Hello November
Please be good to us and our imaginations. Happy NaNo month to all writing in.
Best,
Kwana
image from here
In the Closet
I plan to be locked in the writing closet for the next month. November is NaNo National Novel writing month and though I’m not an official participant I still plan on writing as much as I can during that time. Now if only my writing closet was this pretty but maybe it’s for the best that I have the little corner I have. This closet I may never find my way out of.
Are you doing NaNo this month?
Best,
Kwana
image from here
Deep Thinking…
What’s Jack up to? Chilling today and I think doing some deep thinking about his new haircut. Hope he likes it.
I’m going to be doing some deep thinking today myself about my current WIP. Let’s home I don’t hurt my brain. Happy Tuesday!
Best,
Kwana
Starting Over
I’m thissss deep in this book (cut to me fingers about this far apart) and then it hits me. A problem a big one. So yeah, I’m back to the beginning. Again. Writing is fun. Might as well play a little music to go with it.
Happy Wednesday!Best,
Kwana
The Enforcer
I have to admit I’ve had a bit of trouble getting of the hump of now having a teen free house. One where I don’t have the 2:30 bell going off in my head. No longer do I have hour after hour where I’m toting a kid from one activity to another or sitting through an event and cheering (ok sometimes reading) from the sides. This is a totally knew me.
ME being the operative word. And a big part of this me that I was looking forward to is the writer part that suddenly has the time to do what she said she was going to do. Try andreally make a career of this thing.
Oh-uh and gulp Scooby Doo. So to that I spend lots of time preparing to write. You know, researching (click, click online), making coffee, more researching, more coffee and then walking in circles.
I’m thinking Jack has had enough. He’s now turned into The Enforcer.
You gonna get to work lady?
I said now!
Ok, I see you’re going to be a problem, so I’ll just park it here to keep an eye on you.
Have a great hump day. Good luck getting over all your humps today.
Best,
KwanaSummer Snow?
Well folks I’m leaving the NYC and am off to Colorado for a little summer snow.
Nah, not really turns out I won a cool contest and I’m off for some literary R & R at RomCon, a conference for fans of romance, which I so am.
So there you have it. A few days of much needed rest, relaxation and book talk. All my faves!
But just so I don’t get too relaxed I will take my laptop and ye old manuscript with me. Wouldn’t want it to miss me and all.
See you soon!
Best,
Kwana
P.S. Don’t forget Project Runway tonight #teamBert!
Before You Hit Send…
You’d better edit and edit again. I’ve just finished taking Carina Press executive editor, Angela James’ Before You Hit Send online editing class.
And let me tell you all, dang, the amount I thought I knew that I didn’t know could fill an entire class. I’m moaning, groaning, hanging my head in shame over here, but now picking it up and moving on, an old dog with brand new tricks.
This course was just the gentle kick in the pants this been writing in my own rut for years writer needed to jumpstart this next phase her career.
Angela presented the material in a clear concise way and then opened the forum up for questions that she came back to answer so you were not just left dangling in the wind. The course covered the basics of editing from your first changes to your final save.
All that was asked at the end was to fill out a survey and if we liked it to please recommend it to others. So here I am freely recommending! The next course will be offered in September. You can check out the details here and if you sign up please tell Angela hi from me!
Now excuse me while I get back to the grid.
Best,
Kwana
image from here
Editing in the Harsh Light Of Day
So right now I’m heavy into editing mode on a couple of projects and if you know anything about me you know that patience is so not my thing. I like to finish a project and be finished with it. Done. Bye. See Ya! I cannot stand editing, but if I’m honest with myself editing is half (or maybe even more than half) of writing a novel. So you see my problem, yes?
To that end I’m currently taking Angela James’ Before You Hit Send online self editing course. In my usual way, I made the decision by the seat of my pants. I read the description (it nudged at me, see I knew I needed it) so I asked for a trusted opinion and quick, before I changed my mind, I signed up.
So far, just a few days in and though painful in the light of day, I’ve already learned so much and seen some of the errors of my ways (don’t let the poor punctuation of this post fool you).
This tweet that I sent out yesterday describes my feelings perfectly:
“Taking the B4 You Hit Send Class. It’s like trying on bathing suits under florescent lights. “Is my butt THAT big?” Yes it is.”
Best,
Kwana
image from here
Ok So Enough Of That…
This weekend I did nothing but lounge about and read with increments of eating bbq thrown in just to keep my lounge strength up (a girl had to stay strong mind you). But today marks the start of a new week and it seems after Nationals a new outlook on work.
RWA Nationals is always renewing to a writer like that and for me this year it particularly is with the twins leaving for college. Time to get that old grind on with a renewed spirit. But before I get started here are a few more pics from Nationals. Hope you have a wonderful week.
Here I am at Juniors enjoying a Cheesecake meet and greet with team Heroes and Heartbreakers meeting some of the other team bloggers for the first time.
Me and my friend author Jax Cassidy. Jax had me all over Times Square taking new author photos of me. Yeah, Uh, ANTM I am not.
Enjoying an Italian tourist meal with Maureen McGowan and Stephanie Doyle. We were starving and had energy to only step outside the Marriott for the meal. It was good though. Check them out on their great blog Drunk Writer Talk.
Harlan Coben and Lisa Jackson talk. So much fun and inspirational.
Finally mypushed to the limit H & H bag and my handbag wiped out in the Atrium lounge.
Best,
Kwana
Staying Alive
Hi peeps!
Happy Monday. Just a quick pop in to let you know that I’m Staying Alive. Maybe not in the oiled up style of John here but I’m hanging in my own way.
Had a very busy week with the DD finishing her last dance company benefit. She danced so beautifully and yes there were tears on both our parts. I tell you seeing your now young adult child take her final bows does it to you. Time to get ready for life part 2.
So that said, I’m now I guess on only a partial blog break (you know I can’t shut it). I will going into my writing cave and will stick my head out like a turtle to see the light at times. Plenty of college decisions to make this month and lots of places to visit. Wish us luck!
Best,
Kwana
