October 18, 2007

How are all you Challengers doing?

I’ve been on target, until yesterday, so today I have to make up 5 pages. Bummer. But I have to keep to the schedule or the book won’t be turned in on time. So there you go.

We’re also doggy sitting Jessie’s sister, so that’s always entertaining. Especially because neither of them is small, and everyone likes to sleep on the bed plastered to Mom. Yeah. Good times.

Did anyone else see the Oprah show with Dr. Chirstiane Northrup? She subscribed romance novels (which she called Cliterature!) to all the women out there! It was awesome!

Okay, it’s almost 8:00 and I have to work. Go Me!

October 16, 2007

Yesterday’s word count: 3098

I’m at Romancing The Blog. Go. Read. Smile.

October 15, 2007

Okay, kids! Start your engines!

We’re off once more to test our mettle with the new 70 Days of Sweat Challenge.
It’s all about goal setting, showing up, putting the writing at the top of the list, and learning about how we work.

Here are my goals:

Finish my current WIP - 40,000
Finish my next book - 65,000
Total words = 110,000

I’m tired already. :)

During that time, I’m going to plot group, plotting the next book, plus a general outline of a new 3 book series, going to a conference in St. Louis, having a mostly stay-at-home holiday season, and doing my damndest to take some breaks where I get completely away from the work. I’m okay with working 7 days a week, but not for several months at a time. Truthfully, I end up taking days off anyway, but usually as a result of burnout, when it’s the least practical. Making myself sick doesn’t support my goals.

I’m also doing some other goal setting tasks. I used to believe that I shouldn’t try to do everything at once. That one new habit at a time was the way to go. But current research is suggesting that tackling several new habits at once is more likely to work. So, I’m incorporating:

walking 3 times per week, 1/2 hour each time
writing down my daily meals, word pages and exercise in my journal
quitting smoking (again)

Strangely, I’m completely optimistic about all of it. Mostly because of something I learned in the last challenge - for me, everything depends on how I begin the day. If I start out on task, I tend to complete my goals. If I give myself an inch, I blow it all off.

It’s up to me, then, to start off each day with determination and commitment. To not sleep in too late. (8 am is the goal) To make my coffee, take my pills, read my email, then write 5 pages. After that, I can have breakfast and do online things, like blog posting, surfing, etc.

The rest of the day is planned out pretty well, with another 5 pages in the mix.

So what about you? Have you set your word count goals? Are they unique to you, not just what other people are doing? Are you committed to your success? A recommendation here - make your goal achievable. Committing to selling a book isn’t productive because that’s not in your control. Committing to finish your book is achievable and measurable, something only you can do. Are you going to journal your progress? Writing it down seems to be one of the keys to establishing new habits.

Also, for those of you who participated in the last challenge, you’ll notice we have a number of new sponsors this time. Take advantage of that by checking out their blogs, in addition to checking into the Sven site. And use your fellow Challengers. By supporting them you’re supporting your own goals.

Let’s make this a challenge like no other. Look forward to the day you can say you committed, you kept your word, you kicked ass!

Be sure and visit the rest of the Sven sponsors blogs! Alison Kent, HelenKay Dimon, Larissa Ione, Stephanie Tyler, Shiloh Walker, Lauren Dane, Diana Peterfreund, Jaci Burton, and Portia Da Costa.

October 11, 2007

It’s very busy at Casa Leigh at the moment. Book due soon, copy edits due sooner, workshop lectures and posts, plot group zooming up, trip to St. Louis for the Forensic workshop just around the corner, bulbs that need planting…okay I’m tired from typing it all.

Here’s a conundrum - I can’t wait to get to bed at night. Sleep calls to me throughout the day like a Siren. And yet when I’m finally in bed, I just can’t seem to get to sleep until after 11:30. Why, why? That just seems cruel.

On Forbes.com they reported that Sara Jessica Parker’s fragrance LOVELY earned 74 million dollars in 2006. I think I need to create a fragrance. I’m working on a name…maybe Pseudonym…nah, it would smell fake. Or how about Eau de Writer…no, that would smell like sweat pants and panic. Hmmm…I’m open to suggestions.

October 7, 2007

Have you signed up for the new Sweat Challenge? We’re starting soon, so go here and declare your intentions!

It’s something to note how many published authors did the last Sweat, and how so many of them surpassed their goals. If you’re planning to do NaNo, this is also a great time to sign up for the Sweat. Challenge yourself and establish great work habits that will last through your whole career! Seriously, even (especially) if this is scary - do it.

October 1, 2007

Just an FYI - writing is hard. That is all.

Now, to more fun news. I MADE BREAD. I’ve never made a successful loaf of bread before, but I did it! At my crazy altitude! And there was no kneading involved! It was a beautiful loaf that was crusty on the outside, tender and flavorful on the inside, and I should have taken a picture. It’s not a quick process, but a very simple one. In fact, so simple, I’m going to make my next loaf very soon, only this time it will be more wheat than white.

Because I love you all, here are some links so that you, too, can amaze your friends and make your enemies jealous:

The original New York Times article about No-Knead Bread

The youtube video so you can watch the process

You’re going to be so happy!!

