I'm tired.

Maybe it's because I went to the gym and pushed myself on the weights. Maybe it's because I stayed up too late last night working out plot ideas for the WIP. Maybe it's because DH is out of town, hence I'm "on" 24/7. Maybe it's because Gremlin #2 was up crying several times last night. For whatever reason, I'm tired today and I have a bunch of stuff to do (which is why I'm blogging and avoiding it all).

So this is me. Standing in the kitchen, making lunch for Gremlin #2. And I need coffee. It's only 12:35 and I need coffee to keep me going (hush, Piper). So I pop a cup in the microwave and as I'm waiting for it to heat, start thinking about MMB. Yes, the one I've already finished. You see, I spent a good chunk of time printing queries and a couple requested partials last night, making labels, getting things ready to be sent out the door. And something's been bothering me. One of the contest entries I got back said the first two chapters were both really good, but so dramatically different it threw the judge off. Now, this was her personal opinion, and the only person who's read it who's said anything like that, but it made me stop and think. The first two chapters ARE dramatically different. It's got an Indiana Jones-ish quality to the first chapter, but I've never considered the hook at the end of the first chapter to be super super strong. Good, but not uber-strong, you know?

So I'm standing there in the kitchen thinking about chapter one as I'm making macaroni and cheese for Gremlin #2, and it hits me. BAM! A simple solution. One paragraph at the end of chapter one that ties the two chapters together. Easy. Why didn't I think of it before? Of course, now I have query-remorse, worrying that those agents who already have it will think the first two chapters are too different. Stupid, I know, but if I don't have something to worry about, I'm just not me. In this day and age where you only have a few pages to hook an agent's attention, something as silly as one missing paragraph can make all the difference

The microwave beeps, and all this is running through my mind as I pull my mug out. I'm thinking about sitting in the office making a couple minor changes, reprinting the last page of the chapter, tearing open the envelopes I got all ready to go last night, knowing I need to print more labels. And then I look down and realize I have just added 1/2 stick of butter to my coffee because I'm too tired and too distracted to stay focused on any one thing for any length of time.

*sigh*

It's now 12:57.

And I'm tired. And I have a butt-load of stuff to do.

Sitting around the dinner table tonight, we tried to have a meaninful conversation with our kids. They wanted to eat and go play. DH and I were trying to foster family "together" time. So DH asked each of the kids what their favorite thing to do is. Here are the answers:

Gremlin #1 (she's seven) - "Swimming."

Gremlin #2 (he's four and as we all know, four-year-olds take four times as long to answer any question) - "Writing on T-shirts (they just did this at school), no wait . . . swimming! (because his sister just said it), no, wait . . . I know, eating! (because that's what he's doing at the time), no, I've got it this time . . . baseball! (probably the most honest answer of the bunch)."

Gremlin #3 (he's one) - bababababggagagagag

Me - "Sleeping because I never get enough of it."

To which DH laughed and said that doesn't count. Then he proceeded to answer for me. My favorite thing to do (according to him) is to go on vacation to a sunny beach, recline in the sun and read a book.

After fifteen years together, I'd say he knows me pretty well. :)

So what's your most favorite thing to do?

Yep, that's me.

I've been taking a writing break, pondering my next WIP, and that invariably means a blogging break. Thanks to everyone who gave me feedback on which direction I should take with the new project. I think I'm leaning toward the darker of the two stories. The characters and plot have been percolating and calling to me more this past week as I've been painting. (Physical labor is good for the muse.) Hopefully I'll be able to start the new WIP sometime this week.

Hope you're all having a great Memorial Day weekend. Gotta get back to painting.

The girls over at Romance Worth Killing For are blogging about that age-old question, what now? I've been uncharacteristically quiet regarding the topic, milling it over myself, but, ironically, find I'm in the same quandry.

