Over and Over Again

Despite my hope that my latest project would be the "one", the project that becomes my first finished novel, I am not making much progress. If the story does not come easy to me in the beginning it only gets harder as I try to force myself to continue. The only projects I have made any headway on are ones where the first third of the novel flows quickly out of me. Then I struggle with the middle.
I suppose I will be starting over on a new project. I know that all these starts and stops keep me from ever getting to the words THE END but the way I look at it is it is all part of the process.

Song Lyrics of the Day

It's a pity, it's a downright crime
It happens all the time
You wanna stay little daddy's girl
You wanna hide from the viscous world...
Outside
Don't cry,
you know the tears will do no good
So dry your eyes
Your daddy, he's the iron man
Battle ship wrecked on dry land
Your mamma, she's a bitter bride
She'll never be satisfied
You know, and that's not right
But don't cry
You know the tears will do no good
So dry your eyes
They told you life is hard
Misery from the start,
it's dul,i it's slow, it's painful
But I tell you life is sweet
In spite of the misery
There's so much more, be grateful
Well, who do you believe?

Natalie Merchent

Some advice

I found an article about
Elmore Leonard’s Ten Rules of Writing
here is a link
http://www.elmoreleonard.com/


I am hooked on his novels. If you haven't read him rush out and get one because you are missing out.

Family Drama

Last week I read Welfare Brat: a Memoir by Mary Childers. In it she recounts the personal truth about her family, including unplanned pregnacies, alcoholism and the way families help and hurt each other. To tell her story honestly she had to shine a light on the ugly corners of her family history. I admired that she was able to do this unflinchingly. I could not imagine writing such a novel about my family while my mother or any of my siblings were alive. I doubt they would speak to me if I did and I would not blame them one bit. I enjoyed her book but I am not brave enough to write a similiar one of my own.

Song of the Day
All alone,
I came into the world
All alone,
I will someday die


Solid stone
is just sand and water, baby
Sand
and
water,
and a million years gone by

beth nielsen chapman

So many voices

I find it interesting when I slip into a new characters POV in a one of my projects. Each character thinks, sounds and acts differently. And usually in ways I never would. I find myself intimately acquantied with all different types of personalities. Yet it all comes from parts of my own subconscious.

What I am Reading- Swag by Elmore Leonard

Song of the Day
you are a china shop
and I am a bull
you are really good food
and I am full
I guess everything
is timing
I guess everything's
been said
so I am coming home
with an empty head
you'll say "
did they love you or what?"
I'll say
" they love what I do.
The only one who really
loves me is you."
and you'll say
" Girl did you kick some butt?"
and I'll say
" I don't really remember
but my fingers are sore
and my voice is too."

ANI DIFRANCO

Angela Nissel

I have mentioned before in this blog that the book The Broke Diaries by Angela Nissel cracked me up. It is one of the funniest books I have ever read. You will be able to relate if you have ever been poor but had the attitude" If I don't laugh I would cry." Angela is now coming out with her second book. This one is about growing up bi-racial.
Mixed debuts this month.
http://www.release2-1.com/rhpg/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780345481146
I suggest you check it out. I know I will.

Romance?

When I started this blog I was leaning toward wanting to write for Harlequin. But I was never completely sure that was the type of material it would be best for me to write. I knew I enjoyed reading the Intrigue line so I thought that woud translate to also enjoying writing Intrigue stories. But I quickly learned that it would take me years to complete even one and be quite a struggle because I was trying to fit myself into parameters that I would not normally fit into. I was trying to figure out the rules to writing a Intrigue thinking that if I could stick to some guidelines it would make writig so much simpler. I was looking for a shortcut. There are none.
Now I still brainstorm all types of ideas from chick lit to mainstream but I find I am most drawn to writing about people down on thier luck. I don;t want to over analyze it too much or wonder if I will fit into some kid of niche or if my ideas are marketable. i just need to write and figure that out later. Ican not edit a blank page or an idea in my mind.
This dream of becoming a published author has to be built on more than daydreams and new year eve resolutions. It can only be grown through the hard work of putting down words on paper that make some sort of sense and can be edited , hopefully, into a novel at least I can enjoy reading.

Check out this blog of a fellow writing friend of mine -http://mistywright.blogspot.com/

Song of the day

31 candles on her birthday cake
Next year
Thought by now
she'd have a man
Two car seats
and a minivan
But it still ain't here .....
She's drawn a line
that she won't cross
Her and time
are facing off
She says
" Something's gotta give!"
"Something's gotta give me
butterflies,
Something's gotta make me
feel alive,
Something's gotta give me
dreams at night,
Something's gotta make me
feel alright.
I don't know where it is.
But something's gotta give!"

Leanne Rimes

About Time

I have finally broken through my latest bout of writers' block. I started a new novel this week. It is about a middle aged man and woman who fall into a relationship with each other. Because both of them on thier own would be considered losers when they get together they are headed for disaster. I am not sure if this idea has legs but for now I am happy to be back in the business of writing.
What I am Reading- Black Like Me by John Howard Griffen

Song Lyrics of the Day
She spends her days up in the north park,
Watching the people as they pass
And all she wants is
just a little piece ofThis dream,
is that too much to ask?
With a safe home,
and a warm bed,
on a quiet little street......
All she wants is
just that something to hold onto,
that’s all she needs
If I could be like that,
I would give anything
Just to live one day,
in those shoes
If I could be like that,
what would I do,
What would I do?

Three Doors Down

Pledged

I have pledged, to the yahoo writers group that I am part of, to write a 1,000 words by next week. Can I break my slump and get back into the writing groove? I have been trying to start a novel, the work in progress title is Andre's Life, about a middle aged man released from jail who has to make a new start with his family and career, as told through the viewpoint of him and his family. So for the last few months I have been seeing in my minds eye Andre standing in a cell, clutching the bars, waiting for me to write the wods that set him on hs journey. At the same time I have been playing around with other ideas but none speak to me as strongly as Andre does. This week I will either have to write 1,000 words of his story or leave him behind for awhile.

Song of the day
When I get where I'm going
On the far side of the sky
The first thing that I'm gonna do
Is spread my wings and fly
I'm gonna land beside a lion
And run my fingers through his mane
Or I might find out what it's like
To ride a drop of rain
when I get where I'm going
There'll be only happy tears
I will shed the sins and struggles
I have carried all these years
And I'll leave my heart wide open
I will love and have no fear
when I get where I'm going
Don't cry for me down here
I'm gonna walk with my grand daddy
And he'll match me step for step
And I'll tell him how I missed him
Every minute since he left
Then I'll hug his neck ......
when I get where I'm going
Brad Paisley with Dolly Parton