My puppy Bronte (named after Charlotte, not Emily) seeking refuge in her blanket.

Help!

Sorry. Firstly, Happy New Year to one and all. I really do have ONE major resolution and that’s to devote more time to my fiction.  Would love it if you would read this post and offer suggestions, tips etc.  I’m knee-deep in edits on my book right now but I’m getting overwhelmed by the following:

It seems there’s SO many edits required on my novel. The more I delve in the more I realise I need to flesh things out. If I think about them all I get overwhelmed. I know the answer is to go through each chapter little by little and not get caught up in the big picture but sometimes my brain forgets that and I become frozen, paralyzed and/or otherwise inert.

I’m SO thrilled to now be a member of RWA. I no longer feel alone. I LOVE this org.  BUT, there’s so many emails from the group, not to mention the chapter events (many of which I want to sign up for), the SPEW crew (who help you set goals on your writing each week), that that also overwhelms me, as does the RWA website, newsletter etc. I WANT to respond to these great emails and read all the wonderful blog posts and websites my great chapter writers send us to in these emails, but again, I get overwhelmed. Where do I find the time? This in turn leads to…

My subscription to writing mags (okay only one), which I LOVE and is like a guilty pleasure when I find time to peruse it. Then I want to take notes and put little pink stickies on things and create folders – which again distracts from the actual editing work of my novel… Not to mention all the great novels I want to read on my Kindle. AAARGGH!!

Keep in mind I have FULL TIME job. I’m delighted I do. I LOVE my job as an editor and journalist, and I’m lucky I get to work from home – but I don’t work 9-5. I work CRAZY hours – sometimes late into the night or early in the morning. Just this morning (yes, it’s Sunday) I had to write about a big car chase from last night. So while I do have flexibility – I CAN and do take my dog to the park every day – I also have to find time to balance everything.

So here’s my BIG QUESTION:

If you are a fiction writer who ALSO happens to have a full time job (whether that’s as a nuclear physicist or as a full time parent), I’d love to hear your suggestions/thoughts/plans/ideas. How do you juggle your life? How do you find time to work on your novels, do your jobs, split the atom, organise the carpool, keep your sanity, read all the important supportive stuff you need/want to read, be supportive to other writers in your groups or blogs and still eat decent meals, take important exercise AND have a life?

How do you NOT just throw up your hands and crawl under the covers?

Thank you in advance (from under the covers).

However, to this end, I’m excited to say I have joined the Romance Writers of America. Wow! After attending a panel session last week with various romance writers, I was convinced that this had to be my next step. Thanks to the Independent Writers of Southern California Group (IWOSC), I got to attend this panel. Until I did so, I never really thought that my book was a “romance.” I always thought of Romance Novels (note the capital letters) as those Mills and Boon (Harlequin in the U.S. I believe) style books that are very formulaic. I have no bodice ripping or heaving bosoms. I have a mystical blue dog and a missing artist that my heroine is trying to track down. Neither of these appear to fit the “romance novel” model. At least I didn’t think so. But I ALSO have a real romance and my heroine does indeed meet the man of her dreams – but it’s all very, very complicated and she has to do a whole lot of truth-hiding (note I didn’t say lying) to make sure he doesn’t discover what she’s up to. AND she will have to sell her soul and sell out her hero if she wants to get the biggest scoop of her career.

Well, thanks to that panel discussion,  I realised I do indeed have a romance novel and apparently anything goes these days. Your book doesn’t have to have a conventional path. So now I’m excited to have joined and signed up to the local Los Angeles chapter  – Los Angeles Romance Authors (LARA) where everyone on the message boards is incredibly supportive and there’s fun stuff to read all the time.

I loved how everyone on that panel was so “normal.” There wasn’t a feather boa or a satin pillow in sight. They all seem like great, down to earth women and they’re all on the local chapter yahoo group. I can’t wait to attend my first LARA meeting and get to know everyone. I feel like being a member now spurs me on to put in the time every day (while juggling my day job) to get my novel up to scratch.

Okay, so I’m a lousy blog updater. But ever since I decided to focus this blog on my novel and fiction writing -  as opposed to my other writing, editing, job that pays the rent and random observations on the world – I’ve been pretty lax on updating.

Yes. I know ‘Real life’ gets in the way. And real life for me not only includes a ton of work (the rent-paying journalism kind, which is also work I happen to love), but it’s been hampered by my slow recuperation from foot surgery almost four months ago. But enough excuses!

Because November is NaNoWriMo month (where I completed my novel in 2009 – and I use the term “completed” loosely because it was a total mess) – I’ve decided that November 2011 is NaNoEdMo month for me – when I finally complete my edits on my novel. My aim (lofty as it is) is to hopefully have my edits done and ready to send out agent queries before 2012 rolls around. Sigh.

Anyway, as part of my November project, I downloaded a book on my Kindle yesterday. As a member of Amazon Prime, I was excited to discover I can now borrow certain books for free for 30 days. So I started wading through the available books and came across one that appeared to be in a similar vein to my novel: set in a small town, with a cast of quirky characters. However, this book was under the “romance” category. (I’m not naming names to protect what I’m about to write…). Now my novel is also a romance of sorts, but it also has a magical/mystical element thrown in. Still, the fictional, small town vibe is what drew me in, plus a quick check on Amazon noted that this writer is prolific and has published a series of books in this fictional town (and no, it’ not about vampires!)

