Dream the Day Away

"Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night" - Edgar Allan Poe

We're all dreamers... I doubt any of us would be in this business if we weren't. Dreams fuel our ideas, provide energy for our imaginations, and lay the foundation for our creativity.

Some of our most memorable dreams happen while we sleep... those dreams create their own stories... we're just lucky enough to witness them. But the dreams that take place during the day, while we're awake and fully conscious, are the ones that we control.

I find some of my best ideas occur on the train ride to work. Usually I'm reading, but some days, I do nothing but stare out the window and watch the sun glitter across the lake until the train curves around the bend... and the scene changes to trees and houses whizzing by like meteorites... but amidst the gentle rocking and hum of conversation and newspaper pages turning, it happens.

The ideas start to flow.

It's hard to give into your daydreams when you're supposed to be concentrating on your day job, or feeding the baby, or mowing the lawn, or figuring out how you're going to make your next mortgage payment, but in those quiet moments.. the ones that are yours and yours alone, that's when you can let your imagination run wild... and before you know it, that jungle finds its way onto the pages.

Just this past week I was struggling with a chapter that needed to be changed. It wasn't one I could just delete; it needed a whole new direction. And on Wednesday morning, as the rain pelted against the grimy window, the sun nowhere to be seen, it came to me. And not only that, but it just might be a very important factor in the rest of the series.

So let your dreams run rampant, day or night... let them get a firm hold on you and lift you to the sky... you don't need a train ride, but it sure helps ;)

Are you a daydreamer? A night dreamer? When do your ideas flow the most freely? Anybody have to take the train everyday?

Looking Back

Do you ever look back at your old blog posts?

I somehow ended up browsing through mine today while trying to determine my next post, and it hit me that I've been blogging since July 2009. Almost two years...

This was my very first post.

And I realized, while not much has really changed since then, everything has changed.

Things are still the same in some ways, but unrecognizable in others.

I've actually written a whole novel since that rainy summer. All I had back then was a dream churning in my heart and a couple of pages tap dancing on my computer. I didn't know where they might lead--I still don't--all I knew was that for the first time in a long time, I was finally looking at something that felt real, that made me feel real again, if that makes sense. I was holding my life in bits and pieces in both hands, trying to salvage what I could still carry, to not let anything else slip through my fingers.

I've been rebuilding since then, and looking back over these posts, I can see just how far I've come.

I'd like to think I've matured, grown, and learned, and hopefully will continue do so, because there is still so much more to go. We never really stop, do we?

And my sister is still the only person who knows what my secret passion is, just how much it means to me, why I keep at it day after day, night after night, why as soon as one work day ends, another begins, why I can't stop...

But you know what?

Now you guys know too. You guys share it. You guys live it. We've all come such a far way... and this is just the beginning.

So tell me, do you ever re-read your old posts? What have you learned about yourself? When did you first start blogging?

How the Godfather Helped Me With Revisions

So, it's been a crazy couple of months. I've been molding and shaping this book to my satisfaction, then going back, and doing it all over again.

I'm still not finished. I'm really beginning to wonder if I'll ever be.

So far, I'm likening revisions to two things:

1. Pulling teeth with no Novocaine

This is painful, the realization of what the heck have I gotten myself into, why did I agree to this, how can I get out of it? There is no way I can get through this alive.

2. The Godfather - Part 2 (yes, I'm totally stealing this from the movie Serendipity)

Part 1 (the first draft) gave me something to work with, Part 2 gave me something to appreciate. Not only do I now understand how it all began, but I'm starting to see where it's going. I couldn't have gotten here without Part 1 though. The first draft that started it all...

I guess it's true though... you usually can't get to the good parts without going through some pain, right?

But for the most part, I'm actually really liking revisions. It's hard work, but it's like breathing life into my monster. And it's a beautiful thing.

I'm not going to lie. There have been times in these past few weeks when I've literally just stopped myself from pulling my hair out. I've wondered exactly where I came up with that line... what the heck was I thinking when I added in that phrase... I've lamented over how I was going to fix this train-wreck of a manuscript...

I've wanted to shelve it and start anew. It would be much easier.

But easier doesn't mean better... it's just means easier. It's just putting off the inevitable.

So the moral of today's story?

See it through. Regardless of how bad you think it might be, how far you want to throw it into the next century, don't.

