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Post by Admin on May 24, 2022 23:43:56 GMT
If it creates emotion in you then it will most likely resonate with the reader. That is a good sign. I'm generating ideas. That is an indication that my creativity is coming back. Chalino and his friend are giving me two hours a day. I have no doubt that my house will be in order by fall. Sharon passed her written test but they wouldn't let her drive. She was using Tati's car and didn't know where the window controls were, or the lights, or windshield wipers. She has thirty day to redo the test.
I will be on a very tight budget for the next year. I'll survive but I'm going to have to be really careful. Its kind of a good thing. I don't have the means to help people right now. They will have to not count on me. That had to happen anyway.
I'm sorry I missed Ryan's party. I still need to get his gift in the mail. The minister and a church lady stopped by today to check on us. Felt kind of good to know that people care. I'll get back to regular church. Just have to get through the next week. Then life should calm down.
I can't wait to talk to you about Pikes Peak. I didn't know you won an edit from the auction. Who will edit it? I'm hoping to go to the next one. I'm ready to start getting back into the fold.
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Post by bill on May 27, 2022 23:13:18 GMT
The company doing the edit is Writers Wingman. I don't know anything about them but this will be a cheap way for me to try them out. They have a lot of services so I hope I like them and can use them again in the future.
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Post by Admin on May 29, 2022 14:12:15 GMT
editing is, by far, the most important thing you can do for your work. There are so many writers indie publishing that having a clean ms. can raise you up through the pack.
I have today and tomorrow, then I head back home. Its been a good visit so far. I needed the break. The upstairs of my house if very close to being where I need it to be. The garage is about half done. I'll finish that this week then we'll head for the basement and I'll begin to put it in order. I'm so ready to be functional.
I will establish work hours when I get back home and I'm going to write them into the calendar. I think I'll write them into the calendar so Sharon will know not to schedule appointments on those days.
I think I'll set up my display racks in the art studio and as I finish and frame pictures, I can hang them up and rotate them through Prairie Pastimes. Anything that doesn't sell there can be offered at shows. I want to get into a couple of shows in the fall.
I need to get the websites functional. I haven't touched them and I want to start funneling viewers to them. I have idea in how to keep them fresh and entertaining. My goal is to establish streams of income.
Most of all, I want to be busy, and functional. I'm tired of being a slug.
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Post by bill on May 31, 2022 2:51:45 GMT
Sounds like you're well on your way to being busy and functional. I'm ready to slow down! Yates Center Days - Fun as always. Saw a lot of people and had my beset YC Days to date. I sold 15 books and 1 t-shirt. The Most Important Thing - I finished this last week and will wait for the editor to have time to comb through it. Then I'll probably look for a couple of beta readers and get it ready to query. I'm now reading through my fourth mystery and want to finish it up and get it to beta readers. I'm close and want it out ASAP, though realize it will be a couple of weeks at best, I'm guessing. Sydney arrived today. She's on a two-week vacation so I'll get to see her some. Other than that I hope June is slow because I go to New Mexico for the UFO Festival at the end of the month. As soon as I figure out what my month holds I'll figure out a time to come visit. I miss you guys and am ready to talk writing with someone.
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Post by Admin on Jun 3, 2022 0:01:44 GMT
Sounds great. I think Bill and Rhonda will both be here for the 4th. I have one day that I want to be in Lyons. Its an all-alumni reunion. But I also want a good visit with Bill and Rhonda. Its a good idea to see Marilyn as often as possible. She really is not doing well.
My garden got demolished by the storms but I haven't given up on them. I bought some replacement plants and I'm hoping nature will let some of them recover. Time will tell.
I'll keep you up on the schedules. Maybe you'll be able to see everybody at once but if not, then come anytime. We're putting the basement in order and the guest room will be available if you ever want to stay over.
I'm ready to start talking writing too. Can't wait to bounce ideas with you.
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Post by bill on Jun 7, 2022 3:12:43 GMT
Sydney is here this week and we are hanging out tomorrow so I'm mostly excited about that. We're going to Barnes and Nobel so double the reason for anticipation.
Murder Mystery 4 - I just have the wrap-up scene to write and to clean up a couple of other things. My goal is to send it to beta readers sometime next weekend. We'll see if I can make it.
PPWC Anthology - The window is open for submissions so I'm going to try to write a couple of stories to submit. I want them done by the end of the month, preferably before I go to Roswell. I have an idea for one of the stories. I hope to brainstorm with Sydney tomorrow and see if we come up with a good idea for a second story.
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Post by Admin on Jun 12, 2022 15:26:35 GMT
I had a breakthrough this morning. I don't know where it will go but its a new story. A new character and fresh words. I think it might be an out let of my grief but whatever it is, I'll take it. Right now the working title is: Be careful what you wish for. and it's a ghost story. or will be anyway. But not a traditional ghost story. It's more paranormal/humore/something. I'm not sure what.
The opening lines: I never wanted to talk to the dead yet here I stand, arms wide open, asking them to come to me. I think I've lost my mind.
I don't know if its going to be a short story, or a novella, or a new series or simply me siphoning off grief but I'll take it. I'm happy that the words are starting to come back.
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Post by bill on Jun 12, 2022 20:53:03 GMT
Nice! Will that move to the top of your to-write pile?
I finished my fourth murder mystery yesterday and gave it the working title - It's Not All Fun and Games. Sent it to beta readers so it's out of my hair for a few weeks.
I want to write a couple of short stories this month to submit to PPWC, so that's my goal until I go to Roswell.
