A Novel Beginning, Weeks 7, 8 & 9

This post includes Weeks 7, 8 and 9 from my writing journal.  I added an extra week because one week had limited entries and because I would like to get to the end of this journal sooner rather than later.  These three weeks I dealt further with character development, introducing new characters, the issues surrounding time management and my first act of bravery at finally allowing someone else to read some of my work. 

Week 7

Monday:

I am beginning to worry that some of the details in my story might muddy the water.  Whether or not certain facts should or should not be included, whether the character should or should not know certain information, whether the information can come out now, in a later chapter or in a later book…there is much to think about.  Today I am happy with the amount of writing I was able to complete but towards the end I began to feel lost.  Whether I was feeling lost with the characters or feeling lost in the plot, either didn’t feel good as I thought my character was floundering a bit.  It could be due to the fact that she is just beginning to gain the knowledge that things are not as she thought they were.  She doesn’t know it yet but someone close to her has lied to her.  How will this affect her later?  How will it affect their relationship?  After thinking about it, I believe I became upset as I wrote out the scene where the character lied to the main character.  This particular scene wasn’t what I had initially intended to add when I made notes on the subject of their conversation.  It could be this conflict that I’m getting lost in because I am concerned with how it will affect the main character.  I care about the main character and I feel bad about messing with her life.  It is odd to say but it is true.

Wednesday:

I don’t know how any writer can sit at a desk for 8, 12 or even 15 hours a day.  Working those hours would be very difficult and I can imagine that writing for long periods of time would actually be hazardous to your health.  I believe a writer has more issues than writer’s block to deal with (if such a thing even exists).  Much like a secretary who has to avoid the ‘secretary spread’ I believe a writer has to avoid a big bottom, if you will.  There is a saying, ‘if you don’t make time for your health, you’ll make time for illness.’  That’s a great quote to remember.  Writing is something I want to do but I don’t want to end up gaining weight or affecting my health because I’m sitting at the computer too many hours during the day.  Priorities are an important part of many aspects of your life, whether it’s regarding your job, your family, exercising or just taking care of yourself.  So, I am going to work on my writing but also figure out a way to keep myself moving when I’m not writing so that I maintain good health. 

Thursday:

I had fun introducing a new character today.  Not one that will stick around, I don’t think, but one who gives my main character a very important piece of information.  While I was writing, a new thought crept into my head about how I could switch up the story just a bit in order to change the facts with regard to an important event.  I mulled about it for awhile as I was typing out my scene and I finally decided to just let it go.  Again, having a brief outline is much better than a firm outline, which would be too restricting when thoughts like this come and go.  If I decide to use a new idea, it may change things up but not knowing what’s going to happen is what entertains me as I write.  I hope the reader will also feel the same way.

Week 8

Monday:

My husband has challenged me to reach 200 pages in my book by this weekend.  Today is Monday but I have case work I need to complete this morning before I can begin writing.  Tomorrow I am scheduled to be a guest speaker at my son’s college class in criminal justice so I will spend much of the day preparing for that.  At this rate, I’m not sure I’ll make it to 200 pages by the end of the week.  Life happens; however, the life in my book needs to continue on as well so I will do my best to find some good blocks of time to write and get as close to 200 pages as I can.

Week 9

Thursday:

I’m so disappointed with how life can wreck havoc with my attempts to maintain good time management skills.  I did not make it to 200 pages last weekend.  It has been difficult to set aside any good blocks of time to write these past two weeks due to other issues I had to deal with.  I think I might get through tough times much better if I can “hide” inside my book but the opportunity just didn’t present itself.  There may be more times such as this but I surely hope not.  I need to keep the story alive in my head and I need to have contact with my characters every day.  I miss the characters if I don’t check in with them every day.  That sounds funny; but it’s true. 