The last month has been busy for me. I whipped SOS into shape for a requesting editor and got it out the door. In addition, I finished MMB, completed the edits this week and sent it off to the requesting agent. It feels so good to be totally done, and I'm really happy with the way MMB turned out. Regardless of whether or not this agent wants it, it's ready to be sent out on the rounds. I feel optimistic about it. Now that both are finished though, I find myself looking around like Joan, thinking, what next?

The last two ms's I wrote were very different. Both RS, both involving murder and mayhem, but different tones and themes. SOS was dark and heavy with slightly disturbing (depending on who you ask) subject matter. MMB was lighter, more of an action/adventure/run-for-your-lives type book with its fair share of humor and sarcasm. Both type of books appeal to me. Both are rewarding to write in completely different ways.

Now, the question is, what do I turn to next? I have two ideas bouncing around in my brain. Again, both are different RS's - one's dark and heavy, one's a little lighter, more humorous. Both are pulling at me equally. I'm not the type of person who can write two books at once, so I need to pick one and go. They each pose their own challenges - dark can be hard to write because it takes you places you might not want to go; sarcastic is hard to keep up through the whole book without feeling like you've drained your creative juices. I'm just not sure which one to clamp on to first and run with.

So what do you guys think? Which way do you think I should go and why? What type of RS books do you prefer - dark and heavy or lighter, more humorous?

Woohoo! I finished the WIP at 1:30 AM this morning! Now I need to go back and edit/layer the last two chapters then give the whole thing a printed read-through for flow. Since I write a pretty clean draft (I'm constantly editing), I don't foresee a lot more work.

What a feeling. I love typing The End.

(Hey, Piper...I met my goal even though I won't be at the meeting tomorrow. Be sure to save my cut of the pot!!)

Via Lisa.

101 Excuses Not To Write.

As if I NEED more excuses! ROFL.

You'll get a kick out of these though.

SOS is printing and soon will be out the door to the requesting editor. While editing I remembered how much I love this story. It's dark and twisted and not everyone's cup of tea, but I really love the characters. I especially love my hero. *sigh* Part of me hopes it's "the one". Part of me doesn't want to get my hopes up. No matter what, I'm happy with the revisions (like the first part much better) and I'm proud of the way it turned out.

Ah...feels like a weight has been lifted. :)

Now it's time to get back to work on MMB. One more chapter, just one more chapter... The hard part now will be immersing myself in these characters and getting back into their heads. Looks like I'll be doing some reading before I jump back into the climax.

Wish me luck.

Is It Live? Or Memorex?

It's alive.

I'm here. I know. Slacker, with a capital S. I can't believe it's been a week since I last blogged. Wow. I'm reaaaally slacking.

Um, let's see. Not a lot happening, I've just been uber-busy.

Think I have allergies. I've never had them before, but I do live in the grass-seed capital of the world, so it makes sense I would at some time develop them - esp. since everyone in my family has them. I've been sick off and on all spring, and it finally dawned on me it could be allergies. I've been taking sample allergy meds we have around the house, and they seem to be helping. Will see my dr. next week and try to get this straightened out. My DH is sick of me being sick...and so am I!

Almost done polishing my requested ms. Need to do one last quick hardcopy read-through before printing and sending, then this puppy is out the door. Then I'm going to get back to work on the WIP and finish the darn thing off. Big thanks to Joan, Lin and Alice for reading for me in a crunch. I love you girls!!!

Um...what else? Oh! DH and I are taking a trip ALONE this summer. We're going here - Hotel Villa Del Sol - Zihuatanejo, Mexico - in mid-July. I can't wait. Every time I think of Zihuatanejo, I think of Shawshank Redemption because that's where they ran off to in the end. Wonder if I'll run into Morgan Freeman there? LOL. Wishful thinking had me ordering this swimsuit yesterday for our trip. Now I just have to get the body in shape. I have about nine weeks. Piper's keeping me on my toes. Wish me luck.

Guess that's it for now. Anyone doing anything exciting? Distract me from my editing and share.