Rebuilding My Core: One Plank At a Time

/ Tracy Abell / 20 Comments

             

I’m mostly putting this out there in order to hold myself accountable,
so feel free to skim on by.

I really want to strengthen my core muscles.
Hooping is great for that but I haven’t felt up to hooping for the past six weeks,
so need something I can do on a daily basis that doesn’t require lots of time.

Enter the mighty PLANK. . .

Front plank:  today I held this pose for 60 seconds.

Side plank:  today I held this pose (right and left sides) for 45 seconds each.

Oh, yeah.  I also did tricep dips.  Today I did 15 dips.

I’ve gotta start somewhere, right?  Right!

If anyone wants to join me in this, maybe we can cheer each other on to greater core strength.
(I absolutely promise not to challenge you to a plank-off, which Zebu discovered is quite popular in PT circles).
                                    

Haiku for Tuesday

/ Tracy Abell / 10 Comments

               

Apologies to my poet friends,
but I needed to get this off my chest. . .

Wind makes me crazy
    anxious, screaming-out-loud nuts
         so stop already!
        

Feel free to leave your own wind-inspired haiku in the comments.
The crabbier the better.
             

Mentor Monday: Trusting My Gut

/ Tracy Abell / 6 Comments

    

I heard back from Claudia yesterday on the two chapters I sent last week.
She had much good to say about the stuff that worked,
and offered a couple excellent points about places I needed to lay a little groundwork.

She also had some thoughts on how to handle a certain plot point.
I’m mulling over her suggestion, taking notes in my trusty notebook as I unravel my thoughts.
So far I’m thinking I need/want to go with my initial idea for this story line
but am mindful that part of me might be rebelling against outside influence.

The thing is, Claudia has had lots and lots of good ideas during this revision process.
I’ll have an idea and she’ll tweak it just a tiny bit to make it an even better idea.
I’m thrilled that my story is so much stronger than before
but I’ve also had a few insecure moments in which I wonder if the improvements are because of her or me.

I’ve never worked one-on-one before to revise an entire manuscript
and am wondering if anyone else has experienced any of these feelings.
Have you ever worried your story is better only because of someone’s input?
Or have I just gone out and invented a whole new brand of writerly neurosis?
               

Friday Five: The Ellen Hopkins Edition

/ Tracy Abell / 6 Comments

             

Last night I got to hear Ellen Hopkins speak.
I haven’t read any of her books, mostly because I never felt in the right emotional space to do so.
CRANK is some heavy duty bleeeep, people.

Well, after listening to the smart and funny Ellen in person,
I decided if she’s brave enough to write them, I can summon the courage to read them.

1)  Ellen started writing CRANK in prose but got 50 pages in and realized it wasn’t working.  After
hearing Sonya Sones speak, Ellen decided to try writing it in verse.

2)  She put huge amounts of thought into the format and where each word ended up on the page
because she was (is) especially mindful of the YA reader’s needs.

3)  In answer to a question, Ellen said that yes, it feels as if her brain is half story and half format.

4)  When she writes, each page has to be right before she moves on which means that when she reaches
the end, it’s done.

5)  She cautioned us to always be honest in our writing and so if writing a romance, to show the flaws.
Don’t set up readers for a lifetime of looking for a kind of perfect love that doesn’t exist.  Her example
was that she’s been married 25 years and considers her husband Mr. Mostly Right (because there are
those days…)

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND, EVERYONE!
                        

Thankful Thursday: The LiveJournal Edition

/ Tracy Abell / 18 Comments

          

I’m always grateful for this kind and generous community.
Today, however, I am exceedingly grateful.
And I offer this dapper little Western Scrub-Jay as a token of my gratitude.


                                                         © 2010 Tracy Abell
                          

Bullying: A Confession

/ Tracy Abell / 30 Comments

              

Many brave writers are stepping up to share their stories of being bullied.
I’ve tried but cannot read those accounts because they are too raw and painful.
They reveal in excruciating detail the many ways that humans can hurt one another.

There’s one other reason I cannot bear to read those stories: I was once a bully.
That mean girl you remember?  Me.

