Have you ever noticed that when you are re-doing something you need to make a big mess first? Well, we are in the middle of the big mess of our house project. So far we've done the central air, the new porch out back, re-done the back enclosed porch (new ceiling, walls, insulation, and light), and replaced the old aluminum siding with vinyl. Now we are replacing the insulation in our upstairs with better insulation.
The old insulation (which had completely deteriorated) has been removed from 2/3's of the room and it is now quite drafty (and messy). Later today, the new insulation will go in and the new wall boards will go up. When we're done, it is going to become my son's room (who wouldn't want a giant 'O' shaped room for their bedroom?) and his room will become my office.
In a way, all this construction reminds me of the work I've been doing on my WIP. In order to get my story to it's brightest and shiniest, I need to move things around and reorganize. In a sense I need to make a mess in order to improve it.
Have you made a mess in your story to improve it? How did it work for you?
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
50/50 in week 13
After flipping between two blow out games (Redskins vs Giants, Bills vs Vikings) it was great to watch the Colts score 21 points in the 4th quarter to tie with Dallas (they should've gone for 2!!)
After swapping possession in overtime though, Dallas managed to pull it out with an field goal. Even though my team lost, it was a great game to watch. Playoffs are looking slim this year, though.
How's your team doing? Are they a division leader, a wild card, in the hunt, or looking to next year?
In other news, tomorrow, December 7th, Christian Kane's CD House Rules comes out. Many of you might know him as Lindsey (the lawyer in Angel) or Eliot (the Hitter in Leverage- which returns on Sunday!). He is also a talented country singer. You can check him out at www.christiankane.com
After swapping possession in overtime though, Dallas managed to pull it out with an field goal. Even though my team lost, it was a great game to watch. Playoffs are looking slim this year, though.
How's your team doing? Are they a division leader, a wild card, in the hunt, or looking to next year?
In other news, tomorrow, December 7th, Christian Kane's CD House Rules comes out. Many of you might know him as Lindsey (the lawyer in Angel) or Eliot (the Hitter in Leverage- which returns on Sunday!). He is also a talented country singer. You can check him out at www.christiankane.com
Friday, December 3, 2010
Eclair cake
Oops! I realized after I was at work that all I did today was put up a recipe with no comments. Sorry! So, here are my comments.
I have not made this cakes, but my mother has and it is delicious. If you like eclairs, if you like chocolate, give it a try. It's great!
Eclair Cake
2 packages French vanilla pudding
3 cups milk
8 oz cool whip
Graham Crackers
Chocolate Mixture:
1/4 cup milk
1/3 cup cocoa
1 cup sugar
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 stick of butter
1 tsp vanilla
Mix pudding and milk. Fold in cool whip. Beat for 2 minutes.
Butter a 9 x 13 dish. Place a layer of graham crackers in the dish. Pour in 1/2 of the pudding mixture. Put in a second layer of graham crackers. Pour on remaining pudding mixture. And a third layer of graham crackers.
Chocolate Mixture: Combine milk, cocoa, sugar, and salt in a saucepan. Allow to boil for one minute. Remove from heat and add butter and vanilla. Cool. Pour/spread cooled mixture over top layer of graham crackers. Refrigerate. Serve cold.
I have not made this cakes, but my mother has and it is delicious. If you like eclairs, if you like chocolate, give it a try. It's great!
Eclair Cake
2 packages French vanilla pudding
3 cups milk
8 oz cool whip
Graham Crackers
Chocolate Mixture:
1/4 cup milk
1/3 cup cocoa
1 cup sugar
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 stick of butter
1 tsp vanilla
Mix pudding and milk. Fold in cool whip. Beat for 2 minutes.
Butter a 9 x 13 dish. Place a layer of graham crackers in the dish. Pour in 1/2 of the pudding mixture. Put in a second layer of graham crackers. Pour on remaining pudding mixture. And a third layer of graham crackers.
Chocolate Mixture: Combine milk, cocoa, sugar, and salt in a saucepan. Allow to boil for one minute. Remove from heat and add butter and vanilla. Cool. Pour/spread cooled mixture over top layer of graham crackers. Refrigerate. Serve cold.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Writing the weather
Yesterday started with rain. Not just any rain, mind you. When I opened the door to take my son up to the bus stop, it began to pour. And the umbrella was in the SUV. (I knew I shouldn't have put so much effort into my hair.)
