Two queries resulted in requests this week!

Last week I decided to pull together some non-fiction articles I have partially written, so I sent out a couple queries for the two easiest to complete. Both of those queries resulted in a request for the article, so this weekend’s writing work has been determined.

I’ll still be working on my novel, but need to get some paying writing through the door sometimes, too. It just feels good and every little bit adds to the bottom line.

Changes in handwriting, changes in voice.

When I was in middle school my teachers periodically accused me of cheating on essay assignments. They said I didn’t write the whole thing myself, and they’d point to the different paragraphs – ‘See? It’s obvious this is someone else’s handwriting here. And here’, and depending on how long a paper it was, maybe ‘there’, too.

And I’d have to admit, that yes, it did look like different people wrote it. But those were all my own handwritings. If I put down the pen to take a break, when I came back to it the handwriting would be different. So, depending on how many breaks went into the assignment, it could look like several different people worked on it.

This is something I have to watch out for in my writing now, too. Last night’s experience without my flash drive reminded me of my handwriting inconisistencies. Although what I wrote last night will likely be used in some way, I’ll have to put it through my usual routine to blend the voices so it doesn’t look like someone else picked up where I left off.

I #amwriting tonight, even without my flash drive.

It really irritates me to not have it, because that’s the only location of the last sentence I wrote. So to start up again without reading it breaks my routine, and I’m very habit oriented!

But, I didn’t let it stop me or throw me off course. I remembered my last sentence, so I can still pick up where I left off. The imagery is still there. I just have issues with leaving my WIP anywere I’m not.

Anyway, back to work. On the writing, I mean. I’m planning to go back to work, to the day job tomorrow. I think the roads will be okay and mud is actually easier to get through if it’s frozen.

The road has become so muddy that the car just can’t do it again. There was mud up to my door handles on the jeep, a solid plaster of red clay mud. Tomorrow I need to wash it, even though it’s just going to get muddy again when I come home.

Weather man was off…again.

It seems he can never get the predicitons right. Last night it wasn’t supposed to snow much, I was supposed to be able to get to work today, and I figured I’d just have to stay there once arrived because it would start snowing a lot during the daytime hours.

But it appears that we already have about six inches of wet snow. I’m almost certain the sand trucks haven’t plowed and sanded our roads yet. Maybe by the time I’ve taken a shower and gotten dressed, they will have had time to make it by. There’s still the six miles to pavement that never gets plowed though. Unless more snow dumps between now and the time I get outside, I should be able to get past it. It’ll be slow going if the highways haven’t been cleared yet, though.

I should bring my notebook and flash drive in case I do get stranded at work though. There is nothing more miserable than being unable to write. Does anyone else have separation anxiety when it comes to leaving your WIP behind?

Geaux Saints!!

New Orleans is going to be one rocking place tonight, that’s for sure. I didn’t actually watch the game, but the boys brought me play by play details throughout. History in the making.

An awesome online graphical dictionary – addictive!

This is a dictionary/thesarus sort of thing. Almost addictive once you’ve searched a word: VisuWord.

You’ve been warned

I saw Hope this morning.

On my way into work, noticing how much the snow has shrunk away from rocks and ground, I saw green grass! Spring is working its way back to the Ozarks, covertly while hidden beneath the mud and snow. I’ll bet it is spreading your way soon, too. It would be more accurate to say I saw ‘Promise’ this morning, though.

Melancholy mood tonight

All day today I’ve been going through pictures to pull out some for my daughter’s senior yearbook page. Whew, that took me through 17 years of memories and now I’m a little sad at seeing this phase of my parenting job end.

So this year I’ve got one son getting his own place and moving out, and the daughter says she’s moving after she graduates, too. Two little birdies flying the nest. And I always said this moment wouldn’t be marked by saddness – how wrong I was!

Even the youngest is feeling a little anxiety at being the only kid in the house soon. But he’s like me – looking forward to a little more time and space of his own and sad at the same time.

Snowing again.

Big wet flakes, dropping furiously. Just didn’t expect that today, that’s all.

Calling in sick today

My throat was hurting yesterday and this morning it’s worse. Feels like I’m coming down with something, so I’ve called in sick and will just stay home today. But that means I’ll have to go in tomorrow, so no real gain in time off.

Maybe I can get some work done on my book, and I’ve an article almost finished to work on, too.

Bleh.