I left the revision cave today to get my hair done
(looking something like this):
I wanted a crew cut but knew that wouldn’t fly with my stylist.
So I tried to make a half-way change and get it cut as short as possible
while still allowing a ponytail (for running).
But at the moment of decision I thought about my Laura-bracelet:
LEAP & THE NET WILL APPEAR.
I opted for short-short.
And I’m very happy.
I want to check in here since I haven’t been around much lately,
but don’t want to completely fall out of the habit of blogging
while I’m hunkered down in the revision cave.
So here’s where I’m at in my collective health:
Emotionally speaking, I’m feeling good about the positive changes I’m
making via my revisions and choices for my career. I feel in control
of those factors I can control.
Physically speaking, I’m doing very well. Last Friday I graduated from
PT after seven weeks of no running. I can now run again on a limited basis
as I work back to where I was before. I’m also able to hoop again!!
My daily plank routine is going well, and I just finished a three-minute plank.
(I’m telling you, if you haven’t tried them, they’re a great way to firm up your core;
you see results very quickly).
Parentally speaking, in this exact moment I’m doing a better job of remembering
I already navigated my high school years and that it’s up to my boys to do the same.
(But, oh, it would be so nice to have a magic wand to keep away the hurt and angst).
Friendly speaking, I miss everyone here. And while I have glimmers of guilt for not
keeping up, I know you all understand. You get why it’s important to keep my head
down and push on through. But please know I’m thinking of you and sending good
thoughts your way.
Am dashing off in a few minutes for a full day of basketball.
Zebu’s in a tournament and so I’m packing up the laptop
and hitting the bleachers.
Here’s some Agnes outlook to get you through the day:
AGNES by Tony Cochran
Let’s hope Grandma went easy on the pine nuts.
Am hard at work in the revision cave,
but wanted to share a tip that might help others.
I had concerns about continuity within a relationship
between two characters,
so I went through my entire manuscript and used the Highlighting function
to color code everything having to do with that relationship.
I used one color for interior thoughts
and another for direct interaction between the characters.
The colors made it very easy to track the progression in the relationship,
and I’m now confident the ms isn’t suffering from emotional ping-pong.
(I thought I’d already eliminated that stuff but apparently my emotionalism dies hard).
There’s a good chance you all know about this computer highlighting trick
(I’ve done this before with hard copy but never within my document),
but I’m a big believer in putting info out there.
May this tip reach the right person at the right time…
I’m missing this community, but am sending good thoughts for all your writing and life projects!
Spotted this guy sunning himself on the patio this morning:
And here’s Lebowski lounging in the sedum:
He didn’t even notice the snake,
and neither did the dogs.
It’s scary when I’m the most observant on a Monday morning.
1) Zebu was born in Anchorage, Alaska, fourteen years ago today
after twenty-six hours of labor from which I went temporarily AWOL.
2) I’d planned a home birth but since Zebu was early, law dictated I had to be in the hospital,
which is one of my least favorite places on the planet.
3) But I coped by going out on the grounds with my friend, A, who coached me through
contractions as we watched a moose ramble around.
4) We found out later the nurses were paging me over and over, but I eventually returned to my room
and they didn’t yell all that much.
5) After many more hours of labor, my beautiful Zebu was born, and today we celebrate him.
One constant over the years is Zebu’s robust dislike for having his picture taken.
I’ve been scarce around here and am popping in to say
I’m thinking of everyone
but am putting my time/energy/focus into some revisions.
I don’t like neglecting my online community
but feel it’s best for my emotional/writerly health to keep forging ahead.
I’m making progress and that is good for my soul.
Know that I’m thinking of you and wishing happy stuff all the way around!
Here’s a Coco pic to make you smile:
Bonus points to anyone who can tell me what she’s thinking.
AGNES by Tony Cochran
I’m doing WAY better than Agnes;
No bee stings for me!
Can I just say that I love my fella?
We went out to dinner the night of my emotional wallop,
and my fortune cookie fortune didn’t feel very apt.
I folded it and put it in my pocket.
But then a couple days later I noticed this tucked into our bathroom mirror:
And now I’m thinking I have the best fortune;
I have Zippy by my side.
