Sabrina's Blog

It's been a little while since my last post. I've been so busy, I hadn't realized that my blog remained overlooked. The last couple of weeks have been busy. I am working hard at revising my book, writing a new short story, running my mommy group, and preparing to take over as President for my writing group. Is it any wonder something got overlooked? I am a list person. A long list sits on my desk for to-do's for all of these projects. I have so many ideas running through my head. Ideas for scenes to add/amend in my manuscript, ideas for short stories to increase my portfolio, ideas for how to improve my writing group, ideas for the history book I am creating for this year's PTA at my son's school of which I am the chair, and ideas for the local stay at home mommy group of which I am the organizer. My lists help make sure these things all make the transition from idea to reality. Which is the best part, of course. An idea, not realized, is a sad waste. I do...

I decided to take this week off from the huge project that is my current manuscript. I need time to clear my mind and gain some perspective. At the same time, I definitely do NOT want to stop writing. So I shall write my first short story. I typically don't care for short stories, because they are evil. By evil, I mean they start in the beginning of some issue without giving any back story. They usually end before anything is really resolved and gloat on the life lesson they have taught you along the way. That totally drives me crazy as a reader. I must be a glutton for punishment though, because I continue to read them. This week I am feeling a little evil. *grin* I started my own short story and should have it finished tomorrow. I will, of course, let my few chosen critics read it for me and pass judgement. I am excited to see if I nailed the torture that is the short story or if I missed the mark by a mile. I'll be sure to share my lovely critic's opinions when I...

Today, I hate the word 'is' with a passion that I cannot begin to describe in words. I am currently combing my MS for weak words. By weak words, I mean those words that are overused or shouldn't be used at all. I had 583 'is' words in my MS. I now have 403. Have I said that I hate that word? Admittedly, the sentences I have taken them out of are 1000 times better. And that I do like, but the fact remains that I do not like editing. I'll do it anyway, because I like the end result. Editing is tedious. I must admit that I really dislike this part of the writing process, but I keep telling myself that it will all be worth it when I can submit to agents a MS that I can be proud of. I have to tell myself this a million times a day as I comb through for the 60 weak words on the list my friend, Ang, made for me. Though I love her dearly, right now I don't think I like her or her list very much. *Kidding of course, darling Ang.* I hope I don't dream ab...