Let's Start Over

Who am I?  What do I have to say?

    They say you need a web presence, a following, a platform.  How do you do that when you haven’t published anything?  I don’t have stacks of writing (yet) that I can reference to, comment on or give sneak peeks into so what can I write about?  What can I say that can possibly compete with thousands of other blogs vying for your attention? 

     I’ve decided to make my blog about my adventures in becoming a writer.  I was in a memoir writing workshop when the idea hit me.  I don’t plan to write a memoir but I journal about events in my life and thought this workshop may help me dig a little deeper.  That’s when I realized that my life is more like a bathroom reader, full of short stories where you get little glimpses into my life, glimpses like my National Lampoon’s Christmas.  That was the year I sat on the floor Christmas morning crying over my frozen turkey, cursing Martha Stewart, while my husband tried not to laugh.  One of my girls was upset over a present she didn’t get from someone she didn’t even like and in true National Lampoon form, the cat chewed through the Christmas tree lights on the brand new pre-lit Christmas tree.  It took a few hours to find her, the whole time I was convinced she was dead under a piece of furniture while trying to be the perfect hostess to my guests. 

     Maybe my short stories will spark a memory of your own, help you avoid my predicament of the moment, or just give you a little laugh during a hectic day.    

     So, time to get started.  I am off to capture my experience of a week spent in Fredericton at the Maritime Writer’s Workshop.  Hope to see you "there". 

ComingTo Life

     After two and a half days of reading and rereading, I spent yesterday playing a little.  I really enjoyed formatting my manuscript, maybe it’s the organizer in me but it was quite satisfying to watch it take shape.   I had to do a little research but now it’s done!  I also played with photos I thought would look good for the cover and the text on the back.  It made for a great break.
     It really is incentive to see your manuscript come to life and look like the real thing.  I'm sure this feeling can only manifest itself into something good. 

So, what does it look like?  Can’t show you yet but here is a sneak peek at the cover text:

Grace’s childhood is relaxed and free, even her first love is simple and sweet, but everything changes when her father decides to marry her off to a man she barely knows.  All of Grace’s hopes and dreams are shattered on her wedding night.  With her innocence lost, Grace tries to find her place in this new world, but discovers there really isn’t a place for her. She quickly realizes that only she can save herself from the abuse she endures from her husband.  When Grace finally decides to take action, a series of circumstances change both her and her world forever. 

Power Of The Pen

I have been worrying lately about what if I can’t think of any more story ideas?  What if I have used up my quota?  I haven’t had any ideas jump into my head lately and it scares me…but then I thought of something. 

I had set my mind on edit mode.  I have set myself in front of my laptop to “correct” previous work.  I realized that that is what my brain thinks it’s supposed to be doing when it’s in front of the computer screen.  What I realized was I needed to break away from technology for a bit and go back to pen and paper; this is where I feel creative.  I am sure once I really learn how to tap in to the creative part more freely then I will be able to write and edit on the computer but my brain still remembers working on the computer and playing with paper.  I will slowly reprogram it to create no matter where I am or what medium I am using but today I picked up a pen and started to write and I could feel it starting to flow again. 

Maybe I will stay “old fashion” and write long hand and edit on the computer or maybe I will be able to let go of old habits and thoughts and retrain my brain so that I can switch up my styles but I do know that today it felt good!  Good to write, good to create and good to be back in my flow.

Edits - you need a sense of humour

I've been reorganizing and editing and this is why you never let your cat help.

 Digit's two cents...

Not all posts need to be serious right?!
Have fun!

Percolate & Ruminate

So, Galloway is done…or so I thought.  One night the thought popped into my head, “what if Chapter 5 is really the start of my story?”  I told myself I’d think about it and went to sleep. 

That was a couple of weeks ago and I have decided to switch up my chapters, jumping right into it then weaving the first chapters throughout the rest of the story.  I am really excited about this decision and I really think this is what it needs.  I can’t wait to get busy.

Later gater.

REJUICED

        I am feeling so rejuiced.  What, rejuiced isn’t a word?  What do you mean?  If couch surfing, muffin top or royalness have recently been added to the OED then why can’t I use rejuiced?  Who knows, it may become as popular as “Doh.”

Well, I just spent an incredible weekend with some amazing women. 

Where: At One Grafton Street, Charlottetown

When: May 20th-22nd

Who: Organized by Patti Larsen

Why: To write!

I spent this weekend at a writer’s retreat, like I said, organized by Patti, where we shared our stories, experiences and projects.  We came together Friday night where over dinner we set our intentions for the weekend.  Back at the Bed and Breakfast we gathered as a group to talk about publishing.  We were all so excited to be there I don’t think anyone wanted to go to bed that night. 

