Finishing My Novel: "Ain't It Fun" by Paramore

Question: "How do you eat a whale?"

Answer: "One bite at a time."

Now, I personally haven't actually 'eaten a whale', but I have finished writing a novel....novels, in fact. I have also finished several HUGE creative projects and continue to find news ones to tackle.

People often ask me, "Where do you find the time to do ______________ ?" <writing, painting, sewing, or whatever project of mine we happen to be discussing> I'll be honest and say that I've never been one to sit idle - well, even if I'm sitting still, my brain is still churning out ideas and stories. The plain and simple truth is that I HAVE to do something creative everyday or I feel like my head will explode. Some people feel the same way about exercise. (Why couldn't I be blessed with that specific drive? Ha!)

It never fails, whenever I first sit down to start devouring a new whale I feel a swirling mix of anticipation, excitement, and (dare I say it) dread. Standing in front of that blank canvas or sitting in front of the blinking cursor in a blank document, I always pause to give myself time to fully commit to the task in front of me. I will toil for weeks on this project and I have to be 'in it to win it.'

Eventually, the engineer in me kicks in....when writing, I start an Excel spreadsheet to track my daily word count and progress towards my goal. When painting, my inner engineer envisions the finish project and deconstructs the object to methodically produce a plan of attack.

Finishing is critical. How else can you learn and improve if you don't complete the process? Especially with writing, often the last bits take an unexpected turn that requires some pre-seeding in the parts you wrote months ago.

I finished writing my third manuscript this spring, took a month off to let it marinate, then started editing and polishing. By the end of summer, it was ready to go out for submittal to my short list of dream agents.

And now, I wait.

Waiting for a reply is the worst part of this process. Agents and editors are busy people. They have bills to pay, clients to meet, and networks to groom. And like any job, you give attention to the projects that are making money, not the slush pile that might bear fruit. Mostly, I submitted to folks who requested my work via one-on-one meetings and pitch sessions at conferences. I also submitted to agents recommended to me by one of their authors. My hope is that these meetings and personal recommendations will keep my manuscript out of the general slush pile.

But still...I wait.

And let me tell you, patience is beyond a virtue. Patience is tortured anguish, wrapped in calm frustration, drenched with silence.

Still, I find solace in that fact that I FINISHED another book....and that, my friends, is farther than most make it on this journey to publication.

"Ain't It Fun" by Paramore

I love it when a song's lyrics reveal a deeper and opposite meaning to what I initially thought. Like when a mellow song has biting lyrics or when a peppy song is about depression. Songs that immediately come to mind are "Linger" by The Cranberries, "No Rain" by Blind Melon, and now "Ain't It Fun" by Paramore.

Like this song laments the realities of growing up, as a writer you quickly learn how hard it is to get traditionally published in today's market. Now, before you put on your rose colored glasses and question why I'm not self-pubbing - trust me when I say that in many ways self-pubbing is more work than the traditional route IF you want to do it well. In the end, this is my dream and hope for a new career path - so I really can't complain...too much.  :D

"Don't go crying to your mama, 'cause you're on your own in the real world..."

Miner's masks for my latest steampunk adventure!

See Jane Publish: "We Are Young" by Fun featuring Janelle Monae

Ok, so I'm a little slow off the mark on this one....

In October, yes - October, I joined a rag-tag bunch of heroines embarking on a mission to take over the world...well...ok...we are actually embarking on a mission to get published AND be successful authors. (Way too many headaches to take over & run the world, just ask President Obama. Ha!)

Our new-ish blog is: See Jane Publish! Here you will find posts on our thoughts, processes, goals, and dreams written around a monthly theme. We post twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays. Each day's  message is composed by a different Jane.

See Jane Publish was founded by Nancy Brophy, Susan Lute, and Cassiel Knight. This fall, they handed the reigns over to eight new Janes:

1. Gina Fluharty
2. Asa Marie Bradley
3. Jessa Slade
4. Jamie Brazil
5. EJ Russell
6. Mary Oldham
7. Jessie Smith
8. Me (C. Morgan Kennedy) :D

In December, we are giving the gift of story to our readers. We organized a 'Round Robin' where each Jane's post is a stand alone short story that somehow incorporates a moo-cow creamer. (Trust me when I say that some of everything happens to that poor thing.) At the conclusion of my post scheduled for Monday, 02 December, I included instructions on how to enter a drawing to win the silver necklace  mentioned in my story.

Check out our shared blog and let me know what you think....Please visit us often!

"We Are Young" by Fun featuring Janelle Monae (Acoustic Version)

I love this song. And if you follow this blog, you also know that I LOVE Janelle Monae!

I'm not sure if us Janes are going to 'set this world on fire,' but I am positive that we'll make an awesome bonfire on the beach. I, personally, plan on running gleefully around the flames while eating toasted marshmallows - but, that's just me, doing my usual thang!

"So let's set this world on fire!...."

