I’ve blissfully wrapped up my latest work-in-progress and am so looking forward to diving into a new project. (Yes, this is a disease and I can’t help myself. Must. Write.) As I gear up to put fingers to keyboard and cursor to Word document, I’ve spent a few days working on the following key ingredients: 1. Enough background research to establish a historically accurate timeline and plot. 2. Photos of characters. Having a clear picture in my mind helps me keep the descriptions consistent throughout. I love taking images from the 40s themselves – it helps put me into the era and create more authentic characters. 3. Photos...
Make your ideas happen
Lately, I’ve been surrounded by more and more creative people. Well, I’ve always been surrounded by creative people, but lately more ideas and ventures have popped up than I know what to do with. I love ideas. Nothing is more energizing than a new project, fresh for development. The possibilities are endless. Then, somehow, life gets in the way and things fizzle out. Don’t let it fizzle. It takes determination, diligence and follow through to make things happen. Be one of the ones that makes your ideas happen. Don’t be the one ten years down the road saying, “I thought of that first.” You might have thought of it first,...
Confession & My Secret to Everything…
My family and friends generally think I’m a lot more capable than I really am. I get calls regularly – “Oh can you do this?” “Do you know much about this?” Confession: I usually say yes, even if I have no idea. My secret? Google.* I will plug a question straight into the search box, sift through half a dozen answers and pretty much be able to muddle my way through. You can, too. Just don’t be afraid to dive in, stumble, play around with things and try again. It took me three years of tinkering to get my website to a decent point. And I’m still learning—but I determined it...
The power of black ink and a red pen
Update #348 on my quest for publication: I’m still working hard at it! I love family get-togethers, but I hate two questions I always get. #1 – When are you going to have children!? (I’ve only been married for three years. Give me a little more time.) #2 – Do you have that book published yet? For #2 – if I had my book published, trust me, the world would know. Every family member will definitely know. 🙂 Rest assured. But here is the latest: I’m smack-dab in the middle of editing my book. I’ve gone through the printed manuscript (360 whopping pages, double-spaced) with my beloved red pen and...
Hunger Games Movie Update – Why I’m not reviewing it yet…
Yes, I braved the crowds and crazies (I say that lovingly because I guess I am one) to attend the midnight premier of The Hunger Games. (I posted why I was excited about it and why it is more than just a movie to me…) So posting a review of the movie today would make sense. But I’m not going to. Because I believe in spreading the love, I’ve shared the book with countless friends and family, many of which haven’t seen the movie yet. (Understandable – those midnight showings aren’t right for everyone.) So until people see this film for themselves, I’m not going to dissect it. After attending an advance...