tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21860001685025129962024-02-19T02:55:17.211-05:00Emily P. W. MurphyEmily's most recent publications can be found in "A Christmas Sampler: Sweet, Funny, and Strange Holiday Tales" by the Bethlehem Writers Group.Emily P. W. Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05196506047721698729noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186000168502512996.post-72904590071400688612012-01-04T23:58:00.002-05:002012-01-05T00:11:59.898-05:00First story of the new yearOn Tuesday, I was lucky enough to get to attend a Bethlehem Writers Group meeting <i>in person.</i> What was once a commonplace 2-3 times a month activity is now a rare treat since I've moved away from my dear writers group. <div><br /></div><div>For the last few meetings I've been virtually attending the meetings via Skype because the 7 hour round trip from Maryland is impractical in the middle of the week, but this week I wanted to be sure to attend in person.</div><div><br /></div><div>You see, the experience of going to a BWG meeting is something that cannot truly be replicated via a computer. Skype is better than nothing but...it's not the same. This week I didn't want to miss any aspect of the meeting because I was workshopping a short story that is particularly dear to me. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've been working on this story since June. It's written in a voice that is new to me, from a perspective that I can only imagine, but I like it. I am lucky enough to have friends who were willing to look at my story and fill in the gaps where my imagination was in error, but I had not yet shown it to my <i>group</i>. Because this story is so different for me, I didn't want to show it to the BWG until I was sure it was as good as I could make it. I wanted to hear their impressions on the story, and not their objections to any silly errors or inconsistency of voice on my part.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, after seven months and a 3.5 hour drive, I finally showed my dear story to the writers group.</div><div><br /></div><div>And they liked it.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's amazing how much that means to me even after years with this group.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, they had comments and questions and points for revision, but I feel good about my story right now.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm sorry to live so far from the BWG, but feel very grateful that I can still be an active member. </div>Emily P. W. Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05196506047721698729noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186000168502512996.post-49040069096023355802011-11-10T23:01:00.012-05:002011-11-11T00:09:06.500-05:00Wanna be my coauthor?<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: clear; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span">While my husband and I were busy moving from Pennsylvania to Maryland, other members of the Bethlehem Writers Group were busy as well. Bernadette DeCourcey and Jerome W. McFadden spearheaded efforts of the Bethlehem Writers Group LLC to start a new literary magazine, <a href="http://www.bwgwritersroundtable.com/">Bethlehem Writers Roundtable</a>. On another front, the BWG also decided to put out a second anthology, tentatively entitled <i>Seasonal Pursuits: Sweet, Funny, and Strange Tales.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; "></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: clear; ">Most recently, these two exciting ventures came together to form a third, possibly even more exciting venture, the Bethlehem Writers Roundtable Short Story Award. Fellow writers, were you aware of this opportunity? Fellow readers, do the writers in your life know about it?</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span">First prize of the Bethlehem Writers Roundtable Short Story Award is $200 and the possibility of being published in <i>Seasonal Pursuits</i>. The only other way to get into the anthology is to join the Bethlehem Writers Group, work endless hours peer-editing members' submissions, work more endless hours putting the anthology together, and write a submission that meets the exacting approval of the BWG editors. Oh how I wish I could just enter the contest.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span">But you can. Well, so long as you don't live with a member of the Bethlehem Writers Group, so most of you can. I'm hoping to get into the anthology, and I can't wait to find out who wins the contest. Perhaps you and I could be coauthors!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">You can find the nitty gritty details at </span><a href="http://www.bwgwritersroundtable.com/">http://www.bwgwritersroundtable.com/</a> <span style="font-size: 12pt; ">but here's a quick summary:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span"> First place = $200 + print publication<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span"> Second place = $100 + publication in Bethlehem Writers Roundtable<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span"> Third place = $50 + publication in Bethlehem Writers Roundtable<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span"> Deadline = January 31, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> Celebrity Judge = <a href="http://jonathanmaberry.com/">Jonathan Maberry</a></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span"> Genres = Fiction and/or Memoir<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span"> Wordcount = 2,000 words or fewer<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span">So, that's it, get writing everyone, I wish you all the very best of luck.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Happy writing, future coauthor!</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p>Emily P. W. Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05196506047721698729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186000168502512996.post-73656020680640202892011-11-07T16:47:00.002-05:002011-11-07T16:54:20.260-05:00NaNoWriMo and Nails<p class="MsoNormal">Well, it's Monday and the 7th day of NaNoWriMo, which means everyone should have 11,669 words under their belts by midnight. How many do you have? I have roughly 6,000. I'm not sure I've ever been this far behind this early in NaNoWriMo before. But then, I've never been quite this far behind in life at this point in November before.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://wordmeter.heroku.com/meter/words=6198&mood=6" /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I didn't get any words in over the weekend, in spite of the added hour to write. Instead, my husband and I spent the weekend unpacking from our most recent move. Did I mention that we moved? We're in Maryland now. This was our fifth move in 4 years, and I've had about enough. We actually moved at the end of September, but October was insane with travel including a trip to the JASNA AGM in Fort Worth, Texas, and a trip up to Massachusetts to attend my cousin's wedding. So, this was the first weekend my husband and I actually had time to stay home and open some of the boxes piled around us.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">As I peeled tape off of cardboard and removed labels from empty plastic bins, I noticed something. My nails still look pretty good. Now, fellow writers will appreciate how difficult it is to keep a manicure looking nice when your life revolves around your computer keyboard, and anyone who has moved will attest to the unlikelihood that nail polish will withstand the double assaults of tape and cardboard, and yet I repeat, they still look good.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I'm not one to get regular manicures by any means. In fact, this is probably the fourth or fifth I've ever gotten. The first was the day before my wedding and required a touch up by the time I was through the rehearsal dinner. Even when I'm not moving, I'm hard enough on my nails to make a manicure an unwise investment. I'll get a pedicure once or twice during the year, but that's more for the pampering than for the polish. Plus, I don't type with my toes… although that would be a good way to increase my word count. Maybe next year.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I decided to spring for a manicure for two reasons. First, the aforementioned cousin's wedding, second, my fingernails have been through the ringer after spending months packing, and now, unpacking boxes. I opted for a French manicure because it's not something I can do for myself, so in my mind that makes it more worthy of the expense. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">When I told the nail technician what I wanted, she suggested I try nail shellac instead of polish. The cost was only minimally more, but she claimed the manicure would last two weeks longer. I figured two weeks was a significant increase over an hour, so I went for it. That was October 29th, and, 8 days, 6,000 words, and untold boxes later, my nails still look good. Significantly better than they would be an hour after a manicure with polish.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Still, I won't become a regular at the nail salon. While nail shellac certainly has a lot of value for longevity, I'm concerned that the shellac needs to set using a UV lamp similar to a mini tanning bed (a fact I did not know until I was halfway through the process). A quick internet search confirmed that getting regular manicures with this process probably isn't healthy for your cuticles and fingertips. I'm not sure how bad the process is for a person as a whole, but since I rely on my fingertips for my job, I'd rather not take the chance of doing it regularly.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Still, for my highly irregular manicure (every couple of years or so) it might be a good solution.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">(By the way, if you like my little writing raisin, be sure to check out <a href="http://www.writertopia.com/toolbox">Writertopia</a> to get your own!)</p>Emily P. W. Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05196506047721698729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186000168502512996.post-14547585555434692932011-11-01T16:19:00.003-04:002011-11-02T00:19:05.384-04:00November already?<p class="MsoNormal">Where has the time gone? Am I alone in my utter astonishment that it November already?<span> </span>Part of me thinks the latest it could possibly be right now is September, and that's just because it's too cold outside to be August. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Well, since the calendar seems quite insistent that it is now November, I can't let the moment pass without a quick shout out to NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month. This will be my sixth year participating in NaNoWriMo, but this is the least prepared I've ever felt in November. Since the rules prohibit working on an established story, and I'm deep into the editorial phase of my current projects, I have absolutely NO idea what I'm writing this month. So, I'm just going to put my fingers to the keys and see where my muse takes me. Either that, or I'll succumb to all of the "everything else" that is demanding my attention.