Tag Archives: The dog

August 14, 2016 · 11:16 am

Weekly writing check-in: the one with dog days of August

OscarAs everyone knows, the best place to hide from thunderstorms and firecrackers is in the faux fur blanket, as Oscar is demonstrating.

This is what our dogs do during the dog days of August.

In other news, I started the draft for the third episode of season three of Coffee & Ghosts and came up with 6,000 words, which isn’t a bad way to start off. I have layers to pull back and story threads to tie together. If nothing else, I’ve learned that writing a series is rewarding, fun, and challenging.

I also started formatting my e-books with Vellum. Oh, how I love this program. True, I haven’t clicked on Purchase. Not yet. But I plan to. In the meantime, I can get a feel for the program and learn all its options–a true try-before-you-buy opportunity. I’m pretty much sold already.

Additionally, Chicago Review Press contacted me and offered up an ARC of Women Heroes of World War II—the Pacific Theater: 15 Stories of Resistance, Rescue, Sabotage, and Survival, which I can’t wait to read. I loved the other two in the series (and reviewed them on my blog as well).

So, writing, formatting, books to read. It’s been a good week.

Writing Work:

  • Writing: Coffee & Ghosts ~ 6,000 words
  • Photoshop and Vellum

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • Like Bread Loves Salt

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

None, but get ready for the August issue of Deep Magic on August 16th! Or you can simply pre-order now.

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February 28, 2016 · 9:26 am

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the new pup

Oscar4It was one of those weeks where I didn’t get a whole lot done. Between all-day training at work, Girl Scout cookie activities, and gearing up for dance competition season (for my daughter, not me), my regular routine was knocked off kilter a bit.

Add in a new dog? Well, we spent the week building up a new routine that includes our new family member.

Meet Oscar (there on the left, that’s Mattie in the background–note the matching bow ties).

He’s one of a thousand rescue Chihuahuas that have arrived in Minnesota from California. He’s actually a Chihuahua/terrier mix and is fitting in very well. He’s still a little skittish, but warming up and has the funniest, sweetest personality.

In actual writing work, I did make it all the way through the listening proof of The Wedding Ghost. So, there’s that.

Writing Work:

  • Coffee & Ghosts, Season Two: proofing The Wedding Ghost

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

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May 10, 2015 · 10:41 am

Weekly writing check-in: the one with détente

dogsandcats

So, this illustration of dogs and cats, living together, only took +7 months or so. But at long last, we have achieved détente.

This week, I finished up the Description class–so now I know how to describe things–kept up with the other class, and even wrote some non-class related words. I also sent out two submissions this week as well. So, a pretty good week.

Writing Work:

  • Description class
  • Narrative Design class
  • Writing ~ 4,000 words

Submissions:

  • Knight in the Royal Arms
  • March Madness

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

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September 7, 2014 · 10:55 am

Weekly writing check-in: the one with a sad week

Sparky

It was a sad week around here. We said goodbye to our sweet girl Sparky on Tuesday. It was hard to let go, but also, it was time.

I did manage a little writing this week. Got a notion for a second installment (episode? story? I don’t know what to call it) featuring Katy, Malcolm, coffee, and ghosts from Ghost in the Coffee Machine. I’m hoping this will end up as both a standalone story but add to an overall story/character arc (because I have a notion for a third as well). This might be a tad ambitious.

I also reviewed audio files this week for The Maze. To say I’m excited about this would be an understatement. But it doesn’t leave much time for anything else–so, no submissions this week. Of course, the upside is no rejections.

Writing Work:

  • Ghosts and coffee ~ 2,000 words
  • The Maze: audio file review

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

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August 24, 2014 · 11:31 am

Weekly writing check-in: the one with not much to say

goldySo, our new pup, Mattie, is adjusting well. The cat is getting sneaky and finding ways to be in the same room as said pup without Mattie noticing. Of course, when she does, the cat zips back downstairs.

Summer is ending, we’re getting my son ready to head off to college (the image is your clue as to where he’s going) and my daughter to Jr. High (milestones, we have them). Not quite as much writing this week as last, but I’m heading into the home stretch of Pansy 2.0 and can see the whole way in front of me. While it’s a re-draft, many pieces are significantly different: new scenes, new characters, new twists. It’s been a lot of fun to write.

Nice rejection this week for a story that’s long enough that I might put it in Kindle Unlimited and call it done. But I still have a few more I can submit when I hit a little downtime.

Writing Work:

  • Pansy 2.0 ~ 6,011 words
  • World Building class

Submissions:

  • The Life Expectancy of Fireflies

Rejections:

  • A Knight in the Royal Arms

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

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August 17, 2014 · 10:24 am

Weekly writing check-in: the one with a new pup

Mattie3 Mattie2So yes, this happened over the weekend.

Meet Mattie (short for Matilda). She looks like a puppy, but she’s actually four years old. According to the Animal Humane Society she’s a mix of Dachshund and a smooth-haired terrier. She is small and cute and very, very sweet.

Now let’s hope the cat will like her (I’m not too worried about our other dog).

Naturally, since I mentioned a dearth of rejections last week, I received two this week, although they were both personal and fairly positive, so there’s that. Writing work, some world building (although I’m a bit behind–blame the new dog). I would love to finish Pansy by the end of August, but I’m not 100% certain that will happen.

Writing Work:

  • Pansy 2.0 ~ 7,885 words
  • World Building class

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • The Madness in King’s End
  • Keeping Time

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

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December 23, 2009 · 11:13 am

Eight, seven central

So, the other day, when I went to let the dog outside, a bunch of crows were in the tree, making a racket. It was, you might say, a cacophony of sound coming from the canopy. (Cacophony is one of those self-conscious word for me–I always notice it and not in a good way.)

Anyway, I remarked to the dog (What? You don’t talk to your dog?), “Wow, that’s loud.”

Everything went silent.

Again, I addressed the dog. “Okay, now it’s quiet.”

They crows started up again.

Yes, it’s true. My life = sitcom.

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