J. H. Authors

One Woman. Three Names. Many Books.

Random Thoughts

Crime Bake 2011

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Just back from Crime Bake, and feeling inspired. Exhasusted, but inspired. It was my 9th Crime Bake (out of 10 total). They had a slide show from previous Crime Bakes, and I could see myself aging, and changing, throughout. Here are some of my take aways from this weekend:

  • Even though I am still working on getting the same book published/agented, the book itself has transformed thanks to many critiques. A number of those critiques came as a result of Crime Bake.
  • Being part of a signing (for DEAD CALM, Level Best Books‘ new anthology) was as thrilling as it was last year. In some ways, it was even more thrilling. “Her Wish” had a long journey toward publication. And it remembers my friend Regina, who came to that first Crime Bake with me and would have been thrilled to see me signing this past weekend.
  • Community is all. Most of the joy of Crime Bake is being with other writers. We are inspired by panels, supported by networking and pushed by opportunities to connect with agents, editors and masters of the craft. Both Sisters in Crime New England and Mystery Writers of America are great organizations that help promote that community.
  • The business is changing. But no matter what, there are writers who dream of getting their book published (myself included). Going to conferences like Crime Bake help step up your game.
  • We had a great social media panel on Friday that lead to many conversations throughout the weekend. One of the panelists said that blogs were dead. I disagree, but can’t really contribute to the conversation while I let this blog be so quiet. So short essays here, and on NHWN on a regular basis.

Anon.

 

The Fall Reboot

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The only reason I don’t adore fall is that I hate winter with such a passion. If fall led to spring or summer, it would be my favorite season. I love the crisp air. I love the colors. I love the seasonal food. I love the holidays, especially Thanksgiving. But most of all, I love the reboot.

My life is on a semester cycle. I teach, which helps. And my theater world has seasons, many of which either start or end in September. My daytimer starts in September rather than January. And since my birthday is at the end of the summer, fall is a time for me to set goals for the coming year.

This year the reboot hasn’t been automatic. Time is flying by so quickly I feel the need to respect it more. Is that really how I want to spend my time? Can my knees take another running program? How can I carve out more time for writing? Should I try meditation, again? What will make this time different?

How to break down the goals into manageable tasks, and how to be accountable to myself, those are the struggles. But crisp air, delicious apples and great sleeping weather help reframe the struggles a bit. After all, it is a new year.

Stop Making Sense

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Last week was my birthday. As a gift to myself, I’ve decided to stop making sense.

See, as a Virgo, making sense is comforting to me. I am organized. I scope out situations. I push myself, but they are calculated in that I know what I am getting myself into. I have taken the road less traveled (and it has, indeed, made all the difference), but I invest in a GPS and constantly fact check in order to make the road less traveled more secure.

But I want to find more joy in my life. So here are some of the senseless things I am doing.

I am writing a second book in a mystery series. The first manuscript isn’t sold. I could keep editing it. But instead, I am writing the second one. And loving it.

I am querying agents. I read the blogs, I know my chances. But I love my book. And more importantly, I loved writing it. So I am going to try and go the traditional route (though that may not make sense).

I want to go surfing next summer. This makes NO sense, since I have never been surfing and am not even close to agile enough to do it. But I want to go surfing. Or paraglide. Or both.

And the most senseless thing I’ve done of late? I adopted a cat. I had pets as a kid, and have had two cats as an adult. Having to put them to sleep killed me, and I have been gun shy about putting my heart at risk again. But I heard about a cat who needed a home, and I decided to go for it. She is 11, which could mean that our time together is limited. Or not. Who knows? She needed a home, and it turns out I needed her. It makes no sense, but has brought me joy.

And that makes sense.

Summer Lies

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One challenge of this blog is not to repeat my writing advice (doled out at NHWN blog). Nor is it to discuss theater (my day job), which I do occasionally on the StageSource blog and also on my class blog for Emerson.  Another challenge is to write with more frequency. Goal–Monday postings from now on.

