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Tia Silverthorne Bach's Blog, page 87
February 7, 2012
What We all Need is Some Reagan
Today is my middle daughter's 10th birthday. Reagan Dallas Bach is named after Ronald Reagan, more on that later, and my father, Dallas. She's my never-say-die, full of spunk, sweet daughter.
One of the coolest things about being a Mom is seeing your children become individuals. I thought my job as a parent was to mold, to help create who my child would be. Now, I know better. I can foster, but they sense any attempt at molding and avoid it with great effort.
Good thing my Reagan is a lovely individual.
What We Could all Learn from Reagan
Fearlessness - Reagan's never met a challenge she doesn't see as an opportunity. She embraces new things and tackles them in earnest.
Loving Yourself - Reagan owns who she is. When we moved to a new state in late 2010, Reagan came up to me and said, "Until I can find a new best friend, I'm going to be my own best friend." There was more wisdom in that sentence than I've had time to teach her.
Humor - When in doubt, crack a joke. Pretty much Reagan's philosophy. If a moment ever gets too serious, she finds a way to turn it around. It's a gift she gets from me through my father.
Embracing Fun - Never one to accept the boring or too heavy, Reagan can find fun anywhere. She loves to be outside and has an endless supply of energy. But if she's stuck indoors, she is the one entertaining her sisters and creating things to do.
Stubbornness - Yes, stubbornness can sometimes be your friend. I've always told my husband that peer pressure will never sway Reagan if she does NOT want to do something. But, Katie bar the door, if she does. I may have to embrace pink hair and tattoos in the near future!
Back to her name... my dad has always loved Ronald Reagan. After we named our first daughter Jacqueline, Dad asked if we were inspired by the Kennedys (not one of his favorite politic families). Ed and I never considered the Kennedy to connection to the name Jacqueline.
As soon as I found myself pregnant with my second baby, I told Dad we'd name a boy Ronald or a girl Reagan to make him happy. It was a joke, or started as one. But Reagan grew on us. So, of course, we had to give her my dad's name for her middle name.
I am proud every single day to call her my daughter.
What have you learned from your children?
One of the coolest things about being a Mom is seeing your children become individuals. I thought my job as a parent was to mold, to help create who my child would be. Now, I know better. I can foster, but they sense any attempt at molding and avoid it with great effort.Good thing my Reagan is a lovely individual.
What We Could all Learn from Reagan
Fearlessness - Reagan's never met a challenge she doesn't see as an opportunity. She embraces new things and tackles them in earnest.
Loving Yourself - Reagan owns who she is. When we moved to a new state in late 2010, Reagan came up to me and said, "Until I can find a new best friend, I'm going to be my own best friend." There was more wisdom in that sentence than I've had time to teach her.Humor - When in doubt, crack a joke. Pretty much Reagan's philosophy. If a moment ever gets too serious, she finds a way to turn it around. It's a gift she gets from me through my father.
Embracing Fun - Never one to accept the boring or too heavy, Reagan can find fun anywhere. She loves to be outside and has an endless supply of energy. But if she's stuck indoors, she is the one entertaining her sisters and creating things to do.
Stubbornness - Yes, stubbornness can sometimes be your friend. I've always told my husband that peer pressure will never sway Reagan if she does NOT want to do something. But, Katie bar the door, if she does. I may have to embrace pink hair and tattoos in the near future!
Back to her name... my dad has always loved Ronald Reagan. After we named our first daughter Jacqueline, Dad asked if we were inspired by the Kennedys (not one of his favorite politic families). Ed and I never considered the Kennedy to connection to the name Jacqueline. As soon as I found myself pregnant with my second baby, I told Dad we'd name a boy Ronald or a girl Reagan to make him happy. It was a joke, or started as one. But Reagan grew on us. So, of course, we had to give her my dad's name for her middle name.
I am proud every single day to call her my daughter.
What have you learned from your children?
February 6, 2012
Join the Campaign--Build Your Platform
Don't be scared off by the title. It has nothing to do with politics! Rachael Harrie holds a Writers' Platform-Building Campaign twice a year. I participated for the first time last fall. I learned so much from the participants and Rachael's challenges and couldn't wait for the next one. Now it's here!
