Tues. July 24, 2018: Brace For A Challenging Week

Tuesday, July 24, 2018
Waxing Moon
Saturn Retrograde
Pluto Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde
Mars Retrograde

Mercury is about to go retrograde (on Thursday), and then there’s a full moon on Friday. With all these other retrogrades. I’d really like to stay home, in bed, until it’s over! Unfortunately, that’s not an option.

Hop on over to A Biblio Paradise to see the post on the Idea Vat.

Spent the weekend doing what yard work I could before the storm, writing, doing laundry and household chores, and working on purging boxes from the basement.

The writing, of course, has priority, as it always does. Steady work on RELICS & REQUIEM, although not as fast as I’d like. Slower, but also steady work on DAVY JONES DHARMA. Some organizational work for THE BALTHAZAAR TREASURE.
Work on the book I’m reviewing. Work on the Foreword. Notes on a couple of other things. Work on the other radio proposal, which went out yesterday.

Yesterday was stressful at my client’s site. Last day for one of the other people there, and more to learn so I can cover on my days there until they hire someone new. Which, fortunately, they did –and she’s lovely – and she starts today.

I had an excellent session on RELICS & REQUEIM yesterday, and I hope to keep up the momentum. It’s veered far from the Writer’s Rough outline, but it’s being itself in a lovely way. It’s a much leaner book than SPIRIT REPOSITORY, and very much true to Amanda and Phineas.

A little tired, a little sad, and bracing myself for a challenging week.

Onward.

Published in: on July 24, 2018 at 1:19 am  Comments Off on Tues. July 24, 2018: Brace For A Challenging Week  
Tags: , , , ,

Fri. June 22, 2018: Jain Lazarus Announcement (and Other Writing)

HexBreakerAlt

Friday, June 22, 2018
Waxing Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Pluto Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde
Sunny and pleasant

Jain Lazarus announcement: Bluestockings and Gentlemen Press has picked up the series contract for The Jain Lazarus Adventures. HEX BREAKER and OLD-FASHIONED DETECTIVE WORK will be re-released along with the third book in the series, CRAVE THE HUNT, in Spring of 2019. The plan is for the first three books to re-release and release a week apart, and then one book a year for the next four books, should they pick up the option.

Wrote a couple of blog posts and scheduled them to post yesterday. I wasn’t in the mood for sitting in front of the computer.

Finished this round of galleys on MYTH and sending them off to my editor & copyeditor today. It wasn’t too bad; there were a few things I missed, and some paragraph indents that didn’t take. I’m hoping I can turn around the next set of proofs fast this weekend and we’ll have caught everything. It was nowhere near as mortifying as the copyedits on SPIRIT REPOSITORY.

Not a good day on RELICS, as far as getting words on paper, but figured out a few things. I need to re-arrange some events, so the timeline works out. I want to do a big push on it this weekend, because starting next week, I have to juggle both RELICS and DAVY JONES DHARMA.

Did some preliminary research for the first three pieces I have to write for the 2020 Almanac, and will draft them and test them this weekend. If I do three a week, I have plenty of time to write and revise them before deadline.

And, of course, there’s a new idea tugging at me. As if there weren’t enough projects competing for my attention.

I did some weed whacking yesterday, in the front and the side yards. I have to mow the front later today, while the weather is still good.

Errands this morning — bill paying, stocking up on cat food. They’re working on my street again, so hopefully, I won’t have trouble getting in and out.

Last night was the Summer Solstice ceremony — lovely. As of today, the days start getting shorter.

I’m supposed to meet a friend this evening to catch up on life, the universe, and everything. It will be a nice start to what I hope is a productive, creative weekend.

Have a good one!

Published in: on June 22, 2018 at 9:06 am  Comments Off on Fri. June 22, 2018: Jain Lazarus Announcement (and Other Writing)  
Tags: , , , , , , ,

Wed. June 20, 2018: Writing and Meetings

Wednesday, July 20, 2018
Waxing Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Pluto Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde

Hop on over to Ink-Dipped Advice to read my suggestions for doing the research that helps craft your pitch.

