Edits: "Runnin' Down A Dream" by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers

One word...EDITS

Well....let me edit that....Two words: EDITS SUCK.

Any author will tell that the 'fun part' is planning and writing the first draft. The blank page is full of possibilities and you're gleefully putting your characters through story and emotional arc hell as you pound through adding words NaNoWriMo style for weeks on end.

Surely my first draft was perfect, right? All ready to 'just hit send' to be published and sell loads of copies. RIGHT?

NOPE.

The 'real work' comes when it's time to edit.... Usually it's little things like...ya know...a plot....or character depth or burning continuity questions like 'What happened to the dog that saved the little girl in Act 2? Where'd he go?' and 'Why did her hair change from short to long in the sixteenth chapter?'

Back in February, I hired my first real editor - Jessa Slade at Red Circle Ink - for a mix of story and copy edits. Jessa is my kind of straight-shooter-editor. The name of her company isn't a lie...there were many red circles and loads of red ink on my manuscript...well not literally since Jessa uses MS Word Track Changes, but the metaphor still applies. Her overall comments letter alone was ten-pages long - TEN single-spaced, twelve point, Times Roman font long AND she liked and enjoyed my story! (Just think what I would've gotten back if she hated it. Well, I guess 'hate' is a strong word....Jessa probably doesn't 'hate' anything she reads...just sees room for improvements. Ha!)

Anyhow, Jessa gave me loads of things to think about with regards to my world building and character development. It took me a few weeks just to answer all of the questions she raised in her comments letter. Now I'm slogging my way through her specific Track Changes comments in my manuscript compile like Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang going up a humungo hill. Life is bogging down my progress, but I can already tell that my work is stronger from the effort.

Dreams are hard work but I'm used to doing tough things. And just like any hill, eventually you reach the peak and coast on a downward slope. I just hope my Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang sprouts its wings so I can soar to publication.  :D

"Runnin' Down A Dream" by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers

I have to admit that my all time favorite Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers video is the Alice in Wonderland themed "Don't Come Around Here No More." But then again, I'm a sucker for anything Alice in Wonderland or Frankenstein themed (especially Bride of Frankenstein).

The driving guitars and 'oh-oooohhhhss' slay me every time! Add the trippy dream like graphics to the mix and you end up with one hell of an ear worm with optics to boot.

Now back to my edits....

I'm runnin' down a dream...workin' on a mystery, goin' where ever it leads...

Ready for fun in the sun and volunteer booth duty at the Lake Oswego Arts Festival.

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!

Blog Hop: "Hold On" by Alabama Shakes

Many thanks to Gina Fluharty and Sarah Raplee for asking me to participate in The Writing Process Blog Hop. Gina asked me to post in January and I failed <miserably> to get my post done. But I did manage to snag Melia Alexander and Linda Mercury into the fold. Now Sarah requested my participation and I am taking it as a sign from God and the universe that I need to comply. Here are my answers to the four key questions:

1) What am I working on?
I am working on a young adult Americana Steampunk novel that takes place in an alternative 1860. It is the first book in a planned five book series.

2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?
Well....my story features escaped slaves. The lead character is sixteen years old. She is a mechanic and a healer with paranormal abilities. Having an African-American lead in a Steampunk novel is still rather rare. The physical transition from slavery to freedom happens in the first book, however throughout the rest of the series the mental transition is also explored. How does one learn to live like a free person when subservience is literally beat into you from an early age? There are romantic elements in the series, too. Specifically, the son of the plantation master is in love with my heroine...but she has to decide if she really loves him or if she has 'a love' for him because he provided a level of protection for her when they both lived on the plantation.

3) Why do I write what I do?
Let's just say that I grew tired of reading books that did not include people like me. :D Black and brown skinned people were present in every time period in some way, shape, or form - yet we are missing from most works of fiction. I started writing, because I felt like my stories weren't being told and my perspective wasn't adequately represented.

I write both futuristic fantasy and steampunk. I am an engineer by degree and a time traveler by choice. I love doing research and I love gadgets. Plus, I get to either rewrite history or create a new future. Writing ties all of my interests and hobbies into one big ball of good times!