I got to work and the rain and wind picked up. The mailman came in with our mail and his pant legs were plastered to him.
What does this have to do with writing? Well, the scene I was planning on writing over my lunch break began with my MC looking at a rain smeared window at the foul weather. To me it was rather ironic that I was looking out a window on a scene much like I wanted to describe in my writing.
Have you had this happen to you? Do you look outside and describe what you see through your characters eyes? Does it help? Do you look at pictures, search out maps, create maps? Share your tips below.
I got to work and the rain and wind picked up. The mailman came in with our mail and his pant legs were plastered to him.
What does this have to do with writing? Well, the scene I was planning on writing over my lunch break began with my MC looking at a rain smeared window at the foul weather. To me it was rather ironic that I was looking out a window on a scene much like I wanted to describe in my writing.
Have you had this happen to you? Do you look outside and describe what you see through your characters eyes? Does it help? Do you look at pictures, search out maps, create maps? Share your tips below.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
WCC Wednesday
It's so hard to believe that today is the first day of December. Christmas will be here before we know it!
I had hoped to have been querying by this time, (and did send some out) but am pleased that I am taking the time to really get this story where it needs to be. I am so thankful for all my beta's who have been helping me. From finding typos and repetitious words to just being there to help me think through plot issues, you guys are the best!
Sleeping Handsome is short on words (I still need to tweak my ending, so I know I will add words there) I was talking to Trisha about adding in a few scenes at the beginning with Kaylee (my MC), Daphne (a minor character) and then a few more with Kaylee and Devlin (my male MC). I was worried it might slow the pace to the point of no return moment, yet without them, you don't really see the growth of the relationship with all these characters. So, I am going to be working on these scenes this week.
I just started a temporary full time job (I put in for the permanent position, too- fingers crossed), and am trying to find time to work in my writing. So far, it has been in fits and spurts, but hopefully as I adjust to the new time constraints, I will find a better writing schedule.
On the reading front, Trisha's story is moving right along. The last section she sent me left me with a cliff hanger. I look forward to seeing how she moves forward from here. Will the boy find the girl? Will the girl free herself? There are so many ways she can go with this.
Fiona has set up a nice conflict in the past that can also play out in the present. Her descriptions are still great, and I think I'm learning some Irish/Gaelic from it!
I read through to the end of Katie's WIP and now need some uninterrupted time to go back through and read through with my editing eye.
How are your WIP's going? Are your beta's helping you? Do you notice how often you use the same word in a paragraph, a page? Are your characters constantly sighing? (Mine was-- thanks for pointing that out, Trisha!) Can you say the same thing with two words instead of four? These are all things I am trying to keep in mind now as I write. Take a look at your work and see if you notice any of these habits and work at breaking them.
I had hoped to have been querying by this time, (and did send some out) but am pleased that I am taking the time to really get this story where it needs to be. I am so thankful for all my beta's who have been helping me. From finding typos and repetitious words to just being there to help me think through plot issues, you guys are the best!
Sleeping Handsome is short on words (I still need to tweak my ending, so I know I will add words there) I was talking to Trisha about adding in a few scenes at the beginning with Kaylee (my MC), Daphne (a minor character) and then a few more with Kaylee and Devlin (my male MC). I was worried it might slow the pace to the point of no return moment, yet without them, you don't really see the growth of the relationship with all these characters. So, I am going to be working on these scenes this week.
I just started a temporary full time job (I put in for the permanent position, too- fingers crossed), and am trying to find time to work in my writing. So far, it has been in fits and spurts, but hopefully as I adjust to the new time constraints, I will find a better writing schedule.
On the reading front, Trisha's story is moving right along. The last section she sent me left me with a cliff hanger. I look forward to seeing how she moves forward from here. Will the boy find the girl? Will the girl free herself? There are so many ways she can go with this.
Fiona has set up a nice conflict in the past that can also play out in the present. Her descriptions are still great, and I think I'm learning some Irish/Gaelic from it!
I read through to the end of Katie's WIP and now need some uninterrupted time to go back through and read through with my editing eye.
How are your WIP's going? Are your beta's helping you? Do you notice how often you use the same word in a paragraph, a page? Are your characters constantly sighing? (Mine was-- thanks for pointing that out, Trisha!) Can you say the same thing with two words instead of four? These are all things I am trying to keep in mind now as I write. Take a look at your work and see if you notice any of these habits and work at breaking them.
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