Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
The Balancing Act
Speaking of balancing act, I spent a portion of yesterday updating this blog, and then my two-page post disappeared on me. Grrr. I was ready to throw my computer out the window yesterday. Today is a new day. So let's try this again!
Life is getting busier, but when does it ever slow down? Is this when burnout occurs? If so, I'm in trouble. But who isn't feeling the pressure these days, right?
The latest and greatest in my life...in no particular order:
1. Getting through Second Round of Edits on my Book
Thank God for my chick-lit critique writing group. Without them, I'd still be writing in passive voice, using adverbs freely and forgetting about contractions. I guess I like to use longer words. I cannot tell you why either. Ha! I thought after my first round of edits, I'd be golden and querying my ms off to a handful of agents. Wrong! However, the more I make edits the more I fall in love with the story, so this is a good thing...even thought it's taking forever and there are not enough hours in the day! I'm growing so impatient. Anyone else have this problem?
2. Best Piece of Writing Advice thus Far
I have two.
1. Keeping writing and finish the book.
2. The book needs to move forward. If there is a sentence, paragraph or chapters that stall the story, trash em.
This is a scary thought for me because currently I have two chapters that might be stalling the story. If my intuition is telling me they are, then I should trash, right? But these are also the chapters I woke up at 4 a.m. to write. Do I really want to let in that I could have slept instead?
3. I have been hired as a freelance writer for EaganPatch.com
Finally! I get paid to write! Have I mentioned how much I love LinkedIn? I do. A gal called me a month ago through LinkedIn asking if I'd be interested in becoming an editor for Patch in Shakopee. After having a few more conversations, we decided I didn't have enough editorial experience but I was able to write. Shakopee is still searching for an editor so she mentioned writing for Eagan, since I spend most of my life there working. Patch was started by aol.com. It's an online "patch" of a community's latest news.
My "paid" writing gig began last week. And the two articles were a lot of fun to write. The first is about English speaking students (juniors and seniors) at Eagan High School teaching immigrants (non-English speaking students) the English language. Can you imagine ttransferring from a different country to a new school full of teens and not knowing a lick of English?! This is such a cool program. There are some great teachers out there!
My next article is about Internet Safety. A couple things that shocked me:
1. Most fourth graders have cell phones.
2. Cyberbullying is more common that I thought.
3. Webcams need to be covered up at night, unless you want someone remotely taping you from the outside world. Yes, it's possible and it does happen. So either close your laptop at night or hang a hat over your camera when you go to sleep. SICK! Basically visit this website if you are kind of lost in the technology world. It's a library of information! http://www.netsmartz411.org/.
Will I be able to write two articles per week and juggle everything else? I'm not sure... Verdict is out. The launch of EaganPatch will be November 11.
4. Metal toxicity
Karl and I attended a seminar at Finish Line Chiropractor in Burnsville on toxicity. Dr. Delrae Messer spoke (and, yes, she's smokin hot). I can't believe the amount of people who take three, five, eight pills a day, hoping they will cure their illness. A lot of these "new age" illnesses are caused by inflammation. I mean, where was fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, restless leg syndrome, ADHD, years ago? Why now?
She explained that a lot of these new age diseases have to do with environmental toxins. Think dishwasher detergent, lotions, corn fed meats, plastics, microwaves and the water we drink. All that stuff is passed down through our mothers into our cells. But I also believe in doctors and that some medications are needed in order to survive. That we can't help. My interest was piqued though. Karl and I are both getting a metals test done to find out what's going on in our bodies. We have to pee in a cup for an entire day.
1. Karl is extremely tired all the time and has passed all his blood work and sleep apnea tests. So what's going on?
2. Me...I'm losing my hair again and I'm always freezing cold. My feet turn white when they get cold enough. I'll keep you posted on the results.
5. I'm getting so excited for Thanksgiving!!!
I love long weekends. And I love long weekends at home with my family...all of them. Yes, Mark and Tot are coming home from South Africa and I can't wait. My dad is even breaking open the Jack Daniel's Single Barrel.
