So. A little bit of time has passed between my posts once again. Shocker. š For those of you rejoining me here as I’m starting fresh, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Many of you have followed my story online since I created my website and started blogging in 2015. Just before then, Iād done a major life reset by leaving my job of 16+ years, moving solo from NYC to Florida, and publishing my first adventure-mystery novel.
Thatās what I call a pretty good reset. A pretty eye-opening one, too.
Iād spent most of my life prior in a semi-content stasis with little large-scale change, and oftentimes loaded with feelings of boredom and loneliness. That first major reset has been hugely wonderfulānot without problems, of courseābut worth the world to me.
Something I tried to learn from that shift is how to be comfortable with change.
Because periodically since then, Iāve been hitting that reset button. Write and publish novels? Ding! Insinuate myself into the design and construction fields? Ding! Design and renovate fixer homes? Ding! Which of late has been both my major time draw and my creative outlet. Utterly challenging, utterly rewarding.
And now, close to 10 years later, Iām facing another potentially huge reset. In some ways, I feel Iāve come full-circle, because Iām now able to refocus on writing. This came about in a frustrating, wacky wayāand let me tell you, itās been a year, againābut Iām working on my flexibility and am focusing my creativity once more on writing. It feels a little like coming home. š
So, starting fresh for me, with this, certainly isnāt starting from scratch. More, itās revisiting where my heart took me before, and finding new avenues to happiness. Itās about keeping my head up as I wander, looking forward instead of down. Not because of FOMO, rather, because of the importance of paying attention to and appreciating whatās here and now. The little things, like ducks, and the big things. š Of course, it helps to exercise that olā peripheral vision. Like the rest of you, I try to keep from stumbling on the sidewalk cracks or getting tossed by a rogue wave.
Looking Ahead to a Fresh StartLooking Down Does Help
And as ever, focusing reminds me of all that I have to be grateful for: life, love, home, health, the list is long and worth reflecting on. Always, but especially when life throws those unexpected resets your way. š
Thanks again for spending time here with me. Iām still slow to dive into social media, but Iām gradually returning to a few bits I enjoy, where I can engage with my friends and readers. Hope to see you there. And here again, soon!
Wow, itās been an incredibly long time since I last
blogged. Do you guys even remember who I am? I hope so. I havenāt (really) gone
anywhere. And I certainly didnāt mean to go MIA without explanation. That,
however, is exactly what happened.
Iāve worked in a number of different types of jobs and environments in my life. Regardless of the setting, though, one big thing is required of all:
You have to show up and do the work.
But I can honestly say that as much as I love to write, showing up every day, doing the work, is so much harder because itās a creative endeavor.
Not hard as in āsit down and let my fingers do the
talking,ā but hard as in composing, producing, saying something meaningful. Iām
a writer, yeah? But Iām only as good as
the words I use to communicate and the things I wish to say. Readers are
overloaded with choice, so the struggle to say something relevantāsay it creatively,
purposefullyāis real. And daunting to
tackle on a daily, weekly, monthly basis.
So, yeah, sometimes instead of penning nonsense, I donāt write at all. Or more specifically,
I donāt share my words with the public. There are tons of authors who can argue
the benefit of writing daily; that routine just isnāt me, isnāt what I can or
want to make the time to do. Iāll say this, though, which Iāve potentially said
before and likely will again: writing well
takes practice, and I know I become better the more I discipline myself. My
skills donāt necessarily regress when Iām not corralling words, but in
neglecting the words, I know my craft is idling instead of improving.
Back to that ānot writing for public consumptionā
thing. Thatās been the case these past few months of no blog posts. No apology, simply flat-out truth: I
havenāt blogged lately because Iāve been working hard to finish the self-edits
for my second novel. And in my non-author-y life, Iāve dealt with a number
of bad things, a few tough-but-good things, and one very wonderful thing in the
past half year. As ever, lots to juggle.
