Hello, my name is Traci, and I'm a walking cliche.
I'm at the Hampton Roads Writers Conference today and tomorrow. There are several smart people here, including Michael Palmer (he's a physician and a writer with 16 best-sellers). From his keynote speech alone, I knew my first chapter was in trouble. Then Chuck Sambuchino (Writer's Digest editor) and Marisa Corvisiero (literary agent) and a number of other speakers gave advice...it's officially done-for.
I was a little upset about this at first, but then I remembered: I already knew it needed a lot of work. This is not exactly news to me, just a little more than I'd expected. I did manage to avoid a number of the more obvious cliches, but there are still quite a few that need to be cut.
The other thing I'm happy about is that this whole writing conference thing is making my muse rather happy; she's quite talkative right now. That little pen and pad of paper they give you at conferences? Seriously come in handy today. I'm not sure yet which ones are workable, but it should be fun!
Friday, September 23, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
I'm Moving!!
Song of the Day: Mr. Saxobeat by Alexandra Stan
I disappeared for a bit. Dropped off the face of the planet for a few weeks. Not cool, I know. On the plus side, there is a reason for it! I moved!!!
For those of you who have been living under a rock for the past few years (or on another planet, maybe) the economy in the U.S. is not so great right now. Therefore, those of us graduating from college in the past few years have not had an easy time finding jobs. Spending a semester abroad didn't help to pad my bank account, either. So, when I graduated, I moved back in with my parents. (Horrifying, I know!)
I was lucky enough to find a temp job only a few weeks after returning home, but it didn't pay me enough to move out. Just recently, I was hired on to a big corporation and am finally earning a decent pay. My bank account is back up to acceptable levels, and I can now pay rent! Since the beginning of the month, I've been cleaning and fixing up the place and moving my things in. The most exciting part: I have an office! (Well, technically it's a second bedroom, but since it's just me, I'm making it an office.) I still have things to do, and I don't have internet service yet, but it's mine, and it's pretty, and it's quiet!
Since I've been so busy lately, the plot bunnies have been on the prowl, attacking at every chance they get. I now have a thought for an immediate prequel for my WIP, a far prequel/world building piece, several post...quels (is that a word?), and one that has nothing to do with that particular universe at all. Good thing I have markers, white boards, and flash cards, no?
What have you been up to?
I disappeared for a bit. Dropped off the face of the planet for a few weeks. Not cool, I know. On the plus side, there is a reason for it! I moved!!!
For those of you who have been living under a rock for the past few years (or on another planet, maybe) the economy in the U.S. is not so great right now. Therefore, those of us graduating from college in the past few years have not had an easy time finding jobs. Spending a semester abroad didn't help to pad my bank account, either. So, when I graduated, I moved back in with my parents. (Horrifying, I know!)
I was lucky enough to find a temp job only a few weeks after returning home, but it didn't pay me enough to move out. Just recently, I was hired on to a big corporation and am finally earning a decent pay. My bank account is back up to acceptable levels, and I can now pay rent! Since the beginning of the month, I've been cleaning and fixing up the place and moving my things in. The most exciting part: I have an office! (Well, technically it's a second bedroom, but since it's just me, I'm making it an office.) I still have things to do, and I don't have internet service yet, but it's mine, and it's pretty, and it's quiet!
Since I've been so busy lately, the plot bunnies have been on the prowl, attacking at every chance they get. I now have a thought for an immediate prequel for my WIP, a far prequel/world building piece, several post...quels (is that a word?), and one that has nothing to do with that particular universe at all. Good thing I have markers, white boards, and flash cards, no?
What have you been up to?
Thursday, September 1, 2011
August is Ended
So, August is over, and I didn't meet my word count goal.
Tragic fail, I know. I didn't even bother with a final word count. I got a lot in yesterday, but not enough. So what's my goal for September? 30k. Apparently, I'm a glutton for punishment. I'm moving this weekend, going to 2 separate writer's conferences, and still expect to get in 30k? As of right now, that's the plan. We'll see how it goes.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
AIM Day 30
Word Count: 11,062
Song of the Day: Fly by Sugar Ray
I spend a lot of time working on my current WIP. I should--after all, it is a work in progress. However, the question today is, do I spend too much time working on that particular project? It's not getting me to my word count goals, unfortunately. So, tomorrow, for my last day of August, I'm trying something new. I was given a Storymatic prompt a short while back, and I'm thinking this is the perfect opportunity to test it out. We'll see how it goes!
Song of the Day: Fly by Sugar Ray
I spend a lot of time working on my current WIP. I should--after all, it is a work in progress. However, the question today is, do I spend too much time working on that particular project? It's not getting me to my word count goals, unfortunately. So, tomorrow, for my last day of August, I'm trying something new. I was given a Storymatic prompt a short while back, and I'm thinking this is the perfect opportunity to test it out. We'll see how it goes!
Monday, August 29, 2011
AIM Day 29
Word Count: 10,151
Song of the Day: A Little Piece of Heaven by Avenged Sevenfold
Reward yourself!
