As you know if you follow my blog at all, November is National Novel Writing Month. It is an insane time and (hats off to Carollyn for inspiring the title of this blog) it has come to be the month I look forward to more than any other, because it is the time I allow myself to just write. I don't write with an editor's eye, I don't think about whether or not the story is marketable, I don't worry about what others will think. I just write.

This year has been especially tough, because I came down with a nasty cold last week, so I didn't get off to the start I wanted, but as of today, I am back on track!

If you have ever thought about writing, November is the month to give it a try.

And if you decide to give it a try, give it a serious try. Here are my tips for success:

1. Tell everyone what you're doing.
2. Schedule time to write every day.
3. Set a daily goal for yourself.
4. Get on the NaNo site before NaNo starts (b/c it will be slow as molasses for the first few days in Nov) and look around.
5. Find a local group and participate. If there isn't a local group, create one.
6. Draw a picture of your internal editor, drop the picture in a drawer and slam it shut. Better yet, burn it. The picture, not the drawer.
7. Reward yourself for your success. Last year I redid my scraproom. I'm sitting in it now! :o)
8. Expect success.
9. Keep plenty of chocolate on hand.
10. Invest in an adequate supply of caffeine. The method of transmittal to your bloodstream is up to you.

And, now, it's your turn. If you are a NaNo'er, what are your tips for success? (bonus points if you can tell how many words this post is without cutting & pasting it into word!)

Happy NaNo'ing!
Elle

I recently attended the Ozark Creative Writers Conference, which I highly recommend. It is an event that I have come to look forward to, much like one looks forward to a vacation each year. For me, it is a time to recharge.

This year's first speaker was Cherry Weiner, an agent.  She had the following tidbits for us:

* no multiple submissions
* as far as writing credits go, fiction and non-fiction are like apples and oranges. If all your credits are in non-fiction, she won't use that to sell you fiction piece. Short story credits can be considered for selling fiction, but consider the market.
* 80K - 100K is the target for all markets (and I wondered about this. That's a big book. I think I've only read one book of that length in the past year. I'm busy - I like something that I can actually get through in those rare little pieces of day that I can read without spending a month on that book. Am I the only one that doesn't want to read something that long??)
* Publicity is of the utmost priority. There are several things you can do to promote your book: (1) Set up book signings as soon as you have the cover of your book, (2) forget about bookmarks, send postcards - again, as soon as you have your cover, (3) get a copy of your manuscript to reviewers as soon as possible so that your reviews can come out when the book comes out.
*  Urban fantasy is a hot genre. She referred to MIB as an urban fantasy, but I was thinking that perhaps the Dresden Files books would more accurately fit that genre.

For those of you interested in Cherry, she is a stand-alone agent and isn't with a literary agency. She doesn't generally accept queries unless you are invited to query her after meeting her at a conference. She represents such notable writers as Dusty Richards and Lou Turner.

A fellow BIW'er shared some journaling prompts with me, and the first that caught my eye was "What did I learn today?" That is the question I often pose to my daughter (and to which I often receive unusual answers!).

So, today, I pose the question to myself. It was an ordinary day. I got up, had a cup of coffee, went to work. Put in my 8 hours plus. Drove home, fixed supper, and worked on my critique group writings. Then I noticed the post from my fellow BIW'er, which caused me to pause and consider my day. I journaled a bit and realized something surprising. At least, it was surprising to me. I learned that my question I recently considered about priorities, pay versus inspiring, was worth exploring a bit further. My day job is important to me. It inspires me in and of itself. I love the interaction with people, I love the exploration of the legal questions, and I love stretching my brain. And regardless of what I do, I want to do it to the best of my abilities. I want the people I work with to trust me and rely on me. So I sat down and looked at my calendar over the coming months, reviewed the NALA website, and checked into classes offered through the University. September is nearly over and, frankly, I intend to just take it easy. October is OCW and I cannot wait!! Woo-hoo! The rest of October will be taken up with prepping for NaNo. November, of course, is National Novel Writing Month. An even bigger woo-hoo!! December I will spend recovering from NaNo and doing the obligatory family things. The deadline for taking the spring CLA exam is January 15. So, I can sign up in January, spend Jan, Feb & March studying, and then take the exam in March. If I pass, great. If I don't, I can sign up for the next exam. It feels good to have made that decision.

