Rewrites begin

Stories do not begin as the polished prose found in books.  Nor do visual stories magically unfold onto the screen as first written.  Story begins with an idea, theme or incident and will transform many times before completion.  The characters are supposed to transform through the story too.

I used one of my own work-in-process novels, as the story for the screenwriting class I just completed, and began storyboarding and rewriting it last week.  This takes an almost obsessive focus, and the story interconnects with another w-i-p novel.  (Both of these manuscripts were put on hold while I wrote my memoir of my parents.)   I know these stories and characters well, and suddenly it hit me, my hero had no special something -to make him as interesting (to me) -as the rest of the characters in the two books.

It suddenly came to me, my hero will be a Jungian.  Giving him this added interest in Carl Jung and synchronicity has made my hero, and the story, much more fun to me and required a trip to the library and two days of extensive reading.    Ah, love research!

Now I’m reviewing the ancient art of face reading so I can figure out what he looks like.  Some writers flip through magazines but to me, those faces have little character.

Obsessing about my story, and focusing on facial features, will be great these next two days.  They are grammy days and he’s miserable with teething this week.  Our oldest grandson lost his first tooth, and our youngest is getting his first tooth.  How cool is that?

Refreshing

I’ve been living in Oregon for 11 years and still marvel that spring begins before May!  Lenten Roses are blooming, primroses popping and all the branches are getting the furry brush of buds.  The weather was blah overcast, with not even a breeze, but it was still nice to walk around outside.

I got word this morning that a “check is in the mail” for an article I wrote.  My first check as a writer!  How cool is that?  Well, I did get paid well, to write, in my former life, but that was technical writing – not something that inspired too much delight.

At the beginning of the month I vowed, I was going to celebrate all the little things.   We are planning a dinner with friends tomorrow.  Tonight I turned to Facebook and had fun.  My nephew posted this link Johann Strauss: “Emperor Waltz” to enjoy.  Then I learned my niece has new job at  Swami Mami. I checked in on a friend stuck in a Colorado blizzard.  She’s doing fine, the snow stopped at a foot, the sun is shining, and she didn’t lose power.

At the same time I vowed to celebrate, romance is the other energy I want more of in my life.  (Hubby just ran off to channel surf!)   This led me to become a Facebook Fan of  Avon romance reading circle.   It starts in a few days.

In other family news, everyone I personally know, that’s been economically strained these past months, is moving forward in promising ways.  Which is the true beauty of spring, it’s our annual refresh.

men of interest

The joys of web surfing can lead in interesting directions.  Yesterday after reading Synchronicity‘s post about #23,  I did a Google search on Charles Hoy Fort, he’s considered the founding father of paranormal studies.  Today is our daughter Katelyn’s 23rd birthday and she’s the one who introduced me to Neil Gaiman.

Today Marc Acito posted about William F. Buckley, he was the founding father of the modern conservative movement. I find the history associated with these men, and the women in their lives, fascinating.  It’s also interesting that Pat and Bill were married  57 years, and died months apart, just like my parents.

That’s two 23′s, two founding fathers and two 57 year marriages.  I wonder if it means something? 

work-play-rest

Four letter words, they’ve been swirling in a triangle in my mind.  I imagined Play on the top of the triangle, with Work and Rest on the bottom.   Now if you follow the links to Merriam-Webster’s definitions, you’ll notice, rest is scarcely defined while work and play are defined in a variety of directions.  Which makes me wonder if rest should go on top of the triangle.  Or if the triangle should be inverted with rest on the bottom and work and play on the top.

It was a grandma day today, and he’s adorable, but requires work.  I sit on the floor and play with him, and he rests for half an hour in the morn – two in the afternoon.   During his long nap today, I rested and mused.

My friend Elizabeth had a work trip last week, an exciting one, autographing her latest novel while the books were still in a warehouse.  In two days, she autographed 6,240 books.  She wore a brace for her carpal tunnel, and had a uni-ball pen.  It took a week of REST for her shoulder and hand to feel better.   While this could never be considered PLAY, she was thrilled to do so, because she loves her WORK and her readers.

