Thanksgiving Balloons and NaNoWriMo update

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend! We went to see the balloons being blown up for the parade (pictures below), then had a big beef dinner (not a turkey fan), and a relaxing weekend. What did you do for Thanksgiving?

On to the real purpose for this post: balloon pictures! When you try to take pictures of the balloons while they are being blown up, you’re at the mercy of how the balloon is positioned and how many people get in your way while you are aiming the camera. These three pictures were taken with my cell phone and came out okay, although pics from other years have turned out better.

Hello Kitty

Kool-Aid Man

Wimpy Kid

So just how big are those balloons, anyway? They’re HUGE! Here’s a picture I took of Buzz Lightyear in 2008. Three people happily posed for scale … okay, they weren’t posing for me, so I blurred out the faces, but it’s still a great picture to show the scale of the balloons.

Buzz Lightyear

You might be wondering how they manage to find space to blow up all those balloons. What they do is close off the two streets on either side of the American Museum of Natural History and line the balloons up along each street. Here’s a picture from 2008 that shows Horton in between Shrek and some holiday balloons.

Balloon Line Up

Here’s another example. Remember the Kool-Aid Man picture above? Here’s the wide screen shot that shows him sandwiched in between Sponge Bob and a football and another balloon.

Balloon Line Up

If you want to see the balloons next year, be prepared for lots of people. The crowd is always wall-to-wall, even before you get anywhere near the balloons, and especially once you get there. It’s inadvisable to bring small dogs and strollers to this event, although some people bring them (it’s an easy way for a pet, child or adult to get injured in the crush of the crowd). Here’s a picture of the 2007 crowd. It’s a little blurry, so it’s hard to see past the first couple of rows, but it’s all people, as far as the eye can see (and no balloons in sight yet).

Blurry Balloon Crowd

After Thanksgiving weekend, it was back to writing my novel, because today is the last day of NaNoWriMo. Did you finish? I didn’t, but I’m ok with that (I’ve finished other years). This year I wasn’t able to start until Nov. 8th and I wanted to take the time to write a novel I like, instead of a novel that can’t be salvaged. I haven’t written much so far but I like what I’ve written. For the first time, I know what’s going to happen and how the book ends. I didn’t outline though ~ I’m still more of a pantser than a planner! The first chapter has been written, rewritten, and polished. Chapters 2-4 are about to get rewritten and polished, and the rest is back story that I probably won’t use.

You might have noticed my new fancy word count meter over in the sidebar. I made two to show how much I’ve written and how much I’m keeping so far (chapters 2-4 are in the keep section, even though they’re scheduled to be overhauled). Want your own handy, dandy progress meter for your blog, or website? Here’s the meter I’m using. It’s simple and works really well.

Good luck to all you NaNo novelists trying to finish before midnight! Type faster; fix later!

Multitasking and Achieving Your Dreams (plus a WIP excerpt)

I’ve been thinking about time management a lot lately, while watching TV*, spending time online and working on my zombie novel. Apparently all this multitasking seeped into my WIP,** in the form of my subconscious, telling me to get my BIC*** and concentrate on my writing. What’s the line from my WIP?

Unfortunately, things that you want to be real are usually dreams, and things that you hope are nightmares can turn out to be real.

Yep. Even the zombies are telling me I need to concentrate on one thing and work at it to make my dreams come true (otherwise they will only remain dreams and the nightmare will be reality). Not everyone would read the sentence and think it means more BIC time, however, I know how my Muse works. It’s telling me that if I don’t do what it wants, it will abandon me to my Evil Inner Editor, and I don’t want that. Seriously. My Evil Inner Editor is a shape-shifting demon that turns into what currently scares me. He uses that form to bash my ideas and writing skills, which turns me into a puddle of jelly. Nobody wants to be around a blob of jelly with eyes, especially when it’s mint jelly. [Shudder.]

Help, I've been turned into a mint jelly blob! Again.

Is multitasking always such a bad thing? No.****

When multitasking works:

If you’re multitasking and still getting your work done and spending quality time with your family, then congratulations, whatever you’re doing is working! (How do you make it all work?)

When multitasking doesn’t work:

If you’re unable to get your work done because you’re unable to concentrate, or if the only time you spend time with your family is when you’re ignoring them because you’re doing several other things at the same time, it might be a problem.

Tips for slowing down and single-tasking:

+ Concentrate on one thing at a time.
(This could help speed things up, improve the quality of your work, or allow you to finally complete your project. You might even enjoy what you’re doing more, too.)