Some information about the Campaign from Rach Writes: Basically, the Campaign is a way to link those of us in the writing community together with the aim of helping to build our online platforms. The Campaigners are all bloggers in a similar position, who genuinely want to pay it forward, make connections and friends within the writing community, and help build each others' online platforms while at the same time building theirs.
As the Campaign kicks off, you'll have the names and blog addresses of the Campaigners on my List of Campaigners page, so you can keep in touch with the other Campaigners. That way you'll have a list of bloggers in the same position as you, who genuinely want to help you succeed. And you'll be able to meet those who have the most in common with you. You can visit their blogs and other places they haunt, follow along, leave comments galore, and share your highs and lows as you journey through the blogosphere and build your online platform. And they'll be doing the same for you.
Key Dates
* This Fourth Campaign will be a mini-Campaign, and will run from today until Saturday, March 17, 2012.
* The List of Campaigners will close on Wednesday, February 15th, so make sure you sign up before then.
* The First Campaigner Challenge will begin on Monday, February 20th and end on Saturday, February 25th.
* The Second Campaigner Challenge will begin on Monday, March 5th and end on Saturday, March 10th.
Organized Campaign Events
* I'll be running the two Campaigner Challenges I mentioned above.
* Each Friday I'll post a Campaigner Notice-Board, where you can announce blogfests, book launches, things you'd like to share with your other Campaigners, etc etc. You'll need to send me the information in advance, and I've made up a form to make things easier. If you want me to include your details in this Friday's post (February 10th), please fill out this form.
* There will be lots of Twitter-talk at #writecampaign, so make sure you jump in and take part to meet, get to know, and encourage your fellow Campaigners.
Let me know in the comments if you'll be joining the Campaign this year.
Some information about the Campaign from Rach Writes: Basically, the Campaign is a way to link those of us in the writing community together with the aim of helping to build our online platforms. The Campaigners are all bloggers in a similar position, who genuinely want to pay it forward, make connections and friends within the writing community, and help build each others' online platforms while at the same time building theirs.
As the Campaign kicks off, you'll have the names and blog addresses of the Campaigners on my List of Campaigners page, so you can keep in touch with the other Campaigners. That way you'll have a list of bloggers in the same position as you, who genuinely want to help you succeed. And you'll be able to meet those who have the most in common with you. You can visit their blogs and other places they haunt, follow along, leave comments galore, and share your highs and lows as you journey through the blogosphere and build your online platform. And they'll be doing the same for you.
Key Dates
* This Fourth Campaign will be a mini-Campaign, and will run from today until Saturday, March 17, 2012.
* The List of Campaigners will close on Wednesday, February 15th, so make sure you sign up before then.
* The First Campaigner Challenge will begin on Monday, February 20th and end on Saturday, February 25th.
* The Second Campaigner Challenge will begin on Monday, March 5th and end on Saturday, March 10th.
Organized Campaign Events
* I'll be running the two Campaigner Challenges I mentioned above.
* Each Friday I'll post a Campaigner Notice-Board, where you can announce blogfests, book launches, things you'd like to share with your other Campaigners, etc etc. You'll need to send me the information in advance, and I've made up a form to make things easier. If you want me to include your details in this Friday's post (February 10th), please fill out this form.
* There will be lots of Twitter-talk at #writecampaign, so make sure you jump in and take part to meet, get to know, and encourage your fellow Campaigners.
Let me know in the comments if you'll be joining the Campaign this year.
February 5, 2012
Crafting Characters: ROW80 Check In
A positive to writing a book with your mom... having plot and character discussions at places like Great Wolf Lodge while the kids play. Just in the last year or so, I've realized some freedom with my girls (now 11, 9 and 6). I can sit and watch them play versus running after them all the time.
While my children were intoxicated with water play, Mom and I talked about characters for our follow up to Depression Cookies . We know what we want to put our main characters through and how we want them to grow, but we can't sacrifice peripheral characters to accomplish our goals. After much discussion, we realized we had changed a semi-main character too much from our first book. It didn't make sense for that character, even though it moved along story.
Now, we need to go back and revamp a couple of chapters, but I feel jazzed and excited about the book again thanks to our conversation.
Onto my ROW80 update...
The brain fog is finally clearing. Just in time to plan my daughter's 10th birthday (2/7), my other daughter's Valentine's Day dance (2/10), and my birthday girl's slumber party (2/11), not to mention Valentine's Day fun (2/14, parties at schools and home events). It's all fun, but very distracting.
