I should be editing my book right now. I should be cleaning. I should be cleaning up the rest of the dinner dishes. I should be throwing on yet another load of laundry. Which, by the way, does someone want to explain to me how a family of five can make more than 2 loads of laundry per day? I find this really confusing. I should be going up to bed to read, or do more devotionals. But instead I am ignoring all the should be statements, and I am blogging.
I made a goal of 10 pages per week for editing my novel. Right now I am basically taking it from Nano status to actual novel status. Basically, I am content editing. Then I get to find some suckers out there to read it and give me feed back. You know you want to be one of those suckers! Turns out I am loving content editing. I have edited 23 pages in the last two days. At this rate I will be done with the first edit in record time, and I will have something to show for it. I just have to keep up the motivation. I don't think this will be a problem because I have already edited my least favorite part of the novel and I have moved on to the parts I like better. :)
I love that while writing I get so involved with my characters. If my main character is in a bad mood then so am I, if she is going through something emotionally then so am I. I love that the characters all come to life on the page as I am writing. I love that I am so invested, and that I can control it all! Who wouldn't want to be a writer. It really is amazing. I don't care if you think you can't write, or you find the task to be daunting. I promise it is a blast! Just don't take yourself too seriously and let it all go.
Speaking of taking yourself too seriously, it reminds me of the novel I wrote this year. (not the one I am editing right now FYI.) I was over 6 months pregnant. I had NO viable ideas for a novel and my husband challenged me to write a novel that was completely out of my comfort zone. Write something that will challenge you, and is something you never considered doing. At first he suggested that I write about the zombie apocalypse. This suggestion was a little too far out of my comfort zone. I wasn't even really interested. Instead I decided to write a fantasy novel. Yes, you heard me right fantasy novel.
The entire process of writing fantasy was amusing. I would be downstairs writing a chapter and I would have to come running upstairs to ask my husband super important questions. Things like is the leader of the dwarves called a king, and are there different kinds of elves? Having never read any fantasy novel except the Hobbit I was lacking tons of information. I researched online, came up with fantasy names, and had a fairy as a main character. I learned that the fantasy world as a whole was more important than almost anything, and the more details I could give the better. It was funny. Those were my important questions I had to find answers to. But my husband was right. I did learn a lot writing a fantasy novel. I don't think I will repeat the experience, and I don't think I will be a famous fantasy writer. I do think that writing that novel gave me the confidence to know I can write something out of nothing. I can have no idea what I am doing, no idea where the novel will go, and I can still do it.
That made it worth it.
Ok I give in...I SHOULD be going to bed!
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012
Birthday Blues? Not here.
It is the eve of my 31st birthday, gasp. I am not 29, or 30. As of tomorrow I am "in my thirties." I know that a lot of people would be freaking out, or feeling old. I have a few friends who upon turning 30 cleaned everything out of their lives. I had an amazing 30th birthday. My family and friends blew me away with their generosity and their kindness. I was not all introspective or wondering about the next phase in my life. I was actually totally fine with turning 30. I did not clean out my closet, or my life.
This year, I am not freaking out, but I am more introspective. When faced with the question where are you going to be in 5 years for the first time I am not sure. I am done having babies, I have three gorgeous daughters, and in 5 years Claire will be in school. What will I be doing? There are so many answers...I decided to revisit my list of things to do that I made on New Year's eve 2011. The list needs updating, and what better time to update than on my almost birthday?
Here is a new list for the next phase of my life. The things I am looking forward to in my 30s:
1. Take a few workout classes outside my house. One can only take so many dvds, it is time to take a few classes! Zumba or yoga here I come!
2. Edit my novel (one of them) so I can present it to someone. I have a goal of 10 pages a week. I can do this!
3. Get my body back. No more being pregnant, and nursing soon. Not that I didn't enjoy it, I LOVED it. But I am also excited for this next phase.
4. Go on a mission trip before I am 40.
5. Sew a quilt, or blanket from the baby clothes.
6. Live my life with intention, and be a light. Enjoy all the moments, big and small.
7. Read the books in my house that I have not read yet, I have a goal that I have to read 2 books before I buy one. That way I read the multitude I have here!
8. Go rock climbing.
9. Lead a small group of either women, or teenagers,or couples. I am not picky.
10. Find the perfect little black dress.
I am sure there are more goals that I will come up with but for now this is what is off the top of my head.
:)
This year, I am not freaking out, but I am more introspective. When faced with the question where are you going to be in 5 years for the first time I am not sure. I am done having babies, I have three gorgeous daughters, and in 5 years Claire will be in school. What will I be doing? There are so many answers...I decided to revisit my list of things to do that I made on New Year's eve 2011. The list needs updating, and what better time to update than on my almost birthday?
Here is a new list for the next phase of my life. The things I am looking forward to in my 30s:
1. Take a few workout classes outside my house. One can only take so many dvds, it is time to take a few classes! Zumba or yoga here I come!
2. Edit my novel (one of them) so I can present it to someone. I have a goal of 10 pages a week. I can do this!
3. Get my body back. No more being pregnant, and nursing soon. Not that I didn't enjoy it, I LOVED it. But I am also excited for this next phase.
4. Go on a mission trip before I am 40.
5. Sew a quilt, or blanket from the baby clothes.
6. Live my life with intention, and be a light. Enjoy all the moments, big and small.
7. Read the books in my house that I have not read yet, I have a goal that I have to read 2 books before I buy one. That way I read the multitude I have here!
