The holiday season is in full swing now, and my editing has slowed to a crawl as it usually does this time of year. Normally that ticks me off, but not this time. Right now I'm at that point where I need to slow down and watch my step as I tweak the last five chapters into shape for my beta readers.
Last sunday I spent my morning doing just that and even though I never did get to the work I wanted to do on chapter 28, I did manage to clean up a few things in chapter 27 that had been nagging at me. Today I'll be going back to polish the scene I changed and get the last snarl smoothed out. I may not get to chapter 28 today either, but at least I'm making progress somewhere, right?
And on that note, I'm off to get started on slipping that new scene into place. Then it's back to the drawing board to work on the latest concept for my book cover. Hopefully this time I get it right.
~Sun and Moon
November 27, 2011
November 20, 2011
No Excuses
I hate mood swings.
Normally I know exactly what's causing mine(trial and error can teach you so much, lol), but lately I've been a grouch and I had no idea why. My house is almost clean these days, I'm making good progress on my art projects, and it looks like I might manage to keep up with my dishes this holiday season(for once). However, the grouchiness remained.
Playing Sims 3 Pets and diving into a huge pile of books from the library kind of helped, but it wasn't until I managed to get in a good solid hour of editing for the first time in over a week that I realized what was bugging me so darned much.
I had been putting off writing time with the assumption that I'd be able to get to it later. Of course there was never a "later". If you don't make time for something, you'll never have time. When I was first drafting, I wrote at every moment possible. I couldn't help it. The story just had to get out, you know? When it came to edits, things were different and I found myself putting them off for a "later" that never happened.
Not the best way to get things done.
So today I'm putting everything else on hold. Today I'm going to get the little space heater and a plush blanket to wrap around my legs. There will be a large mug of hot tea waiting at my elbow and some tunes playing from my little MP3 player with its new bomb speaker. No more excuses, no more "I'll do it later". This is my story, and if I ever expect anyone to read it, I better get it done.
No more excuses, guys. It's time to get to work.
~Sun and Moon
Normally I know exactly what's causing mine(trial and error can teach you so much, lol), but lately I've been a grouch and I had no idea why. My house is almost clean these days, I'm making good progress on my art projects, and it looks like I might manage to keep up with my dishes this holiday season(for once). However, the grouchiness remained.
Playing Sims 3 Pets and diving into a huge pile of books from the library kind of helped, but it wasn't until I managed to get in a good solid hour of editing for the first time in over a week that I realized what was bugging me so darned much.
I had been putting off writing time with the assumption that I'd be able to get to it later. Of course there was never a "later". If you don't make time for something, you'll never have time. When I was first drafting, I wrote at every moment possible. I couldn't help it. The story just had to get out, you know? When it came to edits, things were different and I found myself putting them off for a "later" that never happened.
Not the best way to get things done.
So today I'm putting everything else on hold. Today I'm going to get the little space heater and a plush blanket to wrap around my legs. There will be a large mug of hot tea waiting at my elbow and some tunes playing from my little MP3 player with its new bomb speaker. No more excuses, no more "I'll do it later". This is my story, and if I ever expect anyone to read it, I better get it done.
No more excuses, guys. It's time to get to work.
~Sun and Moon
November 13, 2011
The sky is no limit
Everyone has heard the phrase "The sky's the limit." My question is....why stop there?
Sometimes limits are a good thing. They do stuff like keeping you from spending money you don't really have, or from overindulging on sweets. Its a good thing to know your limits, but sometimes you need to push past them and reach, not for the sky, but for the stars and beyond.
We all have our dreams, whether its a career we've always wanted, or sharpening a skill we love. It could be a simple as just wanting to be with family during the most important moments of your life, or as complex as creating something so intricate and epic that people will remember it for years to come. So often people tell others about their dreams and then sigh about how they might as well wish for the moon. They've put a limit on what they think they can accomplish, and it's sad.
My mom and dad always told me the worst thing that can happen when you ask for or about something is that the answer ends up being no. We as a people are so afraid of rejection, that so many times we've let this fear stop us from turning our dreams into reality. We give up just as the finish line is sight, and then moan about how it will never be.
Maybe sad isn't strong enough a word. To hear people give up on their dreams, however flawed, its heartbreaking.
Keep pushing, keep trying, keep climbing the obstacles life throws at you and someday you'll finally reach the sky. It won't happen if you give up, and you'll never soar if you can't find your wings. Just remember, one day your dreams will be a reality, and you'll break the limit of the sky to soar among the stars.
~Sun and Moon
Sometimes limits are a good thing. They do stuff like keeping you from spending money you don't really have, or from overindulging on sweets. Its a good thing to know your limits, but sometimes you need to push past them and reach, not for the sky, but for the stars and beyond.
We all have our dreams, whether its a career we've always wanted, or sharpening a skill we love. It could be a simple as just wanting to be with family during the most important moments of your life, or as complex as creating something so intricate and epic that people will remember it for years to come. So often people tell others about their dreams and then sigh about how they might as well wish for the moon. They've put a limit on what they think they can accomplish, and it's sad.
