Ideas are Flowing

Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night and just have to write something down?

That has been happening to me constantly week. Story ideas, marketing thoughts, blog posts. They've been coming in a waterfall breaking over the rocks of reality.

Seriously, I drove out to the mid-cities on Saturday and thankfully had my IPad in the seat next to me. One of my apps is a recorder with a big red button on it. I gave it a push and started spewing out the scene that had been rumbling through my head since I woke up. Does it count as writing if it isn't down on paper? Maybe half-credit? LOL!

The same thing happened a few nights ago with a picture I found at Pinterest. (Have I mentioned that I LOVE Pinterest?) Tons of ideas spewed out of that one. I'm even featuring it in tomorrow's blog so come back!

But much of the droplets have fallen on the stone cold reality of my busy schedule. I tell folks that I homeschool and I think images of eating chocolates on a lounger float across their minds. Ha! Shows what they know - it's chocolate cake on my couch. So there!

No really, I know everyone has their own flavor of craziness. I've always been told in ministry to give jobs to busy people because they know how to get them done. I'm probably a fair example of that, but I have learned to use the word no when necessary. Still, this week has started out with the arrow pointing near overload on my busy-ness gauge, so while ideas have been flowing, only short notes and scratched out hints have been written.

But the ideas are flowing - woohoo! And I do have notes and scratched-out hints when life slows down again - and it will. Prom is 5 weeks away. I've done it for six years now. Life comes to a screeching halt when it ends and I get some of my best writing done! Can't wait!

All-in-all, as this first round of ROW80 2012 nears finality, I'm not nearly as far down my writing road as I wished. I didn't complete a novel like I did last time, but that one is taking on a whole new path with my revisions. And I expected to be able to complete those revisions, however, that expectation came before inspiration. No argument there. Can't say that I'm really disappointed about anything except my lack of exercise. Will continue to work on that, though.

One more week to go!

Wheels Go Round in a Circle

See the little guy behind the wires? She's actually a girl.

Me.

Notice the eyes? The look of panic? The weak droop at the side of her mouth. Yep. She's tired.

I can so relate!

I think I might have told you about my new project. I've been recruited to help with a homeschool prom. Okay take all of the pictures that you have in your head of prom and throw them away. This event has all the earmarks of a royal ball crossed by a Mary Kay Convention.

No I'm not kidding. This thing has won national awards and is the largest homeschool prom in the nation - probably the world.

What have I gotten myself into?

This week, I took over the volunteer work for the event. Every family with a ticket has to have volunteer hours so there are literally thousands of people to schedule. Luckily I've got a gal who has done this work for years heading up my team and a brand new program that is tracking things in detail.

And that's what I've been doing for the last 4 days. Tracking everything in detail and learning how to work with this process so we can keep the train moving.

But I so feel for the guy on the wheel. Just when I think I'm reaching a ledge and can stop prom work and do some actual writing, another thing comes down the pipe. Well, it IS the season with only about 6 weeks left. But it leaves me in chagrin of what I love.

So I focus on the good things. I got to add 2k to my WIP over the weekend. That felt so good and I tried so hard to continue - ah well. I'm working on this project with some GREAT ladies and getting an opportunity to create a truly unforgettable night for our teenagers. I'm also getting to use my organizational talents along with developing some new abilities as I work with the programs and people. That's been fun, too. Oh and I got to design a new blog with all kinds of information about medieval times. Loved setting that up!

And today's only Wednesday. My WIP is still on the top of my stack of things to get to. I will hold out hope!

News. Reviews. Previews.

This was a happening week on this little blog guy, but I'm nowhere near finished. If you're reading this at marjilaine.blogspot.com, know that I have moved and will continue to move to marjilaine.wordpress.com. There's a little follow button at the top of the screen. You would make my day if you clicked it.

And though the circumstances of this week jolted up and down, I'm satisfied with what I accomplished. In this weekender, you'll get the chance to see:

• Some amazing articles, hand-picked by me. 
• The articles you might have missed from last week.
• My ROW80 writing challenge update.
• The articles you'll get to see this week.

NEWS

I'm still working on this feature, though because some of my favorite blogs, like KeliGwyn.wordpress.com, RachelleGardner.com, and likeachildforJesus.wordpress.com, aren't showing up. I could add SteveLaube.com and others to that list as well. I'll stay with it.

