Late Night Post Progress

It's late, so I am just going give it to you Straight Up. More later, Dear Reader! After 12:30, I was so close to making it on time. Le Sigh!

This Week:
     *Reading: so close to finishing The Amber Spyglass (Phillip Pullman) and The Festival of Bones (James A. Owen).
     *Writing: wrote Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday about 800 to 900 words. Have decided that if Modern Muses continues I might turn it into this years NaNoWriMo 2015.
     *Editing: edited 4 pages Monday and 5 pages Tuesday and Wednesday of The Real Road Trip. Also discovered a new sub-goal. If I edit 4 1/2 to 5 pages a day for the next 13 days, I can finish my edits by month's end. This means I can start inputting the edits and re-writing the manuscript during the month of September. And thus, I can have a completed first draft for my beta readers (which I have a few interested parties) and my CP in October, and then NaNoWriMo in November.
     *Social Media: visited 4 blogs daily and my sponsor duties. Spend a little time on twitter Monday and Tuesday.
     *Exercise: I forgot to mention last Saturday, I walked around Twin Tiers Comic Con for about three hours.

This (upcoming)Week:
     *Reading: finally finish The Amber Spyglass, The Festival of Bones, (have less than 50 pages for both books) and work on Murder Comes Ashore (Julie Anne Lindsey).
     *Writing: write daily, at least 300 words. This includes Modern Muses or Once Upon a Cloud...
     *Editing: edit 5 pages daily to finish first round of notes and edits on The Real Road Trip.
     *Social Media: 4 blogs daily (include at least one from WIPpet Wednesday) which I missed again this past week.
     *Blogging: 1 new non-ROW80 post. Having trouble fitting this in and need to work on this.
     *Submission: 2 new submission, no more slacking! Need to do a little research of what site would be good for my poems and what ones would be good for my stories.

A Round of Words in 80 Days is a blog challenge that knows you have a life. Come visit the Blog Hop and see what we are all up to!!

Today is WIPpet Wednesday, the day we (the WIPpeteers) share a bit of our current WIP. The brain child of K.L. Schwengel, you take the date and use the new math  to share a snippet of your current WIP. FOr example, using today's date 8/19, I will share 8 paragraphs about who Thalos is (also called Talo). He was 'dreaming' and sharing it with Teri.

He heard Teri’s voice, but couldn’t see her, “Teri are you there?” he called softly.

“I am Talo. I am just seeing what you are seeing. Is that him?” she asked her voice sounded much softer and gentler than before.

“I…Yes, that’s him. Oh, dammit Teri, I shouldn’t have left. I should have stayed. I know I’m not a very good muse. In fact I’m pretty terrible. Grandma Thalia would think me pitiful for not living up to the name. In fact, my own mother was disappointed in me…

“Never mind. I should go back. Manoah doesn’t have a family, let alone a home. I was his only friend, his family even.” Thalos turned towards Teri, even though he couldn’t see her, me knew where she was, “Funny! I miss his singing. I miss his songs!”

“What’s funny?” Teri asked as she took his other hand in hers why she watch Manoah strummed guitar and people walking by would occasionally toss a dime or quarter into the case. Sometime a dollar would make its way into the guitar case, but not often.

“It’s true what they say you know…”

“What is?” Teri asked continuing to watch Manoah play; the words he was singing were in another language, although Teri was well aware of their meaning.

“You know it. That old saying. The one that the humans are awfully fond of . ‘You don’t know what you have until it’s gone.’ That is so very true.”
 

Let's Tardis Hop...for Funsies

Much to be said and much to do now that I am back from fantasy land...

This Week:
      *Reading: been plowing throw The Amber Spyglass (Phillip Pullman) and coursing through The Festival of Bones (James A. Owen). Nothing completed yet, pretty sure I will have Amber Spyglass done by Wednesday or Thursday.
       *Writing: wrote Wednesday, Thursday, and a little on Friday. Weds. and Thurs. were Modern Muses writing blitzes. The story is getting good. I might use it for NaNoWriMo 2015. Friday I wrote a poem, because wanted to make it to five days in a row of writing. I got 4 days of work on the WIP and one day of poetry. Not bad, certainly better than previous weeks with only two or three days of any kind of writing.
      *Editing: Edited more of The Real Road Trip on Weds and Thurs. Nothing Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Trying for five days a week on editing, in the same vein as the writing goal.
      *Social Media: I stopped at Friday. Too days to enjoy being outside and with friends that I sacrificed Friday. I did get 4 blogs daily Weds and Thurs. and all sponsor duties completed.

