tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55953220379721751792024-02-07T17:58:19.693-07:00Inside My MindMost of the time it's a jumble. Other times it's just a mess. But every once in a while there's a nugget of brilliance that shines through.LD Ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079546694245401490noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595322037972175179.post-21740795246141375302019-11-11T13:29:00.002-07:002019-11-11T13:30:16.132-07:00It's That Time Again<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s November… I’m
sure you can guess what that means. LOL. I have of course signed up on the
new-and-improved National Novel Writing Month website. And so far, I’m rather
delighted to share that things have been going </span><b style="color: #4c1130;"><i>extremely</i></b><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> well.</span></span><br />
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I wrote previously
that I’ve been working on a fanfiction story (for Gilmore Girls) since the end
of August. While I’ve been dedicatedly chipping away at the project, I didn’t
quite make my self-imposed deadline of finishing the story by October 31<sup>st</sup>.
I was tantalizingly close but when the clock rolled over to November 1, I still
needed a couple days to wrap things up and put ‘the end’ to the tale. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-k1Wdtrg0MdSULZJkEemi9CZuRV278eZEplmE1-VUg7xrnMnXOLcNYVYGP4zEqxThCslkEftsoGI-ov_T1WhXWSL3Ii_q5tM_N0GczngCv8fRyRb7Y3dDcCUhLtxTSJQMGN3KET_pwTmG/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-11-04+at+8.35.24+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="472" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-k1Wdtrg0MdSULZJkEemi9CZuRV278eZEplmE1-VUg7xrnMnXOLcNYVYGP4zEqxThCslkEftsoGI-ov_T1WhXWSL3Ii_q5tM_N0GczngCv8fRyRb7Y3dDcCUhLtxTSJQMGN3KET_pwTmG/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-11-04+at+8.35.24+AM.png" width="201" /></a><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you can believe it,
I did it! I managed to finish the whole kit-and-caboodle Sunday night (November
3) around 11pm. To add to the ‘can you believe it’ list, the final word count
for the whole story is a whopping 95,177 words – the final 13,000 of those
words written between November 1<sup>st</sup> and 3<sup>rd</sup>! This new
fanfic is in fact the longest one I’ve written… by more than 30k words. </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now that I’ve got the
GG story completed, I’m going to be turning my attention to one of my original
works. I actually struggled with the decision of which OW project I was going
to focus on for NaNoWriMo 2019. I spent a good three hours the other morning
evaluating the status of each project, as well as how I felt about my ability
to pick up and go with it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’ve got three major
OW projects at various stages. They are all very different kinds of projects. Of
course, they’re all romance but that’s where the key similarities end. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The first project I
considered is a stand-alone novel. It’s a second-chances, coming home, contemporary
romance. While I’m reasonably confident about the major plot points for this
story, this is the project that I lost a third of my already finished work for.
In the months since I discovered the damaged files, I’ve been unable to find
any way of recovering them. The last report I received, from a local IT guru,
was that those particular file storage locations were damaged and unrepairable.
I am still scouring all my computer hard drives looking for (even partial)
cache files, as well as any that may exist in my online storage servers. <i>Lesson
learned in this case: backup, backup, backup, backup, backup. And then backup
again! </i>In the end, I decided not to spend November focused on this
particular story. I will definitely be coming back to this project at a later
date though.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The second project I debated
focusing on for this year’s NaNo, is one that is very near and dear to my
heart. One of the key foundation points of this story was inspired from my own
life. This story is a paranormal romance novel featuring witches, the Tuatha de
Danann, and ancient gods and goddesses. It is a stand-alone novel but there is
a short story/novella length prequel I’ve also been working on that goes along
with it. The major stumbling point I discovered, and the reason why I didn’t
choose to work on this story this month, was that while the main conflict is entirely
clear to me and I do know how the story ends, there are a number of other
important plot points that I still haven’t quite clarified in my mind.
Finishing this story will require a hefty amount of plot planning that I just
don’t want to spend the time on right now. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Which brings me to my
third option – the largest, most complicated, most involved project I’ve got
going on. This one is also paranormal romance but it features were-creatures of
various forms, the fae, and vampires. This project is a trilogy story arc and
the three books have interweaving plot points and scenes that occur concurrently
but are told from different points of view in each of the three books. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://giphy.com/embed/ouE6OPO1MADM4" width="480"></iframe></div>
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<a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/ouE6OPO1MADM4">via GIPHY</a></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the past couple of years,
I have spent a great deal of time on planning this story. I have detailed
character profiles for the three men and three women that are the focus of the
books, as well as for a few important supporting characters. I have extensive
timelines already developed and major plot points outlined. This is a <b><u>massive</u></b>
project though, one I know I have no chance in Hell of finishing before the end
of the year, let alone by the end of November. Which, to tell the truth, was
sort of what I was hoping to do. I spent most of October telling myself to
choose anything <i>but</i> this project to work on. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">However… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yeah, I totally ignored
my own advice and picked the third project to focus on. In the end I realized
that whether or not I finished the project by the end of November or December,
like I’d hoped, wasn’t nearly as important as simply writing. My head isn’t currently
in the right place for either of the first two projects. I’ll get to them
eventually, just not right now. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://giphy.com/embed/sYma346DicoSI" width="436"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/sYma346DicoSI">via GIPHY</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On Day 4 I pulled out my book-bible and got to back to work on my major, major, primary NaNo
project. Since then the words have been pretty sparse and I've only added about 2k to my total words in November - but it's been a ridiculously busy, busy, busy week and I honestly just haven't had a lot of time to write anything. But plus side, to get back on target for finishing the 50k in a month I only have to write about 1500 words today. So I guess I'll get to that now. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Until next time –
happy writing! </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />LD Ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079546694245401490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595322037972175179.post-5438678659847834722019-09-18T06:00:00.000-06:002019-09-18T06:00:03.630-06:00When Life Gives You Lemons, Or Some Such Thing<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="20f5k" data-offset-key="7lskm-0-0" style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7lskm-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 14px; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="7lskm-0-0"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Before the kids got out of school in June I had started to feel as though I was hitting my head against a brick wall when trying to write. So I decided to take a break - to read more and to relax. To spend more time focused on the kids while they were home, and on Heli Dad, and on myself. It was a good summer and exactly what I needed. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When I started sitting back down at the computer on a regular basis in August, I still wasn't ready to wade back in to the projects I'd hit pause on in June. But I started writing. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I finished a fan fiction story I'd begun years ago - to the delight of many long time readers who'd still been waiting to find out how it would end. And when that was done, I still had more to write so I started another, one that had been sort of simmering on a back burner in my head for a couple years, just waiting. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I needed the break. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The full stop. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The mental rejuvenation. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've needed this chunk of time where I've essentially just been writing for fun again. This grace period where I haven't had to worry about all the gritty details. I don't have to build the world, or create the characters... I can just let the words flow while I tell a story. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The crazy thing is that before the break, I was struggling to write 500 words a week. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>In the last month I've written roughly 45,000.</i></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And there are more. I don't sit down at the computer and wonder what to write. I know what I want to say and how I want to say it. I know where the story goes, how it ends, and how to get there. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As the words simply spill out of me for this fan fiction story, I find my mind is also working on the ideas and plot points, and all the little details that I'd been struggling with so much in the Spring. I jot down these random bits and pieces every day. I'm connecting dots that I hadn't even realized I needed to connect. In my mind, I'm finally getting all the various puzzle pieces of the story (my original works story) sorted out. I'm figuring out where and how all the disparate details fit together to create the big picture.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Somehow I simply know that when I switch back the words I need will be there. While it may not be as free flowing as this fan fiction writing has been, I won't be beating my head against that brick wall anymore either. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Writers </b></span><span style="font-size: 14px;">-- have you come up against this before? </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To clarify, I'm not talking about writers block. Not really. I could still write. The thing was, I was forcing it, hard, and you could tell. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So what did you do? What do yo do? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Did you keep attack the brick wall, pumping out words that sort of, but not really fit with what you wanted to say? Do you redirect? Take a break? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><u>What do you do when your story is dammed up inside your head and you just can't find the right key to open the floodgates?</u></i></span></span></div>
</div>
LD Ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079546694245401490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595322037972175179.post-16204124187699130872019-03-13T09:30:00.000-06:002019-03-13T09:30:01.332-06:00Writing Words<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don’t know if I could specify an exact period in my
life when I began writing. When I look back, I was always writing something,
always making up stories or journaling my days. After all, what pre-teen/teenage
girl doesn’t have her secret diary where she recounts all the absolutely
horrible-awesome-unbelievable-heartbreaking things that happen to her every
single day???</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Growing up on a farm I can remember whiling away the
hours while cutting acres of grass on a little riding mower, and the whole time
I would be telling myself stories – out loud of course because the mower was
typically loud enough one could barely hear themself think, and it wasn’t as if
there was anyone around for miles to hear me talking to myself. Sometimes, if I
liked the story I came up with while mowing, I would later pull out a notebook
and write it out. I still have some of those notebook-ed mowing stories in my
keepsake boxes. Some are truly cringe worthy but even the most horrible of them
illustrates the potential for storytelling that lived within me, even then. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="height: 0; padding-bottom: 49%; position: relative; width: 100%;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="100%" src="https://giphy.com/embed/CbH03dCwjTUzK" style="position: absolute;" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/ryan-reynolds-isla-fisher-definitely-maybe-CbH03dCwjTUzK">via GIPHY</a><br />
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">But it was really when my eldest son was a baby that I
thought to myself, “I’ve got all these ideas and stories just percolating in my
head, why don’t I try to get them out?” At that point I was already a voracious
reader, frequent book reviewer on my original blog, and had also been writing
fanfiction for a couple years, so the idea of writing my own original stories
was, to say the least, enticing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">So, I started typing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Carving out time, when and where I could, to write. To
allow the adventures, the dreams, the characters – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the stories</i> – out of my head. When I couldn’t sit down at the
computer, or escape for a bit with my laptop, I got into the habit of packing
around a notebook and pen. It wasn’t uncommon in those days to find me
scribbling notes (ideas, a turn of phrase, inspired dialogue) while sitting at
skating lessons or while the kids played in the McD’s play place. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">There were so many ideas that rushed forward in those
early years. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I’ve got files and files,
and files, and I’m frequently adding more as new ideas crop up.</i> There are dozens
of ideas that I’ve never gotten around to even attempting to flesh out and really
develop. Then there are the ones that I did focus on. The ones I took time to see
where they might lead, see what kind of story it was that was waiting to be
told. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">And from those, there are a handful that I’ve truly delved
into and narrowed my sight on. Those stories have weeks and months, and more,
of time invested in them. Time spent researching locations, myths and legends,
educational course paths for various (and sundry) careers, and a wide variety of
legalities aimed at specific situations. Time spent doing character development
and profiles, family trees, detailed timelines, and even drawing out the floor
plans for homes featured within those stories. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Then the writing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="100%" src="https://giphy.com/embed/xkmQfH1TB0dLW" style="position: absolute;" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/okkultmotionpictures-excerpts-xkmQfH1TB0dLW">via GIPHY</a><br />
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">God, the time spent writing. Hours upon days, upon
weeks and months, and years. All that time getting words onto screen and paper.