Saturday:

I’m probably just over half way through my book and I finally got brave and sent a portion to my cousin for her review.  Okay, I’m lying.  I only sent her the prologue.  I haven’t had a chance to edit the actual story and I’m not sure I want anyone else to read it before I get a chance to review it first.  Either way, it was a big step for me to finally let someone else see what I’ve been working on.  I’m so private and almost protective about my writing.  I have told some family members what I’ve been doing but I do not yet plan to show them what I’m working on.  Do I value their critique?  Honestly, not yet, especially while the book is still in the infant stage.  I don’t want to hear anything negative about my work yet.   I’ll wait to hear any negativity when it will actually do me good, as I attempt to make the final draft even better.  Right now I feel like a mother bear trying to protect her cub, willing to fight to the death to protect it.   

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

These three weeks of writing were fairly difficult for me.  Not only was I working with new ideas and feeling "bad" about upsetting the main character's life (although I was happy with how it moved the story along), I was dealing with a stressful time in my personal life and as a result the feeling of disappointment at not accomplishing my page goal for that time period.  Of course, the issue with time management is nothing new if you've read my other journal entries.  I may have been expecting too much too soon after writing for only two months and at the time, I did not realize it would still be another two months before I would finally complete the book.  However, it was my motto "Don't let life rule your passion" that helped me continue to find the time to write when I could and kept me going regardless of what was going on around me.

We Write and We Rewrite

I think I’ve found another description for the Terrible Two’s…that term would define the combined labors of editing and rewriting. 

I’ve been rewriting my book now since the middle of January.  At first, I felt very proficient as I began making the changes I had scribbled all over the first draft.  The task did not seem all that burdensome since I had already read through the book and made notations regarding changes I wished to make.

At first, I think I actually enjoyed the rewriting portion of writing.

But then the inner critic took over, which brought me back to the task I did not especially enjoy…editing.

As I made the first draft changes, I was in fact reading through the story again and in doing so, I was also editing…again.  Not only am I making changes based on the first edit, I am also making additional changes I feel are necessary while I read over the story again as I rewrite.

Of course, I never thought my book would be prefect the first or second time around.  It will most likely take more than a few edits before it is worthy of publishing.  Thankfully, I’m on no one else’s deadline but my own.  I just hope I can stick to my own deadline because while I rewrite the first book I am working on a second book.

Some might wonder why I would start a second book before finishing the first.  That’s okay; you can wonder, worry or choose to believe I’m being hasty.  I just have certain goals and I’m trying to stick to a plan.

To multi-task or not to multi-task, that is the question.  It may be a good subject for another blog.

Here is what multi-tasking looks like:

I would call this “creative chaos.”  Actually, my desk has looked worse so this was a good day.  When I am in the middle of various projects, my desk will appear to explode but believe me, for the most part I know where everything, and I mean everything, is located. 

I have always been good at multi-tasking so I don’t really doubt myself in that regard.  It’s just that one story can so overwhelm your thought process, along with all the other little details and chores of everyday life; it will soon be determined whether I can skillfully rewrite one book while also writing a new one.  However, spending time on my second novel is a nice break when I tire of rewriting the first and I like the option of moving back and forth between the two tasks.

When it comes to rewriting, I will keep in mind what the experts say:

“Books aren’t written, they’re rewritten…”  Michael Crichton

“There is no great writing, only great rewriting.”  Justice Brandeis

“The beautiful part of writing is that you don’t have to get it right the first time, unlike, say, a brain surgeon…”  Robert Cormier

Or how about, “It’s perfectly okay to write garbage – as long as you edit brilliantly.”  C. J. Cherryh

Garbage is a strong term and one I personally would never use to describe my work, but you get the gist.  It is the editing and the rewriting which both ultimately deliver a superb story.

To persist is to prevail and when it comes down to it, the light at the end of the tunnel is really not so very far away. 

 

The Origin of Ideas

I’ve noticed a trend lately with the production of new movies.  The trend seems to be that the ideas behind movies aren’t necessarily “new” anymore.  There are a few exceptions, of course, but it appears to me that movie producers are out of ideas.  Movies are either produced in order to gain the most shock value, have the silliest plot imaginable or they are a remake of an older movie, quite possibly one that has been reproduced more than a few times.

