They are on i-10 driving their cavaliers while wearing their ten gallon hats. Seriously. When I think about the question more, I am not sure I want to know where the real cowboys are. Broke back mountain kind of ruined that for me. Heath Ledger was my favorite...but I digress.
I am a Texan born and raised. Yes, I am sure I have one of those silly accents that make me sound illiterate BUT I like to think it is not as bad as others. People HERE always ask me where I am from because I don't have a strong southern draw. When I went to NYC, I was laughed at. To answer some questions, which I think are too cute, no I don't ride a horse to work. No, I do not own a horse. Yes, I have rode a horse before. I use to ride every weekend from the time I was a little kid until a horrible accident happened when I was 15. Maybe one day I will tell that story but I don't usually talk about it. Sometimes it is best to leave the skeletons in the closet.
No, we do not get a day off from work for Cinco De Mayo. Yes, I have seen the Alamo (several times). Houston is not as great as everyone makes it out to be. Winter does not usually consist of snow. When it is 30-40 degrees outside we DO wear scarfs and layers...our skin is thin! :) Is everything bigger in Texas? I don't think so. But I believe the price of things are more affordable. Yes, I have all of my teeth. No, I don't dip or smoke! LOL! Really? I did finish high school and college.
I love Texas but sometimes I feel like I am too artsy fartsy for this area. I enjoy photography, art, performing, music, writing and sometimes the triangle does not fill the void. But I keep on doing what I'm doing.
On a side note: The contest ends tomorrow! I may have to dye my hair back brown when all of this is over or pluck a few greys, which haven't popped out yet. If I don't win, it wont be the end of the world and I will keep on keeping on but I am hoping for the best for me and my new writer friend Thea Isis Gregory (author of the zombie bedtime stories) I really hope she wins!
I feel like I have been playing a game of Mario Cart....constant ups and downs. I keep trying to jump that bridge in ghost alley without a feather. lol. I guess only my generation, the ones who played mario cart would understand that reference!
There is room for two winners and I am keeping my fingers crossed for the both of us!!!!!!!!
If you haven't cast your vote yet, please do so at http://curiosityquills.com/giveaways-contests/nano-virtuosos-competition/after-the-woods/ Send a vote to After the Woods and Sanity Vacuum! I would love some feedback on my entry! I have received some really positive feedback and pointers.
All criticism is welcome, even if you hate it! It is 1am and I am going to sleep.....LIKE A BOSS!
This is the calm before the storm, I just know it!
Sign up to receive my posts via email:
Share:
Where have all the cowboys gone?
Monday, January 30, 2012 Labels: answers, blog, contest, cowboys, curiousityquills, life, questions, texas
ROW80 Weekly Update!
Thursday, January 12, 2012 Labels: editing, goals, inspired, novel, row80, update, writing
Here I am, updating at 1am. BUT, I still consider it wednesday. lol.
Update:
Last week was completely hectic for me. I did read several blogs. I was suppose to leave 14 comments (2 per day). I left approximately 5. I am getting better! Usually I read and leave. Bad habit ::slaps hand::
My goal was to write 6k a week. Did not complete that goal. I wrote around 2500 words, which is good but still not goal. I am not going to be to harsh on myself about this one.
Think of 1 prompt: DID THIS! WOOHOO!!!!!! I felt like I won the lottery when the idea came to mind. I like the fact that I am delving deep within to think of REAL prompts that I could potentially write about.
Havent had a chance to write at a remote location yet BUT I have been making notes of places I would like to go. I love the water and being outdoors so do not be surprised if half of the places I go are nature-like. I bought a SLR camera today (delivered tomorrow) SQUEE and will take tons of picture of the locations I go to (esp if it is outdoors). My goal is to take the pictures and post whatever I wrote on my blog. This is all about learning and writing!
I am wondering if I should rethink my goals. I will stick with what I have for now and try to rock it the best I can because the goal is ultimately where I want to be.
I have been editing my nanowrimo draft for a contest I entered into at Curiosity Quills (curiousityquills.com) and that has taken much of my time. (I am not complaining. The contest is actually super fun!)
I received feedback back from the editor (who happens to be an amazing writer. She writes in the same genre that I love to read/write in). Since Tuesday I have been working towards a better draft. Round 3 of the contest opens up at the end of this week. I am grateful for the feedback I received and now I am working on my problems. I am taking everything she said and sprinting with it...I have passed up running. Absolutely love creative criticism. Sooooo grateful and really appreciate all the feedback she gave. Her comments were just what I needed to kick my butt to the next gear. I felt like a real writer.....THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have had several people email/message me about sending them my draft. My nano isnt ready yet but will get there. I can say the first 15 pages are much more than I imagined and cannot wait to see what the rest of the story develops into. My foundation is strong, and I have a good story that is interesting (and hopefully marketable). I get excited thinking about it. Although my draft is not ready for beta readers, I am moving towards that.
