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)

If I Didn't Write

Those of you who have been with me for a while now know that I'm no fan of my day job. By no means is it what I ever aspired to do in life. It's stifling, boring and extremely stressful, but let's not get into that today.

I know one good thing that came out of it though: it led me back to writing.

I never thought of writing in any other fashion except that it was my outlet, something of a second nature that I not only used to express myself, but also something I truly enjoyed.

I've always written... for as long as I can remember, but only in the last two years did I start thinking that maybe I wanted it to be a career instead of just a hobby. This was what I wanted to be when I "grew up".

A writer.

They always say you'll enjoy your job if you truly love what you do. And I truly love to write. And I wish more than anything that it could be my "day" job.

But you can love more than one thing. And this is what got me thinking.

Since I'm not cut out for my actual day job, what would I be if I couldn't make a living from writing? It's good to have more than one dream, even while you're still reaching for the one you want the most.

I must confess - I have lots of dreams. I'll share one with you today.

If I couldn't be a writer, I think I'd like to be a chef or a baker... something to do with food. That would probably be my second choice. I like to experiment and create things from scratch... and thank goodness most of them have been edible... so far.

I wouldn't give up writing though... I think I'll always have that, even in the background... just because I don't think I can live without it.

And, of course, now I'm curious about you ;)

What's your back up plan? What else do you love to do? What did you want to be when you grew up?

Becoming Reacquainted

I opened my MS for the first time in 4 weeks yesterday. I know 4 weeks isn't that much time, but it felt like YEARS to me.

I was so scared and ridiculously nervous, unsure of what to expect.

It was weird, comforting, awkward and familiar all at once, if that makes sense.

Kind of like meeting up with your best friend after years of not talking. Knowing what's there (or what used to be there) at the core, but not sure in what other ways you may have changed.

Would we still like each other?

Would things be the same as before?

What needs to change NOW in order for us to get along?

My biggest fear though? Not liking it anymore. Because that's always my biggest fear. I don't want it to all be for nothing.

I was worried I would open it, read the first couple of pages, and wonder what the heck I was thinking. I only got about six pages in, and I am still undecided because my nerves haven't quite settled as yet.

I guess the thing is--just like with great friends--you don't let go that easily. You put in the extra effort to make it work. You hang on for dear life and try to make it better, even when it attempts to slip away.

Ultimately... YOU DON'T GIVE UP... even when it seems too hard. Even when it seems like it can't be fixed, make sure you put up a good fight - especially when it's to save something you believe in.

Because you know what? It's never all for nothing. You always learn. You always take away.

And you keep moving forward.

Have you guys ever felt this way after coming back to your MS after a long time? What did you do?

I DID IT

Happy Monday everyone! :)

I spent this entire past weekend working on the first draft of my query. And I do mean the entire weekend. I actually finished it, and fully rewrote it 9 times.

I'm definitely going to re-write it at least 20 more times before it's ready. And the thing is... this is just ONE page... what am I going to do at the end of this week when I reopen my MS and discover I need to edit and rewrite 368 pages???

You know... it's a nerve wracking thought, but regardless, I'm still looking forward to it.

Because it's moving me closer to one of my major goals... not the one of being published (although that is at the top of the list).

No, it's being able to stand back, and take a good look at what I've created and say... I DID IT.

And it won't be the first time I've been able to claim those words... I've done it at each milestone along the way... to remind myself of how far I've come, and how worthwhile the journey has been.

To remind myself that THIS is why I keep going even when it seems like there's no end in sight.

Each step in this process, as scary as they may seem, they're all taking us somewhere.

No matter which one you're at, whether it's finishing your novel or your query, opening that word document and writing that first page, emailing that agent for the first or hundredth time, DECIDING you want to be writer--even though you've never even written a short story... these are significant accomplishments, and we should be proud :)

Which step of this wonderful process are you currently at? What's next? When have you recently said, "Wow... I DID IT"?

My Name is WritingNut, and I am an Addict

Okay. I finally admit it.

But I know I'm not the only one.

We're all addicted to something.

I'm addicted to several things.

Writing/Reading

Everything that encompasses the Blogosphere

My computer

My blackberry

Chocolate

Sushi

I can't live without any of them--at the very least--once per week (well, the sushi and chocolate, but the other four - every single day).

You know how some addictions can be a hindrance on day to day life? Well, it's the opposite for me. These things actually keep me going. I feel like I'm lost without them.

Once I forgot my blackberry at home, got all the way to the train station, missed my train, and drove back to get it... because I knew my day would be ruined if it wasn't with me.

Yeah... okay, maybe I'm a little crazy, but hey, we all have our quirks ;)

What are your addictions?

Let the Challenge Begin!

Hey Everyone!

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend :)

So Theresa inspired me a couple of weeks ago to sign up for the 2011 100+ Book Challenge. I'm not sure what I was thinking, but I clicked on over, became extremely excited, and the next thing I knew, I was a participant.

I know it's hard to find enough time to read these days, so I'm actually pretty psyched to do this. I think I read maaaaybe 30 books all of last year, so this is a huge undertaking for me, but hopefully I will be encouraged enough to succeed.

I'm a little behind so far... I've only read 2.5 books to date, but I plan to catch up soon! :)

1. Love Happens - Elizabeth Chandler

2. Matched - Ally Condie

3. The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins (currently reading)

Next on the agenda are the following two books of the trilogy.

If anyone is interested in joining, you can sign up HERE and review the rules.

I wanted to challenge myself with something different this year, and this is it.

What about you guys? Have you signed up for this particular challenge or something similar for 2011?

The Waiting Game - Round 1

So this whole week has been all about finishing the first draft of your first novel. Today I would like to talk about what you do after.

No matter HOW busy you are, regardless of the fact that you suddenly have all this wonderful free time on your hands, you will ITCH to go back to it! You will lament every moment you have to spend apart.

At least I am.

It's taking every ounce of willpower I have not to open the thing. I'm determined to give it its four weeks of "space". I know it will make our editing relationship stronger in the long run ;)

What have I been up to in the meanwhile (yeah, you know you're going to get a list :D)?

1. Blogging and visiting! I love having the time to make it around to all of you :)

2. Researching agents and reading up on the querying process

3. Drafting the query letter (and let me tell you, it's MUCH harder than it seems, even with all the wonderful resources at our fingertips)

4. And I THINK I'm going to write a little short story over the next week or so... just for fun, but we'll see

5. Reading (I've recently started The Hunger Games)

What do you do while you're playing the waiting game? How do you keep yourself busy after months of having no time?