How about we gloss over those other bits for now
(heh-heh-heh, writerās prerogative) and focus on the first part: my fifteen zillion rounds of personal edits
for Book 2, Treasure Bound, are DONE!
Can I get a woo hooo?
More notes
Yes, itās true: after all those additional years of writing, rewriting, and editing, and then hitting up a few trusted beta readers, I finally packed up my manuscript and shipped it to my editor (you know, via email). Now, Iām chomping my fingernails, researching new cover designers (canāt afford the increased price for the guys who did such a great job on my first book), and re-familiarizing myself with the necessaries for publication, things like formatting styles, ISBNs, LCCNs, BISACs, and the rest of those fun requirements. (For some fab info on the topic of self-publishing, check out Jane Friedman’s detailed blog by clicking here.) Good thing memory serves, as do the notes I took copiously the first time out. Whee.
While I await the feedback from my editor, Iām doing my best to get back to writing my blog and brainstorming BOOK 3!!! Because, yes, Virginia, there is a Book 3 lurking somewhere in my brainās nether regions. Though I added another six thousand words to Treasure Bound since my August post (yippie!), I still have more story to tell. And I hope people enjoy Book 2 enough to stick around for the rest of the ride.
And now, readers and friends, whatāve you got to say for yourselves? Are you still out there? š Thatād be great, for sure. I hope youāll let me know what youāve been up to these past months, either in the comments section below or by email. You know it: carolyn@carolyngreeley.com. Hope to hear from you soon.
PSāThe plan is to publish Treasure Bound later this year, so stay tuned. Woo hoo!
Sometimes, I need to hit the refresh button. Both in life and in writing. How about you?Ā These past few months, Iāve been pinballing fast once again. (Not that Iāve ever really stopped, I suppose.) š Ā But, rolling with that āwork in progressā thing Iāve got going, I do my best to keep up.
But then you realize, it’s time to pause and flick that switch.
Pause
Refresh
On the happy side of the zigzagging, I have some good news: I havenāt been idle writing-wise on my book. If you guys recall, it was a year ago June that I had my first cow, (click here in case you missed that blog), when I realized about half of my sequel novel to Emerald Obsession remained written only in my notebooks and my brain and not on the computer as it shouldāve been. Oy, I tell ya! Then in February, I described my mini cow, which you can find by clicking here.
But on the plus side is that for these past few months, Iāve been writing awayāyes, writing on the computer and adding toāthe sequel, still lovingly referred to as Treasure Bound. And guess what?
Iāve added 19,000 words to the story! Woooo hooo! Which means Iāve finally gotten much of the secondary plot line from my head into the Word doc. YAY!! Iām so pleased!
But, okay, this isnāt the time for me to rest on my laurels, per se. This is simply my reset period. I still have tons of work to do. Butā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦.Iām happy to feel I made the kind of progress I needed to at this stage.
My next step, and part of the refresh and resetāwhich Iām currently in the midst of, hence having time to focus on this blogāhas me putting aside the edits for a couple of weeks to clear out my brain. (Not of everything, I hope, but of just enough to give me a breather from focusing all my writerly attention on TB.)
Creative Brain
After these weeks are up, Iāll print out the current TB, and then Iāll reread EO and TB as quickly as I can in succession, looking for any holes and inconsistencies, checking flow, and overall reviewing everything. After that, if things go smoothly (please, please, please, and fingers crossed!), then itās on to the next stage of professional editing. Whee!!!
But once againā¦ā¦ā¦letās not put the cart before the donkey. (BTW, I love donkeys, check out this Instagram feed if you do, too.) I still have a few points rattling around my brain that might need to become minor scenes or added info bits. Iām definitely prepared for the possibility of more tweakage. Thatās one reason I need this reset; to detach my brain from the project so Iām able to sharpen my focus when I return to reviewing the story.
Also, since this is Book 2, with Book 3 still to come, I have to look forward to the next story and build into TB any relevant details and teasers. Whee again, but not in the good way; this is more like: āWhee, what the hell was I thinking when I decided to write a series??!!ā
All I can say, though, is Iām committed now. Or wait, is that supposed to read: āI should be committed nowā? Probably. The men in the white jackets are waiting behind me to carryĀ me away. Here we go again.
