February 2012 - Holly West

Get to Work – Kris Neri

February 27, 2012Writing, Author Interviews4 Comments

"Shortly before I fall sleep, I remind myself where I left off and what I'll want to tackle the next day." – Kris Neri

As you know from this post, I recently asked several of my writer friends how they motivate themselves to do the writing. Sometimes, all it takes is getting that first word down–but you'd be surprised how difficult it sometimes is to just do that.

I admitted to a serious case of the lazies in that post, but since then I've made some good progress on my revision of Diary of Bedlam. I'll be done with the revision today, with what I call "copy edits" starting tomorrow.

Today my friend Kris Neri stopped by the blog to offer her tips for staying on track. Kris is the award-winning author of the Tracy Eaton mystery series, the Samantha Brennan and Annabelle Haggerty magical mystery series, and several stand-alone titles. Her latest novel, Magical Alienation, is nominated for a Lefty Award this year. She also co-owns The Well Red Coyote bookstore in Sedona, Arizona.

So here's the question I asked:

Do you have trouble buckling down and getting to your writing? If so, what is your no fail (or mostly no fail way) of getting yourself concentrate and get the work done? Or is it such a habit now it's really not a problem?

Kris Neri: The second half of any book seems to create a decent level of compulsion for me, but I sometimes have to push myself during the first half. My best technique for keeping my mind in a book that I'm not too far into is to actively work at using my unconscious.

Shortly before I fall sleep, I remind myself where I left off and what I'll want to tackle the next day. I address any questions I might have about the next segment, and tell myself the answers will come to me before I settle down to write. And lastly, as I drift off, I visualize myself seeming really engaged in my writing, not frustrated because I don't have enough time. If I do that regularly, I'm able to make better use of small amounts of time, and I never really leave the book.

I'm also a big believer in starting the day with journaling. The act of starting the day writing something, anything — even if it's misspelled brain dribble — helps me get into writing mode. Unfortunately, I still have to work at it some of the time.

Holly: Thanks, Kris! I like the idea of actively putting myself into the mind set of writing, the process of visualizing engagement in order to acheive it. This is something I'll definitely be trying.

Get to Work – Eric Beetner

February 13, 2012Writing, Author Interviews1 Comment

"When I finally commit to a novel or even something short I like to get it done and not lose momentum. I find inertia plays a big part in getting through a novel and keeping an even tone to the writing." –Eric Beetner

I've been having a really hard time getting to work lately. Not sure what the problem is, but it's been bad, folks.

I decided to ask a few of my writer friends what they do to shake off the lazies and get to work. First up is Eric Beetner, author of numerous short stories, novels and novellas. His latest novella, DIG TWO GRAVES, is available from Snubnose Press on the Kindle.

But since distraction is the order of the day for me lately, let's start with Eric's great trailer for DIG TWO GRAVES:

All right, now that that's out of my system let's get on to the real purpose of this post. Here's the question I asked:

Eric Beetner: I think everyone struggles with this at least a little. Thankfully, I don't very much. I also don't beat myself up if I'm not writing. I'm not one of those "I have to write everyday" people.

That said, when I finally commit to a novel or even something short I like to get it done and not lose momentum. I find inertia plays a big part in getting through a novel and keeping an even tone to the writing. I like to be in the same head space the whole way through, and for me, the easiest way to do it is to keep on a tight schedule. It's why I don't start until I have a full road map of where I'm going, and why I won't start something if I know I have a big break coming up, whether work or otherwise.

For instance, I recently moved and I have two novels I would love to write but I knew better than to start something I couldn't follow through with. I'm gearing myself up to start right now, but this is when I face the inertia of not having written for a while. Other things have gotten in the way too like catching up on other projects that got put aside during my last novel. Things that pay a little bit and involve other people who are waiting for me.

But these are all wonderful problems to have. No complaints. I'd always rather be busy than stagnant. It's funny how being busy in other aspects of my life actually fuels the writing. You'd think a calm non-writing life would lend itself to more writing, but I find it leads to more lazy movie-watching and sleeping.

In the end, if I ever feel like I'm not writing when I should be I can be very hard-assed with myself. "Suck it up and sit down at the keys, boy!" That kind of thing goes on in my head. And some of the best nights of writing I have ever had have started out as times when I did not want to write at all.

Holly: Thanks, Eric! I like this idea of having a "full roadmap" before starting the novel and then plowing through to get it done. I'm the sort of person who needs that direction or I start to waver and go off course.

In the coming days/weeks, I'll feature additional writers who've come forward and offered me advice and/or commisseration.

Where I Work

February 9, 2012Diversions, More About Me1 Comment

On Tuesday we celebrate the one year anniversary of living in our house. To celebrate, I thought I'd post pictures of my office space.

John Hornor Jacobs started this "trend" of writers showing their office a couple of months ago. It took me that long to clean up and rearrange my office, but over the weekend I finally got it in some kind of working order.

Here is the wide shot:

The room is pretty big, but since it's got to function as both my office, my gym, and our guest room, space must be used wisely.