+ Handle things only once, if possible.
(Respond to emails after reading them, read articles, magazines or newspapers, then file them or get rid of them.)

+ Have a schedule.
(Use each scheduled time for the activity you’ve chosen, so you know you can concentrate on that one thing. You also don’t have to fit in other things because you know you’ve scheduled them for later.)

Tips for times when multitasking is necessary:

+ Use TV commercial breaks to get things done.
(Load the dishwasher, read an article, or write an email during breaks. Try to do activities that can be easily picked up again if you don’t finish before the show comes back on.)

Moo TV.

+ Use multiple updates.
(Sometimes you can update several online things at once, like Twitter and Facebook.)

+ Watch your favorite shows during meal times.
(This doesn’t work for everyone, or for all the meals you eat each day, but it can work. It allows you to keep watching your favorite shows and not feel guilty about the time spent watching them.)

+ Do something that takes brainpower at the same time as something mindless.
(For instance, listen to a book on tape while you clean the house, or have game night with the family while your 300 page ms is printing out in the next room … just make sure you’ve loaded enough paper in the printer.)

Do what you can and don’t feel guilty.

Sometimes chaos gets the upper hand. We can always get order back if we slow down to figure out what’s important and plan how to make our dreams a reality. If all else fails, remember that writing is easier than crab fishing. Illustrating is too.

* I watch a lot of TV, probably too much. However, you can learn things about writing while watching TV, promise! (I recently posted about watching TV and writing: Are your characters like TV characters? – Writing story and characters by watching TV. – Writing is easier than crab fishing.)

** WIP = Work In Progress

*** BIC = Butt In Chair (which is where you have to be to get your work done)

**** I’m not an expert on multitasking. I’ve just been thinking about it a lot lately. I also blogged about Time Management Tips and Managing Online Time. I was trying to find solutions that work for me and might help others.

Teaser Tuesday – What Would You Do During A Zombie Attack?

What would you do during a zombie attack? Run? Fight back? How about if you were stuck in the middle of a store like The Gap? Here’s a short teaser from my WIP:

The manager put a key into a slot in the wall and turned it. A gate rolled down in front of the door, locking us in with a handful of people that stood between racks of clothing that always looked better in commercials and on people other than me.

“I’ll be over there,” said Taylor, pointing to a sales rack.

“How can she shop during the zombie apocalypse?” asked Dylan.

“Don’t you know that khaki pants are your first line of defense against the undead?” asked Lucas. “That’s what the guys wore in Zombie Apocalypse Now.”

“Right,” I said, trying not to laugh. “Don’t you remember what happened to them at the end of the movie?”

“Okay,” said Lucas, “scratch the khaki’s then.”

So, what would you do? I think I might go shopping too (after thinking up an escape plan).

Teaser Tuesday – Cartwheels (Zombie WIP)

I thought it would be fun to post another teaser from the zombie novel I’m working on. In this scene, Sheila and Janelle are trying to convince Kira to try out for cheerleading, even though she doesn’t want to.

” … Besides, I can’t even do a cartwheel.”

“That is so sad,” says Janelle.

She and Sheila shake their heads in sympathy, as if it’s a tragedy that I don’t know how to do a cartwheel, which it’s not.

Can you do a cartwheel? I used to be able to do a wobbly one, but I was never very good at it.

Teaser Tuesday – Zombie WIP

Kira’s observation about her cat and her roommate Sheila:

Technically we weren’t supposed to have pets, but there was no way I was going to leave Kitty-Kitty behind to fend for herself. Luckily, Sheila and Kitty-Kitty got along, probably because they had the same personality – stubborn.

14 week novel, wk 11: follow your own path

Last week I asked other writers to weigh in on writing novels. If you haven’t already, check out the excellent answers that everyone gave on both blogs: Live Journal week 10 , Blogger week 10. Thank you so much to all the authors that commented!!!

It’s week eleven and we’re almost to the finish line …

Goal for week #11: Follow your own path. Find a way to work that works for you, whether it’s the 14 week novel, NaNoWriMo, fast drafting, slow drafting, BIC, or your own process.

What’s my path? The last couple of weeks I’ve been fighting a cold and unable to work (or worry) about my WIP the way I usually do. It’s made me realize that the way that I write might not fit well into the 14 week novel challenge, and that’s ok. I’m glad I did it because I like trying new processes, and it might work for someone else. I’m going to continue with it until the end, because I think it’s still a valuable exercise and it helps me to keep working on my projects. And anything that keeps me moving forward is worth it.