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://wordmeter.heroku.com/meter/words=1998&mood=2" /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But no, let's focus on the positive. Wonderful stories can come out of the ramblings of the NaNoCrazed mind. Right?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Which reminds me. Even if you're not writing great prose, the key to completing the NaNoWriMo challenge is to increase that word count. From here on out, NaNoWriMo will no longer be something I can't do, rather National Novel Writing Month will be something I can not do. See? More words.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">But I did say "let's think positively," didn't I? Or rather, "Did I not say let us think positively?"</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I firmly believe that good modern dialogue should contain plenty of contractions, but in November, all bets are off. Not only will I advise against "don’t," "can't," and "I'll," I will also humbly suggest the use of such anachronisms as "let us" and "of the clock" (three words when o'clock gets us only one). Characters from the south will suddenly switch from "y'all" to "you all,"or better yet, "all of you all." Hey, what else is the editing process for but removing such awful and disgraceful turns of phrase?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Another writing rule I will gladly relinquish in November is the prohibition against adverbs. <span> </span>Instead of "I'm confused" a character ought to say "I am completely, utterly, and horribly confused." </p> <p class="MsoNormal">"That" is another word that comes out in November. Rather than "We all know we should avoid contractions," I will gladly proclaim, "We all know THAT we should all avoid contractions." It's not pretty (or it is not that pretty) but it does increase that word count.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now, good writers are cringing to hear such advice (and would probably be even more upset to know that my mother-in-law becomes my mother in law during November) but not all good writing practices need to go out the window. For example, it should be noted that beats require far more words than tags. Rather than, "Eloise said," I humbly suggest, "Eloise slammed her saddle shoe clad foot down on the ceramic tile floor, crossed her arms in front of her chest, and stuck her lower lip out in a pout." See? Far more words. <span> </span>Oh, and it tells us a bit more about the character. That's important too I guess.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Also, were you aware that a properly typeset ellipsis (...) contains spaces between the three dots? ". . ." is three words with many word count programs while "..." is only one. What better time than NaNoWriMo to start typing correctly?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the long run, none of this will make up for having absolutely NO idea what one should write this November, so I definitely have some brain storming to do. Still, in the meantime, as I type whatever random gibberish that comes to mind, at least I will be making those audaciously, horribly . . . umm . . . whatever . . . words count!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">What tips, tricks, and strategies do you have that will help you through NaNoWriMo? I'd love to hear them all.</p> <span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">For more information about National Novel Writing Month, please visit www.nanowrimo.org.</span>Emily P. W. Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05196506047721698729noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186000168502512996.post-36590735326204809942011-04-21T12:56:00.002-04:002011-04-21T14:40:43.157-04:00Writing and ReviewsMy husband emailed me a very interesting article this morning from Freakonomics. You can read the whole article<a href="http://www.freakonomics.com/2011/04/12/does-reviewer-quality-matter/"> here</a>, but basically it says that when people read online reviews, they are more likely to purchase the product if the review is well written.<br /><br />On first glance, this seems to make sense. I mean, I'm more likely to take a review seriously if it seems considered and well thought out. But, what I wouldn't have expected was that people are more likely to purchase the product even if those well-written reviews are<span style="font-style: italic;"> negative</span>. Essentially, the article suggests, the content of the review is less important than the quality of the review.<br /><br />I have trouble believing this. I would have thought that if I encountered a product with well-written negative reviews, I would probably not purchase the product. After all, it would seem the reviewer gave the product careful consideration and then took the time to warn me against it. Furthermore, I can imagine encountering the same product with poorly-written negative reviews and thinking that the reviewers were too upset to write well, and thus perhaps were too hasty in their judgment of the product. In such a case, I can imagine purchasing the product, and hoping for the best.<br /><br />This study seems to indicate the opposite, that I would purchase the product that someone spent time and thought to advise me against, but that I would not purchase the product that the angry, impulsive person reviewed.<br /><br />Why do you suppose this is the case?<br /><br />This study got me thinking, if you wanted to write a negative review of a product, might it be more effective to do so with poor grammar and spelling? After all, by writing a "good" negative review, you might actually be increasing the product's sales.<br /><br />At the end of the article, we learn that Zappos actually went through its reviews and corrected for spelling and grammar in an effort to increase product sales. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I'm a fan of Zappos, and I'm a fan of good writing, but it seems somehow inappropriate for a company to go in and change the reviews of its own products.<br /><br />Incidentally the very next email I received was from Zappos... asking me to post a review.<br /><br />What do you think? What kind of review makes you want to buy a product? Do you think it's acceptable for a company to change your review, even if they're just fixing your spelling and grammar?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186000168502512996.post-72785987729604246202011-03-28T14:44:00.004-04:002011-03-28T15:34:43.343-04:00Getting the Write Stuff<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37VT5M9n1JU-yrlhfSLD6pIldfkuI0DUZ6AXfafXgsnKhtmH368dIRmFH3b6SQogqMZhqqGITDHhBhhQEM2yaXp7uMLQFFkXHietVxMT4y9USs3aqseXCAPgyg_MJVRokEdNXT_lEuA8/s1600/writestuff.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 301px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37VT5M9n1JU-yrlhfSLD6pIldfkuI0DUZ6AXfafXgsnKhtmH368dIRmFH3b6SQogqMZhqqGITDHhBhhQEM2yaXp7uMLQFFkXHietVxMT4y9USs3aqseXCAPgyg_MJVRokEdNXT_lEuA8/s320/writestuff.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589212524979930850" border="0" /></a>This past weekend was a big one for members of the Bethlehem Writers Group because six of us decided to attend the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group's "Write Stuff Conference."<br /><br />The Write Stuff conference is hosted annually by the <a href="www.glvwg.org">Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group </a>(GLVWG), but despite the fact that it was held in my backyard, so to speak, never before had I attended. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.ralphhieb.com">Ralph Hieb</a>, whose short story "<span>Walter and Stella</span>" also appears in <span style="font-style: italic;">A Christmas Sampler: Sweet, Funny, and Strange Holiday Tales</span>, used to be president of GLVWG and has attended every conference for the past decade. He managed to convince me to go, even though I still thought my manuscript needed a bit of polishing. Ralph was so persuasive that he also convinced BWG members Jo Ann Schaffer, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.carollwright.com">Carol L. Wright</a>, Ann Decker, and <a href="http://www.sallyparadysz.com/">Sally W. Paradysz</a> to attend.<br /><br />Since this would be my first writers conference, the nerves set in early and by the time the conference rolled around I was sleep-deprived and just wishing for it all to be over. In retrospect it seems silly that I was afraid of such a wonderful experience, but I suppose the unknown is always a bit intimidating. In any case, I drew some comfort from the strength of the BWG members around me.<br /><br />The conference spanned two days. Friday night we attended a panel on how to pitch to an agent. Now, pitching to an agent was one of the things I felt especially nervous about, so I figured the session would be good preparation for the day ahead. The agents on the panel assured us that they very rarely killed and ate the poor authors who came to pitch to them, which I found to be extremely comforting.<br /><br />After the pitch panel, there was a mixer for conference attendees. It would have been easy to huddle in the comfortable bubble of my BWG friends, but I noticed Sally had a very contemplative expression on her face. I asked her why, and she told me she was considering approaching one of the agents and making her pitch.<br /><br />What a concept! I was hit with two simultaneous emotions. First, I felt a sense of inspiration--of course Sally should go pitch to an agent. She has an amazing story to tell, and who wouldn't want to hear about it? Second, I felt a little jealous. Why couldn't I go pitch my story as well?<br /><br />If you're paying attention, you know the answer. As soon as I realized I would regret not talking to the agents at the mixer, I knew I had to ignore my nerves and go pitch my story. Gulp.<br /><br />Sally and I went together--strength in numbers after all. First, she spoke to the agent I was going to meet with on Saturday. I didn't want to take up any of that agent's time because I knew there was a whole room full of authors who weren't lucky enough to get an appointment on Saturday, so I just introduced myself to her, and then introduced her to Sally. As I stood by my friend's side, she made an amazing pitch for her manuscript, and the agent requested to read it!<br /><br />When Sally had the agent's business card safely tucked away, we moved on to an agent neither of us would get to meet on Saturday. We each pitched our stories, and the agent requested pages from each of us. And we each walked away with all of our limbs intact, even though the poor agents apparently hadn't yet had dinner.<br /><br />You'd think the success at the mixer would have done away with my nerves about pitching my story on Saturday, but it didn't. My appointment wasn't until the afternoon, so as the day progressed, I felt the butterflies in my stomach grow from pygmy blues to birdwings. Finally my appointed time approached, and I went to the lobby to wait for my turn. It was at this point that I truly appreciated the caring nature of the writers around me. I must have been rather pale because two authors who had just finished their meetings, sat with me as I waited. They reassured me that the meeting would go wonderfully, and their kindness kept me breathing through those last few moments of waiting.