When our girls were young,  it was a lot of work for us to play as a family.  I’d joke I needed to get back to work (my job), to rest from the vacation.  Now the girls are all on their own and I’m redefining these four letter words.  Writing used to be my play, reading my rest.

We have a weekend place now, for play.  Bicycles and kayaks are waiting in storage for the weather to warm.   I’m sure I’ll take books to read, and chapters to edit, but the focus will be play and rest.   I’ve learned this past year, from friends who are full time novelists, writing and reading are now work, and they love it, but they have to rest from it, and take time to play.  I’m still shifting into this thought process.

Spring

Tis the season of new beginnings.  I spent the day rebuilding my computer.  Yep, virus alert, yesterday.  I shut down and baked treats for my final screenwriting class.   After the party, Ed did some stuff to my computer, (it helps to have a PC genius in the house) and I was able to back up everything, that wasn’t.  I’m usually good at backups, but I really loved being able to get it all!

This morning I began-wiping the computer clean, then slowly building it up.  It took six hours, numerous reboots, some modifications, and only my Outlook file wouldn’t work.  There’s another guru I know who may be able to help with that.  It’s all good, I have most of “my contacts”, in a spreadsheet.

It gave me pause, to do this work today, because that’s the theme of the first day of spring.  Fresh growth, a new season, turning over and loosening the dirt, a clean start.

I now have a whole new look to my screen, learned a bunch of stuff, and did it all by myself.  The highlight of this experience was being able to log into my blog, and my favorite links were easy to bookmark again.   Then I logged onto my Facebook account, and most of “my contacts”, are also my friends.

Running Time

I recently read, Running Time by T.J. MacGregor, this is the second book in a series and I hope there are more.   One reviewer stated it was different than her “normal” books, so I have no choice but to find out, what normal may be, for T.J.

This also happened when I discovered Tess Gerritsen.  I read The Bone Garden and loved it, but found it was also “different from her normal” books.   I’ve read some of her normal ones, and they are very good, but I guess it’s like your first love, others may be better or worse, but it was that first one that really made the impact.    The story shifts between present time and 1830, and I loved how she tied it together in the end.

Both of these women are master storytellers.

I picked up Running Time by T.J. MacGregor specifically because it was the second book in the series.  I have my own nefarious reasons for that, as a writer, and will probably reread this book many times…   This book also shifts between present and 1695 but not just in story, this is a Time Travel book.   It has strong and fascinating story threads that build and twist as they connect tighter and tighter.   There are some scenes at the end, that are just awesome!

My greater fascination with Running Time is knowing that Time Travel could all be very real.  The Monroe Institute is a real place and the technology and science, making Time Travel possible in the story, is very much, right now.  I was amazed at how simply T.J. explained some pretty intense biophysics and quantum mechanics.  I also know, from personal sources, that secret organizations like SPOT, are very probable, and their government connections.   So while this is a novel, there was no suspension of disbelief.  As I am reading through it again, taking my time, I can see even more details that just make it – fascinating.

Of course there are some story points that, well, had to be done, for the sake of the story.  Like a convenient laptop with all the information easily accessed.  But, with the pacing of this story, some of the secondary characters have to be brought up to speed in a hurry, and there is no one around to tell them,  so I’m glad the author tossed the kids a loaded laptop.

As a reader, I can be happy, with an entertaining escape, and I have a few fav authors I trust, who always deliver.   They just can’t deliver as many stories in a year as I want to read.  However, seldom in my reading life have I felt the desire to reread, and absorb, the story.   I have a new – first love.

Numbers

Today I played the License Plate game.  It was a bit different from the way I played it as a child, because I was alone in the car, and, I’ve been brushing up on my numerology.  Each number, one through nine, has a certain energetic vibration and, over the years I’ve simplified what each one means to me personally.

My “number” all my life, is 713.  No reason, just liked it.  Since learning numerology, I know this is a message to remember daily.  7 13  means – spirit and self in balance.  It might mean something else, to someone else, but that’s what it means to me.  I also like noticing the words to the songs on the radio.   Many times I’ve been focused on a specific issue, or question, or concern, and suddenly notice the words of the song on the radio are giving me the answer.   It’s really fun!

