… of things I have accomplished today:

1) Bought a digital camera.
2) Survived (and emerged victorious from) an epic battle with a butternut squash.
3) Been kicked approximately 43 times.
4) Had a discussion with my son in which he informed me that the reason he isn’t listening is that he has a hearing problem. Because other children are putting rocks in his ears. And that the obvious solution to our little discipline issues (see #3, above) is that I should stop preventing him from doing/getting whatever he wants. Even if whatever he wants includes taping his sister to a chair and dropping maraschino cherries on her head. (This is not, incidentally, how the parenting books said this conversation was supposed to go.)
5) Discovered that increasing the font size on my manuscript decreases eyestrain. Which means — thank God — that I will not, at my relatively tender age, be investing in reading glasses. Yet.

Things I have NOT accomplished today:

1) Hooking up said digital camera, as my iPhoto software mysteriously vanished during the great hard drive crash of ’06.
2) Writing anything other than this blog.
3) Refraining from rather copious consumption of Blue Bell Hot Chocolate ice cream. Which is not hot, but is quite chocolatey. And marshmallowy. Mmmm. Perhaps it’s time for a pre-dinner bowl…

Will check back tomorrow. Hope everyone’s day is more productive than mine.

Two quotes overheard in my living room at some time during the last 12 hours:

Abby: “Mom! Come look at my horse show! I put the baby horse under her mom!”

Ian: “Mommy! Come look at my garbage truck! I filled it up with body parts!”

(Author’s note: the body parts were from Lego people, not actual human playmates.)

And I just made a gigantic bowl of fairy fudge with my daughter. Because her fever was gone last night, we all licked the bowl.

Five minutes later, the phone rang. She tested positive for Strep Throat.

Gaaaaahhhhhhh!

Will post later in the event that my computer and I have some intimate one-on-one time resulting in some novel-esque word progeny.

Karen (whose throat is already feeling sore)

P.S. managed to slip in 703 words, for a total of 13,093. How’s everyone else doing? (Except Debra, who’s done… congrats!)

Well, Susan Wittig Albert was kind enough to blog tag me. So I’ve spent the morning sitting at the pediatrician’s office (which has, thankfully, replaced the rather colorful carpet with vomit-proof laminate and removed the “Typhoid Mary Toy Table”) thinking of things that might be interesting enough to merit posting.

Here’s what I came up with.

1) In 1992, I was the fastest chugger on the Wiess College Women’s Beer Bike Team at Rice. Which is, to be honest, kind of embarrassing. Of course, it’s not nearly as embarrassing as the fact that fifteen years later I still remember my best time. (Twenty-four ounces in 5.8 seconds, in case you were wondering. And to think my parents were under the impression that I wasn’t learning anything!)

2) My favorite show is All Creatures Great and Small, which was a BBC series filmed in the 70s based on books written about the 30s. This could have something to do with the fact that I have no television reception in my house, but there it is.

3) I have a secret (well, until now, anyway) fondness for British comedic actors such as John Cleese, Peter Davison and Robert Hardy. The last two, oddly enough, both starred in the series All Creatures Great and Small.

4) I never eat cold cereal for breakfast. Okay, so that’s not that interesting. But my time in the pediatrician’s waiting room was brutally curtailed by someone actually inviting us to relocate to an examining room.

5) I speak four — well, three-and-a-half, really — languages, of which I use precisely one. Which is why I never understand why parents bother to shell out thousands of dollars so that their pre-school children can learn their ABCs in languages like, say, Swahili. I mean, if you’re going to give them something really useful, why not enroll them in speed-laundry-folding classes? Or dishwasher loading theory?

6) (A bonus) I’m in a procrastinatory mood right now. Is that a word? If not, it should be. In fact, I think I’ll take a few moments to contact my daughter’s teacher and request that it take the place of this week’s star spelling word, which is — perplexingly — ‘veejay.’ (For full rant, go here.)

And by the way, I didn’t end up going anywhere but dreamland last night. On the plus side, both Peter Davison AND John Cleese were there, so it wasn’t too bad…

And now, I get to tag… fellow cozy chick Diana Killian and fellow mystery author Candy Calvert!

