Many writers refer to their current project as a WIP – Work In Progress. I don’t know about you, but a homophone for an instrument of torture motivates me to run, not walk, away from the keyboard. On the other hand, WHIP – Wreaking Havoc In Progress – is appropriate on productive days.
However, neither WIP nor WHIP specifies the stage or type of work. I suggest writers utilize more accurate acronyms:
PIP – Planning In Progress – covers that vital stage before one writes. (Can also refer to Plotting or Protagonist In Progress.)
RIP – Research In Progress – refers to that other prerequisite stage.
NIP – Novel In Progress. (A nip or two of your favorite beverage might help the words flow, too.)
SSIP – Short Story In Progress. (I tend to hiss at word limitations. How about you?)
BLIP – BLog In Progress. After all, blogs are barely blips on cyberspace’s sonar.
AIP – Article In Progress. Accurately mimic the noise evoked by futile searches and/or word-on-the-tip-of-my-tongue-itis.
EIP – Essay In Progress – See above.
TRIP – Title Rendering In Progress (For those authors who, like me, invest days in creating a superior sobriquet.)
DRIP – Document Ripping In Progress (The perfect acronym for editing.)
QUIP – QUery In Progress (Clever is the goal, but a query rarely results on the spur of the moment.)
SHIP – Summarizing Handiwork In Progress (For the synopsis stage.)
I could SLIP (Silly Linguistics In Progress) on and on, but I think I’ve VIPped (Vacuum In Progress) enough.
Can you add to the list? Which acronym describes your current project? Feel free to leave a comment.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Sunday, July 6, 2008
A thorn by any other name still...
I'll let you fill in the rest while I again retrieve my mind from the gutter.
You may or may not notice I changed the name of my blog. Though I liked From the Heart, it's not exactly original. At least one other TWRP author and an RWA Chapter bear the name. I don't mind sharing, but trite I will rarely be.
Besides, the new title fits me just as well. Writing is my passion. Eventually I might share some writing tips, but currently I'm suffering from BTDT. During the four (or five?) years I volunteered as a community leader on iVillage's Writing Exercise Board, my co-CLs and I posted weekly writing prompts, mini lessons, and monthly lessons. We covered nearly every major element---commas (which my friend Mary aptly calls the gnats of the punctuation world), how to start, characters, plot, setting, POV, active writing. The list goes on.
Would you like to know what I discovered? A lot of people desire publication, but very few possess dedication. It's WORK! Sometimes fun, often tedious. Writers need open minds and thick skin. Publication is a crap shoot. If you don't enjoy writing, give up before you start.
I'll exit that podium before I get ridiculous. Oops! Too late! Over the years, I developed Lynda's Logic, which makes perfect sense---to me. When the mood strikes, I'll blog about my observations on subjects such as handbags, missing socks, TV ads.
Feel free to stop by, read, and comment if the mood strikes. As always, if you'd like to suggest a topic, I'm all mouth. ;-)
You may or may not notice I changed the name of my blog. Though I liked From the Heart, it's not exactly original. At least one other TWRP author and an RWA Chapter bear the name. I don't mind sharing, but trite I will rarely be.
Besides, the new title fits me just as well. Writing is my passion. Eventually I might share some writing tips, but currently I'm suffering from BTDT. During the four (or five?) years I volunteered as a community leader on iVillage's Writing Exercise Board, my co-CLs and I posted weekly writing prompts, mini lessons, and monthly lessons. We covered nearly every major element---commas (which my friend Mary aptly calls the gnats of the punctuation world), how to start, characters, plot, setting, POV, active writing. The list goes on.
Would you like to know what I discovered? A lot of people desire publication, but very few possess dedication. It's WORK! Sometimes fun, often tedious. Writers need open minds and thick skin. Publication is a crap shoot. If you don't enjoy writing, give up before you start.
I'll exit that podium before I get ridiculous. Oops! Too late! Over the years, I developed Lynda's Logic, which makes perfect sense---to me. When the mood strikes, I'll blog about my observations on subjects such as handbags, missing socks, TV ads.
Feel free to stop by, read, and comment if the mood strikes. As always, if you'd like to suggest a topic, I'm all mouth. ;-)
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Honored by Honorable Mention
Words are my favorite toys. I enjoy twisting, flipping, and STACKING. What can I say? I'm a word-aholic who'd burst if I tried to quit cold turkey. Besides, I just want to taper off. Too much of a good thing and all that, you know?