So back to the license plate game.  I found a new flavor to this, 12 years ago, in 1997.   We lived in New Jersey and were intent on moving to Oregon, homeless, jobless, with 4 kids and a dog.  Insane!  It was a bad day, and I was feeling, this dream/goal/objective – truly was insane.  On my way home from work ( a really good job it was insane to give up) my request from God/source/spirit was for a sign that this was the right choice.

I learned this in my childhood, from Mom and Dad.  Prayers are answered, and God lets us know, but we have to pay attention.  So I pay attention to all kinds of things!

That day, I was asking for a sign, it was a few weeks before all hell broke loose.  Long story, I’ll put it in a book.  So I’m driving home from work, in bumper-to-bumper traffic.  Surrounded by New Jersey license plates.  Then the car in front of me changed lanes, and I closed the space on – an Oregon license plate.  Three numbers on one side, three letters on the other, tall tree in the middle.  In New Jersey?  I laughed!

Of course, two days later, I saw two more Oregon license plates, because that’s my personal rule.  If it is an important message from spirit, I want 3 signs.  And I got them, in 3 days.  Without that affirmation I wouldn’t have been able to hold true, to the signs, with what my family endured, in the following weeks.  Our family move to Oregon took place on 7-17 that year.  I didn’t understand why it wasn’t on 7-13, then.

Fast forward, 12 years, and tons of transitions, to today.  A good day in Oregon.   Driving to the monthly meeting, workshop, with my romance writers group.  A rainy Saturday morning.  Just driving.  A glance at the license plate of a car.  My mind automatically assesses the numbers and letters of a license plate.  No big deal, simple message of the numbers and the letters sort of have the flavor of a word.   Cute.

But then, every car, every license plate, was doing the same thing.  3 random numbers, 3 random letters, noticed in a quick glance, had cute messages.  Nothing earth shattering, just fun.  But, every car?  Finally I was on my own in a misty fog and laughing, wondering.   Staying back from being able to see the numbers and letters on the car ahead.  Except one passed on the left and I automatically glanced, saw a number and word message.  I laughed again!  It was so fun!

So I asked out loud, alone in my car, “who’s playing with me?”

A car went by with the license plate – ZTV 902.

The message I got was, Zenith TV, Sept 2nd.  Daddy was a TV repairman, his birthday Sept. 2nd.

How cool is that?  Daddy and I were playing the license game.  Then a van, with donuts and coffee decals in colorful splendor, drove by.  The license plate was:

A7134U.

Then Elton John’s voice crooned through the radio speakers, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”, and the words, “Should have listened to my old man…”

I stopped at the vending machine, before I went into the romance writers meeting.  Got a “Payday.”   Nuts and carmel.  The story of my life.  Gotta love it!

Screenplay complete!

Whew!  Last night was the critique/analysis from the whole class, of the second half of my screenplay, and I did good!  Huge improvement on the format and style, good scenes, dialogue, and pacing, and the only things to fix are some story points.

The whole exercise, for me, of turning a novel into a screenplay, was to help me storyboard, and rewrite it.   I don’t ever plan to write another screenplay!  I’m a book person, though I love analyzing favorite movies.  And each of the story points I missed in the screenplay, are already in the novel, but now when I go to rewrite it, I know I’ll hear my teacher stating:  “We need to see it.”

I’ll miss this class.  These two quarters of focusing on visual storytelling was wonderful, and the classes were awesome, as we’d go off on tangets about other stories and movies, we all laughed lots and no one was ever in a rush to leave when it was done.

I’m still deciding what to take for next quarter.

Indigo

My latest research book is  The Indigo Children-Ten Years Later by Lee Carroll & Jan Tober.  This is part of my process, a fun book and a research book, to get distance from my current work-in-process and come back to work, fresh.

The fun book was Mrs. Perfect by Jane Porter.  Or so I thought, because I was so inspired by her “voice”, that it really helped with editing the beginning chapters of my memoir.  So that meant I could read another fun book, Running Time by T.J. MacGregor.   This was so awesome that I’m going to read it again before I say more.

