Practice makes perfect

Friday night, my hub and I took our family to see SIX, a men's a cappella group in Branson, MO. Before we went, the kids announced that they'd rather swim at the hotel pool. When the show started, they quickly changed their minds as revving engines morphed into Boston’s “Don’t stop believin’.”

It was hugely entertaining. The six men (brothers) produced astonishing sounds using only vocals: electric guitar, trumpet, all kinds of drums, engines, horses, a storm. Their voices were incredible, too. 

Near the end of the program, they talked some about their childhood. You might think that since they’re brothers, their talents came easy, genetic gifts requiring only a little polishing. Au contraire. While growing up, they practiced every day for hours—eight hours a day when there wasn’t school. Every. Single. Day.

So it is with anything worthwhile. Daily practice, or in my case, daily writing. A favorite quote of mine is by W. Somerset Maugham who said, “I write only when inspiration strikes. Fortunately it strikes every morning at nine o’clock sharp.”

 

What is your writing routine and how do you stick to it amid the whirlwinds of life?

Hectic Holiday Cheer

This is a very busy and festive week for me and my family. One of my daughters played the role of Annabelle (Ariel equivalent) in her school’s production of Little Mermaid. My other daughter is performing in a Medieval Feast and Christmas Concert this weekend, while two or our sons will be marching with the school band in several parades, and a third has a basketball game on Monday. Thank goodness our youngest child is not involved in much yet!

Yep. You counted right. Six wonderful, demanding, delightful (did I mention demanding?) children! As you can imagine, the Christmas season is hectic for me, between kid’s activities and programs, work, hosting visiting family, hosting church youth group activities, shopping for my humongous family. And trying to fit in writing. That is a priority for me, right? Definitely.

I may not be able to write as often or for as long as I’d like during this time of year, but I find that when I do write, I’m a little calmer and better equipped to tackle (cough), I mean enjoy, the holiday cheer. This really is one of my favorite times of year. 

How do you carve out time for yourself (and your sanity!) in the busy holidays?

Autumn fun...life dreams

Family and friends sharing the joys of autumn. While helping some friends move, our kids found these wonderful piles of leaves and jumped right in. I love how they live life so fully. They worked hard and played hard, something we all should do!

These little sweeties are one of the reasons I’m a writer. I hope to share with them the love I have for life. My hope is to write novels that transport readers to new worlds—real or imagined, and to provide exhilarating adventures that, when finished, will inspire readers to tackle their own lives with spirit and courage.

What hopes or dreams do you have for your writing or other work or hobbies?

Happy Thanksgiving!

My youngest son, playing with his food! Gobble Gobble...Happy Thanksgiving! Today I'm grateful for my family, good friends, a safe country to live in, sunshine, music, good health...the list goes on and on...

What are you grateful for today?

Killer Campout

This fiendish creature kept me up all Friday night. We were camping out back by the pond (can anyone say brrrrr? It got down to the low thirties!). For the first time in our long history of family campouts, our beloved kitty (alternately known as Chloe or Killer the Destroyer) joined us by the fire. A pleasant surprise, especially since she’s a warm littler bugger and snuggled my kids. 

When I crawled into my tent at bedtime (by the way, the stars were stunning—glittery points marching in formation across the wide sky, making me feel small and infinite at the same time), I had no idea that Killer was hiding out under my cot, waiting to terrorize me. Me, the source of all things good—food, water, a vaguely clean litter box. 

While my dream self wandered an arctic wasteland (thirty degrees, remember?), the kitty struck. She tore back and forth through the tent, bouncing off the fabric walls, jumping from cot to cot, prompting a shrieking contest between my husband, my son and me. I won’t mention who won. Not wanting to deprive Killer of a night of hunting, we tossed her outside. Unfortunately, she persisted in hunting us, attacking through the tent walls. As the night progressed, the little monster snuck back in the tent whenever someone stepped outside for a potty break. 

