The edits for book #1 of the two I’m currently editing is almost done. I’ve just printed it off and need to do a final read through and make the last minute changes. Once I have that done and sent off, I’ll let you know what it is and where its going.

Destined Hearts is in a holding pattern at the moment. I’m more concerned with getting #1 finsihed before jumping too heavily into this books edits. It’s a huge book with tons of work needed in order to get it readable. Plus, I think the ending was too rushed. I may need to rewrite that last few chapters and knowing me – this means adding several. I can’t ever seem to do anything simple. It’s always over the top.

I’ve been scarce for a while now but with work, the end of summer and edits, there just isn’t enough time in the day. I’ll try to make more of an effort to update the blog once a week. Don’t hold me to it though. LOL

Two post in one week. I must be feverish!

I’m neck deep in edits. I normally HATE editing. It’s grueling and in no way fun but I love it this go around. Why, you ask? Well, it’s so nice to actually have something TO edit! I’ve been struggling with my story for…well, a long time. I never thought I would finsih it. For the longest time it looked to be one of those stories that just sat, collecting dust until it was forgotten completly.

I’m actually working on two stories at once. Yes, crazy, but when one tries to drag me down, I just switch to the other. I honestly believe I’m ADHD. I can’t seem to stay focused on one task for long. If I have something else to occupy my time, I’m there. Hopefully I can keep this schedule up when I head back to work on Monday.

The first story is Destined Hearts. The ‘labor of love’ I mentioned a few days ago. The first 13 chapters of it were written 4 years ago. I’ve learned a lot about writing since then so you can imagine the shape those chapters are in. It’s almost like completly rewritting the story. But that’s okay. It needs it and like I said, editing is a piece of cake to me now. The book will be finished and I can celebrate once all is said and done.

The second story is actually an old story. I’m rewriting pieces of it that I don’t like, adding things I thought of after the fact and cleaning it up. I’ve been wanting to do it for ages now so I finally just decided…why not? It should be ready soon and then I’ll tell you what it is and what I have planned for it.

I’ve been out of the writing ‘groove’ for a while now. So long that my family has forgotten what it means when I say, “I’m working.” They just look at me like my head spun around in circles before whining again about whatever it is that brought them to me in the first place. I’ve had more interuptions today than any other. I can’t understand why my ‘alone’ time bothers them so. It must. They won’t let me have it. I guess I need to put up a huge “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door and lock it for a few hours. I’ll need better headphones. Heaven knows they’ll be pounding on the door when that happens.

It’s been forever and a day since I’ve update. I apologize to the handful of you who still check the blog.

I’ve been crazy busy this summer. Work is–well, it’s work. 40 hours a week is 40 hours less time I have to write. It’s taken it’s toll on me but it’s vacation time! A time to relax, play and get work done. It’s paid off. I just finished the first draft of Destined Hearts. This story has taken me 4 years to write. It was a true labor of love but it’s finished, for now. I’ll give it another look in a few weeks and start the editing process. The release will be months away but it’s feel SO good to finally have something at this stage. It’s been a long time. Too long.

I hope everyone’s 4th is filled with friends, good food and plenty of fun. Be safe and I’ll be back soon!

I’m not sure what it was that finally ‘clicked’ on this story, but boy am I glad it did. Destined Hearts has been haunting me for close to 4 years now. I opened it last Sunday evening, re-read the last couple of chapters and BOOM…the characters finally started talking to me. I sat down and wrote every thing they whispered and before I went to bed I had a complete outline AND 2 additional chapters. It’s officially Sunday again and I’ve added 13,691 words to the manuscript. That’s probably more than I’ve written in the last six months. Sad, but true. I have 7 more scenes to write and I’ll finally be finished.

Just saying the word ‘finished’ makes me smile. This story has been a true labor of love. Its the first original I ever tried to write. It may be why I’ve slaved over it for so long. I wanted it to happen for many reasons. I’m just glad its all coming together for me. I feel like I’ve accomplished my goal even though I haven’t written ‘The End’ yet. I know exactly how the story will play out and that’s more than I knew 2 weeks ago. Just having the ‘road map’ in front of me is a blessing. I’ve always been a ‘fly by the seat of my pants’ kind of writer. I know where I’m going, just not how I’m going to get there. It’s always worked in the past but with this story, it didn’t. That’s probably why its sat dormant on my computer for so long. Those characters needed guidance where most of my others tell me where their going.

I’m in the home stretch now and the end is in sight. It’s a feeling I could get use to.