One of the checks I’m waiting for finally arrived on Monday. Yes, it was dated when it was supposed to be; but it was mailed last Friday, three days after I asked about it and was told it had been sent out on time. All they had to do was say, “we found the check; we thought it had gone out; sorry.” Instead, they lied and said they’d sent it on time, and that it would be at least a week before the accountant could write a new one. Why not just admit the mistake and apologize? We all make mistakes.

Still waiting for the other check, but it’s not at the point where I can question yet. Tomorrow will be one month, so next week, I can follow up.

Monday night, I went to Yarmouth to the Cultural Center to a Mass Cultural Council meeting. As a former grant recipient, I felt it was important to show up, especially since I’d been asked to come. Only two working artists were there; the other was a filmmaker from Falmouth. I didn’t think I knew anyone; but I was surprised how many people knew my work — under more than one name, no less. Even the regional representative knew who I was.

I met some very interesting people, including someone who just took a job on Nantucket, moving here from Houston. Since I was on tour in Houston, with a Broadway show, we had a lot to talk about.

Most of the participants were either from local Cultural Councils or town municipalities. I was positively struck by how committed the members of the councils are to the arts — which is, of course, why they are there. I also met the new (well, she’s been there for a couple of years) head of the Arts Foundation — we recognized each other from advocacy with Mass Creative and our state and federal legislators.

We were broken up into groups to discuss obstacles, positives, and potential solutions. Then, each group shared what they’d learned. There were a lot of overlaps, and some terrific ideas. Let’s hope that something happens and there’s action.

I spoke to the rep after about the necessity of having artists at the table for these discussions. She said there will be a separate meeting for artists, and then another putting things together. I’m putting together some thoughts and suggestions.

So, let’s hope these are positive steps. Nothing can happen if people don’t get involved.

I got a response to an LOI I sent out, but the rate offered is so far under my rate that, with travel to and from Maine, it doesn’t make sense. I will gracefully withdraw.

Got feedback on a manuscript. The feedback was interesting. Some of it makes total sense, some of it I disagree with, but I’ll send it to a couple of Trusted Readers to see if I get the same response. If they hit on the same points, I’ll know I’m on the wrong track and will adjust. One of the points the editor didn’t like was something the readers to date loved, so there’s a dilemma.

But at least it doesn’t have to go back into the queue right away.

Tuesday was about client work, RELICS & REQUIEM, galleys for MYTH & INTERPRETATION. At the time I’m scheduling this to post, I’m still trying to decide if I’m going to either of the two events to which I’ve been invited, or if I’m just going to go home and work on galleys.

Today (Wednesday) is about client work, some ghostwriting, RELICS & REQUIEM, MYTH & INTERPRETATION galleys. And I need to write ahead on a couple of blog posts. And get up a couple of articles that tie in to THE SPIRIT REPOSITORY.

 

Published in: on June 20, 2018 at 2:50 am  Comments Off on Wed. June 20, 2018: Writing and Meetings  
Tags: , , , ,

Fri. May 11, 2018: Uncreative Start, but A Beautiful Day

Playing The Angles Cover Sm

Friday, May 11, 2018
Waning Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Pluto Retrograde
Sunny and cool

A bad night’s sleep makes for a slow, cranky, uncreative start.

Yesterday, I got a few things done. There’s a special promotion going on for the Coventina Circle Series. THE SPIRIT REPOSITORY, which just released, is available on multiple digital channels for $3.99. But many people prefer to start a series with the first book. So, PLAYING THE ANGLES is available, for a limited time, for 99 cents here.

