tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84892713237284347832024-03-05T16:38:40.588-06:00Diary of a Mad Romance WriterRox Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10793875617929387443noreply@blogger.comBlogger414125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489271323728434783.post-78048518838484844672014-07-18T12:35:00.000-05:002014-07-18T12:35:12.033-05:00MIA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I've been under the radar for the past few weeks. It hasn't been fun. I've never been a sick person, but over the past almost 3 months, I can't say I've been healthy. It seems everything decided to hit at once.<br />
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Simply wrapping my mind around words has been an effort in futility. I'm trying harder to fix that. With an August 18th revision deadline, I don't have a choice.<br />
<br />
And I missed a lot of good stuff. For the first time in years, I wasn't able to attend any of our 9-day annual River Festival. I'd made plans to travel with friends to San Antonio, TX, to RWA's annual conference being held there this year, but I had to back out. With my health not at 100%, I didn't want to risk it.<br />
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So here I am, trying not to feel sorry for myself. Most of the time it works. Once in a while it doesn't.<br />
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It's hard to deal with disappointment. While we might be able to manage to keep a smile on our faces, inside we battle how we really feel. I feel...sad, let down, already missing my friends and the fun I always have. Sometimes it's better to let ourselves feel the disappointment or anger or whatever negative emotion for a little while, but not for long. We have to find a way to get past it, forget it, and move on. There'll be something positive in our lives soon that will take the place of those negative feelings. Until then, I intend to treat myself with gentleness and patience. <br />
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Oh, yeah. There's one more thing. I need to get to work!!<br />
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I'll pop back in here when time and energy allow. Until then, keep smiling!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">If we will be quiet and ready enough, we shall find compensation in every disappointment. </span></b>~ <span style="color: #444444;">Henry David Thoreau</span></span></blockquote>
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Rox Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10793875617929387443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489271323728434783.post-25998218640090738792014-06-20T14:23:00.000-05:002014-06-20T14:23:16.416-05:00Another Week, Another Friday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>FRIDAY FREE-FOR-ALL</b> aka Friday Crazies<br />
No, I don't have special plans for the weekend. Weekends are a lot like weekdays around here. Just because it's Saturday or Sunday or even Friday evening, one day is much the same as others. I work, no matter what day it is. Now that Game of Thrones has finished its fourth season, I don't even have a MUST-WATCH TV show.<br />
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The grass needs mowing. Thanks to the rain we've had, the backyard is a jungle. Last Saturday, I pulled and cut the bigger weeds, in hope that we might get to actually mow at some point. Yesterday we replaced the primer cap on the mower - - - that's the little button that has to be pushed to prime a pull-cord type mower so it will start - - - and it still won't start. But the Weed Eater is working again, now that it has new line, so we might manage to blaze a trail of some kind through the jungle. I'm not holding my breath. Temps are expected to be in the 90s, with humidity to match. Ugh.<br />
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New neighbors--or maybe only one--to the south of us are making life, well, interesting. A pitbull has been ensconced in the backyard there, complete with small dog house. That would be well and good, but the poor dog is attached to a leash, giving him little freedom. Not to mention that I learned yesterday that it's illegal in this fair city for a dog to be tied up for more than an hour, four times a day. This dog has been tied up 24/7 for 2 1/2 days. I had to find out from the neighbor to the south of my south neighbor that anyone was actually living in the house. I don't make a habit of clocking the habits of neighbors or even knowing who they are. I rarely saw anyone there, but when I did, it was often at the strangest times---3:30 a.m., mostly, when headlights from a car pulled into the driveway, which would shine in my bedroom window. In spite of several Facebook friends thinking it might be a drug house, the new neighbor is an older Hispanic woman who doesn't drive and obviously never steps out of the house, either. <i>le sigh</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrHHSXE67w9T8QWn9DjWUQrdUpJF3LMq1W4iA3LEEY2I7o9Bg1X87sPVkULIlWdgOk2czHZDLnIUEsGLbarN29o5JtrY7wctT6B04qTgEKEIKOLaszhkUyRp0ubAingQCOJicRQSc_kXx/s1600/max.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrHHSXE67w9T8QWn9DjWUQrdUpJF3LMq1W4iA3LEEY2I7o9Bg1X87sPVkULIlWdgOk2czHZDLnIUEsGLbarN29o5JtrY7wctT6B04qTgEKEIKOLaszhkUyRp0ubAingQCOJicRQSc_kXx/s1600/max.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>Let me make it clear. I like dogs. We have a dog, too, but Max the Pekingese isn't all that crazy about <br />
going outside, especially when it's raining, snowing, hot or the grass is tall. When he does allow us to boot him out, we then have to carry him back in, especially at midnight. Max is L A Z Y and S P O I L E D. The dog next door is tied to his dog house ALL THE TIME. Said dog also isn't crazy about being left alone ALL THE TIME, so barks, moans, whines, and every other sound imaginable ALL THE TIME. The past two nights have meant being awakened far too often by the barks and whines of the dog. And I've yet to see anyone in the backyard to check on him. Do I call the authorities and report this? Or maybe I should simply leave a copy of the City Law that states New Ordinance Makes it a Crime to Keep Your Dog on a Chain 24/7" in the door for someone to find. I'm about to set the dog free, when no one is looking. However, I'm not sure how friendly the dog is or isn't.<br />
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So it's summer and it's Friday. I'm a few pages from finishing a new manuscript. I need to get busy on plotting a new series for Harlequin American, set in a Texas ghost town. But my #3 daughter and her hubby are stopping by this evening with a present for me. They consider it a present. I consider it one more mouth to feed. A couple of weeks ago, said daughter picked up her cat Tosca, who's been living with me for the past several years, since daughter couldn't have a cat where she lived, and they're now living at least 2 hours away. Yes, I'll miss Tosca, but she tends to keep to herself and she apparently is enjoying her new home and humans. So daughter has decided to give me one of the kittens born in one of the race cars at the shop. (Her hubby is a race car driver.) Just what I need, right?<br />
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There's a problem with new kitty. He's a he and will have to be, um, fixed. And daughter named all the kittens after candy bars. (Yes, I'm serious.) This particular kitty was named Kondike. Yeah, like a Konkdike Bar, which is actually ice cream, not a candy bar. I decided to name him <b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Dave</span></b>. Yes, Dave. My youngest daughter is having a fit. <b><span style="color: blue;">PETS CANNOT BE GIVEN HUMAN NAMES</span></b>. Which isn't exactly true, since Toby, her cat, has a human name. She wanted me to name the new kitten DaVinci, which is how the name Dave came to be. Or Tyrion, seeing that I'm a GoT and Peter Dinklage fan. Or anything but Dave. #3 daughter says I can name kitten whatever I want. Her hubby likes <b><span style="color: purple;">Dave Kondike, Used Car Salesman</span></b>. They're the ones who gave me a fish for my birthday and named him Charlie Manson. Creative, aren't they?<br />
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Let's face it. There's never a dull moment here. Four daughters, each with her own distinctive personality, always make life interesting. And if they should fail, humanity will always fill in.<br />
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Best wishes to anyone who has bothered to slog through this rambling mess. Have a wonderful weekend!! Pics of <b><span style="color: purple;">Dave Kondike, Used Car Salesman</span></b> will be posted on Monday. I hope. ;)<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter.</span></b> ~ Mark Twain</span></blockquote>
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Rox Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10793875617929387443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489271323728434783.post-79930849887897966502014-06-18T11:43:00.001-05:002014-06-18T11:43:45.180-05:00It Has To Get Better, Right?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I hate whiny people, but in the past couple of days, I've become one. <br />
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What is it about this month that has turned it inside out? With twelve more days to go, I wonder what else can happen, what else can go wrong.<br />
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I ended May in the ER and began June in a hospital room. Other than being released from the hospital after three days and having the ability to breathe again, I can't say that I've seen a big improvement in the way the month is going. In fact, it's to the point that I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop...and considering how many have been dropping already, I must be a centipede.<br />
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One of the problems with this month is that for all but the first six days, Mercury is Rx. That little thing that looks like it means "prescription," actually means "retrograde." So what's retrograde mean? It means that Mercury, the planet of communication, appears to be moving backwards in the cosmos and everything that involves communication in any shape or form is going to be, well, screwed, to put it bluntly. It will be worse for some than for others, depending on your natal chart. And I'm not going to get into that, so just trust me that it's going to be somewhere between a bit uncomfortable this month or totally insane. I'm at the totally insane end of it.<br />
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If your computer hasn't been acting wonky, if your cell phone is performing as expected, if a flight you booked hasn't been canceled (communication can involve travel), count yourself lucky. You may get through this 26 day Mercury Rx with little pain. I, on the other hand, am to the point of being nearly homicidal.<br />
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My computer, which is an extension of me, has gone bat(you-know-what) crazy since Monday evening. Programs are freezing, right and left, causing me to stop and wait, until they respond again. If that doesn't happen, a CTR-ALT-delete will eventually get things back to normal...for 2 to 5 minutes, when it happens again. Have I mentioned that anything done on computer at this point is taking 3 to 5 times longer that usual? No? Well, I'm telling you, that's what's happening.<br />
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Yes, I have googled a fix, followed instructions to the nth degree, and I still am ready to tear off the head of the first person who asks me what's wrong. I've twice "restored" my computer to a date prior to the problem beginning. I've uninstalled the one or two new programs I've installed in the past month. I've even gone so far as to try muttering mumbo-jumbo, in the hope that something will work. It only gets worse.<br />
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Two more weeks to go, and Mercury will be back on track, speeding along the beltway of the Universe. I hope I'm still sane and not wrapped in one of those funny white jackets that tie in the back. I hope there's actually something left of my universe, although after this bombardment of things-gone-wrong, I may not recognize it.<br />
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Curious about Mercury Rx and want to learn more? (Forewarned is forearmed, ya know.) Check out <a href="http://galadarling.com/article/how-to-survive-mercury-retrograde/">Gala Darling's Blog</a> for a quick and easy tutorial. If this Rx hasn't managed to put your life a little off-kilter, a little education on the subject could save you when the next one rolls around...in October. ;)<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Insane people are always sure that they are fine. It is only the sane people who are willing to admit that they are crazy. </span></b>~ Nora Ephron</span></blockquote>
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Rox Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10793875617929387443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489271323728434783.post-16287480047153039882014-06-11T05:00:00.000-05:002014-06-11T05:00:02.866-05:00The Only Rules You Need<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">THREE SIMPLE RULES IN LIFE:</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1. If you do not GO after what you want, you'll never have it.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2. If you do not ASK, the answer will always be NO.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3. If you do not step FORWARD, you'll always be in the same place.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The above is all you ever need to know. It affects every, single thing you do...or don't do. This doesn't have to do with writing or being a writer. It has everything to do with dreaming, being, and achieving what you want. Nothing comes easy, and the best things come hard. Follow those three rules in all areas of your life, and watch your dreams take hold. </span></div>
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Rox Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10793875617929387443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489271323728434783.post-46821472036786329432014-06-09T12:32:00.000-05:002014-06-09T12:34:10.219-05:00The Missing In Action Thing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>MONDAY MUSINGS</b><br />
There was a point in the past ten days when I wasn't sure I'd be here. This time last month, I was hit with what I thought was an asthma attack, something I haven't dealt with but a couple of times, and the most recent being four or five years ago.<br />
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A trip to a local pharmacy clinic netted me some meds and a bill that sucked up my quarterly royalties. Because I was locked out of healthcare.gov by some kind of glitch, I have no health insurance. Okay, I'm not whining. It happened to a lot of people and will be taken care of as time goes by. Until then, I'll do what I can and hope for the best.<br />
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The meds helped...for a while, then I felt worse, then a little better, then worse again. Three weeks later, I went to a different local clinic because I was still having difficulty breathing that had become worse. I was given a breathing treatment, meds, prescriptions and more, and spent more money. A few hours later, I ruined my daughters' evening with a call to them at a concert, telling them I needed to go to the ER. I. Could. Not. Breathe.<br />
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With my oxygen level at a dangerous 82%, I was admitted to the hospital that Saturday night. At that point in time, I didn't care what they did with me. I was exhausted from trying to breathe and my hands wouldn't stop shaking. Yes, a hospital visit is expensive, and without insurance, something I wouldn't do on whim or much of anything else, but I didn't feel I had a choice. I signed my name and gave my care up to the wonderful people at the hospital.<br />
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Tuesday evening I came home, breathing easily and able to walk from one room to the other without tiring or gasping for air. In fact, on Wednesday, youngest daughter and oldest granddaughter and I went on a treasure hunt, hiking along an historical bridge, looking for a medallion. I'm not only back to normal, I'm better than I was. I've stopped smoking. Again. (Third time is charmed, right?)<br />