I don’t know how I would’ve made it through childhood without books.
I’m the fourth of five children, and don’t have memories of picture books and lap reading,
maybe because life was hectic and it didn’t happen often.
But I do remember reading books by myself, some of them over and over.
Independent reading was a gift,
and I took advantage of it.
Every day.
In my room,
on the bed or floor,
on the couch,
in a tree,
back of the car,
in a tent,
on the school bus,
curled up on the window seat,
at the kitchen table.
Reading, always.
Books got me through.
They still do.
Which is why I’m so proud to be part of the group
From the Mixed-Up Files . . . of Middle-Grade Authors.
(Special thanks to Elissa Cruz for the idea and organization!)
Today is our launch and I hope you’ll go check out the new site.
You might win free books in our first giveaway,
but at the very least I hope you’ll relive your own middle-grade reading memories.
Thank you so much for having my back.
The comments and emails have made a huge difference to my emotional state.
In the midst of all that angst, I realized I was missing something:
my PREVAIL bracelet.
The cord had worn out and I’d gone without the bracelet for several weeks.
On Friday night, Zippy and I found new cord and he put PREVAIL back on my wrist,
alongside another Laura Hamor creation:
LEAP & THE NET WILL APPEAR.
Now I wear them together and the lovely clinking sound they make
reminds me of the beautiful, powerful Laura, and the many other friends who have my back.
Thank you, thank you.
This community is truly a life-saver.
Yesterday I suffered a massive blow to my quest for publication.
I’m still reeling from it all and trying to process
what it means for me in the long-term.
More than once the thought has entered my mind that I should give up,
cry "Uncle!"
Take up something new.
But as I sat on my patio this morning,
in a stunned kind of mourning,
I saw an ant dragging an equally large ant across the paver stones.
WARNING: Avert your gaze if you do not like ants!
© 2010 Tracy Abell
Then the ant started up the vertical wall of my step,
and my first thought was, "Wow. That’s some strength."
My second thought was, "Hey, if a tiny ant can summon all that inner fortitude, so can I."
So, while I’m still feeling shaky and unsure,
I’m also feeling that glimmer of resolve that’s carried me this far.
I’m counting on The Mighty Ant to remind me of my capabilities.
I will prevail.
1) Sometimes you just want to pack a bag and run away
2) but since that’s generally frowned upon, you hunker down
3) and hope for a shift in attitude and behavior.
4) The wait feels like forever, but that shift always comes,
5) and when it does, the sun shines and the birds sing.
© 2010 Tracy Abell
Wishing everyone a weekend filled with blue skies, calm waters, and an overall mellow vibe.
Today is the end of Zebu’s school year.
His last day of eighth grade and middle school.
The last day to ride the school bus
and witness kids throwing plastic soldiers out the windows at cars,
and other acts of idiocy.
He’s happy.
Happy, happy.
So in honor of his accomplishment
and also to brighten this overcast day,
I bring you a festive American Goldfinch:
© 2010 Zippy
We have a new thistle feeder, and this bird swooped in on the second day.
Haven’t seen him since, though, so if he shows up in your yard,
please tell him Tracy says hello.
I just read two YA novels by two well-known authors.
(Note: these authors are not on LiveJournal).
I’ve read and enjoyed other novels by these authors.
But I did not like either of these books.
At all.
The first was filled with repetitious interior dialogue,
as the narrator told the reader about his thoughts/feelings four different ways.
The second was based on an unbelievable premise that required a light touch
but instead was handled with a sledge hammer.
My jaw dropped when I read the final page because I couldn’t believe an editor let it go.
Then again, the entire book was written that way.
But you know what?
I did a quick online search, and discovered that all sorts of people enjoyed those books.
Books are a matter of taste,
and I need to remember that as I work to get my stories published.
Thomas Jefferson advised "In matters of principle, stand like a rock; in matters of taste, swim with the current."
That’s probably good advice, Tom.
But while I won’t argue with people’s taste regarding these books,
I’m not jumping in to swim alongside popular opinion.
That’s a reader’s right.
A right shared by those editors reading my manuscripts.
Tracy Abell 