AM I LOSING IT…

POSTED BY: GENIE GABRIEL

This past week, I finished book #8 of my Halo Legacy Series--serious issues, action, romance, and some mystery--and switched to writing an anthology that's supposed to be humorous. 

But I'm struggling to be funny. Not good.

So I went to one of my favorite research tools (the Internet) and keyed in comedy. I watched some of what was labeled comedy and didn't crack a smile. 

And I wondered: am I losing it? (My sense of humor, not the sanity I've never laid claim to!)

And, finally, I found laugh-out-loud comedy in comedians actually older than I am. :)

Jonathan Winters, who can make up weird and hilarious (to me) skits using a stick or a pen and pencil set. Carol Burnett and Charo in (almost) matching red sequined pants and midriff-baring tops. Jonathan Winters (again) with Robin Williams.

How can some people make comedy out of nothing but their imagination?

I did ask my grown son for some of his favorite comedians. I hadn't heard of them, but he hadn't heard of Jonathan Winters or Charo either--who I had forgotten was a pretty darn good guitar player.

Beyond loosening up my funny bone again, it was good for me to spend an hour or so laughing. 

Do you have a favorite comedian or a show/movie that's guaranteed to make you laugh?

WRITING BECAME PART OF ME in 2012

I love how Meggan started our year with the One Big Thing. Her post focused my attention on my top priority for 2013, which doesn't happen to be exclusively writing. 

On further thought, I realized how much progress I made last year, when writing was my One Big Thing. I wrote or promoted my writing pretty much every day in 2012. 

And guess what? Writing moved beyond being a priority. It became part of me.

That means I'm not leaving writing behind in 2013. Writing will continue to be a big part of my life:

--I started off 2013 with a new release, LEGACY UNDER FIRE, which is book #6 of my Halo Legacy Series.

--I have four more releases scheduled this year: three more Legacy books in March, May and July, as well as a novella that's part of an anthology to be released in May.

--I'll continue to promote these releases and, in fact, expand those efforts. 

--I'll be learning animation and finding out more about graphic novels in the quest to find new ways to present my stories. 

--More characters in my Halo Legacy Series are nagging to have their stories told.

--Ideas are bubbling about expanding my romantic comedy novellas into some steampunk settings and giving a bigger role to the dogs in those stories.

--I'll be expanding my writing into nonfiction by keeping a journal of my experiences in Going Back to the Country.

The realization I've moved from writing being something I do when I carve out the time to writing being part of me is huge in my corner of the world. This wasn't done in one incredible leap, but one sentence, one scene, one book, one online appearance at a time--every day over the past year.

Then Barb talked about dreams and letting go of old things to make room for the old. Wow! That post resonated with me also! To realize my dream of having property for my doggies and me, I'm letting go of a house I've lived in for about 25 years. I'm letting go of city life. I'm letting go of a do more, work harder mindset, and many other habits and thoughts that aren't in my best interest any more. 

So I'm cleaning out my mental (and literal) closets to make room for a dream, and approaching 2012 one research article, one property search, one self-sufficient process at a time. 

Of course, I won't refuse a quantum leap either!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM ME & MY DOGGIE CREW!

What to wear, what to wear--no, wait! What to write, what to write!

Yep, got the reminder that it's my turn to blog tomorrow--well, technically, it's now today. And I've been dashing around all day and am just now getting to writing my blog post. 

My doggies are asleep and I'm still at my computer. Responded to some comments from the online Christmas party I'm participating in. Read someone else's funny Christmas blog. And I've added enough words have my blog post is partway done. :)

I'm going to make this short and easy, and just say Happy Holidays from me and my doggie crew to all of you! 

CREATIVITY COMES IN MANY FORMS

Current Project: Halo Legacy Series
Status: Working on book #8
Posted by: Genie Gabriel

I'm going to stray from the topic of writing for this post to give a shout out to other creative outlets. One of my friends, who paints fabulous water colors, has a number of her paintings hanging in the Red Raven Gallery in downtown Salem. I went to see her and missed her by probably less than a minute because it took me so looong to find a place to park. I hope that meant there were lots of people enjoying the Art Walk downtown. There are twenty-one locations downtown exhibiting the work of local artists through the end of December.

I've been in my writing cave so long I'd forgotten how I love the work of other artists. Not just paintings, but wood carvings (I love to touch wood but restrained myself), pottery, jewelry, knitted or crocheted scarves. Pretty much anything creatively handmade. 

I was also reminded how lucky I am to have friends who are talented. Several of them women named Kim--one who does finely detailed drawings and paintings; another who is taking fabulous photos; another growing her own grapes and making wine. And at least two friends--not named Kim--who make incredible quilts.

I'm not going to list all the incredibly talented people I know who have creative outlets besides or in addition to writing. The list would be very long and I'd keep updating the post as I thought of yet another talented person.

So, though we're two weeks past Thanksgiving, I'd like to say how thankful I am to know such talented people--in addition to writers, of course! The beauty of their creativity is one of the things that fills the well of my soul. So thank you all for the beauty your bring to this world. 

And if you have a creative outlet other than writing, please share what it is. I know many writers also find joy in other creative outlets.

ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

Current Project: Halo Legacy Series
Status: Deep in book #8
Posted by: Genie Gabriel

Maybe it's because I haven't started Christmas shopping or even thought about it much, but this year--for a change--Thanksgiving actually seems to have its own space and isn't just jammed between other holidays on the rush toward the end of the year.  

