Melonie Johnson

I Now Return To My Originally Scheduled Program

November 29, 2009WritingWrite a comment

So, NaNoWriMo officially ends tomorrow,and for once I completed something with time to spare.

Despite both my girls getting horribly (and disgustingly) ill over the last few days, while working and homeschooling and holiday shopping and making sure my house isn’t buried under a mountain of dirty laundry and dishes I managed to hit the 50k word goal. My novel isn’t finished…I have a bit more to go, but I think I will manage to fill in the holes I left as I edit in December. Then comes the next big challenge – seeking out a literary agent and shopping my book around.

I have toyed with the idea of submitting to an e-pub…but have decided I will hold off just a bit and see what comes of the traditional method first. All of this is new to me and I look forward (and kind of dread) the whole process. I know I have a long road ahead, but I’m further down the path than I have ever been before – and it’s all due to NaNoWriMo.

So stay tuned as I start to bring back Monday Muse posts, more reviews of DisneyWorld, Homeschool ideas, and general cool stuff including a post of meeting my idol, The Pioneer Woman herself!

And yes, very soon now I will update that header.

NaNoWriMo

Yoda says, “Do, or do not. There is no try.”

November 27, 2009WritingWrite a comment

Writing 50,ooo words in one month is certainly easier than lifitng an X-wing fighter out of a swamp with just my mind.

So I gotta take that short little green Jedi Master’s advice and get to it it – not try to make my goal, but do it.

It’s crunch time for NaNo writers everywhere, the last 3 days are upon us. After pulling an all-nighter with an upchucking six year old, working on my novel was far from easy, but I managed to kick out a little over 1k this evening while she chilled on the couch and watched lots and lots and LOTS of t.v.

Tomorrow morning I am meeting my NaNo buddy for a writing cram session – she is already in the 60,000 range and already a winner, but wants to actually finish her novel. I know my won’t be finished at 50k, but I’ll start with that goal first.

So amidst the present shopping, tree trimming, obligatory visits to relatives and loads and loads of puke encrusted laundry I will be earning my NaNo’s winner badge.

I am a Jedi.

NaNoWriMo

And I Declare That All My Heroines Shall Be Bootylicious

November 24, 2009Uncategorized, WritingWrite a comment

I’ve learned a few things along my NaNo 2009 journey, some of which I already knew: like trying to write when the kids are around is simply FFF: (Freakin’…or Flippin’…or the other less polite choice) Futile and Frustrating. I can blog with the kids afoot, literally. Lil G’ is pulling on my leg as I type this and Miss A is bombarding me with a series of questions like, “How much money is two quarters and one penny plus another quarter?” and “Why can I only blow up a balloon a little bit?”

So I’ll get that kind of writing done any time of day, the blogging and message board post kind – but the “real” writing – the story development/world building/dialogue and character stuff writing – that needs more focus and attention and I just can’t do it when I have my Mama hat on.

But I also learned that if you make the time, the story will come, and the more you write, the more story there is! I don’t feel like as I get more words on paper I am running out of things to write about. Instead, as I write the scenes in my head more scenes branch off and connect and fuel more stuff to write about!

One not so important yet still significant thing I have decided while writing this novel is that I will try to avoid making all my heroines redheads (I have an overwhelming affinity for this breed, as you may have noticed). In my NaNo novel, for example, the main character has black hair. However, I will grant one concession to my…vanity, I guess you could call it – or maybe self-indulgement is a better word (even though I’m not sure that’s a real word at all): in each story I create, all my heroines shall be bootylicious…that’s right – they will be blessed (or cursed, depending on how you look at it) with more than their fair share of junk in the trunk.

It will be my trademark; readers everywhere will say, “Oh, her – I love her books, all the female leads have big butts!” My book tours will be full of me autographing crazed fans’ backsides (ok, maybe not).

Well, hopefully they will love my books for many other reasons, but you get the idea.

And the men in my books – they will L-O-V-E their ladies with the lushly rounded bottoms. I think a preference for a bountiful booty is an endearing quality in a man, don’t you? Instantly ups the hero on the likability scale.

So tell me, is there any one thing about you personally that you can’t help but include in your characters?

NaNoWriMo

Turkey Time

November 21, 2009Cool Stuff, Homeschooling, KidsWrite a comment

One of Miss A's craft projects from last Thanksgiving.

One of the wonderful things about homeschooling is that it gives me an excuse to make all the fun little crafty things I used to love creating when I was a kid. From cotton ball Santa Beards to handprint turkeys, I really enjoy making holiday craft projects with Miss A (and Lil’ G is starting to want to get in on the action too, now).

If you enjoy all the messy fun of glitter and glue, construction paper and crayons, popsicle sticks and googly eyes – and you don’t mind your holiday decorations consisting of freakishly odd shaped turkeys and pumpkins, then you’ll appreciate the following resource: a really neat little craft website, Crafty Crow posted a wonderful collection of Thanksgiving craft ideas all in one spot; go see what kind of Turkey Crafts you think you would enjoy, and have some gobbley-good fun (yes, I just typed that).

WeekendHomeSchoolReport

Advice from a Muse

November 18, 2009Cool Stuff, Monday Muse, WritingWrite a comment

One of my beloved Monday Muses, Miss Aimee of Artsyville, recently posted some materials she created for a workshop on lettering she taught at KU.

One of the hand-outs she created was a stream of consciousness instructional “lecture” on how to just let go and create. I am totally stealing her words and applying them to my writing, it has given me the little inspirational boost I needed today, I hope it does the same for you!

