No Fish Story

There are things that happen that we'd rather not share, oftentimes because it might put us in a bad light.  Maybe it's a little embarrassing and not something we're not proud to tell others.

So why a picture of Flounder today?  Because floundering was what I was doing for a few days last week.  I'll be honest and not be embarrassed.  On Thursday I received a double rejection from my editor at Harlequin American.  After seven books for HAR, I fell in the hole.

It's been that kind of year.  I should have seen it coming, but I was holding out hope.  I've been trying since June to hit on the right story.  Apparently my aim was bad.

It took me less than two days to get over it. Okay, those two days were BAD, but by late Friday I'd moved beyond and dragged out a couple of stories from under the bed.  No, not really from under the bed, just not something I'd looked at closely in the past few years.  A phone convo with one of my brainstorming buddies helped me make that final few steps to get over the Hill of Despair.  (I think I own a house there.)  I've already begun working on them and hope to have them ready by the first of January.

So where does the floundering come in?  It happens when revisions are requested and when submissions/proposals are rejected.  It happens to everyone at some time, not just writers.  It's that time--no matter how short or long--when a person doesn't know what direction to take.  Should I do this this?  Or should I do that?  And more than likely, nothing is done.

Rejections, passes, Rs, whatever anyone wants to call them, happen in the writing business.  A lot.  They hurt.  They hurt even when we tell ourselves it isn't personal.  But because our creations, our books, our stories, are pieces of our selves, it feels personal and can be painful.  Many people give up when they don't make the progress they'd envisioned.  It takes a thick skin to keep writing or creating when no one seems to care but us.

And, yes, rejections happen to everyone, at one time or another.  The key is learning how to handle them and how quickly to put an end to the floundering, pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and return to forward movement, having learned something--again--the hard way.

Is it worth it?  I think so. :)

Every rejection is incremental payment on your dues that in some way will be translated back into your work.  -  James Lee Burke

Traditions

(from dictionary.com)

tra·di·tion

   [truh-dish-uhn] 

noun

1.  the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs,information, etc., from generation to generation, especially by word of mouth or by practice: a story that has come down to us by popular tradition.
2.  something that is handed down: the traditions of the Eskimos.
3.  a long-established or inherited way of thinking or acting: The rebellious students wanted to break with tradition.
4.  a continuing pattern of culture beliefs or practices.
5.  a customary or characteristic method or manner: The winner took a victory lap in the usual track tradition.

There are probably as many traditions as there are people.  They come in all sizes, shapes, colors, reasons, times, seasons, and anything else you can think of.  We like traditions because the make us feel safe.  Once made, we know what needs doing, making decisions much easier.

We're most familiar with traditions around the holidays.  Christmas, Hanukkah and other religious/faith-based holidays at the end of the year often have the most traditions attached to them.  But we all manage to create more of our own, just for us.

Sometimes we have to adjust traditions to fit something new in our lives.  A marriage can dictate the melding of traditions.  A new baby may mean a change in timing.  As a family continues to grow, new traditions--Santa Claus, the Christmas story from the Bible--are introduced for the children.

And sometimes we make new traditions.  Children grow into adults who have their own children.  Jobs can often mean a distant move.  Divorce or the passing of a loved one are two of the saddest of reasons for the need to create new traditions.  But somehow, within all the changes, we adjust and find solace and peace in traditions, whether old or new.

If you have a favorite tradition, I'd love it if you'd share it, either here on the blog, through Twitter (@roxdelaney), on Facebook or my author Facebook Page.  Who knows?  We may find something that will make the perfect new tradition.

To many people holidays are not voyages of discovery, but a ritual of reassurance.  - Philip Andrew Adams 

Roadblocks and Re-assesing

A week ago I blogged about the need--especially mine--to make a habit of writing each and every day.  Except maybe weekends.  Today I'm here to say that my determination to begin to make that habit came to a screeching halt.

Something didn't feel right, but I went ahead and started working on the synopsis for a proposal I want to submit--before the official holidays begin and no one is around to receive submissions.  I hoped that maybe if I pushed ahead, that feeling--caused by my own lack of belief in myself--would either go away, or the simple act of forward movement would take care of things naturally.

Wrong.  On both.  As I worked on the synopsis, seeing scenes in my mind, I hit a roadblock.  There it was, smack in the middle of my plot.  It was probably there all the time, but I didn't want to see it.  Fortunately (or unfortunately), writing a synopsis is good at revealing what we refuse to acknowledge.  This time the problem centered around the heroine and what had happened in her past to make her feel and react a certain way.  I thought I had it worked out.  I didn't.  It took several days, but I finally found what she (and I) needed.  I was almost ready to move forward again with real writing, when I talked to a published friend, who recently received revision notes on a book in the same sub-genre as mine.

Uh-oh.  I had another problem.  Was the story too dark?  Had I put my characters through too much, especially before the opening of the story?  Did I need to lighten up a little and give at least one character a little slack?

I still don't have the answer to that, but I'm going to beg for a few minutes of my friend's time, give her a quick overview of my problem, and see what she thinks.  Any other time, I might have busted through the roadblocks without too much thought, but this time I'm treading on new ground.  New sub-genre and a new line, meaning new "rules" that have not yet become familiar to me.

Hopefully tomorrow will find me back at writing the synopsis and still able to have it done in time to send before the holiday break.  The one good thing about all of this is that I've come to know my characters even better, and that's sometimes something that doesn't always happen until almost too late.

Keep tuned in.  Updates on the re-invention and expansion of my writing coming later.

First, find out what your hero wants, then just follow him!  - Ray Bradbury 

It's Here!

Yes, it's really here!  It comes once every week, and it's what sometimes---make that often---gets me through to Friday and that TGIF we all adore.  If you haven't guessed what this is about, you aren't paying attention.

It's Hump Day!

I know, I know.  It only means we're at the middle of the week, not the end, and the weekend is two (and a half) days away.  But once midday on Wednesday hits, it's all downhill with Fab Friday only a quick slide away.

The trick is knowing how to psych yourself into the joy of Hump Day and to know how to use it to your best advantage.  So here's some things to think about as you make your way through this week's---and every week's---Wednesday.

