tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149428952024-03-23T11:21:58.316-07:00Creative EndeavorsHello! Welcome to my blog. We'll be talking about the good, bad, and ugly of the creative process. All artists are welcome, but writers may especially find solace here. So, go ahead, make my day, visit, read, and if you want post.creative1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17693959941017354190noreply@blogger.comBlogger385125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14942895.post-7375670077366421792014-09-01T15:04:00.000-07:002014-09-01T15:04:03.227-07:00School TimeHello!<br />
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Am working on school stuff today. I am almost finished with my Pharmacy Technician program. Once I am finished with that, end of September, mid October, I should be okay with the rest of the classes. We'll see.<br />
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I'm afraid however, that on the education smart scale. I'm going backwards. Ha!<br />
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Later.<br />
Deborahcreative1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17693959941017354190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14942895.post-91349476080918865282014-08-31T01:16:00.000-07:002014-08-31T01:16:19.726-07:00Where Does the Time Go?Hello there!<br />
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I know it's been sometime since I posted. I finally got around to figuring out how to post on my blog again. Yes, it had been that long. Sad, I know. <br />
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Sooo many things have changed in my life. One of my new current goals is to post here at least once a week. I want to use it as a journal of sorts, to not only keep you my readers up to date, but a record of what I'm doing and where I'm going.<br />
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The last year has not been an easy one for me, but I guess life lessons are not easy for anyone. <br />
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I did finish a book, have lost over 50 pounds, and started college. I am still working a full time job on the night shift. My life is currently very hectic, but then who's isn't. I've had friends who have died and those who I've lost contact with, not meaning to. I am hoping to connect again with them soon.<br />
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With all that said, thank goodness for Facebook. I know it has issues, but it has allowed me to stay in touch with some of the more important people in my life. <br />
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I am happy to be back here writing again. Over the next few months, I will share my current journey, where I've been and where I want to go. <br />
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Life is a process and definitely a journey. We all have our own journeys. Ours is the best we can do at the time we're doing it.<br />
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Will write again soon. Until then, you keep writing.<br />
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Deborahcreative1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17693959941017354190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14942895.post-87961826558563981822014-05-06T20:43:00.000-07:002014-05-06T20:43:48.175-07:00Learning Something NewI am always on the lookout for new things. I have always wanted to do a Blog Tour, but didn't know how to or even get started. I'd like to thank T.C. Miller for giving me the push. I'm not sure I did it correctly, but T.C. will have the process down. You can visit his blog to see how it's really done. Visit <a href="http://www.blackjackbomber.com/blog">http://www.blackjackbomber.com/blog</a>.<br />
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In the meantime, read my responses for this blog tour below and leave a comment.<br />
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1) What am<em> </em>I working on? I am working on two projects-a non-fiction proposal and a first novel for a mystery series I've been kicking around for some time.<br />
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2) How does my work differ from others of its genre? My fiction work differs from others of this genre in that it goes beyond staying in one time period. It's not time travel, but my main character has to travel to different times through research to solve mysteries.<br />
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3) Why do I write what<em> </em>I do? I write fiction and non-fiction at the same time because I like to switch from analytical to creative free form when my brain gets tired of working one way. I have friends who write fiction and say they can't write non-fiction, and then those who write non-fiction. I actually enjoy doing both. It works for me.<br />
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4) How does my writing process work? Like I said earlier, I shift from one project to another. One thing that does help me do it and do it easily is when I start a project, I choose a specific CD or set of music that speaks to me about the project I am working on. I then listen to that particular music every time I work on that project. <br />
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Thanks for visiting here. Remember to visit T.C. Miller's website and read his blog. Later in the week, I'll post three other writers and their blog addresses you can visit to read about their projects and their writing processes.<br />
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Until next time, keep writing.creative1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17693959941017354190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14942895.post-9996177296400599872014-05-05T20:06:00.002-07:002014-05-05T20:06:17.435-07:00BloggingLook for new post tomorrow.creative1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17693959941017354190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14942895.post-35701651057978359742014-01-07T01:01:00.001-08:002014-01-07T01:01:28.818-08:00New Year, New Book, New ResolutionsHappy New Year! As we start the new year, it's time to learn from our mistakes and move forward with new hope, new projects, and new ambitions. I have big plans for this new year. I hope you do too!creative1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17693959941017354190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14942895.post-16287028893644966412013-05-09T19:05:00.001-07:002013-05-09T19:33:37.282-07:00The 10K of WritingHello Writers!<br />
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Three weeks ago, I began the "Couch to 10K" running program. For as long as I can remember I have wanted to run, jog, sprint, whatever one wants to call it. I'd see people jogging down my street and say, "one day I'm going to do that". Somehow that day never came.<br />
Then my daughter and I heard about a running program from a colleague of hers at work. It seemed reasonable and the more I read about it, the more I felt confident I could do it. I have walked for years, but running? Well, that was a different story. <br />
The day of truth arrived. We headed down to the high school track, just below our house. I put my headphones on and started the program. The warm-up was fine. Even the first run was okay. And then it got ugly. The program is set so you alternate between running and walking. By the time, it came for me to run the third time, I was beginning to question why I was doing this. I became nauseated and with each new run time, I had to quit before the minue was up or start way late in to the run. On more than one occasion, I stumbled and knew I was going to do a face plant right on the cushiony track. <br />
