Make Mine Supers (15)

Hello - Is the Supers word count still 60,000?  Thanks!  I'm editing a ms and can't decide on choping.

Sorry about the brain scrambling, Jody. I blame Jeannie. She's a teacher and we all know how they like to mess with our brains.

The word count for Supers is 60,000-65,000. You can run a little long, I think. 

My kid pitched an inning at his baseball game tonight. This is a true triumph for him and his coach. He's not a great player and almost didn't play at all this year because his confidence and joy were sapped, but our neighbor called and asked if he'd play for him on his team. I wouldn't imagine he'll get to pitch again, but my son is on cloud nine. He has a 0.00 ERA with one walk and one strikeout. The strikeout actually led into a throw out when a kid tried to steal so he helped turn a double-play as well. All in all it was an excellent outing on the mound. 

The only black mark on the experience is that his coach wouldn't let him throw his eephus pitch. (An eephus is a slow, high, looping ball that basically screws with the batter's mind. You can see examples on YouTube.) My other son feels this was a mistake because he says his brother's eephus, "Whiffs everybody, even me."

Must be nice to be a big brother with a 0.00 ERA and a wicked whiffing eephus in your pitching arsenal.

I feel so blessed that I get to watch these kids grow up.

Good night, all.

Writer Ellen

A nice, clean room to play in. Rae, can you come archive my house?! I think I need to start over. LOL 

So how is everyone? Today my daughter is supposed to dress up like her favorite adult at work. I tried to get her to wear her pjs. <G> She wants to dress like me going to a signing. I think what she really wants is my oversized purse that I usually carry. *sigh* 

The sun is shining and it looks to be a beautiful day. Anyone got any plans?

 Kay 

Yes, please let this be the end of the cold weather. I am so tired of flannel about now! I lost any color I got a few weeks ago in the warm spell. 

Tired this morning, always lumpy sleep when dh is out of town, but yesterday was a very productive day, and today I have to go and help my Dad with his yard. I have a feeling he's going to put me through my paces. 89 year olds, sheesh.*G*

Jodie don't let the doubt demons get you down, especially about details like that. You'll drive yourself crazy. Those are the kinds of things you can work on over time, in little batches. Every sentence of every book does not have to be letter perfect (what's that saying? Don't let perfection be the enemy of the good?). You should do your best, and feel good about it, but not drive yourself nuts at the micro level. It's fine to say "She was upset."The control on show don't tell is also "don't use ten words where you can use three." ;)

I have a new mantra for myself: writing should be fun. I've had some work dogging me that I feel like I am banging my head against a wall, and I started thinking it to death again, what would make it work? until I realized I had no interest in it anymore. Even thinking of working on it was unappealing. In contrast, I am working on two Blazes which came very easily and are a ton of fun, and the daily writing is rewarding and enjoyable. I figure, I could get a job that would pay a lot more and I could be miserable and making more money with benefits, so the benefit of writing is that I have the opportunity to enjoy my work and my time in a way very few people do. So why stress myself out? Past that, I think when I am forcing the story/writing, it shows. Better to go with the flow, have fun, and I think that shows, too. 

I am also considering pantsing a book for the first time in a while. I wrote my first book with only a vague idea, and while Harlequin writers need to be proposal first writers, I wonder if I can still pants a story? Maybe going to try -- it would be fun *G* and it would be good exercise for my imagination, I think... 

So, checking email, etc and ingesting as much coffee as I can in the next 30 minutes or so, then off to walk dogs and work my Dad's yard...

Sam

Poor Jodie -- I just saw that Ellen and I came in on polar opposites of the issue -- aren't you glad you asked?

I edit as I go, and I make fixes through the editing process, obviously -- I second Ellen that no one gets it perfect on the first pass. But I also think you can work a piece of writing to death. And it will show, sometimes not always for the better.

One more cup of coffee and I think I have enough caffeine to leave the house safely... ;)

Sam

Ellen--Congratulations on your son's pitching triumph.  Perhaps it's just as well that he didn't unveil the secret weapon on this first outing.  Always good to have something that will mess with their heads when it is least expected.  I know about this first hand.

Jodie--Any way that works for you is a good way.  Chapters 4-6 in my new book have been slapping me around, so I'm leaving them behind and working on 7-9.  Then I will go back and adjust.  This happens almost every book.  I don't mind having a big hole.  I just fill it later.  I also edit after reading some excellent writing or watching a movie because it inspires me.

Sam--I pretty much pants A Cowboy's Redemption.  I didn't like my first three chapters, so took off in a different direction and really enjoyed the experience.  I think some stories are pantsible, and others need the notecards.  As we speak I am preparing the cards...