Writing: Let's call it planning. I only wrote about 900 words since Wednesday, but my head is swimming with ideas and plans. Plus, I learned something about myself during the last week of insanity... I am very productive at 6am in a quiet house. It's my own wordsprint. The alarm is already set for 6am tomorrow, and I've put tomorrow's #ROW80 #teamsprinty (2pm EST) in my calendar.
Dear Muse, I've cleared my schedule and made my plans. You've been enjoying a vacation thanks to my insanity, so please join me tomorrow for some exciting writing. Sincerely, Tia
Blogging: Daily here and once on Mom in Love with Fiction since Wednesday. I'm getting around to ROW80 blogs. Several of them have mentioned Story Engineering (just today, Kait Nolan mentioned it), so it'll be my next craft book after Dorothea Brande's Becoming a Writer (that one's been sitting by my bed way too long).
Reading: Going to start Becoming a Writer and pick back up The Book Thief.
Editing: Excited to return to it after a brain-packed week!
Exercise: Thanks to beautiful weather, I got outside to clear my brain and work my muscles a lot this past week. I need to get back to the gym. Unfortunately, we spent a weekend at Great Wolf Lodge... have you ever tried to eat healthy at a place like that?
Check out other ROW80 participants here.
How are my writer friends doing? With all the sickness going around lately, I hope my writer friends are healthy and ready to entertain their Muse.
While my children were intoxicated with water play, Mom and I talked about characters for our follow up to Depression Cookies . We know what we want to put our main characters through and how we want them to grow, but we can't sacrifice peripheral characters to accomplish our goals. After much discussion, we realized we had changed a semi-main character too much from our first book. It didn't make sense for that character, even though it moved along story.
Now, we need to go back and revamp a couple of chapters, but I feel jazzed and excited about the book again thanks to our conversation.
Onto my ROW80 update...The brain fog is finally clearing. Just in time to plan my daughter's 10th birthday (2/7), my other daughter's Valentine's Day dance (2/10), and my birthday girl's slumber party (2/11), not to mention Valentine's Day fun (2/14, parties at schools and home events). It's all fun, but very distracting.
Writing: Let's call it planning. I only wrote about 900 words since Wednesday, but my head is swimming with ideas and plans. Plus, I learned something about myself during the last week of insanity... I am very productive at 6am in a quiet house. It's my own wordsprint. The alarm is already set for 6am tomorrow, and I've put tomorrow's #ROW80 #teamsprinty (2pm EST) in my calendar.
Dear Muse, I've cleared my schedule and made my plans. You've been enjoying a vacation thanks to my insanity, so please join me tomorrow for some exciting writing. Sincerely, Tia
Blogging: Daily here and once on Mom in Love with Fiction since Wednesday. I'm getting around to ROW80 blogs. Several of them have mentioned Story Engineering (just today, Kait Nolan mentioned it), so it'll be my next craft book after Dorothea Brande's Becoming a Writer (that one's been sitting by my bed way too long).
Reading: Going to start Becoming a Writer and pick back up The Book Thief.
Editing: Excited to return to it after a brain-packed week!
Exercise: Thanks to beautiful weather, I got outside to clear my brain and work my muscles a lot this past week. I need to get back to the gym. Unfortunately, we spent a weekend at Great Wolf Lodge... have you ever tried to eat healthy at a place like that?
Check out other ROW80 participants here.
How are my writer friends doing? With all the sickness going around lately, I hope my writer friends are healthy and ready to entertain their Muse.
February 4, 2012
Paying It Forward
Before
Depression Cookies
debuted in late 2010, I was a closet writer. Very few close friends and family members knew I was writing a book, much less that I had been a writer for years (mainly a business writer).
Marketing my own book forced me out in the open. I'm so glad it did. I've found the writing community to be welcoming and always willing to share.
To give back to a community that always gives so much to me, I like to pay it forward. Many authors have been instrumental in bringing me out of my shell. Two, ironically both named Melissa, have breaking news.
* WoMen's Literary Cafe, the literary site founded by Melissa Foster, has changed its name to World Literary Cafe. It's the same great site, full of many features: Free eBook Fridays; Author, Reader and Writer Forums; Beta Readers and Critique Groups; and so much more. Check it out here.