I kept going though and even though I didn't run the whole time, I made it through the first routine. And believe me, it wasn't pretty. <br />
The second day, I was surprised to find I made it through half of the running spots completely and almost made it through the others. Day three arrived and to an even greater surprise I made it all the way, running through the spots I was supposed to.<br />
Wanting to make sure I had the first level down, I repeated it the second week. While my form wasn't great, I did it. One thing I noticed was that my breathing rate recovered a lot faster than when I first started. I was making progress.<br />
I missed the next day because I had appointments in the morning and then had to work until late that night. The next morning, I so did not want to get out of bed. It felt good just to lie there and do nothing. I thought about my running, but really didn't want to do it. <br />
Somehow though, I talked myself in to getting up and doing it anyway. I planned to stay at Level 1 for at least another week, but for some reason when I started the program, it moved to Level 2. I didn't realize that until one of my songs ended and where I should have stopped running, the program hadn't notified me to stop. Looking down, it was then I saw I had been bumped up. <br />
I pondered stopping, resetting the program and doing Level 1. Then I reasoned I had already warmed up, made it through a minute and a half run. What was the worst thing that could happen? I could only do part of the workout? I wanted to see how far I could go. Wanted to see how much progress I "had" made.<br />
Halfway in, I wasn't sick to my stomach. I had completed the running portions and still I could breathe fairly normal. My form wasn't great, but I was doing it. Thirty five minutes later, I had completed the beginning of Level 2 and had done it completely. I had improved. <br />
I wrote about this today, because writing is much like training for the 10K. We all start out taking baby steps. We may get sick to our stomach, not able to breathe and more than once feel like we're going to fall on our face. Our goal is not to go out there and run the 10K the first time. We wouldn't ask that of a person just getting off the couch. We shouldn't expect it of ourselves. We would expect first time runners to take their time and train, improve.<br />
That's the same thing we must do as writers. It doesn't matter when we first start out, how ugly our form is. I know my running is downright ugly. I've told friends if they see me out there, to turn away. My goal is to keep improving by doing my program day after day. I can improve my form when I get comfortable with the run and my breathing gets steady. <br />
For now, I'm happy with the little improvements. Every time I get out there, even if I can go just 30 more seconds, that's improvement. I'm not in competition with anyone. I just want to get better. If it takes fourteen weeks or twenty four, I'm not to judge. I'm to show up, do the program and trust the process. If I do, I will improve, be it pretty or not...for now.<br />
The same is true of writing. Show up everyday, at your keyboard or with your pen and notepad, put words down on paper, trust the process, and you will improve.<br />
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Until Next Time~<br />
Keep Writing<br />
<br />creative1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17693959941017354190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14942895.post-86068635650347928502013-03-29T15:46:00.001-07:002013-03-29T15:46:21.479-07:00Catching UpHello Readers!<br />
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Seems like all I'm doing lately is catching up. I get ahead and then weeks go by and I'm behind again. I've been working, watching my grandson, working on taxes, sending out postcards to museums for the "Remarkable Oklahoma Women" book, and roughing the quilt book. In between times, I'm doing interviews and trying to get back to museums contacting me about selling the book.<br />
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Hopefully, in to April, I will be able to execute my plan for my writing career. I am also working on getting on an exercise schedule and working with a nutritionist. Things will get better.<br />
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Until I can write next time, keep writing. And remember, you can't sell a product if you don't have a product to sell. So, get pen to pad.<br />
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Deborahcreative1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17693959941017354190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14942895.post-43917538282608315882013-03-02T14:36:00.001-08:002013-03-02T14:37:47.735-08:00Marketing vs PromotionHello Friends!<br />
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I just returned from a jaunt to Oklahoma. I went and did some booksignings and interviews about my latest book, "Remarkable Oklahoma Women". It was successful in the fact that I fulfilled my obligations and sold some books. With the Oklahoma weather in March, that's a success.<br />
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While I was there, I ran in to a few old writing students of mine. They caused me to remember a fallacy that some people have about writing and publishing. I first realized this lack of understanding some years ago when I spoke at the Southwest Writer's Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico.<br />
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I was contracted to speak on Marketing at the conference. Marketing to me means something you do before you actually sell your book. It is actually something you do all the time because to be a successful author, I believe you have to market yourself beforehand. <br />
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I put all my marketing books out on the table, passed out handouts on how-to write query letters, proposals, etc., and began my session. About ten minutes in, a gentleman in the back raised his hand. I acknowledged him. <br />
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"We know how to do all that," he said, "but what can I do to sell the book after it's in print?"<br />
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Ah, he wanted to know about "promotion". <br />
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Promotion to me is about setting up booksignings, getting interviews, sending out postcards, etc., to promote your book when it is in print. <br />
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Needless to say, I was somewhat unprepared for the turn of events. However, I switched gears in mid stream and somehow managed to escape the session with my skin. <br />
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I've thought a lot about these two topics since then. Perhaps I'm mistaken in my belief, but I still maintain "marketing" is something you do before the sale, and "promotion" is what you do after.<br />
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What do you think?<br />
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Until Next Time~<br />
Deborahcreative1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17693959941017354190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14942895.post-23647267167769658222013-02-14T12:54:00.000-08:002013-02-14T12:54:12.437-08:00Changes Are A Comin'Hello All~<br />
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For the last few weeks, I have been in a whirlwind of change. I have updated my website, been working on promoting my books the old way, and trying to learn how to promote them the new way, i.e. via the Internet. <br />