Doc Stormtroopers
Just kidding already. What I really mean is Iām committed to telling you good stories, ones I hope entertain, excite, and engage you. If that takes more time and research than Iād originally planned so be it, as long as the outcome satisfies me and you. Thanks for your patience on that score.
Well, dear readers and friends, thatās about all she wrote for the time being. Iām not heading back to edits just nowāwhew, what a relief to say thatās done for the moment!ābut it is time for a little walk to free the brain for some Book 3 brainstorming. Hmm ā¦ Iām finally excited to get started again. Yippee!
Before I go, tell me in the comments section below how you reset. Writing-wise, this was something I couldnāt do until the timing jived with completing a certain portion of my writing, but personally speaking, we all need periodic resets, too. Last week, I took my first, solo Me Day in years. It was fabulous and so necessary. Perhaps Iāll blog on that soon, too. In the meantime, Iād love to hear what you do to reset, so please fire away. Thanks again for reading and joining the convo.
The pinned post on my Twitter page is a photo of my first printed copies of Emerald Obsession with the comment: āItās true, they do exist!ā
That sentiment feels applicable to me today as I sit at my computer andāonce againāattempt to finish my (one and only) June Blog. I started this post earlier in the month, and it had an entirely different vibe. Iām a little sad to say it was a better vibe then than now, though the change in vibration is not permanent nor completely overwhelming.
Hereās the gist: my original plan for this post was a progress update on Book Two of my series. I had completed the first draft of Treasure Bound, TB, as I still call it, and had in mind to scoop you on a few of the next steps: first-round edits, adding in a few transition scenes, prelim brainstorming for cover design and final title. Yeah, I was being optimistic; I liked how TBĀ had wrapped up.
But no. That is not happening.
I began writing the blog while still organizing my electronic files and before I finished my critique-group edits. For your laughter and entertainment, check out these photos of my initial pile of work:
Once I made those edits, I printed the hardcopy files again and did a word count. Thatās when I had a minor (okay, not-so-minor) cow.
Turns out, my much-loved (by me) sequel is not nearly as long as I thought it was. More to the point, itās only about half the length of Emerald Obsession. OMG. Iām still uncertain as to how that happened, since the story feels much fuller even now. But I digress.
Now, since this is a sequel, and thereās a third (and final) book still to come, itās not a problem that TB is shorter, but that was quite a helluva lot shorter than Iād expected. My plan for the editing stage had always been to write additional scenes to smooth out a couple of plot points, but this will require a chunk more writing. Ugh.
Well, not necessarily āugh.ā I do love writing, after all, and really, this is just more writing on a story I already really enjoy. The āughā comes into play because Iād anticipated publishing either end of this year or early next. See this photo? Notice the deadline Iād given myself?
Now thatās questionable. Not impossible, but questionable.
So, dear readers and friends, there you have it. Partly Iāve been MIA as Iāve tried to cope with this writing setback, partly because Iāve already begun work to flush out certain aspects of the storyline (yay), and partly because Iām still working ri-donk-ulous shifts at the ādayā job, which severely interferes with my creative brain power and awakeness. Ah, the joy. Wink, wink. But I do exist!
To think, this month started with so much promise. Iād just held my first book signing for Emerald Obsession, courtesy of the fab folks at The Starving Artist Gallery, and was high as a kite over the responseāI sold all but two books! Their best signing!!
And now this. Guess itās back to reality and back to work for me.
Thanks for sticking by me through the mayhem. Oh, did I mention that in between, the hub and I managed to buy a couch and a bedroom set and mattress? Yay!! Weāre finally living in almost-adulthood, like the real people do! So, itās been a wild ride these past two months, as per usual. Guess some things donāt change.
Thoughts? Share a laugh? Cringe at the delay in TB? Please feel free to share your comments below or by email. I really do like to hear from you. Thanks and wish me luck on the additions. Iāll be sure to keep you posted.