1. Did you make a goal for this week?  It doesn't matter what the goal was or what it involved...from cleaning to exercise to writing to shopping to reading to resting to--  You get the picture. ☺  If you did make a goal, this is a great time to assess how it's going. If you've made progress--any progress--congratulate yourself and keep going.  If you haven't, then what are you waiting for?  There are still 2+ more days to work toward it.
2. If you've already accomplished what you'd hoped to this week, you deserve a break!  Take a little time to do something that makes you feel good.  Give yourself a reward!  It doesn't have to involve money (although it can!), but it must be something you enjoy.  Indulge yourself, if only for a few minutes before life calls you back again.  After all, it isn't the weekend yet, just the halfway point.
3. Ask yourself what else you need to do before Friday ends the official work week.  More than likely, even if you reached your goals, there'll be other things waiting in the wings that need doing.  This is the perfect time to decide how to spend the rest of the week, so you'll have time to enjoy the weekend.  Because isn't that what weekends are all about? 

For those who don't work a regular Monday thru Friday week, simply adjust to fit your schedule.  If your days off are split, decide whether to use the first one or the second one when judging progress.  (Hint:  Using the first may give you a little more time to work on whatever it is you need to do.)

Why, in the middle of the most stressful season of the year, with Christmas and New Year's sneaking up quickly, am I suggesting a focus on goals?  Because getting things done without going crazy is hard work.  Why not make time work for us?  If we become so mired in what to do, instead of what's been accomplished, we start to lose steam.  Wednesdays are the perfect time for taking a breath to look at what's been done and what yet needs to be done.  Remember, bite-size  pieces make anything easier.  If nothing has been accomplished so far this week, from this point on, a little focus and work will go a long way to being able to enjoy the weekend.  So get busy, and then slide on down that hump to TGIF!

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try." 

- Beverly Sills

 

Creating Good Writing Habits

It would be hard not to notice that Christmas is fast approaching.  Weren't we just Trick-or-Treating on Halloween?  The next thing you know, not only will Christmas be over, but New Year's will be almost gone.

If you're a traditional New Year's-ist, this would be a perfect time to start thinking about those Resolutions.  After all, even if the rumors of 2012 being the end of life as we know are true and aren't simply a marketing thing, there's a lot of time to live between January 1 and December.  Why not get a head start now, instead of waiting until the last minute of 2011 to decide on what to improve?

Right now, instead of focusing on those every-year self-improvement resolutions (weight loss, exercise, and the rest), I want to focus on writing resolutions.  Why?  Because I'm in desperate need of creating some new habits and sticking to them, and if I start now, I can make some headway.

The #1 writing habit I need to make and stick to is writing every day.  While it's true that I do some kind of writing each day, whether it's emails, blogs, or the real stuff of putting stories to paper, it's the latter that I need to focus on the most.  It simply isn't something I've managed to make a priority.  This isn't something new.  I've been grappling with this for several years, so it's become something I'd really like to conquer.

So here's my Resolution/Goal for 2012:  I will write every day, Monday thru Friday.  At least a page.  Three pages would be even better.  More than that would be a miracle on an everyday basis.  If possible and life allows, I'll write on the weekends, too.

Anyone with me on this?  Are you like me and have trouble carving out time to do what really should be done when it comes to writing?  Then take your pick of whatever writing habit you need to create, and let's start it today.  I'll check back in next Monday to post if I've had any progress, and so can anyone who's joining me.

"The way to write is to throw your body at the mark when your arrows are spent."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sometimes You Just Have to Dream

Winter is doing its best to push aside warmer weather.  Although the sun is shining today, I've heard there's a chance of snow later this week.  Not my idea of perfection.  But it does offer a reason to dream.

When I say "dream," I'm not referring to that thing we do when we sleep.  The kind of dream we need to be doing to open our heart and soul to possibilities is done when we're wide awake.  I remember spending time with an old crush on a night filled with snow and ice and cold.  We were trying to think of ways to stay warm--beyond the obvious ☺--and we came up with  thinking about summer things.  Things like a warming sun and the feel of a sidewalk under our bare feet on a summer day.  I thought of an ice cream cone, and the spell was broken.

Dreaming is what gives writers ideas and characters and stories.  It gives painters colors and visions and brushstrokes.  For composers it's rhythm and tone and music.  But one doesn't need to be a writer or painter or composer, or even a dancer or actor or anything involved in being creative and artistic.  Each one of us can gain by letting ourselves dream.

So what if what we dream might not be possible to actually attain?  Anything is possible, if we begin by dreaming.  If we shut ourselves off from possibilities beyond what we believe to be attainable, how can we ever grow and change?  Without those who dreamed of going to the moon, our space program never would have happened.  Without those who dreamed of everyone being able to read and write, how many of us would be reading books and newspaper, and writing?

We're in that tension-building time of the run-up to Christmas.  Thanksgiving is behind us, and we're focused intently on the next holiday.  That tension can quickly morph into stress, and that's something we really don't need.  Not now.  Not at any time.  Just for the next few weeks, lets give ourselves a chance to unwind, relax, and dream, if only for a short time.  Instead of checking Done times off of our mental To Do lists, use part of that time to dream.  And before you know it, you'll be more relaxed and have a smile on your face.  And who knows?  Maybe your wish--or something close to it--will come true.

A dream is a wish your heart makes.

    Walt Disney, Sleeping Beauty

'Twas the Day Before Thanksgiving...

Yes, I know it's a sketch of a desk, but stick with me for a minute.  It is the day before Thanksgiving, and my turkey is thawing in the refrigerator.  Not for fixing tomorrow.  We'll be doing that on Saturday.  As I've explained before, with three daughters who have "in-law" families, I try to make it easier on them by planning our own family holidays on different day.  After all, it's only a date on the calendar.

While many of you are spending this Thanksgiving Eve cleaning and cooking, I'm gearing up to spend mine cleaning and moving furniture.  What can I say?  I'm a Gemini, and although there are aspects of my current arrangement that are great, thanks to working on it for almost a year, I need a change.  I've thought it through and used a scale model on paper to move things around, until everything not only suits me, but fits the room.  That's the hardest of all, of course.  Because today is the beginning of three straight days of freedom, then one day of holiday dinner, and then a final free day for finishing up, it's the perfect time.  Or at least I'm hoping that's the way it works out.

