headway

Every once in a while I manage to get everything I planned to accomplish done in a day. Yesterday was one of those days. I started the short story, became totally caught up in it and forced myself to stop at 2K words. I then moved on to Maddy Blue and edited 30 pages. I managed to get the laundry caught up, folded and put away. I made dinner. I supervised the kids while they cleaned the house. I ran all my errands.

It is amazing when everything clicks. Rare. Exciting.

Today is a brand new day and I have high hopes for staying on this track.

light bulbs

Thanks to Oprah, when the light bulb goes off for you, we now call that instant an 'ah-ha' moment. Yesterday I spent a nice time visiting with my writing buddy Kaycee and we discussed how over the past week we both had ah-ha moments. Kaycee has a dear friend in the trauma unit of a local hospital due to a motorcycle accident and another friend just told her she suffered a heart attack last week. For me, I learned that my grandfather, after being dumped by my grandmother prior to their eventual marriage, once attempted suicide.

That knowledge about my grandfather, who I never knew that well, gave me great pause. If but for a few inches, I wouldn't be here. My kids wouldn't be here. Makes you wonder if there isn't a big plan that caused him to miss. A reason for him to survive and pass those genes on down through time.

I've got a lot to do this week due to the slacker attitude I've had towards my writing over the past month. Better get moving.

friday recap

When you return from vacation in the middle of the week, the remaining few days are totally whacked.

The daily highs for the past week: went to Magic Springs/Crystal Falls and rode way too many roller coasters but recovered in their incredible wave pool and lazy river. Drove home, but on the way stopped at Petit Jean state park, awesome place. Read Harry Potter #7. Hurriedly did laundry and stocked the pantry because my fave uncle arrived on his return trip to New Mexico. Visited with said uncle and treated him to a great Chinese dinner. Today my uncle starts for home and I'm heading out with the offspring for a round of back to school shopping.

Up for the weekend, meet with crit/writing buddy on Sunday.

Goal for next week, revise the next 150 on Maddy Blue, write first draft of one short story rattling in my wee head and start to work on the book store stuff I've put off for the past two weeks.

Ambition, thy name is Liz.

thursday's tidbit

This tidbit has nothing at all to do with the craft of writing, but has everything to do with inspiration.

I've always had a fertile imagination and can daydream and imagine with the best of them. As I've gotten older, the time to sit and let my brain wander has dwindled. The vacation we just took afforded me the opportunity for some 'down' time as well as some great opportunities to people watch.

Life is so hectic and busy and for me so filled with the seemingly same sort of cookie cutter suburban people that I tend to forget how varied folks can be. Traipsing through Arkansas was a great reminder of the amazing quirks, stories and personalities out there to mine for my own fictional fun.

Not sure where I'm going with this, but I guess my point is, take a minute to step outside your 'zone' and look at what is around you with new eyes. You might find inspiration in an unexpected place or person. I did.

i'm back

Got home from the quick but lovely vacation. A fun time was had by all as we did the following: visited the Clinton Library, played putt-putt, canoed/kayaked the Oachita River, spent a day at Magic Springs-Crystal Falls and then scouted out Petit Jean state park for a future vacation.

Of course as our little escape bridged the release of Harry Potter, I found the nearest B&N and swooped in Saturday morning to purchase it. Finished it last night....I need to reread the last 50 pages as I fear I might have missed what happened to a few characters.

Nothing new to report on my own writing, although I did have a few short story ideas while floating down the river.

mad dash

The whole fam damily is headed out tomorrow for our mini vacation. Today begins the mad dash until we leave. Besides laundry, packing, shopping and cleaning I have a few things I'd like to do for myself. Like finish the "Killing Floor" and work on Maddy Blue and maybe find time to paint my toenails.

So, no crafty words of wisdom today. Buh-bye.

success

Yeah, I just finished a spastic round of editing. I managed to get a chapter done before the haul across town for the music lesson. Then after we got home, I finished another chapter. Keep going you say....well I would except for one very small problem. You see, while I was searching my nightstand, yes the one with the book pile, I found yet another paper back that I'd been meaning to read. Someone, I think it was my darling read-a-holic mother, gave me Lee Child's "Killing Floor."

I've never read Lee Child's stuff...but my gosh, what a nice author photo on the back cover:) Anyway, I'm hooked and am now headed downstairs to immerse myself in Jack Reacher's world. Can I just say, I now understand why Miss Snark waxed poetic about this writer and his character. Wowsa.