<br /><br />Finally, it was time to go in and meet the agent. I walked into the quiet, even peaceful, room where the agents and authors met, and made it the whole way across the open floor without fainting, or knocking anything over, or otherwise making a fool of myself. I sat across the table from the agent, took a deep breath, and smiled.<br /><br />She asked about my writing, and suddenly the ten minutes had passed and I held in my hand the agent's business card with her request to see my full manuscript ringing in my ears! I thanked her, wished the next author good luck, and left the room.<br /><br />Suddenly I was free to enjoy the remainder of the conference. Even better, I had the delightful experience of telling all of my BWG friends, and my new GLVWG friends about the meeting. I learned that not only had Sally gotten another request for her full manuscript from her agent meeting, but Carol had also gotten a request for pages from <span style="font-style: italic;">her</span> agent. Later in the day I delighted as Jo Ann and Ann each won first place in the flash writing contest. (You can read their stories <a href="http://bit.ly/eB85h7">here</a>) Ralph was a winner as well, he walked away with a door prize from the conference (a feat made more remarkable by the fact that in his decade of attendance, he never before won a door prize).<br /><br />Tomorrow's BWG meeting will be a celebration. And, next year, I look forward to attending the Write Stuff conference with my friends, but without the butterflies.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186000168502512996.post-16087794702262030762011-03-09T12:01:00.005-05:002011-03-09T13:29:51.274-05:00Book signing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCJykoVGHbMMQF8tD7XsInaKUtJ6Fd5z-lDXoN5dyXmUaSBWX5D_ptfstnvbKaJ0t0p7YyjZUE1okRb1xoZcAcpCmiYC3o0ziG-XytupowZtrN8FEc96QGirUX2ZhtGjKzwKHUkJUXoI/s1600/2011-03-08_20-12-56_333.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCJykoVGHbMMQF8tD7XsInaKUtJ6Fd5z-lDXoN5dyXmUaSBWX5D_ptfstnvbKaJ0t0p7YyjZUE1okRb1xoZcAcpCmiYC3o0ziG-XytupowZtrN8FEc96QGirUX2ZhtGjKzwKHUkJUXoI/s320/2011-03-08_20-12-56_333.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582142619221512050" border="0" /></a><br />Yesterday I went to a book signing. Not the "I sit behind a table and sign books" kind, but rather the "I sit in the audience and listen to one of my favorite authors talk about her craft" kind. Boy, was it fun!<br /><br />I was thrilled when I found out <a href="http://elmcreek.net/">Jennifer Chiaverini</a> would be signing books at <a href="http://www.ccbmc.com/">Chester County Book & Music Company</a>. I planned my week around going to the event, packed up all my hardcovers, and went down to West Chester.<br /><br />It's been a long time since I've gone to a book signing, so I had forgotten how it feels. I felt giddy with excitement as I waited for Jennifer to arrive. I realized I had this mental image of her waiting in some sort of "green room" enjoying light refreshments and waiting for the curtain to rise so she could come onstage. Of course, there was no curtain, and no stage, and I knew from my own signings that the likelihood of light refreshments was slim. When I go to a signing, there isn't even a staging area. Generally I walk into the store/library/venue, greet the bookseller/librarian/event coordinator and go straight to the location of the signing. If my experiences are any judge, Jennifer would not be reclining in a special "pre-signing area." At best, she might be waiting in the staff break room.<br /><br />As it turns out, she was sitting in traffic on the PA Turnpike.<br /><br />She had a great crowd (by my standards, at least) and although everyone was excited for her to arrive, no one was disgruntled that she was late. In fact, one woman who learned about the signing only 20 minutes before it started was thrilled that Jennifer was running behind. My only concern came from the fact that I had multiple books for her to sign.<br /><br />Jennifer is one of the authors whose writing has inspired me to collect hardcovers of their work. It started when I purchased a paperback copy of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Quilter's Apprentice </span>and loved it. I knew I wanted to purchase her second book, <span style="font-style: italic;">Round Robin </span>and found that it would be more economical for me to purchase the hardcover compilation of books 1-3 rather than purchasing paperback copies of books 2 and 3 separately. So I did. Books 4-6 likewise came bound together in a single hardcover, so when I finished <span style="font-style: italic;">Cross Country Quilters </span>I purchased the second compilation and read <span style="font-style: italic;">The Runaway Quilt</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Quilter's Legacy</span>, and <span style="font-style: italic;">The Master Quilter. </span>When I finished book 6, I asked about books 7-9 and found that they were only available individually.<br /><br />At that point I could have switched over to paperback books, but by then I was totally hooked. So, one by one, I picked up the remaining books in the series, all in hardcover.<br /><br />So, yesterday I attended Jennifer's signing with my 13 hardcover books. When Jennifer arrived she was far more poised than I think I would have been after sitting in crazy traffic. She took the podium, read from her newest book, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Union Quilters</span>, and took questions. I have to say, Jennifer Chiaverini is extremely likeable. Like her characters, Jennifer was friendly, intelligent, funny, and honest, even when she thought her honesty might upset her fans (apparently there is great controversy on the issue of a "quilter's code" in the Underground Railroad).<br /><br />When the questions ended and the signing began, I joined the line of readers waiting for an autograph. I wasn't sure how Jennifer, or the kind people at Chester County Books would react to a request for so many signatures, but to everyone's credit, no one batted an eye... not even the people behind me in line. In fact, since I brought my copies of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Aloha Quilt</span>, and <span style="font-style: italic;">The Quilter's Holiday</span> with me, Jennifer even gave me the pins she designed to promote those books.<br /><br />In all, it was a delightful evening, and one that I'll remember for a while. And the best part? Well, that must have been when Jennifer announced she'll have another book out in November. <span style="font-style: italic;">The Wedding Quilt. </span>I can't wait to find out who's getting married... I have a guess, but it seems I'll have to read more to find out!<br /><br />So, when was the last time you felt giddy to attend a book signing? Which authors would you drive an hour to see? What was your best book signing experience?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186000168502512996.post-90992532257059644332011-02-23T18:09:00.000-05:002011-02-23T22:09:16.693-05:00Free booksLately I've been thinking a lot about free books and what they mean for authors. Specifically, I've been wondering what the lack or presence of DRM (Digital Rights Management) does for e-books, and whether the unregulated sharing of e-books will spell doom to authors.<br /><br />As a reader, I'm a big fan of e-books. I've moved enough times to appreciate how light they are, and how very easy to store. Obviously, my e-reader is not about to replace my bookshelves full of beloved hardcovers, but I see a real possibility that e-books will replace my collection of mass market books. After all, mass market books are, in my opinion, good in two ways: they're affordable, and they're portable. Electronic books are also affordable and much more portable.<br /><br />Since I got my e-reader just over a year ago, I have actually purchased more hardcover books with the expectation that clearing my mass markets off of my shelves (and replacing them with digital copies) will leave more space for the books I really love. Now, mind you, I haven't actually gotten rid of a single book in that year+ but one of these days... Well, let's face it, I've always been better at accumulating books than getting rid of them. In my ideal world, hardcover books would come with a free digital copy, in the same way that some Blu-ray discs do... but I digress.<br /><br />As an author, I worry that ebooks are entirely too easy to pirate, especially without DRM protection. DRM protection is what prevents you from reading a kindle file on your nook, or vice verse, and purports to prevent readers from copying their e-books and distributing them to the world for free.<br /><br />However, even books with DRM are vulnerable to piracy. After all, there are computer experts around the world who jump at the opportunity to do things other people say they "can't," and who can blame them? The fact is that a sufficiently motivated technology expert will eventually be able to strip DRM from any file, if they can't already.<br /><br />Which leaves me wondering if the advent of e-books is also the end of authors getting paid for their work. Obviously, I hope it isn't.<br /><br />Still, there are a couple of authors who have given me hope: Cory Doctorow and Neil Gaiman.<br /><br /><a href="http://craphound.com/">Cory Doctorow</a>, a journalist and sci-fi author, decided back in 2003 to make all of his books available for free as e-books. He releases his books under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/">Creative Commons </a>license agreement which gives the reader the right to share and adapt the e-book provided he or she do so in a noncommercial fashion, release any adaptations under the same Creative Commons agreement, and give credit where credit is due by attributing the original work to the author.<br /><br />Doctorow explains his decision in a Forbes article <a href="http://www.forbes.com/2006/11/30/cory-doctorow-copyright-tech-media_cz_cd_books06_1201doctorow.html">here</a>. Essentially, Doctorow encourages his readers to download and share his e-books, with only one request, that, if they like the book, they, "buy it or donate a copy to a worthy, cash-strapped institution." Since his books have consistently outperformed his publisher's sales expectations, there is reason to believe that, at least in his case, free e-books actually stimulate sales.<br /><br /><a href="http://neilgaiman.com/">Neil Gaiman</a> has not gone to the same extremes, though he has released some of his books for free for a limited period of time. Gaiman, a sci-fi/fantasy author is a patron of the <a href="http://zine.openrightsgroup.org/features/2011/video:-an-interview-with-neil-gaiman">Open Rights Group</a> which is a group in the UK that works to protect digital rights. Last year they interviewed him, and recently a <a href="http://bit.ly/h8bpz5">clip</a> from that interview went viral. Gaiman also posted a blog entry on the issue <a href="http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2011/02/death-and-free-revisited.html">here</a>. In the interview Gaiman made a particularly interesting point. He points out (I'm paraphrasing, watch the video for his exact wording) that if you think about your favorite authors, the ones who have published multiple books, and think about how you got your first book by that author, chances are you got it for free.