While I'm lifting and shoving and scooching and moving, my mind will be on other things.  I'm working on a new story for a possible new line.  The plot is pretty much set, with only a few changes and tweaks yet to do, but I've made some changes since I first began.  The heroine's GMC has changed from the original idea with relative ease (thank goodness!), and now I'm trying to mold the hero to a new and different backstory, strengthening (I hope) his GMC.  This is the perfect time to do it, because I'll be working on my goal of office re-arranging and re-arranging a story, too.

I'll also be thinking of all the things I'm thankful for.  There's no doubt I'll have a long list by the time we celebrate Thanksgiving.  Hope yours is, too.  Happy Thanksgiving!

"Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many--not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some."  

                     ~~Charles Dickens~~

Writing Through the Holidays

Yes, you can find a way to write through the holidays!  The question is do you need to or even want to?  If the answer is yes, then it probably will take some pre-planning and the patience of a saint.

'Tis the Season!  But then it quite often is, because holidays come throughout the year.  Not only holidays but things like the beginning of school, summer vacation, bad weather, you name it. This season, from just after Halloween until after the first of the year, is still usually the busiest and manages to claim the most time.

Learning to manage holidays and our writing isn't easy.  Add NaNoWriMo into the equation, and I'm amazed that writers come of out this with their minds still intact.  I applaud those who are involved this year and any year.  It takes a lot of fortitude and old-fashioned stubbornness, coupled with a strong desire and the best of intentions to attempt it.  Anyone who gets involved is a winner!  But writing during the busiest of times really can be done.

While it might be a little late for Thanksgiving planning for those doing NaNo, the next 1+ month promises to be as hectic as always.  It's time to put our heads together and look for solutions and shortcuts that will net us even a few extra minutes.  Here's my list of suggestions.  Feel free to add your own!

• Set aside a specific time to write and just do it.  While it might be hard to wrap your mind around your plot and your characters, after rushing around to buy last minute food or gifts, it can be a relief to simply sit down, take a deep breath, and let your creative mind take over.
• Get family and friends to help by requesting that you not be disturbed during that specified time.  I'll always remember being told early on in my writing "career" that telling your children not to bother you at all, unless there's blood, smoke, or flames, is acceptable.  Bribing always works well, too.
• If you're NaNo-ing and find your time being usurped by traditions that can't be escaped, check out the NaNoWriMo forum.  You probably aren't alone, and others will be happy to share their secrets and encouragement.
• Keep in mind at all times, that we all deserve "Me Time," especially during the holidays.  If your family isn't yet trained to this, it's past time to do it.  If it means a trip to the library for peace and quiet (and some undisturbed writing time) or a visit to Starbucks with whatever-mocho in hand, then go for it.  Just remember that you really do have to go home again, sooner or later.
• If you haven't already cut down on those things that aren't top priority, then stop and take a look at your list of things to do.  Try to trim it to 3/4, then 1/2.  Don't scratch off anything that is an absolute must, but do pare down whatever you can.  Doing so will not only give you more time, but definitely can be a big stressbuster.
• When it comes to food and the Big Meal, Family Style, share the joy by having others bring their favorite dishes, already prepared, if possible.  Many families enjoying getting together to make the meal.  If that's your family tradition, enjoy it!
• If you'll be away from home, take your laptop or a pad of paper.  While the men are snoozing in front of the parade of football games, and the ladies have collapsed in the kitchen, find a quiet spot where you can do ten or fifteen minutes of writing.  More if possible!  But don't let it keep you away from family, and put it aside when your time is up.

Happy Holiday Writing!

A good holiday is one spent among people whose notions of time are vaguer than yours.
John B. Priestly 

Just Another Manic Monday

It wasn't my intention to let a week go by without sharing even a quick hello, but life sometimes gets in the way of the best intentions.

Let's face it, it was a busy week, and it didn't let up over the weekend.  Now that Monday is here again, the feeling of a hamster on a wheel is beginning to set in.  Yes, definitely a little on the manic side already.

That doesn't mean there weren't enjoyable moments to the mania.  Saturday evenings are often spent at my oldest daughter's.  This time of year it's the watching of favorite football teams, followed by Saturday Night Live.  I've been watching SNL since the very beginning and have to say that, overall and so far this season, it's had more good than bad.

Yesterday was my local writers' group meeting, which is always fun and informative.  It's sometimes my only in-person touch with others besides family...except for those occasional visits to the store for groceries or needed items.  I always enjoy spending time with the ladies at WARA.  You can visit the WARA blog, Bits & Bytes: Romance the Writers Way to see why.

But it's Monday again, so back to work.  This week I hope to devote a large block of time to sorting through my office.  I might even have time to move the furniture to make sure to take advantage of warmer spots during winter.  That all remains to be seen, if I don't finish this up and get busy. ☺

So here's the YouTube of the inspiration for today's blog title.  Although I was married with kids when the Bangles were in their prime, I still enjoyed their music.  Hope you do, too!

If you have other things in your life -- family, friends, good productive day work -- these can interact with your writing and the sum will be all the richer.

- David Brin

Another Rainy Monday

While it really isn't raining cats and dogs, I couldn't resist the clipart image on the left.  It made me laugh, and because Monday's aren't generally all that funny, it was too tempting to pass up.  I hope it at least brings a smile to anyone who sees it.

To all those who are NaNo-ing this month, here's hoping you've found the writing groove and getting words on paper more easily.  I chose not to participate, after all, but I'm cheering for those who are.  When there's been time to do some reading and editing, I discovered that the 1675 words I wrote on Nov. 1 weren't half as bad as I'd expected they might be.  This WIP is not a romance, but a YA with paranormal elements.  I started this as a panster with no idea of plot and only a couple of characters.  I have no idea what's going to happen and I'm almost enjoying that.  There's also no date that it needs to be done, so I get to write at my own pace...if I ever figure out what the pace is for this one.

Writing constantly toward publication or under contract can, after long periods of time, become a little tedious or chip away a tiny bit at creativity.  Taking a short break when possible promotes a clearer mind.  Some people are lucky enough to get away physically, others fill their break with reading--often out of their usual genre.  For others creating something different, whether in the same medium (as in writing) or something else (as in drawing) can be refreshing.

Long ago when I wrote for Silhouette Romance, I found I had big chunks of empty time that needed filled.  I like to create, but I can't draw to save my soul, and at some point I became interested in website design and later in graphic design.  While it's still creative, it must use a different part of my brain, because I often find that when I've been working on websites for a while, unable to get to putting words on paper, that's when I yearn to write or have some of the best ideas.