And so, I began reading.

Thirty days to read this book for free. Thirty days? I couldn’t even last 30 minutes, let alone 30 pages! I could NOT believe how appalling this book was. And I don’t just mean boring, formulaic and trite. I mean SERIOUS writing flaws. Totally switching from characters’ points of view mid-paragraph – sometimes mid-sentence. Stupid statements by the two main characters (I think there are only two – everyone else is window dressing) – that if you say them out loud (a good litmus test) make you cringe because real people just don’t talk like that!

I kept reading, hoping it would get better – but it only got worse. In the end I had to give up. I didn’t really care what happened to these two idiots – although obviously they are going to end up together. I didn’t even want to think what “obstacle” the author was going to put in their way. I’m sure it’s something as tragic as a souffle falling incident or a horse going lame or a long lost letter from a distant relative who just happened to be the town’s pie baking champion until someone ruined her reputation by using salt instead of sugar in the recipe. Blech.

My initial reaction was how did this woman even get published? Then my devious mind thought: Wow, if someone published this drivel then maybe they’ll publish my non-drivel?  So, naturally I went in search of her publisher. And what did I discover? Her plethora of novels (I think there’s at least half a dozen) are all published by the same company that basically publishes authors whose novels are set in the region she writes – in other words throw in the words “Malarkey, New Pumpkin” (or whatever small region of the world she lives in) and you get published. Alas, I don’t live in Malarkey, New Pumpkin and know bugger all about that region. So much for my get published quick scheme.

I started Googling this woman and discovered she’s won all kinds of awards for writing in her region (makes me wonder what her competition is like) and she speaks at writing conferences. I’d die if I had to hand over my money to hear this woman speak. Luckily some of the reviews of her stuff on Amazon reflect how crap she is – but the majority rave about her work. Clearly these people don’t venture far out of Malarkey….

The only good news about attempting to read this and seeing this woman’s success is that it has reinstated my faith that I’m not a totally crap writer and just might get published someday. Onwards and upwards…

While her daughter Sophia drew princesses and castles and played with her dress up dolls book, Becca and I went through some of the bigger issues with my book. It was such a fun, exciting session – ably assisted by white wine and rice crackers (an excellent combination). She asked me some good questions and made me look at some of my scenes, my character motivation and where the story worked and where it lagged.

As a result of our three hour long session, I now have a LOT of work to do on my manuscript. I’m planning on totally reworking the first two chapters and beefing up some of the middle of the book. I’m going to have to work on this in increments, but am excited to try and brand new opening to my novel. I’m off to kill some of my darlings. I have several more weeks – if not months – worth of work ahead, but I’m excited to get cracking on making my novel even better, tighter and readable.

I cannot say enough about having someone to bounce ideas off. I’m honoured I have someone I trust to do that with. I highly recommend it to everyone. Find a person or a group who is willing to pull no punches and whose work you trust implicitly. But don’t forget to hold on to your own instincts. Don’t listen to TOO many people or you’ll get overwhelmed. I loved some of Becca’s suggestions and her insights, but it doesn’t mean I’ll take them all on board. As she pointed out, I’m lucky I’m not in one of those horrible meetings where some idiot producer is saying, “I LOVE your story. Now, all you need to do is make change your main character from a cupcake baker into a rock star with a heroin addiction!

Now all I have to do is juggle my “real” job with all the work I’m doing on the second draft of my novel. Onwards and upwards! How many of your darlings have you killed? How gut wrenching was it for you to cut out scenes or rework entire chapters? I’m actually excited about my new opening chapters and can’t wait to get started.

This means my novel is now in the hands of Becca and she will be the first person to read The Periwinkle Prophecy. I’m sooo excited. I can’t believe I just worked solid for the last several hours and got it done.

I just SLAYED my midnight tomorrow night deadline.

I just completed my set task more than 24 hours ahead of my self-imposed deadline.

Hooray!

Now, of course, I’m too awake to sleep. I need to do a happy, Snoopy dance, but I’ve only got one foot. Sheesh! No dancing for me. I may indulge in a little ginger ale. Oooh, the big leagues.

Okay, that’s my happy news. G’night all!

The writing was easy (relatively). It's the editing that's killing me.

Yes, here I am writing after MONTHS of not writing. Well, that’s not true. Just not writing on this blog. I was having an existential blogging crisis about the nature of this blog, so I just kind of gave up. And then I had surgery… what?

Yes, foot surgery, for which I have a separate blog here.  And I have been laid up for the past week, and although I’ve been working, the forced bed rest has enabled me to gather my thoughts and my blogging skills.

That’s not to say my blogging (or writing) has been dormant in other areas. Running Mar Vista Patch is a full time job and I work deranged hours – but I get to work from home so that’s great.

Also, on January 28, I brought home my brand new Golden Retriever puppy from Grand Junction Colorado. Bronte is now eight months old and SHE has been blogging regularly since before she was conceived on her very own blog, which you can read here.

