Getting Going

I'm trying to get going, but not very well. Anyway, it's another day of not feeling the best. I think I just had a small panic attack, don't know for sure because I've never had one. It has passed and I'm not shaking so bad right now.

Yesterday I did get back to writing and it felt good. I corrected two chapters, one didn't have many mistakes so it was easy. I started my self-edit on the last five chapters. Finished one chapter and almost finished another one. I need to increase a few more words, but when Sandi gets through with it, there will be around 90,000. I never thought I could write that many words.

Most publishers are asking for between 90,000 to 100,000 words on a manuscript and I am trying to comply. It has finally popped into my head what I am supposed to be doing. Janice Thompson had a class the other night on Passive vs Active Voice. That opened my eyes so much, even though she had told me that several years ago. It finally sunk in.

My biggest problem is Point of View. I have been letting it slip lately. I know what I am thinking but sometimes I let someone else slip in when I put it in the computer. I have to watch that. That's taken a little rearranging of sentences. It's working and all coming together.

The book I am finishing is Callie's Mountain and the next is Susannah's Hope. I need to get a name for the third. It will be set in Tennessee and it is pre-Civil War. In one of the last two will be a story about the Trail of Tears. I didn't know I lived close to where the Indians were marched to Oklahoma. There are several preserves or parks around here and I'm anxious to go in the fall to see some of them.

I've been thinking about a name for the last book and so far nothing has hit me. Callie and Susannah came as a shock when I named them. The names felt so right. I know the titles will be changed when it's published, but I hold those names so dear. Callie is such a pretty name to me and Susannah Cole was one of my husband's ancestors. Please give me suggestions for this last book.

A Much Better Day

Yes, today is a much better day. I knew when I passed up my road turn, twice, that I was not myself. Then when I found out I didn't have the strength in my leg to brake, I was in trouble. How unusual for me not to be able to slow down to turn into my driveway. So far it looks like a better day today. I still hurt, but not as badly.

I have a full day ahead of me today. I want to find time to write and finish editing my last five chapters. I know I have talked about this book so much, it seemed like it would never be finished. But I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

I knew nothing about writing when I began this book four years ago. In that time, I have taken classes and gone to conferences. It has been a wonderful experience. I am so anxious to get it published and to say I have accomplished something. My friends I have made on this journey are truly phenomenal. It is so good to know writers. We all look at things differently than others.

We look at things that can be used in a book. Everyone you meet could be a character in a book. Don't let them know it at first. But think of the people you know. We know one little feisty lady of 92, who is a hoot. She still drives, but I don't like to get behind her, and she lives by herself, has a very good mind and is so energetic and fun. I need to find a place to put her. I love her so much.

My grandchildren could make a very good book. A little of my youngest grandson is in this book. He is so funny. Little David is so much like my Grayson. I don't have much in it about him, but you'll see the playfulness when you read the book.

Today I am also changing the new frozen food from my small freezer to the large one. I had my husband pencil me in for the morning. this is not a fishing day. So we will have fun. This afternoon is going to be an afternoon of writing, I hope.

Monumental Day Yesterday

You may ask, why was yesterday so different from any other day? It was a day to act on a decision I made a couple of weeks ago. Here's the story.

About ten years ago a arthroscopic surgery on both my knees, and I was told I would have to eventually have complete knee replacements in the future. Oh, well, the future seemed to be a long way off. When my knees started hurting more a couple of years ago, I just ignored it and thought by taking Tylenol I would get better. Didn't work, so I took something stronger. I don't like the idea of being on narcotics, so I made the decision to call an orthopedic surgeon and make an appointment. That was yesterday.

When the tech took the x-rays, she asked me if I was opposed to surgery. My reply was a resounding, "No." After an x-ray of my hips, because sometimes knee pain can be related to your hip sockets, we went to an exam room and she went to get my husband.

In came the doctor. The sweetest and kindest doctor I have ever met, except one. His hands were so soft they could have held my knees all days. He was so gentle and caring. Enough about Dr. Patel. Now the diagnosis. He showed the x-rays to my husband and myself. My knees are pretty bad, no cartilage. He suggest cortisone shots in both knees.

In the past I have not reacted well to cortisone shots, but they have improved since my last one. I'm usually sick, but this time it was not bad. The most pleasant thing is that I lost two pounds of fluid over night. That made up for the pain.

It takes about thirty minutes to get from the doctors office to our house. I was nauseas a couple of times on the road, but just uneasy. Do I need to share that? Think not. Oh, well, I just did. When I got out of the car and my husband unlocked the door, put his hand on my back and I fell flat on my knees. I thought I was going to pass out. I lay there and cried, thinking about what I might have done to my poor knees.

Today, I am sore and I still hurt a little on the inside of my knees. I am pretty disoriented today and making a lot of mistakes, but I think I will get through it.

Well, that's my tale of woe. Hope you days have been better than mine. My life is a book.

Writing Is Wonderful

Yes, I am enjoying my writing. It still gives me the same feeling that it did when I started writing several years ago. Now, I am enjoying networking with authors.