So I decided to enter the First Annual Short Story Contest at the Long and Short of It. Basically, the contest had two rules:
1. Write a romace with a happily ever after ending. No problem. Romance is my favorite genre because of HEA. I'm inspired by characters who can overlook each others flaws and conquer all the obstacles life---AKA a conniving author---throws at them.
2. Word limit: 1000. Are you kidding? My weekly grocery list contains more. Short stories have specific rules: start by shooting the sheriff, one POV, minimal setting, engaging plot, and one protagonist with clearly defined GMC who either does or does not change. All that in 1K?
Rarely one to turn away from any challenge, especially self-imposed, I lit my keyboard with a BIC. (That's Butt In Chair.) After one computer malfunction, feedback from four critique partners, and five re-writes, I submitted Marriage on the Menu.
Tonight I learned I won Honorable Mention. I hope you'll visit The Long and Short of It on September 4th, when my short story will be posted. (If the sieve I call a brain retains the date, I'll post a reminder.)
So I decided to enter the First Annual Short Story Contest at the Long and Short of It. Basically, the contest had two rules:
1. Write a romace with a happily ever after ending. No problem. Romance is my favorite genre because of HEA. I'm inspired by characters who can overlook each others flaws and conquer all the obstacles life---AKA a conniving author---throws at them.
2. Word limit: 1000. Are you kidding? My weekly grocery list contains more. Short stories have specific rules: start by shooting the sheriff, one POV, minimal setting, engaging plot, and one protagonist with clearly defined GMC who either does or does not change. All that in 1K?
Rarely one to turn away from any challenge, especially self-imposed, I lit my keyboard with a BIC. (That's Butt In Chair.) After one computer malfunction, feedback from four critique partners, and five re-writes, I submitted Marriage on the Menu.
Tonight I learned I won Honorable Mention. I hope you'll visit The Long and Short of It on September 4th, when my short story will be posted. (If the sieve I call a brain retains the date, I'll post a reminder.)
Monday, March 10, 2008
Today's Subject: Handbags
Because I often left behind my purse, I preferred pockets. (If I forget my pockets, I have problems larger than a lost driver’s license. But I digress…) Cash, keys, ID, maybe a tissue or two all fit. Oh, the stuff added a bulge or two, but with my hips, no one noticed.
Then I had children. Even my saddlebags couldn’t conceal bottles, diapers, and wipes. After a few tantrums---which made Audrey from Little Shop of Horrors sound like a mouse---I NEVER went anywhere without a two-ton diaper bag hanging from my shoulder.
Eventually the children outgrew bottles and diapers, and I went back to stuffing my pockets. The only exception came with dressy affairs. Unfortunately, few people dare to invite a couple with six children. (Who needs a reason to hire a babysitter more? But I digress…) In case a minor miracle comes my way, I own two clutches. I don’t know why. I waste more time trying to stuff necessities into these teeny, tiny accessories than I spend standing in line for my own bathroom. Clutches should come with built-in pagers, but even a microchip won’t fit.
Anyway, a few months ago I discovered my pockets could no longer hold everything I needed to carry. Some days a moving van lacks ample space for my notebooks, pens, papers, photos, make-up (lest I look like Frankenstein’s bride—with my hair that’s not much of a stretch---but I digress…again), the kitchen sink, and etc. So I caved and bought a tote bag. Nothing fancy. Durable vinyl denim. Hundreds of pockets so I can’t find anything until I no longer need it.
Now, if you’re a mom, you know handbags serve as receptacles for everything. Papers for school, pens to steal, snack to stave off starvation, and TRASH. Whenever my bag is closer than the wastebasket, the kids stuff their gum and candy wrappers into my purse. While I appreciate their anti-litter campaign, I wish my bag wouldn’t be on HazMat’s watch list.
So today I decided to clean out my tote. After surpassing a lawn and leaf bag’s maximum capacity, I finally reached bottom. There I found the chocolate licorice I purchased before Christmas. Curious, I bent a stick, which snapped and cut my finger. Now if only I could find a Band-Aid.
Have you discovered any long lost treasures in your purse? If so, I’d love to hear your story.
Then I had children. Even my saddlebags couldn’t conceal bottles, diapers, and wipes. After a few tantrums---which made Audrey from Little Shop of Horrors sound like a mouse---I NEVER went anywhere without a two-ton diaper bag hanging from my shoulder.
