When I'm asked what I do for a living, I say I'm a blogger, writer, poet and photographer. The word blogger usually generates interest and creates dialogue. Here are a few questions I've received about my life as a blogger:
What's your blog about?
What do you blog about?
How and why did you start a blog?
Do people follow your blog?
Do you know who reads your blog?
Do you give out personal information?
and lastly,
How can I start my own blog?
Here are my answers and a little information about me:
What's your blog about?
My blog, The Writing Life, is about the writing life aka my life as a writer.
What do you blog about?
I blog about my life's experiences as they relate to writing and living my dream of being a full-time writer. I blog about the challenges, perseverance, joys and hard work it takes to write a novel, query agents, write and edit, query editors and publishers, and market a blog and first novel. I wrote an historical fiction novel called A Decent Woman which I see as a published book.
How and why did you start a blog?
I began blogging anonymously in 2007 on Thoughts.com about the dating life of a 50-year old divorced Mom of two college-aged kids--me. My son introduced me to blogging and I think my kids encouraged me to blog because they thought Mom needed an outlet/creative outlet. I also believe they were tired of listening to me :) I journaled long-hand, every day for over 15 years and blogging felt very natural. I took to it like a duck to water.
I started this blog, The Writing Life, because I learned I needed an author blog as a platform for my novel-length manuscript, A Decent Woman. I discovered that new authors must have an established platform before they publish their first book. Blogging keeps me writing and working on my novel when I think I can't read or write another word! Writing a blog is a discipline that I love and can't imagine not doing.
Do people follow your blog?
I enjoyed a large blog readership/following on Thoughts.com and have met six fellow bloggers over the years which is great because that blog no longer exists. I'm thrilled when someone adds my blog, The Writing Life, to their reading lists and I love receiving comments! I always reply to comments, it's just good manners.
Do you know who follows your blog?
According to my profile, I have nine followers which doesn't compute with the 6,000+ page views that seem to grow every day. I'm grateful for my nine followers, but I don't know every person who reads my blog. Making friends wasn't why I started my blog, however, I would love to connect more with my readers. So, please make yourself known :) I love the kind comments I've received and would love to know more about my readers who seem to live around the world.
Do you give out personal information?
No, I don't. I'm a writer living West Virginia, originally from Northern Virginia, born in Puerto Rico. I'm the mother of two fantastic young adults no longer living in my nest. I'm also Mom to a Pug named Ozzy and a Maine Coon cat named Pierre.
While I may blog about my writing adventures, road trips, false starts, and life's goals, I don't give out personal information, i.e., my address, phone number. I never use the full names of my friends and people I come into contact with, either.
How can I start my own blog?
Just start right where you are today!
Think of a catchy user name or title for your blog.
Research your favorite people, authors or artists and peruse their blogs.
Take a great pic and upload great pics for your blog.
Write about what interests you.
Write about your dreams, struggles, joys and/or travel adventures.
Write what you know.
You may be an expert at something, share your gifts!
Be real and allow yourself to be vulnerable.
If you write novels, poetry and/or have wonderful creative gifts, definitely start a blog!
Show and share your work within reason.
If you have an unpublished manuscript, do not upload the entire document. Try a sample chapter instead to share with readers.
Leave comments on your favorite blogs!
What do I still need to work on?
The last entry--Leave comments on your favorite blogs!
I'm still learning to organize my time so that I have time to read, write and edit my two novels. I read two books at the same time and I read at least a dozen author blogs a day. I don't always have time to comment on other author blogs and I need to fix that! No. I need to fix that-I don't MAKE time to comment on other author blogs and I need to fix that! That's better.
I can and WILL make time to comment on other author's blogs, especially those in my genre, historical fiction. I will also begin to review books, especially those in my genre.
Done :)
Ellie
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Monday, October 14, 2013
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Google Blogger for Dummies and Social Media Questions
Good morning, world!
I enjoy checking my blog statistics and traffic sources before I sit down to write a blog post. I'm funny like that. This has become a daily habit since I discovered that I have dozens of fans in Russia, China, India, Australia, Germany and one lonely fan in Latvia (today). I check my reader's locale, what search words they've used to find me and just this morning, I discovered that I must be in the book, Google Blogger for Dummies. This is quite an honor if indeed this is true.
Just a little while ago, I clicked on my TOP search and I was referred by referer.com to a page where I can buy the book, Google Blogger for Dummies. Smile. Not bad, people. Well, of course, I'm curious, but I'm not buying the book nor the scam if that's what it is. What's the deal with so many 'readers' in Russia and China??
It could be a situation where my blog is used as "What not to do when writing a blog!" Wouldn't that be a hoot :) My friend K says that my blog is probably used in foreign universities, in English as a Second Language classes, and I think that it may be that my blogs are read in classes on foreign social media. I imagine my blogs are read aloud in classes all over the world as THE MODEL for writing a blog. Yes, my tongue is in my cheek. Highly doubtful, but my numbers don't lie! I've had over 5,400 page views since I started The Writing Life, not a bad number, eh?
So, what do I do with this information? Not a whole lot. I change my blog password quite a bit and I just keeping writing and blogging. I will keep checking traffic sources and continue to query agents, small publishers and the biggies in NYC.
If there is a publishing company that is interested in me and publishing my book, A Decent Woman, make yourself known! My passport is up-to-date!
Have a nice day :)
Peace and love,
Ellie
I enjoy checking my blog statistics and traffic sources before I sit down to write a blog post. I'm funny like that. This has become a daily habit since I discovered that I have dozens of fans in Russia, China, India, Australia, Germany and one lonely fan in Latvia (today). I check my reader's locale, what search words they've used to find me and just this morning, I discovered that I must be in the book, Google Blogger for Dummies. This is quite an honor if indeed this is true.
Just a little while ago, I clicked on my TOP search and I was referred by referer.com to a page where I can buy the book, Google Blogger for Dummies. Smile. Not bad, people. Well, of course, I'm curious, but I'm not buying the book nor the scam if that's what it is. What's the deal with so many 'readers' in Russia and China??
It could be a situation where my blog is used as "What not to do when writing a blog!" Wouldn't that be a hoot :) My friend K says that my blog is probably used in foreign universities, in English as a Second Language classes, and I think that it may be that my blogs are read in classes on foreign social media. I imagine my blogs are read aloud in classes all over the world as THE MODEL for writing a blog. Yes, my tongue is in my cheek. Highly doubtful, but my numbers don't lie! I've had over 5,400 page views since I started The Writing Life, not a bad number, eh?
So, what do I do with this information? Not a whole lot. I change my blog password quite a bit and I just keeping writing and blogging. I will keep checking traffic sources and continue to query agents, small publishers and the biggies in NYC.
If there is a publishing company that is interested in me and publishing my book, A Decent Woman, make yourself known! My passport is up-to-date!
Have a nice day :)
Peace and love,
Ellie
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Fact or Fiction? You Decide.
** This blog is written tongue in cheek, but it's like the Enquirer, there are elements of truth throughout. I'll allow you to decide which parts are fact or fiction. **
After blogging nearly every day, for forever and a day, I went through withdrawals last week as I waited for a new laptop charger to arrive. I was not a happy camper. It was the second time I'd had to order a charger for this Dell laptop. One solid week of no computer.
By Saturday afternoon, I couldn't take it. I needed to check my emails and write a blog. Enough was enough. I also realized how addicted I was to my laptop and being connected to the world. I walked (huffed and puffed is more like it) three city blocks in 90* weather with 95% humidity to my local library to use their computers. That's pretty bad. I know for a fact that I sweated off a dress size.
I climbed the library steps with one thing on my mind, blogging and checking my emails. I was one sweaty mess, but I had a huge grin on my face. A computer was within my reach! As I entered the library, I saw an old gent entering the elevator. The only thing upstairs was the computer lab and I seriously doubted he was going down to the children's library, so I sprinted up the stairs two steps at a time. I was going to beat the old guy to the punch! By the time, the elevator doors opened and he shuffled into the computer lab, I had my Golden Ticket--I had a computer for an hour's time.
I felt a little smug as I sat down in the air conditioned room in front of my computer. I'm not proud of that, okay? But an addiction is an addiction. I had things to take care of. The gentleman ended up sitting next to me and immediately started playing Solitaire on his computer. I smiled at him and he gave me a weak smile with an arched eyebrow. He knew my agenda, who was I fooling? I certainly wasn't fooling him. I would have pushed this cute retiree aside to get to a computer at this very busy computer lab and we both knew it.