Superromance Author Group Blog info--I'm blogging today and all you have to do to win a book is to stop by and tell me if you prefer cops or cowboys.  One word will suffice.  Like say....Cop.  Or...Cowboy.  This is a good time to de-lurk.

Have a good one--

Jeannie

Kay, just wanted to pop in and offer my condolences on the loss of your friend.

Jayne

Hey_Ellen,

I-once-heard-Satchel_Paige-interviewed-and-he-talked-about-a"Hesitation_Pitch".He

threw-a-ball-that-hung-in-the-air-before-moving-forward.The-umpire-asked-what-he-called

it.Then-he-said-he-couldn't-allow-him-to-throw-that-anymore.LOL!

Aurelene

You're welcome!

I think part of why pantsing a book makes me nervous is that I'm verbose. If I didn't have a plan I could easily mess around with eight million meaningless but interesting and/or fun scenes. Having a plan makes me stick to the paradigm of the book I'm writing.

Aurelene--Satchel Paige has got to be one of the greatest baseball names ever. I love that name. Would love to read about his pitch. Maybe I'll go look it up. 

I forgot to mention that the kid who struck my brother out with the eephus pitch all those years ago is now a politician. From sneaky Little League pitcher to politics. It makes perfect sense. Maybe when I write my eephus book I'll have a politician character.

Writer Ellen

I will be stalking you so look out.  I had already planned to buy "Hard to Resist" any way and I follow all but two of those blogs anyway so watch out for me.

Hey all, my mom is finally home, but still not in the best shape. She has a broken rib, along with multiple other problems. Thank you for all the warm wishes and hugs.

Boy, have I missed a lot. A new room. I must confess I skipped the old room, and just came to the new one. I hope everyone is doing well. Interesting discussion on panster vs. note cards etc. I started writing my WIP as a panster. I have several scenes all planned in my head, so I finally sat down and wrote them out on a piece of paper the other night. I am wondering where to go from here though. I need to get some work done, but I have been avoiding it like the plague. The next chapter just isn’t wanting to start. Giong to try and make myself tommarrow.. Like it or not something is getting written!

Take Care all .. Donya

Got my R letter in the mail this morning. Totally expected and for the reasons I had analyzed, but alas after I had sent the proposal. I'm not mourning the R and had already moved on something else. I might not be around for a while, day job is calling and my other writing project needs attention.

I was on the road today to go and visit my friend in the nursing home. A small car was driving two feet behind me. A deer crossed the road. I slammed the brakes on. Little car behind fishtailed. Duh, 'tis a country road! Where the deer and the buffalo roam. After that, he stayed three car length away from my bumper. I'm glad he didn't have to learn to keep his distances by crumpling his front end.

Vieve

Sorry to hear about the R, but glad you are already on to a new project!

And glad you are okay, and the deer, and the idjit following too close behind. I hate when people do that...

Take care,

Sam

I watched the last few minutes of Idol--that's the first I've seen the show live since the great Rueben/Clay showdown. My guy won but I can't help feeling bummed for the runner-up. I'm sure he's going places anyway, but they were both so good. I thought his reaction when he won was adorable. 

Donya--hope your mom gets better. Hugs.

Vieve--sorry about the R. It's excellent to hear that you have a new project in the works.

The deer stories freak me out. Glad you guys are all safe. 

Holly--bummer about the bunny. My sister had a family of groundhogs, seven (!), in her yard. She just had the wildlife trapper come and take the babies. He's a very funny guy and genuinely likes animals. He trapped four of the five babies and said he'd keep them at his house until he could get them all together so they could be released together.  That made her feel better. 

My son's English teacher is clearing out some books she no longer uses and he came home with a pile. He was so happy to have this treasure. I love my little bookworm. He's in middle school and the library has a great graphic novel section. He always brings one of those home for his brother. So sweet. 

Hope you all have a terrific day!

Writer Ellen

Ellen, I'm with you. So glad Chris won. Both were great but I just loved Chris.  

Holly, you're a good mom to do all that. So, would you wanna come down here? <G> Sheesh, my house is wrecked. But when you are the only one who cares that it's wrecked, it's hard to keep things picked up. *sigh*

Vieve, ((hugs)) on the rejection and near miss. I've hit a deer before and it's not a fun experience. Good luck with your projects.