My Peeps : "Girls" by Santigold

I am back and recovered from my vacation in Kansas City.  I know you all just paused..."Kansas City??"  Yes, KC!  Two wonderful things unfurled in KC, MO: 1) I visited my cousin Clara and we are embarking on a new project, 2) I hung out with my CRAZY writing friends and readers at the 2013 RT Booklover's Convention.

My Family Peeps: Cousin Clara

My dear cousin Clara is a retired RN.  She is also our family historian.  Like so many families, so much of our history is relayed via stories passed down from generation to generation.  My sister and I came to the sad conclusion that we don't remember half of the stories told to us over the years.  As we watched my three year old niece run around the room, I vowed to make an effort to put all of our stories on paper and combine them with the many shoeboxes of pictures stored in homes across the country.  Forutunately, my family is concentrated in six cities: Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Oklahoma City, Cleveland, Dallas, and Kansas City. Each city has a key matriarch or patriarch that is the keeper of key bits of history. 

Clara and I set a target of having our book launched to the family by 2020.  It's going to be a long road to finish this project, but it is important work.  I really want to give this gift to future generations.  Thank God I have a job that requires travel.  I'll be able to take some side trips to meet with folks face-to-face.  I'll keep you posted on our progress. 

My Writing Peeps: RT 2013

The RT Booklovers Convention has become my annual trek and one of the highlights of my year.  This was my third time attending and each year I make new friends and reconnect with old ones. 

My dear friend, Lacey Falcon, flew in from Germany.  We had a lovely 'getting caught up' brunch.  Megan Mulry co-hosted a Lime Party where Dark and Stormies were free flowing for all to consume.  I FINALLY got to meet a ton of my Twitter Peeps like Victoria Dahl, Eric Ruben, and Sabrina York just to name a few.  I roomed with Gina Fluharty, Maire Claremont, and Delilah Marvelle.  And I gave big hugs to Karina Cooper, Gina Lamm, Terry Won, the lovely ladies of St. Martin's Press - Monique Patterson and Holly Blanck, and one of my submittal agents - Alexandra Machinist.

Ok - enough of the name dropping.... Like Gina, I feel like I found my peeps and for the first time in a really loooonnnnggg time, I felt utterly in my element. A few days of learning more about writing craft and hanging with group of fun women and men was exactly what I needed.  Needless to say, it took me three days to fully re-hydrate - but it was soooo worth it!

"Girls" by Santigold

My bestfriend, Gerry, turned me on to Santigold.  Though Shove It is perhaps my favorite Santigold song (followed closely by Lights Out and it's funky 80's vibe), Girls is worming its way into my heart.

Why? I love the message of empowerment and FUN! With lyrics like "So legit, I don't quit when I fall", "I'm a fighter so I know that I won't retreat", and "I'm a winner though I am not afraid of defeat", the girl power message is made clear in rapid fire verse.

With regards to the video, I LOVE the diversity depicted!  Girls and woman of all colors, ages, and nationalities are featured at work and at play.  If you follow my blog, you will know that I have a soft spot for video shoots where the participants are clearly having fun with both the artist and their peers.  But what I adore most is that all the 'girls' are just being themselves and acting silly for the camera.  Loads of positive energy here.  Check it out and let me know what you think.

Who be the queen of the ball....

Some of my Peeps: Linda Mercury, Lily Santana, and Mahalia Levey at the RT Ellora's Cave sponsored Disco Ball

True Self: "This Head I Hold" by Electric Guest

The past few weeks have been quite stressful...quite...stressful.  It's that time of the year where my day job requires tons of planning, reporting, and explanations for the downward trends that gripped our economy last year.  I had two big presentations to give to our senior leadership team.  The icing on the cake was receiving my first rejection for my current novel manuscript.  Yup - it was a week of many firsts.

Well - at least it's over - it truly is like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.  Now is the time to roll up my sleeves and dive into new adventures both personally and professionally.  I feel great.  I head to London in a few weeks.  And I've even managed to dust off my paint brushes and pulled out my art supplies.  In short, my newly discovered freedom has put me an extremely liberating creative space.

I'm excited to see the works I'll produce....trust me, I'll let you sneak a peek.  :D

"This Head I Hold" by Electric Guest

OK, this is the second song I've added to my mix tape that some could associate with depression and / or addiction.  (See Friendship: "No Rain" by Blind Melon.)  For the record, I am suffering from neither the later nor the former condition.  Now before you roll your eyes and think, "She's obviously in denial," I really am doing FANTASTIC.  In fact, I am perhaps in the best place I have ever been both mentally and physically.

Anyhow, I've heard this song playing on the radio, on television, and in a number of stores.  Each time this song plays, I pause listen and start dancing.  (Yes, I am THAT girl...the one dancing in the aisle at the grocery store while she ponders the merits of oatmeal versus kasha.)  It's rare that a song grabs me this way.  So I had to sit down and research the track.

