I'm supposed to be working hard to finish a manuscript and I'm having a hard time with it. I guess it's a bit like writer's block, but I know where the story is going (as a matter of fact, the end is written), but the characters are in this stage of change and new discovery and its the hardest part to write. I know how they change, I know what takes them through it, but putting those emotions and growing pains on paper is hard.
Tonight I spent some time in the beginning of the manuscript. I went to this wonderful workshop given by Harlequin Superromance author Anna DeStefano about revising. She suggested writing the first draft start to finish and then going back and making changes. She said that a lot of writers do a few chapters, rewrite those, then write a little more, get stuck, go back and rewrite some more. I haven't had the luxury to sit down and pound out a book in a long time. Working full time, raising my daughter, these things get in the way. So I have a lot of time to think about my stories, my characters and where the book is going. Too much time, I'm afraid. Plots change, characters develop. And these are things they are supposed to do, but I can't move on to the rest of the story until I fix the thing in the beginning that's bugging me. And fix I do. However, I think the fixes I made today will help me finish the rest of the book in a timely manner (in the next week before I leave for Texas).
And then it's on to the next story.
Today's Goal: Unsticking my writing
Yesterday's Achievement: The Heart of the Negotiation finaled in the 2007 TARA Contest. I couldn't be more thrilled.
What I'm Grateful for: Ditto
Sailing on Sundays
With the sun shining and the wind blowing, we take to the St. Croix river armed with ginger beer and rum (dark and stormy's) as well as a whole lot of food. Our twenty seven foot hunter might be over a quarter century old, but we've had a great time sailing her in the last nine months (technically 6 weeks in the fall and 6 weeks in the spring/summer).
We generally spend a third of our time sailing, a third swimming in the river and a third eating, drinking and chatting. There is something so relaxing and peaceful about being on the water. We have a great crew that is always changing as schedules permit, and like having different people handling the helm and the sails. It's sort of a teaching boat. Everyone participates. Everyone learns.
And at the end of the day, we're relaxed and tired.
Today's Goal: A smooth landing
Yesterday's Achievement: Bought some really cool artwork
I'm Grateful for: Warm weather, good wind and fabulous friends to sail with
Summer Art Shows
I just returned home from one of my favorite pursuits, buying art. All summer long I attend art festivals around the twin cities, where craftspeople put up tents, endure all sorts of weather conditions from sunny and hot to rainy and cold, and hope to sell out their booths of textiles, photographs, jewelry, pottery and artwork. It is so much fun to scour the festivals in search of really cool earrings or reasonably priced watercolors or acrylics. Today I bought 2 pieces from one of my favorite artists. Her name is Judy Hedblom and she creates these amazing works of art in copper. I like collecting her 8 inch squares (before today I had 3), but I branched out this afternoon and bought a larger piece because it captured me. She hammers thin copper sheets over wood frames, then fires the copper to create abstract lines and circles or trees. I've seen her for 3 years and each year she gets better and better. She likes to expirament and her work blows me away each time I see her new stuff.
www.copperandclay.com
I also bought from a terrific watercolor painter by the name of Richard Graves. I love his stuff and he's another one that loves to expirament. I ran into him a year ago but couldn't afford to buy anything at the time. Today I discovered a picture that I simply had to have. What I love about him is his use of color. He isn't afraid to be bold and paint scenes not as they are, but as they make you feel. He showed us two paintings of a narrow winding street somewhere in Europe. One picture had precise terra cotta cobblestone, white washed walls and simple flowerboxes filled with red geraniums. The other picture had sunwashed walls of gold, vivid flowers of hot pink, yellow, reds and bright green foliage and people in bright clothes. The first picture depicted the scene. The second made it come alive. How nice to be able to do both effectively.
www.richardgraveswatercolors.com
These two inspire me to keep expiramenting with my craft. I think it's what helps us expand and mature as artists.
Today's Goal: To spend a few hours writing
Yesterday's Achievement: I came up with a new idea for a book (although that may be a mixed blessing)
What I'm Grateful for: Purchasing incredible art work for reasonable prices
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