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reneesweet's book and updated my LJ. I'm loving the new look and really hope I will be able to follow Walt Disney's quote... The last four weeks have been filled with ups and downs. I've moved into my new apartment (a definite up), but said apartment hadn't been painted or cleaned when I moved in, so it was in a bit of a state. I've spent the first night on the floor, because I didn't have the tools to put my bed together, and the first week, I had nowhere to sit and ended up perched on my bookcase boxes.
Bit by bit, I've managed to get most of what I need and now have a table to write at, a sofa to enjoy TV on and a bed to sleep in. My second bedroom is filled with stuff, but no furniture. The plan was to have it as a writing room/guest room, but I feel somewhat guilty for buying a desk, when I have a perfectly good dining table or another sleep-sofa, when I have one in the living room. Maybe I'll see if I can find some bargains after Christmas.
Unfortunately, I am not what you'd call a DIY person, meaning currently all my windows are bare, except for the one that already had a curtain rod. The windows are too big for any and all prefabricated curtains and I need an electric drill/screwdriver/something to attach another curtain rod. My mum is coming over in a couple of weeks, so I'm hoping she may have some ideas. I know, asking mum, but hey, my Mum is great with decorating and DIY:D.
I am happy with where I'm at, with good public transport links and closer to downtown Toronto. The only downside is that visiting my brother is rather difficult. Anyway, if any of you fancy a trip to Toronto, let me know, my (hopefully by then furnished) second room is there for the taking;D.
Work is flowing into the busiest time of the year, so hours have been rather long and tiring. I am working pretty much every weekend, which is exhausting, but I have a great team and hopefully the last few weeks will fly by quickly.
This morning I made yet another trip to IKEA. For some reason I was adamant that they open at 9am. Unfortunately, they open at 10am, so I had the pleasure of waiting around for more than an hour until they opened. I tried to use that time wisely and worked on the outline for another project. With everything that's been going on, writing has been tough. I'm hoping now that I'm mostly settled I'll find more time and become more organised.
There's definitely been some good news around:
lilifae is having a short story published next year, devonmonk has sold a new steampunk series (how cool is that?) and rflong has accepted an agent. Well done, guys! I'm off to do laundry (yeah, the exciting things you do on your days off...). Have a great Friday!
- Location:new pad
- Mood:
exhausted - Music:none
All the best to everybody who's participating in NaNoWroMo or IndiWriMo.
Happy Halloween and hopefully I'll see you soon.
- Location:broom closet
- Mood: tired
- Music:none
In my WIP the Baddie set's up an elaborate murder display for the MC and her love interest. This display includes cameras, which record every movement made and allow the Baddie to watch the MC's reactions. The Baddie also set booby traps around the display, making it impossible for Tech to touch or approach the cameras. But what reason could I quote for Tech not being able to hack into the live feeds? My knowledge in that area is severely limited, so I have no idea. This all takes place 130 years in the future, so if you know of anything that's impossible today but may become possible in the future, let me know.
If you have any suggestions or know of any sites that might be helpful, I'd be very grateful.
Thanks a bunch.
- Location:broom closet
- Mood:
frustrated - Music:All the Single Ladies by Beyonce
I've just downloaded "Overcome" by Alexandra Burke. I haven't had a proper listen yet, but I really enjoyed her performances on X-factor last year and was very excited when she won.
So far I like the album and watching her go back to X-Factor 2009 was pretty impressive. Unfortunately I don't know how to past a youtube window into LJ, but here is the link for the clip I'm talking about http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULyijoIHl
Hope you like it;D.
- Location:broom closet
- Mood:
excited - Music:Silence by Alexandra Burke
Hop over to http://myfavouritebooks.blogspot.com/ to check out a review of Big Bad Wolf by Christine Warren. I absolutely LOVED the book and recommend it to everyone who enjoys a sexy werewolf.
- Location:broom closet
- Mood:
busy - Music:none
Anyway, the job so far has been nice. The people are all very friendly. I'm just trying to wrap my head around the way this new company does things. Let's just say it's very different to what I'm used to. I've spent far too much money yesterday because I needed to get some tops that fit the dress code. After working in a major London department store I have tons of black tops, unfortunately not a single one of them has a collar! And every top I wear for work has to have a collar! So I bought some shirts and will now have to see if I can get away with not having to iron (I dislike ironing and at the moment don't actually have an iron or and ironing board). I'm not quite sure if the dryer will be enough...
