I admit it.  I probably have too many stories/novels/books going at one time.  I might be addicted to writing.  And I definitely can't shut my brain off.

The story count in my folder on my computer = 25+
I can't go a single day without writing something!!!!
And it takes me a while to go to sleep at night because I keep thinking of interesting ways to spin a plot line.
HELP!!!!!!
Just for those of you out there who think I'm serious about the help part, I'm not.  I may have all those "problems", but to me they're not problems at all.  You see, I work better with a lot of stories to choose from.  If I get writer's block on one, I just move on to a different one -- usually in a different category.  Different category, you ask?  I have stories in a lot of categories, ranging from love stories set a long, long time ago to modern-day suspense novels.  They're all my babies, and if I didn't have a start on all of them, my brain would be way too cluttered with ideas for me to write clearly.
I can't go a single day without writing something because it's what I love to do.  There have been many people who have said that you should do what you love so that you never have to work a day in your life.  I'm one of those fortunate people who has found what I love and it happens to be something that can be a life career.  I think that's what work should be.  doing what you love and making revenue off of it.  That's not "work", that's pure enjoyment.
As for the last one, I admit it might be somewhat of a problem.  However, somehow the more I think about things -- the harder I think about things -- the faster I get to sleep.  If I focus in on a storyline or a problem that needs solved, I end up going to sleep faster than if I had just lain there and went "OK.  I'm going to sleep now"....etc.
So, you see, some people's problems are another persons life.  A "problem" is different for everyone because everyone is different.  Not everyone could sit down with an empty Microsoft Word document in front of them and see the wonderful things that can be spun onto it.  Not everyone can look at a crawl space and think "hey, great place to hide a body." (note: If you are not a writer and you think that, most people would call you a psycho).  On the other hand, I can't look at a page of numbers and say "the pattern is..." a math genius could.  We all have our idiosyncrasies and we all have our areas of expertise.  Some of us are just blessed enough to be able to do what we love as our "job".


Quote of the Week:
"If you would tell me the heart of a man, tell me not what he reads, but what he rereads."
                                                                                                                                     - Francois Mauriac

Fun Fact of the Week:
No matter how hard you try, you cannot lick your elbow.

Story Starter of the Week:
Put yourself in a homeschooler's point of view.  Why do you like/not like homeschooling and why?

The Reason for My Writer's Block

This past week I finally discovered what has been causing me to have SOOOO much writer's block! Those of you who have been reading this blog know that I was super busy with my sister's wedding and getting ready for college, etc. (those of you who don't usually read this blog just found that out) Well, the Monday after my sister's wedding I woke up and it dawned on me. I had been having so much writer's block because my mind was too busy.

You see, it's kind of like....traffic. Yes, I know that's a weird analogy, but hear me out.  If traffic gets too busy, like say there's hundreds of cars heading away from work or something, then what do you get? A traffic jam.  So, having so much stuff that I had to focus on caused me to have a traffic jam, per se, in the creative writing part of my brain. Now that those event(s) are over, I can finally think again. And, boy, do I have a lot to write!  I woke up this morning with five different scenarios going in my brain. Thank God, I am finally back to my crazy writer self :)

Now on the funness part of this blog!!!!


Quote of the Week:
The Only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad."
                                                                  -Salvador Dali (btw, that's what scares me about him.)

Fun Fact of the Week:
In Baltimore, it is illegal to take a lion into the movie theater. (yes, a real live lion. who does that?)

Story Starter of the Week:
Louise was an old woman who lived alone. One day a stranger knocked on her door.  who was he or she and why?

After the Wedding

My sister's wedding was this past weekend (lots of good story inspiration there) and I had a blast! However, I did pick up a few good pieces of advice for any Maid of Honor. 1 - be sure that you break in your shoes for the wedding REALLY well. I have to admit that I didn't break them in as well as I should have and now I'm overcoming a rather large blister on the back of one heel.  (The downtime with it, however, gives me more time to write).  2 - This one is pretty important as well.  Be sure to practice your squats in the weeks leading up to the wedding.  Between the dancing and bending to straighten/fix/repin my sister's bustle on the dress, my legs hurt sooooo bad! they are finally getting better today, but until this morning it hurt to walk. Just keep those things in mind.

On the brighter side of life, I finished the sequel to my first novel ("Precious Jewel") and I'm moving on to other books :) . I am so glad that my job is something I love to do.


Quote of the Week:
A Door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of.
                                                                                        - Unknown

Fun Fact of the Week:
In a very early draft of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones carried brass knuckles instead of a bullwhip.

Story Starter of the Week:
Lori needed a new set of brakes for her car, so she went down the street to the service station.  However, instead of brakes, she found something completely different. What was it?