Why isn't it working? I think it’s because I need time to let my ideas percolate; they aren’t always ready when I want them to be. Or it could be because I’m not a one-project person, even though I’d like to be. I’m a multiple-project girl and I need to (finally) embrace that craziness. As long as I’m working on something and working towards the finish, that’s good for me.

What is working? I have learned to stick with a project (like Sheila the zombie cheerleader), even when I need to stop and work on another project for a while. For instance, I finally figured out a novel that’s been bugging me for a while and has been everything from a PB to a comic strip. The next few days are going to be devoted to writing it all down. Then I’m going back to working on Sheila’s story and taking a intensive comics class to help me learn more about writing and illustrating graphic novels.

What process works for you? How long did it take you to figure it out or are you still trying to find your process?

doctors, medicine, old characters with new lives, and cookies

I’m back from the doctor. Don’t worry, it’s not the swine flu. I didn’t think it was, but with the news lately, I thought it would be good to reassure everyone that the piggies haven’t gotten me, well other than the ones on my toes and the character in one of my books.

My doctor is a bit like Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen) from NCIS (he could be a Jimmy look-a-like, although a few years older). I’ve been going to my doctor before NCIS existed on TV; I didn't just pick him because he looks like one of the cast members. Just like Jimmy, my doctor likes to talk about interesting medical things, whether it’s what I’m there for or not and non-medical things (a lot like Jimmy and Ducky on NCIS). It always makes it fun to go to the doctor, because I never know what we’re going to talk about. Today we talked about jury duty, since that’s where I got my cold, and since my doctor had recently did jury duty too.

He gave me a couple of prescriptions (here’s where I channel my grandma) … one of them was $50, for five pills! That’s $10 a pill! And we have prescription insurance! Grama used to complain about the cost and tell us that she counted her pills to make sure they were all there. I totally get what she meant now.

Along with my prescriptions, I got some chocolate, chocolate chip cookies, because you know the old saying, “a big chocolate cookie makes the medicine go down.” No wait, maybe that was, “a spoon full of sugar.” The two guys behind the counter looked at my cookies, and their conversation went something like this:

“Oooh, those are the dark chocolate cookies.”
“You mean the good cookies.”
“Mmm-hmm.”
“You have to have them with milk. Cold milk, not warm milk, like some people like.”
“Warm milk? No. You have to have cold milk.”

At this point, they are off in milk-and-cookie land and I didn’t have the heart to tell them that I like my cookies sans milk (it dilutes the chocolate). For some reason it made me really happy that they approved of my cookie selection. Maybe it’s because they were saying, “if you eat chocolate cookies, it will make you feel better.” I want to believe that, because this might not be the first batch of cookies I’ve eaten since I got sick.

Being sick hasn’t been all bad. The head cold wouldn’t let me concentrate on anything for long, so I thought about old stories and characters, my current WIP, and new stuff I want to do in the future. I started thinking in pictures again, which is easier and more creative (for me) than trying to think about how I’m going to write the story. And I finally figured out two projects that have been plaguing me for a while. Yay! (Finally!)

Project One
Then: During a portfolio review a couple of years ago, the art director picked one image in my portfolio and wanted to see a PB dummy with a new story – she didn’t like the other images or the original storyline.

Now: I combined the scene in the picture with an old idea that I couldn’t figure out and it works now! It’s probably too late to sub it to her, but I’m going to draw it out and see what happens. I’m just happy that I thought of a plausible story to go with the picture.

Project Two
Then: Many years ago I had an idea that I just loved, but couldn’t make work. I tried it as a PB, chapter book, MG, and comic strip. I even subbed it to a children’s book publisher (before I had a clue about subbing or children’s books).

Now: I combined the old idea with some characters that I drew last year (that I couldn’t find a story for). Not all of the characters made it into the new version, but I think the ones that did work well with the new plot and story idea. I think it’s going to be a young MG graphic novel. I’m trying to get as much of the story written as possible before next week, when I start my comics class and go back to my WIP graphic novel.

With my new medicine, chocolate cookies, new and improved projects, and NCIS reruns, I’ll be feeling better in no time (I hope). 14 week novel post later tonight.

Happy Anniversary to my sweetie! We started dating 10 years ago today and were married 4 years ago today.

how I write: a look into the insanity

I love when people share their writing or illustrating process, so I thought I’d blog about how I write. I’ve used this method to write PBs, and it’s how I’m writing my current novel. Hope it’s helpful, or at least convinces you that your writing method is much more sane than mine. ;)

Step Zero: Think about a character and story. Write scenes in my head.