4) How does my writing process work?
I typically start with a kernel of an idea that usually takes the form of a 'what if' question. Any little thing can plant the seed of a story in my head. Often I hear things on National Public Radio that prompt an idea. In my day job, I work on products for smart / green buildings. I have to stay current on new and developing technology, so it is always interesting to wonder what would happen if the technology is misused or abused in some way by some maniacal person.

After I have the idea, I plot my first draft of the story using Michael Hague's Six Stage Plot Structure. It is the three act, five turning point structure used in screenplays and it is a great way to lay out the rough skeleton of your stories. To be honest, I am a mix of plotter (planner) and pantser (writing by the seat of my pants - stream of thought writer). I like to plot the 'big rocks' (major turning points) for my story, then pants my way from rock to rock. I subscribe to Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People school of thought. Specifically, habit number two "Begin with the End in Mind" applies to my life and my writing. I have to know where I am going, so that I can pants my way there.

I put my plot diagram, story timeline, word count tracker, submissions, and other key story information into an Excel spreadsheet to keep everything organized. Yup, that's the engineer in me rising to the surface!

The artist in me, creates fun world building journals that include maps, character pictures, drawings of gadgets, character profiles, and other mementos that pertain to the story. I even use these journals to pitch my books.

All of this work is being done while I'm doing research and hammering out the first draft. Getting that first draft done is soooooo key. I used to get stuck in a loop of rewriting the first few chapters. I learned the hard way that you just have to power through that first draft, because the characters and story lines will take twists and turns that you didn't plan...and often these twists affect the opening chapters.

For me organization is key, then it's just a matter of getting the words on the page.

"Hold On" by Alabama Shakes
I LOVE this song. I get a chill every time I listen to it, because it is the story of my life! I fell in love with Alabama Shakes during their performance on The 2013 Grammy Awards ceremony. I remember being mesmerized by lead singer-guitarist, Brittany Howard, and her soulful crooning.

I'm adding "Hold On" to my mixtape, because as a writer you just have to keep plugging away at your dream of writing a novel. Don't worry if people tell you it's 'unmarketable' or 'I'm tired of reading about vampires / werewolves / whatever.' If the story is on your heart and keeping you up at night, then write it and see what happens. If you don't write your book, you'll never know where it would've taken you...

"But I don't want to wait......"

My world building journal for my latest work...

Travel Light: "London Calling" by The Clash

This past week, I headed to London for a business trip.  Reflecting on my life as a road warrior, I've come to realize that preparing for my trips has practically become a ritual if not a science.  I can pack for a week long trip in less than 30 minutes.  Here's how I do it:

Packing Tips from a Road Warrior:

• I keep two cosmetic bags packed and on my bathroom shelf.  1) small plastic bag full of travel size toiletries, liquid eyeliner, and small perfume - for short trips (a few days) where I can carry on my bag. 2) large zip pouch full of medium sized toiletry containers, a separate liquid eyeliner, a small perfume, and few extra bits - for trips that are one week (or more) where I plan on checking my bag.  These bags are replenished at the end of each trip and are ready to grab and go without fuss when packing.
• I own a really great (Briggs & Riley) suitcase that is expandable.  Mine has traveled with me all over the world for almost ten years.  Yup - it's time for a new one!  Briggs & Riley make a very well organized bag that can hold a ton of stuff.  And I can fit more than a week's worth of clothes in this one suitcase.  How?  <see next bullet>
• I only buy clothes that are easy to pack.  What I mean by 'easy' is that they are thin, light weight, and don't require ironing.  I even buy Lycra blended jeans, because they fold flatter and are less bulky than 100% cotton denim.  I also pack items that can be layered and worn multiple times.  I like Chico's Traveler's Line for pieces, but I also like Columbia Sport and structured pieces (blazers, dress slacks - again blended no iron fabric) from Macy's.  And I have built an entire wardrobe around the color black so almost everything mixes and matches.
• I keep up with my laundry.  I am a terrible house keeper, but I stay on top of keeping my clothes clean, hung, and ready to go.
• I pack while I'm getting ready for the day.  After I shower, I throw my toiletry bag in my suitcase.  As I'm getting dressed, I pack each item in the appropriate numbers for my trip.  This way, I won't forget a shirt or under garments or socks!  Oh, and pack at least one extra shirt and few extra under garments....life happens, trips get extended, and bags get lost..... <see next bullet> :D
• Pack at least one change of undergarments and a t-shirt in your carry-on bag, if you check your luggage.  My bags were lost for three days when United and Continental merged. They caught up with me on the day I flew home....and, yes, United charged me $25 to recheck my bag!  (Grrrrrr.....)  This zip pouch stays packed and permanently resides in my computer backpack.