I checked my emails for any news on the agent who has my full manuscript as we speak and found no emails from him. I logged onto my Face Book page and checked up on my children and 'Liked' a page so that they would know I was alive, and began to write a blog, but I got nowhere. I could write a blog on my home laptop, but here at the library, I had the World Wide Web! Instead, I read the news online, did a bit of research for my second book, Finding Gracia on El Camino, and answered some emails. It was a very satisfying Saturday even though I hadn't earned brownie points with the octogenarian. He left after one hour and I was able to remain at the same computer for a couple of hours as most 'normal' people were at home, lounging by the pool, and at parks, enjoying family BBQs.
When I got home, I called the computer store to check on the status of my order and got the same reply, "Nothing yet, Ms. Parker. We'll call you the minute it comes in."
So here I am on a much cooler Tuesday morning at my local library researching new laptops. I spent yesterday at home, writing this blog on Word. I remained indoors as the temps soared and the humidity reached what seemed like an all-time high.
The best part of this past week without my laptop? Reading. I finished reading The Paris Wife by Paula McLain which I LOVED and finished Receive Me Falling by Erika Robuck which I liked, not loved. Last night, I began Our Lady of the Night by Mayra Santos-Febres. I've waited to read Santos-Febres' novel until I finished my own novel, set in the same town (my hometown), of Ponce, Puerto Rico.
It is amazing to me how much more I read when I don't have Internet...
Peace and love,
Ellie
Friday, June 28, 2013
Physical Signals, Mental Responses and Cues of Doubt.
I write my blogs as a stream of consciousness writing exercise, so my plan this morning was to write a blog and then, begin editing my novel, A Decent Woman, with a new book that my friend, fellow blogger and chick lit author Meredith Schorr recommended: The Emotion Thesauraus: A Writer's Guide to Character Expression by Angela Ackerman & Mecca Puglisi.
I just can't say enough about that gem of a book! If you write novels and you don't own this book--run, do not walk to the nearest bookstore. I'm all about supporting our local bookstores, but if you must, buy it online!
Back to the reason I chucked that lovely cup of coffee down the kitchen drain. I quit smoking last Sunday and this morning, I tried to drink my first real cup of coffee since Sunday, Cafe Bustelo, thank you very much. I thought that five days would have been long enough, but as I took the second sip...I began to feel anxious. I tapped my foot, inhaled and exhaled slowly. Ommmmmmm. There was that urge to smoke. Ugh, my trigger reared its ugly head. At this time, coffee and tea remain my two biggest triggers for lighting up. I still can't trust myself. So instead, I posted a photograph of a cup of coffee I drank in real life back in April of this year.
I enjoyed that lusciously decadent kaffee melange with two teaspoons of caramel-colored Demerara sugar across the street from the Belvedere Palace and gardens in Vienna, Austria. The little glass at the top of the photograph did not hold a shot of something yummy, it held water.That's the way we used to drink cafe con leche y chocolate caliente in Puerto Rico--with a glass of water on the side. I've found this tradition in Belgium, France and Romania, as well. This was a lovely kaffee melange, I remember it well :)
This weekend I'm headed to the river with my neighbors, their first time at our river place. We're planning on fishing, boating and enjoying the river from our riverfront patio. I have a bottle of red wine at the river and I also have the fixings for Margaritas, but the jury is still out on whether I can partake in alcoholic libations at this time. I might enjoy iced tea or coffee instead or just plain water as I am now. No big deal, I love water and wasn't drinking nearly enough of it. I must say that my skin looks awesome with all the water I've been drinking this week. Not a bad thing!
So in a few minutes, I'm returning to my first novel-length manuscript armed with The Emotion Thesaurus. I'm excited to beef up my character's physical, internal, mental signals and behavior and their cues of acute, long-term and repressed desire, anger, anxiety, relief and hatred! Yes, they have them all!
"Cheers!" said Ellie as she cleared her throat, shoved her hands in her pocket, and avoided eye contact while worrying over her current path. Ha! I already love this book!
Peace and love,
Ellie
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Writing Momentum and My Inner Child
I arrived in the US and stayed with another friend for two days before heading home for two days. Then, I got on another train and headed back to the DC area for my nephew's graduation and Mother's Day. On Monday, I stayed with my friend's daughter and we grieved the loss of her mother and my dear friend. A lot of emotion and activity for one lady.
I truly don't know what day it is and when I woke up, for a split second I didn't know where I was. If it's Tuesday, this must be Belgium! Wasn't that a movie from the 70's? Must look that up...and look at my phone so that I can find out what day it is because I honestly have no clue.
Anyway, I LOVED visiting my friends and enjoyed a beautiful Mother's Day with my children. I wouldn't trade those special moments and new memories for anything, but, it sure was nice to sleep in my own bed last night. I had a great night's sleep and so did my furry babies. We had a very nice reunion last night. Ozzy the Pug is at my feet, snoring softly and Pierre the Maine Coon kitten looks like a sphinx, lying on the window sill, watching cars go by. The kitten's tail is swishing from side to side and Ozzy's rhythmic breathing is kinda making me sleepy. Am I still jet lagged?
It's early on a cloudy morning and the weather people are calling for rain, two days of rain which is perfect writing weather. I have a bad feeling that I won't be able to write today, though. I feel pulled in too many directions this morning. I don't feel grounded. Actually, I feel a bit jittery. Have I already had too much tea? Is the Universe conspiring against me writing today?
I had a mental to-do list going on the train home last night. I just hate that. I want to get stuck in my manuscript and I want the world to slow down. I resent having to clean my house, pay bills, do laundry and I'm feeling my Inner Child come out! I want to be alone with my characters and my story. I want to get reacquainted and I want to work on the issues the agent in NYC suggested I work on. I want to write! I'm feeling a mid-life tantrum coming on. "I'm not doing that because I don't wanna!"
I must return to saying, "No, thank you," to invitations during my work week and this weekend will be spent at home alone. I've just decided. I've seen most of my good friends during the last four weeks and it was wonderful. Time to get to writing and spending some quality alone time with me, myself and I...and with my furry babies who need their yearly shots, nails clipped and Ozzy could do with a bath. Crap...even the animals are pulling me away from my manuscript. I miss my friend in Austria dearly
Just before I departed for Austria in late April, I was gaining ground with my manuscript, A Decent Woman and had a daily writing schedule that I was very happy with. On Mondays, I cleaned my house (lightly cleaned, let's not lose our heads here, I don't love housework) and I did the laundry. I paid bills and wrote replies to emails. I also cut my grass and weeded the garden a bit. After all that was done, I had Tuesday-Sunday to write and blog. I was one happy camper, but don't get me wrong--my European vacation was awesome!! I wouldn't trade that experience with my friend for nothing! We had a super time together and we have new memories that will never be forgotten.
I've arrived home mid-week and I'm feeling discombobulated. Time for a list! A list will help ground me and I'm a great list maker. That's what I need to do--make a list to regain my momentum at home and with my novel. I'm behind on bills and my house needs scraping and repainting...which began today. I'm tired just thinking of all that.
Hey. I just thought of something. I'm a fiction writer...if I want today to be Monday, it shall be so. If I choose tomorrow to be my To-Do List Fictional Monday, no one will be able to convince me otherwise! My Inner Child is alive and well.
Time to check the phone to see what day it is and to look at the 1,000 plus photographs I took in Austria, Hungary and Romania :)
Peace and love,
Ellie
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Author Platforms and the Russian Connection??
I was thinking of author platforms this morning as I perused my Facebook list. I didn't even know what an author platform was until after I printed out the final copy of my manuscript! Do I have a strong enough platform? Where will future of my debut novel, A Decent Woman, come from? And, why do I have a strong blog following in RUSSIA? What's all that about??
Back to author platforms and where they may come from in my new experience: My father has always called me the family cheerleader. I'm a doting aunt to my nieces and nephews and I'm the only adult that some of my nieces and nephews include as friends on their Facebook pages. Several of my children's friends have included me, as well. I know that's an honor and I treat it as such. Kids of all ages smell bull crap a mile away, so I take the friendship add as a compliment. Kids like me and I like kids.
Okay, so I might have some young readers. Who else? What's the Russian following about? I've checked out my blog page views and traffic sources and would love to know why there is a high percentage of Russian readers. They are #2 on my list, preceded by the US and followed by Germany, Belgium and Austria. My friend seems to think that maybe Moscow University has writing students reading American blogs. I immediately thought someone was trying to steal my identity! Both Virgos and how we differ! Ha ha!
So, back to author platform. I am Puerto Rican by birth and speak fluent Spanish. I graduated from high school in Puerto Rico, I've lived overseas several times in my life, and I've worked as a Spanish language refugee case worker in Belgium and as a Family Support Worker in Northern Virginia. It makes sense that I have a lot of Spanish speaking and non-Spanish speaking friends in the US, the Caribbean and abroad. I've joined Latina blog sites and I follow Latina bloggers. I joined The 100 Best Latina Blogs and I've been interviewed by a Latina blog site.
