I have lost me…

I got to thinking the other day and let me tell you…ohmebegez. Once I start it doesn’t stop for like three days – promise.

So I was pondering all the work I am attempting to put into my edits as I keep getting non-stop ideas (like volcano eruption – just keep writing until it crusts up). Then I also love and mean totally LOVE to beta read for people. I read and try to keep a blog. (as you can see) I am trying to twitter and email and network and keep up with where I started on Writer’s Digest…

Then there’s the peanuts football practices Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday nights. Volleyball games Tuesday & Thursday nights. Football games – J.V., Varsity and Peanuts – Monday, Friday Nights & Saturdays.  No joke!

So here it is the second week of school and already it looks like the only night we don’t have sports is tonight – WEDNESDAY – fabulous Wednesday night. As I look at trying to edit so that I can actually …maybe one day send my manuscript out to shop for an agent. Beta reading, writing, blogging, following blogs, tweeting, following tweets, and worrying about my following – “Am I entertaining enough?”

I’m so caught up in building a platform that I am losing me. Not to mention that my routine is a little insane and after sports I still have to check homework before I can play with my friends.

I just want to say ‘hang in there’. I’m not complaining or making excuses. I LOVE MY LIFE. It’s just a little bumpy like every one else’s. We all have our moments. Up, down, happy, sad, frustrated, or just plain pissed off.  We’re all human – but I don’t have to tell you that right? Ahem! Right?? Kidding.

However, my brain got a little rattled…okay. A lot. But it will get a jump start and back into action very soon. More ideas are getting thrown to paper so maybe they will show up here. Who knows. Until then, take care of you.

Deadly Sin # 6…Envy

Those who commit the sin of envy resent that another person has something they perceive themselves as lacking, and wish the other person to be deprived of it.

Okay, this one you can totally nail me for. It doesn’t rule my life, but I am…at times ENVIOUS of people who are published or agented. I know, it is not the right feelings to have but sometimes when you are burning the midnight oil and working  typing your fingers to the bone, you begin to wonder when it will happen for you. I in no way want anyone deprived of what they have already worked hard to achieve, just saying I wish I was thereJ

It is a little premature for me since I haven’t even really bit the bullet yet. I still need to tighten my finished manuscript, the QUERY before anything good can come from it. I am mentally prepared for it…or so I say. Easier said than done.

I suppose you could say that I am not delusional and know that I should expect rejections to come and I will deal with that in my own way when the time comes, but mentally training to be ready for it is the last thing that I am worried about. I am just trying to get my MS to the best it can be before I subject anyone to it.

I recently read Nathalie Whipple’s blog and how she talks about her critique partners and how she has certain ones that specialize in areas just amazes me. I am so new at all of this…a greenhorn at best, but appreciate being able to read others ideas and helpful hints to try and square out my own plan.

Since I am already so far off main subject, let’s get back shall we? What are you envious of or have you suffered from ENVY of any kind?

Do you have old cake mixes in your cabinets? Pitch ‘em!

I had a friend email me this the other day and I wanted to share with all of the other mom’s out there to help protect their precious angels and family members. This actually creeped me out knowing that this can actually happen.

A student at HBHS (high school) had pancakes this week and it almost became fatal.  His Mom (registered nurse) made him pancakes, dropped him off at school and headed to play tennis. She never takes her cell phone on the court but did this time and her son called to say he was having trouble breathing. She told him to go to the nurse immediately and proceeded to call school and alert the nurse. The nurse called the paramedics and they were there in 3 minutes and worked on the boy all the way to the hospital. He came so close to dying. Evidently this is more common then I ever knew. Check the expiration dates on packages like pancakes and cake mixes that have yeast which over time develop spores. Apparently, the mold that forms in old mixes can be toxic! Throw away ALL OUTDATED  pancake mix, brownie mixes, Bisquick, cake & cookie mixes, etc., you have in your home.

P.S. Tell this to your children, grandchildren, nephews, nieces and anyone else who keeps these types of mixes in the cupboard.

P.P.S.  This warning especially applies to any person(s) with mold allergies.

This is confirmed on Snopes : 

http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/pancake.asp

PLEASE remember to check your cupboards when you get home tonight!!! Because I know what I will be doing tonight before editing my MS…

A great ARC Contest hosted by Sara McClung

Ok, those of you that aren't familiar with Sara McClung, I suggest you mosey over to her blog and check her out. She is funny and has great advice for any writer. Right now on her blog she is hosting an awesome ARC giveaway. She is offering to give away some wonderful books that are going to be delicious reads and just make you itch to check it out and enter to win.

Here are the books that you will find.
A set of Beautiful Creatures and Beautiful Darkness both are signed by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
The Unidentified by Rae Mariz
Halt's Peril by John Flanagan
The Goblin Gate by Hilari Bell
Jane by April Lindner
The Winds of Heaven by Judith Clarke

So if any of these sound like the juice that your brain needs to drink, then float on over to Sara McClung's blog and sign up. You might just become a dedicated follower. Plus she gives you a small teaser of what the book is about. So go and check it out. Thanks Sara. Good Luck with the ARC Giveaway.

I have decided that any that I am fortunate enough to win...after I read them of course, I am going to donate to our local library. Their budget is so small that we can't get the newest books for quite some time, so I am going to do what I can to help them out as a writer.

Volleyball Season is in Session...Whoot!

