Julia and Julie

I just saw the movie and watched it as a writer, one who would like to be published in novel-length one day.

I loved Julia; hated Julie.
Julia was charming and wanted to do something in a world that devalued women's abilities.
Julie was a self-centered, self-serving whiny brat in a world that was struggling through a terrorist attack.

Julia was a class act. Julie is not.
Both had husbands who loved them.
Guess which one deserved it.

My Second Job

Writing really is my second job.

I just worked most of the weekend on a short story.
The call for submissions came over the loop by email on August 12 and the due date was August 17 by 11 AM. When I read that email I was scheduled for a business trip the next day. I was in Pittsburgh for my day job until August 14, wiped out and my brain fried by the time I got home Friday evening.

So I set some goals for writing over the weekend and started yesterday morning. By this morning I had almost 4000 words. By this evening I'd reviewed, revised and sent it off.

My WIPs for this month include finishing a second novella for review by my editor at The Wild Rose Press, a Halloween story for a contest (winners to be included in an anthology), two blog interviews and a Christmas story (another call for submissions due the end of this month).

I also want to rewrite Moonstone Magic and send Elizabeth Peacock and the Body on Abbey Road out to agent and an editor who requested partials.

Even if I didn't work full time, that would be a lot to do.

But the feeling I get from completing a writing goal, from sending it off to an editor, is so great I can't wait to get started on the next project.

Writing is my second job and I'm building my credits so that when I retire, writing will be my only job.

Rainy Sunday Afternoons

The good thing about rainy Sunday afternoons is that I can indulge in hours of reading...hours of escape. I did and am still doing just that today.
This is one of the best books I've read so far this year. I love the writing, I love the premise, I love the characters.
And now I must plan on going to the Channel Islands.

And another thing...

I seem to be either working or writing, so tomorrow I may Musikfest.
Yeah, I know that's not a verb but it is in the Lehigh Valley.

Writing and Writing and Reading

Writing Status Report:

I'm half-way into my next novella, tentatively titled: When in Rome...
I'm having a lot of fun researching Rome and I definitely will be going there one day.

I'm also working on Moonstone Magic, a time travel set in Arthurian times. I'll probably go on an Arthurian tour next year - June is my goal. I want to add more color to the book and meet Geoffrey Ashe. Not as if I haven't been to England four times already - and Glastonbury twice. I'm thinking of adding a few days onto the beginning or end of my tour - days in Glastonbury.

And maybe I'll go back to Bath. I'm on an Austen kick. having read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, I'm now reading the Rita Award winning, Seducing Mr. Darcy and really enjoying it.
I wonder what Jane would say to her new-found following.

Too many books to write, too many books to read and never enough time.