Moonlight Encounters

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

2009-11-25T16:59:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I just wanted to tell everyone have a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving. When you're gathered around the family table, giving Thanks to things... don't forget the most important thing to be thankful for (actually, two things). For the life god has given you - ups and downs included - and be thankful for your muse - if you're a writer - so you don't piss him or her off to where they go on strike!!!

A small personal rant about a worthless peice of s*** in Texas...

2009-11-23T14:57:00.001-06:00

I bet you thought you were being real smart locking me out of my email and NaNo, huh? Did it make you feel like a man to mess with something that meant so much to me? Did you think you stopped me from achieving my goal?

Well, we never claimed you were a smart man, did we?

Cause a smart man would not have done that. A smart man would have known the way to my heart was through kindness not vindictive adolescent behavior.

But, we never claimed you were a smart man, did we?

You see, you know nothing about me, because you are too self to learn of anything but yourself. You know none of the vital things required to access my heart or compassion, because you are too concerned with you. You see, you know nothing about life except for how to get drunk, be an asshole, and control people.

We never claimed you were a smart man, did we?

Cause a smart man would have never tried to come between me and my writing.

When life hands you two busted laptop chargers in one month...

2009-11-12T16:56:00.001-06:00

You scream your fool head off and swear off buying another thing from ebay as long as you live!!! Then you suck it up, and transfer ALL your writing material to the desktop, which is the most reliable form of electronic's - at least in my house! Then you burn a copy of your work onto a CD every evening (because the flash-drive you bought from ebay sucks too!!).

You set down to work on your MS with a screaming two year old, alternating between singing (and expecting an applaud after every verse) to hopping up and down on your chair saying "Mommy" and a grown child of 35 pestering the ten year old and the two year old, where they are competing for loudest child awards.

The whole time you keep chanting over and over in your head, "I can do this. I can write. I can do this. I can write." Only to stare at the screen in front of you and realize.... Hey, you were right... you can do this. Never mind the word count is less the 75% lower then your normal range. It's still writing. And, fingers crossed here, it gets easier as you adept to writing in the same room as everyone else.

Oh, yeah... and said desktop has internet access, tempting you further from your word count goal. You must be strong, avoid temptations and distractions, and push out those words, even if it's only a few compared to your typical amount.

Having a hard time getting up and going....

2009-11-11T14:29:00.000-06:00

It's days like this, like this last week, where being bipolar jumps up and bites me in the ass. Now that the intital thrill of NaNo is over, now that I'm halfway to the finish line and in the middle of the book, I've gotten bored with the whole process.

Not my MS, mind you.

I know exactly where it's going, and how to get there. And, I still have quit a few fun parts to write. But I find myself struggling to get behind the keyboard and write. Hell, maybe I'm ADD too.

What's even more sad is... I WANT to write. I'm dying to get behind that keyboard and connect with Luc and Olivia again. But I dread it at the same time. It's a constant battle that I struggle with each time a new MS is in front of me. But I have great expectations that this MS will be the MS that leads to publication. I've researched and talked with other authors, and I have a solid plan for publication when my MS is polished and shiny as a new penny.

I keep going over and over in my head what my MS has been through so far, and I want to edit the first 25K words something fierce. In the same sense, that will be a waste of time - at this junction - as I'm suppose to be racing to the finish line to 50K (though 50K isn't going to be enough for my MS in the end).

This is were huge doses of self-discipline come in handy. Unfortunately, I'm one that never has done self-discipline very well when I'm at this humm-haaaa stage in my life. I think if I can get to about 30K words, I'll start feeling better. That's usually my "out of the funk" area.

So, tonight I'll have to barricade myself in my room, lock the door with intense amounts of caffeine, and not show my head until I've crossed that 30K marker. Then I can offer myself a small treat (cheddar and sour cream chips... yummy!!) for doing what I should have done two days ago.

I wonder if I should give my muse a strong talking to? Hmmmm..... Nah, she tends to get testy with me. I think she's bipolar too. Oh, well.... it's me and her. Gotta love one another, right.

