Brrr!

The winds of January are about to bow out as we slide (literally, on ice) into the balmier month of February. Yesterday, I didn't go to work because the roads were so wicked the state police warned everyone to stay home. Plus, we'd lost electricity for a couple of hours, so I didn't know what appliances were on/off and which would come on when the power returned. We are woefully unprepared for a disaster of any sort, which makes me want to join a intentional community. Think updated commune. Sustainability. (the new buzzword) At least I'd be able to throw wood on the fire and keep warm. Something to think about for my next house move which should occur mmmm, let me see, in about five years if things stay on schedule.

Next- a grammatical rant. Today, I received a note about some changes in the personnel at the area office of an international organization (not RWA.) This organization's main objective is communication. Apparently, not the written kind. In a two-page note, I counted at least seven errors. I can forgive an occasional misplaced comma, heck, I've done it myself, but a missing period? "As" instead of "has"? - The board as been working on . . .And the topper (hold onto your collective hats) the invention of the (possessive) word its'. Yes. I. T. S. apostrophe.
No excuse. They need to hire me to proof all of their correspondence.

Greyhounds in wigs

I know a lot of my writer friends scrapbook or collage their stories/characters to generate inspiration. I've got a 2" binder full of pictures, notes, reference material, etc on my current WIP. I have folders of things I've ripped out of magazines. There's a folder of women, men, couples, settings, odd stuff and (more recently) sayings that might end up on a scrapbook page. ("Dark and sparkly" is the latest. It's originally from a page on metallic makeup, but it's going to fit a future character beautifully.)

Mr. Why-Aren't-You-Writing recently came home with a nine inch stack of old magazines. I've been having a field day ripping out stuff. My favorite, by far, is a two page ad from Juicy Couture (Juicy Crittoure) of two adorable greyhounds in wigs (one blonde, one pink,) pearls, ribbons and lockets. I don't know where I'll use it. I've never written a story with a dog in it, but somehow, sometime, these lovely ladies are going to make it into a contemporary with lots and lots of dog humor. It may be six books from now, but they deserve a supporting role. If I have a dog at the time, I'll buy it a cashmere hoodie with my advance. (from Juicy Couture, of course.)

What's the oddest thing that triggered a story idea for you?

Duck! Incoming! (Ideas, that is)

Here's the problem. I'm 3/4 done with my WIP, which was November's NaNo (see glossary for decoding). Probably more like 13/16 done. It's hard to tell because I've skipped over chapter breaks this time around, but we're nearing the end.

I'd like to go back and finish my pseudo-vampire story, which stands at around 250 pages. I dropped it to start and finish The Apprentice Fairy Godmother (currently at an agency). Why drop a sexy, sizzling book about a vampire slayer and their purchasing agent? (artificial blood, anyone? Chocolate? Tanning lotion?) Because I was persuaded (influenced) last spring that vampire stories are (pardon the pun) dead. The market is oversaturated, etc. Ho hum.

Really? That's not what I'm seeing on the bookshelves, but maybe I'm not as smart as the people in the industry. Aren't we (writers) always told to write something different, fresh? I think a vampire story without a vampire as either the hero or heroine is pretty damned fresh. Which is why I'm going to return to it in about a month.

In the meantime, while cleaning out vast amounts of writing debris, I found a title I'd scratched down eons ago. Immediately, characters and plots started churning in my brain and a next comedy is taking shape. I'm going to write it. After I finish my dark fantasy. After the vampire story. It may be May (cute!) before I start.

What say you all? How do you keep the next WIP at bay while maintaining interest in what needs to be finished?

And forgive the parathesis, there was a buy one get one free sale at Target.

Here's a treat for you

I've been remiss in updating my progress on "The Spell Breaker." I am on pg 291 (from zero on Nov. 1. No chapter breaks, so it's somewhere over 300.) As with the last two books, I have no idea what is going to happen when I start writing every night. Frustrating? Indeed. This I do know:

Character arcs are arcing

One of the villains will die and one will live

A secondary character will die

The heroine will find what she's been looking for all this time

There's a battle comin'

This picture is Rue, by the way. She's got spunk. And awesome hair. And a baby on the way, but I didn't know that when I started writing. Oh, those surprises. Don't you love 'em?

Jump, jump!

The visit of an energy healer to our RWA group today, and her talk of making a leap of faith reminded me of this passage, which I read last night:
"Come to the edge."
"We can't. We are afraid."
"Come to the edge."
"We can't. We will fall."
"Come to the edge."
And they came.
And he pushed them.
And they flew.
-Guillame Apollinaire

Keep track of the coincidences in your life. If you write them down, you'll be amazed at how often they occur.
Just saying.

Okay, God, I get it.

Cryptic, God, very cryptic. I ask for signs and I get 1111 and cash registers. But, Sunday, the first day without a wakeup chime, I finally got it. 1111 = One. You know the rest.

Nice job, by the way.

Hello, I'm here

Cosmic forces are trying to contact me, but they punk out after one ring. For four out of the last five mornings, I've woken up to either a phantom cell phone ring or the doorbell. Not my regular cell chime, and no footprints in the snow outside the door. This morning, the image was my husband opening a cash register drawer. Now, either lots of angels are getting their wings, or something cosmic is in the works.

Come on, fate, knock harder. I'm listening.