* Turning Point is available for FREE for a limited time on Amazon. It's a wonderful Young Adult novel by Melissa Luznicky Garrett. I reviewed it on my review blog here. An excerpt: If you are intrigued by dark characters and the unexpected, you will appreciate every turn of the page. Melissa's ability to slowly reveal layer after layer of this family's dark secret is impressive. Never once did I guess the series of events about to occur.
Check out the efforts of these lovely Melissas.
I love to expand my writing community and find new author friends... any good suggestions on where to hang out online?
Marketing my own book forced me out in the open. I'm so glad it did. I've found the writing community to be welcoming and always willing to share.
To give back to a community that always gives so much to me, I like to pay it forward. Many authors have been instrumental in bringing me out of my shell. Two, ironically both named Melissa, have breaking news.
* WoMen's Literary Cafe, the literary site founded by Melissa Foster, has changed its name to World Literary Cafe. It's the same great site, full of many features: Free eBook Fridays; Author, Reader and Writer Forums; Beta Readers and Critique Groups; and so much more. Check it out here.
* Turning Point is available for FREE for a limited time on Amazon. It's a wonderful Young Adult novel by Melissa Luznicky Garrett. I reviewed it on my review blog here. An excerpt: If you are intrigued by dark characters and the unexpected, you will appreciate every turn of the page. Melissa's ability to slowly reveal layer after layer of this family's dark secret is impressive. Never once did I guess the series of events about to occur.Check out the efforts of these lovely Melissas.
I love to expand my writing community and find new author friends... any good suggestions on where to hang out online?
February 3, 2012
Lessons Learned from Bingo
I survived chairing my first middle school event, a Family Fun Night with bingo and raffle prizes. It turned out beautifully, but I learned a thing or two.
* People take their Bingo seriously... who knew? I didn't. My husband was the designated, notice he did not volunteer but was designated, bingo caller. On one occasion, he messed up. I thought half the people attending were going to take him out.
* Friends make everything worthwhile... without good friends helping me, I would have been a mess. The same is true in my writing life now. There are some people I've never met that have gotten me through bad writing weeks. I'm so thankful for people who are willing to share and care.
* Kids love candy... I had gift certificates galore. Starbucks, ITunes, local restaurants. What did the kids constantly choose? The Costco candy bars or anything else with sugar. To my author friends, if you write Young Adult, consider wrapping an extra large Hershey's bar around your book. You'll be amazed by your increased sales.
* Sometimes you need luck... I don't care how many cards some people bought, time and time again I saw winners from one card. Sometimes, all it takes is some luck. You can plan and strategize all you want, but if Lady Luck is not smiling at you... she's smiling at someone else. I've read traditionally published books that aren't, well, good. And I wonder... how did that get published? The right person read it and loved it. That simple.
What I love most about taking on any new challenge... learning. As a writer, I like being in all situations. You never know where a story or inspiration may strike.
Where's the oddest place you were inspired?
* People take their Bingo seriously... who knew? I didn't. My husband was the designated, notice he did not volunteer but was designated, bingo caller. On one occasion, he messed up. I thought half the people attending were going to take him out.
* Friends make everything worthwhile... without good friends helping me, I would have been a mess. The same is true in my writing life now. There are some people I've never met that have gotten me through bad writing weeks. I'm so thankful for people who are willing to share and care.
* Kids love candy... I had gift certificates galore. Starbucks, ITunes, local restaurants. What did the kids constantly choose? The Costco candy bars or anything else with sugar. To my author friends, if you write Young Adult, consider wrapping an extra large Hershey's bar around your book. You'll be amazed by your increased sales.
* Sometimes you need luck... I don't care how many cards some people bought, time and time again I saw winners from one card. Sometimes, all it takes is some luck. You can plan and strategize all you want, but if Lady Luck is not smiling at you... she's smiling at someone else. I've read traditionally published books that aren't, well, good. And I wonder... how did that get published? The right person read it and loved it. That simple.
What I love most about taking on any new challenge... learning. As a writer, I like being in all situations. You never know where a story or inspiration may strike.
Where's the oddest place you were inspired?
February 2, 2012
Random Thoughts from an Overtaxed Brain
My brain is still fogged up from my complete inability to avoid overcommitting. A combined issue with FOMO and FLSD (Fear of Letting Someone Down - love this contribution from Natalie Hartford to the FOMO discussion) caused me to overextend the last few weeks.
So today I offer some random thoughts, all I'm capable of until Saturday when I can purge several events from my brain.