6. Polish Vodka anyone?
My traveling brother Mike went to Poland a few months ago and brought back Polish vodka for us all to try. He even brought some for my grandparents to taste this past weekend. My grandpa fell in love with it, and I learned how well he speaks Polish! No wonder he talks backwards! My mission is to try to find this vodka in the states. Anyone know? It's supposed to be an after dinner drink; something to settle the stomach. The only thing I can find is Krupnik honey vodka, but it doesn't look like the bottle my brother brought home. There was definitely honey in the bottle though!
Until next time...
Your only treasures are those which you carry in your heart.
- Demophilus
Life is getting busier, but when does it ever slow down? Is this when burnout occurs? If so, I'm in trouble. But who isn't feeling the pressure these days, right?
The latest and greatest in my life...in no particular order:
1. Getting through Second Round of Edits on my Book
Thank God for my chick-lit critique writing group. Without them, I'd still be writing in passive voice, using adverbs freely and forgetting about contractions. I guess I like to use longer words. I cannot tell you why either. Ha! I thought after my first round of edits, I'd be golden and querying my ms off to a handful of agents. Wrong! However, the more I make edits the more I fall in love with the story, so this is a good thing...even thought it's taking forever and there are not enough hours in the day! I'm growing so impatient. Anyone else have this problem?
2. Best Piece of Writing Advice thus Far
I have two.
1. Keeping writing and finish the book.
2. The book needs to move forward. If there is a sentence, paragraph or chapters that stall the story, trash em.
This is a scary thought for me because currently I have two chapters that might be stalling the story. If my intuition is telling me they are, then I should trash, right? But these are also the chapters I woke up at 4 a.m. to write. Do I really want to let in that I could have slept instead?
3. I have been hired as a freelance writer for EaganPatch.com
Finally! I get paid to write! Have I mentioned how much I love LinkedIn? I do. A gal called me a month ago through LinkedIn asking if I'd be interested in becoming an editor for Patch in Shakopee. After having a few more conversations, we decided I didn't have enough editorial experience but I was able to write. Shakopee is still searching for an editor so she mentioned writing for Eagan, since I spend most of my life there working. Patch was started by aol.com. It's an online "patch" of a community's latest news.
My "paid" writing gig began last week. And the two articles were a lot of fun to write. The first is about English speaking students (juniors and seniors) at Eagan High School teaching immigrants (non-English speaking students) the English language. Can you imagine ttransferring from a different country to a new school full of teens and not knowing a lick of English?! This is such a cool program. There are some great teachers out there!
My next article is about Internet Safety. A couple things that shocked me:
1. Most fourth graders have cell phones.
2. Cyberbullying is more common that I thought.
3. Webcams need to be covered up at night, unless you want someone remotely taping you from the outside world. Yes, it's possible and it does happen. So either close your laptop at night or hang a hat over your camera when you go to sleep. SICK! Basically visit this website if you are kind of lost in the technology world. It's a library of information! http://www.netsmartz411.org/.
Will I be able to write two articles per week and juggle everything else? I'm not sure... Verdict is out. The launch of EaganPatch will be November 11.
4. Metal toxicity
Karl and I attended a seminar at Finish Line Chiropractor in Burnsville on toxicity. Dr. Delrae Messer spoke (and, yes, she's smokin hot). I can't believe the amount of people who take three, five, eight pills a day, hoping they will cure their illness. A lot of these "new age" illnesses are caused by inflammation. I mean, where was fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, restless leg syndrome, ADHD, years ago? Why now?
She explained that a lot of these new age diseases have to do with environmental toxins. Think dishwasher detergent, lotions, corn fed meats, plastics, microwaves and the water we drink. All that stuff is passed down through our mothers into our cells. But I also believe in doctors and that some medications are needed in order to survive. That we can't help. My interest was piqued though. Karl and I are both getting a metals test done to find out what's going on in our bodies. We have to pee in a cup for an entire day.
1. Karl is extremely tired all the time and has passed all his blood work and sleep apnea tests. So what's going on?
2. Me...I'm losing my hair again and I'm always freezing cold. My feet turn white when they get cold enough. I'll keep you posted on the results.
5. I'm getting so excited for Thanksgiving!!!
I love long weekends. And I love long weekends at home with my family...all of them. Yes, Mark and Tot are coming home from South Africa and I can't wait. My dad is even breaking open the Jack Daniel's Single Barrel.
