On Writers.

I woke up freezing. The bedroom window was left open an inch and my dog/muse Matilda had stolen the comforter again. Still early spring, the evenings in my house are quite warm but the nights remain cold. I also woke up mumbling a chorus of names--Meg Ruley, Holly Root, Heidi Lange. This is not typical.

In my defense, I am a writer. Typical is not my middle name.

Writers enjoy words, plotting, creating non-existent people. We are thrilled by index cards, untouched paper, new pens, and laptops with lots of ram. Most of us talk to ourselves, muttering dialogue until we get it right. Then it must be written down in a trusty binder, lest we forget. We admire poets, dead or otherwise, because they have the hard job, the one that most of us cannot do well. We revere Tennyson, Bronte, Hemingway. Love Jane Austen and Harper Lee. All heroes of the written word--our literary kith and kin--these gifted people make writing look easy. Even though it is not.

Writers sometimes have a love-hate relationship with their craft. But they don't stop. They're writers, after all. Tough, determined, dreamers with an iron will.

Those names I woke up mumbling? They belong to literary agents that I hope to query next month.

L-O-L . . .

As I said before, I'm not typical. I write.

Veritas

I completed my epic Victorian/Paranormal tonight. Or should I say this morning since it occurred at 12:40 am exactly? At 100,000 words, Veritas is the most difficult thing that I've ever written, but it is a labor of love. I have until January to complete the revisions before sending it on to an awesome editing company for a manuscript review. What a thrill to put in the effort and finish things well!

How are your projects going? What are you working on right now?
How about my pen name? Is Rowan Hayes too cheesy?

Sweet Dreams, Writers Everywhere . . .

When Insomnia Is a Good Thing

In his short story, A Clean Well Lighted Place, Ernest Hemingway wrote:

"Finally, with daylight, he would go to sleep. After all, he said to himself, it is probably insomnia. Many must have it."

And most of us do. At one time or another.

You may not believe me, but Insomnia is my friend. I'm not talking about the kind of sleeplessness that occurs after a long, stressful day when the body is exhausted yet cannot achieve any sort of rest. No, that Insomnia hinders. It is my Friend's evil cousin.

The one that I value is the kind that comes after a few hours of sleep, when fatigue is lulled into complacency for a time and imagination takes over, waking a writer with sudden inspiration. I love having a pen and a stack of note cards waiting on my night stand for just that moment. Then those blue and white stripey squares save my bacon as I jot down new story ideas or bits of dialogue.

There is also the joy of schlepping into my office in a nightgown and slippers because my head is filled with intriguing words and make believe people. It's always casual Friday in those early hours and the world feels peaceful, unencumbered. Daily cares are hours away yet, and I allow myself the luxury of quiet thinking.

Night time can be magic for writers. Is Insomnia like that for you?

Character Aversion

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle disliked Sherlock Holmes.

Yes, you read that correctly. The revered author didn't care for his brilliant creation, regardless of the fact that his reading audience adored the deductive detective. Sir Arthur planned Sherlock's demise in vain and his absence was short-lived. Reader's forced the miraculous return of Mr. Holmes. They refused to let him die.

It can be taxing to keep up with a particularly demanding character. I am writing a Victorian/Paranormal right now, and I can honestly say that it is the most difficult thing I've done to date. Yet I love my Hester Grayson, and even though she's far more intelligent than I am, I wouldn't trade her for anyone less complicated.

So, I will continue slogging along at the keyboard, and hopefully, one day I will do her justice.

Have you invented a fictional person that you don't like writing about?

Words Like Music

I was in the grocery store the other day, looking through the book section, as is my habit. Having never read anything by Steven King, with the exception of On Writing, I opened one of his recent releases and sped through a few paragraphs. They were skillfully written, but I'm afraid of being afraid so I didn't make the purchase.

Something did stick with me though--his word coaxable. I had never seen it anywhere before, even in the dictionary, and I loved it. Still do. So much so that I'm planning on working it into my next story. Thank you, Mr. King!

The perfect word at the perfect moment is like music. (Yes. I did read the dictionary as a child. Just for fun.)

Do you enjoy words?

Amabilis Insania

You know you have it bad when the only book that interests you is the one you are currently writing.

I think that the Roman poet Horace would have called this state a delightful insanity. How are your new projects going, and what is your amabilis insania?

The Diagnosis

Wow, have I missed you guys! I'm very impressed with your current posts. They are beautiful and  inspiring.  Tell me this, how do people balance a healthy lifestyle along with everything else? Exercising, shopping for healthy food, making salads, cooking fish, etc. It wears me out. Yet, I feel so much better when it's finally done. How do you cope with it all?

Since I last posted, I've been diagnosed with type II diabetes, started taking medication, lost 30 pounds, and am trying to fit in daily exercise on the stationary bike and elliptical machine. I have really grown to appreciate good doctors, and pharmacists, too. Love that Metformin! Also, I'm pretty lucky. I don't mind testing my blood. Those needles are tiny, and I hardly feel a thing.

My eldest son graduated from high school, registered for college, and began his first 40-hour-a-week job. There have been loads of birthdays, our 19th anniversary, and various holidays to celebrate. Plus, I'm at 19,000 words on my new WIP. It's a historical paranormal, and someday, I want to send it to the literary agent that I covet from afar--Holly Root.

Anyway, that's life in a nutshell for me. How are all of you?

And please, give me your secret . . . How do you accomplish so much?

Here's to a lovely summer for everyone . . .

With a bit of Simon Baker thrown in just for fun! His Mentalist character is awesome.