I mean, once you start something, you've got to finish it right? How else are we going to get to the finale? And it might just be one you don't want to miss.

How about you guys? Which side of the fence are you on when it comes to revisions? Do you love them or hate them? Have you seen The Godfather trilogy?

p.s. And for the record... I actually have seen all three Godfather movies ;)

I'mmmmm Baacccck!

Hi Everyone!

I'm back... erm... yes... it's...uh... been a WHILE.

I'm so sorry for just disappearing like that... I actually didn't mean to, but edits, work, edits, work... did I mention edits--sort of just took over and monopolized all my time. I'll spare you the details for now--I'm still not quite finished with revisions as yet, but I decided it was time for me to come out of the cave... it was getting lonely in there :)

I'll have updates on my progress for you this week though.

I've been trying to make my rounds this past week, so if I haven't come by as yet, I will be there soon!

I've missed you guys :)

I hope everyone is doing well, and I can't wait to catch up.

So tell me...how are you guys? What's new and exciting... not new or exciting... anything... what's been going on???

For the First Time

I write Young Adult Fantasy.

In the past, I've dabbled with general YA, Paranormal YA, Romantic Suspense YA...

...you get the picture, right?

From as far back as I can remember, it's always been some form of YA (unless you count my baby chicken story in first grade).

I love it. I love the ideas, the emotions, the angst, the glances of longing, but above all, I love that it's mostly about the proverbial "firsts".

First date, first boyfriend/girlfriend, first kiss, first love, first heartbreak (and in many cases, all the while battling the bad guys--or becoming one of them, having adventures, learning, experiencing and discovering). Teenagers are on the brink of figuring out who they are, and while they may not know for years to come--I know adults still searching--they're at that stage where they're willing to take the risk.

Everything is so new and wonderful and scary and exciting... we lose a lot of that wonder as we grow older. We forget that ability to view things like we're seeing them for the first time. Like we're feeling them for the first time. And teens feel everything about a hundred times stronger than adults.

It's that time when you're still young enough to believe in the impossible, but old enough to discern the unfathomable. It's when you question everything, but you're still able to "think" with your heart, even though you know how to use your mind to guide you.

Teens really do see the world differently, and I'm not sure if I ever moved past that phase. I still see the world quite differently from most people, although I'm sure many writers/dreamers do.

There are days when I'm so tired, it all just seems to blend together, and sometimes I don't know whether I'm coming or going... but when I get home and finally make it to my computer and open up that MS... none of it matters anymore. Somehow it all disappears as I lose myself in the story.

Because just like that, it's all new again. Like the first time.

This is why I write YA.

What genre do you write? Why does it appeal to you?

Why The Oscars Gave Me Writing Nightmares

I watched the Oscars for a bit with my sister last night, and right before they started, they panned out to show a view of the audience taking their seats in the enormous Kodak Theater.

I looked at my sister and shuddered. "That's a lot of people."

"Imagine you had to present an award there," she said. "Imagine they called you up to present the award for the movie based on your book."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help feeling flattered to know she believes in me that much. Hey... when we dream, we dream big ;)

It got me thinking though.

Although I've had to do them all through school, and even still at work for meetings, I absolutely, completely and totally HATE presentations. Because they always involved public speaking.

I abhor being the center of attention... I am by no means extroverted in any sense, and I've always shied away from the spotlight. Unless I'm very comfortable with people, all eyes turned to me usually means sweat city accompanied by a woozy stomach on the side.

The thing is, if you want to be a successful writer and dream BIG... chances are--someone, some day is going to ask you to speak at something, somewhere.

Then what? Can you say no? Is that bad?

They say practice makes perfect, and the more you work at something, the better you get at it. I think I may be an anomaly when it comes to this rule. Maybe it skipped a generation...

I've actually tried to take a course that would help with this, and ended up dropping it at the last minute because I couldn't go through with it.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see... this could all be fruitless worrying ;)

What about you? Are you an extrovert or an introvert? Do you like being in the spotlight? Do you think it will have an impact on your writing career?

Crusader Welcome and Chocolate

First of all, I would like to say hello and WELCOME to all of the Crusaders and new followers! :)

*Waves HI!*

I spent most of yesterday catching up on my blog list, and following everyone back... if I haven't made it to you as yet, I promise I will soon. I want to make sure I get to everyone, so it will be a short post today.