In the past, I have put off taking the CLA because my employer simply didn't care. Now I am in the fortunate position where I work for an employer that values education and self-improvement. And it may well make me a better writer - for simply experiencing it. And to be perfectly honest, I want to be able to put those initials behind my name. I want to know that I can do it.

In answer to today's question, I learned that I want to pass the CLA exam.

Now it's your turn. What did you learn today?

Happy learning,
Elle

As some of you know, I am a paralegal by day and a writer in my "spare" time. Let's be honest - there is no spare time. It's all about choices. Each of us has the same number of hours in the day. Unfortunately, that number of hours is limited, so choices must be made. I've been struggling with this myself for the past few years. I enjoy what I do, and the field of law fascinates me, and I like the intellectual challenge of it. But I love writing. Writing is not an option for me. It is simply part of my life, an integral part of who I am.

I am reaching the point in my professional life where I need to make a decision. Do I continue my education in paralegalism? I am torn. I would love to be a certified paralegal, and have that certificate on my wall, and initials behind my name. However, taking that exam is a huge undertaking. It would require me to study, take additional online classes, and devote at least a couple of months of my life to preparing for the exam. When I think about what I want out of life, what I want to accomplish, I realize that, while I want to pass that exam, that is not the driving force in my life. That is not what will define me.

And here is the most telling piece of information. When I looked at exam dates, i realized that I would have to spend November studying instead of leading the CCWG through NaNo, and that is simply not an option.

And so, I will put off the exam until next summer. If I am so motivated in the spring, I will take the exam then. In the meantime, I will polish my current WIP, attend OCW, and win NaNo again!

What about you? What are your priorities? What is telling about the choices you make?

Elle

I looked at the calendar recently and thought, wow, it's already mid-August! Where the heck did the summer go?  As I'm sure most people do, I feel that time is going by faster and faster with each passing year. When I was younger, it seemed that time drug out and that the things I looked forward to would never arrive. As I get older, I still look forward to events, but they seem to sneak up on me now. There isn't nearly enough time to simply enjoy the journey or to prepare for those things I look forward to. I am struggling now with how to better manage my time to prepare for those events that mean the most to me, so that I can get the most out of them.

For instance, as I've mentioned previously, I participate in BIW (book-in-a-week) nearly every month. I wanted to prepare for this week to get the most out of it. Instead, it snuck up on me and here it is Tuesday . . . and I have yet to write anything I am really happy with, plus I haven't spent the time writing that I had hoped. I am involved in a critique group, and we'll meet this coming Saturday, so I need to get my work uploaded so that it can be critiqued and need to critique the others' work. The Ozark Creative Writers Conference is in October, and the deadline is August 31. I need to get my rear in gear and get my entries ready to go. And NaNo is coming up. I am the Municipal Liaison and I need to get plans in place so that our region will have a successful November.

OK. That's my griping part of this post. But what can I do about it? What can we, as writers and dreamers, do to manage our time so that we can get the most out of events that are important to us?

Plan ahead. Plain and simple. Put it on the calendar and block out time. Your time is just as important as everyone else's. Get out your calendar  AND your family's calendar and mark your events clearly. Don't move your appointments to serve every one else's needs.  Respect your time.

Plan backwards.  Look at the event and think about what you need to do to prepare. For example, my critique group meets on Saturday, so I am going to schedule time tonight to upload my next chapter and tomorrow night and the following night I will schedule half an hour to critique for others. You can do this on a bigger scale, too. For NaNo, you may want to schedule research in September and character sketches in October - and do a bunch of cooking in October so you can freeze stuff!

Reward yourself. Give yourself a pat on the back for each step you reach. This doesn't have to be a big reward. It can be something as simple as watching your favorite (recorded!) TV show after you finish a project, or drinking a cup of hot tea while watching the hummingbirds flit around a feeder.

The better prepared you are, the more you will enjoy the events that are coming up. I, for one, plan to fully enjoy the OCW conference this year, and to have the best NaNo ever!