PS - I cooked mine in a cast iron Dutch oven.
PPS - I’m going to take pictures next time. Let’s all take pictures and have a BREAD SPREAD!

September 28, 2007

Okay - this is it. The last day to sign up for my online class. Go here for more info and a way to get in on the action.

Also, is everyone getting involved with the whole Giving thing? I admire Clinton so much for what he’s doing to make a difference in the world. I’ve volunteered (using commitments.org) to help me find a perfect match for my time and my skills. I’m going to be working on editing and composing letters for 2nd Chance 4 Pets, an organization dedicated to making sure our pets are taken care of in case something happens to us.

There are literally thousands of opportunities for giving, hundreds you can do from home. Did you know people who volunteer live longer?

And speaking of making a difference - this year, Dotes and I are participating in Heifer International - making one big donation that will be our Christmas/Hanukkah gift to everyone we love. Honestly, all our friends pretty much have everything they need, and what better way to celebrate the season than to transform a family’s life. If you haven’t heard of Heifer’s International, go check it out.

There’s still time to sign up for ForensicU - an all forensic weekend sponsored by Sister’s in Crime. It’s running from Nov 1 - 4 in St. Louis, and I’m so excited about it! Here’s the info: ForensicU

September 25, 2007

I haven’t done one of these posts for awhile, but since this is working out so well for me, I thought I’d share. Each day, I try to start out with either steel-cut oats, whole grain cereal or a healthy smoothie:

1/4 cup silken tofu
1/4 cup soy milk (I use organic vanilla)
2 tbsp flax seed
1 tbsp flax oil
1 frozen banana
a few pieces of frozen peaches or some frozen berries
1 4 oz container of probiotic yogurt

Blend away!

Then, for lunch, I have either a cabbage/veggie Asian salad, or a Miso soup with cabbage/veggies.

Each Sunday I chop up:

1 head Nappa cabbage
1/4 to 1/2 head red cabbage
1 bunch scallions
2 red peppers
3-4 sliced carrots
3-4 ribs celery (sliced)
several sliced radishes
a bunch of sweet peas
anything else that looks good and crunchy

I make sure it’s all completely dry (yay salad spinner!) then I mix it all up and put it in one or two ziploc bags.

I decide, depending on my mood or the weather if I want salad or soup. If it’s salad, well, that’s simple - throw cabbage/veggies in a bowl. Add dressing. Eat. If it’s soup, I add some miso to boiling water, then chuck in cabbage/veggies. I also add some buckwheat soba or udon noodles to the soup, cause I like them. Sometimes I’ll add leftover chicken, which I shred or chop.

I find it’s much simpler when I don’t have to think about breakfast or lunch. I just know it’s going to be good, and good for me. and the big bags of cabbage/veggies last all week, and they really do stay fresh. So it’s only dinner that I have to worry about, and mostly the answer to that is to go out. :)

Anyway, that’s my Tip for the Day. Oh, and I try all kinds of Asian dressing, all of which have:

light soy
rice wine vinegar
whey sugar
a little sesame oil
a little flax oil
a little other oil, maybe

and I sometimes add:

mustard
mirin
toasted sesame seeds
peanut butter

although not all at the same time.

You guys have any neato tips to share?

September 22, 2007

Course No.: 103

Workshop Description: Here’s what I believe: Novels that involve the reader are about characters. Special characters. Characters who, through the course of the novel, go through a transformation. In romance novels, the characters transform because of their involvement with the other primary character (as opposed to, say, finding Moby Dick). I also believe that the only reason for plot is to force our characters into situations that make them have to chose. To transform.

The Core Decision is all about creating characters. It’s about using your own life, the joys, the tragedies, the love, the desperation that made us who we are. It’s about breathing life into your hero and heroine and your villain so that each of them leap off the page and into the reader’s heart. In this workshop, we will cover:

The Core Decision

* The Child’s Interpretation
* The Decision
* The Fallout
* Reinforcements
* Recognition
* The New Decision
* Actions = Transformations

The Process of Discovery

* Remembering
* Writing it out
* Shame
* Pain

The Fatal Flaw

* Character Arc and Emotions
* Transference — how plot reveals character
* Multiple Levels of Interaction — All the Yous of You

About the Instructor: Jolie Kramer, who writes romance under the name Jo Leigh, is a two-time RITA finalist and bestselling author of over 45 novels. She began her career in film, where she studied with Robert McKee, Syd Field and other brilliant teachers. Her TV series Mystagogue was optioned by Cinemax, and her screenplay Geezer’s Run was optioned by Northern Lights Productions. She also ghost-authored Great Big Beautiful Doll- The Anna Nicole Smith Story. Jolie has taught story structure and writing classes in workshops all over the country. To get her complete bibliography and learn more about her, go to www.joleigh.com.

Deadline to Register: September 28th.

September 20, 2007

Yeehaw! It’s the last day of Sweating with Sven! How’d you do? What did you learn?

Go here and let us all know about your experience, and what you’ve taken from the challenge.

Me? I learned a lot about myself, and made some changes to my writing life. It’s all good.

Thanks to all who went through this, and I hope to see you next round!