No, seriously. Meet your goals? Give yourself something for it! Two days until September, it looks like I may not meet my own goals, unless I get to some serious buckling down. I'd already decided that if I won NaNoWriMo I would buy myself some purple furniture for my new apartment. Since it appears I need some serious motivation to meet my 20k goal this month, if I somehow manage it, I'll buy myself some fun ice trays like these ones:
What would motivate you as a reward?
Song of the Day: A Little Piece of Heaven by Avenged Sevenfold
Reward yourself!
No, seriously. Meet your goals? Give yourself something for it! Two days until September, it looks like I may not meet my own goals, unless I get to some serious buckling down. I'd already decided that if I won NaNoWriMo I would buy myself some purple furniture for my new apartment. Since it appears I need some serious motivation to meet my 20k goal this month, if I somehow manage it, I'll buy myself some fun ice trays like these ones:
AIM Day 28
Word count: 9009 (I can't wait to have my computer back and get stuff typed up!!!)
Song of the day: Irene by Tobymac
Baby shoes! And they sparkle!!!! (My future daughters will be soooo spoiled.) Actually the inspiration is shopping for homegoods like decor and towels and such. What kinds of things would your character pick out? How would s/he decorate her/his place? Bet it's different than how you'd do your own.
AIM Day 27
Word count: 9009
Sing of the day: Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO
I'm catching up on posts since my power is out :0
Trapped indoors? Do a puzzle! Or better yet (for your WIP, anyway) do some plotting! I did both this weekend while hiding from Irene. (The pictures are of the same tree, btw, just different angles, of both the camera and the tree itself.)
How did you survive the weather, if it hit you?
Sing of the day: Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO
I'm catching up on posts since my power is out :0
Trapped indoors? Do a puzzle! Or better yet (for your WIP, anyway) do some plotting! I did both this weekend while hiding from Irene. (The pictures are of the same tree, btw, just different angles, of both the camera and the tree itself.)
How did you survive the weather, if it hit you?
Friday, August 26, 2011
AIM Day 26
Word count: 9009
Song of the day: U and Ur Hand by P!nk
Do something silly. My mom and I were shopping and I found this head piece. Never would I wear it, but I had to get a picture. Anyone else find that being silly makes you more creative?
Song of the day: U and Ur Hand by P!nk
Thursday, August 25, 2011
AIM Day 25
Word Count: 9,009
Song of the Day: A Little Piece of Heaven by Avenged Sevenfold
Anyone else hunkering down for this monster storm we're supposed to get? I've got canned veggies and cereal and a few other things I can eat without cooking; the battery supply is stocked; my ipod is charged; and my notebooks and pens are set. So if we get hit as hard as we're supposed to and the power goes out, I'm all set to sprawl out on the floor and do some hard-core plotting and writing--long hand, of course. Nothing like being trapped indoors to spark your creativity, eh?
Song of the Day: A Little Piece of Heaven by Avenged Sevenfold
Anyone else hunkering down for this monster storm we're supposed to get? I've got canned veggies and cereal and a few other things I can eat without cooking; the battery supply is stocked; my ipod is charged; and my notebooks and pens are set. So if we get hit as hard as we're supposed to and the power goes out, I'm all set to sprawl out on the floor and do some hard-core plotting and writing--long hand, of course. Nothing like being trapped indoors to spark your creativity, eh?
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
AIM Day 24
Word Count: 8341
Song of the Day: Pray for You by Jaron and the Long Road to Love (Thanks to Elizabeth Sogard for the suggestion.)
Today, I'm taking a break.
I didn't make that decision until seriously five minutes ago. I like to get in a few thousand words a day (cuz you can't edit a blank page, right?), but today that just ain't happenin'. It feels absolutely insane, but I think I need it. I've been staring at my open document (not a blank one, btw) all morning and into the afternoon, and I've gotten nothing written. Seriously, not a word. I was pretty much freakin' out.
So I'm taking a break. I have way too much on my mind right now to type out one coherent sentence, let alone 3 pages' worth. Unless I am struck dumb with the Lightingbolt of Inspiration, I will be sitting here plotting my NaNo project.
Do you take breaks from writing? Does it help you?
And since I mentioned it...Are you doing NaNo this year? What's your project?
Song of the Day: Pray for You by Jaron and the Long Road to Love (Thanks to Elizabeth Sogard for the suggestion.)
Today, I'm taking a break.
I didn't make that decision until seriously five minutes ago. I like to get in a few thousand words a day (cuz you can't edit a blank page, right?), but today that just ain't happenin'. It feels absolutely insane, but I think I need it. I've been staring at my open document (not a blank one, btw) all morning and into the afternoon, and I've gotten nothing written. Seriously, not a word. I was pretty much freakin' out.
So I'm taking a break. I have way too much on my mind right now to type out one coherent sentence, let alone 3 pages' worth. Unless I am struck dumb with the Lightingbolt of Inspiration, I will be sitting here plotting my NaNo project.
Do you take breaks from writing? Does it help you?
And since I mentioned it...Are you doing NaNo this year? What's your project?
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