I'm on Twitter as a Latina author and have friended nearly 400 Latina(o) fellow tweeters which leads readers to my blog. As much as I dislike tweeting on a regular basis, it seems to work in adding numbers to my readership. I also have an inspiration board on my Pinterest page for my novel, A Decent Woman and a board where I pin photos, books, and interesting pins about Puerto Rico. Am I doing enough to build an author platform?
I might join the library reading or poetry reading circuits...reading excerpts of my novel and my poetry. That might be interesting, actually. Note to Self: find a Shakespeare & Co in or near WV and start visiting coffee houses near me.
I read historical fiction and have begun following blogs of historical fiction and women's fiction authors. This will continue before, during and after the publication of my debut novel...but, what's the deal with the Russian connection? I just can't let that go because it's such a mystery to me! Has any other blogger looked at their page views and traffic sources and discovered a high percentage of page views from Russia? Inquiring minds wanna know!
Off to Demel, the oldest kaffee haus in Wien and to light candles at Stephansdom and Karlskirche, two amazing churches in downtown Vienna. One candle will be lit for my children, another for my friend and her family, and the third for me and my novel...I think I'll light one for my agent, as well :)
Peace and love,
Ellie
Back to author platforms and where they may come from in my new experience: My father has always called me the family cheerleader. I'm a doting aunt to my nieces and nephews and I'm the only adult that some of my nieces and nephews include as friends on their Facebook pages. Several of my children's friends have included me, as well. I know that's an honor and I treat it as such. Kids of all ages smell bull crap a mile away, so I take the friendship add as a compliment. Kids like me and I like kids.
Okay, so I might have some young readers. Who else? What's the Russian following about? I've checked out my blog page views and traffic sources and would love to know why there is a high percentage of Russian readers. They are #2 on my list, preceded by the US and followed by Germany, Belgium and Austria. My friend seems to think that maybe Moscow University has writing students reading American blogs. I immediately thought someone was trying to steal my identity! Both Virgos and how we differ! Ha ha!
So, back to author platform. I am Puerto Rican by birth and speak fluent Spanish. I graduated from high school in Puerto Rico, I've lived overseas several times in my life, and I've worked as a Spanish language refugee case worker in Belgium and as a Family Support Worker in Northern Virginia. It makes sense that I have a lot of Spanish speaking and non-Spanish speaking friends in the US, the Caribbean and abroad. I've joined Latina blog sites and I follow Latina bloggers. I joined The 100 Best Latina Blogs and I've been interviewed by a Latina blog site.
I'm on Twitter as a Latina author and have friended nearly 400 Latina(o) fellow tweeters which leads readers to my blog. As much as I dislike tweeting on a regular basis, it seems to work in adding numbers to my readership. I also have an inspiration board on my Pinterest page for my novel, A Decent Woman and a board where I pin photos, books, and interesting pins about Puerto Rico. Am I doing enough to build an author platform?
I might join the library reading or poetry reading circuits...reading excerpts of my novel and my poetry. That might be interesting, actually. Note to Self: find a Shakespeare & Co in or near WV and start visiting coffee houses near me.
I read historical fiction and have begun following blogs of historical fiction and women's fiction authors. This will continue before, during and after the publication of my debut novel...but, what's the deal with the Russian connection? I just can't let that go because it's such a mystery to me! Has any other blogger looked at their page views and traffic sources and discovered a high percentage of page views from Russia? Inquiring minds wanna know!
Off to Demel, the oldest kaffee haus in Wien and to light candles at Stephansdom and Karlskirche, two amazing churches in downtown Vienna. One candle will be lit for my children, another for my friend and her family, and the third for me and my novel...I think I'll light one for my agent, as well :)
Peace and love,
Ellie
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Women's Fiction - Count Me In!
"I hope I don't end up as a professional blogger," I said to my friend, a fellow writer and published author, in a telephone conversation during a recent winter storm watch. My friend assured me that I wouldn't end up blogging at 90. She told me to remain patient, encouraged me to keep writing and querying agents. I promised that I would do all that and before we hung up, we wished each other well on our writing careers.
Actually, I wouldn't mind blogging well past my 90's. I love writing and telling stories. I hope I do just that as it might mean that my brain cells are still active and fruitful! I just pray that I'm not a 90 year old woman blogging about dating. Lord help me. But then again, that might be kinda cool! In my mind's eye, I see my daughter smiling at my future blogs and novels about dating in the retirement home, secretly hoping her young children don't read them and my son is rolling his eyes, thinking, "There she goes sharing again."
Note to Self: Give the kids my blogging password so that they can monitor my blogs in my golden years and beyond.
"Live long enough to be a burden to your children." I don't know who said that, but it always cracks me up. I plan on writing until I'm no longer able to type and that's why I'm saving my old cassette recorder and still buy packs of cassettes. My children won't be able to keep me quiet and I don't plan on going quietly into that good night! I don't know who said that either, but I feel I should know that...
Anyway, I've read that fiction protagonists and antagonists share many of the ideals, dreams and personality traits of the writer as well as the negative parts of their heroines and heroes. We write the story, so that has to be true. My novel has two protagonists, two women. My main character never marries and has no living children. The other woman marries and has three children. These two women really are one woman - me and they also share bits and pieces of women I've known and stories women have told me which to me means that our characters represent all women. I could take that further. I have male characters in my novel, as well. Those characters are composites of men I've known with positive and negative characteristics. So, my story becomes a story of people, but I've chosen no male points of view (POV) for my debut novel-length manuscript.
Why? I didn't start out writing my novel with that in mind. No men. Nope, I had individual chapters written from the POV of my three male characters. The comment I received from my editor and two friends who read the manuscript was the same - the story is stronger without male POV. I had to agree. I removed one such chapter and rewrote others. It was the right thing to do for this story.
I believe my characters, Ana and Serafina, chose me to tell their stories. I chose these characters to tell my story. We've all danced, cried, and dreamed with our girlfriends and my story is no different. It's about the life-long friendship of two strong women and the challenges women faced (individually and collectively) living in the male-driven society of Puerto Rico in the 1900's.
Women's fiction. Count me in.
Peace and love,
Ellie
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Blogging and Business Blogging
My 25 year old son told me that I should keep my personal and writing lives separate with a personal Facebook page and writer's page. My friends recommends that I create a website for myself before my book is even published. A good friend and fellow blogger says she loves my blogs and how I tie in my life with writing novels. A very good and wise friend told me that I should blog, Facebook, Tweet, review books, join writer's blog groups, read writing blogs of published authors and try to squeeze in time to write. Wow and she's probably right.
All I wanted to do was write. I wrote a book and have a large folder full of poetry, and I've blogged nearly every single day since 2007 with a couple of breaks for holidays and travel. Blogging comes easily to me. They are my Morning Pages. Those of you who know Julia Cameron's seminal book, The Artist's Way, will know what I'm talking about. Three pages of stream-of-consciousness writing, written long hand, mind you. I started doing my Morning Pages around the year 2000 and never stopped. I have a two stacks of bound journals (with no lines) as tall as me - five foot nothing - as proof.
All that life and living in those pages, wow. PLENTY of writing material in there, let me tell you! Of course, to the untrained eye of a complete stranger, many of those journal entries might be enough to put me away for my own good and the good of the community. I've journaled on trains, tour buses, in Venetian hotels, in the Alps after a ski accident, at night while walking El Camino with my kids, and just before and certainly after my divorce. Yes, all that life is chronicled in my journals.
So, blogging came naturally. When I started on Thoughts.com in 2007, I immediately found a home and a niche - newly single, divorced woman in her 50's enters the dating world. I didn't look for that niche, that's exactly what I was doing and women found it interesting and hilarious. I have to admit that dating has been pretty damn funny. That book will be easy to write because it's all true. Truth is indeed stranger than fiction in my world! My dating niche blog was a piece of cake for me, I was merely journaling.
Anyway, my new blog was meant to be serious. I decided I would take my son's advice and start a blog, a serious writerly blog about writing and the writing life. Now, writing is serious and I take it very serious, believe me. I work my tush off, clocking in most mornings at 9 and signing off at 9 pm some nights. I've worked hard on my novel and I'm proud of it. But, this blog? It just won't stay serious. I can't help it, ridiculous and strange stuff happens to me and around me, just begging to be written about.
I always include my novel-length manuscript in my blogs and I write about the challenges, difficulties, hopes and dreams I have for my novel. I've written about my characters and how they came to be. I've recommended books on writing that I've loved and still go back to time and again. I'm learning to review books, I still feel dumb tweeting and boy, do I have a hard time tooting my own horn. I'm learning though.