Happy preparing,
Elle

I have been a member of the Callaway County Writers Group for several years now. Three, maybe? It's a good group - we meet once a month, host contests, publish an anthology, and go hog wild for NaNoWriMo. But it just wasn't serving the purpose that I needed served. In talking to some others, we discovered that there was a small core group of us that wanted an active critique group. There are 4 of us. We email our short stories/chapters to each other during the week, then meet on Saturday mornings at a local coffee shop. There, we explore our writing, share our critiques, and work out ways to improve each specific story. This has been wonderful for me. I am accountable to someone. I have to write. I have to read. And having a small group of women to support me is making a huge difference.

But, admittedly, I am not getting everything I should get out of this group. I need to commit to this group, make writing a priority, and honor the commitment to my group (and myself).

If you are writing, but feel that you are ready for the next step - how do you form a critique group?

* Find other writers. Look at existing groups - your library is a great resource (and don't forget to talk to the librarian!). A critique group is a specific group, but you should expose yourself to a broader swath of writers to really push yourself. You can also check online, and can join groups such as Sisters in Crime or Romance Writers of America.

* Find a location. Coffee shops are a natural choice for writers. There's nothing like overpriced, highly caffeinated drinks to kick-start your creativity! A local bookstore or library can also serve as a meeting place.

* Limit your size. Be flexible here, but I recommend that you keep the group small. Our group of four seems to be about perfect. The required reading is reasonable, and the group is small enough we can make sure everyone is getting what they want out of the group.

* Set the ground rules. What if someone "joins" your group, but doesn't ever offer critiques? Is meeting attendance required? How will you trade manuscripts? How long can the manuscript be? How often will you meet? Are there any special considerations, such as an erotica writer or a slasher horror writer? Genres should be discussed right off the bat, to avoid any hurt feelings or offense taken.

* Jump in and DO IT!!

And now I need to go read the manuscripts for tomorrow's meeting . . . Have a good weekend!

Happy Critiquing,
Elle

I have embarked upon a journey, and I invite you to join me on this trip. I've dreamed of going on a safari since I was a young teen and read Man is Prey. I know, I'm sick. The stories of man-eating jackels and tigers and lions intrigued me. Why would humans go to these places, put themselves in such danger, and sometimes go armed with nothing more than a camera? And would I myself traverse the plains of Africa to see such things for myself? Why, yes. Yes, I would, thank you very much. I think it's the idea of seeing things, adding to the file cabinet of photographic images in my head, cataloging those experiences for future reference.

But I digress. Given the economy and the sad state of my checking account, the journey on which I am now embarking is much less exotic than an African safari, but what I seek is as elusive as getting a close up picture of a lioness and her cubs. I seek that rarest of rare, elusive, shy individual who has achieved work-life balance. I hope to someday meet a person who has actually done it. If you know someone who has, give her (there is no doubt in my mind that if anyone can do it, it's a woman) my email address and ask her to get in contact with me.

In the meantime, I am trying to reach that balance myself. I'm packed for the trip, ready and rearin' to go. I recently started a new job (and, WOW, what a difference that has made in my life already!) to pay the bills. My goal was to lower my stress level, and put myself in a more stable financial position, while positioning my family financially for the future. I'm only on my third week of the job, but that part of my plan seems to be working quite well. As anyone who works outside the home and who also desires to write (or has a similar dream), we must do so much more than the typical "work-life" balancing act. For most women, that balance is similar to standing at the apex of a teeter totter, with her employer/job on one end and her family/home on the other. I find myself at the apex of a 3-armed beast of a teeter-totter. I have the employer/family on one arm, my family/home on another, and my CCWG/writing on yet another. As soon as I start to get everything balanced, someone drops a feather on one of the arms and that is enough to tip the whole thing off kilter.