So if you're having a rainy day...or even if you aren't...try doing something different for just one day.  If it works, use it again whenever something else begins to feel stale.  Writing something in a completely different genre you've never tried make open new doors in more ways than one.

Books want to be born: I never make them.  They come to me and insist on being written, and on being such and such.  ~Samuel Butler

It's a Wrap

That Halloween pumpkin isn't toast, it's pie.☺  Yes, it's all over but packing away costumes and making sure the candy is well hidden to avoid tummy aches.  And Thanksgiving is just around the corner, so if you didn't get enough candy while sifting through the trick-or-treat bags on the sly or finishing off anything that might have been left of the pass-out candy, have no fear.  The season of POP (Putting On Pounds) is now in full swing.

It's also the season for spending more time inside.  We had our first good freeze last night, and the trees that have been losing their colorful leaves are definitely looking a lot less leafy now.  Our house got a new roof last week, so we're hoping that by the time the really cold weather sets in, the heating bills will be just a little less than last year.  Green tea and hot cocoa are beginning to be the beverages of choice as the weather cools.  Summer is officially over, and I'm wondering where it went.  Fall will soon slip into winter, a little at a time.  With snow and cold in Denver, CO, we know we'll be getting our share in KS.

Cold weather means more reading time for me, and I've added several new books to my Kindle.  Although reading time isn't always easy to find, I enjoyed reading more than I'd realized over the summer.

• The Help by Kathryn Stockett was a step back in time for me, as I'm sure it was for many who read it or saw the movie.  My growing up years occurred during the civil rights movement, so, as a child, I'd seem similar things and had asked why.
• Hawks Mountain by Elizabeth Sinclair was a joy to read, and not because the author is a friend, but because it was a beautiful story with a twist I didn't expect.  I'm looking forward to the other three Hawks Mtn. books.
• The Year She Fell by Alicia Rasley also had twists and turns.  Each time I thought I had everything figured out, I discovered I didn't.  Great writing, as always, and a story that kept me turning pages.
• Sweetie by Kathryn Magendie was an interesting story of a young girl, who's world is opened up to new wonders and new truths by another girl, who leads a much different life.
• Hate List by Jennifer Brown lived up to my expectations.  The story of the girlfriend of a school shooter gave insight to the troubles today's teens deal with.
• Ascension: A Dark Breed Novel by Sable Grace was a different type of read for me.  I don't tumble into the paranormal, but this one was a super read. Again, the author(s) are friends, but the story hooked me, and I'm anxiously waiting for the next.
• Cybill Disobedience by Cybill Shepherd and Aimee Lee Ball is Cybill's eye-opening autobiography.  My oldest daughter suggested I get it and read it, and I'm glad she did, because it was well worth the time spent reading.

There are a few more, but I'll save them for another time and hope there'll be even more time to enjoy new ones.

With Halloween over for another year, it's time to add another family photo to the mix.  My grandkids are growing so big!  Even Payton, who was mentioned here on my blog several times when she was born with a heart defect, was big enough to really enjoy trick-or-treat this year.

(back, l to r) Alexandria (as Barbie), Scarlett (as a zombie fairy), and Gavin (as a Ninja).

(front, l to r) Payton (as a little devil), Jaxon (as a giraffe)

Hope your Halloween was as happy as theirs!

The wastebasket is a writer's best friend.  ~Isaac Bashevis Singer 

Ghosts and Goblins and Ghoulies, Oh My!

Yes, it's time for my favorite holiday!  No, you won't see me dressed in Halloween garb nor will I have carved or uncarved pumpkins lining my porch.  But I do have my office decorated for this special time.

There are those who collect Santa Clauses and Christmas villages.  I collect bats and witches and trick-or-treating children.  Well, not real bats or real children.  That would be wrong.  My big witch hangs from the ceiling, and my black, feathered witch hat hangs on my wall.  And just like Christmas shoppers, my youngest daughter and I visit Walgreens several times every year before Halloween for collectible goodies, and tomorrow we'll haunt Walmart for the clearance sale so we'll have a start on next year.

Plans for the night?  We don't get many trick-or-treaters on our street, so my custom has become to turn out the lights and turn on the TV, while I watch TAPS investigating some spooky place or maybe the history of Halloween on the History Channel.  But more than likely it'll be a Halloween-y movie.  Here's a short list to choose from:

• The entire Buffy the Vampire series
• Casper
• The Crucible (How scary to have been named a witch in those days!)
• Ghostbusters 1 & 2
• Jeepers Creepers (not my style at all)
• Scream, Scream 2, Scream 3, Scream 4 (I watched the first one Saturday night, just for a warm-up.)
• Little Shop of Horrors
• Rocky Horror Picture Show (Nothing like a little Time Warp to get the ball rolling.)

This year I think I'll choose Hocus Pocus, followed by Practical Magic, my favorite witchy movies.  I mean, who can resist Aiden Quinn as a sheriff with one blue eye and one brown eye?  Can we say HERO?  It'll be a great Halloween!  And if, as the veil between this life and beyond lifts, there's a message, I'll be sure to pay attention.  Well, if I'm not too focused on Aiden, not to mention Goran Visnjic, that is.

"Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg, and howlet's wing,--
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble."
     Macbeth (IV, i, 14-15), William Shakespeare

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

To Nano Or Not To Nano

It's that time of year when, if you know any writers, you're sure to have heard the word NaNoWriMo.  Yeah, whatever that means, right?  But even those of us who've never participated in the national event--yes, national--are familiar with it and know that it stands for National Novel Writing Month.  And November is just around the corner.

Before the question comes up, yes, it's possible to write a novel in a month.  WRITE a novel in a month, not have a finished, clean, and ready manuscript for an agent, editor, or even print. That isn't the goal of NaNoWriMo.  But the 50,000 words that are the goal certainly can lead to the chance of having that novel ready to submit.

NaNoWriMo began in July 1999, the dream child of Chris Baty, with 21 participants.  The following year, the project was moved to November to take advantage of weather that begged for more indoor activity than outdoor.  NaNoWriMo took root and grew.  And grew!  By last year (2010), 200,000 participants wrote 2,872,682,109 words.  That's right, almost 3 billion words!