P.S. Lest anyone cross Rice off their children’s college list for fear of alcohol poisoning, the beer was (a) boiled, (b) non-alcoholic, (c) flat, and (d) not exactly a taste sensation. 🙂

Every few months or so I get the travel bug… you know, that desire to go to the airport, buy a ticket, and go… anywhere. The world is such a big and magical place, and there’s so much of it to see…

Unfortunately, for most of us, our responsibilities do tend to put a damper on our gypsy tendencies. (Although I just found out recently you can rent farmhouses in the Bavarian Alps extremely inexpensively… hmm….) I don’t know what started this little travel urge; maybe it was because a copy of Bridget Jones’ Diary I got from the library recently had a boarding pass from West Palm Beach to Nassau. A little depressing, really, that a paperback is better traveled than I am.

Fortunately, there’s a quick, cheap way out of Dodge — even for those of us with children and day jobs.

It’s called armchair travel, and it’s up there with chocolate truffles and bubble baths as one of my favorite treats.

Frances Mayes is, to my mind, the reigning queen with her Under the Tuscan Sun. (Not so fond of her Around the World, alas, even though I enjoyed it.) But there are lots of fun things out there; I read one recently called Monkey Dancing, about a man who took his two kids around the world for a year — what chutzpah! And then there’s Susan Allen Toth’s My Love Affair with England, which I’ve never been able to make it through but just checked out for the fifth time (hope springs eternal, I suppose). Bill Bryson, who also writes about England — and Australia, and America, come to think of it — is a riot no matter what he’s discussing. And yesterday I picked up a variety of travel essay compendiums to leaf through. I love sitting under my puffy white comforter reading about people eating mangos in the Caribbean (come to think of it, I think they did just that in An Embarrassment of Mangoes, an oddly titled but entertaining book). Now, that’s a question. Is it mangos, or mangoes?

Of course what I’d really like to do is have someone hand me a packet of money and say “Here. Go renovate a farmhouse in Southern France/Italy/Nepal/Switzerland/Czechoslovakia, write a book about it, and hit the NY Times bestseller list.” So far that hasn’t panned out, but if you know anyone who wants to invest, let me know.

I do have two trips coming up — one to San Diego in March and one to D.C. in May (for Malice) — and I’m looking forward to them. (I love the Chesapeake bagels with green onion cream cheese I used to eat when I lived in Old Town Alexandria — perhaps I’ll take a trip back down memory lane while I’m there.) And my in-laws are taking the whole family on an Alaskan cruise late in the summer; that will be wonderful. Need to track down Alaska books between now and then — and reread Gretel Ehrlich, whose book on Greenland I adore.

Unfortunately, however, since no Transatlantic flights are in my immediate future, I’m off on another paper voyage this evening. I don’t remember what I got at the library yesterday, but I’ll let you know. Perhaps I’ll be off to Greece. Or maybe Morocco? I’ll let you know tomorrow.

And oh, yeah. Word count. I somehow managed to type out 1300 words yesterday (many of which were done in the waiting room of the hair salon). I’m at 11853, which is really pretty respectable, I’ve decided, particularly since I started the book last Tuesday. And today was a big fat zero (I’ve been home for approximately twenty minutes, all of which has been occupied by putting up groceries and blogging). But I’m hoping to put in a 2K day tomorrow (Abby will FINALLY be back in school) and catch up a bit this weekend.

And I have to tell you that although it’s gray and a bit damp right now, it’s been springlike and wonderful here the last few days. Bought some pretty pink tulips to celebrate — and the narcissus in my flowerbeds is pale yellow and glorious. I love their smell — nothing says spring like daffodils! (And here’s a little confession — when it’s cold and gray and damp I like to pretend it’s because I live in England. I’m not kidding.)

So now that I’ve confessed my non-word-count day and my delusional fantasies about living in the Yorkshire Dales instead of Austin… How’s everyone else doing out there?

K

will probably describe my word count for the day.

Abby is, unfortunately, still sick, and I’m due to leave for San Antonio in just over an hour. (I’m giving a talk there this evening.) On the plus side, I did finish my bio for Ballantine, which was due today… and I may have to take a brief break (or at least slow down a bit) on Wolf 2 while I add a few more scenes to Wolf 1. Ah, editing… 🙂

Laura, a quick answer to your question; when I wrote my first book, I wrote it longhand to help quell my inner editor; then I would edit it as I typed it in. (There were times when I remember thinking ‘Please let her have fleshed out the description for this scene’ — it was almost as if there were two people writing. The writer, and the editor. Strange, really.)

