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A · Work · in · Progress...
Details of my writing progress
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Hello fellow Journalers! Spring is a time for new growth and budding hopes. Due to changing priorities, I'm trying to decrease my internet use. I see this is as a positive growth thing for me... I will still be blogging, but will streamline down to one site, the living word...May Spring's blessings be abundant to you! jean |
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 Happy Halloween! Okay, I know what you're all thinking: Poor dog. But Tina likes to pose for pictures, I assure you. Enjoying the fall weather. It is officially cool, here in Texas. We got to see the NEWSBOYS in concert last weekend. They rocked! Have been working... I'm super excited, I got a mini-promotion at work! Still trying to make sense of life's perplexities. I don't think I'll ever figure it out. Manuscripts galore A Voice in the Wind, Francine Rivers Lyranel's Song, Leslie Carmichael PB ms Pre-writing for NaNoWriMo need to edit 2nd article, but haven't gotten comments from the editor yet For a baby Thank you God for my job For the discipline to eat better/exercise more
Current Mood: |
 bouncy | |
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So many people desire to be published. It's amazing to me how many people want to write books. In casual conversation, I could be talking about my latest projects, and a friend of mine - who's an engineer - states that she too could write a book! Where does this desire come from? Is it merely to express ourselves, or do we want to be heard? Is it for acknowledgment? Desiring to see your name in print? As much as I'd like to think that the world would not go on, without my ramblings -- it will. This phrase from Ecclesiastes 12:12 sums it up well "be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh." But still that should not stop us. If we are inspired to tell a story, we must tell it. So why do you write? |
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Attended my first ACFW Chapter meeting this morning, here in Austin (or Round Rock, rather) Helped our friends pack up; they're moving to Dallas *sniff* Now spending a lazy Saturday afternoon relaxing Plans to see Across the Universe tonight Stein, On Writing Writing the Breakout Novel, Maass Some MG novels put out by BTP A variety of manuscripts Sent revision #4 off to Radiant yesterday The Other Journal submission due Monday (aack!) Rethinking YA plot for NaNoWriMo That we're pregnant
Current Mood: |
 okay | |
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I've been feeling kind of wishy washy lately, like a fallen leaf blowing to and fro. Maybe I'll do this...Maybe I'll do that...Maybe I'll enter this contest...Maybe I'll go back to residency...Maybe I'll look into adoption... What is my deal? Do you ever feel like every new piece of information that comes into your life is like junk mail that you just want to throw in the garbage? Lately, I've been feeling that way...rejection letters, seedy medical advice, strongly opinionated commentaries from well-meaning friends. It helps to pray and hear the leading of the Holy Spirit, but sometimes it's hard to discern the voice of God from Satan's hiss. No wonder why he's called the greatest deceiver. Bad Girls Club, by Judy Gregerson (YA novel dealing with mental illness) Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer (almost done!) Ordered from Amazon: Writing the Breakout Novel and Stein On Writing Rewrite article for Radiant (Take 4) Get version 1 down for The Other Journal For stability and peace For fertility For my husband's job promotion |
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Just got back from the WOF Conference in Houston. Fun, inspiring and encouraging. Had an interview today with Blooming Tree Press! I am going to start working with them on Wednesday as an intern (part-time). I'm super excited. Will be visiting a fertility doctor this week... Plans to go to Oktoberfest in Fredricksburg this weekend! Twilight by Stephenie Meyer A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers (Book 1 in Mark of the Lion Series) Rewriting my article for Radiant Need to start second article for The Other Journal ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif) jonowrimo is on hold for now. Have not been able to write on a daily, consistent basis For my doctor's visit to go well Praises for my new job! Praises for my brother's potential new job!