But I haven't yet made the leap to saying, yes, I'm ready to sign on the dotted line and pledge myself to 30 days of intense writing.  (That's 1666.6666 words or approximately 7 pages per day and very doable.)  I have other irons in the fire that would have to be put aside for later, and I'm not sure if I should do that.  On the other hand, it would be very nice to have something written and ready to edit, weeks before Christmas craziness sets in.  I even have a choice of what I'd like to work on.  I have several plotted but not written stories that are begging for attention.  And there's that YA (possibly a paranormal?) that my brain was plotting as I finished a nap today.  That's definitely a sign that it's ready for my attention.  But if I choose it, I only have 5 days to plot it, and I'm not sure my brain is up to it, after having just finished plotting another book this past week.

A final decision will be made on Monday.  If I choose to sign up, I may be the last one to do it!  If I choose not to, there's always next year. :)  Stay tuned!

Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness.  One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.  ~George Orwell, "Why I Write," 1947  

Living, Breathing Characters

I'm sure Angela and Becky won't mind a little promo for their exceptional blog.  Now that I've found it, I don't know how I lived without it.  Okay, I don't know how I wrote without it, but you get the drift.

So what's the big deal about The Bookshelf Muse?  These wonderful ladies have created the most fantastic thesauruses (thesaurusi?) for a writer's toolbox.  Need a way to describe what a character is doing/how a character is looking while feeling a certain way?  Just a couple of suggestions for "annoyed" would be a clenched jaw or tapping fingers on the table top.  Yes, fellow writers, this is where that Show Don't Tell comes in, and we can all use a little help with it now and then.  But emotions aren't everything, so there's more!

• Emotion Thesaurus
• Character Trait Thesaurus
• Settings Thesaurus
• Weather & Earthly Phenomena Thesaurus
• Color, Textures & Shapes Thesaurus
• Symbolism Thesaurus

And if those aren't enough to keep you busy giving more punch to your writing, their blog posts are just as great!  So get thee to The Bookshelf Muse where, as they say, you'll find "Writing Tools & Musings on Reading, Writing and Other Randomness."  Become one of their more than 2500 stalkers.  You'll be glad you did!

 Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.  ~E.L. Doctorow

The Merry-Go-Round Isn't Always Merry

Hi, I'm Roxann, and I'm a plotter.  (Please hold your gasps.)

As I've mentioned before, I wasn't always a plotter.  I began, as most do, as a panster, and then evolved.  Or devolved, as some might believe.  Now I'm to the point where I MUST plot.  If I don't know where the story is going, I panic.

In the column on the right is the progress meter I used to keep track of my writing.  My goal was to finish the first three chapters of a book I intend to propose to my editor, along with another story.  The meter shows I reached my goal of 14080 words, even surpassing it.  When all was said and done, the final total was 15,510 words that came in at 48 pages

The next step in the process for me is writing the synopsis.  The story was plotted...or at least I thought it was...but I had a feeling something wasn't quite right.  The story was "off" and I feared it could easily come in too short.  Not a good thing.  Or wouldn't be smooth.  An even worse thing.  I wanted to be able to hand in a proposal I felt was solid, so it was back to the drawing board to find what went wrong where.

I again  pulled out my plotting boards (new ones that can be seen below), along with an overview of the story and characters that I'd previously sent to my editor.  I was right.  There was a small difference, and that made a much bigger difference in how the story would play out to the end.  Once I realized it yesterday morning, I spent the rest of the day shuffling scenes around, until they flowed from a solid opening to a hook that I hoped would grab a reader's attention (the first three chapters), then go on through conflicts to be solved and finally coming to a satisfying HEA.  Making the changes also involved new writing of half of a scene and moving another to later in the timeline.  But they worked.

Writing sometimes is easy, but more often involves staving off panic that can be caused by one, very small slip-up.  If plotting and correcting things in the early days of writing helps keep my heart from hammering in my chest and my fingers from fumbling on the keyboard, while my brain calls out for help, then it's what I have to do.  It works.  At least for the time being.

An author in his book must be like God in the universe, present everywhere and visible nowhere.  ~Gustave Flaubert

Refilling the Well

There comes a time--or several times--in a writer's life where she (or he) feels empty and unable to produce anything with substance.  Some aren't able to produce anything at all.  These are the times when it's almost physically painful to try to string coherent words together to make a story.

Some people call this inability to create a writer's block, when in fact it isn't something that only writers experience.  Anyone who is creative can and usually does experience this phenomenon once in a while.

What?  You're not a writer?  Not an artist?  Wrong.  Everyone is creative in some way.

Filling -- or more accurately 'refilling' -- the well is what we do when we find that we're unable to create or have lost the love of creating.  The reasons for not being able to create are many and can include:

• Being on a long run of deadlines with no or very short breaks
• Experiencing a string of rejections or even the first rejection
• Life changes, which can include a new baby, a marriage or divorce, a move, or anything that disrupts a normal pattern
• Being overwhelmed by day to day life
• Fear of failure
• Fear of success

But like the reasons for being unable to create, refilling the well of creativity can take many forms.  Some writers choose to refill their well by reading, often outside of their own genre.  Some turn to other types of "art," such as drawing, photography, music, sewing and handcrafts, woodworking, even redecorating. Whatever we do, each of us much choose our own way of refilling.  Need an idea?  Check out how one author at Jaunty Quills does it.

When there isn't a lot of time to turn to something different, there's an alternative.  In the book The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, the author suggests scheduling an "Artist's Date" at selected intervals.  Whether it's sipping a cup of yummy coffee at Starbucks, checking out a local flea market, or taking a walk around the block, just getting away from the grind for a new and different experience can give an artist/writer the chance to regain a new perspective aka refilling the well.  There's more on the "Artist's Date" at  Live to Write - Write to Live blog.  Picking up a copy of The Artist's Way is a great idea, too.  It's also available as an ebook, I hear.

Take the time to refill your creative well whenever possible.  It doesn't have to take a lot of time, and the benefits can't be matched.

Monday Morning Quarterbacking

It was a busy weekend here.  Too busy, which is evidenced by the fact that my total word count for Saturday and Sunday was 171, and that was done late last night.  It also shows that, in spite of good intentions, we don't always get words on paper as planned.

That low word count does set me back a little, but because I had a few days when I managed more words than my 640, I'm not that far behind.  The key is to keep writing past that daily word count on the days when the words flow from your fingertips--or at least you have the time to push yourself for more--and not beat yourself up when life gets in the way.  At present, I'm 354 words behind, but that's less than two pages.  I know I can catch up in a day and maybe even gain a little extra ground.

