Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Random Tuesday thoughts…


I seem to be running wide-open these days, out of the frying pan and into the spilt milk, from pillar to post with barely a chance to catch my breath. But that’s becoming almost the normal state of affairs, and my list-making obsession is coming in very handy. As is my calendar. And my PDA. And the strings tied around my fingers. This juggling act is affecting my brain function this week, so coherence is not on the agenda for today’s blog.

Random thought 1:
Congrats to Karen who posted why she wrote on Saturday’s blog and wins a copy of The Art of Romance Writing by Valerie Parv. It's an oldie but a goodie, and I happened to find a copy on-line (I hate it when good books go out of print). Some of the info on publishers is out of date, but her chapters on Characterization and Plot/Conflict are great. Congrats Karen! We understand completely about the voices in our heads…

But Jennifer, who claims to only be a reader, isn’t out of the game. She wrote:
“Maybe one day I'll get the courage to write them down. Right now, I think it is
the fear that it won't make sense to anyone but me and the fear of failure that
keep me from trying. Plus I wouldn't even know where to start.”

Oh, honey, those are dangerous words here on the Playground. Watch every Playfriend jump to attention at the thought fear is holding someone back from writing. Because we know where you’re coming from. So, in the hopes of encouraging you to break through that fear, I’m sending you a copy of No Plot? No Problem! by Chris Baty, the founder of National Novel Writing Month. Maybe it will help you get started.

Random thought 2:
I’ll be back later today to announce the winners of the Writing Playground’s First Contest. Thanks to everyone who entered. We appreciate your support more than you know. If you haven’t entered, you have until noon central time to get your entry in. Amazing Child will be pulling the winners' names out of the cute yellow bucket after her nap.

Random thought 3:
It’s time for the Problem Child to put up or shut up. I talk a good game about making time for your writing and treating it with the importance it deserves, but I’ve been letting mine slide recently. My to do lists keep growing, and I keep letting “write” slide to the bottom. Time to walk the walk. I’m signing up for the page a day challenge. Come hell or high water (or the multitude of other things on my list), I’m getting this book finished. Even though I signed up for another project today, I’m going to start giving my writing the attention it deserves and getting that page a day done. Instigator, get your whip. PM, get your whistle. SP and Angel, get your nagging shoes on. Two weeks—fourteen pages. Who's with me?

I can do this.

Just watch me.

Problem Child

PS—A big congrats to my cousin Amanda on her engagement and upcoming wedding. I love you!

7 comments:

Jennifer Y. said...

I love random thoughts...probably because I frequently have them. I am also a listmaker!

Thank you so much for the book. I never thought that I would get anything when I posted, so I am very grateful. I have had about a dozen people over the last month or so encourage me to write some of my ideas down. Maybe this will encourage me to finally do it.

Oh and I saw on Amazon that there is an updated 2005 version of The Art of Romance Writing by Valerie Parv...just thought I'd tell you in case you didn't know.

I can't wait to find out the winners of your first ever contest...How exciting this must be for you!

Good luck with this new project PC and congrats to your cousin!

Hugs to all!

Anonymous said...

SQUEEEEE!

Kathy

Playground Monitor said...

I like this random thought stuff. Lately all my thoughts are random. *g*

Andrea Laurence AKA Smarty Pants said...

14 pages, 14 days. I'm right there with you, sister. I haven't written since the superbowl. I cut 25 pages and reworked some stuff, but no actual progression.

What task have you added to your overflowing plate now, PC?

SP

Angel said...

Okay, I'm in the revision/editing stage, so I can't write a new page everyday. How about I just check in and let y'all know I've actually worked on my manuscript each day?

Angel

Problem Child said...

Thanks for letting me know about the Parv book, Jennifer. I'll have to look into that.

I hope the book helps you take that big first step. Be sure to let us know when you do. I'm sure we can find a squee for that.

I only got 2 paragraphs written today. Why? because the only time I had was during AC's gym class and the other mothers were letting thier children run wild. 3 children made enough noise to keep me from writing. I couldn't even read!

SP--I let my old bosses talk me in to planning another conference for them. Moments after I agreed to do it, emails started pinging into my box from all over the building from folks wanting me to do theirs. I'm flattered they think so much of me, and I'm tempted to take it on because I saw my mastercard bill today, but I won't get anything written if I do.

PC

Jennifer Y. said...

Do I need to send you my address or do you already have it?

Just wondering!