To which I have nothing.

So my week has started slow. My intentions of revising/re-writing another four chapters is being sabotaged. I feel so grumpy. It's amazing how theraputic a good writing session is for me. I'm trying to think of ways to get a good two hours in, but the kiddos are not havin' it. The hubs is sick so we know how that goes. He turns into kid #3 needing a little comfort. I want to help make him better, but my mind is clogged. I had the best scene come to me as I was making dinner and as soon as I went to write it. Yeah, it was gone. Happens all the time. I just need time, I think. I think that will help me come out from the slump.

I was on fire last week, which burned out this week. Even though my characters keep showing me scenes and throwing me dialogue, other distractions get in the way. The writing has been a little hard. It happens. It's part of the journey. Even blogging has been slow for me. Maybe it's the time of year. Who knows? I would love to host a blogfest at some point. I just have to figure out what.

Anyway, I'm hoping to buy this soon:

I think I need me some Patch.

What are you reading now?

How are your goals going?

Any tips on getting out of writers blank (ideas are there, but when you go to write it somehow disappears).

Hope your day is better. Go write and have fun.

Diet

Welcome to my new blogger buddies. I will be visiting you soon.

Check out Lydia and Laura's blogs. Lydia (medical mondays) and Laura's (mental health mondays). They are discussing my research topic from last week.


Well, Halloween is over and I'm still full of sugar. It's pumping through my veins at a high rate of speed. This is when I think--I need to go on a diet. This thought is utterly insane because I still have bags of candy, (chocolate doesn't count because it's always in my house) cookies, and cupcakes. I still will torture myself with this thought till the New Year. I mean really, diet, now. Ha. I will be eating loads of turkey and mashed potatoes next month and then more cakes and cookies in December so who am I kidding.

So I decided to make my WiP go on a diet. It needs it. I still have a little too much telling and well it takes a little time to get to the action. How do I do it? It's not easy. WiP #1 loves to eat so I need to be careful or my MCs may not speak to me. They like to talk and if I don't do what they want, they get cranky. I love every scene I put them in, but to make their story fit into that tiny, attention grabbing, black dress,  I need to take some things out. I'm not talking adjectives and adverbs. I'm talking whole chapters. Kill your darlings comes to mind. I have a lot to explain (remember it's a paranormal, scifi romance) so I have to do it in a smaller pants size.

I've started to look at each chapter and ask--Does this move the story along? How does it relate to the story? Is it important? Can I do it differently- ie. dialogue, show more?

It's starting to help which is great, but I was curious how you trim your baby.

Do you have any other methods to get rid of excess baggage in your WiP?

How do you know what to keep? Gut feeling?

I'm trying to get through one revision without dwelling on certain areas. This is hard for me, but I need to get through it to really make it a decent draft.

I hope everyone had a great Halloween/weekend and good luck NaNoWriMo paticipants.

Fun Facts Friday

What a week. I've had a lot of crazy things go on, but I'm excited for a spooky weekend.

1. I'm about ready to open up a stink bug hotel. If they keep showing up in my house, I should be charging rent.

2. I would love to know why I saw Christmas trees on display in September and Valentine's Day cookies in the grocery store this week. Life moves fast enough, do we have to rush the holidays.

3. I really have to watch The Soup more often. I used to watch it faithfully, but lately I'm too busy writing. I need to catch up on reality TV. I don't like to watch reality TV, but The Soup makes it so fun.

4. In reference to item #3. I really don't understand why the Jersey Shore is even filmed. It's the same people in a different location. Is it really that interesting? Maybe I'm missing something.

5. I love Halloween. You can talk to your characters and people think your dressed up as an escapee from a insane asylum. It's awesome.

6. Am I the only person not doing NaNo? I feel like a slacker or an outcast. Not sure which. Good luck to those who are.

7. Yes, I'm still working on my blog facelift.

8. Thanks again to Lydia and Laura for all of the help they have given me with my medical research. Awesome!! See my sidebar to link to their blogs.

9. I hope to finish four chapters worth of revisions this weekend so CPs don't think I found a cave to hibernate in.

10. I've been a slacker at commenting. I can't apologize enough for this. I have been revising and re-writing like crazy so I guess something has to suffer. Sorry.

Any weekend plans? Happy Halloween!!

Join in on the fun.

Not my usual day to post, but wanted to say that Theresa Milstein is hosting a really cool haunting. Get on over to her blog and check it out. The fun starts today (10/28) runs through 11/1. So join in on the fun!!

See a quick post because I don't post on Thursdays.:)

Just believe

Go over and help Amie McCracken celebrate her birthday week. She holding a bunch of contests. ;) She is also trying to reach 200 followers.

Thanks to all of you who commented on Monday. You all had great ideas for research. It was one crazy day. As you know, I'm a big believer in signs. Let me just tell you, that belief, just got stronger. After I posted, I clicked onto my dashboard to see what was going on in blogger world. My son started to whine and pull my leg. It takes me a while to wake up so this wasn't helping my morning. I got up and found a tractor to occupy him (which lasted about two seconds).