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 excited | |
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 Is this not the cutest thing ever? My wonderful critique group sent it to me as a birthday gift! I love it. The artist is Amy Vasterling, of Stick Together Designs. I love her pop-inspired animal art, not to mention her wonderful abstract paintings. Check them out! |
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Just got back from the ACFW Conference and my head is spinning. As a newbie, I learned a ton of great info. I will be posting some of my conference notes to my blog if you are interested. |
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Drove up to Dallas for the ACFW Conference that starts tomorrow. Went out to dinner with my family in celebration of my 30th! Had a pumpkin spice latte today and I'm still feeling it. Ever since I detoxed off caffeine, drinking caffeine is like steroids to my brain. Finished Flannery O'Connor's Mystery and Manners - LOVED IT! Finished Sarah Dessen's The Truth About Forever - LOVED IT! Started William Zinsser's On Writing Well
Started Sarah Dessen's That Summer
Rewrote article for Radiant Officially started jonowrimo (goal is 1000 words/day, but I'm already behind!) Grandma Aline who is considering surgery Aunt Joy who's doctor just stopped her chemo Brian who is alone this weekend My dad who is traveling to MN this weekend
Current Mood: |
 energetic | |
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Non-eventful weekend. SCBWI meeting on Sat. Got an early birthday present from hubby (Le Creuset tea kettle!). Took a break from writing so I can approach my articles with a new perspective this week. Going to a birthday party/book club tonight (with yummy fondue). Hope Group starts back up again this week. Also a Women's Bible study starts up on Thursday mornings, studying Ephesians. Reading Like a Writer, Francine Prose Mystery and Manners, Flannery O'Connor The Great Gilly Hopkins, Katherine Patterson A Prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving Bookbird Magazine The Book of Job Revising magazine article Need to finish The Other Journal's submission Nothing due this week! Brainstorm plot ideas for YA novel For critique group For us to conceive this month For my brother who is battling depression
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 contemplative | |
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Just got back from my first SCBWI chapter meeting in Austin. We met at the rich neighborhood's Barnes and Noble (Westlake). There was a small critique session at 9:30, where anyone could bring copies of their work and get comments. Then, Cynthia Letich Smith (along with her husband, Greg) talked about the picture book they co-wrote, Santa Knows (Dutton, 2006). It is a delightful book that is a perfect example of protagonist driven story plot. They read their book out loud and then we dissected its story structure. The following outline is taken from the handouts they made: - Introduce character(s), setting, and problem
- Rising Action
- Climax or Turning Point or Crisis
- The "dark" moment
- Epiphany
- Denouement or Resolution/Conclusion
- Physical resolution
- Emotional resolution
- Falling Acton
Author, Kathi Appelt, was also their to give her advice on illustrator directions. Next month they are featuring a workshop, Hero's Journey, featuring Lila Guzman. I haven't decided if I'm going yet
Current Mood: |
 impressed | |
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I just found out that author, Madeleine L'Engle, has died yesterday of natural causes at 88 years of age. She is one of my all time favorite authors (A Wrinkle in Time, Walking on Water). A sad, sad day for us. A joyful day for the heavens.
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 sad | |
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Had a relaxing Labor Day weekend. Went to the Bat Festival in downtown Austin and had some friends over for BBQ. Went to Austin Stone on Sunday for some recharging. Completely vegged out yesterday. In the past 5 days I've been to several different grocery stores, comparing prices on organic food. Have also rid the house of harmful cleaners and personal care products. There were a lot. Small Wonder by Barbara Kingsolver Reading like a Writer by Francine Prose The book of Esther Article for magazine Recently joined jonowrimo which starts this month Also joined clean_slates for John for my step-mother-in-law my dreams to mean something rather than just stress me out
Current Mood: |
 lazy | |
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Life: Had a fabulous weekend in Minneapolis for Becky's wedding. Got to see some old friends from high school. Getting us back together reminded me of the good times, some people never change. And some do. I learned a ton about how to live an eco-friendly lifestyle. For more details on this, click here.
Reading:
Have been slowly making my way through Image Journal.
Have officially started Crime and Punishment
Also picked up a copy of Francine Prose's Reading Like a Writer
Writing:
Made some progress on the writing. Finally have an idea for ICL #2, I'm going to resurrect an old story but change it up a bit.
Got the go ahead on another magazine article, this one to appear in the Winter issue of Radiant Magazine
Still working on my article for The Other Journal
Am thinking about submitting ICL #2 to Lee and Low's New Voices Contest.
Also have an rough outline sketched out for a YA novel I want to do for NaNoMo.
Praying:
For Becky and Matt's marriage
For my brother's job search and general lack of zest
For my hubby who's been alone for nearly a week now
Thank you God for giving me paid writing assignments, for the first time in my life! God is definitely good.
Current Mood: |
thankful | |
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Maybe I'm a goody two shoes, but I don't dress like this!
What's Your Reputation at Hogwarts? (26 different characters)
Goody Two Shoes Gryffindor:House: GryffindorBest Friend(s): Harry, Ron, and Hermione.GryffindorsHarry: Treats you like the sister he never had.Ron: Gets sick of you spending all of your time with Harry. He once wrote you a love note, but decided it wasn't worth his friendship with Harry and threw it out.Hermione: Hates that you get all of the attention and that you have no flaws at all.Oliver Wood: Feels like his knees buckle every time you walk by.Fred and George Weasley: Like to play pranks on you because everyone thinks so highly of you.Seamus Finnigan: Thinks you get too much attention, but doesn't deny that you get his.Neville Longbottom: Is smitten with you because of your high grade in Herbology.Dean Thomas: Is amazed that you aren't cocky after all of the compliments you get everyday.Ginny Weasley: Is jealous of your reputation as "Harry's Girlfriend" even though you don't date.Parvati Patil: Asks you to help her study when she really only wants to find out something about you that she can spread around school. (But she never does).Padma Patil: Follows you around everywhere so that people might think she's your friend.HufflepuffsCedric Diggory: Is sick and tired of you acting like you're better, but is glad to get out of the spotlight every once in a while.RavenclawsCho Chang: Thinks you're a teacher's pet.SlytherinsDraco Malfoy: Dislikes you greatly and makes fun of you quite often.Crabbe: Only knows you as "The Girl Draco Hates."Goyle: Same as Crabbe.Pansy Parkinson: Hates you.Marcus Flint: Hates you because you have the ability to make fun of his Quidditch team since yours beats his every match.Blaise Zabini: Doesn't bother getting worked up over you (but still dislikes you, none the less).TeachersDumbledore: Always suggests that you should join the Order of the Pheonix.Professor McGonagall: Sometimes lets you come to class late because she knows you can pick up on the missed material easily.Professor Flitwick: Uses his magic to blow away paper airplanes the Slytherins throw at you.Professor Trelawney: Predicts a happy, yet tragically short life for you.Professor Snape: Despises you and you're fame.Filch: Found a love note written to you and keeps it underneath his pillow.
