I needed a change and thought an updated blog would do the trick!  Please stop by and visit me in my new home!

www.TheWriteBalance.blogspot.com

See you there!

Deb

It’s Monday and Monday to me means getting my goals for the week in order.  As surprising as that sounds…yes the queen of procrastination does like to set goals.

After reading the latest RWR – the monthly magazine of the RWA – I was inspired by Barbara Samuel’s article on Progress.

Progress means different things to different people, just as each of us has our own idea of success.  I wear many hats – as do most women – I’m a wife, mother, friend, and writer and entire list of other things…

So my list generally comes down to what I have to do keep my hubby, the kids and the house in order (although I have to admit I let the housework slide) and I need to write.  Yes I NEED to write.  The words pump through my veins and rattle around my brain even in my sleep.  I thank god for my daughter’s bath crayons – I’ve been known to use them to write notes on the shower wall during a brainstorm.

So in the name of  progress and getting my writing done in a timely manner – I’ve marked my online calendar with my daily page goal – the reminder comes up first thing in the morning before I’ve started chatting or critiquing on one of the many online groups I belong to.

Next – I’ve marked my calendar with some tasks that need my attention this week…not all writing.  Those pop up every now and then as reminders – which I need.

So how do you pace yourself – keep track of your goals – or motivate yourself to keep moving forward on your dream?

Happy Monday!

Deb

It seems that my friend April has tagged me with this new one - it's called currently...so here it goes a small glimpse into the life of an aspiring romance writer...

Currently...
current clothing: Since it's first thing in the morning - my plush blue robe, my favorite pink flannel PJs and blue fuzzy slippers (okay not the picture of beauty)

current hair: rumpled dark brown (hey it's early)

current mood: tired and looking for motivation

current refreshment: Bring on the coffee

current annoyance: the weather (going to be windy and rainy today)

current avoidance: cleaning the bathroom

current smell: Coffee

current thing you ought to be doing: Planning dinner and the laundry

current thing or things on your wall: Pictures of the kids, wedding portrait, typebox with miniature collection, painting and folk art hearts

current IM/person you're talking to: Jennifer

current jewelry: Wedding ring

current book: Eleven on Top - Janet Evanovich

current worry: Writing a synopsis for an upcoming conference

current favorite celebrity: Hmmm so many men so little time-- Patrick Dempsey, Julian McMahon, Owen Wilson, Brad Pitt, The Rock, etc....just a note - I hate Tom Cruise!

current obsession: MONEY

current love: Still my Hubby!

current longing: To get away from the kids with hubby to some tropical paradise for like 3 weeks. HAHA (this was April's but heck it works for me too!)

current disappointment: Still have not received my contest scores from the GOTCHA - which I didn't final in...

current lyric in your head: I'm so pretty - Oh so pretty...(yes, anger management)

current music: "Here's the mail it never fails it makes me wanna wag my tail, when it comes I wanna wail MAIL..." from Blue's Clues (this is April's too - but with a sick 7 year old home - it fits)

current favorite book: Something Wonderful - Judith McNaught

current favorite movie: Not sure - catch me later on that one.

current wish: To get through my agent/editor appointment at upcoming conference without throwing up!

current undergarments: Ummm, I'm still in my pajamas...you figure it out!

current desktop picture: Three kiddos

current plans for tonight/weekend: Movie night with the family - free weekend!

So what are you currently doing?

Not so interesting is it...oh well I'm off to tag a few friends...

Happy weekend - and thanks for stopping by today!

Deb

Remember the old adage - spare the rod, spoil the child?  Well right now I'm thinking about that saying in terms of critiquing a fellow writers work.

If you're a writer - you know what a lonely road we walk.  For many of us the friends we make along the way are on the internet and in the form of critique groups and writing forums.  Writers are a sensitive bunch - but unfortunately, a thick skin is necessary in this business.  Where's the balance?

So here's the scenario.  Writer sits down and pour heart and soul into chapter one of their most creative piece ever.  It's fabulous and with excited fingers dancing across the keyboard they cut, copy and paste their masterpiece into a file for their critique group to see it.

Patiently we wait and watch the little cursor blink on the screen - waiting for the announcement to pop up - "you've got mail"...unable to contain yourself you open the message to find your chapter barely recognizable - marked up with so many red marks it looks like the pen probably exploded and this couldn't possible be meant for you - right?