I’m deeply ashamed to admit that when I was in sixth-grade, I bullied another girl.
I was horrible and cruel, and made that girl feel so bad she stayed home from school.

I have no explanation or excuse for my behavior, and I’ll forever regret my actions.
I apologized and tried to make amends, but there’s no way to completely erase the hurt.
I did damage that can never be repaired.

For all of you who were bullied, I wish I could stand alongside your younger selves,
and fight off the likes of me.
And to R., again, I am so very, very sorry.
                

Life’s Too Short

/ Tracy Abell / 12 Comments

             

A little reminder to me and anyone else who spends too much time
worrying that something said or written might have been misconstrued:

AGNES by Tony Cochran

Trout does make an excellent point.
And I’m going to try hard to remember this.
                        

My Process

/ Tracy Abell / 8 Comments

          

I’m about 110 pages into my revision,
and am officially in love with this story.
Often when writers love their projects,
they go into some euphoric state in which they crank out words and revise like mad.

I’m not that kind of writer.

For the past week or so, I’ve been fine-tuning a couple chapters
in order to strike the perfect emotional balance.
These chapters are pivotal and are very different from the original,
so I’m charting new territory here.

I told Zippy it’s as if I’m sneaking up on my story,
getting one part "just right," and then tiptoeing up to the next moment
that needs to be just right.

Lots of times I stop at the point of decision, and do something else.
Nap, work on a crossword puzzle, watch birds.  Watch clouds.
That break gives my middle mind a chance to do its thing,
so that when I get back to it, I know how to strike the emotional balance.

Revision truly is a thing of beauty.


(Crocus from my front yard)                                                          © 2010 Tracy Abell

                         

Friday Five: The Take It From Me Edition

/ Tracy Abell / 12 Comments

            

1)  While it’s good to have teen sons responsible for the weekly cleaning of their bathroom,

2)  it’s probably best to now and again check on the actual "cleanliness" of said room

3)  because those little microorganisms can gain an astoundingly tenacious foothold on all surfaces

4) and you will need a strong stomach plus a haz-mat suit to battle them

5)  but as long as you have Jimi Hendrix on the boombox, you will PREVAIL.

Wishing everyone a happy weekend (and depending on your mental state, you may or may not want to check the kids’ bathroom).
              

Today I’m all about the procrastination

/ Tracy Abell / 16 Comments

            

You want to know a really fun way to avoid your revisions?
Play with the exposure settings on your photo software!


                                                                         © 2010 Tracy Abell

Come on, fellow procrastinators, you know you want to…
                    

Waste Not Wednesday: Opportunity

/ Tracy Abell / 10 Comments

 

Okay, so this doesn’t fall in the environmental tips category,
but this post is not only a reminder to myself but also a way to hold myself accountable.

My kids in Florida PLUS my mate at the office EQUALS writing opportunity.

I have revisions to complete, darn it.
So I am not going to waste this opportunity for making headway on CLOSE TO HOME.

If you see me around the LJ-playground, please send me back to my pages.
But hopefully you’re seizing your own writing opportunities,
and wouldn’t notice even if I started hooping next to you.

Here’s to us accomplishing a whole mess of literary feats today!
                   

Newsflash: Mr. Flicker Isn’t Insane

/ Tracy Abell / 16 Comments

         

I’ve written about the phenomenon of Northern Flickers pounding their beaks on my rain gutters.
I’ve even publicly begged their mercy since that rat-a-tat-tat makes me jump out of my proverbial skin.
Especially the metallic rat-a-tat-tat of beak on aluminum.

But the flickers ignore my feelings and persist in their rhythmic assault on my nervous system.
So I chase them away, questioning their sanity and intelligence.
There was one brief moment when I considered letting my enormous cat loose on the roof
(totally Zippy’s idea), but I refrained. 

Then the other day I received an email from my friends at Wild Birds Unlimited.
And guess what?
Northern Flickers don’t pound on metal surfaces because they’re nuts.
Northern Flickers pound on those surfaces because they’re looking for love!
At least, that’s how the males go about it.
They create those loud sounds to let the females know they’re available, and to drive away other males.
(On the other hand, a slow, methodical tapping is bad news because they’re probably making a nesting hole in your wood siding).