* NY Times Article, "Barnes and Noble Won't Sell Books from Amazon Publishing." - I'm sure I'm missing something here, but I rarely (pretty much never) find small press and/or independently published books in the retail bookstores. At least from this article, I did not gather that B&N would not sell Amazon-published books at its online site.
I don't like censorship of any kind, for any reason. Let the readers decide what books they want to buy. But I must say this seems much ado about nothing. But, I've only read this article. Others' thoughts?
* Punxsutawney Phil - Really, we listen to a rodent for our weather. What's worse, I read somewhere that he's only 39% accurate. As another service to my lovely readers, I'm happy to flip a coin early every February. Heads, we have winter for six more weeks. Tails, it's almost springtime. I'll have a 50% chance my way.
*
Oppression
- I am SO excited about this book by Jessica Therrien! I met Jessica during Rachael Harrie's Writers' Platform-Building Campaign. The book will be released February 28, 2012 by Zova Books, and I will be participating in the Virtual Launch Party as well as reviewing it (I just received my E-ARC!).
For more information, please check out Jessica's blog, From Imagination to Publication.
* Writers' Platform Building Campaign - Since I mentioned it above, Rachael Harrie is hosting a mini-campaign (only one month long). The announcement will be featured on her blog on Monday, February 6. Please join us for some great flash fiction challenges and to meet some wonderful writers!
Any random thoughts you'd like to share with me?
So today I offer some random thoughts, all I'm capable of until Saturday when I can purge several events from my brain.
* NY Times Article, "Barnes and Noble Won't Sell Books from Amazon Publishing." - I'm sure I'm missing something here, but I rarely (pretty much never) find small press and/or independently published books in the retail bookstores. At least from this article, I did not gather that B&N would not sell Amazon-published books at its online site.
I don't like censorship of any kind, for any reason. Let the readers decide what books they want to buy. But I must say this seems much ado about nothing. But, I've only read this article. Others' thoughts?
* Punxsutawney Phil - Really, we listen to a rodent for our weather. What's worse, I read somewhere that he's only 39% accurate. As another service to my lovely readers, I'm happy to flip a coin early every February. Heads, we have winter for six more weeks. Tails, it's almost springtime. I'll have a 50% chance my way.
*
Oppression
- I am SO excited about this book by Jessica Therrien! I met Jessica during Rachael Harrie's Writers' Platform-Building Campaign. The book will be released February 28, 2012 by Zova Books, and I will be participating in the Virtual Launch Party as well as reviewing it (I just received my E-ARC!). For more information, please check out Jessica's blog, From Imagination to Publication.
* Writers' Platform Building Campaign - Since I mentioned it above, Rachael Harrie is hosting a mini-campaign (only one month long). The announcement will be featured on her blog on Monday, February 6. Please join us for some great flash fiction challenges and to meet some wonderful writers!
Any random thoughts you'd like to share with me?
February 1, 2012
Brain Fog: ROW80 Check In
Has your brain ever been so full with one thing that you couldn't focus on anything else? That's been me this week. Ignoring my own "Say No" advice, I volunteered to run my middle school daughter's Bingo Family Fun Night.
It's not that it's difficult to plan. I had to solicit donations, organize prizes and the evening, and plan out the space. The problem... there are a lot of details. And those details have taken over what precious little brain space my children have left me with.
This week when my kids, or anybody else really, talked to me, I was honest, "I promise we'll deal with that after Family Fun Night."
The sad fact is, my brain is at capacity. I dream about Family Fun Night. At least last night this dream involved a rogue group of zombies attacking the school during the event.
I will be able to function starting Saturday. Good thing since my middle daughter's birthday is Tuesday, February 7. I'll be scrambling, but I know I can do it. After all, I'll be motivated. She'll be 10. (insert image of weepy mom here).
My ROW80 Update
Writing: Brain. Too. Overloaded. At capacity. I sat down and tried to write, truly I did. Sadly, I could write a dissertation on the ins and outs of organizing a middle school Family Fun Night, but that doesn't do my WIP any good. I even tried a #ROW80 #teamsprinty today. 345 words in 45 minutes. Hard work, but more than I would have done without my #ROW80 buddies. Thank you.
Blogging: Daily here, and I posted my less than thrilling review on Mom in Love with Fiction. At a previous check in, I asked for advice on how to handle a poor review. I hope I did okay: Night Sounds, Pam Young.
