Tag Archives: time to write

Mikky Ekko on Writing (And a Wild Wicked Shout Out)

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Hello fishy friends,

Fun shots for all con attendees by photographer Taria Reed. A big thank you to Kelii, Blake, Charles, Axl and Taylor the great picture.

Fun shots for all con attendees by photographer Taria Reed. A big thank you to Kelii, Blake, Charles, Axl and Taylor for the great picture.

Just a quick shout out to start things off. I’m back from a nice time at the Wild Wicked Weekend romance readers conference, aka Ultimate Girls Weekend Out, which is held annually, each February, in San Antonio, Texas. It is put on by five wonderful women–Dalton Diaz, Brenna Zinn, Samantha Cayto, Desiree Holt and Cerise Deland. These ladies are the heart and soul of the con and make it a special and unique experience for all. Where else can you learn to lap dance, body paint cover models and enjoy one of the finest drag queen pageants in the country while spending time with friends and making new ones, all in a haunted hotel? Keep on the lookout for information on next year’s festivities and start convincing your girlfriends now that you need to go. THIS IS WHERE I INSERT A GIANT HINT TO MY MERMAID SISTERS…WWW FIELD TRIP? WINK WINK. Whether you’re a reader, writer, blogger or reviewer, you’ll have a blast.

And now for my short and sweet post.

Have you heard of Mikky Ekko? He’s one of my all-time favorite artists. When I heard some of the cool things he had to say in this interview with Pavlina, I knew I wanted to share with my fellow writers. And I don’t mean just book writers. If you’ve ever sat down at a keyboard or pulled out a pen and paper even to simply write a letter, this is for you.

I love Mikky’s advice for writers. In a world where speedy production schedules and constant updates have become the norm, I am reminded that we should not forget the timing of the heart and soul. Whether it’s a letter, a song, a blog post, an article, a journal entry, a status update, a novel. Whatever your medium may be, it’s okay to slow down until you have something to say. I’m here. You’re here. We’re all here until we’re not. What’s the rush?

“It’s not going to be a great song if you don’t have anything to say.” ~Mikky Ekko

I hope you enjoyed Mikky. He’s the best!

Have a wonderful month, fishy friends. My best to you and yours.

Fishy kisses,

Carlene Mermaid

Cannot Write Without: Lea Bronsen

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The question in the lagoon this month has been: What’s the one thing you cannot write without?

We’ve had a plethora of fabulous answers from writers all over the world. Today’s answer comes from Carlene’s music nut rock sister, LeaLea Bronsen Bronsen!

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Thank you so much for inviting me today! What a lovely blog this is, and I’m really pleased to visit.

What is the one thing I cannot write without, you ask? Let me think… I don’t necessarily need my laptop—I’ll type or scribble on anything I happen to have at hand: my smartphone, a doodled-on page in my Filofax, the tiniest post-it note, a folded magazine someone left on my commute, a napkin some gorgeous café waiter handed me with a white-toothed smile…

Hmm, I don’t need to be at any particular place either—I’ll write on the bus with strangers staring from the corner of their eye, in bed propped up against my favorite pillows, elbowing for space at the dinner table, lying on the grass while kiddos play soccer around me, and even in the bathtub savoring a hot— (ahem… TMI perhaps, lol).

This is how my latest book Mine to Love, which I’ll talk about in a bit, came to life. Little by little, with a variety of means and at the weirdest of places.

See, as long as my imagination is at the rendez-vous, I have everything I need to write, except… time.

Yep. The biggest hindrance getting any words onto paper is everything else I do in life: having a full-time job and devoting my days and nights to three beautiful daughters and a husband. Would you believe I considered doing NaNoWriMo this year? Ha ha, what a face-slap moment it was when it hit me that I simply don’t have the time 😀

XX Lea

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A Bit About Lea: I like my reads hot, fast, and edgy, and strive to give my own stories the same intensity. After venturing into dirty inner-city crime drama with my debut novel Wild Hearted, I divide my writing time between psychological thriller, suspense romance, and erotic contemporary romance.