That’s why I adore books over movies.  Although there are a few book ideas that tend to be piggybacked by others who also wish to publish during the frenzy of what has caught on, there are thousands of books out there with a new idea or at least a spin on an old idea, rather than a remake of the same idea.

So where do ideas come from? 

They come from real life, for one.  It depends on the person, of course, but we all lead very busy lives and are subject to a multitude of characters, scenes and dilemmas we can study and learn from every day.  Some characters, scenes and dilemmas are more interesting than others but the question of how interesting they may be to someone else is subjective.  Many authors use real people they know as inspiration, real legal cases to write true crime or they may use headlines as a way to come up with a good idea for a book.

Ideas can also emerge straight from the imagination where a limitless amount of creativity can be found.   Masters of creativity, in my opinion, include J. R. R. Tolkein, Stephen King and J. K. Rowling.  Authors such as these add strength to the following quotes by Cynthia Ozick:

“The imagination has resources and intimation we don’t even know about.”

“To imagine the unimaginable is the highest use of the imagination.”

Ideas can even come from dreams.  The trick is remembering the details of the dream when you finally wake up.  I myself have a notebook and pencil on my nightstand and have made use of it a number of times after waking from a dream.  I discovered the importance of using a pencil after pens failed me while I attempted to quickly jot down a few notes before the dream was completely lost from my memory.   

Ideas for characters are also either based on real life or imagination.  Some characters are much more likeable than others and I find when I discover an author who can continue to create likable characters or characters I love to hate, I am much more inclined to continue reading their books.

What types of characters interest you?

Do you like reading about real people…families, farmers, secretaries, entrepreneurs, blue or white collar workers…who face a life-changing dilemma?

Or do you enjoy reading about characters you would not ever actually meet in your lifetime…a spy, a young wizard, a dragon slayer or a vampire? 

The types of characters you enjoy reading about will correspond to the types of scenes and dilemmas you prefer reading about…real life drama, extreme suspense or imaginary lands.  You may enjoy a book familiar to your current life or you might enjoy a book completely different from what you know as a way to escape monotony. 

In my opinion, any book written well with a good plot and likeable characters is a great escape.

So where do my ideas come from?

Sometimes, as I said, a dream might give me an idea, but for the most part they come to me out of the blue.  Whether I’m driving to an appointment, folding laundry or taking a walk, I will suddenly be struck with a “what if” scenario.  Since I have worked as a private investigator in criminal defense cases for over a decade, you can bet a number of my ideas relate to some sort of crime and the investigation surrounding that crime. 

Do my ideas relate to cases I have worked? 

Not specifically, no, although there are a few cases I’ve worked in the past I would not mind putting down on paper with the permission of those involved.  My ideas relate in general to crimes I have investigated but not to the people I have dealt with.  However, I have met with and interviewed thousands of defendants, victims and witnesses over the course of my career and there may be some characteristics of people I’ve met that I have used or will use in character portrayals.  Beyond that, there are a few individuals I might like to base some future characters on but will do so only if they are in agreement. 

In spite of my legal background, I am not a one trick pony. 

Some of my ideas have nothing whatsoever to do with crime or investigations.  Writing about crimes and investigations is familiar to me while the other book ideas will be somewhat foreign.  I don’t mind because it will allow me to conduct a lot of research, which is something I enjoy, or it will allow my imagination to take a front seat as I write. 

Either way, it’s a challenge I look forward to. 

A Novel Beginning, Weeks 5 & 6

Hard to believe it’s February already but I’m not sad about it; rather, I’m very pleased.  I am in awe of what the future holds and I look forward to it with enthusiasm.    

I am busy with editing/rewriting so today I will keep it simple and post more entries from my writing journal.  It’s a bit surreal reading back through my journal; it seems so long ago when I started writing my book but these entries were only four months ago.  Much has happened since then, I suppose, which gives me the feeling that more time has actually passed. 

Today I’m posting weeks 5 and 6 from the journal.  These weeks I dealt with more time management issues (again due to weather), research for the book, character development, and the liberating feeling of not using a strict outline.

