#Ryder’s Journal–Wednesday December 14, 2011

2011 has been a long year. Yes, my book was published, which was wonderful. And yes, it’s getting great reviews. But personally, life has been hard. I was diagnosed with a third invisible disease this year. My husband’s decline has worsened. But my faith has increased and I feel blessed every day to have a home, and family and friends, and to know where my next meal is coming from–things that a lot of Americans don’t have these days.

The plan for 2012 is to finish book two of the Trey Fontaine Mystery series and get it published while promoting book one. I have been close to bed ridden for a while now, able to get up, but without energy or strength. So my health is going to have to come first. My plan for that is to increase my supplements, eat better, and move a little more. And I’m hoping to finally find a solution to the pain issue.

For now, I still want to add to my journal daily and will try again to do that. Please bear with me as I push forward.

#Ryder’s Journal–Wednesday November 2, 2011

The theme of this journal is the dilemma that authors face after we are published. Our job doubles. Now we have to write and we have to promote.

I’m planning a blog tour and looking for authors who write mystery/thriller/suspense/police procedurals and would be willing to interview me on their blog or let me guest blog regarding my book. I’d love to hear from anyone who is interested. Your blog will be posted on every blog where I’m interviewed or where I guest blog, including mine. I’d also consider a review posted on your blog.

#Ryder’s Journal–Tuesday November 1, 2011

It has been an overwhelming week. Four carpenters descended on our house to ‘weatherize’ it. They were here bright and early, at eight-thirty, and stayed until five in the afternoon. The house now looks like we just moved in. There are boxes and crates everywhere, the floor is filthy, and the dishes are stacked halfway up the wall.

I surely couldn’t write with the commotion and yet another four needy men in my house!  I’ve managed a few thousand words in the last couple of weeks, and have noticed that my name, and the name of my book are all over the internet, which is great.

My book will be advertised on http://www.savvyauthors.com for a month as a result of my participation in one of their events. And I came up wi th a possible fourth plot which could mean that my trilogy could truly turn into a series.

Now I’m off to bed with a swollen foot and a tired body and hopefully, tomorrow, I’ll be back to my writing. I hope all you writers out there are pounding away on those keys, and I hope all you readers out there are finding wonderful books that thrill you, make you laugh, or if I wrote it, make you cringe.

#Point of View and The Writer’s View

I’ve been working on a literary romance and it’s driving me crazy. The plan is to write from the points of view of each of the two main characters–hero and heroine in the normal vernacular, though I don’t think these labels fit so well. Both characters are doctors, specialists.

I want to write in first person present for one, and third person past tense for the other. I know this will probably be hard to sell, because it’s not the ‘normal’ way. But I have a very good reason for doing it this way, and I think when I finally get it sold, it will be a big hit. I have a deep belief in this story.

My current publisher doesn’t publish this kind of work, and I have agreed to write book two of the Trey Fontaine Mystery  trilogy, so working on this is postponed, though it fills my mind at times.  But I’m wondering how other writers deal with this process of deciding when to fulfill the vision of the story, and when to do what you know editors and agents want.

Laptop vs. Desktop

I’ve wrestled with this issue for years. I started with a desktop, but I couldn’t take it with me and by the time I got home I was too exhausted to really use it for writing.
Then I got a laptop, which was great for carrying around, though back then they were a lot heavier than nowadays. But I found I did not like getting online with it. And then there was the issue of repairs. My laptop lost a key and I quickly learned that there was no way to repair it. It was cheaper to buy a new one.
Again I bought a desktop, knowing I could always get another keyboard, or monitor, or whatever, if something broke. But I was very uncomfortable at the desk. I bought a great ergonomic chair, which helped, but the desk would only fit in the living room, and I didn’t usually spend a lot of time there. So I bought a laptop.
Now I have a desktop at my desk, which sits in my bedroom. And I have a laptop. The desktop is for online research and communication. I rarely use it to write. I use the laptop for writing only. I have a great lap desk I made to my own specifications and when I have weeks where I just can’t sit in the chair, I can do some writing on my laptop.
A few years back I met a very famous writer who did a speech at a conference. She talked about how she had an invisible disability that had made her bedridden for a year, and it just happened to be a year when she’d just signed a contract for book two in a series. Her hubby bought her a laptop and she would work in tiny increments in bed. She managed to make her deadline, and also worked on her health, which eventually helped her get up and get somewhat better.
I love that I have both a desktop and a laptop. Both get used. I never have to worry about viruses that will destroy my work because my laptop is never connected to the net. And I know that I have a way to get in touch with other writers, teachers, and friends via my desktop. It’s the best of both worlds. I hope I never have to pick just one.
I’d love to hear about the experiences of others. What do you think?

