Saturday, April 30, 2011

Writer's Ass and the 5K Day

I've got one more chapter to write before I will be putting my first YA novel to rest. That's right... one more chapter until I can theoretically write the words "The End". Not that it's really the end. There are still three more books to the series.

Today however, was a good day. I managed to blaze through five thousand words, and they're not bad words either. ;) Though, now I'm suffering from every writer's constant companion. You know the one I'm talking about.

That's right...

Writer's Ass.

I'm pretty sure that mine managed to spread out in the last few hours. It's sore, and feels like I was sitting on a stone instead of a futon all day. Not that there is much difference between the two if we want to compare. Then again, everything gets hard if you sit on it for too long. I don't care if you're sitting on a freaking cloud. After ten hours your ass is going to be numb and complaining about being mistreated.

Mine will live.

Tomorrow is another day, and along with my mass amounts of errands, I've got a date with my daughter, and a date with a pushy Immortal and her equally pushy Guardian. It's going to be a busy day.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Chocolate Chip Cookies, Immortals, and Mat Kearney

Some days just call for you to skip out on anything resembling healthy food, and go straight for things not likely found on the food pyramid.

Then again, my food pyramid is different than others'. 

Today is a chocolate chip cookie and sweet tea kind of day. The kind of day where you want to hide away in a dark cave--far, far, far away from everyone-- and listen to Mat Kearney on repeat. Especially his song, Closer to Love.

Closer to Love

I don't get to hide in a cave, but I have been hiding behind my laptop for most of the day. It could almost be the same thing. If you tip your head to the side and squint a little.

Immortals and their Guardians aren't known for being the patient sort so I haven't been left alone today either. Even while my dog, Caesar, and my daughter were napping.

My first YA novel is almost completed (which could explain why I'm being harassed), and it's coming along great. I'm excited about the series. It was originally planned to be a series of short stories (approx 10k), but it became apparent early on during the writing of this first novel that wasn't going to happen. They'll still be relatively short when it comes to novels, but they'll be closer to novel length than short story length.

Writing this first book has made me extremely happy, and I look forward to writing the rest of the series.

Well, there are some chocolate chip cookies and sweet tea calling my name...and I'm pretty sure I'm being paged by an Immortal and her Guardian...


R.S

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Holidays Are What You Make Them

I'm not a religious person, not even a little. This often comes out in my writing, but I don't believe it makes me a bad person. Today, is Easter, and among the masses of people on Facebook typing "Happy Easter" to their hearts content, I will not be.

I boycott Easter.

Except, I can't. Not completely.

So, as with everything else--even though Holidays don't bring joy to my heart, or a twinkle to my eye-- I will put on a happy face, and enjoy the gathering of friends in celebration. Because, friendship is always a reason to celebrate, and Holidays are what you make them.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Sweet Tea, Statistics, and My own Version of Multiple Personality Disorder...

It's nearing that time again, at least in the desert, where the sun is high in the sky earlier in the day, and the temperature is pushing its way into the triple digits.

Yes, it's almost summer--but not quite. It is however, Sweet Tea Time.

Sure, we drink sweet tea year round in my home, but I've created this little tradition where I sit outside with the sun shining, and the heat causing my skin to glisten (since we all know that women don't sweat, right, ladies?). On this day, I sip from the first glass of sweet tea from a freshly brewed container, and smile. It is officially the beginning of a new year.

Forget January 1st. No, my New Year was yesterday. April 22. What a glorious day.

I'm never alone while I sit in the sun, sipping my sweet tea, even when, to the casual observer, there is nobody with me. My husband is deployed to the Middle East this year, and my daughter was recharging her battery after a grueling morning of playing superheroes and dragon vs. knight--how do I always end up the dragon?-- and I was surrounded by people.

Wonderful people, with wonderful stories; only I could hear.

Some might consider this a medical condition, and maybe they're right--I however consider it being an author. Each of the characters I create have their own stories, their own lives--and for a short time, they allow me to be part of those stories; to share them with others.  

Doing this makes me happy, and if that means I'm suffering from multiple personalities--bring on the rubber rooms and the hug-me-jackets. I will happily embrace them and write them into a story.

Unfortunately, I might be seeing that room and jacket, and it won't have anything to do with the voices in my head.

During the month of May, I'll be taking a Statistics and Probability class, and I can guarantee it's going to kick my ass. I hate math. I'm an English major with a minor in Criminal Justice. I'm not seeing a need for math of any kind. Too bad the university doesn't agree with me. I just keep reminding myself it's only 17 more classes until graduation.

Granted, it will take three years, but it's only time, right?

It might be hard to write those fabulous stories with my arms secured in the very fashionable happy jacket.

Wish me luck.

R.S.