Drunk On Writing

As my birthday approaches, I started thinking about just why I love writing and the best answer is it is the only thing that has kept my attention for over forty years. I started writing when I was a little girl with little poems and the moment one was published, I knew I had found something, which excited me.

When I was twelve, I started the great American novel fashioned after my all time favorite at the time, Gone With The Wind. I just knew if I could get it all together, I would have the best Civil War romance ever. Thank goodness, that book and all its iterations have remained hidden for years. Not that I haven’t thought about it, I have but I’ve also matured enough to realize it will never seen the light of day.

In all honesty, it shouldn’t. A lot of my work shouldn’t see the light of day because it never goes past the idea stage. Some actually get a little further but the moment I lose interest, I need to move on elsewhere. Again, some I actually get back to and some never. But I know these foibles about myself and accept them to a point.

You may wonder why I don’t accept them and me totally. Well, if I did more than acknowledge them, there would be a chance they would overwhelm me and I would have more than a handful of uncompleted work. Right now, that handful is okay. Anymore and I would doubt my ability to write or ever complete a project.

Another thing that I discovered in my twenties was the importance of writer meetings. I discovered this with my very first RWA national convention in Dallas and I never looked back. Matter of fact, yes I’m using a cliché, I am preparing to go to one today. Today’s meeting is all about synopsis writing and one can never learn enough about this craft.

Writers meetings can keep one actively thinking about writing. It can recharge you when the well is drying up and ideas aren’t coming as easily as they used to come. These meetings are always motivating in some was as you will always learn something new and different while there. From a new writer being published to a multi-published one finding a new niche, there will be something for you.

When I found today’s comment, I also knew I had found today’s subject:

You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you. ~Ray Bradbury

Is this a wonderful quote? Writers must stay drunk on writing, not just so reality won’t destroy you but so you can keep focused on the task at hand. A writer must always love writing even when they don’t like it. They must forge ahead even when it seems the book or work will never be done. They must continue to fulfill their destiny every day or we won’t have all those wonderful books to read.

See you tomorrow...have a great one!

Lynn

Writing and Me

This week hasn’t been the best for writing. First, there was the trip and that took up a lot of my time. I did manage to write in my notebook every day of the four which was wonderful. But since I’ve been back, it’s been hard for me to sit still for long periods of time due to my back and shoulder screaming they’ve had enough inactivity.

So I’ve been trying to provide that activity by walking with my husband every night, browsing at the mall and even do some light weights to keep me moving. The trouble is that here in the desert no one wants to move during the summer. It’s too darn hot.

And with the heat comes the lack of motivation or even brain power. There are days where my brain decides to take a hike because all I can think about is the heat. This year has been blessedly cool compared to others. We’ve only had a few days over one hundred degrees and even those are ones where the humidity is low. Those days haven’t burned me out. Yet.

It’s because of this physical burn out that I’ve chosen today’s quote:

The pages are still blank, but there is a miraculous feeling of the words being there, written in invisible ink and clamoring to become visible. ~Vladimir Nabakov

I know my pages are for the large part written in invisible ink because I’ve let summer get to me. It’s one of the reasons I’ve joined the 1000 words a day club as evident by the little banner on this blog. This is my minimum and most days I get five times that amount. But on the days where the heat is high and my shoulder is screaming, it reminds me I have to try anyway.

Today is especially hard because it’s my Mother’s birthday. She would have been seventy-one today. She died seven years ago and for some reason it is affecting me more this year. Maybe it’s because I became a grandmother but no matter what the specific reason, it has me reflecting on life. Yet, I need to write no matter what.

Some days it is hard to get into the flow of the words coming on the page. I do feel they are invisible and wish I could just make them all jump out at once. But I can’t and must type each precious one. And words are precious, just like life and those around you.

Have a great day! See you all tomorrow!

Lynn

Trips and Backaches

Sorry this is so late today but I went on a whirlwind trip this past weekend to Montana with a friend. We were delivered her oldest son’s things as he had decided he wanted to move there permanently.

The trip itself was beautiful as we went from the desert to high desert to mountain landscapes. The only problem was we did 2300 miles in about three and a half days. This meant very little out of the car time for either of us. Needless to say, we both came home with huge backaches and needed to go to the chiropractor right away. LOL! But we did get wonderful scenary and even saw a moose or two. Yes, that is a picture of a moose taken from a distance.

It’s amazing just how much a human body can take but cooped up in a car even with seats with a lot of padding, it takes a toll on one. By the last day when we stayed in Idaho Falls with my Dad, we both felt like we’d been beat and couldn’t wait to get home. There’s something to be said about one’s own bed.

The most valuable item I received on this trip was the rejuvenation of spirit. It’s hard to fill one’s cup up every day with a new take on writing. I hope you agree that today’s quote goes right along with this thought:

Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass. ~Anton Chekhov

Isn’t this what we’re supposed to do as writers? We need to make sure our readers can participate in the very story we give them. This is why we show all that happens within our pages.

What was your longest trip? How did you survive it?

See you all tomorrow!

Lynn

The Editor

In all the time, I’ve written this blog, there has been little said about the editor who will actually work with you to complete your dream of becoming published.

I’ll be honest with you, I’ve heard horror stories. The one bestseller who told me her editor dumped sixty percent of her work wasn’t thrilled but she loved her editor. The editor really only wants the best for you and your work. After all, your success is their success.

When it happens and you have a horrible editor which you can’t work with, you need to let someone know at the publishing company if at all possible. Sometimes, it isn’t so you must do your best to continue to work with someone who wants to change everything about you and your story.

