A Thread to the Rescue

It fascinates me to how, where, when we find motivation to do something that a few minutes ago seemed painfully dreaded. It's not been a secret that I've been blocked - down right stopped - from completing the novel that I've been working on for over 5 years. Actually, we are close to the five and a half mark.

Friends who care about my mental stability are now emailing me links and forwarding encouraging words to help light a fire under my fingertips in hopes they will dance on the keyboard again. "Breathe, damn you, breathe!" I beg the ten lifeless appendages.

By chance, pure luck (or maybe I manifested it), I came across a blog post - http://marjoriemliu.com/blog/you-will-be-rescued/ - that made me say to myself, "There is a thread dangling. Yes. Yes, a heartbeat." Realistically I don't expect to finish the novel in a month (oh, wouldn't that be nice!), but just enough inspiration to lift the lid on my laptop and find the lonely file that I've avoided for so long.

"Often, though, you just have to wait for a quiet moment when some odd sensation slips back into you — a little thread, a tiny beat, the edge of something that you can hold on to." -Marjorie M. Liu

A week ago in a conversation with a good friend, about the power of our words, he was quick to remind me of how I talk of my novel. Blocked. Blocked. Wordless heap of nothingness. He said, "Stop talking about it. Stop thinking about it. Every time you say anything about the novel it's always about how you have nothing to write. Simply walk way from it and let it grow on it's own." His words made me realized that I was smothering the story like a mother-in-law inspecting their grown child's house - searching out every flaw until her presence was known that she didn't approve of his spouse's housework. Oh my...

For the past week, I have not thought about, shared any details, or even looked at the laptop begging for forgiveness. I simply stepped away as suggested...until twenty minutes ago. I may have found the thread I was looking for and it was here all this time.

"Leap and the net will appear." -Julia Cameron

Words Versus Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

In August of 2009, this blog started off as a public means for me to track the novel I've been writing. The idea was that if I told you about my progress, I would quit loosing ambition to follow through. I'm afraid to open the computer file and see when the last time I added to the content of the story, but I'm sure it's somewhere around a year. There's a printed rough draft that lays dormant on my desktop having a love affair with the wood-grain Formica. For some reason, I get the feeling the romance is over and I need to do something with the novel. And soon.

‎"The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense." —Tom Clancy

As my attention shifted, the words filling the text box evolved into observations; you know, things in life I was witnessing. Tossing in my two cents, I began writing from the heart on ways to empower, encourage and remind readers of the importance of Self-love. Isn't that was life is about – falling in love with Self. The blog took me on a journey that led me to self-publishing Get A Compass Not A Clock full quotes and pearls of wisdom I'd mainly wrote here.

‎"People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within." -Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Now, things are shifting again. Not sure which direction I'm traveling but I'm up for the adventure. Thoughts of my novel poke and prod me into either finishing the work of art I've started or begin yet another and let go of the practice run. As Stephen King clearly states in his book, On Writing, “Learn to kill your babies.”

‎"Whatever we focus on expands. We focus so much on what's wrong in our lives; shouldn't we focus more on what's right?" -Marianne Williamson

There are so many beliefs, concepts... oh hell, things... that we feel we must hang onto, fix or reevaluate till we get it (what we consider) right. Writing is a passion of mine; always has been. I get such a natural 'high' from it. I can travel the world, even visit different realms and never disturb my Siberian husky sleeping on the floor right next to the casters on my office chair. When I was a kid, I'd take my mother's typewriter to the basement, use a sheet or two of her carbon paper (yes, I know what you're going to say) that I swiped from her desk and wrote my own version of a newspaper. Of course I got the best satisfaction from making my younger (you're welcome, Sis) sister purchase a copy for a nickle or whatever spare change we could find around the house.

”Words hang like wash on the line, blowing in the winds of the mind.” -Rameshwar Das

Sitting here contemplating my next paragraph, the Monkey Mind is begging me to make chocolate chip cookie dough. Not to bake cookies. Oh no... To eat the raw dough. I've conquered the house-cleaning-procrastination gremlins that go around tossing tissues on the floor and spilling houseplants onto the floor till I start cleaning. Ignoring them has gotten easier, however the cookie dough bunnies might be a different story.