So what kept me from reaching my daily goals this weekend?  Saturday we attended Woofstock and had a wonderful time.  (I'll blog about it over at scribbles tomorrow.)  Saturday evening was family night, so I never get any writing done then.  Yesterday I met with a friend and attended an event for a couple of hours, then did some catching up on other things at home that had been shoved aside to make more time for writing.

The other thing that kept me from adding to my word count was that I wasn't quite sure where I was going.  I'd finished the first chapter on Friday night with a total of 1675 for the day--an example of how some days the writing goes well--but I was feeling iffy about how the next scene would play out.  I'd done some storyboarding to write the overview of the story for my editor to look at, but an overview only contains the highlights and turning points of the story.  I had a lot of holes to fill to get from point A to B and Y to Z.  I still don't have it finished, but I have ideas and will do some work on it today.

If you're wondering about storyboards, what they are or how to go about making and using one, check out Harlequin Romance author Susan Meiers' blog on Using a Storyboard.  You can also check out my blog, Who, Me?  Plot?, for more and a photo of my (old) plotting board.  It's old because I have a new one!

Sometimes we can't control the interruptions in our plans.  When that happens, even if it's because the interruption is planned by us, the best thing to do is take a step back and reassess what needs to be done to catch up.  Keep in mind that catching up doesn't have to happen in one day, but can be spread over several.  Like a football team working a few yards at a time to reach the goal line and score posts, we don't give up simply because we didn't make the word count needed to advance.  We'll get another chance again the next day, and maybe then we'll make a long run for the goal posts.

On Your Mark, Get Set, GOAL!

Setting a goal is easy.  It's the working on and reaching the goal that are the hard parts.  I'm as guilty as anyone else about giving up or just not trying hard enough.  That isn't always our fault.  There are stumbling blocks that, in our zest to achieve something, we overlook. So let's take a look at how to set goals and how to be successful at reaching those goals.

First, ask yourself some questions.


Is your goal realistic? 
For writers, this is one of the biggest blocks that can keep them from reaching their goal.  For instance, if your goal is to become a published author, setting a goal to be published in a year or any other specified amount of time, isn't realistic.  You have no way to control whether an editor/publisher will buy your manuscript.  Once you've written your book, researched the right publishers to submit to, and slipped your baby into the mail or an email, the control is in another court.  Outside of writing is the same.  You can't control what another person will do.  Make certain your goal is something you can control.  You should also give yourself the time needed to reach your goal and add a little wiggle room.  Realize that life can sometimes throw curves and be prepared.

How badly do you want it?
It takes wanting something enough not to give up at the first sign of problems to keep working on a goal.  Don't quit too soon.  In fact, if you've set a specific time period in which to reach your goal, see it through.  Why?  Because even if you don't reach your goal, you've made progress.  Celebrate it.  You can always try for that brass ring again.  If you decide to do that, you're already a step ahead, because you've seen some of the things that can trip you up, and you can adjust your plan in accordance.


There are all kinds of goals, not only for writing, but for making life easier, healthier, and more fun.  Whether it's getting more exercise, losing weight, organizing your home or life, or taking a vacation, setting goals can help you be a success.  You can find some great tips online to help you along the way, from planning and the process of working on goals to reaching them.  Here are just a few:

• WebMD's How to Reach Your Goals has some great advice on goal setting to help you make reaching your goal a success.
• Not sure you're ready to set a goal?  Do you see too many obstacles?  Susan B. Wilson, Facililitator and Coach has tips on how to remove those obstacles.
• Are you in need of long term goals for living, not just short term goals for specific projects?  Mind Tools - Personal Goal Setting can help you along the way.
• The title pretty much says it all.  Dr. Phil's Seven Steps to Reaching Your Goals.

We're only a little more than 3 months from the end of 2011 and the biggest goal setting day of each year: New Year's Day.  Why not try setting some small, short term goals to get in some practice before the holidays hit?  Remember, it takes 21 days to make a habit.  

What's your goal for the next month?

Goal Setting: Searching For What Works Best

In spite of good intentions, my desire to actually put words to paper has been at an all time low since earlier this year.  Yeah, I know.  I've mentioned it before.  Add to it that it was a rough summer.  While I've written through some of the worst times (a divorce, four moves in two years, and the deaths of family and friends), I just haven't been able to find the desire needed to get back into writing mode.

As a writer, I should be writing.  I need to be writing.  It wasn't happening.  And then I kept seeing Facebook posts by author friend Susan Gable about how her writing progress was going.  I decided it was time to follow her example.

Susan's goal is to write 500 words per day.  That really isn't a lot for writers who are accustomed to writing as much as ten pages or more a day.  There have been times, when on deadline and in the middle of writing a book, that I've written twenty pages, but those times aren't the norm.  I can do what's needed in a pinch, but it's the day-to-day putting words on paper that's currently a problem for me.

I'd stumbled upon a little progress meter and wanted to use it, but until I was ready and willing to make the commitment, I had to wait.  Now that I'm ready and willing, I've included it here on my blog.  ==== >                                                                                                                        

But I didn't stop there.  I searched until I found a nifty Excel spreadsheet someone created for NaNoWriMo and downloaded it, then adjusted it to fit my goal.  Because I know just enough about Excel to get myself in trouble, it wasn't too difficult.  If that hadn't worked, I could have set up my own spreadsheet.  If you aren't familiar with Excel, keeping track in a notebook or sheet of paper works just as well.

I set my daily for for 500 words and wrote 523 the first day! (Saturday)  On Sunday (yesterday) I realized that if I wanted to write all of the three chapters needed for a proposal, I was going to have to bump up the daily word count.

I'll be the first to admit that math is absolutely NOT my best subject, but I manage to find a way to get what I need.  Here's what I did:

• Word count need for complete manuscript=55,000
• My books usually have 12 chapters, so 55,000 :/: 12=4583.3333333
• An average words for 3 chapters would then =2@4583words and 1@4584words.
• 4583 + 4583 + 4584 = 13,750.

For a little extra wiggle room, I added an extra 250 words (approximately 1 page)

I chose the date to reach my goal 22 days later (for reasons I won't go into), so:

• 14000 :/: 22 = 636.363636363....
• Rounded off to 640, making that my daily goal.