<br /><br />And, at least in my case, he's right. I borrowed my first <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14032.Connie_Willis">Connie Willis</a> book from my mother-in-law, my first <a href="http://www.jasperfforde.com/">Jasper Fforde</a> from my mother, my first <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/42378.Gwen_Bristow">Gwen Bristow</a> from the library (and my second, third, fourth and fifth since her books were out of print and it took me a while to track down good copies to buy.) If you extend the concept of "free books" to used bookstores (from which authors get no royalties), I got my first <a href="http://jenniferchiaverini.com/">Jennifer Chiaverini</a> for "free" too. Even my first set of the <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11127.The_Chronicles_of_Narnia"><span style="font-style: italic;">Chronicles of Narnia</span></a> was a Christmas gift from my uncle.<br /><br />And yet, when you look at my shelves full of hardcovers, those are the authors you'll see. In many cases a single free book led me to purchase multiple hardcovers. (In the case of The <span style="font-style: italic;">Chronicles of Narnia</span> I now have two complete hardcover sets since it took me so long to find a set that was numbered in the "right" order.)<br /><br />Of course, there are exceptions to that trend. I have purchased books on a whim, or on the recommendation of booksellers. I can even think of one that I purchased just based on the <a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/home/index.html">Publisher's Weekly</a> review, but perhaps these are the exceptions that prove the rule.<br /><br />In Gaiman's case, he found that when he gave away a digital copy of one book, it led to increased sales of all of his books... and when the promotion ended, sales returned to normal.<br /><br />Of course, in the case of a prolific author like Gaiman, giving away a single book may be like giving away a single potato chip... it's a gift that will make the recipient come back for more. For those of us with fewer titles to our name, giving away one book might be akin to giving away the entire bag.<br /><br />There is so much more to this issue, not the least of which is the impact e-books are having on bookstores. It's a complicated issue, and one that I doubt we will fully understand for a few years. In the meantime, all I can do is hope that the future holds a sustainable market for authors, and that readers continue to support the writers they enjoy.<br /><br />I know I will.<br /><br />What about you? How do you feel about e-books, DRM, and the potential of piracy? Who are your favorite authors, and how did you first encounter their work?<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px;font-family:verdana,arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;" ></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186000168502512996.post-81427624024674739042011-02-17T18:28:00.003-05:002011-02-17T19:46:57.862-05:00Short blog for the long weekendRemember that feeling on the last day of school? Remember stepping off of the school bus and knowing you didn't have to worry about classes for three whole blissful months? Remember the weight lifting from your shoulders as you absorbed the fact that your grades were in and there was nothing left for you to do about them?<br /><br />Just savor that memory for a moment, soak it in. Pretty nice, isn't it?<br /><br />Well, let me tell you, if you like that feeling, do <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> become a writer.<br /><br />When your career is built around taking things out of your brain and putting them on paper, it's literally impossible to get away. Even if you take a day, or a week, "off" from work, your writing is there, pestering you in the back of your mind. "Does that plot twist make sense?" "Do I introduce that character too early?" "How should I wrap up that chapter?" It goes with you everywhere. Forget homework, writing is everywherework.<br /><br />Not that I'm complaining. There are lots of jobs that are just as all encompassing, and I can't imagine one that's better than writing. Still, sometimes I miss that feeling.<br /><br />My husband has the other kind of job--the kind that you literally <span style="font-style: italic;">can't </span>bring home with you. Sure, he doesn't get that same carefree summer vacation feeling that we got as kids, but at least when he gets a long weekend, like this weekend, he actually gets time away from work.<br /><br />I'll take some time off this weekend too, of course, but every moment that I'm not working, I'll know that I should be.<br /><br />Our long weekend plans include a trip to (sniff sniff) Borders. This will definitely be a bittersweet visit because our Borders is one of the hundreds of stores that will soon close. Now, since it is up in Whitehall, Borders was never someplace we visited regularly (that area is far too congested for my taste), but it's always sad to see a bookstore close, regardless of size and/or location.<br /><br />This Borders was good enough to host the Bethlehem Writers Group for two book signing events--one in 2009, one in 2010--and, alas, I was unable to attend either one. (One of the benefits, and curses, of having multiple authors in a book is the fact that there are often concurrent signings at different locations.)<br /><br />Looks like my opportunity to sign at Borders, at least the one in Whitehall, has passed, and I'm sorry for it. Still, we'll drop by sometime this weekend to say farewell.<br /><br />And then I'll go back to writing.<br /><br />Happy long weekend, everyone!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186000168502512996.post-82396179485655000742011-02-15T23:51:00.004-05:002011-02-16T01:39:39.214-05:00New loveAh, new love. That blissful getting-to-know-you haze of a new relationship. That time when your relationship is nothing but potential, when you wonder if you've truly found "the one." Okay, I just celebrated my 11th Valentine's Day with my husband (for most of them we were not yet married), but that doesn't mean I don't remember that feeling... and I'm pretty sure that's what the BWG is feeling right now for Reeves Library.<br /><br />Reeves, like many crushes, probably doesn't return our feelings, but Reeves treats us well, which is just what we need after the brutal dumping we received from the dreaded ex. We just had our second date... er... meeting at Reeves, and so far we're very, very happy. Reeves offers all sorts of amenities that our ex did not... tables... plentiful chairs... lots and lots of electric outlets... I mean, it might be a bit early to pronounce Reeves as "perfect" but perhaps we should talk about bringing it home to meet our parents.<br /><br />Of course, as is the case with any break-up, we had to make some new friends to fill the void left by mutual acquaintances who chose "Team Ex." In the case of this particular new relationship, those "friends" are obviously of a more corporate nature. For example, looking around the table (a table, can you believe it?) I noticed the logos on the coffee cups have changed, but change is good, especially when that change means leaving an ex who never really loved you in the first place.<br /><br />In all seriousness, there is something so right about a writers group meeting at a library. It's wonderful to be able to read our stories without worrying about customers trying to get to the shelves behind us, or randomly stopping to listen to our unpolished drafts. And, in the current "Indie vs. Big Box Store" climate, it's much more politically correct to meet in Switzerland. As writers, we want to be able to promote ALL bookstores, and it's a lot easier to do so when we don't call one "home."<br /><br />Of course, the BWG's relationship with Reeves is a college relationship, and it will be interesting to see what summer brings. When the library's hours change, will we be able to maintain a long distance relationship through those hot months?<br /><br />But, right now, who cares? There's snow on the ground, and yesterday's roses are still bright and fragrant. Why spoil the early days of a relationship by worrying about The Future.<br /><br />So, if you'll excuse me, I think I'm going to go write Reeves name in my notebook a few times.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186000168502512996.post-67174302477811291562011-02-14T17:18:00.002-05:002011-02-14T18:03:32.058-05:00What's in a name?When I was young, I was lucky enough to get to see Billy Joel when he toured college campuses for "An Evening of Questions, Answers...and a Little Music." During this--do I call it a performance?-- audience members had the opportunity to go to a microphone and ask Billy Joel one question. I, being a rather shy child, didn't dare go up to the microphone, but I loved listening to the questions people asked... and, of course, the music.<br /><br />There was one question that stuck with me in particular, and it wasn't "Will You Marry Me." (Incidentally, in answer to <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span> question, Billy Joel took out a pair of binoculars to see who it was that asked, but then made some comment about being "over" his supermodel phase.) Instead, the question that stuck with me was when someone asked him which he wrote first, the music, or the lyrics. Turns out he writes the music first because, as he put it, when he writes the lyrics first the music turns out like this: and he played a few bars of "We Didn't Start the Fire."<br /><br />This moment was playing over in my head today as I try to affix a title to my work in progress. Often I have a title in mind when I begin a story, but sometimes, as is the case here, I write the story without a title. This poses a problem for me because I am <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> bad at naming things. Whether it be stories, characters, or cats, I agonize over names for far longer than should be necessary. (Xander was nameless for several days when we first adopted him).<br /><br />In this case, I have spent the afternoon going through dozens of titles, trying to find the right one for this project. I still haven't settled on the answer. Sigh.<br /><br />On another note, one project of mine that <span style="font-style: italic;">does</span> have a title, my recent short story <span style="font-style: italic;">Felicity and Fortune.</span> is available to read for free <a href="http://bit.ly/eQetC0">here</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: Arial,'Helvetica Neue',sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">. </span></span> I would say this was my Valentine's Day gift to you, but you might think otherwise when I ask you to vote for said story <a href="http://svy.mk/fvWgpj">here</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: Arial,'Helvetica Neue',sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">. </span></span>Top prize in the contest is inclusion in the anthology <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10285809-jane-austen-made-me-do-it"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jane Austen Made Me Do It</span></a> so this is a contest I'd <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> like to win. In order for my story to reach the editors, it must survive the first test in the competition, public opinion. Voting will be open until February 28th, and only the top ten stories will go on to the next phase and the chance to be included in the anthology.