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Archive for April, 2008
Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008
What to blog about today? Not my revisions for my still (!)-untitled second book for Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historicals. Revisions always make me grumpy. On top of that, I had the final edits arrive today for HILL COUNTRY CHRISTMAS. And then there’s the printer cartridge running dry on black ink, which will necessitate a trip out tomorrow for refills…
But you don’t read this blog to read me whining. Besides, the above coinciding manuscripts with all-too-soon due dates is a fact of writing life, even for those of us writing for one publisher. Imagine how Nora does it? Of course, she probably has paid assistants to read over her manuscripts line by line to make sure no typos mar her perfect prose. (No sarcasm here–I really love her books.)
So instead I’ll mention some really great movies I’ve rented lately. I hardly ever go to see a movie in theatres–the cost has gotten ridiculous and who has the time? We think the online services like Blockbuster are great. Lately we’ve had “Mr. Brooks” with Kevin Costner–a great suspense flick with a lot of twists and turns I wasn’t suspecting. My only carp is that I felt it ended a little abruptly and hence, not as satisfyingly. But it’s the kind of ending Hollywood likes. I won’t say more for fear of spoiling it for those who haven’t seen it, but I’d love to hear your thoughts about this and the other movie–
“Elizabeth: the Golden Age”–gorgeous costumes, appealing characters, realism. You could really see the hideous lead-based white makeup Elizabeth started using in her later years, really feel her angst as yet another of her favorites (Raleigh, this time, played smashingly by the winsome Clive Owen (I think!) goes to another, younger woman for his final happiness, really feel her anguish as she is forced to condemn Mary Queen of Scots. The derring-do and special effects during the attack of the Spanish Armada were amazing. This movie was a visual treat!
I’d really love some comments here. It’s pretty lonely on this blog when the only comments I’ve had lately have to be deleted as spam. Anyone out there?
Blessings, Laurie
Tags: " "Elizabeth: the Golden Age.", "Mr. Brooks, edits, Revisions
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Tuesday, April 15th, 2008
I just finished my proposal for the new book, working title MARRYING MILLY. Hurrah! I finished chapter 3 with a cliffhanger and I’m eager to get into the “meat” of the story. I think it has great potential as a unique idea and the springboard of a series, if I do say so myself.
But I can’t.  Friday, the Dreaded Revision Letter arrived via email. I wouldn’t be surprised if most of these letters are timed to arrive on Friday because editors are smart, and know that most authors need the weekend to come to grips with the fact that yet again, they’ve been reminded that their babies aren’t perfect–that is to say, most authors don’t write perfect stories with fully well-characterized characters and without plot holes, leaps in logic, no-no plot elements, and other writing sins. I took the weekend to remind myself that other authors in my line probably have their own Dreaded Revision Letters to wince about, and that I am very fortunate to have a wise and skillful editor. Lack of editing doesn’t necessarily mean the author writes flawless prose–although it may, and I certainly aspire to become one of those blessed authors.  It may be that the editor is not as skillful or that the publisher doesn’t pay enough for the books at some tiers in the midlist to require careful editing. That’s certainly been my experience with one previous publisher, and don’t ask me which. <big evil grin>
Armored with what I hope is a professional, good attitude, I will start those revisions tomorrow. But for now, I will bask in the sense of accomplishment and promise of writing a great new story that completing a proposal brings.
Tags: Revision letters, writing professionalism, writing proposals
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Sunday, April 13th, 2008
In this same last week I have had to learn how to use satellite TV and a whole new I.V. pump system at work to dose medications and I.V. fluid amounts. I am NOT mechanically or technically inclined. It was hard to figure out how to even turn this TV on, let alone find the right channel, and forget about using the DVR function just yet. Why can’t things be simple? Sure, I’ll love it when I learn how to use it, but in the meantime–! In the past year I’ve learned how to use my wireless laptop, how to access wifi hotspots, Microsoft Word–yeah, I know I’m about the last person in the writing world who was perfectly happy with Wordperfect 5.1 for DOS!–so I know I can learn this stuff, but I’m here to tell ya I don’t enjoy it like some people do. My better half has already learned how to do his video gaming on this new TV, upgraded same, and has our favorite channels list all programmed. Me, I just wanna sit down and watch the TV! Is that too much to ask?
Blessings, Laurie the Luddite
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Friday, April 4th, 2008
It’s been too long since I blogged last, and I apologize. It’s been difficult trying to get a proposal done in the midst of the completion of a big remodelling job of our main bathroom and its adjoining bedroom, because now my husband’s role in the remodelling is finished and it’s up to me now to rearrange the things that went in those rooms to my liking. As a result I’m arriving at evening mentally and physically frazzled and with only enough brain cells still active to read email while watching TV or our latest rental from Blockbuster, not enough to compose sparkling blog entries.
My goal is to have frequent books out from my publisher as the way to build a strong career in inspirational romance. Sometimes life conspires to make that more easily said than done. I’m not struggling against any major crises, as can sometimes happen to authors, though I have in the past. No, it’s just life and the necessity of working at an additional job other than writing that conspire against me. I’m enjoying getting to know the characters in my new manuscript. I’m ever conscious, though, of the clock ticking as I work on Chapter 3, well aware that I’d meant for this proposal to be on my editors’ desk by now. Slow writing means long intervals between releases. I need to make sure, in the future, that winter vacations, house remodelling jobs, and the commencement of another book don’t all come at the same time! Writers who don’t work outside of writing have told me they still face the same struggles with time management, so I know that it’s a fallacy to assume they have it easier than I do. I just have to keep on keeping on…
Blessings, Laurie
Tags: time management, writing goals
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