Subject? Varies. This week is on the lies of summer.

Now don’t get me wrong. I adore summer. I love being warm (not hot, but warm). I LOVE baseball. I love going to the beach. I love grilled food (though I don’t love grilling). I love not having to layer my clothes.

But I’ve caught summer out on a couple of lies, especially of late. They include:

  • Exercise. That summer is a good time for it. Now as someone who trained for the past two summers, I can say there are positives to being able to go outside and do all sorts of sports. But not mentioned is the difficulty in actually doing this. Heat is tiring. Energy gets zapped. Sleeping is challenging at times, which doesn’t help.
  • Looking good. Since tanning is out, the sunkissed glow doesn’t happen automatically. That’s one challenge. The other challenge is that you look pressed and fresh for the five minutes before you leave your house, and then it all goes to hell. Sweating. Clothes sticking to you. Being surrounded by sweating people. Running makeup isn’t a good thing.
  • Feet. This may be me, but my dogs don’t like the heat. At all. They get swollen, and sore. I walk, a lot. (Boston is a walking city, I take public transportation most of the time and I do like to get the exercise). So even if I pull of good looking from the ankles up, my shoe choices are dictated by comfort, not style. Sneakers of late.
  • Weight. Magazines exclaim over the opportunities for fresh fruits and vegetables. True enough. But there are also side salads, lots more get togethers and vacations. Never mind s’mores. And the extra exercise makes you extra hungry.

I still love the season. Just saying the love isn’t without some challenges.

Next

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I write on a couple of other blogs, most frequently a group blog. Recently I wrote a post about “great being the enemy of good”. I also wrote about jumping off the cliff, and getting my novel out for some queries. (I am working through a few issues on that other blog).

So I’m querying and getting my work out there. I’m also working on the next book. Some writers hate this part–the imagining, the plotting, the pitfalls of the work when the characters move in a different direction than the one you’ve outlined.

I love it.

I love this part. The thinking part. The walking around a block again because it is perfect for that scene. The quick sketch of the fabulous ladies’ lounge that would be a perfect place to drop a body. (Please remember I write mysteries). The ideas that are inspired by the news.

This is my process. Start to write. Write a lot. Realize I need a plan. Start an outline. Get a little stuck. Think (where I am now). Outline again. And then write. All the way through.

Goal–draft by Labor day. Possible? Only if I think less.

Time

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I went to a great workshop at Grub Street on Saturday. The leader was Hillary Rettig, and the topics were procrastination and time management. Her approach on these topics is very different. And inspiring. Inspiring for new ideas. But requiring some reframing, and some plain old hard work.

Hard work? Harder than writing? Way harder, in so many ways. You see, Hillary explains that in the course of a given week, you have 112 hours to work with (provided you sleep 8 hours a night, which you should). That needs to include working, commuting, shopping, cooking, cleaning, working out, writing (or whatever your passion/avocation is), relationships, entertainment, etc.  How you spend those 112 hours is a choice. Granted, working isn’t a choice for many of us. But decisions around working may be (ie telecommunting, flex time, etc.)

She suggests 15 minute scheduling blocks, outsourcing where possible and some tough, mindful choices. In theory, all possible. In fact? I am finding there are three layers of effort involved.

The first is the list of things that need to be included in the 112 hours. I am trying to be complete in this and doing a complete brain dump. That said, I know some things will need to be modified, or dumped off the list. I am still in this phase, and a little stuck.

The second is the schedule itself. For me, two sub layers are involved here. The actual scheduling, and then tracking it. I was/am a Franklin Covey and Planner Pad girl, but am not loving the paper right now. Need to find a schedule/task softward for androids. Suggestions welcome.

The third is assessing. What happens if I don’t get the five hours of working out I scheduled actually done? What happens if I get on an Angry Bird jag? There are no repercussions, except to myself.

And that is the point. No one is forcing me to do this. I want to do this. And so I have to crack these three layers. And do the work.

I will report back on my success.