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Felicity and Fortune</span> is the story of young Laura Charles who must decide whether to marry the highly unsuitable Mr. George Bingley, or please her parents by marrying nobility. Those familiar with Jane Austen's work will surely know by the story's end exactly how these characters are related to some whom we both love and despise. I hope you enjoy it!<br /><br />Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11px;"></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186000168502512996.post-11673327339587600802011-02-11T12:17:00.003-05:002011-02-11T13:58:45.442-05:00What to do after the All Clear<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7519231-all-clear" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="All Clear (All Clear, #2)" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1267552735m/7519231.jpg" border="0" /></a>I know, I've been away for a while. You can blame <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14032.Connie_Willis">Connie Willis</a>. I just finished <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7519231-all-clear"><span style="font-style: italic;">All Clear</span></a>, but for the last week any moment that I haven't been reading, I've had that wistful "I wish I were reading that book right now" feeling that you get when you're really invested in a story. This isn't to say that I've been reading all week-- I'm a slow reader but the book's not <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span> long-- rather, when I found myself debating whether to blog or just curl up and read, reading won out. My apologies.<br /><br />But, I finished <span style="font-style: italic;">All Clear</span> last night, and that leaves me with the sad, nostalgic feeling you get when you finish one of those great books that haunt you in the hours you're not reading them. It's a feeling like the end of vacation when you say goodbye to all your new friends and know you'll never have quite the same relationship with them again. Of course, I'll reread <span style="font-style: italic;">All Clear</span>-- Connie Willis' books are so intricate that they're well worth rereading-- but it just won't be the same as the first time I take their journey with them, not knowing the outcome.<br /><br />This feeling leaves me in a bit of a quandary, however. What should I read next? I have a wealth of books "to read" (as you can tell from my<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/emilypwmurphy"> Goodreads</a> shelf), but the choice of which to select is not obvious. I want something that's good-- obviously-- but something sufficiently different from the book I just finished. I will not, for example, pick up either of the "new-to-me" Connie Willis books I have waiting on my shelf, because I would hate for them to get mixed up in my mind with <span style="font-style: italic;">All Clear</span>. Each of Connie Willis' stories deserves its own distinct place in my brain, and until I've gotten over the mourning process of having finished <span style="font-style: italic;">All Clear</span>, I won't pick up more Willis.<br /><br />On the other end of the spectrum, I have a couple of books by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6160.Sophie_Kinsella">Sophie Kinsella</a> that I've been looking forward to. Anyone who has read both Willis and Kinsella will understand that they are very different authors. Each lady writes delightful and enjoyable fiction, but I turn to Kinsella when I want to give my brain a break, and to Willis when I want to give my brain a work out. It's like the difference between potato chips and red wine-- both are delicious, but they're very very different from each other.<br /><br />My first experience reading Kinsella was when I picked up <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9419.Shopaholic_Ties_the_Knot">Shopaholic Ties the Knot</a> while I was planning my wedding. It was the perfect escapist read for that moment in my life-- if you're planning a wedding and you haven't read it, I insist you run out to your nearest bookstore and get a copy. These days, I love reading Kinsella when I go to the beach. I tend to collect her books during the year and keep them reserved for vacation. Every time I see them, it reminds me of sitting by the ocean, listening to the waves, and enjoying the time off. Ahhh, isn't that nice?<br /><br />But, I doubt that <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/194086.Sleeping_Arrangements"><span style="font-style: italic;">Sleeping Arrangements</span></a> or <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33724.Can_You_Keep_a_Secret_">Can You Keep a Secret</a> are quite the right tone for the middle of February... especially when I have so much work to do during the day. No, I'll save those for the carefree days of summer.<br /><br />I could pick up <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4432.Jasper_Fforde">Jasper Fforde</a>'s <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8513950-the-last-dragonslayer"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Last Dragonslayer</span></a>, or <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/148809.The_Fourth_Bear"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Fourth Bear</span></a> which are calling to me from my bookshelf, but I fear that they might be a bit too similar to <span style="font-style: italic;">All Clear</span>. Certainly, the three books must be very different in content, but I feel that both Fforde and Willis tend to plunge the reader into a new and complicated world, and leave them to sink or learn the rules. It's a wonderful experience, and one I don't want in any way diminished by reading two books like that in a row.<br /><br />I'm certainly not going to read <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/42378.Gwen_Bristow">Gwen Bristow</a>'s<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1643618.Tomorrow_Is_Forever"><span style="font-style: italic;"> Tomorrow is Forever</span></a> just yet. I think it might be my last "new" Bristow book, so I'm saving it for a special occasion.<br /><br />I guess I'm leaning toward <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/11630.Jennifer_Chiaverini">Jennifer Chiaverini</a>'s <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2881228.The_Quilter_s_Kitchen"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Quilter's Kitchen</span></a>. It has a few things going for it. First, the world of the Elm Creek Quilters is well established in my mind, so it's not going to have the same feel as picking up another Willis or Fforde. Second, it's a hardcover book, which means I won't read it at the beach. Third, Chiaverini is still writing in this series, so I don't have to worry about squandering one of her books. Fourth, I've already "read" the book that comes before it, and the book that comes after it in the series on audio, so reading this one will mean I'm no longer missing any pieces of the puzzle. Finally, I think it might just be the perfect balm for my melancholy All Clear mourning.<br /><br />What about you? What are you reading these days? What do you do when you finish a book you loved so much it became a preoccupation?<br /><br />In case you're interested, here's a link to my Goodreads review of <span style="font-style: italic;">All Clear</span>... it should come as no surprise to you that I give it five stars:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7519231-all-clear" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="All Clear (All Clear, #2)" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1267552735m/7519231.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7519231-all-clear">All Clear</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14032.Connie_Willis">Connie Willis</a><br /><br />My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/145653798">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4920321-emily-murphy">View all my reviews</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186000168502512996.post-51501521734511498152011-02-03T16:20:00.001-05:002011-02-03T21:06:29.975-05:00Writing and KnittingI just read an enjoyable interview of author Jessie Crockett found <a href="http://carollwright.blogspot.com/2011/02/interview-with-jessie-crockett.html#comment-form">here</a> in which she compares writing to knitting. As a writer and knitter, I <span style="font-style:italic;">love</span> the comparison! I'm sure I'm not alone. Many writers are knitters, and vice verse. <br /><br />Both knitting and writing are creative processes that people <span style="font-style:italic;">can</span> do strictly for themselves. Many people knit or write for their own amusement, not worrying about how the end product will look to other people. However, both are far more fulfilling when you do them for others. <br /><br />When you bring other people into the equation, suddenly you have to be a lot more attentive to the process of creation. If I'm just knitting to keep my hands busy, a dropped stitch here, or a loose end there, doesn't really matter. If, however, I'm knitting a scarf for my grandmother a dropped stitch means I have to get out the crochet hook and fix the problem before it gets worse.<br /><br />Writing is exactly the same. When I'm writing an early draft (especially in November) I know no one else is going to see what I write... at least not in its current form. I drop stitches all over, write notes to myself, use words I know aren't perfect... in short, it's a mess. But then, when it comes time to revise, I have to go back and edit my writing, tuck in the loose ends, and pick up all those dropped stitches.<br /><br />Sure, it's more work to write or knit for others, but in the end, I get to enjoy both the process of creation, and the knowledge that someone else will enjoy what I created.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186000168502512996.post-7160257627973046812011-01-31T16:54:00.003-05:002011-01-31T18:34:14.098-05:00Winter weatherI like the winter. You won't find many people willing to say so after such a snowy January, but I'm one of them.<br /><br />I'm not a skier, nor do I participate in any other sports that you'd see in the winter Olympics, but still, I like winter. <br /><br />And snow.<br /><br />But, not ice.<br /><br />I, like many others in the northeast, have been keeping an eye on the impending "winter weather." My hope has been that the temperature will drop enough that we'll get an enormous amount of snow instead of the drizzly snow-melting, ice-encrusting sleet that is on the forecast. This storm is particularly ill timed because tomorrow the Bethlehem Writers Group is supposed to have its first meeting at its new home. Seems we might have to postpone the party.<br /><br />If I had my way, winter would be cold and snowy, and the temperature would stay below freezing day and night until it suddenly went above freezing and stayed there. In spring. Perhaps giant hair dryers would come out and dry the streets for us as well.<br /><br />Seems unlikely, doesn't it?<br /><br />Oh well. Since it seems my hopes for an ice-free storm--or giant hair dryers-- aren't going to happen, I'll just hope that you and I and everyone we care about gets to stay home, and stay warm, and stay safe. And, if we're really lucky, we can curl up by the window, with hot cocoa and a good book, and watch it snow.