A Ray of Sunshine?

Two blogs in one day. Have I gone mad? Become super organised? Nope. I’ve been given an award.

A "You Are My Sunshine Award", to be more specific.

Thanks be to Mr Jamie Eyberg for bestowing this award and I now pass it on to two supporters who regularly visit at my blog and leave comments –

BT

Mercedes M Yardley

February

Okay, now that the very slothful month of January is out of the way, I’m getting down to the business end of things. I can’t claim to have finished a story in January, but I can claim to have partially written three. I’m just waiting for the endings to come to me (don’t take too long inspiration, I have little patience). I did get some editing done on The Corpse Butterfly though and something I am working towards is getting this story edited and ready to sub to agents at some stage during the year (I know, I know, I really should put myself on more of a deadline than “at some stage during the year”).

So basically for February it’s editing, editing, editing and hoping the ending of the three unfinished short stories will come to me. Oh, and I’m planning on re-working The Pennyroyal, The Paisley Stain and The Witching Hour and getting them back out there into submission land. Too ambitious? We shall see.

Arabella

Some of my friends think the only thing creepier than my collecting dolls is the fact that I name them. One of my friends won’t even go into my writing room because they’re all watching from the daybed. I don’t find them creepy at all and unlike certain comments from other friends, I don’t worry they’ll come to life in the middle of the night and attack me while I’m sleeping. Although I do sleep with my bedroom door closed, and they’re not tall enough to reach the door knob. Right? RIGHT?

This is a picture of the newest addition. I call her Arabella.

Writing wise, a little more done this weekend than has been done over the last week or so. I got into the editing in between Stephen King and watching the tennis—both of which are now over—so no more excuses (well not this week, anyway).

Australia Day Celebrations

Yesterday Australia Day was celebrated here in Oz and as per tradition there was the usual BBQ at my mum’s as well as Pavlova and Lamingtons—all the good stuff that goes straight to the thighs. Generally it’s a lazy day—for us anyway—and as it’s so hot here at the moment I was happy just to stay in the shade.

I got a little bit of writing done last night—and I mean a little bit—but it’s better than nothing, and I’m quite distracted at the moment by the tennis and Under the Dome (am currently somewhere around page 680). Will get the whip cracking tonight though and get some serious editing done. Oh, and my exercise bike is silently mocking me from the corner of the room so I’ll read through my chapter while I cycle—talk about time management :)

Rising from the Slump

Last night I realised that the slump I’m in actually started in early December—I think right after NaNo. I can’t pin it down exactly, but that’s what I’m thinking. I’ve been writing less and blogging less as well. I’ve had a few new ideas for flash fiction stories, which is a good thing, because I haven’t been doing much else on the writing front. It’s been crazy at work too—when I came back after Christmas break I pretty much hit the ground running.

Friday was a particularly hideous day at work with one matter causing no end of headaches, although I did get a story idea out of it, so not all was lost. Friday night though, I went to my crit group meeting and we set our writing goals for the year. Just being around these guys inspires me as do the writers I blog with. So, I’ve set my goals for the year down in ink, I’m working towards them and not wasting time procrastinating—slinking off to read my new Stephen King or lazing for hours in front of the tennis. I’m inspired and I’m getting to work.

Reading List 2009

Below is my reading list for 2009. My usual aim is to read more than I did last year, which means I'll probably struggle and madly read in December (like I did last year) to try and beat the tally.

1. The Gravedigger’s Daughter – Joyce Carol Oates
2. Secret Smile – Nicci French (re-read)
3. The Thirteenth Tale – Diane Setterfield
4. Calling Mr Lonely Hearts – Laura Benedict
5. Untouched – Anna Campbell
6. Shutter Island – Dennis Lehane
7. The Shining – Stephen King (re-read)
8. Twilight – Stephenie Meyer
9. New Moon – Stephenie Meyer
10. Eclipse – Stephenie Meyer
11. Breaking Dawn – Stephenie Meyer
12. Testimony – Anita Shreve
13. Tempt The Devil – Anna Campbell
14. The Hunted – Andrew Neiderman
15. Phantasy Moste Grotesk – Felicity Dowker
16. Your Heart Belongs To Me – Dean Koontz
17. Evernight – Claudia Gray
18. Frankenstein – Mary Shelley (re-read)
19. Tethered – Amy MacKinnon
20. Summer of Night – Dan Simmons
21. Atrum Tempestas Anthology – Various
22. The Harrowing – Alexandra Sokoloff
23. The Love Curse Of The Rumbaughs – Jack Gantos
24. Agnes & The Hitman – Jennifer Crusie
25. Finger Lickin’ Fifteen – Janet Evanovich
26. Someone In The House – Barbara Michaels
27. Tainted Anthology – Edited by Aaron Polson
28. The Abortionist’s Daughter – Elisabeth Hyde
29. Stray – Rachel Vincent
30. Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone – J K Rowling
31. Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets – J K Rowling
32. Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban – J K Rowling
33. Harry Potter and The Goblet Of Fire – J K Rowling
34. Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix – J K Rowling
35. Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince – J K Rowling
36. Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows – J K Rowling
37. The Sour Aftertaste Of Olive Lemon – Catherine J Gardner
38. Jack Of All Trades – KC Shaw
39. The Price – Alexandra Sokoloff
40. The Time Traveler’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
41. Her Fearful Symmetry – Audrey Niffenegger
42. The Castle of Otranto – Horace Walpole (re-read)
43. The House At Midnight – Lucie Whitehouse
44. Audrey’s Door – Sarah Langan
45. Here I Stay – Barbara Michaels
46. Captive Of Sin – Anna Campbell
47. Carnies – Martin Livings
48. The Crying Child – Barbara Michaels
49. Festive Fear Anthology – Various
50. I Capture The Castle – Dodie Smith
51. The Last Motel – Brett McBean

A Belated Happy New Year

Nearly half the month has gone already and I’m only just getting back into the swing of things. Damn you vacation for ending *shakes fist*.

I hope everyone had a happy and safe Christmas and New Year. I didn’t get much writing done—not nearly as much as I’d planned—but did catch up on some reading. It rained pretty much the whole time which didn’t bother me too much as it cooled things down at least (although it’s not as hot here as it is in other parts of Australia at the moment—BT, I hope you’re staying cool).

Now, to review last year I’ll start with five acceptances and four publications (the fifth being Red Shoes which will be published with 52 Stitches this year – of which I am totally chuffed to be appearing with some of my fellow bloggers in a very impressive line up). I also got The Corpse Butterfly partially edited and participated in NaNo for the first time. I have seven other short stories at various stages, all hanging in limbo, waiting for me to finish them.

This year I intend to finish said short stories, finish editing The Corpse Butterfly and hopefully sub it to agents. I also plan to get a good draft done on The November Sin. That should pretty much keep me busy.

My reading goal for the year is to read more than I did last year which was, I think, about 48 books (I shall blog the book list in the next few days).

And now to get back into the swing of things and pull myself out of vacation mode.