The December La La Returns

Anyone else wondering how it's suddenly November 30th. The holidays are here. Smack...right in the face.

Personally, I had a productive October, but November was a big Wah-Wah-Wahhhh! I know how easily December can get eaten up with happenings other than writing. So, I'm returning to my plan from a couple years ago: The December La La.

If you want to indulge in some serious December productivity with side of accountability, come back tomorrow and declare your goals!

(And, a huge congrats to all you NaNo Winners.)

Monday Moment #97: a writing prompt for your work-in-progress

(If you’ve already read this then skip past all the italicized blah-di-blah and start writing.) Monday Moments are writing prompts for your work-in-progress. They are questions that come from my experiences and are my favorite way to find out more about my characters. I find I learn a lot. Some of it I use. Some of it I don’t. But I always, always get to know my character(s) better just by answering the question. I hope you do too.)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Did you burn off some of those extra T-day calories with some serious shopping in the days following?

I'm not one of those 4-A.M.ers, hitting the stores for the those early hours Black Friday deals. What I did this year (and loved!) was Small Business Saturday. Anybody else? Such a great promotion to remind us all what a huge impact shopping at small businesses can make.

I love so many of the stores in my small town, and I had several finds. Some of which will be gifts and others that just made me giggle. One huge upside of shopping small business? The gifts can be quite unique.

I took some photos to tweet out while I was shopping.

Every seen this game?

I really think I should go back and buy those cards. What could the game be? I was thinking maybe they're just playing cards, but it says "Card Game." Curious.

And I've been looking all OVER for these!!!

Bonus! They make them for him...

and her!

These seem writer friendly. :)

Small Business Saturday got me thinking about how much I do enjoy shopping at these great boutique stores, and how much my girls love them, too. Which also got me thinking about all the small stores I loved growing up. As kids, we know the big name stores, but all of us had those great stores, within our own communities, that are/were our favorites. For me it was a corner grocer where I could get 10 cent candy, a knickknack, touristy store called Sax & Fryer (which still exists), a crafty store called Wilmer's, and the card/gift store which had Hello Kitty and Precious Moments (two things I loved).

What's your character's favorite small business/store and why?

Monday Moment #96: a writing prompt for your work-in-progress

(If you’ve already read this then skip past all the italicized blah-di-blah and start writing.) Monday Moments are writing prompts for your work-in-progress. They are questions that come from my experiences and are my favorite way to find out more about my characters. I find I learn a lot. Some of it I use. Some of it I don’t. But I always, always get to know my character(s) better just by answering the question. I hope you do too.)

This Monday Moment is on SNOW DELAY, just like everything else in the Seattle area (except my kids' school).

When it snows here, people freak out. Kind of funny, because I do too. Didn't used to be that way. I grew up in Montana. When I moved to the Seattle area (at 15) I was shocked by a couple of weather factors:
1) How warm the winter weather was. I think the first year we were here I never once zipped up my coat.
2) And, when it snowed, school was cancelled! What!?! This was unheard of where I came from. School had never once been cancelled for anything.

Here, there's this build up of excitement. Snow's coming! Kids go to bed (okay, and parents go to bed) excited then wake up eager to peek out the window to see if there's any of the white stuff.

This morning...

NOTHING

Honestly, not one stinkin' flake.

DISAPPOINTMENT

But THEN...what starts to happen? Small flakes spit from the sky. Kids eat breakfast. I pack lunches. Flakes get bigger. The ground is white.

Five minutes to bus time. Phone rings...

Nope. It's not a school delay.

More DISAPPOINTMENT.

Off to the bus stop. No bus. Waiting. Still no bus. And just when we think maybe we've missed an announcement...THE BUS.

Even more DISAPPOINTMENT.

But really, now I'm nervous I sent my kids to school. Will I be able to get them home? It's quite seriously a winter wonderland here.

And just for fun...my hummingbird friends.

Can you spot him in the photo below. He looks just like one of the rose bush leaves.

How about when he turns his head and you get that flash of red?

Really, depending where in the world you live (or what world you live in) all of our characters would have a different reaction to snow.

What does you main character think of snow and how would they react to it?

Monday Moment #95: a writing prompt for your work-in-progress

(If you’ve already read this then skip past all the italicized blah-di-blah and start writing.) Monday Moments are writing prompts for your work-in-progress. They are questions that come from my experiences and are my favorite way to find out more about my characters. I find I learn a lot. Some of it I use. Some of it I don’t. But I always, always get to know my character(s) better just by answering the question. I hope you do too.)

