Category: My Writing Life

Getting sucked into the writer’s rewriting haze is so much easier when the kiddos are older.  Still know I’m probably forgetting something important, but right now, I don’t care.

It has “mostly” pulled my mind off the Dweller sale and that makes this WIP my best friend right now. 😉

Have a great weekend!

Battling a headache today and I think it’s because I’ve been studying like I’m back in school. 

My critique partner  is a genius.  I was rattling off the new idea I’d come up with during research for the rewrites on the book and she asked a hard question.  Hard because it made me realize I had NOT researched as deeply into something as I needed.  But she’s a genius because a reader  would have picked this up.  I’d like to think I would have picked this up.

So, I investigated and this in turn, sent me into more research.  In order to go into this “deep” research, I’ve been translating words and their meanings into Old Norse, then studying runes.  This takes a LOT of time.  (But I freaking LOVE it.)

Because of her difficult question, this book just took a huge step toward seriously, seriously cool. 

I’m sooooo excited about getting this new version of my book to my agent.  I don’t want to do anything else but live in this book right now.  

Thanks Rachel!  (BTW, don’t forget about her new release this week!  Also, she’s blogging about what this is like at The Deadline Dames today.)

There will be a couple of scenes added into the rewrites, but draft one of my WIP is done. 

I hit the office at nine this morning and only took one break to walk around when I got hit with the afternoon sleep shovel.  Damn, that thing is powerful.  I cleaned some stuff, then went back in until four. 

Nothing feels as good as an evening when you’ve put in a fantastic writing day.  Dinner is done and everything is all sparkly and I might actually watch a little TV.  Medium premiers tonight and I LOVE that show.

(Okay, okay, I printed off four chapters of the first draft to do some rewrites tonight, too. Can’t help it. I’m IN the story right now. )

So, that’s what’s going on with moi.  What’s going on in the wild?

Devon wrote a fantastic post at the Dames site  about facing fear. 

My critique partner’s book is officially released this week and that first week is so important for writers, so if you’ve been thinking of checking it out, it’s the perfect time. 😉

Anton Strout has a fun contest going on here to help promote his February release.

The League of Reluctant Adults  has a new look, new members.  Looks fun!

The third book in Rachel Vincent’s  Shifters Series is officially out this week!!!!! 

I’m on trial for my life. Falsely accused of infecting my human ex-boyfriend—and killing him to cover up the crime. Infecting a human is one of three capital offenses recognized by the Pride—along with murder and disclosure of our existence to a human.

I’m two for three. A goner.

Now we’ve discovered a rogue stray terrorizing the mountainside, hunting a wild teenage tabbycat. It’s up to us to find and stop him before a human discovers us. With my lover Marc’s help, I think I can protect the vulnerable girl from both the ambitious rogue and the scheming of the territorial council.

If I survive my own trial…

I’m this close (picture my fingers about two inches apart) to closing on the first draft of my YA and all its Norse mythology goodness.   I’m VERY excited to get started on the rewrites, especially now that my agent has taken a peek and given some advice.   So, I’m working hard right now. 

Don’t forget, today is the last day of our two weeks of giveaways at The Deadline Dames launch.  You have until midnight tonight to comment on all the posts this week.  Lilith Saintcrow  is up again today with what I’m sure will be great writing advice!

Here’s a sneak peek at what I’m giving away.  A coffee mug that says, “My deadline doesn’t stand a chance!” along with a matching ceramic coaster for your desk. There are five different color designs–one is a fun leopard print.  And for those who don’t particularly like this design, I also added the option of these instead. So go comment!

Kids. Home. From. School. Again.

I just might have to lock myself in my room to get real work done.  Snow days from school are holidays to them, so there is a lot of excited energy and “Mom, can I” stuff since they are also stuck in here with me.

Thing is, this is one of those times the writing mother is torn.  I want to play with them.  Want to make hot chocolate for the little one when he comes in from sledding, his cheeks bright red, eyes sparkling.  I want to curl up with my teenager and watch chick flicks in front of the fireplace.

But I’m also aware that the hubby is out there in the cold, without a choice so it’s  not really fair that we get to spend the week playing.  

Plus, I want this draft done is such a bad way. 

So, yes, I’m suffering mom/writer/wife guilt today.  What do I do to take care of this?

Compartmentalize!

Split the day into sections.  I’ll be going into the office for a good three, hopefully four hours and this evening I’ll spend with them.  Or my youngest since the roads aren’t that bad and the boy my daughter is dating will show up… 

And…since I’m pretty boring here today, why don’t you check out Dame Toni’s post about critique partners at The Deadline Dames!  And don’t forget to comment to win on any of this week’s post!  We’re coming to a close on our party launch week, but still have a lot of fun stuff planned for our website, so I hope you all become regular visitors. 😉

Yes, my introduction as a Deadline Dame is Wednesday and I’m excited and nervous and well, all around loving how well our launch has gone.  Today, Karen Mahoney is giving away the third in Melissa Marr’s YA fey series–a book not out for a few months, so I’d run over there and comment if I were you.  And if you haven’t read the first, Wicked Lovely, you’re missing out. 

In writing news, my ‘slam to the finish’ week has been slowed a bit due to ice storms and extra kiddos hanging around. It’s very dangerous outside.  My teenager had a hard time getting home yesterday–the car she was in slid off the road more than once.  My son’s bus ended up in a ditch.  Even my family had trouble, one had a pretty bad accident in his own driveway.  Once these vehicles lose traction, it’s impossible to stop them!   