6. Polish Vodka anyone?
My traveling brother Mike went to Poland a few months ago and brought back Polish vodka for us all to try. He even brought some for my grandparents to taste this past weekend. My grandpa fell in love with it, and I learned how well he speaks Polish! No wonder he talks backwards! My mission is to try to find this vodka in the states. Anyone know? It's supposed to be an after dinner drink; something to settle the stomach. The only thing I can find is Krupnik honey vodka, but it doesn't look like the bottle my brother brought home. There was definitely honey in the bottle though!
Until next time...
Your only treasures are those which you carry in your heart.
- Demophilus
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
My Bro, Mike...The Guy Next Door
Most of you know I have two pretty cool brothers: Mike and Mark. Without them, I think I'd be a different person. Actually, I know I would. Thanks to them I learned to drive a stick (kind of). I developed a thick skin (bless my younger brother for making back-up beeper noises whenever I crossed paths with him in the hallway. Good thing round butts are in these days, right Mark?) Growing up with them, I discovered that men are simple creatures, and us women tend to complicate things by over thinking (at least I do). AND I recognized that I really wanted to marry someone who had both my brothers' characteristics mixed into one, awesome guy. And there was Karl...
ANYWAY.... since I live right next door to my oldest brother, Mike, I had to choose him for Shakopee's GUY'S NEXT DOOR contest. My younger brother Mark is thrilled he is living in South Africa at the moment (whatever). Several men from Shakopee (population 21,000+) were nominated by someone (friends, wives, sisters, etc) to partake in a community calendar. Mike has been selected as a possible candidate, but I now need your help voting him in! Voting ends October 31.
Maybe I chose Mike because he is my next door neighbor (seems fitting, doesn't it?) and he's about the nicest guy I have ever met. Truthfully, I had to nominate him for this contest because he really IS the guy next door - as in the guy who will do ANYTHING to make people around him happy.
I think there are five facts we all know about Mike:
Rumor has it, my parents named Mike after the LIFE cereal commercials back in '77...He Likes It! Hey, Mikey! My mom said his first word was "Ernie" and he used to ask questions she never had answers for, such as, why do I wrinkle in the bathtub and whales don't? Or, why isn't our skin as beautiful as other nationalities? Not quite the questions I asked...
Besides being the most giving person, he has a spirit about him that is contagious, maybe this is why so many people want to be around him, especially me. Hope Karl doesn't mind Mike being our neighbor for many years to come. Mike's involved in anything and everything he can get his hands on: volleyball, marathons, beer brewing, traveling, church ministries, work, gardening, cooking, earning his MBA, etc... What hasn't he done?
You get the picture! I'd love for you to vote for him if you can! Vote away (see below)!! Thank you!
ANYWAY.... since I live right next door to my oldest brother, Mike, I had to choose him for Shakopee's GUY'S NEXT DOOR contest. My younger brother Mark is thrilled he is living in South Africa at the moment (whatever). Several men from Shakopee (population 21,000+) were nominated by someone (friends, wives, sisters, etc) to partake in a community calendar. Mike has been selected as a possible candidate, but I now need your help voting him in! Voting ends October 31.
Maybe I chose Mike because he is my next door neighbor (seems fitting, doesn't it?) and he's about the nicest guy I have ever met. Truthfully, I had to nominate him for this contest because he really IS the guy next door - as in the guy who will do ANYTHING to make people around him happy.
I think there are five facts we all know about Mike:
- He smiles more than the average person; perhaps more than anyone you and I have ever met.
- The guy is the most selfless person on the planet.
- He loves maps and rarely gets lost. If he does, he calls it an adventure.
- He loves the smell of bleach
- His life can be summed up in three words: The Amazing Race.
Rumor has it, my parents named Mike after the LIFE cereal commercials back in '77...He Likes It! Hey, Mikey! My mom said his first word was "Ernie" and he used to ask questions she never had answers for, such as, why do I wrinkle in the bathtub and whales don't? Or, why isn't our skin as beautiful as other nationalities? Not quite the questions I asked...