Time spent on revisions and rewrites. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">All those words. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Because words are what make the story. You start with
an idea – the heart and soul – and with words you build <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">everything else</i>: the bones and framework of the plot, the muscle
and tissue that give it weight, and most of all, the blood and breath that gives
it life. Without the words there is simply an amorphous thought waiting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I spent the past weekend going through my writing files
because I had finally decided which one of my stories to focus on this year and
to finally, actually, finish. This was one of my writing goals for 2019 that I
talked about in <a href="https://myinner-i.blogspot.com/2019/02/new-year-new-goals-and-brand-new-logo.html" target="_blank">my post last month</a>. The result of that perusal being that this
week my heart hurts (more than) a bit and I’m unusually obsessed with those
words. Because you see, just more than a third of the existing files for that
story were damaged-corrupted-unreadable-inaccessible. The originals <u>and the
backups</u>. One third of the chapters I’d already written – just gone. At the
very least fifteen thousand words lost. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I cried, quite literally and dramatically, when I’d
finished tallying things up and realized just how much was gone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="100%" src="https://giphy.com/embed/IpkyqWqbipGg" style="position: absolute;" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/page-shaft-crimson-IpkyqWqbipGg">via GIPHY</a><br />
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">It’s not even that I can’t rewrite those missing chapters.
I can and will – if the geek squad pro’s that I haul my computer and flash
drives to can’t recover them. It’s the fact that while some of those chapters
are just the ‘bones and muscle’ of the story, a few of them are ‘blood and
breath’ parts. While I may not be able to remember every word I wrote in those
chapters, I remember <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">very clearly </i></b>how I felt when I wrote
them. And there’s this part of me that is terrified that if/when I rewrite
those sections, I won’t be able to pull off the same level of intensity, same
depth of emotion. Quite simply – I’m afraid it won’t be as good this time around.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">If rewriting those chapters from scratch becomes
necessary, I’ll do it. I’ll do it to the very best of my ability… but man,
right now the fear of that prospect is sitting right up there with the hurt of
having lost the chapters in the first place. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />LD Ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079546694245401490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595322037972175179.post-91437031130397222662019-02-06T10:00:00.000-07:002019-02-06T10:00:09.755-07:00New Year, New Goals and a Brand New Logo<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">NaNo2018 was an epic failure on my part. Sort of, not really, but yes a failure. I <b>did</b> write more in November 2018 than I did in the rest of 2018 put together - so win! - but still, I fell ridiculously short of meeting the 50k goal. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>So what happens now? </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's a New Year -- 2019!!! -- and after a lot of thought, and I mean a LOT, I'm going to change things up a little bit. I'm going to goal set differently, more specifically but perhaps also in a way that won't constantly make me feel like I'm falling behind and failing. Here's where I start...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb771jTso9I3F9tcm73IaROUcM7h8yIm_314sVl6Ta0uxt5kHoBXD4rhzR5WJ-3nsriZHIrD3I0xKdchiCsTlt6rRWJK6LVE_e2u46nBJOcPtzrO7KMoYTiY_oDPAo9sWRYBR24xA-DdFo/s1600/2019+Writing+Goals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb771jTso9I3F9tcm73IaROUcM7h8yIm_314sVl6Ta0uxt5kHoBXD4rhzR5WJ-3nsriZHIrD3I0xKdchiCsTlt6rRWJK6LVE_e2u46nBJOcPtzrO7KMoYTiY_oDPAo9sWRYBR24xA-DdFo/s640/2019+Writing+Goals.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goal #1 -- <u>Write Every Single Day</u> (on a WIP)</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know, God do I know, that not every day is going to be a good writing day. One day I may get in 2500 words. Another day I may add 5. And that's okay so long as I write. Eventually I'll finish what I've started and I'll have what I need to take the next step. </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goal #2 -- <u>Write a Blog Post Each Month</u> </span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sort of like an accountability check-in. I've seen other writers do this - both the indies just getting into the industry, as well as well established traditionally published authors that I've read/loved/followed for years. But more than simply holding myself accountable to my craft, I've missed writing blog posts, missed this avenue of interaction with other bloggers and writers. Now, January didn't get a blog post but you'll see a little bit further down what I was busy with last month. Going forward though I'm going to write (at least) one blog post here each month - and at least one blog post for each of my other blogs too.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goal #3 -- <u>Finish Something </u></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's the thing: <u>right now I have 4 projects on the go.</u> One of them is and always has been intended as a stand alone novel/novella. Two of them could be the launch points for a series or other multi book/story set, I can see other possible storylines that could come from them, or they could just end up as stand alone novels too. The fourth project is absolutely the beginning of a series - I know pretty much everything that will happen in the first three books/stories, how much further the series goes after that is still up in the air. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So the goal is to evaluate them, pick one, focus on that and FINISH it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But which, which, <i>which</i> one will it be? </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goal #4 -- <u>Set Periodic, Quantifiable Deadlines</u> </span></b></div>
</div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is one that could be tricky. Or it could be super easy. These would be goals like: finish one chapter this week, or write 5000 words by the end of the month. Which, like I said could be simple or could be hard. I hope that over the course of time, having those quantifiable deadlines will increase my productivity. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm also hoping that with time those quantifiable goals will become more lofty - 10k words in a month, then 5k words per week, etc, etc, etc. Eventually, assuming this works the way I want, I'd be able to set goals more along the line of <i>This Novel</i> done by March and <i>That Novel</i> written by August; you know deadline deadlines. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(I'd cross my fingers in hope but that may make it more difficult for me to type. Cross 'em for me??) </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goal #5 -- <u>Become a Better Writer</u></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One step to attaining this goal, one that will help tremendously all on its own is simply to write. To write and keep writing, and then write some more. Another part of this will be to read, of course; I've always felt that to be a good writer and to continually better yourself, you must read. (In general, the reading thing has never been a real problem for me. 😉 ) A third thing I'm going to try to do is find some online writing courses - creative writing, or novel writing, or maybe even an editing course. I've actually discovered a few through my local library that look promising, so I've got somewhere to start. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm sure there's more that I can do and if, and when, I discover those things I'll let you know. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="261" src="https://giphy.com/embed/BfatzYnLJscasiOAZA" width="480"></iframe></span></div>
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<a href="https://giphy.com/stickers/CultivateWhatMatters-queen-cultivate-what-matters-powersheets-BfatzYnLJscasiOAZA"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">via GIPHY</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycwQdDsVEcIG4J4G9eYnJ2hTgh_K5V2BO1QAOxaTfZebscJWom6uHkj74o9j6yM8je75pYhl3fW4GnQSkYveKsLEA_VQv9mZjOTNShMNT_cDEC3D8okg3_QCEcfTqcNbtNZMT-VPE59yY/s1600/LDF+Writing+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycwQdDsVEcIG4J4G9eYnJ2hTgh_K5V2BO1QAOxaTfZebscJWom6uHkj74o9j6yM8je75pYhl3fW4GnQSkYveKsLEA_VQv9mZjOTNShMNT_cDEC3D8okg3_QCEcfTqcNbtNZMT-VPE59yY/s400/LDF+Writing+Logo.jpg" width="400" /></span></a><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now remember earlier in this post when I alluded to what I'd been busy doing this past January? Number one on that list was to completely redesign and launch a new website for my mother's massage therapy business - at which I'm more or less in charge of all marketing and advertising these days. The redesign is done, the site is launched and now, except for weekly/month maintenance to keep the site dynamic and up-to-date, I'm able to direct my creative energies elsewhere. </span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Number 2 on the list of things I did last month came about in the middle of doing the website redesign. And it was the development of new logos for each of my blogs, and another logo which incorporates aspects of the other three to use as a social media profile photo. The logo for <i>Inside My Mind</i> is simple, clean, and while it may not be my forever logo, for now I really love it. </span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">What do you think?</span><span style="color: #20124d;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Interested in seeing the other logos? Pop over to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LDFerris/" target="_blank">my Facebook Page</a> where three of the four have now been launched! The fourth will be coming in the next little bit.</span></div>
LD Ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079546694245401490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595322037972175179.post-34686883751368301642018-11-22T09:55:00.000-07:002018-11-22T09:55:53.506-07:00Life. You Know?<div style="font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I am so tired of adulting. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">You know what I’m talking about: all the responsibilities, obligations and time commitments that go along with being a “grown up” are draining. Add 4 kids to the mix and the adulting requirements increase exponentially. It’s exhausting at the best of time you guys. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Right now, it’s damn near killing me.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="271" src="https://giphy.com/embed/FqdruC6cJYXxC" width="480"></iframe></span></div>
