Challenge Update

The last few days have been fairly productive. I'm in front with my word count for CATA; it's always good to have something up your sleeve for the days when your other life interrupts your writing life. Like this weekend, with Mother's Day on Sunday and three mothers to visit plus my grandson's 9th birthday celebration, I'm not going to get a whole lot of writing done. Never mind there is always next week.

So just how am I going? Well I'm up to 8,450 words, 43 pp and on Chapter Two. I'm quite happy with my progress. I also took sometime out to judge a competition. With that all done, I'll have even more time to write. YAY.

My word count for SVEN is growing YAY. I thought for awhile there I was going to fall short, now I may even do better than my goal. So with 50,211 words down I have just 5,789 to reach my goal of 56,000. Too bad all those words haven’t gone into just one story. Never mind, with each word it means I’m getting closer to the finish of some of my WIP’s.

Okay I now have a question. How in the hell do I stop these new people from jumping into my head? I mean I have 24 couples living up there each with their own little entourage. I shudder to think now of just how many there are running around up there. It’s no wonder I’ve been getting migraines. So if you have any ideas let me know. I was thinking of putting a sign on the door. ‘Sorry closed due to overcrowding.’ What do you think? Do you think they’ll take any notice? Sigh! I really think I am starting to lose it, but don’t tell anyone I said that.

Alright I’m off to do some writing. Half the day is gone already, and as my wonderful father-in-law use to say “If you wait too long the sun will burn your arse.”

Hugs
Sandie

Borders ~ I've Been Bad AGAIN

I had to go back to the doctor's yesterday, just a check up after my day surgery. He has put me on some different tables in the hope that these might spot my nausea, one can only hope. Anyway after I left the doctors I went to borders just for a look mind you. Yeah right, as if, I should know better.

So what did I buy this time? Well I got my first Anne Gracie novel YA. 'The Perfect Kiss', I've heard some very good reviews about this book, so I'm very excited about reading it. I also got Lucy Clark, 'Her Very Special Baby', Jennie Adams, 'To Love And To Cherish', Anne Oliver, 'Business In The Bedroom', and Trish Morey, 'The Sheikh's Convenient Virgin'. I just don't know which to read first, plus I still have a mile and a half of other novels to read. Sigh, just not enough hours in my day to fit everything in.

While I was in Borders I had to do some shelf rearranging. I mean how rude can they be? Fancy putting our own fantastic Trish behind the Mother's Day Special box when they clearly have enough of them out on display. Well Trish is front and centre now, as is Anne Oliver. They had her behind someone else, not good enough. When will these people learn that they should be promoting our own authors. I just know I'm going to have to go over to my two local Big W stores and do some more rearranging, oh and K-Mart as well. ;-)

Now I didn't just buy novels, I also bought Susie Bright's 'How to Write a Dirty Story', yes I know I'm suppose to be writing contemporary romance. Just couldn't help myself, I have started an erotic novel so thought this might help. Mind you if I do decide to go the erotic way, my daughter has told me to use a different name. (Cheeky little devil). I also got Louise Jordan's How To Write For Children - and get published', this one to help me with my stories I'm writing about my grandson's adventures. :-). For reference books I picked up 'Sex Slang' by Tom Dalzell and Terry Victor, very interesting book, IMHO. And because my spelling is just atrocious I got 'The McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Misspelled and Easily Confused Words'. So as you can see I had another fun fill day in my little slice of heaven.

Oh, I also got this cute journal; Books To Check Out, you write down all the books you want to read, borrow or lent, and your favourite books. So I'm making my list of books I want to buy. I now know they can get me some of Anne Whitfield's, so next time I'm down there I'm going to place my order. I'll also have my list to take to my local library, hopefully I'll be able to get them to stock a few of our own brilliant authors ;-).

Okay that's me for another blog. I'm going to do some housework, YUCK. I've put SVEN on hold for a couple of days, I'll get back into that on Monday. Have a great weekend everyone.

Hugs

Sandie

Easter and Family

I hope you all had a lovely Easter and that the Easter Bunny was nice to you all. Friday we spent with my family. One of my nephews and his wife returned fro England just before Christmas, but this was the first chance we have had for us all to get together. It was a lovely day, a chance to catch up with family members you only see now and then. Saturday we went up to have some time with my Step-Mother-in-law, she is such a sweetheart. I know I don't spend near enough time with her, that is something I really need to change. When you are lucky enought to have someone so special come into your lives, you should really make the effort to let them know you care.

