Observations on the writing life
Round two of my copy edits are done and returned to my editor. Whew! Also had a peak at the cover, although I don’t think that’s quite ready for a reveal.
Image credit: andrejad / 123RF Stock Photo
Also, one of my cousins’ posted this
on the family FB page, and I thought, what a great author promo idea! After all, it is all about me (see blog description, far upper right column)
I received my second round of copyedits/revisions late last week, so that’s been my primary focus, although I have taken off time to watch two college basketball games (GO ORANGE!) and go on a date with my husband last night.
My niece is a chef at a pub, and that pub had an open mic night last night. My brother decided to play, and I haven’t heard him perform in years. So TV Stevie and I went. The food was great, the wine list needed an “H”, and nobody knows Dylan any more.
Back to copyedits tonight.
I collect quotes. Sometimes the words are something that strike me as being profound; other times, I love the image painted by the words.
“Riesling is Clark Kent and the Fingerlakes Region is a phone booth.”
(Evan Dawson, Summer In a Glass)
My writing retreat was amazing. We had perfect travel weather book-ending our stay in the cottage in the woods. There were words written (Saturday, 5,004 words; Sunday, 5273 words; Monday, 5253 words; Tuesday, 2500 words), wine, a fire each evening as we watched movies or Downton Abbey, a Syracuse University basketball game, snow swirling outside our windows, laughter, and friendship.
I’m going on a writing retreat! My best friends–a/k/a the Purples–and I are going away for three full days (plus two travel days) to a cottage nestled in the woods. There’s no Internet (but there is cable TV and our beloved, undefeated Syracuse Orange basketball team will be playing on Saturday), so no distractions, just three glorious days of writing. We do this twice a year: MLK weekend and a weekend in August.
We have this down to a science. We discuss movies to bring–and trying to find something all of us will like can be a challenge, because not everyone appreciates the genius of the Cohen Brothers. Galaxy Quest is on tap for this retreat. I’ll probably throw The American President in my suitcase, just in case. I bring the wine.
Meals are simple: you’re on your own for breakfast and are responsible for either one lunch or one dinner. You are completely in charge for the meal for which you’ve signed up, from buying the food, to prepping it, to cleaning up afterward. Then you’re done for the rest of the weekend. The final meal is always leftovers.
And we really do write between movies and eating and brainstorming–have I mentioned these women are the world’s greatest brain trust when it comes to brainstorming? I’m really looking forward to next weekend.