Missing Music

Along with the guitar I also played the flute in Jr High and High school. I loved it, even though the sax was probably my favorite of wind instruments, the flute was so beautiful. I still have my old flute, but have been looking to replace it. Finding online makes it easier to get the best prices as long as you know what you are looking for. I might even try looking around for a sax and get my jazz on. Music was such a big part of my life when I was younger, and I really miss it. Now that life is calming down some, it's time to get back to it.

Shake it Off

Have you ever had those times when you just don't feel like writing? It's a slump that goes beyond writer's block. I'm really fighting it, and trying hard to overcome it. At first, I just said, okay, that's fine. Take some time off. But that little bit of time stretched into weeks and then months. It's time to find some way to shake off the cob webs and get back to business. Maybe this will help.

Keeping It Real

Addiction is a serious subject. I have characters that live in a life that is surrounded by the elements that create addictions. Many of my novels are ensconced in the music world. So having characters who need help getting free of drug or alcohol abuse is commonplace. I have to find out a lot about places like marijuana rehab at Malibu Horizon. While my novels are just stories, their work is serious and important. Knowing how they work and what is available helps me keep it real in my work too.

Breaking up Cabin Fever

This is such a cool video. I'm looking forward to spring. I'm getting a little bit of cabin fever so watching fishing videos is the only way at the moment to break it up. Just when it seemed like the weather was getting nice, the weather channel says we're in for up to 10 inches of snow tomorrow again. At least, the higher temperatures following it looks like it will make it go away fast. Until then, I'll watch my fishy videos.

Atmosphere

Do you think about the settings when you write? Building characters is important, but even the best characters will be flat if their surroundings aren't believable. If you are doing a church scene do you look at the possibilities for chapel chairs? If you are writing a beach scene, do you take weather and seasons into consideration? If you are setting a scene in a home it's pretty easy, but it gets a lot more complicated when you put your characters in specific places that have certain requirements to be believable.

Frustration

I had a tough week this week. Early in the week I had a new client for my freelance work. It was a mid-size project, and I was really happy to have it since things have been slow. I got the work done quickly and then the client seemed to drop off of the face of the earth. I was getting worried that they weren't going to release the escrow payment set up and I was going to be out the money I had already counted on since I did the work. Finally, today they released the money. I am always happy to work with people, but I get a little upset when they want rush projects and I get it done for them and then they feel like it's okay to take their time paying for it.