 Kay

Kay,

I love to straighten and get stuff done.  I've often thought that renting me out might be a viable career!  So if it gets too bad, holler.  My rate is cheap for friends!  LOL  

And no one in my house cares too much about it's state...but since I do, and since when it's a mess it makes me insane, they chip in.  Rumor has it me insane is more than anyone can stand!  LOL

Holly 

Yep - my new fence is up!!  I have some clean-up to do - like bits of block they didn't pick up.  And I need some dirt to fill in under the fence.  Now I know why they did part of the side yard with block - my neighbor's yard is about a block-height higher than mine.  I paid half on Tuesday and was told it would be a couple weeks, came home on Wednesday and the chain link was gone and part of the wall knocked down.  Came home today and fence!!  So much for calling me when they were going to start the job. 

Tomorrow I get to pick up my replacement lenses since the anti-glare is already wearing off.  I wish I took Ellen's advice and got the new ones without. 

There is also a dead squirrel under one of my trees.  Looks like he fell and broke his neck.  I have to decide what to do with the body.

Hopefully all this 'excitement'  quiets down and I can get back to my quiet, drama-free life.

I'm going to say a mass Hello to everyone since I can't remember all I've read and didn't take notes.  So - Hello!!

And one more thing - I'm on a mini-vacation!!  Yippee!  I go back to work on Wednesday.  So how perfect I'm off tomorrow to be able to pick up new lenses and to clean up the side yard.  The weed-eater is still apart though.  Going to see if I can figure out how to put it back together or I may have to borrow a friend's husband.

Vieve, Hope it was a good meeting!

Marice, YAY on the new fence, but ugh on the squirrel.  We found a dead bunny at my daughter's.  I'd have left it, but her dad took care of it.  I don't do dead things.  And my squeemishness shocks me, because I'm pretty stoic about most things.  LOL

Ellen, My daughter is forever showing me funny YouTube clips.  The latest is these old Saturday Night Live, Lawrence Welk spoofs.  My grandmother loved LW. We spent weekends with her, and had to be absolutely silent when he came on.  I get all nostalgic whenever I see him...even if it's an SNL spoof!

On the way to camp today to mow and get more stones for around the garden.  Then to Home Depot to get the materials we need before the contractor comes.  Busy day here!  Hope it's a good one for all of you!

 Holly 

Kay, you being disowned? Impossible. You'd have to go on a crack-spree, rob a granny at gunpoint, do serious time in a federal pen, and then perhaps you might be disowned...but even then, with the quality of your writing...I don't know...  

Well, the younger ds graduated from junior high last night. *sigh* He's such a big kid now. And he's so excited about high school. I was terrified of the transition, mostly because at the time I was very modest and the thought of showering with a bunch of girls after gym class freaked me out in the worst way. But after that first hard run, I didn't care who saw me and started shucking clothes like ears of corn. I'm glad that he's excited, though. I think he'll have a wonderful high school career. Now to focus on the grades...

 TGIF everyone!

 Kim 

Is anyone else disturbed that Kim equates going to high school with getting naked?

I'm off to the lake to get some undistracted much-needed writing done.

And I'll second the TGIF!

Amy

LOL Kim, you weren't the only freaking out over that. I had nightmares about it. Anyone who knows me knows how shy I am (and I'm soooooo much better now than I was!) and I prayed and worried and made myself physically sick over having an official gym class. Then, I discovered I had gym in sixth period. Guess which period DIDN'T have to shower because they were getting on a bus and going home? Whoo! Prayers answered. LOL

Amy, I so envy your lake. I have a quiet house during the day (but OMG only for FOUR more days and then---ACK! Summer vacation already?!) but the 800 numbers will not stop calling. It drives me nuts. I don't answer, but the ringing!

Okay, I went to pick up my son from school, drove through the dairy bar and ate an orange sherbert ice cream cone on the way home--with the top down. What a better way to end a week than the way this one started.

Have fun--and safe--weekend, and regardless of politics, please remember those who have served our country.

Kay

Ellen, My mom is starting to get up a little and moving, but there isn’t a lot we can do for her. My mom and dad have pretty much given up hope, because the doctors said she needs to get more energy before they activate her back on the liver transplant list. That is a far stretch right now, and her liver is getting worse and already hurting her other organs, and making them shut down. Things aren’t looking good, but I am still praying for a miracle and not giving up! She has about decided she doesn’t want back active on the list now anyway, because she is getting so tired and scared! Is a lot to deal with. Though I shouldn’t I had been avoiding going to her house as much (though I’d call everyday) I just have trouble seeing her like this. WE talked the other night (when she knew who I was again) and explained how I wish she wouldn’t give up. So am trying just a very hard situation. My mom is only 60, to young to be dealing with so much.  She has already survived cancer, and other major helath issues.  She is a very strong woman and my hero.  I think my sister and I are going to start trying to stay with my dad some to help out more.  He doesn't want us to do a lot, but we know he is scared as well.  We are going to have to pretty much force him to let us help more, because they ahve no home health or anything of the kind.  In our state they won't let them come out unless they need an IV and she doesn't.  So thank you for the thoughts, and I am praying! I prob. Wont’ say anything else about it for a while though, because truthfully it is to much to deal with or discuss! Thank you for the warm wishes and concern though! It truly means a lot! Sorry to whine on you all, but I honestly feel like you care and / or understand.. So thank you!