                                                                                                © 2010 Tracy Abell

Anyway, that little piece of information has made a huge difference in how I handle those sudden bursts of noise.
I still don’t like it but whenever I hear it, I imagine this dude (except an actual male since I just realized this is a female!) using his beautiful, sturdy beak to find some companionship.

Call me insane, but I think that’s kind of romantic.
                      

Spring Break!

/ Tracy Abell / 17 Comments

          

This morning I took Wildebeest and Zebu to the airport
and left them at the curb.
They wanted to navigate DIA on their own as they head
to Florida to visit their grandma (my mother) for spring break.

They should be landing in another twenty minutes or so.

When this photo was taken in southern Colorado on spring break in 2000,
I don’t think I could even imagine the day when they’d travel alone.

They will definitely experience higher temps in Florida than we had in 2000,
and I’m almost positive Wildebeest will be in a better frame of mind.
                            

Friday Five: The Deep Thoughts Edition

/ Tracy Abell / 12 Comments

    

1)  One of the very best ways to strengthen a relationship is to share some laughter.  And maybe a beer or two.

2)  You should floss only the teeth you want to keep.

3)  In order to maintain yoga focus, it’s best to first intervene with the flicker that’s drumming his sturdy beak against the aluminum rain gutter.

4)  The best kind of pen to write with is the one you actually pick up and use.

5)  I know you are, but what am I?
               
Wishing everyone a glorious weekend filled with thoughts that come from the deeper end of the pool than these!


                                                                                            © 2010 Tracy Abell          

Thankful Thursday: The Little Brother Edition

/ Tracy Abell / 10 Comments

           

As I searched for photos to use in this week’s birthday tribute to my big brother,
I came across all sorts of other fun childhood photos.

Exhibit A:

So, today I am thankful for:

My little brother, Stephen,
who was a good sport and not only played dress-up with me
but also mugged for the camera
and made me laugh,
and, perhaps most importantly,
helped me refine my daring fashion sense.

             

Happy Birthday, Big Brother!

/ Tracy Abell / 21 Comments

Today is my brother’s 50th birthday.
He was my best friend when we were little.

We sledded together, whooping each time we went over one of our jumps and got air.
We crawled on our bellies in the woods, wearing ammo pouches sewn by our sister and clutching guns made of scrap wood.
We swam in the lake for hours at a time, bouncing on a tractor inner tube and playing tag along the shore.
We filled the horse trough with cold spring water and used his stopwatch to see who could sit submerged the longest.
We paddled his canoe along the shoreline and encountered the biggest, scariest carp in the history of the world.
We slept outside in the tent (until the screech owl started screeching).

I had a fearlessness back then,
and I definitely reveled in the moment.
Due in large part to my brother.

Thanks for always pushing me to jump and climb higher and reach farther, Peter.
I cherish our memories, and you.

Wishing you a coming year filled with joy and love and loads of laughter.
Happy birthday, big brother.

Whither the Weather?

/ Tracy Abell / 7 Comments

           

Seeing as the forecast is calling for a foot of snow,
and seeing as there’s lots of blue sky and sunshine outside,
this strip feels apt.

AGNES by Tony Cochran

I guess these wildly fluctuating weather forecasts are just another sign of spring.
                    

Mentor Monday: Looking back in order to move ahead

/ Tracy Abell / 6 Comments

             

I’ve revised about two-thirds of my manuscript
and when I met with Claudia last week,
she cautioned me that in the final third
I must deliver on the tension developed thus far.

She’s right, of course.

But when you’ve ripped up your story’s floorboards
and knocked down a bunch of its walls,
it’s a bit overwhelming to figure out how to construct the remaining pieces.
Especially when you’re not entirely sure what pieces will be there.

But Claudia has a great method for writing the second half of your book:
Go back to the first half to see what’s there,and then use those elements in the latter part.

Stuff like:

  • The nosy neighbor down the street
  • The red and white twirly skirt
  • The dripping faucet
  • The neglected lawn
  • Best friend’s activist Grandma
  • The tiny photo album

These final chapters will require lots of new writing,
but at this point I’m only taking notes.
Lots of notes.