Wrinkles!

Yeah, they've been on my mind lately. Especially the ones I feel like I have the power to prevent, and yet...I don't feel like I can make it happen. I am not powerful enough.

I have always ALWAYS been a side and tummy sleeper. What's that have to do with wrinkles, you might ask? Well, you can cause wrinkles by sleeping in the same position over and over. I know this, because the people on TV told me so. :)

But it's true. At least it is for me. Not only do I sleep on my side and stomach, but my head almost always faces one direction, and I can see the two spots that smoosh together creating  my sleeping lines. Not the pillow kind that go away, but permanent creases that I can only imagine will get deeper and widen as I smash my face in my pillow night after night. Gah!

But, what to do? I can't sleep on my back. I'd have to strap myself down. But then, I wouldn't sleep.

What is something your character does often that has left a physical mark on their body? Is the mark something they are proud of, or wish they could get rid of?

Monday Moment #94: a writing prompt for your work-in-progress

(If you’ve already read this then skip past all the italicized blah-di-blah and start writing.) Monday Moments are writing prompts for your work-in-progress. They are questions that come from my experiences and are my favorite way to find out more about my characters. I find I learn a lot. Some of it I use. Some of it I don’t. But I always, always get to know my character(s) better just by answering the question. I hope you do too.)

Monday Moment #94, take two!

Last night I returned from a long, but wonderful, three-day writing retreat. I guess it was a bit more than that for me, since I am the Retreat Director for SCBWI Western Washington. But I will say our Weekend on the Water was fantastic, and I was going to write about here for Monday Moment #94!

BUT!!!!

I can't load any photos. And what good is it if I can't show you some of the weekend's delights through photos? Arg!

(Maybe one of you out there can help me. When I click to add an image, it pulls up something called Google Cloud Picker and wants me to sign in. Huh? Since when? But then it says the application I need to use is unavailable. Frustrating. I've given it time, and then come back to it. Same thing happens.)

So, I'm moving on with plan two. I'll tell you about the retreat in a separate Cuppa post another day when I figure out this whole picture thing.

Until then, has this ever happened to your character?

Here's one bit to share from the weekend. I can tell you, my Monday Moments were absolutely validated by the lovely editors (Jill Santopolo and Nancy Mercado) who were leading us over the weekend. Being able to answer any and every question about your character (regardless of whether it something that happens within the pages of your book) will creates stronger work.

So, I ask you: When was a time your character was frustrated by something that didn't work and how did they react to it?

Monday Moment #93:a writing prompt for your work-in-progress

(If you’ve already read this then skip past all the italicized blah-di-blah and start writing.) Monday Moments are writing prompts for your work-in-progress. They are questions that come from my experiences and are my favorite way to find out more about my characters. I find I learn a lot. Some of it I use. Some of it I don’t. But I always, always get to know my character(s) better just by answering the question. I hope you do too. )

How could this Monday Moment not be a post-Halloween Moment?

I have a bit of a Halloween hangover. How 'bout you?

And it's not that I had too much to drink or too much sugar (I think) but it was just all so much. Too much!

I told you last week that my fellow and instructors and I launched our new programs dressed as Wonder Woman. There were 8 of us! That was a whole lot of Wonder to behold: quite a sight.

Here I am, taking off to teach.

Based on your comments, and the encouragement of my family, I also wore the costume OUT! Yes, I walked our little town's parade in this get up. Although, with all the wind and chilliness, this Wonder Woman was happy to be wearing a red puffy coat. At least it matched the outfit. But all that wind kept whipping my wee little skirt up and my cape around my neck.

That's me with my handsome hubby heading to the parade.

I love this town when it come to Halloween (and lots of other things). The downtown streets close down at 4:00 and all the shops are open for the kids to kick off their night of trick-or-treating.

The streets were packed!

 I loved my girlies' costume ideas this year.

My oldest wanted to be a rag doll. I earned many Mommy Bonus Points making that yarn wig. She did her own make up. Love it.

My younger girlie decided she wanted to be Frankenstein, but a girlie one, and not the Bride of Frankenstein. She said, "I want to be pink. Not green." I love the idea.

Even my adorable mom and pops got into the act.

So, what were you for Halloween?

Funny enough, the first chapter in my first novel takes place on Halloween and is quite memorable for my main character.

What one Halloween was most memorable for your main character and why?