Well, maybe not so wisely, because my desk is huge, and I love it. I got it from a Craigslist ad about four months ago.

There are actually no bookcases in the room since I've got a big one in the hallway right outside the door. But these are the books I use on a regular basis or that inspire me so I keep them close.

I know three monitors seems excessive but really, they are very useful.

The picture below is my treadmill desk. It's really not very high tech–Mick just built me a little wooden platform I can rest my laptop on. I try to go 10,000 steps a day, and most days, that means I have to spend a little quality time on the treadmill.

I was going for a Mad Men vibe with my furnishings. Didn't quite acheive it, but I'm very happy with it just the same. I got this chandelier for less than $100 on Overstock.com.

Another Craigslist find. This dresser is actually one of my favorite pieces of furniture in the house.

So I mentioned my office is also the guest room. This is actually a trundle bed that pulls out to make a king-size bed. Buying this was one of the best decisions we ever made because it saves so much space but allows our guests to be comfy.

Finally, this chair (another Craigslist item) doesn't serve much of a purpose other than to be awesome (it's partner is in the living room).

I still need to paint since the mint green doesn't quite do it for me, but that might not happen for awhile.

So this is where I work most days. If I'm writing a first draft I use a yellow legal pad and write all over the house. Sometimes I sit at the dining room table too because for some reason I find it hard to sit in the same spot all the time.

Wanna see more writers' offices?

John Hornor Jacobs
Daniel B. O'Shea (He inspired the treadmill desk)
Keith Rawson

Confessions of a Terrible Dog Mom

February 3, 2012Dogs3 Comments

This is an admittedly self-indulgent post, but really, aren't they all? Still, I feel required to begin with that disclaimer because I'm feeling rather traumatized at the moment when I really have no right to be, as you shall soon see. On with the post then.

There's nothing quite like watching your twelve year-old, arthritic dog fall head first down ten stairs to ruin your day.

Much to my surprise, he's fine. He got up, shook himself off, and waited for Mick to come down and carry him down the remaining stairs. He went for his usual morning walk and everything seems to be in the semi-working order it was in before the fall.

But if there was any doubt I'd make a terrible mother, let it be dispelled now, because the whole incident was my fault. Allow me to explain:

Our little family has a routine. Somewhere between 4:30 and 6:30am, the dogs decide it's time to get up. Some days are more urgent than others–if we don't act quick enough, there might be an accident. Or in Stella's case, an "accidentally on purpose." This morning things didn't seem too frantic and we all took our time.

One of the reasons we bought this house was so that we wouldn't have to take our aging dog Stuart down to the street four times a day in the condo elevator. We went through that with Kramer and cute as he was in his little red wagon, it was really no fun for anyone. Now that Stuart had reached seniorhood, it seemed a nice little backyard was just the thing.

But damned if we didn't choose a house with stairs leading to the master bedroom. Stuart's had trouble with those stairs pretty much since the first moment we moved in, and most days/nights, Mick hauls him up and down. I don't do it because frankly, I'm afraid of falling down them myself, and carrying Stuart only increases the liklihood I'll end up at the bottom of the landing in a heap.

This brings me to Stella. Being the untrustworthy sort, her feet are forbidden to touch the floor in the morning until after she's been outside. I carry her downstairs every morning (at nine pounds vs. Stuart's thirty, she's a much safer option for me).

This morning Mick must've took a little too long to get ready because Stuart followed me to the stairs instead of waiting for Mick to carry him down. It happens occasionally and I didn't think much of it. But this time, when he stepped onto the first stair, his back legs collapsed. He wouldn't, or couldn't get up, even with some gentle prodding. I was still holding Stella and didn't want to risk putting her down, so I propped up Stuart's hind legs to see if they were still working. Sounds perfectly reasonable, right?

Except I propped him up ON THE STAIRS. With his front legs on a bottom step and his back legs on the step behind it. Truly, I might as well have shoved him down the stairs myself, because pretty much as soon as I let go of him, he tumbled helplessly down to the bottom of the landing. HEAD FIRST. I could only watch in horror. I didn't move, I didn't even let go of Stella. I JUST WATCHED (and screamed for Mick).

Hell, I think even Stella was traumatized because she was strangely subdued as I attached her leash. Usually she's scratching at the door, desperate to get out and bark at the world.

Like I said, Stuart's okay, sleeping peacefully as if the whole thing never happened. But I remain sad and troubled, because what I did was not only thoughtless, it was lazy. It was clear Stuart's legs were not working properly this morning–how hard would it have been for me to stand there and wait for Mick? Or, God forbid, let Stella run down the stairs herself so I could help Stuart?

What if he would've hurt himself?

Oh, the shame.

I'll get over it. But right now I'm feeling pretty damned guilty.

Writer | Editor

Monthly Archives: February 2012

Get to Work – Kris Neri

Get to Work – Eric Beetner

Where I Work

Confessions of a Terrible Dog Mom