Reading: See Writing. Brain. Too. Overloaded. I just started The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I'm so excited to read this, but it's deep and I'm a shallow pond right now.
Editing: Working on several projects at once. Another reason the brain is overloaded. Each project is very different, thankfully.
Exercise: No time. This isn't helping the brain fog. At. All.
February Letter Writing Challenge: I'm so excited to be participating in A Month of Letters Challenge. I mailed my first letter today.
I hope my next update is a bit more exciting.
What do you do when your brain is too full?
It's not that it's difficult to plan. I had to solicit donations, organize prizes and the evening, and plan out the space. The problem... there are a lot of details. And those details have taken over what precious little brain space my children have left me with.
This week when my kids, or anybody else really, talked to me, I was honest, "I promise we'll deal with that after Family Fun Night."
The sad fact is, my brain is at capacity. I dream about Family Fun Night. At least last night this dream involved a rogue group of zombies attacking the school during the event.
I will be able to function starting Saturday. Good thing since my middle daughter's birthday is Tuesday, February 7. I'll be scrambling, but I know I can do it. After all, I'll be motivated. She'll be 10. (insert image of weepy mom here).
My ROW80 Update
Writing: Brain. Too. Overloaded. At capacity. I sat down and tried to write, truly I did. Sadly, I could write a dissertation on the ins and outs of organizing a middle school Family Fun Night, but that doesn't do my WIP any good. I even tried a #ROW80 #teamsprinty today. 345 words in 45 minutes. Hard work, but more than I would have done without my #ROW80 buddies. Thank you.
Blogging: Daily here, and I posted my less than thrilling review on Mom in Love with Fiction. At a previous check in, I asked for advice on how to handle a poor review. I hope I did okay: Night Sounds, Pam Young.
Reading: See Writing. Brain. Too. Overloaded. I just started The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I'm so excited to read this, but it's deep and I'm a shallow pond right now.
Editing: Working on several projects at once. Another reason the brain is overloaded. Each project is very different, thankfully.
Exercise: No time. This isn't helping the brain fog. At. All.
February Letter Writing Challenge: I'm so excited to be participating in A Month of Letters Challenge. I mailed my first letter today.
I hope my next update is a bit more exciting.
What do you do when your brain is too full?
January 31, 2012
January's Greatest Hits
Really, it can't be the last day of January. Crazy! 2012 has started off with a bang, and I think I might have preferred more of a whimper.
This month I joined two challenges, the Ultimate Blog Challenge and BlogHer's January NaBloPoMo. Both required daily posting. I'm exhausted, but also really proud of some of my posts this month.
According to page views, the following were our most popular posts in January:
* Art of No
* You Had Me at Goodbye: Movies I Should Have Quit
* On Stephen King
* Our New Baby
January Highlights
We reached our 300th post this month, and two January posts (On Stephen King and Art of No) were featured on BlogHer.
I'm looking forward to posting in February and starting my Month of Letters challenge. Please consider joining me in writing a letter a day in February (only on postal days, so Sundays off!).
Hope everyone had a lovely January. February, here we come...
This month I joined two challenges, the Ultimate Blog Challenge and BlogHer's January NaBloPoMo. Both required daily posting. I'm exhausted, but also really proud of some of my posts this month.
According to page views, the following were our most popular posts in January:
* Art of No
* You Had Me at Goodbye: Movies I Should Have Quit
* On Stephen King
* Our New Baby
January Highlights
We reached our 300th post this month, and two January posts (On Stephen King and Art of No) were featured on BlogHer.
I'm looking forward to posting in February and starting my Month of Letters challenge. Please consider joining me in writing a letter a day in February (only on postal days, so Sundays off!).
Hope everyone had a lovely January. February, here we come...
January 30, 2012
Starting or Stopping: That is the Question
Since January is coming to an end, I thought I'd look over all the prompts I didn't use from BlogHer's NaBloPoMo this month. One prompt caught my eye: Which do you enjoy more--the start of a book or the end?
Hands down, the beginning. But not the first few pages, the beginning third of the book. I love the excitement of getting to know the characters and connecting with the storyline. It's the beginning of a vacation to a new land.
If I love a book, I don't want it to end. Even an enjoyable happy ending is an ending. The only time I enjoy an ending is if I'm glad the book is over. That's not good.
