Friday, January 30, 2004
ah, the glamour
writing, writing, writing today. Memos at the office, novel pages at home. What a glamorous life. Ya think? Here's glamour for you: I go to pick up C at the day care after work. She looks at me and says "I feel sick," so I immediately hug her and feel her forehead (it feels fine) then pick her up to carry her to the car ... and am suddenly showered w/ baby barf. Poor kid! (Poor mom!)
In writing news, I'm deep in the middle of this scene and have the next two plotted out. Going to get back into it and try to finish that tonight. And in even better news, got my crit partner's comments back on C.6 ... and it's (w/ a minor quibble) a thumbs up. Whoo hoo!
In writing news, I'm deep in the middle of this scene and have the next two plotted out. Going to get back into it and try to finish that tonight. And in even better news, got my crit partner's comments back on C.6 ... and it's (w/ a minor quibble) a thumbs up. Whoo hoo!
Thursday, January 29, 2004
Ah, the agony of delete
This story is giving me grief. No, that's not true. The story is great. It's the question of point of view that's giving me grief. Should I or shouldn't I? I'm trying to stay mostly in my heroine's head. This is a suspense, and poor Mel is having a lot of stuff (hey, we're PG-13 here) thrown at her. I want that tension ... that sense of being trapped there with her ... and because of that, I'm really trying to limit the point of view.
But.
(And isn't there always a but?) But there's information the reader needs to know (or, that I want the reader to know). Plus, although this isn't a romance, there is a love interest, and he's got a role to play. He's begging for a pov, but so far I haven't caved in. Not entirely true. I gave him a 2-pager. On further reflection, though, I think that in trying to make him happy (hush up, dude, you'll get your scene when *I* say so!) I ended up giving away too much.
And so I deleted. And the day's page count dropped by 2.
Sad, but necessary. And, if I'm lucky, some of it's salvageable. In the meantime, I left the poor gal in a rather precarious position. So back to it (after I grap another cuppa).
But.
(And isn't there always a but?) But there's information the reader needs to know (or, that I want the reader to know). Plus, although this isn't a romance, there is a love interest, and he's got a role to play. He's begging for a pov, but so far I haven't caved in. Not entirely true. I gave him a 2-pager. On further reflection, though, I think that in trying to make him happy (hush up, dude, you'll get your scene when *I* say so!) I ended up giving away too much.
And so I deleted. And the day's page count dropped by 2.
Sad, but necessary. And, if I'm lucky, some of it's salvageable. In the meantime, I left the poor gal in a rather precarious position. So back to it (after I grap another cuppa).
MBR: Writer Resources
MBR: Writer Resources Ran across this link while looking for something else. Pretty handy for writers, eh? I'll add it to the column at the right eventually, but for right now, here it is.
neato bandito!
November Chronicle - Book Deals - The Chronicle - The Eternal Night Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Web Site Oh, this is cool! A nice mention of my Carpe Demon sale to Berkley. Neato! (And, yeah yeah ... I really *was* writing. Came back to the computer to edit... Actually making lots of progress tonight on the writing front. Haven't come near the exercise bike or done a single pilate, but I can't have everything...)
Wednesday, January 28, 2004
Alphie & Me
Okay, enough with the procrastination. I'm taking my Alphasmart, plonking myself down at the kitchen table, and getting some writing done. (The best laid plans ...)
Oscar fever!
Welcome to The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences There was a time when I would have seen 99% of the movies nominated for an Oscar, but that was B.C. (before Catherine). Now, I'm just glad to make it to the theater for a few of them. Of the nominees, I've seen LOTR, Master & Commander, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Finding Nemo. Hmmm. Pretty pathetic. Ah well. There's always DVD ...
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
American Idol
I can't sing. I truly, truly, truly cannot sing. (In high school, I was cast in Working, which is a musical. I had a solo -- which, thank goodness -- was a "speaking" song. But during the parts of the show where I was a part of the chorus, I was asked (politely) by the choir director to "please just lip sync." Ah, woe is me. Scarred for life.) I love to sing though, and in my head, I'm brilliant. I'm Patti Lupone. I'm so freaking amazing it's unreal. And I end up belting out a lot of songs in the car, even in the presence of other people (if they know me really, really well). To give you an idea of just HOW bad I am, once I was singing something in the car on the 405 in LA, and my friend Steve is driving with me. At one point, he looks at me in amazement and says "wow. I think you actually *hit* that note." Yeah. Love you too, Steve. (I do. I really do! Miss you, too!).
