Kimber An's Blog, page 19

One Cow or Three Goats

I've been reading all about keeping milk goats, because we're a family of six who goes through a lot of milk.  And cows seemed to give a lot more milk than we needed anyway, and they're more expensive.  But, then, I added up exactly how much milk our family goes through and my jaw hit my kneecaps.  We would need at least three goats to provide all the milk my family needs in year, which is about the same or less, milk and money wise, as one milk cow.  Hmmm...I must study this more.  I must also consider Alaska-specific needs, like which animals can take the cold best and availibity of feed.  It'll probably be a couple of years before we can properly care for a dairy animal anyway.
Storey's Guide to Country Living

Weeding & Patching

This can be drudgery, but mostly it's fun.

Done with Rehammer

Now, I print up the Outline, read slowly through the First Draft, and jot down everything that needs to be researched and fixed.

Next Step: Rehammer the Outline

Why do I call it that?  Well, because writing a book feels more like 'building' a book.  To build a house, you hammer the boards together to make the frame.  That's what an outline is to me.  A frame.  I wrote the outline once, but then I wrote the first draft.  I didn't stay exactly on the outline, because other things worked out and some things did not work out.  So, I'm going back through the first draft and rewriting the outline to reflect the first draft, scene by scene.  I don't outline like  normal folks, I guess.  Anyway, once that's done, I make sure there's lots of spaces in between scenes in the outline and then I print it up.  And then, yawn, I slowly read through the first draft and jot down everything on the paper copy that's missing, needs to be researched, and/or added.  And once that's all done and the research is all done, it will be time for the Second Draft.  The wordcount inevitable explodes on that.  Okay, I've had my two days off, so it's baaaaack to write!

Finished Reading SUGAR RUSH

Next step is to re-hammer the Outline for SWEET BYTES.  I'll start that on Wednesday.  For now, I'm going to give my poor Tendonitis-stricken hands a good rest. 

Happy Mother's Day to My Children and Husband!

Without whom I would not be celebrated today! 
.
Being a mommy has been the most enjoyable, most purposeful part of my life. 
.
You've healed my heart and made me believe in fairytales again.
.
Metaphorically, of course, here is my life- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCQNYiFA3_8

Reading SUGAR and CRUSHED

It's hard and terrifying to read my two already-published books again, because if I find a mistake
.
I CAN'T FIX IT!
.
Waaaah! 
.
That is so unbelievably painful.  (((sigh)))  Anyway, I finished Crushed and am reading Sugar right now.  Since this is a series I'm writing, I have to read the previous books again, just in case I forgot something.  Like, yesterday, I found out that Tristan has dark-brown eyes.  I kept thinking they were gray. 
.
Besides that, I'll be updating my sites soon.  I'm about a month behind on that and I have a some fabulous cyber-events coming up in June.  Thankfully, school's almost out, so I'll have more time.
.
Happy weekend!

First Major Hurdle to Our Own Homestead

We just leapt clear over it.  Can't tell you what it is right now.  But, my husband has declared me 'obsessed with chickens!'  Can you believe it?  Me?  Obsessed?  Truth is, he finds it kinda cute and funny that I'm more occupied with building a house for our future chickens than one for us.  It's good to have a husband who thinks you're cute and funny.
.
Check this out-
Backyard Chickens Coop Designs

SWEET BYTES in First Revision- "Weed & Patch"

I call it that because I Weed junk out, research, and Patch things up.
.
The first step is to reread Crushed Sugar and Sugar Rush back to back with a notebook and pen handy, slowly and carefully.  The Ophelia Dawson Chronicles is a series and I need to make sure I haven't missed anything.  For example, Tristan is just barely introduced in Crushed, but he's a major protagonist in Sweet Bytes!  I cannot remember the color of his eyes!
.
The next step after that is to re-hammer to outline.  More on that when the time comes.

First Draft of SWEET BYTES is Complete!

Now, I must rest.  'Cause, the first major revision, also known as The Real Work, begins on Wednesday.