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Last night was an experience for me. I wanted to put up a pic of my new book's cover and a link to Amazon on Facebook. After four embarrassing tries, my daughter comes in and tells me, "well, all you have to do...." I apologized to all my friends on Facebook who had to deal with the strange postings and then moved on. After I had written down the "simple" method for doing what I wanted to do.<br />
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I have also been reading up about blog tours and other things on the world wide web, one can do to promote her books. One of these days I will even be writing this blog and alerting my freinds on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks that I actually updated my blog.<br />
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In the meantime, I am working on finding topics to write about here that will be educational to the reading public and hopefully drive more readers here. My goal is to pump up my numbers and get the quite the following. <br />
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Still have much to learn and I know I will make mistakes and embarassing plunders like last night. But I won't quit trying until I reach my goal.<br />
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Until Next Time~<br />
Deborahcreative1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17693959941017354190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14942895.post-28864150481820706572013-02-06T19:35:00.000-08:002013-02-06T19:35:00.010-08:00Catching Up or Trying ToHello All~<br />
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Whew! I have been trying to catch up and do a lot of promo work on the current book out, "More Than Petticoats: Remarkable Oklahoma Women." All the while, working on a new book about quilting. <br />
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So far, things haven't been too bad. I'm up to 14,000 words and happy about that. Have been conducting interviews with quilters. <br />
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I'm excited about the "Remarkable Oklahoma Women" book. It has a great picture in there of Dorothy Morgan Pressler with Amelia Earhart. I found it while looking through two huge boxes at the Oklahoma Historical Society. It was the very last picture in the last box. This picture was in Pressler's private collection and as far as anyone knows, the copy in the book is the first time it has been seen in public. <br />
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Got a lot to do yet. Am trying to do crash courses on how to promote on Facebook and Twitter. We'll see how it goes. Hopefully, I can learn a lot and share some of that knowledge with you here.<br />
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Until Next Time, Keep Writing<br />
Deborahcreative1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17693959941017354190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14942895.post-52401352205790231102013-01-18T17:28:00.002-08:002013-01-18T17:28:31.384-08:00Technology: Blessing or CurseFrustration abounds and has abounded for the past week. I thought technology was supposed to make our lives easier. Recently, all it's been doing for me, is giving me a tension headache.<br />
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First, let's discuss my missing books. My latest book has come out--a month early. I started getting emails from friends who have gotten the book and been reading. I hadn't seen the thing. I should have received my author copies some time ago. However, I thought perhaps my publisher was waiting until the actual launch date.<br />
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Sooo, I went on and looked at Amazon. Sure 'nough they were sending out books, so I ordered the last two they had. When my two arrived, I was excited, yet still puzzled. After contacting my editor, I found out there had been a mix up. No doubt due to 'puters somewhere. My copies are now on their way and barring any interference from the post office should arrive early next week.<br />
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One problem solved.<br />
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Second, got a new cell phone. My life is on there. Apps for checking accounts, social contacts, music to work by, etc. It was supposed to be easy. Back up the old phone to iCloud. Restore new phone from iCloud. Somewhere iCloud got lost in translation and I lost everything. <br />
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For the past 5 days, I have been rebooting, restoring, syncing, and a host of other things. I have NO idea what I'm doing and things aren't exactly like they were. Still not getting all my email and Facebook is hit and miss. This morning, the phone was scrolling through all my music so fast, I swore it was possessed. It is better now.<br />
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Lest you think this is all in my head. Last month, I sent back my iPad because it was possessed. Apple sent me a new one. They couldn't exorcise it either. <br />
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I'm just saying.<br />
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Okay, back to the new book and working on interviews. So far, my computer is still working. However, currently, blogger and I are having issues.<br />
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Word count on new book is 8,143.<br />
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Til Next Time,<br />
Deborah<br />
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creative1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17693959941017354190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14942895.post-52815531243447362712013-01-10T18:14:00.000-08:002013-01-10T18:14:00.367-08:00New Year, New Book, New MeHello All~<br />
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At this time of year, I usually look over the past year and decide what I want to improve on in the New Year. As always, I definitely know I am back on Weight Watchers. Seems like that's a yearly thing with me.'<br />
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I have started a new book, which I signed a contract for on January 3, 2013, and am working on a proposal carried over from last year, while waiting on a contract for another book. My Women's History book will be released February 2, 2013. Overall, 2013 looks like it could be a pretty good year for me book wise. <br />
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As I already said, I have started the new book. So far, so good. This past week, I wrote 3500 words while holding down my job at the hospital. Going to do some reasearch over the next two days that I'm off and hopefully, I can get another 3500 written by the end of next week. I figure 7000 words equal about 5000 useable. :-)<br />
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Now, for my New Year's resolutions. I simply must learn how to market online. I want to pump up my booksales by doing just that. I want to have virtual tours and booksigning. It's crazy I know, but for all my marketing savvy, Internet marketing is a very weak spot for me. <br />
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So, I shall do what I do best. Learn all I can about that area and apply, apply, apply. <br />
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Here's to all of us reaching our 2013 goals.<br />
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Til next time, keep writing.<br />
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Deborahcreative1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17693959941017354190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14942895.post-51149373510815024762012-12-16T08:40:00.000-08:002012-12-16T08:40:07.450-08:00Friday's TragedyHello Readers~<br />
