Tuesdays are for BOOK TALK
You know... because that hardly ever happens around here. But today you get to interview me. And by "interview," I actually mean that you get to sit there while I make up questions that you should ask. I do, of course, expect that you will ask these questions aloud as you read. Anything else would just be rude.
First and foremost, instead of putting a picture of my latest read in the sidebar, I've added a button link to my GoodReads profile.
You: "WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS?"
1. Because the eReader makes me READ A LOT
2. Because I'm exceedingly lazy.
3. Because I'm consolidating my chores to give me more time.
4. Because I kept getting behind and forgetting to update the pic.
5. Did I mention the whole lazy thing? That.
So, when you're dying to know what I'm reading now, or keeping track of how many books I've read since last Tuesday... GOODREADS. And if you're over there or decide to join, friend me immediately. It's important in my bid to take over the world.
Second, Christmas break is good for the soul.
You: "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?"
Something about the utopia of being free of the day job, and being able to set my own schedule and keep to my designs of the day makes everything come into perspective. I got to spend time with friends and family, got to clean up my house a bit, and got to spend tons of time with my book. And now, I'm fully immersed.
Project immersion is essential for me. It's that constant buzz I get from going to bed with the story and waking up with it. It's full of little and big inspirations that hit at weird times, but keep me in this constant state of excitement about the project. I especially love when I have one thought and then suddenly the sprawling landscape of the novel appears before me in full color with just enough roughness around the edges to keep me interested as I quickly write it all down.
The Lumberjack was gone for the week of my actual Christmas break, but it was when he came home that he noticed the difference in me. He said, "You seem really... happy."
And that's it.
Writing makes me happy. Spending my day creating and my night caring for my family is when I'm perfectly balanced in my world. It's when I have to trudge off to the cubicle, engage myself in the insanity of the corporate environment, and then sacrifice family time for time with my true work... that's when life starts to feel upside down.
But even though I'm back under the fluorescent lights of wrong, I still feel that sense of peace, even when it's only Tuesday. And I think I really just needed that time to remind me of my goal with all of this. Some day that utopia could be my life... and I'll do what it takes to get there.
Finally... because everything should come in THREES: Community.
You: "UM, SO WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH BOOK TALK?"
Please... do you people have no faith in me?
I obviously speak of the BOOK community. But rather than go on and on about how much I love it and love being a part of it, I'll speak to the SHINY NEW critique group schedule my friend Julianne and I created. Nevada SCBWI is a fantastic group of kidlit professionals and aspiring artists, but up until now the critique group met monthly, which was allowing me and others to be super complacent about new material. So, we revamped it a bit, and with the blessing of our Regional Advisers, put out a new schedule:
1st & 3rd Sundays are critique days... bring pages and be ready for feedback.
2nd & 4th Sundays are writing work days... just a time to get together and keep each other accountable to work. It's time to get away from the house and the family and all other distractions and just WRITE.
So far, everyone we've talked to has been excited about the change. And the schedule creates an openness too... so if people only want to commit to once or twice a month, they still can pick and choose their days to come. We're also going to do some Friday night writing nights, but since we're hosting those in our homes, we're keeping that closed to just people we know aren't serial killers. Well, and The Lumberjack, who is questionable, but too cute to leave outside in the cold.
But secretly, I'm most excited about creating a community of writers and authors... those faithful and passionate few who will jump in whenever possible. I think that's the coolest part of the book community. Writing can be such a solitary act, but being a writer doesn't have to be solitary. And I love that.
And now, in the spirit of fairness... if you do have any questions that I didn't ask for you, please put them in the comments below. Maybe I'll have Gwen answer them for you... once again sharing her wisdom of the stars via webcam. Or maybe I'll channel the spirit of my cats, who have both been tiny black holes of emotional need lately.
First and foremost, instead of putting a picture of my latest read in the sidebar, I've added a button link to my GoodReads profile.
You: "WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS?"
1. Because the eReader makes me READ A LOT
2. Because I'm exceedingly lazy.
3. Because I'm consolidating my chores to give me more time.
4. Because I kept getting behind and forgetting to update the pic.
5. Did I mention the whole lazy thing? That.
So, when you're dying to know what I'm reading now, or keeping track of how many books I've read since last Tuesday... GOODREADS. And if you're over there or decide to join, friend me immediately. It's important in my bid to take over the world.
Second, Christmas break is good for the soul.
You: "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?"
Something about the utopia of being free of the day job, and being able to set my own schedule and keep to my designs of the day makes everything come into perspective. I got to spend time with friends and family, got to clean up my house a bit, and got to spend tons of time with my book. And now, I'm fully immersed.
Project immersion is essential for me. It's that constant buzz I get from going to bed with the story and waking up with it. It's full of little and big inspirations that hit at weird times, but keep me in this constant state of excitement about the project. I especially love when I have one thought and then suddenly the sprawling landscape of the novel appears before me in full color with just enough roughness around the edges to keep me interested as I quickly write it all down.
The Lumberjack was gone for the week of my actual Christmas break, but it was when he came home that he noticed the difference in me. He said, "You seem really... happy."
And that's it.
Writing makes me happy. Spending my day creating and my night caring for my family is when I'm perfectly balanced in my world. It's when I have to trudge off to the cubicle, engage myself in the insanity of the corporate environment, and then sacrifice family time for time with my true work... that's when life starts to feel upside down.
But even though I'm back under the fluorescent lights of wrong, I still feel that sense of peace, even when it's only Tuesday. And I think I really just needed that time to remind me of my goal with all of this. Some day that utopia could be my life... and I'll do what it takes to get there.
Finally... because everything should come in THREES: Community.
You: "UM, SO WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH BOOK TALK?"
Please... do you people have no faith in me?
I obviously speak of the BOOK community. But rather than go on and on about how much I love it and love being a part of it, I'll speak to the SHINY NEW critique group schedule my friend Julianne and I created. Nevada SCBWI is a fantastic group of kidlit professionals and aspiring artists, but up until now the critique group met monthly, which was allowing me and others to be super complacent about new material. So, we revamped it a bit, and with the blessing of our Regional Advisers, put out a new schedule:
1st & 3rd Sundays are critique days... bring pages and be ready for feedback.
2nd & 4th Sundays are writing work days... just a time to get together and keep each other accountable to work. It's time to get away from the house and the family and all other distractions and just WRITE.
So far, everyone we've talked to has been excited about the change. And the schedule creates an openness too... so if people only want to commit to once or twice a month, they still can pick and choose their days to come. We're also going to do some Friday night writing nights, but since we're hosting those in our homes, we're keeping that closed to just people we know aren't serial killers. Well, and The Lumberjack, who is questionable, but too cute to leave outside in the cold.
But secretly, I'm most excited about creating a community of writers and authors... those faithful and passionate few who will jump in whenever possible. I think that's the coolest part of the book community. Writing can be such a solitary act, but being a writer doesn't have to be solitary. And I love that.
And now, in the spirit of fairness... if you do have any questions that I didn't ask for you, please put them in the comments below. Maybe I'll have Gwen answer them for you... once again sharing her wisdom of the stars via webcam. Or maybe I'll channel the spirit of my cats, who have both been tiny black holes of emotional need lately.