Step One: OMG! I have an idea! And I’ve started writing it!
-My character tells me her story, “This happened, then this, and this, and that! Wheee!”
-There’s not much description or polish.

Step Two: Best Thing EVER, must tell EVERYONE.
- It’s a compulsion, like checking email constantly.
-This applies to the story idea more than the writing.
-The longer I write, the more I try to avoid this step. But sometimes I can’t help myself.

Step Three: OMG! The writing is horrible - must revise!

Step Four: Chocolate

Step Five:
-Best Thing EVER!
-Horrible Writing!
-Revise!
-Repeat! (as many times as necessary)

Step Six: Keep writing the story, even if I’m revising one part, over and over again. Otherwise, I’d never get to the end.

Step Seven: I have something I can show to a critique group or use as a blog teaser.
-It still needs revision, but it’s ok to get feedback.
-This is the stage I’m at right now with the beginning of Lexi’s story.

Step Eight: After I get to the end and revise the whole MS to Step Seven, I either send it to a critique partner or let it sit before revising it.

Step Nine: Revision. (based on feedback, if possible)

Step Ten: Submit.

* Note: Any of the steps can be repeated multiple times, but especially steps four and five.

and the winners are …

EVERYONE! No seriously, everyone gets postcards! The entries were all wonderful and I spent a LOT of time last night trying to decide. After I made my final decision, DH came home and we debated the titles again. I ended up with my original decision :) So, everyone that suggested a title before the deadline, plus the volunteer cheerleader, gets a postcard. Please email me [stephanie (at) sruble (dot) com] with your name, address, and which Sheila image and cheer you want. Go here if you want to see your choices again. Thanks for all the excellent suggestions!!!!!

Now for the title winners!

… drum roll …

* the runner up is: Barb (boreal_owl), for CLOAKED. She wins a magnet or button of her choice from my cafepress store, along with a postcard. (Let me know which design you want Barb.) Why this title rocks: It sounds cool, fits the story, and when I looked it up on dictionary.com, one of the definitions made me like it even more: "leaf-clothed trees.” The idea of cloaked trees is really interesting.

**And now for the winner … there are 2 Winners!**
I couldn’t choose between them, so I picked both and combined them to get my new title :)

* the first winner is: Adrienne, for A BEE-LINE TO GRANNY’S HOUSE. She wins a journal of her choice from my cafepress store, along with a postcard. (Let me know which design you want Adrienne.) Why this title rocks: While the title is a bit young, it was the only title to mention Grandma, one of the major characters in the book. Plus Granny could be changed to Grandma to make it older, and Bee-Line indicates that the MC is following a path to Granny’s house.

*the second winner is: Brenda, for THE STINGING PATH. She wins a journal of her choice from my cafepress store, along with a postcard. (Let me know which design you want Brenda.) Why this title rocks: This title has 2 of the main elements to the book, the bees, and the path through the woods. Both of these things shape the story and impact what happens in it.

STINGING PATH + BEE-LINE = PATH OF BEES!

My new NaNoWriMo title is PATH OF BEES. Thank you everyone for all the great titles and for helping me name my novel!

Now for the numbers (since I know some of you like number-y things).
14 people entered the contest (some came back for a second round)
1 person offered to be a zombie mom cheerleader
58 titles were suggested
8 finalists were selected after much pondering on my part, then I got stuck
1 runner up
2 winners combined for 1 new title
2x - Some titles were suggested twice: Red, Hood in the Wood and A Hood in the Woods, Forest Buzz and The Forest of Buzz

time management tips from the procrastination exterminator

When I registered for the SCBWI LA conference this year, I listed my occupation as “procrastination exterminator,” in addition to writer and illustrator. At the time, it was wishful thinking, and as evidenced by my behavior last week, I tend to go off on tangents with projects that aren’t necessarily the ones I should be working on. I don’t think I can ever completely curb my tendency for tangential projects, and I wouldn’t want to (Sheila the zombie cheerleader is another example). However, I need to be a little more focused in getting the things I need to do done, so I can go off and play afterwards.

Everyone has their own time management system. Here’s what’s worked for me in the past and what’s new. Use the tips that might work for you, and share your tips in the comments if you want.