I did a Facebook ad for the promotion, and I’m not happy with either Canva or Facebook. The ad was made on Canva. In order for the links to work, it had to be downloaded as a PDF. Only Facebook does not allow a PDF to be uploaded and used as an ad. I was forced to SHARE the PDF version of the ad from the Canva site — and Facebook didn’t allow me to boost the post. So I paid for an ad where you can’t click through the links, because they wouldn’t let me boost the one that worked properly. I am NOT a happy camper.

I added the promo info to the landing page of the Coventina Circle site and the News page on Devon Ellington Work. But I seriously doubt the ad will earn its keep. Last time I listen to Canva.

Worked on HEART THEFT.

Worked on the contest entries. I will be done with two of my three genres later today and send off the winners and finalists tomorrow. The final category, which is huge, will need Sunday and Monday to be finished properly, and I’ll send out that information on Monday.

Next week, I’ll buy my basic push mower and do the grass. It’s growing quickly — which is a good thing, but hey, it’s growing quickly.

This morning, I’m headed to Market Basket — haven’t been there in awhile. Then, I’ll work at the library for a bit, work on HEART THEFT, finish the two categories of contest entries — and dig out all the poison ivy that’s taken up residence in the yard.

I’m glad there’s never a dull moment, but I’m tired, and it’s definitely hurting my creativity.

I’ve been watching the Ken Burns documentary JAZZ and loving it.

Have a great weekend, and happy Mother’s Day!

Published in: on May 11, 2018 at 9:16 am  Comments Off on Fri. May 11, 2018: Uncreative Start, but A Beautiful Day  
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Fri. May 4, 2018: Company and Writing

The Spirit Repository.6

The Spirit Repository,  the second Coventina Circle romantic suspense novel, releases on May 8. Blurb here. Universal Buy Link here.

Friday, May 04, 2018
Waning Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Pluto Retrograde
Cloudy/sunny and pleasant

The house is clean. Beds are changed. Fresh towels out. Cookies are baked. The food and liquor are in. I have a chocolate mousse still to prepare, and then we are ready for our weekend guests!

SPIRIT REPOSITORY is available for pre-order here, and will go to Amazon as soon as it releases on Tuesday.

The major writing focus right on is on HEART FOCUS and then NOT BY THE BOOK, with MYTH & INTERPRETATION and RELICS & REQUIEM working around that.

I’m working on contest entries.

I’m making notes for the serial, but not letting it pull too much focus.

I’ll lose some writing time with my guests this weekend, but I’m looking at the break as a way to refill the creative well.

I’m tired, oh so tired, but determined to enjoy the weekend!

And, hey, SPIRIT REPOSITORY comes out on Tuesday!

Published in: on May 4, 2018 at 9:18 am  Comments Off on Fri. May 4, 2018: Company and Writing  
Tags: , , , , ,

Thurs. May 3, 2018: Warmth & Progress

Thursday, May 3, 2018
Waning Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Pluto Retrograde
Sunny and warm

Finally, some warmth!

And, finally, the galleys are done on SPIRIT REPOSITORY. They go out for the final time today. Sending out galleys always makes me slightly ill. I’m always sure we missed something important. That’s especially true with this book, where the galley process has been a nightmare. I swear gremlins enter the manuscript in between turnarounds to add errors.

Working steadily on HEART THEFT, and contest entries. Making notes on the serial. Created gift certificates for a client yesterday. The online templates suck. Pages (Mac) used to have good ones, but they don’t have them in the newer versions. Most of the design software can only be used online now; you can’t download and design offline, which is how I like to do it. And they try to force it into conformist models, which don’t work for the businesses with which I work. So I have to design from scratch.

At least I’m building skills that bring up my rates.

Preparing the house for our weekend company. On the one hand, it’s all overwhelming. On the other hand, it’ll be really fun to see and spend time with friends.

The grass is growing. I’m going to have to mow soon.

Ick.

Back to the page!

