ROCK GODS--KINGS OF LEON

What a night for a dance, you know I'm a dancing machine.
With a fire in my bones, and the sweet taste of kerosene,
I get lost in the light, so high I don't wanna come down,
To face the loss of the good thing that I had found.

(Woo hoo hoo, woo hoo hoo)

In the dark of the night, I can hear you callin' my name.
With the hardest of hearts, I still feel full of pain.
So I drink and I smoke, and I ask you if you're ever around,
Even though it was me who drove us right in the ground.
See, the time we shared, it was precious to me,
But all the while, I was dreamin' of revelry...

(Woo ooo ooo ooo, woo ooo ooo ooo)
Born to run, baby, run, like a stream down a mountainside.
With the wind at my back, I don't ever even bat an eye.
Just know it was you all along who had a hold on my heart,
But the demon and me were the best of friends from the start.
So, the time we shared, it was precious to me;
All the while, I was dreamin' of revelry...

(Woo ooo ooo ooo, woo ooo ooo ooo)

Dreamin' of revelry...

(Woo ooo ooo ooo, woo ooo ooo ooo)

And I told myself: "Boy, away you go..."
It rained so hard it felt like snow.
Everything came tumblin' down on me.
In the back of the woods,
In the dark of the night,
The paleness of the old moonlight,
Everything just felt so incomplete.

Dreamin' of revelry...

(Woo ooo ooo ooo, woo ooo ooo ooo)

Dreamin' of revelry...

(Woo ooo ooo ooo, woo ooo ooo ooo)

Dreamin' of revelry...

(Woo ooo ooo ooo, woo ooo ooo ooo)

Dreamin' of revelry...

(Woo ooo ooo ooo, woo ooo ooo ooo)

Inspiration

I went to a workshop today organized by my union the amazing PSSP and was blown away by Kelly Walker this is the bio from his website.

Kelly Walker is an author and speaker as well as an accomplished singer songwriter - recording artist. He addresses audiences across North America with his spirited message of hope and courage and humour, addressing such timely concerns as change, burnout, leadership, humour and grief.
http://www.kwalker.com/home.html


The week of 7-14 2011 had not been my greatest week I had difficulties with my clients and a disrespectful co-worker and although I confronted her appropriately in my quiet space I broke down and had a intense cry fest.

Today listening to Kelly, and his journeys through life decisions he made issues he confronted in his personal life it inspired me to accept that moments in which i feel I am in a hole, or darkness engulfs me its those moments that will enable me to come back stronger than ever. I really liked when he stated live, take care of me and give myself the opportunity
to groan and also to grow find the passion that will bring happiness, that made me realize no matter how long it takes I will continue to pursue my dream of getting published.

Progress Report

I was struggling today about what to blog about, I have not set a consistent day in which I blog because truthfully I need to think about what I want to blog about and just like writing it could take a while for the mind to get moving. Today's blog will be about updates. I am revising Ecliptic Dreams formerly known as Cove Awakening which I still have a soft spot for but since I decided to rewrite my novel changing the name sort of made it seem fresh again and I love titles in novels that reflect the seasons, universe etc i.e.TWILIGHT, NEW MOON, ECLIPSE etc. The revised title makes sense though with the story and the main character struggles so here is my WIP I am working on. ECLIPTIC DREAMS/YA Paranormal Romance: Professional editing/rewrites/revisions
Twilight SIREN/YA Fantasy Romance : First draft hope to be finished this by late spring RED DAWN YA/Dystopia Romance: First Draft aiming to finish in early spring
November Rain/YA Paranormal Romance ongoing maybe until early summer
Drum roll my first adult Erotica Mist of Moon(FYI I am terrified writing a naughty novel this is really a challenge if I can cope writing way out of my norm)
What was that significant moment in which you made a decision regarding your publication path?