NaNo Day Five

2009-11-05T09:50:00.000-06:00

The dawn of day five is upon us NaNo-er's.... I've done well, but not as well as I could have done. I've missed a whole two days of writing, but my word count is still above the minimum daily word count, so I'm trying not to let it bug me too much. I don't like failure. And failure to me is not putting my best into something - especially my writing. So, in a sense I feel as if I've failed the last couple of days.

Last night as soon as I hit the 3000 mark (and came to a place to stop), I quit writing and went to sleep. This morning I'm kicking myself in the rear for not going further, for not pushing myself to my limit.

On the subject of writing - but not my accomplishment or failures. NaNo has taught me a valuable lesson. I write a lot better, and faster, with a plot to work with. And I have less encounters with writers block. I think my muse is a plotter. That's okay with me. I'll follow her where ever she leads as long as she's leading with words for me to write. :-D

Vampire Name Generator....

2009-11-02T10:03:00.000-06:00

My name on the Vampire Name Generator..

The Great Archives determine you to have gone by the identity:
Sorceress of Flesh

Known in some parts of the world as:
Seductress of Bats and Shadows

The Great Archives Record:
Slipping amongst the shadows, flitting between dark places, always quiet.

To get your Vampire Name... Simply go to their website!!

Just a little something fun to spend my procrastination time on!

NaNoWriMo Day ONE

2009-11-01T14:49:00.000-06:00

It's officially day one of NaNo. And I'm just now getting around. But... I was up until 6am working on my MS and turned in 6537 words.

Pause for dramatics....

*Doing a little ditty dance!!* I'm estatic!

All the time of having my characters leashed up, and now that I've set them free they're on a rampage of freedom. I'm the one that had to give up last night, after my eyes started crossing beneath the glare of the monitor. Luc leveled a murderous glare on me that would have made Titus proud, and Olivia just rolled her eyes and sat down when I called it quits for the night (of course, her three inch, spike heeled boots probably had more to do with that than me).

I just hope it can last. Maybe this is the rebellion I had seen. Instead of clamming up, they're bombarding me with info, then growing impatient when I can't keep up. I'd mumble profanities at them, but I love them too much! And as long as they keep the story going strong, I'll try my best to keep up.

On a sepertae note:

I changed my background on my blog, so I have to spend a little time getting my widgets and links back.

To have an Agent or to go it alone.... that is the question....

2009-10-31T19:31:00.001-05:00

I was reading "Writing Romances: A Handbook by the Romance Writers of America" and it got me thinking about Agents. Before, I was just fine with being un-agented. It didn't seem like that big of a deal. I'm just starting out, I don't have a history behind me, any publishing experience. I'd start out small and work my way up.

That's how I was looking at it. Now, I'm starting to think it'd be best to have an agent. Then I'd have someone in my corner, fighting with me, towards the same goal. To get my writing published and in the hands of as many people as possible.

The moral of the story here is, you can go it alone. But I think I'd rather not. I'd rather have someone in my corner that knows what's going on in the process of publishing a book, that I have no knowledge about. I enjoy learning as much as I can about the craft of writing, of becoming a published author... but I'd rather leave the details to someone else, and just do what I love. Creating a story of love for other people to enjoy!

Less then 12 hours..... Ready, Set......

2009-10-31T13:32:00.001-05:00

In about four and a half hours we'll be taking the little ones trick or treating, and then I get to come home and prepare for my fun!

Last night I was up until around 3 am working on goals and motivation for my MS, Immortal Dance. In a way, I wished I had another couple of days to perfect the plot more. But, I am so glad there isn't!! I'm ready. Even if I'm not completely ready... I'm mentally ready.

Typically being a character driven novelist, I need to get my fingers going on the keyboard. I need to let loose my characters so they can show me the path to take, the scenes to create, the drama to unfold! I need my characters front and center, and right now they are pretty ticked off at me for keeping them reigned in. I feel a rebellion coming on in the days to come. A pay back for me keeping them on such a short leash right now. I'll have to deal with that when they come. And I am not above begging, pleading, bribery, or even threats (like that would work with Luc, Liv, or Titus) when the occasion calls for it.