REVIEWS

I was so pleased with the move to my new blog last week. Right away I started getting more visits at Wordpress than I did at Blogger. But then maybe that's because of the content on Monday when I compared Wordpress and Blogger. (A hard contest!) On Tuesday, I filled my docket with some inspiration from Ephesians. Wednesday, I added my ROW80 update to another observation about Wordpress. We're working through things. So on Thursday, I discussed the things I'm learning about myself and how they compare to the characters I set up. An author review with Fay Lamb rounded out the week on Friday.

ROW80

The requirements of some volunteer work I do intensified this week. Unable to write the first half of the week, I kept struggling to get to it the second-half but found myself out of practice. How can I get out of practice in only a few weeks. I mean I never REALLY stop writing, just stop working on the WIP. But then that's the issue. This isn't a non-fiction book that I can write a section at a time. A novel flows without stopping places - making placing a bookmark or putting the story down very difficult. So in taking a break from it, I really need to carve out a great chunk of time to settle back into the story world again. 

Along with a new goal of writing 1000 words every day, I'm toying with breaking my blog into chunks as well. Not many bloggers set up brand new articles every day, but I don't think I'm giving these articles my best effort because I have to churn them out, usually at night, with little time for inspiration or even editing. (I hate finding the mistakes!)

So as much as I'd like to continue with some of the daily plans I have, like my cool A2Z blog hop, (Second time through the alphabet!) I think I need to find a tighter niche for my writing. No big changes yet, but I'm looking for inspiration. I could use prayer for that!

PREVIEWS

Like I said, nothing really changes this week. On Monday, I'll be highlighting the Clash of the Titles winner from this week. Such a great way to get a chewy morsel from a book, like a sample off a cookie tray, to see if it resonates! Tuesday will be my regular A2Z article, but this one is extraordinary. I literally shed tears over it. Definitely a must-see. On Wednesday, I'll share another update and take you along on my journey for a bit. Thursday's offering will likely be linked to Social Media as it is beginning to consume every spare moment. And on Friday, I hope to have a new author interview to share with you.

So what are your plans for this weekend?

Wordpress Bugs

Yes, this is how the site was SUPPOSED to look!

I found out today, that the background I worked on for HOURS - nay, DAYS - only looks good on my own computer. Are you KIDDING me? Seriously. I grunted over this background - adjust, save, load, repeat. It never occurred to me that Wordpress wouldn't auto-fit the final concept. 

So I'll punt and go with a canned look. And that will be okay. (She tells herself with a growl.) I'm frustrated that I wasted almost 12 hours on setting it up, though. 

And that's where I started on this Wednesday ROW80 update. Frustrated. Not only because of my wasted time (a most valued commodity) but also because I've been constantly distracted with outside requests and issues. I haven't been able to write more than a blog article in days. And I'm burning to get to it! But thankfully, that's not where I finished this update - read on!

My WIP took an amazing turn last week, but I haven't had the opportunity to pursue it. So my writing goal hasn't been where I want it. But I have been doing some blog visiting - not as much as I wish. I have set up the new website pieces that I'll be opening sometime next month, though I'd like to be able to write more on them. And I got my exercise in this week and am eating right. (She says as she takes a bite of chocolate chunk cookie - yes, it IS sugar-free, but still.) Oh and I finally stopped procrastinating and turned in my contest piece. That's a win as well. So I guess there are more :) than :( or maybe that should be @**@.

For the rest of the week, I'd like to get ahead on blog articles again. Don't like this last minute stuff I've been doing. I truly hope to finish the changes that I'm making to my WIP so I can get back to the new story I've started. Too many scenes are running through my head. 

Now here's the rest of the story. As I wrote this, I decided I couldn't leave me blog half-done. Yes, I'm ADD and stopped to make adjustments! I had to make it look somewhat professional. So I changed the layout with the intent to go with a plain design. Well the layout fell into my current background beautifully. I added my original header to an enlarged version of it and I LOVE it. I'm so please with the way it turned out. I know it's only just for now, but it makes me smile! Go visit my new space! It is http://marjilaine.wordpress.com. (A simple change.) I'll be switching permanently soon, so bookmark it!

This post started out in a nothing's-right, rain cloud, but by talking my way through my week, I easily found some things to be happy about. (Oh, and the Dear Boy's Rugby team won the Texas State Championship!) I guess I just needed to step out of the emotion and view the reality of what's really going on. 

Where are you right now? On an upswing or down? If you're heading down, can you look for something good that you can grab hold of. Even small smiles can pull you out before you hit the dregs at the bottom of the tea cup.

Blessings!

News. Reviews. Previews.

I had so much fun planning this week. I've got some new blog ideas and am actually considering moving my blog over to Wordpress instead of keeping it here at Blogger. Have any of you done that? I'd love to hear your advice on the matter!

