Wow, Late AND MIA... sorry

I know, I've been completely missing lately. And I apologize. Between the holidays, the boys in adn out of school and illnesses that run rampant this time of year (even though we all got the flu shot... can you imagine how bad it would be otherwise? :::shudder:::) and now my own issues, it's been rather difficult to do anything but the bare minimum online. I didn't get much writing done, per se. I've been fighting a pretty nasty migraine for the past three days, it comes and goes but when it comes it hits like a freight train and I'm fighting just to keep my lunch down with each loud noise... and in a house full of boys you can imagine how noisy it gets.

Okay, so I did some writing of ideas which usually include at least a scene or two that I want to at least get fleshed out so they stop tormenting me until I can get to them later. That was only a couple hundred words though. Then last night when I couldn't get my brain to shut down past the pain I pulled out my notebook (in the dark) and wrote down what I wanted to fix and edit on my Cowboy story and on my "Appearances" story (which still needs a better title... just saying). I think I got some good ideas down and that will take care of what I think I need to get Cowboy done and submitted somewhere else.

I swear, I'm to the point of hiring a sitter just to come and watch my kids while I write... the only problem with that is that I'd then have to explain to their parent WHAT I write... may not be a good idea if I want to keep my sitters. LOL

So, at least I got something done this week, when it's been pretty barren for the last month or two. I'm not crossing my fingers for the time to finish... cuz that just seems to jinx me. So... I'll... put it into my calendar to remind me to do it and hope THAT works... maybe if y'all cross YOUR fingers it won't jinx me. LOL

I hope everyone hits their goals, and that I'll at least get closer to mine. Have a great weekend and see y'all next week.

Where Did the Time Go?

I keep asking myself that. It seems like just when I think I'll have a moment to write or edit or do something for myself... it doesn't happen. Where does it go? Does anyone know?

Well, this last week has actually been pretty good. As far as writing it's been more about editing and getting some rewrites done that needed to be done so I could feel good about submitting this story. It's my Cowboy story, and I'm hoping it doesn't need much more since I had to rewrite the entire ending and parts of the middle. I think it's so much better for it now.

So, my word count for this last week is mostly rewrites, but it's all new to the story... so it counts. LOL I have 3513 new words for that story, and about half of the edits which add I dunno a couple thousand more words, but only in tweaking. LOL

Now, to see if it's ready for submission. Cross your fingers, I want to get it submitted by the end of the month... and that's Sunday.

Nada...

Zip... Zero... *sigh*

Yup, I'm here checking in, but I got nothing. Between my back (started PT this week, and I do feel stronger so I can sit at the computer for longer periods of time YAY!) and having friends in town over the weekend I have a big fat zero for word count... again. Grrrr...

Now that things seem to be slowing down in some areas (friends, family, etc.)... and picking up in others (health, Physical Therapy, etc.)... I'm hoping, praying, begging, that I'll have time now to sit and finish up edits, write some and get through emails that have accumulated. Cross your fingers, and I will too. Happy writing everyone! :-D

No Really... I'm Writing

So, here I am checking in a day late. Except, I realized I never checked in last week. WHOOPS!

It kind of feels like a case of "If It's Not One Thing It's Another" lately. Some days are better than others, but this last week has sucked monkey butt. Health wise, it's just been same old same old, but stress wise... My stress has been through the roof this last week. The reason? Spring Break!

Some of y'all know, but for those who don't know: I have FOUR boys under the age of 10. They're my miracles and I love them to pieces, but they have a never-ending well of energy that I wish I could tap into. How come the youngsters get all the energy when it's the old fogies who need it? How fair is that? LOL

So, chaos was the word of the day in my house... every day. It's hard to even think, much less find time to sit and write. Add to that a cranky hubby who has started up a new class in his Masters program and writing wasn't the first priority. Yup, my muse is pouting, she swears I'm ignoring her... and well, I am. My word count for right now is a big fat ZERO. Okay, maybe not a complete wash, I did get a bit of editing done last night and the night before, but then I got sidetracked by my sticky laptop keys. I'm a bit anal about that, drives me nuts if I can't type fast and have to keep going back and fixing stuff when the keys stick.