So, where do I stand now? As I said, the employer/job arm is pretty stable at the moment, but it does require "extra" right now because it's new. I am still in the legal field, but now I am working for a big educational institution as opposed to the small private firm arena that I have been in for the past 14 years. Big change, but a welcome one.  It feels good to be back in education again. Simple things like the campus mail system are met with a smile, because it feels like an old friend.  The family/home arm needs attention now. Summer school is in full swing, so my DH & I are splitting taxi duty. And the grass is growing like crazy, the horses need new fence built, and I just plain like being outside. The writing group/writing arm is waving up in the air like a geeky 8 year old kid dying for the teacher to call on her (yeah, that was me . . . ). We are working on an anthology, similar to Bridges, and I am woefully behind with it. I haven't kept my website up to date (obviously), and my own writing has taken a backseat to everything else. I am fighting the frustration right now, because I have accepted the responsibility of working on the anthology, but my heart is not in it. It involves a lot of time, which is in woefully short supply, and, honestly, I feel that I should be focusing on my own serious writing with the goal of publication.

Oh! Side note: I went and heard Linda Laddspeak last week. I am reading Head to Head right now, and am LOVING it.  I love her main character, and the serial killer angle is always intriguing.

And now, I've got to pay attention to that wagging arm. Thanks for taking this virtual break with me, and if you catch a glimpse of the elusive creature I seek, please, please let me know that she is not extinct and that there is still hope for me!

Happy hunting,
Elle

The birds are singing, the grass is green, and the sky is blue - spring is here! Finally - it has been a long, dreary, cold winter. It depressed the hell out of me. But the days are getting longer, and my mood is improving day by day. It's time for spring cleaning! And I don't mean your house - I mean your writing.

Clean off your desk. Just like the the shows on HGTV, start with a clean slate. Move absolutely everything off your desk and clean it.

Sit in your chair. Does it need to be replaced? Cleaned? Readjusted?

Reorganize/rearrange/rethink. As you are sitting in your chair, think about where you put things on your desk, and what items you need on your desk. Make sure your computer is in a comfortable place. Check your pens and pencils - if there are gobbed up pens that are dried up - throw them away! If you keep personal things like photos or momentos on your desk, rotate them. Put something new there to inspire you. Your desk should be clean except for those items you need to accomplish your writing. Your computer. Maybe a notebook. Pens. Pencils.

Relationship check. I'm not talking about your hubby and kids. I mean where are the items you need and use kept in relation to where you sit. Are your files within easy reach? Your reference books? What about your printer? Trash can?

Bookshelf. Look at what's on your bookshelf. The books you use often should be at eye level. Take everything off your shelf, clean it, and put the books back, nice and neat.

Computer clean up. If you're like me, you put this off way too much. Do a disk cleanup. Defragment. Does your software work for you? If not, get rid of what doesn't work and use that tax refund to get software that does work for you.

Last, but not least, clean the room. Dust. Vacuum. Wash the windows.

Now, for the icing on the cake, put a vase filled with fresh flowers or a new houseplant on your desk. That'll really make it feel like spring!

Happy cleaning,
Elle

Someone I know has a relative who was recently diagnosed with lupus, and I have been asked to share my story to help this woman deal with the disease. It is something I've been dealing with for nearly a decade now, and I thought my story might help others out there. I've always dealt with this privately, but perhaps this is the right time and the right outlet to share my story.

Thirteen years ago, I was newly married and pregnant. It was an exciting time, and I was thoroughly enjoying my pregnancy. After a horrible first marriage, I felt as if I'd been given a new lease on life. I did everything right - saw a doctor right away, took prenatal vitamins, watched my diet, exercised regularly, didn't drink, didn't smoke. I even gave up caffeine (and I LOVE Coke, so that was a biggie for me!). Then at 28 weeks, I developed HELLP Syndrome and gave birth to a 2 pound 7 oz baby by emergency c-section, and both of us nearly died. She had heart surgery when she was only a day old, and had her first brain surgery at three months. She's had a few brain surgeries since. She dealt with ear infections and went to PT and OT, but other than that, she has been relatively healthy. We were very lucky, we know. But after she was born, I didn't feel so lucky. I was exhausted, my blood pressure was up, my thyroid wasn't working right, and I was having kidney problems again. I know pregnancy is a body-changing experience, but I kept thinking, wow, my child is nearly three - when do you get back to normal?? Then I started developing pain in my lower arms, and tingly sensations in my arms. It was as if my arm was asleep, and I couldn't feel anything with my fingers. I would literally have to look at my hand to see if I had actually picked up a pen. I thought it might be carpel tunnel syndrome. And I had horrible migraines. I thought, what if I'm having a stroke? I went to my doctor, had her review notes from the OB I had seen during my pregnancy, and she ran more tests.