Yesterday, two authors that I respect and enjoy being around, met me for lunch. I think we talked for almost three hours, but it was wonderful and I learned so much from them. You gain so much when someone can talk to you about the hurdles you will face, especially if they have been there before.

How can you talk for three hours? Well, writers are usually gabby people. We work by ourselves and when we get together with another writer, we talk up a storm. It was wonderful to get to talk about these things. We, as writers, need to network.

One thing I have done is to sign up for internet classes given by authors. I get to know that author more through their classes. Camy Tang has some very good writing classes and they are inexpensive. Janice Thompson does also. I would suggest taking any classes by an author. They are where you want to be. Not all do this, but you can find some. To me, they explain things better than a book does.

Tuesday night I sat in on a webinar with Janice Thompson. She had a class on Show, Don't Tell -Active vs. Passive Voice. I needed that. It was free and wonderful. She explained so many things that sounded reasonable. She also offers classes at www.freelancewritingcourse.com. I think that is the correct address. If not, try www.janicethompson.com.

I just completed a course one-on-one with Camy Tang. Camy writes suspense with an Asian twist and she is crazy, so much fun to be around. I've told you before that I took the Synopsis class. Oh, the dreaded synopsis! I hate them, but now I don't mind doing them.

Need to get busy. Have a good day.

Ozark Weddings

I finished Ozark Weddings by Janice Thompson and Anita Higman. That sounds like I didn't like it, but I did.

There are three stories in the book, Larkspur Dreams, The Love Song and Castles in the Air. All three are set in Arkansas and they are well written. It tells how peoples lives are changed by meeting and getting to know other people. Isn't that like life? So many people we don't really know, but when we do get to know them, our lives are changed. That is what makes life interesting.

Another thing I am doing this month is Novel Track with American Christian Fiction Writers. We are supposed to write every day and keep a count of our words. So far I am at 3,000 words, but I don't like my story. It feels strained and not me, so I think I will can it and start something else. I wanted to write a mystery, but I don't know if I'm ready for it yet. I want to solve it before it begins.

When the next six chapters are edited, Callie's Mountain will be completely finished. I'm doing a little changing that will make it better. I would like to see it finished and start looking for an agent. There are more two books in my head and I may start writing on them.

If you are a writer and have not read Chip MacGregor's blog on Voice, please go to his website and read it. www.chipmacgregor.com. It is so good. I had an editor take my voice away and put their voice in. I almost stopped writing because I hated what I was writing the way they wanted me to. Then another editor read a chapter and told me it was not my voice. I was new in the business and didn't know a lot about editors.

Thanks to my current editor, my voice is back loud and strong. My manuscript is much stronger and more me. They say your personality comes out in your book and anyone who reads one of your books knows it is you. We'll see about that.

Today I'm going to try to start another book and see if I like it any better. I need to do a chapter synopsis before I start.

Synopsis

This week finishes up my class with Camy Tang on Synopsis. Wow, what a class! I found out so much about writing in that one class than I have learned in all my classes put together. Camy tells you how to put a synopsis together to go to an agent or publisher and how to write a book from a synopsis.

I hate to leave Camy. It has been so good. I've written a synopsis on a book I want to write next. She showed me so much about Christian writing and CBA. If you want to learn how to not dread this process of writing, take her course. It's a one-on-one and she is wonderful giving you feed back. She has several other classes and work sheets you can purchase. I really feel I got my money's worth on this one.

Are there any writers doing Novel Track? I've signed up but have never heard from anyone. That's a little discouraging. I like to write 2,000 words a day when I'm writing, not editing. This seems like a good idea to write with everyone. I hope it works out soon. I guess I need to look at my spam mail to see if anything is there.

Ballgame season is over for our grandchildren. We went last night for the two youngest. They lost and our oldest grandson had a game out of town and he lost. Two of them have tournaments, but with church camp the same week as the tournaments, they won't be playing.

I have more things to get finished this morning and write this afternoon. My days are busy.

Own Less Property

We've been back to Tennessee and we own less property now. We sold two rental houses and about 4.25 acres. That was such a relief. I hate renting property. It is such a headache.

These last renters were the worse I have ever seen. They either didn't pay their rent or it was always late. I'd tell them it was late and here would come the excuses. If anyone ever need excuses for a book, I have a long list and some of them are unbelievable.

They are finally out and I almost wanted to help them pack, well not really. It was sad to sell the property that had been in our family for almost 200 years, but I know we made the best decision. Our place is here closer to our children.

Last night in our Wednesday night class, we talked about providence. How God worked in ways that were not miraculous, but now we can see how he cared for his people. I believe He still does that today. God is so good to take care of us if we believe His word and obey it. I've made so many friends, especially in the writing industry, because I have taken the opportunities presented to me. If I never took these opportunities and risks, would I be where I am today? I don't think so. Writing is a lonely business and I have made so many friends through my writing. I am thankful for everyone of you.