‎"Choosing To Be A Victim Of Your Circumstances And Re - Living In The Shadow Of The Pain That Holds You Bonded In The Darkness , As Some Wear It Like A Badge . Yes It Happened But You " Survived " Move Past It." -Donna Genovese

NaNoWriMo

Attempting to eliminate the ways in which I'm distracted with the intend to spend more quality time focusing on tasks I wish to accomplish, I've seem to have increased my number of social media group enrollments. What? Say it isn't so!

Alas, it is true. One friend and family group, one spiritual based, third one on the list is for writers and the most recent is for NaNoWriMo. National Novel Writing Month, created by Amazon.com, I must say intrigues me. The idea is to write 50,000 words in a month with a goal to have the rough draft of a (or near) completed novel to edit. Broken down, that means 1,667 words written each day. During the month of November, I will have a NaNoWriMo word count widget included on the right column so we can keep track of the progress together.

They say a habit needs six weeks to be broken, how many did they say to establish one? As you've seen in previous posts, I write, I pause, I take a long break, then work on one of my novels again. I suppose there's nothing wrong with my yo-yo attention span with novel writing (mainly because there is no right or wrong - it is what it is). It'll be interesting to see what is accomplished at the end of the 30 days. My goal is to be faithful to my passion for writing. When I pick it up from the long pauses, I always ask myself, "Why did you stop in the first place? This feel so good!"

Childish Behavior

Without a plan or written list of things to do, the next three days will be what we adults label impulsive as I live in the moment. I was blessed with three consecutive days off in a row. After I did my woo-hoo dance in the office my first thought was, Yes! Thank you. And the following kinda went like this: I can go up to Marquette again. Or I could stay home and finally get my garden taken care of. Oh, camping sounds like fun. I could hang out in nature and do nothing all day. The 'I could's' became overwhelming. Another list started forming, I could make candles, draw, finish writing my novel, clean the closets, make jewelry.... I could... The sound of the needle scratching over the vinyl record filled my mind. Stop! What was I doing? I was becoming exhausted and I still had plenty of days to work before the mini-vacation.

What happened to the days when I was a child and flowed from one moment, one event, one activity to another? There was no itinerary, no plan of action, no list to scratch off the completed projects – it was just what it was. In a way I feel a bit lost as to what to do. Letting go of the I hafta's is a little trickier than I expected. There's this compulsive need to make a list, but refusing to do so is actually quite liberating. As a matter of fact, the normal routine is to have the rough draft of my Monday morning blog post completed by 8am and today the computer was turned on at 9:15.

When we were children, our thoughts were on the activities we were currently participating in not focused on what's next. Shifting from playing with my toys upstairs to romping around the neighborhood with the boys next door to riding bikes to the beach to going to another friend's house and eventually ending up back home in time for dinner. A simple suggestion turned into, “Okay, let's go.”

As I live in the moment for the next couple of days may my need to control every minute fall to the wayside and hopefully spillover into the following days when I go back to the office. Oh look, a humming bird feasting on the nectar of the flowering bush outside the window. Gotta go.

Sign Says Work

When it comes to working on projects, we tend to use delay tactics as an excuse for creative inspiration. Or is it the time away how we conceive brilliant creations? I don't know. Right now I'd rather mow my landscape jungle down to kinda sorta resemble a lawn than edit the novel. Today I can use the excuse of doing it while the cool morning air hasn't been heated to what I consider searing temperatures. I'll refrain and cut the grass tomorrow. Maybe.

In the silence as I drove home last night, it dawned on me what I just told a writer friend was kinda sorta incorrect. I used the phrase “I'm editing” which really isn't accurate. Hackin' and whackin' is more like it. Whole chapters lobbed off the pages. Three of the nicest unnecessary characters I grew fond of will be missed dearly. A chance meeting won't take place... Huh.... A rather large crow (not a raven) just flew past the office window and is now hopping from tree limb to tree limb. Crows seemed to always be around when a dear friend and author wrote and did talks of her trilogy. Must be Elizabeth's way of telling me to quit babbling and get to work.