Having access to the books is great. I was very excited when I found a copy of "Ghost Hunter" by Michelle Paver. I've read all of her books and love the "Ancient Darkness" series. I'm happy to call myself an expert on UK children's books but there's a lot I have to read for Canada/USA to know as much. Hey, maybe I can get my boss to write them off as a store training expense:D?
I still have two shifts at the cafe, which means I'm working more than 7 days in a row, depending on when my new boss schedules my day off for next week. I'll try and keep you updated as much as I can!
- Location:broom closet
- Mood: exhausted
- Music:none
Guess what I'll be doing? I'll manage a children's book department in an upscale and affluent neighbourhood. *facepalm* Basically it's exactly what I've been doing in London for the last four years. I've moved half-way around the world to find a new life and fell right back into my old one, meaning back-breaking work, long unsociable hours and hardly any holidays (I have to admit, I was shocked when I found out North America gives only 10-15 days holiday! I'm used to 25 days plus!). The major good thing is that I will be back to close to unlimited access to books (well, if it works over here as it did in London, keeping my fingers crossed).
When I told my boss at the cafe, he said maybe it's destiny. Hm, not sure how I feel about that;D.
At least this time around I'll be part of the management team and the salary should be enough for me to find my own place. I've had a look around already (eager to move out of the broom closet I'm currently staying in? Me? Not at all!) and there are some nice flats, sorry condos (that's the Canadian way of saying it) around. Hopefully I'll be able to have a look around in the not too distant future.
I start tomorrow, so I'll let you know how it went.
- Location:broom closet
- Mood: hopeful
- Music:none
Hey, all you authors out there, aspiring and published alike, can you still remember the first book you finished and the
How do you approach revisions?
How you deal with them, how do you plan them?
How you make the choices on what to cut and what to keep?
How do you keep that needed distance that helps you to see the forest and the trees?
I'm finding the whole thing rather difficult. I remember reading a comment by
devonmonknot too long ago, where she said she loved revisions because they gave her opportunity to improve and expand the book. I get that, but at the moment I'm staring at pages I wrote months ago (so I can't even say it needs more time) and I cannot see the forest for all the trees. I can fix little things like repetitive uses of "was" and other words and fix show and tell problems, but I struggle with the bigger things like character voice, emotional depth, even dialogue. I've been reading like mad, trying to see how it's done by my favourite authors and sometimes that helps a little. I just feel that I know my characters so well I understand why they are doing things and how, but I'm not sure if other readers can follow my reasoning. I have fabulous beta readers who will point all of that out to me, but I would really like to be able to see problems myself.So, if you have any hints and tips PLEASE feel free to share;D! Thanks.
- Location:broom closet
- Mood:
confused - Music:none
Hey guys,
I've not fallen off the edge of the earth or been kidnapped by aliens, I'm actually not quite sure what has happened to make me into a "Lurker" rather than a "Commenter". Somehow I'm very busy and have hardly any free time, but I just wanted to let you know that I'm still reading everybody's posts, I'm just not commenting. Hopefully things will calm down a little soon...
Until then!
Oh, and check out My Favourite Books for a review from me on "Magic in the Blood" and stacks of other fabulous bookslilifae has read recently.
- Location:broom closet
- Mood: busy
- Music:none
OK, what have I learned in these three months?
I really, really want a job that I enjoy and am motivated for, when I get up in the morning (none of that "OMG, it's Sunday evening!" feeling) AND that pays me enough so I can rent my own place (no more sharing with annoying landladies and flat mates!!!).
I definiteley had to step out of my comfort zone since coming over here (helloo, phoning doctors and asking them to participate in a survey? So NOT me!).
I think I can also say that I've grown as a writer (at least a little bit;D) mostly thanks to my fabulous crit partners. One of them has been relentless in pointing out things that don't work (you know who you are) and really pushing me find my way. As much as I've cursed her insights, she was right! I do think chapters 1 to 3 are much better than they have been (still need work, but better). And finally, after weeks of rewriting, I've finally moved on to chapter 4, which...basically needs a complete rewrite. Oh joy! AND I realised that myself, so I'm thinking I must have learned something over the last few weeks;D.
So, overall, I'm not doing too badly.
Well, I'm off to write and send off more resumes and later, once all the necessities are out of the way, Chapter 4 awaits...
- Location:broom closet
- Mood:
determined - Music:Strong Enough by Sheryl Crow
I've discovered a den of iniquity, somewhere that is dragging me off the path of straight and narrow, somewhere that is seducing me with it's many offerings and somewhere where I'll spend my last penny for a little bit of happiness...I'm talking about
The World's Biggest Bookshop!!
