Cheat sheets and ROW80 check in

I am feeling a lot better today,
thankfully the cold did not stay long.
I achieved my goal for this week,
(two chapters edited--huzzah!).

This week is a crazy one again,
(first week of school and I have a bajillion appointments as well),
so although I have high hopes for this week,
I have to be realistic!

I'm hoping to edit two chapters this week,
do two blog posts,
and write a beautiful "About Me" page for my blog.

Today I wrote up an editing cheat sheet...
you know, a page that reminds you of the silly mistakes that you are always making.
Mine has comma's,
(I don't like them...they even look sinister...
like dismembered crooked fingers , , , just not right!),
putting in description,
and omitting unnecessary words (that, felt, seemed, as, while).

So it got me wondering,
what's on other writer's cheat sheets?

So, what's on your editing cheat sheet? You know, the fatal writing no-no's you commit unless you have a post-it note stuck to your computer screen.

Camping with kids and ROW80

This past week I went camping with my four children,
without my husband.
Some people called me brave.
Others thought me crazy.

But something amazing happened amid the late night campfires shared with good friends,
and the lazy afternoons on the sun kissed beaches of Killbear.
I laughed at my children's silly jokes.
Raced my daughter to the comfort station.
Even pretended that my flashlight was a light-saber.

And I was no longer just the chore weilding,
discipline cracking, dish washing mother.
Away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life,
I fell in love with my children again.
I wasn't brave or crazy...
just really blessed.

And I guess that is what a good vacation is all about. :)

As for my ROW80 goals...
didn't do very well there.
Only got one of my three chapters edited this week.
Not really a surprise considering there was a lot of relaxing going on.

This week I am aiming again for editing three chapters,
and studying two chapters from Jeff Gerke's "Plot versus Character".
Plus I would like make up a comma cheat sheet,
(comma's and I don't get along,,, See?!?)

Here's hoping that the rest of my ROW80 comrades are doing well. :)

Finally...pics from my vacation.

This July my husband and I took a trip to Holland,
with a little sojourn to England.
It was the first time we had gone away for so long (ten days),
without the kids since my oldest was born 9 years ago.
It was wonderful!!
The best vacation we have ever had--
truly a once in a lifetime experience.
So I thought I would post some pics. :)

Here is my dear husband looking confused at the amount of bikes in Amsterdam.  Something you have to see in real life to believe.  I actually saw a bike with a pram attached to the side...lol.

Leaning church in Leewarden called the Oldehove.  Apparantly, it started leaning one direction while they were building it so they tried to compensate by building on the other side--it didn't work.  It leans more then the Leaning Tower of Pisa and is really brutal on the calf muscles when you walk up its spiral stone stairs.

We took the opportunity to visit a graveyard dedicated to soldiers who died during the Second World War.  Many of the graves had unknown soldiers in them.  This was one of the smaller grave sites.

Having a traditional dutch meal with our good friends.  Seriously, the dutch have it right--bacon makes anything taste better. :)  Delicious!

Traditional English breakfast at a pub. While we were eating at 10 am in the morning a construction crew came in on their break to have a pint...very different from Canada!!

The Tower of London...such a historically rich place!!  My husband knew someone who's brother works as a Beefeater (guard) here so we were allowed in for free and we got bumped to the front of the line to see the crown jewels. :)

My husband braving the cool looking London telephone booth--which he claimed smelled of urine.  I didn't take a whiff...lol.

My husband and I fighting over a Guinness--the beer that eats like a meal. :)

Standing in front of the pub where the Inklings met--a group of writer's which included C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.  One of my lifetime dreams. :)

An awesome sign which was in the pub...made me want to crack open The Lord of the Rings books again. :)

Definately a trip we'd do again.  Aren't we a happy couple?

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

I know that you have been waiting,
with bated breath for my return. ;)
(this is a long post,
bear with me!)

The conference was amazing!!
My hopes were to do some networking--
it was an opportunity to meet publishers, editors, and of course writers.

I was rewarded with so much more.
First, I was spiritually renewed,
with the times of worship.
Second, I was refreshed creatively,
so that when I came home I was inspired to write.
Thirdly, I was challenged intellectually,
through the many workshops.

But the best gift of all,
was that on the first day I had a critique meeting,
with a publisher.
He had looked at the first chapter of my work,
and thought that I was close to the mark.
After, pointing out ways to tweak my work,
he said...
once I had finished editing my work,
that he would like to see the first portion.
I was exhilarated!!

The next day I met another author to assess my work,
who was also impressed.
I was on cloud nine...
even if neither ends up taking my work,
it is affirming to know that I am going in the right direction.

The final day I met with another publisher,
(who does not publish fantasy,
rather children and YA fiction/nonfiction).
When she heard my idea,
she was intrigued enough to ask for the first chapters,
stating that she might know someone who would be interested in it.

I was on cloud nine. :)

But as the conference wore on,
another feeling gnawed at my belly.
Fear.

What if I don't live up to their expectations?
What if I can't apply their suggestions?
They think I a writer,
but really I am a fraud.
Words come out on the page,
but I don't actually craft them.
I'm fooling everyone...

I took today to recoup from the information overload.
Tempted to start in on some rewrites,
but leaving it alone.
I checked the critique site I use,
Scribophile, later this afternoon.
Where I got a very thorough and rigorous crit of one of my first chapters,
which seemed to bring me to another low.

Why is it that us authors beat ourselves up in this manner?
It is like a roller coaster of random emotions.
But in my mind I know I cannot act on these destructive thoughts alone.
I believe in my heart that this is what I'm called to do.

...a good night sleep and some prayer,
should make this world seem a little brighter.
And tomorrow?
Back to the page and the pen.
Back to sifting through words.
Back to me.
(I promise I won't be as depressing!!)

A big thank you, thank you, thank you,
to those who have supported, critiqued, and listened to my random rants.
I couldn't have gotten as far as I have without you. :)
Thanks for believing in me,
even when my own belief falters.

Even now,
as I finish writing these words I feel better.
Like having a cup of tea with a good friend.

Thanks. :)
Night.

Brief sabbatical

I am not posting this week,
as I am attending the Write! Canada writer's conference.
I will be back next week,
with loads of input about my novel.

But right now...sleep. :)

Today

I remember the day we met.
You in your three piece suit with walking stick.
I was in my garden party finery.
The day was magical,
but even more so because I met you.
When asked what I thought of you my reply was:

"The greatest thing since sliced bread!"

I knew you were the one,
but you did not.
Months of accidently bumping into you,
conveniently needing a ride after church,
and finally I gave up.
Only to have you ask me out on our first date:
coffee and Mr.Bean. :)

The day I said "I do",
went by in a blur.
So did the years that followed.
Picking up Kaylee (our first dog) on our honeymoon.
Our first home.
The loss of our first child.
High peaks like the birth of three boys and our last little princess.
Dark valleys through breast cancer.

Through it all -- you were there.
I couldn't...
No, I wouldn't have made it without you.
You made every day an adventure.
I thank God for you each and every day.

Twelve years today my love,
Happy anniversary!