The point all this is that I am loving this first part of American Idol (I didn't watch the first two times around; didn't know what I was missing). But now I'm seeing that there are actually people out there who sing worse than I do. Who knew?
The point all this is that I am loving this first part of American Idol (I didn't watch the first two times around; didn't know what I was missing). But now I'm seeing that there are actually people out there who sing worse than I do. Who knew?
Happy Birthday
Since I often write at the B&N Cafe .....
Kempa.com - Barnes & Noble After we put C to bed (and most especially when I'm on deadline), I often take my Alphasmart to the Barnes & Noble near my house, buy a latte, and sit down to write. Works well. Very few distractions like, oh, say, blogging. (Of course, there are all those books to peruse ....)
Caren Lissner: Inside Chick Lit World
Kathleen O'Reilly - Novelist
Kathleen O'Reilly - Novelist The lovely and talented Kathleen O'Reilly (who, also, happens to be one of my best buds!) just revamped her webpage. I think it looks super cool!
Guardian Unlimited | Arts news | Secret of historic code: it's gibberish
Guardian Unlimited | Arts news | Secret of historic code: it's gibberish Now, see, this is why the Internet is such a gift. Even as we speak (type?) I'm working on a new series (Downtown Press, 2005) and this is so relevant. (let's pause for a brief plug, shall we? Here's the blurbie thing: a series of three suspense thrillers with a chicklit flair, in which three women are forced to decipher complicated codes in a deadly game for their survival.) Me again: since the heroine of the first book studies codes and ciphers, this article is perfect. Ah, karma.
Monday, January 26, 2004
Two Pounds Down!
I lost 2 pounds! I lost 2 pounds! Yay Pilates and exercise biking! Who knew exercise really worked? And here I thought it was all hype ... And, actually, why the heck do we say "lost" weight. It's not like I really ever want to find it again. Hmmmmm.
-- Just got a German copy of Undercover Lovers! (I love foreign editions Living in France
The Spectator.co.uk Ever since I watched A Year In Provence (which I saw before reading the books) I've had a yearning to live there. My dh just forwarded this article to me. Since moving isn't exactly a realistic possibility, I think at the very least it's time to pull out the mini-series again ... right after I finish season 2 of The Shield.
ECU Cavalier School of Fencing - Fencing Basics
Now, see, this is why I love writing and why I love the Internet. I'm writing a fencing scene and need some basic info on the lingo. A Google search, and voila! ECU Cavalier School of Fencing - Fencing Basics Is this stuff cool, or what?
Rampant Rambling
I owe my editor a paragraph. One lousy paragraph outlining the story I intend to tell in a novella I haven't yet written. One paragraph. And she needs it tomorrow. Right now, I'm starting page 3 (single spaced, mind you). This is the problem w/ not knowing where you're going in a story, you ramble and ramble and ramble (much like my blogs, eh?). Oh well. Maybe she'll just call it the proposal. Since I actually get partial payment once the proposal is accepted, that would actually be a good thing. And, for the record, rambling though it is, I'm liking where the story is going. Of course, I still have to wrap it up. At the rate I'm going, that will take two more pages. Back to it .....
Sunday, January 25, 2004
Baby Brag
I can't help it. It's in my mommy blood. But I think C had a mental growth spurt this weekend. We're talking complex sentences, counting past 20 (she's been to 20 for a while now) and the big 'un: knowing her left and right feet and hands. (She can also spell her name, but since I made that into a song, I'm not sure it counts in the braggy-kid-o-meter.) She's also a little daredevil. At the park today she certainly wore me down. And so, I must ask that age-old question: Is there some way to bottle that energy?
Boohbah
This is it. Boohbah The site that fascinates my 27 mos old daughter. I'm not exactly sure what those little dudes are, but she's enamored. "Boohbah, mommy? Boohbah?" She's even getting the hang of this mouse thing. This is good. I figure that by the time she's five, she should be able to deglitch my computer, and *she* can do my web updates ...
Ah, procrastination ...