If you don't know anything about me, you will learn that I am not a quitter. I will work on the draft until it is ready for the world to read. I have planned to put the time into it, regardless of how long it takes. I am not going to lie, I am hoping that I win the contest. BUT if I don't than I feel like I have already won. My draft is already stronger than it originally was and for this I am grateful. It is tons of fun to see how far it has come. I often think about JK ROWLING and what HP must have been like before edited. I believe I am taking the correct same steps, revisions and rewriting happens and is a part of the big picture! If everyone wrote a perfect novel at the beginning than there would be no need for editors. Editors have jobs for a reason!
Oh and about the contest, the stakes are high...winner get their book professionally published. Only the top 2 win this final round. Makes me nervous inside.
On to other things: I know the only way for me to improve writing is to keep writing and practicing. I plan to focus on my problem areas. (passive/active voice) My college english professor volunteered to do a small workshop to help with areas I am having problems with and open it up to anyone who would like to join as a refresher for those who love to write. I could not stop smiling when I read that. I havent taken any upper literature since 2006 and am a bit rusty, but am willing to put the time in to be a better writer.
I could hire an editor to just edit out all of my sloppy mistakes but I will never learn that way. (editors are important and will eventually use one just not one to do unnecessary work)
Writing is an art. Writing is hard work. Dedication and determination are a must. Row80 has really helped me this past week. Although I have not accomplished my goals, I am thankful that I HAVE goals and am moving forward.
Hoping not to suck this upcoming week. Ready to kick butt!
Check out some other ROW80 participant blogs! Lots of wonderful people and blogs below..
Update:
Last week was completely hectic for me. I did read several blogs. I was suppose to leave 14 comments (2 per day). I left approximately 5. I am getting better! Usually I read and leave. Bad habit ::slaps hand::
My goal was to write 6k a week. Did not complete that goal. I wrote around 2500 words, which is good but still not goal. I am not going to be to harsh on myself about this one.
Think of 1 prompt: DID THIS! WOOHOO!!!!!! I felt like I won the lottery when the idea came to mind. I like the fact that I am delving deep within to think of REAL prompts that I could potentially write about.
Havent had a chance to write at a remote location yet BUT I have been making notes of places I would like to go. I love the water and being outdoors so do not be surprised if half of the places I go are nature-like. I bought a SLR camera today (delivered tomorrow) SQUEE and will take tons of picture of the locations I go to (esp if it is outdoors). My goal is to take the pictures and post whatever I wrote on my blog. This is all about learning and writing!
I am wondering if I should rethink my goals. I will stick with what I have for now and try to rock it the best I can because the goal is ultimately where I want to be.
I have been editing my nanowrimo draft for a contest I entered into at Curiosity Quills (curiousityquills.com) and that has taken much of my time. (I am not complaining. The contest is actually super fun!)
I received feedback back from the editor (who happens to be an amazing writer. She writes in the same genre that I love to read/write in). Since Tuesday I have been working towards a better draft. Round 3 of the contest opens up at the end of this week. I am grateful for the feedback I received and now I am working on my problems. I am taking everything she said and sprinting with it...I have passed up running. Absolutely love creative criticism. Sooooo grateful and really appreciate all the feedback she gave. Her comments were just what I needed to kick my butt to the next gear. I felt like a real writer.....THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have had several people email/message me about sending them my draft. My nano isnt ready yet but will get there. I can say the first 15 pages are much more than I imagined and cannot wait to see what the rest of the story develops into. My foundation is strong, and I have a good story that is interesting (and hopefully marketable). I get excited thinking about it. Although my draft is not ready for beta readers, I am moving towards that.
If you don't know anything about me, you will learn that I am not a quitter. I will work on the draft until it is ready for the world to read. I have planned to put the time into it, regardless of how long it takes. I am not going to lie, I am hoping that I win the contest. BUT if I don't than I feel like I have already won. My draft is already stronger than it originally was and for this I am grateful. It is tons of fun to see how far it has come. I often think about JK ROWLING and what HP must have been like before edited. I believe I am taking the correct same steps, revisions and rewriting happens and is a part of the big picture! If everyone wrote a perfect novel at the beginning than there would be no need for editors. Editors have jobs for a reason!
Oh and about the contest, the stakes are high...winner get their book professionally published. Only the top 2 win this final round. Makes me nervous inside.