Published in: on May 3, 2018 at 8:36 am  Comments (1)  
Tags: , , ,

Wed. May 2, 2018: Stuck Between Exhaustion and Deadlines

Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Waning Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Pluto Retrograde

By late afternoon yesterday, I was so tired, all I could do was cry.

I’m still fighting with the galleys on SPIRIT REPOSITORY. I’m doing client work and contest work and the work for the interested editors. I’m preparing for company. And I’m exhausted.

There will be no break for me until the end of May. That’s just the way it is.

I’m frustrated, because I no longer have the stamina to just stay up as long as it takes to get things done. By midnight, I’m cooked. When I get up at 5:30 in the morning, I have to finish what wasn’t finished by midnight, and then get behind on the morning’s work. I feel like I’m never going to catch up. I can’t move any of the deadlines. I have to MEET THEM or else.

So I’ll just have to push harder and get it done.

But right now, I’m in despair.

Published in: on May 2, 2018 at 3:02 am  Comments (1)  
Tags: , ,

Tues. May 1, 2018: Overwhelmed With Deadlines

Tuesday, May 1, 2018
Waning Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Pluto Retrograde
Beltane

Busy weekend. The copy edits for SPIRIT REPOSITORY are killing me. I’m so grateful to my copy editor, but how the hell did I miss some of this stuff the first time out? And, when I put in the changes, how the hell do we keep finding new errors? I’m at the stage, which I reach during copy edits on every book, where I’m second-guessing everything.

Got a good chunk of work done on HEART THEFT, but not as much as I wanted. I feel like that’s my mantra lately. I’m worried, because I won’t get much done next weekend, with guests here. Not to mention everything I have to do this week to prepare for guests.

I’m also worried because they’re working on our street, and it will be tough to get in and out of the house. I contacted the manager of the project for coordination.

Worked on contest entries, too, and am making progress. Grateful the deadline is the 15th of May and not the 1st.

Did another revision for the client with whom I’m trying to wrap things up. I disagree with the direction, but that’s one of the reasons we need to part ways. The check for last month’s work still isn’t here; contractually, it was due yesterday. Getting a little tired of that, too. I always get paid eventually; I can never count on when, even though it’s clearly spelled out in the contract. They won’t change, so I must remove myself from the situation.

Put out some invitations to potential guests on Biblio Paradise, and posted some questions for quotes for two upcoming pieces on Ink-Dipped Advice.

Client work on site yesterday, today, tomorrow. A batch of LOIs out — I need to replace the client with whom I just finished until fall, and the one I’m parting with permanently, plus add in some one-offs. All I WANT to do is focus on HEART THEFT and NOT BY THE BOOK, but that’s not an option right now.

Back to the page.

I hope I get SPIRIT REPOSITORY finalized by tomorrow.

 

Published in: on May 1, 2018 at 1:14 am  Comments Off on Tues. May 1, 2018: Overwhelmed With Deadlines  
Tags: , , ,

Fri. April 27, 2018: Immersed in My Fictional Worlds

Friday, April 27, 2018
Waxing Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Pluto Retrograde
Sunny and pleasant

The work continues: On the galleys of SPIRIT REPOSITORY; on HEART THEFT and NOT BY THE BOOK. On the contest entries. On the garden.

Deep in all this writing, trying to keep on top of MYTH & INTERPRETATION and RELICS & REQUIEM. I finally figured out the relic – thanks to an article suggested by a Twitter contact, just because that person thought I might be interested. And the article solved the problem of what kind of artifact I needed.

Finishing up a project for a client, and will make a break with this particular client. I’ve been working with this company for a year as of the end of May, and I’m uncomfortable with too many of their business practices for me to stay. They’re not doing anything illegal; I just question some of the ethics, and I shouldn’t be the person in the position. Someone else, more aligned with the company’s mission, will be a better fit. Our relationship has been cordial; they do pay, although not as regularly as the contract stated. It’s just best for me to be done. To make room for something that’s a better match, for both of us.