Week 5

Monday:

Research…it is important to the story but it can also bog you down with the details.  I don’t want to bore anyone with details but I do want to know what I’m talking about.  I’ve heard the phrase, “write what you know” but I think I’d rather “write what I like to read” instead.  It’s not possible to only write content you have firsthand knowledge about.  Well, it’s possible I guess, but it would be boring.  I’ll write what I know, with regard to investigations, but I hope to always add an element I’m unfamiliar with so that I also entertain (and educate) while I write.  The problem with research is that it’s usually completed on the Internet and it is so easy to get sidetracked.  Being near your email, calendar, Facebook, favorite blogs and other websites you frequently check on a daily basis can be hazardous to your time management skills.  It takes real discipline to stay focused.  Using time wisely is important to keeping up with a schedule.  Maybe I should conduct more research about time management... 

Tuesday:

I found a new website today offering inspiration for writers.  They also have a Facebook page so I assume daily inspirational quotes will be plastered on my Facebook page to get me going each day.  At least I hope that’s what will happen.  I’ll wait to see how inspirational the quotes are but from what I’ve seen so far, I like the site, they offer some good information and the quotes I’ve read are inspiring to someone who needs a kick in the butt every other day.  As I write I notice that a want to edit if I make the mistake of reading over what I’ve written the day before.  That is a habit I am hoping to break.  I just need to focus on writing and remember that editing can wait until later.  Every single book I’ve read on writing tells me this but it is hard for me not to review the work completed so far.  I can’t wait to read my story, make sure the flow is right, that the characters are likable and that the dialogue makes sense.  I’m training myself as I go along and I’m hoping I learn good writing habits, rather than bad ones.  Only time will tell in that regard.

Thursday:

I’m getting further into my story and I’m introducing new characters who will have some type of roll in the plot as I move the story along.  I like the characters I have introduced so far but I have come to realize that some characters might not make the first cut if they aren’t really necessary to move the plot along.  It seems strange to write someone in now when it is possible I might have to cut them out before they have a chance to prove their worthiness.   

Week 6

Tuesday:

I thought my busy schedule was enough to hinder my writing but it would appear Mother Nature also has a say.  On Sunday when I had a full day available to write, I was in the dark instead.  It didn’t seem all that windy outside but we got a ton of rain and eventually we lost our power.  Instead of writing, I spent the day on one of my favorite hobbies: scrapbooking.  I figured Monday I’d be able to spend the day writing but again, Mother Nature had a different plan.  It was very blustery and there was constant noise as limbs kept falling from nearby trees.  My fear that a tree might fall came true when I heard the loudest crack and the thud of a tree as it hit the ground.  Then my power went out…again.  Down the driveway I saw my worst fear, a tree over our driveway and the power lines.  Since I had a lot of time on my hands, I decided I would try to write longhand.  It’s much harder than I realized!  I know some writers write everything in longhand but that’s just not my style.  I switched gears and wrote notes about characters and upcoming scenes instead; notes I could look back on once I was finally able to type again.  I admire writers who can write their stories longhand.  They are not limited by the weather, the power or anything else.  They can write whenever, where ever and on whatever they choose.  I’d like to say I can change and make a useful habit out of writing in longhand now and then but I will admit that’s probably not the case.  I am a character who adores routine and habit.  I also like a schedule and prefer getting the work done in the most efficient way possible and for this reason the computer is my friend.

Wednesday:

It’s amusing to think I might not know ahead of time whether or not my characters will play nice.  For the most part, I do know ahead of time how the characters will react to each other but there are a few times when they have surprised me.  This might sound funny, I realize.   I just write and as I am writing, the story and the characters play out.  I know the plot and I have an outline but it is a very broad outline.  Very broad and very giving.  I cannot be forced into a “table of contents” and move along with the story based on what my outline indicates should happen in the story.  While writing, new characters have popped up, how the characters will relate to each other has changed and how my main character faces certain difficulties has also changed.  It is a unique experience, making people become real, giving them personalities and lives to lead and giving the story a life of its own.  I still have the fear that no one else will like my story but I go on with the belief that if I work hard and I enjoy what I do and what I write, then others will also.  Fear is the biggest setback when it comes to doing what you really want to do.  Jo Leigh is quoted as having said, “Screw the fear.”  Simply put and well said.

