Holy Long-winded!

Long time, no see...er, blog...huh? Seems I disappeared into the great unknown for awhile. Okay, so not really the unknown...but homework and kids and work all that jazz. You know...life. :)

Anyhow, I apologize to anyone who might have actually been concerned, though, come on...you know how shitty I am about blogging. It's more likely that something's wrong with me if I actually blog, like say, more than once a week. Or a month. Whatever. Just want to clarify that all is well in Jolieland. I've got a week left of school before break and, sweet Jesus, am I ever looking forward to it! Not sure exactly how long I'll be off--I'm thinking close to five weeks--but rest assured, I will be enjoying every second of it.

That said, I'm hoping to get a lot of reading done between now and next semester (my last one, I might add, thank you very much ;) ). And when I say a lot...I mean A LOT. Like half my TBR. Er...at least a quarter of it. Okay, more like an eighth, considering what once was a single shelf of books is now two...with about half that many laying around on the floor of my bedroom. Hey, I've been busy. And I'm addicted to buying books. I can't help it. And besides, it could be worse, could it not? I could be an alcoholic, drinking margaritas all day long, right? Hmm...that actually doesn't sound that bad, does it? :)

I'm also thinking about trying to write again. I say 'trying' not because I was struggling (I know...ROFLYMFAO), but because I just didn't have time. And I know...according to one Mr. Stephen King...a writer that does make me not. Or however that's supposed to go. And while I could go on and on about my plans and my excuses and whatnot, nobody really gives a shit (or at least...I'm not any different than anyone else with my trials and tribulations, so y'all can relate on some level, I'm sure, to why I've pushed writing aside for awhile). And you probably know, too, how damn hard it is to stay away from something you love so much. Pain in the ass that it can be sometimes. And that, my friends, is why I'm thinking I need to spend a little time on the horse again during my break. Might not get anything done. Okay, probably won't get anything done. But words are words, are they not? Someday they've gotta add up to something, right?

So, I haven't decided what I'm going to write yet. I think a novella maybe...something short and sweet. Something that won't be dogging me--hopefully--once January 12 and the winter semester rolls around. I'm also thinking of a Christmas setting too, because, hello, there's inspiration all around me right now. That said...I'm also thinking of doing my own version of NaNo since my time is limited. How nuts is that? I mean, really? I haven't written in months and I'm thinking of setting myself up against a pretty steep challenge right off the bat. But, as I said above about the words adding up...someday I've gotta succeed too, right? :)

And now that I've written probably the longest blog in the history of this blog...I bid you adieu. I won't make any promises, but my guess is that I'll probably be a tad better about blogging for the next few weeks. So...come back and feel free to poke sticks at me. I'll probably need it. :)

Much love...

45 Days To Go...

Until I'm done with this semester of school. Sigh. I thought I had less, so realizing this is pretty darn depressing. But, alas, there is nothing I can do, except make the best of it, right? Oh, and maybe finish up my online math class early. That would cut down on some of my anxiety. Maybe. :(

Anyhow, I got a major bug up my butt to write today (cranking the radio while driving always does that to me), but then I talked myself down. I would inevitably become frustrated beyond belief...again...if I even tried to dig in right now with everything else I have on my plate and I just don't want to do that to myself. I feel like I've come such a long way from the hair-pulling, near hatred for writing that I felt earlier this year. I am really looking forward to having some time between semesters...in only 45 days...to get back into things. At least for a little while. I don't want to ruin that time before it's even started.

So, I know I'm not the only one out there who has taken time off from writing to live in the real world. If you've done it too, how long were you on hiatus? What got you back into the game? Did you think the time off was to your benefit or your detriment?

Hey...

Check this out if you're an aspiring writer. Of course, it's not the end all, be all, secret to success or anything, but it's always nice to read about the struggles and successes of pubbed authors. I think the advice on setting goals is awesome (not that I do so well with setting goals, but you know...).

Meet the Cast

I wanted to do this differently. I wanted to be all organized and tell you all about the main characters in my new WIP--you know, all their conflict and their quirks and their shoe size... But, well, I don't know that stuff yet. Which is really odd for me. I'm just kinda flying by the seat of my pants with this and learning more and more about them every time I sit down to write. However, after playing around online yesterday and not writing more than...700 words?...I found nearly perfect pics of my H and h. Okay, so I had something different in mind for the hero (I wanted him to have spikey hair), but then I saw this pic and fell in love. Seriously. I can't stop looking at it. I even printed it out so I could stare and drool. For motivational purposes, of course. :) But anyhow, without further ado...

Meet Bryony and AJ (last names yet to be determined). Aren't they gorgeous? I know, I know...too perfect. But...I'll flaw them up somehow. Maybe Bryony will have a sixth toe or something. And AJ...hmm. How about I give him a forked tongue? Wait, no...that could be considered an asset, couldn't it? ;)

Bryony...

AJ... Eddie (antagonist)...

Ruth (foil/reflective)...

Er...

I am hereby suspending '30 Days of Blaze'. I'm writing again and, if you're a writer too, then you know that anything that's not life-threatening gets pushed to the side when the words are flowing.

So, that said...it's back to the WIP for me.

Happy weekend, y'all!

30DoB-Day 4

Well, I'm four days in and already behind. In fact, I only read 15 pages of the new book. I have a good excuse though...

I'm totally getting into this new story I have. Actually, I've written quite a bit in the past two days. For me anyhow. And I just don't want to stop for anything. I know I should probably slow down and take my time, make things easier on myself in the long run as far as editting goes, but, damn, this story is pulling me in. I haven't had one fall into place so well in...maybe ever?

So, forgive me, if I get behind on my promised reading. A girl--or rather, a writer--has to prioritize, doesn't she? :)

Still Waiting

For news as to whether I'll be getting a job or not. :(

I'm kinda bummed. Especially after dealing with the zoo animals (aka the kids) this morning. Realistically, I couldn't start until the end of August anyhow--and they (being my prospective new bosses) know this. So...there really isn't any hurry on them calling me back. But...I'd really like to know. So I can make a really funky countdown calendar (I'm thinking like an Advent calendar with chocolate :) ) and celebrate the hell out of every day I get through. But, alas, I'll just have to be patient. Good things come to those who wait, right? :)

Oh a positive note, I'm writing again. Okay, so I haven't written for a couple of days, but I wrote a ton on Sunday (more than 6k!! Go me!!). It's been virtually impossible considering the monkeys swinging off the chandeliers and what not. :( I'm hoping for a super productive weekend again and my ultimate goal is to have the rough draft finished by the middle of August so I can let it sit and simmer a bit while I settle into another semester of school. Then maybe have it edited and off to CPs by mid-October so I can start something new for NaNo (OMG, can you believe I'm talking about NaNo already? Wasn't the last one, like, just yesterday?).

Anyhow, that's all that's new in my neck of the woods. What's going on in yours?