Still Waiting on Computer...

Turns out whatever the problem is with my computer isn't as simple as a crashed hard drive... why did I think things would be that simple for me? It's been at a computer repair shop for the last four days and they have no clue yet what is wrong with it.

The only thing I keep thinking is *ching, ching* more and more money running out the window. I'm terrified what the bill is gonna be once they do figure it out. And the waiting is driving me insane. I was impatient the first week... this week is killing me.

Anyways. Not a lot I can do until I get my computer back.

In Memory of Beverly Barton

I just learned that one of my favorite authors passed away suddenly yesterday morning and I wanted to take a moment to remember her on my blog.

Her ability to draw a reader into her books captured my attention several years ago when I stumbled across her book As Good As Dead. Her romantic suspense novels were stuff my dreams are made of.

My condolences to her family and friends, as well as all us fans. She will be greatly missed.

Crashed Hard Drive... Oh, no!!

Last week something happened to me that has NEVER happened before. And not in a good way, let me tell you.

Right in the middle of working on a blog post my computer - which isn't even two years old yet - started freezing up. I don't mean glitchy and choppy... no, no, no. All out freeze up where even the mouse wouldn't move on screen.

Every time I'd get the computer up and running and opened my Word again... BAM. Freeze up! After several attempts to reboot and many messages later, it's been determined (I think) that my hard drive is about to crash. Or - as my computer put it - hard drive crash is imminent.

Thank goodness my mother knows more about computers then I do. I bought a new hard drive and sent my computer home with her. The hard drive finally has come in the mail and all that's let is to cross my fingers and pray that my mom can clone my old hard drive to my new one. Otherwise I'm royally screwed. Not only will I lose most of my writing related stuff, I'll lose all my bookmarks and all my kids recent pictures. This waiting is killing me!

But at least I'm not without a computer at all. I have my laptop and we have my husband's computer but I haven't saved any new stuff on my laptop and my husband's computer doesn't even have Word installed on it!!!

I'm sure there are ways, or steps, I could have taken to not be stuck in this position but I can't stress enough that this computer isn't even two years old! I've had a computer (not the same one) for the last decade, at least, and never once have I had something like this happen. How could I have known that a less-than-two-year-old computer would break my streak???

*SIGH*

And since I'm on my husband's computer today this post is completely unedited so now y'all get a taste of my randomness.

Don't Forget Me While You're Gone...

It's harder than you think to quit using things you've learned. It's hard for me not to nit-pick every detail as I surge forward with this new idea I’m working on. It's even harder not to go back to my previous MS(s) and start from there. But I'm determined to flesh out this new idea and turn it into a first draft.

While I'm not making great headway on it, I am doing pretty well. I think the scenes I’m writing right now will mostly be backstory that won’t make it into the first draft but instead gives me insight into my two main characters. As long as the words come freely I’ll let my creativity flow as it wants. Doing it this way feels less stressful already.

That’s the key for me… just letting the information flow. Quit thinking. Which isn’t as easy as some people make it appear O_o I'll catch myself stopping and thinking "Would such a thing be possible?" or "Would this character really act that way?" and I have to put a lid on those voices and just go with the scene as it happens. It's not easy; actually it's damn hard, since those are such important questions. But right now they're just road blocks to trip me up. Working on mostly backstory helps keep a lid on those voices.

I'm riding the magic carpet ride of writing, trying to not have a care in the written world. As I said, that’s a lot easier said than done

*Whoosh* Away I go without a backwards glance.

What do you do to get that first draft banged out? How hard is it for you to let go of the "rules" for the first draft?

Getting Back to Basics

"The More I Learn, the Less I Know"

I know I've heard that phrase somewhere, and man, does it have to be quite so true?? Back before I learned the techniques of writing - and there is PLENTY for me to still learn - I had great creativity. Ideas where everywhere, characters danced in my head... it was a great life. All I had to do was jot them all down and work on my current MS. I rarely dealt with writer's block, of course I rarely stayed with one MS long enough to get any blockage.

In trying to fix that problem I slammed head first into a dozen more. Now I worry about pacing, character development, GMC, the hero's journey.... blah, blah, blah. All during my first draft. And I think that's where my problem is. Yeah, of course I should worry about all that some, but I am a natural born pansters, and I've bound and gagged my creativity so much it's rebelled against me. I need to just get back to the basics. Enjoy writing again. Let it flow from my fingers and worry about all the details AFTER I get that first draft banged out.

So this is me. Getting back to the basics. Back to when I knew more and less at the same time.

A Quick "Hello Again"

I know... I know. I've been gone for 5 months (or something along those lines). Some of you probably forgot all about me. Hell, maybe I did a little, too. With everything going on, I think I could have forgotten my kids. Or was that wishful thinking. O_o

Oh, I'm teasing. Mostly.

If it weren't for a lovely, yet concerned, email from Elizabeth, I probably wouldn't have realized how long I'd actually been gone. So I've returned from the dead, so to speak. Brain dead. I could sit here and list a ton of excuses for my absence, but - really - why bother. I was gone, I'm back now, and the only thing left to do is get back in the groove of writing and posting on a regular schedule.

So this is me, sticking my toe in the water and testing the temperature. I'll be back soon to dive right in.

NaNoWriMo 2010

I've already added the countdown clock on my sidebar. There's 51 days, 1 hour, and 25 minutes until NaNo 2010 starts (CST) until my writer life becomes sleep deprived, I'm indulging an increased intake of caffeine and drowning in high levels of stress. Wait...

That's pretty much normal, right?

You gotta love it, though. Otherwise, why would you do something so crazy as being a writer? Or participate in NaNo.

Yes, yes I am that excited for NaNo to start this year.

Last year was my first year doing NaNo and I look forward to doing going through all that trauma again.With just a little under two months until NaNo. September, October, and November are going to be hectic, for me. This month I have to finish up edits on No Shame for the Wicked and - at least - get damn close to finishing up The Little Things (the working title for my anthology entry). Next month is the writer conference, which I've already been emailed an "assignment" over, so I have to read a book and do character assessments for the assignment. I'm sure more are to come. November 1st embarks the beginning of NaNo as well as signals the deadline for the anthology entry. I guess I'll see how well I work under pressure.

The divas (and diva dudes) at Romance Divas forums have been a tremendous help to keeping me on task. Those Chat N Challenges have helped me through more than one tough spot.

Just for a little FYI... I found my little post buddy that I'll have for all NaNo related blog posts once NaNo begins? Wanna see it? Oh, you know you do. He's so adorable - in a frenzed, scary kind of way... Okay, here he is.

Are you going to participate in NaNo? If so are you plotting your MS like a mad woman/man *waves hand, "that's be me!!"* or are you gonna pants the whole 50K? Have you done NaNo in the past? Will this be your first time? Add me as a writing buddy on NaNo and let's hit that mark together!! You can find me as "Jacee_Drake".

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