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I had a lot of time to think in the hospital. When there's even the smallest chance that you might not take another breath, you start to see your life in a new way. Have I done the things I want to do? Am I ready to pass on to whatever is or isn't out there? My answer was NO. I got a whole lotta livin' to do.<br />
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Thank you to all my family and super friends, who stopped by to visit, brought me a shake from Sonic, some books, a tiny rose bush, a handmade glitter-pic and kept me smiling. I am blessed to have you all in my life. And there's more life coming. Count on it. :)<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows.</span></b> ~ Pope Paul VI</span></blockquote>
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Rox Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10793875617929387443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489271323728434783.post-28612123097951680362014-05-30T15:18:00.000-05:002014-05-30T15:18:35.146-05:00No Fun for This Friday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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FRIDAY FREE-FOR ALL<br />
Actually, I should title this blog post FRIDAY WHINE.<br />
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Why? Because that asthma I mentioned earlier this week has still not gone away. I'm worn out from no sleep, and my ribs hurt from coughing. (Coughing with asthma is good, as long as it's productive.) I've been dealing with this for three weeks now, and in some ways it's finally getting better. I can sometimes walk from one end of the house to the other. Not always. Just now and then.<br />
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I'm trying not to push it, but tonight is the kick-off of our annual River Festival. That means sitting on the riverbank, listening to the symphony play all kinds of great music, then wrapping it up with the 1812 Overture and the most fantastic fireworks display that seems to never want to end. Believe me, the audience doesn't want it to end.<br />
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But if I can't walk half a block without gasping for air, I won't be going. We usually have to park several blocks away from the heart of the festival and walk. At this point, I doubt I could make it. And I'll miss the concert and fireworks, something I look forward to each year. I'm secretly trying to devise a plan to drive to the baseball stadium, find someplace to park, and hope I can see the fireworks from there. I'm dreaming, I'm sure. The streets will be closed, and I won't be able to get even close.<br />
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So maybe I'll just go outside in the backyard, while the rest of my family goes to hear and see. I can sit in my swing and turn on the radio station that shares the music being played by the symphony. At least I can enjoy that. I might even get a glimpse of some sparklies in the sky. It isn't that far from my house to downtown. And it's better than nothing.<br />
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This gives me a chance to catch up on those edits I'd planned to have finished a week or two ago. I still have the last four chapters to edit, and while it was going well, concentration is hampered by coughing. But I haven't given up, and maybe by the end of the weekend, I'll have the book edited. After that? I'm not sure, but I'm targeting some time in July to publish it. There's so much to learn!<br />
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Life is full of disappointments, and I'm not going to let this one get me down.<br />
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Here's hoping that those reading this whine have a wonderful weekend or whatever part of your week lies ahead.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">If we will be quiet and ready enough, we shall find compensation in every disappointment.</span></b> ~ Henry David Thoreau</span></blockquote>
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Rox Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10793875617929387443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489271323728434783.post-58933357637984151582014-05-26T05:00:00.000-05:002014-05-26T05:00:01.536-05:00Oh, Those Cowboy Heroes!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>MEMORY MONDAY</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgguj39zX4DA5Tq3SWl6Y_YZzKa0JsEmaziEFaqnFNGJrOS4xbbmuGv-z6ho3dXZNO4X7uZXTpKmf-QVSzs4ryw1Ra4CSr2CMwrI4_FcVj2p3JWL0yPKTJWPpU8-B0yJSSX2OUJ0XheYisy/s1600/howdydoody.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgguj39zX4DA5Tq3SWl6Y_YZzKa0JsEmaziEFaqnFNGJrOS4xbbmuGv-z6ho3dXZNO4X7uZXTpKmf-QVSzs4ryw1Ra4CSr2CMwrI4_FcVj2p3JWL0yPKTJWPpU8-B0yJSSX2OUJ0XheYisy/s1600/howdydoody.jpg" /></a>This blog post was swimming around in my subconscious yesterday morning as I woke up. I don't know where the thoughts came from, they were just there, and they seemed perfect.</div>
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I grew up back in the 50s and 60s, when television was still black and white for anyone who wasn't filthy rich. An only child in a middle income family, with two working parents--something of an oddity at the time--and an imagination that bubbled over would be a good description of me. I grew up watching cowboy shows, because those were the shows, in addition to the <i>Mickey Mouse Club</i> and <i>Captain Kangaroo</i>, that were available the most. </div>
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Howdy Doody, up there, with Buffalo Bob Smith, along with Clarabell the Clown, Mayor Phineas T. Bluster, Flub-a-Dub and more, kept kids in the Peanut Gallery entertained with puppetry and silliness. (For those who don't know, Clarabell was played by Bob Keeshan aka Captain Kangaroo.) To be honest, when thinking of all those Westerns I watched as a little girl, Howdy didn't even come to mind. <i>GASP!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSnAppaAQ_d4FVxZfSIh1aYR2Ed7_dGPVADYxvy3eRWd_fgQqh7WKRT0XV8WHMm8IG1RPO5OqzdW9XfN_zNQUwU2WUCwaoMuHneeVSQ74L8h1QQHNrgcHWS0iDdgueoqZVHC8V5zWc8n5/s1600/adven.jimbowie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSnAppaAQ_d4FVxZfSIh1aYR2Ed7_dGPVADYxvy3eRWd_fgQqh7WKRT0XV8WHMm8IG1RPO5OqzdW9XfN_zNQUwU2WUCwaoMuHneeVSQ74L8h1QQHNrgcHWS0iDdgueoqZVHC8V5zWc8n5/s1600/adven.jimbowie.jpg" height="200" width="141" /></a></div>
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I knew I'd forgotten many of the shows I watched, so it was Wikipedia to the rescue! There were adult Westerns and kid Westerns. Of course I was drawn to the kid ones at an early age. I did a quick count of the early shows and came up with some thirty-five Westerns I watched on a regular basis from the early 1950s to the early 1960s. Keep in mind that back in the olden days, we had THREE channels.</div>
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So here we go with a list: (Most watched in <b>bold</b>)</div>
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The Adventures of Jim Bowie <b>The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin</b> <br />
The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok <b>Annie Oakley</b> Bat Masterson <br />
Broken Arrow Bronco Cheyenne <b>Circus Boy</b> <b>Davy Crockett </b>Death Valley Days <br />
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre <b> Fury </b> The Gabby Hayes Show <b>The Gene Autry Show </b> Gunsmoke Have Gun Will Travel <b>Hopalong Cassidy </b> Laramie Lawman The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp <b>The Lone Ranger</b> <b>Maverick</b> <b>My Friend Flicka</b> Rawhide <br />
The Rebel The Rifleman <b>The Roy Rogers Show</b> T<b>he Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Show </b><br />
<b>Sky King </b>Sugarfoot Texas John Slaughter The Virginian Wagon Train Wanted: Dead or Alive <b>Zorro</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJOYVbqyBA9CXvN0hPlIb1fxS5_U-QmCZwrfLI3JqXBn8HiDxPdNDqP9U3twyAlwEWylBlMmsS23L3okz4OJMWqlSPvBKfLCTDVNJuGA97cA1bI7qD8e46MbZ6HZ_mL7aYkmLpHF14paK/s1600/annieoakley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJOYVbqyBA9CXvN0hPlIb1fxS5_U-QmCZwrfLI3JqXBn8HiDxPdNDqP9U3twyAlwEWylBlMmsS23L3okz4OJMWqlSPvBKfLCTDVNJuGA97cA1bI7qD8e46MbZ6HZ_mL7aYkmLpHF14paK/s1600/annieoakley.jpg" /></a><b>Annie Oakley</b> was one of my favorites. She could ride and shoot like any cowboy. <b> Rin Tin Tin</b> was a beautiful German Shepherd dog that saved Rusty, the little boy who was a part of the cavalry, and anyone else who needed saving. (Think <b>Lassie</b>.) <b>Fury</b> and <b>My Friend Flicka</b> were all about a boy and his horse. Or two boys and their horses, as it was. <b>Hopalong Cassidy</b> was just, well, Hoppy, and I rarely missed it. I still remember that big ol' white hat he wore. <b>The Lone Ranger</b>? What female's heart didn't pound at the sight of that masked man. And Tonto, played by Jay Silverheels, wasn't all that bad, either. Which brings us to <b>Maverick</b>, and I still adore James Garner and always will. <b>Sky King</b> flew a plane and had a neice named Penny. I was envious. <b> Zorro</b>, too, had a mask, and was a part of Disney.<br />
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Fess Parker played both <b>Davy Crocket</b> and, later, <b>Daniel Boone</b>. <b>Circus Boy</b> starred a little boy named Mickey Braddock, who later became Micky Dolenz of The Monkees (1960s music group, for all you youngsters). Stars were born. Stars faded, and some went on to other things. Tom Tryon (<b>Texas John Slaughter</b>), became a author, writing <i>Harvest Home</i>, <i>The Other</i>, and<i> Lady</i>. The first of those was a terrific horror book, similar to Stephen King's writing. <b>Bronco</b> actor Ty Hardin's real name is Orison Whipple Hungerford Jr.. I learned that when I was 10 and he was a teen heartthrob.<br />
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Those were the good old days. The good guys won, the bad guys lost, and the cowboy always got his girl.<br />
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Yes, there are many later TV Westerns not on the list. Bonanza, The Big Valley, The High Chaparell, Here Come the Brides (considered a Western, but set in post-Civil War Seattle), Lonesome Dove, and many more.<br />
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How many did you watch? If you're too young for many of these, ask your parents if they watched. And head on over to Wikipedia for a full list of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_TV_Westerns"><b>TV Westerns</b></a>.<br />
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It's fun to take a look back at the things we enjoyed, long ago. There's a lot of difference between then and now, and we don't see nearly the Westerns on TV or in the movies as we once did. But we do see a lot of Cowboy Heroes in romance books. I wonder how many romance authors were raised on the Code of the West as I was? Is it any wonder I have a soft spot for a soft-spoken, well-mannered cowboy?<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">The good old days are now.</span></b> ~ Tom Clancy</span></blockquote>
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Rox Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10793875617929387443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489271323728434783.post-48199390935684316622014-05-23T11:12:00.000-05:002014-05-23T11:12:29.500-05:00Summer!! Or Good Enough, At Least<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>FRIDAY FREE-FOR-ALL</b><br />
I'll be honest. I have no idea what I'm blogging about today. I'm simply happy that school is out and summer vacation has officially begun today.<br />
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Taking a quick look out the window, it would be difficult to call it summer. The sky is overcast, leftover from early morning storms, and the temperature, which reached into the low 90s yesterday, is just under 70. I have no doubt that will quickly change by tomorrow. But we need the rain here, and there's no reason not to welcome a cool day. After all, we already passed 100 earlier this month.<br />
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Mallory, the youngest of my four, and I spent much of yesterday attending graduation ceremonies. (Two of my grands, her nieces.) The first was youngest granddaughter Payton's Pre-K. The class presented parents and friends with songs they'd learned over this school year. I especially liked the "Five Little Monkees Jumping On the Bed" song. It reminded me of my own girls' days in Brownie and Girl Scouts.<br />
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The little guy on the left in the light blue shirt was a showman and such a cutie. When one of the songs was over, he turned to his mom (blonde, in white shirt) and said, "Take a picture of me, Mom." He was obviously proud, as well he should be. They all should. After all, they came away from the year with nifty songs, knowing their alphabet and able to count, and especially how to get along in a classroom of their peers. A step in the right direction!<br />
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All the kids seemed to understand how special the day was for them and their families. Smiles abounded, giggles and squeals filled the room. These kids were excited!<br />
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A little over an hour later, we were back at the school for Payton's older sister's graduation from 5th grade. While the Pre-Kers had been in a party mood, the older group understood what this day meant for them. Grade school would be a memory, when the doors to middle school open in the fall. Many of them had spent the past six years together, growing and learning. A video presentation at the end of the ceremony of random shots of the students in classrooms and on the playground was followed by a beautiful rendition of Katie Perry's <i>Roar </i>filling the auditorium. These kids understood that they're were stepping out of one stage of life into the next.<br />
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The last group of four to receive their diplomas stood patiently in line. That's Allie, waiting her turn to get her Certificate of Promotion.<br />
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It's hard to believe that it wasn't all that long ago that Allie was finishing Pre-K and then Kindergarten. She's growing up into a fine young woman, and I hope she weathers middle school well. From my own memories, it's the worst of all the stepping stones of education.<br />
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The graduates listened to a memorable speech by the Operations Division Director of the City schools, and he presented each one of them with a special gift: A small, flat black stone, like the one he had carried throughout his own school years and still kept as a reminder of how far he'd come and the wonderful gifts in his life--his family.<br />
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And of course these are the years of giggling girls and selfies. How lucky we are that technology has given us instant photos to keep that will remain as memories in our hearts for years. Let's hope these girls all remember the good times they had in grade school as they walk, sail, and fly through their lives.<br />
<br />
Then it was over. Another year, another two graduations. Last year it was oldest granddaughter Scarlett (our ice-skater) from 5th grade, and youngest grandson Jaxon's graduation from Kindergarten. Next year will be another two. Gavin from 5th and Payton from Kindergarten. It's like stepping stones. Before we know it, we'll have three 8th grade graduations in a row, and then will come high school.<br />
<br />
The years go quickly. Too quickly, most of us would say. Each year brings new memories for us to treasure. How lucky is that?<br />
<br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>HAPPY SUMMER!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quickly you hardly catch it going. </span></b>~ Tennessee Williams</span></blockquote>
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Rox Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10793875617929387443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489271323728434783.post-31394445924211789422014-05-21T10:42:00.000-05:002014-05-21T10:42:56.905-05:00Time to Get Moving<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>WRITING WEDNESDAY</b><br />
For me, summer is two days away. By 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, freedom reigns . I can't remember looking forward to summer as much as I am right now. Except maybe once, and that was long ago when my high school graduation approached. That last summer of being a non-adult was fast approaching. That last summer to spend with friends, to be free and unencumbered, if only for a few months.<br />
<br />