My middle mind had me include those elements for a reason,
and I trust that in time I will see how to construct a satisfying ending.

But sometimes you have to look back in order to move ahead.
                 

March Madness: Bracket Explosion

/ Tracy Abell / 4 Comments

            

Today’s games and results did serious damage to my brackets.
That bums me out a bit.

But I can’t hold a grudge against Washington for sticking it to New Mexico.
Out of all the games I’ve watched over the past three days
(and I’ve watched LOTS),
I’m most impressed with Washington.

I’m going to make a crazy prediction:
The Washington Huskies are going to the finals.


           

Friday Five: The Marilynne Robinson Edition (Part Deux)

/ Tracy Abell / 12 Comments

        

Last week’s Friday Five with Marilynne Robinson went over well
so I thought I’d share some more insights from her scary-smart mind:

1)  Be aware of the effect metaphor has on other metaphors.  Rather than writing your story as "beads on a string," view it as a resonating chamber in which all pieces must be affected by whatever else is vibrating.

2)  If you write with a public in mind, you’re dead.

3)  When you’re writing something and encounter great difficulty, don’t be discouraged.  You can’t write good fiction if you feel you already know everything about what you’re writing.  Stumble on something?  It means it’s a legitimate question.  Set it aside and let your mind do the work.  Don’t have to flail away until you find a "solution."  Don’t force the issue by using your Front Office Mind.

4)  Your Front Office Mind is how you operate on a daily basis (getting rid of telemarketers, making appointments, etc.)  The Front Office Mind is not the mind you use when you write.  The other mind, the middle mind, is where all the work is done; it’s been thinking about things for a very long time, waiting for you to ask. 

5)  Short story has a responsibility to itself: the posing of a question that somehow answers itself.

Bonus gem:  Pay attention to when you’re writing well so that it’s easier to fall back into that mode the next time.
              

Everybody Needs a Mentor

/ Tracy Abell / 18 Comments

          

I’m back home after my fourth meeting
with my mentor, Claudia Mills.
And I just want to say,
if you ever have the opportunity to participate
in a SCBWI-sponsored mentor program,
do it!

Claudia isn’t just an ace at pacing and tension,
unafraid to tell me when I’ve struck the wrong note,
but also a mentor who is generous with her praise.

I practically float home after sessions with her.
She not only makes me feel good about what I’ve accomplished
but also fills me with a steely determination to meet her expections.
I never, ever want her to regret the compliments she’s given me and my writing.

And because so much of this journey is spent alone, in my head,
I’m going to be bold and link to Claudia’s blog post from today
in which she said insanely nice things about my writing.

You know, for those days when I’m feeling delusional.

Check out your local SCBWI chapter to see if you have a mentor program.
If not, maybe you can get one started.

Because every writer needs a Claudia in her corner.
                 

Thoughts on a St. Patrick’s Day

/ Tracy Abell / 8 Comments

          

            

Shallow men believe in luck.  Strong men believe in cause and effect. 
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

However….

Smart women believe in hard work with a dash of good fortune.

~ Me

Wishing everyone a happy, fortune-filled St. Patrick’s Day!
                           

Mentor Monday: Storytelling

/ Tracy Abell / 16 Comments

           

My revisions are due to Claudia in two days
and I’ve still got lots to do.
I’m cutting some stuff I hope to use later,
adding new material to make the story flow,
and moving scenes around.

Claudia said during our last meeting,
"I think I’m better at structure [than you]."

I had to laugh because this revision process
has proved something I already suspected:
while I’m a very good writer (meaning, I use words well),
I have to work harder to be a good storyteller.

I have to consciously think about structure and pace
so that I do my characters justice in the way I let their stories unfold.

However.

I am learning.
All this work with Claudia is helping me think 
about my writing in a whole new way,
and I’m confident the lessons I’m learning while
revising CLOSE TO HOME
are lessons I will carry with me on every book to come.

And that’s what being a writer is all about:
bringing your always-improving game with you to each and every story.