My mom and dad always told me the worst thing that can happen when you ask for or about something is that the answer ends up being no. We as a people are so afraid of rejection, that so many times we've let this fear stop us from turning our dreams into reality. We give up just as the finish line is sight, and then moan about how it will never be.
Maybe sad isn't strong enough a word. To hear people give up on their dreams, however flawed, its heartbreaking.
Keep pushing, keep trying, keep climbing the obstacles life throws at you and someday you'll finally reach the sky. It won't happen if you give up, and you'll never soar if you can't find your wings. Just remember, one day your dreams will be a reality, and you'll break the limit of the sky to soar among the stars.
~Sun and Moon
November 7, 2011
No pain, no gain
Sorry about the extremely late and short post today. You see, I spent most of my day yesterday climbing all over the registers at work, and today I scrubbed, mopped, swept, and vacuumed my apartment until it was reasonably clean. I've a wicked set of bruises on my knees and I feel like I've been hit with a bus, but at least I can invite over folks without cringing.
Anyway, I'm just now getting to bed after finishing a piece of artwork that has been sitting around for months. All in all it was a very productive day, even if I did miss a few items on the agenda. Mainly doing some editing for chapter 28, while dishes and laundry come in close second.
I'm kind of creeping along on chapter 28. In part because it's so darned rough that I'm forever stopping to reword something, or even take it out altogether. I'm still making progress though. Not much, but it's there.
Well, I hate to say it, but I better get my behind to bed. Work start early tomorrow and I still have some cleaning to do afterwards.
G'night folks.
~Sun and Moon
Anyway, I'm just now getting to bed after finishing a piece of artwork that has been sitting around for months. All in all it was a very productive day, even if I did miss a few items on the agenda. Mainly doing some editing for chapter 28, while dishes and laundry come in close second.
I'm kind of creeping along on chapter 28. In part because it's so darned rough that I'm forever stopping to reword something, or even take it out altogether. I'm still making progress though. Not much, but it's there.
Well, I hate to say it, but I better get my behind to bed. Work start early tomorrow and I still have some cleaning to do afterwards.
G'night folks.
~Sun and Moon
October 30, 2011
Say what?
"Choose your words wisely."
Ever heard that quote? Its a fairly common piece of advice, and very much ignored. Which is kind of sad seeing as you can apply it to so much and it still rings true. From everyday conversation, to advertisements, to your average instruction manual, to writing and editing your manuscript. Choosing the wrong words can put you in a world of hurt, just as choosing the right ones can save your behind. I've seen these kind of situations and even been in more then a few of them. Sometimes I sail away without a scratch, and other times I find myself wondering how deep I should be digging my grave.
Seriously though, words can do so much for you, but be careful how you use them.
Sometimes less is more.
~Sun and Moon
Ever heard that quote? Its a fairly common piece of advice, and very much ignored. Which is kind of sad seeing as you can apply it to so much and it still rings true. From everyday conversation, to advertisements, to your average instruction manual, to writing and editing your manuscript. Choosing the wrong words can put you in a world of hurt, just as choosing the right ones can save your behind. I've seen these kind of situations and even been in more then a few of them. Sometimes I sail away without a scratch, and other times I find myself wondering how deep I should be digging my grave.
Seriously though, words can do so much for you, but be careful how you use them.
Sometimes less is more.
~Sun and Moon
October 23, 2011
Balancing act
I really need to get back on the ball.
Today I realized its been way to long since I put chapter 27 to bed and started in on chapter 28 without anything to show for it but a notebook page of notes. While this is still work, its not enough for me. I've been slacking big time.
I could blame this on the new Sims 3 expansion, or the ginormous stack of library books sitting in jumble of worn covers and yellowing pages in my art studio, or even the fact that the past few days have been far too nice to spend indoors. However, it all boils down to a lack of balance and I darn well know it.
Excuses don't fix much, let me tell you, and they don't get work done either. Now, I could've buckled down today and I didn't. I could've cleaned the kitchen properly instead of just doing the dishes and calling it a day, or maybe given the bathroom a good scrubbing. There are guinea pig cages that still need to be cleaned, and I've a small pile of artwork still waiting to be finished.
You can't really enjoy the moments of relaxation if you've left things undone that you shouldn't have. For instance, its hard to really dive into the pages of an old favorite when your conscience is nagging you about the dirty laundry peeking out through the bathroom door.
A little balance can go a long way to making you feel at ease, like you've really accomplished something. Its too late for me to get back on the ball tonight, but tomorrow is another day and I plan to spend it with the scent of fresh pine shaving in my nose and the gritty scrape of a comet dusted rag in my ears as I put my apartment to rights. Maybe I'll even get on of those pieces of artwork polished off and still have time to catch some sun before relaxing with my husband until bedtime. You never know, right? After all, life is what you make of it and I for one don't intend to let it go to waste.
Well, that's all for me tonight. Work starts early tomorrow and I've a lot to get done once my shift is over.
G'night, guys.
