Welcome Friday

Fridays always find me exhausted, whether the week had been busy or not. Right now it's rainy and gloomy outside and I feel sleepy. I keep making spelling mistakes as I write this post.

In two hours, I'll be off to date night with hubby. I don't think I'll get any editing done today. I'll read through what I edited this week and go to bed early. Tomorrow, I plan to edit all day, apart from short breaks for lunch and breathing (no not yoga, just a breather).

Sunday after church, I'll edit some more and if I stick to my plan, I'll be done with the editing/rewriting before I hit the pillow.

Next week will be more relaxed. I'll just be reading through the manuscript and adding finishing touches. Oh, and finishing with the cover design (so I can post it for you to see).

I plan to be completely done with the manuscript by the end of December. Then I'll send it to my editor for final basic editing/proofreading. Finally, Mid or end of January will be the best month in my life as a writer when I finally get published.

Right now, I think I'll take a nap before date night, so I don't fall asleep in the movies. Before the nap I need to see if there's a good movie in the cinema.

Bye for now.

Liz

If you're happy and you know it, write a post :-)

Okay, I know it's not often that I write two posts within one week. But I just had to tell you that as the title says, I do feel rather fantastic today. Not only today, actually, but the past few days. My editing is going so well and I've never felt so motivated. I just believe with all my heart and without a doubt that I can do this. I will do this.

For as long as I can remember, I've never been a fan of editing. My neglected manuscripts are my witnesses. Every time I wrote The End and it was time to clean up those babies, I started with the creation of another. Chocolate Aftertaste is the first novel to stick with me through three or four edits.

But I do have to say, this week, especially, I don't have a problem with it. In fact, I've actually been looking forward to it. Who would have thought. Hmmmm...maybe I'll fall in love with writing query letters and synopses at some point (No, I don't think that love story will become a reality).
I don't know for how long I'll be on a high like this. I just thought that before I start criticizing myself again, I should write this post. That way, when I get down, you can remind me of when I was up.

Being a writer is beautiful and so rewarding when it's going well right?
I don't know what I'll do when (yes, when) one of my books gets published. I'll probably sleep with it under my pillow and several times during the night I'll check to see that it's really there.

Actually, when I get the news that Chocolate Aftertaste (or any of my work) will be published, I'll do the following:

• Receive the news

• Remain in a state of shock for a while, staring into space

• Body starts functioning again

• Skip around the house like a crazy woman mumbling "I did it, I did it, I did it"

• Call my husband (if he's not with me to tell him the news) and probably won't reach him. Have you noticed that when you have fantastic news and want to tell the world, no one seems to be reachable? I hate that.

• Call friends (possibly also unreachable)--temptation to call non-friends rises (I don't like word enemy)

• Retry calling friends several times more until I reach them

• Scream into their ears for joy

• Tell you guys (Best for last)

And then after that I don't know what I'll do anymore...I'll think about it. Maybe I'll hug the world or fly.

What would you do if you got news that your hard work has paid off? We all celebrate in different ways so don't be shy. Come on, let's dream together. If you're already published, tell us what you did.

Here's a nice photo for you taken in Salzburg in Austria last year. Just something to brighten your day.

Early bird update

Sleep was incredibly delicious this morning, even more than yesterday. But I did get up and got a lot of editing done. I edited two chapters and am pleased with the results.

I have learned one thing, though.
Before going to bed I should always figure out what it is I will be working on the next day and know where all my notes are. This morning I spent almost fifteen minutes searching the apartment for one of my notebooks (with valuable information). When one only has a limited amount of time to write/edit, fifteen minutes is a long time.

I did find the notebook and in the end, I was pleased with what I had accomplished. I look forward to the end of the week when I review my progress.

If I keep going this strong, I'll easily make it by my birthday.

Happy writing

Liz

Almost there

 Hello friends,

I'm so proud of myself.  I'm knackered right now because I went to bed at 2am but it doesn't matter. I finally managed to complete the ending to Chocolate Aftertaste. I've rewritten it so many times, but I'm finally there, finally happy. I've also reached the targeted word count for my novel. My next steps are to edit the scenes I have rewritten and then rewrite the dreaded query letter and synopsis. I plan to sent out some queries by my birthday in June.

I hope you're all on track with your own writing. If not (even if you are, actually), here are some tips:

Time management
http://www.urbanmusewriter.com/2011/03/10-time-management-tips-for-writers.html
http://michellerafter.com/2011/02/28/best-time-management-tips-for-writers/

Crashing writers' block
http://grammar.about.com/od/yourwriting/a/wblockquotes.htm
http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/block.html
http://www.dailyblogtips.com/4-amazing-tips-for-overcoming-a-writer%E2%80%99s-block/

Happy writing.
Liz