October brings Moonlight & Magnolias, a weekend writers' conference sponsored by Georgia Romance Writers. Fabulous, as always! Sally Kilpatrick, Anna Stefl and all of the volunteers who devoted much sweat and tears (maybe blood, but I didn't hear any stories of that) absolutely ROCKED. Editor and Agent appointments went well, inspiring me to work on the series that's been a little nugget in my mind for the last year or so.
It was great to spend a weekend immersed in writing, and to catch up on some much-needed Girl Time. My La La La sisters codenamed Honey Badger, Wicked Awesome and Wild Thang were a balm to my Muse. :-)
Also, huge congrats to my FCRW Chaptermates Heather Nickodem and Vanessa Kelly on their shiny new MAGGIE AWARDS!
NaNoWriMo is just around the corner - jump in and WRITE!
Ava
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Eyes Bigger Than Your Belly
Have you ever been to a buffet, inhaled the scents, eyes darting from selection to selection, mouth watering from the mere thought of succulant meat or perfectly-seasoned veggies or bread - glorious bread! - sitting on your tongue? Then you picked up on oversized plate and filled it with a little bit of each of the buffet's offerings, started your meal with the gooey baked mac and cheese, but before your plate was half empty, you realized you couldn't eat another bite? Not even dessert?
Me too.
Follow the metaphor - January is a time when goals are set and we're gung ho about meeting them, out of the gate running. For me, the first part of the year is also the time my clients require more of my attention (the IRS is picky about its deadlines!) and I make plans for athletic endeavors. Like a triathlon April 16, one day after tax day, 12 days after the 90 Day Challenge wraps up.
Not a single one of the tasks on my goal list required an hour or two before I could call it complete. They all required weeks, months even, of attention, training, and discipline. Some things fell through the cracks...
So, back on the wagon for me. I owe someone pages for tomorrow. Better get to it.
Have you stayed on track for your New Year's goals? Climb back on that horse, baby. Never give up.
Happy Writing!
Ava
Me too.
Follow the metaphor - January is a time when goals are set and we're gung ho about meeting them, out of the gate running. For me, the first part of the year is also the time my clients require more of my attention (the IRS is picky about its deadlines!) and I make plans for athletic endeavors. Like a triathlon April 16, one day after tax day, 12 days after the 90 Day Challenge wraps up.
Not a single one of the tasks on my goal list required an hour or two before I could call it complete. They all required weeks, months even, of attention, training, and discipline. Some things fell through the cracks...
So, back on the wagon for me. I owe someone pages for tomorrow. Better get to it.
Have you stayed on track for your New Year's goals? Climb back on that horse, baby. Never give up.
Happy Writing!
Ava
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Refilling the Well
We're 25 days into the 90 Day Writing Challenge and I have written 19K words on Big Dixie.
I think I fall more on the side of Pantsers vs Plotters, so the word count was a big surprise. But it also took my focus off the WRITING and shifted to simply stringing words together on a page. Essentially, I was over 70 pages into a 400 page novel and I had no idea where it was going, or more importantly, WHY it was going there.
So, accepting responsibility for my own career, my own manuscript, my own time, I freely admit, I chose not to write. For two days.
But I didn't abandon Big Dixie. I took the time away from my computer to figure out who my characters are and why they want what they want, and what's standing in their way (basics, yes, but hey, PANTSER here). I've figured out weaknesses of the scenes already written, so I know what I can toss and what I should keep. I've discovered how my Hero reacts the first time he meets my Heroine, and how to make that initial spark more of a zing.
I have not given up on the challenge. I'll write tonight, for at least 2 hours with the girls at the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood. And I'll write tomorrow. But I don't want to write a 100K word manuscript simply to brag about the word count - I want the words to count. (See what I did there?)
Happy Writing (or Well-Filling, whatever the case may be)!
Ava
I think I fall more on the side of Pantsers vs Plotters, so the word count was a big surprise. But it also took my focus off the WRITING and shifted to simply stringing words together on a page. Essentially, I was over 70 pages into a 400 page novel and I had no idea where it was going, or more importantly, WHY it was going there.
So, accepting responsibility for my own career, my own manuscript, my own time, I freely admit, I chose not to write. For two days.
But I didn't abandon Big Dixie. I took the time away from my computer to figure out who my characters are and why they want what they want, and what's standing in their way (basics, yes, but hey, PANTSER here). I've figured out weaknesses of the scenes already written, so I know what I can toss and what I should keep. I've discovered how my Hero reacts the first time he meets my Heroine, and how to make that initial spark more of a zing.
