M.J. Fredrick's Blog, page 71
February 10, 2011
Knowing When to Say When
Soooo….I think I'm throwing in the towel on the post apoc. I have 3 weeks until the deadline for submissions and too much plot to get through, not to mention revisions (and it needs a lot). I can't do it justice in 3 weeks. My characters' chemistry is off, though there's plenty of conflict. I'm just not feeling it, so every page is a struggle.
I can't remember the last time I walked away from a book. I may come back to it some time, but I just don't have it in me now.
I think I'll work on the next Bluestone book, get at least the partial out of the way, and then go back to revise Midnight Sun. My confidence is a bit shaken right now.
February 6, 2011
Goals for the Week Before Valentine's Day
Wow, last week was weird. Rolling blackouts, a snow day, family drama, and shopping for a new car. This week won't be any calmer. It's been hell on my writing, let me tell you. I did finish my GH judging and finished listening to one book and reading another. So at least I'm ahead on that goal.
This week:
1) Get new car (has become a priority—Fred's car didn't survive the freeze, despite precautions)
2) Finish rough draft of post apoc (unlikely, but hopeful)
3) Start deconstructing Midnight Sun to give deep revisions requested
4) TWO faculty meetings, since one was cancelled last week because of weather and rolling blackouts
5) Promo promo promo
6) Tutoring
7) An interview
8) 2 blog posts
9) Grocery/library (usual Sunday errands)
10) House
11) exercise
February 2, 2011
Snow Day?
We didn't get above freezing today, and rain from Monday night froze in puddles that fascinated the kids. We are so not used to water freezing without us having a hand in it! We had rolling blackouts today–45 minutes during testing and another 20 minutes during lunch. Hectic day to keep the kids calm. Now I'm watching the news and the meteorologist is predicting a 50 percent chance of snow, only a couple of inches. Schools east of us have canceled classes for Friday already. The kids and I were talking and while it would be neat to see snow, we'd like a decent accumulation before we have to give up one of our few remaining holidays. See, in Texas, they don't build in snow days, since we have so few–6 in the 22 years I've taught. So I'm torn about getting a snow day. We haven't seen a good accumulation since…1985?
Of course, now I'm seeing the national weather and feel like a fool–man, Chicago with 70 mph winds???
February 1, 2011
Don't Look Back
Don't Look Back is up for Best Book of 2010 at Long and Short Reviews!!! Voting begins Valentine's Day!
January 31, 2011
Car Shopping
Since my husband has been driving his mom's crappy car for the past 2 years, we're in the market for a new car. I want this:
But with gas prices on the rise, we're looking for something a bit more efficient. I agree, so I was looking at this:
It's not THAT different than my Scion, and I like the barn doors in the back. I wish it was bigger, and not 2 door, so when I saw the commercial for this, I got excited:
It's a crossover and gets good mileage, only they're BRAND new, so no used option there. Also, the dh isn't crazy about it. He thinks it looks like a Kia, and kinda the point of getting a Cooper is that they're distinctive looking. I think this is adorable and the perfect size, though the fact we'd have to buy it new does give me pause. To be fair, the used Clubmans, above, aren't that much cheaper than the Countryman we looked at.
Also, dang, cars are expensive.
Which one do you like?
January 30, 2011
Goals for the First Week of February
Wow, last week was LONG. Thought it would never end. Hope this week I can concentrate more on writing.
1) Promo, promo, promo
2) Work on post apoc. Seriously. This book is kicking my butt.
3) Tutoring
4) Faculty meeting
5) SPN blog
6) Big grocery trip
7) Library
8) Post office
9) house
January 26, 2011
The Trouble with Glee
I got 2 things crossed off my list already this AM. I still need to write 2000 words on the post apoc to catch up to where I need to be, and this story is coming so slowly, but I'm going to try to make that March 1 deadline.
I read in EW that Ryan Murphy is going to break up Quinn and the new blond kid because they were boring. Well, of course they were boring. Everything that was interesting about Quinn has been washed out this year. She's not dealing with the effects of having a child and giving it up for adoption or with her parents getting divorced–and not even because of her, but because her father was having an affair! She and Puck don't acknowledge the fact they had a baby together. I know, it's a comedy, or whatever, but they've gone the drama route with Kurt and it's been successful.
As for the blond kid (I don't even know his name!), we don't know anything about him. Does he have a perfect life or is there damage? I think it would be interesting for he and Quinn to deal with the fact that she's had a baby. Maybe his parents are judgmental or something…but if it's boring, fix it. I'm not a particular fan of the pairing, but the revolving romance doors are a little much.
Are you missing something in Glee? Or do you love it just as it is?
January 23, 2011
Goals for the Week of Avoiding a Nervous Breakdown
I can feel it coming…but at least traffic duty is done for a month or so. I cannot make you understand how much I loathe that responsibility.
1) Baby Brother's 22nd birthday
2) Finish edits on short story and send back to editor.
3) Charge forward with post-apoc.
4) Blog on SPN Sisters.
5) Judge a GH entry.
6) Write 2 promo blogs.
7) Figure out how to style my new hairdo since I didn't think that CLASS PICTURES ARE THIS WEEK. Gah.
8) Field trip
9) Tutoring 2 days.
10) Walk (I gotta, y'all.)
11) Clean house
12) And I want to use what I learned last week at the Carina meeting to update my website, but…..
Seriously, is someone working on clones? Because damn.
January 21, 2011
You're Not Going to Believe This
I just got offered my 17th contract! The Wild Rose Press wants my ghost hunter novella, currently titled Ghost of a Doubt.
I need a new title, though! This is my reporter on a ghost tour who falls for the leader of the tour. He's a bit of a charmer and she's a skeptic. Any ideas?
January 16, 2011
Goals for the Week of MLK
I finished the revisions on the first Bluestone book. AND I was given another gift. I told the dh we have to go to Hawaii so I can research. I know this is why I'm not so excited about working on my post-apoc, but I'm trying to shoulder through.
1) Traffic duty. Only 4 days, though—yay! Don't tell, but out of the 7 weeks of duty, 3 of the ones I'm assigned are short.
2) Tutoring 2 days
3) Progress reports at the end of the week
4) Carina Press phone conference—I'm taking a half-day to attend.
5) Reach 2/3 point on post-apoc. My heart isn't in it just now. I don't know if that means I should stop or press on. Deadline is 3/1.
6) Start revisions on Off Limits, suggested by my Samhain editor. It's a short story, and she said the back half needs to be strengthened. (Henry inspired that hero, too, which is why you're getting more Henry pics.)
7) Judge one GH manuscript.
8) Fill out a rebate for our new washer. That will pay for the extended warranty.
9) Make eye appt.
10) Grocery store
11) Walk
12) House