Holly. Sorry on the rabbit hon. (((HUGS)) Glad your hubby took care of it for you! My house is all ready for you when you get done with Kay’s! LOL!

Marcie, hope the vaca is a good one. Way to go with the fence as well.

Vieve, Sorry on the R hon. ((hugs)) I also know about deers. The last 2 vehicles my husband owned were taken out by them. We live in rural Ky, and they are BAD in our area!! Though they are so darn cute! LOL!

Kay, I thought about going to that movie. I wondered if it was any good.

Kim, Kay, and Ellen I so know what you mean about the showers. Yes, Ellen we should have joined you! I hated that part. I have always been chunky, and boy would talk about being self conscious. I would tend to hang around til the others were about gone then jump in and out quickly.

Waves to anyone I might have missed.. ((hugs))) all around. May the Muse be with you! Donya

Add me to the list of didn't have to shower in gym.  They just let us go on stinking.  No one showered at school that I know of (other than sports teams.)  I admit, I would've stressed out about that if it had been an issue.  I thought it was bad enough having to change clothes for gym!

Vieve, belated sympathy on the R.  Glad you're working on something, though...that's the best remedy. :)

Donya, very sorry to hear about your mom.  That's gotta be so hard to handle.  I'll be hoping for a miracle as well.

Marcie, good luck with your new glasses.  And your projects! 

I'm afraid my lake writing session didn't go well yesterday because it's already too hot.  (I normally open the windows and sit in the car with my laptop in a place where I can see the water.)  I lasted less than an hour and only wrote a couple pages.  Did write some more at home but I didn't come anywhere near my goal for the day.  Today is a new day, though!  And I know not to go to the lake.

I'm so proud of my 7yo, btw.  Borders has a summer reading challenge for kids.  They read any 8 books and put them on list.  Bring in the list and they get one of a small selection of books for $4.99.  My little guy got his form/coupon last night and he's already read and recorded his 8 books.  He's bouncing up and down to go get his new book. :)  (I just read the fine print and we can't turn it in until the 26th so unfortunately he has to wait.)  But yay for him!

Okay, off to work now.  Have a good weekend!

Amy

Hoping today's a great one for everyone...filled with family, picnics and thoughts for the men and women who gave so much so we could do just that!

 Holly 

Hi Rene--You haven't read my book, A Cowboy's Redemption, but the conflict is pretty easy to understand without reading it:

External conflict—She wants right away across his land and he won’t give it because of past issues with her family.   She needs to gain access in order to get a promotion within her family owned company.  The family doesn’t want her to dig into the past, so she is doing this secretly. Internal conflict—He is falling for her, but has a secret that will tear her world apart.  He can’t be with her without telling her the secret. 

Even when the hero and heroine are getting along/falling in love, there is something keeping them apart.  In my case it’s the reality of the situation with the heroine’s family and the hero’s reluctance to hurt the heroine.  After she discovers the secret, the thing keeping them apart is that she is close to her family and works for the family business.  Being with the hero means she’ll lose those things.  In many ways, being part of her well-known family is part of her identity, so she will, in essence, be giving up her identity.

Just make sure that something is always at stake.  Even if the H/h are having a wonderful time, there needs to be a ticking clock, or a secret or something to create tension.  I hope this helps.  I know the others will chime in soon.

Marcie--Hurray for the fence!  I feel for the lady whose son is going to Iraq.

I have no ground hogs, but I have snakes.  Lots and lots of snakes.  In fact one has adopted us.  I met him yesterday when I went to spray weeds.  He's a bull snake, about 3 feet long and fat.  Right after "meeting" him next to the house and jumping a mile, I came across a red racer.  And about 30 seconds later I came across a second red racer, so perhaps I have a nesting pair.  I don't mind red racers.  Twenty minutes later the bull snake meets me at the other side of the house.  Later that day my husband almost stepped on him while going into the garage.  This morning I almost stepped on him at the end of the sidewalk.  It's the same bull snake and since he's a mouse eater and will hopefully keep the rattlers away, I'm keeping him.  His name is Clive.

Seven more days of school folks!  Then I have fourteen days to work on my book without students!

I hope everyone had a great holiday,

Jeannie