Yes, I've written an historical novel that also fits women's fiction and multi-cultural genres, but there are also moments of laughter, joking and comraderie between my heroines. I wrote that novel with years and years of research, interviews and reading and I've always had a funny bone. So, it was impossible for me to weave a story without a little humor because that's how I've lived my life. Humor has helped me lift myself up when I didn't think I could go one more step or do one more thing. Humor allows me to put things into perspective and I can laugh at myself in the process. I chide myself with "Stop being such a drama queen" when I realize that I'm so blessed to do what I love and am passionate about - writing.
You won't find any whining here, but you may find that mixed with the writing 'stuff', there'll be moments and mornings when my toilet won't flush (even though all the parts are working and in place) because that's life.
But, I won't write about my book, maintaining my ol' house, my dating life (or lack of) or the weather when I'm reviewing other author's books. The next step in my evolution. My review blogs, interviews with authors, and Q & A blogs will be all about the authors. I have to push the envelope now because the blogging I used to do doesn't seem to resemble the writing blogs that I've read every day for an hour every morning since I started this blog. Some are humorous and informative and those I put a star next to. Others are strictly business and very helpful, and most are pure business - the business of selling books. Sigh. As if writing a book wasn't hard enough, I now must learn the business of publishing and selling books. Sheesh.
That was a whine...well, I'm almost finished reading the first book I'd love to review - The Paris Wife: A Novel by Paula McIain. Through this author's eyes, I've enjoyed the sights and sounds of one of my top five favorite cities in the world - Paris.
Peace and love,
Ellie
All I wanted to do was write. I wrote a book and have a large folder full of poetry, and I've blogged nearly every single day since 2007 with a couple of breaks for holidays and travel. Blogging comes easily to me. They are my Morning Pages. Those of you who know Julia Cameron's seminal book, The Artist's Way, will know what I'm talking about. Three pages of stream-of-consciousness writing, written long hand, mind you. I started doing my Morning Pages around the year 2000 and never stopped. I have a two stacks of bound journals (with no lines) as tall as me - five foot nothing - as proof.
All that life and living in those pages, wow. PLENTY of writing material in there, let me tell you! Of course, to the untrained eye of a complete stranger, many of those journal entries might be enough to put me away for my own good and the good of the community. I've journaled on trains, tour buses, in Venetian hotels, in the Alps after a ski accident, at night while walking El Camino with my kids, and just before and certainly after my divorce. Yes, all that life is chronicled in my journals.
So, blogging came naturally. When I started on Thoughts.com in 2007, I immediately found a home and a niche - newly single, divorced woman in her 50's enters the dating world. I didn't look for that niche, that's exactly what I was doing and women found it interesting and hilarious. I have to admit that dating has been pretty damn funny. That book will be easy to write because it's all true. Truth is indeed stranger than fiction in my world! My dating niche blog was a piece of cake for me, I was merely journaling.
Anyway, my new blog was meant to be serious. I decided I would take my son's advice and start a blog, a serious writerly blog about writing and the writing life. Now, writing is serious and I take it very serious, believe me. I work my tush off, clocking in most mornings at 9 and signing off at 9 pm some nights. I've worked hard on my novel and I'm proud of it. But, this blog? It just won't stay serious. I can't help it, ridiculous and strange stuff happens to me and around me, just begging to be written about.
I always include my novel-length manuscript in my blogs and I write about the challenges, difficulties, hopes and dreams I have for my novel. I've written about my characters and how they came to be. I've recommended books on writing that I've loved and still go back to time and again. I'm learning to review books, I still feel dumb tweeting and boy, do I have a hard time tooting my own horn. I'm learning though.
Yes, I've written an historical novel that also fits women's fiction and multi-cultural genres, but there are also moments of laughter, joking and comraderie between my heroines. I wrote that novel with years and years of research, interviews and reading and I've always had a funny bone. So, it was impossible for me to weave a story without a little humor because that's how I've lived my life. Humor has helped me lift myself up when I didn't think I could go one more step or do one more thing. Humor allows me to put things into perspective and I can laugh at myself in the process. I chide myself with "Stop being such a drama queen" when I realize that I'm so blessed to do what I love and am passionate about - writing.
You won't find any whining here, but you may find that mixed with the writing 'stuff', there'll be moments and mornings when my toilet won't flush (even though all the parts are working and in place) because that's life.
But, I won't write about my book, maintaining my ol' house, my dating life (or lack of) or the weather when I'm reviewing other author's books. The next step in my evolution. My review blogs, interviews with authors, and Q & A blogs will be all about the authors. I have to push the envelope now because the blogging I used to do doesn't seem to resemble the writing blogs that I've read every day for an hour every morning since I started this blog. Some are humorous and informative and those I put a star next to. Others are strictly business and very helpful, and most are pure business - the business of selling books. Sigh. As if writing a book wasn't hard enough, I now must learn the business of publishing and selling books. Sheesh.
That was a whine...well, I'm almost finished reading the first book I'd love to review - The Paris Wife: A Novel by Paula McIain. Through this author's eyes, I've enjoyed the sights and sounds of one of my top five favorite cities in the world - Paris.
Peace and love,
Ellie
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Holiday Love
Good morning!
First of all, I would like to thank my readers, friends and family for joining me on my blogging journey with Blogger this year! I've enjoyed my time in my new blogging home and the 852 page views are awesome! It has been quite a good year for my children and I and we are thankful! I am thankful for you, as well :)
I wish you and yours a beautiful, safe Holiday season and all the best for the New Year!
My friend Ruth has invited me to a Christmas party tonight, the first of the Holiday season for me, and I'm excited. I haven't seen the hosts for quite a while and they are a fun bunch - a young, fun bunch :) I'm finally feeling the Christmas spirit! I need to pack today, so that I'll be ready for my trip to Northern Virginia to see my kids...I might be a bit tired from the night before!
Tomorrow morning, I take the train to DC and will Metro to my daughter's house to help her get ready for our family Christmas dinner. I'm excited to see my kids and family! I'm not really ready, but will have a day to buy last minute gifts in the DC area. If I can't find great gifts in the malls of Northern Virginia, they just don't exist :)
I leave my Pug, Ozzy and my kitten, Pierre in my pet sitter, Junior's good hands with a new ceramic heater for the kitchen which doesn't ever seem to be warm enough. I will miss them! I'm off to share the Holidays and make new memories with my human kids now and leave my furry kids behind :)
My thoughts and prayers are also with those who find themselves alone during this Holiday season, with those who are hurting, and with the Sandy Hook families who face a Christmas without their precious children and family members. I also pray for the military members who can't be with their families, the elderly and with those who are in hospitals, unable to get home. I pray for those in hospice and in shelters.
God bless and keep you all.
Peace and Holiday love to you,
Ellie
Thursday, November 29, 2012
One Way to Overcome Writer's Block
Hi all,
Yesterday I found out that my local library has a fax machine for public use. I don't mean that you can stand there and fax any ol' thing you want. First, you have to get through the tall, wiry, and might I add, stern-looking woman who will fax documents for you at one dollar per page. I don't know if this is common practice in libraries, but as a person who hasn't figured out how to install her printer at home which has fax/scanning and printing capabilities, this was awesome news. Please don't tell my local library if it's not 'normal', I love it!
After I faxed my documents (so easy!), I trudged upstairs to the computer room and decided to see what it would feel like to enter a strange room, write a new blog on a strange computer (to me) among 20 strangers.
As I waited to get assigned a computer, I scanned the room. Much like I do in a crowded restaurant while I wait for the host/hostess to seat me. I want a nice table and not in the middle of the room, thank you very much. The computer room was packed with people of all ages. The only free computers were right smack in the middle of the middle aisle of three aisles. Damn! People on all sides. I don't like sitting in the middle of any room. I've always liked my back against the walls, so that I can view YOU :)
NOTE: I've worked in residential treatment centers for kids...you don't turn your back, ever. I learned that quick and it has stuck with me.
I didn't have to stay in the computer room. I have a perfectly lovely red laptop at home. I could have left any time after faxing my documents. But something pulled me upstairs. I'm curious, intuitive and I happen to reading "The Alchemist" for the third time. (My daughter gave me her Kindle and the book happens to be on her list, so I started at 4:30 am when I couldn't sleep.) Yes, 4:30 am. Well, I love a good challenge and I wondered if I would meet anyone interesting in the computer room. Would I meet someone with a message for me about my novel? Would I meet the Alchemist? The King? The Englishman? A talking camel? Who knows, but I'm open to new experiences.
I was up for the challenge, but writing my new blog in this computer room was posing an internal challenge for me. I could do it and I would! I would accept whatever computer was offered to me and not worry that someone was looking at my screen. That was it! I was feeling 'naked' and spied upon and I hadn't even sat down.