Is this fair?  We've all been there.  We've all probably been on the side holding the red pen as well.  Is it fair to the writer to send a glowing critique if the chapter is less than that?  I know when I do my critiques I try to always find something good in what the writer has tried to accomplish.  No wants to hear "you suck."  What I expect is an honest critique - and while my mechanics might need work (probably a lot of work) I want to know at the end of the chapter if I at least engaged you a bit - drew a character that has potential.  I don't want someone to change my voice and word choices, but if I've been out of control with my commas - I damn well want to know about it.

So here's my question, when you get that chapter back - covered in red marks - what do you do?  Do you delete it and scoff - "that's not right" - and head off into your den of denial.  Do you read it and look for the merit in the comments?  Maybe you send hate mail back to the critiquer.  When do you know if someone is messing with your voice or when the comment makes sense?

Not that this has happened to me - mind you.  My chapters are downright glorious and my critique partners sing my praises to high heaven...Don't believe a word of this - I haven't had my second cup of coffee yet, so I'm still in my own fantasy world where I reign as queen supreme.

So - off to ponder the merits of critiquing...Have a great day!

Deb

According to Webster's Dictionary- LOVE is a strong liking for someone or a passionate affection for another person.  Songs have immortalized love as a many spendid thing, and there are just way too many movies to name that have love as the central theme. Why - because love makes us feel good inside.  It embodies all that's right with the world around us - it puts the spring in your step and surrounds your heart with laughter...and that's why I write romance. 

But have you thought about when Valentine's Day started and what some of the statistics are for this holiday?

Did you know that 192 million cards are bought for Valentine's Day?  And according to the Hallmark people, that doesn't include all those boxed cards we send our kids to school with - WOW!  And even more interesting is the fact that more than 60% of those cards are purchased within the six days before the holiday - making it the most procrastinated card buying holiday - my kind of day!

Another interesting fact...As of 2003, there were 1,271 companies that produced either chocolate or cocoa products in the United States alone...hmmm not sure that's enough.  But any way you slice that - it's a lot of chocolate.

If you want more interesting Valentine's Day facts - like who St. Valentine really was and how he suffered and died all in the name of love and romance you can find them here:

www.historychannel.com/exhibits/valentine

So kiss your sweetie, eat some chocolate and enjoy!

Deb

Looking out my living room window I see white.  Deep drifts of beautiful white snow.  I say beautiful only because I don't have to leave my house today.  I can sit and watch the winter wonderland from the warmth of my home - cup of hot cocoa in my hand. Not venturing out into the ice and snow is a great idea on many levels.  First it's dangerous - I'm a nervous driver in the snow which make me dangerous to be around.  I tend to be slow and I can tie up traffic all by myself.  Second, if I don't have to leave the house and get bundled up - the better for me.  I'm not a winter lover by any stretch of the imagination...

The kids have delayed opening and hubby drives a Jeep - so I'm content at the moment to sit back and relax.

Revisions are moving slowly on Crimson Heart...which needs a new name.  I knew from the beginning that my title would have to be changed.  A very popular vampire series is out with a very similar name and I don't want my manuscript landing on someone's slush pile with a too similar title .  My light romantic suspense is no way similar to the popular vampire series.  Which brings me to what it really is.  I've been calling it a romancing the stone in a haunted bed & breakfast...so far my critique group has thrown some pretty silly names at me like...chasing her booty...and then we have some that could work...romancing the ruby...but don't.  At the moment I'm leaning toward either Possess My Heart or One Enchanted Ruby.

With an official agent and editor meeting coming up in mid-March - I've got a lot to get ready for.  Not only do I have to finish my revisions on this 370 page ms...I've got to get a query letter done, and a synopsis - and now I've got to rename the book.

Enjoy your day - even if you have to drive in the snow and ice...just be careful out there!

Deb

As we grow from child to adult, most of us learn quickly that life and happy moments are fleeting and life passes us by way too fast.  As we age, the people we hold most dear are often taken from us before we've had the chance to say everything we hold deep in our hearts.  But as an adult, we rise above the sadness and the pain, say goodbye in our own ways and trudge forward with our daily existence.

