So Good, I Think My Latte Smiled at Me

Yes, yes. I know. It is my office hours and I am blogging instead of revising. But, I have a good reason. Really! I have extended hours today AND I had a great revising day yesterday. I MUST share.

Happy, happy! Joy, joy!

After three days off, without one thought about the novel (it truly wasn’t possible), I wasn’t sure where my head would be when getting back to the revising. Well, let me tell you where it was…

WHAP! Right where it need to be. The writing felt good, natural. And unknown pieces of the puzzle were snapping right into place. It’s such a treat when that happens, like someone presenting you a perfect cupcake, just because. LAINI TAYLOR termed this fitting of the writerly puzzle piece, THE SNICK.

SNICK

SNICK

SNICK
(You must read about The Snick on Laini’s Not for Robots, plus so much more.)

But that’s how office hours went for me yesterday. Yummy!

I don’t know about all of you, but as I revise (and write the rough draft) I ask myself a lot of questions. I guess I don’t ask myself, I ask the characters and the story, especially when I get stuck. I literally ask by putting the questions on the page. I type out the stuff I wonder or want to know, and almost always what ends up happening, is I get an answer and it’s not usually one I expect.

Yesterday when I did the asking I got answers that made me say, Of course. Of course that’s what happened. But I also got, OMG, that’s what happened!?!

Plus I got to write a new scene, the kind that’s so good and so bad all at once. You know, the kind that makes you want to be your character but then you ache, deeply ache for them.

Ooh! It’s just too delicious when that happens.

Here’s to a day of snicking for all of us.

The Day After...

I was so excited about my three day weekend experience that I had to post about it right away (last night)...even though I was exhausted and not so clear in the head. I THINK I'm a bit better today, but you'll have to ignore that the previous post says, Thursday, September 11. No, it was Sunday, September 14...and that it has some off words...you know what I was trying to say.

I'm back at The Vault this afternoon for office hours and I can't wait to see my LLOVs and get back to the revisions!

The Yang to my Writng Yin

I love a challenge. Hello, novel writing...that's a biggie. But as a mentioned back in my Farewell Olympics post, unfortunately butt-in-chair doesn't not achieve firm results (in the backside region, that is).

So, one year ago I joined a great gym, a birthday present to myself. I was addicted!

Cue the music:

Happy birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me...exactly one year later (this past weekend) I took it a step further. I just finished (TODAY!) my training module to become a BODYPUMP instructor. It was the most physically challenging thing (other than child birth) I have ever experienced. I love it! And frankly, I'm feeling pretty damn proud of myself!

Les Mills produces amazing fitness programs (BODYPUMP is only one of eight) with classes in over 11,000 clubs all over the world. After this weekend, I could sing its praises from a mountain top, as long as I didn't have to climb up it, because my thighs are SCREAMING! I'm pretty sure I did 17, 493 squats in three days WITH 40 pounds (or MORE) on my back. I know!!! I can't believe it either. Okay, that first fact is probably an exaggeration (that's what it felt like) but the second is not.

Don't think I'm some burley girley, 'cause I'm not. That's just not how the female body works. But man, does it feel good to be strong. If you want to, take a peek at what BODYPUMP looks like:


Here's a cool fact: BODYPUMP is in the Guiness Book of World Records as the fastest way to get in shape. Cool, huh? If one of your local clubs/gyms has these programs, then I say run to them, don't walk.

Birthday note: It's not my birthday--yet! They gym membership was an early birthday present to myself. I'm an October baby. Go Libras!

I'm back to my regular office hours tomorrow (YAY!) but I had to share this major experience...the yang to my writing yin!

Ferries, Writer's Block, & Cupcakes

Thanks for allowing me the previous panicked post (ooh, way too much alliteration). Why it came out in the way it did, I have no idea. Except that I had very little time and wanted to post before leaving for two days in Seattle. I started typing and it just sort of SPLAT right onto the page like that.

I’m so not a poet
And I know it

That just reminded me of an all-time favorite movie—The Princess Bride. Really, how great is that movie? “Stop rhyming. I mean it. Would anyone like a peanut?” Ahhh, love it!

What haven’t I done these last couple of days!?! Hmmm? What’s that you ask? Have I done any writing…oh, yah! Well, that would be a NO. BUT, that doesn’t mean I haven't been thinking about my revisions, and I did jot down some notes that made me want to clap enthusiastically (I did stop myself, as clapping to one’s self, could look rather strange in a public situation).

It’s no quick trip for me to head into Seattle, but look at my ride.

And check out my view! I can’t complain.