Ryder’s Journal–Thursday, October 6, 2011

I’m wishing right about now that I had the chutzpah I had fifteen years ago. I keep making plans and beginning the implementation, but managing to keep up the pace just doesn’t happen.

I haven’t had a vacation for five years and it’s taking its toll. I’ve decided not to participate in NaNoWriMo this year. I need to focus my energy on the book I’ve already started. And I need to find a way to create when my brain is mushy.

At least the weather has become comfortable. I never recognized how much the weather affected me until the last year. I’m learning a lot about myself. I thought I knew me, but it turns out I don’t really.

People change. I’ve always known that. I just didn’t see it in myself. That would make a great subject for a book–recognizing the changes in self long after the changes have taken place.

Ryder’s Journal–Friday, Sept 16, 2011

The theme of this journal is the dilemma that authors face after we are published. Another facet is added to our daily lives as we try to balance our relationships and write, with all encompasses, and also promote.

The new TV schedule could cause me some major time issues. I love cop and lawyer shows, and there are several new ones. I often DVR them, and then speed through the commercials. I hate it when there are three things on at the same time. That means I have to choose one to watch when the season ends and reruns start.

I managed to get a few more words written and am feeling good about the story. I just wish I was able to get more words written. It seems like an impossible task. I really love to write, but I can only do what I can do.

My son made us a beautiful spaghetti and meatball dinner, with French garlic toast. His first foray into the Italian cooking. He could be a chef. He is as concerned about the taste as the presentation of the meal, and he does both really well.  No doubt my hubby and I would be in rest homes without him.

Hope everyone has a great week-end.

 

Ryder’s Journal–Thursday, Sept 8, 2011

The theme of this journal is the dilemma that authors face after we are published. Another facet is added to our daily lives as we try to balance our relationships and write, with all that encompasses, and also promote.

I had planned to join in the writing of an article on Writing Rituals for Wednesday. The topic was even my idea. But health issues got in the way and I was unable to do anything for a couple of days. Not sure I should even be doing this now. Though my hands weren’t working, my mind came up with a plot for book 4 of what was to be at least a trilogy, maybe a series. If I can come up with a couple more, then I will go ahead and plan a series. If not, I may well stop after the third book and go on to a couple of other projects waiting in the wings, including a literary love story that I think could be a very good seller. My current publisher doesn’t handle that kind of book, so I have to finish the trilogy first.

I bet you wonder how I get anything done, when I can’t even put up a short article on a regular basis. Well, it’s because I’ve learned to work when I can, and not to stress over it when I can’t. I’ve learned my limitations. But I’ll get there, just maybe slower than others in my position. At least I won’t regret the time I was away from the writing, because I’m taking care of things that need taking care of. We don’t get a do over at the end of this life, so I try to remember that, while I am passionate about writing, I’m also passionate about my  family, and my own health.

Ryder’s Journal–Monday, Sept 5, 2011

The theme of this journal is the dilemma that authors face after we are published. Another facet is added to our daily lives as we try to balance our relationships and write, with all that encompasses, and also promote.

Even with metal reinforced wrist braces my wrists are swollen. So this will be short. I think I may have to get a voice recognition program and talk my way through this novel. In the meantime, I have an article overdue at the local newspaper and must concentrate on that.

I’m hanging in, but barely. Blogs will probably be short, and maybe fewer, for a while. Hope you guys stick with me.

Ryder’s Journal–Sunday, Sept 4, 2011

The theme of this journal is the dilemma that authors face after we are published. Another facet is added to our daily lives as we try to balance our relationships and write, with all that that emcompasses, and also promote.

I kicked out some words today. It just seemed like my fingers were flying. I had planned to produce 2500 words by this coming Tueday, but I’m almost there already, so I’ll have to set a new goal. I love days like this, when I spend a few minutes at a time with my laptop, my brain coming up with just the right scene.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go have an affair with my ice pack.