It's been awesome checking out everyone's blogs and meeting lots of fantastic people. I love how this platform allows us the opportunity to do this. Thank you all for not only showing the love, but for also spreading it around.

For anyone who is not participating in this year's Writer's Platform-Building Crusade, hop on over to Rach's page to check out some fabulous blogs when you have a chance.

On a side note, I have a serious craving for chocolate chip cookies, double chocolate chip cookies, and banana chocolate chip muffins (do you see a trend there?)... hmmmm... yeeeah... since I'm home today, I think I'm going to be spending some quality time in the kitchen too ;)

How was everyone's weekend? Did you do anything new and interesting? Not new? Please share!

Your Cheatin' Heart

You know... we're in love... my MS and I.

We really do like each other despite the differences. We've been together for so long... through all the ups and downs. And although things have been crazy lately, we are trying to sort through our problems.

But these last few weeks have truly been a test to our relationship. Nothing seems to be going right... I'm finding issues that never existed, things I overlooked in the past because I was blinded by the love...

And... the thing is... there's someone else...

...Someone who's been lurking in the background, just waiting for their chance with me. Someone who's been filling my head with all sorts of ideas, and fancy notions, and exciting twists... trying to monopolize my time and pull me away from the one who needs me the most right now...

Sigh. Book 2... I want to... I really do, but edits on Book 1 HAVE to come first. All of our plans will have to wait. I promise, you'll have my full attention soon. Maybe when Book 1 and I are on another little break ;)

I may be weak, but I do have priorities.

How do you ignore the pull to work on something else while you're in the middle of edits/revisions? DO you ignore the pull?

Hope everyone had a FANTASTIC Valentine's Day :)

(sorry this post is late - it should have gone up yesterday, but Blogger hates me)

To Print or Not To Print

I ordered a new printer two days ago.

It arrived today.

And I am OVER THE MOON.

No... seriously.

I LOVE this thing.

It's a LASER printer!! I spent the last hour setting it up.

Nothing extravagant (it was dirt cheap), and it can't do more than print black and white, but it's SO fast for such a tiny little thing, and will have 400 pages sitting in front of me in no time at all AND I'll still have ink leftover! Which is more than I can say for my four year old Inkjet :)

I've been debating about this for over a year now. I really wasn't sure, but I eventually decided that at some point I would need to print out my MS for final editing and revisions (to send to agents?! Obviously that's quite a ways off)... I've done about 4 rounds of minor editing on the computer - finishing up the 5th round now-- but my old printer just wouldn't make the cut.

I can't wait to hold these pages in my hands! It somehow makes everything feel more real (or is that just me being overly excited again?). I actually want to take my pen and physically mark up those lines... see those scratches and side notes in my own handwriting.

Yeah, I need to get out more ;)

What's your take on this? Do you print out your MS for revisions or do you complete all your edits on the computer?

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

UPDATED: Join Rachael Harrie's Second Writers' Platform-Building Crusade! It's a great way to not only build your platform, but to connect with wonderful people on the same journey as you :) Click on over to get details and sign up!

Moments That Take Your Breath Away

Winter and I are not friends. Maybe a long time ago we were, but not anymore. Things have changed.

In fact, as I've gotten older, our relationship has pretty much dwindled to nothing.

You might even say we're borderline enemies.

I detest everything about it: the bone chilling gusts of wind, the slush that splashes all over the back of my pants no matter HOW carefully I try to walk, the obese, wet flakes that always manage to land directly in my eyes (don't ask), the fact that not only do I feel like the abominable snowman in my winter jacket, but I can't MOVE because it's so darn COLD... the list could go on forever...

Despite ALL of this though--every single winter, without fail--when the sky breaks open and releases those first few flurries of the season, I always stop in wonder and just watch.

And I remember.

Remember the good times. The happiness. The breathless anticipation of actually waiting for that blizzard to show up... I mean, come on... how can you possibly go sledding without snow? What else is there to live for when you're six?

But it's all it takes to remind me. AND inspire me. Because on that freezing, snowy day, I wrote like there was no tomorrow.

There's beauty in everything, especially the things we've long forgotten, but we're usually too busy to stop and notice. Our lives are so hectic, our days are filled with work and chores and responsibilities... but don't forget those moments that take your breath away.

What has taken your breath away lately? Have you been inspired by something unexpected? Show of hands--who has snow and hates it? Loves it?

(photo credit)