Squee!!!

I have a 3 day weekend! Yes, I'll still have to grade some papers, but I don't have to set the alarm on Sunday night! Why? We have staff development on Monday and the boss wants to talk about next school year. Since I'm not returning to this school, he told me (and the others he already knows aren't returning) that if I have everything ready for next week, then I don't even have to show up! So, you know what I'll be doing? WRITING!!!!

Book Talk

It's coming! My kids are taking the state tests today and tomorrow and I can't do anything but watch them and make sure they're not cheating. That gives me A LOT of time to brainstorm in my head! Then when they all finish, I still don't let them have any real fun (I'm not supposed to!) so they read and I wrote! Tonight I pulled the rearranged chapter 4 together and made it flow a bit better. I'm going to play a bit with chapter 5 so that I have a solid place to start tomorrow when I'm brainstorming in my head again.

D-O-N-E...For Now

Chapter 4 is bloody and needs some more fancy stitches, but at least it's in one piece. The doctor, though, could use a stiff drink!





In the light of a new day, I'm thinking that part of chapter 4 actually belongs in chapter 5. No major worries, though. I've got scenes from my NaNoWriMo draft that will shape 4 & 5 and lead me into chapter 6!

Come Hell Or High Water....

I will draft chapter 4 by tomorrow night! For the last 2 days I've been stuck and unmotivated by the beginning of the chapter. I'm rolling up my sleeves and getting down to business!

8:15: It ain't pretty, but it's coming along.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON: I'm up to about 10 pages for chapter 4 so far! Taking a break to go grocery shopping and then I'll tackle the next part when I get back!

Not A Clue

Yeah, well, I started rewriting chapter 4 from the heroine's POV and that's not working either. The scene concept works with the story, but something is missing in the execution. I think I jinxed myself when I told my friend Brenda that I was surprised with how well it was flowing. I'm going to play with it for a little bit longer and if I'm not making any significant progress I'll stop for the night and tackle it tomorrow!

Slacker, I Am

I got home tonight and I was all ready to work on Chapter 4. Got some words written earlier, but stopped to go to the gym. Then I couldn't get back into it. I'm sure it's not about the scene. I'm sure it's about me being tired, having more written in the last 2 weeks than in the last 2 months and concern about my day job future. So, I've pretty much decided not to beat myself up about my numbers for tonight. Instead, I'm going to make a cup of tea, maybe read a bit and then go to bed!

11:30 PM: Yep, it was the scene. At least, I'm pretty sure. With my cup of tea in one hand, I skimmed what I had written earlier and realized that it may be in the wrong POV. Tomorrow I'm going to rewrite the beginning of Chapter 4 from the heroine's POV and see if it makes a difference. I'll let you know!

Afternoon Delight

Squee! I'm home from work and I'm going to write, write, write! I took the afternoon off as personal time and I'm so excited...so, I'm going to get busy! See ya!

LATER THAT SAME DAY: I'm not getting as much done as I'd hoped, but I can't complain with the progress I'm making! Still got another hour or so before bed. Let's see how much more I can accomplish!

AND A BIT LATER THAN THAT: Whoohoo! 1500 words for the day! Plus, I've hit chapter 4 and I have a GREAT place to take off from tomorrow!

It's A Good Thing, Right?

I'm sitting on the couch with my netbook, working on the beginning of a suspenseful scene and all of a sudden I'm getting freaked out by the sounds of my house. Guess I'll wait and finish this scene tomorrow...in the daylight.

A Love Affair

Ah, yes! Brenna and Unnamed Hero, how I love you and the story you're giving me! I intend to do it justice because I owe you that!






LATER: Um, both the hero and heroine decided I had their names wrong. I'm not particularly fond of the right ones.

No School For Me!

Today I have a workshop to go to this morning for the ESL part of my job. I actually like these workshops so I don't mind.

BUT THEN....

I decided to use some of my personal time and take the rest of the day off. So, I'll come home around noon, have lunch and then I plan to spend the next 4 hours writing! I'm not going to get on the internet or answer the phone or watch TV. I'm going to work! What a PERFECT day!

WHOOHOO! AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'VE ADDED 2,126 WORDS TO MY 2ND DRAFT! FUN, FUN, FUN! PLUS, I LEFT OFF AT A PERFECT PLACE FOR ME TO PICK UP TOMORROW. I'LL BE ON CHAPTER 3!

50/50 Challenge

Turns out 50 words a day is too much! I've totally flaked out on my writing challenge with my students. We've been doing this 7 days and I think I've already missed 3 or 4! It's not because I don't want to write or I can't think of anything to write. I actually totally forget! Ugh.