The Sexy Summer Duo!

It's too nice of a summer to ignore going out and enjoying life on weekends. And summer is about enjoyment and outside (or at least not glued to a computer screen). There will be plenty of days coming where being outside is not worth a dime. I have only one more weekend where I can travel before summer ends , officially that is. Labour Day marks summer end for me. As the final day before school begins, I have always held that before Labour Day is summer, after is autumn. Thus, I fill my summer weekends with traveling and fun stuff and after this summer of determination and self discovery, I realized I need to have weekends to play during the summer months.

With that being said, autumn is a good season, with colours changing, crisp air, pumpkin everything, and that last minute feeling that the world is alive. It's a joyous time and one that I fully embrace, even if it's sad at the 'death of the greenery' of summer. There is magic in the green and growing, by there is a subtle quiet beauty in the death of summer and beginnings of autumn. Like curling up in your favourite chairs with a cup of cocoa and reading a favourite book, wearing hoodies, orange, red, and gold, bonfires, etc.

This weekend was Twin Tiers Comic Con, the small but mighty local convention of nerdom, fandom, and all things that we love to geek out about. This was my third convention In have attended since 2013 and my friend Amanda's first. (I dressed her as the 4th Doctor) We ran into many and almost stole the Tardis away :-) Well Donna did! Here are a few shots from the land of the nerds in my neck of the woods.

So what of this week? A return to form and only slightly behind.

Also, I got to see a production of Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by March Hare Productions and a reprise of Centre Stage's Another Visit to the Golden Age of Radio. A very theatr-centric weekend. If you are local March Hare's Virginia Woolf performs next weekend. For more details check them out here, March Hare!

This (upcoming) Week:
    *Reading: finish The Amber Spyglass and The Festival of Bones. So close! SO CLOSE!!!! I will do it!!
    *Writing: write daily, at least 300 words.
    *Editing: edit 4 pages a day (or more) of The Real Road Trip. I am trying to get through the manuscript by August 31st.
    *Blogging: plan and post a new non-ROW80 post this week (before Friday at the latest).
    *Social Media: 4 blog daily (2 from WIPpet Wednesday) and sponsor duties. Spend sometime on twitter and connect with followers. I need to find a way to measure this.
    *Submission: 2 submissions. I to spend sometime on looking for journal, sites, and contests to submit to. If you have any, please share. I am looking for poetry, stories, and even play site to submit to.

A Round of Words in 80 Days, the blog challenge that knows you have a life. Come check us out and visit the Blog Hop and visit with other writers, poets, and bloggers. cheer them on!! HUZZAH!

It's was a hot and humid weekend. Almost like summer decided to come back to play. After a cooler and wetter beginning to the summer, this hot weather feels good. What do you like about the end of summer? How do you spend the last weeks of August, Dear Readers? For me it's one weekend more of travel you visit family, the State Fair, and maybe a trip to a nearby amusement park (Seabreeze and /or Eldridge Park).

Beginning of a good week...

Its been a weird week, yet highly productive. The writing been good, as the editing too! I feel a great conviction to my writing. But there has been a shadow creeping over everything. Maybe it's the begins of the END OF SUMMER, maybe I am missing long or newly gone friends, or maybe I am just having a week off of my usual jovial self.

I mean, last week was birthday week, lots of fun stuff happened. This week, it was busy as usual and maybe I am missing the thrill of being busy. Music Man auditions are coming in a few weeks, will be stage managing for that. The cats have beaten the yearly bout with fleas (going to stick to a year around treatment to avoid this issue next year. It is clear autumn is not far away, but I am not ready to give up summer, just yet.

This week I was editing my NaNoWriMo Novel and I realized that as I was reading and taking notes, I was finding new snippet, bigger arcs, and more details about the characters. The characters are talking to me again. Feels good. So, question, Dear Readers, do you find that as to read your novels (when revising), or stories, or plays that you find more story to tell, or is it when you are making the edits  that more story reveals itself? Or maybe it is a bit of both? How do you work best at editing? I seem to read along and make notes as I go. But I am curious to hear how you all edit.