I pushed through it, looked to my left and right several times (just because) and looked behind me because the guy was having a conversation with his rental office. Highly annoying. Someone else had their music blaring and I could hear the rap music through his head phones. Very annoying.
I pushed on! I checked Facebook, checked my two email accounts and replied so some emails and I wrote this blog :) There is ALWAYS a lesson and a lesson learned in every situation and experience that we have. I usually learn something new from a brief conversation with a neighbor or someone in line at the grocery store. I truly believe that. You have to be open to people, places and things. I usually am.
What did I learn this morning during my writing experience at my local library?
Writing at home is freakin' awesome :) I can't wait to walk home and fire that baby up and write to my heart's content. Make your writing experience crappy, challenging or just interesting enough and I guarantee you that your computer will look awesome to you when you get home.
Peace out,
Ellie
Yesterday I found out that my local library has a fax machine for public use. I don't mean that you can stand there and fax any ol' thing you want. First, you have to get through the tall, wiry, and might I add, stern-looking woman who will fax documents for you at one dollar per page. I don't know if this is common practice in libraries, but as a person who hasn't figured out how to install her printer at home which has fax/scanning and printing capabilities, this was awesome news. Please don't tell my local library if it's not 'normal', I love it!
After I faxed my documents (so easy!), I trudged upstairs to the computer room and decided to see what it would feel like to enter a strange room, write a new blog on a strange computer (to me) among 20 strangers.
As I waited to get assigned a computer, I scanned the room. Much like I do in a crowded restaurant while I wait for the host/hostess to seat me. I want a nice table and not in the middle of the room, thank you very much. The computer room was packed with people of all ages. The only free computers were right smack in the middle of the middle aisle of three aisles. Damn! People on all sides. I don't like sitting in the middle of any room. I've always liked my back against the walls, so that I can view YOU :)
NOTE: I've worked in residential treatment centers for kids...you don't turn your back, ever. I learned that quick and it has stuck with me.
I didn't have to stay in the computer room. I have a perfectly lovely red laptop at home. I could have left any time after faxing my documents. But something pulled me upstairs. I'm curious, intuitive and I happen to reading "The Alchemist" for the third time. (My daughter gave me her Kindle and the book happens to be on her list, so I started at 4:30 am when I couldn't sleep.) Yes, 4:30 am. Well, I love a good challenge and I wondered if I would meet anyone interesting in the computer room. Would I meet someone with a message for me about my novel? Would I meet the Alchemist? The King? The Englishman? A talking camel? Who knows, but I'm open to new experiences.
I was up for the challenge, but writing my new blog in this computer room was posing an internal challenge for me. I could do it and I would! I would accept whatever computer was offered to me and not worry that someone was looking at my screen. That was it! I was feeling 'naked' and spied upon and I hadn't even sat down.
I pushed through it, looked to my left and right several times (just because) and looked behind me because the guy was having a conversation with his rental office. Highly annoying. Someone else had their music blaring and I could hear the rap music through his head phones. Very annoying.
I pushed on! I checked Facebook, checked my two email accounts and replied so some emails and I wrote this blog :) There is ALWAYS a lesson and a lesson learned in every situation and experience that we have. I usually learn something new from a brief conversation with a neighbor or someone in line at the grocery store. I truly believe that. You have to be open to people, places and things. I usually am.
What did I learn this morning during my writing experience at my local library?
Writing at home is freakin' awesome :) I can't wait to walk home and fire that baby up and write to my heart's content. Make your writing experience crappy, challenging or just interesting enough and I guarantee you that your computer will look awesome to you when you get home.
Peace out,
Ellie
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
But, I Digress...
Hi all,
We had snow flurries this morning! I woke up, checked my phone for the time (no one wears watches anymore) and at 8:38, we had wet snow and snow flurries. I was as excited as a kid, teen or adult who is hoping to get out of school or work or the commute to work. And, I work from home :) Hell, as an at-home Mom, I was excited for my kids to stay home so we could play! They had my ex-husband's genes in that respect, however...they never wanted to miss a day of school. But, I digress...
Then, it was all over. The snow flurries landed on wet sidewalks and it was all over, really before it even began. Bummer. I really wanted to see snow on the ground this morning. I wanted to put on my old gray robe, make a pot of vanilla chai tea (chai means tea, doesn't it?) and write to my heart's content, watching the snow fall from the dining room window.
I've always wanted to live in a Currier & Ives painting. I want to live in a thatched roof cottage by a lazy river that has a brick bridge going that leads to my children's homes because they live a stone's throw from my house. But, I digress...
Of course, I put on my old gray robe, made a pot of vanilla chai and powered up the laptop. I edited my novel yesterday from 9 in the morning to nearly 10 at night with a few breaks. I was on a roll! Why? Because I forgot to pay my cable bill that includes the Internet :) No distractions and it worked like a charm. I made huge strides on my novel and I'm so, so pleased with the first ten chapters. But, I digress...wait. What is this blog about any way? Writing, snow, or kids?
So, I powered up the laptop this morning, shoo'd the cat away from my vanilla chai (which must be a drug as powerful as catnip for my Maine Coon, Pierre) and took Ozzy my Pug out for a quick walk. On our walk, I noticed that Main Street has put on their Holiday accessories which are beautiful. I just LOVE walking through small towns with big Christmas and holiday decorations like the town I live in. It's charming this time of year, but I digress...
You know what? I don't have a damn clue what this blog is about. I started losing the thread almost immediately and I don't think I even had a thread! I just started writing. That's the way it happens with me. I just start to write and I end up with a short story, five poems (I canNOT write just poem) or a blog. I write dialogue, scenes and character descriptions. I rewrite paragraphs, whole chapters, beginnings and endings. I never get bored.
I don't really know what today is all about, but I DO know that I have to write like I have to breathe. I have to write and you should, too.
So back to my novel :) Happy writing.
Peace and love,
Ellie
We had snow flurries this morning! I woke up, checked my phone for the time (no one wears watches anymore) and at 8:38, we had wet snow and snow flurries. I was as excited as a kid, teen or adult who is hoping to get out of school or work or the commute to work. And, I work from home :) Hell, as an at-home Mom, I was excited for my kids to stay home so we could play! They had my ex-husband's genes in that respect, however...they never wanted to miss a day of school. But, I digress...
Then, it was all over. The snow flurries landed on wet sidewalks and it was all over, really before it even began. Bummer. I really wanted to see snow on the ground this morning. I wanted to put on my old gray robe, make a pot of vanilla chai tea (chai means tea, doesn't it?) and write to my heart's content, watching the snow fall from the dining room window.
I've always wanted to live in a Currier & Ives painting. I want to live in a thatched roof cottage by a lazy river that has a brick bridge going that leads to my children's homes because they live a stone's throw from my house. But, I digress...
Of course, I put on my old gray robe, made a pot of vanilla chai and powered up the laptop. I edited my novel yesterday from 9 in the morning to nearly 10 at night with a few breaks. I was on a roll! Why? Because I forgot to pay my cable bill that includes the Internet :) No distractions and it worked like a charm. I made huge strides on my novel and I'm so, so pleased with the first ten chapters. But, I digress...wait. What is this blog about any way? Writing, snow, or kids?
So, I powered up the laptop this morning, shoo'd the cat away from my vanilla chai (which must be a drug as powerful as catnip for my Maine Coon, Pierre) and took Ozzy my Pug out for a quick walk. On our walk, I noticed that Main Street has put on their Holiday accessories which are beautiful. I just LOVE walking through small towns with big Christmas and holiday decorations like the town I live in. It's charming this time of year, but I digress...
You know what? I don't have a damn clue what this blog is about. I started losing the thread almost immediately and I don't think I even had a thread! I just started writing. That's the way it happens with me. I just start to write and I end up with a short story, five poems (I canNOT write just poem) or a blog. I write dialogue, scenes and character descriptions. I rewrite paragraphs, whole chapters, beginnings and endings. I never get bored.
I don't really know what today is all about, but I DO know that I have to write like I have to breathe. I have to write and you should, too.
So back to my novel :) Happy writing.
Peace and love,
Ellie
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
We're Having Technical Difficulties
Hi all,
Apparently, there is a little button on the top of the Microsoft Word panel that says "UNDO". I still can't find it, but my daughter assured me it's there. That little button would have undone the potentially devastating deleting I did of my entire manuscript two days ago! Someone will have to show me where it is because I'm not seeing it.
Disaster averted yesterday afternoon, however, when I went back to search for the deleted manuscript and found a copy of it deep in the files! I'm good!! I can't tell you how relieved and grateful I was to God and Microsoft for automatically making a copy for me! Prayers answered.