So – the Indigo book.  It’s good, with articles from around the globe, from skilled and accredited professionals.  However, unless you’re in academia putting together a request for a research grant, feel free to skip or skim the first (biggest) section, “Educators Speak”.  Except, read the last two pages, “Ten Ways We Misunderstand our Children” by Jan Hunt, M. Sc.

“From Health Workers” was interesting and I liked the article by Howard Peiper, N.D.  This article broke things into biology and chemistry, crystals and flower essences, which I found pretty cool!

There are also copies of articles from Time Magazine that showed it is valid to consider our children may have different physical conditions, skills, interests, and sensitivities, than we do as adults, or did as children.  Uh, Duh!

“Indigos at Work” was interesting and finally gives a brief glimpse into the promise on the front cover, “What’s happening with the Indigo Teenagers!”  Then there’s another brief glimpse at that, in the short final section, “From Parents and Indigos”.

I heard about this Indigo thing in the early ’90′s from my brother Rick.  (He’s in medicine, runs the heart-and-lung machine during open-heart surgeries.)  He’d heard there were lots of children being born, where some of that junk DNA, scientists thought was dormant in our bodies, was now activating.  I thought that was pretty cool.   When I first learned about the double helix, I thought it was sort of silly that most of it was worthless, according to whatever science book I was learning from, in the ’70′s.

It’s important to note the Indigo color has nothing to do with aura’s.  One woman, Nancy Tappe with a unique vision ability, saw a new blue color when viewing people.  Others made a connection of this new color, to our DNA, being less, junk.  Which is totally fine with me.  If we’ve got DNA, might as well use it.

I am very anti-labels, especially when it comes to children!  However, my mom taught to always be informed about what’s being promoted in the world, especially in regards to children.   Which was my main focus on reading this book since it’s now promoted that 90% of children under 10 are Indigo.

One article of interest to me, with lots of children in my life, was “Conscious Parenting for a New Paradigm” by Barbra Gilman.   This was a good article with practical and holistic advice, some personal tidbits, and made me feel good.  I was raised by, conscious parents.   Our daughters were raised by, conscious parents.

The “New Paradigm” part of this whole Indigo thing has me feeling tired of hearing the phrase.  Isn’t every every birth the start of a new paradigm?   We told all four of our daughters that they were each raised by a different set of parents, because each birth changed us, as parents.  Our girls felt that made us less odd, for still being married, since most of their friends parents, weren’t.

After reading this book, it’s possible some of my junk DNA is doing it’s job, instead of sitting dormant.  I totally agree with the main points of this book, schools need to meet the needs of students to learn, and parents need to learn to be parents.  To do so, in both school and home, is to pay attention and listen to our children, for who they are, while creating a nurturing environment, with responsible boundaries, for them.

The only real surprise I got from this book is figuring out Lee Carroll’s age.  I met him a few years ago, liked his humor and energy, figured he was a few years older than me.  (He looks just like his picture.)  Nope, he’s got to be at least 74, so maybe there’s something healthy to channeling a magnetic master.  If it’s going to benefit our children, I say, keep up the good work.

Picture day

It’s been a busy few days, curled up with books by the fire.  I’ve been sort of overloading on reading, nurturing the soul, while I also polished up edits on my memoir and have a few other fun things on my plate.

The next two days will be devoted to grammy fun, Keirnan will be 5 mos old on Saturday.

For fun today I got to watch my latest great-nephew take his first steps on a video my niece posted on Facebook. Technology is fun!

I know some readers of my blog like the links I post so they can spiral down a rabbit hole of cool stuff they wouldn’t have found.  So here’s some for today:   Elizabeth Boyle’s blog about what makes a great romance novel.

For a chilling read, check out Tess Gerritsen’s post at Murderati.

Or maybe you’d rather read more of our First Family connections at Marc Acito’s blog.

If astrology is your thing, T. J. MacGregor posts about aspects specific to writers and their career.

There’s also more cool stories posted on Synchronicity.

It’s in the voice

As my reward, for completing my screenplay for class, I picked up the top book off my to-be-read pile.  There’s nothing better that a new book by a favorite author.   Jane Porter is a friend, who’s voice I love and I’ve read all her books, except the Harlequin Presents.   I’m sure those are great books too, but I prefer the books where Jane is free from agenda and genre.

