(Over)thinking Things Through

A word is not the same with one writer as with another. One tears it from his guts. The other pulls it out of his overcoat pocket. ~Charles Peguy

It's amazing how one comment can derail your writing. I've had it happen dozens of times, with dozens of stories, and it's occasionally a small thing that I then fixate on and can't get past.

I used to belong to a crit group where I was the only romance author -- the rest were either literary authors or mystery authors (without romantic elements). Two of the group were men.

While I credit a great deal of my growth as an author to them, and truly miss being part of the group, it also messed with my mind on a regular basis. Genre fiction is completely different than literary fiction, so frequently the crits, at least when they pertained to plot, weren't really applicable. Still, I'd grab hold of something they said and gnaw on it like a starving dog with a bone.

Overthink much?

It's happening again with a couple of my stories that have gone out for crits. And, while thinking through things isn't a bad thing necessarily, it can be if it keeps you from moving forward.

So, after gnawing on a couple of things lately, I think I'm going to have to go with my gut. Move forward and hope that my gut is right. But it's going to be something I worry about from here on out ... and heaven help me if (assuming it's published) a reviewer nit-picks any of those things I've spent the last few days agonizing about and second-guessing.

*sigh*

In any case, I'm waiting on one more set of crits for "Now and Forever" so I can finish up my edits and move one step closer to submission. After that will come the Dreaded Synopsis.

Oy.

In other news, I think I'm planting my chard and spinach seeds this weekend... spinach in the pots and chard in my front flower garden. I think I have most of my perennials popped up enough that I know where things are now, so it should be safe.

Yay spring!

And, check out a few of the earrings I'll be putting up on DistinctivelyDD today -- DD's into dangles lately:





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You Are Dramatic

Witty and talkative, you entertain with your stories and gossip. You know how to delight a crowd. No matter what, you're the life of the party or conversation. And you like to be talked about. You enjoy the honeymoon phase of friendships and relationships, but after that it's hard for you to stick around. Life is too short to be bored! When you get in a rut, you immediately shake things up.

The Little Cake Test

Uh.. no. That's so not me. I just like chocolate...

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Raindrops Are Falling on My Head...

God made rainy days so gardeners could get the housework done. ~Author Unknown

Thanks for all your comments yesterday on pricing for DistinctivelyDD-- we're leaning toward raising prices but offering free shipping (so, though the end result, moneywise, is the same we're hoping folks will think they're getting a great deal -- just like when car dealers price their cars $29,999 instead of $30k).

Seems silly, but I suppose we can play the game.

DD is working on learning how to make chain mail bracelets. She made one already, but won't give it up (she wears it almost every day). It's lovely! We need to invest in 14 gauge wire as she wants to try making her own jump rings for this instead of buying them pre-made (she is her mother's daughter!).

First, though, she needs to make more book thongs. We got cleaned out yesterday! *G*

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It's raining today. I'm trying not to complain because it was supposed to rain yesterday and it really didn't. Still, I'm going to miss having my walk this morning. DD, Dd and I have been walking 2 - 3 miles every day and it's been great for all of us.

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Tomorrow I start seeds. Tomorrow is the first day of the waxing moon (yes, I plant by moon cycles -- here are some reasons why). The second quarter of the moon is a good time to plant anything that has seeds inside so we're planting our squash and cucumbers.

I'm collecting all my clear plastic jugs as well, so I can make little "greenhouses" for the plants in order to put them out early. You just cut the bottoms off the jugs and bury them in the ground around the plant. Then, during the day, take the caps off so they don't cook, but at night simply re-cap them to keep them safe from frost. That's a trick my mom taught me :-)

I want an early and large harvest this year. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get one.

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LASR/WC/Aurora is having a HUGE (and I really do mean HUGE) Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt this year. It officially starts on 3/29, but you can enter three ways now. Click on the banner for details.

Prizes include $25 Amazon.com or BN.com gift certificates (THREE of them), plus several other GCs, autographed books, tote bags full of goodies, eBooks and more. We have ten prize packs full of hundreds of really cool stuff.

You should check it out.

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Your T-Shirt Says That You're Smart

People may not realize it first, but you're a total brainiac. You are downright brilliant. So much is going on in that head of yours at any time. You always have multiple streams of thought going. You are learned, and you have a well developed sense of humor about the world. You don't take anything too seriously. It's sometimes difficult for people to get your jokes though. You can be a bit esoteric and offbeat.

The T-Shirt Test

LOL... the "brilliant" thing may be a matter of discussion, but this: It's sometimes difficult for people to get your jokes though. You can be a bit esoteric and offbeat. Right on the head.

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