The saved copy of the manuscript was the most recent copy minus the adverb search and changes I'd done, but no big deal. I don't mind redoing that, believe me! I was smiling like crazy when I saw that copy.
This morning it occurred to me that when the power is off in my house, the only way to find out the time is to check my phone. I realized that with the TV off, the laptop off and having no way to charge my cell phone, the only source of time would be the stove which is off by an hour! There's gotta be a better way.
I've owned one watch in my life. I love that watch and it needs a cleaning. It's an expensive watch, so it makes sense that the cleaning will cost me a few $100's. After buying a house, I never have a couple hundred dollars sitting around so, the watch sits in my bedroom and I rely on the clocks in the house when the power is on :)
It also occurred to me that if my laptop was lost, stolen or broken - I wouldn't have access to my novel nor could I save changes made. I now have several copies of the manuscript on the laptop, the hard copy my editor sent me, and I've saved the ms onto a USB thingie, as well. As a matter of fact, I saved it onto two USBs and one is on my key chain.
Have I checked all the boxes of being safe? This morning, a friend recommended that I download (burn) the manuscript onto a DVD or CD. Good thinking! I would do that if my laptop CD drive worked, however it hasn't worked in years. It might be time for a new laptop...I've had this one for over two years. It seems ridiculous to me that laptops don't seem to last over four years. Why is that?
I suppose I've done all humanly possible to save and protect my manuscript save for saving it on an external hard drive which I own, by the way. But, I lost the cord to it when I moved two years ago. I carefully wrapped the respective cords of my laptop, computer, printer DVD player and external hard drive and put them in one box...which, of course, I can't find. Don't you just love moving?
A friend suggested taking my hard drive to Radio Shack and perhaps, there is a universal cord and battery pack. I guess that's where I'll be next week. Aren't you happy I wrote this blog? Ha ha!
I'm supposed to be working non-stop on this novel and I seem to be dealing with technical difficulties and issues relating to technology! Stop already! I just want to write a book and see it published, for goodness sake.
Have a beautiful day. It's all good :)
Peace and love,
Ellie
Apparently, there is a little button on the top of the Microsoft Word panel that says "UNDO". I still can't find it, but my daughter assured me it's there. That little button would have undone the potentially devastating deleting I did of my entire manuscript two days ago! Someone will have to show me where it is because I'm not seeing it.
Disaster averted yesterday afternoon, however, when I went back to search for the deleted manuscript and found a copy of it deep in the files! I'm good!! I can't tell you how relieved and grateful I was to God and Microsoft for automatically making a copy for me! Prayers answered.
The saved copy of the manuscript was the most recent copy minus the adverb search and changes I'd done, but no big deal. I don't mind redoing that, believe me! I was smiling like crazy when I saw that copy.
This morning it occurred to me that when the power is off in my house, the only way to find out the time is to check my phone. I realized that with the TV off, the laptop off and having no way to charge my cell phone, the only source of time would be the stove which is off by an hour! There's gotta be a better way.
I've owned one watch in my life. I love that watch and it needs a cleaning. It's an expensive watch, so it makes sense that the cleaning will cost me a few $100's. After buying a house, I never have a couple hundred dollars sitting around so, the watch sits in my bedroom and I rely on the clocks in the house when the power is on :)
It also occurred to me that if my laptop was lost, stolen or broken - I wouldn't have access to my novel nor could I save changes made. I now have several copies of the manuscript on the laptop, the hard copy my editor sent me, and I've saved the ms onto a USB thingie, as well. As a matter of fact, I saved it onto two USBs and one is on my key chain.
Have I checked all the boxes of being safe? This morning, a friend recommended that I download (burn) the manuscript onto a DVD or CD. Good thinking! I would do that if my laptop CD drive worked, however it hasn't worked in years. It might be time for a new laptop...I've had this one for over two years. It seems ridiculous to me that laptops don't seem to last over four years. Why is that?
I suppose I've done all humanly possible to save and protect my manuscript save for saving it on an external hard drive which I own, by the way. But, I lost the cord to it when I moved two years ago. I carefully wrapped the respective cords of my laptop, computer, printer DVD player and external hard drive and put them in one box...which, of course, I can't find. Don't you just love moving?
A friend suggested taking my hard drive to Radio Shack and perhaps, there is a universal cord and battery pack. I guess that's where I'll be next week. Aren't you happy I wrote this blog? Ha ha!
I'm supposed to be working non-stop on this novel and I seem to be dealing with technical difficulties and issues relating to technology! Stop already! I just want to write a book and see it published, for goodness sake.
Have a beautiful day. It's all good :)
Peace and love,
Ellie
Friday, November 16, 2012
Am I Finished Yet?
Hi all,
Well, it's official. I can't eat cheese, bread or rice. Milk, either. Actually, I can eat those things, but I suffer the consequences! I've taken a one week, self-imposed food test this week, eating suspicious food items only to have an upset stomach, cramping and then, some in the evenings and early morning. I had a bad night last night and am still harboring an upset stomach and a headache this morning.
This week, I tried three small slices of cheese pizza and gave the rest to my neighbor; garlic shrimp with white rice and wonton soup and trotted myself (no pun intended!) to my neighbor's house with the left-overs; and had a bowl of cereal with skim milk last night. I was uncomfortable hours later. My neighbor ate well this week! Half and half with my coffee doesn't seem to bother me as much and I'm NOT giving up my cafe au lait or cream in my tea. No way.
So. Today, I go on a liquid fast to detox my body from all that nasty stuff that's making me feel ill and queasy. I hope it works and maybe I'll lose a few pounds in the process. That would be nice, too. My life's run with cheese pizza, white rice and the occasional white bread is over. I've tried and my body just can't deal with it anymore.
This morning, I've already tackled three more chapters of my manuscript and I'm satisfied with them. It's amazing how many times I can read a chapter and STILL find things to change and improve upon. When does it end? When is a ms truly finished and ready? Will I know when that times comes? Or does someone else have to tell me?!
Much like painting, it's tough to know when you're finished. In painting, there comes a time when I have to give it up and just say, "This is the best I can do" while knowing deep inside that there's always something I can tweak and improve. Drives me nuts. Maybe it's helpful to have a friend who is brutally honest who can drag us away, saying, "Back away! It's finished! Leave it alone!" Do we trust ourselves or someone else to make that decision for us?
Writing this novel has felt like a pregnancy and I'm in the 8th month now. I can feel it. I love this baby, love working with it, enjoy thinking and dreaming about holding that book in my hand...and yet, I'm getting tired of being pregnant :) My internal feet are swelling, I'm gaining weight (true), I'm bloated, and I have gas! Ha ha!
I enjoy the winter months for producing work. It's a nice, quiet, cozy time of year and I predict...that this book will be finished by January 1st. Yes, I do. That is my self-imposed deadline and procrastinators like me need deadlines.
And like I experienced after childbirth, I'm sure I'll say, "That wasn't so bad, was it? I think it's time to start thinking about another baby." Smile.
So, on we go.
Happy Friday to you!
Peace and love,
Ellie
Well, it's official. I can't eat cheese, bread or rice. Milk, either. Actually, I can eat those things, but I suffer the consequences! I've taken a one week, self-imposed food test this week, eating suspicious food items only to have an upset stomach, cramping and then, some in the evenings and early morning. I had a bad night last night and am still harboring an upset stomach and a headache this morning.
This week, I tried three small slices of cheese pizza and gave the rest to my neighbor; garlic shrimp with white rice and wonton soup and trotted myself (no pun intended!) to my neighbor's house with the left-overs; and had a bowl of cereal with skim milk last night. I was uncomfortable hours later. My neighbor ate well this week! Half and half with my coffee doesn't seem to bother me as much and I'm NOT giving up my cafe au lait or cream in my tea. No way.
So. Today, I go on a liquid fast to detox my body from all that nasty stuff that's making me feel ill and queasy. I hope it works and maybe I'll lose a few pounds in the process. That would be nice, too. My life's run with cheese pizza, white rice and the occasional white bread is over. I've tried and my body just can't deal with it anymore.
This morning, I've already tackled three more chapters of my manuscript and I'm satisfied with them. It's amazing how many times I can read a chapter and STILL find things to change and improve upon. When does it end? When is a ms truly finished and ready? Will I know when that times comes? Or does someone else have to tell me?!
Much like painting, it's tough to know when you're finished. In painting, there comes a time when I have to give it up and just say, "This is the best I can do" while knowing deep inside that there's always something I can tweak and improve. Drives me nuts. Maybe it's helpful to have a friend who is brutally honest who can drag us away, saying, "Back away! It's finished! Leave it alone!" Do we trust ourselves or someone else to make that decision for us?