Packing for travel can be easy if you plan ahead.

"London Calling" by The Clash

Okay, so this song and Fergie's 'London Bridge' were on a repeat loop, in my mind, the entire time I was in London. The Clash won out, because.....well....they are THE CLASH!!!  Simply a brilliant piece of music with a great guitar and drum series.  I'm always a sucker for that gritty sound often heard in bars and rarely heard on recordings.  And the energy that drives the lyrics.....fantastic.  Check it out and let me know what you think.

"I live by the river...."

Touristy fun: Me in a red telephone booth with Big Ben in the background. (Embankment stop on the Thames water ferry system.)

Crazy Week: "Rollercoaster of Love" by Red Hot Chili Peppers

This past week was a real roller coaster ride, full of emotional highs and lows.  Unlike the song I chose for this week, there weren't any affairs of the heart involved (for me), but there was plenty of drama brewing and boiling over.

I guess, the overall theme for the week would be: Lost and Found Opportunities.

At work: a co-worker's poor judgement led to their termination.  They were a really nice person, smart, with unlimited possibilities....but one horrible choice led to their demise.  I mourned the termination of my friend.  (I hope they land on their feet, despite the poor state of our economy.)  But at they same time, I recognize that it was their decisions that led them to this exact place and time.

Personally: two of my dearest friends cancelled their wedding.  It is true, that it is better for the decision to be made now than to find themselves in divorce proceedings later.  However, this fact doesn't make sending out "the wedding is off" notices, returning gifts, and separating any easier.  He made the choice.  She has to move out.  They have to heal.  Sounds simple, but the reality is much more messy.  We, the friends of both, are struggling, too.  How do you help one without offending the other?  The truly sad part is that they do, indeed, love each other and that the wedding was only two weeks away.

So, those are the lows of the week.  The high points were wonderful!  I reconnected with a dear friend who now lives in Oregon.  Another sweet voice from the past sent me a warm message from California.  My family is doing beyond well, they are awesome!  We had a team lunch, to celebrate the launch of a new product, at the Portland City Grill.  I am starting a new project researching opportunities in Latin America.  And I hung out with my writing friends at a book signing at my favorite indy bookstore, Jan's Paperbacks.

My hope is that I am now entering a period of calm.  Soooo much negative energy was swirling this week, it's time to get some positive juices flowing!

"Rollercoaster of Love" by Red Hot Chili Peppers

The original version of this song was titled Love Rollercoaster and was a huge hit for the R&B funk band The Ohio Players in 1975.  Given the fact that I was born and raised in Ohio, this song was played often on the radio in my youth.

One of my favorite bands, Red Hot Chili Peppers, covered this song in 1996 for the film Beavis and Butt-head Do America.  This film is not anything to write home about, but the Chili Pepper's cover of Love Rollercoaster is a real treat.

"Your love is like, a roller coaster, baby, baby...."

View from our private dining room at the Portland City Grill.

What memories does this song bring to your mind?  Let me know - leave a comment below.

Manners: "I'm Afraid of Americans" by David Bowie (feat Nine Inch Nails)

Simple question here....What happened to manners?  Are parents teaching and enforcing manners in their homes?  I am sure that many bloggers have written rants about the demise of our culture and the downfall of our society due to our lack of etiquette.  I DO NOT believe that we are going to hell in a hand basket, but I do think that technology has inhibited our ability to empathize with our fellow man.  It's just way too easy to post a mean spirited soliloquy when you can remain shrouded by a goofy screen name.