Some admin work to take care of, yard work before the next rain moves in, and then, all weekend, writing, writing, writing. I want to get one of these partials out early the week of May 7, and the other about a week or so after. I don’t want to wait until the end May deadline.

The serial still pulls. I’m designing the city as well as several of the houses/strongholds in it. I need RPG-style map-making software to really do it well. Right now, I’m doing a combination of drawing and blueprints/floorplans. I suck at the former, but developed some skills in the latter when I learned set and lighting design. I worry that the time I’m taking on this project is a form of procrastination on the deadlined stuff. After all, I won’t know about the serial for at least another month; if it’s a no, it gets adapted back to novel and goes farther back into the queue anyway.

But it pulls at me. The world opens up, heartbeat by heartbeat, and I don’t want to lose it.

Have a great weekend.

 

Published in: on April 27, 2018 at 9:30 am  Comments Off on Fri. April 27, 2018: Immersed in My Fictional Worlds  
Tags: , , , , , , ,

Wed. April 25, 2018: The Need For Focus, The Immersion in Worlds

Wednesday, April 25, 2016
Waxing Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Pluto Retrograde

It’s difficult to let go of the serial right now. The proposal is out; either they want it or they don’t. But I’m immersed in the world and the energy of the piece, and it’s difficult to put it aside until it’s back on the schedule.

But I have to.

The primary focus right now has to be on doing the additional work I need to do on HEART THEFT and NOT BY THE BOOK and get them to the interested editors. I also have to keep up with the work on MYTH & INTERPRETATION and on RELICS & REQUEIM. It’s difficult enough to juggle four projects. Five is beyond imagination.

And yet. . .

The next round of copyedits on SPIRIT REPOSITORY goes out tomorrow. I hope this is it. The review went out yesterday; I’m still working on contest entries, both for the fiction contest and for the radio contest. I’ll have the decisions for the radio contest tomorrow.

The slideshow plug-in I tried for the Devon Ellington site didn’t work the way I need it to — it mangles the cover images instead of adjusting them. So I’ll try a different one. There are plenty of them out there.

Sales of the Topic Workbooks have picked up, which is a good thing. I want to put together an ad for them and see if that helps, too. I’m also putting together the ad for SPIRIT REPOSITORY’s launch and a special promotion that will run for a few weeks.

I’m working on a couple of presentations for one of my clients. I’m having fun with it. Who knew Keynote/PowerPoint could be so much fun?

Hop over to Ink-Dipped Advice for my article on “Craft and Passion.”

Monday was such a gorgeous day. I should have worked in the yard. I was angry, though; they’re repairing my street. At the end of the workday, they “cleaned” up after themselves by using a leaf blower to put the debris onto my yard. I am NOT happy with it. That’s not the way to do the job, assholes.

I’m not going to re-clean the front until they’re done and gone. I have plenty to do in the back, but, instead, I had the first official glass of wine out on the deck, while doing some other reading. I didn’t want to waste time being disgruntled; I wanted to enjoy the beautiful day.

Tuesday, I buckled down and did some work in the back. Grudgingly, but I did. It’s supposed to rain today, so, gee, aw shucks, no yard work!

Tomorrow will be a busy day filled with doctor’s appointments for my mom. I have a lot to do, too, a lot to finish before I dig in for another intense weekend of writing, yard work, and cleaning up for the guests that are coming next week.

But it’s all good. I love the writing I’m doing, I’m happy that sales are picking up.

I just have to stay focused and creative.

 

Published in: on April 25, 2018 at 2:30 am  Comments Off on Wed. April 25, 2018: The Need For Focus, The Immersion in Worlds  
Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Thurs. April 12, 2018: Evolving Process

Thursday, April 12, 2018
Waning Moon
Mercury Retrograde
Jupiter Retrograde
Cloudy and cold

Garden update on Gratitude and Growth goes up tomorrow, because I’m performing the tasks I’ll write about later today!