~Sun and Moon
P.S. Has anyone else had trouble getting Blogger to post a scheduled blog entry? Darn thing just sits there...>_<
Today I realized its been way to long since I put chapter 27 to bed and started in on chapter 28 without anything to show for it but a notebook page of notes. While this is still work, its not enough for me. I've been slacking big time.
I could blame this on the new Sims 3 expansion, or the ginormous stack of library books sitting in jumble of worn covers and yellowing pages in my art studio, or even the fact that the past few days have been far too nice to spend indoors. However, it all boils down to a lack of balance and I darn well know it.
Excuses don't fix much, let me tell you, and they don't get work done either. Now, I could've buckled down today and I didn't. I could've cleaned the kitchen properly instead of just doing the dishes and calling it a day, or maybe given the bathroom a good scrubbing. There are guinea pig cages that still need to be cleaned, and I've a small pile of artwork still waiting to be finished.
You can't really enjoy the moments of relaxation if you've left things undone that you shouldn't have. For instance, its hard to really dive into the pages of an old favorite when your conscience is nagging you about the dirty laundry peeking out through the bathroom door.
A little balance can go a long way to making you feel at ease, like you've really accomplished something. Its too late for me to get back on the ball tonight, but tomorrow is another day and I plan to spend it with the scent of fresh pine shaving in my nose and the gritty scrape of a comet dusted rag in my ears as I put my apartment to rights. Maybe I'll even get on of those pieces of artwork polished off and still have time to catch some sun before relaxing with my husband until bedtime. You never know, right? After all, life is what you make of it and I for one don't intend to let it go to waste.
Well, that's all for me tonight. Work starts early tomorrow and I've a lot to get done once my shift is over.
G'night, guys.
~Sun and Moon
P.S. Has anyone else had trouble getting Blogger to post a scheduled blog entry? Darn thing just sits there...>_<
October 16, 2011
Lost and found
You know, I had a blog post all planned out for today. It was written up on a piece of note paper, but not typed into the computer yet. I left it unfinished too, but that was fine as I had plenty of time to wind it to a close before I needed to post it. I left it beside the computer, knowing that it would be there when I needed it as I went about doing other things.
I have since lost my blog post.
Now, it's been a crazy day today. Family events and visiting relatives(my grandma came up from Arizona), and of course a lot of good food. However, it hasn't been all that crazy and while I'm pretty tired after all the fun and such, I shouldn't be wondering how the heck I lost a piece of paper I spent so long scribbling on.
Oh well, at least I didn't forget today was Sunday like I did that one time. I'm late, but I think its forgivable considering the circumstances.
Chapter twenty-eight edits are going slowly at the moment, but as I'm still at the "review it and make notes" stage, that's to be expected. So far it looks like it may need more of a rewrite then I thought, but nothing truly drastic.
In other news, I just bought a program called "Mavis Beacon teaches typing" to help me get my speed up without having to watch the dang keyboard. I used it a long time ago as a kid(I was twelve), and it worked pretty well until I quit for stupid reasons. I'll be installing it and going for a test run sometime in the next week or so.
In the meantime, the much awaited Pets Expansion for Sims 3 is coming out over the next few days. I don't know about you, but I plan to get my writing work done early so I can play guilt-free. Not only are there cats and dogs to play with, but horses and even a unicorn(if you can find it). Here's hoping I can snag a limited edition copy before they run out.
And on that note I'm off to get a treat and relax. My dad gave me some coffee syrup and I'm itching to mix up some coffee milk. Its been ages since I had any and I'm not about to wait any longer.
Later, guys.
~Sun and Moon
I have since lost my blog post.
Now, it's been a crazy day today. Family events and visiting relatives(my grandma came up from Arizona), and of course a lot of good food. However, it hasn't been all that crazy and while I'm pretty tired after all the fun and such, I shouldn't be wondering how the heck I lost a piece of paper I spent so long scribbling on.
Oh well, at least I didn't forget today was Sunday like I did that one time. I'm late, but I think its forgivable considering the circumstances.
Chapter twenty-eight edits are going slowly at the moment, but as I'm still at the "review it and make notes" stage, that's to be expected. So far it looks like it may need more of a rewrite then I thought, but nothing truly drastic.
In other news, I just bought a program called "Mavis Beacon teaches typing" to help me get my speed up without having to watch the dang keyboard. I used it a long time ago as a kid(I was twelve), and it worked pretty well until I quit for stupid reasons. I'll be installing it and going for a test run sometime in the next week or so.
In the meantime, the much awaited Pets Expansion for Sims 3 is coming out over the next few days. I don't know about you, but I plan to get my writing work done early so I can play guilt-free. Not only are there cats and dogs to play with, but horses and even a unicorn(if you can find it). Here's hoping I can snag a limited edition copy before they run out.
And on that note I'm off to get a treat and relax. My dad gave me some coffee syrup and I'm itching to mix up some coffee milk. Its been ages since I had any and I'm not about to wait any longer.
Later, guys.
~Sun and Moon
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