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Like everyone across America, we are all struggling to make sense of what happened in the CT school, Friday morning. I am doubling struggling as I had a premonition, actually several, but as my psychic abilities aren't honed as they should be, couldn't and was powerless to say or do anything about the tragic events. <br />
I have had premonitions in the past. I get the ability from my mother. She gets it from her family. While she has had feelings something bad is going to happen before large catastrophic events, this time it cut a little too close to home for me.<br />
A month ago, I had a dream about an elementary school getting shot up by an intruder. I remember getting the call, going to the school, looking for my five-year-old grandson, and finding he was one of the victims. The dream and the mere thought was so horrific to me, I only mentioned part of it to my daughter. I thought, because it's the way I believe, that if I didn't speak about it, the events couldn't possibly happen. After all, who in their right mind would kill innocent children? And it was just a dream.<br />
A little under two weeks ago, my mother texted me. She told me she had this "bad feeling" like something was going to happen. My heart sank and I told my co-worked about my mother's other intuitive moments like when Oklahoma City was bombed and 9/11 happened. Typically, within two weeks of her "feeling" something happens. I also told him it was so frustrating because even though there are these "feelings", we don't know what they pertain to, when or where things will happen. It's just like "we know", which can make you "mind crazy".<br />
Thursday morning, I woke up to a deep dark feeling. I described it to my mom as being depressed, but it was more than that. I've been depressed before and this was different. Every time I turned around I felt tears in my eyes. I searched for the cause of my heaviness and a reason was not there. I almost had all my Christmas shopping completed, work was going good, my daughter and I were planning a day out on Friday. There was no reason for me to feel the way I did. It didn't make sense.<br />
I decided to ignore them. I prayed that God take the feelings away and I got busier on my Christmas cards, every time I felt my eyes well up. Basically I shoved and blocked the feelings away. That was all I could do or so I thought.<br />
I've thought a lot about what has happened. While I know I am not responsible for the acts of a madman, I do feel a certain amount of responsibility for the fact that I didn't start interceding in prayer immediately. Could angels have been dispatched to stop the madman? Could all the children been protected? Could police have arrived earlier?<br />
Through this event, I have decided I will learn more about psychic abilities, see what I can do to develop them, and when I come across those feelings again, even though I don't know where or when evil events may be happening, start praying for God to intervene. <br />
I believe we all have intuitive abilities. It's up to us whether we choose to accept or ignore them. <br />
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creative1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17693959941017354190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14942895.post-68981409774519142172012-11-10T13:44:00.001-08:002012-11-10T13:44:21.909-08:00Finally Back!!!Hello Everyone!!!<br />
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What a whirlwind I have been through in the last year! I am back now and hopefully better than ever. I have a new book out and one that is coming out in February. <br />
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Currently, I am working on getting booksignings and other promo jaunts lined up. I am also working on a proposal for Writer's Digest Books. In between all that, I am working four days a week at the small hospital here in town. <br />
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I am enjoying life and everything I'm doing. And now that I finally figured out how to get back on Blogger and do my blog, you will be hearing from me at least once a week.<br />
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I'm back to doing art and now that I have an office again, I am on the road to a full and exciting comeback. <br />
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Keep writing and I'll write more soon.<br />
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Deborahcreative1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17693959941017354190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14942895.post-87715653973344305272011-06-10T12:58:00.000-07:002011-06-10T13:07:02.845-07:00Epiphanies come at the most unusual and unexpected times. One happened to me just yesterday. I am a natural teacher. Deep down I've always known it. I guess that was what was so surprising to me. It just jumped out of no where and hit me in the face.<br />I had been teaching my mother how to use her iPhone and then my sister called wanting to know about blogging, Twittering, and Facebook. I was sharing what I knew about all three and went I got off the phone, I felt really good. I had just taught my sister some things and it felt good to help.<br />It was then I realized that after I teach a writing class or finish a how-to book or article, I feel the same way. Writing how-to's or teaching and showing people how to do things comes naturally for me. But then I also love learning how to do things. I believe learning and then turning around and teaching what you've learned go hand in hand.<br />And to be perfectly honest, I love it. Teaching people through classes or writing seems to be my drug of choice. I'll take it. What is yours?<br />Until next time, keep writing.creative1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17693959941017354190noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14942895.post-28079089782153803952011-02-06T11:16:00.000-08:002011-02-06T11:30:51.711-08:00I've almost got the first half of the book to go. Three quick, short interviews and some editing on the computer and it will be ready to go off. I'll be about two weeks early from what my contract reads, but when my editor originally wanted the first half. So.... The second half is going to be a little trickier. I'm working on it, but I think it will probably be more toward the end of March before it gets in instead of the middle of the month.<br />I am finding the second half is proving problematic because I have been working steadily on the first half. It's not that I'm running out of steam, just tired. I have broken down my chapters in to outlines, pretty detailed, so every day I go in to write I at least have something to research, check out, etc. From the very beginning I gave myself a word count-750 words a day. I typically go over each day, but some days I'm right on.<br />It's been a challenge. Believe it or not I've learned a lot. Not about my subject per se, but about the writing process in general. It's been good for me and a learning process.<br />Still plugging away at the women's book. Should have the first story rough drafted today. I've had trouble grappling with that thing. So much research to go through, so much I've wanted to include, but I'm trapped by a word count. Yesterday, I printed off what I had, then deleted the whole thing and started over.<br />I had a message on this blog asking to give some writing hints, ideas, or tips in my blog. Since I've been teaching, I am a fount of info. So for Emily, here is my writing suggestion or idea for today.