accomplished. But I really needed the break.

The break has also been good because I started another 50/50 challenge with my students (at least 50 words a day for 50 days) and this has allowed me to create new material. I haven't actively written brand new material in almost a year. It feels wonderful!

Monday, October 05, 2009

Be My Music


Just a note. I've got this Celtic CD playing and this one particular song on it ("Be My Music") I love. Well, I LOVE this Scottish story for so many reasons and I've been working hard for the last few nights on it. My goal of getting it out there by 10/9 is gone. As usual, I've gone through the "Why do I bother? Why not just send it on the date I picked regardless?" stage. I'm not frustrated with it, I'm just "overwhelmed" in a way, but not the regular way I get overwhelmed. Does that make sense? Anyway, I'm sitting here thinking I should go to bed and face this tomorrow night again with fresh eyes.

And then that song came on. It's a ballad and very pretty. And in my heart, I realize that I owe it to my characters, to my CPs who have worked so hard on helping me, and to myself to finish this story the right way. I can send nothing short of my best to the editor even if they don't buy it. And if I have to wait another week after my deadline before it's ready, then that's what I'll do.

Saturday, October 03, 2009

I'm Tellin' You

Go ahead. Poke something in it! It will hurt less. I know this part of the revision process is necessary, but I still hate it. I'm so tired and so want to be done, but the light at the end of the tunnel is way out of my reach. I'm still perfecting chapter 1.

LATER: Not on chapter 1 anymore! It's coming...slowly but surely.

Friday, October 02, 2009

Once Again...


Must kill all my babies. Excuse me while I go sharpen the knives....