Nothing frustrates me more than reading a book filled with lazy writing. I’m talking about dialogue tags and telling. So and so “said eagerly, or demanded or protested,” so and so “felt defensive, violated, etc.”

Anyone whose been studying the craft of writing or some time will tell you to nix the dialogue tags when at all possible and go with action beats. “Jenny, come here this minute.” Allison tapped her toe, hands firm on her hips. Not only does this eliminated the annoying “said” it also shows that Allison is angry or impatient. I didn’t have to say Allison felt angry because the reader sees it! The reader doesn’t have to be told, she gets it. What telling does is distance the reader from the character. Showing helps the reader experience the emotions of the character.

I’m reading two books right now that could be considered opposites in storytelling. One is suspense, tight written, engaging, emotionally connected. The author doesn’t mince words, doesn’t use “said” and only tells when necessary for a transition.

The other book is general fiction, loose plot, not very engaging, blah characters, over use of “said” and telling. I can’t connect with the characters. I don’t feel their emotions and the lazy writing just plain irks me. I’ve never read this author before, might give her another chance because she’s very popular and has written over 100 books.

Yes, you read that right 100! Which brings me to a point to ponder. How can someone so prolific, who’s sold so many books, get so lazy in their writing. Or maybe it’s because this person whips out five books a year. Maybe she doesn’t have time to pour her best into her novels and it shows, at least in the current one I’m reading.

The other author, on the other hand, can only write one book a year. Aside from the intense plotting that goes into her suspense books, I see the toil and labor over every single word. Her writing is stellar and it shows.

Which brings me to my second point to ponder. Do I want to be like this prolific writer, that cranks out book after book, but writing is lax. Or do I want to be an author that writes one great book a year.

You’ve read the post. What do you think? I’d love your thoughts on this issue and the books you’ve read lately.

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I have the opportunity to attend a Cecil Murphy mentoring clinic and I sort of have the money. I was saving up for ACFW, which I still plan on attending, but I put the money toward this mentoring clinic with this amazing author. Haven’t heard of him? That’s because he’s ghost written a gazillion books including the best seller 90 Minutes in Heaven. The price is steep for an unpublished writer, but the opportunity is invaluable.

Hubby not’s totally for it. Only sees the dollar signs and the fact that there’s no immediate turn around for the investment. But I have most of the cash and hope to earn the rest through ads on WI, hopefully!

So what do you think?

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Don’t let your cash get away from you this summer. Join me Saturdays here at Portrait of a Writer…Interrupted and get a grip on your cash flow and start sharing your savings ideas.

I don’t know about you, but I’m appalled at how quickly gas is rising, so I’m on a mission to think of ways for my family (and yours) to save money. If you have some fabulous ideas to save money this summer, then join me in posting one idea every Saturday.

Here are the official rules:

Write a summer money saving post and copy the logo and link back here to the Mr. Linky post

Invite others back here to view more tips on how to save money this summer

Sign Mr. Linky with the url of your Money Saving Post

Do NOT add a Mr. Linky to your blog, but encourage those who want to participate to visit here!

More on what to post:

You can share your ideas or some things you did the previous week to save (or make money.) I can’t wait to hear all the wonderful money saving tips you have. Don’t forget to share your money saving ideas and sign Mr. Linky! Here’s mine!

Downsize, Don’t Supersize. Eat fast food less: During the busy school year it’s nothing for us to drive through several times a week. Of course I tried to make sure we had cheap ($1 menu) and healthy (grilled chicken wraps) options, but I’m hoping our summer won’t be so busy that lunch will be on the go.

Another thing I’m doing is instead of buying that Grande latte, opt for the smallest one and limit it to once a weak or as a reward. Not only will your wallet thank you, but your waist will as well.

Now it’s your turn . Just click on Mr. Linky and a window will pop up. Add your contribution, browse other posts and start saving!

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ICRS interviews. Book reviews and promotions. Blog tours. Product reviews.

I’d love to say yes to them all, but I have to be very selective. I’m feeling the pressure and stress and it’s really not necessary. I can say “no.” I will say “no.” I must say “no.”

