I'll start. First off, I live in a semi-rural suburban town north of San Francisco. I live in a house with enough land for a few horses. My yard would be laughable in Texas, but it's a good size for Northern Cal. My husband built our house. It's one story with three bedrooms and an office. We used to do well before the recession, now we struggle to make it every day, but we're happy! Our three kids keep us laughing, motivated, busy, and exhausted.
When I'm not writing, I am:
- shoveling 30 piles of horse manure a day.
- chauffeuring my three super active kids.
- volunteering for the school PTA.
- feeding all our crazy animals.
- defending myself from the advances of an overenthusiastic tabby cat who drools on me and bites my toes.
- hiking cardiac hill.
- swimming at the gym pool with the kids.
- doing lunges up and down my hallway.
- cooking, cleaning, and washing clothes (until I can prove I'm actually a princess--where are those royal papers!)
- reading books (see how low on my list this is? Would like to change that.
- watching movies with my hubby because we don't get our time until the end of the day!
- aspiring to have a job that pays actual money!
- My Best Writing Tip--write the first draft of your novel without editing, stopping, or judgment. Lay down the bones and then flesh it out and put the lipstick on it!
To Do: Be creative or be honest--and include a link to your book(s)!
p.s. I am way behind on my emails. If you have contacted me recently, please be patient. I hope to get back to everyone this coming week!!
When not writing?
ReplyDelete1. Lots of reading! I especially enjoy "discovering" new, exceptional authors on Kindle.
2. Listening to music. I'm on a big opera kick right now, especially as certain ideas about and themes from opera will figure in several stories I'm writing. I am a passionate collector of classical CDs, and have nearly 1,000 albums.
3. Watching movies! I try to watch at least one new or unfamiliar film every night of the week. Caught the English-language version of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" last night, and can hardly wait to see the original Swedish version--not to mention read the books!
4. Keeping myself informed. More reading of interesting periodicals. Also, never miss an episode of "Fresh Air" or "All Things Considered" on NPR.
5. Hanging out with my cat, Itzhak, who is 18 years old this month. He approves of my reading habits as this means he gets to log more hours of "lap time."
cheers
Terrance Aldon Shaw
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_tc_2_0?rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3ATerrance+Aldon+Shaw&keywords=Terrance+Aldon+Shaw&ie=UTF8&qid=1338169394&sr=1-2-ent&field-contributor_id=B007P6N9XC
Terrance,
DeleteAnother opera lover here. I wanted to be an opera singer, but wasn't good enough to make it as a professional.
Best of luck with your novel.
Joanna
Hi Joanna,
DeleteI studied Musicology in graduate school, but left the program as I was more interested in pursuing a career as a composer. I have about 25 choral compositions (many setting of my own texts) that have been published under my "real" name, and these have been performed regularly throughout the US and Canada.
As far as references to opera in my books go; one will borrow heavily from the storyline of Bellini's "La Sonnambula," and center around a character's obsession with a prima donna. In my novel-in-progress, "Legend of the Lake," one of the characters is fascinated by the storyline of Wagner's "Ring" cycle, as related through the Arthur Rackham illustrations. At one point in the book, another character will introduce her to the music itself, and the experience for will be a revelation for her.
cheers
TAS
I am, by all accounts a non-stop person. I live a comfortable life with my beloved wife in the great Midwestern state of Ohio. I am a full-time, long-time retail manager who discovered years ago his penchant for writing. I have published my first book (which is actually the second one I wrote) titled White Staff. I hope to publish my actual first book The Crystal Point later this year.
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm not writing I:
Love to fix things around the house.
Do whatever my wife tells me to. It keeps a happy twenty year marriage going.
I find that due to this new-fangled ebook thing I am reading much more than I have in the past. There are some really great authors out there.
I also have a blog: rambling50.blogspot.com It is simply a notation of my thoughts and experiences and a voyage of self-discovery as I move forward to the inevitable.
Best tip: Writer's block is only a temporary state. At some point the ideas clarify and you can move forward.
www.amazon.com/White-Staff-ebook/dp/B0064TU67S
My appreciation to Jennifer for this opportunity.
(photo is actually of my grandson) I take an awful picture.
You mean you're not a baby--lol, cute photo! Thanks for sharing Robert, and I agree about writers' block, it's overrated and nothing to be afraid of!
