And you’d think (and you’d be wrong) that I would use that time to sit at home, curled up in bed, plotting literary masterpieces.

Instead, I went to work.

What’s up with that?

Well, everyone has the flu. Seriously, it made the rounds of the town in less than a week. It lasted about 24-36 hours, made you feel quoozy and then it went away. But, I still went to work.

So I have a wonderful work ethic. Nothing comes before work, no disease/surgery/knee dislocation is strong enough to keep me from my work.

Now, why can’t I apply that same work ethic to writing? Is it because I consider it to be a hobby? A part-time job?

Both, actually.

Which is too bad, because until I change my mindset about writing and how important it is, I won’t be pushing out 4-5 books a year. I won’t finish the 4 manuscripts I’ve got sitting on my hard drive.

So, slap me upside the head, and help me change my way of thinking.

writing. is. important.

there.

=)

carrie

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Like when the lady cursed me because we didn’t carry the right kind of salad dressing.

When the cat ran off with one of the earrings I’d just sold.

When the guy from Texas wants his logo moved. No, move that to the left. No, down a little. No….

It gets a little stressful.

What do I do when the stress levels peak? Admittedly, nothing takes the edge off like a little chocolate and Jack Daniels. But man cannot live by chocolate and JD alone. (Ok, technically I might try that sometime just to prove the point.) (And I hope you realize I’m joking.) (Mostly)

=)

So when I’ve JUST HAD IT!!! I look for some comedy relief. How?

By watching a funny movie -

Young Frankenstein :
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: [to Igor] Now that brain that you gave me. Was it Hans Delbruck’s?
Igor: [pause, then] No.
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: Ah! Very good. Would you mind telling me whose brain I DID put in?
Igor: Then you won’t be angry?
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: I will NOT be angry.
Igor: Abby Someone.
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: [pause, then] Abby Someone. Abby who?
Igor: Abby Normal.

And I laugh hysterically every time.

Stress level goes from 100 down to 88.

If watching Young Frankenstein with Orville Redenbacher’s Pour-Over Movie Theater Popcorn? It will drop to 72.

Cats :
My cats are insane. When I come home from work, and pull into the lane, the cats are waiting. Lying in the driveway. We’ll creep in a few feet, and Spook (he’s the worst one for it) will walk a few feet forward, then sit. He looks at the sky, the stars, the moon. As if he has no idea there’s a ¾ ton truck sitting behind him with the engine idling. Hubby has to get out of the truck, cursing the entire way, and pick up the cat, dragging it to the front door. I can hear him lecturing the cat in his English accent, and I just giggle. The other night, three cats played the game. Picture my husband trying to gather all three cats pretending to be sound asleep in front of the truck?

Stress level drops to 57.

Books are always a great de-compressor.

Kristan Higgins All I Ever Wanted –
The latest book currently on my nightstand. It’s perfect. I admire the writing, the humor, the wit. I giggle about the prosthetic, the dog, the funeral parlor. It’s so well written I don’t want to put it down, I don’t want it to end. On the other hand, I can’t wait to pick up the next in my TBR pile – Christie Ridgway’s Crush on You.

Stress level drops to 41.

Munchies -

Gardettos –
Nectar of the gods. Just the right amount of salt and crunch. Now if they only made it in a resealable bag. This darn humidity.

Stress level drops to 27.

Email/Facebook/Texting –
A little last flurry of venting, name calling, day sharing, plan making, plot devising, moaning, wardrobe tips and dirty jokes are the final call of the day. (thanks jen!)

Stress level drops to 12.

Lights out.

Sweet dreams, carrie.

=)

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Usually spoken of quite derogatorily by authors who plot, pantsers write their stories with no outline, no idea of who the characters are or what’s going to happen in the story.

I personally love it.

Words just pop out onto the page, characters develop themselves, plot twists and turns magically appear. Usually.

In the MG I’m currently working on, it’s been 4 chapters of pantsing. And almost every single page has a twist or tweak I never saw coming. It’s been fun. And I haven’t gotten stuck yet.

One of the biggest problems with pantsing is writing yourself into a corner. How did I get here? How will I get out of this? What comes next?