So, schools are closed and we’re hunkering inside near the fireplace.  Well, the kids are.  I’m in my office trying to figure out how to keep my typing fingers warm.  I’d write out there, but they’re flipping through EVERY MUSIC CHANNEL KNOWN TO MAN and I couldn’t concentrate.  (As it is, one of the girls just ran in here to tell me Jared Leto was on. Again.  Since he’s my age, you’d think they were telling this for me–uh no, they are big Leto fans. And did I mention I kept the driving teenager here yesterday? ) 

So between one loud, half-song after another and my chilled fingers, I’m fighting to focus today.  Thing is, I’m driven enough to work through.  I want this book done and in my very capable agent’s hands so I have another excuse for my recent obsessive behavior.

And to get that reference–you’ll have to see my post Wednesday at the Dames on The Waiting Writer in Her Natural Habitat. 😉

Today, Jenna  Black  is giving away the first three books in her Morgan Kingsley series!  (The Devil Inside, The Devil You Know, and The Devil’s Due) She talks about how a writer’s mind works and asks you to think about being a superhero and what your powers would be.  Come join the fun with another week of giveaways!

Thank you to all the readers who’ve made the first week of our launch such a success!

It has been SOOOO exciting.  I hope you all keep coming back-we have lots of fun in store.  The winners of this week’s prizes will go up late this afternoon and we start a new week of prizes this week.  I designed something special just for our visitors. 

I’m especially getting a kick out of the readers and writers following the links back here.  I’m sure there is a lot of “Who is Rinda Elliott?” going on.  Why is she in there with these multi-published authors?  Well?  Short answer is they know of me since we share the same agent and they invited me.  I jumped at the chance to work with them.  Honestly, these writers really do kick ass in writing.  I’ve watched a couple slam through word counts that have my head spinning–and I’m no shrinking violet on that front.  I’m honored to be a part of this and can’t wait until my book covers start sprouting up on that book page of ours.

We had lots of sickness in the house this week and between that and the Dames, I spent my days a bit distracted.  But…I’ve been making it up at night.  I’m in the process of changing the story, so it takes true concentration.  (Word count sharing will restart this week!)

So, here are the top 10 reasons I love writing at night.

1. It’s quiet.

2. I don’t feel the need to clean.

3. I don’t feel the urge to cook–something I do when I get stumped in the writing.

4. I don’t expect calls or emails from school. (Yes, I have a child who takes a little extra work. This child is beautiful, wonderful, creative and easily bored-much like the mommy-well, the easily bored part anyway <g>–so, I end up spending some days dealing with these issues.)

5. I’m not worrying about job hunting or how I’ll be there for all the “unique child issues if I’m back in an outside office” or worse, worrying about people I love who are worrying about their job hunting-this economy SUCKS.

6. The dark helps me to block for some reason. I’m comfortable in the dark and this may say something weird about me as a person, but I don’t give a crap. It works.

7. Kids are either in bed or doing their own thing-I’m not interrupted! (I love them, but I desperately need the quiet for my mind time.)

8. If you turn the lights out and put earphones over your ears-as loud as you want–you can disappear and not miss something important-like that call from the school, or someone at your door…or, um, THE CALL.

9. Don’t have a lot of TV I watch-daytime either for that matter. I like movies.  I do have to convince myself NOT to put on a movie for noise in the background.  I inevitably pick a favorite like Practical Magic, The Last Mimzy, The Whole Nine Yards or Jurassic Park and then over an hour goes by without the old fingers moving.

10. Okay.  It breaks down to one real answer.

I like night.  Love the night. I write about things that prefer the dark, so it only makes sense that I’m comfortable there.  Yes, I kind of covered this in #6, but it warrants more than one section.

I am able to set aside the worries.  The night is mine.  I can curl up somewhere comfy and warm in my favorite pajama pants and forget that I live in this world ravaged by an economy gone bad. For a little while, I can immerse myself in the world I create. 

A place where hard choices are made… but happy endings are possible.

Oh, the joys of being a mother when your children have stomach flu.  One of them was hit pretty badly.  But, in between handing out glasses of cold Ginger Ale and doing mountains of laundry… and um, other stuff I won’t share–cause I luv you guys— I managed to work. 

Insane, yes?

Got about 1500 words which is half what I had scheduled for today, but I also wrote up a new, better, first blog post for my introduction as a Dame next week.  So, I’m happy with the word count.  I’m all fired up for Friday’s full day slam of writing.  Okay, around dealing with one of the kiddos who will probably not make it back to school yet.

Oh, the Dame site went down a little while today, but only for those on Internet Explorer.  We’re working with a great design company and they got us going pretty quickly. 

So, make sure to comment on every post this week and next for chances to win.  Thursday was Keri Arthur’s turn and she’s giving away ARCs of the next Riley book (OMG!!!) along with something called Timtams.  Keri has assured me that she will get me addicted as she has some of the other dames.  I can’t wait.  They sound right up my alley. 

And since this post will have a Friday date, technically today is Lilith Saintcrow’s  turn to post.  I’m looking forward to hearing what she plans to give away and her writing posts always rock. 

So keep hanging with the Dames.  😉