This weekend my family experienced the passing of a loved family member.  As parents, my husband and I once again needed to delve into the abstract world of death.  My three kids (14, 12 & 7) all have their own ideas about this sad fact of life.

My youngest is still too young to comprehend.  My oldest, deals with sorrow in his own private way.

My middle son BT, came to both the wake and the funeral.  My son not only stood like a man should, strong and confident, he sat and cried.  His tears were born of sadness, both for his loss and for the deep sympathy he felt for his Aunt. As I stood and watched, he introduced himself to people he didn't know.  He joked with adults he'd just met.  He hugged those in need of warmth and attention.

With hubster out of town on a business trip, my son stood by my side at the funeral this morning.  He touched my arm as I cried and held my hand walking to the car.  At lunch, my little man, didn't sit next to me.  He sat with his Grandfather, a man he looks up to and adores.  He spoke intelligently and with compassion to those grieving around him. As a mother I couldn't have asked for more or been more proud.

As I looked down at the end of the long restaurant table, I saw before me - a man.  No longer a little boy clinging to my legs, afraid to face the world without me by his side. But a young confident man, well on his way to growing into the adult I'd always hoped he would be.

On the way home in the car, he told me how much he loves his family - not just our immediate family - but those he'd just met.  He hopes to see them again, to share happy memories.

And so it begins, the torch has been passed to the next generation.

So tell those around you today - that you love them.  Don't miss your chance.

Deb

Well, it's official - both the flu and the virus have been through our family of five!

It's been taking about a week for each one to drag down a family memer into the pit of despair and stomach aches.  Even the hubster who rarely comes down with anything the kids bring home - came down with both!

I have been cleaning up Crimson Heart getting it ready for my editor and agent appointments at an upcoming conference and then for the great agent search that will begin soon.

One of these days when I'm feeling better I'll have to disinfect the house and make it safe for guests once more...

Have a happy healthy weekend!

Deb

Our story should have continued last Tuesday, but alas, life has a way of getting in the way and I just couldn't get here to post it...thanks everyone for your e-mails, all those sentences were great!  I picked Nienke's  version because I thought it was hilarious and know you will find it funny too.

So grab your cup of coffee, sit back and enjoy...

A journey of a thousand miles - starts with a single step.
I stood at the Starbucks counter prepared to order a grande-mocha-latte-no cream and a blueberry muffin, when it hit me. I had to go back to Kilimanjaro. Its snowy summit, floating above the plains of Africa, was calling to me and I knew I had to leave today. Now. I spun around and, after helping the old lady I spun into back up, I ran out the door of the shop and headed for the airport. I didn’t care that I had no clothes with me. I didn’t care about anything but getting to my destination.

The next sentence is...

As I got into the waiting cab, I heard someone calling from the sidewalk. "Barbara?  Barbara Barry is that you?"  I stood, hand gripping the cold metal door handle and felt that old familiar tingle in the pit of my stomach.

Okay...go get 'em!  Just like before - post your sentences here or e-mail me at the link above. 

Have a great day!

This is an apology to my neighbors...because I fear I left the real Debora home last night and some wierd clone without a tongue showed up in my place.

My neighorhood was forced to attend a community planning meeting to fight a proposed fast-food restaurant with a drive-thru window at the corner of my block.

The community showed up in force and I planned on speaking my voice and sounding intelligent when I listed my concerns.  Unfortunately for me - I was in a very emotional mood and my good friend went immediately before me.  She choked out a few words about being nervous and the safety of the block and quickly stepped away from the microphone in tears.  I stepped up - stated my name and address and proceeded to CRY.  Oh my god - I fell apart and mumbled something about the trash and the safety of my children being a concern...blah blah blah.  At least I now have an answer to anyone who asks - what was your most embarrassing moment??

Of course, when I got home I thought of hundred different things that I could have said, but didn't.  Instead I looked like a pathetic mother - crying at the podium.

At the next meeting - I'll need a plan to make sure the real Debora shows up.

And don't forget to post or e-mail me your addition to my round robins story - details on my Tuesday's post...but here's the sentence that started the story off...

Just like every other Tuesday morning for the past year, I stood at the Starbucks counter prepared to order a grande-moche-latte-no cream, when it hit me.

Have fun and post your sentences by Sunday night.

Deb