Nowadays, I write and try to make it as good as possible (within reason) the first run through; then, the next day, before I start my words, I review what I wrote the day before to clean it up a bit and get back into the story. That way I’m not stuck with a huge manuscript that needs a lot of work at the end — daunting, to say the least. And I’m comfortable that almost everything I’ve done so far is relatively clean.

And Debra, I don’t know why I use word count; probably because it’s already on Word, and also because when you’ve got lots of dialogue and chapter breaks, it means fewer words on a page. Also because when I’m writing, I’m usually shooting for a word count goal (generally 75-80K); by keeping track of daily words, I have a better feel for how much story is left. Once again, though, the key is to find a system that works for you. I keep everything in one document, but I know a lot of writers who keep each chapter separate. To each his or her own!

Well, Abby’s waking up, the bunny is squeaking underfoot, and I have an hour before I have to go… more later, and keep the writing going!

So Abby came home yesterday with a 102-degree fever, and has been lolling around on the couch watching Return of the Jedi ever since. And I have a cold. But did I get my words done?

Why, yes, with the lilting tones of Jabba the Hut in the background.

Now that that’s out of the way, I have a list of exciting duties for the day, such as changing the bunny’s litterbox and cage, doing laundry… and maybe even tackling the stuff in my fridge.

Our bunny — nee Lisa, renamed Cottontail, and actually called Bunny — is a white Netherland Dwarf my son insists is a snowshoe hare. There’s no dissuading him. (I’ll post a photo as soon as I figure out how to download it, btw. She’s a cutie!) We’ve had her since she came to us as a foster bunny six years ago, and as time has passed, the number of holes in my walls has increased exponentially. (She’s trying to burrow through the laundry room wall, presumably to China.) And she squeaks! Must be because she’s getting old, but you can hear her from halfway across the house. Our bronchiolitic little snowshoe hare. 🙂

As for word count, I’m at 10,454, which I know is at least 1500 words. Maybe 1600? Need a new calculator. And, evidently, a new photo; my daughter just looked at my photo on PPL and said “What’s that? That doesn’t look like you at all.” *Sigh.* I guess it’s time to go back to the photographer again…

How’s everyone else doing? Georgina? Debra? Laura? (Not to put you on the spot or anything…) 😉

Mondays are always the toughest day of the week for me, it seems. Maybe it’s just getting back into the swing of things after a weekend of lying around eating Dove chocolates and reading paperback novels. (Speaking of which, I definitely have to hit the Y today. I also ate three-quarters of a bag of kettle corn and a whole can of Cream of Mushroom soup at 10 p.m. last night. What’s up with that?)

Anyway, it was tough sledding this morning. I just couldn’t think of what to write, and my proposed chapter wasn’t looking too exciting. To get myself motivated, I went over to my favorite coffee joint and deposited myself in a chair, but all I ended up doing was talking with interesting people and sucking down expensive coffee. And thinking about a turkey sandwich.

So after 300 hard-earned words, I left, came home, and parked myself in my traditional at-home-writing spot, which is the futon at the end of my office. And told myself I couldn’t get up (except to make a turkey sandwich or perhaps fold one — and only one — load of laundry) until I was done.

And what do you know? What started as a somewhat lackluster scene suddenly started to come to life. A new situation I’d never thought of just popped up on the page. Then, suddenly, I looked up and discovered I was at 1300 words. Almost there!

The final count came in at 8852, which is 1520 words or so, and more than 10 percent of my final word count. And I’m still not sure how it happened. It’s almost like sitting down at the computer is like flipping a switch, and turning on some kind of story-maker. Weird.

Oh, and by the way, on my way home from the coffee shop today I heard Garrison Keillor’s Writer’s Almanac, a great little show. Today he was talking about Andrew Greeley, a Catholic priest who has written more books than God. I particularly liked the following snippet:

“Greeley has now written more than 150 books, which have sold more than 15 million copies. When asked how he can write so much, he said, “I suppose I have the Irish weakness for words gone wild. Besides, if you’re celibate, you have to do something.”

Ha! Now I have to go and read one of his books.

(Garrison also read a fabulous poem called “A Wife Explains Why She Likes Country” by Barbara Ras; if you go to Writers’ Almanac and look up February 5, you can find it. I love NPR.)

I’m off to call Jessica, my fabulous agent, and talk titles. Not turkey — I already had my sandwich.