Friday:

Not having to deal with an outline is liberating, as I can write what I want as it comes to me.  Or, I won’t have to feel guilty if I decide to completely delete a whole scene because it just doesn’t “feel” right or flow correctly.  That happened today.  First time, really, since I began writing.  I wrote out the beginning of a scene which was going to lead to a crucial point in my book, when the main character finds telling evidence about a family member.  But as I wrote out the scene, it just wasn’t flowing right.  It sounded, and felt, forced.  I finally went back and started the whole scene all over again and the fact that the new scene was easy to write was a true sign that I was going in the right direction.  Having an outline puts too many limits on what I may be able to come up with or change at a later date.  Constructing a basic outline, I have done, but having excessive detail in the outline is too limiting to my imagination.  We’ll see how it plays out when I get to “the end.”

Patience vs. Persistence

I received an e-mail the other day, a nice little note from the group who I submitted my short story to back in November.  The note was sent to thank me for entering the contest and for being a valuable part of the writing community.  My heart sank when at first I thought the note was an attempt to lift my spirits before crushing them.

My spirits are safe, for the moment.

The note turned out not to be a rejection letter but instead a notice to inform me that judging is now underway and the winners will be notified at the end of February.  Another month to wait on top of the two months I’ve waited so far.  And this is for a short story of no more than 1,500 words. 

When I started my blog and wrote about having completed my first book (or the first draft anyway), I was asked by many when the book would be available to read.  At the time, my plan was to submit the book to contests because, I was hoping, if there were any chance of winning, it would also result in getting my book published.  The contests are certainly a draw to newbie authors such as myself because it is a way to get a book published without having to find an agent willing to take on the task of selling the novel of a new author to a publisher.  Even worse is trying to find a publisher willing to take a chance on a new author when there are no guarantees I can earn a profit for them.

Due to these cold hard facts, my plan was to submit my book to contests, especially those where only unpublished authors could submit work.  How long will it take to hear back about a full-length book contest? 

Too long, I have determined, and I’m not sure I have the patience for it.

There were a number of contests I had my eye on, one actually offered results in two months but according to most of the other contest guidelines, the results take an average of about six months.  It’s understandable, of course.  Each organization holding a contest must receive hundreds or possibly thousands of submissions.  It would take many, many hours for the panel of judges to read through such a high number.  I don’t envy those judges; it must be very tedious and tremendously difficult to work your way through such a large number of novels in only a few months.

So what does all this mean?

Patience has never been a virtue of mine.  I especially have difficulty waiting on others even considering the fact that I might understand their delay.  The idea of sending my book off to a group or a number of groups and then wait…for what will feel like an eternity for a “yea” or a “nay” is something I find very difficult. 

Instead, I’ve been researching my options and the possibilities are endless.

I do love research.  Being informed means being well armed.

Although I may continue to enter short stories into contests to see where I stand in that regard, I have decided to take the publishing bull by the horns.  I may be able to find an agent who may be able to discover a publishing house willing to take me on as a new author but I won’t bank on it.  In the meantime, rather than wait on someone else to do the job for me, I will take the options available to me so that my book and the ones to follow will be published sooner, rather than later.

I’ll keep you informed as I go along.  Wish me luck!

A Novel Beginning, Weeks 3 & 4

Happy Friday everyone.  I am spending my Friday still catching up on projects after being without power for just over a week.  It is remarkable how often or how long a person can get sidetracked from what it is they wish to accomplish. 

Some things can be helped, some cannot. 

Today I’m posting weeks 3 and 4 of my writing journal.  While reviewing the journal again, I see now how often interruptions threatened to hold me back from writing my book.  Read on to see what I mean.  I will apologize ahead of time as this has turned out to be a longer blog.