Of course as far as my writing goes, wipe-out. I haven't done any editing since Tuesday I think. If it wasn't my ear giving me hell, it was my web site. The web site I think I may have pretty well sorted, there are a few things I'd like to change or add things here and there, but on a whole I'm happy with it at the moment. I own a big thanks to all that helped me out with the fine tuning. Do you like my little Sven counter? Portia Da Costa made it, soooo cute. I made a couple and put them on my home page, one is a countdown to the RWAustralia conference. I was quite pleased with myself. If you would like to have a look http://www.sandiehudson.com I also did one for NaNoWriMo.

So that is me for the moment. I'm off to do some housework, YUCK. Tomorrow I plan to be back at my computer working away on my editing and stories.

Hugs
Sandie

Day 5 of Sven & 2nd Sign-in

Moving along pretty well with my latest project. So far I’ve written just over 6,000 words since Sven started on Saturday. I’m also just under 25,000 words for the novel, still untitled.

I seem to be doing everything back to front on this novel. I always have a title picked out before I start my writing and I know, or at least have names for my characters. At this stage I have a first name for my heroine but no surname. I’m also not at all happy with either my hero or heroines names. Oh well, if they are any thing like my other characters they’ll let me know what their names should be somewhere down the track.

Right now I’m heading off to bed, it’s 12.40 am here. Yet another late night. I’ll blog again soon.

Hugs

Sandie

Sven Starts In Two Days

Sven starts on Saturday. Yes we will be off for the third round of 70 days of writing sweat, and I can’t wait. I’m going to continue on with my erotic romance for this one. If by some chance I get that finished before the 16th May, I‘ll work on one of my other WIP’s.

I haven’t done any writing this week; Monday I have day surgery to see if I have an ulcer. YA, no ulcer. They did have to stretch my esophagus though, seems there was a slight blockage that was causing my problems. Monday night I slept from 5.30pm to 8am, it was the best night’s sleep I’ve had in months. Tuesday and yesterday I was still a bit dizzy, now I’m saying dizzy not ditsy. Today I’m feeling a lot better, although if you were standing here watching me type this you would be questioning that statement.

I’ll be back on Saturday or Sunday to let you know how my first day of Sven went. Oh almost forgot, I start another BIAW next week as well. So much incentive to get lots of writing done. Catch ya later.
Hugs
Sandie

Procrastination

Yes! That is what I am doing!!!!!

I’ve been very bad since the last SVEN check in. I haven’t done a thing and there is no real good reason for it. I could have found the time if I wanted too.

So what have I been doing? I’ve been visiting family and friends for Christmas. Oh and I had my grandson for a couple of days because he was sick and couldn’t go to sick. He is such a crack up. He’s eight going on eighty.

Anyway I need to get back into editing and writing. I’ve come up with some more novel ideas, just what I need more people in my head. Oh and writing long hand sucks. I’m still resting my wrist as much as possible, not that it is helping any. I think that is why I’m letting little Miss Procrastinate talk me out of doing anything on my WIP. Just the thought of having to write long hand only to have to type it all into the computer later. No it far easier just to leave it. See this is what happens when we get to used to all our mod cons. We turn into lazy, lazy people. Well I have anyway.

So I’ve had my whinge, it is now time to pick my butt up and do some work.

Until next time. Happy writing.
Hugs
Sandie

What Have I Been Up To???

Not much!!! I've edited part of one of my WIP as well as the first two chapters of 'Baby Can I Hold You.' There is going to be some big changes to this novel I think. I also got five pages written long hand on one WIP. I now have a new found respect for Jane Austen and the likes.


I've also been working on my new Web Site http://www.sandiehudson.webs.com and I now have a Facbook site as well as a Yahoo 306 site. So I'm meeting some very nice people, a few of them are on all the sites I'm on, which is good.

So until next time.
Hugs
Sandie

Post NaNo

NaNo has come to an end and I'm ??????

I have a new Website: http://www.sandiehudson.webs.com/ so pop over and have a look if you get time. I have a direct link back to here as well as some of my other sites.

I've started doing some editing. Not getting very far, but at least I've started. I went to the phyiso on Tuesday. Big trouble. Yep she told me I'm not to do any extensive typing for a few months until my tendon heals. All the typing I did during November was not a good thing, even if I was using my right hand for the larger part.

Got my results back from a comp I entered. I have too much back story and my sentences run into each other. Always have talked without drawing a breath, guess my writing is the same.

One another note I have a few friends still in the Karin Tabke, One Line Comp. YA Aussie's, the girls are going great guns.

Well I really should try and get some housework done today and some more editing. So until next time, hope you all enjoy the rest of your week. And may the word fairy tap you on the shoulder and give you loads of inspiration.

