A Blog Award

It's always fun to be recognized. Yesterday, my fabulous friend Rachelle gave me this award. You can find her at http://rachellewrites.blogspot.com/ Rachelle's a great writer, and I'm lucky to have her as a friend. She's always there cheering me on and watching out for me. Rachelle has two fantastic books coming out this year - Lost Children: Coping with Miscarriage and also a romantic mystery, Wrong Number. I'm read the second one and can tell you it is a great story, and one you will not want to miss.

Now, I now have the honor of passing on this award to others in accordance with the following rules: Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link. Pass the award on to up to 15 other blogs that you enjoy. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award. I enjoy reading many blogs each day. Unfortunately, Rachelle gave this award to several of my friends whose blogs I already read each day, but I'll see how many more I can come up with. Here they are - Joyce DiPastena, Doug Johnston, Daron Fraley, and Karlene.

National Novel Writing Month

I was one of thousands who accepted the challenge to write 50,000 words in one month. The month of November is the dreaded month. It is probably one of the busiest times of the year for most people. It was a goal that I accepted, and when I set out to do something I usually accomplish what I aim for.

Today, November 20th, at about 7 pm I reached my goal. It was a big relief and one I wasn't sure I would reach. I like to write, but never have I tried to fit so much writing time into my life before. Usually, I'm happy if I get a blog written and maybe 1,000 words in a day.

I could not have accomplished this without the encouragement and help from many people. My husband allowed me space and time to write whenever I wanted. I'm sure he was as relieved as I was went the goal was reached. My daugher Annette kept asking me how I was doing. Many friends asked how many words I had written, and encouraged me to keep going. The Authors Incognito group really made me push. I didn't want to be behind anyone, and so I pushed harder than I normally would have. It was great having so much support.

I'm happy to say that I'm done. I doubt that I'll ever try this again, but now I know I can do it.

My Writing

I graduated from the Institute of Children’s Literature in March 2006, and in April, I became a staff member for LDS Writers Blogck writing a weekly blog every Wednesday. Beginning in 2004 and for four years I won several awards in the yearly contest for the League of Utah Writers contests. This year, I planned to enter again, but instead had pneumonia which zapped all my energy and I missed the deadline.

I enjoy attending writing conference, but sometimes can’t go because of my work. Those I’ve attended are the League of Utah Writers, LDStorymakers, Forum on Children and Literature held at Utah Valley State College, Association for Mormon Letters, and Life, the Universe, & Everything symposium on Science Fiction and Fantasy. It is through this networking that I have met many published authors, other aspiring writers, publishers, and agents.

Maybe networking is a new word to you. It just means that you will meet people, talk about your writing with them, listen to them talk about their writing, share ideas with one another, and you will do lots of brainstorming. Networking is important to anyone wanting to break into the publishing world.

I’ve also joined a writing group. I belong to the League of Utah Writer’s, which includes the local branch called the Oquirrh Writers Chapter. The meetings each month have given me a connection to other writers, and I’ve acquired many new friends who have the same interest I have. These people critique for me and I’ve helped them. I also went on a writing retreat with one of those friends. I’m also a member of an online writer’s group, Author’s Incognito. Sometimes I participate frequently and other times, like now, I’m not as active.

Since I started writing regularly I’ve belonged to several critique groups. The first one started at Barnes & Noble bookstore, moved to The Coffee Shop, and lasted for the biggest part of a year. The Oquirrh chapter started a critique group and we met for about ½ year. My blogging group is great at offering writing advice, and I now have a wonderful online critique group. I hope this one will last a long time. Everyone needs someone to critique their work. Its best if they are a writer, but friends and family can also be a big help.

10 things I have found helpful in my writing are:

1. Keep your mind and heart open.
2. Make opportunities.
3. Take all the opportunities given to you.
4. Never give up.
5. Yes you will find dead ends.
6. You will also find keys to open doors.
7. If one thing fails try something else.
8. When someone gives you advice they are usually trying to help.
9. Only take the advice that you feel will really improve your work.
10. Keep looking for ways to improve your writing.

A friend recently said she thought I should have become an archaeologist, but after some thought I disagree. My passion is studying the past, particularly the written record. I love stories that pass down from one generation to another. The career I should have chosen is historian. Digging up bones, and studying about them doesn't pique my interest.

I notice that the word history comes from the Greek, and means learning by inquiry, to examine, to observe, to inquire. "Academically, history is the field of research producing a continuous narrative and a systematic analysis of past events of importance to the human race." Doesn't that sound fun.

I might enjoy ethnography which studies groups through direct contact with the culture. For a high school English paper I studied different forms of marriage. It must have touched my soul because since that time these types of studies interest me.

I could be wrong because in doing research it says that historical archaeology is the study of cultures with some form of writing. I did like wandering in medieval villages while I was in England. I just don't want to dig them up. Several times I've visited sites where students were out in the hot sun digging with little spoons.

History and prehistory might be an area I would like to investiage. Recovering knowledge of the past in an area where there is no written record would make me stand up and take notice. I've always believed that history begins with the handing down of traditions. We should carry on habits and lessons of the past into our future.

I actually think since I'm not a new kid on the block, and my career days are almost behind me I'll just concentrate on being a writer, but exploring the possibilities was fun.