Did you overcome the Monday hump? Inquiring minds want to know…

Well, here we are. It’s Sunday, and my other half and my two kids will probably totter off to a friend’s house to watch the big game.

Leaving me here at home…. to write?

I’m usually a morning writer. For some reason, if it doesn’t happen early, it doesn’t happen. But surely I can get those 700 words in somehow, eh? We’ll see. I may just go for a walk instead. The weather is lovely — cool, crisp, and sunny — it’s been a cold, gray winter here (as winters in Texas go), and the sun is seductive.

Besides, I read an article a few months ago that said that exercise helps increase creativity, particularly if you work right after working out. I wonder why? Maybe it’s increased blood flow. Or maybe it’s because during exercise, we clear out all the negative stuff? I know when I run (or used to, before IT Band syndrome reduced me to walking/biking), I’m so focused on making it to the next, say, tree on the path, that I have no time for self-doubt or worrying. And although I’ve shifted my schedule for the winter months — in summer, I get out and exercise first thing, when it’s cool, and then work; in winter it’s switched — I still like to work early. And exercise is very soothing somehow.

How about you? When do you like to write? Does walking/exercise help?

And did you sneak in some words? 🙂

Well, I’m at 6537 and counting. (And although I usually don’t write on Saturdays, I’m going to have lunch with Jo Virgil, the CRM of our local B&N; (and also a writer), and Susan Wittig Albert. Am very excited. And will be at our local B&N; for a while beforehand; perhaps I can slip in another thousand words.

I’ve gotten a lot of e-mails regarding the novel word count thing. My goal is to offer a place to post how far you’ve gotten, and get some encouragement. Just post your word count in a comment… and keep commenting as your word count grows. (And it’s amazing how fast it will go; if I keep going at this pace, I will be 10 percent of the way finished with the first draft of this book by Tuesday.)

And here’s my fascinating fact of the week. I looked up Nora Roberts’ web site the other day. You know how many books she’s written since 1979?

One hundred and eighty.

Holy smoke.

Talk about inspirational. I also discovered she’s not a big fan of outlining; she just lets the book unreel as she goes. Which is interesting — I love finding out whether authors outline or just let it fly.

On another note, here’s something I found recently and love; I tend to spend more money than I care to think at the grocery store, on all kinds of fascinating items, and use like a third of them during the week. (I’m sure you’ve been there too; why, look at this goat cheese! And these beautiful turnips! And these dried whats-its! I’m sure I’ll be able to concoct something wonderful that no one will eat! Of course, all of the above end up spending a few weeks in what I call the ‘rotter’ before heading out to the trash can.)

So, anyway, in my effort to make things easier around the house, I found this web site called Saving Dinner, where they send you a weekly menu mailer — and a grocery list. So far, the recipes have had about an 80% hit rate — and I am no longer panicking every night at 5:30. (No more ‘what fell out of the freezer’ nights.)

And I have more time to write.:) (And fewer rotted turnips.)

Well, I’m off to Barnes and Noble to work through another few pages. Hope your days are great — and feel free to use the ‘Comments’ section as your way of posting your progress to the world!

P.S. New word count is at 7337, which is 800 words on the nose. Lunch with Jo and Susan was wonderful — I had the scallop salad and forgot to get a picture, even though I brought the camera! And Susan writes 1500 words a day, 7 days a week, which was interesting to learn. She really is amazing. She writes three fabulous books a year — and even takes 3 months off. (Her latest Beatrix Potter just came out in mass market paperback, and she’s got lots more fascinating projects in the works.)

Truth of the matter is, though, I think it’s best to pick a comfortable achievable word count and do it regularly than push too hard all the time. What do you think?

I recently rearranged my life to keep my mornings free, but every once in a while — like today — it doesn’t work out. So I enjoyed a delightful eggs benedict breakfast with some friends (incomprehensibly, the cook forgot the english muffin), served lasagna to about two hundred elementary school students, unloaded the dishwasher, and now — at 12:30 p.m. — am just sitting down for two hours of writing. And to be honest, I can think of about forty-thousand things I’d rather do. Like clean toilets or organize the garage.

Gosh, I hate afternoon writing sessions.

To inspire myself, I’m going to the coffee house. Where, if I finish my quota, I will allow myself to purchase a book I’ve had my eye on.

Will check in later. Wish me luck!

P.S. worked out after all… 4747 and counting! (And I met a new werewolf today… hope to know her name tomorrow.) 🙂