Totally different opinion when I'm writing a book. I enjoy the beginnings of putting a story together, but I also find them the hardest to write. The middle is tough, too. My favorite parts to write are the meat of the story (from halfway to almost the end).
But, then there is the dreaded ending. My book club friends will tell you, we complain the most about endings. Either they wrap up too quickly, fall flat, or disappoint. Rarely do we all agree that an ending worked or made the story better. Knowing this, I find writing endings especially stressful.
I would love some other thoughts, from both readers and writers. What's your favorite part of the book? The start or the end? Does it change as a reader versus a writer?
Hands down, the beginning. But not the first few pages, the beginning third of the book. I love the excitement of getting to know the characters and connecting with the storyline. It's the beginning of a vacation to a new land.
If I love a book, I don't want it to end. Even an enjoyable happy ending is an ending. The only time I enjoy an ending is if I'm glad the book is over. That's not good.Totally different opinion when I'm writing a book. I enjoy the beginnings of putting a story together, but I also find them the hardest to write. The middle is tough, too. My favorite parts to write are the meat of the story (from halfway to almost the end).
But, then there is the dreaded ending. My book club friends will tell you, we complain the most about endings. Either they wrap up too quickly, fall flat, or disappoint. Rarely do we all agree that an ending worked or made the story better. Knowing this, I find writing endings especially stressful.
I would love some other thoughts, from both readers and writers. What's your favorite part of the book? The start or the end? Does it change as a reader versus a writer?
January 29, 2012
Creative Diversions: ROW80 Check In
My creative juices have been flowing in abundance. It's a wonderful feeling. Last night, two of my daughters performed in their elementary school talent show. My baby performed with five other first grade girls as the Samba Sisters while my middle daughter performed with her friend to Lady Gaga's Born This Way.
Since my last check in, I've been knee-deep in talent show plans and last minute practices. I've spent very few hours at home at a computer. But did I let that stop my writing? Usually I would. An easy excuse. But funny thing about those creative juices... when they are flowing, I can't stop them. I filled up pages of handwritten thoughts on both my WIPs. It all came pouring out so fast, I hope I captured it all.
On to the ROW 80 Update:
Writing: Lots of planning, but no time at the computer. I'm hoping the notes will result in extra words the next few days.
Blogging: Every day here. My post about the Art of Saying No (To More Than Just My Kids) was featured on BlogHer's site. And Thursday, I hit my 300th post here!!!! with You Had Me at Goodbye: Movies I Should Have Quit. Plus, I posted two reviews at Mom in Love with Fiction. I will be posting another one this week.
Reading: Less than I'd like this week. I'm falling behind on my reading goals.
Editing: On hold for a week. I had to be honest with myself and the people counting on me.
Exercise: If running around constantly counts, I'm burning calories galore. I need to fit in some dedicated exercise this week. I find it's such a stress reliever for me.
My goal is to join some #teamsprinty #ROW80 wordsprints this week. I need the motivation to force those notes into words and progress. Hope to see some of you there.
How have your 2012 goals been coming along so far?
Since my last check in, I've been knee-deep in talent show plans and last minute practices. I've spent very few hours at home at a computer. But did I let that stop my writing? Usually I would. An easy excuse. But funny thing about those creative juices... when they are flowing, I can't stop them. I filled up pages of handwritten thoughts on both my WIPs. It all came pouring out so fast, I hope I captured it all.
On to the ROW 80 Update:
Writing: Lots of planning, but no time at the computer. I'm hoping the notes will result in extra words the next few days.
Blogging: Every day here. My post about the Art of Saying No (To More Than Just My Kids) was featured on BlogHer's site. And Thursday, I hit my 300th post here!!!! with You Had Me at Goodbye: Movies I Should Have Quit. Plus, I posted two reviews at Mom in Love with Fiction. I will be posting another one this week.
Reading: Less than I'd like this week. I'm falling behind on my reading goals.
Editing: On hold for a week. I had to be honest with myself and the people counting on me.
Exercise: If running around constantly counts, I'm burning calories galore. I need to fit in some dedicated exercise this week. I find it's such a stress reliever for me.
My goal is to join some #teamsprinty #ROW80 wordsprints this week. I need the motivation to force those notes into words and progress. Hope to see some of you there.
How have your 2012 goals been coming along so far?
