NEW BLOG
If you have this page bookmarked, please change it to the new address:
http://www.joleigh.com/wp
See you there!
Jo on 02.07.06 @ 01:02 AM MST [link]
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Tuesday, February 7th
Monday, February 6th
Whoops and Changes
As you can see - things got a little weird over the weekend. I did something that broke my blog. I'll be switching over to Wordpress soon, and that will hopefully end some of the spam issues. Big thanks to Alison and Walt for the rescue. Once things are up and running, I'll fill in the blanks about the weekend conference.
Jo on 02.06.06 @ 01:01 PM MST [link]
Friday, February 3rd
Off to SLC
I'm outa here. Hope to see some of you folks in Salt Lake. And I hope to finish chapter 1.
I'll either report in from there, of if the computer doesn't cooperate, on Monday.
Ta!
Jo on 02.03.06 @ 12:31 PM MST [link]
Thursday, February 2nd
A Taste of Honey (On Your Spam)
Oodles of stuff to do today to get ready to go to Salt Lake City tomorrow. Girlie stuff - the nails, the eyebrows, other assorted maintenance issues. Then there's the washing of the clothes.
We had such a fun night last night. We'd just bought one of those gallon jugs of honey and I used the damn heavy thing to put on top of the tofu so it could squeeze the water out. Well, darling Jessie decided it looked like a really neato toy, so she not only got it down off the counter, she opened the top! Honey all over our couch. I mean great huge puddles of sticky honey on the back, the cushion, under the cushion. In fact, there's only a 1/4 of the honey left. The rest we've (and by that I mean mostly Dotes) been trying (and only partially succeeding) in cleaning up. Weeeee! Good thing she's so cute. It totally saved her ass.
We've (and yes, again, I mean Dotes) set up the wireless thingee on the laptop. Have no idea if it's going to work, so you may or may not hear from me over the weekend.
Also - I'm getting slammed again with spam. (may all spammers get honey in their underwear every day of their lives) I can't block it because they change the url every time, but I'm getting 4 or 5 every single day. Jeez, I hate that so much. I mean, what's the point, other than the annoyance? Even if I left it, do they actually think someone's going to click it and buy, believe, read what they're trying to push? Sheesh.
Jo on 02.02.06 @ 02:22 PM MST [link]
Wednesday, February 1st
Triumph and Tofu
For those who caught my post at Romancing the Blog - I've queried an agent, gotten a response, and I'm sending out the partial today. Yay me! What about you guys? Did you do something you've been putting off? Did you screw the fear? (hehehe)
As for my brilliant idea about showering/napping yesterday to get brilliant answers to story problems…I showered. I napped. I got nothin.
Oh - check this out - my Dad's turning 80 next year and my sister is treating the whole damn gang of us to a 5 day cruise in December. Whoa! She has no more details, like where it's going or where it's leaving from, but hey - a 5 day cruise! In snowy December!
Speaking of snow…it needs to stop now. I have to get out Friday. Anyone have any clout with the snow gods?
On a completely different topic - I'm making tofu for dinner tonight. This is a first. I've never cooked with tofu before. Very interesting. I found the recipe on Epicuious.com. I'll report back with results…however, if you're a tofu person, and have a faboo recipe (it's firm) that you think I should try, let me know. Because really - clueless here.
I've also started chapter 1. Yeehaw!
Jo on 02.01.06 @ 01:18 PM MST [link]
Tuesday, January 31st
The Plan
The day before yesterday I took a nap in the afternoon, and when I woke up, I had the essence of my heroine firmly in my head. Sometime during the nap I dreamt a scene that filled in all the murky parts, complete with dialogue and physical actions. I immediately got up and wrote it all down, and then filled in a bunch of other scenes because I understood her transformation.
The experience convinced me (as if I needed convincing) that I need to nap every day. Well, either nap or shower. I've also figured out really big plot or character questions while getting clean.
I'm sure if I ever did vacuum or scrub floors, that I'd get great ideas then, too. The point is, the great aha! moments happen when I'm not at my desk.
This isn't a new thing - I've known about the process for a long time, and yet, I still don't trust it to happen. I still sit at the computer, squeezing my brain for ideas. It never works. Never. Inevitably, I'll move on to something else, or I'll give it up entirely. Then, when I'm doing something else (showering, sleeping) zap, I'll get the drive-by-epiphany.
I still have some holes in the plotting on this book, so I think I should nap and or shower a few times today. I need to finish the plotting so I can start writing already. Maybe I'll do the first chapter. Listen to the characters talk. Yeah, that sounds right. Nap, shower, write some dialogue.
(Do I have a great job, or what? I could never do that if I was say a banker.)
