Balance

One of the hardest parts of writing for me is balance.  No, not balancing character development and plot, action and description.  It's the balance between writing and the rest of my life.  Maybe if I was a full-fledged author, secluded in my office from 9-5 I'd be fine.  Problem is, I'm not a full-fledged author.  Instead I trudge my way to work every weekday morning to teach my 21 kids, then come home and take care of my 1 child.  Writing for me is precious time.  When Calleigh is down for the night I turn to the computer and begin typing in earnest. 

If only inspiration would come on demand.

Most of the time I sit down five minutes at a time, frantically trying to get a few words down before Calleigh is begging to be lifted and played with.  When she is asleep I have a husband who doesn't get it.  To him my writing is a hobby.  "When are you gonig to get it published?" "Why do you spend so much time writing?"  "Why don't you do something fun?"  How do I explain this is my something fun?  Yes,  I spend a lot of time on the computer, but I'm not doing it in vain (I hope).  I have plans to submit to agents, to get my work published.  Writing for me isn't just a hobby, it's a way to express myself, all of the stories that run through my mind.  And one day I hope it pays for the roof over our head.

Until that day comes, I'll balance.  Five minutes here and there is better than none at all.

The Perfect Spot

I've been searching for a photo.  Why?  Inspiration. 

What better way to create the perfect setting.  So my hunt began.  What I found was an uinidentified waterfall in Northwest Montana.  Close enough to the setting of my fictional town Everett.  When I found this photo I could almost see Samara diving into the frigid water, trying to wash the pain of Kyle's death from her heart or Janie struggling with Beth as she fights for her life.

Now if only Dani would show me where her story takes place.

When Confusion Sets In

Focusing on one novel and the various characters within is difficult enough.  Their voices blend together as they each try to tell me their version of the story.  Now that I've begun a new novel I'm finding it even harder to keep voices and stories seperate.  Last night I found myself tackling the next chapter of Janie.  Janie is learning the true story of the Raven and how it relates to her.  Yet all I could hear was Dani crying.  Her brother is dead and she's just told me that her father didn't kill himself like I wrote in chapter one.  So now I have to rewrite the chapter and she totally threw me off of focusing on Janie. They're bossier than I thought.  Constant talking I can handle, but this goes beyond that.  It's like trying to listen to twenty people at once and keep them straight.  At the moment I'm satisfied if I can make it through a chapter without mixing Janie and Dani up, or Reece and Marcus or Justin.  I think that Nano has started to drive me crazy.

Songbird

Songbird is the tenative title to my new novel. At this point I can't even say what it's about - not that I wouldn't love to, it's just that I have no clue where this book is going.  Dani has faced a lot of challenges in her life that go beyond the typical teenage trials. Haunted by the memory of her brother and his violent death at the hands of her father Dani struggles to be the girl next door and find  a way to make her dreams come true. Okay - I guess I can tell you what it's about! LoL

I've been so focused on fixing up Janie that I've been ignoring all the other voices in my head.  so, now I'm going to let one loose. Dani Blair Mays has entered the stage.