<br />If you don't have time to write long pieces for publication. Start out by writing fillers. A filler is a short piece around 50 words, no longer than 100. These can be tips you can give housewives, parents, grandparents ranging from how to clean the stove top to how to build relationships with friends or family. For marketing these fillers, look in the magazines you read all the time. Eighty percent of all magazines use fillers. Hope this helps.<br />Until Next Time~<br />Keep Writingcreative1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17693959941017354190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14942895.post-25149532616346464232011-01-20T16:08:00.000-08:002011-01-20T16:15:57.412-08:00Sorry so late in the week posting. Last week and basically the first part of this one has been nightmarish for me. I have been having to work in bits and pieces, running here and there, doing small cut up jobs all the while trying to focus on the task at hand. The Home Based Business book is coming along. I just hit 37,000 words this morning so that's a good sign.<br />The women's history book is coming, but I need to get in a rhythm. I find I'm going back, rewriting, rewriting, adding stuff, taking it out, rewriting again. I have no flow to the research or writing. What I want to do is strow all this research material out in the floor and spend one complete day doing nothing but going through it. Two or three hours a day doesn't give me time to focus and okay, I'll say it, remember what I read the day before. I've got some tip toeing down memory lane that's going to have to go. I'm at 1800 words in this one article and haven't even gotten halfway through her life, especially not to her biggest cotributions to the state. So....<br />I was telling my husband next month, my derrier is going to be glued to the chair or perhaps the floor in this case. I will definitely hit my deadline for the home based business book and no doubt have sleepless nights as I'm trying to hit my deadline for the women's history book. I shall do it though, even if I have to stay up all night. Yes, it is like cramming for a final.<br />Until Next Time~<br />Keep Writingcreative1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17693959941017354190noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14942895.post-17188627257871698132011-01-14T15:13:00.000-08:002011-01-14T15:26:44.260-08:00Oops! According to my records, it says I haven't posted since December 30th. I don't think that is correct, but be that as it may. Tada, here I am again. I reached my goal of 30,000. I am one thousand words away from 3500. Cheez, it has been a struggle this past week combined with last week too. Some days nothing goes on and then there are other days when things need to be notarized, doctor appointments, groceries take way too long to get and you have appointments with friends. Don't get me wrong, I love my friends and the things we do together. I hate that everything comes all at once, especially when I'm on a deadline. I try to figure in flex time in all my contracts. Thank goodness I did that. I worked though long enough hours on the days I was able to work this week to be caught up with my words, sooooo.... I'm where I want to be and that's a good thing. <br />Next week looks more promising. I hope I can squeeze time in for everything I need to do. I am teaching classes now too, so that takes time as well.<br />Keeping busy is good though. I'd rather be too busy than just sitting around twittling my thumbs. Off to put down some words for my women's history book. I'll write in a few days when I hit 35,000. Then I'll be halfway there.<br />Til Next time~<br />Keep Writingcreative1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17693959941017354190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14942895.post-69813389854704909362010-12-30T14:50:00.001-08:002010-12-30T15:21:43.793-08:00This will be the last post I make this year. I am looking forward to the New Year and the challenges it will bring. In an effort to get my writing back on track, I have spent this past year on a journey of discovery of sorts. I have learned that with adulthood comes reality and that reality can sometimes hamper the creativity I had as a child. I have learned I love research, well, I've always kind of known that, but when I was doing research for the women's history book, I was absolutely in heaven. And finally, I learned I write better fiction and it comes more easily when I have non-fiction contracts going.<br /> I continue my love affair with writing. I know it is something I am meant to do. I don't always feel like I am very good at it, but it is the one thing I always come back to. I continue to get discouraged, but I have things I want to accomplish, so I'm not going to let depression, disappointment, or discouragement derail me. A friend once told me, "you can feel sorry for yourself for 15 minutes, then stop and move on." I'm working on it. Sometimes I go for 20 minutes. :-)<br /> One thing I do know is I will continue to study and hopefully improve. I am sneaking in reading some writing books in my spare moments. Some days I have to go back and read what I read the day before, but I'm not in a race with anyone. I figure even if I'm a turtle, I'll get to where I want to go eventually.<br /> Got to 25,000 words today. Exact count is 25,043!!!! I wanted to reach this goal by the end of the year. That's in 28 days!!!!!!!!!!!! Not too shabby, if I say so for myself. Have my goals set for this book already for next year, but for those who are interested, here is my entire goal list for 2011.<br /><br /> 1) Finish up the Home Based Business Book<br /> 2) Lose 60 pounds<br /> 3) Complete research on women's history and have 3/4 of that book written by 12/30/11.<br /> 4) Complete one of my fiction books-The Grave Hunter series<br /> 5) Finish all my crochet and knitting projects currently on hooks and needles.<br /> 6) Write a children's book on the state of Oklahoma.<br /> 7) Send out three query letters per month.<br /> 8) Get two new proposals completed and in the mail.<br /> 9) Stay in closer contact with friends.<br /> 10) Improve my marketing skills for my books.<br /><br /> Well, there it is. Got a lot to do in 2011. A little nervous, but excited at the same time. The challenges will be enormous, but if I stay focused and do what I am supposed to do every day for 356 days of the year, I'll get there. I have long range goals and my yearly goals are only stepping stones to those bigger ones.<br /> I hope you will set goals and stretch yourself next year. I believe we as humans can really do anything we set our minds to, if we're motivated enough and want it badly enough. I do. How about you?<br /> I'd like to wish you all a Happy New Year and may that new year bring you health, wealth, and may all your goals be attained.<br /><br />Til Next Time~<br />Keep Writingcreative1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17693959941017354190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14942895.post-11825125354918849782010-12-24T10:16:00.000-08:002010-12-24T10:26:49.111-08:00Good Lordy, good Lordy. I've gotten my words in today. Officially I am at 21,370. I wanted to have 20,000 done by Christmas. Looks like I made it. As I've said before, not sure how many of those will have to be axed, but at least it's something. I wrote a hysterical section this morning. I have an imaginary room, that my painter is giving a bid on. He is supposed to measure the walls and then the floor to get the ceiling square footage. I have decided to have a friend read the section to see if she can understand it. If she can't, it will have to be rewritten. Well, it's going to have to be rewritten anyways, but----<br />Yesterday, I worked on the women's book outline. Getting ready to tighten it up here in a bit. Want to have that done by the first of the year, so I can get on those two sample chapters.