B is for Back, S is for Sick...oh - that's right, not doing A-Z

I'm back, I'm sick, and I'm out of commission for a couple of days yet.  I went thru total blogger withdrawls with no internet and no computer.  I can't wait to get updated and back on track.

It was snowy, cold, and rainy. All relatives were sick.  Now I am sick.  I spoiled the heck out of my niece and nephew so all in all it was a great trip :)

I'm headed back to bed to curl up with a good book.  What are you reading?  Do you have a comfort book?  Can you bring me Ice Cream?

Off to see the wizard...or maybe the in-laws....

Toto, we aren't in Texas anymore.  We're in Wisconsin.  Or we will be later today anyway.  The average high this week will be 40 degrees, the average low is 30.   It will rain 4 out of the 6 days that I will be here, with one of those days to include SNOW.   Just to let you know, in Texas it will be high 80's the entire time I am gone.  There's a word for this.  I believe it is craptastic.  The upside?  A beautiful 5 year old girl and a charming 2 year old boy that I get to spoil to oblivion in these 6 days.  Overall, life is great!

My in-laws don't actually have internet access (yeah, I know...) so we aren't bringing our laptops.  So don't worry, I'll be back soon to lurk, stalk, and bore you to tears.

I hope you have a fabulous week, and I hope your muses are all talking to you as much as mine is talking to me!

Cracks in the Foundation...

I thought that coming up with the perfect title for my story would be the answer to all of my problems.  In some ways, it was.  In other ways, it created new ones.  At Teen Book Con, at least one person asked each panel how they deal with the dreaded writer's block.  Everyone of course had their own way to deal, but it was what I believe Rachel Hawkins said that stuck with me the most.  If you're stuck, it usually means the foundation is broken.  I have come to this realization in my own WIP.

With that said, my previously untitled project is now being filed away under "nice try".  My new titled project is getting a fresh start, with some remnants finding their way in from the old project.  New characters, new conflicts, but same underlying theme.  Hopefully it works this time!  If not, I guess I need to re-think what I am writing about.

Is it too early in my "career" to be going through this?  Is it better that it's happening now and not later?  What are your thoughts on this?  How many times have you written a few chapters and then just scrapped them all and started over?

Happy Wednesday, folks!  We are halfway there!

By Any Means Necessary...

Well, if you follow the fabulous Kristin you've already read by now that we had an amazing day this past Saturday at Teen Book Con.  She took very fabulous notes, so feel free to clicky and read what the all of the authors had to say.

I, however, am horrible at taking notes.  I think it's the one thing involving multi-tasking that I am not so great at -- listening / writing.  I did listen, and absorbed all that I could.  Deb Caletti was the keynote speaker for this event.  I haven't read anything of hers (yet) but I was really touched by her story. I won't ruin it for anyone that may have the chance to hear her speak, but she said something that stuck with me.  This is of course, not verbatim, but to get out of her rotten situation, one that would make most of us crumble, she found strength in her writing.  She knew that she had to do whatever it took to make this (writing) happen.
In other words…by any means necessary. Her words choked me up a little. Ok, a lot. The things that I let hold me back were nothing in comparison to what she had been through, but she didn't roll over...she made it happen.

So, that is how my day started. I got fired up and ready for the greatness. We went on to the paranormal panel - Rachel Hawkins, Saundra Mitchell, Joy Preble, Stacey Kade, and the ever so lovely Andrea Cremer. We took a quick lunch break and went on to the "lighter" side of YA - the love! Deb Caletti, Lindsey Leavitt, Stephanie Perkins, and Kristen Tracy. Next we went to the dark side. Seriously. Gail Giles, Lauren Myracle, Elizabeth Scott, and Ellen Hopkins. DARK.  SIDE.  We headed back to the paranormal team…because they were so amazeballs the first time!  I felt like a VIP at a rock concert by the time we were done with the panels and the signings. Everyone was super sweet, and so gracious. As soon as we mentioned the fact that we blogged they would ask about our blog, what it was called…genuinely interested. I picked up a few new reads and added them to my ever-growing TBR pile. I'll hit that goal of 50 for 2011 before I know it!    I share with you now, me and Stephanie Perkins (left) and Andrea Cremer (right)

I absorbed what I could, and I will share with you my favorite points from the day
-Don't try to follow a trend. By the time your book is out that trend will be long gone and a new one in its place. Just write the best book you can.
-Do what ever it takes to make it happen
-Everyone has a different approach to things. Some outline, others just write. Some write chronologically, others write as it comes. No one way is right or wrong. Just keep writing!
-Stephanie Perkins is adorable!
-Andrea Cremer is one of the most educated, well spoken people I have ever met!