So I've got these new things that I'm so pumped about sharing. But I want to
wait to make it all just right before I do a grand opening! So excited!

Speaking of excited, did you notice the change in the header. I promise the picture that was there before was only a half-dozen years old, but it made me look much younger. So this one is only a few months old. My dinky twinky did a great job on it! (BTW, Dinky Twinkies is code for my twin girls. thus Dinky Twinky would be a single.) Precious Redhead said it made me look mysterious. I would be flattered except that yesterday she said my grin made me look constipated. I think I'll go looking for compliments elsewhere - just sayin'. :)

This weekender will offer:

• Some great blog articles from authors including Staci Stallings, Jody Hedlund, David Walker, and Julie Cantrell.
• Last week's blog review
• ROW80 Update
• Next Week's Blog Expectations

News

I'm getting better at visiting blogs, this week. Of course with my Grace Readers' Weekly, I don't have to rely only on my own blog touring. Some Twitter buddies offer their favorites as well.

Review

Last Monday, I got to share the Best Almost Kiss winner at the Clash of the Titles. I'm enjoying being part of their blog Alliance every other week. On Tuesday, I shared about my boy's rugby team at the University of Texas at Dallas in G is for Grrrrr! Highs and lows and how to live through them was my topic on Wednesday with another ROW80 update. Then I shared all I've learned about writing a Synopsis on Thursday. An interview with author and missionary Zeke Lam rounded out the week with a discussion of his book, Submission. Please visit the links here if you missed one of the articles!

ROW80 Update

Like I said, I'm inspired. I've written about 5k in a new story and am in the process of laying it out. I've taken two of my other stories, along with a serial I wrote using one of the characters, and am in the process of weaving the serial into my second story to connect them in a series. This third one that I'm writing now will complete the set and I'm really excited how things are going with it. 

I got better at blog visiting, started on Pinterest (I'm totally addicted!), began tweeting more regularly, and set up some new surprises for later. Oh and I also played volleyball for an hour and a half! So sore after sitting around for 2 weeks! Now if I could just get off of potatoes again!

Preveiw

I think my plans may change, but for right now, I'm planning to Review a brand new book by debut author Bonnie S. Calhoun on Monday. On Tuesday, I'll be highlighting the letter H. Hmmmmmm. I'll have another ROW80 update on Wednesday, along with an inspirational article about life and writing. On Thursday, I'll be chatting about learning styles and how they affect adults as much as kids. Then Friday will hold an interview with Author Fay Lamb. 

Hope you've had a productive week and will have a delightful weekend. I'm going to watch my Dear Boy beat up on the UT of San Antonio for the Texas State Rugby Championship! (That's the way I've pictured it in my head anyway.)

Have you blogged with both Blogger and Wordpress? Which do you prefer? Do you think I should switch to Wordpress?

Highs and Lows

Okay, you non-race fans. Bear with me. There really is a point to this! I was watching an interview with last year's Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne. In only his second Sprint Cup start, the 20-year-old (same as my Dear Boy) won the equivalent of the Super Bowl.

He was so green he had trouble finding Victory Lane. "I don't even know where to go," came over

his radio after his burn-out.

Only a few weeks later, his career lay in jeopardy by a mysterious illness. Five weeks, he was forced to watch, mostly from a hospital bed, his car race without him.

Thankfully, the man recovered and has qualified for his second Daytona 500 race coming this Sunday.

High highs and low lows. They're just part of life, whether you're a race car driver, a parent, an accountant, or a writer.

The highs inspire us. Carry us. And the hope of them drive us forward in anticipation. It's that hope that gives us our strongest motivation and propels us through most of our daily days. Reaching the highs is spectacular for a moment. Resting on it for too long can drag us down, but that element of reaching the high and the memory of it provide the fuel that creates our dreams in the first place.

If the highs inspire us, the lows direct us. As a teacher, misbehavior always resulted in redirecting. Not only did the word sound better than punishment, it was a more accurate description of what happened. I didn't want to stifle the creativity or the spirit of my students. I just wanted to funnel it into an appropriate area.

Our failures treat us to the same instruction. Like a mouse in a maze reaching a dead end, we have to pick up and turn our enthusiasm to a different path. The lows threaten to rob us of hope and a positive attitude, but they don't have to.

In fact, they really don't have the power to do that. Dead ends only look like they stop us, but it depends on how we react to them. We can allow them to stop us, sit on our hineys and whine. Or we can pull a u-ee and try another possibility. (There are always other possibilities.)