That's Less than a page more than 500 words, so it should be doable.  Maybe even better than that.  Yesterday I added the extra needed to the 523, plus 640 for the day, I wrote 1002 words.  My running total, had I written 640 words each day, would have been 1280, but my real running total for the two days is 1525.

NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is in November.  I've always been in the middle of a deadline of some kind in the past, but I'm marking it on my calendar and have decided to find a way to participate this year.  I know I'll be in good company!  If you aren't familiar with NaNoWriMo, or if you're like me and are ready to try to make daily writing a habit, or you just feel you need a push and something to keep you on track, click on the links.  Or maybe you can join me by commenting on this post, and we'll work toward a goal together.

Until later....

Happy Writing!!

Character Creation

I'd planned to blog about characters on Wednesday, but as it turned out, I was working on finding and getting to know my own.  That may be a good thing, because I've just gone through the process and it's fresh in my mind.  Almost too fresh. ☺

There's no reason to mention that for a romance there's a need for two main characters.  Without someone to love, there's no romance, so choose characters you can relate to and readers will love.

But how does a writer choose the best characters that will work well for each particular story?  It's a process, and sometimes it can be a long one.  For me, the characters often come first, and when they do, it starts with one character, who often has a built in conflict.  That conflict may not be the one I stick with, but it's a starting place and can morph into something bigger and better.  Sometimes a character comes with only a character description:  single mom, rodeo cowboy, girl from the wrong side of the tracks, etc., just to name a few.  Even that small bit is a good start.

How to choose that second character?  It seems no one knows who to attribute this quote to, but someone once said that if your hero is a firefighter, your heroine better be an arsonist.  Can you hear the scream of conflict in that?  Yes, opposite types are going to be in conflict with each other.  Without conflict, a story has no teeth.  In fact, without it, it's boring.  Just make sure there's some quality for each of them that the other can admire, otherwise their romance isn't going to last to the middle of the book.

While searching for the author of the firefighter/arsonist quote, I found a great article online that might help when creating characters.  Opposites attract, but can it last? begins with a quote from best-selling, award-winner author Susan Elizabeth Phillips, whose books I refuse to miss.  In fact, I often use her newest one as a reward after reaching a big goal.

Some writers use character profile sheets to help create their characters.  In most of them, there are lists of things to fill in, such as age, hair color, favorite books, birth order, and other things that help writers get to know their characters better.  Once upon a time, long, long ago, I used character profile sheets, but I discovered I spent more time filling them out than getting to know my characters.  Sometimes I'm so focused and engrossed that I forget the main reason for doing something.  This doesn't mean profile worksheets are bad.  If the sheets help or you think they might, use them!  We need all the help we can get.  There are countless profile sheets online that can be saved and/or printed.  To find them, simple do a search for character profile worksheet, try out a few, and choose the one that best helps you.  If you find that none of several you try don't fit, take the best aspects and create your own.

I'll be revisiting the topic of characters again soon, because there's more to share.  After all, without characters, there's really no story, even if those characters are thinking and talking trees and plants. :0

So what kind of characters did I come up with?  A single mom of a 12-year-old girl and a cowboy with a horse ranch.  I'll share more about them later. ;)

Plotting Tips

It's time to get back to work, and since I'm getting ready to do some plotting on what possibly might become two new Desperation books, plotting seems like a good topic to discuss.

A simple definition of plotting is that it's a road map of your story.  You start at one point--the beginning--and then write your way along a highway of scenes to finally come to the final point--the end.  Many things can happen between that beginning and ending, depending on your characters and where you want to take them.  In romance, we take them from a "first meet" to that "HEA" (happily ever after) that each romance must have.

That "first meet" between the hero and heroine of a romance can be between strangers, adversaries, acquaintances or friends.  Keep in mind that the first sentence and the following paragraphs are what will grab the reader.  The last thing the reader wants to know is either character's life history, so don't worry about telling that now.  Those first few words need to hook the reader into the moment.  It may only be a moment experienced by one character (hero or heroine), so don't be afraid to wait to introduce the other character a few paragraphs or even a couple of pages later.  Just don't let it go on too long.  Those first few pages--that first scene--should contain an "OH, NO!" response between the characters or even within the reader, who sees that there's going to be some trouble up ahead.

My story ideas usually start with one character, then my mind searches for the other character, whose goals will be in direct opposition to him or her.  Somewhere along the line in there, an idea of where the story will start and what the main conflict between those characters may be starts to take root.  It may not remain the same, as ideas start to grow.  Changes sometimes need to be made and will be if needed.

Knowing your characters before starting to plot can be a big help.  When you know them well enough, you'll know how they'll react to each other and situations that might arise.  There are many different ways of getting to know your characters, so stop back in later this week for more.  Until then...

Happy Writing! 

Not a Week to Repeat

I didn't intend to be MIA this week, but last weekend was busy with no time to write a blog in advance.  Monday morning I woke up with what quickly proved to be a full blown, down and dirty cold.  I have a routine for that kind of thing that includes particular cold medicines for day and night, and my ever faithful echinacea to help my immune system to fight off the nasties.  Still, I don't remember feeling quite so tired, just because of a cold, so time was spent sleeping whenever possible, if even for an hour at a stretch.

Tuesday I learned my aunt (my mother's brother's wife) had passed away.  We lost my uncle in May, and many of us hadn't yet completely come to terms with it.  It's tough to deal with new grief while still grappling with another, but it's something many people have to do.  I'll miss my aunt, just as I miss my uncle, even though I hadn't seen them often.  They were the last of my mother's family.  What's left now are cousins of all ages.  First cousins, second cousins, third cousins and others.  New, little cousins I hadn't seen until today at the funeral.  Life does go on, even as we have to say goodbye to another.

I'll be back to normal on Monday and plan to share some new thoughts on writing.  I'm happy to say that my cold is pretty much gone, and I'm feeling a little more normal every day.

Enjoy the weekend!

In the Mood for Writing

Being in the mood to write, whether it's starting something new or working on a current wip, isn't always easy, nor does it happen when needed.  Life, with all its ups and downs, good times and bad times, can get in the way of the ability to be create.  Whether it's family needing our emotional attention or we're in a negative place about our writing, there are times when the words just won't come.

We all go through it.  I'm currently in that 'can't write' place and am struggling to get out of it and get something positive going.  It's not that I haven't written anything.  I just haven't been able to write the things I should be working on.  It happens to all of us.