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<a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/tired-the-big-bang-theory-exhausted-FqdruC6cJYXxC"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">via GIPHY</span></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Last week my husband and MIL loaded up my van with a bunch of cardboard, paper and other recycling and then climbed in to go do those chores and an array of other errands. They drove out of our driveway and were immediately hit by someone who was speeding down the road and had just run/raced the red light two houses away. Right in front of our house. I’d said “see ya later” as they walked out the door and a couple minutes later I hear a massive boom, walk to the front of the house, look out the window, and what do you know? There’s my van (and the other persons car) smashed and in pieces right in front of my house. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.00pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Everyone seems to be just fine I think - they’ve got stiff and sore necks/backs, and my MIL has some seatbelt bruising (her side of the van was impacted) - but other than that ok.</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">MY van... The only vehicle we have that accommodates our family of 6. The one I’ve driven every single day (or nearly) for the past 10 1/2 years. The vehicle I was going to need just hours later to take a kid to one of their activities, and then later to take another kid to theirs. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Since that moment I’ve spent hours on the phone dealing with insurance, and getting a rental, and a host of other things. I spent one afternoon shopping to replace the car seat that was relegated useless after being through a collision. I’ve spent countless hours researching the value of my beloved van and looking for replacements. And now I know I’ll have to spend even more time doing that as my van has been deemed un-fixable and I HAVE to replace it. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Ugh. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">All this </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">on top of</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"> the normal multitudinous daily tasks and responsibilities I take care of every day. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I’m tired of adulting. And I’m so physically and mentally exhausted that I’ve had no drive to write anything all week. I added maybe 50 words to my NaNo story before I heard the big boom. It sucks and I know that there is no way in hell I’ll come close to 50k words this month. But on the plus side - everyone is okay and I’m getting an unexpected vehicle upgrade. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">How is your writing going though?? Are you on target to “win” NaNo this year?</span></div>
LD Ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079546694245401490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595322037972175179.post-6937535397805294372018-11-11T14:19:00.001-07:002018-11-11T14:19:23.889-07:00Like One Step Forward, Three Steps Back<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So another week has come and gone, and some writing has been done. Not a lot, but some. I had one really good morning of writing in the middle of the week where both ideas and words simply flowed. It was great. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am at a delicate point in my story so I find myself, not struggling exactly, but being careful in my composition. On one hand I know that I just need to write, to get the words, the story out of my head and onto the page. After all there will be plenty of time to revise and edit, and find the perfect words and way of telling later. On the other hand I still find myself editing as I write which causes a good amount of delay. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskAcaxZlXxWQ1oziFr5wIuN6saAbR9e6EIufgG9fBFsFw8yMrdJ1SPUqipcN8oHoR5PsbBzX910_WH7u50qmef-nStUZr7x2JkfhLARhSLPGPOVam8Y-xv2lwziAW7PQdh-1o9v6oIdju/s1600/B8316965-FF15-4946-A281-37CC8DDCF350.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="356" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskAcaxZlXxWQ1oziFr5wIuN6saAbR9e6EIufgG9fBFsFw8yMrdJ1SPUqipcN8oHoR5PsbBzX910_WH7u50qmef-nStUZr7x2JkfhLARhSLPGPOVam8Y-xv2lwziAW7PQdh-1o9v6oIdju/s320/B8316965-FF15-4946-A281-37CC8DDCF350.gif" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I’m writing. Which is better than I’ve been doing since last Christmas. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In fact, I’ve added nearly as much to the story in the past 11 days as I had added in the previous 10 months. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So whatever else, it’s good I’m writing. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Writing Report: November 5-11 (2pm)</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Time Spent Writing: 2 hours (+ a good deal of editing time)</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Words Written: 1450 </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total Words Added to WIP this month: 2984 </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Until next time... happy writing!!</span></span></div>
LD Ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079546694245401490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595322037972175179.post-33140440654512768022018-11-04T18:51:00.000-07:002018-11-04T19:38:12.473-07:00Accountability? Let’s See...<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Yeah. This time around at NaNo I am ABSOLUTELY doing this. I’m going to take a few minutes at some point during my Sunday (right now I’m in the middle of cooking dinner for my family) and just check in to let you know how my writing week has gone. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Because accountability makes a difference. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Even if I’m the only person who ever reads the post, simply setting a day where I have to post about the week’s efforts - be they successful or epic failures - it makes a difference. It means I have to actually look at what I’ve done, or not done, and report it. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Because maybe when I share that I’ve had an amazing writing week someone out there will say “That’s great! Keep up the hard work.” Maybe I’ll get a few virtual high fives. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Because maybe when I report that it’s been a rough week and the results only amounted to a grocery list and a to-do chore list, someone else may tell me “Just keep at it. Every word matters.” They may commiserate, they may offer advice or suggestions or, or, or. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Or maybe I won’t get any kind of response in return. Except I’ll know. I’ll have been accountable to myself at the least. I’ll be able to look at the writing I’ve accomplish in relation to the amount of time I spent writing, the amount of time I wasted, and all the various things I have to do otherwise. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4JgJeg9kYYTUMoNlgxNRWzZJTyHg5zf6yIXyejmM3PCY48pOsqekvZCWkirEwRSTLbUz4bZNHIdTfk68l0ykx9wPq3z2AZdj7APaPywh8zhGju4EdYeAC08uop7wibZw_4pFqvMGCbdn/s1600/44053532-E9A0-4814-A51C-43F0F9461842.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="1112" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4JgJeg9kYYTUMoNlgxNRWzZJTyHg5zf6yIXyejmM3PCY48pOsqekvZCWkirEwRSTLbUz4bZNHIdTfk68l0ykx9wPq3z2AZdj7APaPywh8zhGju4EdYeAC08uop7wibZw_4pFqvMGCbdn/s320/44053532-E9A0-4814-A51C-43F0F9461842.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">I know some weeks will be really good. Some weeks may simply be alright. And some weeks may be really ugly. Whatever the week’s results is okay as long as when Monday rolls around I sit down and keep working on it, keep writing, and keep trying. So... </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"><b><u>Writing Report: November 1-4 (approx 6:30pm) </u></b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Time Spent Writing: approx 4 hours </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Words Written: 1534 on WIP + roughly 600 in blogs</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">It’s been a busy family weekend with football championships and other kid events going on so I didn’t have as much time to write over the weekend as I would have liked. We went over the family schedule earlier today for the month and it looks like the rest of the month will be better. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">I guess we’ll see how the next week goes.</span></div>
LD Ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079546694245401490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595322037972175179.post-49399915452365568952018-11-01T09:38:00.000-06:002018-11-01T09:38:34.036-06:00Stumbling in the Dark<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s been a pretty dark place around here the past year, in <i style="font-weight: bold;">so</i> many ways. And silent. My god the silence - even the crickets haven’t made a peep. I’ve had no inspiration, no ambition, and every time I’ve actually sat at a keyboard to write (since January this year) has resulted in some newly developed but very creative procrastination techniques. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’ve done a lot of reading. A lot. <b>A LOT.</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’ve spent some much needed time with each of my kids. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’ve played quite a bit with graphic and cover design. Still not precisely to a level where I’d want to actually charge someone money for my efforts but I’m getting there I think. Slowly. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’ve moved the furniture around in my house three times - everything is essentially back to where it was in the first place now - and I’ve probably donated 100lbs of clothes to charity between myself and my four minis. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But words. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Words have been hard to come by. I’ve needed something to give me the kick in the ass that would get me back to work, back to writing and so... </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I did the thing again. I signed up and got set up to NaNoWriMo again. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I guess we’ll see how that goes. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fingers crossed... though maybe I shouldn’t cross them, that may just make it even more difficult to type.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can find me there (if you’re interested) as @LDFerris 😊😊</span></div>