Hugs
Sandie

I Did It - Finished

That's right I have officially finished NaNoWriMo. What a relief. When I started out on this journey I never expected to have so many highs and lows. I have learnt that I need to take time to get to know my character's, because although I've finished the book I still don't know my characters as much as I would like too.

So after 50,025 words, eleven chapters and 245 pages, I'm now taking time to get to know these characters better.

I'd like to thank all of my writing buddies for their support and wish all those who are still madly typing the best of luck. To those who have finished Angie and Shalanna congratulations. Angie you have been an inspiration to me through out this, it has been a pleasure and a joy to watch you go from strength to strength with your writing.

I'd also like to say a big thank you to Portia De Costa. Portia is one of the Sven sponsors and she has been a constant support to me through out these last couple of months.

So ladies thank you again.

Hugs
Sandie

The Last Days Of NaNo

So we are coming to the end of NaNo, and where am I up too. Well I have 47,862 words down at the moment, with 2,138 to go. Now you might think that is great going, and it is. I’m very proud of myself. The problem is I have no idea where I’m going to get another 2,138 words from, I have done back stories, so they’re out. So what else can I do? To tell you the truth I have no idea. I’m waiting for the magical writing fairy to come by my place and hit me in the head with some ideas. It must be my turn soon.

Anyway, I hope you are all doing well with your writing, editing or re-writing.

I’ll be back when I’ve hit the 50,000 mark.
Hugs

Sandie

Slogging It Out

Well I'm over the 35,000 mark YAH!!! 35,209 to be exact. I'm finding it harder and harder to write each day. Well let's face it I'm NOT writing each day. Has not been a good week. I've been sick for the most part. Dizzy, nauseous, headaches, I'm so over it all.

I went to he doctors today. He's not happy with my blood pressure. Too high, so he has given me another tablet to take and increased one of my others to two at night. I wouldn't want to be a spy or anything in that line because they'd hear me coming a mile off. My wrist is no better, so I'm off to the physio, made me promise I'd go. (I think when this is all over, I'm going to take some time off from typing.) On top of all that he is now worried about my kidney's again. So it's off for more blood tests, God I hate needles.

Anyway on to my story. Isaac had an accident, got bucked of a horse. Silly man didn't lunge the horse first. Cold back horse, open paddock, loose reins and not having mind on job at hand, just asking for trouble. Poor Isaac got it in spades. Of course, it did wake Ashley up enough for her to realise she's in love with the man.

Tomorrow I'm going to my son's to have a family get together for my mum coming home from respite. The last week of her stay she was confined to her bedroom, because they had an outbreak of gastroenteritis. I have to tell you she was so happy to get home. Anyway we're having a party to welcome her home.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Get lots and lots of writing done and have fun.
Hugs
Sandie

NaNo The Home Stretch

With just over a week to go before the end of NaNo I'm 64.3% of the way there. Yah. I have 32,135 down. Ashley and Isaac are just going through their major crisis. She has left to sort out her feelings for him and the situation. So now I have 17,865 word to go, and I'm wondering if I have enough story to use this amount of words. I have already written the last scene.

So I well either have a lot of fill to do, although not as much as I thought I would or I'm going to get some really brilliant ideas come through. I will keep you informed.

Hope everyone else is doing well with their WIP.

Hugs
Sandie. :)

Half Way There

I'm up to half way through my novel. YAH. I added another 2,227 words today. Tomorrow I'm having the day off from writing. I think I need to step back for a moment. Plus I'm going to have the morning with one of my sisters.

I'm finding this writing on a daily bases interesting and frustrating. I think with my other novels because I have been doing bits and pieces I have been able to stop and look at the characters differently, I've come to know them better. With 'Baby Can I Hold You' because I'm writing every day I'm not taking the time to get to know them, not deep down. I don't know something is missing and I can't for the life of me pin point what it is, and I'm getting frustrated with myself. I want to know these people, I need to know them deeper. Maybe this is why you are told to put your MS aside for a while.

Anyway I'm taking tomorrow just to listen, no writing, just listening.

Hope you're having a great week.

Hugs
Sandie

Just Another NaNo Day

I have come to the conclusion that I have no idea what I'm doing anymore. I have no idea where my story is going. I don't even know if I like it anymore and I am now thinking of things I could do that stops me from writing.

Take yesterday for instance I spent the better part of the day playing on my new BeBo site. Like I need another site, any way I have one it's at http://www.bebo.com/sandiehudson have a look if you like.