I’ll will have to weigh each request against the needs of myself and family. Each request takes time away from what I really want to do. I already feel overloaded at ICRS. I’m not sure how long these interviews will take and I’m afraid I’m stretching myself thin!

So in the next couple of weeks, I will have to cut back on my book promotions, blog tours and product reviews to step back and breath this summer. Hopefully I will gain much needed rest for my own spiritual, physical and family rejuvination!

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Don’t let your cash get away from you this summer. Join me Saturdays here at Portrait of a Writer…Interrupted and get a grip on your cash flow and start sharing your savings ideas.

I don’t know about you, but I’m appalled at how quickly gas is rising, so I’m on a mission to think of ways for my family (and yours) to save money. If you have some fabulous ideas to save money this summer, then join me in posting one idea every Saturday.

Here are the official rules:

Write a summer money saving post and copy the logo and link back here to the Mr. Linky post

Invite others back here to view more tips on how to save money this summer

Sign Mr. Linky with the url of your Money Saving Post

Do NOT add a Mr. Linky to your blog, but encourage those who want to participate to visit here!

More on what to post:

You can share your ideas or some things you did the previous week to save (or make money.) I can’t wait to hear all the wonderful money saving tips you have. Don’t forget to share your money saving ideas and sign Mr. Linky! Here’s mine!

Hang my clothes on a clothesline: I’m sure many of you are already doing this, but with my mom here hanging her clothes outside, I thought I’d bite the bullet and commit to using the dryer less and air dry my clothes more. Yes, that will mean more time doing something I hate, but with not having to drive to a pool, guess I’ll have more time!

I’m not proficient in this yet, but having mom here, showing me the ropes sure helps!

Now it’s your turn . Just click on Mr. Linky and a window will pop up. Add your contribution, browse other posts and start saving!

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Even though I’m still re-evaluating if writing is something I should be doing at this time in my life, I am still very aware that I need to finish what I started. I’m going to make a concentrated effort to finish polishing my WIP in case the agent wants to see it. In fact I started edits (for spelling and such) yesterday and it’s amazing what a pair of fresh eyes can do. I’m still toying with the idea of making Mari single. Possible a widow in the middle of the book. I can handle that scenario the best if it comes to that.

So if the agent who’s hopefully reading it now or soon doesn’t want it, then that will just help me in the direction I need to go. Maybe. Or I may have to shop it around and wait a while longer…or start rewriting. Everything is up in the air, but I do now more balance needs to come to my life and family. And it already has!

If you’re of the praying persuasion, I could use all you got!

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Never Say Diet by Chantel Hobbs

What they Say:

Chantel Hobbs, a mother of four, recounts her struggles with obesity, body image and health in Never Say Diet. Realizing that choosing to live well was one of the best gifts she could give her family, Chantel is so excited to encourage YOU this Mother’s Day to take the small but meaningful steps towards a healthier life. Ditch the diet! Buy some new skinny jeans! And don’t forget to read the five tips to get your family fit this spring.

What I Say: 

I’ve been exercising regularly for several years now, but with each birthday came a few extra pounds. I had to face facts. I was getting older and my metabolism was slowing down. No matter how much I exercised the scale fluctuated five pounds. I could never break the invisible barrier.  I guess part of me didn’t think I could unless I really cut back on my food. But my draw to food was still strong and I was still eating more calories than I seemed to be burning.

Then I got Never Say Diet in the mail. I thought, “what the heck, it really couldn’t hurt.” My heart was desperate to shed the last 20 or so of my baby weight, but my mind just gave up on it ever happening. When I started to read Chantel’s story of weighing over 300 lbs. and getting a healthy, lean, I started to get encouraged. Her no nonsense writing style was refreshing especially since it came from someone who was severely obese and not a skinny, size zero personal trainer. The one thing that Chantel said, that I had known, was that I needed to change my brain about food. I don’t know whether it was her book, or summer and not really feeling like cooking big meals, but I started to see a change in my appetite. I didn’t really feel like eating as much as I had been, plus I started increasing my workout intensity and I actually saw a drop in the scales.