A month ago I blogged about how I'd written only four new pages. In fact, my total for April was 10 pages. <b>Ten pages</b>. That's abysmal. And, sadly, that's pretty much where I still am.<br />
<br />
Now comes the <b><span style="color: magenta;">B U T</span></b>. By later today, I'll be halfway through the first round of edits on a new book. They're going well. The story is there and it's moving along. Building, even. I wrote the first draft a year ago and had forgotten about all the things in the story. I'm pleased with it. And even though I'm not doing fresh writing, I'm moving forward, and that's the key. And I'll be done before the end of the weekend.<br />
<br />
With the upcoming opportunity to have more time, one would think I'd be waiting until the interruptions of "real" life have begun to fade. Instead, I chose to dive in ahead of time. By the time Monday rolls around, I'm hoping my head is back in the writing game, and I can move forward from those pitiful ten pages that were written in April.<br />
<br />
Motivation to write is fickle. After burying myself in a deadline during January and February, I spent March recuperating. And April being lazy. I have an idea in mind for a new series, I sort of know the characters and there's a vague idea of where the stories will be going. And that's it. The harder I tried to push it, the faster my mind would snap shut. Agatha Christie was right. <span style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;">"The best time for planning a book is while you're doing the dishes."</span> Are you pressed for time in real life? Is every possible have-to knocking at your door? Story ideas will abound. But if you're sitting there, strumming your fingers on the keyboard, waiting for inspiration, you'll get nothing. Nada. Zilch. Zero.<br />
<br />
When you can't get to the things you really, really want to do, you're going to want to do them that much more. That <b><i>has</i></b> to be one of Murphy's Laws. You've set your goals, you're ready to roll. And then life steps up and throws you a curve ball. You come down with the flu, one of your kids needs a costume for the school play, taxes are due, your partner loses or gains a job. Major life events happen, along with minor ones, and your plan--your goals--are set aside.<br />
<br />
But there's always those dishes to do... <span style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;">"The best time for planning a book is while you're doing the dishes." </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Read that one more time.</span> The best time for planning a book IS while you're doing dishes. You've been given the gift of a mindless chore, when you can let your imagination run wild. Not only is dishwashing time a good one, but any time you have a few quiet moments. Vacuuming or dusting? Bedmaking? Doing laundry? A fifteen minute break at work or lunch on your own? Brainstorming can happen at any time, any where. It doesn't need to be a big chunk of time. Any bit of time will do.<br />
<br />
No time to write? Of course there is!! We give non-priority time too much weight. Snatch that 15 minute break at work, or the time spent waiting for school to let out. Instead of thumbing through magazines at the doctor's office, take a small notebook, brainstorm and make notes. Whatever comes to mind.<br />
<br />
This just popped up on Twitter.<br />
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<header class="tweet-header" style="background-color: #222426; color: #dddddd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.421875px;"><a class="account-link link-complex block" href="https://twitter.com/ralphmarston" rel="user" style="color: #cccccc; display: block !important; max-width: 100%; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><div class="nbfc" style="overflow: hidden; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="account-inline txt-ellipsis" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden; position: relative; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap; word-wrap: normal;"><b class="fullname link-complex-target" style="line-height: 1;">Ralph Marston</b> <span class="username txt-mute" style="color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-size: 0.8571rem; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: embed;">@ralphmarston</span></span></div>
</a></header><br />
<div class="tweet-body" style="background-color: #222426; color: #dddddd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.421875px;">
<div class="js-tweet-text tweet-text with-linebreaks " style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
By wisely investing this moment, this hour, this day, this time you're in, you can continue to reap its benefits long after it has passed.</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
So there it is. One sentence. Twenty-five words. It's time to get moving. Let's do it!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Time is what we want most, but what we use worst. </span></b>~ William Penn</span></blockquote>
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Rox Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10793875617929387443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489271323728434783.post-72136840160796304932014-05-19T14:47:00.002-05:002014-05-19T14:47:16.640-05:00The Aftermath of a Productive Weekend<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>MONDAY MADNESS</b><br />
<i><b>"The best laid plans of mice and men..." </b></i><br />
<br />
That's the beginning of a line in Robert Burn's poem, <i>"To a Mouse, on Turning Her Up in Her Nest with the Plough,"</i> and often describes my weekend plans. <br />
<br />
Not this past weekend.<br />
<br />
In fact, the weekend was more productive than most and considerably more satisfying. I had a list. Not a long list, only four items. For once, I didn't go mad and overdo, which leads to disappointment in myself. No, this one was simple.<br />
<br />
A load of laundry and several loads of dishes on Friday (we've been saving up *wink*), followed by the replacement of a light switch on Saturday morning. Yes, I'm a handy little devil. Or would be if I had done it right. Unfortunately, I didn't, but neither did I cause a flash fire. That's a win. And, after a little more research, I discovered what I needed to do, so it now reappears on my list of chores-for-later-in-the-week. No need to push it. The light hasn't worked for some time. A few more days won't matter. Live and learn, right? The last of the errant dishes---how do they manage to meander into other rooms?---were done, and I moved on to finish some small updates on my website. Not a lot of work, but everything on the list crossed off. Well, except for that light switch, but that's covered.<br />
<br />
There was also the editing of the first three chapters of what will (I hope) be the first of a series of books that I wrote in the spring a year ago. The tentative series name is <i><b>The Divine Misfits</b></i>. Maybe. We'll see how that goes. So what if there are still eleven chapters to go? It's begun and, with luck, will be finished by Sunday. That's the plan.<br />
<br />
This feeling of accomplishment is rare, and I think I've discovered the secret. Of course, most everyone but me knows that secret. I'm a little slow on the uptake. And what is it? <span style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;">Don't overload yourself with trying to do too much! </span>Obviously my goal setting has weak spots. But I'm working on that. When it comes to writing, it isn't difficult. When it comes to normal, everyday life, yeah, there are problems.<br />
<br />
Yesterday (Sunday) was good, especially because it was our writers group meeting. A week later than usual, thanks to Mother's Day, so even more welcome. There's nothing like getting together with like-minded and wonderful friends. I could do this all the time! And with a handful of us vowing to meet for critiquing once a week, it's all good. I'm pumped. But I'm also trying not to get over-pumped. That leads to downfall. So it's take one small thing at a time and enjoy.<br />
<br />
I'm learning new things. I'm reading blogs, books, articles and whatever appears as a gift from the Universe to see life in a different way. I like to call myself a realist, but over the years, I've become more pessimistic. If something good happened (and it does), it was easier to say it was a fluke. Now I'm trying to expect the good stuff. Why not? Shouldn't we choose the good over the bad? I mean, if we have a choice---which we do---let's choose not only good, but great! I like that. I really do. (Doing some weird Sally Field channeling here.)<br />
<br />
Yes, there are a million things that need to be done to get the things in my life in line to the way I want it. But they can't all be done in a day, a weekend, or even a week. They take time. And time is often our enemy. Instead, let's make it our friend. <span style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;">Don't overload yourself with trying to do too much! </span>Yes, it's definitely worth repeating. And now that I know the secret...<br />
<br />
In the end, what I got from all this was that I could have the best of both worlds: Getting things done AND enjoying the weekend. What could be better than that? There's still laundry to be done, winter clothes to wash, dry, fold, pack away until the weather turns cold again. Small closets and not enough drawer space means everything can't always be at hand. That's okay. We understand it. It's become a tradition to start mentioning it as the weather begins to change, and finally saying, "Let's get it done today." There's still the office that could use a bulldozer, but it, too, will be done in small doses and chunks. Why not? It isn't going anywhere on its own. Lots of sort and toss and store...and finding new places to store. Just how many file folders need to be on hand at all times?<br />
<br />
In a few days, school will be out, and this summer may be unlike the past nine summers, filled with grandkids bickering and running crazy, trips to the library and trying to find enough food to please and fill up five growing youngsters. I need the break. I deserve the break. (See that positive there?) I want to enjoy this time. It's MY TURN. (Please pass that on to my offspring.)<br />
<br />
Monday Madness will remain as it's called, only because it's MONDAY, but there'll be some small changes. Change is good. Change is healthy. Change is fun! One day at a time. One step at a time. And, hey, I might actually become that productive person I dream of being?<br />
<br />
How was your weekend? Did you have (TAKE!) the opportunity to make it a good one? Or would you like to climb out of the rut? Let's take the road together and see where it takes us, pitfalls and all, because there will always be those...unless we live on a faraway island where no one can find us.<br />
<br />
Check back next week and see if this new positive course continues to work. Yes, there will be a failure here and there, but focusing on the successes will take care of those, right? And next week I'll share some links I've discovered that are helping me along my way. Maybe you'll find something helpful, too.!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="color: #0b5394;">"The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence." ~ </b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Confucius</span></blockquote>
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Rox Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10793875617929387443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489271323728434783.post-53794664296675274592014-05-16T14:35:00.001-05:002014-05-16T14:35:58.132-05:00Friday is Finally Here!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's been a tough week and a half. Mid-week last week, I was hit with an asthma attack. They're rare, but when they come along, it's like being being slammed head-on by a semi. No warning, just WHAM! I struggled through the weekend, felt better on Sunday, and decided to do a little weed-eating in the backyard. Bad decision. By Monday, I couldn't walk ten steps without thinking I would never be able to take another breath. I went to the health care clinic Tuesday morning, spent almost $200 on an inhalation treatment and meds, and was breathing fairly well again by that night. It's been better each day since then.<br />
<br />
Oh, did I mention that when I got up on Mother's Day, I discovered the power supply on my computer had died? I ordered a new one on Monday, it arrived late Wednesday afternoon, and I had it installed just after midnight. Four days with no computer. It's tough enough when the internet goes down for a day or two, but <b style="font-style: italic;">MY COMPUTER?</b><br />
<br />
Now you know why there have been no blogs. <br />
<br />
My plans for the weekend? No weed-eating, that's for sure. Gutting my office may be the best thing to do, since I've been thinking about it for months and getting nothing done. Or my bedroom. Or the kitchen. There's always plenty of things waiting to be done, aren't there? Friday comes along at the end of a work week, then flips over to Saturday, when all the other things in life need attending. The one thing I can honestly say that there's never a time when there's nothing to do. I've totally forgotten what being bored is. I guess that's what makes life exciting.<br />
<br />
Now that school is almost done for the year, I'm looking at what I want to accomplish, beginning next Friday, the FIRST DAY OF SUMMER VACATION! (Whatever a "vacation" is.)<br />
<br />
I'm working on edits for a book I plan to self-publish, hopefully this summer. Set on the coast of Maine, the 3-book mini-series follows the Divine Misfits, three high school best friends who have gone different ways, but are coming together again after the death of the fourth misfit. I'll take you along on this crazy ride into the new publishing platform and share the ups and downs. It promises to be interesting, if nothing else.<br />
<br />
I also have a three-book proposal for three half-brothers, who inherit a ghost town in Texas, to work on for Harlequin American. It's going slowly. Agonizingly slow. I'm hoping that by doing the edits on the ebook above, I'll get my mind back into writing again.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AdsK4wiS6q6JBi3-N6cDayOteLwElpoII2kZDYQoRmXX_bRF3azljAx6n5G7sqyfEIjVJaQ7O8gMmzq1s4NYk126BrDx_FbAj9oD1nUQeWHj2slIhtsXqCpYPFg9_oVG2R4eGH5yrM6G/s1600/cmhm215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AdsK4wiS6q6JBi3-N6cDayOteLwElpoII2kZDYQoRmXX_bRF3azljAx6n5G7sqyfEIjVJaQ7O8gMmzq1s4NYk126BrDx_FbAj9oD1nUQeWHj2slIhtsXqCpYPFg9_oVG2R4eGH5yrM6G/s1600/cmhm215.jpg" height="200" width="126" /></a><br />
And I have a couple of announcements. My next Harlequin American, <a href="http://roxanndelaney.com/cmhm.html">THE COWBOY MEETS HIS MATCH</a>, the next to last book of the Desperation (Hearts of Desperation) mini-series will be available in August. This story is close to my heart, as it centers around Erin Walker and her long-ago love, Jake Canfield. <br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">One Big Secret…</span></strong></div>
<div align="left" style="background-color: #bbbbbb;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Broke and in need of a job, barrel racer Erin Walker has returned home after years of traveling the rodeo circuit. But the only job available is working for the man who broke her heart and left her pregnant and alone. Not a day goes by that she doesn't wonder about the son she and Jake had, whether he's happy with his adoptive parents or what her life would have been like if the three of them had become a family.</span></div>
<div align="left" style="background-color: #bbbbbb;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Jake Canfield just wants to get close to Erin again and perhaps rekindle what they once had. But is that possible? It depends on the sudden appearance of the one person who could bring them closer together!</span></div>
</blockquote>
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Stop by my website, <a href="http://roxanndelaney.com/">RoxannDelaney.com</a>, for more about <a href="http://roxanndelaney.com/cmhm.html">THE COWBOY MEETS HIS MATCH</a> (my 15th book!) and an excerpt. I'm planning a few give-aways and contests, so stay tuned here and on my author page on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Roxann-Delaney-Author/189820517737246">Facebook</a>. If you haven't visited there, please stop by. The last of the series will be available in April 2015, and then we'll hopefully be off to Hallelujah, Texas, and those ghosts!<br />
<br />
Last but not least, my five Silhouette Romance books are available as Silhouette Romance Classic ebooks.<br />