I Have Discovered I'm Weird

Today I realized that I don't write like any writer/author/journalist that I have read.  In more ways than one.  Of course, we all know that each author has his or her own voice, so that makes them different.  However, I have discovered that I'm "weird". Why? Let me explain.

In each and every book that I have read about the craft of writing (and I've read a lot) they tell you to do certain things to build a novel.  First of all, they tell you to build an outline of your plot and characters.  I hate outlines.  I have never used them (except in school, when I had to) and I'm pretty sure that I will never use them.  Ever.  I'm just not a detailed person in that sense.  So, you may ask, how do I get through writing my novels?  It's all in my head.  I can't really explain it all that well, but usually it's just that I know where I want to start and I know where I want to end, and anything that happens in between is in the hands of my characters.  I let them lead the story.  I know my characters and their backgrounds, but I just open up my mind and let the story unfold.  God guides my thoughts and my hands as they type.  I guess it just comes easier to me than to some other people.  I never understood why anyone would think that writing a novel is all that hard, because to me it isn't.  I just sit down and let the story spill out.  Is that bad? I don't think so.  I just think that each and every writer has their own technique of developing a story.  Mine is just different.  And that, folks, is why some people would call me weird.  Are you weird too? If so, I would love to talk to you. :)

SO...

Quote of the Week:
"I never set our to be weird. It was always other people who called me weird."

                                                                                   - Frank Zappa

Fun Fact of the Week:

The King of Hearts is the only card king without a mustache.

Story Starter of the Week:

Janie has been kidnapped by a serial killer.  How does she get out of it?  Or does she get out of it at all?

Writer's Block

Writer's Block.  Yep, that's right, today I have writer's block.  It's only the most horrible thing that can ever happen to a writer, and it has happened to me.  One minute I was speeding along, well on my way toward the next chapter and the next thing you know, I could not come up with anything else to write.  I'm stuck! Have you, if you are a writer, ever felt like you needed inspiration but it wasn't coming?  If you have, then you know how I feel.

There is only so much you can do to stop writer's block, and I've tried all of it. (If you have any suggestions, I would be glad to hear them) So, now, I'm stuck on the internet, searching random pictures and books.  Not that it isn't fun, it's just that I would rather be writing!  Pray for my inspiration to come back!


Quote of the Week:
"The Olympics is a place where international spies come to meet."

                                                        - My Brother

Fun Fact of the Week:

American car horns beep in the tone of F.

Story Starter of the Week:

Logan saw the farm from a long way down the road.  Something wasn't right.  It was too quiet.  What was wrong?

Have fun with these!

Miracles Happen

Hi again to all you people out there in blog-land! I know my blogging is sporadic at best, and I'm sorry! Today, I'm on here to let you know that -- miracle of miracles (cue "Fiddler on the Roof" music) -- my first novel is finally published!  It is titled "Precious Jewel" and can be found in print here or in an Amazon Kindle format here!

I am so extremely excited that it is finally out there for you to read! I can't wait to hear your feedback on it :)

Best of all, I now know that miracles do happen.  my book is out there and I'm so excited to share it with you!

The Answers

Wow! I'm sooooo sorry I haven't written in forever! I got caught up in wedding and graduation planning.  Have you ever felt like your life is completely overwhelming you? Yeah, I know the feeling.

Thankfully, I also have the solution to the problem.  It's a five-letter word: J-E-S-U-S.  That's right, I said it.  Jesus is the answer to the craziness of life!  I've learned that whenever I feel like I need to lash out or explode, I need to turn to my Jesus and ask him to calm me down.  Guess what? It works! For example, my sister and I love each other immensely, but sometimes she gets really "snappy" when it comes to her wedding planning. (In our house, "snappy" usually means that they snap at you verbally).  So, what do I do? I take a deep breath and decide to forgive.  Then I go pray that Jesus will calm her down, too :)

So, the next time you feel SO overwhelmed by life, just lift it up in prayer to the Lord.  He knows what's bothering you and He knows how to fix it.  He did, after all, create you.  He understands everything.  I know that's hard to grasp, but you should try.  Jesus is the answer, and I will always stand by that.

Now, for our fun sections!

Quote of the Week:
"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."

                                                                                               -- Dr. Seuss

Fun Fact of the Week:

Those with a high school diploma statistically earn more money, have less health problems, commit fewer crimes and are less likely to be unemployed.

Story Starter of the Week:

Elisa's boyfriend proposes to her on the day of her High School Graduation.  How does he do it?

*Don't forget to post your ideas from the story starter in the comments!  Hope to see them there!