I Can Only Blame The Redhead

Doggone Time Devouring Vortexes! It makes me wonder how many dinners have been burnt, projects left incomplete with broken record statements like “I’ll do it in a minute” and loved ones feeling a bit unloved. The online vortexes suck me in and there is no one to blame but myself. Darn. Can’t blame the dog on this one, well, unless I can teach my twelve year old Siberian husky to turn on my computer, log on to the internet and open the social media web pages and email. Uh. That gives me an idea. Wonder if I have enough treats for her?

There is so much to do on the internet. One-sided conversations to read from fellow bloggers, posts from friends I haven’t seen in years and co-workers I spoke to yesterday, and answers to the endless list of questions. Since shopping is one of my least favorite things to do, those sites are left to the shopaholic friends.

To be more productive while sitting here working on the next bestselling novel, I need to establish time limits to internet access. Believe it or not, right now as I type this rant I have two computers and they are both turned on. The laptop is where I work (my composing tool) and the desktop is used as the online portal to the world. Sounds rather sad after putting it into words.

The productive side of me says, “Okay, Cynthia, time to get some work done and quit ranting about wasting time.” The Queen of Delay Tactics rooted deep within is attempting to overrule and entice me to hit F5 (internet refresh button) to see what’s new.

I’m going to take a few minute break and then begin to write the post I’d originally planned for today.

The Critic's at Lake Michigan

In the back of my mind, I hear the sweet voice tell me, “Relax, don’t over analyze.”

I’m to the point where I feel a book proposal is my next step along with the continued editing. The monkey-mind side of my thought process wants to see how others do it. You know, see how it’s supposed to be done. Oh my GOD! Did I really think that phrase? How it’s supposed to be done? Noooooo….

When the time comes to taking on a task it’s good to do some investigative work, but who says you have to follow the leader? Certainly not I! I’m the rebel-rouser that snickers in the face of “I am your leader, follow me” type personalities. Of course, my response is, “Ha! I don’t think so” or “Yeah, whatever. I’ll do it my way.” Take a leap of faith and do it your way (or in the context of this entry ~ my way). Follow your heart. There is no right way or wrong way. As long as you put forth the intent to acquire your desired outcome – you will.

A common suggestion unweathered writers will receive is to have fellow writers help with the writing/editing process by critiquing it. This is very helpful and the results can be priceless. Now that I can see the light at the end of this four-year journey, I’m adding my own twist by having two avid readers who visually consumes books like irresistible candy to make sure I don’t lose ‘em in the plot, the characters are realistic, and the novel is entertaining. I think this plan of action will work to my advantage.

As far as the book proposal, I need to put pen to paper and worry about the name of the person following the word Dear another day. For right now, I am enjoying the small leaps of faith as my internal critic is sipping on her ice cold glass of lemonade at the beach.

Dream Work Is Not Always Easy But Worth It

I was disappointed - downright upset - with the words neatly printed on the pages. I’m a better writer than that! I exclaimed internally.

It was close to midnight, there I was lying in bed editing the novel I’ve been developing. Something deep within raged and in a burst of raw energy I tossed it into the burn bin in my office. I turned on my computer and posted on a social media site the following statement, “just tossed my 61-chapters of rough draft into the burn pile and is seriously contemplating hitting the delete key on my novel. I give up…”

Never did I expect the response I received from friends and colleagues. I knew I’d get flack, but I didn’t care (at that fleeting moment). Mostly they stated, “Don’t do it.” “Don’t give up.” One of my responses to my newly formed cheerleading squad was, “Thanks guys… that’s the problem, I keep setting it down thinking by some miracle it’ll bet better or I’ll be more inspired ~ I’ve set a time to write daily and life got in the way ~ read the How I Did It & Survived books hoping for encouragement and answers as to my delay tactics. It’s been four years since I started this novel…” Only two people told me, “Good for you. Now you can move onto something else.” Sounded great at the moment until I realized that I wanted to finish this book I started writing.

I will finish writing THIS novel, dog-nab-it.

Several weeks later, after letting the internal stew simmer from a boil, I pulled the novel out of the trash. I didn’t open the draft I spent precious time writing, printing and binding. Nope. Instead it followed me from room to room and even rode with me to work a time or two. Near the closing of the month of April, with great joy, I posted on the media site the great news to my cheerleading squad, “…A few minutes ago it (my novel) looked up at me with sad, brown puppy-dog eyes. I opened my banished novel and have started to edit it again. Like a long lost love, it feels good to hold the book again.” I could hear crowd cheer.