Learning the craft of writing

I acquired an editor to help me polish my novel, as of late I am deep into revisions, rewriting and I am learning many things from my editor the first thing that I learned was understanding my characters,and plot by completing a GMC which is the acronym for Goal Motivation and conflicts. I realized that when I queried it was way too early because my characters were one dimensional and the plot had gigantic holes.

My editor does a lot such as copy editing, correcting my grammar, and the biggest suspect for me is the punctuation, but she does more than that for me, presently I have revised the first chapter and hoping that I am close to the hook, the middle of the novel is okay and I am pleased that the way I ended the novel will offer my potential reader a cliff hanger but its still satisying.

Another major suspect for me is showing vs telling I am so happy when my editor points this out but I have to buckle down and catch this for myself my editor suggested me be watchful of typical words I use such as begin and started.

Other words not to use are: heard, saw, noticed, smelled, thought, etc. For example, instead of saying Elizabeth saw Stephen kissing Kayla and she wanted to scream I would revise this, Stephen kissed Kayla, Elizabeth eyes filled with tears, she wished Stephen was the one kissing her, Kayla is not right for him, but Elizabeth is holding back her feelings for Stephen so she has no choice but to accept Kayla and Stephen are together.

Dialogue: Writing for the YA market my dialogue has to sound authentic in addition, it has to make sense not just two or more people talking for the sake of talking it has to be one to improve the momentum of the plot and dialogue should not put the reader to sleep.

Scenes: My editor has helped me by highlighting in a lovely blue colour the scenes that have to be rewritten or most of the time deleted because it does nothing for the plot but taking up space which is not the goal of scenes.

I think my characters are three dimensional but they improved again after I completed my GMC, I don't focus too much on physical descriptions just the basic and if I do again there has to be a reason that will further the plot or give the reader insights.

I loathe reading books in which the characters are flawless every character should have something about them that they have to work through. I have made a long term goal to continue to learn about the craft of writing by writing a lot reading an eclectic array of books in various genres.

Writers need to understand the goal of their writing and if the goal is towards getting a manuscript published then you have to seek out knowledge and starting at the basic.

Critique Partner

The journey towards publication/seeking representation is also gaining an critiue partner or Beta Reader, as of late I have lost two CP at first I blamed myself with numerous reasons the main one I struggled with is self pity thinking they just didn't like me. But it didn't take me long to come to my senses, that nothing I can do can sway a person's decision if they choose not to partner up with me for a CP or BR, and I realize that aspiring to be a writer rejection comes in many ways yeah it feels bad but I am hopeful that I will gain a CP/BR along with an awesome agent and one day a wonderful publisher.

The focus for me is to work hard with my amazing editor and polish my manuscript and work also on my three WIP that I am excited about.

Life always changes and part of maturing as a person in various capacities or circumstances is positive thinking and trusting in myself that nothing will last forever and hard work towards my goal of publication will happen eventually.

Success is counted sweetest
By those who ne’er succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
Requires sorest need.

Not one of all the purple Host
Who took the Flag today
Can tell the definition
So clear of Victory

As he defeated – dying –
On whose forbidden ear
The distant strains of triumph
Burst agonized and clear !

Emily Dickinson | Classic Poems

Writing Resolutions

A year and a half ago I made the decision to finally pursue my writing aspiration, another year is approaching and as usual I come up with my resolutions so these are personal goals and writing goals.

*Polishing my manuscript. (I have retained an amazing editor so I am on the right path.)
* Finishing two WIP (rough draft)
*Tone my body (long term goal since I was fifteen years old)
*Writing for me and don't think about anything else relating to publishing biz
*decreasing my stress (this is a hard goal cuz I freak out a lot)
*Write for two hours everyday as per my writing calender

That's all I can think of right now it's 10.09 p.m.I tomorrow is my last day and I am off for two weeks the amount of writing I will do is making me so giddy, but I have to balance can't forget about my family/extended family during the holidays. This post will continue it'll be interesting in a few months when I revisit the above goals if I attained any.