On to other things: I know the only way for me to improve writing is to keep writing and practicing. I plan to focus on my problem areas. (passive/active voice) My college english professor volunteered to do a small workshop to help with areas I am having problems with and open it up to anyone who would like to join as a refresher for those who love to write. I could not stop smiling when I read that. I havent taken any upper literature since 2006 and am a bit rusty, but am willing to put the time in to be a better writer.
I could hire an editor to just edit out all of my sloppy mistakes but I will never learn that way. (editors are important and will eventually use one just not one to do unnecessary work)
Writing is an art. Writing is hard work. Dedication and determination are a must. Row80 has really helped me this past week. Although I have not accomplished my goals, I am thankful that I HAVE goals and am moving forward.
Hoping not to suck this upcoming week. Ready to kick butt!
Check out some other ROW80 participant blogs! Lots of wonderful people and blogs below..
OMFg. I had an epiphany. Thanks ROW80!
Friday, January 6, 2012 Labels: fantasy, goal, inspiration, novel, row80, writing, young adult
I was pondering upon my goal for ROW80...you know the one that was "think about a story". As a writer, that is what most are doing these days. Thinking of that next story. My goal is to think of stories in hopes to have 12 prompts by the end of these 12 weeks. 12 good prompts. So it takes a lot of thinking.
I was at work (taking a breather). Fading away into the computer screen when this amazing thought came to mind. It was like a dream I had but was wide awake. Immediately after thinking it my mind wandered a step further. Now, I am thriving to write this new story. Oh My! I would share it with everyone but I am still working out the kinks, and thinking about a plot and such. I told the lady at work ,"OH MY! I JUST THOUGHT OF AN AMAZING STORY!"
I was just a little excited. They are all use to me talking about writing these days.
Here's a little inkling of the story:
The MC is a female and she is writing from a dungeon cell in hopes that her letters or herself will be found before she dies. 1st person, Young Adult, Fantasy. Evil Queen. Castles, Horses, Dragons, Fighting, Swords. Death, doom and destruction. The whole nine yards. OMG! I am exciting just thinking about it. I have some other top secret information that I will share after it is carved in stone.
Which may or may not have happened if I would not have had ROW80 keeping me fresh with my prompts. Then I came home and started looking up pictures of castles. I cannot wait to start writing (hehe...I already have 2000 words down for it) Inspiration is amazing.
This is the Alnwick Castle. Great thing about it is, It was used as an exterior and interior stand in castle for Hogwarts. If for some reason, my book is turned into a movie (dream big)...might as well use this one!
Arundel Castle in West Sussex, England is a restored medieval castle.
Look at the windows. I am in love!
Of course this a fairy tale castle. Cannot remember where it is located but reminds me of Disney. It may be the castle that Disney was based from. Anyway!
Look at the moat on that one!!!
Bodiam Castle is a quadrangular castle located near Robertsbridge in East Sussex, England. It is said to be a perfect example of a late medieval moated castle.
I was at work (taking a breather). Fading away into the computer screen when this amazing thought came to mind. It was like a dream I had but was wide awake. Immediately after thinking it my mind wandered a step further. Now, I am thriving to write this new story. Oh My! I would share it with everyone but I am still working out the kinks, and thinking about a plot and such. I told the lady at work ,"OH MY! I JUST THOUGHT OF AN AMAZING STORY!"
I was just a little excited. They are all use to me talking about writing these days.
Here's a little inkling of the story:
The MC is a female and she is writing from a dungeon cell in hopes that her letters or herself will be found before she dies. 1st person, Young Adult, Fantasy. Evil Queen. Castles, Horses, Dragons, Fighting, Swords. Death, doom and destruction. The whole nine yards. OMG! I am exciting just thinking about it. I have some other top secret information that I will share after it is carved in stone.
Which may or may not have happened if I would not have had ROW80 keeping me fresh with my prompts. Then I came home and started looking up pictures of castles. I cannot wait to start writing (hehe...I already have 2000 words down for it) Inspiration is amazing.
This is the Alnwick Castle. Great thing about it is, It was used as an exterior and interior stand in castle for Hogwarts. If for some reason, my book is turned into a movie (dream big)...might as well use this one!
Arundel Castle in West Sussex, England is a restored medieval castle.
Look at the windows. I am in love!
Of course this a fairy tale castle. Cannot remember where it is located but reminds me of Disney. It may be the castle that Disney was based from. Anyway!
Look at the moat on that one!!!
Bodiam Castle is a quadrangular castle located near Robertsbridge in East Sussex, England. It is said to be a perfect example of a late medieval moated castle.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
