Ho ho ho and Happy Critiquing

The ho ho ho is sounding pretty hollow at this end. I just
made the mistake of reading my first post. I intended to produce a romantic novel by the end of 2005. Give me a break.

I resigned sadly from my critique group --not doing me any good to post stuff on a first draft basis. However I learned a lot and would recommend joining a congenial group for the following reasons:
1. Reading another writer's work critically helps you see what faults lie in your own work.
2. Confidence gained from being brave enough to show your work to another (preferably sympathetic) writer helps you write more confidently and hopefully more prolifically. You no longer need to spend hours of anguish over something that does not seem quite right. Someone else will solve the problem for you by commenting on what they see as wrong with the passage.
3. You get the practice of problem solving using someone else's work. This is much easier than trying to see the faults in your own work initially.

If you're waiting to find out about the nano novel --I rather like the idea but putting it on hold while I finish the WIP. I am at last ready to return to it after reading a dozen novels in the genre I'm writing for. I see the problem --my sentences are too long. I need to share the POV between hero and heroine to give more suspense and immediacy to the building romance. I need at least two good and relevant action scenes per chapter.

So that's all right then. Another ho ho ho but feeling a bit better. After all I'm only a year late.

The nanowrimo novel

...creeps on at petty pace from day to day. Having decided I had thought my plot into the ground, I was bored to death with the story and theme so back to my old pantsing freedom. I may come a cropper, I certainly did last year but for the moment I'm having fun. I wrote almost as much yesterday as I had in the whole first fortnight of Nanowrimo.

The sudden spurt could have been from the invigorating first meeting we had with all available nano-novelists on the Island. Interestingly all the successful word counters were plot-based story tellers.

My novel started as usual with a character -- a fat frump on a sofa crying out for someone to listen to her story. Sadly she's decided to tell it to a journalist --always a mistake --so conflicts from the off.

Amazed that it's only a week since I applied to Garden and Hearth--it feels like weeks since I applied to work as their contributing editor on Pet Sitting. The more I research and talk to other about this, the better idea it becomes. Fingers still crossed.

Makes it a bit difficult to type the novel though. :-)

Romantic Tangents

What has pet sitting to do with romance?
With lateral thinking, more than the obvious meets the eye.

Researching the business of pet sitting gives a solid basis for a strong romantic heroine. It's also a super job for a romantic suspense or cosy mystery heroine. Through her vocation she will have access to all sorts of people and homes in a range of society settings.

It provides leads to a further range of occupations for novel characters -- read both meanings of novel into that sentence. Veterinary surgeons and nurses, practitioners in complementary medicine, doctors if the animal causes an accident to a person, breeders, farmers and estate managers with working dogs. The list is endless.

Pets, let's face it, are popular protagonists. From Lilian Braun's cat detectives to Steinbeck's red pony they tug at the heart strings and inspire devotion in their fans.

It's a job I've always done, usually for friends with horses, dogs, cats, and farmyard animals. But suddenly through finding Garden and Hearth, I am passionate about turning my hobby into an occupation that will pander to my love of animals and help finance my work at home lifestyle.

I have applied for the position of Contributing Editor in the Work At Home Mums section with my focus being Pet Sitting.



Why am I not joining the band of merry freelance writers who encourage every other mum to join them?

To do any job well, it is my belief you must be a thoroughly rounded person. Socialising, family relationships and work relationships help develop negotiating skills and strength of character. As a writer, you need both.

A writer writes but to write well, you need to interact with people with real world issues and real world problems. You need to hone your skills with practice. You need a job where you are often dealing with the unknown.

Christina Jones, a writer I really admire for many reasons, still worked part time in a pub even when her books were best sellers. Been there, done that -- super for characters and drama -- but it no longer fits into my family lifestyle.

Pet sitting will.

Obviously freelancing takes total dedication and we all know how hard and lonely it can be. I'm looking forward to having a few new fluffy friends for company from time to time. Besides they'll provide even more leads for the non fiction articles I can freelance to pay the bills.

My novel will never do that.

They'll keep me exercising and following a healthy lifestyle.

My novel will never do that.

Pass the biscuits please.....

Ups and Downs

Very erratic ebbs and flow of progress in the creative journey. Recent romantic journeys to Bulgaria have proved balm to the soul. Wandering the historic sites and the unspoilt countryside, attending folk festivals and being welcomed to village barbecues have forced me to reevaluate my priorities and question my drive to write for publication.

Returning home, I found my novel was back from the Romantic Novelists' Association reader whose crit was full of positive and helpful advice. The initial enthusiasm to progress was instantly dampened by a fierce crit from one of my very helpful critique group. The new chapter bored him rigid. Such is life.
I have found a new and enthusiastic interest in procrastination.

This has come at the ideal time with the rerunning of the 60-Day Experiment --David Perdew's spiritual take on making money. Now can these two ever go together? I suppose they should but simplistic is never what it seems.

Off to write my thankyou letters for my Bulgarian holiday and my anonymous RNA reader who never once whimpered with boredom reading through my work. (Wish I could say the same.) A saint indeed.