What Inspires You? by Sharon

What inspires you? My teenage daughter and I took a road trip last weekend. It was a six cd trip, literally. I let her choose the music. For the most part it was very enjoyable. When her newest acquisition started I was a bit concerned, it was rather risque. By the second song I loved the guy. By the third song, I had her jotting down notes in my "car" idea book. The song that really hit a nerve for me was called Roots. It is something anyone who has had struggles to improve their lives can relate to. The artist is Flo Rida. I hope you get a chance to listen to it. As Randy Jackson would say, "We've got a hot one, tonight!"

You can find inspiration anywhere...in an old picture album...a favorite book...a memory box...or in your teenager's cd collection. What inspires you?

Happy writing!

How Many Have you Read? by Sharon

I am nine books away from reading 100 books since the WAD was formed in July. I have read 60 picture books, 17 mid-grade/easy reader chapter books, 8 young adults, 2 adult novels and 4 non-fiction books. About two months ago I began taking notes as I read each book. For the picture books, I not only jotted down about the ups and downs of the storyline, but also how many pages there were of actual text. In the books I am using to research the World War II (in England) era, I made notes of language, setting, and behaviors that would be unusual here in the United States. I think by actively taking notes as I'm reading, I am gaining a better understanding of what I want my books to look like. I encourage everyone to study as they read...

How many books have you read since Chautauqua? Are you keeping track of them?

Happy reading and writing.

Memories of Last July

by Mjr. Moron

So--I was looking up Heidi's address today in my Chautauqua conference book, and I found the little notebook/journal I kept while I was there. OMG. I was such a goofball, I can't believe any of you ever spoke to me, other than poor Robin who was my captive audience all the way from Erie.

Here are a few choice highlights--sadly verbatim (Kimmee, THIS is how you get to be a MAJOR Moron):

7/12/08
Pre-opening dinner thoughts:
-why? why didn't I bring liquid eyeliner?
-why didn't I try on this stupid orange skirt before I left so I could see that it shrank in the dryer?
-why am I so sticky?
-is it time yet?
-why don't I own a watch?
-Ah--humidity. I'd forgotten what that's like.
-why did I agree to a room with no air conditioning?
-OH MY GOD WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY HAIR?
-maybe I can put my sunglasses on my hair and hold it down.
-maybe I could put my belt on my hair to hold it down.
-why didn't I bring a belt?
-i think it's time to go.
-please, whatever gods may exist here, please don't let me be too afraid to talk to anyone.
-especially the famous ones.
-but don't let me say anything stupid.
-guess I better go.
-HEY! Where do I go?

Have you ever wondered about... By Sharon aka Sapphire

Have you ever wondered about the history of toilets? I think about it quite often. I was raised in a small rural village in England. The home I remember the most only had tap water in the kitchen. In other words, no toilet, tub or shower! The walk down the path to the loo seemed like it was miles. You had to walk past the swing, the garden, the apple tree, and the shed. My best friend convinced me there was a witch living in the shed. I'm pretty sure she was just messing with me. I remember when her dad bought home a portable toilet that we all shared in a shed next to our row of houses. I wonder who emptied the portable? Where did they empty it? Oh, now I'm really starting to worry...I'll try and refocus. The photograph is of a toilet in a Roman fort on Hadiran's Wall in the north of England. In the center of the photo is a long "bowl" this is where the Romans kept the sponges they used to wipe there you know whats with...They sat along the edge and grabbed a sponge when needed. I guess in retrospect, the walk to the toilet and the portable toilet weren't so bad. At least I didn't have to sit with a bunch of Romans and share sponges. Ick!

I'm A Nut by Sharon aka Sapphire

Have you ever thought to yourself, "I'm a nut?" Well, I'm pretty sure I'm a nut...I keep writing stories, sending them out to the WAD, printing their reviews, putting them into a pile and starting a new story. How am I ever going to get any rejections or dare I say it...acceptances if I don't get anything polished enough to submit to anyone. I keep in touch with several of the editors from Chautauqua, but what good is that if I never send them anything. You would think with my amazingly hard life..working out, feeding the pets, cleaning house, going shopping, and taking care of my family...I would get the gumption to send something out. I am challenging myself to send out one manuscript buy the end of the month.

I challenge you to do the same! Happy writing, revising and going to the post office!

bah humbug

I hate technology. At my house, we have two malfunctioning copiers, one broken laptop, one brand new laptop that is doing some seriously messed up things and one PC desktop that is in pieces with the computer technician. That PC is only about 2-1/2 years old, so crashes can happen to anybody. I have no idea if they'll be able to retrieve the data from it...much less salvage the drive itself.

So, I'm telling you right now. BACK-UP YOUR STUFF!!! Not just the stuff you know you need to back-up, like your writing, etc. Back-up all of your documents! If we aren't able to get my data off, I'm going to lose three years worth of photos; all the planning I've done for the school carnival; all my favorite websites; all my billing data (which for some reason I didn't think was important enough to back up).

And since I have a few back-up files that aren't operating correctly...it wouldn't hurt to have a back-up for your back-up...just in case.

Other Fun News

My short story, Baby Steps, which won first place in my local library writing contest is finally being edited. I was beginning to think they weren't going to publish the compilation book they had planned...but they are. So, it's called Creek Kids and will come out in May (Yes, just a month from now! And no, I have no idea how they will pull everything together that fast!)

Lastly, I am 99% sure I'm going to the Utah SCBWI conference in November...in case anyone has a burning desire to go to Salt Lake City in November. Any takers? They're going to have an agent (my old agent) Kendra Marcus there, along with an illustrator and an editor--I forgot who though. I'll post a link as soon as I get back on my real computer. I'm having trouble finding things on this lap top.

What news from you other Waddettes?