Where did March go?

Well, March is over and not much writing... although mental plotting has progressed, but still... I like it better when words fill up the pages! I guess two of our kids having two separate Spring break weeks, then a week in San Antonio for oldest son's graduation from AF Basic training sorta cut into writing time. So, now that all that wonderful "kid time" is over, I hope to be writing away in April. I've joined the "accountability thread" over on the Harlequin writing community- so really a NANO in April, like Christmas in July? I set a goal of 55k for the month, so if I round up a little that's 1835 words/day. My main problem is that I'm an 'edit as I go' type of writer. I have trouble turning off the inner editor which slows me down. So, after word count, that will be my secondary goal-- to write without inhibition. My theme for the month is a quote from Nora Roberts: "You can't edit an empty page." Giddy Up.

Back in the Saddle Again

Whoa. I forgot how fun it is when ideas start to form and gain life. The possibilities are so fun. I love being able to write them all down, no matter how crazy or 'out there.' This is the fun stuff! Common sense is not invited yet. Common Sense can walk in another day, tap me on the shoulder and shake his head at me. But not yet.

Unsettled Routine

Grrrr. The nice part about being well into a manuscript is the regular routine of writing. Now, back at the creative 'thinking' stage of a new book I miss that regular routine. I'm trying to approach this next book a little differently which might be slowing down the process. I'd like to have a rough synopsis done before I start writing. I don't need it, since usually as I write a scene things just start to happen that I have no idea where they came from. They are quite often good things...fun characters or a crazy events, although not always. BUT, I had a very, did I say very?, challenging time writing my first synopsis once I finished my book. (And I'm not even sure I wrote a good one!) So, I am trying to avoid that painful synopsis writing WEEK again. If this plan fails, I do have a 'writing a synopsis' course in my sites. So, I've got that going for me.

Write. Rinse. Repeat.

I finished my first romance manuscript last week (Yay!) and submitted the first 25 pages to a contest which offers FEEDBACK from three judges. So, for a small fee, I get what I hope will be a great unbiased critique on my writing. Up til now, I've just had my sisters read it and because they love me, I think they are hesitant to hurt my feelings. I'm looking forward to the critique which is still a few months away. So, in the meantime it's time to start my next book!

I'm starting with an idea I jotted down over a year ago. Now I'm in the brainstorming process which always makes me feel so guilty! There is just so much 'sitting around and thinking' time that it feels like I'm playing hooky, yet it is precious time to let plot ideas ferment. I look forward to the day when I am comfortable with this stage of the process. But-- my goal is to have at least 2/3's of a rough draft finished by May 1st, so I am anxious to get to the writing!  

The Journey

Sibilance. Check. Check. This thing on? This blog is the place I'll write about my romance writing. The goal is to be a published author and to have more than a few readers who hate getting to the last page of my books. I am learning about writing and the road to getting published every day from the Harlequin website and the many authors who offer their experience and encouragement to the other aspiring writers like me. The open generosity among writers is a beautiful thing. If I traverse this journey the right way...I'll make new friends and one day have some happy readers who love reading my books. Here I go...