Week 3

Sunday:

An interview tomorrow for a potential job has distracted me the past few days.  A number of other commitments have also taken up much of my time, including some booster club work, a second job I had been working the past few months, school shopping with my youngest son and time spent with family.  In the middle of all that, I spent time researching and preparing for the job interview, as it is only the second interview I have had in the past 20 years.  I hate to say I just haven’t had time to write.  I had to switch gears so that I am focused and ready for the job interview.  I’ve been my own boss for the past 12 years and the thought of working for someone else is not my preference but certain factors beyond my control have forced me to look in to taking a different path.  I am optimistic that even with another job I will be able to make my schedule work so that I can regularly write.

Monday:

I got through the job interview pretty well, I think, but time will tell.  Now that the interview is under my belt, I need to spend time catching up on my case files and preparing for a visit with my brother and his family.  During their visit here from England, my brother and wife will be in Kona and my nephew will be staying with us for over a week.  I will do what I can to write but I’m not certain how much I will accomplish while my nephew is staying with us.

Week 4

Monday:

It has been great making memories with my nephew during his stay with us and I would not trade that for anything.  I may have been optimistic in thinking I’d be able to find time to write but that has not happened.  We have been keeping very busy, since I promised my nephew we would be doing something fun every day.  He’s 4 years old and has a lot of energy…I am 40+ and my energy level does not compare.  I have kept up with him during the day but by the time he goes to bed around 8p, instead of writing as I should be, I find myself flat on the couch dozing off during television shows.  Needless to say, I am now going to play catch-up and will try to get as much writing done as I can.

Tuesday:

Today was a good day and I was able to write without much interruption.  I have been putting together family and personal profiles on all my characters and I’m also trying to pick names to match each character well.  Now I’ve realized I also need to choose birth dates so that their Zodiac signs match their personalities well enough.  Maybe I’m putting too much thought into my characters but my characters are like actual people.  Without personality traits and other characteristics to separate them from everyone else, they will seem two-dimensional.  I realize Zodiac signs may not be a reliable reading into someone’s character traits but from what I know, they usually come pretty close.  Either way, I just want to make sure to add some real depth to my characters so that potential readers can find something in common with them. 

Wednesday:

Today I bought a new calendar for next year because it was labeled a “writer’s diary.”  Unfortunately, it was in plastic so I was not able to see what it contained until I bought it.  Although it will be useful as a calendar, I now realize I could have waited and spent less on a regular calendar later in the year without the “writer’s” additions.  There are some useful tidbits but not much I can’t live without.  I do wish there were more inspiring quotes and tips; that would have been the most useful.  Say, an inspirational quote or idea or tip to motivate the writer’s mind each day.  The few quotes found in this book don’t really inspire me.  One example is, “An idea, like a ghost…must be spoken to a little before it will explain itself.”  (By Charles Dickens)  Or, “Writing ought either to be the manufacture of stories for which there is a market demand – a business as safe and commendable as making soap or breakfast foods – or it should be an art.”  (By Willa Cather)  Okay, I get it.  But there are many other quotes I have found which do a better job at inspiring me.  For example:  “You can’t wait for inspiration.  You have to go after it with a club.” (By Jack London)  I just love that one.  Or, “If your ship hasn’t come in--swim out to it.” (By Mary Engelbriet).  Maybe I’ll just have to put together my own inspirational calendar…

Thursday:

Boy, when I do get the time to write, it’s great how much I can get done.  Today I was able to write most of the day and I’m happy with how far I’ve gotten.  I also spent time researching house plans to match the house I have in my story.  I love Victorian homes so it was not a chore to research Victorian houses and their house plans.  I finally found one I adore, with a rounded corner tower and a huge front porch spanning the length of the front of the house.  I changed the layout a bit to work with my story but I now have a good visual of the house the main character has moved in to.  Whether some think this is useful or not, I believe it is very useful.  I do not like to write about anything without having a visual in my head with regard to what I’m writing about.  I believe I learned this throughout my years as a private investigator.  When I question people, their answers put a visual in my head that I see like a silent movie.  Considering some of the terrible things I have had to interview witnesses about, this is not always a good thing but it is necessary for the type of work I do.  Once the movie runs in my head, I can tell if something doesn’t seem quite right as I ask the witness to explain certain details about the incident.  In those instances, I know when I need to go back and verify information in order for the scene to make sense.  I am then able to include those details when I type up my reports so that it accurately reflects what the witness recalls with regard to the incident.   I'm hoping that the abilities I have gained as an investigator along with a strong desire to write will prove to make me a great writer.