I didn’t go to the city to play, although a great deal of my work feels like play. I happen to wear an important hat for the Western Washington chapter of SCBWI. Fall is our time to kick-off a brand new year, and we did it BIG this year. Our little, intimidate gathering of writers and illustrators turned out to be 230 plus people. Crazy! I loved it. And the many events over the last two days kept me busy, busy, busy…

…BUT that doesn't mean I didn’t get to play, too.

I snuggled with a new baby (the best),

had a little wine (a Syrah called Writer's Block)...

....ate great food, noshed on cupcakes (aren't they pretty?)...

...hung out with great people, had good conversation, and did I mention ate cupcakes plus I drank of bunch of coffee?

Oh, I did.

Well, there’s a reason I mentioned it twice.

NAUGHTY!

I'll have to tell you about these yummy stops in another post.

WEEEE!!!! What a Ride this Week Will Be!

Major time crunch
Busy week
Only two days of office hours
This equals PANIC

Panic’s turning into nightmares
About not getting the revision done
By the deadline
Or at all
Ack!

Which is turning into real nightmares
About getting an email from
THE editor
Who wants to see it
The editor
Who read the rough draft
The editor
Who asked to see the revision

I actually dreamt
The editor
Emailed me and said,
“It’s taking too long.
If you don’t get it to me soon,
I’ll forget all about
YOU!”

I know! Horrible nightmare. It was the kind that felt so real that when I woke up, I had to check my inbox. For now, there's no time in the day. I'll attempt updates with the week's many happenings. BUT I will be soooo good during my office hours today (and Thursday...my only two days) because the nightmare has scared me into total focus!

More later!

The Great Observer

A few observations about revisions, critique groups, tree pose, and competitiveness:

1) Routine, kids at school, and the perfect writing nook makes for great work

After three days of holding office hours at The Vault, I'm doing well! Even being productive and moving toward that goal of finishing the revision by the end of the month. Yow, yow, yow! And, I have such great support there, too. The lovely ladies of the Vault (I think should start referring to them as the LLOV) are keeping me in line. They check in on me and take the task of making sure I'm not blogging, emailing, or Facebooking while I'm there very seriously. Very!

2) Critique Groups Rock!

I love my critique group. A great one is hard to find, so I'm grateful for the group of woman that I have the pleasure of meeting with every two weeks. We all need cheerleaders and they certainly are mine. Thanks, you guys! The other night they said I inspire them. ME! Ah, shucks. How great does it feel to hear words like that from people you feel have more talent in their pinky finger than you have in your whole body?

3. Falling Over in Tree Pose is like Bad Writing

(This is NOT me, but I do do Tree Pose that perfectly, AND that is how I wear my hair when I do.)

I do yoga a couple times a week and every time I'm in tree pose (well, maybe not every time, but a lot) I think about how similar balance poses are to writing. ANY time I'm in a balancing pose and I start to think about it, not just be it, I lose my balance and fall over (and everyone sees me or at least that's how it feels). I don't know about you, but the same can happen when I write. If I try too hard, it's obvious. The writing tips, it's off balance with the truth of the story, and it's obvious to anyone reading.

4. Are you a great observer? Are you?

My very smart friend sent this clip to me so I could test my observation skills and I found it FASCINATING. Take the challenge yourself. Do! Something about me; I am a bit (okay, maybe more than a bit) ultra-competitive and I was determined to get the right answer. I'd love to hear about your experience, so leave me a comment. Let me know if you got the right answer!

I'll tell you how I did in comments, too! See you there.

At the Office

Okay, so I'm running a bit behind (about fifteen minutes). But not bad for my first day back to holding "serious" office hours.

Welcome to my office!

Those of you who read my previous Book and Baristas post, here it is--The Vault. You can see the bank over there on the right and down below is Aldrich's Grocery Store. Cool spot, huh? I'm working under the clock on the back wall (okay, not working...blogging).

I'm putting my intentions in writing, right here, right now so they WILL get done.

1. My office hours will be from 12:00 to 3:20, Monday through Friday. (I wonder if The Vault will start charging me rent?)

2. I will write! And only write; no email, no blog, no Facebook. Period. I give permission to the lovely ladies of The Vault to call me out if they see any of the above three open on my computer screen.

Yes, I know I'm blogging now during my office hours, but today is a special day and I believe getting my intentions in writing is just as important as getting to the work. Was that convincing? It what I had to tell myself to make it okay.

3. I will avoid these pastries for reasons I'm sure you understand.

I am quite thankful they do NOT serve cupcakes here or I would be in serious trouble.

4. And MOST important. I will finish my revision by the end of September. You heard it here. Hold me to it. Please!