Then today for some reason I just had to start to read Kelly Hunter's Sleeping Partner if you haven't read it yet you are missing a great read. It's sad and funny and keeps you entertained. I haven't finished it yet but I'm sooo enjoying it. So today I've been reading, writing, reading, playing, reading, writing and now playing again. I dare say when I finish here I'll be reading some more before I go to bed.

I've added another 4,618 words since Saturday that's 45.7% of my novel completed. Mind you I'm not sure I'll make 50,000 words before the story finishes, I'm thinking I'll have to go back and add bits and pieces to make up the word count.

Since Sven started I've written 63,758 word, which just goes to show me if I put my mind to it I could write a novel in a month. I just need to put this self doubt to bed. I'm not the only one there are a few of us in the same boat.

Well I hope everyone has a wonderful week for of adventure with your characters and lots of words on pages.

Hugs
Sandie

NaNo & Sven

Well I got another 2,926 words down today and Ashley decided it was time to let go of her deceased husband didn't see that coming, well not so soon I was thinking you know towards the end of the book. But no seems she needed to come to terms with that before she could think about moving on with Isaac. Although she is feeling a little uneasy at the moment, she has just caught him out with another woman.

So I'm over my hissy fit from the other day again. I seem to be having a lot more of these moment with this novel, not sure why. Oh well I'll get over it at some point. I went over to my good friend Annie Doyle's blog yesterday http://www.anniedoyle.blogspot.com/ and she was blogging about inspiration and you know things just fell into place again, so yesterday and today Annie has been my inspiration. If you get a chance go and visit Annie she's great.

Hope all is going well for everyone else. I have a few of my NaNo buddies powering on, these are women who have little ones. I have to say I really take my hat off to them, you know they have from 11,000 to 14,000 words done how good is that.

Oh and I also have to tell you that a few of my Aussie NaNo buddies are through to the next round of Karin Tabke One Line contest. Way to go Aussies. I feel like I should be making pompom and singing "Come on Aussie, Come on, Come on, Come on Aussie, come on." Any way good luck girls.

I have to say you are very, very lucky you can't hear me sing, not very pretty. More like a cat with it tail caught in something. Yuck. My grandson tells me not to sing because it hurts his ears, God love little children and their honesty.

See ya Hugs
Sandie

NaNo - Day 6 & Sven Day 23

Haven't been able to put a lot of writing time in on my novels the last few days. We took Mum to Respite yesterday, she seemed very happy when my sisters and I left her, I hope she is having a good time. On top of that I've been sick for a few days as well, some tummy bug I think, hence the slow going with my writing.

I sooo happy I was able to get a good start, it gives me a bit of leeway. So I have 12,620/50,000 words that's 25.0% on 'Baby Can I Hold You'. That's not bad for six days work.

Over all for Sven I have 36,920/150,000 that's 24.6% of my three novels done, I'm happy with that progress. I don't think I'll get the three novels finished before the end of Sven but I'm still hopeful of getting at least two finished.

Hope you are all have a great week.
Hugs
Sandie

Day 3 of NaNoWriMo & Day 20 of Sven

I finally got down to see my Mum today, my Auntie was there as well which was really nice. I love my auntie she is such a crack up, she always has some funny story to tell about her and Mum growing up. My Mum is going into Respite for a couple of weeks, I hope she has a good time, it's been pretty lonely for her at home since my Dad passed away. Having company all day should be good for her and knowing my Mum she will keep them all well entertained. I have to say it is really hard watching your parents grow old. I know watching my Dad over the last few years of his life was very hard to take at times.

My Dad to me was always my super hero, to the extent that when I was growing up he told me (and I believed him) he taught Superman how to fly and Tarzan how to swing through trees. Dad was a tall man almost six foot, with dark brown eyes and when he was young he had dark curly hair. In a lot of ways he was what we all look for in your hero's. Anyway it's hard watching the man you thought could hold a house together in a storm, deteriorate the way my Dad did. You know there is not a day that goes by that I don't think of my Dad at least once.

So (needs to change the subject) my writing, I've done another 1,368 words tonight, which takes me up to 11,529 just over 23% WOO HOO. I'm in a bit of a dilemma ATM though, this is not going the way I thought it would go, see I was going to have Isaac and Ashley go to bed together and Ashley would feel guilty about her dead husband etc. But just as I was getting to where they would do their horizontal tango, Isaac pulled back. Heavens to Betsy, I can't win. I either have a hero that wants to jump into bed when I don't want any bed jumping or I have one who is just so damn sweet, (this is suppose to be my BAD BOY) that he asks the heroine if she's sure and blows the whole thing. MEN they are driving me CRAZY.