So that was in April; it’s May 12th and a lot has changed. I’ve slashed and hacked sentences, paragraphs and rid of chapters that no longer served the book in an entertaining way. I’ve back pedaled and reconstructed the storyline to remove the sludge from the reader’s eye sight. On May 8th, I posted, “Edited chapter 5, changed 6 to 7 and 7 to 6, took a hunk from 6 and morphed into a spot in 8… Half of 9 was missing in action and had to finish a second portion so it would make some sense. 10 only needed a little trimming and 11 went on a diet and lost a page. 12 is gone and now I move onto chapter 13. Ah… what a wonderful day in my world.”

For fun, I asked the cheerleaders, “Okay, if you were sitting down in a cafe about to eat a bowl of soup, what kind would it be?...What would Sarah, your waitress, bring you?” The response was great. I love my cheerleaders. The support I’ve received from them has stirred up, boasted and raised my creative energy to new heights. Dream work isn’t always easy, but well work the effort ~ especially when you have a cheerleading squad as wonderful as mine. Thank you all.

Pieces of Egg Shell Everywhere

I have a magical garden. It was built as I emotionally healed and has been maintained with unconditional love. The flowers outside in my back yard have witnessed my tears, my joys and all emotions in between, and yet, they come back every year. I think they like to watch me grow.

In an email conversation with a dear friend, she wrote these words, “And when it comes to doing healing work, maybe it's time to stop trying to heal people and instead, time to use your training to help people align with their healed truth?” I read the line too many times to count. For those that don't already know, I am an intuitive healer. Actually, to tell the truth, not many people know. This is my cracking out of my shell, takin' the risk, jumping off the metaphysical cliff and whatever cheesy line fits appropriately. It is time for me to stop hiding behind the curtain and be of service. People have a way of finding me and telling me their issues, problems - their life story. It happens in the grocery store, the post office, at work, and the list continues. When I was a teen, this used to bug me to no end. I would think, “Do I really need to know this? Do I look like I care?” I'd offer some encouraging words to be nice and off they would go. Years later, a friend helped me explore my abilities. It didn't take long for me to attract the things in my life to help me become more 'aware'.

I would like to share with you a portion of my correspondence; it will help you understand my goal and intent as an intuitive healer. “From the beginning of my journey in this life of channelling, premonitions, and healing, I've not wanted to tell people of their future, for the future is forever evolving through our own free will. Of course I went to you to take a peak at "my" future, not so much to know it, but to know that I would be in a better place than I was at that moment ~ that everything would be okay, happier, less painful. I needed the reassurance. Funny thing is, I've held off in doing any readings for people because I didn't want to disappoint people, break their hearts like when things I was told would happen didn't work out in what I considered a timely manner. Hence, my novels. According to channeled readings received over the years, I should have one novel published and another almost done. MY LESSON... I lived and experienced what I don't want to present to others and shown why. I want to help people with 'today'. What you wrote is what my current blog is all about ~ helping people align with their healed truth. That is how I want to assist people ~ bring awareness to Self ~ to enlighten them so they may see on their own how their words and actions impact not only others, but themSelf ~ remind them of the love that is within each of us ~ AND, there is no right, there is no wrong; there is no positive, there is no negative (other than with electricity)... I see how I was; I see how others feel and the emotions they use to express in an attempt to feel better about themselves and life (for example, drama)... I want to (metaphorically) hand them the tools as they are leaning under the hood of their car saying to themselves, "if I tweak this and adjust that... this engine should purr like a kitten." (Can ya tell I've had many mechanics in my life?) You're right - I don't want to fix 'em. I am an intuitive healer assisting those that are ready to align with Self in a non-judgmental, unconditionally loving and healthy manner. Thank you. I needed to say that.”