Boom! She’s on the foot of my cot. Pitter patter, she runs along the side of my body, pounces on my head, then leaps to the floor—I’m sure she’s laughing—to start it all again. Apparently she also terrorized our other sons and their friends who slept in a different tent. One woke, poked his head out of his sleeping bag only to have the cat dart in before he could figure out what she was. Needless to say, darling Chloe will hunt in the house the next time we camp out!

What funny or crazy things have happened to you while enjoying the great outdoors?

Excellent Writing Tool

This week I've been up to my ears studying Mary Kole's new book, "Writing Irresistible Kidlit." This book provides tons of guidance and brainstorming exercises for middle grade and young adult novelists. In my opinion, it is a must-read for budding MG and YA writers (as well as those of us who have been writing a loooong time and still are figuring it out!).

It covers a wide array of useful topics including the MG and YA mindset, complex character development, theme development, plot pacing and structure, and how to snag an agent. As I've worked through Kole's characterization exercises, I've learned tons about my characters (who I thought I already knew!).

My latest discovery is that my determined, loving, but insecure protagonist won't steal things, but she will happily borrow (without permission) with the intent to return later. What fun that I now know that!
Mary Kole's MG and YA writing blog is also a great help. http://www.kidlit.com


What character or plot discoveries have tickled your fancy while reading or writing a novel?

Taking a Risk!

The night before last I submitted an excerpt of my undersea fantasy novel to a short story contest. I would've liked to shine in up a bit more, but I've discovered I can postpone submissions endlessly in my quest for perfection. So I looked my fears right in the eye and submitted in spite of them! Here's the story opening:

Kailey stared out the window at the ocean dancing just beyond the school grounds, cool, inviting, and utterly forbidden. For years, she’d dreamed of swimming those waters, diving with dolphins, weaving kelp through her hair. Of course, she never told this to anyone. Her classmates already thought she was crazy. She blamed it on her parents’ strict rules. Twelve years without field trips, sleepovers or seaside picnics were enough to make anyone flip.

She dug in her pocket, withdrawing a wrinkled paper. Last night she’d signed it, desperate to go anywhere that wasn’t home, school, or her parents’ shop. She knew she shouldn’t forge her dad’s signature, but really, it was his fault for being overprotective. Besides, her twin brother, Finn, did it, too, agreeing that it was high time they went on a perfectly safe school outing. Their parents would never know.

            Kailey turned in the permission slip then boarded the bus with the rest of the sixth grade. An hour later, she strolled into Synergy Power Plant. But when the tour guide passed out orange safety helmets, Kailey wanted to crawl back home. The other kids might look silly, but she’d be downright hideous. Bright colors only emphasized the faint green tinge to her skin that made her look perpetually ill.

            “Nice,” Finn said as he elbowed past her with his friends. “You look like you’re gonna puke.”

            Kailey gritted her teeth and followed the class into a cavernous room dripping with wires. As the guide pointed out crews who shoveled coal or manned machines, a strange worker caught her eye. He creeped her out, with his tangled green hair and dark eyes that narrowed when he saw her expression. You’d think he’d be used to it, she thought, if he’s gonna dye his hair like that.

            Across the room, Finn listened with rapt attention. He soaked this stuff up, yet she didn’t understand half of it. So unfair. It seemed to her that their genetic gifts could’ve been split a bit more evenly. She scuffed her foot against the floor, dislodging a rusty nail. A sly grin crossed her face—time to liven things up. But that green-haired creep followed her every move. She glared until he looked away then shoved the nail into a box of coiling wires.

It livened up more than she expected, vibrating out of its brackets and sputtering flames. The creep lunged forward as the room exploded with light. Great crackling rays arched toward the walls, jumping from place to place like the jerking legs of a giant spider.

            Then it hit.

            A bolt of electricity, forked like lightning, struck Kailey square in the chest. The guide screamed then everything went black.

What are some times you've taken risks and how did they turn out?