Now onto the check-in...

This Week:
      *Reading: making progress on each of the novels. Nothing completed, yet, but I have crossed the halfway mark with The Amber Spyglass (Phillip Pullman), and The Festival of Bones (James A. Owen), and almost to the halfway point of Murder Comes Ashore (Julie Anne Lindsey). Seriously, Patience Price is so stubborn, but I really like that in her character. Will have review upon complete of these three books.
threshold on two of them. I am over half done with
      *Writing: wrote Monday (about 700+ words), Tuesday (838 words), and Wednesday (979 words) and this ROW80 post. Pretty proud of that. Going for 5 days this week!
      *Editing: The Real Road Trip, Monday edited 4 pages and Tuesday about 3 pages. It is a daunting project, but I am determined. I want to edits completed by end of August. Will work on typing the edits and fleshing it out in September.
      *Blogging: I posted my WIPpet Wednesday post yesterday, because I was excited to share my other new WIP Modern Muses.
      *Social Media: visited 4 blogs and sponsor duties daily. I am keeping up with this more often and its beginning to become habit now. w00t!!

This (upcoming) Week:
      *Reading: finish The Festival of Bones and Murder Comes Ashore.
      *Writing: write daily, at least 300 words. Not ready to bump it up. I want to solidify that I can consistently write 700+ daily for at least a month.
      *Editing: 4 pages of The Real Road Trip (NaNoWriMo 2014) daily.
      *Blogging: 1 new non-Row 80. I did it earlier this week, let's try again.
      *Submission: 2 new submission. I will figure out why I am not get this goal each week.
      *Social Media: 4 blog visits daily from both ROW80 and WIPpet Wednesday. I missed checking in with those peeps!

A Round of Words in 80 Days is a blog challenge that knows you have a life. Why don't you join us? Got a blog? Set up some goals and check-in twice a week. Learn a bit about writing, meet some new friends, and write!!! :-) Come on in to the Blog Hop!

WIPpet Wednesday: Modern Muses

Today is WIPpet Wednesday. The day when writers share their WIP with the whole of the internet, thanks to K.L. Schwengel. Where you take today's date (7/12/2015) and tie the date to a snippet from your WIP. I have been working on another story that is currently running through my head, so we are taking a break from Cumi and Stratus in Once upon a Cloud... I will return to Cumi and Strat in a week or two. They are a little tight lipped at the moment and trying to coax more out of them.

Come and visit the fellow WIPpeteers at the Hop!

Today is a snippet from Modern Muses (working title). Using the WIPpet Wednesday math 7+1+2=10 paragraphs I am going to share. The set up is this. This is a little ways in and might be confusing, but I really enjoying writing this part of this scene. Della is a seer and knows that Teri, Talo, and Mel must go on a quest, but Della is a little more forthwith then the young heroes are prepared for. If you are confused, don't worry, I plan to share much more of this. These characters have been running through my grey matter the last three weeks or so.

“Do you know, Dear? What do you understand,  Little Dancer?” Della spoke with a sharp tongue and Teri felt her words hit her skin and pierce through. It was a poison that changed her mood to a pensive moroseness.

“I know plenty,” Teri shirked back away from Della, who rose higher and away from the door.

“Tell me what the shadow is? What will it do? Will the muses survive?” she paused only to watch as Teri blink after each question. “How can you fight it? Where are the gods now? Do the humans know?” The questions were being fired in rapid succession and Teri was gasping for breath. “Tell me where are the rest of the muses. Do you think you can survive this? Do you even understand what is happening? Do you love?”

The last question was final and very separate. Teri was crying now, choking on her tears. “Oh, you love that answer, even if you don’t want to admit the answer,” said Della, smiling.

Thalos had rushed to Teri side as Della began questioning her, but she pushed him away. She was stronger than this. “Why are you doing this?” It was such a lame and obvious question. It was almost cliché.

“If you have to ask then maybe I should take back my offers to help. Give me the gifts!”

“But...ut..ut…”Teri was trying to wipe her eyes, “You promised to help. I called to for help and you promised.”