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186000168502512996.post-12552680860791612602011-01-26T12:41:00.001-05:002011-01-26T13:56:13.221-05:00B&N Dumped the BWGLong before I was a member, the Bethlehem Writers Group was just a writers group. The group was actually started by Barnes and Noble, presumably in an effort to bring in customers. You know the sort of group, the ones advertised in the bookstore's newsletter. The ones that meet for a few months and eventually disband. For one reason or another, this was not our fate.<br /><br />Over the years the group grew and shrank. Members came and went. I joined.<br /><br />Eventually we had a strong group of core writers meeting on a regular basis and decided to give ourselves a name and compile a collection of Christmas stories, <span style="font-style: italic;">A Christmas Sampler: Sweet, Funny, and Strange Holiday Tales</span>, which brought more members to the group.<br /><br />And, through it all, we met at Barnes and Noble. This was a source of some awkwardness when Indie bookstores asked us where we met, but, since our roots were in Barnes and Noble, there wasn't much to be done. So, we continued meeting at B&N, buying coffee and recommending books to each other.<br /><br />Until yesterday, when B&N dumped us. Without warning. By email. Ouch.<br /><br />It seems the store where we met is doing away with their meeting space. Effective immediately.<br /><br />So, the Bethlehem Writers Group is looking for a new home. But we'll keep meeting. And drinking coffee. And recommending books. Just not there.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186000168502512996.post-10295267016663669412011-01-22T21:33:00.000-05:002011-01-22T22:39:31.507-05:00Manuscripts and moviesWith my household still suffering the aftershocks of our move, it's inevitable that things are in hiding. On my best day I have a tendency to get distracted and put things down without paying attention to where they're going, but in an unorganized apartment, it's harder to figure out what I did with them.<br /><br />My husband compares me to an old school video game character. I'm not sure which game he's talking about because he either didn't say or I forgot, but apparently there was a character who went around its two-dimensional digital world only able to hold one thing at a time. If the character needed to carry a key, for example, it could not carry a weapon at the same time. He made this observation when we were packing up our old place. Repeatedly I carried packaging tape around looking for scissors, then returned with the scissors but no tape.<br /><br />As we unpack, I'm a bit more useful because all I really need to keep track of is the box cutter, and I've only lost that a handful of times... and we have two, so he usually knows where his is. Anyway, I'm not saying it's my fault, but some of our freshly unpacked belongings end up in pretty random places. I have a whole list of things that I know I've seen recently, but have no idea where. Good thing our apartment is pretty small.<br /><br />For the most part, this isn't a problem. We know where our computers, phones, and cats are, so beyond that what more do we need? Well, as a writer, there's one more thing I need-- my manuscript! It and my best research books took to hiding sometime during the move and refused to resurface. I looked for them... everywhere... twice. No luck.<br /><br />No problem, I've had a lot of other writing projects lately, a short story deadline and some editing work, so it wasn't an emergency, just a concern. But then I finished the editing, and drafted my short story, so what next?<br /><br />Well, in the absence of the materials I needed to work, I went to a movie. I saw <span style="font-style: italic;">The King's Speech</span>, which I highly recommend. Aside from being a really great movie in its own right, it also included Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Collins, Dumbledore, Bellatrix, and Captain Barbossa. (What? Those aren't their <span style="font-style: italic;">real</span> names?) Seriously though, I recommend the movie. I do seem to be on a rather historical kick at the moment with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Celia-Garth-Gwen-Bristow/dp/155652787X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295753346&sr=8-1"><span style="font-style: italic;">Celia Garth</span></a>, <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781416533177"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Lost Quilter</span></a>, and<a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Blackout/Connie-Willis/e/9780345519832/?pt=BK&stage=bookproduct&pwb=2"> <span style="font-style: italic;">Blackout</span></a>, so <span style="font-style: italic;">The King's Speech</span> fit right in.<br /><br />I would have spent this morning looking for my books (again) but I felt I really ought to attend the<a href="www.GLVWG.org"> Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group</a> (GLVWG) meeting since I intend to join the group when I register for their <a href="http://glvwg.org/conference/index.html">The Write Stuff</a> conference. I've known about GLVWG in theory for a while since <a href="www.ralphhieb.com">Ralph Hieb </a>is a past president of the organization. He's been telling us <a href="www.bethlehemwritersgroup.com">BWG</a> members to join for a while, but I just haven't gotten around to it. I might have joined a year ago if I'd felt ready to attend their conference, but coming off of the first season of <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://moravian.indiebound.com/book/9781608441105">A Christmas Sampler</a> </span>signings, I just didn't feel ready for the adventure.<br /><br />This year I am though, so I figured going to a GLVWG meeting was a good first step. I was right. The meeting was a great opportunity to put faces to the names Ralph has been telling us about for all these months, and network with other writers. I'll definitely be going back.<br /><br />The best part? When I got home my husband had a surprise for me: my manuscript AND my research books!<br /><br />Isn't he great?<br /><br />Guess I'd better get back to work on it, huh?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186000168502512996.post-61327526456275823602011-01-19T20:08:00.000-05:002011-01-21T11:43:22.032-05:00What's your sign?So, chances are you're aware of the recent changes going on in the stars. To be fair, I suppose the change was in the orientation of the Earth, but why quibble over details?<br /><br />I am far from informed on matters of astrology. I know my sign, and those of my loved ones, but beyond that, I am fairly clueless. And now, with the recent changes, I don't even know that much.<br /><br />I've done enough research to be thoroughly confused. Are there 12 signs or 13? Does the change apply to newborns alone, or to everyone? Have astrologers been compensating for the shift and giving us horoscopes for our old signs or our new ones? If there are only 13 signs, why is it that Scorpio gets only one week out of the year? Most importantly, what IS my sign?<br /><br />I think that last question is the one that bothers me the most. Not that I felt that being a Taurus was something that ruled my life, but at the same time I did feel a certain affinity for it. Adjusting to being an Aries will take some time, and, what's to guarantee that someone won't just go and change it again?<br /><br />For now am I a Taurus or an Aries? Was I once a Taurus but am now an Aries, or was I an Aries all along and just reading the wrong horoscopes? Am I persistent, patient, loyal and dependable, or am I independent, optimistic, enthusiastic, and courageous? Can one be both dependable and independent? I think so. As far as the negative traits go, I think I'd rather be moody than lazy, but I know at times I can be both stubborn and impatient. For now, I'm just confused.<br /><br />Is there a sign for that?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186000168502512996.post-81004186623375086712011-01-10T00:22:00.001-05:002011-01-19T20:07:01.104-05:00So many books...Read any good books lately? I have. Lots of them!<br /><br />After finishing Gwen Bristow's <span style="font-style: italic;">Celia Garth, </span>I picked up <span style="font-style: italic;">Miracle and Other Christmas Stories</span> by Connie Willis (it was, after all, nearly Christmas). Now I've finally gotten to <span style="font-style: italic;">Blackout</span> which I wanted to read back in December, but couldn't find.<br /><br />But, as I mentioned before, I took a bunch of road trips recently and what better way to spend a long drive than listening to an audio book? While driving, I listened to all of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Winding Ways Quilt</span> and half of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Lost Quilter</span>, both by Jennifer Chiaverini. I'll have to finish <span style="font-style: italic;">The Lost Quilter</span> at home while I unpack boxes because listening to it on short drives means I'll spend too much time sitting in parking lots not wanting to turn off the car. Unless I can find the time to actually quilt, which is the very best way to listen to one of Chiaverini's books, if you ask me.<br /><br />This means that my upcoming reading list will inevitably include <span style="font-style: italic;">The Quilter's Kitchen</span> which comes between <span style="font-style: italic;">The Winding Ways Quilt </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;">The Lost Quilter </span>but was not available in audio. And, of course, when I finish <span style="font-style: italic;">Blackout</span> I'll go on to <span style="font-style: italic;">All Clear </span>which is the second part of the story. I'm also looking forward to Jasper Fforde's <span style="font-style: italic;">The Last Dragonslayer, </span>which I got for Christmas, and his upcoming book <span style="font-style: italic;">One of our Thursdays is Missing</span> but I'll have to wait for March 8th for that.<br /><br />Add to all those the shelves of books that I've spent the last few weeks unpacking. Looks like I'd better get reading.<br /><br />What have you been reading lately? What do you wish you were reading right now?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186000168502512996.post-6218284234805967652011-01-09T23:10:00.000-05:002011-01-10T00:19:40.863-05:00Welcome to 2011I've been meaning to check in with you since New Year's Day, but this is actually the first chance I have had to do so. Time has been flying these past many weeks. Well, months actually. Judging by what my friends have said, I'm not the only one to think so. That's rather comforting.<br /><br />Lately, I've been incredibly busy. In addition to signing books, unpacking boxes, and celebrating the holidays, I've been traveling to visit family and friends. I attended a funeral in the final days of 2010, and met a friend's baby in the first days of 2011. Obviously there have been ups and downs these past few weeks.<br /><br />But now the holidays have come to an end, as have the signings. No new babies are expected and I don't have any upcoming travel plans. Time to take a deep breath... and get back to the real work of writing, editing, and (if I need a break) unpacking.