Now this article isn't an explanation of me making a drastic change. On the contrary, I'm riding on hope right now with my new story idea and am writing more than I have in months. But I have to be ready for set-backs: passes from agents, strong critiques, even poor reviews. I don't expect them, but I have to be prepared for them so that when they come I can use them for growth instead of wrapping my emotions around them into a fetal position.

All of my goals, including reading, visiting other blogs, even my exercise, are on an upswing. It hasn't been that way the whole time, but I've been able to find something to be pleased about with every update, even on weeks when I topple big.

Where are you this week? What's spurring you on, or what's holding you back?

News. Previews. Reviews. And God is GOOD!

What an awesome week! I feel like a new woman. Seriously! After coughing my head off for a solid week, I get by with only about one to two coughs per hour and I'm finally able to sleep all night without interruption. Yippee! (Little things tickle the tar out of me!)

But there is more to cheer about. God is so good! His faithfulness never quits! I'm in awe. Several connections, family members and family of friends have had intensive situations, surgeries or illnesses. In every case, God not only gave His blessings but showered exceeding abundant on the families. I love it when I can see His intentions and watch Him work in the lives of people I love.

What a great week!

This weekender has:

• Awesome articles of faith and writing all hand-picked.
• A review of my blogs from the week.
• A preview of next week's articles.
• My ROW80 update.

NEWS

I love being able to put together this newspaper. I collect and search through hundreds of posts to find the ones I like the best for my headlines. Check them out!

REVIEWS

Inspired by other blogs and my F post I started my week with a post explaining what Faith-Driven Fiction means to me. I followed it up on Tuesday with a post about my family - they're what I'm mostly about. On Wednesday, I continued my Monday post with an article on Purpose along with my ROW80 mid-week review. Thursday I skewed from my normal writing tip and posted about Holiness. The song by Sonic Flood has been churning through my head for days! Then I rounded out the week with an interview with a debut novelist from Saint Lucia who writes Christian Thrillers.

ROW80 UPDATE

I'm so excited! I got a brand new idea last night and have been tapping away at the keyboard all day. Do writers really have to sleep? This new story pumps me up and drives me to my keyboard at every opportunity. Needless to say, I'm blasting my ROW80 writing goals off the charts. 

Surprisingly, I'm also keeping my balance well. In fact, I'm able to spend more and more time with my sweet hubby and kids. (Can't wait to go watch my boy in a Rugby match this weekend. Pictures to come!) The only thing I'm still working on is visiting other blogs. I'm visiting weekly, but not often seeking out new blogs to read. Oh, and now that my cough is subsiding, I need to get back to my exercise.

I'm adding a new goal. I have several books that I wanted to read before their debut. I WILL find a way to get those read. (Four in all) I want to have at least one of those read before March 1st. 

PREVIEWS

Monday's post will hold the latest winners for Almost Kiss at Clash of the Titles. What a fiery excerpt! On Tuesday, is my post for Patty Wysong's A2Z blog hop. This week the letter is G, and my post is ... well ... unique to say the least. My ROW80 update will detail where I am on my writing goals on Wednesday. Synopsis writing earns the highlight on Thursday. I'm told that is the hardest writing I'll do. On Friday, I'll be hosting author and founder of Submission Ministries, Zeke Lam. This guy is amazing! By all means come back next week!

So what did you do this week and what are you looking forward to?

Top Ten Reasons to Stay in Bed!

I'm not a lazy person. No wait let me clarify. I AM a lazy person who has spent her life overcoming natural tendencies. But today, I declare a moratorium on productivity. Like during the ice storm that never came this winter, I need to hunker down and recreate, repair, refresh, and a whole bunch of other res that I could think of if given a chance.

So here are my top ten reasons to drag my tail and leave my head on the pillow as long as possible:

News. Previews. Reviews

This week, there were some really weird things that went on. Did you see any meteors? I read an article last year (helping with my precious redhead's science presentation) about solar flares and how this year's activity is supposed to be strongest in the last 150 years. Some scientists suggest that strong flares could destroy satellites, even melt away communication towers and electricity wires.

Yikes, really?

The KEY!

While I've been treading water, I haven't felt that I'm really accomplishing my goals like I have in the past. I didn't set specific daily revision counts and wouldn't have met them if I had because I haven't been working in a daily manner on anything. Lack of consistency.

And consistency is KEY!