I’ve discovered, with a little help =), that I do really well as a pantser, if I also write an outline covering the major parts of the story. I still surprise myself, and still enjoy the writing process without a black cloud lurking over my head – the one that says but Carrie, what’s going to come next? The outline looks nothing like the rest of the story, but I also rarely write myself into a corner anymore.

I haven’t outlined any of my MG as of yet, but I think that’s going to go on my to-do list this weekend. Just an hour of brainstorming will usually give me enough of a plot outline that I can zoom back in, fly off into the mist, and not have to worry about that darn plot corner.

And I can still have lots of fun finding out what Dwayne’s going to get into next.

=)

carrie

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I’m thoughtful that way.

Anywhooo…this is one of the easiest and yet tastiest drinks I’ve ever invented. Anyone can make it, as it requires NO skill.

Take a BIG glass and fill with ice. Pour in a shot of Pomegranate Schnapps. Top with a bottle of Mike’s Hard Lemonade.

Yes, that’s it. Although, you can add a straw if you wish.

And maybe one of those cool cocktail umbrellas.

See, wasn’t that easy?

Enjoy!

=)

carrie

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I’m tickled pink.

thank you!

=)

carrie

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Love it. Hate it.

But it’s necessary, especially as an upcoming writer, to have a facebook page. Mine is called, unbelievably, SmartAss Romance. Go figure eh? =)

Anyway, here’s the point I’m taking the long way to get to. I need TWO, count ‘em, TWO people to like me as SmartAss Romance on facebook so I can get my official FB name.

So if you have a few moments, umm…can you be my friend? =)

Carrie Peters Spencer likes

Smart Ass Romance

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Except…..it’s not that easy. I mentioned Arnold Schwarzenegger in my first chapter. Do kids these days know who he is? What about Michael Jordan? Do they use the word dweeb? Geek? Does your average 12 year old have his own cellphone?

Now I’m going to have to research. Darnit. My kid is 24 (too old) grandkids are too young (4 and under).

If you’re in the restaurant one day with a twelve year old boy, and you see the waitress staring at you and writing copious notes?

Don’t panic, she’s not a stalker.

She’s a new YA writer.

=)

carrie

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December – April brought mountains of snow, power outages, high winds. You might picture me snuggled all warm in my house by the fire, writing brilliant words by the thousands.

You’d be wrong.

You’d be better off picturing me huddling by the gas stove, wearing 13 layers of clothing and shivering so badly that typing on my Alphie was out of the question. Brain freeze does not inspire plotting nor characterization!

We finally moved into spring, that lasted maybe 15 minutes. Seriously. Summer waddled in and it’s basically the same weather as what we had in January, but no snow – just rain. Not freezing – just 100+ degrees out. Now we huddle around the air conditioner, hoping to stay cool.

And again, writing is a chore. We’ve been having violent electrical storms. Major lightning strikes taking out trees and power. And of course, like a good girl, when it lightnings, I turn off my computer and unplug the network cable.

Is this just all Mother Nature’s conspiracy to disrupt my writing? Could be. But she didn’t count on my Alpha Smart. Almost twenty hours of battery time, recharges in a few hours, and works pretty darn sweet.

Bring it on Mother Nature! I’m still writing!

=)

carrie

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=)

carrie

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That hurts.

But I don’t blame ya, I’ve been busy. Not just a little busy, but overwhelmed actually. I hate that.

On the good side, the silver lining, I have a request I’m turning in today, for a synopses and partial. I hope I’m turning it in today, but since I’m already 10 min late for work and haven’t gotten near the shower yet, that could change.

On the bad side, my back and hip are out from having spent approximately 10 hours a day at the computer – on top of 10 hours a day on my feet. And yes, that does add up to 20 hours a day, and yes, I’m only getting 4 hours of sleep.

I hear the Bride of Frankenstein look is back in style.

On the good news, my cold/sinus infection is finally letting go and I’m halfway through the bridal jewelry I’m making for a friend of mine. My three simultaneous online classes end next week and then I’ll be CAUGHT UP! I’ve also starting writing a YA/MG that’s halfway through chapter two.

So I’m hoping this week, things even out. I hope we have electricity for the entire week, that the sump pump keeps going full steam (heavy rains for the past two weeks here in Iowa) and that my tiny little chapter/synopsis inspires someone to smile and think hey, we’d like to sign her.

Keep your fingers crossed and your umbrella open.

=)

carrie

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