<br />And yes Nita, I also want to get on the fiction book. You know the one.<br />After I get my words for all projects today, I'm going to organize this office. There are books, files, Christmas Cards and stacks of papers everywhere. Going to do some journaling too later.<br />Also for those of you in to crafts, I started knitting myself a hat last night. Should finish it tonight. It's not holidayish, but I'm going to wear it tomorrow anyway.<br />Off to finish up today. Til the next 5000 words, keep writing.creative1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17693959941017354190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14942895.post-35252393725600737542010-12-14T14:19:00.000-08:002010-12-14T14:26:09.678-08:00Tada! I have made it over 15,000 words. I estimate that about 3,000 of those will have to go, but at least I have something to take away when I need to. As I have been plodding along, I have found that if I work every day, even a little a day, the next day is much easier. I have taken a day off here and there, but if I am doing things around here, I feel guilty because I am NOT in the office getting my words done. The good thing though is, I feel driven to get to my computer and get the words down. I'm also looking at dividing my days to write my non-fiction in the morning and do my fiction in the afternoons. Right now, I haven't stuck to a strict schedule because of the holidays. I've also been trying to get the office organized so I can find things like research for the women's history book, the information I've gathered for the two tour guide books, and handouts for the classes I'm going to be teaching beginning in January. Busy, but that is what I need right now to keep my mind occupied. In the meantime, raise a glass to me. Word count is growing.<br />Keep Writing!creative1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17693959941017354190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14942895.post-31912228495194608632010-12-08T13:24:00.001-08:002010-12-08T13:33:46.030-08:00Whew! Another week down and I'm over 10,000 words, 11,019 to be exact. I worked over the weekend, but was off yesterday. Today when I started it was a little rough. I think I probably wrote crappola. A writer friend of mine said on the days I write poorly, two weeks later, I won't even be able to tell. Sometimes though I write so poorly I'm sure I'll be able to tell.<br />Today it seemed as if I was writing the same thing over and over again. I went back, deleted sentences, rewrote them, read others that I used the same words from the previous sentence. <br />It seems I am writing <em>disaster copy</em>. Ha! You know the kind that comes rushing in and you know once the storm is over, you are going to have to be the one to clean up the mess. <br />I may have over 11,000 words, but I know 2,000 are going to have to be axed. I guess that's a good thing considering I've only been working on chapter 1. I still have 9 more to go. If I keep progressing like this, I'll have a 90,000 word book when I only need 60,000. <br />Oh well, it's like an editor once told me, "it's a whole lot easier to cut, than to add." That's what I tell myself at the end of every day.<br />Until next time~<br />Keep Writing!creative1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17693959941017354190noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14942895.post-71193362882578878262010-11-23T12:48:00.000-08:002010-11-23T13:29:15.890-08:00Hello Friends!<br /> It's been a while since I've blogged. I plan to change that, but that's what I say at least once every six months. I really try to be a "good" writer like the Good Wife tries, but temptation comes and periodically one does get distracted. Yet, here I am. And I have started another book. This one is under contract, so it behooves me to finish it. And I will, but I have to admit, most of the time the thought of a book is totally different than the writing. It gives me comfort though when I read about other authors, well-known, big-name authors, having the same thoughts as me.<br /> I just finished up my word count for this week. The total since Thursday, when I began, is 4702 words. When I received this assignment Wednesday, I sat down with a calendar and decided I could get this book completed if I wrote 700 words a day. This would allow me to even turn it in earlier than my contract will say, which will please my editor. I have completed the Introduction and am in the middle of Chapter One.<br /> Thursday morning when I arrived at my keyboard, I sat for about 45 minutes staring at a blank page with a little blinking cursor. To say I was a somewhat overwhelmed would be an understatement. So, I did what every good writer does when one can't figure out how to begin, I took a shower.<br /> After thirty minutes of warm water running down my back, giving myself a pep talk, and pondering several different openings, I thought I had one that was a winner. Since I didn't have pen or paper, I kept repeating the opening line to myself as I got out and dried off. While I dressed I repeated it. At one point, I almost panicked when I realized the line wasn't exactly what it was in the shower, but just as I was about to brush my teeth for the second time, because I was concentrating on my line, it came to me.<br /> I rushed out of the bathroom and started down the hall. My husband came around the corner and opened his mouth to say something to me. I threw up my hand. I couldn't handle any distractions. "Later," he said as I darted in to my office.<br /> Getting that first line down on paper, I breathed a sigh of relief. Even though my hair was wet and wrapped in a towel, I continued typing. After a couple hours, my writing goal was met for the day. I could spend the afternoon working on research, making charts, or writing quizzes for the book.<br /> By the time day two arrived, I had already grown cocky. I sat down at my keyboard and wrote the most laughable copy in the world. As a matter of fact, several times I stopped writing just to laugh at what I had just written.<br /> "And you call yourself a writer," I muttered as I read through the lines laughing at the word "apoplexy". What did a sudden loss of consciousness and subsequent partial paralysis caused by a broken or blocked artery in the brain have to do with a home based house painting business? I vowed "apoplexy" would be the first word cut when I started editing later that afternoon.<br /> The next morning, I was a little word shy. Amazingly enough though, words flowed smoothly for the next several days. I even made it up over 1000 words yesterday. <br /> Today, was a little more challenging, but I tapped out at 861 total. I worked on a rough outline for the rest of the chapter, so when I start back after Thanksgiving I'll know where I'm headed. I plan to take a few days off, but who knows? If I can't sleep or if I get bored watching my husband watch football, I shall be back at my keyboard.<br /> After all, isn't that what all "good" writers do?creative1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17693959941017354190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14942895.post-89800308495866201812010-03-24T12:14:00.000-07:002010-03-24T12:15:04.830-07:00MARCH/APRIL 2010 NEWSLETTER<br />Volume 1, Issue 3<br /><br />QUOTE OF THE MONTH<br />You cannot plough a field by turning it over in your mind. Author Unknown<br /><br /><br />MESSAGE FROM DEBORAH<br /><br />Are you thinking about writing a book? Well, instead of just sitting around thinking about it, get to your computer and start writing.