If you didn’t stop by Fearless Ink yesterday to read my post on “Morning-After Networking,” please do, and leave me some comment love!

This week, I pushed hard to create and hone a presentation for one of my clients. She got a great opportunity to pitch her product to some decision makers with access to a 2-million person client base next week. So we dug in and did it. I did the design AND the text, we used a mix of photos, and it can be used as PowerPoint/Keynote, a handout, or a PDF. She’s thrilled, and I’m pleased by the whole thing. I have samples for my sample book, and it’s all good. It was a lot of concentrated work, but the result was worth it.

There’s a marketing piece I worked on for another client, and he stubbornly insists on using language that makes him sound down-market in a completely different field. I’m debating whether I should even use samples of that in my portfolio.

I have one more big project for another client, and then we’re done until autumn. I have to finish up a couple of small things for another client, and then I want to cordially move on. That client uses some business practices that make me uncomfortable, even though they are technically legal.

I have a bunch of LOIs out, I’m waiting to go to contract with a company for whom I used to do a lot of work, and I have some meetings coming up.

I cannot emphasize what a big, positive difference having the redesigned websites on the new web host have made. I’m shocked and horrified by how much business the old host cost me, because they kept making sure the sites didn’t work properly. Learn from my mistakes, my friends.

I’m doing the last pass on this draft of SPIRIT REPOSITORY today, and adding in the back matter, which includes polishing the first chapter of RELICS & REQUIEM, adding a short article on the concept of “genius locii” and putting in the information for the other books. Tomorrow morning, it will go off to my editor, so we can go into galleys.

The major attention then turns to the drafts of MYTH & INTERPRETATION and RELLICS & REQUIEM, both of which have to be juggled in tandem. NOT BY THE BOOK is sneaking in there, too, and finishing up the rough outline for the serial, so I can distill it down into a pitch-worthy synopsis.

A note on evolving process: as much as I hate working on index cards to sort scenes, for this serial, I find I need to. I have plenty of background notes and other stuff as well, but I need to work the beats of each chapter/episode on cards, and then shuffle and re-shuffle. Some of that will further change as I actually write the chapters, since each chapter is in a different character’s POV. I think I need to write one more round in each POV, and I’m wondering if I should add another character’s POV. It would open up the world, but it then feels out of balance. As it is, the title has a “Three”in it, and I’m writing in four points of view. To expand it to five — not so sure it will work.

I’m eager to get some admin stuff out of the way and get back to the page.

Not so eager to finish my taxes this afternoon! This year, especially, I resent it. I do not want to give a single penny to this corrupt administration of grifters.

Onward.

 

Published in: on April 12, 2018 at 8:46 am  Comments Off on Thurs. April 12, 2018: Evolving Process  
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wed. April 11, 2018: Visions and Re-visions

Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Waning Moon
Mercury Retrograde
Jupiter Retrograde

Hop on over to the Fearless Ink site for the latest post on Ink-Dipped Advice.

Busy couple of days. I’m prepping a presentation for a client. The opportunity came in on Monday, and the presentation is next week; today is my last day with the client before the presentation. And so it goes. But it’s an interesting project, and I enjoy the process as much as the result — which is why I do this in the first place.

The work on SPIRIT REPOSITORY is going very well. I did six chapters on Monday morning before my client meeting and four more that night. That left me only six more chapters to do. I got up at 5 yesterday, to get at it. Two seriously rewritten chapters in the morning, another at night.  I have to add an entire section to the last chapter to plug a hole and had to rewrite one of the earlier chapters in a different character’s POV. But I think I can send it to my editor either tomorrow or Friday, so we can get into galleys.

The glitch with Amazon for both PLAYING THE ANGLES and TRACKING MEDUSA has been solved, and they are both available for Kindle. Big relief. I’m pleased that all three books are selling steadily on Kobo and B&N, too. I’m amazed and delighted by the positive difference the new websites on the better host make. Learn from me, my writer friends — the website matters! Do your research, invest the money. It’s worth it.