My doctor called me at home one evening with the news. I had been diagnosed with lupus. I cried. But also felt relief. At least I knew what I was dealing with. I wasn't even sure what kind of doctor I needed - what kind of doctor do you see for lupus? My family doctor referred me to a rheumatologist. I went for a consultation, and felt better. He told me that, with early and consistent treatment, it was possible to lead a relatively normal life. I have to admit, though, I didn't feel a connection with him. I made an appointment with another rheumy, and went for a consultation. I liked her right away. I've been seeing her for several years now, and I like her. I feel like she's got a handle on my condition, and that she treats me as a person instead of as a disease. Before I started treatment, I was beyond exhausted. That was probably the worst - not looking sick, but feeling like shit.  A common way of describing it is the spoon theory. It's like starting the day with X number of credits and you have to choose exactly how you want to spend those credits, because once you've used them up, your body will stop. I still have to be careful and listen to my body. If I overdo it, my body protests and I will deal with painful mouth ulcers, swollen joints, migraines, and fatigue. But if I take care of myself and take my meds, I live a pretty normal life.

If you have been diagnosed with lupus, here are my tips:

There are several symptoms of lupus. Get to know them, and watch for them.

Find a good rheumatologist. Go for a consultation, and be prepared to visit with at least two doctors before you find a good one. You need a doctor that will listen to you - no one knows your body better than you. I hate being on lots of medications, but I also understand that they are a necessary evil in order for me to be able to live a decent life. It's a tradeoff I'm willing to make. I looked for a doctor that would be willing to work with me, so that I could explore natural remedies that would work with the traditional route. My rheumy is good at working with me on that, too. For instance, there is some proof that Swedish massage helps lupus patients, so my doctor has incorporated massage into my treatment. I also do certain exercises (yoga is good, for example), and she helps me to decide what vitamins work in conjunction with my prescription medications. On a sidenote, it's also helpful to have a good relationship with your doctor's nurse. He or she will be your first contact when you have a problem.

Take your medications. As I said before, I hate taking pills. But I also know that if I don't take my Plaquenil every day, I will be in bed by 7:30 at night. I want more out of life than just working, I want time to enjoy my home and my family - so I take the meds. That said - communicate with your doctor, because he/she can help you find ways to keep your prescription meds at a minimum. And your doctor can educate you on what natural remedies and preventative medications to steer clear of. For example, a lupus patient should NEVER take echinacea (OK - I know I misspelled that!), and I can't take the flu shot because it will kick me into a flare.

Diet. Eat healthy. 'nuf said.

Exercise. Low impact is good. High impact is bad. Your joints will give you enough trouble. Don't aggravate them.

Find support. It can be an online support group, a face-to-face group, or a friend you can trust. This is a tough one. For me anyway. I don't want to be a whiner. But it does help to "unload" occasionally. Whine for a bit and get it out of your system. Then get on with things.

Take responsibility for your health. Learn about your disease. Communicate with your doctor. If you take any herbs or practice any sort of alternative medicine, discuss it with your doctor to make sure that your disease is being fought by a united force. Your treatments need to work together to fight the disease that has invaded your body.

Listen to your body. If you get tired, rest. If you notice a new or worsening symptom, call your rheumy. Ultimately, the person responsible for your health is you.

Whether you or someone you know has been diagnosed with lupus, I hope this information is helpful to you. If you would like to share your own story, feel free to post a comment. Thanks for listening.

Wishing you lots of spoons,
Elle

I recently entered my novel, Denim & Diamonds, in a book contest that is sponsored by a new group that contacted me and requested information on my local writing group. I looked the site over, and have downloaded a couple of books from the site. I like it - I really like the idea of being able to have some say in what gets published and what doesn't. I just love it when readers get to vote!

So, that's my quick pitch for the site.  I'll keep you posted as I read more books from it.

In the meantime, if you can spare $2.50 and are willing to order an e-book to help promote my book, I would GREATLY appreciate it! And if you check it out, let me know what you think of bookhabit.