What I am NOT going to do in 2008

Inside my head it is still October, but since so many worthy and successful authors have blogs today on what they have on their To-Do-List for the coming year, I have spent time over the weekend to work on the objectives.

There is a master list of some ten key projects. Plus some lifestye goals.

Here is a snippet from the writing section.

1. I will no longer be satisfied with substandard touch typing. Right first time. Speed and accuracy. I have the Mavis Beacon DVD. I used to be better than this. Not good enough.

2. Output. I have so many story ideas there is a box file full to bursting. Time to create those tales and get them onto paper. No matter if they are not sold tomorrow - they will be one day and in the meantime I have lived in the story moment. Write fast. Write passionately.

With one, single, HUGE condition before any new file is opened.

3. I have to work more FUN into the writing process. I want to laugh out loud every day. If the writing is not enjoyable, I have to be brave enough to recognise that it is not working, and fix it or shelve it and move on to something which does give me pleasure - and hopefully will give a reader pleasure.

I love to get up every day excited and enthusiastic about what I am working on that day - and still be excited and dreaming about that story late into the night. It is a fantastic feeling.

Rather like being in love in fact.

Hold that thought.

Because I do know one thing.

Unless I want it enough, it simply will not happen. And I have the boredom threshold of a toddler in an empty room.

I know what excites and interests me. What I love to read and write.

2008 is the year when I focus on what makes me happy.

And if that sounds self-indulgent, then so be it. My life, my choices.

Now. All I have to do is identify the barriers between where I am now, and where I want to be, work out how to trample down/jump over those barriers, and make those objectives happen.

And there is only one person who can do that.

On with the show.

No YouTube at the moment. Listening to the soundtrack from the movie 'Amelie' on my PC.

Trivia

Thought that would get your attention.

No. Alex Romano is not my secret hero. But...A piece of trivia for you.

I have owned and ridden a series of motorbikes over the years.

The first bike was a student's dream - a Honda 90 called Wendy.
She did 120 miles a gallon and was useful to getting home about late sessions at the university. I actually drove from Yorkshire to the Dorset coast and back on that bike!
Wendy was stolen in Bradford and I received more back on the insurance that the bike cost to buy.

Now there is a Triumph Trophy 1200 in our garage - but I am definitely the pillion.

So there you have it - Ray-Anne has been a biker girl. There are photos but you are all too young and sensitive for that kind of horror.

And I never, ever, had a plastic skull between the handlebars.


What's playing on my YouTube right now? Bad to the Bone with Jensen Ackles http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=iCOoiFP69_s

Back to Work

Here we are again. Full of Yule Tide spirit [ Tawny 20 yr old Port] and Chocolate trufflalicious.

And on with the show.

Before I return to my revisions, I have taken time out today to:

* go to the shops for more post-Christmas writer's trousers. [ Baggy bottom, wide leg, elastic waistband. Say no more.]

* catch up on a few sites I have neglected for a while. One of these was J A Konrath+ who has been musing on Resolutions for Writers - past and current. He has some excellent suggestions, and one of these stuck with me.

'I Will Feed My Addiction.
Life is busy.
There are always things you can and should be doing, and your writing career often comes second. So make it come first. Right now, you're reading A Newbie's Guide to Publishing. Not A Newbie's Guide to Leading a Content and Balanced Life.
You want to get published and stay published?
That means making writing a priority. That means making
sacrifices.
A sacrifice involves choosing one thing over another.
If you can't devote the time, energy, and money it takes to
pursue this career, go do something else.'

He is right. There will ALWAYS be something easier to do with your time than create a career, a business if you will, from your writing.

Of course, if this was some type of PROPER Sole-Trader business, eg. shop owner or tradesman, then yes, surely you would expect to work all of the hours to get it up and runnning so that your customers obtain precisely the product they need ahead of schedule.

So why do we not always look at our writing in this way?

I find that very interesting.

+ http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/

No YouTube today. Radio playing in the background.

Hibernation

This is the fireplace in my living room.

It comes complete with a sofa, and a coffee table straining to hold up the To Be Read Pile.

All I have to do is nip outside for more coal and logs now and then.

Tea and mince pies are optional extras.

Signing off now until after the holiday.

I hope you have everything you wish for. Health and happiness. Love and laughter.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blatherings. Ray-Anne

What's playing on my YouTube right now? Darren Hayes. 'Words' http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1bXPuyAESG0&feature=PlayList&p=AD563AB40FF75834&index=1&playnext=2&playnext_from=PL

Digital Metaphors

I was looking through some holiday photos from September in Austria, and came across a series which seem to capture the journey of a pre-published author perfectly.

* It all looks lovely from up here

* This map must be wrong - been wandering around here for ages and no clear path ahead

* That gorge is HOW deep? And this is the only way across?

* Holding on for dear life and shuffling forward one step at a time.

Anyone reading this post is more than capable of adding clever captions.

Any suggestions??

PS. Yes I know I look daft in that outfit. And somewhat bewildered.

Word Stew

Nicola Marsh has an excellent post today on the merits of allowing your work to 'stew' so you can return to it with fresh eyes before submitting. http://www.nicolamarsh.blogspot.com/

I find this a very hard thing to do, but my current WIP needs it.

I can already see gaps in the hero's internal conflict and one section needs work on pacing - it seems flat. The opening chapters need more angst. Everyone is too 'nice' to eachother.

So the whole file, notes, print-outs, post-it stickers, everything, is now inside the box file.

Sitting there.

On my desk.

Taunting me.

Calling me a wimp for not soldiering on.

I shall now punish it by storing on the top shelf of the bookcase for a week before going back to it.

This work needs to be submitted. I need to feel it is the best work I can create.

In the meantime...there are one or two other things to do around the place this week.

Excuse me while I look for a roasting tin large enough for a brace of wild rabbits.

Whilst stirring the home-made tangerine marmalade.

And sorting out the contents of the freezer which seems to have a lot of smoked fish. And preparing a shopping list for tomorrow's supermarket dash.

And glancing longingly at the TBR pile. A week may not be long enough.

What's playing on my YouTube right now? Silje. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=mEW2aEazNCQ&feature=PlayList&p=9E78A195607312A8&index=1

Multi-Media Options

Because Santa is so busy, Mr Ray-Anne has my new Darren Hayes CD to wrap. I have his 5 disc [ yes, I did say 5] special edition Bladerunner DVD set. There are probably 10 films and shows recorded from the TV waiting to be watched. Plus DVDs of the latest blockbusters from Amazon.

The TV guide for the holidays is sitting on the breakfast table and we idly flick through and circle a few things. For every day. Including some most excellent BBC radio programmes.

The local Cinema is showing 'Enchanted.'

I was struck this morning by how much technology has changed the way we celebrate the Christmas holiday and approach our leisure time - in our culture at least.

Cable Tv. DVDs. Cds. Radio. Video. Home Cinema. Big Screen out with the popcorn sitting with other people cinema. The theatre. Live concerts. Your local Pantomime.

Is anyone besides myself exhausted yet?

I can imagine folks arguing about what, when, how it can all be fitted in. Then cross words when they miss it, or, perish the thought, someone wants to watch the other channel!

Except of course, you probably have more than one TV, and the children watch their own progs and talk to their friends on cell phones in their own rooms. Away from the family who are so BORING.

They might have a point.

No YouTube today. In the spirit of this post, I am going to work away from the PC and study story structure.

My WIP is at what I call the 'Reasonable' Draft Stage. 52k. 12 chapters. Now it's time to challenge myself and my characters. Time to dig even deeper.

Miner's helmet on. Ice axe in hand. I'm going in.