LD Ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079546694245401490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595322037972175179.post-59628920978181987952017-10-27T08:27:00.000-06:002017-10-27T08:29:01.882-06:00Writing Rules <span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Every day I see posts online expounding on the "rules" of writing. The rules you need to follow if you're going to be a writer, if you want to be a good writer, if you want to publish. Every expert has something slightly different to tell you - some of their rules may cross over between them, but their lists are different. At the base of it, their lists are just what works for them. Their rules are the things that worked for them, the guidelines they used while writing.</span><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Writing: Characters give us a peek into who they are. We form bonds. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/amwriting?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#amwriting</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/amediting?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#amediting</a> <a href="https://t.co/OqJ0w7PGTl">pic.twitter.com/OqJ0w7PGTl</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">— Writing & Editing (@WrtrStat) <a href="https://twitter.com/WrtrStat/status/923756650263207939?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2017</a></span></div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But here's the thing...</span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Each writer is different. Each one of us has our own methods, our own system - to put it simple, we have our own way. What works for one writer won't necessarily work for another. I guess there's something to the saying "You do you."</span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I think there is one thing that stands for every writer though, one overarching rule for us all:</span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Write every day. That simple.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Write. Every. Day.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What are some rules you have? Or ones you follow?</span><br />
<br />LD Ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079546694245401490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595322037972175179.post-65426984301833005362017-09-30T09:42:00.001-06:002017-09-30T09:42:42.935-06:00Writing Problems<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Writing
problems. We all have them – blocks, ideas that just aren’t working, words that
won’t come or don’t sound right, lack of time, energy, etc… This gig, by which
I mean writing, it isn’t for the faint of heart, or the half-hearted. It’s funny,
but more and more lately I’ve wondered that writing is a lot like life. It’s a
balancing act of finding time vs. making time. A battle between having the right
words and forcing any words out. It’s a struggle between knowing the right thing
(or way or road or whatever) and having to guess.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And it is a
constant series of wondering if what you’ve done is good enough, if it was done
fast enough, long enough, enough, enough, <i>enough</i>… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Having 4
kids, one only 4 months old, means it takes either a lot of scheduling to get
time where I can simply sit at my computer and write, or it takes sacrificing of sleep. Some times it takes the scheduling of sacrificed sleep to
get myself in front of this computer. And alright, full truth, sometimes it’s
just a matter of luck too. (Right now, for instance, I’m able to sit at my
computer writing this because the baby fell back to sleep after it’s morning
feed, the girls are at my parents, and the boy had a couple friends sleep over
and they tried to stay up all night and are still in exhausted slumber. See –
luck!) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When I do
get to the computer I’ve got about a dozen projects on the go between work, my sister’s
wedding, and other personal ideas that I’ve been working on. Writing, some
times is simply not at the top of the list. And other times I’m just burnt out
enough from everything else going on in life, that when writing is at the top I
just can’t, or don’t feel like I can. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s been
that way for me for a while now. That feeling of can’t. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>I hate it. </i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yet, at the
same time, I know that I’m simply not the type of writer that can sit down and
force a story. I mean, I could, but I’ve done it before and, well, it was
horrible. The writing was horrible. The story that came from it was horrible. I’m
talking: even my 13-year old daughter thought it was <i>bad</i>, horrible. Everything
was stilted, one-dimensional, tired sounding, and honestly just plain painful
to read. So yeah, forcing out a story – not really my thing.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Great writing doesn't always come in a day, sometimes it comes in weeks and months. Honing writing skills. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/amwriting?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#amwriting</a> <a href="https://t.co/rtgyIa4olU">pic.twitter.com/rtgyIa4olU</a></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">— Writing & Editing (@WrtrStat) <a href="https://twitter.com/WrtrStat/status/913451769501544448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2017</a></span></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Lately though I’ve been feeling the <i>need</i> to write again. The whispers in the back of my mind while I go about my day. The familiar tones and voices of my characters as they’ve once again began asking me to tell their stories. The sensations are wonderful, my dreams are again colourful and coming to life, and I’m looking forward to some quality time with my keyboard. Or pen and paper. Or my phone’s voice memo app. (Like I said time is a crunch with 4 kids.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">So writing problems… What have yours been lately? </span><br />
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-->LD Ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079546694245401490noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595322037972175179.post-55680493940911579462017-08-01T19:06:00.000-06:002017-08-01T19:06:11.787-06:00August 1, 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WuY93h4IHhLkOKuYBKQ2kylvP5oCpplVhp50KYvf63Z0KeNxZyAZRhYzW8a-xkVNXLN2e00XzNVhlaJyM7R7mLmQNDUKhJfHEzYPdZmSBAX3RKXLd-URmaNIqEn5rms8LFLIwOU7BtWj/s1600/writing+blog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="1204" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WuY93h4IHhLkOKuYBKQ2kylvP5oCpplVhp50KYvf63Z0KeNxZyAZRhYzW8a-xkVNXLN2e00XzNVhlaJyM7R7mLmQNDUKhJfHEzYPdZmSBAX3RKXLd-URmaNIqEn5rms8LFLIwOU7BtWj/s400/writing+blog2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />LD Ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079546694245401490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595322037972175179.post-48483495404080810452016-09-07T09:40:00.000-06:002016-09-07T09:40:37.919-06:00Building Characters & Giving Them Life
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Creating characters that are full of life, personality,
well-rounded and real is far harder to do then you might think. It’s more then
describing them, more then giving them names, history and physicality. It takes
more then rich colorful language and a strong handle of how to use it.
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOWv4jWy547TT5gdqKBcswyiJgrgMedfJdsaLHpeET9z8HiZEtYgfW5MSY96VdPv6IoF_K2mJtzigEwHkiK7kTNjEnxJgbnHL_T5tr0vXQm0BkDGwyHAmz2VTsE6tcFbOUb14A0FrpkFw/s1600/stick+man+-+Jason+Antony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOWv4jWy547TT5gdqKBcswyiJgrgMedfJdsaLHpeET9z8HiZEtYgfW5MSY96VdPv6IoF_K2mJtzigEwHkiK7kTNjEnxJgbnHL_T5tr0vXQm0BkDGwyHAmz2VTsE6tcFbOUb14A0FrpkFw/s320/stick+man+-+Jason+Antony.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: FreeImages.com/JasonAntony</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And honestly, characterization is one thing that I have often
struggled with. Creating diverse settings that pulse with a life of their own –
that I’m generally good with, it doesn’t faze me. But doing the same for my
characters… simply not the same. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One trick I have learned is to not sweat those descriptions
during my first draft. (Simply put: during that first draft it’s perfectly fine
to simply say <i>“she has green eyes”</i> or
<i>“he has dark brown hair.”</i>) If you’re
like me and struggle with your characters, in the first draft just focus on
getting the story down first. Once you’ve got that done <i>then</i> you can go back and add more.<span> </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">With story down on the page you can go back and focus on the
characters – describe their looks; give color and depth to their personalities.
<i>(“His rich brown hair was so dark, in
moments of fantasy it sparked images of having dipped him in lush dark
chocolate.”)</i> Give them quirks. <i>(“I
discovered that she had this annoying habit of lifting her dark brows and
opening her brilliantly green eyes wide, making them appear even more like
highly faceted emeralds set into the fine setting of her face.”)</i></span></span></span> </div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrIOPiGRWzsORTZI6mtIHjU6KjAFxPCEZALj4qfn4QOnx864cETxpy0ZcRdyptPuhl9lKBrna6APn8GJvZxvD-Fkl2AQwEqTCDHzVf2PA346jQDE77yMox7jUg0jxqE9xKKq8bMdEQWGv/s1600/man+-+Stefan+Hellwig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrIOPiGRWzsORTZI6mtIHjU6KjAFxPCEZALj4qfn4QOnx864cETxpy0ZcRdyptPuhl9lKBrna6APn8GJvZxvD-Fkl2AQwEqTCDHzVf2PA346jQDE77yMox7jUg0jxqE9xKKq8bMdEQWGv/s320/man+-+Stefan+Hellwig.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: FreeImages.com/StefanHellwig</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Once you do that you’ll discover that suddenly they’re alive
and you’ll better connect with them. Then you build them emotionally – give
them strengths, weaknesses, fears and dreams. And that’s when you find that now
they have that pulsing life that you need from them. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That’s when they become
real.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It takes time. Patience. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But the more you write, the more often you’ll find that
without even focusing effort on creating real, life-like characters that you’re
writing that spark into them thoughtlessly. Some characters will grow easily,
organically on the page and some are frustratingly more difficult. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The bottom line is to find a method that works for you,
whatever that may be. But also remember that sometimes your method will change,
with certain stories or characters you may go about their creation differently.