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RACHEL'S RESCUER, my very first published book and the first of my SilRoms, won the Maggie Award in 1999 and set me on the path to publication. It was also a National Reader's Choice Award Finalist in 2001. You can find them at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_10?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=roxann%20delaney&sprefix=roxann+del%2Caps%2C188">Amazon</a> and <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/roxann-delaney?store=allproducts&keyword=roxann+delaney">Barnes & Noble</a>, among others.</div>
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So there's my plan. My Friday plan, at least, spilling over into summer. Do you have a plan? Have you been working on goals? Because now is the best time to get started on those! Feel free to share, because your enthusiasm will spill onto others, and how great is that?</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun. </span></b>~ Christopher McCandless</span></blockquote>
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Rox Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10793875617929387443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489271323728434783.post-44742944098336355512014-05-07T14:29:00.000-05:002014-05-07T14:29:08.030-05:00We're Never Too Old<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>WRITING WEDNESDAY</b><br />
And here everyone thought the school term was about to come to an end until Fall. For some, that may be true. But for most of us, we keep learning.<br />
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Maybe we don't believe we continue to learn, but it happens. We often simply don't realize that's what it is.<br />
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For me, learning is an ongoing thing, and I welcome it. Recently the bulk of that learning has been about ebooks and especially about how to format a Word document for conversion to an ebook. The learning curve isn't as steep as one might think.<br />
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The publishing world is changing faster than we can keep up. This past week, HarperCollins (owned by NewsCorp) announced the upcoming aquisition of Harlequin. It was like<b><i><span style="color: magenta;"> WHOA!</span></i></b> for many of us. Not even a whisper had leaked. But it isn't just the shifting within traditional publishing that's happening, it's the world of publishing itself that's opening up for all of us.<br />
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Ebooks and self-published books have been around for what seems like forever, but it's been in the last decade that electronic has come into its own. Thanks to Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and other online bookstores, the quality and availability of ebooks has risen.<br />
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It's true that anybody can publish a book. What's also true is that there are poor quality books out there. I downloaded a book from Amazon a few months ago. I like to read an occasional YA, since it was originally what started me on the road to writing. This particular book was cute and engaging. I enjoyed the story. But there were problems. Not the formatting, but the writing. Poor grammar and spelling and punctuation too often pulled me out of the story. I still enjoyed the story, but not as much as I would have if the writing had been better. I hope the author takes the time to either have someone professionally edit her books or educates herself on what is needed to write a fabulous book.<br />
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Writing isn't simply putting words on paper. It takes time to learn what's needed to be a good writer. For some, certain things come more naturally than others. For some, it takes studying and learning the basics. But no matter where a writer is, learning should always be a part of writing.<br />
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As we write, we grow. With each new manuscript, we find new ways to write and tell a story a little better. It takes time. Don't give up! The majority of published authors did not sell their first books. They also didn't give up. They kept learning and trying. Yes, rejections are hard and often heart breaking. We artsy people tend to let the negatives get us down. But if you're really trying to be a better writer, wallow in a couple of hours of self-pity, then build on your determination to do better by continuing to write and learn.<br />
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I'm excited to learn the new things epublishing encompasses. I've learned a lot by reading books and articles on what it takes to build an ebook, beyond the story. My toe has been dipping in the water for some time, but I haven't yet made the plunge. While I'd love to share what I've learned with others, I don't yet feel I know enough to do that. But I can point to places and people who can help.<br />
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If you're thinking of self/epublshing a book, do your homework and start learning. We've been blessed with access to just about anything anyone would want to know about. All it takes is looking and asking. And never give up. We're never too old to learn new things.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths. </span></b>~ Walt Disney</span></blockquote>
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Rox Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10793875617929387443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489271323728434783.post-22544636021442201302014-04-28T12:51:00.001-05:002014-04-28T12:51:27.676-05:00Don't Forget to Play<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9tMQ5X6Nv82MC1ZmDrBuHaneoY2tNhyX0BFPVHCP7bX3KwmhVBzrJZQFZUbrJnJP2q9wHIzg7pVhEyg-CbJtGKDQYP4cXzHoATYzAQlWXxiOuAb-RVuBiy3zpcIDuQ9SsfzBEV0caWWf/s1600/soap-bubbles-322212_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9tMQ5X6Nv82MC1ZmDrBuHaneoY2tNhyX0BFPVHCP7bX3KwmhVBzrJZQFZUbrJnJP2q9wHIzg7pVhEyg-CbJtGKDQYP4cXzHoATYzAQlWXxiOuAb-RVuBiy3zpcIDuQ9SsfzBEV0caWWf/s1600/soap-bubbles-322212_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9tMQ5X6Nv82MC1ZmDrBuHaneoY2tNhyX0BFPVHCP7bX3KwmhVBzrJZQFZUbrJnJP2q9wHIzg7pVhEyg-CbJtGKDQYP4cXzHoATYzAQlWXxiOuAb-RVuBiy3zpcIDuQ9SsfzBEV0caWWf/s1600/soap-bubbles-322212_640.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>MONDAY MUSINGS</b><br />
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Silly me. I was in the middle of writing a blog post last Friday, decided I needed a couple of photos, and was immediately side-tracked by a box full of photos that had nothing to do with what I needed. Of course I had to drag out the scanner and post a few on Facebook. What other reason had led me to dig through a box of pictures? I seem to forget about that blog post.<br />
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Yes, I'm sometimes easily distracted, and once distracted, I can become buried in that distraction. ADD? I never thought so, but females present different symptoms than males. Female ADD and ADHD sufferers tend to be a bit spacey in their distractions. Me, spacey? No, that's my #2 daughter and her youngest daughter. And I'm not always easily distracted. Not, at least, when I'm totally focused on something. Reading a good book completely holds my attention.<br />
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Oh, yeah, back to that unfinished blog post... I'll find the photos, finish it, and post it this week.<br />
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Sometimes I think this being distracted thing may have something to do with not playing enough. Oh, I'll play a few games of spider solitaire during the day, or a matching game on the computer. They basically use a different part of the brain that what I'm usually working on. But play? No, not so much. Life has it's Has-To's and Must-Do's and Get-It-Done-ASAP's, leaving little time for play.<br />
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Why is it that as adults, we forget to play? I don't mean watching a favorite TV show each week. I mean <i><b>playing</b></i>. Going to the park and swinging. Sitting in the grass and making daisy chains in the summer or having snowball fights in the winter.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRdNG2-klZgAYh9nPX5_X0wE5IZEp7YBcqMWfNHwh-fkUmEZM-N_aaBNnUcU0Bj-Fa0ugoVQE6DRT3LkQv8UobIhzgpJWUVXkg-9ldGnmywZhGVn4D_rUha9kPqGWxQCF4_8la0uuuQQxG/s1600/dallas04signing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRdNG2-klZgAYh9nPX5_X0wE5IZEp7YBcqMWfNHwh-fkUmEZM-N_aaBNnUcU0Bj-Fa0ugoVQE6DRT3LkQv8UobIhzgpJWUVXkg-9ldGnmywZhGVn4D_rUha9kPqGWxQCF4_8la0uuuQQxG/s1600/dallas04signing.jpg" height="184" width="200" /></a><br />
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My #3 daughter brought me a box of bubbles left over from her wedding reception. I put it away for the grandkids to play with this summer, when school is out. Why did I do that? Why didn't I think of taking out a bottle or two for myself? Right now? I LOVE to blow bubbles!<br />
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There's something in me that thinks I always need to be doing. We surround ourselves with Have To's and forget there's always been a little child inside of each of us. We get older, and people expect us to act like adults. But what's the fun in that?<br />
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<b>These are people having fun!</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCa_r_Rw9kAVugs5zoTCdXSzj7wQA4vedtl3ixihwYCx8_v4xWLA8JvWTBlNGu2GmxIuINSZjAaSntpQGMZHbZ0YSO7N3dE1UUA3XDmnsONGm4fRlAm09UUW1AVvLRrTv-F2p_SIo2Irlq/s1600/chixnyc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCa_r_Rw9kAVugs5zoTCdXSzj7wQA4vedtl3ixihwYCx8_v4xWLA8JvWTBlNGu2GmxIuINSZjAaSntpQGMZHbZ0YSO7N3dE1UUA3XDmnsONGm4fRlAm09UUW1AVvLRrTv-F2p_SIo2Irlq/s1600/chixnyc.jpg" height="120" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ditzy Chix NYC 2003</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzA8N7ntLqNOO8tws7DTtAqckppew1LLZKDw6j-3GFxBc1hWJinVAncEg0RK1VIhLTzL7tc1-IGus5Ir6kuYIgnhCNH-xZhHxwyXm3ycUrnZh3y7d59_B4ifgYZa_mQhSU8LVj4NFYLmv/s1600/Limo+ride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzA8N7ntLqNOO8tws7DTtAqckppew1LLZKDw6j-3GFxBc1hWJinVAncEg0RK1VIhLTzL7tc1-IGus5Ir6kuYIgnhCNH-xZhHxwyXm3ycUrnZh3y7d59_B4ifgYZa_mQhSU8LVj4NFYLmv/s1600/Limo+ride.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How many fun-loving Harlequin authors can a stretch Hummer limo hold?</td></tr>
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While I haven't had the opportunity to go to a writers conference lately, I haven't forgotten how much fun it is to cut loose and have a good time with friends. And the older we get, the more fun we have when we get together!<div>
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We're never too old to have fun.</div>
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It's time to make time for fun and play! Anyone up for a game of hopscotch?</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is having lots to do and not doing it. </span></b> ~ Andrew Jackson</span></blockquote>
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Rox Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10793875617929387443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489271323728434783.post-16779232922353434932014-04-23T14:25:00.001-05:002014-04-23T14:25:04.705-05:00Who Me? Write?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>WRITING WEDNESDAY</b><br />
It's been that kind of week. You know the kind. Shiny objects grab attention and take you away for a few minutes, an hour, or half--if not most--of the day.<br />
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Writing, you say? It's on my list of things to do. The list in my head, not the one written down that's there to bug me to get things done.<br />
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But I have an excuse! Enter March 1 of this year. I'd been pounding out words since July, tearing my hair out over revisions and the need to get it done. Even the holidays were taken up by writing. It happens, and the world doesn't stop spinning. But on February 28, the veil lifted and regular life began again.<br />
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You'd think that within nearly two months I would have caught up on all the things that clamored and hammered at me for 8+ months. But no-o-o-o-o. Too many shiny objects. I did sit down and make myself start a new manuscript...over a week ago. Four pages written. Four.<br />
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I feel like a fake. I come to my blog and encourage others to write...every day, if possible. And yet I've ignored my own writing for more than a few days. More than a few weeks. We're into months, friends. That isn't good.<br />
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So what do I need to do? (You, too, if you've been ignoring your writing!) I have two choices. The first is to motivate myself. There's a problem with that, because at this moment, I can't think of single bit of motivation that will get my focus where it needs to be and my fingers on the keyboard.<br />
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Let me say up front that I am not an organize person. That isn't completely true. I'm an organized-disorganized person. Or is that disorganized-organized? I've never quite figured that one out. Yes, I keep a written list of the things that need to be done, but I often leave out things for myself. Lately, though, I've been doing those things for myself, and none of them have involved writing.<br />
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That brings me to choice #2: Just do it. Give it two hours, four hours, whatever it takes. I've already set a goal of five pages (pitiful, isn't it?) for this week's BIAW. (Hint: That's how I managed those previous four pages, which were two pages short of my 6-page goal.) I know it's possible to write five pages in one day. I've done it more times than not done it. Well, except for that past almost-two months. In fact, I hit a new high last year of 28 pages in one day, and several days of 24 pages. Yes, I can do it.<br />
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Yes, I will do it! Want to come along for the ride? Passengers are welcome...as long as they're writing. No daydreaming, no shiny objects demanding our attention. Just writing.<br />
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For the curious, check back tomorrow. I'll comment on whether I reached my goal or not. And those who are along for the ride are welcome to do the same. After all, we're in this together.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily. </span></b>~ Zig Ziglar</span></blockquote>
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Rox Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10793875617929387443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489271323728434783.post-39374235733877876812014-04-21T10:23:00.001-05:002014-04-21T10:23:31.176-05:00Monday Dreary or Dreaming?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>MONDAY MUSINGS</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiXZrrRWeRkmDEvSynDTzvqhV3RWH8K0-eHd8dhixTWLGjTRMClUdR6XYZkXrxvbR0ZUYI6ySv2z_soYD9XobfEDP52Nr6R1E7yQADvWiYVuS6WAASZPGyM0HOthGZ2_KeJ-CkOOQiQQi/s1600/rain_photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiXZrrRWeRkmDEvSynDTzvqhV3RWH8K0-eHd8dhixTWLGjTRMClUdR6XYZkXrxvbR0ZUYI6ySv2z_soYD9XobfEDP52Nr6R1E7yQADvWiYVuS6WAASZPGyM0HOthGZ2_KeJ-CkOOQiQQi/s1600/rain_photo.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.behance.net/Gallery/Paper-Boats/112223"> From a collection of photos of origami boats by Victor Eredel.</a></td></tr>
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Spring. Rain. And in my little corner of the world, that can also mean storms and possible tornadoes. We're keeping an eye on the middle of the week for those.<br />
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Somehow we escaped the original forecast of a rainy Easter. I spent the day inside anyway and found the top of my desk. I now have a box of papers to sort and file. The truth is, I need a system to make finding things easier. With three of my four daughters and their offspring and hubby/SO off to share the day with their dad and his wife, the house was silent. I don't mind the quiet. In fact, I invite it.<br />
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In fact, the entire weekend proved semi-productive. I started work on a new website design (for myself!), but shelved it. The ideas weren't coming as easily as I'd hoped. Much of both days tended toward learning and introspection. No deadline is looming--except for the need to dive farther into a new book proposal--and family demands were at a low. It was a Me Weekend, for the most part, and although I didn't do anything earth-shattering, I'd rank it at an 8 of 10. There aren't a lot of those.<br />