I love to hear from my readers! Write to [email protected] or meet me on:

Website | Lea’s Crazy Nights Blog | Facebook profile | Facebook page | Twitter | Amazon

minetoloveA Bit About Lea’s Latest Release, Mine to Love…

The writing conference in sunny Cannes was fantastical, a dream. Back at home, reality catches up with author Andrea Johnson and the sexy cover model of her book, Yushka. With tough working schedules, challenging family relations, and seductive temptation from all sides, the couple’s explosive romance is put to the test.

Will their love be strong enough to have a future?

 

The Subtraction

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I am a busy person.

Yeah, yeah . . .  so are you, right?  We are all busy.  On my living-my-life list (it is so much more than just a “to do” list)  I fill many roles:   wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend, band member, attorney, author, girl scout volunteer, basketball mom, mentor . . .  whew!  I really don’t know how I get it all done but, in the words of the very funny Ron White: “I’ve seen me do it!”

But, I’ve realized that while I’m trying to get it all done, there are some things I’m not doing very well.  And, really – what’s the point of that?  So, since I refuse to make resolutions, I decided to  make a change. I just didn’t know what to call it – and it seemed like something so momentous needed a name. All the biggies have a name, right?

The Apocalypse.

The Change.

Oprah.

So, I was reading the weekly newsletter from one of my favorite artists – Ali Edwards – and she was talking about subtracting things instead of adding things and it resonated with me. That is how I’ve been feeling since the New Year – what can I remove from my life to make room to experience other things more fully? I call it  . . .

The Subtraction.

Ali said it best: “Subtraction is not always about taking things away to make room for more. Sometimes it’s simply to create space. Space to breathe. Space to listen. Space to see.”

I. Love. That.

So, I’m making room to feel, see, and taste the things I really want to devote my energy towards:  family & friends, writing, art, physical fitness.  I’m getting control of things that detract from the space I am creating.  I’m scaling back on my internet time.  I’m declining requests to run things on various committees – I can serve on them and not be in charge.  I am cutting back on the amount of work I bring home.

So far, I’m seeing a great shift in my productivity and my attitude.  I’m less-stressed, I have written more words. I’m enjoying time with my family more.  I’m completing the P90X workout.  I’m scrapbooking (see some of my projects on this post).

It feels good.

Are you ready for “The Subtraction?”

Robin

My New Snoopy Lunchbox

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For a week now I have been in limboland – in between writing projects and recharging my battery.  I’ve caught up on some TV (Royal Pains and Rizzoli & Isles), read some great books (“Plus Ones” by Hank Edwards and “Everyone Loves a Hero” by Marie Force), studied some craft (Save the Cat!) and indulged in a little Jake Gyllenhall nudity in “Love and Other Drugs”. (and, in answer to my Main Man – no you cannot wear out a DVD by watching it constantly – I think.)

But now I’m ready to start on the new book targeted for Harlequin Blaze and while I’m not going to go too crazy – I’m going to do things a little differently this time. While I usually create a loose outline (I’m a plotser), I’m going to write my synopsis first.  Now, I hear the groans out there, but I don’t mind writing a synopsis but I usually leave it to the end. I just want to see how it works for me this way.

The second thing is that I am going to try and write this book in the Scrivener for Windows writing tool.  My friend, Gwen Hernandez, challenged me and so I’m going to venture out of Word and take the plunge. And I’ll admit something here but only to you  . . .  so . . .  lean in closer while I whisper . . .

*it’s kind of freaking me out*

But, not in a I-need-to-call-Dr.Phil kind way.

It’s kind of exciting and edgy and  . . .  yes, I need to get out more . . . it’s really getting my creative juices flowing and my fingers itching to hit the keyboards. It’s similar to the thrill I got with my new school supplies. I  just KNEW that the Wonder Woman folders, new pencils and Snoopy lunch box were going to make school so fun and easy.