My pet peeve has always been when they want to change your voice or how you write. There are certain things which distinctly make a writer who they are. Normally, there is a certain process a writer takes from start to finish. When those things happen, it’s hard to work with that person.

I have been lucky enough to work with some fantastic editors in my time. Some have bled all over the page and I’ve cried my heart out only to have a better book at the end. Some have very little changes but allow me to explore what’s needed to make the work better. All in all, I can truthfully say each and every one of them had in mind to produce the best product ever.

Today’s quote is from an editor. When I saw it, I knew it told me their side of the story.

You write to communicate to the hearts and minds of others what's burning inside you. And we edit to let the fire show through the smoke. ~Arthur Polotnik

Have a great day writing and reading! See you all tomorrow!

Lynn

Writing Struggles

It’s amazing that so many writers see writing as a struggle. Don’t get me wrong, there are days when it is a struggle and I don’t want to see my computer. However, the question remains if so many people find it torture then why do they do it.

Today’s quote is a perfect example in my mind of a tortured writer. Here’s today’s quote:

Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand. ~George Orwell, "Why I Write," 1947

I look at this and in one way I am sad while in another, I understand perfectly. For me, there are more happy days than sad days writing. Frankly, I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t get up every day and write. It is part of my very being. I know this and most of the time do it well.

Sure, my first drafts are ugly but if there wasn’t something there, people would read my books, stop by my blogs or support me in general. I thank everyone for my support as I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them. The fact remains, I would write if no one ever saw my work because it’s what I do. It’s what I must do regardless of everything else.

I am a writer therefore I write.

Hope your reading and writing day is wonderful! See you tomorrow!

Lynn

Picture Fun

I’m sure you’ve noticed over the past week or maybe more that I put in a different photo every day. Well, there’s a reason for me doing so...LOL! I thought it was about time I explained just why I did it.

One of the many things which motivates me to write are pictures. Good pictures. Sometimes it’s one of a sexy couple kissing in all different ways. Other times, it can be a good picture of Scotland or any other landscape I see as beautiful.

Today, I’m going to insert some of my best photos to date. Now some of these I’ve taken myself, others I have purchased online for when I did cover art and had my own online magazine. Those days are in the past as all I do is write but it doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a good picture. I’ll tell you all just why I love the picture and I’d like to hear from you all what you think of my choices.

One of the main reasons I include pictures with my blog is that I try to match what I’m saying in the blog. A lot of times that isn’t possible but I try to get close. Other times, I just want to give you something else to look at as while words are great, sometimes a photo is worth a thousand words.

Now to the pictures.

This is one of the sexiest pictures I have ever seen of a woman holding a gun. It's always made me wonder just what is she doing. Is she a spy about to shoot her lover? Is she an undercover agent? Just what is this woman doing with this gun. Her pose is one of confidence and something I'm not sure I'd be able to do. LOL!

This is another just outright sexy picture. First, I want to know whose bra he has? Is he about to fling it to the far reaches of the room or just making sure his lover can't put it back on? The colors are just so vibrant here that they pop. I used this one in a piece of cover art and it was one of the best received pieces ever.

There is just something inherently sexy about women and motorcycles. It's probably the main reason the books with bad boy bikers are still so popular today. True, most of those bad boys are good ones in disguise but they all have their bike. Imagine one morning coming out of your home and seeing your sexy significant other posed for your pleasure on the seat of your ride. You get the picture. LOL!

This is actually a picture to one of my book covers, Shopping Spree. It is so sexy because it shows a lot of skin but nothing else. It's all left to your imagination and my imagination can run wild. LOL! It makes me wonder just how they got into that position in the first place. And what strength a person has to have to carry and hold their girl on their back no matter what the reason. I just love it!

One of the best hidden waterfalls in the world. It's in Arizona and you have to hike five miles to get to it. They only let so many people in at a time so there is never crowds at all. And you'll need to plan to stay a night as the hike is long. It's a wonderful, quite, secluded place that any set of lovers would want to see alone. It always makes me think of tranquil places far away from my busy life.

Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye, Scotland and yeah, I've been here more than once. This is my husband's ancestral home and I really can't wait to get back again as it's one of my favorite places in on earth. I don't think I'll ever change my mind. I had always known I would love Scotland and the moment I walked the trail at the farm near Stirling, I knew I belonged there. It might be one of the reasons I would love a summer home there. It would take me away form my hot miserable existence in the southwest desert. Yeah, those 117 degree days burn me out big time. LOL! But my family will never move so I'll just have to find somewhere else to stay during the summers. Why not Scotland?

 Hope you enjoyed my picture day! Happy reading and writing...see you tomorrow!

Lynn

One Of My Favorite Days!

Today is one of my favorite days of the year. You might be asking yourself why but it’s really easy to figure out. Today is my oldest son’s birthday and on this day, thirty-four years ago I gave birth to a screaming, eight pound baby boy.

He was healthy and had a head of red hair. It was a wonderful day but the labor was fast and hard. I don’t think my doctor ever forgave me to pulling him off the golf course as a first baby is supposed to take hours instead of the mere three and a half it took me. No, I wasn’t as lucky the second time but that is a different story.

My oldest now has a family of his own and a wonderful wife with two adorable twin boys. And I know he thinks I spend way too much time writing...too bad...I will always write even if it is about him. I’ve included some pictures for you to look at...but I will never forget my own miracle...or the day he was born.

Have a great writing and reading day! See you tomorrow!

Lynn