Coffee Klatch Monday ~ Tick Tock

Oh, it's Monday once again. I'm off to the races (work), and I know some of you are too.

Still on edits, and so I won't keep you.

I hope you all had a good weekend. The weather on Sunday turned out to be gorgeous again. Spring has come very early here. Did the ground hog see his shadow? Or didn't? I don't know.

Speaking of which, we do have our own resident--well, she prefers the name Woodchuck. Mrs. Woodchuck comes out every afternoon to graze on whatever she eats. We enjoy watching her out our kitchen window, as well as our squirrels, and all the birds that visit or stay.

I had to get out for a little while and enjoy the weather. No bugs, low humidity--what more can I ask for?

How was your weekend? Did you do anything fun?Stay home? Watch a movie????

Let me know, I'd love to hear from you!

Just Things

Anita's book made it to my mail box today. I'm very excited about reading her book. Ever since I read a little blurb about it--and I'm not even sure how I was ever sucked into her site--probably curiosity--but sure am glad that I was. I hope to begin the book soon. When I'm done I will post a review, so be looking for that.

I've also been working on some ideas for some posts, just been busy trying to get back to the routine of working. Catching up on things has been a little hard. But getting there. I have many friends spread across the spectrum of age, as well as people I once worked with, and I hate loosing track of them. So, keeping in touch is important if it's via phone, or e-mail, and I love letters. My mother-in-law used to write the best, nicest letters. She was "the letter writer" and I think it is a lost art, and that is a shame. I think everyone out there who reads this should take out a pen and paper and scrounge up a stamp and send a loved one, or a dear friend a letter, if only to say hi.

I've been working on ideas for posts, as I've said. I'd like to do some on characters, and on other basics. As well as some things that have been a bit of a pet peeve to me. That's about all the little "rules" that the "experts" put out there and they've been harped on to death, and yet many, many best selling authors get away with breaking these rules again and again. I'm not sure why that is. I can only guess that the story was so wonderful that the agent and the publisher simply ignored the rules--here and there, and allowed the author's voice to shine through.

Voice. That's it. All those of you new writers who stop by here, PAY ATTENTION: you must develop your own voice.

How is this done?

I want to examine this as well. It took me years to find mine. I tended to try and sound like other authors (Barb Bell had told me, when I'd send her things of mine). It takes a lot of practice to find it. Eventually, one day, you just find it.

Hopefully after my busy weekend I'll have something new to post on character. I'm going to use the HBO show "True Blood" to help me make my points. So, I'll be in and out all weekend long, here.

Through trial and error and I'm sorry, but time as well.

A writer who begins usually has no voice, or eventually mimics the "voice" of one or two of their favorite writers.

This is fine.

The Sky and the Prairie

Freed from my job--the constant noise of conversations, either on cell phones, or with one another, the traffic, my necessary stops, eating while waiting to leave--I get home, glance and open mail, do dishes, switch into my rugged jeans, and get out into the sun and 70 degree day.

My husband and I live at a prairie/wetlands preserve. My most favorite thing to do is go out where there are no people and listen to the gentle breezes, the bird calls, and just walk until I've cleared my mind and my lungs.

I spot lupine along the way, which surprises me. I didn't know lupine could grow here in Illinois, but they planted seed two years ago, and these, if I'm not mistaken are biannual. I liked seeing these spikes of violet flowers--which are poisonous to cattle, and perhaps it's why it isn't grown in the wild here.

Geese bark and honk at my approach as I follow the--well, there is no trail, really. But I go out for 15 min. and stand out there in the breezes happy that I have this quiet retreat to go to. No one anywhere near me. No voice to intrude upon my thoughts which are in discord right now. Wondering. Hoping. My emotions slightly raw.

I didn't open my e-mail when I came in. I went right to work. I have to go on-line to do it and I just refused. I wanted to read more through my book.

I'd posted a portion of the first chapter over on Author Nation (and is on my sister blog Archives). Asked a buddy to take a look at it--or anyone there--I later saw his reply, there, and the PM to me from him. He said he liked it and didn't, as a rule, like vampires. So, wow.

I had no devastating news.

Good.

I'll go back to work now.

Thank you prairie, wind, birds, sunshine, flowers . . . You are my solace.