I’ve taken the plunge. Of course, I’m not sure if I’ll sink or swim but there’s no harm in trying, right?

I’ve started writing my first mystery. Sure it’s still paranormal and I’ve spent more time plotting than anything but hopefully it’ll all pan out in the end. This is actually the first story I’ve felt passionate about in a while. I’m not sure if I should be happy about that or sad. I have so many stories started that I was passionate about as well — but they all fizzled and died a slow agonizing death. This one I’m hopping won’t meet the same fate.

The rate at which I’m getting things published, it looks like one a year for me. Tis truely sad. I know. I’m a slow writer in case any of you hadn’t figured out by now. My internal editor won’t be quiet long enough for me to get 2 pages worth of work done before she’s standing over my shoulder with her red pen scribbling up the pages. I haven’t figured out a way to shut her up. I see something wrong and I can’t move forward until its fixed. It’s truely a disease, one that is slowly killing me. I blame it on my ‘writing roots’. If any of you didn’t know, I started testing my writing skills with fanfiction. (Yes, I know how the world views it but to each their own, I suppose) In that form of writing, most stories are written chapter for chapter and posted as you go along. The need to get that one solidary chapter in its best form is why I find it so hard to write anything now. Instead of spending hours and hours editing, fixing and prettying up something as I go, I’m now forced to just plunge ahead and write crap and THEN come back and fix it. I can’t get my brain wrapped around the concept of letting the crap stay. You can go back and fix it when it’s all said and done. Of course, saying that is easier than actually doing it. I’ve been writing and publishing work since 2002. That’s a long time to do something one way only to try and rework my brain into another way of thinking. Hopefully I’ll get it eventually. I’m trying so that’s all anyone can ask for, right?

The shopping is done, the cooking started and now we just wait for the big day. I love Christmas but all the hustle and bustle of shopping, trying to remember everyone on my lists and getting to Grandma’s house on time is just nerve racking. I’d love to be able to sit back and enjoy being with my family without the pressure of getting that perfect gift or wondering if someone will be disappointed with what they recieved. As much as I love it…I’ll be glad when its all over with! lol

I’d like to take just a minute to thank everyone for your support this past year and for making one of my dreams come true. Without you, writing wouldn’t be nearly as fun. Hearing that my stories are enjoyed is why continue to try. Enjoy the time with your family and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year. See you in 2007!

Lily

I think my new years resolution will be to update the blog more than once every 4 months. I’ve been neglectful. No secret to most of you though. I’m just not very good at updating this thing. I’ll try to change that. Notice I said try. LOL

I’ve started a new story. This makes #956, I think. Okay, maybe it isn’t quite that high but it feels like it. I have a folder full of ‘started’ stories. I just can’t seem to finish them. I don’t know why. The muse will rush around in a frenzy for days or weeks, pushing out a good chunk of storyline then…nothing. It’s frustrating. I have so many stories with so much potential. Great storylines. Great characters. Great plot. But they’re all a no-go. It’s like I get to this certain point and the story dies a slow, agonizing death and I’m left to mourn over what it could have been. I have vampires and fairies just sitting there waiting…Sci-fi and contemporaries all just waiting for my fickle muse to get his rear in gear. I use to sit down at the computer and pump out pages upon pages a day. No I can barely get the curser to move. I sit and stare at it for hours. It mocks me.

I’ll have to blame work on a lot of it. For those of you who don’t know, I went back to work in July. As much as I love writing, sitting around the house for hours upon hours drove me nuts! I love my job. I love the money. I actual talk to people other than my kids and my pets. I feel more human now. Being a cave dweller for over 2 years took its toll on me I think. I don’t regret the decision to go back to work but there are days…like today, when I see that my writing has suffered for it, that I wish I would have just sucked it up and stayed planted in my desk chair. I love writing. I love the creative process of it and working has sucked the life out of my creativity. It doesn’t help that I work a graveyard shift. 3:30 to midnight. I’m home by 12:30 every night but after pulling 8 hours I’m too brain fried to concentrate. All I seem to write at that time is rubbish. Weekends are also a non-writer friendly time. My niece is here every weekend and I can’t just abandon her to play with my imaginary friends. I envy those people who can put everything/everyone else aside and just do what they love. I can’t. I’m not built that way. My family has always come first. It guess they always will. I can’t see that ever changing. My kids are grown and ready to leave home. When they’ll do that is anyone’s guess. Maybe then…when the nest is empty, I’ll have that time for myself. I’ll be able to let the laundry pile up and the dirty dishes sit so I can just write. It’s my dream. Hopefully one day, it’ll come true.