It’s always difficult when you write for a living to also write for pleasure, and I’m still honing the novel I wrote in November 2009. However, this week has seen me revitalised. And my great friend and brilliant writer, Becca Topol has VERY kindly agreed to read my manuscript. And so, I have given myself the deadline of Sunday July 23 at midnight to have completed my final revision and hit the “send” button and send off my manuscript to Becca – the first person who will get to read my novel.

Writing it out here is forcing me to adhere to my deadline and to stop pfaffing around and worrying that it will never be ready. So, check back here and see that I have done what I promised to do. Oy!

I’m also now going to go through my twitter feed – my personal twitter has been very silent of late – and start checking out great writing blogs, novelists, works in progress and commit to ONE HOUR a day of keeping focused on my fiction writing.

The great news about my Patch job is I work my own hours and from wherever I want. The BAD news about my Patch job is that I work way too many hours and at ungodly hours. I have no set start and stop time. It’s not uncommon for me to get up, have breakfast, and then say “Oh, I’ll just edit this one article, or check this one email, or verify this one source,” and bam, before I know it two hours has passed, I’m still in my pyjamas and my dog is wondering why I haven’t taken her for a walk.

Now that I’m limited with my poor foot and I can’t exercise – phooey – I have found more time to focus on things other than Patch.

Although, right now, I REALLY need to go prep an article for tomorrow – that’s right, we work weekends, too!

Okay, but now my commitment is out here on paper.

I WILL make an effort to blog regularly, seek out my writerly support mates once more and GET MY NOVEL TO BECCA before the weekend is done.

Keep on me and force me to meet my goal. Watch this space…

Meanwhile, I’ve been keeping busy working for the Daily Mail and the New York Post where I’ve spent most of my time on the Ronni Chasen murder story (along with most of Hollywood).

However, the GREAT news is that my new puppy was finally born on November 28. I’m so excited. She’ll be coming home in eight weeks. You can read all about her adventures on her very own Bronte the Golden Retriever Blog here.

However, I really wanted to reflect on her birthdate. It’s taken me three days because I’m trying to get my emotions in order.

November 28, 2002 was the day I survived an Al Qaeda suicide bomb attack in Mombasa, Kenya. You can read more about it here. For the last eight years this has been a terrible anniversary. However, now that my puppy has been born, it’s no longer such a terrible day. It’s gone from being bitter to bittersweet, and I’m looking forward to being able to celebrate November 28 from here on out as well as honouring the memories of Albert de Havila, Dvir and Noy Anter and the nine Kenyan workers murdered by terrorists.

There’s definitely a symmetry to this universe.

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Its mission: To be a hub of news, information and commentary, all based on the concept that an informed, engaged community is a better community.

At  Mar Vista Patch, we know you have news and information wants and needs. When Mar Vista patch launches in the coming weeks, the  site will tell you about local breaking news, business openings and closings, school news and crime, local trends, the community’s movers and shakers and average folks who are doing extraordinary things. You’ll find out about sports, obituaries, events, shopping deals. We’ll provide critical local information: the name of the official to call for a building permit or to make a noise complaint, contact details for schools and preschools, where to get information about e-waste disposal.

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I can break the news. I’ve been away, and I’ve been covering crazy celebrity journalism for the New York Post, and doing editing gigs, and grieving over my darling Bridget, and awaiting the birth of my new puppy (10 days from now), but mostly I’ve been interviewing for Patch.com. Click on the link for more information about Patch.

It was a long, gruelling interview process but I’m excited to say that I have been hired as the editor of Mar Vista Patch, which will launch in the coming weeks. I was hired last week and went through three days of training and am now working hard to launch my site.

I’m excited to have  a full time job after years of freelancing, excited to have a regular salary, VERY excited by the EXCELLENT benefits offered, and extremely excited that I still get to work from home. Patch outfits us with a MacBook Pro, a camera, video, iPhone, printer, scanner, fax – pretty much everything you need to run an online journalism site from your home, your coffee shop, the local park, wherever.

Most of all, I’m excited to be back working in community journalism, which is where my roots are and is what I love best. I’m excited to get to know the Mar Vista community and engage the locals and be part of their world.  I’m incredibly excited.

In order to launch, I have to have X number of Twitter and Facebook followers. So please, please go to Mar Vista Patch on Facebook and “like” us. And follow me on MarVistaPatch on Twitter.

I’m also looking for contributors to the site. Please see the next Post if you’re interested!

One of the dogs in training at the centre. It looked so much like Bridget I almost cried!

As promised, I went to the Israel Guide Dog Centre for the Blind yesterday to catch up again with Noach Braun and check out the latest at Bridget’s alma mater. All the  information (plus pics) are over on my other blog, which you can check out here.

The centre is amazing – do take the time to read about it. It was wonderful to honour Bridget and see her first home – which has grown so much and is a fantastic place.

Also, Noach and I are going to discuss helping raise the centre’s presence when I get back home to Los Angeles. Can’t wait!

I took lots of pics. You can see them all on my flickr account here.