Iām not one of those bloggers who writes articles in advance and has a stash ready to go at a momentās notice, aided into the etherworld with the assistance of some tech-savvy social-media-managing app like Hootsuite. Iām one of those think-of-an-idea-then-write-it-when-I-make-time bloggers. Which is whyāwhen generalized mayhem strikes as it did this lovely month of March (some good, some bad)āI found myself ill-prepared to post either of my two blogs-to-be this month.
Well, sort of, sinceāif luck/determination/the internet all cooperate with meāthis post will hopefully go live on my website on March 31. Thereby letting me say at least one of my March blogs posted this month.
Iāve mentioned before how blogging doesnāt come easily to me, but that I enjoy it for the most part (best of all when I feel I have something fun and/or useful to share). But I like to take time to think over what Iām blogging about, make sure I feel itās relevant to my readers.
So, why did I choose to add yet another serving to my already-full plate? Because thatās exactly what Iāve done.
In the form of starting a new part-time job in February. Man alive, Iām still shaking my head at myself, wondering whether adding such time-consuming madness to my life was smart to do.
So here I am, one(ish) month later, and going strong. For the most part. Iāll share a little bit about the decision without naming names because Iām still in the trial phase as far as Iām concerned.
Friends and readers, you know I like to learn new things. Pretty much all the time. So when I heard of the opportunity of a part-time job at a company I like, whose products I use often, and where I stood to learn a great deal about subjects of interest to me, I jumped. And by that I mean I applied, talked things over with my hub, aced the interview and was hired in a matter of a few days. Hello, whirlwind.
Whirlwind!
There are other layers of logic to my decision besides wanting to learn, though, not the least of which is dropping a few extra bucks in the bank. Having worked from home for the past four years, I also looked forward to a different job environment and new people. And I relished the idea of committing to a real schedule again, something that often proves difficult to maintain in the home-office world.
And that, dear readers, is proving the most challenging part of this. I enjoy the job, all that Iām learning, the people (most of them, letās be honest), the environment. But the schedule ā¦ that leaves much to be desired. To say itās random is an understatement. Erratic and changeable are better words by far.
Which leaves me with a potential problem. Those who follow my blogs and Facebook and Twitter posts know Iām struggling to complete the sequel to Emerald Obsession. Iām near the end of writing the first draft of Treasure Bound, but after that I have months of editing and other work.
Well, Iām someone who often reacts better to exterior deadlines than self-induced ones. My thought process behind starting a new part-time job included the belief a more structured daily routine would benefit my writing; it would super-charge my daily habits and keep my writing time regimented and productive.
Sadly, Iām not sure thatāll prove true. Though Iām game to keep working for a while longer. Five weeks isnāt enough time for me to feel Iāve gotten the entire job/schedule picture, so Iāll continue to test the waters. But I fear the inconsistent nature of the companyās scheduling, which I wasnāt clear on at the onset, wonāt jive with what I need from a part-time job right now.
Either way, readers and friends, Iāll keep you posted on how things go. March had so many other things happening concurrent with starting the new job that maybe April will bring a settling down to life.
Either way, Iām a blessed person. My mom just left after a fun visit, today wouldāve been Foddaās 86th birthday; the sun shines bright in the morning sky, the hub smiles and things are right in my world. I hope they are in yours, too. Keep on, right? Iāll just keep on, keeping on. See you again soon.
Iām still writing the first draft of TB, Emerald Obsessionās sequel, which is great and frustrating at the same time. Iād hoped to be finished with this first run-through by now, but no dice. When I set writing goals, I like to think theyāre realistic, but somehow I canāt always make them happen on schedule. That said, when I look back to where the time has been spent otherwise (whole-house reno!!), I’m notĀ too disappointed that this first round is taking longer than Iād hoped.