And that’s okay. </span></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So what are some methods you use for creating, building and
bringing your characters to life?</span></span></span></i></div>
LD Ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079546694245401490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595322037972175179.post-46676977897920409952016-09-05T13:21:00.002-06:002016-09-05T13:21:38.464-06:00Summer's Over - Back to Normal?<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Hey There Everybody!</span></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It’s been a <i>long</i>
summer… Okay, truth, some parts of the summer seemed to fly by in the blink of
an eye, while other parts did seem to drag on. However, truly accurate
descriptions of this summer would be – active, busy, fun. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">July passed in a blink and was full to the brim, scratch
that – overflowing with family activities, kid activities, friends, trips, and
more. August, always an eventful month for the Corner Table Family, was also
busy though I’m happy to say we were able to find a couple days here and there
when we simply had nothing to do and could kick back and relax. But summer
holidays are (as of tomorrow morning) officially over and we’re all going to be
back to a regular schedule and able to focus on things, work or otherwise.</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4NSJhYc3C4qBpZzBjD6vLG0bTSt3QqjBze9CnSCD2IKbUBNa9X5iYQw8DQhi28GfESJTHhsw7YGc47055q26_yvxgrHN1WB6DT0L9ONaLwfywPGy9xd8jq4nQ-B7zidS3tkQN_1j9BsSu/s1600/summer+beach.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4NSJhYc3C4qBpZzBjD6vLG0bTSt3QqjBze9CnSCD2IKbUBNa9X5iYQw8DQhi28GfESJTHhsw7YGc47055q26_yvxgrHN1WB6DT0L9ONaLwfywPGy9xd8jq4nQ-B7zidS3tkQN_1j9BsSu/s320/summer+beach.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Photo Credit: LD Ferris, 2016</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There will be a few feature changes on <a href="http://updownin-n-out.blogspot.ca/"><i>Ups, Downs, Ins & Outs</i></a> – nothing major; a few simple changes in
schedule or additions. <a href="http://myinner-i.blogspot.ca/"><i>Inside My Mind</i></a>
should see more regular postings – I’m hoping to start with weekly and then
bump it up to twice weekly in a month or so. On both of these blogs I will also
be trying to look for folks interested in doing guest posts. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://cornertable-myworld.blogspot.ca/"><i>A Corner Table in My World</i></a> will also start to see more regular postings. Honestly I’m not sure
what the final goal will be there besides simply <b><i>more</i></b>. There a lot of
things that happen in our daily lives that I could talk and write about but
I’ve always shied from simply regurgitating everything I do everyday. So I
guess one goal will be to figure that shit out. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So that’s what I wanted to let you know today. If you take
nothing else from this post make sure you catch this: <u><i><b>Hi everyone, we’re
back!!!</b></i></u></span></span></span></div>
LD Ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079546694245401490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595322037972175179.post-5359428279967396852016-06-02T11:47:00.000-06:002016-06-02T11:49:12.846-06:00When I Partied... Day 2<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So as you know the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/788951514571301/?active_tab=posts" target="_blank">Another Year of Books Celebration Event</a> is happening right now on Facebook. The event includes takeovers, daily giveaways, guest bloggers and a <a href="http://goo.gl/ltkR7s" target="_blank">grand prize contest</a>. It's all simply set up to be a fun chance for folks to interact with favorite authors, meet new ones and etc. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I spent some time hanging out on the event page yesterday, talking a bit about my own writing and what I'm working on. While there I mentioned there that I've got half a dozen projects at various stages of progress right now with a contemporary romance as the one that I'm hoping and planning to release this summer - sooner rather than later. And I shared some details specifically about that forerunner.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This contemporary romance blindsided me earlier this year, after all I almost always write with a paranormal or fantasy background, and though I have mentioned the book on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LDFerris/" target="_blank">my Facebook page</a>, I don't think I've really talked about it here at all. So now that the cat is out of the bag, I'm here today to tell you about it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><b>HERE IS HOME</b></i> is at it's heart a second chances story. The story revolves around Annabelle Carlisle and Aidan Hennessey, high school sweethearts that everyone believed would end up married young and together forever. At least, everyone thought that until Annabelle left town, disappearing just days before the couple were to head off to university together. More then a decade later Annabelle returns to her hometown and has to face the man she left behind, the friends she's hidden from, and the family who still don't know why she left, alone, in the first place.</span></span> <br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While settling back in to daily life in their picturesque town, rebuilding old friendships and securing her position as the new high school science teacher at her old alma mater, Annabelle continues to hold her secrets and many details of her life from the decade she was away, to herself. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But an accident changes everything and Annabelle is forced to explain why she left years earlier. She's forced to tell her loved ones about the secrets she's been keeping from them and mistakes she's made.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And then all she can do is hope that they will be able to forgive her.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLKaSogRboayQ01VZ1BvNmzcrYilk99S-Cm-gIcM7DZUKOP1821pyPLwm85HjVqAZdU__TURdmKTF_IhaPLlzuaWV3pFRXK9gjMGS3pfku_d3qVd82VXdzRJniCQP17U393mKGnMHUFsO/s1600/Here+Is+Home+Teaser2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLKaSogRboayQ01VZ1BvNmzcrYilk99S-Cm-gIcM7DZUKOP1821pyPLwm85HjVqAZdU__TURdmKTF_IhaPLlzuaWV3pFRXK9gjMGS3pfku_d3qVd82VXdzRJniCQP17U393mKGnMHUFsO/s400/Here+Is+Home+Teaser2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Before I wrapped up my time yesterday at the event I decided to give everybody a sneak peek at the story and ended up sharing a rather long excerpt from the unedited version of the story... For your pleasure (and maybe some input) here it is... </span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ </span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Hey Belle!” The call came from the house and she jerked around to
see Heather coming toward her. “Your phone has been ringing almost
non-stop for the last five minutes.” She explained as she tossed the
device gently to her from about 6 feet away and Belle fumbled to catch
it one handed.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“What?” Annabelle muttered and set her beer
between her feet on the ground before examining the screen, scrolling
quick through the list of missed calls, messages and texts. Jer. Jer.
Mom. Steve. Dad. Mom. Unknown. Unknown. Jer. Jer. Steve. Jer. Jer.
Unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown... </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“What the hell?” she exclaimed and
then nearly dropped the phone when it rang again. Steve, again.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Hello?” She answered.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Thank God!” He answered and then rushed on. “I really hope you’re at
the house where your car is parked because I couldn’t hold him back
anymore and I really can’t deal with a mob of insane teenagers tonight.”</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“What?” </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Annabelle,” he started to say but she quit paying attention when she
heard her name again, coming from behind her and in another man’s voice.
“Anna.”</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Christ,” she squeaked, jumping up from her seat and
turning so quickly she tipped the chair over. Then she froze as she
watched Jeremy stalk towards her from the corner of the house.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From the phone she heard, “I guess we found you.” But her attention was
focused on the man in front of her. He stopped on the other side of the
fallen chair and looked at the phone in her hand, glanced quickly
around the fire at the crowd of people, then met her eyes. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“I’ve been trying to get a hold of you all night.” Jeremy informed her in his deep voice.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Annabelle shook her head and swallowed against sudden anxiety. “I left
my phone here earlier when we went out. We had dinner and then there
was a football game.” She said with a gesture towards the group around
the fire.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He pressed his lips together and stared hard at her but
she couldn’t tell whether it was frustration or something else.
Finally, he reached down and pulled the chair out of his way and stepped
closer to her, placing his hands on her arms and holding tight.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Annabelle,” he said and she vaguely noticed that Steve was now standing a few feet behind him looking at her solemnly.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“What?” she asked through lips that were suddenly going numb.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“There’s been an accident, Anna.” He began to tell her.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“What?”</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“When they couldn’t get a hold of you on your cell phone they called
me. I guess you still have my number listed as a secondary contact.” He
explained and Annabelle felt the blood rushing away from her head
because she knew where she’d listed him as a secondary contact. “When I
couldn’t get a hold of you either, Steve and I got on a plane.”</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Where were you?” She asked faintly, dumbly, as if it mattered.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Boise, Idaho.” Steve answered softly over Jeremy’s shoulder. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She met Jeremy’s eyes and saw the grave expression, the serious set of
the planes of his face. Mostly she saw something that she didn’t want
to acknowledge, something she knew he wouldn’t let her dodge. And
staring in his eyes she began to tremble.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Anna, its Andrew and Shawn.” He finally said.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“No.” Annabelle whispered. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“They were driving to a football game or something. There were a few
cars involved and a semi-truck and trailer. They were both taken to the
U of A Hospital, Shawn by ambulance, while Andrew was air-lifted.” The
more he said the quieter it got around the fire, as everyone seemed to
understand the gravity of the situation. His hands tightened on her
arms. “They’re not sure that Andrew will make it Annabelle.”</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Her
eyelids slid shut, two tears slipping loose and sliding slowly down her
face. All she heard was the roaring in her ears and the pounding of
her heart. She felt numb and she knew that if he hadn’t been holding
her arms she probably would have slipped to the ground in a puddle. The
sound of Sarah’s laughter flitted through her mind and then Shawn’s
beautiful, innocent face flashed behind her closed eyelids jolting her
from the chaos in her head.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“What about Shawn?” Her voice, loud in the silence, sounded strange to her ears. “Jer, what about Shawn?”</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When Jeremy hesitated to answer she grabbed on to the front of his sweater and demanded again. “What about Shawn?”</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“He’s unconscious.” He finally told her and she sucked in a breath.
“The guy I talked to said that they ruled out skull fractures and they
didn’t see any bleeds when they did an MRI, but it’s a head injury so
they’re being cautious. Beyond that he has a broken arm. They told me
it was a clean break about three inches below his wrist.”</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“But his head?” She cried and everyone heard the panic building in her tone.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jeremy shook his head. “They’re cautious but optimistic Anna. That’s
what they said. They’re pretty sure he’ll be okay.” Annabelle released
a shaky breath and dropped her forehead to his chest. They all waited
while she took several deep breaths pulling the shreds of her composure
together.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally she raised her head and stepped back and out of
his hold. “I need to get there.” She announced it resolutely. “I need
to be there.” He nodded.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“We charted a flight Annabelle.” Steve
told her quietly. “It’ll be about a 30-minute flight from here. The
pilot is just waiting for us to get there.”</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Belle nodded and
knelt down to pick up the phone she’d dropped at some point in the last
couple minutes. She took a couple steps away from the fire and then
turned back to face her friends and family. They were all standing, all