And to top it all off the darn Aunt who I thought would be kind, sweet and caring is picking a fight with my heroine. What that!! I've written a whole scene and I have absolutely no idea where it is going or why it is going there. I give up, so much for me writing this novel, I'm just the person typing, I have no say in anything else it seems. Well one good thing I'll be able to report in to Sven with some good figures.

Hope you all have a great weekend and enjoy what ever it is you have planned.

Hugs
Sandie

Day Two of NaNoWriMo and Day nineteen of Sven

Oh my, I never thought I'd get this much done in two days. I'm scared now, there has to come a time when it is all going to go pear shape. Doesn't it? It is all falling so easily into place, the words are flowing, I'm not sure how good it is but it's flowing.

Last night I did another 2,422 words and tonight I've added another 3,161 giving me a grand total... drum roll of 10,161 YA me. And did I need a pick me up today.


I had a lovely lunch with my wonderful children today, my son shouted his sister and me lunch down by the bay. What a lovely view sitting on the deck of restaurant over looking Nelson Bay (that's in NSW Australia). But when I came home my daughter and I found one of the horses out of his paddock and having a nice little wander up the track. Thank the Lord he is so quite and easy to catch.

So I didn't get down to see my mum AGAIN, I wasn't game to leave just in case he escaped again. So I have promised mum to visit tomorrow. I might have to take her something special down just in way to say sorry.

In all I'm pleased with how the writing is going, and I'm hoping I'll be able to spend some time on my children's book over the next few days as I have let that slip a bit.

Hope you all have a great weekend and good luck next week with your writing.

Hugs
Sandie.

It's Sunday Afternoon - Day 14

It Sunday afternoon, we've had some rain YEA (not enough) but some is better then none. I've spend the day writing, wandering around thinking about writing, then writing again.

So it is the end of BIAW and did I make my pledged goal? YES and some to spare. YIPPEE. On to the next challenge. I'm putting Tyler and Jackie to bed for awhile (which is were they nearly ended up today except his nosy sister and her pesky friend turned up uninvited. They can stew for a while. Anyway I'm almost half way to my word count for 'We Were In Love', 24,470 looking good for when I come back. (Now this all hinges on Tyler letting me get to work on a new book. I won...der, if I tell him to take a month, think about some nice romantic ways to woo Jackie, take it slow, real slow. Maybe, just maybe he'll listen.) OH and have a look at my pretty word meter thingy, cool hay.

The next three days I'm going to make sure I have all my character profiles in order and re tidy around my desk and just generally make sure my life outside writing is okay. I need to visit with at least two of my mum's (I have three, two mother-in-laws, how lucky can I girl be?) Do the washing, vacuum, cook, all the things I HATE!!!!

Well that's me for this wonderfully Sunday afternoon. I'm getting a headache, bum ache and my hand is hurting, so I will go and do something completely different. I might read, no that's no good with a headache ... I know I'll go and sit outside in the fresh air and watch the horses. That's nice and calming, well so my hubby keeps telling me. Bye.

Hugs
Sandie

Sven Day Twelve

Have you ever had one of those days when you thought you should have just stayed in bed? Well I had one of those today, nothing really bad just miner things. So on a good note hubby is happy he is getting some money back from Tax, YEAH.


Haven't done any writing today, unless you count doing more work to character profile, which I know I can use as work for Sven, but not for BIAW so now I'll have to work really hard tomorrow and Sunday to get my word count back up. So there is number one reason for not getting out of bed. GOT NO REAL WORK DONE, SHAME ON ME.


On another note got my hair cut today, I've had it long (like half way down my back) for soooo long and today I went in and got it cut short. Now there is a story behind why I had to do this, last year just before Christmas I decided to go grey, (my natural colour) so I bleached all the dark brown out of my hair. How was I to know that you can't dye your hair grey, anyway Jim told me to go to the hairdressers, but No I had to do it myself. What I did was just about killed my poor hair. Anyway it had grown out enough that I could get it cut and not look like I'd joined the army and had one of their short back and sides cuts. Jim likes it (which surprised me because he likes my hair long.), my daughter likes it, it's now one colour or at least the colour is natural, but it is still soooo soooo short. I don't know weather to cry or just stay home and hide until it grows again. Sigh!!! I should have just stayed in bed. Sigh!!! If I drank I'd get drunk but I'm not a drinker (will not since my teenage years, drank enough then to last anyone a life time), so I guess I'll go and make a cuppa. And maybe try to do some work on one of my WIP's.


Sorry for the rambling, I seem to be doing that alot lately

Bye Hugs
Sandie