So, to all my fellow NaNo-er's! Good luck! Get those Muse's working!

Immortal Dance (Luri Immortals, Book One)

2009-10-30T17:50:00.003-05:00

Paranormal romance with Immortals of different cultures, powers, and objectives battling against Dark Immortals, Demons, and other dark entities.

Synopsis:
Luc (protagonist) is an Immortal, who is on the hunt for his nemesis, Titus (Dark Immortal). After getting off probation from their last encounter, Luc is more determined to find Titus and kill him. Until an exotic dancer, Liv, he is sent to protect turns out to secretly be a Luri Keeper, and their lives are thrust together to unravel the mystery of her parents murders, and the lost Luri Journal’s location.
With Titus closing in on their location, and the truth hidden in the depths of Liv’s past, will Luc prove to be her savior or will he destroy everything she holds dear?
*Still plotting,so may change some*

2 Days to Go.....

2009-10-29T12:49:00.000-05:00

I've got most of my plot done, I've wrote a five page synopsis (so far) for my Paranormal MS, that is currently with the title Avengers, as well as most of the mythology for the storyline as well.... I am soooooo ready for NaNo to start! It's taking everything in my not to start writing!

I'm very excited to start working on the Avenger's MS. But I'm not loving the title, at all. There are a few details that have stuck in my brain that are not working. The title being one of them. I guess this is were a critique buddy/writing buddy would come in handy, huh? I've thought of actively trying to find one, but I'm not sure I have the time to focus on someone else work, as well, with my so focused on NaNo. And that wouldn't be really fair to them, huh.

There's going to be a good size Write In in Fort Worth that I would love to go to for the NaNo, but I don't think I'll be able to. Which stinks. I'd be able to meet people near me and hopeful could find a crit buddy close by.

Anyways, I have a few precious minutes of quiet time in the house so I need to get back to Avenger's plot.

NaNoWriMo

2009-10-26T12:33:00.004-05:00

I'm starting to really get to my Para for NaNo plotted out. Of course, that has a down side to it. The more I plot, the less I write on Harmony, Interrupted. I'm hoping that taking the month off to work on my NaNo MS will give me a fresh look at H, I.

For the next month I'm going to focus on my NaNo. Nothing else. Of course, I say that, but I know me... at some point, H, I will pop in my head and I'll end up adding to the MS. Which will be fine. Great, even. Then I can add to the progress bar.

Yesterday didn't happen....

2009-10-25T11:09:00.001-05:00

I didn't get any writing done yesterday since our small town had their fall festival!!

On the plus side, I got two cakes from the cake walk (which is my favorite part of the fall festival)!! The girls got balloon animals made, which was cute.

I guess that means I need to get my tush out of this chair and off the internet and get back to my writing. November 1st is getting closer, but my WC sure isn't!

Week 7, Day 2 .... Will October Never End???

2009-10-23T14:55:00.003-05:00

Daily goals: Write 9+ pages (pg 127+)

Trying to finish this MS and plot my paranormal for the NaNo is getting to be a chore.

I just wish this month would be over and done with and H,I would be completed. I just want to get to my paranormal MS!!!

Week 7, Day 1 ... Progress, At Last!!!

2009-10-22T20:16:00.000-05:00

I fulfilled my daily goal today!!! Actually I exceeded my daily goal of 9 pages and I wrote 11 pages! That's 2750 words in one day!

Excuse me while I pat my own back! Hey, us writer's are entitled to a little self-bragging! I even bought me a bag of my favorite chips as a reward! Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream!!

Actually I bought two bags. One for today and one for tomorrow.

Honest! And it was the small bags. You know. The supposed to be $0.99 ones but now days they're $1.29.

Favorite sentence/line of the day:

Sara walked taller in the three-inch heels, adding extra height to her already tall frame. Ben may think he won this round, but he hasn't seen her end game yet.

Week 7, Day 1... The Wait Continues!!