Besides being the most giving person, he has a spirit about him that is contagious, maybe this is why so many people want to be around him, especially me. Hope Karl doesn't mind Mike being our neighbor for many years to come. Mike's involved in anything and everything he can get his hands on: volleyball, marathons, beer brewing, traveling, church ministries, work, gardening, cooking, earning his MBA, etc... What hasn't he done?
You get the picture! I'd love for you to vote for him if you can! Vote away (see below)!! Thank you!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
The Amazing World of Social Networking
I used to hate Twitter. I didn't quite get it. Then one day this spring I started to play around with it and before I knew it, I was hooked. I started to like it more than Facebook. Twitter is simple. (And now I love Twitter so much I just had to add it in my manuscript.) Soon, I found a large group of aspiring writers through Twitter. Some had published books, others were in the editing phase and the rest were right in the same place as I was...the beginning stages. But no matter who I asked, most were willing to share whatever knowledge they could to help me along my writing way.
Before I knew it, I received an email from a gal named Gabriela living in Brazil. "I am thinking about starting up a chick-lit critique group, are you interested?" she asked.
"Wow, someone all the way from Brazil? Cool. This Twitter thing is neater than I thought!" I remember saying out loud to myself.
There are currently five women in our critique group. We mainly focus on women's literature but there is a little supernatural and young adult genre thrown in the mix too. We take turns emailing the entire group one to three chapters of our manuscript once a month and we spend a week reviewing each other's manuscripts. And let me tell you...this has been SO helpful! We're Twitter friends and Facebook pals and now follow each other blogs. What would I have done ten years ago? God, I love technology!
Gabriela is a Brazilian journalist and writer. She writes women's fiction and is currently trying to finish her first English-language novel. She's just like me in a way. Gabriela has a full-time job, not necessary where her heart lies, but she has an intense passion to go after her dream of becoming a full-time novelist. We both want to find a job that will allow us to travel and write. Someday, Gabriela!
Gabriela had a wonderful idea to start a Women's Fiction Month in October. She wanted to meet even more women fiction writers and form a bigger network for all of us. I say, "GREAT IDEA!"
Gabriela's blog (which is pink!) is completely devoted to women’s fiction this month. She spends time interviewing writers and asking writers to post their thoughts as they go through all the phases of writing. She even was able to contact Jodi Picoult (yes, the writer of My Sister's Keeper) to answer a few questions for her blog! Sweet!
Below is my blog posting on Gabriela's site! In my post, I shared my latest writing struggles. I finished my manuscript but questioned why wasn't I celebrating... Hope you enjoy!
http://aspiringwriterworld.blogspot.com/2010/10/word-from-crit-chick-i-finished-my.html
Keep on writing!
"When we dream together, it is not just a dream. It is the beginning of reality."
- Dom Helder Camara
Before I knew it, I received an email from a gal named Gabriela living in Brazil. "I am thinking about starting up a chick-lit critique group, are you interested?" she asked.
"Wow, someone all the way from Brazil? Cool. This Twitter thing is neater than I thought!" I remember saying out loud to myself.
There are currently five women in our critique group. We mainly focus on women's literature but there is a little supernatural and young adult genre thrown in the mix too. We take turns emailing the entire group one to three chapters of our manuscript once a month and we spend a week reviewing each other's manuscripts. And let me tell you...this has been SO helpful! We're Twitter friends and Facebook pals and now follow each other blogs. What would I have done ten years ago? God, I love technology!
Gabriela is a Brazilian journalist and writer. She writes women's fiction and is currently trying to finish her first English-language novel. She's just like me in a way. Gabriela has a full-time job, not necessary where her heart lies, but she has an intense passion to go after her dream of becoming a full-time novelist. We both want to find a job that will allow us to travel and write. Someday, Gabriela!
Gabriela had a wonderful idea to start a Women's Fiction Month in October. She wanted to meet even more women fiction writers and form a bigger network for all of us. I say, "GREAT IDEA!"
Gabriela's blog (which is pink!) is completely devoted to women’s fiction this month. She spends time interviewing writers and asking writers to post their thoughts as they go through all the phases of writing. She even was able to contact Jodi Picoult (yes, the writer of My Sister's Keeper) to answer a few questions for her blog! Sweet!
