Deb's Writing Muse

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2009-01-19T18:45:00.001-07:00

Hi to all my followers ~ You can view this blog with it's most updated information at www.debswritingmuse.wordpress.com

Thanks for following along...

Update on Manuscript

2009-01-07T15:39:00.002-07:00

~Confessions of a High Maintenance Woman~

As many of you know, I have been working diligently on finishing my first chic lit novel. It is about 75% complete. I am going through the final editing process which should take another couple months. Please keep in touch as I will unveil part of the story when it's complete...

Read a book a month challenge

2009-01-07T15:30:00.003-07:00

This is an online bookclub... You go to this blog and register. It's pretty cool if you are a reader. For those of us that are writers? Well, it just goes without saying. Read, Read, and Read some more. It helps our writing...Every Wednesday you log onto the blog and comment on what you're reading.

He quotes: "I decided to assign a particular challenge for each month with the default being that if you can’t do the assigned challenge, you can read whatever you like from your TBR (to be read) pile and post your review as per usual. I wanted to shake things up a bit, make you all dig these books out of your stacks."

Sound like fun?

http://avidbookreader.com/2009/01/02/tbr-challenge-2009-sign-up/#comment-53990

It's a stitch!

2009-01-07T15:26:00.000-07:00

A knitting group by any other name would be called Stitch n ’bitch. A fabulous group of women all come together and just knit or crochet. Mostly women in this case. The youngest is 15 and the oldest – well, I’m not going there. I’ve known about these groups for along time but until I became addicted, I knew they weren’t so cool. Now, well – they are cool, in fact, very fun, this is a way to relax and enjoy the company of those that love to do what I do.

Ok, picture this. I pull up in front a house. Even if I didn’t knit, I’d stop by out of curiosity just to see the inside. This house has been turned into a yarn shop. Each room is filled with colorful yarns, needles, book and just great stuff. Attached to the house is another building. I enter through the door to find a table filled with women doing their craft. But mostly, chatting. How fun I thought!

I am greeted by a cheery woman who says, “Hi”. I introduce myself as Debbie. I am drawn in with such a warm feeling.

We spend two hours together in a relaxed setting that when I walk away, I know I’ll be back.

“Come back next week,” my new friends yells.

“I definitely will.”

Smiling to myself, I fling my beautiful Lauren Bercher bag over my shoulder. “definitely.”

Princess Jasmine turns 2

2009-01-03T18:24:00.002-07:00

It's official, the princess has turned 2. Yes, Princess Jasmine. She celebrated her birthday with 4 of her friends all dressed in their birthday outfits. Decorating rice krispie treats was the highlight of the afternoon. Then they pinned the nose on Elmo; Princess Jasmine won! Of course, no birthday would be complete without lots of presents. Like Santa didn't bring enough.

We had a fabulous afternoon!

Deserving Design

2009-01-02T14:45:00.003-07:00

I chose to tackle my deserving wall today instead of write. This wall was left spotty the day the painter walked out; 3 years ago. We've looked at it and thought a bit of color would definitely enhance this room.

We chose a beautiful red/burgandy color, the same color we put on the wall in our kitchen. We were so in awe of our kitchen, we thought this one poor wall deserved to be drenched in color.

It's beautiful! I'll post pictures when it's complete.

On to a second coat...

Winter Wonderland

2008-11-30T15:36:00.001-07:00

Today we awoke to beautiful snow that had fallen over night. The soft flurries glide to ground covering everything in white. I love this time of year but only when I can view it from inside my windows. I love to watch it pile up. A steaming mug of hot chocolate is perfect on a day like this. A fire casts shadows on the room while adding warmth.

I've been procrastinating on what I know needs to be done; editing my novel. I'm about half way though with the first pass. My novel is written well - if I don't say so myself. I've really become attached to Shelby and her edginess. I'll continue to edit this week until my sister arrives on Thursday.

Stay tuned to 'Out of the box' where you'll be able to read exerpts from this amazing piece...

Much warmth to you on this cold November day,

Deb

The Editing begins...

2008-11-21T15:17:00.000-07:00

I've begun the editing on my manuscript. I'm very excited about this. I actually feel like a real writer. A woman on a mission. I've finished editing my first draft... Now what? Onto another edit. I will be passing it on to an editor for "fixing" any errors that I've missed.

Stay tuned for upcoming "peak" at the world of Shelby; a woman with purpose and a woman you'll love. She's become my friends... Look for her in upcoming books.

Thanks for stickin' around,

Deb

Completed!