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Having a day or two without demands and requests from others is a gift. It doesn't happen often, so when it does, I start out not knowing how I should spend the time. While I didn't get everything done that I should have, I also didn't scold myself for the things left undone.<br />
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I caught up on the TV show <i>Cosmos</i> and watched last night's episode of <i>Game of Thrones</i>. The two are on at the same time, but where there's a will, there's a way, and I watch Cosmos later online, when time allows. Yesterday allowed it. Another gift to be thankful for.<br />
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I finished the weekend with a short list of "me" things to do this morning, the first being this blog. The other two are personal things I've begun working on, such as making time for myself, making life more positive, learning how to become a more positive person, and simply enjoying a small part of each day. A phone call from a friend completed the evening.<br />
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All in all, the weekend was enjoyable, and I look forward to the next one. Plans for that one include the possibility of rearranging my office, which will eventually lead to painting my desk and purging the myriad of boxes of who knows what that fill much of the space in the room. My mother's habit of hoarding got its hook in me at an early age, but that story is for another time.<br />
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The sun is peeking through the clouds, so maybe the chance of the rain sticking around is over, at least for a while. The day is new and bright. Let's make it a special one.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round.</span></b> ~ Ben Hogan</span></blockquote>
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Rox Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10793875617929387443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489271323728434783.post-37243866981559072912014-04-18T12:24:00.001-05:002014-04-18T12:24:05.984-05:00Counting Our Blessings and Joys<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>FRIDAY FREE-FOR-ALL</b><br />
It's been a busy week. It's been a crazy week. It began with waking to snow on Monday morning, after a weekend of beautiful, but windy, Spring weather. Temps in the low 80s were a blessed relief from the colder temps. I was finally thawing!<br />
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Because my youngest granddaughter would soon be arriving for me to take her to Pre-K, but I couldn't find the ice scraper (the snow had obviously started as freezing rain), I used my fingers and fingernails to clear the snow and ice from my windshield. Not a smart move. Ten minutes later, my fingertips were so cold that I couldn't feel anything except the burning. A bit of frostbite? Maybe, and it took until the next day before they felt close to normal. Lesson learned? Yes.<br />
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Tuesday was Tax Day, and my focus all day was on that. My taxes were filed and the first of quarterlies were sent. But before I knew it, the day was over, and I went to sleep exhausted. Mental work is exhausting! Add my tendency to be math-challenged, and... You get the picture.<br />
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Wednesday was spent catching up on what didn't get done on Tuesday. It also brought a bright spot I nearly missed, if it hadn't been for an email. My critique group met, and three of us shared our writing, and our thoughts (and complaints and woes) on writing. To help one of our group, who hasn't been writing as much as she should, we decided that meeting every two weeks wasn't enough, and we'd be meeting weekly, at least for a while. To be honest, it's as much for us as it is for her. We all often need a push to do the things we've been putting off. I'm certainly guilty of that. The bonus of this is seeing friends more often. Aha! A blessing!<br />
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Then along came Thursday, and another day was gone before I knew it, and now Friday is here. I ask myself what I've accomplished this week. On the surface, it doesn't seem like much--except for those taxes finally getting done. But looking back, I've been reading more than usual. More non-fiction than fiction. I've been learning...about myself, who I am, and how to make life better. By better, I mean more positive than negative.<br />
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It seems that too many days go by without memory of what happened. Nose to the grindstone sometimes means not seeing or experiencing the small joys in life. And once that happens, we lose ourselves, seeing only the negative things or simply being relieved that we made it through another day without disaster striking in one form or another.<br />
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We all struggle with something. I've been allowing myself the pleasure of reading, done while waiting for grandkids to be released from school and less than an hour before my go-to-sleep ritual. I'm learning how to deal with things I struggle with. I'm learning that I'm important. I'm learning to focus on the good things and expect those struggles to right themselves, if only by turning some of them to blessings.<br />
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There are many joys in life. Sometimes we forget to notice them. The opportunity to read is one of mine. Like the little girl in the image above, I've been a reader all my life. As an adult, it's been my go-to reward, many times. It's also a gentle reminder that time spent reading is a blessing for my soul. It lifts me up, takes me to places I've never known, and expands my understanding.<br />
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If you haven't given yourself the gift of reading lately, pick up a book and start reading. Even if it's only for a few minutes, it's a blessing. Blessings are our Joy.<br />
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What blessings have appeared in your life lately? What has brought you joy?<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself, and know that everything in life has purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from. </span></b>~ Elisabeth Kubler-Ross</span></blockquote>
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Rox Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10793875617929387443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489271323728434783.post-86674413127055497272014-04-14T13:09:00.002-05:002014-04-14T13:09:13.283-05:00Still Hooked (Spoiler Alert)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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MONDAY MADNESS<br />
<i>"Holy Krypton, Superman!"</i><br />
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Oops, I've muddled my comic book superheroes, but you get the idea.<br />
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Three years ago, while channel surfing one night, I accidentally caught a glimpse of <i>Game of Thrones</i> one TV. I was as hooked then as I am now. In fact, nearly a year later, I blogged about it on my now defunct <i>Scribbles</i> blog. That blog post, entitled, <a href="http://rox-scribbles.blogspot.com/2012/04/im-hooked-got-got-me.html">I'm Hooked--GoT Got Me</a>, tells how I was immediately drawn into the award winning series. I haven't missed an episode yet, and it would be difficult to tear me away from it each spring for the few weeks it runs.<br />
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As a rule, I'm not a fan of bloody battles and naked bodies, but GoT grabbed my interest (hint: it was the dragon eggs) and has kept it for over three years. From the very beginning, I've been waiting for Joffrey to get his just desserts. Would that moment ever come?<br />
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If you saw last night's episode, you saw that "just desserts" is exactly what Joffrey got. What a weaselly little king! The character you love to hate. I've been hoping that something atrocious would happen to Joffrey. Something like being tied to the side of a mountain, where the birds would pick him apart, much like Prometheus. Or maybe flamed by Daenerys's dragons. Sadly, it wasn't quite so dramatic, but the demise of Joffrey was still delicious. Kudos to Jack Gleeson's amazing acting talent on making it that way.<br />
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Naturally, Tyrion Lannister has been accused of the deed--by his sister Cersei, of course. As far as amazing acting talent, Peter Dinklage rules, no matter what character he plays. As I commented on Facebook, I'd watch him eat a potato chip, he's that good. Such a wide spectrum of emotions his face shows in every second of film. But there isn't an actor on the series who isn't completely believable. Such an excellent cast!<br />
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I'm break down and buy the books. The first three, to begin, and the others when I get through those three. Reading time is limited, and I already have more than I'll be able to read in the next ten years. But I have no doubt I'll enjoy the books and hopefully be able to keep all the characters straight. Thank goodness for cheatsheets!<br />
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What's your secret, guilty pleasure? Your favorite book or TV series?<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">"A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.”</span></b> ~ George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones</span></blockquote>
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Rox Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10793875617929387443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489271323728434783.post-17224577220834707062014-04-12T14:00:00.001-05:002014-04-12T14:00:08.574-05:00Who We Are<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In case you haven't noticed, I like inspirational quotes. I like them so much that when I finish a blog post, I search for a quote to add to the bottom. I also have a folder where I've saved far too many like the one on the left that I've grabbed from Facebook and other places.<br />
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Why? I'm not sure. I find many of them inspiring. Wow, what a concept! On those days when nothing seems to be going right, one of those quotes can change at least a few moments of my day.<br />
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How much time do we spend on figuring out who we are? We simply are, right? We change and evolve as we grow, internalizing somewhere in our subconscious everything we think and experience. Every thought, every action, every word we speak, hear and read make me ME and you YOU.<br />
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This morning, I was reading my Facebook timeline and came across another one of those links to silly tests. With those, I have a little more constraint than I do with inspirational quotes, but this one, <a href="http://www.playbuzz.com/benjaminbirely10/which-religion-best-suits-you">What Religion Should You Actually Be?</a>, drew me in out of curiosity, just as far too many do. I knew that, more than likely, none of the optional answers to the questions would be <i>my</i> answer. But, hey, it's Saturday, why not give it a try?<br />
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I took the test and, as I suspected, very few (one or two?) questions gave me the choice of the answer I needed. As it turned out, the outcome of my test was Buddhism. O-o-o-kay. If you say so. But my first thought was to think how sad it is that people's beliefs are pigeonholed into one or another. <span style="color: purple;"> I am who I am.</span><br />
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Admittedly, I was and still am considered weird. The number of times people told me so is infinite. Is weird good or bad? And just what does that mean? <br />
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From Dictionary.com on <i>weird</i><br />
<i>adjective, weird·er, weird·est.</i><br />
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<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>involving or suggesting the supernatural; unearthly or uncanny: a weird sound; weird lights. (No, that isn't me, although I do think about those things now and then and even try to learn more about them. Knowledge is power, right?)</li>
<li>fantastic; bizarre: a weird getup. (I like <i>fanastic. </i>Who wouldn't?<i> </i>But is <i>bizarre </i>the right word?)</li>
<li>Archaic. concerned with or controlling fate or destiny. (I'm iffy on this one.)</li>
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Maybe it's simply that I'm not pigeonhole-y enough. Those online tests tell me exactly that. I don't <i>fit</i> anywhere. And that's okay. We're each individual with our own view of everything, including ourselves.</div>
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My philosophy? Be who you are and love whatever that is, as long as you don't hurt others physically or emotionally. Add to that to be the best you can be and continue to improve yourself in all ways throughout life. Ol' Will Shakespeare's quote in today's image pretty much says it all.</div>
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Who are you?</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">I don't pretend to be captain weird. I just do what I do. </span></b>~ Johnny Depp</span></blockquote>
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Rox Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10793875617929387443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489271323728434783.post-82245935985415802312014-04-09T12:34:00.000-05:002014-04-09T12:34:49.295-05:00Getting to The End - That First Draft<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>WRITING WEDNESDAY</b></div>
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<i>Wow! What happened to Monday and Tuesday? </i>LIFE</blockquote>
One of the easiest things about writing is the ability to give up. I've done it. Everyone has done it. But what does giving up get you? Not a whole lot.<br />
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This time--THIS TIME--and every time after, giving up will not be accepted. Why? Because you can do it! With a little help and some tips and tricks, you, too can finish that book!<br />
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What does it take to write that first draft? Writing it!<br />
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Whether you're a panster or a plotter, the writing must happen. We all obsess about our every word. Why? Because we want our writing to be perfect. But nothing and no one are perfect. Still, we strive to do our best.<br />
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One of the biggest things most successful writers will tell you is to <i><b>Just Write</b></i>. Sounds simple, doesn't it? It isn't, but we can make it easier.<br />
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Many successful writers will say that the key is to write a fast first draft. I agree with that. But what, exactly, does that mean? It means <b>No Editing</b>. That's right. You don't write a few pages, then go back to pick it apart and polish it to what will probably be changed later.<br />
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If panic sets in at the mere mention of <b>No Editing</b>, take a deep breath. There are ways to make that first draft with no editing easier.<br />
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<li><span style="color: purple;"><u><b>Have a fairly solid idea of where your story is going</b>.</u> </span> Does this mean you have to plot the entire story? Not necessarily. It depends on what works best for you. Simply put, have an idea of your opening, an inciting incident that shows the conflict of the two characters (hero and heroine in a romance), the mid-point aka main turning point, the black moment (when all seems lost), and the resolution aka the<i> happily ever after</i> in a romance. <a href="http://madromwriter.blogspot.com/2012/07/cooking-up-story.html"><i>Cooking Up a Story</i></a></li>