I was glad to learn that I'm not completely behind the times...Electric Guest's Mondo is their debut album released in April 2012 and This Head I Hold was the first single.

For me, this song conjures up some classic Motown rhythms - especially the drums and vocals.  And the lyrics reflect a deep wisdom that comes from an old soul.  To be honest, I would have bet money that this song was a new release from Raphael Saadiq. (Check out Love That Girl and tell me what you think.)  I was pleasantly surprised to discover it's the work of a new band!

The lyrics can be taken literally to mean escape your troubles by listening to that dark voice that says 'Get high, Take drink.'  Or you can interpret it the way I do.... encouragement to do the introspective work needed to rise above life's challenges (and societal norms) and live life as your TRUE self.

"If I wanna be free, I gotta stop playin' round and runnin' from me..."

One of my many pairs of dancing shoes!

Public Speaking: "Burning Down the House" by Talking Heads

Public speaking is hard work.  Period.  Though I make my living training people on products my day job manufactures (and I hope to make a living pitching finished novel manuscripts), standing in front of a group of people is tough.  Especially when you want to be informative AND entertaining.

Last week, I gave a speech titled "Smart Buildings, Smart Homes: The Future of Building Intelligence" at a local trade show.  Some of you may read that title and think: GEEK.  But it's actually quite cool.  I'm talking Minority Report or Blade Runner kinda cool. And since I am a geek girl who reads and writes futuristic, my interest in smart buildings is actually on another level.  Add to this recipe the fact that my day job involves designing and making the new hotness in building automation products....well, let's just say that I had a lot of fun prepping for this preso.

This presentation was particularly personal, since I used my parent's journey from dirt poor poverty to the present moment as the back drop for the timeline of how far the technology has developed.  These advancement have taken a relatively short period of time.  Truly, it feels like the blink of an eye.

I ended my preso with a picture of my three year-old niece holding my sister's iTouch.  Yup - she can navigate that thing like a champ.  She loves playing 'Anga Burd', or rather, Angry Birds and she can find her favorite Thomas the Train videos on YouTube.  (Though we have to make sure that she is watching the correct and age appropriate videos.)

It was a great presentation, but  I didn't anticipate how draining sharing my personal information / family history in a public forum could be. <sigh>  But, it is an amazing story that I was glad to share.

The future is NOW, dear reader.  I hope you continue to enjoy the ride.

"Burning Down the House" by Talking Heads

I love Talking Heads.  Nothing says 80's like HUGE shoulder pads in blazers.  (Check out their Girlfriend is Better live performance video for even bigger shoulder pads - sheesh, lol!) Add the heavy synthesizer and raging drums in this song and you have one smokin', eighties number with staying power.

This song immediately came to mind, because my presentation really 'brought the house down.'   I was asked to speak again, next year....hmmmm, we'll see what my schedule looks like this time next year.

"My house is out of the ordinary..."

www.openarch.cc prototype smart home in Spain - home owner interface. This video will blow you away!

Friendship: "No Rain" by Blind Melon

I'm...different.  No, really, I am different.  Now, I don't consider myself to be weird or an extreme odd ball.  But I can say that I struggled to find my fit in the world. 

I discovered that I am a whole brain thinker.... too geeky for the artists and too artsy for the techno weenies.  So, I spent a lifetime learning how to swim in both ponds.  I admit that shifting between the two worlds has taken its toll on me.  In college and during the early part of my corporate career, I worked to bend and mold myself into what I thought was the "right" girl to be. 

Each phase of my life was filled with a cast of characters who came from all walks of life and lived all over the world.  Some of these folks became permanent fixtures and eventually grew to become chosen family.  Others passed through, leaving drama in their wake. 

Over the years, I came to realize that it is the support of God, my friends, and family (both inherited and chosen) who helped me immensely to grow and gain wisdom.  And despite all of my bending and twisting, somehow, I managed to become the woman I always wanted to be.

"No Rain" by Blind Melon

In truth, the lyrics to this song are rather depressing.  They reflect a deep feeling of loneliness and isolation, combined with an extreme longing for connection.  All of these emotions are the exact opposite of my post message.  However, I LOVE the video's message!

Yes, yes, dear reader, I selected this song based purely on the video. <gasp, then click on the above link>

Why do I like the video sooooo much?  Well, I spent most of my life feeling like the little 'Bee Girl.'  I was just wearing my tu-tu, doing my thang, feeling quite lonely in my life long quest of self-discovery.  Of course, I met a few bumble bees and doodle bugs in random spots along the way.  (Gerry, Tia, McGyver, Murph, and Tiffany - What up?!?)  Then I moved to Portland, OR.  And like the Bee Girl in the video, I found my wacky hive of eclectic friends. But we prefer to dance in downtown Portland and Forest Park.  Life is good!

"And all I can do is just pour some tea for two and speak my point of view..."

Heading to Race for the Cure in our pink Minnie Mouse ears