My grown sons will attest that I'm not much for traditions. On holidays, we do whatever we feel like doing and not always on the day designated by most of our society. However, I do have much to be grateful for and would like to share part of that list--some serious, some silly--that hopefully will bring a smile or a nod to you.

-- My "work" is things I love to do.

-- My house is warm and dry.

-- I can see that darn blinking cursor, and most of the time there are words beside it.

-- My dogs adore me--as long as meals are on time--and love to cuddle.

-- I have the power to heal and sometimes I quit whining long enough to use it.

-- I can walk, I can run--though kinda slowly--and I can laugh.

-- My sons and grandkids take time from their own lives to play cards or board games with me.

-- The lights still come on when I flip the switch and the thermostat on the furnace works.

-- The dishes are washed and the dusting can wait another few days.

AND I am also especially grateful to other writers who take the time to support each other and to share their thoughts. Please share one or two of your own special items of gratitude if you are so inclined and aren't too exhausted from shopping. :) 

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Current Project: Halo Legacy Series
Status: Finishing book #7
Posted by: Genie Gabriel


Since my own words seem to be elusive today, I'd like to share a short piece written by Christian D. Larson in 1912, that really resonated with me. I usually consider myself an optimist, but realized optimism could be taken to a deeper level, and many of these words could apply to our writing lives.

In searching the Internet, I found this had been used in the movie, The Secret, and had been adapted by Optimists International as their creed. 

I hope you enjoy this.

The Optimist Creed

Promise Yourself...
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature you meet.
To give so much time to improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud word, but in great deeds.
To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side, so long as you are true to the best that is in you.

--Written by Christian D. Larson in 1912

FLEXING YOUR FLEXIBILITY

Current Project: Book #7 of Halo Legacy Series
Status: Almost finished!
Posted by: Genie Gabriel

I've come to think one of the most useful traits for a writer is flexibility. Why? Let's consider:

--Most writers also have a "day job," at least when they start writing. So you write when you can.

--Most writers also have other commitments and roles (spouse, mother, daughter, aunt, friend, pets, volunteer, etc.--you can add to this list). So you juggle your many different roles and hope everything doesn't come crashing down.

--When polishing a story, a critique partner might not like a particular part of your story or, heaven forbid, one of your main characters. Do you revise or feel strongly enough to leave it alone?

--When trying to get published, an agent or editor might not like a particular part of your story and ask for revisions, with still no guarantee of a sale. So do you revise or submit somewhere else?

--After you've sold a manuscript, an editor might request revisions. Do you revise or risk losing the contract? 

--Your cover sucks. Do you request something different or make the best of it?

--Sales are so-so or almost nonexistent. Do you hide in your cave or come up with a different marketing plan?

Yes, it's been a week or so of needing flexibility for me. How about? Are there other instances for you where flexibility has been your friend?

WRITE FASTER!

Current Project: Halo Legacy Series
Status: writing book #7

Because I'm in deadline mania, writing faster is much on my mind. What helps me write faster? Here are some suggestions:

1. Deadline panic! I'm past my deadline and my publisher is being soooo nice.

2. BICHOK--the old "butt in chair, hands on keyboard" really does work for me. When writing moves to the top of my priority list--well, except for doggies and eating--I produce words.

3. Write every day. This kinda goes along with BICHOK. When the story is fresh in my mind, jumping back into it is much easier.

4. Make sure the research is done. When I have to stop in the middle of a book to do research, it really slows me down. I enjoy research and can become sidetracked easily. That can be very time-consuming.

5. Detailed plotting. I can hear pantsters moaning, but if I know where I'm headed, I get there faster. 

6. Know the craft of writing. Much of what slowed me down in the early years of my writing was I didn't have an intuitive feel for the structure of a novel. Well, that "intuitive feel" was a learned skill for me. I had to write a lot (some say at least a million words) before I knew when I should be introducing new issues and when it's time to wrap up subplots because the black moment is fast approaching.

7. Don't be afraid to "slash and burn." There comes a point in my editing when deleting is my friend. Notes to myself, phrases that make me go "huh?", scenes I love but don't move the story forward--all gotta go!

This is soooo much different than when I first started writing. It took fourteen years from the start of my first book until it was published. Granted, the first book was completely rewritten six or eight times. Also, I drafted several other books while I submitted the first one to publishers. However, this is still a long time. 

There are more ways I use to speed up my writing, but how about you? Do you have techniques that help you write faster?

I'M DOING MY OWN mini-NaNoWriMo

Current Project: Halo Legacy Series
Status: Writing book #7
Posted by: Genie Gabriel

G'day, all!

Here's a video that would have been fun to see when I was writing my book with the doctor heroine the last couple months: . These guys are "A group of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists that create and perform musical medical parodies throughout the United States." Great voices and funny songs. 

(The cover for that book is at left. This is the one several of you helped me choose a title for during the summer. Yes, I went with your suggestion. So thank you!)

Although it's probably good I didn't find this or I could have been side-tracked on the Internet for hours. For me, this is one of the dangers of research. 

Fortunately, my current book doesn't require as much research. I really would like to have a solid draft of this book done by the end of September--that's about 4500 words a day. Doable? Well, my world has narrowed pretty much to writing and meeting the basic needs of my herd of doggies. Other requests are met with a frown and a growl. (From me, not the doggies.) 

Well, except when I receive a link to a fun video from a friend or need to write a blog post. After all, I do need a break from the computer once in a while so I don't become a permanent part of the chair. :) I hope to have good news about the status of my latest book to share at our meeting next Thursday!