looking at her with pity and compassion in their eyes.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“I have to go.” She said to no one in particular.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“We know.” Kara said and when Annabelle looked close she saw that both Kara and Lindsay had tears in their eyes.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She looked at Aidan and swallowed. “I’m not sure when I’ll be back. I don’t –“</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Go, Bella.” He answered with a nod. “And call if you need anything.”</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Annabelle bit back a sob and nodded as she turned and rushed out of the yard with Jeremy and Steve.</span></span></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>*Excerpt from HERE IS HOME by LD Ferris, 2016*</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ </i></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So there you go. I'll be back on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/788951514571301/?active_tab=posts" target="_blank">event page</a> this evening, along with authors Tom Fallwell and Selena Rivera between 7PM-11:59PM MST - pop in and join us... <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/788951514571301/?active_tab=posts" target="_blank">It's not to late to join in</a>. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And if you're an author or blogger and would like to join us and do a last minute takeover time tonight please contact me at <a href="mailto:apalusalight@gmail.com">apalusalight@gmail.com</a> or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LDFerris/" target="_blank">PM on my Facebook page</a>... There are still times open and available, just give me a shout!<i> </i></span></span>LD Ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079546694245401490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595322037972175179.post-85938844984382987632016-05-31T19:24:00.002-06:002016-05-31T19:24:39.516-06:00The Another Year of Books Celebration Event begins tonight!<span style="color: #134f5c;">Friends, followers and fans...</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><br />
It has been a very trying month (a trying year so far to be completely
honest), between natural disasters, family losses, heartbreaking
personal news and the resulting dramatic increase of daily chaos in our
lives (here at home), quite a few things have fallen to the way side -
pushed off and essentially forgotten, if benignly forgotten, for the
greater part of the last three weeks. We've spent the last couple days
immersed in family (the entire Farm Family that is) and for us all that
was a very good thing.</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><br />
However as I checked my phone yesterday evening I saw a FB notification
that, like a sledgehammer, slammed anxiety, panic and a dragging sense
of disappointment into me. It was a notification alerting me that
someone had tagged my Facebook page and shared the <b>Another Year of Books
Celebration Event</b>... And I realized that I'd forgotten. In and around
everything else that was going on in life, amongst all the changes that
have taken place over the last several weeks (and are still taking
place), the event and all the planning, promoting and pomp I wanted to
give it had completely slipped my mind. And now I am stuck in this
moment where I have to decide what to do - postpone, cancel or simply
forge on with it as it is.</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><br />
I don't honestly know which is the best course to take. So after
thinking about it, sleeping on it and discussing with Heli Dad today,
here is what I will be doing...</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtaA_IqF8NLNxAWM9ZQ_Xo8c3CIrsRJSKR4AlWCGhvIKYk0BqyfDOhzF9tn3THTQCD0PJF_8nd6bpc_cLoReBVkmScm2ELIQ2k35Jnc6R4-urDIkyBhxEbUnmZ7HFcSoJef0L3gOpB-x8q/s1600/Celebration+Event+Banner.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtaA_IqF8NLNxAWM9ZQ_Xo8c3CIrsRJSKR4AlWCGhvIKYk0BqyfDOhzF9tn3THTQCD0PJF_8nd6bpc_cLoReBVkmScm2ELIQ2k35Jnc6R4-urDIkyBhxEbUnmZ7HFcSoJef0L3gOpB-x8q/s640/Celebration+Event+Banner.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">The <i><b>grand prize giveaway contest</b></i> will be extended for 2 additional weeks
- to close on June 16th to allow for more people to enter. I will
continue to accept donations until June 13th!!</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><b>Fast prize giveaways</b></i> will beginning May 31st and I will do 1
game/contest giveaway a day until all donated fast prizes have been
awarded. If you are interested you can still donate fast giveaway
prizes.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><b>Guest blog posts</b></i> will go up as soon as can be arranged with those who
signed up to do them. If you are interested in doing a blog post
(between now and June 15th you can still sign up.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
Registered participants who signed up for <i><b>takeover times</b></i> will go forward
as scheduled - with a few changes. <i>There are still quite a few time
slots available each of the days of the event and you can still sign up
for one of the times.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
And finally, though obviously incredibly later than originally intended,
all donating, takeover and guest blog authors will be featured in one
way or another on the blogs and social media. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">So while this event won't be precisely as I envisioned it, it will go on. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">In just a little bit things will kick off. Tonight we'll have the chance to visit and chat with <b>Rebekah Raymond</b> - author of the <i>Life</i> series: <i><b>LIFE'S DEFEAT</b></i> and <i><b>LIFE'S HOPE</b></i>, at <u>8:00pm MST</u>, and I'll also be posting a giveaway contest tonight as well - for your chance to win a Kindle copy of <i><b>THE DEEPEST BLACK</b></i> by <b>Rainy Kaye</b>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">So please, join us tonight on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/788951514571301/?active_tab=posts">Facebook event page for the <b>Another Year of Books Celebration Event</b>...</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />LD Ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079546694245401490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595322037972175179.post-88963339036762325002016-05-01T22:16:00.000-06:002016-05-01T22:16:04.036-06:00The Another Year of Books Celebration GRAND PRIZE CONTEST is begun!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hey there!</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The ANOTHER YEAR OF BOOKS GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY Contest is now under way.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As more donations toward the grand prize are gathered additional prize entry options may be added. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Please Enter. Please Share. Join the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/788951514571301/">Event Page on Facebook</a>. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And join us on event days for tons of fun, many chances to win during daily Fast Giveaways, meeting new authors and bloggers, and discovering tons of new books to read!</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As Always - Happy Reading!</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">LD Ferris ~ aka Writer Mom</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="99bede046" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/99bede046/" id="rcwidget_yh8q8qpi" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></div>
LD Ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079546694245401490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595322037972175179.post-77193264086152156912016-04-28T19:52:00.001-06:002016-04-28T19:52:18.414-06:00We're Going to Be Celebrating...<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In conjunction with my book loving blog <i><b>Ups, Downs, Ins & Outs</b></i> we're having a celebration!</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Most of the details can be found in the post linked below but the gist is this.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">May 31 - June 2 the event will run on Facebook (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/788951514571301/" target="_blank">see the event page here</a>), on <i><b><a href="http://updownin-n-out.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Ups, Downs, Ins & Outs</a></b></i> and here on<a href="http://myinner-i.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank"> <i><b>Inside My Mind</b></i></a>. Most of the event activity will take place on Facebook but authors and other bloggers will have the chance to post guest blog posts (on the blog of their choice) as well.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Authors and Bloggers who wish to participate or simply donate prizes for giveaways can <b><a href="http://goo.gl/forms/8bQPFIUzQB" target="_blank">Sign-Up Here</a></b>. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://updownin-n-out.blogspot.com/2016/04/announcing-another-year-of-books.html?spref=bl">Ups, Downs, Ins & Outs: Announcing the ANOTHER YEAR OF BOOKS CELEBRATION E...</a>: That's right, it's time for another Special Event! I've been thinking of doing a Spring event - just because I could. But it ...</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcanwikgAA6pqUQkQDt0C_YzNcOV2yyUTJfFo3TLSzIoacxOIwtS-ghO9OMyfDfXWAC93QfKppOy5atV6IMtuQDusJ7U2Vw-V8k00uoipLe3724YaNU_NXyPE8TFsn5oh4zoD7SC2h2Ka_/s1600/Celebration+Event+Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcanwikgAA6pqUQkQDt0C_YzNcOV2yyUTJfFo3TLSzIoacxOIwtS-ghO9OMyfDfXWAC93QfKppOy5atV6IMtuQDusJ7U2Vw-V8k00uoipLe3724YaNU_NXyPE8TFsn5oh4zoD7SC2h2Ka_/s400/Celebration+Event+Banner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
LD Ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079546694245401490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595322037972175179.post-27815371908522507772016-04-20T10:43:00.000-06:002016-04-20T10:43:06.397-06:00Why Do You Write?
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Writing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You do it because
you have a passion for words - for the way you can craft them, twist them and
use them. You write because you’ve got a story within you that simply must be
told. Sometimes you have just one story to tell and some times there are simply
dozens of stories waiting to be shared.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Writing.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Taking an idea,
even the barest fragment of one, and nurturing it. Giving it time and love and
attention. You feed it. Then the idea grows and you develop it in to more. It
becomes characters and settings and a plot line. And you feed it more. You give
it your heart and mind and sometimes even your soul. You give it everything
you’ve got, and then you give it more.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
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<br /></div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Writing.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFcocPMkWXfjfCROAFkvw3Rhe3XJAYpr-zRWXa-Nbqplb8PezKBOv3_R4dac73_Aiib517p3Yqa24-JN_EQvDOshArPFeG7KzclQbPLcovgluIYb5xiuSdmkKLSgWBD2fTPAq5CyGeTqi/s1600/WhyDoYouWrite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFcocPMkWXfjfCROAFkvw3Rhe3XJAYpr-zRWXa-Nbqplb8PezKBOv3_R4dac73_Aiib517p3Yqa24-JN_EQvDOshArPFeG7KzclQbPLcovgluIYb5xiuSdmkKLSgWBD2fTPAq5CyGeTqi/s400/WhyDoYouWrite.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Crafting your
tale, not only in such a way that it tells the story you imagine but also in
such a way that other people can enjoy it too. You don’t just need to catch the
eye with a beautiful cover (even though that is important) but you need to
catch the mind with an intriguing start, hold the reader with an interesting
plot and satisfy the heart with a fulfilling finish. Sometimes there’s a happy
ending, sometimes there’s not. Sometimes the story you tell simply ends with
your characters right back where they started – in neither a better or worse
position than at the beginning, but having had a grand adventure. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Writing.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Because whether
you’re sharing parts of your day, parts of your dreams, your hopes, your likes
or dislikes, you’ve got something to share, to tell, to say.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Writing.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
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<br /></div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In the good times
and bad. When you struggle to find the words. When you just can’t find the
right way to say what you need to. When you know exactly what to do and simply
don’t have the time. When the story flows like water from your fingertips,
slipping to the page as if by magic. When the story is there on paper and you
just can find anyone to read it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Writing. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Don’t stop. No
matter why, no matter what, keep writing. Because, well, just because.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Everyone has
there own reason for writing… </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">What’s yours?</span></span></div>
LD Ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079546694245401490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595322037972175179.post-48526893088349655142016-04-13T15:27:00.000-06:002016-04-13T15:30:22.904-06:00Writer's Nerves<style>
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</style><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For the last month I’ve been working on a new story. Well,
it’s actually probably closer to two months now but the last month has been
spent focused exclusively on this story. In any case, I’m nearly finished the
writing part of it and will be moving on to the personal edits and
proof-reading phase soon, and then trying to find a couple beta’s to read it.