<br /> My daughter used to sit around and complain that she had a book she wanted to write, but she didn’t know when she was going to be able to start. She talked about her job, her volunteer activities, and her continuing education classes. According to her, she had no time left over to work on a book, yet she would easily spend twenty hours a week watching television and doing non-productive activities-chatting on the phone with friends, window shopping, and gazing out the window complaining that she had no time to write.<br /> I’ve thought about many popular writers over the years. Before they got their big breaks, they wrote on trains, planes, on their lunch hours, during recess breaks, before or after their children go to bed. I’m sure all of them had NO time, but yet they found it.<br /> “People make time for the things that are important to them,” I told my daughter. “If you really want to write, you’ll find some time. Besides, you don’t need hours upon end. Carry a notebook around with you and when you have a few minutes, jot down some notes. Find 15 minutes a day to devote to your writing, set a timer if you have to, but for those 15 minutes all you do is write.”<br /> Needless to say, she wasn’t pleased with my interjecting some common sense in to her dilemma, but after an hour of pouting she decided to take my advice. She is now over half-way through writing her book. I’ve looked over it and it has potential.<br /> Because writing and publishing is such a subjective business, I think everyone has potential. Sitting around and talking about writing a book will NOT get it written. And to sell a book, a book must be written.<br /> So, what are you waiting for? Find your fifteen minutes and get to writing.<br /><br /><br /><br />NEW PLACES TO EXPLORE ON THE WWW<br /><br />Writers Beware Blog <a href="http://accrispin.blogspot.com/">http://accrispin.blogspot.com/</a> If you are an author and you don’t have this website marked in your favorites, navigate off this page and go bookmark it now. This site keeps writers up-to-date on scams, shams, and lawsuits. The Sci-Fi Writers and Mystery Writers have joined forces to gather information and disclose things going on behind the scenes of publishing. So, if you want to be in the “know”, read this blog on a regularly basis.<br /><br /><br /><br />FUN PRODUCTS FOR WRITERS<br /><br />If you are interested in writing screenplays, check out The Writer’s Store at <a href="http://www.writersstore.com/">www.writersstore.com</a>. Here you will find over 1000 products with software, books, supplies, course and seminar listings to jumpstart your screenwriting career. Those who are interested in furthering their writing skills will find books and CDs as well. If you are looking for some fun and inspiration, check out the dolls, ties, hats and more offered on this site. As a side note, this is not just a website. The Writer’s Store brick and mortar building is located on Westwood in Hollywood, California.<br /><br /><br />A MARKET FOR YOU<br /><br />For you history buffs out there, I thought I would remind you of Renaissance Magazine. It was established in 1996 and has a readership of 33,000. It is looking for essays, expose, historical, how-to, interview, opinion, travel and more geared toward its readership. The publication accepts queries or complete manuscript. Length desired for manuscript is 1,000 to 5,000 words. Pays 8¢ per word. The publication is 90% freelance written. Website is <a href="http://www.renaissancemagazine.com/">www.renaissancemagazine.com</a>. Contact email is <a href="mailto:editortom@renaissancemagazine.com">editortom@renaissancemagazine.com</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br />WHAT DEBORAH’S READING<br /><br />I know there are a vast amount of readers who do not care for romances, but I do. Annnnddd I am still stuck in Julia Quinn’s world. I am reading the last book she published and the last one of hers I haven’t read. While I have enjoyed all her books, I am having a tad bit of trouble with this one. I read Mr. Cavendish, I Presume and the end was a shocker for me. While the hero did get the girl, everything else in his life went wrong. I kept waiting for his life to turn around, but it didn’t. Now, in The Lost Duke of Wyndham, the hero here is the character I didn’t like Mr. Cavendish, I Presume. The books are basically the same story, but told from different viewpoints. I am over half way through the book and am still finding it hard to sympathize with this hero. I’m hoping the end is a little different. Right now, he isn’t redeeming himself in my eyes. If you want to do a study of viewpoints, this is the book for you.<br /><br /><br />THIS MONTH’S CHALLENGE<br /><br />Create a muse character for yourself, and then sit down and write him/her a lengthy letter. Tell your new confidant your writing dreams and aspirations. Write about your trials and tribulations. You don’t have to write it all in one sitting. Perhaps make some notes the first time you sit down to write, and then add exposition the next time. Make writing to your muse a daily or weekly habit. You will be surprised what you can get off your chest when you have a confidant.<br /><br /><br />Disclaimer: Deborah does not make any money off the products she discusses in this newsletter or endorses any website or market. Her purpose is to provide information only. She believes research and decision making is always left to the individual reader.creative1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17693959941017354190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14942895.post-19783513097272923152010-02-06T09:17:00.000-08:002010-02-06T09:20:44.241-08:00FEBRUARY 2010 NEWSLETTER<br />Volume 1, Issue 2<br /><br />QUOTE OF THE MONTH<br />“Obstacles are things we see when we take our eyes off the goal.” Zig Ziglar<br /><br /><br />MESSAGE FROM DEBORAH<br /><br /> I was excited when I signed up for the knitted Bloomin’ Scarf class. I had seen one finished and it was beautiful. Yes, it looked difficult, but as I looked at the picture on the pattern, I couldn’t wait to do the project and wear my new creation. “You won’t have any trouble knitting it,” the friend who was teaching the class told me. I was a little skeptical, but felt confident after I cast on the 400 stitches to the new circular needle with 60 inch cable. I completed the first two rows and listened carefully to my friend as she gave instructions about the pattern. It was straight forward-knit one row, purl the second, and then slip, slip, knit, etc. to make various flowers across the entire length of the scarf.<br /> For the first month after the class, I worked on the scarf every evening for three to four hours. I had taken the class in June. By September, I wasn’t even half way through the project. There had been problems. I had slipped too many stitches or dropped stitches which made me have to rip out the work I had completed. My friend had been kind enough in the beginning to take the stitches out for me, but after the twelfth time, frankly, I was too embarrassed to ask her again, so I spent a week, first, trying to figure out which stitches to grab so I wouldn’t unravel the whole thing and second, ripping out over eight hundred stitches. I wasn’t happy.<br /> In an attempt to keep my sanity, I set the bloomin’ scarf project aside. I completed a couple simple scarves for Breast Cancer Awareness month, finished a pair of socks, started another, and took a palm warmer class. I’d occasionally pick up the bloomin’ scarf and do a few rows, but just as quickly put it back in its basket.<br /> By the middle of November, I decided to make everyone I knew a pair of palm warmers. In retrospect, I think it was because I was trying to avoid going back to the “you know which” project. I’d look at the colors, the rows of flowers I still needed to complete and think, I’m never going to finish it anyway.