<br /><br />So, at last I can say, welcome to 2011. Perhaps it is the events of the past couple of weeks, but I can't help but feel that this new year holds great promise. With a new year comes the potential of brighter days. 2011 is a story yet to be written. Like the baby I just met, it can become anything.<br /><br />Pretty exciting.<br /><br />Happy New Year, everyone!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186000168502512996.post-24571842084194168682010-12-18T23:14:00.000-05:002010-12-19T11:41:03.181-05:00An apologyIf you stopped by the booth near the exit of Christkindlmarkt today, you may have noticed little balls of blue lint rolling around. Unfortunately, the culprit was my sweater. I blush to admit it, but so it is.<br /><br />You see, one of the casualties of moving has been my wardrobe. I've had a lot of "I know it's here somewhere" moments when getting dressed, so last night, I decided to set my outfit out before I went to bed. I had the perfect sweater in mind for today's signing, but I hadn't seen it since the move, so I started hunting around in boxes hoping to find it.<br /><br />I didn't.<br /><br />I did, however, find a blue chenille-like sweater that I have only worn a few times. It wasn't what I planned to wear, but it's a pretty sweater, so I figured it would work. An all-too-quiet voice in the back of my head murmured something like, "There's a reason you don't wear this sweater," but it was late, and I had a signing in the morning, so I dismissed it and went to bed.<br /><br />This morning, I looked the sweater over carefully. It seemed in good condition. I tried it on. It fit well. I figured I was fine.<br /><br />Until I got to Christkindlmarkt. First it was the lint on the table, then the lint on the books, then the lint on the floor. Oh, it's so embarrassing! Soon, I was noticing blue dust in the air around me. I felt like Pigpen from the Peanuts cartoons... surrounded in a cloud of blue. Oh, how I wish I knew where my other sweaters were.<br /><br />And, it didn't stop! Even when I got home tonight, the sweater was still shedding. I left a trail of blue lint as I walked through the apartment, and the red coat I wore all day is now purple. Purple! Honestly, it's amazing there's any sweater left.<br /><br />But, at least I finally remember why I don't wear it.<br /><br />Sunday, I'll be signing at the Clinton Bookshop in Clinton New Jersey, but never fear, the blue sweater will be staying home. Permanently.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186000168502512996.post-87075316174487923882010-12-15T20:47:00.000-05:002010-12-15T21:55:09.306-05:00Things worth caring about...Okay, my friends, I have seriously, <span style="font-style: italic;">seriously </span>lost my motivation to unpack this apartment. Seriously. (Now I feel a bit like Meridith Grey, but... seriously!)<br /><br />You writers out there will appreciate the power of a deadline, and I had one. Note the past tense. You see, a friend of mine, cajoled/convinced/tricked me into hosting a cookie baking get together last weekend. It was a crazy idea, but it was also a deadline. My goal was clear, unpack the kitchen, find all the cookie baking supplies and wash them before the bakers arrived. As an added bonus, I challenged myself to find the sofa, and the dining room table so we would have places to put the cookies, and places to sit.<br /><br />It was a crazy deadline, but I succeeded. When the bakers (only two) arrived on Saturday, the predesignated parts of the apartment were ready for them. And I have to say, I'm very proud of how well my cute little kitchen handled three women, and how nicely my cute little oven baked so many cookies.<br /><br />But, there went my deadline. Poof. Up in smoke (though fortunately nothing else went up in smoke that day). Now, I have no fixed goal other than "unpack the apartment" which is kind of like the fixed goal "write a novel" it's too big to handle.<br /><br />Now, I know what I have to do, set small manageable goals, accomplish a little at a time, not think about the big picture or how much I have left to do. I <span style="font-style: italic;">know</span> this, but I'm having trouble making myself <span style="font-style: italic;">do</span> it.<br /><br />It doesn't help that every few days we discover something that didn't fare well through the months in storage. The most annoying discoveries of late are our DVD recorder and our printer both of which <span style="font-style: italic;">kinda</span> work, but don't <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> work anymore. We're fortunate in that (so far) nothing of great sentimental value has turned up broken, but still, a writer needs a printer! (I said the same thing about our bookshelves... a little Gorilla Glue seems to have fixed those... think I can glue the printer? No?)<br /><br />But none of that is <span style="font-style: italic;">really </span>important. Not in the grand scheme of things. What is important is that Toys for Tots needs our help. I read in the paper that more than twice the usual number of kids are signed up for Toys for Tots this year. So many that despite cutting kids off at age 12 (they used to cut them off at age 16) the organization is doubtful that it will be able to provide gifts for all the kids who need them. How tragic!<br /><br />I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Toys for Tots. When my brother and I were young, our mom used to take us shopping for gifts for Toys for Tots. We'd each get a set amount of money and could allocate it any way we wanted. My brother always got something big and cool with lights and moving parts. His goal was to give one kid an AMAZING Christmas. I was more conservative, buying smaller gifts trying to give many kids a good Christmas. At the end of the shopping trip we'd put our bags in the Toys for Tots bin and imagine kids like us getting something special when they least expected it.<br /><br />Fast forward to today, and the demand is so high that some kids will get nothing on Christmas morning. Ugh.<br /><br />But, it's not too late to donate. If you have a spare dollar or two to donate to kids on Christmas, you can do so on the Toys for Tots website <a href="http://www.toysfortots.org/">here</a>. You can also check the website for drop off locations. Most of them have taken in their barrels at this point, but some are still collecting. I donated online, but I might just have to hunt down one of those remaining barrels too.<br /><br />If toys aren't your penchant, there are a myriad of other ways in which you can help. You can donate <a href="http://www.projectlinus.org/">blankets</a>, or books, or food, or even blood. Regardless of what you donate, you'll be making someone's holiday a little better.<br /><br />What are you favorite charities around Christmas, and the rest of the year?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186000168502512996.post-27790863683161908962010-12-02T21:41:00.000-05:002010-12-02T22:17:43.561-05:00Rewards, Distractions, and Favorite Authors<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUTk7iB2wAXlXMVJQ-y_WsvoxDriNghrGtHj2IcqdvWnZJIweorWJpYPZbl4tUzc7Wu-7zyt0yKYhoZmvg6R4p0Y7trbGmWr_MUdyG3JGGqnFMSKpKNt8U2FlhdkG3LwiV7K9U_Iigm4/s1600/nano_10_winner_240x120-7.png"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUTk7iB2wAXlXMVJQ-y_WsvoxDriNghrGtHj2IcqdvWnZJIweorWJpYPZbl4tUzc7Wu-7zyt0yKYhoZmvg6R4p0Y7trbGmWr_MUdyG3JGGqnFMSKpKNt8U2FlhdkG3LwiV7K9U_Iigm4/s320/nano_10_winner_240x120-7.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546281369467119394" border="0" /></a>Well, I wasn't sure it was possible, but in two days I managed to write 18,000 words in order to win this year's NaNoWriMo challenge. Phew! I think my poor computer doesn't know what hit it. The NaNoNovel probably feels the same way since it is likely impossible to write <span style="font-style: italic;">good</span> prose that quickly. But I've come to the conclusion that this story needs to ripen a bit before I <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> write it, so just having that time to get to know it a little better was probably beneficial.<br /><br />As soon as I finished my 50,000th word, I went into unpacking mode. Mostly because I was sick of navigating around piles of boxes, and couldn't find my blankets to just turn the whole mess into a fort.<br /><br />May I just say, "Ugh!" <br /><br />In short, unpacking is a pain. It's amazing how you can work so hard at something and have it look worse when you're done than it did when you started. I am trying to focus on the little victories, though. For example, I was able to find the vinegar when we needed it this evening, I now have two cabinets full of clean dishes, and the pantry now has food in it instead of cardboard. Little victories.<br /><br />Still, it's easy to feel daunted when I still can't find things like, for example, <span style="font-style: italic;">Blackout </span>by Connie Willis.<br /><br />Connie Willis is, in my opinion, a brilliant author. She's often classified as a science fiction writer, but she, like Jasper Fforde, challenges conventional genre classifications. I love every one of her books that I have read, and thus she has reached "hardcover status" in my personal library. (As opposed to ebook status, or paperback status, hardcover status is reserved for books that are so wonderful that I know I'll want to have them absolutely forever.)<br /><br />Anyway, I bought my hardcover copy of <span style="font-style: italic;">Blackout</span> several months ago, but decided to wait to read it until I also had <span style="font-style: italic;">All Clear</span>, which is, as I understand it, the continuation of <span style="font-style: italic;">Blackout</span>. <span style="font-style: italic;">All Clear</span> arrived shortly before NaNoWriMo, so I-- in a great feat of willpower-- decided to save both books as my reward for finishing my 50K.<br /><br />Well, 50,000 words later and what do you know? I can't find <span style="font-style: italic;">Blackout</span>! I found <span style="font-style: italic;">All Clear </span>after digging through about half a dozen boxes, but <span style="font-style: italic;">Blackout</span> is nowhere to be seen. Fortunately, in the process of looking for <span style="font-style: italic;">Blackout</span> I found <span style="font-style: italic;">Celia Garth</span> (also in hardcover) by Gwen Bristow, which is another book I've been saving for a special occasion.<br /><br />In a way, reading <span style="font-style: italic;">Celia Garth</span> is more momentous than reading <span style="font-style: italic;">Blackout</span> because Gwen Bristow stopped writing around the time of her death about thirty years ago. I read and loved her <span style="font-style: italic;">Plantation Trilogy</span> as well as <span style="font-style: italic;">Jubilee Trail, </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;">Calico Palace, </span>but <span style="font-style: italic;">Celia Garth </span>will be new for me. I'm almost sad to read it, but if Ms. Bristow's other books are any indication, Celia and I will have a long and happy friendship.<br /><br />Now, the trick is to find the time to read. The next two weeks will be very busy because I have four, no wait, five book signings to attend. I'll be at Lion Around Books in Quakertown this Friday from 6:30 to 8pm, The Moravian Book Shop on Saturday from 1 to 3 pm, Christkindlmarkt in downtown Bethlehem on Thursday at 11am, somewhere in Emmaus (more details to come) on the 11th, and at the Clinton Book Shop in Clinton New Jersey on the 12th. Phew! I guess that's what happens when you contribute to a Christmas anthology.