Mrs. Perfect is a great read.  I was sucked into an alien world of fascinating neuroses, secrets, issues with food, money and control.  Imagine finding a skirt in your closet, that still has the $1,800 price tag, and know you’ll never wear it.  (that’s more than my mortgage) The main character Taylor, is one many mom’s- of school age children- have met; even if you don’t live in an exclusive and exceptionally wealthy school district.  I wonder how many -of those perfect women- are so endearingly wounded like Taylor.

What makes this book engaging and really pulls at your heart is the author’s voice.  The Taylor character, tells her story as it’s happening, in first person.  She reveals the delicate wounds and sorry choices that have brought her to this point in time, and what happens next.  The more Taylor loses, the deeper the wounds revealed, and the greater balance Taylor develops.  As a reader, I was horrified and desperate to give Taylor a bear hug.

Perfectionism urges are easily overlooked when the focus is to excel, whether from within or without.  We saw this developing, in our third daughter, Kate, the summer before second grade.   Our delicate 7-yr-old would get upset, at anything that didn’t turn out like she wanted.  This was not in temper form, but a gritting teeth silence.  Then she’d determine to fix, whatever, make it turn out like she wanted.  Failure, or giving up, wasn’t an option.

My husband Ed, and I agreed we’d talk to Kate’s new teacher, Mrs. Flury, to work with us on the, it’s OK to make mistakes agenda.  Try new things, just to see what happens.  Unfortunately, Ed had to work late the night we were to meet.  I could tell Mrs. Flury was respectful, especially since this was my 3rd daughter, and I was presenting all the correct information and, of course, Mrs. Flury would pay attention.   The meeting was done and I was content with her cooperation for Kate.

Then Ed came in the door, apologizing for being late.  Mrs. Flury was a pretty, delicate, lady, soft spoken.  Ed is 6 foot, black hair, muscular, dynamic and a leader.   He rushed in, introduced himself and quickly repeated everything I had just said, about cooperating to help Kate, not feel she had to be perfect.   I couldn’t help but notice, Mrs. Flury was mesmerized.  She even stood up, took a deep breath.  Her response to Ed was not, “Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.  Certainly, I understand.”  To Ed, her comments were, “Absolutely!  I understand completely.  I’ll make this a priority!  You can count on me to do my best for her!”

Kate still remembers Mrs. Flury, with devotion, as the best teacher she ever had.   Kate excels at most things she tries, has attracted a lot of drama into her life, and has moved past, into being a free spirit, with confidence in her own abilities, at the age of 22.

And as I closed the book, Mrs. Perfect by Jane Porter, I had to wonder, how close our daughter may have come, to becoming a “Mrs. Perfect”, if her daddy hadn’t made those two minutes of his time, a priority.

The Writer’s Cave

There are a variety of myths about how books are written.   There are even movies about the process, Stranger than Fiction starring Will Ferrell, is one I really enjoyed for the way it twists the myths.

I’ve heard that some authors go into a trance like state for days, or weeks, not sleeping or eating, living on coffee.   I know one, multi-published, author who admitted that she will get into a “state” of total fixation, where she grits her teeth, plows through, and gets amazing insights, because of the strain and pressure.  She also suffered from severe migraines, needed extensive drug therapy, and suddenly stopped writing.  Another friend recently explained how she did this one weekend, a total fixation, where she felt clear and energized.  A few weeks later, agents were assuring her, they’d read her novel, that weekend.  She’s already sold movie rights.

Many authors who consistently publish, understand storytelling is a process of being consistent.  Simple routines that include a good diet, exercise, and spending a lot of time each day, writing.  Like any career, the more time focused on the work, the better the brain responds.  I’d love to say that all the myths are, myths, but there’s a truth in every myth.