I remember, before this book, telling my friend how it seemed to try and diet and that I really needed a gift from God. A gift of weight loss to get me motivated again. Well, it only took two pounds and I felt my hope rise. Maybe I can actually lose the weight!

Though this week has been wrought with one birthday party after the other, and I did indulge in cake and ice cream several times already, my normal meals have been less, and I’m sticking to what Chantel said to do. The first month of her commitment to get fit, she only concentrated on exercise and still ate the way she used to. So I’m still on track. I’ve been working out 20-30 everyday with increasing intensity and it feels good to sweat a little more than usual.

I’m not all the way through the book, but I’m excited to be on this journey in hopes and anticipation that I’ll never say diet again!

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I guess a good place to start is to list all the books I’m currently reading! Maybe if I finish them before summer, I’ll add some more to the list!

Fiction:

The Restorer by Sharon Hinck

My Name is Russell Fink by Michael Snyder (It’s an advanced readers copy and soon be out if not already!)

Mr. Inside by L. Frank James

Non Fiction:

The Vow by Ed Gungur

Scene of the Crime by Anne Wingate, PHD (Technically I’m skimming this, but I’m still counting it)

Do Hard Things by Alex & Brett Harris

Generation NeXt Parenting by Tricia Goyer

And maybe, just maybe Experiencing the Resurrection by Henry & Melvin Blackaby

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Not only does my house need a spring cleaning hose down, so does my daily routine. It seems since Christmas I’ve been off schedule. The only thing on schedule is my exercise routine. Though if you looked at the scale you wouldn’t be able to tell.

I keep putting my house and my daily chores off. Eventually they get done…by my mother who’s living with us for a while. But what happens when she leaves?

I tell myself after I turn in this WIP I will __________. You name it! And I really mean it. It’s just that when I only have 6-8 hours a week to edit and half of that time is interrupted by life )and the next few weeks it will be interrupted by field trips, school plays, science fairs and Americana Day,) it seems like AFTER will never come.

So I think it’s time to move up AFTER to tomorrow! Well, maybe the day after tomorrow! I need to put my house back in order (literally and figuratively) and probably the best place to start is writing out a schedule! Something my choleric self hates, and my melancholy self loves, but soon after I write up the schedule it gets interrupted throwing me…off schedule! Big sigh!

But a lack of planning is a guarantee that not a whole lot is getting done. So it’s time to do some spring cleaning, no matter how much I hate it! It’s time to reorganize and regroup and maybe make a spread sheet or two (haven’t done that since homeschooling!)

Who knows, maybe, just maybe I’ll finish my WIP sooner than expected and have a clean house and home before summer!

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There’s a lot of things I need to reevaluate in my life. I sort of skipped the New Year’s Resolution/goal setting thing, and it’s time I take a real hard look at some of the areas in my life which have gotten out of balanced.

Some of it is the same old, same old…too much time on the computer. My skewed God, family, work priorities.

Some of it is new like I’ve been working out faithfully for 2 years and haven’t lost hardly anything. Obviously something has to change, and I need to step it up a notch or two.

Then there’s all the new responsibilities I’ve taken on this year. ACFW Chapter President, Homeroom mom at school, Communications committee at school, more ACFW stuff and my new venture with Writer…Interrupted and a book club a church. I need to set some sort of schedule to stay sane!

And then there’s my writing. I’ve totally lost my steam, and I’ve never felt that before. Maybe it’s a phase, but I’m getting pretty weary on this journey.

That’s all I’ve got today. A bunch of questions and not many answers. Nothing new here!

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To edit the heck out of my WIP! I have a fool proof plan to get three hours of uninterrupted writing each day during break.

Relax and read

Put some photos in albums, scrapbook… (yes, I’m being vague about this because as I type I’m not wanting to stress about the stacks of photos, cds, and albums that have been neglected for months…)

Clean up a bit (Okay, I’ll be more specific. How about get my desks in order. I think I have four and they’re all a mess so it’s a pretty big goal. An even bigger goal is keeping them clean.)

Enjoy my family

Spend less time on the internet

I think that’s a pretty good start!