Send your inner professor to the hall for there is no judge here – no grade – no critique – only you and your pen and your paper and your process and whatever you might discover along the way.

Pretty awesome huh? It looks even better in her unique doodle-y design:

Her advice might have originally been intended for hand crafting your own lettering designs, but it can so easily be applied to any art…so take her words to heart, send your inner professor out the door and create something!

Thanks for the dose of inspiration Miss Aimee!

NaNoWriMo

Infatuation

November 17, 2009Celebrations, Cool Stuff, LifeWrite a comment

You know that feeling you get when you first fall in love, and you have to tell everyone about so-and-so, you just can’t stop talking about so-and-so, you can’t wait to see so-and-so again?

Well, I fell in love Saturday night.

Don’t worry, the husband was with me…and no, things didn’t get kinky…(though the 2 of us have been propositioned by others to join in such activities…more than once ).

I fell in love with a little place called Cooper’s Hawk. It’s a winery and restaurant that I want to move next door to so I can get a little tipsy and toddle on home every night. Well, the food is so divine it wouldn’t be long before I did more than toddle, I suppose I’d roll like an overstuffed butterball turkey.

I first learned of the place when I tried their rhubarb wine at a wine festival over the summer. I finally got a chance to check them out for my birthday (yes, I have said goodbye to another year – or hello to a new one if you’re feeling optimistic). Oh let me tell you, it is a wine lush’s heaven.

They have a tasting room and you can sample away while you wait for a table. Then once you are seated you can sample a few more to see if the one they recommend with the meal you have chosen is one you actually like. And – if I wasn’t already smitten – and it’s not because I was more than halfway to tipsytown already, but they serve yummy wonderful warm pretzel bread before the meal. I could make a dinner out of the wine and bread, quite honestly.

We had the Viognier with dinner, and it was perfect.

I knew I already loved their rhubarb wine, and tasted (then bought) their cranberry wine. I plan to sample their cherry and plum wines the next chance I get.

I’m thinking of doing quite a bit of holiday shopping there, so if you’re on my gift list, try to act surprised when you get a couple of bottles of their wine.

Celebrate the Holidays With the World in Your Mailbox

November 14, 2009Celebrations, Cool Stuff, Homeschooling, Kids, Life, ProductsWrite a comment

I can’t think of a kid that doesn’t love getting mail. Heck, I still love getting mail (the hand written notes and cards kind). So I was super excited when I found out about the International Family Holiday Card Exchange Hosted by Kids Craft Weekly. Basically, once you sign up, you will receive a list of 10 families to mail holiday cards to. The only rule is it that the cards have to be home-made/handmade by kids. It is free to join, but each family is responsible for the cost of postage (and craft supplies) – the family assignment is arbitrary – you can’t choose where or who you will be mailing cards to, or getting cards from. I think that adds to the excitement!

KCW is a delightful site that creates free newsletters full of all sorts of crafty goodness and great ideas for projects you can do at home with your kids. Based out of Australia, the site is always a fun place to visit.

I just discovered KCW earlier this year, so this will be my first time trying the card exchange. Site creator Amber does a much better job explaining the details so don’t waste your time here – go check it out! The deadline to sign up for the exchange is November 18th.

WeekendHomeSchoolReport

All Hail the Google and a fawn by any other name is, well, not a fawn

November 12, 2009Time Wasters, Uncategorized, WritingWrite a comment

It’s been awhile since I’ve burned the midnight oil so many nights in a row, probably not since Miss A was a screaming cranky mess of a baby (Lil G has been a good sleeper pretty much since day 1, BLESS her).

Trying to squeeze NaNo writing time into my day just isn’t happening, so I end up having to make my day last longer, and have been up writing most nights til the clock rolls over on a new day. This is starting to mess with my cognitive abilities I fear, after all – I’m getting older, I can’t knock out a week of all-nighters like in my old college days.

I have had a killer headache for the better part of 2 days and it’s what I blame for the following: in the middle of a scene I was writing just now I had to stop and do a homonym word check, because my former English teacher self just couldn’t remember the answer…and here is what the Google told me:

faun or fawn? Do not confuse the spelling of faun and fawn, which sound similar. A faun is a mythological being depicted as part man and part goat; a fawn is a young deer. Fawn is also an adjective and noun referring to a pale yellowish brown color, as in a fawn jacket, or a verb meaning “try to win favor” or “attempt to please somebody,” as in fawning over the celebrities he interviews.

Miss A is convinced that the Google knows everything…she might be right. Long live the Google.

And in case you’re wondering, “fawn” was the word I needed…no Mr. Tumnus-like dudes hopping around in my story.

Not yet anyways.

If I get a little more over-tired, anything is possible.

Anybody have some good headache remedy suggestions? Or want to send a massage therapist to my house?

NaNoWriMo

Yes, I am aware…

November 10, 2009Hobbies, Time Wasters, WebsiteWrite a comment

Yes, I am aware my blog header is still “summer fun” and we have now said goodbye to the first week of November. I plan to have a simply gaw-jus fall banner up before Thanksgiving…I think.

Come to think of it, there are many other ways I can finish that sentence:

Yes, I am aware –

– that there is a small hole on the front of my sweater…I got a little carried away with the fuzz buster.

– that it is 11 pm and I still haven’t started my NaNo word count for the day…guess I won’t be getting in bed til after midnight.

– that I didn’t work out today…well, we needed to work on Miss A’s science project, I had ZZZ stuff to take care of, and a pile of bills to pay.

What are you aware of? Make some excuses for all the things that haven’t been fixed or taken care of – at least you can say you have acknowledged their existence!

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