I'm certain when I am finished posting this blog entry and take a walk out in my garden I will hear the daffodils applaud. There is so much for us to love, learn and appreciate about Self.
Namaste'

Cut, Reword, Edit

Editing is fun. I've been going through my novel with a wide toothed comb verifying that the story line is in tact and cutting out the wandering story lines that lead the reader to yawn. It's exciting to see where this story started and how it has evolved. I was a different person without the knowledge of today.

A good sign is that as I read, I don't want to set the book down. Well, thought I'd drop a quick line to let you know how the first of many novels was coming along.

Revive Dreams With CPR (Countless Possibilites Revitalized)

The day before my trip to California, I printed the first sixty-one chapters of the novel I've been working on for over four years. During the flights to and fro, and during several resting periods, I proceeded to cross off blocks of words, rearrange, rework several areas of the story. Suppose it wouldn't be too far fetched to say I have already eliminated approximately two 'drag the reader's eye balls through icky nasty pooh pooh crap that'll make them slam the book shut' chapters. The intent of the story is to create a storyline that will urge the reader to keep turning the pages, stay up all night because they can't put it down... not to be used as a sleep-aid.


It's been quite a while since my last posting on the novel. Lot's of things have changed so far this year and it's only March 23rd. Lord knows what else I will be rearranging. Life is better today than yesterday and am manifesting each moment to become more magical. Dreams do come true, even when you've given up on them. If there's a tingle of light in your dream, embrace and see how you can breath life back into it.

It's a Small World

Not wanting to waste any more time attempting to remember how I found or when I first started listening to Diana Dorell’s SoulsJourneyRadio.com online radio show on Tuesday evenings (7PT/10ET), I would like to introduce her to you. Her sweet voice and fun-loving laughter raises the spirits of all of her listeners and offers guidance and messages those whom are tuned into her weekly show.

“I met Cindy through my radio station, SoulsJourney and Facebook whose famous giggle melts away any sorrow or fear. I await her upcoming book which will help many.” – Diana Dorrell

The interesting part of this chance meeting is the fact that while she lives in California and I in Michigan, I feel as though we’ve been friends since childhood. In early December she asked if I would like to submit something for her January e-newsletter. Excitement still dances within. As I checked my email this morning, it was in my inbox. Skimming quickly through her words to find my name, I found my submission and a quick introduction she’d written. Joy bubbled over. Once I read my section twice, and pinched myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming, I scrolled back to the top of the page and absorbed her messages for us.


Take this opportunity to meet Diana at www.TheDancingGoddess.com

To read the poem, go to
www.thedancinggoddess.com/free-articles.html

Keep Moving Forward

Inspired by the movie Julie/Julia, I started keeping a public log several months ago of the progress I am making in writing the draft of my novel. A way for me stay motivated and somehow accountable. Although this task is a little different from cooking and writing my way through a well-known cookbook, the idea of writing about my book seemed fun and entertaining until ‘the job’. It most certainly was not what I expected, combined with a ‘self embossed’ deadline to complete my first rendition, Creativity vacated this gal. The desire to even pick up my laptop evaded me. Mentally exhausted and churning thoughts turned me into mush. In order to save itself, Creativity went for a long walk. Then, like a knight in shining white armor to save this damsel in distress, the Strength within me said, “Shut up, Monkey-mind.”

“What are your priorities? What do you want to accomplish? What do you want to focus your energies on?”

This past Saturday, sometime around 9:30 or 10am, I opened the file on my computer and completed the chapter I’d been contemplating for over a month. It is one of the most powerful, pivotal chapters in the novel.


Once I put on my rose colored glasses and let go of the issues at work, released the chains of the countdown-to-deadline clock and went about my life, Creativity came back and embraced me.

“When we no longer dwell on the outcome and relax within our Self ~ magic happens.” -Cindy Kochis

Don’t Despair – Celebrate

While I was journaling this morning, this newsflash type of a Ah-ha moment spilled out onto the page in the shape of lines and curves, loops and swishes, and the occasional dot to end a thought. By the time I finished a page and a half of writing I was hearing that personal mantra repeating relentlessly, “careful what you wish for.” It was not meant to cause harm or to assume that I’ve done something wrong, it was the three year old girl inside my mind dancing joyously at the realization that another Ah-ha happened.