DeleteIt's nice to meet you, Terrance! From which country do you hail?
ReplyDeleteRural southeast Iowa, USA; a little farm town in the heart of Amish country. Absolutely nobody shares my interests around here, but, man! is the cost of living ever cheap. LOL
DeleteI hear ya...the cost of living in Northern Cal is astronomical!
DeleteJennifer,
ReplyDeleteI always make it a point to write everyday, but when I am not, I am on the MOA boards on Amazon posting, meeting new authors, using social networking, and joining a group of Indie Authors exchanging ideas, being interviewed, making connections, learning as much as I can.
My best writing tip? Buy the book by Ray Bradbury (Zen in the Art of Writing /releasing the creative genius within you) Can't go wrong.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Pen-Pal-ebook/dp/B003VRZKTK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1338173979&sr=1-1
Richard Thomas Banegas / Through Createspace email: afp1000@msn.com
Thanks for the tip, Richard!
DeleteWhen I’m not writing, I’m editing.
ReplyDeleteOr I’m doing yard and garden work, helping my wife with her college classes, making a trip to the store for food, pacing about the house pondering story problems, annoying people on Facebook or Twitter, checking earnings on HubPages and sales at KDP and other ebook sellers, browsing the internet, getting some sleep, watching television (well, flipping channels actually) or eating…
And occasionally I’ll take a road trip.
My ebook novella, free at Barns&Noble, Smashwords and even Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Armor-Academy-Space-Profit-ebook/dp/B006EZF6KO
It sounds like writing is always on your mind. Mine too. I'm in a daze half the time with story ideas, plot issues, and the like. I might look like a walking zombie sometimes, but my brain is racing :)
DeleteI'm not nearly as busy as you are, Jennifer. It's amazing you have time to do any writing.
ReplyDeleteI work for the National Trust as a room guide. My husband and I live in England and are renovating our Victorian house, which was built in the 1840's.
When I'm writing, I listen to music, mainly classical and opera.
I've written 3 novels. One is about young singers at an opera school. One is a family saga set in the Australian outback and the other is a crime novel set in England.
My writing tip is to join a writers group. The one I belong to is brilliant with lots of members who give honest feedback. It's becuse of them that my goods are getting mostly good reviews on Amazon.
Here are the US links.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eumeralla-Secrets-Tragedy-Love-ebook/dp/B004NNVWBQ/
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vissi-darte-ebook/dp/B004NNVWDE/
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Doll-Collection-ebook/dp/B005E0QXES/
Best wishes and thanks for this blog.
Joanna
Great tip, Joanna! I loved my old writers group. They disbanded and I haven't gotten into a new one yet. I'm using friends as readers right now (friends who love to read). Thanks for visiting and subscribing!
DeleteWhen I'm not writing I...
ReplyDeletePaint, draw, or sculpt
Go for walks
Visit the library
Read, read, and read some more
Play on the computer (Work on my website, blog, etc.)
Go to work
So many writers here have other artistic hobbies! Interesting. God only gave me one ability (knowing I'm ADD, I guess). I wish I could sing, draw, make things, or play an instrument!
DeleteHello fellow authors,
ReplyDeleteI am a Woman, Mum, Wife, Sister, Daughter, Goddess and not necessarily in that order - depends on what kind of day I'm having!
I am also am author, counsellor, holistic therapist and medium.
When I'm not writing, I am stroking one of my four cats to try and calm down after having written something either brilliant or needs a lotta work!
If no cats available, I walk our old dog, very slowly (he's 15). If no dog, I walk with my husband, very slowly (he's 48!!)
When daughter is home from school, I care for her if wanted - (She's a teenager with Autism)
When no one wants me, I am listening to music and doing a jigsaw or dancing around the house. I love a good film with a glass of something alcoholic.
My writing tip would be - find the perfect time for you to write and stop procrastinating and just do it!!
Mine is morning when I have the house to myself - I live in a village in North Wales and it's fairly quiet but I long for a place, alone, with land, but, if I'm honest, I can write anywhere, so long as I have a pen/pencil.
So, good luck to all out there and if you like a great ghost story with a twist - check out 'Echoes' by P.J Roscoe
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Echoes+by+P.J+Roscoe