But as I near the writing end, Iām beginning to think about the edits I know Iāll need to incorporate in order to improve the flow and arc of the story. Thatās kind of cool for me. Editing is a challenge that requires different creativity, different vision and different skills. I edit my manuscripts at least four or five times, looking for specific elements on each revision. For example, here’s a sheetĀ of proofreader symbols. One of my review rounds focuses entirely on this level of editing:
Proofreading marks
Today is World Read Aloud Day, so I wanted to share my take on how this helps during early-stage editing. You may already know itās smart to read your work out loud. Reading, either to yourself in an empty room or to some sort of audience (cat, hub, writing buddy, etc.), allows you to focus on how the language sounds, whether youāve chosen the best words, whether the story flow is natural and realistic. And a biggie: whether the tone and voice are consistent.
Reciting your story is a crucial part of editing and one I enjoy. I admit I read out loud frequently, sometimes unconsciously, which makes my hub laugh (I suspect thisāll happen a lot more now that weāve moved intoĀ to our renovated office, yay!). I just tell him geniuses often talk to themselves, so heās lucky he married up. ; ) ; ) Hahaha. Yeah, he laughs at me for that. And if you don’t want to go the “genius route,” you could read to your neighbor cats; here’s a photo of mine who randomly travel through our yard:
Neighbor cats sneaking in for a listen
So, while reading your own material is a great idea, how about next time you try this trick with your critique group or a writing partner: swap stories and read each otherās piece out loud. Not only will you focus and hear the words differently, youāll hear how someone else interprets your words. Did the story flow naturally? Did the reader stumble over words or ideas? Did the plot progress realistically and believably? Hearing your words in someone elseās voice will give you a whole other level of insight about how readers might experience your story.
And you know me, I hope my stories sell, but first and foremost, I really want to tell my stories in a good, logical, fun, exciting way. This you-read-me, me-read-you technique can help build a great story. Itās super helpful to receive feedback from other readers, too, but I digress. Finding beta readers can be a topic for another blog.Ā : )
As much as I love a good writing tip, Iām sure you guys know reading aloud has more benefits than simply helping you edit. Iām no expert, but do a search online and youāll uncover many more pluses to reading for an audience, especially to kids. Think of the impact on imagination and vocabulary! Love that. <3
Tell me, readers, writers and friends, do you read your work aloud when you edit? Or just for fun? ; ) What other benefits do you find to reading out loud? Do you read to yourself or to others, like your critique group or writing partners? Me? Definitely a combo of both. Boy, my hubās gonna get an earful!
Iād love to hear your answers. Let me know in the comments section below or by email at carolyn@carolyngreeley.com. Thanks for hanging out.
Like most writers I know, I feel like I donāt have enough time to write. We juggle a ton of other responsibilities, so that even when we carve out time at our computer or with a notebook, things often interrupt and push writing to the back seat.
One of those things currently stealing my writing time is cooking dinner for me and the hub, something Iām adapting to since we married last year. Because I work from home, I have more flexibility in my schedule. And, though very challenging mentally at times, I have to concede my daily physical workload is not quite as exhausting as my hubās is as a contractor. So, most days making dinner falls to me.
Those who know me know I wasnāt much of a cook when I got hitched. Iād lived in the West Village and worked in Hellās Kitchen (love that name) for all of my 17 years in Manhattan, and world-class cooking and cuisines greeted me whenever I stepped outside.
To say I hardly cooked during those NYC years is massive hyperbole. I boiled water for pasta, ate cheese and crackers and pepperoni (thanks, Uncle John!!) and occasionally heated a can of soup or scrambled a couple eggs. Couldāve ended in tragedy, considering my love of food, but with a decent salary and so many readily available scrumptious options, I had no choice but to indulge my restaurant craving.
Fortunately for me, for a relatively small city St. Augustine boasts a disproportionately large quantity of fabulous eateries. But thatās a topic for another blog. : )
As much as Iāve enjoyed the culinary additions (yay, a Thai restaurant finally opened downtown), one cannot live on restaurant food alone, said someone somewhere, surely. And since neither my hub nor I are rolling in dough (hello, can we say āwhole-house reno,ā anyone? Another writing-time-suck, BTW.), Iāve taken up cursingāI mean, cookingāto keep us eating tasty, healthy food on a reasonable budget.
