the lack of writing

Unless you're living under a rock or just don't watch television, the writer's strike is starting to impact what's on the screen. I tuned in last night to watch the American Music Awards....I have a sickness that enables me to watch award shows with the daughters. I was pleasantly surprised to find the lack of writers made the show better. The presenters gave out awards, the musicians performed and all without any embarassing jokes or juvenile comments. The show was quick, to the point and other than Jimmy Kimmel trying to fill a few spots with what he thinks passes for comedy, painless.

Sad to say, but I didn't miss the writers. Now, I am missing the writers when it comes to the big three networks and the looming repeats. Thankfully I do have access to BBC America and the whole 'on demand' feature Comcast offers. I can watch Torchwood, Dr. Who and Blood Ties to my heart's content.

The lack of writing in my own life is going to resolve itself as soon as I begin a full reading of my completed first draft of Maddy Blue. I opened the file and read for about a half hour over the weekend and the old brain started to awaken and the creative juices began to bubble. All will be well there, it is just finding time to sit down and work on it. The doubt demons are sinking back into the shadows.

Like most folks, it is about carving out time to work on the book. Soccer season is winding down and although basketball season starts, it just isn't as demanding. Two days a week versus 4-5 days a week. The store is settling into a groove and I don't have to be there every day. The holidays are looming, but the shopping is almost done and what isn't purchased is just a mouse click away.

I'm looking forward to our journey south for the Turkey Day festivities. Those hours spent in the car will offer plenty of time to mull over Maddy and make some notes on the story. I can't read it, I get horribly car sick, but I can jot down ideas and hash out story odds and ends with the hubby.

I'm taking the next week off from the blog....and will resume next Monday....enjoy the holiday.

a dollop of doubt, please

I've got dollops on the brain, maybe because Cool Whip is on sale this week at my local grocery store. Hey, I bought two tubs of the stuff because not only is it fantastic on the old pumpkin pie, it is also great on hot cocoa.

Enough food talk. I'm having major doubts that I will ever return to either WIP. I've spent the last three months developing the bookstore, which by the way, is going amazingly well. My writing consists of blurbs for the local newspapers, our website, the Town's website and the Chamber of Commerce. The latest focus is the big VHS sale we are having mid December.

The old library is withdrawing every single VHS tape and book on cassette they own. Why? Well, they are installing a self checkout system and the system would wipe clean such tapes. Which then the patron would have to pay for because they didn't read the sign telling them not to use the system on such tapes. Funny in a very ironic way that the library has to remove materials because the library patrons DON'T READ!!

But, back to my lack of fiction writing. I've been away from Maddy and Lani so long now, that their mental tug/wail has been reduced to a mild whimper every now and then. Hence, my very large dollop of doubt. The muse is silent, I think she left the country. The creative juices have dried up like the Georgia lakes I see in the newspaper.

I've stalled out. You have to admit the problem in order to solve it, right?

out of whack

I wrenched my neck a few days ago and have been walking around doing a fantastic imitation of a robot. Aging sucks. Aging is not for wimps. Waaaaaah.

With my neck out of whack, sitting at the computer has not been the fun filled time it usually is for me. I've popped off and on, posted a few things here and there, but my usual blog reading has suffered.

Here are a few random thoughts and comments based on a rather painful week.

Middle daughter came home to inform me that a fellow student is passing around a petition to have "The Golden Compass" withdrawn from the school library because 'god' is killed in the series. Geez Louise, just great. Did allow the perfect time/opportunity for a lesson on petitions, censorship, fiction and religious zealotry.

Oldest daughter is knee deep in research projects. Now, that makes my heart sing. She finally has teachers who see the value in teaching their students about bibliographies, citations and crafting a research paper. Yeah...you go Ms. Tucker, Ms. Ford and Ms. Higg.

The quantity of gifts under the Christmas tree has fallen off, but our Christmas expenditures have risen drastically. Hooray, less to wrap. Boo hiss, more to pay.