Jo on 01.31.06 @ 01:13 PM MST [link]
Sunday, January 29th
Small conferences
Man, are we snowed in. Sheesh. I just hope that the weather improves by next Friday because I have to drive to Salt Lake City for the conference. I'm so looking forward to it. Small conferences are one of my favorite things. I love doing workshops, and I love hanging out with all the other writers, and I love staying at hotels.
When I was first starting out, small conferences were more than just a pleasure, they were essential. I met editors, agents, and others who were where I was along the publishing road, as well as those who had come before me. I devoured the information given so freely by truly exceptional writer/teachers. I tried a gazillion different methods until I found what worked for me. I shmoozed with folks over lunches, over cocktails, in midnight sessions over chips and peanut M&Ms.
Back then, there wasn't the internet. Not like it is now, anyway. I was introduced to online chats with Genie, a wonderful DOS based bulletin board. There were no blogs at all, so finding out about authors and lines and the new hot books was a lot more personal.
But even with all the new technology, I still believe, for the beginning romance writer, nothing can replace the small conference. Not National, as terrific as that can be. Not online loops or boards. It's the actual, real networking that made the huge, huge difference in my getting published. Talking, laughing, learning, listening. If you haven't gone to a small conference, you should try it. Go to as many as you can. And even if it's not within your comfort zone, network. Editors and agents are just like any other people - if they know you, they'll probably be more open to looking at your work. It's not a guarantee or anything, but I've sure seen the connections made at conference pay off later down the road.
Jo on 01.29.06 @ 01:05 PM MST [link]
Friday, January 27th
Scary Good
I've mentioned before that I'm a new knitter. Before your eyes glaze over, this is not a post about knitting per se. It's about learning.
Since I've been writing for a gazillion years, I'm really familiar with that world. I know the jargon, know who the players are, and I'm very comfy in blogland and at conferences. It's my home world. But now that I'm knitting, I'm in a whole different universe, made possible by the internet, kept interesting by the fact that I know squat about it.
I've joined several online knitting groups, complete with pictures, patterns, and helpful folks who seem amazingly patient with the new kids. Just like I did when I first got into romance writing, I'm trying to absorb the knitters mentality, and find a way to learn as much as possible in as short a time as possible, always increasing my skill level.
First, I did scarves. A whole hell of a lot of scarves. It got me familiar with working with the needles and the yarn. I wanted the knitting and purling to feel as natural as if I'd been doing it my whole life. Now, I've gotten a little better, and I'm expanding into wrist warmers and socks. I'm not very good at them yet, but I know if I keep practicing, it'll happen.
What I like about the process is that I'm doing things I don't think I can do. Which was a huge part of my writing life. When I was first writing, I didn't know what I could do. When some new challenge came along, I had butterflies in my stomach and a keen determination to dive in that was just slightly more prominent than the fear. Socks versus more scarves.
This state of being, scared yet eager, is where, if I'm honest with myself, I should strive to be with each and every project. It's healthy for me. It keeps me interested, and doesn't let me slip into familiar (worn) patterns. I have to stretch, and I have to tap into the most creative part of me.
Knitting reminded me that it's up to me to find the scary thing in every book. It's easier to do what I've done before. But that's not where I belong.
So what's the scary part of what you're writing? For me, in the book I'm working on now, is to find the core of emotion in the characters when they're involved in a desperate fight for their lives. Not just their fear, but what fear makes them face about themselves. And how living on the edge brings clarity and definition. It would be easy to let the momentum of the action carry the book, but that's not what I want. I want a deeply moving character story set in an action thriller. Scared? You betcha.
Jo on 01.27.06 @ 12:56 PM MST [link]
Thursday, January 26th
Movies and Memories
We're getting some new channels on our TV service, and this morning one of them played an old mini series called Beulah Land. I watched for about half an hour, and it was like walking into a time machine. I worked on the show as an assistant auditor. We shot it in Mississippi (Natchez, mostly) with a touch of Louisiana.
I was there almost 4 months. I was 25, it was a bitch of a show, with hundreds of extras and tons of sets and it was made in 1980 (before computers, for the most part). Jonathan Frakes (Riker on Star Trek: Next Generation) Leslie-Ann Warren, Don Johnson, Madelyn Stowe and a gazillion other actors. We all got to know each other very well. I went on my first trip to Mardis Gras during that shoot, and while I remember a few things, a lot more is a blur. Lots o' drinking. Lots o' partying. It makes me tired just remembering. I hardly slept for 4 months. We played poker. We cooked meals in popcorn poppers and hibachis. We froze our asses off when we shot all night. Most of us got pneumonia at one time or another, and some of us got sent home. I met one of my closest friends on the set, and had some, uh, interesting experiences with men. hehe.