<br /> Christmas came and went. The palm warmers were all given away and the scarf sat next to my chair waiting to be picked up. I had told several friends I was going to finish it by Christmas, but alas it wasn’t. I counted. I had finished seven rows of flowers in six months. I only had eight more rows to go. At the rate I was going I should have the scarf finished by Christmas 2010. That thought made me sick to my stomach. The very thought of having to slog through eight more rows brought all kinds of excuses to my mind, but I knew I had to make a decision. I could let the scarf sit in its basket and pull it out every now and then or I could determine to work on it and get it finished. With fortitude and determination, I picked up the bloomin’ scarf and muttered to myself, “I’m going to finish this by the end of January.” My daughter heard me, looked at the jumble of threads and laughed.<br /> On January 28th, I finished.<br /> I find my writing life the same way. I’m excited when I start a project or get an assignment. The goal is to finish, so work begins and then problems arise. I find myself distracted by other things I want to do, there’s more research that needs to be completed, I need to work on writing club jobs, or a million other things. On the days I do find myself at my keyboard, I fidget, keying words, then backspacing or deleting what I’ve written. At the end of the day, I’m no farther along than I was when I started in the morning. Discouragement sets in and I’ll read a friend’s book, the newspaper, even news links just to avoid the pain of not making any progress.<br /> My books I’ll set aside for months. Assignments are a little trickier. I force myself to add words on the page, even though sometimes those words are less than brilliant. Okay, hardly ever brilliant, but okay.<br /> And then determination sets in. I always tell my writing students and those who tell me, “I plan on writing a book some day,” that you can’t sell a product unless you have a product to sell. You have to sit down at your keyboard and write. Produce a book. It may be difficult. You may become disgusted with it. You may think, like a knitting, sewing, model car project, that it looks hideous, but way down deep something drives you to finish.<br /> I know for myself, if I stop looking at all the problems, and just bully my way through, I’ll get things finished, be they knitting projects or writing projects. I know books as well as scarves take time. To use an old nautical term, I’ve got to stay “steady as she goes,” and the bottom line is keeping my eyes on the finished goal. <br /> What’s keeping you from finishing your book?<br /><br /><br />NEW PLACES TO EXPLORE ON THE WWW<br /><br />In December, I went back to Oklahoma. While there I touched base with a lot of friends from the area, which got me to thinking about other friends I hadn’t seen in a while. I decided to track down a dear friend from Tulsa, Norma Jean Lutz. I found her on Facebook. It was just a matter of time before I found her website. She’s got some neat info on there, so you might want to check it out. The URL is <a href="http://www.fiction-aire.com/">www.fiction-aire.com</a>.<br /> Norma Jean has been writing for over thirty years and has over 50 books to her name. She teaches and mentors writers about writing and publishing. On her website, you can learn about online classes, ask Norma Jean writing questions, read articles on writing written by Norma Jean and download freebies. I’ve personally known Norma Jean for over twenty years. She is a trustworthy person and the knowledge she imparts you can take to the bank.<br /><br /><br />FUN PRODUCTS FOR WRITERS<br /><br /> Looking for a writer’s t-shirt? Maybe a pair of shoes with author written on them? What about a “writer’s hat” for those times you’re sitting at the computer being a writer? Look no further than Zazzle Writer’s Gifts, <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/writers+gifts">http://www.zazzle.com/writers+gifts</a>. Here you’ll find ties, hats, mugs, calendars, pins, business cards, mouse pads, stationary, tote bags, aprons, shoes, notebooks, journals, t-shirts and more, all with the writer in mind. Some examples are t-shirts with quotes that say, “I love writing”, “Don’t Bug Me, I’m Writing”, and “I’m Not Day Dreaming I’m Planning My Next Novel”. This site has over 55,000 items for writers. <br /><br /><br />A MARKET FOR YOU<br /><br />For those of you interested in writing picture books, check out Raven Tree Press, <a href="http://www.raventreepress.com/">www.raventreepress.com</a>. They publish 8 to 10 books per year and fifty percent of those books are by first time authors. Word length cannot exceed 750 words and they prefer 500 words. Their books are printed in color and in English, Spanish, and Bilingual.<br />They do not want alphabet books, rhyming books, or word play books. They are interested in books that can develop in to a series.<br />Raven Tree Press pays advances against royalties. They want the entire book submitted. No query letters. Responds in one to two months. Authors can submit via postal service or electronically off Raven Tree’s website. For more information, check out their website.<br /><br /><br />WHAT DEBORAH’S READING<br /><br />Finding Your Voice: how to put personality in your writing by Les Edgerton. Published by Writer’s Digest Books in 2003. Softback. 244 pages. 1-58297-173-0. $16.99.<br /><br /> Are you having trouble finding your writing voice? Do you know what your style is? Are you so wrapped up in someone else’s writing you can’t seem to add your own personality to your work? Never fear, Les is here.<br /> With humor and great insight, Les Edgerton takes you down a writing yellow brick road pointing out through examples and exercises how you can stop focusing on what others have told you and “learned you” about writing and shows you how to find and show your own personality in your writing. Edgerton writes about everything from synonyms to dialogue to silencing the inner critic or getting him to work for you instead of against you.<br /> More than once as you read, you will find yourself in agreement with what the author has written. If you are stuck because you want to write one thing, but don’t think you can because of the rules, then you will be freed by Edgerton’s wisdom.<br />You can order this book from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1582971730?tag=deborahbouz05-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=1582971730&adid=1N6NWRXCE6QV1VJ7Y36Z&">https://www.amazon.com/dp/1582971730?tag=deborahbouz05-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=1582971730&adid=1N6NWRXCE6QV1VJ7Y36Z&</a> and get it for $11.55. Just click on the link. That is a great deal if you’re looking for your writing voice.<br /><br /><br />THIS MONTH’S CHALLENGE<br /><br /> Do you like to garden? Do you have a special way with children? Perhaps you cook a mean slab of ribs? Think about everything you do in life and make a list of those things. Don’t think about if what you do is right or wrong, just jot it down. Now from your list, take one item and write how you do what you do and why. If you read excessively, why not write about what you read and write book reviews? If you clean house all the time, what tips can you pass on to others who want to clean in a hurry? Finally, perhaps all those games you play with your grandchildren that you used to play as a child, can be written about, published, and passed on down to other generations. You’ll never know what can become of the things you do, until you write them down.<br /><br /><br />Disclaimer: Deborah does not make any money off the products she discusses in this newsletter or endorses any website or market. Her purpose is to provide information only. She believes research and decision making is always left to the individual reader.creative1http://www.blogger.com/profile/17693959941017354190noreply@blogger.com0