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It seems that I’ve been so busy doing…(field trips, shopping, baking, blogging, laundry, cooking) that there hasn’t been much time to enjoy my family. There’s always something that needs to be done and being the choleric that I am, I usually make time to do it.

Some of the things I do are really good. Like my daily exercising which I’ve been consistent at for months. (Which is a good thing after all the cookies I ate while baking!) But some of the things I do can be postponed, shortened or eliminated. Hopefully during Christmas break I’ll be able to get back on track, prioritize my day better and spend more of the fun times with Grace and the boys.

I really do miss being the fun mom!

UPDATE:

I have this really great schedule over Christmas break that gives plenty of time for playing with my kids, but alas I got my Zune Mp3 player in the mail (a belated b-day present to me) and I’ve spent HOURS trying to figure out how to download my writing conference Mp3 cds to my computer and then to the Zune! After giving up on their instructions, I just used logic and I’m in the process of uploading/downloading/whatever to the Zune now. The kids are way past their video game limit but I’m afraid if I quit now I might forget how to do it!!!!

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I want my first published novel to be amazing. Something worthy of one of those medals they put on the front of the really good books. I don’t want it to be something I cranked out that fits into a publishable mold.

Reality check! If that’s the case I’ll probably be fifty before I’m published!

Unfortunately, I think my first novel won’t be anything spectacular which is probably not such a bad idea. Think about it, if you have an amazing first book, everything else has to be better. What if it isn’t?

So if I start of with a run of the mill (albeit Gina-style novel) should I really look down on myself? If it’s just good, then there’s a whole lot of room for improvement.

The one thing I know that is standing in the way of that amazing novel is the voices outside of my head squelching my inner voice. I’m learning there’s a fine line between voice and bad writing. I’m trying to figure out where that line is.

But until then, I will try and craft the best story I can, now! If it sells, great! If it’s not great, I’ll live to writer another day.

Still a part of me dreams of writing that amazing, heart tugging story that just makes the reader sigh at the end and think about it for days!

Maybe someday!

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Timmy (7) beat his pogo jumping record which was 877 or something close to that.

Today he jumped 4,991! Give or take a couple of jumps. I lost count several times!

I’m still amazed at his jumping skill and decided next time to strap a pedometer on him or my husband suggested just timing how many jumps he does in a minute and then time his entire jumping and multiply!

I was actually drained after all that counting (imagine how Timmy must feel) but I have a feeling he’ll sleep well tonight. Which is a good thing, because Timmy’s not thrilled about his new sleeping arrangements which includes rooming with Grace.

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What little girl wouldn’t love this precious vanity set?

We bought Grace a Target Vanity and “Dress Up” closet a couple of years ago, knowing that she was indeed a girlie, girl, yet all rough and tumble underneath. We didn’t want to invest in something that she would most likely destroy by the time she was five.

But Koo Koo Bear’s Vanity might be in her near future. They have an adorable bedroom set to compliment this vanity.

Unfortunately for us she’ll be moving in with her older brother in the next couple of weeks, so Joey can have a room to mess up call his own. It’ll be a hodge-podge room of sorts with her wanting princesses and Timmy wanting a cars theme, but I’m hoping to only be in this house for another year or so and then maybe my little princess can have my her dream room.

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Email addiction!

Lots of people have it. If you don’t, you’re probably in denial!

I really didn’t miss checking my email twenty bazillion times a day when I was on vacation. So what is the urgency to check it every five seconds? Okay, I’m exaggerating, but I think you get what I’m saying.

Is it need for validation? To know that someone is thinking of me?

Is it a need to solve someone else’s problems or requests? To Get R Done, so to speak?

Or is it just procrastination?

Like Michael Hyatt (and almost everyone else with email) I check my email first thing in the morning, then throughout the day and last thing before I go to bed. During the school year I resolved not to go on line BEFOR lunch. On the times I did this my day was very productive. I need to do it again!

If you want more time in your day check out this link! It just might help!

http://www.michaelhyatt.com/fromwhereisit/2007/06/breaking_email_.html

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Last night was productive and today I’ve written 4,774 words and the night is still young. It’s amazing what a little time to sit down and write can do for me. The story is coming faster than I can type, though I’m sure I’ll have to go back and iron out the details and plotting. But the scenes are flowing and I know what happens next.