Yay!

I spent 10 hours on day job stuff today. Yes, 10 hours. Usually it's only 6-8 every Sunday, but today I wanted to get a bunch of stuff done. Sadly, no writing, though. BUT I took Wednesday afternoon off because I have 3 personal days to take before the end of the year and I plan to spend at least 5 hours with my suspense!

Oh and I was recognized on Rebecca Lynn's blog. She liked my post last week about my awesome rejection! Thanks, Rebecca!

Weekend Update

My allergies knocked me down today so I've been lounging on the couch, occasionally checking e-mails & surfing the net and working on my newest suspense. I LOVE what I have and where it's going, but something had been missing. I JUST realized what. I hadn't had a visual on my villain. During my travels through the cyber jungle today, I came across a creepy looking pic of an actor and I thought, "OMG, he is my villain!" So I'm off to print off the picture and stick it on my cork board (next to my hero and heroine pix) above my computer. I'm off to work!

Website's Up

Go check it out here and let me know what you think!

Changes, Part 2

After my latest rejection, I've also thought about changing up my website and this blog. Several links are outdated and much of the website contest needs to be switched up a bit. That got me to thinking that maybe I want to do a complete overhaul of the website. Not sure how much I can handle on my own (since I'm not a really technical type of person), but I'll keep you updated!

Changes

Before my latest rejection, I thought more and more about submitting to an e-publisher. Originally, I was against e-pubs because I thought they were inferior books. I've read a few. Some bad. Some good. Over the last couple of years, my mind has changed about e-pubs (as I'm sure the world continues to change). My dream and goal has always been to be a published author where I write stories I love for people who will pay for them because they love them. Shouldn't I explore all my options?

Now, at the same time, I still intend to keep that door WIDE open with the editor who liked my manuscript enough to want to buy it. Why not?

What are your thoughts? PLEASE share with me because I'm really still not sure what I think....

A Rejection Of A Different Kind!

Got a rejection yesterday from the editor who'd requested my latest suspense. Now, I admit colorful language flowed freely as I carried the envelope inside. BUT, this was a new step on the road to publication for me. The editor liked it! She said it had "a combination of smooth, clean storytelling and a compelling plot." She liked it so much she sent it to the senior editor because she wanted to buy it! But the senior editor didn't feel it was quite right. But HEY!!! No one's ever been that interested in my writing to send it to the senior editor for approval! So I'M GETTING CLOSER!!!!

And We're Off!

Today begins my spring 50/50 Writing Challenge with my 5th, 6th & 7th graders. The participants agree to write 50 words a day for 50 days on a creative story. I don't check it, I don't correct it, I don't even give it a grade. It's strictly voluntary if they like writing. Out of 59 kids, 33 took the plunge!

I wasn't going to write with them this time because I thought I should focus on my job-hunting. But then I thought, I could do at least 50 words a day for 50 days. Sheesh, what am I a slacker? So, since I have the really rough draft of the next suspense story, I decided to use the challenge to work on the rough draft of the next Scottish story.

Wish us all luck!

HAPPY EASTER!!

Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates it. I hope the Easter Bunny has been good to you and your families. As for my Lenten Swear Jar, I raised $20 that will be going to charity. (Yes, that's a lot of swearing at 10 cents a swear, but it's less than last year!) Have a great day!

New Business!

I'm officially starting my own tutoring business. CK Tutoring specializes in writing, reading comprehension, ESL and proofreading. I'm willing to work with students of all ages, both in person and online. I'm hoping to work with some people who are in college and need feedback on papers and essays. I'm also looking to work with new fiction writers as they begin to travel the slippery slope of the road to publication. I hope that you will support me and spread the word whenever and wherever you can!

I'm Ck Tutoring on facebook and I started a blog for the business until the website is ready.

Good Friday

It's a GREAT Friday because I'm not at work and I got to sleep in! I'm lazy today, lying on the couch, having several cups of tea and reading Tracy Wolff's book. I'm not going to stop until I finish the last 70 pages! Then I'll see what time it is and what else I might want to do today.

Got my Scottish story scores back from that contest. Average of 8.7 out of 10 and the average finalist was 9.6. Judges' comments coming back are:
Is there a hook? "Absolutely, I want to read more. This is an interesting and easy read so far. Keep it up."
AND
"Strong voice, interesting setting, and a likable heroine. The pacing is quick. Writer has a very good grasp of the mechanics of writing. I think this is very close to publication!"

I can't WAIT to get back to the business of writing to my heart's content! Gotta get crackin' on that job hunt so the writing can take its proper place in my life!