Okay, okay.. I'll admit it, it was a bit of procrastination. And, you should have seen the look of horror on my hubby's face when he came into the kitchen to find all the keys of my laptop on the table. *snicker* I was sitting there with a can of compressed air and electronic wipes surrounded by little black keys as he stood there blinking at me. And not just a couple... every... single... key.... hee hee. But, hey, it works so much better now. So now that I've rambled on about my nonexistent word count I'm off to finish posting today's hottie. Yup, I'm behind on everything. Maybe I'll get caught up within the next year. Maybe not. But, hey, there's lots of joy even when it's insane. I'll just have to keep on writing! :-D

Checking in a day late

Although... I don't think I checked in last week, but that was when I was in excruciating pain. So, didn't do much writing this week except for in my head and if I remember to write it down it was long hand as I couldn't sit at the computer for any length of time without causing further pain. I did some more editing on my short Cowboy story, including some major rewrites because my heroine was not very likable. I'm about 5000 words into the edits, not sure how many more words as I'm rewriting the ending... isn't it fun when our muse pitches a hissy fit and demands changes?

My other short story that I did as a challenge from Mysti is sitting in an inbox waiting for a second set of edits so I can do those and move on to the painful process of editing and submitting. That one ended on a whopping 12,723 words. I know that some of it will be rewritten, add some here, subtract some there, but I'm really proud of this one, even if it is a first draft.

My Alpha story that started this whole enterprise didn't get as much work done, but I did get quite a bit ironed out in my head and really feel that I know these characters so well. Hopefully, that will translate into easier writing once I'm able to finally sit and focus more intently on it. Right now it's sitting at 4,490 words, and two of my characters are stuck in a compromising position... but they're not complaining so I guess they can wait.

That brings my March grand total word count to: 22,109 words. That's not including the first attempt at a synopsis and query. Not bad, even if it didn't meet my 1000 word a day goal. I only missed it by about 9,000 words. Hey, I still technically have two days, but not sure I'll be able to sit long enough to write that much. Still, a word count that I can be proud of.

It's been fun, and I hope we keep it up, but if not I greatly enjoyed getting to know everyone here. I even have another story idea that I'll be entering into a contest brought to my attention by a friend. Yes, I can do more than one story at a time, sometimes I have to or I get stuck. All in all, a pretty darned good month!

Holy... Cannoli!

I'm being PG here. Maybe... I don't know if it's possible for me to be completely PG.

I'm checking in early because I'm riding a bit of a high tonight. LOL. I just wrote 12,000+ words in two days. Nope, you didn't read that wrong... TWELVE THOUSAND PLUS words. I don't think I've ever done that before! :::doing a little happy dance:::



So, I let Mysti egg me on and I wrote... and wrote... and wrote... and made my hubby feed the kids (which he didn't complain about) and the short story she challenged me to write is in her inbox as of an hour and a half ago. I'm gonna ride this high for a bit... until she sends me her edits. *groan* I hate edits.

Ayway... my word count widget for the story is as follows:

Kealie's "Appearances"



That means I met my goals, at least for this week. YAY! I guess I work much better when I'm dared to do it... and when someone pokes me... anyone else want to email me and poke at me? LOL

Checking In

I know, it's the middle of the week, but I AM here checking in. My first WIP which I only call Alpha right now didn't get as much work this week. I DID edit about four pages of Cowboy and am reworking the plot a bit.... so that's hopefully almost completely done soon.