I had a nice visit with Sydney. She flew back today.
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Post by Admin on Jun 15, 2022 3:21:23 GMT
glad you enjoyed your visit with Sydney. Good news on finishing book 4. I think you'll do good at Roswell. I'm simply happy that new words came. I still need to become consistent. Being sick is setting me back. I do little but sleep and cough. Rhonda called today and she will be here the first Sunday and Monday of July. Bill is coming for that weekend too. I told Dan about it. Its a good time to see everybody. I'm hoping to kick this sinus junk goodbye in the next day or two. I'm beginning to eat again. I take that as a good sign.
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Post by Admin on Jun 17, 2022 0:13:24 GMT
Words are still coming. Working title: Be Careful What You Wish For its a ghost story,paranormal, humor. It might be me working through some of my issues but if I can get a story out of it while I do so, why not?
I was having trouble getting a handle on the protagonist. I knew sort of what she was but so much was hidden from me so I used a technique I used with Lucky Donovan. I interviewed her. Asked her questions and did a free flow answers. Didn't edit, or control the answers. Just let them flow. I discovered a lot and she entertains me and made Sharon laugh. No matter what I do with this story, I'll have fun creating it. I'm just so grateful to have words coming again.
I also plan on continuing to format and compile Knock Knock. I feel ready. Chalino and Abby, his girlfriend, give me two hours a day so my house is becoming what I dreamed it could be. Its energizing to have my surroundings reflect me and know that if someone stops by I'm not embarrassed by my very poor housekeeping skills.
Most of all, I want to write consistently. It helps that I'm feeling better and not so exhausted.
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Post by Admin on Jun 23, 2022 1:07:03 GMT
Finished chapter three. Still having fun with the new story and it seems to be developing in fun and interesting ways. The work on the house is going well. I'm beginning to see order and stuff is going out the door. Still hoping to have the house completely functional by fall.
Rhonda and Bill are still coming here for the 4th. Rhonda will be traveling on Sat. and the rest of us will go to Lyons on Saturday the 3rd for the alumni reunion. Rhonda will be here Sunday and Monday. I don't know Bill's schedule yet. Marilyns weight is continuing to decline. She weighs less than Joshua does now. She's fallen twice and is supposed to not do stairs and use a walker. She refuses to do the walker.
I feel more energetic and happier. I think writing again has elevated my energy level. I need to write. It feels good.
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Post by bill on Jun 24, 2022 21:38:34 GMT
I wish I could join you guys for the fourth but I'm heading to New Mexico next Wednesday for a week. I'm Vending at the UFO Festival and have a live radio interview set for the morning of July 1. Hopefully I can sell a bunch of t-shirts and books. It's always a good time though. I'm at Susan's this weekend. A busy, busy two weeks!
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Post by Admin on Jun 25, 2022 14:35:57 GMT
Sound fun. I think Rhonda is coming back for the corn roast and again the end of August. I got to see Marilyn yesterday. She looks good but she only weighs 97 pounds. Ron and Larry got a worktable set up for me in the workshop. The miter saw is in place but still needs a bit of work to stabilize it. Little by little, I'm getting a place to frame and work on projects. I'm getting so excited.
The new story is progressing. I will try to get my old computer open this weekend and pull the Knock Knock chapters off of it. I want to compile that and clean it up to send for editing.
I had an interesting email today. There is a new website that gets your book seen by readers. It says free to authors. Its called Shepherd.com I'll check it out and maybe give it a try. Doesn't cost me anything and it might get me seen by more people. Visibility has always been my problem.
I'm doing lots of research. My garden is producing well. The flowers are blooming. Life seems pretty good right now. I'm so glad I'm out of the dark hole.
Have sun at Susan's. Have a good time in Roswell.
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Post by Admin on Jul 4, 2022 12:18:36 GMT
I can't wait to hear how Susan and family are and how your trip to Roswell went. I've had a houseful this week. Its been so good to see Bill and Jacquie and Rhonda and Jacob. We're having a sister's day at Marilyn's this morning. Give Larry some time off to go golfing with Bill and whoever else goes with them.
I'm still fired up about the new story. So far, the ones I've shared it with have liked it. I'm beginning to develop my cartoon characters and Joshua will be establishing work hours. I'm signed up for three days at Prairie Pastimes. My workshop is beginning to look like I can actually work in it. Life is pretty good right now.
I want to get my old computer charged and pull off all of Knock Knock. I think I did it already but I can't find it so I'll do it again rather than risk the computer dying and me not being able to get to it at all. I rearranged my bedroom so Its more functional. My office is in there. I've been hauling stuff out of my house every week so the clutter is decreasing. I'm still not organized but I'm beginning to see the vision.
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Post by bill on Jul 6, 2022 2:24:15 GMT
You are being much more productive than me recently, great job!
I had a great first two days of the UFO Festival and then I got sick and had to skip day three. Hated that, but spent the next 60 hours basically in bed. Went to the clinic this morning (I was supposed to be driving home for my last day of vacation) and they tested me positive for covid. Dad, Delores, and Pat (he's living with them temporarily) all took home tests and tested positive. So I'll be in New Mexico a few extra days it looks like, at least until I feel well enough to drive myself for ten hours.
Then I talked to Susan this afternoon and she had even worse news. She got her mammogram last week and they detected breast cancer. Took a biopsy and got the results back today and confirmed it was cancer. She talks to a surgeon tomorrow. She doesn't know much at this point, not even what stage or anything. I'm praying they caught it early.
So it's been a rough day for the Bushes and we can use all the prayers we can get.
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