One thing I didn’t know was that my protag would get saved. But it just fit and there she was praying with her best friend. Of course, just because she’s prayed doesn’t mean she’ll do everything right. Oh contrary. There’s still a lot more messes she needs to make and try to clean up.

And while I’m on the subject on unexpected things, my protag has gotten a little sassy. Right when she accepted the “call” she grew a backbone. I guess when you’re cornered you’ve got to fight. And that’s what she does. One more night and day of writing and I think I’ll be at the half way mark!

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I have a whole week with three of my four kids in VBS all morning! I can’t remember the last time I had so much freedom! Sure, I plan on exercising, renewing my neglected Bible study and writing! I’d love to write 1,000 words a day. But I also have another goal of finishing my aunt and uncle’s 50th Anniversary album. The kitchen table is covered with scrapbooking supplies and will stay a mess until the album is complete. The fam can eat outside on the table and chairs!

I’ve completed as much as I can. Now I’m waiting for some more pictures from my cousins who’ll be overnighting them hopefully tomorrow. Twenty years were missing, so their raiding the shoe boxes (I assume.)

Then in two weeks were leaving in our minivan for another cross country trip to New York!! We’re really going to be traveled out after this one.

So what are your plans for this week, this summer? Let’s share so we can keep each other in prayer!

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You may not have noticed by my reading list has changed a bit since I started it weeks ago. This is due to the fact I’ve joined the Christian Ficiton Blog Alliance and they’re sending me books to review. So I’ve added the books to my current list.

**Highly Recommend

Non-Ficiton

Power of a Praying Parent
Real Women Scrap by Tasra Dawson
Heart Felt Discipline, Again

Fiction

**Murder, Mayhem and a Fine Man by Claudia Mair Burney
Obsession by Wanda Dyson
Intimidation by Wanda Dyson
Showdown by Ted Dekker
Footsteps byDiAnn Mills
Blink by Ted Dekker
Heart of the Amazon by Margarey Daley
**Snitch by Rene Gutteridge
Over Her Head by Shelley Bates
Reluctant Runaway by Jill Elizabeth Nelson

Writing Books

How to Writer Killer Fiction by Carolyn Wheat
**Plot and Sturcture by James Scott Bell

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 We were vacationing on Pensacola Beach when I opened this email! (Thank God for high speed internet hotels) Needless to say, we were all thrilled and surprised! Joey  next big goal is to audition for Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader! One thing I’ve learned with this son of mine, is that anything is possible!

Congratulations to the winners of Sylvan Dell Publishing’s 2007 Picture Book Writing Competition for Homeschooled Students 

• First place ($200): Joey Conroy and his Jumping Bugs.  Anthony’s manuscript will join other manuscripts received by Sylvan Dell Publishing that will be considered for publication in the upcoming seasons. 

Our editor Donna enjoyed reading all of the manuscripts. She was most surprised when she realized that the top three submissions were all in rhyme! She was very intrigued by this because a rhyme manuscript is generally the most difficult to make “work.” Some publishers don’t even consider rhyme submission.

Here’s a personal note from the publisher:

Dear Joey,

Congratulations! Sylvan Dell Publishing has chosen your manuscript Jumping Bugs as the winning submission of the 2007 Picture Book Writing Competition for Homeschooled Students. We received over 110 submissions in total. Our editor loved the creative way you introduced basic math skills in your manuscript.

Sylvan Dell Publishing receives about 30 manuscripts each day! Our editor carefully reads each submission and chooses the most promising manuscripts for a special “hold” folder. In this process, over 1,000 manuscripts are narrowed down to a group of less than 50 that will be considered for publication. Your Jumping Bugs will now join the other promising manuscripts in the hold folder to be seriously considered for publication. In addition, you have won the prize of $200.

We hope you are as excited as we are about the results. We are more than happy to answer any questions or address any concerns you or you parents may have. I look forward to hearing from you.

Congratulations, son! I hope to see your story in print!

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