Come in like a lion

and not planning on going out like a lamb :) I want to be published. This is my dream, this is my goal; I don't care how many books it takes before it finally happens. It will happen!
Currently I'm on book 2. I've finished draft three and I've sent out the first 5 chapters to my beta readers. I've decided to take a step back and let the story ride for at least a week, no matter what feedback I get back from my readers. Or at least that's the plan. I'm debating whether or not I should take a complete break from writing or start playing with my next story. The problem is, I"m not sure what the next story is! I'd like to start on the sequel to the book I'm editing right now, but I know I should move on in case this book never gets published. I have a couple of other ideas that I want to write, but one has stalled out(I"m thinking it's due to my inability to get the plot "right") and the other one, I"m just not sure I"m there in my skills to do the story justice. It's deep and painful and not a YA. I guess I"m afraid of it.
Okay, now that I've bared my soul, let's be over and out!

P.S. I"ve also thought of playing a game. Finding a random picture on the web that calls to me and writing a very short bit about it. Kind of like ROD at DeadlineDames except it will only feature me and pic's I pick. We shall see...

Not over yet!

I managed to squeeze in a post in February! Go me! Okay, seriously let's make this sweet:
WRITING- I'm still on D3; I've got all my edits on paper and half of those edits into the computer. I looked back and saw my goal to be querying by June. That's still my goal but I need to get the ball rolling.
DREAMING- spent today's spare moments mentally thumbing through ideas for my next book. It felt good but made me a little spacey at work.. You win some you lose some!
TODDLER-is completely potty trained at 2 1/2! That is truely a great thing.
ANIMALS- I am no longer free feeding my cats since Jackie is over weight. Which wasn't a big deal until she can't clean "herself". Yup that's exactly what I mean! Needless to say its a pain because Scooper needs to free feed. Animals are more needy than toddler!
FAMILY- is always a fine balancing act(with regards to extended family, not hubby). I'm working on it though I am wore out.
Okay, that sums 'er up! Not exciting but at least it's a blog!

Obviously

*No time to proofread, so sorry for mistakes. Just be happy I'm posting ;) ***
Since it's now 2012 and I haven't posted since November, I've still been slacking on blogging. It is a pain to keep up with from even an Iphone. The good news is I haven't failed at writing. I am now working on D3. This is my paper version and my favorite. There's so much you miss on a computer screen. This time as compared to my first book, I can really tell that my mind is wrapping around fixing the story line. I'm finding it easier to look at each chapter and especially the ones that have other characters actively involved, and I can think, why is this character doing that? What is their motivation? Does what they're doing make sense, or do I need to rethink their actions and reactions. It's going slow, getting changes on paper and then onto the computer, but it's going. After I get all the changes on paper into the computer, I'll do a final read through/fix of D3 and start sending out the completed D3 to my beta readers. Hopefully that will move quickly too. Then on to another D4, may be D5 and finally query letters, etc. Still a lot to do, but my goal is to be querying before, before, before June 2012.
Also, while I started this goal before 1/1/12, I'll mention it now. I'm working toward running a 5K(3.2 miles) race by April-June, depending on which race I choose. Wish me luck, as I'm wishing you luck with your goals!

Thanks...giving, have you done it?

My friend's husband passed away a week ago. I'm still hurting for her, but I'm glad he's in a better place. It was rough at the end.
After a total of 3 trips to the hospital, my dad finally found out what's wrong. We feared a stroke, but it turns out he's got some nerves that have been pinched and fused due to his use of crutches to walk. The bad news is, he won't have surgery until Feb. to fix one of his hips, so he'll still be walking with crutches until then. The good news is obvious, he didn't have a stroke. Praise God!
Writing news...you think I should have writing news? Lol, well I haven't got a whole lot. Work this past week was crazy between my friend being gone, another coworker calling out the day before the holiday, and learning that the float we're supposed to build to represent the float, will be built this week, a few days before the actual parade. It makes for a stressed me, which equals slow going. I've only made it half way through chapter 2 and I will still need to go back and insert the changes on the computre. So...shame on me? I'll do better this week, or at least I'll try.
You keep on writing!

ER

I'm sitting in the ER with my dad and I'm terribly bored. We're waiting on test results :-(. It occurred to me I hadn't blogged about Breaking Dawn yet. I was just as I suspected, right down to the part where they ended it, leaving me furious that I have to wait another year for part two. It really was fantastic though.
Sad news... My friend's husband lost the fight against cancer last night. I'm flat out trying not to think about because it hurts too much.
I have been toying with an idea for my next WIP during my break in between drafts. The developing of the character and the middle and end of the story is agonizingly slow. Either because I'm still tuned in Tony current WIP or because I'm determined to iron these details out painstakingly in order. I'll be printing out D2 tomorrow so that I can begin D3.
Well keep on working at it! And sorry this is short and choppy but it is late and I am stressed.

Thank You Veterans!

There is so much for me to say today :) First and foremost, in the USA it's Veterans Day. I know people who have served and are serving in our military and I am eternally gratefull for their sacrifice. Even when they come back physically whole, looking fine, there is still a sacrifice made. Service and war changes people, yet many go back again and again for you and me. I pray God's blessings fall upon them.
Next... I'm on day 2 of taking a break and my head is a boiling pot! Part of this is due to some emotional overload I'm experiencing in my own life. Extreme emotions always need an outlet and writing or thinking about my stories is my outlet. I'm off work and at home today with my toddler, so I have a big decision, work on a story(a new one), take a nap, or keep reading My Soul To Save?
As for my personal life, well I'll go there just a little bit. There are several people in my life struggling with personal problems. When they suffer, I suffer. It's hard for me to balance my compassion with leaving things in God's hands. I have a friend whose husband is battling cancer in a very scary way right now and it breaks my heart for her. I'm praying for them and I'd love it if you all could too. That's not all there is going on, but that's all I'll say. I'll leave it at saying once again, emotional turmoil.
I hope if you're struggling in life right now or know others who are that you're turning to God or being a light for Him to them. Keep on keeping on!

Say Hello to The End

So I finished the second draft!! This is only the second time reaching this goal(seeing as how this is the second book I've ever finished) and I'm not quite sure how I feel. Relief, excitement, eagerness to plunge ahead, dread at starting another draft... I intend on taking a break even if my brain is currently churning for the next issue to solve. I need time to refresh myself. I'm looking forward to reading something I haven't wrote. I've tried really hard and succeeded in not reading anything else for at least a month and just working on my book. Now I'm going to read the 2nd soul screamers book by Rachel Vincent and try to read the 3rd book in a different series that I loved the first 2 but couldn't get into the third. I'm hoping that was because my brain was too caught up in my own book. And I'm not sure what else other than seeing Breaking Dawn(though I'll probably be working on ready to start working on my book again by then). You guys keep On and remember to keep yourself rejuvenated creatively!