It’s THAT kind of exciting.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

What writing methods do you have and do you ever shake them up?

Robin Mermaid

 

 

 

 

 

#amwriting Word Metrics

Project: Exposure

Deadline: Oct. 31, 2011

New Words Written: None. Pre-plotting.

Present Total Word Count: zippo.

A Place To Write

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You may remember that back on June 6  I posted about my task to get back on track with my writing and to start putting together a do-able schedule to ensure that I could have time to write and to balance my other duties as a wife, mother, attorney and friend.  So, I read this book:

It was enlightening and helped me focus on my writing style and a realistic set of goals for myself.  I’m an “after-hours/any time opportunity” writer – meaning that I write when everyone else is down for the night and also when I can snatch time during the day. So, I’ve a whole new set of goals and a schedule posted on the fridge and it appears to be working. I’ve met and exceeded my daily word count of 1000 words for the past two weeks and it feels great!

So, the next thing I need to tackle is where I write. Right now it is anywhere I can grab a quiet place and take the laptop.  Usually that’s the sofa in the sitting area in my master suite or down in the “grown-up” living room. But, my husband pointed out that I need a dedicated space where I can go and know that it’s “writing time” – what a guy, right? (Actually, he said, “I’m tired of watching you wander around the house like a homeless Stephen King.”)

So, we have new project – Operation Bestseller (catchy, huh?).  We’ve identified the location and what we need to do get there.  Here’s the location:

That’s my closet. It is 19 feet long –  yep, you read that right. It is the result of adding a third bay to the garage when we built the house and the last 8 feet is going to my new writing space. It will have a small lounge chair, bookshelves and PRIVACY. Aaahhh . . .

And – here is the change:

A closer view. I opted not to have a desk – it felt too much like being on the day job.

I track contests, deadlines and plots on this board:

My wall of inspiration:

Inspiration up close:

I made this – isn’t it cute?

I already need another bookshelf. These are black cubicles from Target.

Part of my Harlequin Blaze collection:

I can feel the creative juices flowing just thinking about it! It so quiet and secluded and I can go in there and focus – What. A. Concept.

Where do you write? Do you have a special place?

Robin

#&*$%@$ Day Job!

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I know, I know . . .  potty mouth.

But, lately I’ve been very frustrated with the amount of time my day job is taking away from my writing life.  Now, I love my job and it is very fulfilling – I’m an attorney for U.S. Navy and you couldn’t have a better group of clients.  And, this working thing isn’t new. I am not independently wealthy and while my husband is a few years older than I am – he’s no Sugar Daddy. (Although I hear that “the Hef” is now available and apparently has room at the mansion and rockin’ party already planned and paid for)

So, when I began down the path of publication and took this compulsion to write seriously, I always had to work it around the day job.  I write in the evenings after the kids have gone to bed and I can usually get in a good 2-3 hours before my comfortable bed beckons from across the room. And, sometimes I can squeeze in extra time on my regular day off and my lunch hours.  Not bad for a full-time, working mother.

I have excellent time management skills. I juggle my work and the supervision of three others and I fill-in for my boss when he is out.  I’ve done this for years . . .  so, what gives?

Beats me.

Lately work has been crazy and I’ve had a terrible time focusing when I do get a chance to sit down in front of the computer.  Not a good thing when you’re trying to maximize your writing time.

So, I’ve decided to go back to basics and seek some help. Obviously, my life and workload have shifted so I need to re-adjust my time allocation and techniques to maximize my writing time. And, like any good attorney, I went looking for some research tools – some advice from others who have been there and bought the t-shirt.

So, I have started reading this:

We’ll see if it helps.  It’s gotta be better than crawling into a fetal position and crying over blank pages.

What do you do to make time to write?  What do you do when life throws you a curveball?

Robin