Laughing, Della leaned against the counter, shrinking her form and looking more like an old woman with a bad back, “That was before…”

“No!” Thalos stood a little taller, taking a step forward. “That was before you said a thing. I realize what you are doing and no we will not give in. Guys, she’s trying to bluff us. She trying to get us riled up. That thing, the shadow, we need to be prepared, but Della is right. We need to do this on our own.”

Suddenly Della started clapping, “Well said Jester, well said indeed. I thought you too stupid, but I guess I SAW wrong.” She took a hold of his arm and shook him, “You my boy, shouldn’t doubt yourself. You are stronger than you think.” She turned to Teri, “Now my dear, you see?”

Renaissance Faire and Progress

Okay, so I was out and about this weekend and I didn't get much done Friday night until today. But I regret nothing. NOTHING, I SAY!!!

Yesterday was Ren Faire day, she up early and donned the fantastical costumes that Sara made for us, sans wings (we ran out of time). It was a day of turkeys, armoured joists, and bawdy poets and horny monks. I ask you, Dear Readers, if you are from NYS, are you are familiar with the Sterling Renaissance Faire? It's a fun time, but involves A LOT of walking. Daymn!!! The hubs and I took Sara, Ryan, and Kaylara to their first visit. It was a good day!! More pictures to follow...

We be Sexy, Biches!!

This means that nothing got done yesterday, and very little tomorrow. I went to see theatre folk perform Happy Days the Musical. A fun little take of the classic TV show of the same name. Not I am writing this update and completing the long week ahead of me. The evil day job has been keeping me busy during the day. Le sigh!

This Week:

     *Exercise: walked a lot at the Ren Faire on Saturday. I think at about at least 5 to 6 walks. Was very tired by day's end, so I was sufficiently exercised out.
     *House Tending: I am feeling that I am taking better care of the house in the last week. Today I mowed the lawn, finished laundry, and took out the garbage. Also, I trimmed the cat's nails. BONUS POINTS FOR ME!
     *Social Media: visited 4 blogs daily since Wednesday (okay I may have scrunched 8 into today). And I kept up with my sponsor duties. Cpent a little time on twitter.
     *Editing: i may have got to some more pages, but can't remember, so I will leave it alone.
     *Reading: did not finish Murder Comes Shore (Julie Anne Lindsey). I think I am over a third of the way through it though. Spent more time on The Amber Spyglass (Phillip Pullman) and The Festival of Bones (James A. Owen). Festival is a different story than Owen's Imaginarium books, but he has a flare for language and creates some amazing characters. Read most of Thursday away, not a bad choice of the days activities! :-)
      *Writing: wrote my ROW80 post Wednesday. That's it! I feel bad. I want to write 6 days out of the week (at least). Last week was Sunday- ROW80, Monday and Tuesday - Writing blitz and poetry, Wednesday - ROW80. Thursday was recovery from Weird Al, and nothing until today with ROW80. Need to be better on this! Monday through Friday, write, write, WRITE!! Also, need to not be hard on myself!!

This (upcoming) Week:
     *Reading: continue with The Amber Spyglass, The Festival of Bones, and Murder Comes Ashore. I am liking all of these thus far.
     *Writing: write daily, at least 300 words, Monday through Friday. This is my priority and the big focus for the rest of August.
     *Editing: at least 4 pages of The Real Road Trip (NaNoWriMo). I want the first revision done by August 31st. The next biggest goals.
     *Blogging: 1 new Non-ROW80. Need to create a schedule. I think that will help with this.
     *Submission: 2 new submission. Got a rejection a few days after last submission. That bummed me out. Thinking I need to try something different on my approach. Looking for suggestions on submitting, Dear Readers?

A Round of Words in 80 Days is a blog challenge that knows you have a life. It's where you set some goals, post them to your blog, and check-in twice a week at the Blog Hop. Come on in for a visit!!

   

Quick Update...Weird Al Tonight

Weird Al concert tonight! This is going to be short as I leave to drive down to Williamsport after work. just wanted to keep you, Dear Readers updated on my progress this week.