I have not given up on the challenge. I'll write tonight, for at least 2 hours with the girls at the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood. And I'll write tomorrow. But I don't want to write a 100K word manuscript simply to brag about the word count - I want the words to count. (See what I did there?)
Happy Writing (or Well-Filling, whatever the case may be)!
Ava
Friday, January 21, 2011
Hair Trauma and Why It's Good For Us
Last night's topic of discussion for the LaLaLa Sisters (fabulous group of fabulous writers) was hair and the embarrassments inflicted upon us by well-meaning mothers or sight-impaired beauticians.
After the Sears Perm Debacle (3rd grade - and really, the hair was only half the problem), the mullet (4th grade) and the nickname "Tilted Head" (5th grade), my mom pretty much let me do what I wanted with my hair as long as it wasn't hanging in my face.
It may not sound like much. I mean, we all have a bad hair cut at least once in our lives, but you must understand that THIS 3rd/5th grader was very image conscious (because she was already into boys) and it didn't help that my mother - dear, sweet Mother - laughed about the perm EVEN THEN. We still can't talk about it over meals.
I think hair trauma builds character. In real life, it teaches us that pride has no place, and even if every one tells you you're the cutest child they've ever seen and compliments your lovely, chestnut brown hair, five minutes in Rose Anne's chair can nip that in the bud.
In fiction, it adds a sympathetic element to your characterization, a layer of insecurity or grit or compassion that takes hold and somehow alters their lives. For Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum, bad hair is yet another external conflict to overcome. For Big Dixie's Kaylen Murphy, bad hair in middle school was just one more reason to hide behind her big brother and build a pattern she'd spend the rest of her life trying to break free of.
What life experiences are mirrored in your characters? Good or bad?
Happy Writing!
Ava
After the Sears Perm Debacle (3rd grade - and really, the hair was only half the problem), the mullet (4th grade) and the nickname "Tilted Head" (5th grade), my mom pretty much let me do what I wanted with my hair as long as it wasn't hanging in my face.
It may not sound like much. I mean, we all have a bad hair cut at least once in our lives, but you must understand that THIS 3rd/5th grader was very image conscious (because she was already into boys) and it didn't help that my mother - dear, sweet Mother - laughed about the perm EVEN THEN. We still can't talk about it over meals.
I think hair trauma builds character. In real life, it teaches us that pride has no place, and even if every one tells you you're the cutest child they've ever seen and compliments your lovely, chestnut brown hair, five minutes in Rose Anne's chair can nip that in the bud.
In fiction, it adds a sympathetic element to your characterization, a layer of insecurity or grit or compassion that takes hold and somehow alters their lives. For Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum, bad hair is yet another external conflict to overcome. For Big Dixie's Kaylen Murphy, bad hair in middle school was just one more reason to hide behind her big brother and build a pattern she'd spend the rest of her life trying to break free of.
What life experiences are mirrored in your characters? Good or bad?
Happy Writing!
Ava
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Progress
I'm 17 days into the 90 Day Challenge, and I'm prod to say that I've written EVERY DAY since January 2. Yes, it's only 17 days, but I'm building the discipline of not waiting for my muse to tap me on the shoulder before I get off the couch and sit at my desk.
January is crazy for my day job - all of my clients have the same Jan 31 deadline, in addition to the normal weekly business. I generally work from 6 am to 9 pm, stopping to eat (when I remember) and speak to my husband when he walks in the door. Not this year.
The first thought in my head in the morning for the first week was this: When Mr. Ava Milone leaves for work, I'm going to get one more hour of sleep.
The second thought in my head was: If I go back to sleep, my writing time is out the door. Then I have to write on my calendar, "Today I chose not to write." Ick.
Two hours, on a timer, every morning. If I miss it in the morning, I make time in the evening, after dinner. Weekends included. And 17 days into the challenge, I've got over 15000 words of my first draft.
Progress. It's a good thing.
How are your 2011 goals shaping up?
Happy Writing!
Ava
January is crazy for my day job - all of my clients have the same Jan 31 deadline, in addition to the normal weekly business. I generally work from 6 am to 9 pm, stopping to eat (when I remember) and speak to my husband when he walks in the door. Not this year.
The first thought in my head in the morning for the first week was this: When Mr. Ava Milone leaves for work, I'm going to get one more hour of sleep.
The second thought in my head was: If I go back to sleep, my writing time is out the door. Then I have to write on my calendar, "Today I chose not to write." Ick.
Two hours, on a timer, every morning. If I miss it in the morning, I make time in the evening, after dinner. Weekends included. And 17 days into the challenge, I've got over 15000 words of my first draft.
Progress. It's a good thing.
How are your 2011 goals shaping up?
Happy Writing!
Ava
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