Delay tactics are everywhere. Heck, most of the time we don’t have to look outside ourselves to find/create them. For me, I turned mine into what I was attracting. You know, Laws of Attraction. Well, it bit me in the butt… and that’s okay. I’m celebrating the realization.

"What are the lines you nonchalantly say without thinking of the consequences? Referring to the Law of Attraction, what are you attracting to your life?" -Cindy Kochis

I have a mission - a goal. Write a best-selling novel. I used probably every imaginable excuse as to why progress, well, didn’t happen. Here’s part of what I wrote this morning. To remove distractions and time used for other things, my Angels and Guides fulfilled my “attract” request. “I’d write more often if I had the time.” – I have been unemployed for months. “I’d write if I had fewer distractions.” – I don’t have gas money to do the things I used to fill my time with nor do I have the same friendships/relationships that occupied my time. “I’d write more if I wasn’t working all the time.” – Goes back to the seeking job entry I mentioned a few lines above. “I’d write more if I had more time.” – Well, having my day open from 9am to 5pm, you’d think I would have taken advantage of this blessing earlier this year. But, no! I was terrified about the lack of money, in a panic to get a job, feeling too isolated to be creative, begging for the opportunity to talk to someone…

Earlier this month, I let go of my fear regarding money and am trusting that it will be there when I need it. And, the key is, I believe it. I have set my intent to work on my novel everyday (even for 5 minutes). Things are opening for me because I am allowing the flow of creativity to emerge freely.

A Fly’s Morning Lecture.

Messages come to us sometimes in the oddest ways. Even though I’m thankful for the signs/messages, it’s November 10th and I have fly buzzing around me and occasionally landing on my shoulder. Uh, I thought, what are you trying to tell me. Then it dawned on me – ‘Fly on the Wall’. When it comes to finishing my novel, and cannot figure out what letters to peck at on the keyboard, I need to sit back and observe as if I were a ‘Fly on the Wall’. Allow the imagination the freedom to explore the situation from a distance: What’s going on in the room? Who’s in the room? Why are they in the room?

“Standing in the point of view of the character, what would I see?”

Blocks are a great excuse to start working on delay tactics. I know plenty of ways to distract my mind and stop the progression of the storyline. Heck, I’ve been doing it for years (literally). Get stuck on a paragraph, go clean the toilets. Then more inner dialog trickles in: Oh, and look there in the laundry basket, two load of laundry that must get done at this moment. Wait, after I get the dirty clothes in the machine and set the dials, who can walk back past the sink full of dishes just needing to be scrubbed with warm water and lots of bubbles? Of course, leave the warm water in the sink because I might dirty another dish. Ooooo, ice cream sounds good. I’ll see what’s on television while I enjoy this delicious frozen delight of vanilla with caramel and chocolate swirls. Yikes! Now it’s time for bed. “Well,” I’d tell myself out loud, “I’ll write more tomorrow.”


And a special note - in case you were wondering - the fly is no longer in my office with me as I type this last sentence. I believe I understood his morning lecture.

Metaphysical Two-by-Four

It’s a common question, “Dear God. Please show me a sign as to what I should focus my time on. Thank you.”

For years I’ve been working on a novel. I’ll write consistently for a while, and then stop for a longer while. Something stirs up the motivation and I write again. Several months ago, as I was talking with a close friend of mine that’s a psychic, she informed me of the importance of finishing my novel. Sherry Lord would add statements about how it will be help open people’s minds to the metaphysical.

This past Thursday was Linda P’s last radio show broadcast on a Chicago station. She’d asked if I’d call in to chat and get a reading done by her special guest Sherry Lord. It was toward the end of her show when I called in and asked Sherry, “Regarding employment, where is the location should I be looking in and what profession?” Divine intervention was truly assisting both of us as I had to repeat the question three or four times. Once she was able to hear what I asked, she immediately stated that my Guides want me to complete my book. If I choose, it will be completed in three months. Then she quickly interjected I’d be working within 20 minutes from my home and it would have to do with internet or something online (I’m excited to hear this). Afterwards, she went right back into talking about writing and how to finish the novel.

Fast forward an hour. On Facebook, a friend of mine that also has Divine connections offered free Angel readings to the first three responses to her questions. I was number one. Following is the message she sent to me: Your Angel message is "Follow the repetitive messages you have been getting around a creative idea (this feels like a book) and as you listen to this, prosperity will soon follow.