This Week:
     *Reading: I have gotten into a rhythm with The Amber Spyglass (Phillip Pullman), Murder Comes Ashore (Julie Anne Lindsey), and The Festival of Bones (James A.Owen). Nothing completed, but making headway.
    *Editing: managed to edit about 5 pages of The Real Road Trip (NaNoWriMo 2014) Monday, nothing yesterday.
     *Writing: wrote Monday for 37 minutes on my Modern Muse story, and finished a short poem yesterday.
     *Submissions: 1 submission to Word Riot .
     *Social Media: visited 4 blogs daily and my sponsor duties. Been a little light on Twitter lately.

This (upcoming) Week:
     *Reading: finish Murder Comes Ashore.
     *Writing: write daily. 300 words at least.
     *Editing: edit at least 4 pages of The Real Road Trip.
     *Blogging: post 1 non-ROW80 post.
     *Submission: 1 new submission this week.
     *Social Media: visit 4 blog daily and sponsor goals.

A Round of Words in 80 Days is a blog challenge that knows you have a life. Come a join of over at the Blog Hop.

Today is WIPpet Wednesday, brainchild of K.L. Schwengel where writers share a bit of their current WIP by using today's date to connected to the snippet shared. For example, today's date is 8/5/2015 and I will share 5 lines from Once Upon a Cloud...with a little more about Stratus and Cumi's relationship. this is after Stratus's friend has walked away (you haven't really meant him yet). Read my fellow WIPpeteers here!

Gesturing over his shoulder at his friend Stratus said, “Don’t tempt him, Kid. He’s more experience in the affairs around here than you are. You, you might be older, but he knows how the Terran works. Mind you,” he said pointing a plastic fork at her and eying her sharply. “I also know you too well, Kid. I’m older still.” He pointed to his chest, “Watch yourself around him!” He pointed at her, looking sternly, “He’s a good ‘un, but he does like the less inexperienced, and you, My Dear are very inexperienced.” Smiling Strat leaned over and kissed her on the lips, sliding his tongue just a little bit past her lips. Suddenly angry Cumi did not pull away, but something felt odd that maybe she was being judged. 

It was warm and wet and lasted for a while with saliva passing between the two of them. Cumi felt her body temperature rise as she finally pulled away,“You are bad,” she said eying him. A frown appeared on her lips, but she didn’t try to swat him.

Birthday and Theatre Day, Some Progress...

It my birthday today, so I didn't do much writing or editing. I am not bothered by that as it was a good weekend. But because I didn't get to any that means that its back to reality on Monday.

This Week:
     *Reading: finished Smoke and Mirrors (Neil Gaiman), continuing with The Amber Spyglass (Phillip Murder Comes Ashore (Julie Anne Lindsey, The Festival of Bones (James A. Owen).
Pullman),
     *Editing: finished editing about 4 1/2 pages of The Real Road Trip.
     *Writing: wrote on Thursday about 600 words.
     *Social Media: visited 4 blogs Wednesday and Thursday, 3 blogs on Friday and sponsor duties. On track!
     *Exercise: I walked to improv practice on Thursday.

It's not much, but I had the improv show Friday night. made about 70 dollars and made several people laugh. Then I cleaned my house Saturday, laundry, dishes, vacuuming, cat litter, and garbage. Saturday night was game night in Elmira with Fluxx and a Pop Culture Party Game (Geek Out!) And today it was The Curse of the Manley Manor in Montour Falls (getting to be in a magic show during intermission),  and  then dinner at Sorge's (with message from the kitchen). Finally my sweet little Ratty Darling gave my these wild flowers.

This week is back to the goals, but also it's birthday week with Weird Al on Wednesday and Renaissance Faire on Saturday.

This (upcoming) Week:
     *Reading: finish Murder Comes Ashore. Continue with The Amber Spyglass and The Festival of Bones.
     *Writing: write daily. At least 300 words and write Monday through Friday.
     *Editing: 2 pages a day, at least of the Real Road Trip (NaNoWriMo novel 2014).
     *Blogging: 1 new non-ROW80 post. I have some ideas for post that I have been hoarding. This might be a good time to pull that list out.
     *Submissions: been deficient on this goal. Need to return to this goal, so this is a required goal. 2 new submissions this week.
     *Social Media: visit 4 blog daily and sponsor duties.

Ooooo magic!!

Maggie the Actress bound for school in LA

Food with Message (I think I know the cook.

Wildflowers from Kaylara