Don't laugh! I'm serious! I've been to the WBB on my first visit to Toronto and wasn't that impressed because it's more like a warehouse than a book shop but, heck, they do seem to get all the books I'm looking for just a little bit earlier than the rest of the shops.
The other week I was desperate to lay hands on 
and the only store that had it was WBB. So, off I went and instead of just walking out with the one book I ended up with a whole armful of them.
Today I was desperate (and I mean DESPERATE) to lay hands on this
and guess who the only store with copies was? And again I spent far more money than I planned on. *sigh* (I finished it already and it's another fantastic story with great action and characters that jump off the page;D)
I really need to stay away from downtown Toronto.
On other news, I'm starting to rewrite my current WIP's first 3 chapters for the third time, this time starting from scratch and a different sequence in the story. It's going about as well as walking on water and I'm determined to get it right (or at least closer) this time. If I don't, I may have to abandon the project and I really don't want to. *rolls up her sleeves*
Anyway, what are you reading at the moment that is so good you would recommend to strangers on the street?
- Location:broom closet
- Mood: determined
- Music:none
The lovely and amazing
lilifae has invited me to join her on her brilliant blog MyFavouriteBooks. I will be reviewing over there regularly and just wanted to invite everybody to check it out. MFB covers everything from children's books, fantasy, science-fiction, horror, crime and now even a touch of romance. It's a great place to check out new releases and books you've never thought of reading.Hope to see you there!
- Location:broom closet
- Mood: creative
- Music:none
I just wanted to say a BIG FAT THANK YOU to everybody who commented on that career support firm I was thinking of joining. Turns out that they are total scam artists. I found details about them on Rip Off Reports online. Turns out they've actually changed their name because they were in trouble.
Thank you for stopping me from wasting my money!!
Back to sending off resumes...oh joy!
- Location:broom closet
- Mood: grateful
- Music:none
Well, I've had that second meeting and it was a bit of a shock to the system. At the first meeting he said his firm's services weren't expensive but that was a blatant lie (or at least very untrue). To pay for their services, which go for 3 years, they help with the resume, send out a profile to employers, you get access to this amazing database of job postings, they help you with interview techniques etc, for all of that, I would have to completely clean out my current bank account! Talk about the impossible. When I told him that, he made me another offer because he likes me (not sure if that's a good thing) for which I would just have to give him my emergency funds, the money I've put aside, untouched, in case anything happens.
I have to admit that I am torn. As I walked out of the office I was so sure I would not do that, it was far too expensive. But what if they can help me to find that perfect job, or at least that perfect job right now? They've been doing it for close to 20 years so they must have happy customers. And I keep hearing the sentence he threw at me "Can you afford NOT to do it?"
I've not had a single response to any of the resumes I've sent out and I've done the unthinkable and actually told the Market Research company I'm working for at the moment, that I would be happy to work for them again and I HATED every minute of it! Just because it's a job and it pays better than the crappy cafe job which would be all I'm left with.
Damn, I'm either hopelessly optimistic or very naive because I really thought it would be easier to find a job. Some of you guys mentioned employment agencies and I've sent off my resume to a couple and even talked to a person at one, but no luck. I really want that job that pays me enough to rent my own place because my landlady is driving me CRAZY (I really have to post those pictures of my broom closet to show you).
Anyway, after another 10 hr shift at the cafe I'm too tired to make much sense. I think I'll take tomorrow off and just try to work on my book and maybe throw the I Ching to see what it says about the situation. Once Monday comes around I'll step back into reality and see if I can make a decision.
Thanks for listening (or rather reading;D).
- Location:broom closet
- Mood:
contemplative - Music:none
The lovely Suzanne McLeod is celebrating her book birthday of Cold Kiss of Death with another massive giveaway. Go and check it out!
Here's a summary from amazon:
All Genny wants is to live the quiet life and to do her job at Spellcrackers.com, but there's her tangled personal life to sort out first. She's being haunted by ghosts who want her help. Her witch neighbours want her evicted. Genny's sort-of-Ex - and now her new boss - can't decide whether he wants their relationship to be business or pleasure. And then there's the queue of vampires all wanting her to paint the town red - how long will it be before they stop taking no for an answer? But when one of her human friends is murdered by sidhe magic, Genny is determined to find the killer. She needs help to find the real murderer, and that means calling on some of the most capricious and seductive fae - but her search is hindered by the vampires, who have their own political agenda. All the evidence points to Genny - she's the only sidhe fae in London - and she's named the main suspect; it's not long before she's on the run, not just from the police, but from some of London's most powerful supernaturals.
