Editing on layaway...I am not even kidding

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Writing your first novel feels like it takes a part of your soul.  This last year after mourning that I was finished with my book.  I was sad about the routine ending, and characters being gone.

I found a new emotion...complete overwhelming frustration.  I got buried in edits and rewriting only to discover that changing the comma placement wasn't going to make book magic.  It needed a point of view change. Meanwhile, I wore out my friends and annoyed the snot out of them to be honest with me.  They were nice, bless their hearts...but I needed bold and crazy honest.  Maybe it wouldn't have taken so long for me to stop and figure out the true problem. A year later a dear friend, finally said it. It all clicked.

I could have saved us all a ton of time if I had known about kind people like this.  

Kindle All Star Editing  was started by Bernard J. Schaffer.  He is a writer and editor with massive skill, finesse and boldness.  Unattached to my feelings or any writer's feelings to be nothing allows him to be totally honest.  As a writer he understands that we don't always have the fund-age to shell out for expensive editing services.  So...he has a solution...payment plan. Music to my ears.  I have to say that this service makes me so happy inside. I might not lose all of my friends when this next book is finished.

  

Write on Wednesday...linky please

One of my favorite bloggers, InkPaperPen, has a feature called Write on Wednesday. I have taken part pretty regularly...okay on occasion. She is still on her winter break...I miss her and it...   

Every week she is kind enough to provide us with a writing prompt and one of those awesome linky things that we can all post our wonderful post to.  The best part is the opportunity to meet new folks and see what everyone comes up with.


A friend of mine, Aunt J-Me Says So, decided that the wait was over and we needed to have our own Write on Wednesday.  She chose the following prompt: 


"Zig Ziglar, American author and motivational speaker, has some of the best quotes to encourage and inspire. Some make you think and then laugh at his point.CLICK HERE to find a quote you can write about. Put your quote at the top of your entry, set your timer for five minutes and WRITE!"

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You cannot solve a problem until you acknowledge that you have one and accept responsibility for solving it.  

~Zig Ziglar

This could be the very lesson that God has been trying to teach me for the last ten years.  I can face some problems quickly and efficiently.  Others...I completely bury my head in the sand and ignore because if I don't see it they can't find me...right? 


I think this is why I love my dog, Snoop dog so much.  If you tell him it is bed time, his least favorite time of the day, he jumps on the sofa and shoves his head into the cushion. Cushions are soft, comforting, and don't forget oh so dark.  Basically the best place ever. 


I have been taking baby steps.  Step up on a scale.  Track what I eat.  Take my damn medicine. Eat healthy food. Stay away from bubbly sweet soda, soft warm cookies, and gooie creamy dishes. Think thin thoughts.       When it is warmer...it will transcend into taking long walks. 


What is important is I acknowledge the problem, and accept responsibility, and know that I am the only one that can solve it.  


How about you?  Join in the blog hop...with a link, and visit your fellow bloggers. 

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1. Reflect with me

2. Aunt J-Me Says So

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OCD...Tweet me!

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You my dear reader know I get my little obsessions.  Lately it has been twitter. It isn't the newest thing out there but I finally figured out what in the world I am doing on there...well mainly I have started participating in the writers chats.  

It is energizing.  All hyped up on fresh chats I felt emboldened enough to comment on Janet Reid's comment.  For those not in the know...Ms. Reid is a hot shot New York agent.  I submitted my first book to her.  She never replied.  I respect her for that...the first book sucked.  Anyway...she replied on Twitter and for a solid hour she and I were conversing.  That has never occurred on Facebook.  It was like chatting it up with a rock star.  I'm pretty sure we are practically besties.  

So all drunk on my chat with the celebrity I have made a crazy goal...1,000 followers by December.  Doable...I am sitting at 388 now so that will be a drop in the bucket since I am practically there.  

Why do should I even attempt the 1,000 followers?  It is all about community, fresh ideas, and getting your brain used to quick thinking. Not to mention you never know who you are going to meet.

If you are in the neighborhood...give me a tweet..or a follow. :0) http://twitter.com/ChubbyBunnysInk 

Flash Mobs, Movie Stars, and Life's Disappointments

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I'm not really a dancer.  Well, unless I am in the car and alone...then I am basically amazing.