Writing this novel has felt like a pregnancy and I'm in the 8th month now. I can feel it. I love this baby, love working with it, enjoy thinking and dreaming about holding that book in my hand...and yet, I'm getting tired of being pregnant :) My internal feet are swelling, I'm gaining weight (true), I'm bloated, and I have gas! Ha ha!
I enjoy the winter months for producing work. It's a nice, quiet, cozy time of year and I predict...that this book will be finished by January 1st. Yes, I do. That is my self-imposed deadline and procrastinators like me need deadlines.
And like I experienced after childbirth, I'm sure I'll say, "That wasn't so bad, was it? I think it's time to start thinking about another baby." Smile.
So, on we go.
Happy Friday to you!
Peace and love,
Ellie
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Thank you, Julia!
Hi all,
I had a very productive day yesterday with the manuscript despite worrying that my author blog was already too personal. I've blogged since 2007 (on Thoughts.com) and was told on many occasions that my forte was being up close and personal. I wasn't so sure I should be as personal on my new author blog, so late last night, I decided to take a little tour of other author's blogs before bed.
Many of the blogs I visited are personal in nature and some even add photos of their children, furry children and families. These authors post a blog a day (which I'm used to doing) and it turns out, they treat their blogs like diaries or journals. I can do that! Now, you might not enjoy what I post, but that's another kettle of fish :)
Writing comes easy to me. Words and ideas in a blog come out in stream of consciousness style and I rarely go back and edit what I've written (unlike my novel and short stories). In addition to a love of writing, I think this comes from being a devotee from way, way back of Julia Cameron and her seminal book, "The Artist's Way".
Per Cameron's advice, I dutifully wrote my Morning Pages in beautifully-bound journals in longhand for over ten years. (I had special fountain pens in all colors for my journals. There's just something magical about a fountain pen, especially a Mont Blanc fountain pen.)
My father's new wife gave me the book, "The Artist's Way" in 2000 as a Christmas present and I "did" the book alone for a solid year. The next year, I invited ten women to join me once a month. One group turned into three and ten years later, the second group is still meeting in Brussels, Belgium. That makes me very happy!
Cameron taught me to write and push through writer's block, fear, distractions and the excuses. I kept writing even if I started writing out a list of what I needed at the grocery store, my list of things to do and/or a scathing rant (very healing!). Just keep writing, she encouraged me, and I trusted her. Working with "The Artist's Way" was very cathartic and healing for me when I finished. The experiences truly changed my life and I know that sounds dramatic, but it's true for me.
I love what Cameron says about journaling and truth (and I'm paraphrasing here) - start writing and keep writing anything that comes to mind. Right smack in the middle of your three pages (or a bit later for me), you will find that your "truth" comes out. That thing that has bugged you, kept you awake, that fear, the dread or the reason you're blocked, comes out. As she says, you can't lie to yourself when you journal. She's absolutely right.
When I returned to the US as a newly separated, single Mom to two college-age kids in 2006, my son introduced me to blogging. Very soon afterward, journaling turned into blogging and I never looked back. I blogged anonymously for four years and very soon, I was emailing with fellow bloggers on that site; ones that I had a lot in common with. On occasion, I still wrote my Morning Pages in long-hand because I'm a Virgo and a stickler to being a purist when I can be :) But, that soon fell by the wayside as I began to interact with fellow bloggers. It opened a whole new world for me.
I went on to meet five bloggers who I count as very dear friends today and I keep in touch with all of them to include the women in my "The Artist's Way" groups. Some of these women still live in Brussels and some returned to the US after I did. These women have been my sounding boards, my shoulder to lean on and cry with, and we've taken turns being mentors and students for one another. A creative group is so important for creative people!
Blogging as a writer/author, however, is a totally different beast, I've found. Authors review other author's books, there are contests for free books, blog tours, Holiday give-aways and ways to market your book. So, I'm learning new things every day.
I highly recommend blogging and as I look back, it can change your life as it did mine. Blogging kept me sane and writing during the time that I was working full-time and going to school part-time and didn't have the time or emotional energy to pull my manuscript out of the Belgian packing box. Blogging was my daily exercise, my drug and helped me remain sane through my separation and divorce. I found a wonderful support group of men and women through blogging around that period of my life. Yep, I highly recommend it and if you know me, you know I've recommended it to you :)
Good luck to you and happy writing!
Peace and love,
Ellie
I had a very productive day yesterday with the manuscript despite worrying that my author blog was already too personal. I've blogged since 2007 (on Thoughts.com) and was told on many occasions that my forte was being up close and personal. I wasn't so sure I should be as personal on my new author blog, so late last night, I decided to take a little tour of other author's blogs before bed.
Many of the blogs I visited are personal in nature and some even add photos of their children, furry children and families. These authors post a blog a day (which I'm used to doing) and it turns out, they treat their blogs like diaries or journals. I can do that! Now, you might not enjoy what I post, but that's another kettle of fish :)
Writing comes easy to me. Words and ideas in a blog come out in stream of consciousness style and I rarely go back and edit what I've written (unlike my novel and short stories). In addition to a love of writing, I think this comes from being a devotee from way, way back of Julia Cameron and her seminal book, "The Artist's Way".
Per Cameron's advice, I dutifully wrote my Morning Pages in beautifully-bound journals in longhand for over ten years. (I had special fountain pens in all colors for my journals. There's just something magical about a fountain pen, especially a Mont Blanc fountain pen.)
My father's new wife gave me the book, "The Artist's Way" in 2000 as a Christmas present and I "did" the book alone for a solid year. The next year, I invited ten women to join me once a month. One group turned into three and ten years later, the second group is still meeting in Brussels, Belgium. That makes me very happy!
Cameron taught me to write and push through writer's block, fear, distractions and the excuses. I kept writing even if I started writing out a list of what I needed at the grocery store, my list of things to do and/or a scathing rant (very healing!). Just keep writing, she encouraged me, and I trusted her. Working with "The Artist's Way" was very cathartic and healing for me when I finished. The experiences truly changed my life and I know that sounds dramatic, but it's true for me.
I love what Cameron says about journaling and truth (and I'm paraphrasing here) - start writing and keep writing anything that comes to mind. Right smack in the middle of your three pages (or a bit later for me), you will find that your "truth" comes out. That thing that has bugged you, kept you awake, that fear, the dread or the reason you're blocked, comes out. As she says, you can't lie to yourself when you journal. She's absolutely right.
When I returned to the US as a newly separated, single Mom to two college-age kids in 2006, my son introduced me to blogging. Very soon afterward, journaling turned into blogging and I never looked back. I blogged anonymously for four years and very soon, I was emailing with fellow bloggers on that site; ones that I had a lot in common with. On occasion, I still wrote my Morning Pages in long-hand because I'm a Virgo and a stickler to being a purist when I can be :) But, that soon fell by the wayside as I began to interact with fellow bloggers. It opened a whole new world for me.
I went on to meet five bloggers who I count as very dear friends today and I keep in touch with all of them to include the women in my "The Artist's Way" groups. Some of these women still live in Brussels and some returned to the US after I did. These women have been my sounding boards, my shoulder to lean on and cry with, and we've taken turns being mentors and students for one another. A creative group is so important for creative people!
Blogging as a writer/author, however, is a totally different beast, I've found. Authors review other author's books, there are contests for free books, blog tours, Holiday give-aways and ways to market your book. So, I'm learning new things every day.
I highly recommend blogging and as I look back, it can change your life as it did mine. Blogging kept me sane and writing during the time that I was working full-time and going to school part-time and didn't have the time or emotional energy to pull my manuscript out of the Belgian packing box. Blogging was my daily exercise, my drug and helped me remain sane through my separation and divorce. I found a wonderful support group of men and women through blogging around that period of my life. Yep, I highly recommend it and if you know me, you know I've recommended it to you :)
Good luck to you and happy writing!
Peace and love,
Ellie
Friday, November 9, 2012
We All Have a Book to Write.
Hi all,
I'm a person who believes that when you put your mind to something, a dream, a goal or a challenge, you can do it. I also believe that when you decide what you want in your life, the Universe conspires to facilitate the process and the path.
Yeah, that sounds like New Age lingo, doesn't it? Well, I believe it because I've experienced it. Any time I've decided to pursue a dream and reach a goal, I've known full-well that the prize wasn't going to be handed to me on a silver platter. Dreams and goals require research, thought, soul searching, lots of hard work and at times, sacrifice. As soon as I've done the necessary legwork, it's amazing...people and complete strangers have come out the wings and shadows to either walk beside me, mentor and assist me.