I used my experiences on that shoot to write the first book I ever sold. It was called Special Effects, and it was published by Meteor. (First line, first book, first paragraph had a huge typo, which wasn't my error, but that's another story). I remember making out with the special effects guy in the fake slave shacks while the rest of the crew was shooting just down the hill. I remember one of the crew guys who I barely, barely knew who came to my room one night and asked me to marry him!!!!
I also remember being forced to dress in costume and be an extra, even though I didn't want to because I hate being on camera. I'm in there somewhere, scowling.
It's just such an odd experience to see such a vivid part of my past come to life. Every scene brought more memories, and a wee bit of nostalgia.
I'd love to work on another movie. I enjoyed the process so much. And now that I'm not struggling to become a producer, it would be a lot more fun. Hm.
Jo on 01.26.06 @ 12:46 PM MST [link]
Wednesday, January 25th
Random Stuff
I blogged today over at Romancing the Blog. Go. Read. Comment.
Went to town yesterday to get my hair done and get my meds, and forgot my meds. ::sigh:: Have to go back to town today. It's bitch-slap cold out there, but it's my own damn fault.
I mentioned yesterday that I had to write my reader letter and stuff for the new book (CLOSER…July '06) and it was fun because I got to announce the new series and even mention the second book (RELENTLESS Nov '06) in the same letter. They're going to do an excerpt (which isn't written yet) and everything, so yay! I'm so incredibly excited about this series, I'm all twitchy. When it gets closer, I'm going to force people to read it at needle point. I don't have a gun, but I have long knitting needles, so watch out!
Speaking of books, I have one out right now. Yeah, I know. I haven't talked about it much. But it's a fun book. It takes place over 24 hours, and man, it was something to write. Oh, it's called Minute by Minute. (End of promo)
Found out that they've moved Bones to the same timeslot as Criminal Minds. I hate that. Why don't they ask me? I'm right here, ready with my input. But do I get a phone call, an email? sheesh At least they haven't put something decent on Saturday night, so it remains movie/tape night. phew
I must go get ready.
ps - my hair is Faboo!
Jo on 01.25.06 @ 01:21 PM MST [link]
Tuesday, January 24th
busy and odd
Lot's of stuff to do today - write the reader letter for my next book, plus a new bio. Then I have to get my hair done. Also, keep working on the plotting for the new book, and do research on Asian gangs in Los Angeles. I'm going to take the Alpha to the beauty salon and work while my hair is soaking in shiny redness. But I can't decide about the cut. Horrible dilemma. It's at an ugly stage of growth, and I'm tempted to cut, but I haven't had longer hair for years. Hmph.
Oh, this is so fun. My friend Debbi, who lives down the mountain, rescued two dogs who were going to be euphemized. (She's the one who has my pup's sister). Anyway, she went to get the dogs, brother and sister, and they're living at her house now. The really fun thing about them is how they look. We're calling them the Mad Scientist's Dogs because they're a cross between Australian Shepard and Basset Hound. Picture this - they're short with teeny little legs and a long body (BH) but they're hugely furry (AS) and they have long snouts (AS) and long, floppy ears (BH) so when you look at them, it's as if someone put the wrong head on the body of the dogs. It's weird as hell and SO CUTE! I'm going to get some pics to share, because no description does them justice. They're happy, energetic, and adorable, but OMG!
Jo on 01.24.06 @ 12:33 PM MST [link]
Monday, January 23rd
Oh, man
I downloaded PBW's Way of the Cheetah from here, and I've been reading it and seeing how I can apply her tips to aid me in the search for more and better productivity. One of the things she said that I reacted to with immediate dismissal was the concept of having nothing distracting in the workspace. Which, of course, meant that that's the one thing I need to do. What? No TV?
I have a little TV on my desk. I love my little TV. Mostly, when I'm writing (really getting work done) I've got the Food Network or HGTV on, the volume low, and I don't even glance at it. It's noise, that's all. I've always said I concentrate better when there's something droning in the background.
But the truth is, I watch the TV a lot when I should be writing. It does, in fact, distract me. If I didn't have the TV there, I'd probably get more work done. But everything in me is rebelling at taking the TV away. Seriously, I'm pouty and anxious, and basically I don't wanna.
The problem is, I have a killer schedule ahead of me. At least 5 books this year, if not 6. So what's it to be? Another recipe from Paula Deen that calls for a pound of butter or getting a chapter done?
Okay, so I'm going to take a baby step - not removing the TV, but turning it off. From 11:00 to 3:00 pm. Off. Not even switching it to the instrumental music channel. OFF.
Eeek.
Jo on 01.23.06 @ 01:04 PM MST [link]