This week has been all about reviewing for semester exams for my little 7th graders.  As a much needed little boost to their grades I thought I would be the benevolent teacher and allow a little extra credit.  The kids could sing and dance to the song 'Elbow Room' by School House Rocks. It has been a parade of awkward fun while we "review" Manifest Destiny. One of my classes decided that singing by themselves would be too embarrassing so they asked if they could do it as a class.  I informed them no.  Then two, or three looked at each other smiled and asked in unison, "Can we do a flash mob?"  This has been on my own bucket list for some time.  But this takes me back to my first sentence...I'm not so much a dancer but I can totally facilitate.

After getting permission we only had 40 minutes to prepare our dance.  Not a ton of time...and most of the little dancers were in the same category with their dance ability as myself...bless their hearts.  We did it!  They were adorable even though we had some problems with our sound.

Take a look.

Afterward the kids were walking on clouds...the class went right to my class where we were high five-ing ourselves and one of the students had her phone out to monitor our response on her Facebook.  With every comment the kids were loving life.They were pretty sure the video would go viral and we would all end up on Ellen.  Who doesn't love some Ellen?

The kids started to quiet down then my little Facebook watcher shouted out, "OH MY GOD!  The guy from Modern Family is eating lunch at our school right now!" Everyone was pretty sure that it was a hoax to try to out shine us.  We sent a spy down and were saddened to find out we had been out shined.

There he is...

Now if you look carefully at the picture..do you see the fashionable lady with the khaki sweater?  This dear friend of mine is a huge fan of the show and had just introduced herself to him and asked if she could get a picture with him when they were finished eating.  Eric Stonestreet, Cameron on the show, said that would be fine.

My friend went back to her room, beside herself with anticipation to get her picture with him.  She ran down there toward the end of lunch and he had left.  No picture.  This resulted in huge, upset trauma.

I told her to not freak out just get on Facebook and get one of the pictures that the kids had taken. Earlier this same day she had gone on and on about how evil Facebook was...so my suggestion was not accepted with any kind of excitement. I got the pictures for her...less than a minute on Facebook and her dream had come true there were a series of pictures of her walking away after talking to him.

We all learned several lessons:

1. When you think you are the coolest thing out there, you can quickly be out done. 
2. Always make sure you have good sound when doing a flash mob. 
3. Be careful of the things you chose to rage against because it may one day save your sanity.   

New Year New You

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The start of a new year makes everyone a little pensive...I mean it is 2012...the rumored end of our existence.  If you usually don't go for the good ol' resolutions, I get it.

At least I'll try.  I love list. I love goals.  That makes this time of year the very best of all that is good with the world. There is such hope in January.  The promise of doing better. The promise of being better.  Speaking of being better....a Facebook friend, that I went to high school with shared the best link.  The post is 30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself, offers some advice like: stop spending time with the wrong people, stop putting your own needs on the back burner, and stop trying to be someone you are not.  It is a great read...do yourself a favor and stop on by.

Happy humpday folks!

Great day in Paradise

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Back to school...it was a great day.  I don't know why but couldn't stop smiling.  Was thrilled to see the kids, and even happier that they were all sleepy and grumpy from staying up too late.  We started the day getting inspired...

After watching I asked them why I would show them such a violent video on a Monday?  Some lost the point completely..."because you want us to fight??" Nice.  Most of them got it. It is to help them get motivated for the semester exams, and for the new goals they have made for the New Year.  It made me smile.  They make me smile.  

I have had a great start to the New Year.  I took part in my very first twitter writer chat. I have watched before...I know creepy.  I was scared to jump in, it all moves super fast. But this year I am not going to be a bystander...I jumped in and met the nicest people. Several nice folks followed my twitter.  Got some writing buddies that we are goal checking with.  I set the goal of 10k words.  It is what I was doing normally when I was in total groove with the first write...it is painful to get back there.  I got all in the 'zone' and looked to see how many words...it was like 500...a drop in the bucket. 

Speaking of buckets...I better get back to writing.  Get Motivated!!!

Try something new

To help us all on the goals and resolutions we have determined to achieve this year...have a watch and remember we can do it!