My friend and blog/website partner Mysti Holiday challenged me to write another short story that is at least 7500 words and I only have two days to get it to her... but she's doing it too so she has to get her's to me at the same time. *sigh* I work quite a bit better under pressure. SO, my WIPs are as follows (the titles will be changed eventually):

Kealie's 'JaNoWriMo' Alpha


Kealie's Cowboy (2nd round editing)


Kealie's "Appearances"


So, all in all, the grand total is (drumroll please): 6,600 words! I think I have so far met my goal of writing at least 1000 words a day... and I'm a bit stunned by that. LOL I didn't think I'd been doing it that well since it's writing spread across three WIPs now. But I, AM getting it done. YAY....

~Kealie Shay

February Grand Total

Well, I didn't do as well as I hoped I would, but I did actually get some writing done. I went from 3712 to 4348... so a grand total of 636 words.

Somehow, I thought I had written more than that. When I went back and looked, I realized I had been doing quite a bit of research and world-building/rule-making. Ah, well, at least I'm getting more of it hashed out. And I'm having fun in the process, which has been missing for some time. I refuse to let my wonky health take away the joy I find in my writing (oh, alright, and the angst... but we won't go there right now).

I have a new goal of 1000 words a day, and even if I have to force myself to put down the new book by Gena Showalter (or whoever else I MUST read) I'll be working toward that goal. I love these characters and want them to have their story... so I can move onto the next set of screaming characters in my head. LOL

Here's my widget for now:



Keep your fingers crossed that by the end of March I'll have almost a full manuscript. Maybe by the end of April I'll have it all ready for the first round of edits and Crits. Yup, I'm being optimistic, I refuse to be anything else.

A Day Late... But Here

I'm here, but I have a big fat zero to add to my word count today. I have yet to have a chance to sit down and write more than emails and blog posts. So far The Sickness seems to have passed, but I'm still a bit cautious about saying it's completely gone.

We did the "baby's" One Year birthday party yesterday, and as you can imagine with a large family it was rather involved getting everyone fed. I love first birthdays, the baby doesn't expect much and as long as he gets his own little cake then life is good. LOL

So, hoping that once everyone is off to bed tonight I can actually sit and let my characters take over... more than they already do. But, hey, at least I checked in twice in one week! Things are looking up!

~Kealie

Sticking My Head In...

And hanging it in shame. *sigh* I don't have a whole heck of a lot more done than the last time I checked in. This is my widget as of today:

I think that gives me a grand total of 600 words since I last checked in (probably less). But, I saw that Marianne had her Nag hat on and knew I needed to at least check in, give a rundown of... well of why I don't get to sit and write like I want to... no like I need to.

I have spent the last eight weeks in and out of a cardiologist office only to have him tell me after numerous tests that whatever is wrong with me it's, "Most likely not something I as a cardiologist can help you with." Nice, huh. Now, apparently I get to start all over with another doctor. I go back to my "regular" doc in another week when he will most likely tell me that I will need to go to another specialist. Something's got to give, as the fatigue is just a no-go when I have four children to take care of on a day-to-day basis.

Add to that, my kids and I ALL got the stomach flu... and it's so not fun when at least two of those children can't make it to a bucket or toilet... yeah, TMI I know. My hubby is also currently in the middle of a "project", that is along the lines of a Thesis, for the Masters program he's enrolled in to further his education. So, no help from that area there, when I've gotten quite spoiled by his constant help. Hopefully, that will settle down in the next week and life will at least be on the way to normal.... at least as normal as it gets in my house. We'll see, but hopefully I'll be able to write, and drop in more, since most of y'all have no idea who I am or what I'm writing. LOL

So... that's my report... lament whatever. See y'all around.

Running Late... As Usual and WC

I haven't contributed much to the discussions lately... sorry! Aside from health issues I just wasn't sure exactly what I was going to do. I have an idea that started with NaNo and just petered out when other stuff interrupted. I had a hard time making the time to sit down and write. Soo... I wanted to keep working on that one. So far, this is my word count widget:



We'll see if I can keep up when I don't have holidays to try and work around.