Happy Monday - have a great week!

A quick and completely random Friday Five...with pictures!

1.  I can't fall asleep unless I have one leg hanging out from under the blanket.
2.  I am supposed to leave for work at 7:30.  It is now 7:13 and I am sitting here, blogging.  I still need a shower.  I do this every day.  Is it called running late if you do it on purpose?

3.  I LOVE New Kids on the Block. I've seen them 3 times in the last 2 years.  Don't judge me.  That's me in the b&w shirt between Jordan and Danny. 

4.  I collect spoons.  They are displayed on a huge handmade wooden map of the USA in my upstairs hallway.  There is a very sentimental reason behind it. 

5.  I went to Target to buy a birthday present for a 4-year old.  I was hungry so I got a hot dog, sat down, started playing Angry Birds while I ate, and an hour later had briefly forgotten why I was there.

The dentist was fabulous, as expected.  I was a bit annoyed that they tried to sell me on a new crown.  There is nothing really wrong with my current one.  I am a wait-until-I-need-to girl when it comes to denistry so I will do just that. 

Open up!

Ah, the day is finally here.  A day that some dread (twice a year), but for me, it is pure bliss...

Yes, that's right. I LOVE going to the dentist!  Most people hate it, but I love it.  It's like a manicure in your mouth.  I know you love manicures, right?  I don't know why. I've had some serious dental work done since the day I busted out the top front tooth in the 2nd grade.  I've got a piece of porcelain where my toothy once was and several root canals to prove it, but I still love going.  In just a few short hours, my teeth will be pristine!

So riddle me this...what regular thing do you love / hate?  And ladies, don't put that.  We all hate that.

Trying something new on Tuesday...

Today, well last night more accurately, I decided to try something new.  I took my shower before bed instead of this morning. I wanted to see if it would make a difference on my prep time.
The results:
-I love the way it feels crawling into bed after a bath/shower
-My hair was a rat's nest this morning, requiring the flat iron treatment
-I like my hair with the flat iron treatment
-I do not feel awake and refreshed since I didn't take my shower this morning
-My prep time was actually longer somehow.  I guess because normally I don't dry my hair.  It looks the same whether I blow dry or air dry so I usually do the latter.  Plus, blow drying is hard on your hair.

I am undecided on whether or not I will do this again.  The pros and cons even out so it's a tough one to call.

Something else I tried - not so much today on Tuesday - but over the weekend:  writing from a different character's POV.  So many people can pull it off but I didn't think it worked for me.  It wasn't bad, it just didn't fit.  I was hoping it would spruce up my story.  I am not giving up on the idea, but for now, I am sticking to my MC.

So what have you tried lately?  What were the results?

Where to even begin?!

Well it's that time of year again at my job.  Contract season is always our busiest with the tight deadlines, last minute changes, and of course, the thankless hours of overtime.  Needless to say, I am very backlogged on blogging, writing, or just about everything that I enjoy!  So I totally vegged out this weekend!  I needed it.

So, a few things for this fantabulous Monday morning:

- I finally thought of a name for my WiP.  I am so excited!  I don't know why it was so hard to come up with.
- Kristin is almost to 300 followers and once she gets there, she's going to have a fun and easy blogfest.  Most of you are following me because of her but in the event you have not met Kristin, head on over.  If you like me at all, you'll love her!  Go on, now.  Clicky, clicky...
-The lovely Gina gifted me with an award last week.  I am very grateful.  I know I should pay it forward, but I am still not sure I should be judging anyone yet.  I am thinking of something fun and exciting to do in the upcoming weeks as well...so stay tuned.
-Giving those of you doing the A-Z challenge MAD props.  I can hardly remember the letters between A-Z most of the time...
-13 days until I get to see my Heidi Belle!  Here's what you'll be missing.  Hand on her hip, just like Auntie Heaver.  My mini-princess in training.  Except we have to work on the powdered sugar all over her face when she eates her pancake pups.

Happy Monday, ya'll!  Have a great week!