<br /><br />And somewhere in there I have to bake cookies, wrap presents, and find a spot for my Christmas tree. (I know where it will go, right where that pile of boxes is!)<br /><br />Oh, and read.<br /><br />And make a new friend in <span style="font-style: italic;">Celia Garth</span>.<br /><br />And look for <span style="font-style: italic;">Blackout.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186000168502512996.post-23556037042307115132010-11-29T12:09:00.000-05:002010-11-29T12:11:15.642-05:00It may be crazy but...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> 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mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; text-indent:.2in; line-height:200%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;">The challenge: To write 18,000 words in two days.</span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;">Possible? Yes.</span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;">Likely? Uncertain.</span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;">History: </span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;">1. This NaNoWriMo started out relatively sluggish for me. I managed to post my daily word count and stay ahead of the daily goal, but didn’t have any banner word count days.<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;">2. Previous NaNoWriMos have been much easier to complete. (I credit this to better outlining and preparation for those years. After all, this is the first November in which I have moved in addition to NaNoWriMo.<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;">3. In 2008 I finished 50,000 words in only ten days.<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;">4. On occasion I have managed a 10,000 or more word day during NaNoWriMo.<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Obstacles:</span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1. Work. Yes, NaNoWriMo is work in a sense, but I mean the kind of work that someone else values enough to pay you to do. I can’t drop that just because I’m behind on NaNoWriMo. I have finished today’s work, but some precious hours tomorrow will inevitably be eaten up by work.</span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2. Moving. Right now my apartment looks like someone is in the process of building a really cool fort. Or has a compulsion to hoard cardboard. Either way, there is a constant temptation to unpack and organize. Even if I resist the temptation, the piles of boxes make it harder to move around the apartment, so trips to the kitchen for food and bathroom breaks will necessarily take longer than they other would.</span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">3. Writers group. Ah, the irony! But tomorrow I must attend a meeting of the Bethlehem Writers Group at 7 o’clock. These meetings generally go until 10, so that means I will use 3 hours of precious writing time right at the end of November 30<sup>th.</sup></span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Analysis: 18,000 words is a possibility, but I need a HUGE word count today to make it possible to finish tomorrow while still meeting my other obligations.</span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Wish me luck, I’ll check in later.</span></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186000168502512996.post-90517599821932237442010-11-29T00:55:00.000-05:002010-11-29T01:05:18.225-05:00Home for the Holiday<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> 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mso-para-margin-left:0in; text-indent:.2in; line-height:200%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">What. A. Week.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">Or perhaps I should say, “What a fortnight.”</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">The last two weeks have been filled with travel, family, Thanksgiving, and a book signing at the Bethlehem Visitors Center. And, if that wasn’t enough, my husband and I also searched for, found, and moved into our new apartment.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">The move is something we had been planning and working toward for several months (since my husband started working over an hour from home without traffic), but it still happened very quickly. In fact, two weeks ago today, we hadn’t even seen this apartment.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">But we saw it, and we liked it, and we decided to move in before Thanksgiving. Fortunately, we were not planning on cooking our own Thanksgiving dinner because not only was our apartment full of boxes for the holiday, but I was also under the impression that our oven didn’t work.<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">I say, "Under the impression," because as it turns out a gas oven needs to be left on for a while before the flame ignites. Who knew? Meanwhile, I was afraid to leave the oven on for more than a few seconds without a flame because I thought it would fill the apartment with gas. This means that the reason the oven wasn't working was because I kept turning it off. I felt a little silly when the oven repair involved nothing more than turning on the oven, but, either way, I'm glad the apartment didn't explode.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">Moving is an educational experience.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">For example, we also learned the down side of purchasing bookcases for under $40. It seems that while the cases do a decent job of holding books, and they’re fairly easy to assemble, they don’t handle moving well. We started out with three identical bookcases, but one fell apart as we moved it, and another fell apart as we filled it with books, so now we’re down to one-- which isn’t going to cut it because my husband and I have A LOT of books. Go figure.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">Anyway, it’s the end of the weekend, and the oven works, and the books are in piles around the broken bookshelf, and the apartment is full of boxes and… it’s November.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">Which means it’s still NaNoWriMo.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">And I am horribly horribly behind, because while these last two weeks were full of family, and moving, and friends, and boxes, and learning how to use my oven, they were not full of NaNoWriMo.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">At just over 32,000 words, and with only two days to go, my chances of completing the challenge this year seem slim, but, you know what? I’m going to give it a shot. After all, can’t the boxes and books wait another two days?</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in; font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">Can’t they?</span></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186000168502512996.post-62271577246695639302010-11-11T01:15:00.000-05:002010-11-11T01:22:25.393-05:00NaNoDolDrums<div style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 137px; height: 137px;" src="http://www.nanowrimo.org/files/main/images/nanowrimo_participant_05_100x100.png" /><br /><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">NaNoWriMo this year has felt kind of draggy. I think it may have something to do with all of the traveling I've been doing recently. As I'm sure I've mentioned, I traveled from Portland to Pennsylvania on November first, which not only caused me to lose three hours, it also sort of threw me off my game. Either that, or the trip to Portland in the first place derailed me. Or perhaps the trip to Portland right after spending a week visiting my inlaws. Or perhaps all of the above.<div><br /></div><div>In any case, today was the first day I felt truly back into my routine. My hour on the elliptical was energizing rather than exhausting, and I finally had a decent word count day on my NaNoNovel. Unfortunately, I'll be gone over the weekend, so I may lose some ground again. At least I'll be staying in the same timezone this time.</div><div><br /></div><div>Feeling draggy during NaNoWriMo is kind of a new feeling for me. This is my fifth year doing NaNoWriMo and thus far I've won every year. My first year of NaNoWriMo I did it on the spur of the moment. I'd heard of NaNoWriMo for about a week before November 1st, and thought it sounded... well... kinda crazy! I mean, 50,000 words in 30 days sounds like A LOT, right? But I had a story idea I'd been kicking around for a few years, so I signed on to NaNoWriMo and figured I'd give it a shot. </div><div><br /></div><div>Well, let me tell you, when you've kicked a story around in your head for enough years, it can come out pretty easily during NaNoWriMo. I reached 50K in a couple of weeks, so I challenged myself to actually finish the first draft of that story before the end of November. I succeeded, writing over 100,000 words by the end of the month. Now, that NaNoNovel kind of makes me cringe when I read it now, but I figure if I let it kick around in my head for a few more years, it will be ripe for editing.</div><div><br /></div><div>Years two and three of my NaNoWriMo experience, I worked on the same novel. Yes, I know *gasp* *tisk* *oh the horror!* But the two NaNoWriMos combined with a March Madness writing challenge from the Bethlehem Writers Group helped me finish the manuscript I'm in the process of editing now. It was totally worth being a NaNoRebel for my third NaNoYear.<br /><br /></div><div>Year four I spent October preparing one novel only to decide on NaNoEve that I would work on a different story. NaNoWriMo success truly does depend on following your bliss to a certain extent. As hard as it is to write a story you're not inspired to write, it's even harder to do it in a month. That year one of my characters took over the story. She went off on her own personal tangent, and took my novel with it. This is another story I intend to return to, but I think I need to keep her in "time out" and make her stand in the corner a bit longer, at least until she understands why what she did was wrong. Or I convince her to move to a different story where all of her radical zaniness will be more appropriate, and appreciated.</div><div><br /></div><div>But all four years, despite varying levels of inspiration, preparation, and contemplation I've been able to fly through my 50,000 words pretty quickly. In fact, in year three I finished in ten days! This year just hasn't been as easy. I like my characters, but I lost my outline when my phone rebooted--never again will I outline a story on Color Notes-- so I don't remember all of the nifty twists and turns that made the story really pop. I suppose if I weren't living day-to-day with this novel, struggling to get my 1,667 words before midnight, that I would be able to really brainstorm this story and give myself a road map to December. </div><div><br /></div><div>Well, I'll be traveling this weekend, so perhaps during the long car trip I'll have an opportunity to think... and write another 5,000 words.</div><div><br /></div><div>Wish me luck!<br /><br />Oh, and to join in the fun, be sure to check out www.nanowrimo.org<br /></div></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0