I tried to explain the process of a consistent and healthy writing schedule, to my fellow classmates, in my screenwriting class, and was quickly busted.  Jean M Auel ‘s grandson is in my class.  What are the odds?  She was a tech writer at Tektronix when she put her life on hold to write Clan of the Cave Bear.  According to her grandson, Jean will go into an 86 hour “place”, to write.   I was a tech writer at Tektronix when one of my coworkers proudly discussed his association with Linda Needham,and the amazing writers group, RCRW.    I’ve been associated with this group, these past six years, in a variety of board positions.

In this new millennium of self-help books and new age philosophies, writers acknowledge The Muse and the importance of inspiration.  We’re also masters of our own destiny.  So instead of entering  an unhealthy “state”, the new terminology is the “Writer’s Cave”.  It’s a metaphysical place we’ve chosen to enter – to focus.   When a writer goes-into the cave- now – it means they unplug-from electronics, email, web-searching.  I’m going to give this a try.

My hubby’s out-of-town, for almost two weeks.  I’ve got some amazing edits from my friend Kathie Snow, on my memoir of my parents, and insights from an agent who responded to my query.   I’ve got suggestions from an editor I met last summer.

I recently viewed a video clip of Allison Dubois from a speaking engagement she did in 2008.  This is a woman who, it’s been scientifically proven, talks to dead people.  There’s a hit TV show about her.   She stated it was four years, after her dad died, before she could talk about it, without the lump in her throat. It’s only been three years, for me, since daddy died, in a car accident, on his first trip, to visit mommy’s grave.

I’m going to do my best to get into that writer’s cave and focus.  But right now, the cat wants to come in, the dog wants to go out.

Who are Romance Novelists?

To a nephew in college, I am, that fun aunt – from out of town.   He made a joke about romance novelists then felt bad to realize that’s my chosen profession.  As happens, since synchronicity is part of my life, my friend Teri Brown was featured for the local Tigard newspaper, for who she is to her community.  She’s a great example of following her passion and transforming the lives of many.  Read My Lips, is a wonderful story I recommend for all preteen girls.

Romance novelists come in all shapes and sizes, have careers in every industry, and begin writing at any age between puberty and death.  The only thing they have in common is a passion for reading romance novels.  This is the primary requirement for being a romance novelist, the second is the ability to write.

As in any industry, the best way to succeed is through networking.  As with any craft, the mastery takes passion, time, talent, humility, and, practice, practice, practice.   The next stage is best described by my friend Jessa Slade, in her post,  How to Stalk and Capture an Agent.

Celebrate Romance

The new moon each month is usually overlooked, because it’s -not there- in the sky.  Everyone has an opinion on the full moon, that can be tracked through police and medical records, as our bodies are mainly water, and the full moon has a huge affect on the tides and gravity of Mother Earth’s oceans.  I’m as willing as anyone to dance in the field, howling, under a full moon.  But, my life seems to be connected to the new moons.  The invisible one that – in astrology – heralds, new beginnings.  There was a new moon a few days ago.

I checked whether the Cheshire Moon in the sky was waxing or waning.  It’s waxing, which means, getting bigger.

This overlooked new moon created my Kaleidoscope week.  I think it’s heralding for me, a new stage in my life.  One I’ve dreamed about since I was 12.  My entrance into the world of writing books.

The journey of “writing books” has been long, with a few life twists and turns; a cross country move, a year on the road- as a pack mule -after hubby’s car accident, the deaths of my parents, the births of my grandsons, all our girls grown and gone, and finally, my return to college.  But now I am here, writing books.  Well, in truth, rewriting books already written, to make them better, for the reader.  This new stage in my life got the !!! tonight, because of Celebrate Romance.

Who doesn’t want to Celebrate every day and have Romance every night?  If you do – go to Miriam Webster’s definitions of those two words – and make sure you know what your goals are. 

Of the 19 attening authors at this event, I’ve had personal connections with eight of them during the past six years.  I know them as friends, women.  I know their challenges with the world of publishing, the balance they strive to achieve between personal nurturing, family, and business:  the snow storms they’ve endured, their children, their dreams, their trials.

And they know me, even if they can’t remember my name.  They’ve read my blog.  We hug.  We celebrate.  I read their books and they assure me, they can’t wait to read mine.

Which will happen, as I figure out, how to use that invisible new moon energy, and turn it into, a huge ball of light in the sky.