When I wrote a tribute to my Puerto Rican grandmother for her 90th birthday, I sent it to my female relatives. The tribute was well-received which pleased me and my grandmother loved it. I was one of those kids who sat Meme's feet, listening intently to her stories of growing up poor in the Playa de Ponce in Puerto Rico, marrying well and the struggles and challenges of being a woman/mother in the early 1900's. My mother, Mercedes, knew all the stories and when we'd return from our summers on the island, she'd regale my sister Elaine and I with those stories we loved.
I showed my then-husband the tribute to my grandmother and he encouraged me to write an outline to see if I had "a book in there". In fifteen minutes, I had an outline. He said to me, "You've got a book to write." He was right. Right then and there, I sat at the computer and in six months, I'd written a 326 page novel. With two kids at home and a husband/household to manage :) I finished it. I'd always journaled, but a novel? The idea never crossed my mind before. I've always joked that the spirits helped me write this novel...and I'm not so sure that isn't true.
Through my research for my debut novel, I've met two professors of women's studies from various US universies in Washington, DC; I traveled to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic interviewing women; and I traveled to Cacao in the mountains of Puerto Rico where my grandparents owned a farm with my cousin, Josefina. A stroll down Memory Lane for us. I met two female Puerto Rican authors who I'm still friends with.
Synchronicity after synchronicity has occurred during my writing path and I am just amazed. I am passionate about the arts and I love my story. Fast forward six years and I'm still blogging, Tweeting, still meeting and communicating with latinas/latinos and hispanics from around the world. I'm new to social media and I'm learning so much. At times, I feel as if I've opened Pandora's Box with this novel and the marketing involved before, during and after publication! To me, the Internet is mind-boggling and mind-blowing place that I'm learning to navigate and I'm not too proud to say I don't know and I'm always open for advice, suggestions, and comments!
Let me tell you, it takes a village to write a book! We all have a book in us. If you've felt the need to write and have dreamed of writing, do it! Don't wait, my friend. Jump in there and just start writing. Sit your butt down and write. I'm rooting for ya :)
Peace and love,
Ellie
I'm a person who believes that when you put your mind to something, a dream, a goal or a challenge, you can do it. I also believe that when you decide what you want in your life, the Universe conspires to facilitate the process and the path.
Yeah, that sounds like New Age lingo, doesn't it? Well, I believe it because I've experienced it. Any time I've decided to pursue a dream and reach a goal, I've known full-well that the prize wasn't going to be handed to me on a silver platter. Dreams and goals require research, thought, soul searching, lots of hard work and at times, sacrifice. As soon as I've done the necessary legwork, it's amazing...people and complete strangers have come out the wings and shadows to either walk beside me, mentor and assist me.
When I wrote a tribute to my Puerto Rican grandmother for her 90th birthday, I sent it to my female relatives. The tribute was well-received which pleased me and my grandmother loved it. I was one of those kids who sat Meme's feet, listening intently to her stories of growing up poor in the Playa de Ponce in Puerto Rico, marrying well and the struggles and challenges of being a woman/mother in the early 1900's. My mother, Mercedes, knew all the stories and when we'd return from our summers on the island, she'd regale my sister Elaine and I with those stories we loved.
I showed my then-husband the tribute to my grandmother and he encouraged me to write an outline to see if I had "a book in there". In fifteen minutes, I had an outline. He said to me, "You've got a book to write." He was right. Right then and there, I sat at the computer and in six months, I'd written a 326 page novel. With two kids at home and a husband/household to manage :) I finished it. I'd always journaled, but a novel? The idea never crossed my mind before. I've always joked that the spirits helped me write this novel...and I'm not so sure that isn't true.
Through my research for my debut novel, I've met two professors of women's studies from various US universies in Washington, DC; I traveled to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic interviewing women; and I traveled to Cacao in the mountains of Puerto Rico where my grandparents owned a farm with my cousin, Josefina. A stroll down Memory Lane for us. I met two female Puerto Rican authors who I'm still friends with.
Synchronicity after synchronicity has occurred during my writing path and I am just amazed. I am passionate about the arts and I love my story. Fast forward six years and I'm still blogging, Tweeting, still meeting and communicating with latinas/latinos and hispanics from around the world. I'm new to social media and I'm learning so much. At times, I feel as if I've opened Pandora's Box with this novel and the marketing involved before, during and after publication! To me, the Internet is mind-boggling and mind-blowing place that I'm learning to navigate and I'm not too proud to say I don't know and I'm always open for advice, suggestions, and comments!
Let me tell you, it takes a village to write a book! We all have a book in us. If you've felt the need to write and have dreamed of writing, do it! Don't wait, my friend. Jump in there and just start writing. Sit your butt down and write. I'm rooting for ya :)
Peace and love,
Ellie
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Making Myself Comfortable on Blogger!
Hello!
I'm not a new blogger, not by a long shot! I blogged as Ellie2008 on Thoughts.com since October 2007 (until yesterday) and had a brief foray as PracticalSpirituality365 for six months on the same site. Thoughts.com is going through some major changes, so I moved on and I'm happy in my new home!
My Ellie2008 blog was primarily about the adventures and misadventures I experienced as a divorced woman in her 50's who is thrown into the dating scene after 27 years as a wife and at-home Mom. My real life stories will make you laugh your ass off, might break your heart and cause you to make your husband breakfast in bed so that you won't be a single woman in your 50's! Just kidding, of course! I love being single :)
I also wrote some blogs in Spanish because I'm Puerto Rican born. A proud Boricua from Ponce, Puerto Rico! I was educated in the US, Puerto Rico and Europe. I've lived in six European countries and am happy to be back on the US with my two gorgeous children, Heather and Matthew.
The Practicalspirituality365 blog was about lessons and things I'd learned along my path which is my life. I started this blog as a way to give back for all the blessings in my life and it gave me much peace to write these blogs.
These two blogs are in my past, but believe me, the dating stories WILL be put to good use in my next novel. Of course, a comedy! You can't make that shit up :)
So, why am I here today, introducing myself to you?
I finished my first novel, "A Decent Woman" and I can't 'wait for you to read it! My novel is an historical novel set in 1900 Playa de Ponce, Puerto Rico about the life-long friendship of Dona Ana, the Afro-Cuban born midwife and Leila, the young society wife whose family was poor before she married well; and the difficulties that society puts on these two women who strive and fight to remain friends.
My fabulous and generous editor Deborah has sent her editorial letter and edits to me this week and I'm very encouraged! I want to begin this blog the night before I open those Track Changes!
I'm excited to share my writing life with you. I'll be happy to share my lessons, experiences, mistakes and joys along the way to seeing "A Decent Woman" published. And, I WILL be published :) I've visualized it, dreamed it and tasted it...
I'm the new girl on the block and I'm happy to meet you!
Peace and love,
Ellie
I'm not a new blogger, not by a long shot! I blogged as Ellie2008 on Thoughts.com since October 2007 (until yesterday) and had a brief foray as PracticalSpirituality365 for six months on the same site. Thoughts.com is going through some major changes, so I moved on and I'm happy in my new home!
My Ellie2008 blog was primarily about the adventures and misadventures I experienced as a divorced woman in her 50's who is thrown into the dating scene after 27 years as a wife and at-home Mom. My real life stories will make you laugh your ass off, might break your heart and cause you to make your husband breakfast in bed so that you won't be a single woman in your 50's! Just kidding, of course! I love being single :)
I also wrote some blogs in Spanish because I'm Puerto Rican born. A proud Boricua from Ponce, Puerto Rico! I was educated in the US, Puerto Rico and Europe. I've lived in six European countries and am happy to be back on the US with my two gorgeous children, Heather and Matthew.
The Practicalspirituality365 blog was about lessons and things I'd learned along my path which is my life. I started this blog as a way to give back for all the blessings in my life and it gave me much peace to write these blogs.
These two blogs are in my past, but believe me, the dating stories WILL be put to good use in my next novel. Of course, a comedy! You can't make that shit up :)
So, why am I here today, introducing myself to you?
I finished my first novel, "A Decent Woman" and I can't 'wait for you to read it! My novel is an historical novel set in 1900 Playa de Ponce, Puerto Rico about the life-long friendship of Dona Ana, the Afro-Cuban born midwife and Leila, the young society wife whose family was poor before she married well; and the difficulties that society puts on these two women who strive and fight to remain friends.
My fabulous and generous editor Deborah has sent her editorial letter and edits to me this week and I'm very encouraged! I want to begin this blog the night before I open those Track Changes!
I'm excited to share my writing life with you. I'll be happy to share my lessons, experiences, mistakes and joys along the way to seeing "A Decent Woman" published. And, I WILL be published :) I've visualized it, dreamed it and tasted it...
I'm the new girl on the block and I'm happy to meet you!
Peace and love,
Ellie
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