WAHOO!!!

Yesterday was the first notification in the Amazon/Penguin novel contest. I made it through the first round. I can't begin to tell you how stoked I am! After I read my name I immediately emailed my critique group to let them know. Their support is wonderful. I got replies from everyone wishing me well and rooting for me to go the distance. I smiled and yelled so much I got a headache and my face hurt. But it was a good ache.

I went to the gym as usual. The excitement pushed me to workout really hard. Between the exercise and the thrill of getting to the next round wore me out. By 9 pm my eyes were seriously at half mast. I forced myself to stay awake a little longer, but not much.

I didn't get much rest, though. I went to sleep, but I dreamed about it the whole night. I woke up this morning with my face aching from all that smiling. I can't wait for the next round of the contest. I so hope I'm still in it.

WAHOO!!!

Action!

Today I'm sitting in front of my computer deciding how to write a particular action sequence. It's a part of my stories that I love the most. I like the pace of it. I like orchestrating the fight, battle, or attack. It gives me a thrill that nothing else seems to. My critique members enjoy those parts of my manuscripts, but I'm often asked why I have a flair for action rather than romance.

I'm not really sure. It's the same with what I enjoy reading or the movies I prefer. I'm pretty sure it's not the blood or gore. I don't care that much for slasher movies or horror. I'd have to say it's the pace and power of the scene.

When I'm writing, I see every blow delivered and received. I hear the scuffle and struggle of clothing, bodies hitting the ground, the grunts and groans of the combatants. I watch the placement of the characters' bodies and feet. I experience the aftermath of both sides. This a part of the book that comes alive for me. Not that I don't enjoy the other bits, like scene or character building, because I love those too. I just get really involved in the sequence and effect of the action. All of that movement going on in my head is invigorating.

What's your favorite part?

What's Hiding in My Mind?

Here's what's hiding in my mind, lots of books waiting to be written. They're rolling around in there, rattling against each other. The better question is, how do I get all of them out without my fingers falling off from the mad tap-tapping of the keyboard? I guess I'll just have to rely on God's superglue. Here's hoping it lasts a few more years, better make that decades.

I have so many ideas bouncing around in my brain, sometimes it's hard to keep them all straight. I write them down so that I don't lose them, but the stack of paper that they're written on is almost to manuscript length! No matter, I am determined to get them done.

A lot of the ideas sound good at first. When I start fleshing one out into a story it becomes apparent that the idea needs a lot more work, more time to 'cook'. There is no way that thing is ready to meet the public.

I got this idea about one story that had a being from another world that wanted to live on Earth. That part isn't so bad. Watching this being experience our planet's lower gravity, teens with extreme fashion, and junk food were a little trite, and that's being kind. I still think it's a decent idea, it just needs more time in the imagination oven.

I would like to think that I'm not the only one who experiences this, but I could be wrong. Does you brain burst with ideas? Do you ever have ideas that just don't hold up under the scrutiny of being put on paper?