So what's a writer to do when creativity has taken a holiday?  Here are a few suggestions that might trip the creative wire.

• Take a walk--While this wasn't possible for me even last week, thanks to record-breaking high temps, it definitely is this week.  Once upon a time a walk quite often did the trick.  It's definitely worth a try, especially before winter makes an appearance.
• Put on some favorite music--I did this the other day while cleaning and sorting and washing dishes.  It helped the time spent on mundane chores go quickly.  Before I knew it, I was working with a smile.  And if that doesn't help get you in the mood...
• Create a playlist--Whether it's for your current or next WIP, music can spark ideas and characters without breaking a sweat.
• Brainstorm--This is usually one of my favorites.  In fact, I've discovered that brainstorming another writer's story is more beneficial than brainstorming my own.
• Read--Just for the pleasure of reading and without thoughts of learning from it, enjoy the enfolding of a favorite book written by a favorite writer.  Lose yourself in the words and the story and forget about your own.
• Experiment with a new genre--Don't worry about whether it's good or bad, just take the spark of an idea and go with it.  Don't even think about submitting it, because this story is for you and no one else.
• Meditate--Give your mind a little time to rest, with no thoughts of story or character or writing.  Or anything.  Don't know how?  Do an internet search for *meditation* and learn!
• Exercise--Sometimes the brain just needs fresh blood.  Writers lead a sedentary and cerebral life, and we need to get up and move.  If aerobics or calisthenics aren't your thing and make you think of torture, put on some music and dance!
• Understand that you're not alone--Inspiration can hit a wall.  When you think you've done everything you can, do a search for *writing when you're not in the mood*.
• Take a break--If, after trying all of the above, you still find writing difficult, it may be time to put it aside for a short time.  But don't let it go on and on.  Set a specific time to mentally get away from writing--a week, a month, three months--and then stick to it.  When the time is up, spend a day or two (no more) about what you want or need to write, and then start writing.

Now it's my turn to take my own advice.  

"Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way."  E.L. Doctorow

Laboring Away on Labor Day

Sounds like a catchy song, doesn't it?  If it was, I'd be playing it, because that's what I'm doing.  However, Santana singing Black Magic Woman will have to do.

What I'm doing isn't back breaking labor or even labor I'm being paid to do.  I'm working on making my office work for me.  That includes cleaning and sorting papers and things--especially things that don't belong--in my office.  I have several boxes of paper ready to be taken to the recycle center and wonder if there'll ever be an end to it. There are a couple of boxes that I'll shred here later, and then take to the center.  Books need to be shelved, surfaces need to be cleared, and the floor needs a quick vacuuming.  Instead of storing things I haven't looked at or used in a while, I'm trying to throw away more.  If this works well, there are other areas of my home that can stand to be streamlined.

One would think a writer with a computer wouldn't have boxes and piles of papers.  As the 7-Up Un-Deer said in the '70s, WRONG-O!  A computer and printer can mean even more paper than a typewriter did.  It's so much easier to simply print a research article on the Web than it is to make notes.  It's so much easier to spot mistakes in a manuscript for someone like me who has been reading the printed word for--well, let's say over 40 years, but has only been watching a computer screen for maybe 20 at the most.

Hey, I'm a creature of habit, and my habit tends to being a bit shy about throwing things away.  I'm working on changing that habit.  (A weekly dose of Hoarders helps.)  If that means working on Labor Day, then so be it.  After the office, the next thing on my list is to rebuild a bookcase for the living room, and then dive into a bedroom-sort.  By then it may be time to start dragging out those cooler weather aka fall/winter clothes and put away the shorts.  Frankly, after a summer of record-breaking heat, I can't wait!

Hope you're enjoying your Labor Day this year!  And remember, Christmas is less than 4 months away. ;)

That Little Extra

Mothers use it with their children; teachers use it with their students; credit card companies use it with their cardholders; banks and stores use it with their customers: businesses use it with their employees.

What is it?

This month over at Bits & Bytes, the WARA members have been blogging about the struggles they have with writing.  The list is varied and includes distractions, poor time management, and poor self-discipline.  Also mentioned were writing obstacles that include family, employment and health.  Plain old procrastination is a biggie, too.  Strange, but finding ideas hasn't been mentioned.  It seems we don't have any big problems with that.  Our imaginations seem to be working just fine, so it isn't that we aren't inspired.  It's just that we don't or can't do it...for all of the reasons listed and more.

What is it that all those people and entities listed up at the top do?  They use REWARDS.  They use INCENTIVES.  And that's something that writers don't always think of using.

The writing of a novel spans quite a lot of time, from the first tiny glimmer of an idea to the finished product.  There are characters to be created, research to be done, plotting, writing, revising, polishing, and finger crossing when the final product--our baby--is sent off to an editor, agent, or contest.  The act itself should be rewarding enough, right? Well, not necessarily.

We've learned that setting goals can sometimes work well in getting us motivated and moving.  And while reaching those goals brings satisfaction, there's usually still a long road ahead.  We often choose publication as the reward for all of our hard work.  But at the end of the road there may or may not be publication.  That's something we can't control.

So what's a writer to do?  Reward ourselves along the way.  Rewards don't have to be big things.  Small things work great!  So you wrote for 10 minutes today?  Super!  Give yourself a treat.  An ice cream cone or some yummy yogurt you've been wanting to try would be perfect.  You finished a chapter?  Congratulations!  Reward yourself with a long bubble bath or an evening with a friend.  That novel is finished and has been sent to an editor or agent?  Fantastic!  Pull out that book you've been dying to read and enjoy it or spend a day or several days doing what you want to do, such as a mini vacation, if it fits in the budget!

Rewards don't have to cost money.  Just calling a friend and sharing the news that you've reached a goal can be rewarding.  And that friend may give you the incentive you need to keep going.  A quiet evening watching a movie makes a good reward and can often offer inspiration or new ideas for your story, too.

My reward for reaching the goal of a finished manuscript used to be to read the latest Susan Elizabeth Phillips book.  I've forgotten to do that and am behind at least two reward books.  Maybe, if I write fast enough, I can get caught up soon!  Now that's my kind of reward!!

Any suggestions or ideas for rewards and incentives?  We can all use some fresh ones to keep us going on the road to reaching our goals, so feel free to share what works for you.