#78 - LDS Storymakers Rocks

I'm not sure if that should be "rock" or "rocks." Is "LDS Storymakers" singular or plural? I could say, "The LDS Storymakers Rock!" I'm pretty sure that would be right . . . Maybe I should buy Annette Lyon's new book? I'm sure she'd know. :o)

Over the weekend, I went to the LDS Storymakers annual conference. Best thing I ever did. Aside from some other great things I've done. It is doubtful that there is any writing conference on the planet that is more fun, wacky, zany, and awesome than this one. I've already booked my hotel room for next year. ;o)

Anyway . . . I've been feeling very blah about my writing lately. I took on Tristi's Book in a Month challenge and have only written . . . well . . . you can see how pathetic the number is in the sidebar there. I'm too embarrassed to say it out loud. Then I decided to take on Elana's Writing Throwdown. Haven't been back to the website since I signed up.

I've been so frustrated and bored and ambivalent and discouraged.

But the LDS Storymakers rock. They know how to put on a conference and they know how to do it in style. There was inspiration, encouragement, advice, instructions, and a whole lot more. Including men in drag, music videos, a totally rockin' skit (that I wrote and had a cameo appearance in to boot), and fun at every turn.

And then, on top of all that, there was Ali. She put up with me for two days and two nights as my roomie. (By the way, sorry to all those who slept within a 6-room radius of us those two nights. We knew we were laughing too loud, but, well, I'm afraid we didn't care enough about you guys to stop talking and go to sleep.) :-D If the Storymakers Rock, then Ali Rocks times 12. She's my new BFF, and even though she's guaranteed to get published before me, I'm gonna be nothing but 9 kinds of happy for her.

I have signed in blood a contract to finish the first draft of Stolen Dreams before writing even one more word on any of my other projects. Part of how I'm going to accomplish this is by working on a Character Bible for each of my characters. (Thank you Mr. Savage for your excellent class on how to do this!) I'd forgotten why I was so passionate about this book, and I think that's why I've been having such a hard time. If I flesh out my characters and make them come alive (not just for the reader, but for me, too), I think the book will pretty much write itself from here on out.

I wish I could name names of all the awesome people I met and associated with at the conference. But we don't have all day, and I'm afraid if I tried to do that, I'd leave someone out. Because I'm spacey like that.

But I will drop one name. Julie Wright is my hero, and if you haven't read her books, well . . . do. My Not-So-Fairy-Tale Life is wicked awesome. I can't wait for her new book that's coming out in July. If anyone has worked harder and deserves success more, I don't know them. :o) Julie has been a great friend to me ever since I met her four years ago. I'd like to think it's just because I'm so special ;o) but really, Julie is just a great friend to everyone she knows. If you're reading this, stop blushing and just admit it. You rock.

Well, I'm off to become a best-seller. Ciao.

#77 - Overcoming Procrastination

I was just going through some paperwork because, really, it's been way too long since I filed, and I needed to just do a bit of cleaning up before I could really get down to working on my book. I came across the Feb '09 Lariat as I was working on it. So I opened it up and there was the cutest cartoon about overcoming procrastination in there. And I had to read it, of course, before I could get to work on my book.

And then, you know, I had to come on here and post it for all of you to see. Because, you know, that's really important. Letting people know not to procrastinate their writing. :D

So I went on the 'net and found the cartoon. And it turns out there are a whole bunch of them that are all totally cute and funny. The cartoon strip is called Will Write For Chocolate. I would post a bunch of them on here, but the artist - Debbie Ridpath Ohi - only allows non-profit blogs to post up to 2 a month. So you'll have to go to Inkygirl to check them out for yourself.

So here's the one I saw in the Lariat. Hope you all enjoy it as much as I did. :) (Click on it for a larger, more readable version.)



Oh, yeah, and my word count so far for the month --- drum roll, please --- 247. Gasp! Cringe! Cry! Okay, I'm really, really going to write some more words tonight. I absolutely PROMISE!

#76 - It's That Time Again

Time for Tristi's Book in a Month Challenge! My goal for the month of April is to finish this ridiculous first draft of this ridiculous book that I'm going to be so sick of by the time I finish writing it, I won't ever WANT to see it in print! LOL.

So, here's the amazing thing. I sat down today to get to work on it and the words just flowed. I just kept writing and I got three chapters done! That's 5,285 words just today alone!!!

No, really, I haven't started yet. April Fools. :P Here it is, 10:30 on April 1st, and I have written Nada, Nuttin', Zipp-o.

Shoot me. Shoot me now. *sigh*

I'll be back to report with better news soon. I promise! This is not a joke. Do not pass 'Go'. Do not collect $200.