Last night our girls had their first volleyball scrimmage of the season. That officially kicked off the season. They played for two hours. About four different matches and different types of scrimmages. It was awesome. GO SEEGER! WHOOT! WHOOT ! It was an eye opening experience and one that made me realize that I really need one of those comfy cushiony thingys for my rump that was numb for an hour after that.

Bleachers are not made for comfort. I kid you not...Some may look pretty, but they are tricky little flat demons that pain your tail bone on purpose. Anyway. Yeah, can't wait for more games. We have two a week, meaning that my schedule is about to become hectic. Volleyball will be Tuesdays, Thursdays and some Saturdays and football every Friday night. PLUS...yes, there is a PLUS. Little one starts peanut football practice on the 24th and will have practices on some of the same nights that I have volleyball. Can we say crazy?

Lots of coffee and who knows what else (insert any prescription name here)will have to get me through. Maybe that is what is wrong with me lately. I haven't been chaotic enough. I seem to do better under stress. I have slacked off on my writing, editing...ya know, stuff. I am still beta reading and still jotting down ideas and some things for some of the WIPs I am working on, but...I lost motivation along the way. It will find me again though soon, like a stalker in the night sneaking up on its prey. It will find me, oh yes, it will.

And I say BRING IT ON! I am ready for my minions to head off to school and will try to get back on track.

Deadly Sin # 5…Wrath

Wrath…anger…rage – may be described as inordinate and uncontrolled feelings of hatred and anger. Anger in its purest form, present s with self-destructiveness, violence, and hate that may provoke feuds that can go on for centuries. Feelings of anger can manifest in different ways, including  impatience, revenge, and vigilantism.

What has made you unleash your wrath? Have there been moments where it has been there lying under the surface, just waiting to come out from hiding? Yes, I have been guilty once again of another sin...anger. I have had anger creep up on me and have had to find a way to defuse it. Anger is not a good feeling to have. It is not a pleasant sensation to radiate…permeate through your body and mind.

It is like being possessed by something evil and not realizing it until it has left your body. Have you been possessed by anger before? Are you a Jekyl and Hyde?

Scott Westerfeld...what can I say? Thank you.

Eating Scott Westerfeld's books up like candy. Uglies, Pretties, Specials and now finishing Extras. A must read.

Deadly Sin # 4…Sloth

This has been me for the past month. I have done absolutely nothing. Laziness has set in and taken over my body. Listlessness and indifference has become the norm of my days. I have really not done much of anything. I need to pull myself together and do more but have no ambition to get going.

Where do I find the umph to get back on track? Has anyone else ever fallen victim of the sloth sin? I’m sure it has happened to someone else out there other than me. Help a sister out. How do I get out of this deep rut that I have succumbed to?

Movements are restricted, mind is made of mush and everything moves in slow motion except that the next thing that you know, the entire day is gone and you have nothing to show for it. Argh!...I am so slothy.

Wine…beer…gin…or whiskey?

What will it be for you today?

I ask out of my own curiosity and am going out of my own comfort zone. When I was younger I started off with Peachtree Schnapps. Did the wine coolers and then progressed to drinking Corona with lime. This lasted for a long time when I drank which was not too often.

Then I switched to Coors light along with my husband. Just made more sense because neither one of drank much so we would split a six pack eating pizza while watching a Nascar race. Good times.

So now I am experimenting with wines. I had some Pinot Grigio one night at dinner and just the other night I tried some Sangria. I have a bottle of Mango wine in the kitchen that I have yet to break into. I was wondering if any of my fellow bloggers or just random readers who happen to stumble across my blog post today can suggest some good tasting wines.

I have no preference since I am not a wine connoisseur of any kind. Red, White, Blush…don’t matter here. Just tell me some of your favorites, maybe what it is like…color, flavor, just give me a little tease. Then as I try them, maybe I will give a little post about my experience with it.

So tell me what is your suggestion? Even if it isn’t wine, tell me what you like and why. Maybe I’ll try it and blog about it…preferably while I’m drinking it. lol

What makes a title?

I’m sure that many of you have been through this before and are still struggling with this now.  How do you find the perfect title for you manuscript?  You have just spent so much time, weeks, months, even years working on perfecting your most treasured work…now what do you call it?

Where do you get inspiration for a name for your book? Where do you look for a name? Does it just come to you easily or are you someone who struggles with it?  I know that they say sometimes when you sign with a publisher that when they read your manuscript, they may want to make changes and may want to change the name. Can you live with that?

I mean that I have around six to seven WIPs…some I have titled. But I don’t know if they are solid titles. I know that there are some that I feel very strongly about and some I am mediocre about because I need to differentiate my works because I would be completely confused if I called them all untitled…lol.

Some titles come to me in my sleep or during the middle of the day. I have even just been listening to music and a title comes to mind. Sometimes I come up with titles that have nothing to do with any of the WIPs that I am writing but I write them down …just in case.

So tell me, where do you get your inspiration for a title?

Deadly Sin # 3…Greed

Greed is applied to a very excessive or rapacious desire and pursuit of wealth, status, and power.  Yes, I admit that I come across greed when it comes to my writing. I want my writing to be recognized, so I guess I want the status of being known to the world. The wealth wouldn’t be a bad thing either, but I am ok now with or without it.

Also with greed, I am compelled to get things done. I am greedy to get my WIPs done, greedy to get as many MS written as I can. The more of my own work I have, the better I feel about myself…status to my own mind perhaps. My own power.

Power. What gives you power? Power to me is something that is achieved by working really hard on something and creating something you believe in. To me that is power. I have power because I believe in what I am doing. Do you have power? I bet you do…