8. Go rock climbing.
9. Lead a small group of either women, or teenagers,or couples. I am not picky.
10. Find the perfect little black dress.
I am sure there are more goals that I will come up with but for now this is what is off the top of my head.
:)
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Advocating for your children
I have a bone to pick this week. Having a bone to pick usually means I am going to get up on my milk crate and start preaching to everyone around me. Consquently, this means you.
When I was twelve-years-old I was an avid reader and my mom used to let me order books through the book order all the time. I remember the last time I ordered a book through the book order, I got a book called Summertime something. I don't remember the title to tell you the truth. The book was about a 14 year old girl who goes to camp, and falls in love, and well, you know what happens after that... I made it about 50 pages into the book, hit the first sex scene and knew something was wrong. I knew my mom would be really upset if she knew what I was reading. As a child I didn't really know what genre of book I was reading, but as an adult I can tell you that the book was a romance novel at best. But a romance novel about a young girl. I gave the book up to my mom who about had an heart attack.
How could I have gotten a book like this out of an approved book order? Much less an approved book order at a Catholic school?? My mom pulled on her momma bear pants and went storming into the school. I don't know what happened behind those closed doors. I sat outside wondering if I was in trouble for having ordered this book. Obviously, I was not in trouble. I found that out later.
As a result, I am the mom that watches what her kids watch. I am the uncool one that forbids certain shows on Disney, and Nickelodeon. I have a problem with kids on tv being rude, disrespectful, and vulgar. I don't think that kids should be acting that way, and I don't think my kids need that example in their lives. I have been very blessed with an amazing daughter who at nine-years-old makes these decisions on her own. She passes up on inappropriate clothing, she switches the channel on the television, and she is the first to tell me when something is not right.
Friday Phebe came downstairs with her Friday folder. She was so excited to show me the certificate that she got for doing Math Olympiads all year. I hugged her, of course and was so excited. Then she made a face that looked unsure, and pulled out her "award." The award that all the kids got was a documentary dvd of Alien Encounters. I swallowed hard looking at the dvd, not wanting to judge right off the bat what it contained, but already wary. 12 hours of footage! What happens during Alien encounters? Well, this dvd would tell you. All presented in documentary form. A form, that my daughter will have a very hard time distinguishing what is true, and what is not. I took the dvd, and Phebe was very understanding, and she knew it was not something for her before she even pulled it out. Thank God for her!
I personally, don't watch that kind of stuff, but I realize that some people do, and I was willing to give the adults the benefit of the doubt that maybe their kids were really into Aliens. Then I noticed the rating. TV14. Really??? TV14?
That warranted an email to the teacher. An email that was forwarded to the principle. I still have not gotten a response.
What are you waiting for? Jump in there and find out what your kids are doing. You might not like what you find, but it is your job to be there and know what is going on.
When I was twelve-years-old I was an avid reader and my mom used to let me order books through the book order all the time. I remember the last time I ordered a book through the book order, I got a book called Summertime something. I don't remember the title to tell you the truth. The book was about a 14 year old girl who goes to camp, and falls in love, and well, you know what happens after that... I made it about 50 pages into the book, hit the first sex scene and knew something was wrong. I knew my mom would be really upset if she knew what I was reading. As a child I didn't really know what genre of book I was reading, but as an adult I can tell you that the book was a romance novel at best. But a romance novel about a young girl. I gave the book up to my mom who about had an heart attack.
How could I have gotten a book like this out of an approved book order? Much less an approved book order at a Catholic school?? My mom pulled on her momma bear pants and went storming into the school. I don't know what happened behind those closed doors. I sat outside wondering if I was in trouble for having ordered this book. Obviously, I was not in trouble. I found that out later.
As a result, I am the mom that watches what her kids watch. I am the uncool one that forbids certain shows on Disney, and Nickelodeon. I have a problem with kids on tv being rude, disrespectful, and vulgar. I don't think that kids should be acting that way, and I don't think my kids need that example in their lives. I have been very blessed with an amazing daughter who at nine-years-old makes these decisions on her own. She passes up on inappropriate clothing, she switches the channel on the television, and she is the first to tell me when something is not right.
Friday Phebe came downstairs with her Friday folder. She was so excited to show me the certificate that she got for doing Math Olympiads all year. I hugged her, of course and was so excited. Then she made a face that looked unsure, and pulled out her "award." The award that all the kids got was a documentary dvd of Alien Encounters. I swallowed hard looking at the dvd, not wanting to judge right off the bat what it contained, but already wary. 12 hours of footage! What happens during Alien encounters? Well, this dvd would tell you. All presented in documentary form. A form, that my daughter will have a very hard time distinguishing what is true, and what is not. I took the dvd, and Phebe was very understanding, and she knew it was not something for her before she even pulled it out. Thank God for her!
I personally, don't watch that kind of stuff, but I realize that some people do, and I was willing to give the adults the benefit of the doubt that maybe their kids were really into Aliens. Then I noticed the rating. TV14. Really??? TV14?
That warranted an email to the teacher. An email that was forwarded to the principle. I still have not gotten a response.
What are you waiting for? Jump in there and find out what your kids are doing. You might not like what you find, but it is your job to be there and know what is going on.
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