Below is my blog posting on Gabriela's site! In my post, I shared my latest writing struggles. I finished my manuscript but questioned why wasn't I celebrating... Hope you enjoy!
http://aspiringwriterworld.blogspot.com/2010/10/word-from-crit-chick-i-finished-my.html
Keep on writing!
"When we dream together, it is not just a dream. It is the beginning of reality."
- Dom Helder Camara
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Star Tribune Blog - What Do You Think Heaven is Like?
Here is my latest article posted on Star Tribune YourVoices online blog! I guess you can say I have been thinking a lot about heaven...
http://www.startribune.com/yourvoices/103829199.html?elr=KArks47cQiUdcOy_9cP3DiU47cQUU
"God puts each morning, each new chance of life into our hands as a gift to see what we'll do with it."
http://www.startribune.com/yourvoices/103829199.html?elr=KArks47cQiUdcOy_9cP3DiU47cQUU
"God puts each morning, each new chance of life into our hands as a gift to see what we'll do with it."
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Dexter Has Taken Over My Life
Earlier this summer my husband Karl asked me if I wanted to start watching a new show. We were both sad our favorite show LOST was over for good. No more smoke monsters, Dharma Initiative and confusion for us. Part of me was okay to let go of LOST. After all, this meant I had more free time to write! And I did spend the summer writing, a lot. I finished my manuscript!
But then Karl brought up Dexter again a couple weeks ago. "Just one episode," he insisted, "if we don't like it, we won't ever have to watch it again."
Little did I know I would become partially obsessed. Dexter is in my dreams at night. I can't seem to let the concept of the show settle in my head on its own. I need answers now. I want to know Dexter. Sometimes I hear his voice throughout the day. Never in my wildest imagination did I ever think I'd like a show about a serial killer who kills bad people, and has no remorse or emotion. Anyone who knows me, knows I love feelings!!! Dexter is different. I mean, a killer who chops up the bad people in this world is still doing bad, but the show is a twisted kind of good. He's taking out the trash. But I bet God wouldn't like this... I know, I know, the show is fiction, but still it is BRILLIANT. I think I'm drawn to the characters the most. Each one fits their role perfectly. I can't find one who bothers me.
We finished up season one on Monday night. Our bedtime is early and we stayed up close to midnight just to finish. The ice truck killer had our heads spinning!
If I were you, I'd head to your local video store and pick up Season One of Dexter. And then message me because I want to know if I'm the only one who is this crazy about the show. I'm going to warn you, it's addicting... I hear the books are even better. Oh, dear - I'm in trouble!
Have you seen Dexter? What do you think?
But then Karl brought up Dexter again a couple weeks ago. "Just one episode," he insisted, "if we don't like it, we won't ever have to watch it again."
Little did I know I would become partially obsessed. Dexter is in my dreams at night. I can't seem to let the concept of the show settle in my head on its own. I need answers now. I want to know Dexter. Sometimes I hear his voice throughout the day. Never in my wildest imagination did I ever think I'd like a show about a serial killer who kills bad people, and has no remorse or emotion. Anyone who knows me, knows I love feelings!!! Dexter is different. I mean, a killer who chops up the bad people in this world is still doing bad, but the show is a twisted kind of good. He's taking out the trash. But I bet God wouldn't like this... I know, I know, the show is fiction, but still it is BRILLIANT. I think I'm drawn to the characters the most. Each one fits their role perfectly. I can't find one who bothers me.
We finished up season one on Monday night. Our bedtime is early and we stayed up close to midnight just to finish. The ice truck killer had our heads spinning!
If I were you, I'd head to your local video store and pick up Season One of Dexter. And then message me because I want to know if I'm the only one who is this crazy about the show. I'm going to warn you, it's addicting... I hear the books are even better. Oh, dear - I'm in trouble!
Have you seen Dexter? What do you think?
Saturday, September 11, 2010
I Finished my FIRST Manuscript
I can't believe I haven't posted anything about finishing my manuscript yet. I'm in a bit of a walking coma to say the least. My eyes are completely fried after spending most of the day revising and editing my completed manuscript. There's that word again...completed.
Last Monday, I had finished the goal I set out to accomplish. I ended my manuscript at 297 pages, which seems absolutely nuts in my eyes. I can't believe I had that much to write about, but I did and the book is still growing. After today, I'm at 303 pages and have revised up to chapter eight. The more I revise, the more excited I get about my book. How on earth did I come up with these ideas?