That's all I can do today.....off to take the next dose of ibuprofin....

too funny

My DH sent this to me today, it came on the heels of a long conversation about the bookstore and some of the more hair pulling episodes I'm having or others are having.

Sunday's sermon was---Forgive Your Enemies.Toward the end of the service, the Minister asked, "How many of you have forgiven your enemies?"80% held up their hands.The Minister then repeated his question. All responded this time, except one small elderly lady. "Mrs. Jones? Are you not willing to forgive your enemies?" "I don't have any." She replied, smiling sweetly."Mrs. Jones, that is very unusual. How old are you?" "Ninety-eight."She replied."Oh Mrs. Jones, would you please come down in front & tell us all how a person can live ninety-eight years & not have an enemy in the world?"The little sweetheart of a lady tottered down the aisle, faced the congregation, and said: "I outlived the bitches."

On a totally different front, you've got to check out Dwight's blog today http://dwightwriting.blogspot.com/.

Way too funny. He started a discussion about youthful crushes. Made me think of that Friends episode and the laminated list..remember Ross and Isabella Rossilini?

Today would be the perfect day to write, except it is raining like a sonuvabi^%&....and the thunder and lightening is actually rattling the house. Yet again, the girls will not have a soccer game tonight. I think I need to ship the team over to Georgia. It might solve their rain crisis better than the governor praying on the front lawn. The girls' team has some serious mojo going on.

starts and stops

I read my third Lee Child book....Jack Reacher crawls under your skin and takes over your brain. I find myself contemplating what sort of adventure he'll go on next. I need to monitor the bookstore for new Lee Child donations.

Then in a total shock to the system, on the level of jumping into an outdoor pool right now, I bought the latest Lilith Saintcrow book, "Saint City Sinner." I just love the gritty in your face attitude of Dante Valentine.

Today brings another crazy day of soccer. The seasons don't end until after Turkey Day, I think we have three games the following week.

On other fronts, our wonderful neighbors may be moving back north, way north as in Canada. This bums me out on many levels. Great people, great kids, cool dog, they are the complete package as far as neighbors go.

Starts and stops....

subtle

I don't mince words. As my former library supervisor would attest, "Geez, Liz, tell us how you really feel."

More often than not folks I work or volunteer with appreciate my candor. I say what I mean. I don't massage the message, pretty, ugly or mediocre. My lack of a filter can get me in trouble at times, but the dust always seems to settle.

I also don't like to dwell on the small stuff. So when folks start to set in and discuss whether or not to spend a hundred bucks on flowers for the library, that falls into the no brainer category for me. If we have the money, the request seems reasonable, write the damn check. Why are we wasting time debating whether or not the Town or the Friends should pay for them?

What exactly does this have to do with my writing? I was pondering that today as I replayed the last few hours at the library and thought about coming home to work on Maddy Blue.

I don't do subtle. I'm not subtle. I'm not over the top in how I dress or talk, but if you ask me what I think, I'm going to tell you. I don't pull punches. My characters seem to all be the same way. I need to cultivate that silky smooth easy going persona and find a way to endow a few characters with those qualities. A book filled with 'call it like you see it' people can be a bit intense.

So, how do you go about writing personalities that you don't know? I've observed them all around me, but I get stuck when I try and interpret them into a character.

I think I need to noodle this a bit more.

friday

Hey, busy week around here.

I read two books, Persuader by Lee Child and Dreamquake by Elizabeth Knox.
The store had its best day ever: $315.00 in sales. Wahoooooo
I delivered the teacher coupons to 10 schools in town.
My kids have already had teachers ask if the Liz who signed the coupon is their mom..so I know the coupons have been distributed.
Having a nice visit with my MIL.
Having an unexpected visit from my hubby's cousin, one of my best friends, and the person responsible for introducing us, tomorrow.

Busy soccer day tomorrow and then not sure what is up for Sunday, but no doubt it will involve shopping as Susan is anxious to hit the local Pottery Barn outlet.

Have a good one.