I sat back down and looked at the dashboard. The first entry, Medical Mondays on the blog The Word is my Oyster. Intrigued, I clicked on it, considering I just posted about finding medical info for my baby (WiP). After I had to find a race car for my little guy,I scrolled down to see what this blog was all about. The owner of this lovely blog is Lydia Kang. You may know her, you may not. After reading through her blog, I noticed she's a doctor who writes YA and she will answer medical questions for your stories. She also has past medical mondays listed so you may be able to find a topic of interest. A sign-- aaa yeah. Could that have happened at a better time? Crazy I know.

So I emailed my questions to her and by the afternoon I had my answers. Thank you, Lydia. She also has a bloggy buddy, Laura Diamond (Diamond-Yup, Like the Stone) who will answer any mental health questions.She also posts Mental Health Mondays (yes, also on Mondays).  She will be helping me with some psychiatric things. Not for me personally (don't snicker) for my WiP. Thank you, Laura.

It still amazes me how much of a community this blogosphere is. Ask and you get an answer or just look for the signs. ;)

I will post both links above in the my sidebar so you can access anytime.

Now, I must get back to figuring out how to get a child off my leg and hopefully get back to my revisions without interruption. I hear you laughing.

Have a great day!

Do your Homework.

This weekend was fun. The weather was beautiful so lots of family activites were planned. I did get to do some revisions which motivated me to do more. After a recent critique, I see what needs to be done. I cut and wrote new chapters like a crazy woman. No comments, please (on the crazy woman part). :) Of course, they need to be polished, but they are started which is a plus.

One chapter that I had cut a long time ago will be added back in with more guts. I realized that I may need to do research. That's right...research. I'm sure you're saying, "Why didn't she do this a long time ago." Well, I'm still figuring out my method of writing and let's just say, I will be outlining, researching, post it notes, etc. long before I can call what I have a first draft. The so called "first draft" I have now is a joke, but a good backbone. It needs lots of work.

We are told 'write what you know', but unless you are some super genius there's going to be a point where you will have to research something to understand a procedure or to write it in detail. Plus, we want to make sure our stories are authentic so our reader can be there with our characters. Feel them, love them.

Research for my chapter is going to be crucial. I do try to write what I know, but this one scene may need a little more knowledge. It has to do with the medical field. Emergency response to be precise. I'm no way an expert in this field. My first thought was Google it. I did and found some information, but I think I need more. Plus, I'm a visual person so talking one on one or even taking a peek at a video helps me a ton. Next, my aunt's a nurse so I emailed her the question. My next step is to email my sister in law and brother in law (both are doctors). I feel strange though because they may think what I'm doing is strange. And another step could be to ask an EMT, but how do I approach it? Do I just call the hospital and ask? This is where I would love your thoughts.

What are your research procedures?

Any suggestions?

How was your weekend?

Thanks guys. Have a great day!!

Writing the Next Line Recap

Here's the recap. Bravo guys. Really, this was awesome.

Thanks for pariticipating.

Shadows in the Woods by Amie B,Falen (Sarah Ahiers), Nicole Zoltack,Talli Roland, Amie McCracken,  Lenny Lee!, Len, Alexandra Crocodile, Jen Daiker, and Elle Strauss

The clouds stretched across the full moon which made it look like it wore a collar. The shadows from the bare limbs created a spider web like pattern on the small dirt path. I took in a deep breath, inhaling the chilled winter air and walked ahead. Of course, I was the one who had to gather the firewood. Old reliable. Plus, I wasn't passed out or throwing up in a toilet, so I was the only capable one. Josie, my best friend, thought it would be a brillant idea to have a party at her father's log cabin in the middle of winter. Little did she realize, you had to keep a fire going so we wouldn't freeze to death.

 I picked up a couple of sticks and placed them in a leather bag. A light breeze rustled a few dead leaves that pushed the lifeless limbs above me, creating a creaking sound. I could hear Ryan's bellowing laugh, echo through the hills. Nothing like attracting attention.The cabin wasn't far. I knew to stay close. Being in the woods, at night, by yourself, can make you a little anxious. I walked down the path further, quickening my step.

A scratching noise, like a knife to a rock, came from my right. I held my breath. It could be the trees dancing in the breeze. I searched and saw nothing. Adrenaline began to pump through me and my body shook a little.

It's only an animal of some sort. I thought. Finish and get back to the cabin.

I continued to gather some more wood when the scratching started to my left, but this time it was closer.

My step quickened - but I had to remind myself not to run. Running only invited a chase.

Behind me I heard a whuff of breath and I spun around, but there was nothing. The scratching started again, this time to my right. I suppressed the urge to look when something grabbed me and covered my mouth. The hand reeked of petrol and smoke, and I chocked as I tried to breathe. I felt hot breath curl its way around my ear and leave it cold in the frosty air. i tried to scream, but only muffled sounds came from my deep in my throat. I gathered all my strength and with all my might, I broke the person's hold around me. I turned sharply to see who this was.

"Oh my God!" I shouted. "I thought you were dead!"

"Jesus Abby, chill for a minute," he said "I'm not trying to hurt you."

Hurting me was no longer my concern, why I was seeing & talking to my dead boyfriend was.

"I'll explain in a minute," he said, his voice low and tight with panic, "but first we need to get out of here."

Great job! I love this one. I had a little trouble with blogger, so sorry for the spacing. Have a great weekend!!