Well, I've been fiddling with the look of my website today: Julie Kenner, Author. Less color, more white space, and I like the signature. Still more to do, but I managed to work my way through a lot of it. So much for my plans to be super productive, huh?
Though it was still a good day all around. Played a TON with C (who has fallen in love with the Boohbah site ... that's worth a blog entry itself). We bought stuff to organize her stuff in (where is George Carlin when you need him) and read many books, today's favorites being the ever-popular Gossie & Gertie, How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight, and Hippos Go Berserk
It's late. I owe my editor a paragraph describing an upcoming novella, but she doesn't need it until Monday, and I think it's going to have to be a project for tomorrow. Oh, wait. It *is* tomorrow. Sleep beckons.
Though it was still a good day all around. Played a TON with C (who has fallen in love with the Boohbah site ... that's worth a blog entry itself). We bought stuff to organize her stuff in (where is George Carlin when you need him) and read many books, today's favorites being the ever-popular Gossie & Gertie, How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight, and Hippos Go Berserk
It's late. I owe my editor a paragraph describing an upcoming novella, but she doesn't need it until Monday, and I think it's going to have to be a project for tomorrow. Oh, wait. It *is* tomorrow. Sleep beckons.
Saturday, January 24, 2004
Sometimes it's good to be a lawyer :)
No writing last night. Got a contract for a new book in and settled at my desk to read the thing. Yes, there are times when being a lawyer really is a good thing. I do this stuff for a living, but last night I was looking at it from the point of view of anybody who's saddled w/ a very long, single-spaced document filled with legalese ... and by the time I reached the end, I was engaging in some serious sympathy for folks who aren't used to plowing through that language. After I finished that exercise, I wasn't in the mood to write, so I piddled around w/ my webpage (how's that for an amazing display of self-discipline ... not!). I'll post the new look soon, hopefully by the end of this weekend. (Am piddling w/ it now, actually. C just went down for a nap, and, yes, I'm procrastinating writing. Twenty more minutes of webplaying and then I absolutely must dive into Chapter 7.)
Friday, January 23, 2004
Figured it out ...
What do you know? This thing has settings. Changed the time to CST. Now I no longer feel like I'm time traveling when I post (and I added titles, too. Am I techno-girl, or what?)
Just discovered this website. How to keep in touch w/ all the really important stuff .... I love it :)
Jim Romenesko's Obscure Store and Reading Room
Jim Romenesko's Obscure Store and Reading Room
Just did a long blog, but my computer ate it (grrr). Bottom line, found the hook! Moving on to Chapter 7 tomorrow. And, if I'm energetic, I'll retype everything I'd chattered on about in my first post. Now, though, it's bedtime (1:02 in the morning. Blogger must be on California time ...)
Thursday, January 22, 2004
Still no chapter end, but did 48 minutes on the exercise bike and some weight stuff. Conveniently, the program I like on the bike is 48 minutes long, which is the length of a classic Star Trek episode sans commercials.
Back to pages ...
Back to pages ...
I can't figure out how to end this chapter. I know how I want to end it, but if I wait until I get to that point in the story (wrap up this scene; mid-scene hook for where I want to end the chapter) I'll have written the longest chapter in the history of mankind. Add to that the little choreography issue I'm having (note to self: research fencing terminology) and I'm in a frustrated place. Okay, back to it. I *will* finish this chap tonight. I will, I will, I will ...
I'm drowning in a sea of toddler toys!!!!!!!! C's only 2. How did she acquire so much stuff????? (Have I mentioned she's adorable?)
Forgot to post last night that I did the pilates tape (it was after midnight, but I did it). Yay me. And I figure by posting exercise notes here, I'll keep myself honest.
Managed 7 pages yesterday!!! (Wheeee!) Stopped mid-scene (leaving my poor heroine in a bit of a bind, but sleep beckoned), so will have to finish it tonight. Now I must go tear my daughter away from her blue rocking horse and the Little People animals ... time to go to day care and work ...
Wednesday, January 21, 2004
Oh, here's some coolness! I was fiddling around on google and found this mention of NOBODY BUT YOU Katie's Keepers :: January 2004 :: Nobody But You by Julie Kenner. How fun! (And flattering. Thanks!). And her discussion questions are great. Good luck to Katie in her own writing; fingers crossed!
