It is the most reviled of punctuation marks. It is one I struggle with. Pundits say you should use it as little as possible. Exclamation points are to communicate only the most extreme of emotional responses.

I get that. I really do.

One teacher at first suggested that you only use a written exclamation point where one would be in actual speech. She suggested that I pay attention to my own speech and note the infrequency of exclamations.

Hmm… she didn’t know me very well, because I speak in exclamations all the time! I am ALWAYS excited about something. Jazzed! Amped! Distraught! Despairing! Overwhelmed! Extremely passionate! In fact, some people have found my highly enthusiastic personality off-putting and have requested that I learn to tone it down. My true friends however learn to accept my exclamations and note their absence with a concerned ‘Are you feeling ok?’

Conclusion? Our characters should be true to their own personality. If you have a hero with a larger than life personality like mine you can get away with more of the pesky punctuation. If, however, you have a wall-flower heroine you should save the exclamation points for climactic moments.

One of the agents I plan on submitting my novel to has this to say about the current market.

I hope that I can be one of those authors who is worth competing for.

This sort of news also bodes well for future projects (series novels and new ideas both).

I am learning how to talk about my book in a way that people are starting to say – “That sounds really good – I want to read it.” I used to get responses more like this – “Hmmm it sounds like you really enjoy writing.”

The book idea didn’t change, I am just learning how better to encapsulate it. I am establishing a common narrative that I can use to talk about the book. I still find it weird to ‘talk up’ my book. It feels too much like I am talking up myself – a thing I was taught never to do. But with this new determination to refine, perfect and shop my work has come the focus on talking about it without embarrassment.

Wait… is that a sign of impending maturity?!?!? Wonders never cease!

It is the most reviled of punctuation marks. It is one I struggle with. Pundits say you should use it as little as possible. Exclamation points are to communicate only the most extreme of emotional responses.

I get that. I really do.

One teacher at first suggested that you only use a written exclamation point where one would be in actual speech. She suggested that I pay attention to my own speech and note the infrequency of exclamations.

Hmm… she didn’t know me very well, because I speak in exclamations all the time! I am ALWAYS excited about something. Jazzed! Amped! Distraught! Despairing! Overwhelmed! Extremely passionate! In fact, some people have found my highly enthusiastic personality off-putting and have requested that I learn to tone it down. My true friends however learn to accept my exclamations and note their absence with a concerned ‘Are you feeling ok?’

Conclusion? Our characters should be true to their own personality. If you have a hero with a larger than life personality like mine you can get away with more of the pesky punctuation. If, however, you have a wall-flower heroine you should save the exclamation points for climactic moments.

One of the agents I plan on submitting my novel to has this to say about the current market.

I hope that I can be one of those authors who is worth competing for.

This sort of news also bodes well for future projects (series novels and new ideas both).

I am learning how to talk about my book in a way that people are starting to say – “That sounds really good – I want to read it.” I used to get responses more like this – “Hmmm it sounds like you really enjoy writing.”

The book idea didn’t change, I am just learning how better to encapsulate it. I am establishing a common narrative that I can use to talk about the book. I still find it weird to ‘talk up’ my book. It feels too much like I am talking up myself – a thing I was taught never to do. But with this new determination to refine, perfect and shop my work has come the focus on talking about it without embarrassment.

Wait… is that a sign of impending maturity?!?!? Wonders never cease!

It is the most reviled of punctuation marks. It is one I struggle with. Pundits say you should use it as little as possible. Exclamation points are to communicate only the most extreme of emotional responses.

I get that. I really do.

One teacher at first suggested that you only use a written exclamation point where one would be in actual speech. She suggested that I pay attention to my own speech and note the infrequency of exclamations.

Hmm… she didn’t know me very well, because I speak in exclamations all the time! I am ALWAYS excited about something. Jazzed! Amped! Distraught! Despairing! Overwhelmed! Extremely passionate! In fact, some people have found my highly enthusiastic personality off-putting and have requested that I learn to tone it down. My true friends however learn to accept my exclamations and note their absence with a concerned ‘Are you feeling ok?’