- Location:broom closet
- Mood: working
- Music:none
I am going stark raving mad and just want to throw my laptop out of the window*! Since the lovely
devonmonk hosted the Beta Reader So, for the last few weeks I have been trying to rewrite and fix the problems...and it's driving me crazy! I come up with every imaginable excuse not to write and when I'm trying to put words down, I have my good friends Doubt and Contempt sitting on my shoulders. And they just won't shut up! Every word I write feels stupid and wrong and just plain bad! And as I'm still very much learning, I totally don' trust any decision I make. I keep thinking "Hm, I wonder if this will come across they way it's supposed to." or "Am I just taking the easy way out to fix this problem? Should I make things more complicated here?". Every sentence I write gets totally over-edited.
I really hate this! I used to enjoy sitting down at the desk and adding words to my story. Now I just want to run in the opposite direction and have to make myself sit down. I try to write for at least an hour every day, just to keep going and in the hope that things will get better...but so far no luck.
Anybody out there ever been in a similar situation? Any suggestion to get the brain back on track?
*Apologies to everybody who'd had to listen to me complain already, I'll try to have a more fun post next time.
- Location:broom closet
- Mood: stressed
- Music:none
Tonight I will go to sleep surrounded by very close friends!
HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY!!
- Location:broom closet
- Mood: ecstatic
- Music:none
Somehow my resume ended up in the hands of a consulting agency. Basically, they look at about 2000 resumes a month and pick out people they think they can help. Then you have an initial meeting with one of the directors and they decide if they want you to come back again.
So, next Monday I have another meeting where they are going to show me how they can support me during my job search, the tools and contacts they have at hand and the training they have to offer. That sounds all very wonderful and I feel great for being picked, only problem is that they obviously don't offer this service for free. Yes, you heard correctly, I have to pay them for their services. I will find out Monday how much this would set me back, but my inbox has been totally void of replies to my resume or anything I've sent out, so I'm feeling a tad desperate.
The gentleman I spoke to said they weren't "expensive", whatever that means. However, from what I understand, they commit themselves to you for 3 years, so they don't just help with the first job but with the next one and the next one after that, until you've found the perfect one.
I've decided it doesn't hurt to listen to them. If they ask for too much I can always say no, but if they can help me find that perfect job? Possibly worth paying money for...
- Location:broom closet
- Mood: thoughtful
- Music:none
I've seen a few of these around and enjoyed many of them, so I decided to throw a few of mine into the ring as well;D:
“Red, what the hell is that nitwit doing in the middle of our op?”
Lieutenant Commander Nick Tanner, leader of the covert four man SEAL team dispatched into the jungle, cursed quietly and viciously.
(Karen to the Rescue, short story about a children's bookshop owner and a Navy SEAL who meet in the Bolivian jungle, it's a little tongue in cheek and I had a lot of fun writing it)
She would have her revenge! Finally, she was so close she could feel the satisfaction on the tip of her tongue. He would pay for the pain and torture of the last eight months.
(Unexpected Revenge, vampire short story)
“Trank the frecking cat so we can get to the body,” shouted Agent Ben Chandler for what must be the hundredth time.
(Finding Darkness, current WIP)
Freck, if things continued like this, thought Frankie as she looked at the body of one of her oldest friends, my Christmas card list is going to be pretty short this year.
(currently untitled future book that has been nagging at me, so first line will be subject to change; a follow up to Finding Darkness and the story of one of the secondary characters)
- Location:broom closet
- Mood:
okay - Music:none
On the way home I had a little bit of an a-ha experience. I was sitting on the bus when this young lady climbed aboard. I looked at her, her body and hair, and thought "She looks like Frankie." Frankie is one of my supporting characters from my first book who will have her own story as soon as I can start plotting. It was just so weird, to sit there just listening to my music and then suddenly think something like that. I was very excited and pulled out my notebook (I have one with me at all times) to make some notes. While I was writing I realised I described Frankie incorrectly in the book and that I needed to make some changes. I also realised a couple of things about her character and how she behaved in certain situations.
This is the first time something like that has happened. It is a great feeling and hopefully, combined with my application, one of many first baby steps to developing as a writer.
- Location:broom closet
- Mood: content
- Music:none
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