And, yes, I really have managed to get some writing done today. Am currently stuck mid-scene, though, and am procrastinating mightily. Time for another cup of coffee ....
And, yes, I really have managed to get some writing done today. Am currently stuck mid-scene, though, and am procrastinating mightily. Time for another cup of coffee ....
Am currently pondering exercise ... or my lack thereof. I bought the Winsor pilates tapes, and they're great (great in that they obviously work b/c they make me so dang sore). We also recently turned one room of our house into an exercise/library. Seriously. It's three walls of bookshelves, an exercise bike, a Weider weight bench w/ the stuff for leg lifts, and a television with VCR and soon-to-be-hooked-up DVD player. The room's too small for pilates but we are a family with many VCRs, so pilates location is not a problem. The problem is *when* to do all this exercising that will make me svelte and fabulous and able to get back into my entire pre-pregnancy wardrobe (yes, yes, I know my daugher is 2 ... I've been working on it).
I'm all about *when* these days. My day time is taken up at work, and after that, it's time with the family until my daughter goes to bed, and after that's my writing time. So when to cram in exercise? This weekend I tried to exercise while C was playing (I thought she'd play beside me while I did pilates; sometimes, I am hopelessly naive). Turned into a giant game of "lift the toddler" ... which, actually was fun and definitely a workout, but I'm not sure it's what I'd had in mind.
I've pretty much decided that I just have to take the time out from writing and either do pilates or ride the exercise bike in the evenings (the exercise bike is a treat ... I can read a book!). So. Will post my progress here. Goal is to be back in a certain pre-preg dress (The long blue one) by April. And on that note, I think I'm going to go put in a pilates tape ...
I'm all about *when* these days. My day time is taken up at work, and after that, it's time with the family until my daughter goes to bed, and after that's my writing time. So when to cram in exercise? This weekend I tried to exercise while C was playing (I thought she'd play beside me while I did pilates; sometimes, I am hopelessly naive). Turned into a giant game of "lift the toddler" ... which, actually was fun and definitely a workout, but I'm not sure it's what I'd had in mind.
I've pretty much decided that I just have to take the time out from writing and either do pilates or ride the exercise bike in the evenings (the exercise bike is a treat ... I can read a book!). So. Will post my progress here. Goal is to be back in a certain pre-preg dress (The long blue one) by April. And on that note, I think I'm going to go put in a pilates tape ...
Finished The Time Traveler's Wife the other night, and (with one quibble) thought it was absolutely fabulous. A book to be savored, and I adored Henry and Clare. I'm dying to know more about the whole genetic aspect of Henry's disease (enquiring minds and all that) and I thought Alba was a great character who I saw too little of (sequel??). All in all a great read (and if you're curious about the quibble, you can email me ... but I don't wanna post spoilers ... Julie's Email.
Also reading M is for Malice and loving it as well. Dietz just drove off to visit his kids. What can I say? I love the mystery parts, but I want Kinsey to find true love, too :)
Going to start watching Season 2 of The Shield on DVD soon ... Great series!
Also reading M is for Malice and loving it as well. Dietz just drove off to visit his kids. What can I say? I love the mystery parts, but I want Kinsey to find true love, too :)
Going to start watching Season 2 of The Shield on DVD soon ... Great series!
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
New to this blogging thing. Here's a test run ...
Cool. Seems to be working. Okay ... trying out adding html here ...
Julie's upcoming book, The Spy Who Loves Me
Double Cool. I'm getting the hang of this.
I am, not surprisingly, supposed to be writing. Instead (obviously) I'm fiddling with a blog site. I did manage to write 3 pages today (had intended MANY more than that, but oh well). And since I'm pleased with the pages, I figure that's not a bad tally. Tomorrow, hopefully, I'll manage even more pages ... and also upload a more interesting blog!
Cool. Seems to be working. Okay ... trying out adding html here ...
Julie's upcoming book, The Spy Who Loves MeDouble Cool. I'm getting the hang of this.
I am, not surprisingly, supposed to be writing. Instead (obviously) I'm fiddling with a blog site. I did manage to write 3 pages today (had intended MANY more than that, but oh well). And since I'm pleased with the pages, I figure that's not a bad tally. Tomorrow, hopefully, I'll manage even more pages ... and also upload a more interesting blog!