Conclusion? Our characters should be true to their own personality. If you have a hero with a larger than life personality like mine you can get away with more of the pesky punctuation. If, however, you have a wall-flower heroine you should save the exclamation points for climactic moments.

One of the agents I plan on submitting my novel to has this to say about the current market.

I hope that I can be one of those authors who is worth competing for.

This sort of news also bodes well for future projects (series novels and new ideas both).

I am learning how to talk about my book in a way that people are starting to say – “That sounds really good – I want to read it.” I used to get responses more like this – “Hmmm it sounds like you really enjoy writing.”

The book idea didn’t change, I am just learning how better to encapsulate it. I am establishing a common narrative that I can use to talk about the book. I still find it weird to ‘talk up’ my book. It feels too much like I am talking up myself – a thing I was taught never to do. But with this new determination to refine, perfect and shop my work has come the focus on talking about it without embarrassment.

Wait… is that a sign of impending maturity?!?!? Wonders never cease!

My husband has pointed out that trying for 2000 a day would be a good amount if I was actually a full-time writer, but since I am still looking for a job…

{sigh} I hate that I can’t just do what I want already. I am 47 years old. I waited until my kids were grown and now I just want to be irresponsible!!

But the fact of the matter is – you can’t live without money, and for the near (or even God-forbid, distant) future I must continue to make money of some kind to keep the debt collectors away.

Balance is the thing that is needed here and 2000 words a day isn’t balanced – that is more than you need to accomplish the NaNo goal of 50,000 words in a month.

So what kind of goals are reasonable?
Which targets are motivational and which are distructive?

I don’t know – but watch this space while I struggle to find out!

My husband has pointed out that trying for 2000 a day would be a good amount if I was actually a full-time writer, but since I am still looking for a job…

{sigh} I hate that I can’t just do what I want already. I am 47 years old. I waited until my kids were grown and now I just want to be irresponsible!!

But the fact of the matter is – you can’t live without money, and for the near (or even God-forbid, distant) future I must continue to make money of some kind to keep the debt collectors away.

Balance is the thing that is needed here and 2000 words a day isn’t balanced – that is more than you need to accomplish the NaNo goal of 50,000 words in a month.

So what kind of goals are reasonable?
Which targets are motivational and which are distructive?

I don’t know – but watch this space while I struggle to find out!

My husband has pointed out that trying for 2000 a day would be a good amount if I was actually a full-time writer, but since I am still looking for a job…

{sigh} I hate that I can’t just do what I want already. I am 47 years old. I waited until my kids were grown and now I just want to be irresponsible!!

But the fact of the matter is – you can’t live without money, and for the near (or even God-forbid, distant) future I must continue to make money of some kind to keep the debt collectors away.

Balance is the thing that is needed here and 2000 words a day isn’t balanced – that is more than you need to accomplish the NaNo goal of 50,000 words in a month.

So what kind of goals are reasonable?
Which targets are motivational and which are distructive?

I don’t know – but watch this space while I struggle to find out!

Time management is a big bug-a-boo for me. My days just seem to get away from me. I plan an dedicating a day to writing and find that groceries need to be purchased, or the car needs an oil change, or the library books need to be returned.

When you are working for someone else there is a boss who commands your presence – outside forces that demand compliance. No matter the chores that need completed at home, you must get up, go to work and attempt to accomplish the rest in the eves and on the weekends.

The problem with writing is that the creative juices don’t always flow on a daily schedule. Some mornings my writing is brilliant at 9am – others it is execrable.

So – I am trying a new way of insuring I write everyday. It doesn’t matter when I start, but I will keep writing until I have completed 2000 words. On good days I jump right out of bed (inspired by my dreams) and have the 2000 words by 11 am. Other days I don’t get started with any real writing til 4pm. It doesn’t matter as long as I make the word count.

It seems to be working pretty well – except for this Blog. I think I will start a daily ’1st thing in the morning’ post. It may mean that much of what I write here will lack a sense of coherence as I am not always at my best in the AM but at least it will solidify the habit.