Well, now. Shopping and cooking for more than one person is quite the experience.
So what Iāll do here is share a few fun summer dishes that I tweak to fit what I find in my kitchen, along with links to a couple great recipes. Check out these fun yums:
Ridiculously easy and incredibly flavorful, especially if, like me, you love OB. Bonus: shrimp are healthy; something about that low-mercury, good omega-fat thing. : ) For kicks, I make my own cocktail sauce using ketchup, horseradish, lemon juice and Tabasco. I donāt have a recipe; I just mix everything until I like how it tastes.
–Cold Pasta Salad:
Easy Pasta Salad
Yeah, there are a bazillion varieties out there. Try them all. ; ) Pasta salad is a great, easy way to have a healthy, cheap-ish summer dinner (or lunch) without going crazy in a hot kitchen. One of my versions includes: mini shells (try the whole wheat or fiber pastas), store-bought cooked chicken (like those Perdue shortcuts, if theyāre on sale; otherwise, use whatever leftover protein-y substance you have in-house, like a can of chickpeas), grape tomatoes, cucumbers, a few onions (the hub loves onions), olives, cheese (fetaās great, soās pepperjack), peppers and zesty Italian dressing. Dice up the bits, add to the pasta and mix it all with the dressing. Easy part: cook a large quantity of pasta for dinner some night, then reserve some unsauced to use the next day in the PS. : )
–My hubās Czech Cucumber Salad:
So good, if you like vinegar, as we do. And super-easy: peel, then grate (with the big holes) 3-4 large cukes into a bowl. Add white vinegar, salt, pepper and a dash of sugar to taste. Stir. Almost like having cold cuke soup, but not pureed.
–Easy Smoothies:
I make these with an immersion blender; itās so fast, easy and healthy, because you start with frozen fruit instead of ice. Toss in your fruitāI use froz mixed berries, plus whatever fresh I feel like: bananaās great, watermelon, peach. Then add milk and some fruit juice or lemonade to reach your desired consistency. I sometimes add Greek yogurt (great protein), applesauce, etc, too, for extra health or flavor. Or try some avocado!! Zip the whole thing for about 30 seconds, then pop in a straw and sip. Sometimes when weāre needing a āspecial smoothie,ā Iāll add a splash (or two) of vodka. Healthy and mentally refreshing. ; ) Once in a blue, we getĀ wackyĀ and refreeze the smoothie into pops:
Smoothie Pops
So there are a few of my go-to, summer faves. I do actually cook many more things, including chicken, fish, pork and beef. Plus actual real veggies and carb-y things.
But this post would draaag if I listed them all. Plus, Iāmāhappilyāfinally getting the hang of (somewhat) cooking on the fly. I find a recipe that sounds good (check out allrecipes.com), but I never seem to have all the ingredients, so I throw in whateverās hiding in the cabinets. So far, no oneās gotten sick.Ā : ) Ā But that does make it hard to share recipes! Whoops.
Do you enjoy cooking? What do you prepare during the dog days of summer? Please share some of your favorite dishes, either to cook or to eat, in the comment section. I LOVE food! Almost as much as I love writing. Happy eating and happy writing. : )
Oh, and as a bonus, follow this link to a delicious Gambas al Ajillo recipe. Courtesy of Lauren Aloise, the recipe is similar to one used to prepare the Gambas San Martin dish Lexy and Claire salivate over at Las Ramblas Tapas Restaurant in Emerald Obession: http://spanishsabores.com/2014/04/10/gambas-al-ajillo-recipe-spanish-garlic-shrimp/
If youāre ever in NYCās West Village, stop by for the real deal at Las Ramblas on West 4th Street:Ā www.lasramblas.nyc.Ā Itās one of my favorite tapas joints. <3
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