Catching Up

I've been away from my blog for a very long time. I apologize to everyone. I've been so busy lately that it's been hard to find the time to fit everything in. I've started school and it's been exciting, tiring and ... well, educational. I'd forgotten what writing for school was like. It's very different than writing for publication. I'm not sure I like school writing. It seems so limited and rule bound. I'm pretty sure I didn't make a good grade on my last essay because I broke too many rules. Ah well, as long as I pass the class I'll be happy. I've been revising my nano story as well. It's slow going because my time is so divided but I think I'm making some good progress on it. Thanks to Greg my crit buddy who is kindly hanging in there with me through my sporadic writing and crazy wild schedule. He has some really great ideas for tightening up my writing. I have a tendency, as you all know from my blog, to be a bit wordy. Greg is on top of that for me. Still, there's a lot to do. There are times I wonder why in the world I bother. I feel like I'm losing my focus on my book. There is really so much to do. It gets overwhelming. I have to take a step back and look at the work as objectively as possible. It's never completely objective because it's mine, but, I step back and try to make my revising fit into logical steps. I've been told I do it all backwards and it's totally possible I do but it works for me for now. I'm hoping I'll learn a better way before I'm done with school but until I do, I'll just keep on slogging away in my own way.

Successful Revision, I Think

I finished my first chapter revision - finally. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I took it in a whole new direction but I like the story better this time, I think. It still has to pass the crit buddy and the group but here's hoping. I'm beginning to think I've added way too many new projects to my life. I was used to coasting along getting the necessary things done and the rest of the time was mine to spend however I chose. I was bored. So, like a maniac, I decided I needed to fill my life with action. GAW!!! Never, I repeat, never, say that to yourself. What was I thinking? I've gotten myself in deeper than I intended but I think it could work. My kids aren't used to me being unavailable whenever they need me. I feel for them. It's tough when your mom starts saying, "Sorry, I'm busy, bugger off." The temper tantrums are thrown, the dishes are broken but I think, 'hey, its all in a good cause.' They'll soon learn not to bother me so I won't have to throw any more tantrums to get them to leave me alone. Got you, didn't I? You thought the kids were throwing the tantrums. LMAO! Sorry, they say the mind is the first thing to go.