Revising and editing takes a long time - much longer than I ever anticipated. I thought I'd go back and read the first draft of my manuscript and be completely happy. Wrong. There are so many pieces of information I missed. My patience is wearing thin. I'm one of those people who likes for things to happen right away. I want my manuscript off to agents yesterday, but I know it's not ready. I need to LOVE it. I do, but I'm a perfectionist and I know I can make the story better.
There are not enough hours in the day.
I had to pull myself away from my computer this afternoon to go on a hike with Karl. The weather was spectacular and here I was stuck behind my laptop, like I am already five days out of the week at work. I knew I had to get away because my neck was screaming in pain. I don't like sitting still in the first place - I have way too much energy for that and was losing my mind over here.
I will say writing "The End" was one of the coolest feelings, but not ccompletely what I thought it would feel like and I think it's because I know I'm just not there yet. I think once I finish editing, I might shed a tear or two. Actually, I will be going out and celebrating. Right now, I still have holes in my manuscript. I'm scared to fall asleep for fear I will lose my memory or something. What if I forget where I left off?
I tend to welcome interruptions throughout the day. I'm a doer and a helper and this shows in my current manuscript. One chapter someone had blue eyes and three chapters later they have green. Sigh! My goal now is to make the entire story flow.
This is where having a full-time job becomes a struggle. I have to leave all my thoughts and ideas about my book behind because otherwise they will consume me on a daily basis. I even dream about my book. The weekends are meant for charging ahead and getting as far as I can before the next one comes. During the week, I have too many events going on that I can maybe give an hour or two towards my book. This makes piecing the story together difficult. I'm inspired more on certain days than others and it shows in my writing.
I'm still celebrating though because this is a huge feat - maybe a small step in the writing world but a gigantic one for me. I can't believe I actually did this, and it's that feeling that's pushing me to keep going.
For now...it's time to dream about that book of mine! Good night!
Last Monday, I had finished the goal I set out to accomplish. I ended my manuscript at 297 pages, which seems absolutely nuts in my eyes. I can't believe I had that much to write about, but I did and the book is still growing. After today, I'm at 303 pages and have revised up to chapter eight. The more I revise, the more excited I get about my book. How on earth did I come up with these ideas?
Revising and editing takes a long time - much longer than I ever anticipated. I thought I'd go back and read the first draft of my manuscript and be completely happy. Wrong. There are so many pieces of information I missed. My patience is wearing thin. I'm one of those people who likes for things to happen right away. I want my manuscript off to agents yesterday, but I know it's not ready. I need to LOVE it. I do, but I'm a perfectionist and I know I can make the story better.
There are not enough hours in the day.
I had to pull myself away from my computer this afternoon to go on a hike with Karl. The weather was spectacular and here I was stuck behind my laptop, like I am already five days out of the week at work. I knew I had to get away because my neck was screaming in pain. I don't like sitting still in the first place - I have way too much energy for that and was losing my mind over here.
I will say writing "The End" was one of the coolest feelings, but not ccompletely what I thought it would feel like and I think it's because I know I'm just not there yet. I think once I finish editing, I might shed a tear or two. Actually, I will be going out and celebrating. Right now, I still have holes in my manuscript. I'm scared to fall asleep for fear I will lose my memory or something. What if I forget where I left off?
I tend to welcome interruptions throughout the day. I'm a doer and a helper and this shows in my current manuscript. One chapter someone had blue eyes and three chapters later they have green. Sigh! My goal now is to make the entire story flow.
This is where having a full-time job becomes a struggle. I have to leave all my thoughts and ideas about my book behind because otherwise they will consume me on a daily basis. I even dream about my book. The weekends are meant for charging ahead and getting as far as I can before the next one comes. During the week, I have too many events going on that I can maybe give an hour or two towards my book. This makes piecing the story together difficult. I'm inspired more on certain days than others and it shows in my writing.
I'm still celebrating though because this is a huge feat - maybe a small step in the writing world but a gigantic one for me. I can't believe I actually did this, and it's that feeling that's pushing me to keep going.
For now...it's time to dream about that book of mine! Good night!