Take the Denver movie theatre shootings, as an example....I am floored that some online comments have questioned the manhood and bravery of the folks in the theatre.  It's real easy to play "Monday Quarterback" and talk about what you 'would have done' IF you were in the theatre.  My bet is that unless you are combat, special ops, or police trained, you would run for cover - that's called being human...It's a real basic 'fight or flight' response.

A little closer to home, for me, has been some of the comments posted about my friend Elle Zober.  Elle is a beautiful, funny, and creative soul.  She has an AMAZING eye for photography.  In fact, she took the picture that I use for my profile.  Elle is recently divorced and is trying to sell her home.  She found a very creative way to market her house in a near dead housing market.  Her sign has garnered national media attention....it has also garnered vicious comments on her website, blog, and voicemail.  Who are you (cyber bullies)?  And why do you feel a need to comment on anyone's weight, looks, or marriage?

The wild thing is that all of this negativity is completely unnecessary.  Just say, "I'm sorry for your loss." and move on, no other opinions are needed or required.

"I'm Afraid of Americans" by David Bowie (feat Nine Inch Nails)

I love this song and the associated video.  I have long been a David Bowie fan and the addition of Trent Reznor's driving score only enhances the underlying tension in "I'm Afraid of Americans" lyrics. Plus, Mr. Reznor lends his spooky presence as 'Johnny' in the video.

As a writer and artist, I believe in freedom of speech.  I also believe that God is watching over us and holds us accountable for what's in our hearts.  And I know that 'karma is a bitch'.

"I'm afraid of Americans..."

Tales from the Road: "The Warrior" by Patty Smyth and Scandal

In the past, I've had jobs that were more than 85% travel.  Just think, 85% of my life was spent away from home on business trips.  With all of my gold, silver, and platinum levels on various airlines and at a number of hotel chains, I was pretty much treated like a queen where ever I roamed.  I remember one trip to Orlando, Florida where the hotel clerk and I bonded over the fact that she was also from Ohio.  She upgraded me to their penthouse suite...the room was large enough to comfortably accommodate ten people, plus servants....good times, at no extra charge. 

Needless to say, I was a card carrying member of the 'Road Warrior' ranks for almost ten years. 

TEN YEARS! 

I still look back on those days and wonder how I survived living out of a suitcase.  I eventually quit that job when I realized that I had friends all over the world, but no one to have coffee with while I was actually at home.  {If you haven't seen that movie Up in the Air (aka Mileage, My Life in Japan) starring the ever yummy George Clooney, check it out if you want a feel for what road warrior life is really like.  The scene where he returns to a drab apartment with an empty fridge, after living it up at a posh hotel, was my reality.  My sister even commented once, on the state of the contents of my refrigerator, "You've got gourmet, chocolate covered, dried cherries and no milk!"}

In my current job, I am a Director of Business Development for a technical products manufacturer.  I'm worse than a geek...I'm a geek with an MBA.  And now I am back on the road, but NOT 85% of the time.

When thinking about my business travel, song choices like Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again" and Elton John's "Rocket Man" would have made perfect sense, but they are also totally predictable. I chose "The Warrior" by Patty Smyth and Scandal, because I felt fearless this week.

"The Warrior" by Patty Smyth and Scandal

This week, I traveled to Boston for a SunSpec Alliance event and site visits.  I found myself climbing on rooftops looking at solar cell array installations with a group of funny electricians, engineers, and all around techno weenies.  I fought against my vertigo to gain access to an amazing view of downtown Boston.

Looking at all of my stuff laid out in my hotel room brought back memories of my road warrior days.  I hummed "The Warrior" to myself all week....well that and Tina Turner's "We Don't Need Another Hero" - but that's another story for a different post.

I love the video for "The Warrior" in all it's 80's glory!  I'm not sure of why her hair and make up gets wilder and wilder as the video progresses - I guess this is her transformation into the warrior, but she seems pretty darn bad ass from the start.  My favorite dancer is that guy lounging in the ropes...the net dancers are a close second....they coulda skipped the interlude with the iridescent, plastic girl, though.  The whole song and video just oozes with 80's 'girl power' and for this reason, it will always have a cozy place in my heart.  Cheers to all of the road warriors and rocket (wo)men out making money for themselves and their businesses!

"I AM the warrior....Victory is MINE..."

View from my hotel room in Boston.