I’ve got my fingers crossed that I’ll be able to have this story into the hands
of a special few by the end of the month.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Which sort of has my stomach in knots.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This specific story came at me from out of no where. Unlike
almost all my other writing projects (of which there are many – all at varying
degrees of completion, and all waiting for this story to get out the way so I
can move back to them) this isn’t one that I dreamed of for a protracted period
of time. When I sat down and started writing I really didn’t know all that much
about my characters. I didn’t know their histories, their secrets and desires,
or their dreams, and I had absolutely no idea what these characters were going
to tell me. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And the result is something completely different from
anything I’ve written before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve
always written with some shade of paranormal, magical or mystical basis to the
story line. Some of what I’ve written before uses mythology as a springboard for
the plot. This story has no magic. No myth. There’s nothing paranormal,
mystical or fantastical about it.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Instead, this story is a contemporary romance. </span></span></i></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span></i></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVc4n4OzoAoI1i2hixQhhPzYXCwx6Xlwn7HrksgTE_bdM_Nm6nBPwi51O7VHe9IyxRxu9m039dx4V2WQRBdda1tdXQ03x2kqL5N5BXu-2PhO-yCuOKIe8L9MJCOrlxxtBa0ytR2l3h78m/s1600/Writing.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVc4n4OzoAoI1i2hixQhhPzYXCwx6Xlwn7HrksgTE_bdM_Nm6nBPwi51O7VHe9IyxRxu9m039dx4V2WQRBdda1tdXQ03x2kqL5N5BXu-2PhO-yCuOKIe8L9MJCOrlxxtBa0ytR2l3h78m/s320/Writing.jpeg" width="320" /></a></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span></i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It’s about second chances, and love and family. </span></span></i></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It’s about doing the right thing for all the right reasons,
no matter how hard that may be, and then living with consequences – no matter
how wrong that may feel. It’s about forgiveness. Not just forgiving others but
learning how to forgive yourself too. </span></span><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span>
</div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">All of which boils down to me being nervous of the outcome,
the final product. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But you know, as nervous as I am… I’m pretty excited too. </span></span></div>
LD Ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079546694245401490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595322037972175179.post-32758241449721603402016-04-04T11:15:00.000-06:002016-04-04T11:15:01.270-06:00How Do You Write: A Book Bible
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In the past I’ve talked about <u>Plotting vs. Pantsing</u> as the method of writing you (or I) may do. Simply put a <i>Plotter</i> has a plan and
knows their entire story before they ever begin to write the first draft; a
<i>Pantser</i> simply begins writing with a (sometimes) vague story idea and
characters. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages. In the end,
your method is entirely up to you and is your own personal choice, typically
made by what works best for you. And sometimes you may even be a little bit of
both.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Personally I’ve gone both ways. I’ve sat down and written
entire short stories without ever having any idea what was going to end up on
the paper. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I’ve begun large writing projects with little more than
ideas derived from a song or based on a dream. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Other times I’ve dreamed the entire story in specific,
explicit detail from beginning to end, written a synopsis to get the basics of
the story line down on paper and done more extraneous work (timelines, character
descriptions, setting info) to get all the story details out of my head and
written down. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Most of the time I would classify myself somewhat
sarcastically as a <i><b>Plotting-Panster</b></i> or a <i><b>Pantsing-Plotter</b></i>. Not because I
don’t write with a plan but because the plan will often develop as I write.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">One thing that becomes common with all my (longer) writing
projects through the process is the development of what I like to call my <u><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Book Bible</i></b></u>, which in effect contains
everything I could ever possibly need to know about my story. It includes a
synopsis (to varying degrees of detail), character treatments and profiles,
details and a history of settings, complete timelines for the story, including
past events that shaped characters or may impact the story, ‘current’ events
that take place, and even future important events that relate specifically to the
characters; just in case I choose to continue the story with a sequel, develop
secondary characters for a continuing series, or connect the book to another
(separate) story. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNVGPuGGmJoQj-iZ2mWfig5-MwxNM1sLIJAlOlIikNb83NYvQGJG5OsHD0w6q0c_C76JS0YtdFTEMaJDBBtbkRaJEV7V6lENSaaiYEkozY9DW_CVs0oLLXi1n9h1oPOOsrWWwNQSyUVM0/s1600/Book+Bible2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNVGPuGGmJoQj-iZ2mWfig5-MwxNM1sLIJAlOlIikNb83NYvQGJG5OsHD0w6q0c_C76JS0YtdFTEMaJDBBtbkRaJEV7V6lENSaaiYEkozY9DW_CVs0oLLXi1n9h1oPOOsrWWwNQSyUVM0/s400/Book+Bible2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <i>Book Bible </i>for my current WIP</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Book Bible</i>
allows me to find details quickly when I need them and helps to eliminate some
of those pesky detail or continuity errors that one may find during the editing
phase of a project. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I’ve known authors who complete a project with nothing more
on paper (on or off the computer) then their finished work. I’ve known others
who have only some crossover details written out – for characters, details, or
parts of stories that occur in multiple projects. And I know others like myself
who have their <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Book Bibles</i> and place
them with pride on the shelves in their office or home. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">So to all the writers out there, I ask: What about You?</span></span></b></span></div>
LD Ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079546694245401490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595322037972175179.post-8512405609208580812016-03-21T12:19:00.000-06:002016-03-21T12:19:02.775-06:00My Recent Daily Routine
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Spring has
arrived – on the calendar and (despite today’s more gloomy and chilly weather)
outside as well. Like everyone I enjoy getting out after the colder winter
months but I like it much better when it’s nice and warm, almost hot outside and
tend to emerge from my winter hibernation a little later than others. But it
has been warm enough, even for me, to get out for a few hours here and there. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gSLQyRSB0kF3LLsS1mws0L2FnYmDQwYDT8j8BUVahRnGaNlqHdA2x2wFFSW-rhpQFhw4JK_0KFNmxdr9uvCN0M5KTbgmJ9v9sFTkkqSjO3-4hYeJYb4McIILjPZwpNkfHKjGndJGtyO3/s1600/Flower+for+spring.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gSLQyRSB0kF3LLsS1mws0L2FnYmDQwYDT8j8BUVahRnGaNlqHdA2x2wFFSW-rhpQFhw4JK_0KFNmxdr9uvCN0M5KTbgmJ9v9sFTkkqSjO3-4hYeJYb4McIILjPZwpNkfHKjGndJGtyO3/s320/Flower+for+spring.jpeg" width="320" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The change in
weather is going to cause some obvious adjustments to how I structure my day
but right now I’ve actually got a pretty good routine happening, especially
considering the recent rough months that I and my family have been going
through. While I’m still reading daily and doing daily promotions, I am also
doing a lot more writing and editing right now than I have been doing for quite
some time. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My day’s lately
have been going mostly like this: </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><ul>
<li><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>get
coffee and get kids off to school</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>check
for updates on social media </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>check
email (& return if necessary) </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>get
another coffee</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>review
writing from previous day and do basic spelling and grammatical corrections </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>check
again for updates and post featured book of the day on social media</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>get
another coffee and (maybe) a snack</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>write</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>make
random google searches about random topics directly or indirectly related to
writing</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>lunch
(maybe)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>check
social media <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">again</i> and update
statuses</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>write
some more</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>get
children from school and deal with after school activities, dinner prep</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>read
while kids do homework and/or after dinner</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>send
children to bed</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>check
social media, update statuses, reply to messages</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>have
a glass of wine or other drink</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>write
or read until bed</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">…Then I sleep and
repeat.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So I have a
question for you – what have your days been like lately? Are you reading more
or less than normal? Are you writing? Are you focusing on editing? </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Or is it possible
that Spring Fever has caught you and you’re distracted by the opportunities to
get outside and active again?</span></span></div>
LD Ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079546694245401490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595322037972175179.post-43861147604118932522016-03-06T21:17:00.001-07:002016-03-06T21:17:17.965-07:00Hellish Months<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The last 4 months have been hell. I can't deny that there have been good moments because there have, many of them in fact. But I can't honestly look back at the last few months and feel all that much joy or happiness. It all started simply enough with my back going out. An event that has happened before and though painful, has never really slowed me down for more than a couple days. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This time it did.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thus followed 6 weeks of chiropractic care, massage and physical therapy, and basically being restricted from doing anything more physical then walking back and forth between my car and house (or doctors, etc) because seriously even sitting upright for more than 30 minutes at a time made me lose the feeling in my feet and hands. Eventually I was finally given the clear to resume my normal activities, though there was firm insistence that I make some adjustment for when or how long I worked each day. And then I got sick. For more than a couple weeks I had migraines, fevers, congestion and more icky-ness to help make my daily life miserable. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The holidays came and went. I was still sick - some days more than others. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then word came down from my parents and aunt that my grandmother, who was diagnosed with breast cancer several years ago, was doing increasingly poorly and they (as well as her doctors and other health care aides) believed that she would soon be passing away. Within a matter of days the family was asked to ensure that someone was with her as much as possible. Because I was still sick more often then not, I couldn't be at the hospital all the time so I was relegated to other tasks in preparation for her funeral and memorial. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After collecting nearly 1000 photos ranging over almost 90 years of life, it was my duty and privilege to put together a memorial video that would eventually be distributed to all the family and those family friends who requested one. 60+ hours of work went into the video, and while I was happy to be able to make it and to see all kinds of pictures of my grandmother (and other family members) in youth, every moment was heartbreaking. Because to finish the video, to finally put an end on it, meant that she was gone. