Face wall. Bang head. Repeat.

Question.

What do you do when you feel completely overwhelmed by your MS? (I'll tell you what I do...give up for the moment and write a blog about it) When it needs so much work that you don't even know where to start?

I am determined to finish Hellbound, especially as soon I will not be working and would love to be able to query by the time I start school in January, because I sure won't have a ton of time to get it in shape then. But....it's a mess. I wrote it out of order and there are random scenes everywhere. I've never written a romance and I'm having trouble with the pacing and development of that relationship.

Any ideas? Brilliant words of wisdom? A hug? I'll take whatever ya got.

The Writer's Guilt Game

You know how it goes. Every day you have a conversation with yourself that goes something like this:

Friday

"I should really be writing. But, hmm, the kitchen is a mess. And the dog needs a bath. I haven't made the bed since Tuesday....*phone rings*....Now I've agreed to go out to dinner with my bestie. So....I'll write tomorrow. Good plan."

Saturday

"Well...it is my only day off and the male-creature I love also has his first day off in 16 days. We should probably do something coupley like visit a farmer's market or see a movie. So....I'll write tomorrow. Excellent."

Sunday

"Work. All. Day. Am. Exhausted. Can't. Touch. Computer."

Monday

"I haven't written in a week! I am a horrible, pathetic loser type person who will never finish a novel let alone be published!!!!"

It's a sad reality that as much as we would like to, we can't spend all day, every day typing away on our WIPs (okay, I wouldn't really like to do that, but I would like to at least have the option) and as a result we feel guilty when we don't write because of any number of things.

BUT.

I think it is important to remember one thing. WRITING WILL ALWAYS BE THERE.

Your MS isn't going to storm off in a huff because you've been neglecting it and never return. Your writing is like a precious puppy dog. Whether you've been gone five minutes or five days, it's going to be just as happy to see you when you get home *minus the tail wagging and barking*.

So. Go easy on yourself. Live your life, and never feel guilty for choosing to spend time with the people you love instead of writing. Writing will always be there, but those people might not. (But if you can eliminate work/school/cleaning-DO IT).

Some Sad (and yet...happy) News!

I am sad, and at the same time excited, to announce that as of October 25....

I WILL NO LONGER BE A SMOOTHIE GIRL!

Ahem. At least, officially. I have given my two weeks notice and will be retiring from the smoothie girl profession (if all goes according to plan, permanently.) However, I will always be a devoted smoothie groupie and lover of all things delicious blended fruit drink. I will forever be a smoothie girl at heart and therefore, the title of this blog will not be changing!

And, in the happy/exciting news department....

I'M GOING BACK TO SCHOOL!

Yes, you read the correctly. Now, you may be thinking "But Smoothie Girl, you already hold a bachelor's degree in "How to Be Nice to People" (a.k.a. Hospitality Management)". And you might also be asking, "Smoothie girl, in such a precarious economic situation, are you saying that a degree in being nice to people is not conducive to a successful, fulfilling, and wealth making career?"

No. No, it is not. I'm getting a second bachelor's degree in accounting (don't judge!) because after 7 years of dealing with people day, after day, after day, I'm thinking a job with a cozy desk and limited amount of human interaction and where I can wear cute dress-up clothes is just what I need. (Oh, and I kind of like accounting. But don't let that get around. I've got a reputation to uphold.)

Small Packages Blogfest!!

Today is the Small Packages Blogfest, for you bloggers out there like me who have less than 150 followers. Awesome idea courtesy of Jessica at Witless Exposition. If you want to sign up or just check out the other blogs, click here!

The subject of today's blogfest is:

What's your favorite Halloween episode from a TV show?

OR
If your one of those young people that doesn't remember when TV was fun, what's your favorite scary TV show or movie?

Now, I believe I am old enough to remember when ALL the t.v. shows had holiday themed episodes. For some reason, the ones that stick out most in my mind were the ones from Roseanne. My mom loved that show, and it reminded me of my own home life (middle class, suburban, although my mom was much nicer than Roseanne). They always had awesome customs and a haunted house that was similar to one my neighbors put on. Plus they were hilarious, Roseanne and Dan always played the best tricks on everyone. It was like April Fool's meets Halloween.

As for scary t.v. shows, I believe a majority of my childhood was spent cowering in the corner while my brother giggled maniacally as we watched "Are you afraid of the dark?"

The answer to that question being a huge, resounding YES! I slept with a nightlight until I was ten....Okay, twelve. FINE, FOURTEEN!! Sue me, okay? I got over it. For the most part.

The episodes I remember most clearly (well, there are alot of them, actually) include the ones where 3 girls get lost in the woods at summer camp and meet 3 old women who have been lost for years. Another where a guy who stole treasure from a ship can't fall go to sleep or zombies will come after him. And one about a little girl stuck in a mirror who keeps writing help on the walls backward.

Wannabe Writers #37

Are you a wannabe writer? Sign up here.

Where I am in the writing process: Unpublished. And at the moment, distinctly unmotivated. I started a new MS last weekend (big mistake!). I now have 5 WIPs. FIVE!!! 2 finished, which have been shelved. 1 that is approx. 75% complete and is my main focus (Hellbound) and which I hope to edit and query. And 2 that are in baby stages and I hope to complete someday.

My current problem(s): Motivation. I've hit a wall with Hellbound and haven't looked at it in at least a week. It's soooo close to being done and I can't even look at it at the moment. I'm not sure what else it needs and I'm not looking forward to figuring it out.

My question this week: Do you work on multiple projects? Or do you write one book at a time?

Tracking Your Stats. Yea or Nay?

So, as I've navigated my way around the lovely blogger universe, I've noticed a theme on other writer's blogs.

People keep track of how far along they are in their WIPs and how many words a day they write and how much time they spend writing/editing/staring blankly at the screen....etc. Huh. I also discovered you can keep track of how many people view your profile, read each blog post, etc. Hmm.

I don't do any of these things. I have no idea how long a WIP is going to be, so how can I know I am 80% done or whatever? When I write, I write til I don't feel like writing anymore or I've finished a scene or I have something else to do. I don't set writing goals. I have a valid fear that setting goals and then not meeting them will be detrimental to my self-esteem.

I think if I kept track of how many (or, um, few) people look at my blog I would turn into a dejected basket-case, and again, take a blow to my confidence.

But I'm curious, does keeping track of how much you write and/or how many people visit your blog and/or setting goals (daily, weekly, monthly?) work for you? If so, why?

New plan for getting published. It could work for you too!

I have formed a new plan to get published. And, if I may say, it is B-R-I-L-L-I-A-N-T.

Am I going to....

Finish my MS?

Polish it til it shines?

Edit, Edit, Edit?

Have others read it?

Edit some more?

Query like my life depends on it?

Gain an agent who will sell my book?

Nope. The answer would be none of the above.

I'M GOING TO BECOME FAMOUS!!!!

I'm going to be on a cheesy reality show, get on the covers of tabloids, publicly embarrass myself (possibly get arrested...that's always helpful), maybe throw in some rehab, some public service, a dash of contrite apologies...and BAM! Editors will be fighting over me and my unwritten book. SUCCESS!

Please feel free to borrow my plan, adjust to your liking, and pursue.

*Note: I believe there are a select few celebrities who wrote their own books (or at least had input in them) and deserved to have them published. (But I'm not going to be one of those)