Letting a story go...for now

I am going nuts! For about the last month I've been trying to write this short story for my writing assignment and everytime I think I got it, I realize I don't. It took me God knows how long just to figure out how I wanted to begin and now that I have the beginning I can't seem to grasp the middle. I do have the end, but the middle is the meat of the story and without it it's just two pieces of bread with nothing in between!

I'm at the point where I feel that at this time I need to put this one aside and think about writing something else. Does it make me feel like a failure? Most def! I hate backing down from a story that's giving me such a challenge, but I think for my own sanity right now it's the best thing for me to do. Maybe this is not the story I'm suppose to be submitting at this time and I'm alright with that for now.

My deadline to hand in my assignment is March 21st. That's 10 days away and I have to start all over again. Do I think I could make it happen? I guess we'll just have to see :) Wish me luck folks!

I'll keep you posted.

Bringing a story back to life

Ever since I was in grade 6 I wanted to be a writer. The very first story I wrote was called 10 to Midnight, I stole the title from a Charles Benson movie with the same name. It was good; at least that's what I thought at the time. Now not so much. Recently, I came across some of my old stories, a lot of them were written when I was in high school, and honestly I have to say I was impressed. I’m not going to say it would be a best seller, but it shows I got a little bit of skills…

Almost two years ago I started a novel called “By the Touch of his Hands” it’s of course a romantic suspense I actually wrote it for a writer’s group I was apart of. Unfortunately the group dismantled and I completely forgot about it. I was doing some spring cleaning of my memory stick and came across it and started to read it and I couldn’t believe how good it was. I wrote 3 chapters, and I was hooked from Chapter 1. Needless to say I’ve made the decision to bring this story back to life. I haven’t started working on it, but I will very soon. I’ll let you all know how it goes.

The First Sentence

Why is it that every time I have a story idea I always struggle with the "first sentence". Even though I know the start, most of the middle and the end, that pesky first sentence always wants to do battle with me. Is it because there is so much riding on it? I mean come on, if I can't grab a publisher’s attention to read my story after the first sentence how am I going to get my work published?

I'm currently in the process of writing another short story called "The Best Friend" and seriously I've been struggling with the first sentence for the last three days. It took me almost a week to figure out how I wanted to start the damn thing after my first attempt was a complete flop, and now here I am excited about how I want it to begin, but yet I can’t find that catchy first sentence..

I've gone as far as to Google "story starters" just to give me that boost, and still nothing. I know eventually it will come to me, whether on my way to work, at work, at home, in my dreams or just from talking to my "I think I'm a writer" boyfriend. I just hope it’s soon or I’ll just have to start with “It was a dark and stormy night…”

My writing update

Well I gotta say I've been a very busy girl. This week I started my Freelance Writing course and completed my first lesson. I started working on my next writing assignment I've decided to call "The Best Friend" and no it's not  your typical best friends between two girls it's a lot better...at least I hope. I'm also in the process of rewriting my previous short story "The Choice". It's going to be my first short story I'm going to try to publish...oh my God did I just say that???

I've also started reading again. Reading has always been a passion of mine ever since I was a young girl. I was always known as the book worm of the family, because my head was always in some kind of a book.

My favorite genre? Hands down suspense and now romantic suspense, of course it is considering that's the genre my first novel falls under. Just yesterday I walked into Chapters to pick up a book that I had ordered a few weeks ago and ended up coming out with 4 more. I haven't book shopped in a long time, but in the last month I've purchased a total of 8 books.

I'm currently reading "Silent Killer" by one of my favorite authors Beverly Barton. So far it's got me on the edge of my seat, but that's all you're going to hear for now. You'll just have to wait for the full review on Kcee's Reading Pleasure.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Happy New Year everyone!

Ya, I know I'm almost a month late, but better late than never right! I hope that 2011 is being good to all of you. I must say for myself things have been going well.

Now I'm sure the burning question everyone wants to know is have I been writing? The answer to that question is yes I have and I'm loving it. Here are the things I've done so far:

• I've been working on my writing assigments for my correspondence writing course with Long Ridge Writers Group and that's been going well. I just received some really good feedback from my instructor for my short story I completed called "The Choice". I'm currently in the process of revision and getting it ready to submit for publication. This will be my first attempt at submitting a piece of my work to the public and I'm nervous and excited as hell.
• I also start working on my novel "Unspoken Secrets" I've completed the Prologue and Chapter 1. My characters Courtney and Noah has come to life so quickly I can't wait to see where they take me.
• On Monday January 31st I'll be starting my 10 week Freelance Writing Course with WOW! Women on Writing. This is course I've been so looking forward to taking.

 So as you all can see I've got my hands full and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

In Loving Memory of Rhona aka "Teacher" Warren

This poem was written by my mother Pat in loving memory of my dear Aunt and her sister who passed away a year ago today.

It has been a year since she left us

The father says no more fuss

She had given life her all

But it was in the next life her name was called.

Dear Father why did you leave us hanging

Waiting for the phone to start ringing

Because she never forgot to be in touch

Lots to say, it was never too much.

I am the one who makes the call

I am the one who knows it all

I am the one who knew her pain

I am the one who knew with me there was much to gain.

Dear Father, I won’t question your ways

You are the one with all the say

Thank you for the many years you gave us

We will just remember her with no fuss.

There is not a day that goes by that we don't think about you. We all know that you are in a better place, but it's still difficult accepting the fact that you are no longer here. We miss and love you immensely.

It's been a while

Hello my fellow followers and friends,

I know it's been a while since I've posted, and you're probably wondering how NaWriMo went this year and unfortunately I did complete the challenge. Believe me I'm completely bummed out about it, but again this thing call life and the trials and tribulations that comes with it has intervined, yet again.

Now even though I didn't hit the 50,000 word count that doesn't mean my novel hasn't been progressing, it's just been progressing a little slower than I would like. The good thing is 2010 is coming to an end and 2011 is about to begin, which means a time for change and a time to make some New Year resolutions. I bet you can't guess what one of my New Years resolution is? LOL!

This will probably be one of my last post until the New Year, but don't worry when I return I'll be coming back with a vengence!

Happy Holidays Everyone!