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Every morning we would call for an update on how she was doing. Every night we'd check in to see how the day had been. There were some good days but there a lot of bad one too. It got so that every time the phone rang you both hoped and dreaded that the end had come. When the phone rang one night while my husband and I were watching TV after getting the kids all off to bed for the night, where happy (sad?) to see that it was a call from the 'other side' of the family. So you can imagine our surprise when his mom informed us that his aunt had passed away very suddenly less than an hour earlier. Blindsided by the news we numbly sat side by side and sort of, but not really, finished watching our show. Then we spent a sleepless night trying to figure out how and when to tell our children of this unexpected loss. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Receiving the call from my own parents before seven a.m. the very next morning, that my grandma had (finally) passed away was another blow. And while this we had quite obviously been expecting, combined with our family loss it became a far heavier load than we'd thought we would be carrying. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The next several days passed in a blurring rush - informing the kids, calling family, finalizing funeral arrangements, finishing the video, writing a memorial speech with my sisters last minute, and simply getting from one point to the next, and the next. The family viewings were on the same evening. The funerals occurred on the same day: one in the morning and then one in the afternoon. Family dinners. Meetings. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's been a couple of weeks now and life is slowly returning to normal. I've even been writing every day this week, a bit each day on a few different projects. So, I guess we'll see what we see.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the mean time... Happy writing.</span></span>LD Ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079546694245401490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595322037972175179.post-32353691342243936192015-11-16T11:36:00.002-07:002015-11-16T15:37:29.565-07:00Writers, Dreamers, Inspiration & Words<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's not an exaggeration to say that writers are dreamers. </span><br>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have to be, if for no other reason than to be able to create rich worlds and characters, and stories. We may dream up our stories at night, or in snippets here and there during our waking hours. We may hear the voices of our characters begging for their story to be told, or telling us the story over and over again, until we have no choice but to let it out, to let them out. </span><br>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our inspirations come from life, from color and form. Even music or a simple conversations can plant an idea in our head that may grow and blossom into something amazing. </span><br>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hours spent at a computer or with pen and paper, time that many people would consider wasted, becomes fantasy, becomes prose, becomes an alternate reality... Strangers meet in a dimly lit bar. A damaged warrior seeks solace and peace, and finds so much more. Vampires, werewolves and gods spring to life and off the page. </span><br>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A kind of magic is created by writers. And it takes a special something to be able to create it. For writers, their creations are their life and as important to them as their loved ones, as cherished as a child.</span><br>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm thankful everyday that I can find the words to put to paper, the ones that describe a scene or emotion, the characters and all the little bits that individually may seem insignificant but when compiled together are absolutely intrinsic to the worlds that I'm creating. Every day that I can find the inspiration I need to write, I know that I'm alive and while I may not be living the life that many can understand, it is the life that truly makes me happy. </span><br>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Find your inspiration. And you'll find the words will follow.</span><br>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today this is mine. </span><br>
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LD Ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079546694245401490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595322037972175179.post-41009751736178873172015-11-01T12:55:00.001-07:002015-11-01T12:55:49.617-07:00November 1st... You Know What That Means!<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's November 1st and that means a couple things are going on RIGHT NOW!</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First, today is <em><u>National Author's Day</u></em>... Or so the internet and Facebook tell me. So to all my writing and author friends out there - here is wishing you the most glorious of days! :-) </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprlrHzSmqHvCGBcv8s73PqRWUIiT4MiBDNKqucIpCCoZziSHKPBcHtdDnYPnkO-zt6GrLFq-9i-w8jxyMpWUvcqqs0xOnpXb3cy1E5d3WMdlP9Of-3a6diIrrfUlGPT9jGWBWyP3lYLft/s1600/11026594_740892379377886_1617646056621299447_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprlrHzSmqHvCGBcv8s73PqRWUIiT4MiBDNKqucIpCCoZziSHKPBcHtdDnYPnkO-zt6GrLFq-9i-w8jxyMpWUvcqqs0xOnpXb3cy1E5d3WMdlP9Of-3a6diIrrfUlGPT9jGWBWyP3lYLft/s400/11026594_740892379377886_1617646056621299447_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And second - NANOWRIMO STARTS TODAY!!!</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's </span><a href="http://nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">National Novel Writing Month</span></a><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - the month long writing challenge of 50,000 words in 30 days.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm doing it again this year. I've even got a nifty little widget down on the left hand side on this site that <strong>*should*</strong> show you a running log of my total words written. So here's wishing myself and all the other NaNoWriMo-ers out there a very sincere <strong><em><u>Good Luck</u></em></strong>! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_pMB3ATMwHHCkkepjTgFL_rMgHjaQWFRP3-JwaYuUNzGrxaVCR0b6nYtzFeGLvar65mrHgDT2mxO_Yg6_StKs1E0ZVvz1kaAqr-DTapVcC7o8d3wMQBQ1g5cGvRUVOrZM__2KB9V0D0U/s1600/12189147_740892396044551_2620357467258614748_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_pMB3ATMwHHCkkepjTgFL_rMgHjaQWFRP3-JwaYuUNzGrxaVCR0b6nYtzFeGLvar65mrHgDT2mxO_Yg6_StKs1E0ZVvz1kaAqr-DTapVcC7o8d3wMQBQ1g5cGvRUVOrZM__2KB9V0D0U/s320/12189147_740892396044551_2620357467258614748_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm off to get my butt busy. Talk to you again soon!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><em>I will finish </em>The Queen's Mate<em> this month... I will finish </em>The Queen's Mate<em> this month... I will finish </em>The Queen's Mate<em> this month...</em></span></span> LD Ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079546694245401490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595322037972175179.post-79834236743284241832015-10-21T04:00:00.000-06:002015-10-21T04:00:03.029-06:00Ready To Start Sharing... Paranormal Love Blog Hop<div>
<span style="color: #0c343d;">This year I'm once again doing NaNoWriMo in November but I can already tell you that I'm sort of cheating because some parts are already written. I want to finish the manuscript I've been working on in fits and starts, piece by little piece for the last couple years. It's actually the story I intended to start the last time I participated in the month long writing event... However at that time life intervened and the story didn't get written.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKR_9O860NcDvqjjexV8ZF1FuIl4ICySU-B5X9hJEDqgO_Lxfzwddtj1d_dLmW6C3uRXV1QuRTnpLy89zuWNTVR3megR_veXoeeC09GnI8YOGOdQi0-F78n7LxlUB1lnrt1qMGM1Sqj4N/s640/blogger-image-1764160645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKR_9O860NcDvqjjexV8ZF1FuIl4ICySU-B5X9hJEDqgO_Lxfzwddtj1d_dLmW6C3uRXV1QuRTnpLy89zuWNTVR3megR_veXoeeC09GnI8YOGOdQi0-F78n7LxlUB1lnrt1qMGM1Sqj4N/s320/blogger-image-1764160645.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d;">I've spent the last 6 weeks or so planning, outlining and playing through scenarios for key points in the story. Originally I thought the story I was going to tell would be one book. Now I know it's actually 3. My focus in November will be to get the first book <i><b>The Queen's Mate</b></i> completed so that it can move into editing and beta reading. I'm really hoping that I'll actually be able to publish it by January 2016, with book 2: <b><i>The Heart of the Healer</i></b>, and book 3: <b><i>The Touch of Winter</i></b> to release in the months following. They will be the first three stories of the paranormal romance series I'm calling the <b>McKenna's End Series</b>. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d;">Today I'm pleased to share the <u><b>blurb</b></u> for <b>THE QUEEN'S MATE</b>... </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d;">Years after they loose touch, two friends are reacquainted after the death of ones' parents. Winter Tallant and Dawn McKenna quickly become the best of friends, but is it Winter that keeps Dawn tied to the Tallant family or is it something more?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d;">Dylan Tallant feels like his world is crumbling around him. When his parents die and leave him responsible for his siblings, their home and all their secrets, Dylan has no idea how to deal with the curveball life throws him in the very alluring shape of Dawn McKenna. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d;">Can Dawn and Dylan overcome the obstacles they've built up in their minds? Can the two of them face the secrets that they keep and finally let them go? Will they reach the tipping point naturally or will they be pushed off the edge by circumstances beyond their control? </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwUSNLm6L722VKnWkhFbaKlPsfZCodEnQF6cluCiYziV0y-PdwAEidpSQG2Sa7PbHZp2keDLn29SrKITVEogi4SL-1QglBO5rMAC3y8SAvT4wvziCcQC0jvY5iZpHzmvTjzunBDP5lVEA/s640/blogger-image--90015582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwUSNLm6L722VKnWkhFbaKlPsfZCodEnQF6cluCiYziV0y-PdwAEidpSQG2Sa7PbHZp2keDLn29SrKITVEogi4SL-1QglBO5rMAC3y8SAvT4wvziCcQC0jvY5iZpHzmvTjzunBDP5lVEA/s400/blogger-image--90015582.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d;">I'm feeling very giving today so... Here's a wee <b><u>excerpt</u></b> too! (This comes from an unedited, rough draft.) </span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #0c343d;">"I've lived in your house for nearly a year, how could I miss your scents?" Dawn was shocked by the scent that she could now sense and was completely flabbergasted as to how she hadn't noticed it before. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #0c343d;">Dylan shook his head. "How did I not scent you?" He asked her and nodded at the expression that flashed briefly across her face. "Exactly. You were obviously trained to hide your scent just the same as I was." </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #0c343d;">"But Aidan? Winter?" She questioned. "I've never sensed they were anything but human." </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #0c343d;">"They've always scented that way for me as well. Dad always believed it was because they couldn't shift." </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #0c343d;">Now it was Dawn who shook her head. "I've never come across that before. Even those who couldn't shift still smelled of the animal that was in their blood." </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #0c343d;">"I think it comes from my mom. She never smelled of her cat unless she was close to her shift or shifted." Dylan explained. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #0c343d;">"Dylan..." She said softly with wonder staring at the man, no the lion shifter standing in front of her. </span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d;"><i>"I know," he replied. "We've been damn fools."</i> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d;">Well I hope you've enjoyed this sneak peek into my head. This project is one that's been brewing for a long time and I simply can't explain how excited I am to be getting closer to my goal, nor how overjoyed I am to be able to share it with you... Well, overjoyed and slightly nauseous. But I'm sure I'll be alright. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d;">This post was lovingly prepared as part of the Paranormal Love Wednesdays Blog Hop! Thanks for stopping in and don't forget you can catch all the blog hop submissions for this Wednesday by going to the </span><a href="http://paranormallovewednesdays.blogspot.ca/2015/10/paranormal-love-wednesdays-blog-hop_15.html?m=1&zx=1b06d8b0bb6b1084" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Paranormal Love Wednesdays Blog Hop</span></a><span style="color: #0c343d;"> page... See you again next time!</span> </div>
LD Ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079546694245401490noreply@blogger.com2