2009-10-22T12:58:00.002-05:00

Goals this week: (Newly revised to adapte for NaNoWriMo)

Weekly: Write 63 pages (15,925 Words) Total: 172 pages (43,000 Words)

Daily: Write 9+ pages (2,275 W)

I've cut my current MS total word count (WC) to 50K (versus the 65K it was), since I'm now targeting a different Publishing House.

With the lower WC on my MS, it shouldn't be a problem to get the complete MS before November 1st. I still have to plot for my paranormal MS for NaNoWriMo

On USPS tracking my charger and flash drive should arrive today! Then I can actually get some writing done!!! Woo Hoo!!!

Side note:
YAY! They both arrived today!!! Oh, yeah! I'm in, baby!! For a brief excerpt for my Harmony, Interrupted MS go to my web page and check it out under Michelle's Writings.

Week 6, Day 7... Still nothing...

2009-10-21T14:09:00.000-05:00

Well, today is the last day of my week and I certainly didn't hit my weekly goals. :-(

I still haven't gotten my charger or flash drive, so until one or the other comes, I will be stuck in this stand still.

I have signed up for the NaNoWriMo (link to it on the pic to the right). You can only count "actual" words written during the month of November, so Harmony, Interrupted is out. But on my down time with that MS, I've gotten the plot started for my MS that I'll be working on for NaNoWriMo (it's a paranormal MS).

As of today, I have 22,750 words to complete my current MS before NaNoWriMo. That's 2,275 words a day, if I start today. Either the charger or the flash drive should arrive today. In which case I will be locking myself in my room and force out at least 9 to 10 pages a day.

Participating in the NaNoWriMo is throwing my current schedule off, but in a good way, I guess. We'll see at any rate.

Week 6, Day 4.... As the writing resumes, the power fails....

2009-10-18T21:27:00.001-05:00

Week Six Goals:
Write 45 pages (11250) Total: 150 pages (37,500)

Yesterday I signed up for the OctNoWriMo on eHarlequin. Which is a power writing excursion, that I'm going to assume they do every month. I assume, I hope... you get the picture.

I signed up for it (which consists of posting your goals on the forum) and went to bed that night with NADA to show for it. Then the next morning, when I went to post my accomplishment the previous night (which was, again, NADA) I realized I would have to take drastic measures to stay on track. Especially considering I started out this week with a goal of 11,250 words and have accomplished, again, NADA!!!

So, once I entered my pitifully lack of accomplishment, I trotted off to my room to solitude, away from my family, to force my brain to get back on the "write track". And you know something...

IT WORKED!!

Within no time I flew through four pages... (which is about one-third of my daily goal now to meet my weekly goal.) Things were looking up!! Until I looked down, that is! And noticed that my laptop was NOT charging like it had been just minutes before. Since I'm a firm believer in "preserving" batteries life, I only plug my charger up when the battery drops below 20%... and I was currently rocking 12%.

I knew I'd plugged the dagum thing up. After checking to make sure it was completely plugged in properly (laptop and wall wise), and testing 6 other wall sockets, I realized my charger had went ka-put on me!

Take into consideration that I do ALL my writing on my laptop. I don't have a single shred of writing info on my desktop. And factor in that my flash drive has went MIA on me. Can you see the pickled egg I'm in? No laptop means no writing! Oh, and my desktop does NOT have microsoft word, which is what I write with.

Refusing to let my muse's twisted sense of humor stop me from writing, I turned on the desktop, opened up Microsoft Works and pounded out another two pages (so far) just from memory of my outline alone.

In your face, Muse!!!!

I found a flash drive (32gig... yes, I'm giddy) and a charger for my laptop on eBay, and hopefully I'll get them by Wednesday of this week to save my sorry hide!!!

In the meantime it's just me, a strange keyboard, Works, and my memory!! Cross your fingers, too, please!! :-)

MB... still on lowly page 109... *sigh*

Week 5, Day 2.... And here I sit

2009-10-14T17:23:00.000-05:00

Week Five Goals:
Write 45 pages (11,250) Total 105 pages (26,250).

So, I'm in the second day of my fifth week of my current MS... and thinks are looking bleak.