Need to polish up the first chapter of RELICS & REQUIEM to include in the back of SPIRIT REPOSITORY. Need to polish the book-exclusive article on genius locii. Need to finalize both the Acknowledgements and the Dedication. Then, put it all together, and off we go. This phase of the book is always exciting and terrifying.

Back to the page! With relish today, instead of dread. I prefer it this way, and, more often than not, that’s what I feel. I am a writer who loves WRITING, not just HAVING WRITTEN. Big difference.

 

Published in: on April 11, 2018 at 2:34 am  Comments Off on Wed. April 11, 2018: Visions and Re-visions  
Tags: , , , , , ,

Wed. April 4, 2018: Writing and Family History

Wednesday, April 4, 2018
Waning Moon
Mercury Retrograde
Jupiter Retrograde

Hop on over to Ink-Dipped Advice for some of the answer’s to “Where’s The Work?”

Monday’s snow gave me the grumpies. I have yard work to do and other things to do, and don’t have time for any more bad weather. In the snow, I had to take 14 bags of leaves (420 gallons) to the dump at 7:30 AM, or I wouldn’t have been able to get my car out of the garage. Not exactly how I’d prefer to start my week! But it’s a part of the responsibility of stewardship of a yard, and it’s really not that big a deal. I’m just tired, on all levels right now, so everything is a bigger deal than it should be.

Some douchebag ignoramuses who don’t understand the first thing about citizenship or the Constitution are at it again. They’re not even worth the rant. Zero tolerance for stupidity and chosen ignorance.

Another coffee maker bit the dust. During a Mercury Retrograde. This one last only six months. At least the other one lasted six years.

Client work was fine the past few days; another day on site today and I’m wrapped with this client for the week.

A couple of LOIs went out this week, which is a good thing. I need to sit down and work on some article pitches next week. I also need to follow up with a publication for which I used to write (for a long stretch) — we talked about working together again, and they told me to get back in touch in April or May. I’d rather wait until Mercury goes direct to sign any contract, so I might wait until next week.

Edits on THE SPIRIT REPOSITORY are going slowly. I need to stop beating myself up for not seeing certain problems in the heat of the writing (or even the first couple of drafts) and just get it done now. What matters is to get it done.

Working on the outline for the serial (so that I can distill it down into a synopsis). One of the other characters wants to have sections in his point of view now. I’m worried it’s too many points of view, and too hard to switch back and forth. But, if I keep the story moving forward and not backtrack each event through multiple points of view, only have a little overlap, it might open the piece out in a positive way.

I need a day or two where the serial is the only thing I need to focus on or worry about. And it needs to happen sooner rather than later.

I found out some interesting information about one branch of the family tree, and, on Monday, after I wrapped with my client for the day, I went to the library to dig into Ancestry.com and see what I can find. It’s my great-grandmother’s family, my mother’s father’s mother. Turns out she was one of nine children — which my mother never knew (seven survived). I’m tracing each of the kids, and trying to trace back even farther, back into Belgium, where that family originated. My great-great-grandfather was a clockmaker. I wonder if that has anything to do with my fascination with clocks!

I’ve traced back into Belgium to 1782, and will see if I can go beyond that. I also want to trace her siblings and their families to find out if and where the connection that was brought up this weekend fits in.

It’s interesting, and as relevant or irrelevant as I choose to make it.

On top of that, last night, I took apart my favorite clock that wasn’t working and figured out how to fix it. Coincidence? Or channeling the ancestor? You decide!

Hopefully, the weather will hold and I can work on the yard, the ancestors, the outline, and SPIRIT REPOSITORY over the next few days. Oh, and do my taxes.

Back to the page.

Published in: on April 3, 2018 at 11:50 pm  Comments Off on Wed. April 4, 2018: Writing and Family History  
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,