“So what are your thoughts, have I been hit with the metaphysical two-by-four?”

Friday I spend the evening finishing Chapter 41 (1,117 words) and completed Chapter 42 (2,268 words).

Word count as of November 7, 2009 9pm: 64,447 words
62,179 + 2,268 = 64,447

Getting into a Routine

On Wednesday morning last week, my house guest left and made her way back to Chicago with a stop in Detroit for a job interview. The job of employment searching is currently not an easy task. I, myself, am looking for employment and find myself asking complete strangers if they know anyone hiring. All will be fine. I have faith that everything will work out for the best. The blessing is I have time on my hands to write. Thursday and Friday was spent mostly on the internet looking through miscellaneous help wanted sites. Friday evening, an hour on Saturday and Sunday evening were spent with the computer within fingertip range. I completed chapter 38, and wrote chapters 39, 40 and am half way into 41. In total, I assembled 5,104 words into fine artwork. Pictures have been painted and storyline weaved to tantalize the reader’s curiosity.

Word count as of October 25, 2009 9pm: 62,179 words
57,075 + 5,104 = 62,179

Distractions Are No Excuse ~ So They Say

Okay, I was very busy last week preparing for a guest staying in my house for five days. I know, Dr. Dryer says “No Excuses,” but… but… but… Oh, who am I fooling? Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings were spent writing, editing, deleting and rewriting. I had quality time with a red pen and it was wonderful. The chapter that started with 1373 words, exceeded 2,400 and now rests comfortably saved in a file on my computer at 1,884. To say that I wrote only 511 words this last week would be completely inaccurate, yet precise. Chapter thirty-seven is complete – for now.

Word count as of October 19, 2009: 57,075 words
56,564 + 511 = 57,075

A NOVEL Idea

It’s almost embarrassing to admit this, but I’ve been slowly working on my first novel for far too long. This morning as I sat in my burgundy recliner with my feet being warmed by the heat of the wood stove, an idea popped into my head - I wonder what motivation I could create for myself IF I added a section to the blog about the solitary adventure of writing something consisting of more than 1,000 words.

The ego, sitting on my right shoulder says, “Huh, like anyone’s going to read it. They’ll just laugh at ya ‘cause this crazy book dream has been in the works for over three years. Who gives a crap? Besides, shouldn’t you be doing the dishes? What about the dirty laundry? Ya know, I think it would be time better spent if you were to reorganize something; say your pantry for instance. Hey, isn’t there something good to watch on television? You could be missing an episode of Anthony Bourdain’s ‘No Reservations’ you haven’t seen yet.”

The instant the badgering ego pauses to take in a breath, angelic chimes ring softly from my left shoulder and it’s Amanda, my higher self. The one who knows what’s best for me; the voice I trust the most; the inspiration when creativity ‘has left the building’. Softly, and without hesitation, Amanda whispers, “I love you, and you can do this. There are others going through the same process and it’ll help them to witness someone enduring the same struggle succeed. You’ll build a following of supporters that’ll encourage you to keep going in the blank-page-syndrome times and, most likely, buy your novel when it hits the store bookshelves. I say, put it out there if you believe it will motivate you and help establish a novel-writing-routine.”

“Break it down,” a friend said to me. “Don’t stare at the finish line and overwhelm yourself with the amount of work before you. When you make bite-size goals, you can accomplish anything your heart desires.”

It is true, there are other writers out there seeking inspiration and ways to stay motivated. Heck, I’m one of them. So far, I have written the prologue and thirty-seven chapters plus one written too early for where I am in the story line (it’s currently titled ‘thirty-something). I know the direction of the story, meaning I know the ending and the twists and turns to get me there, but it’s committing to the time of putting it on paper that’s been the challenge. It seems like there are other things that need to be done first before I sit down to the computer and not-waste an hour or two or three.

Armed with intent, my goal is to report to you the progress of the novel. I want to see this book to the last period ending the final sentence. It is my dream, and I’m not embarrassed to admit it.

Word count as of 8:44am October 12, 2009: 56,564 words