It's not like I've been inconsistent in everything. That's not the case. I've been posting a blog article everyday. I've gotten much better at visiting other blogs, though I'm still not where I'd like to be on

News, Reviews, Previews

What a great week full of HOPE and joy!
My weekender has stories about:

• Articles of inspiration and writing
• A review of last week's blog articles at Faith-Driven Fiction
• My Sunday ROW80 Update
• A preview of articles and specials coming next week

Challenges

I know this isn't what you want to see on a cold January day!

I thought about making this word my C word for the A2Z blog hop article this week, but I went with this word instead. Challenge is a better topic for this ROW80 Update anyway. If you're anything like me, you feel challenges at every side. I would say that right now I'm in a busy season, but the truth is, I'm ALWAYS in a busy season. I like it that way. It keeps me moving and I find I'm much more effective and efficient when

News, Reviews, Previews

In my Weekender, find:

• Some awesome articles
• A blog review of the week
• My ROW80 update
• Next week's article run-down

Learning from Failure

I'm so pleased to be involved with an awesome group of folks in the DFW Ready Writers. They are a local chapter of the American Christian Fiction Writers. Last Saturday, I got to go to the January meeting of the group and the new president, Janice Olsen, suggested that we, as writers, can learn a lot more from our failures than we can from our successes.

Seems like that's true of anybody, though. When I taught elementary, we had a discipline expert come in with a discussion on empowering the students. Her focus was to teach them that their behavior is

News, Reviews, and Previews

This week swept by on a dust devil called "Class in Session"! I'm sure I've been grading essays for hundreds of years at this point, yet still more arrive in my email box. I must admit, through my weariness, that many are quite good and I'm thankful that they actually grasped the techniques I taught them last fall.

And yet, the task has left me precious little revising time, though my critique group did approve of my next chapter. Woohoo! And as I write this, I'm in anticipation of something. The chances are just

Hoping for SOMETHING!

I actually don't believe in luck or crossing fingers or any of that stuff, but the picture sure exemplifies hope. "Cross your fingers and hope real hard!" That's what I was always told, but I couldn't tell you who first said it to me.

So I'm hoping. First, I'm hoping to do better at reporting. I'm so bummed that I forgot to share an update last Sunday.

Second, I'm hoping for ... well ... you know.

There’s a time to dream and a time to act. As a writer, being part-dreamer just comes with the territory. I visualized getting “the call” the other day. I’ve delayed attempts to connect with an agent for the most part. (I don’t really count the few queries that I sent out before I had a clue of what I was doing.) Now I have a clue, thanks to the many

Wow, That was FAST!

Wow, this update is a quick one. I posted my goals on Monday and I can tell you that I have revised 15 pages on Cat’s Eyes. I’m enjoying the polishing stage of my writing because I finish a section and like the way it sounds. I feel like I’ve really completed it.

I’ve exercised once since making my goals and I’ll be playing volleyball tomorrow so I should still need one more 30 minute section before

Goal-Setting

I read an article about setting resolutions by Rachelle Gardner. She said she focuses on the impetus for her goals and used the example of weight loss. She suggested that having a resolution of weight loss really uncovers a desire to feel good, be healthy, look nice. I totally get that. And most people do settle on resolutions about now. However, resolutions and goals are a little different.

Resolutions, to me, are lifestyle changes. Attempting a resolution is like deciding to change a career, or a daily pattern, or a name. Oh wait, I did

News and Previews

Wow! Two weeks away from writing and I hardly know what to do with myself! I'm looking forward to digging into my revisions again, and I have another story that's beginning to tickle the back edges of my mind. I'm looking forward to telling it.

First, I have some blogging to do! My A2Z leader, Patty Wysong, has challenged the new group to

Final ROW 80

Thanks so much to the folks below for giving me such consistent encouragement! I will definitely be back for the next ROW80 starting on January 2! Already have a story in mind once I get past these nasty revisions. Look forward to seeing all of ya'll again!

Ryan King Amy Kennedy Sharon Howard Alberta Ross L.S. Engler Juliana Haygert Komal Jennifer M Eaton Liz Rebecca J. Fleming Kerry Meacham Julie Glover Katy Bennet

Angela Orlowski-Peart Elizabeth Mitchell Natalia Gortova Natalie Hartford Nicole Basaraba Raelyn Barcley Kathryn Stripling Byer Jenn Jaleh D Cheryl Linn Martin Tracy Krauss Nancy J. Nicholson RantRaveWrite

Melanie Kim Switzer Tia Bach Stacy Green Laura Parish Camille LaGuire Gina Carey Nellie Batz Ennis P.

Hope your Christmas is amazing and your New Year leaves you in happy anticipation!