<li><span style="color: purple;"><b style="text-decoration: underline;">Know your characters' GMCs.</b> </span>If you don't know what GMC (Goal, Motivation, Conflict), you can do a search on the Internet. There's an abundance of information out there to help you. A quick explanation is Goal (what the character wants), Motivation (why the character wants the goal), and Conflict (what's keeping the character from reaching his/her goal). Each main character should have his or her own GMC. Check out my blog on <a href="http://madromwriter.blogspot.com/2014/03/building-characters.html"><i>Building Characters</i></a> and blogs and articles by others.</li>
<li><b><u><span style="color: purple;">Do as much research as you can pre-writing.</span></u></b> Whether contemporary, historical, or even futuristic/dystopian/other, they all take some research. You want to write a cowboy book, a doctor book, or even a setting you're unfamiliar with? Research. Again, the Internet is a wonderful tool for this and many other things. Use it. Talk to people who can help. You'll find more than you need, but that's okay. What you don't need you may need with another book.</li>
<li><b><u><span style="color: purple;">Plan and use your writing schedule.</span></u></b> Set aside time to write every day and also set a daily goal for pages or words to be written. And stick to it! Check out my 4-part blog series on <a href="http://madromwriter.blogspot.com/2014/01/smart-goals.html"><i>Goal Setting</i></a> for some ideas.</li>
<li><span style="color: purple;"><b><u>Think about what you're going to write before your fingers touch the keyboard.</u></b></span> In whose POV will the scene be? What is going to happen in a scene? If it helps, instead of writing one scene and stopping for the day, stop in the middle of a scene--especially an exciting or tense point--and start there the next day. Once you're in the scene, writing it, let the moment and the characters carry you along.</li>
<li><b><u><span style="color: purple;">If you find yourself stuck...</span></u></b> Don't panic. It's amazing what our subconscious does for us. Try sleeping on the problem. Brainstorm with a writer friend or group of writer friends. We often get too close to our story and characters that we can't think "out of the box" or beyond our preconceived ideas. If those things don't produce results, write whatever comes to mind. Don't worry that it isn't quite right, just get down the idea. But don't edit now! Remember, we're on the <b>No Editing</b> plan. Write a note (sticky notes work well), along with the page # and chapter/scene if needed, and refer to it later, after the first draft is finished. Or highlight that section and go back when you've finished the first draft.</li>
<li><b><u><span style="color: purple;">Write it down!</span></u></b> Ideas come to us at the strangest times. Have a notebook where you can write them down. Put a notebook in your car, your purse, or wherever you can grab it. While driving, <b>DO</b> <b>NOT</b> write notes. This is where a small voice recorder can really come in handy!</li>
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Once you have that first draft written, it's time to put it away. Let it sit for a while, if possible, and work on something new or whatever it takes to get you away from the story. Once you've had some distance, go back and start editing. That's the time to refer to those notes and make changes.</div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">Celebrate!</span></b></div>
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Now that your first draft is finished, feel proud of your accomplishment. Many people want and hope to write a book, but a large percentage of those people never do. You have!</div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.</b></span></blockquote>
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Rox Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10793875617929387443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489271323728434783.post-3017177252683041272014-04-04T11:32:00.001-05:002014-04-04T11:32:02.455-05:00Refilling the Well<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>FRIDAY FREE-FOR-ALL</b><br />
We all have responsibilities. For women, that often includes the usual human things, such as eating, cleaning, looking out for our bodies and more. Some women are married and stay-at-home wives, while some work outside the home, in addition to the usual in-home chores of life. Some women are single and look out for themselves. They clean, they shop, they cook, and they are responsible for only themselves. Some women, single or married, add children to the equation.<br />
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We are nurturers. We take care of others--husbands, children, parents, siblings and friends--while juggling all the other facets of life. Sometimes we become so immersed in those things that we forget about ourselves.<br />
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Being a single mother with grown children and young grandchildren, my attention is focused on them, while still finding time of my own, as I try to balance work, play, and the inevitable checkbook. It's easier, now that my four daughters are grown, but once a mom, always a mom. I do what I can, when I can. If I can't, I worry that I'm not being the mother I should be. And then I remind myself that it's <b>my time</b>. Not all of it is mine, but the others can take care of themselves. After all, they're the moms now.<br />
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The first time I heard the term <b><span style="color: blue;">Refilling the Well</span></b>, I was already writing and in the midst of working toward publication. I was married, with four children, so demands on my time were natural for any woman in that same place in life. We give of ourselves and often forget that we need time to regroup, to kick back for a little while and become who we are, other than wives, employees, mothers, cooks, cleaner-uppers, caretakers and all those other things we do because that's who we are. After all that giving, we sometimes feel depleted of energy, time, and--dare I say it?--giving to others. We need a little time to take a breath and think of ourselves and find way to remind us that we, too, are special. That's what <span style="color: blue;">R</span>ef<span style="color: blue;">illing the Well</span> is.<br />
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<b>Why do we need to refill our wells?</b> Because if we don't, we might fall into the trap of not caring about ourselves. If that happens, we might endanger our caring for others.<br />
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<b>So how do we refill our wells?</b> <i><u>We give ourselves the gift of time</u><span style="color: red;">.</span></i> Our time. No rushing Junior (or Juniorette, in my case) to ball practice or spending every spare minute that isn't taken up by all the have-to's in life by giving to others. We don't fill those spare moments with organizing the pantry or polishing the baseboards in our house. Well, not unless that's something that makes us happy and takes a special place in our hearts.<br />
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<a href="http://midwaysimplicity.com/5-ways-to-spend-time-alone-and-14-inspirational-quotes-about-solitude/">5 Ways to Spend Time Alone (And 14 Inspirational Quotes about Solitude)</a><br />
<br />
<b>Make a list </b>of the small things you can do for just yourself. A long bubble bath? Reading? Watching a movie we've always wanted to see? Kicking back and listening to music we enjoy? Spending time with a close friend or several friends? Taking a long walk in a peaceful spot? Watch the water in a pond or even something as simple as sitting outside on a nice day, enjoying the weather? What one thing can you do for yourself that will take you away from everyday life and, <i>especially,</i> make you smile?<br />
<br />
I used to be an avid reader. I could read 3-5 books a week, depending on the length of them. Reading is still what I do when I have a few minutes of quiet, uninterrupted time to put aside the demands of work, family, and home. But too often theses days, I find myself not reading for pleasure, only for knowledge and instructions, even though my Kindle and bookshelves are filled with all kinds of fiction! Guess what one of the things will go on my list?<br />
<br />
With luck, I'll also be spending time with friends this weekend. I'm looking forward to and excited about our writers group's upcoming mini-retreat this weekend. Eight hours of talking writing, brainstorming, helping each other, laughing and sharing. I'll spend the day with people who share my love of writing. (The photo above was taken at our Fall Mini-Retreat last year. While the mini-retreat <b>is</b> "job" related, it never feels that it is. Many of us in the group are friends, outside of the group. We're there for each other when times are bad or when we have something to celebrate. We might get together for dinner out, and we've even been known to take in a movie together!<br />
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<b>How often should we refill our wells? </b> As often as possible! Ideally, that would be every day. That's not often possible, so let's go for once a week. If that doesn't work, how about once a month, or quarterly? Or whenever the opportunity presents itself and especially when we're feeling depleted. Don't say no to an invitation from a friend to do something together or simply get together, unless it's absolutely necessary. Don't feel selfish or that you're wasting your time. We all need to do things we enjoy, in addition to the requirements in our life.<br />
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<a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/high-octane-women/201202/why-you-shouldnt-feel-guilty-about-stealing-little-time-yourself">Why You Shouldn't Feel Guilty About Stealing a Little Time for Yourself (Psychology Today)</a><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Refill the Well </span></b>whenever you can. Whenever the opportunity presents itself. It doesn't have to be planned out in advance. It can be done on the spur of the moment, when a small amount of time is presented. Leave the dishes and vacuuming for a little later. Give yourself the gift of time.<br />
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Enjoy your weekend, and if you get the chance to refill your well, <i><b>take it!</b></i> <br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">I think you have to refill the well at some point.</span></b> ~ Skeet Ulrich</span></blockquote>
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Rox Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10793875617929387443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489271323728434783.post-40596854745875929742014-04-02T17:19:00.000-05:002014-04-02T17:19:02.511-05:00Finishing the Dream<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>WRITING WEDNESDAY</b><br />
We all dream of things, and especially of doing things. Writers want to sell a best-selling book. But without a book to sell, the dream will never come true.<br />
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Instead of dreaming, let's start doing.<br />
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The first key to the writing dream is to write. Yeah, you probably already knew that. ☺ But it bears repeating. Keep telling yourself <b><i><span style="color: #741b47;">WRITERS WRITE</span></i></b>, and it will become so ingrained in you that you'll start writing, hopefully on a regular basis. If that means an hour each morning or evening is all you have for writing, do it. Write.<br />
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The second key to to the writing dream is to finish a book. Hey, isn't that your dream? Well, a huge step toward your dream, at least. So what's keeping you from doing it?<br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;">EXCUSES FOR NOT WRITING</span></b><br />
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<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>I have a family to care for.</b> Having been a wife for twenty-four years, and a mom for thirty-four, I understand how hard it is to find the time to do the things you dream of doing. But hard isn't the same as impossible. Mothers--and fathers, too--often find their lives filled with nothing but catering to others. There's nothing wrong with fulfilling responsibilities, but you also should have responsibilities to yourself. You should give some time to making yourself enjoy the things you want (and need?) to do to be a well-rounded person.</li>
<li><b>I work long hours at my day/night job. </b>Yeah, I've been there and done that. Now I work at home, and I still find it difficult to find the time to do everything.</li>
<li><b>I don't know where to start. </b>You are not alone. Most people don't, at least in the beginning.</li>
<li><b>I don't have the knowledge to know how to write a book.</b> Nobody knows everything. If you have children, do you remember what you knew about babies before having one? Did you know everything about your job when you were first hired? Probably not.</li>
<li><b>I don't have a place to write. </b>Very few do, in the beginning.</li>
</ol>
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Basically, the above are cop-outs. Excuses. A way to not fail, because if you don't try, you can't fail. Here's another: Don't have a computer or typewriter? Countless books over the years and up to this moment are written by hand. There's always an answer and a way, if it's what you truly want. Miracles happen. Let them.</div>
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Let's take a quick look at the above excuses.</div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>I have a family to care for.</b> Yes. It's "difficult" doesn't mean you can't do it. Get up an hour earlier in the morning, when the family is still sleeping. Or stay up an extra hour at night. Or write when the children are napping or after they've gone to bed. Write while dinner cooks. Write while waiting at the school for the kids to emerge, all full of energy. Write during their sporting events. Not the entire event, especially if your child is playing, but during the warm-up at every other game? You don't need huge blocks of time. Smaller ones work as well. They're there. Look and you will find.</li>
<li><b>I work long hours at my day/night job. </b>Do you have a lunch hour or half hour? Write. Or at least think about your story and take notes. Yes, we all want to chitchat with our work friends, but two or three days of the week, take take for yourself and your writing. I'm also familiar with the rest of this. "And I go home to care for my family." Do you watch television? Cut out one to three programs a week and use that time for writing. Go into an empty room, shut the door--after explaining that you are not to be bothered unless there's blood involved. Or flames. Or flooding over six inches. We have to be real about this. Delegate. Let the kids or hubby clear the table--if they aren't doing it already--and do the dishes. Let hubby or oldest child who is responsible watch the others. And DO NOT feel guilty about taking time for yourself, whether it's writing, spending time with friends, exercising, or taking a walk. Give yourself the gift of time. If needed, ask family members to brainstorm with you about how you can find some time. Remind them that a fulfilled mom is a happy mom. (This all includes dad-writers, too.)</li>
<li><b>I don't know where to start. </b>This one is hard for me to understand. If you want to write, there must be something you want to write about. The answer is <b>at the beginning...</b>of the story, of an idea, of a character, a snippet of conversation or internal thoughts, a snippet of scene playing in your mind. All of those and others are the beginning. Your beginning of an idea. If they aren't coming together, write them down. In time, they'll evolve, especially if you give them a read, now and then.</li>
<li><b>I don't have the knowledge to know how to write a book.</b> Then I have to believe you've never read a book. Ever. It's a story of a person...or two people...or a family...or an incident...or... My advice? Read more books! After that, find books about writing. There are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of books out there about writing. Or try online. Look for the basics, at first. Worry about the details later. Join a writers group. You'll immediately discover that you are not crazy, or if you are, you aren't the only one. People in writers groups, both live and online, can be the door that opens your world of writing. The plus is finding new friends who won't put you down for wishing and dreaming.</li>
<li><b>I don't have a place to write. </b>I chuckle at this one. Why? Because I have a place, but not a day goes by--or an hour--when someone doesn't step in to tell me something or ask a question. And if I'm home alone, the phone will ring. Oh! You mean a real place? Then make one. A corner in your bedroom, the attic, the basement, the kitchen or dining room table, although that does mean that when mealtime comes, you'll be moving your things elsewhere. Go outside and write. In your car, if necessary. Even the library!</li>
