8 Not So Easy Things

Yesterday I read an article from Chuck Sambuchino - 8 Easy Things to do BEFORE You Start Your Novel. And, I realized - they're not so easy. Maybe it's because I'm a little whacky, who knows. At any rate, here's my take.

Timing - Buy a timer, set it & work until it beeps. The second I read this, I thought, do I need an egg timer? Can I use the one in the kitchen? Should I buy a new one? How many times do I get to look at it while I'm supposed to be working? Will the ticking drive me insane - um, that might not be as far a trip as I think.

Mrs. Lonely - Use a 'do not disturb' sign. Of course, I have to make one. This requires tools - paper, markers, crayons, stencils. It might be easier to bury my head in my laptop & ignore anyone else in the room. Besides, my sign would never be perfect enough for use, so this ain't gonna happen.

Silence - Turn my phone off. What?? I can't do that. Someone not from an 800 number might be calling & I would miss it. The wondering would kill me more than the ringing. Phone on.

No Internet - But, I need it - for research! Sure, I do. That & solitaire & e-mail & oh my grapes, I could have won the PCH millions. Nope, gotta have my ether connection to the planet. Don't want to miss the reports on those birds falling from the sky. Hello, this is important apocalyptic stuff here & I need to know if the end is near so I can back up my WIP.

Same Bat Time - I don't write at the same time every day. And why not? Because the muse is a fickle imp that shows up on her schedule, not mine. I cannot be expected to maintain consistency when she's laughing at me from the bookshelf.

Read Don't Watch - Read more novels; watch less t.v. This is just not conducive to my middle of the road life style. The Mentalist, Castle, SVU - these are research not entertainment. How else will I solve the case, catch the bad guy or discover the nature of that sticky substance? Oh wait - I only play a detective in real life. Darn the socks!

Life Rafts - AKA - friends. Writer friends. For those days when the timer is broken, the sign fell down, the muse doubled over from the laughter & the Kindle went on the frizz. But, I looovvveeee the solitary nature of this profession; that's why I picked it right? Uh, okay we'll go with that theory. So, ya, I guess this one makes the cut; besides, I like all you peops.

It Doesn't Hurt; Much - This is supposed to be fun. Pick the day, I say. Fun is relative to the amount of writer's block in my sinus cavity. Oh wait, I have nasal spray for that. Crap. Fine, I'll just have to fun my way through it. Jeez.

While this list didn't work for me in its entirety, it just might work for someone else. Whatever the case, laugh, dance, write then laugh some more. Not hysterical laughter though, that just gets the 'men in their nice white coats' unleashed.

Happy Writing,

Patti

Brain UN-Freeze

My brain is finally back from hiatus. I don't know if it happens to you, but when the kids go on break & the holidays descend like a blizzard in June, my brain & I seem to suffer a parting of the idea ways. Yesterday, with their return to school looming, a seed fell from the ether & I ran with it.

Of course, now that I have a trail, I have to connect to the bread crumbs. Next comes the living in my head faze. Stories germinate, grow & move to their conclusion.

Schedule. Must get back. Blog, write, repeat. Of course, there is also, e-mail, reading, solitaire or some other game. Not to mention, the domesticities - laundry, vacuuming, dusting, cooking. None of which are my forte. Suzie Homemaker is not my friend; I do not like her. Greetings I do not send.

Here goes nothing. The rote of writing - write, rite, write. Which is the gig, right?

Do you find it difficult to work during the holidays? How do you balance the fam, the daze & the work?

Happy Writing,

Patti

Rules of the Contesting Road

Chuck Sambuchino wrote an article titled 'Contest Basics.' He covers the tips every writer should know when it comes to competing.

Yes, Virginia, there are rules - The quickest way to a disqualification is to ignore the rules as set by the contest. Know the format, number of copies, & entry fee. Lacking in any of these is akin to a snowman without the body, carrot & corn-cob pipe.

Timeliness is Required - Save the date, mark the calendar, know the deadline. If snailmailing, the postmark date is important. Missing the date means missing the boat & monies may be non-refundable.

Cost-Benefit Analysis - Fees should be commensurate with prizes. Most contest fees are relatively nominal; however, 10 contests @ $15 a pop = $150. Choose wisely to maximize your well-earned dollars.

Beauty Queens vs. Beet Queens - National competitions with many entrants will provide greater prestige than local ones. However, it may be beneficial to start local then widen the circle as you gain confidence.

Know the playing field - Research is crucial to the writing process & to the contest process as well. A win can be a springboard. Treat it with the respect it deserves. Know the judges, buy the publication, read past winning entries. Have an accurate picture of where your piece fits into the contest puzzle.

Do the Homework - Contests are updated frequently. Some close shop; some lose their backing. New contests pop up every day. Check websites before hitting send or raising the mailbox flag.

One Size Does NOT Fit All - Publication credits, age, location - the demographic details. A children's writing contest is not going to review a Regency romance and vice versa. When searching for contests, make sure you're bits fit the blips. You'll save time, energy & heartache down the lane.

Contest rules are there. Learn 'em, live 'em, like 'em - they'll get ya farther down the yellow bricks.

Happy Writing,

Patti