I haven't actually wrote a single word in about a week now. The fact that I was a week ahead of schedule until this week is no excuse(this weeks goals I actually met on October 6th). Instead of working on my MS, I've found tons of fun things to do online.

Go figure!!

The only thing I can blame it on is a very transitional time in my life right now. But I have to get back into my writing. By next Thursday I should be passed page 150 of my MS (and I'm currently only on page 104).

The first four weeks were easy... I could bang out anywhere from 5 pages to 20 a day. Now... Nada!

Week 4, Day 6.... No Stopping Me Now!!!!

2009-10-06T22:05:00.000-05:00

Week Four Goals:

20 pages (5,000 words) Total: 60 pages (15,000 words)

Last of the details, Outline.

Details... simple!!!! Outline... No Problems!!! I'm on a roll!!! My MS should be right at page 60 this week, with 15,000 words... instead I'm at 107 (26,750) !!! Woooo-Hoooo!!! I've hit my word/page count for next week today!!!! I'm ahead of schedule! Maybe I can submit this MS a week in advance!

Oh, what happens if I get another week ahead!!

Okay, Michelle... calm down. Take it one week at a time...

*doing the diggy dance*

I can't help myself!!!

Week 3, Day 6.... Town development.... yay....

2009-09-30T20:46:00.000-05:00

Week Three Goals:
Write 20 pages (5,000 words) Total: 40 pages (10,000 words)

More plot & Scenes
Town & People Creations

Okay, I can't act like I don't thoroughly get into the creating my town and town people. Just like everything else about writing, I tend to get slightly overwhelmed with the initial thought of creation, but once I get into my groove... I'm off and running wild with it!

Having created so many people for my town, I now have MANY idea's for other books. This is the true test. Where I have always faltered before. I have one idea and put it off for a new, more exciting one!!

I won't! I've typed my first thoughts on my future *crossed fingers* MS's and have moved past them back to this MS. Only time will tell... but I hope I've whipped that particular demon in the rear side.

Harmony, Interrupted (Harmony, Oklahoma Series - Book 1)

2009-09-30T19:37:00.001-05:00

Book One of my "Harmony, Oklahoma" Series.

Synopsis:

Ten years doesn't seem like that long ago when first love Sara Langley and Ben Bowman end up in their home town again.

Divorced Sara, living at home with her parents, has demons of her own to chase. And they don't include getting romantically involved with Ben again.

But Ben is very determined to have Sara in his bed, and eventually his life, if the dark haired beauty would let go of their past and embrace their future.

Week 2, Day 6... Onward!!!

2009-09-23T23:23:00.000-05:00

Week Two Goals:

Write 20 pages (5,000 words) Total: 20 pages (5,000 words)

Character Maps

Scenes - More detailed, additional scenes.

Finally!!! I get to work through the many words banging around in my head. Twenty pages,.... piece of cake. The rest... blah!! Haven't I spent enough time with an actual paper and pencil?!?

Not that all the paper and pencil work is done. I have more to look forward to in the week to come. But I manage to put it off until I've done my page/word quota!!

Is it extremely sad when you find ways around your own goals???

Another week come and gone, and another week of my met goals!!!

I love this feeling!! What is it??

I know!!

It's accomplishment!!! :-)

MB

Week 1, Day 6... The beginning!

2009-09-16T22:41:00.000-05:00

Week One Goals:

Take idea and turn it into detailed Characters, Plot, Scenes, and Chapters.
Figure out Line Submission.
Work through Charts (page/word count. Due Date. etc)

A week spent of pen/pencil to paper (literally), with very few moments on a keyboard, I flesh out my idea with as many details as I can. Even when or if I'm done before the first full week with my "Fleshing out" I spend the whole week just working through thoughts and idea's for the MS.

I've worked it out that I should be done with my first draft and beginning final edits (in my opinion, not a publisher's) within 12 weeks.

These are goals that I've came up with, on my own, that I try desperately to stick to. I break it down through how many pages/word count that I need for my intended Line and divide that up into two groups, then four parts each. For more info on my process, click here, to go to my website.