</ul>
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Excuses are now gone. Start writing. Don't worry about what it's about. If this is your first time to write, revel in it. Enjoy it! You're writing!</div>
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Now that you're beginning, don't worry about finishing quite yet. We'll really take a close look at that next week on Writing Wednesday. You're dreaming of writing and you're making that dream come true! That's what's important right now.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying.</span></b> ~ Michael Jordan</span></blockquote>
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Rox Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10793875617929387443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489271323728434783.post-72647876148234257402014-03-28T13:53:00.000-05:002014-03-28T13:53:13.381-05:00My Dream Vacation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCiAwexV5iYBatLXN5taIJb1T7QzGn5tv4eIg85lGHJUOvcDIf5R3BUCbqVotTx1bJbpjyIhcu0TV2MnOE8pMr5_hZTnfDGwLrP-92uBc_WSIdZRdK-BAFEgbNQBo40lh_QaG7TXhOTUcW/s1600/amtrak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCiAwexV5iYBatLXN5taIJb1T7QzGn5tv4eIg85lGHJUOvcDIf5R3BUCbqVotTx1bJbpjyIhcu0TV2MnOE8pMr5_hZTnfDGwLrP-92uBc_WSIdZRdK-BAFEgbNQBo40lh_QaG7TXhOTUcW/s1600/amtrak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCiAwexV5iYBatLXN5taIJb1T7QzGn5tv4eIg85lGHJUOvcDIf5R3BUCbqVotTx1bJbpjyIhcu0TV2MnOE8pMr5_hZTnfDGwLrP-92uBc_WSIdZRdK-BAFEgbNQBo40lh_QaG7TXhOTUcW/s1600/amtrak.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>FRIDAY FANTASY</b><br />
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This is how it starts. My dream vacation. On Amtrak.<br />
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While many people would choose to fly, I want to see things along the way, not just clouds. Driving would work. That's the way it was done when I was growing up. Our family vacations were often two weeks, and stopped at all kinds of places on the way. My mother enjoyed waterfalls and caves. We stopped at them all. I swear we did. After a while, one waterfall looked much like the last one, at least to me. The same for caves, mountains, and the usual nature things. But I did see a lot of this glorious country. Looking back to those long ago decades, I wouldn't trade them for anything.<br />
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I want to do it by train. I'll start out by travelling to Chicago, the real point of departure to my trip back into history. With luck, I'll take my youngest daughter with me. The others have responsibilities. We don't. Of course that isn't true, but they've had the advantage of being older and traveled some before baby sister was born. It's her turn now.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiON-nMUPk01x94OOHlpHw0zzoTUQdTqt-ylcTH-oyGqozKBtwpo2s9Im8lkhK00-ETzSxnUtd6ioIkXj9LWzTAkLI_uejTn9AnlRYQk6y5D7b_19GajuskOoxYKOaDCJ98UJWiiSU13GKF/s1600/old-north-church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiON-nMUPk01x94OOHlpHw0zzoTUQdTqt-ylcTH-oyGqozKBtwpo2s9Im8lkhK00-ETzSxnUtd6ioIkXj9LWzTAkLI_uejTn9AnlRYQk6y5D7b_19GajuskOoxYKOaDCJ98UJWiiSU13GKF/s1600/old-north-church.jpg" height="160" width="200" /></a><br />
After a quick tour of Chicago (I was there in 1999 and saw virtually nothing), we'll travel to Boston. I already have a list of things to see and do. In no special order:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9C-O1LSHuGOsoB8LcUFbu2JglxefSxP7GA6bPP9wZO7tv4lo7mqnVACl6EYTgBmfHJp5QdhhoMVGW7PzObcWp9I74QFMmpc3tAV_AvhdH0-RI5EsjNwvR4AH4k2mtWS8PwNkbESql9K7/s1600/freedomtrail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9C-O1LSHuGOsoB8LcUFbu2JglxefSxP7GA6bPP9wZO7tv4lo7mqnVACl6EYTgBmfHJp5QdhhoMVGW7PzObcWp9I74QFMmpc3tAV_AvhdH0-RI5EsjNwvR4AH4k2mtWS8PwNkbESql9K7/s1600/freedomtrail.jpg" height="184" width="200" /></a>
<li>Old North Church</li>
<li>Boston Harbor</li>
<li>Beacon Hill</li>
<li>Boston Athenaeum, the oldest, largest, independent, private library in the U.S.</li>
<li>Boston Commons</li>
<li>Boston Light, 2nd oldest lighthouse in the U.S</li>
<li>Fareuil Hall</li>
<li>Freedom Trail</li>
<li>Harvard</li>
</ul>
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My oldest visited Boston a few years ago. A work-related trip, she didn't get to see much. In fact, it was so late and so dark, they weren't sure where they were. Come to find out, the were behind Old North Church, where dog tags of veterans hang. It took some time for them to realize that, and also to discover they'd also driven by Harvard Library.</div>
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After Boston? We'll ride on to the Big Apple. New York City. I've been there twice. The first time with my parents in 1964. I was a preteen and remember Radio City Music Hall, climbing the winding iron steps to the crown of the Statue of Liberty, the U.N.,and going to the 1964 World's Fair. We stayed at the historic Plaza Hotel, across the street from Central Park. My second trip was in 2003, and I can now proudly say that I managed to navigate the subway and even rode it on my own aka no friends along. The subway took me from near the hotel where I stayed to Ground Zero and three blocks away to Harlequin NY Headquarters at the historic Woolworth Building. <br />
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This dream trip will include the following:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-F3bP7pNl-UWC9tkxUObpK_PZXBltGtnfLaHjTCkQe2h9HHgrzOSJdme6IOe9LJ5ShM80G0D5ztjg-_x0v8uJX1mVr_QXOPNsPDyQTQG98z_1VHWfw1qXWd_UPhWsv1t6K5MKzpU8K4GP/s1600/statue-of-liberty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-F3bP7pNl-UWC9tkxUObpK_PZXBltGtnfLaHjTCkQe2h9HHgrzOSJdme6IOe9LJ5ShM80G0D5ztjg-_x0v8uJX1mVr_QXOPNsPDyQTQG98z_1VHWfw1qXWd_UPhWsv1t6K5MKzpU8K4GP/s1600/statue-of-liberty.jpg" height="200" style="cursor: move;" width="144" /></a></div>
<li>Empire State Building</li>
<li>Statue of Liberty</li>
<li>Grand Central Terminal (a given, since riding the train)</li>
<li>Rockefeller Center</li>
<li>Radio City Music Hall</li>
<li>Broadway & Times Square</li>
<li>The Neighborhoods of Lower Manhattan</li>
<li>The World Trade Center Site, because I saw it in 2003 when it was Ground Zero.</li>
<li>And SHOPPING!</li>
</ul>
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After NYC, we'll travel south to Philadelphia, the cradle of our democracy. By now my feet will be hurting, but the things to see will far outweigh a few blisters.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6FIF1pTZ-ogKbnOAoOSdJU64MrpIgB2ixAoWYTQxf37xuwAPCD5a3dCnVt2nptrlwVTUSi9eBDOMAFnsP0rngb_dwKVz_Y0_j0rvIWUhS-rVkqXivd1EdzRsQw8X4pO9RsD6PHAYcWSQ/s1600/libertyhall-philly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6FIF1pTZ-ogKbnOAoOSdJU64MrpIgB2ixAoWYTQxf37xuwAPCD5a3dCnVt2nptrlwVTUSi9eBDOMAFnsP0rngb_dwKVz_Y0_j0rvIWUhS-rVkqXivd1EdzRsQw8X4pO9RsD6PHAYcWSQ/s1600/libertyhall-philly.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The Franklin Institute</li>
<li>Liberty Bell Center</li>
<li>Independence Hall</li>
<li>Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church</li>
<li>National Constitution Center</li>
<li>Everything possible on Independence Mall</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Aa9Pb9Ip3X1wW3PublF8faJ1zTF39HfuqkqHcsBhVOHAdMoMh0_spK0fwiLS7Z5QFWI8QvaHNlmT_jUrhcUMNljj0kC_yXf7DQteOt416VUWrDt5x82PDlludfGON73bp8sto8Yr6k-y/s1600/VietnamMemorialAAAfromabove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Aa9Pb9Ip3X1wW3PublF8faJ1zTF39HfuqkqHcsBhVOHAdMoMh0_spK0fwiLS7Z5QFWI8QvaHNlmT_jUrhcUMNljj0kC_yXf7DQteOt416VUWrDt5x82PDlludfGON73bp8sto8Yr6k-y/s1600/VietnamMemorialAAAfromabove.jpg" height="145" width="200" /></a>Last stop of the trip. Washington, DC. This is a can't miss. I've been there twice, the first visit as a small child. All I remember is the Lincoln Memorial, so the trip in 2000 with Kathie and Charlie DeNosky was a joy. I had the opportunity on this second visit to break out of my mold of not straying at the RWA Conference hotel and do a little sightseeing. I hopped on the Metro, but forgot my camera, with a zipped storage bag of momentos. My destination? The National Mall, and especially The Wall. This dream time will include many, many more things to see.</div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GAykEtD8CsjQCcnt1T7Fb02FJ1JsU1QSJIGcZ_b3LbvC8UPLfbpz6lxTQxYmoiqvA1kq8Zd40nSjiZjPPy-Wgz2mlvmxiLLQfcwtza3foJ7kcFaWhu2WMRldRYtd3NjdeeandaDjX4iw/s1600/thewall-vietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GAykEtD8CsjQCcnt1T7Fb02FJ1JsU1QSJIGcZ_b3LbvC8UPLfbpz6lxTQxYmoiqvA1kq8Zd40nSjiZjPPy-Wgz2mlvmxiLLQfcwtza3foJ7kcFaWhu2WMRldRYtd3NjdeeandaDjX4iw/s1600/thewall-vietnam.jpg" height="132" width="200" /></a>
<li>The entire Washington Mall: Vietnam Memorial, Korean War Memorial (an absolute must-see, breathtaking memorial), Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, WWII Memorial, Washington Monument</li>
<li>The Smithsonian</li>
<li>The Capitol</li>
<li>The White House</li>
<li>Every other memorial on the National Mall</li>
<li>Holocaust Museum</li>
</ul>
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Then comes the trip home, and I haven't decided which kind of transportation we'll use. That will come later. Whatever it is, we'll need time to digest all the wonderful and historic places we've seen.</div>
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Do you see a pattern in my choices? DC, Philly and Boston? The places mentioned in those three cities were part of the movie,<i> National Treasure</i>. I through NYC in there, because why miss something when you're that close?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Will we ever take this trip. Yes! I don't know when, but I do know we will. But first we'll need to watch <i>National Treasure</i> and <i>National Treasure 2</i> again, for a brush-up. Then do some studying. History will come to life.</div>
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Who wants to come along?</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394;">Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done. </span></b>~ Louis D. Brandeis</span></blockquote>
</div>
Rox Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10793875617929387443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489271323728434783.post-42801627836623312832014-03-26T22:24:00.004-05:002014-03-26T22:24:59.420-05:00Begin Your Dream, Then Finish It<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6hGC1JbWM3_md_CqLZtdBlTgg6NJdApqWCoZN-9TOsA85Vy49ujN3A38T35cVJ1kKjPz5Qzf116QRSylTWhqouodRgJKCoyA81q4LvX0FGan7Q3cMfbAKSRA8uWIGrjAODn3ZCVqeVEV/s1600/how-i-write-292x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6hGC1JbWM3_md_CqLZtdBlTgg6NJdApqWCoZN-9TOsA85Vy49ujN3A38T35cVJ1kKjPz5Qzf116QRSylTWhqouodRgJKCoyA81q4LvX0FGan7Q3cMfbAKSRA8uWIGrjAODn3ZCVqeVEV/s1600/how-i-write-292x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6hGC1JbWM3_md_CqLZtdBlTgg6NJdApqWCoZN-9TOsA85Vy49ujN3A38T35cVJ1kKjPz5Qzf116QRSylTWhqouodRgJKCoyA81q4LvX0FGan7Q3cMfbAKSRA8uWIGrjAODn3ZCVqeVEV/s1600/how-i-write-292x300.jpg" /></a></div>
<b>WRITING WEDNESDAY</b><br />
Millions of people dream of writing a book. In fact, it's said that in the U.S. alone, 200 million people want to write a book. Only a small percentage actually do.<br />
<br />
Maybe you're one of that small percentage who has actually sat down at a keyboard or held a notebook and pen/pencil in hand and started writing. If so, I salute you! It's the first step of making your dream come true.<br />
<br />
But there's more to it than that first step of beginning. The hardest part is to finish writing that story.<br />
<br />
An idea springs to mind, and we start writing. Before long, we lose interest, we hit a wall, we start to lose interest in our characters or story. Or all of those things! And then we quit. We shove the story aside and wait for inspiration on a new story.<br />
<br />
A few false starts aren't bad. Nothing but starts isn't good. How will you know if you're able to write a complete book, if you stop a few chapters into writing it? Some authors do well with 80,000 to 120,000 word books. Others aren't comfortable writing anything more than 50K to 75K Some writers panic at the thought of anything over 30,000 words, while others enjoy writing short stories. What do <b><span style="color: #990000;"><u>you</u></span></b> feel is your comfort zone?<br />
<br />
I'm here today to tell you that tossing it aside isn't always the best thing to do. In fact, if you're a new writer, it's one of the worst things you can do. I have everything I've ever written saved, either in hard copy or on computer (disk or whatever). I became serious about writing with the hope of someday have my books published in 1996. Because my focus then--and still is--romance, I joined Romance Writers of America (RWA) and went to my first National RWA Conference in July that year. <a href="http://www.kathiedenosky.com/">Kathie DeNosky</a> and I had met briefly online, and we met in person at that conference. Within very little time, we became friends with two other aspiring authors, <a href="http://www.janetleebarton.com/">Janet Lee Barton</a> and Belinda Barnes. The four of us eventually formed our own, small critique group. It was Kathie who pushed me into entering writing contests. My first entry, <i>Contract for Love</i>, placed Honorable Mention in the Love in Uniform Contest in 1996.<br />
<br />
I entered more contests, each time with a finished manuscript. After placing or winning in six more contests with three other finished manuscripts, I hit the jackpot in 1999's Georgia Romance Writers Maggie Award for Excellence and won first place with the first 30 pages of the book in the Unpublished Short Contemporary Category. When the final judge, Silhouette Editor Mary-Theresa Hussey, asked to see the full manuscript of <i>The Rancher and the Runaway Mom</i>, it was written. In April of 2000, I got The Call that Silhouette Romance wanted to buy my book. (A short P.S. on this. Every other book I'd entered in contests had been completely finished when I entered, except this one. I was short less than two chapters when I sent in the entry, and I finished it, long before the finalists were announced.)<br />
<br />
By the time I SOLD what later became <b><i>Rachel's Rescuer</i></b>, I'd written nine previous books. Of the ten, including my first sale, half of them have been published. Those other five? I still have them, and plan someday to rewrite, revise, and polish. The stories aren't bad, but they need work, and I've learned SO MUCH in the years since I first wrote them. <i>Cowboy Over a Barrel</i> (original title) and published as <i><b>A Saddle Made for Two</b></i>, was my second Silhouette Romance. <i>The Cowboy and the Ice Princess</i> (published as<i style="font-weight: bold;"> The Rodeo Rider</i>, the first in what has become a 10-book series) was my second Harlequin American Romance. Who knew they'd love cowboys as much as I love writing them?<br />
<br />
If all that sounds like bragging, it isn't. Admitting and patting yourself on the back or having others pat you on the back makes doing the hard work that much more special. Kathie has by far surpassed me in the writing world. She sold her first Silhouette (now Harlequin) Desire on my birthday in 1999. Belinda sold in December of that same year. Of the three of us, I came in third in April of 2000. Jealousy never had a place in our friendships and never will. Envy? Yes, but along with that came admiration and Kathie kicking my backside to keep me going. I have no room to brag. Sharing the things I've learned (and will continue to learn) with others makes me hopeful that one smidgen of something I've shared might be the one thing needed to create an award winning book and author.<br />
<br />
So now you know why tossing a beginning aside isn't a good thing, right? But why?<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Each book started as an idea. Ideas grow into completed books, if you stick with it.</li>
<li>As a writer, each finished manuscript is a learning process. You grow as a writer with each one. If you're part of a critique group or enter contests, there will be people who are willing to help, to tell you your strong points and help with your weak points.</li>
<li>If a book doesn't sell, it might be perfect later. Publishing tastes change. Those tastes could be right up your writing alley. </li>
</ul>
Here are a few tips I've learned along the way. Whether you're just beginning or have been writing for much longer, but feel you're getting stuck and going nowhere with your writing, these are a few things to keep in mind and give some thought.