2008-10-30T15:22:00.000-06:00

As some of you know, I have been writing the novel of the century, well in my world anyway... I have completed my 50,426 word chic lit manuscript. I will be posting blurbs about it and hopefully you will respon with feedback. Follow me through the journey as well as my fun story.

Can't wait to share it with you, stay tuned...

NanoWriMo

2008-10-14T21:20:00.000-06:00

To write 50,000 words in one month? Insane some might say, a creative genius is what I'd say. This should be quite an adventure. A whole novel in one month... Ready - Set - Write
Begins November 1... ends November 30

Up in Smoke

2008-10-08T15:00:00.000-06:00

The night was closing in; it was time to lock up and head to bed. Nestled alongside my honey, I was awaked just before 3:00am by sirens; lots of loud sirens. They kept coming with no end in site. Lying there, I'm propped on my pillow trying to figure out where they are all going. Like the Dr. Suess book, "Go dogs Go", big dogs, little dogs, black dogs, white all going to a dog party. Well, in this case, I'm sure it's not a dog party; it's something much more serious. (and not as much fun, I'm thinking) I jump from my bed running through the house to peak out the windows hoping to see something. My fear creaping in, pretty fast I might add. Was it my house? No - Was it a neighbors house? No - there was no smoke that I could see. Was it the shopping plaza? Maybe - Was it the building in the front of our complex? Maybe - but I hope not. I had no idea and it was driving me crazy.

We live in condos off of Rockrimmon and if one goes, the entire lot will go. I was afraid. My husband tossed and turned. I jumped back into bed shaking him, "Can you hear the sirens?" I asked, "Where do you think it is? Can you smell smoke?" He said not to worry, and he rolled over.

Hmmm - I took off back downstairs to make sure it wasn't one of "us". Pacing back and forth, upstairs then downstairs, back to the window, I still see nothing. Panic is creeping in, my heart is racing; this is just to close for comfort, I think to myself.

The sirens sounded as though they were right next door, I knew it had to be near. I heard whatever it was, crumbling... to the ground... kkk - splat. kkk - splat. Something was burning and burning fast. Sounded alot like a burning building. Going through my mind the buildings around us, I hadn't imagines it would have been the townhomes across from us.

I finally went back upstairs, now close to 4:00am. Things were beginning to calm down. I pushed back my curtains to close the window. By then, the smoke smell was filling our room. I glanced up over our rooftop and saw billowing clouds of black smoke. Whatever it was, it sure was burning hot and heavy.

Crawling back into bed, I finally can fall asleep, but not until the circling helicopter stops his trek over our house. Will this night ever end? I hope whomever's house is burning will be okay.

Morning skies shine bright blue, as if nothing happend. I walk downstairs and turn on the news hoping to hear what had happened. The report stated that the townhomes off of Rockrimmon and Delmonico had gone up in flames. Many in a row all burned. It had been a 4 alarm fire, which means 4 stations were called. How devastating? And at this time of year? I counted my blessings that it wasn't us. But I couldn't help thinking of all those homeless people. The reporter also stated that residents in the Rockrimmon area were out in their pajamas and slippers. Oh - how I wish I would have done that. Maybe I could have slept knowing what it was. No - I would have stayed to watch, it's the photographer in me, probably would have had my camera as well.

This brings us to believe that the things we take for granted can be taken from us in a split second; in this case 1 hour. The townhomes, the covered parking and many cars were all burned, like in a horror movie, even lives can be taken. I prayed that the families had gotten out in time, only to find out 1 woman didn't. How sad and for what? We'll never know.

The Journey

2008-09-13T21:38:00.000-06:00

I began my journey in May of 2008; a journey that will be complete on March 31st of 2009. I go to bed every night thinking I need to stick to a schedule, but the problem is, I need to keep to it. I am a writer and... writers write, I’m told. Well, then, I need to write and not let the little things get in my way.

If it’s anything I can help a writer understand is, if you start it, whether it be a novel or an article, FINISH IT! I truly believe that most writers are attacked by doubts of whether they can really finish it and is this really worth the effort. It’s hard work, but work that will pay off in the end. Persistance is the key! Disipline is the key! And Sticktuitiveness is the key! How else will we get the journey accomplished if we don’t stick to it…

That means I get up in the morning and treat this like a job. How many of you have really treated this like a job. Not me! Maybe it’s time I do. I fit it in to my week, but the wierd thing is, IT WORKS!!! My writers groups help me stay focused and I believe they are key to helping with that issue.

Journey really means to travel from one place to another, in other words, from the beginning to the end of our work.