*****
As weeks 3 and 4 indicate, distractions are only temporary.  They may interfere with concentration, they may be a diversion, but they are not permanent.  The trick is dealing with the fact that distractions are constant.  Unless a person has no family, no friends, no job, and gobs of money to pay others to cook and clean, interruptions and distractions are just a way of life.  Time management may be difficult but to take on any project, goal or dream, it is necessary to understand how to manage time wisely when it comes to what can pull you away from your mission.  I will admit I haven’t yet mastered the task of time management and I’m not sure I ever will but as with anything in life, we are all students and only need to have the desire to learn.

Can Mother Nature sign my Absence Slip?

For anyone who has viewed my blog the past six days only to discover I have not added a new post since last Wednesday, there is a reason and I do have a good excuse.  Friends and family who live nearby will know exactly what caused the delay, as they too were dealing with the same issue…the force of nature called Mother Nature. 

And boy was she mad!

We were all tickled to see the first bits of snow when it finally decided to stick.  The words “No School” due to snow always bring on happy faces in my house.  We were then impressed when we received first six inches of snow and then another ten inches the following day.  I don’t recall having to use a measuring tape before but last week it was necessary in order to record an unbelievable 16 inches of snow.  In this neck of the woods, getting more than a foot is a rare treat, or trick, depending on your point of view.

Here’s a shot of the pretty white stuff…our driveway is in there somewhere.

Snow just makes everything beautiful, doesn’t it? 

That was the fun part.

We were then hit with freezing rain, rather than the nice warm snow-melting rain we had been promised by our weatherman, or woman, as the case may be.  For a solid day, we lost limb after limb and tree after tree, as they snapped, crackled and popped from all the heavy frozen snow attached to the limbs and the tops of the trees. 

I’ve honestly never heard anything like it. 

I’ve heard trees fall during a good wind storm and we had a severe ice storm years ago but this was something else.  Every few seconds was one more loss to the forest, causing damage or demise to hundreds of trees as they continued to snap and fall.  It sounded like a war zone outside; rifle after rifle shot ricocheting off the hills. 

This all would have been bad enough but Mother Nature had not completed her alterations to the tree line or the hillsides.  Next for our viewing pleasure was a slight thaw.

What did this produce?  An amazing amount of snow still remained on the branches or tops of the trees.  If it wasn’t weighing down the branches so that they snapped and plummeted to the ground in a heap, the snow itself was falling through the branches, breaking into pieces and then hitting the ground as loud as a glass chandelier might sound after falling from a high ceiling.

All of this, in a word, was amazing, sometimes frightening, but most certainly, it was a nuisance.  The storm itself was not so much a nuisance as was the after effects.  The roads were a mess or impassable, power lines and trees were everywhere, and power was out for days and days and days (five and a half days for us).  Offices and businesses had to close, schools were closed, phones and computers were down. 

Work could not be adequately accomplished.

And that, my friends, is the rub.  It is ironic that at the end of my last post I commented on how thankful I was to have access to current technology, as the very thought of writing, editing and rewriting a book on a manual typewriter is just too much to even contemplate.  Since Mother Nature decided to throw one of her winter tantrums at us, it left me wishing I had some other way to work, where I did not have to function only with items containing wires.  I might have been able to accomplish much more these past six days if I did not rely so heavily on modern technology. 

Hi, my name is Paula, and I am captivated with modern technology.

That said, the power is finally back on, my office is nice and toasty and the computer is warmed up and ready to exert itself at my command.  Rather than continue to focus with regret on what I was not able to accomplish these past six days, I will now take pleasure in the technological wonders available to me because they are what make life and work more manageable.  I won’t deny I very much enjoy the fact that I can now continue with my writing, in the new-fashion way.