<br />
<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>READ!!</b> What type (genres and sub-genres) are your favorite reads? Which of those do you feel you are best at writing?</li>
<li><b>Study and know your market.</b> Always keep in mind that what's selling now may or may not be hot in the future, but it's worth a try. Yes, some writers make it big with something completely different, but it's rare.</li>
<li><b>Hone your skills.</b> This includes grammar, spelling, and all the mechanics of writing. Editors (if traditionally published) will love you for this. Readers (if you're self-publishing) will, too! There's not much worse than trying to read a good story, while bad writing keeps pulling you out of it.</li>
<li><b>Learn to plot.</b> It doesn't have to be scene by scene, chapter by chapter, but have a solid idea of how and where the story begins, turning points, hooks, black moments and resolutions (aka Happily Ever Afters). If you don't understand those terms, check out some of my older blog posts and <i>especially </i>check out the blogs, books, and advice of other authors!</li>
<li><b>Your non-writing friends and family</b> can be a part of your pep club, but they will always love your writing, no matter what. Get outside that circle t learn. Join a writing group, a critique group, or enter contests.</li>
<li><b>Keep learning.</b> Always. Nothing is better than knowledge, not even talent. Without knowledge, even the most talented will struggle.</li>
<li><b>Don't give up!!</b> I was lucky enough to find writing friends who wouldn't let me do that. Throwing in the towel was something I often considered, but they kept me from doing it. My mantra became, <i>If you quit now, the next book probably would have the THE ONE. </i>Who wants to tempt fate that much?</li>
<li><b>Enjoy writing</b>, but also enjoy life, yourself, your family and friends.</li>
<li><b>WRITE!! </b>Each time you sit down to write, whether it's been an hour, a day, a week or months, you'll learn knew things. If something isn't working, try thinking about it from a different direction.</li>
<li><b>FINISH THE BOOK!!</b> Because an unfinished book will languish. Until you finish writing that first book, you'll never know the wild exhilaration of writing THE END.</li>
</ol>
<div>
One more special hint and the reason I'm blogging about this. <b>Write on, don't edit.</b> I hear a lot of "But...but..." out there, so here are two great links I found today, which led me to write this blog post.</div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b><i><a href="http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2014/03/25/lessons-from-oleander-the-dangers-of-premature-editing/">Lessons from Oleander–The Dangers of Premature Editing</a></i></b>, one of Kristen Lamb's blog posts, this one from yesterday (March 25, 2014). Short, sweet and to the point.</li>
<li><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://workawesome.com/communication/writing-effectively/">5 Tips for Writing Quickly and Effectively</a> </i>from workawesome.com</li>
</ul>
</div>
Read them. Think about them. Ask yourself if you're brave. Maybe next week we'll look a little closer at what these two blogs/articles have to say. Why? Because it's important. <b><i><span style="color: #990000;">Write on!</span></i></b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Never give up; for even rivers someday wash dams away.</span></b> ~ Arthur Golden</span></blockquote>
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Rox Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10793875617929387443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489271323728434783.post-51845273570775010562014-03-25T14:11:00.002-05:002014-03-25T14:11:44.414-05:00What Happened to Monday?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Let's just call this Thoughtful Tuesday, because that's all I have.<br />
<br />
To be honest, what happened to Monday is that it was such a blah day, I didn't care if anything got done. No, not a bad day or even a down day. It was simply BLAH.<br />
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Somewhere, as Monday finally wound down---or would that be up?---the blah moved on. Blame it on spring break coming to an end and life getting back to normal. My normal. Maybe it was watching the WSU Shockers lose in the NCAA tournament, which didn't especially hit as hard as would have expected.<br />
<br />
No, it was just Monday, and I vetoed every hint at being productive. Not that I've been especially productive lately, but really, I should have gotten life back on track. I simply didn't want to.<br />
<br />
So here I am, late, as has become my habit. Those who know me understand that late thing. I'm notoriously late with a lot of things. I blame it on having four children, who managed to suck up every second of time I built into anything. Get up an hour earlier to get them up and ready for school? Never worked for me. Start getting ready to go somewhere two hours early, when it should really only take an hour? Nope.<br />
<br />
But back to Mondays. From that vantage point, the weekend is only something in the far, far future. Does <span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>anyone</i> </b></span>like Mondays? If you do, it must be your day off. Let's just leave it at yesterday was <b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">my</span></i></b> day off, especially considering what an off day it was.<br />
<br />
So I'm at Tuesday and decided it was time to forge ahead. Not that there's been much forged. I did clean off half of my desk, put papers in folders, and... Um, okay. Not a productive day quite yet, but it's getting there. A touch of spring fever? Yeah, that's a good excuse.<br />
<br />
I have managed to get a few other things done. I was behind so many episodes of Parenthood, that I watched three in one night, then two more last night. I'm also behind on Castle. Believe me, it's not as if I watch a lot of TV, but there were more important things to do, and I stopped watching everything. Did I really miss anything? Probably not. It's nothing but entertainment, but I've been needing a huge dose of entertainment. It could be because it really isn't yet spring, and it isn't still winter,either. <br />
<br />
In spite of my blah Monday, I found something to share. Instead of adding a quote, this is my gift for today. Read it, think about it, and try to incorporate it into your life. That's what I'm going to do. No more blah days!<br />
<br />
P.S. Writers beware! I found some excellent "stuff" and will share it tomorrow.<br />
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Rox Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10793875617929387443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489271323728434783.post-35544219786435274732014-03-19T16:27:00.002-05:002014-03-19T16:27:07.684-05:00Settings Make a Difference<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>WRITING WEDNESDAYS</b></div>
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Where you set your story is a major factor when writing. Sometimes your characters or the story itself will automatically tell you where your story is set.</div>
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Is your story set in a city or a small town? Is it rural? Is it set in the present, past, or future?</div>
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<br /></div>
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After choosing where to set your story, the first thing you need to do is to familiarize yourself with it. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This morning I saw a book on Amazon that I thought might be a good one to buy and read. I have a habit of checking reviews. I don't usually read all of them, but I do read some from each rating. 4 and 5 star ratings tell me what other readers liked about the book. 3, 2, and 1 star ratings tell me what readers didn't like. This time I was looking for something specific. The story was set near a town I've visited. The author's bio said she's lived all over the world. Wonderful! But did she 'know' about the area where she'd set the book? The answer, thanks to a thoughtful and honest but fair review, came from someone who knows the location. The author's setting was wrong in many ways. My curiosity satisfied, I didn't purchase the book. Huge things like wrong setting will pull me out of a story almost as quickly as poor grammar, punctuation and writing style.</div>
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<b><br /></b>
<b>DO YOUR RESEARCH</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQkzMzkIAyLD9jUI8qJA0MKhfdF8MWGfWRromsmliSOvjEkwGGp1EBpydSTK36pv9cUHjieCFu9Z-0rgbfUsrnWweK4l-h8WjqZ9GQiW0I2BHN3hlgvUSjCuKVYXfSCpg5EQvNzX8mIbJ/s1600/citysettings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQkzMzkIAyLD9jUI8qJA0MKhfdF8MWGfWRromsmliSOvjEkwGGp1EBpydSTK36pv9cUHjieCFu9Z-0rgbfUsrnWweK4l-h8WjqZ9GQiW0I2BHN3hlgvUSjCuKVYXfSCpg5EQvNzX8mIbJ/s1600/citysettings.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a>It really does help to be personally familiar with your setting. That doesn't mean you had to spend most of your life in a specific city or state, or even a foreign country. Much can be learned from others and from research. Details can be broad, instead of specific. But a child's party set outside in February in northeast Kansas probably won't work. It snows in Kansas in the winter, and February is known for its snow here. Sometimes, especially in that area, quite a lot.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I've set books in a variety of locations.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>A ranch in Montana</li>
<li>Rodeo arenas in different areas of the country</li>
<li>Small and large ranches in different states</li>
<li>Kansas City</li>
<li>A dude ranch in the Hill Country of Texas</li>
<li>A casino in Bosier City, Louisiana</li>
<li>Small town Oklahoma and Kansas</li>
</ul>
<div>
Sitting in my drawer are manuscripts that may not see publication, and these, too, have varied settings. A tropic island, the mountains of Colorado, Maine, a large city and more. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've been to Montana and know other people who live there. I have friends in Texas and Oklahoma. I've traveled to 48 of the 50 states, and I've been in a casino. Twice. I was a baby the first time and was asked to leave. ☺ I've lived in a larger city, a small town and on a farm. I haven't been to Paris or London or Tokyo, but I could find enough information to set a story there, if I really wanted to.<br />
<br />
If your book is set in the past, you'll have more research to do about locations, society, mores, transportation, dress, and... For a book set in the future, you'll have more leeway. Still, if it's set on earth and not a galaxy far, far away, you'll need to know what has changed and why.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>SHOW, DON'T TELL</b></div>
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<b><br /></b>
Back in high school English class, we studied many of the classics. We were given several books by different authors to choose from. Somehow that I don't remember, my author was Thomas Hardy. Did I choose <i>Tess of the d'Urbervilles</i> or <i>Far from the Madding Crowd</i>? No, I chose <i>Return of the Native</i>. I wish I could say I remember the story. I don't. What I do remember is plunging into the book, wishing I'd chosen anything else. Well into it, our teacher gave us a hint: <span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Skip the first 50 pages or so. It's nothing more than a description of the landscape of the moors. Go back and read it after you finish reading the rest of the book.</span> </span> Well, duh! By then, I was well into the book and understood very well why skipping those pages might be a good idea.<br />
<br />
We're different than the people who lived during that time. Our lives have become hurry-up-and-get-there, and we want to read stories that have beginnings that don't bore us. We also don't care for long, tedious descriptions of anything. In one book I read, years ago, the heroine took the hero on a tour of her house. All the furnishings and knickknacks were included. I didn't get far with my reading. I didn't really care about all her things. I really don't enjoy a description of what each character wears each day. Well, I might, if the character's taste in clothing is a bit odd, but keep it at a minimum, please.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, giving a reader an idea of the tastes and likes of a character can be important. A two-story ranch house. A log cabin in the woods by a lake. An upscale townhouse in the city, with every conceivable amenity. If the tub is sunken, say so. Is the house light and airy or filled with antiques? Antiques? Beautiful! But don't describe every time in each room.<br />
<br />
In my upcoming August Harlequin American Romance, <i>The Cowboy Meets His Match</i>, the heroine asks the hero for a brief tour of his home. They'd known each other as children, but it's been many years since they've seen each other. The hero now owns the ranch that had belonged to his uncle. <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="Body-Text-Opening">
“This really is a beautiful house,” Erin said,
taking in everything as Jake gave her a tour. “I don’t recall ever being in it
when we were growing up. Are these your uncle’s furnishings?”</div>
<div class="Body-Text-Opening">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body-TextCxSpFirst">
“Some,” he said, “but I’ve made a few changes.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body-TextCxSpMiddle">
She didn’t remember him being all that interested
in things like colors and decorating. She hadn’t been, either, and she wanted
to learn how much he’d changed over the years they’d been apart. “Show me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body-TextCxSpMiddle">
As they walked down a wide hallway, the heels of
her fancy shoes clicking on the polished wood floor, he pointed out several
paintings. “I picked these up at different places, here and there. Arizona, New
Mexico, Nevada.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body-TextCxSpMiddle">
She studied the beautiful landscapes hanging on
the walls, and turned to him. “You traveled around a lot?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body-TextCxSpMiddle">
“A little. I worked at four different ranches over
the past…well, I guess it’s been about thirteen years. I learned something new
at each one, so it was worth it.”</div>
</blockquote>
Those paintings were a quick way to convey information about the hero's past to the heroine, without getting into a long and complicated explanation or saying 'you've been gone a long time. What did you do?' A little later, and another small detail: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="Body-TextCxSpFirst">
(snip) He led her back to the living
room, where she put the glasses on a large, low table.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body-TextCxSpMiddle">
He poured the champagne into the glasses, and she
took the one he offered. After setting the bottle aside, he took her hand and
settled her on the long, red sofa, then sat next to her. “Comfortable?”<o:p></o:p></div>
</blockquote>
A small thing, here and there--a few paintings, a red sofa, and maybe a gleaming wood floor, give the reader an idea of the space where the character lives. And it can all be scattered throughout the scene in bits and pieces, both in internal thoughts and dialogue.<br />
<br />
Or maybe it's clothing.</div>
</div>
It's clear from the beginning that my heroine isn't a frilly, girly-type girl. A former barrel racer, now working on a ranch, she wears jeans and T-shirts, boots, and a hat nearly all the time. Her choice of clothing is only randomly mentioned...until she wears a dress to formal dance. Long, black, sleek, with a low neckline and a back that dips down to her waist.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="Body-Text-No-Tab">
<span class="SC"> </span><span class="SC"> Erin stared at </span>her reflection in the antique cheval mirror. The dress Glory had insisted she buy had her wondering if she’d lost her mind. She’d never worn anything like it.</div>
<div class="Body-Text-No-Tab">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body-TextCxSpFirst">
Standing behind her, Glory smiled. “It’s beautiful, Erin. I knew that dress would be perfect.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body-TextCxSpLast">
Pressing her lips together, Erin’s gaze met Glory’s in the mirror. “You’re sure it’s not too much?” She smoothed her hands down the black fabric that fit like a second skin. “I mean—” "Perfect"<o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 16.100000381469727px;"> </span></blockquote>
Later, from the hero's POV:<br />
<div class="Body-Text">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
His gaze lingered on the low neckline of her dress.</blockquote>
And again:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?” he asked, rubbing his thumb on her bare back. “And where’d you find this dress?”</blockquote>
There's no detail by detail description of the dress. Give the reader the basics, and then let imagination fill in what <i>isn't</i> described.<br />
<br />
Use sensory details, when possible. Using <i>smoothed her hands</i> shows the fabric is sleek and soft. The <i>low neckline of her dress</i>, mentioned later, tells the reader a little more detail. And <i>rubbing his thumb on her bare back</i> finishes the description, because a man's hand while dancing is usually placed in the middle or lower back of his partner.<br />
<br />
The same small descriptions can be used with anything. Because settings are integral in our story, especially at the beginning when we want to set the stage, descriptions will do that. Make it special. Try for an opening hook and set that stage.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Trish Clayborne sat in the warmth of her car at the stop sign, blinking away the tears filling her eyes. Home. She was almost home.</blockquote>
</blockquote>
Obviously the character is feeling emotion. Sad or happy? We don't know. Yet. And it must be cold weather, if she's in the <i>warmth of her car</i>.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
From the intersection of the county road and the main street of town, Desperation, Oklahoma, resembled something out of a foggy dream. Colorful, twinkling lights draped the storefronts, and giant red and white candy canes adorned each of the street lights. A misty haze, caused by the remnant of the dusting of snow that barely covered the ground, created halos around the lights and gave the deserted street an eeriness that contradicted the friendliness of the town and its inhabitants. ~~The Lawman's Little Surprise (HAR July 2010)</blockquote>
</blockquote>
The <i>intersection of the county road and the main street of town</i>, plus the <i>stop sign</i> in the previous paragraph, shows it's more than likely a small town. The name of the town is given, and we now know the location: <i>Desperation, Oklahoma</i>. We know it's near Christmas because of <i>lights draped on the storefronts</i> and especially the <i>red and white candy canes</i>. We learn about that <i>foggy dream</i>, by <i>a misty haze</i>, and what causes it--<i>a remnant of the dusting of snow</i> that <i>created halos around the lights</i>. The town (street) appears <i>deserted and eerie</i>, yet it's a contradiction of the friendliness of the town. We now know it's a small town, probably late at night and near Christmas. Your first thought after reading that paragraph is that it's a good place to live. It's home to the character. So why is she crying?<br />
<br />
Most books now don't start with long description. We're told that a story needs to start when something happens and everything changes. Starting with dialogue works well, as do internal thoughts. Don't take my word for it, or even my examples. Read some of your favorite books by your favorite authors and see how they do it.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s.</span></b> ~ Stephen King, <i>On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft</i></span></blockquote>
</div>
Rox Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10793875617929387443noreply@blogger.com0