Writer’s Envy

Posted by Leslie on September 17th, 2008 | No Comments

Click on image to enlarge.

Proof that more time exists!

Posted by Leslie on September 15th, 2008 | 2 Comments

No, I haven’t become a philosopher or scientist recently, I’ve just discovered more time. Now before someone gets me awarded the Nobel Prize (although I will take a Pulitzer, thankyouverymuch), I’ve just realized that I can’t use the excuse “I don’t have time to write.”

Since I started my little pet hobby of beading about a month ago (maybe less?), I’ve created over fifty pieces. Earrings. Bracelets. Watch bands. Zipper pulls. Cell phone straps. Necklaces. I do it when I get home from work. When my husband is sleeping. When the kids are standing next to me, driving me crazy. I do it the morning as I put my make-up on or at night when I’m taking the make-up off. On average, I create four pieces per day.

My “writing” desk has been overtaken lately….

What if I wrote four pages a day? That’s 120 a month. In three months I could have a complete book!!

Before I get myself too depressed, I have to admit to why beading and writing aren’t like comparing apples to apples.

1) Beading is visual. It just takes looking at colors and shapes to work the creative mind. Writing is internal brain — dialogue, characters, setting, plot, conflict, resolution, etc.

2) Writing requires (for me) a computer. Sometimes getting a working computer is not always easy in my house. Kids are on it, it’s broken, I can’t get a good signal, etc. And I can’t write pen to paper…my hands just aren’t cut out for it anymore. For beading I just need a desk or table and the materials.

3) Beading doesn’t require too much concentration. Once I know what I want to do, I can put it all together while the kids are yapping at me or constantly interrupting me. I can’t write with them hanging around. The voices in my head desert me in a flash when I’m constantly interrupted.

4) Beading gives you a finished product almost instantly. Within minutes I can have a new pair of earrings in my hand. I may have a few new written pages, but it’ll take me a loooong time to have a completed book.

5) Selling the finished product is entirely different. I can sell a keyring or bracelet to my neighbor, sister, coworker, or at a show. I can choose my price. Selling a book??!!! Don’t get me started on THAT process. And based on the royalties from my book sales, I’ll probably make more money with my jewelry.

So it’s true that time can be found to do something you love to do. But there are also various factors to consider when looking at what’s gotten accomplished. For me, I’m just trusting that my Muse is working secretly as she “oohs” and “ahhs” over the pretty, shiny things I’m creating.

Confessing the Obsession

Posted by Leslie on September 10th, 2008 | 3 Comments

Over at Writers At Play, I’m finally confessing my latest excuse reason justification ability to refill my creative well!

Go over and leave a comment and you could win a product of my procrastination new creative outlet!

Hodgepodge!

Posted by Leslie on September 9th, 2008 | No Comments

I’ve not been good at keeping up this blog. I know. Call it life. So here’s a hodgepodge of various things going on in my life and some interesting links or whatever!

I submitted the revised MARK OF THE MONSTER to 3 Seas Literary Agency. Cross your fingers for me. However, I’ve been MUCHO slacking on printing out my full manuscript and sending it to Kensington. Sigh. Slacker!

I’ve been spending my “free time” on something other than writing. But I’ll blog more about that at Writers At Play tomorrow.

If you’re good with numbers, it’s in your genes! (Which means my genes are quite lacking!)

Water Bears truly are indescructible! The question is — how does one actually die then??

And, as if we didn’t already know, there really are differences in the male and female brain!

And best quote from an article I’ve read:

The superfast evolution of the male dung beetle’s penis to wildly differing sizes in the same species could mean that new species appear within a few years rather than over millennia.

Mr. Marriott blogs and tweets!

Posted by Leslie on September 3rd, 2008 | No Comments

In my so-called real life, I work for Marriott International at their headquarters. The company is still run by the Marriott family. Mr. Marriott has an office right upstairs and is often seen eating in our cafeteria.

I knew he’d been blogging for a while now, although I hadn’t followed it much. But he’s now urging the presidential candidates to do it as a way to connect and communicate.

Apparently, he’s also knowledgable on Tweeting, as seen here:

If blogging takes too much time, my friend Blake Little, who helps me with my blog, suggested that McCain try micro blogging - something called Twitter where people write quick “Tweets” about what they’re doing or thinking. Blake told me more than 70,000 people follow Barack Obama and his campaign on Twitter. We’re even testing Twitter with our own Marriott site.

Just can’t get away from that new-fangled technology, can we?

Free download by a playpal!

Posted by Leslie on September 3rd, 2008 | No Comments

eReader.com is giving away three full length Harlequin novels until September 12, 2008. Look at the first name on the list, sound familiar? A playpal and former critique partner!

Risque Business by Tawny Weber
The Tycoon’s Very Personal Assistant by Heidi Rice
His Expectant Ex by Catherine Mann