Eventually the children outgrew bottles and diapers, and I went back to stuffing my pockets. The only exception came with dressy affairs. Unfortunately, few people dare to invite a couple with six children. (Who needs a reason to hire a babysitter more? But I digress…) In case a minor miracle comes my way, I own two clutches. I don’t know why. I waste more time trying to stuff necessities into these teeny, tiny accessories than I spend standing in line for my own bathroom. Clutches should come with built-in pagers, but even a microchip won’t fit.
Anyway, a few months ago I discovered my pockets could no longer hold everything I needed to carry. Some days a moving van lacks ample space for my notebooks, pens, papers, photos, make-up (lest I look like Frankenstein’s bride—with my hair that’s not much of a stretch---but I digress…again), the kitchen sink, and etc. So I caved and bought a tote bag. Nothing fancy. Durable vinyl denim. Hundreds of pockets so I can’t find anything until I no longer need it.
Now, if you’re a mom, you know handbags serve as receptacles for everything. Papers for school, pens to steal, snack to stave off starvation, and TRASH. Whenever my bag is closer than the wastebasket, the kids stuff their gum and candy wrappers into my purse. While I appreciate their anti-litter campaign, I wish my bag wouldn’t be on HazMat’s watch list.
So today I decided to clean out my tote. After surpassing a lawn and leaf bag’s maximum capacity, I finally reached bottom. There I found the chocolate licorice I purchased before Christmas. Curious, I bent a stick, which snapped and cut my finger. Now if only I could find a Band-Aid.
Have you discovered any long lost treasures in your purse? If so, I’d love to hear your story.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
TechNO?
No matter how much I kick, scream, and lash out, cyberspace has latched on and refuses to release me. Don't get me wrong. I adore the Internet. With email and instant messaging, friends are a click away. Search engines put answers at my fingertips. Perfect!
Until...
I have to write about me.
I am rarely a Conversation Starter. You know the type. CS's ask total strangers, "How are you?" or comment on the weather or the contents of shopping carts. On the other hand, I'm seldom a Conversation Ender. CE's give abrupt answers or walk away. I am a CC---a Conversation Continuer. If you ask me about anything except politics or religion, I'll share my thoughts and then ask yours.
So...
If you'd like to discuss any particular topics, please leave a comment. In the meantime, I'll work on becoming a CS.
Follow your dreams,
Lynda
Until...
I have to write about me.
I am rarely a Conversation Starter. You know the type. CS's ask total strangers, "How are you?" or comment on the weather or the contents of shopping carts. On the other hand, I'm seldom a Conversation Ender. CE's give abrupt answers or walk away. I am a CC---a Conversation Continuer. If you ask me about anything except politics or religion, I'll share my thoughts and then ask yours.
So...
If you'd like to discuss any particular topics, please leave a comment. In the meantime, I'll work on becoming a CS.
Follow your dreams,
Lynda
Friday, March 7, 2008
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
A Toast to Friends and Dreams Come True
Friend.
Some people toss around the word like confetti. I don't. I prefer acquaintance for people whose names I might know.
A friend shares his/her heart--hopes and fears, successes and defeats. A friend cradles you in loving arms, catches you before you fall, or helps you pick yourself up after. I am blessed to have several--Jeff, Mary, Jen, Eleyne, Jake, Judi and Faith. Without each of them, especially the first and last two, I would not be realizing my dream.
My first novel, Every Heart Has Its Day, will be published by The Wild Rose Press in 2008. While I'm excited beyond belief, I wish to share this accomplishment with those who helped me most.
A toast to friends--those I already love as well as those I have yet to meet.
Some people toss around the word like confetti. I don't. I prefer acquaintance for people whose names I might know.
A friend shares his/her heart--hopes and fears, successes and defeats. A friend cradles you in loving arms, catches you before you fall, or helps you pick yourself up after. I am blessed to have several--Jeff, Mary, Jen, Eleyne, Jake, Judi and Faith. Without each of them, especially the first and last two, I would not be realizing my dream.
My first novel, Every Heart Has Its Day, will be published by The Wild Rose Press in 2008. While I'm excited beyond belief, I wish to share this accomplishment with those who helped me most.
A toast to friends--those I already love as well as those I have yet to meet.
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