Claimed by the Wolf playlist

by | Apr 10, 2009 | Uncategorized

Since revising means adding some new scenes and figuring out how to play up/bring out various elements, I’ve got the book playlist back on. It’s a big playlist for this one.

You’re a Wolf, Sea Wolf
Your Guardian Angel, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Half-Truism, Offspring
I’m Not Okay, My Chemical Romance
Fix You, Offspring
My Immortal, Evanescence
Hungry Like the Wolf, Duran Duran
Trouble, Pink
Love Is All Around, Joan Jett
Let’s Do It, Joan Jett/Paul Weste (Tank Girl)

Music alters brainwaves and it’s a good trick to get into the mindset of the story and characters. It helps keep the story in my head.

The first time I did a major revision and had to add new dialog, I went through this horrible stage of trying to get the damn voices back in my head when I couldn’t hear them anymore, and I’ve used playlists ever since. It brings the voices right back.

I know what I need to do with Kenric already. There were a lot of things he never said, and while he isn’t the most verbal hero I’ve ever written, the expression needs to be there in some form. Action, gesture, tone.

It begins

by | Apr 8, 2009 | Uncategorized

I mentioned a couple of entries ago that everything that could go wrong did go wrong with my last book (Shadow Guardians: Claimed by the Wolf). I finally turned it in because I had to, and have been waiting for the revisions since with a sense of work interrupted. I like to finish things, see, and it is not finished if I’m not satisfied with it and my editor is not satisfied with it. It’s been buzzing in the back of my head, nagging at me while I’ve worked on other things.

Yesterday I got the head’s up that edits were on the way, and today they arrived. I’ve had a chance to read the letter and yell, “Yes, that’s what’s wrong, and yes, that should fix it!” and get myself set up to begin the first round of changes. I expect to do at least three rounds: the line edit changes, the larger revision points, and then the final polish where I look to see if any scenes need something MORE and give it to them.

And after that, one last reading to see if I’m missing anything or if I can come up with any ways to improve the wording or make it better, before it goes back to NY. Where hopefully it will be categorized as finished, with both of us satisfied with the book.

Since this is book #20 for me, you’d think some things would get easier but each book remains a unique challenge and considering how many challenges this book presented, I’ve never been more grateful for editorial input.

Now the editing begins. Send chocolate and donuts.

Do be do be do

by | Apr 8, 2009 | Uncategorized

One of the things I love from reading Jack Canfield is that he talks about defining what you want to have, be, and do in your ideal life…and then starting to live it now. Maybe you don’t have all of what you want, but you can be and do a lot.

If I want more writing contracts, I need to write proposals and send them out. Every day, I have to choose to be a writer who works on my career. I have to do the work. Just that day’s portion, but if I want to have the job, I have to be the writer at work and do the job first. I really think you have to be and do before you can have in a lot of categories in life.

So having the life you want really comes down to what you decide to be and do on a daily basis. Do be do be do.

Waiting for the rush

by | Apr 7, 2009 | Uncategorized

Took a good long walk this morning, as part of my push to make exercise daily. It was a beautiful morning, and the walk was so enjoyable that it was well worth the hassle of getting shoes on kids and everybody out the door. But once I got back, I didn’t feel pumped up. I just wanted a nap.

Instead of a nap there was school, and lunch, and I weeded and folded laundry. Now sitting here with my coffee, still waiting for that post-workout rush. Maybe it’ll show up tomorrow.