15 minutes of fame: Each person reportedly gets (at least) fifteen minutes of fame, the same should be true for your procrastination projects. Set the timer for 15 minutes and dig into that task you don’t want to do (even if it’s your WIP and you really do want to write or draw that scene, but just don’t know how). When the timer rings, hopefully you will be so engrossed in your project that you won’t hear it, but if you’re not, you can always try again later. Set the timer again the next time you work on it. Repeat until you’re done or you don’t need the timer anymore. Works for chores as well as creative endeavors ... thanks mom.

Get a cheerleader: Your cheerleader can be anyone that helps cheer you on and supports you with your goal. I have Sheila the zombie cheerleader. If I do what she says, she won’t eat my brain. She’s new to the cheering team. My husband, parents, and writer/illustrator friends are part of the team too. Luckily they don’t want to eat my brain, they just want me to use it to be creative and get my work done.

Set goals: Set realistic goals so that you can achieve them. If you’re a big goal setter like I am, write down the big goals, then break them up into smaller steps and use those steps as goals along the way to achieving something bigger. It’s a lot easier to get things done when you know it’s possible, instead of having something hanging over your head that’s hard to finish in a day or a week or a month.

Make a to do list: Write down what you can realistically accomplish each day. Some days you might not finish it all, and some days you might get done early. If you have lots of things to do, make a big, huge list, then take a few of those items and put them on a to do list, for today. Tomorrow you can take more things off the big, huge, master list. Just like setting goals, your to do list should be manageable, so you can feel a sense of accomplishment each day. Plus, it’s really fun to cross things off the list.

Play: Sometimes you need to chuck the timer, the goals and the lists, and completely ignore the cheerleader, who will be confused as to why you have gone off on a tangent. Playing and following your bliss is important. You have to do that once in a while to connect with your creative side, and maybe you’ll even come up with a brilliant new idea or character. Just make sure to get back to your timers, goals, and lists when you’re done, otherwise you may never get anything done. Besides, if you don’t get back on track, Sheila will find you and eat your brain.

How do you manage to manage your time and control your tangential projects?

Note: THANK YOU to everyone that’s entered my WIP title contest so far!!!! There are so many excellent titles to choose from; I don’t know how I’m going to decide. If you still want to enter, there’s time. The contest ends tomorrow at 5pm EST. Winners announced on Wednesday.

apples and more info + new prizes for my title contest

We’re back from apple picking! There weren’t as many apples this year, so we had to hunt back in the secret part of the orchard that not too many people know about ;) We’ve been going to the orchard for years, so we know where all the good apples are. :)

Thanks for all the really great titles suggested so far!!! I’m more awake than when I first posted the contest, so I can give you a little bit more info about the book, to help with title ideas:

About the book:
Current Title: THROUGH THE WOODS
Wishes for the New Title: Dark and scary, or funny with an edge, or anything that will keep me inspired for 50,000 words in 30 days. It’s a YA novel.

* The MC is Bee, short for Ruby (I posted the b/w painting of her a few days ago). She got her nickname because she’s able to communicate with bees; if Ruby is around, the bees are usually close by.

* I’m hoping that the novel will be dark, with some humorous bits to help ease the tension. I’m not sure I can pull it off, but I’m going to try.

* Going through the woods can be a good, bad, or magical experience. In my book, Bee experiences all three. Examples: The song/poem, “Over the River and Through the Woods,” (good). The play, “Into The Woods,” (bad). The fairy tale, “Little Red Riding Hood,” (magical/supernatural).

* Bee is going through the woods to visit her grandmother.

* Bee’s best friend IG goes through the woods with her. IG is short for Isadora Greenling, a.k.a. Injury Girl.

* There’s a possible romance between the MC and a woodsman, but Bee’s not sure if she can trust him.

New Prizes!
Everyone: 10 Sheila the Zombie Cheerleader postcards, picked randomly from all the entries (she’s not in the book, but will be cheering me on). The postcard will have the B/W image or the original painting (shown below), your choice, and one of Sheila’s cheers, also your choice:
Cheer #1: B-U-T-T I-N CHAIR! Butt in Chair! Butt In Chair! Yay!
Cheer #2: Be Creative! B-E CREATIVE! Or Else!

Winner: A Sheila the zombie cheerleader postcard AND a journal of your choice (for writing or drawing) from my cafepress store.



How to enter: reply in the comments on either LJ or Blogger, to the original contest thread (or this one).
New Deadline: Tuesday October 21, at 5pm EST. (Deadline extended because of new info and DH said I should give people more that 1 day.) Void where prohibited and all that legal stuff. This contest is for fun only. The winner will be picked by me and is totally subjective, as it needs to inspire me to keep my BIC and write ;) I’ll announce the winner on Wednesday.