Saturday after a wonderful breakfast we reviewed how to create our outlines then went off and did our things.  It was so nice to find a cozy corner or spread out on the table knowing that you wouldn’t have to clear it in a few hours for dinner.   Saturday evening we headed to UPEI for a book launch: “Dead Time” by Christy Ann Conlin which also included readings by Kate Inglis (author of sweetsalty.com and The Dread Crew), Bonnie Stewart (cribchronicles.com and Best Women's Travel Writing 2011), and Island poet Yvette Doucette.  I was captivated by all of these women. 

Armed with snacks we picked up on the way home, back at the B&B we spread out once again to our chosen spots to continue our work.  I didn’t want to waste a minute of my weekend but found I had to retire at midnight where my roomie Cat and I joked about the rapture and how it didn’t happen or that maybe it had but turns out we were left behind. 

Sunday was another tasty breakfast, followed by some time to wrap ourselves up and then time to share.  I found myself getting lost in the stories my fellow writers told.  Each one leaving me wanting to know more, needing to know what happens next and, on a couple of occasions, fighting back tears.

I feel privileged to be accepted into such a wonderful group of ladies, a wonderful group of writers and artists, and a wonderful group of human beings I now call friends.  I am inspired by them.

With the weekend over and my bags packed, I drove home feeling embraced, productive, creative, stimulated, spellbound, inspired, authentic - rejuiced.  So yes, rejuiced is a word.

And, I am a writer!

Thank you Patti, Melissa, Kirstin, Michelle, Colleen, & Catherine Ann

The Point Of No Return

I have finished my first manuscript, received feedback, made changes and decided it was time to take the next step.  I have sent out my query letters.

It is an amazing feeling to have followed this through to the end, to complete something that once felt so daunting.  The sense of accomplishment is almost overwhelming.  I am very proud of myself and it was an incredible adventure and it isn’t over yet. 

I have to remind myself that it is important to take a moment and feel what I am feeling, to pat myself on the back on a job well done.  The letters of interest, or not so interested, will soon be coming in and I don’t want to let that take over my thoughts right now.  For now I just want to remind myself that I did it, I finished my book! 

What is it called you ask?  Galloway is its name.

Galloway now has a life outside of my head, outside of my overprotective nest.  It is out there in the world like any little chick has to do at some point, leave the safety of the known to venture out in to the unknown.  Have fun little chick, Mommy’s proud of you.

K

How many can you count?

I am becoming obsessed with the Mourning Doves in my neighbourhood.  When I first moved in to my house about 10 years ago there were three doves.  This fall I noticed that had grown to 7 doves, but now I can’t seem to actually get a number.  I spread seeds along my deck and scatter some on the ground around the hanging bird feeders to help them since I only have finch feeders.  I looked out the other day and tried to count but being birds they easily spook and move around, jumping on and off the railing, hopping around the ground under the feeders and some just sitting in the tree watching the others.  I counted 14 then 16 then 15.  So, I really have no idea how many birds there are but I can safely say no less than 18 as of today.  I have a photo to show you 14 of them. 

I realize this topic is not extremely exciting but these funny looking birds just evoke my caregiver and I feel the need to take care of them more than the Finches and Chickadees.  I also feel a little like a parent watching my family grow.  This is how I spend my chilly Canadian winters, watching the birds outside my living room window.   

Try it; I was surprised at how entertaining these little guys can be. 

Routines and Schedules

They say it takes so many days to make a habit and so many to break a habit.  I have no idea what number of days it takes but I do know that I only need one to get lazy. 

The Christmas holidays did a number on me and now instead of trying to keep resolutions I am just trying to get back to where I left off.  So many distractions during the holiday season and now that it’s over I can find a distraction in anything, sleep, getting the mail, watching TV, looking up actors who play in these TV shows, where are they now?  It's also funny how housework is a chore until you should be doing something else then how quickly you find yourself doing it.  At least it’s productive I tell myself and I do end up with a clean house, but it is still procrastination!

So, now it’s January 17^th, way beyond blaming Christmas and time to get my butt in gear and get back to what resembles my schedule and get working…………….but first I have to brush the dog before he goes to the groomer.

The first one is always the hardest

A blog eh?  And I thought writing a novel was going to be the daunting task but this is so much tougher!  Writing my novel, I was sitting at home, writing what I was feeling, knowing I would edit it later, knowing it would all come together in the end and make sense but a blog is a blurb in time, a thought.  Does anyone really care what crazy thought is running through my head at any given moment, and I do have a lot of them!

My next concern; should I blog as if I am working on my final edit, mindful of grammar and run on sentences or do I type the same way my thought process works?  Do I need to be so formal or can I have fun? 

My last concern was that I am a private introvert and terrified of opening up and putting it all on the table for the world to see.  What do I say to sound interesting and what do I hold back?

So, my final decision……..keep it fun, keep it simple and just write what is rolling around in my head even if it is one long run on sentence full of commas that don’t belong.    

Now that my first entry is done, I hope you come back to enjoy the ramblings of an animated mind.

K