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Had a lazy but fun weekend with the hubby. Dragged him to watch Becoming Jane, which was not as cool as I thought it would be. I still highly esteem her life though. Went to the eye doctor today. Will be getting ready for my trip to Minneapolis later this week. A close friend of mine (from high school) is getting married. We were band nerds together. It will be nice to see my old friends. I just found out that Caedmon's Call will be playing near my house next Monday afternoon for a Back to School concert. So excited about that! Unfortunately I get back that day and don't know if I can make it. Decided to go to the WOF Conference in September. I'm not big into conferences, but we'll see how this goes... Finished HP #1! Then watched the movie (again) right after it. Fun. This might be one of the books I "analyze." Almost done with Criss Cross, the recent Newbery Award winner. It is a delightful read, despite the negative reviews. I am loving it and it reinforces my opinion that good writing can come out of stream of consciousness. Began A Prayer for Owen Meany Need to start for book club: The Difference a Day Makes I've decided to analyze 6 or so books for their plot structure. Recommended by James Scott Bell, this technique guarantees to teach a novice writer what the typical person learns after years of writing. The exercise is to take 6 or so books in your genre, and write down scenes, POV, plot problems onto notecards. Go through the entire novel this way, scene after scene. When you are done, analyze the order the author chose to write in. You are supposed to gain insight into what works for plot structure. Got the go ahead for the full MS, after my query to the Other Journal (an article on psychopathology/spirituality)... now I need to get started! Finally got an idea for my ICL assignment A couple contest due dates are approaching... To enter or not to enter? That is the question. Time spent with friends. Becky's wedding, but more importantly, her marriage. For my dear husband who works his tukus off, so I can stay home and write. For my aunt.
Current Mood: |
excited | |
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The week has gone by quickly. Tuesday went to Austin Park and Pizza for a birthday party. Thursday painted a ceramic dog dish with a friend. Just got back from lunch with the girls. Still waiting to hear about the job I applied for at Texas State University. Not much planned for the weekend, although I would like to see the new movie that's coming out about Jane Austen, Becoming Jane.
Finished Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers - this is excellent, by far one of the best I've read recently Almost done with Plot and Structure - have learned excellent novel writing methods by James Scott Bell - highly recommended Almost done with Harry Potter #1 - I liked it, but surprisingly I'm not tearing through it like so many others do Next book in queue: A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving Have been doing a lot of critiquing lately and I need to start writing PB ms submitted today! ICL assignment still not done, ugh. For my brother For Brian and myself
Current Mood: |
okay | |
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Took the book quiz that ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) britlitfantwin took. This book is on my nightstand! 
You're A Prayer for Owen Meany!
by John Irving
Despite humble and perhaps literally small beginnings, you inspire
faith in almost everyone you know. You are an agent of higher powers, and you manifest
this fact in mysterious and loud ways. A sense of destiny pervades your every waking
moment, and you prepare with great detail for destiny fulfilled. When you speak, IT
SOUNDS LIKE THIS!
Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.
Current Mood: |
 tired | |
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Driving to Dallas tonight to catch flight to Kansas City tomorrow Visiting Brian's folks over the weekend Dropping Tina off at my parents I am just now starting Harry Potter #1 (yes, I know) Plot and Structure Bringing Harry Potter #2 with me over the weekend Finished Ragamuffin Gospel - brilliant! Query/Cover letters for PB ICL assignment: Not going very well. Trying to rewrite the Wedding Parable into allegory and am not succeeding. Writing allegory is hard. Waiting for critique of PB Query letter written to The Other Journal Safe travels this weekend for inspiration Thanks for all my new LiveJournal friends
Current Mood: |
 pensive | |
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Life: -Had a blast this weekend with my brother. Went to Schlitterbahn - the world's best waterpark. -Saw The Bourne Ultimatum at Alamodrafthouse. -Unfortunately got rained on at this year's Theater in the Park production, but at least we got to see the first half... They did My Favorite Year. Next summer they're doing Beauty and the Beast for Zilker Park's 50th anniversary! -We bought a bowflex off of Craig's list yesterday. Nearly new, and only a third of it's original price! Now we just need to start getting back into shape. Ever since getting married and quitting our gym membership, we've kinda come undone.
Reading:-Same old -SCBWI new issue came in the mail -Image Journal -Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell -Gave Blue Like Jazz to my brother
Writing:-Need to submit tomorrow (probably Kimchi Kisses) -Would like to write a piece on mental illness for The Other Journal -ICL assignment due 8/17 (probably a theme on weddings) -Novel writing is currently on hiatus
Praying:
-For John and Deborah
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 sleepy | |
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