I’m waiting on the last required photo for approval for no hair. But I need to do some more practice ones and this is one of them.
I finished edits on Wolff Bros last night, need to add acknowledgements and then turn it in. Today I’ll be trying to come up with ideas of where to go on Tangling with the Wolf novella. Hopefully, I’ll write like gangbusters.
I love dragonflies. They eat bad flying insects. Between them, butterflies, bumblebees and hummingbirds in the garden, my granddaughter and I were thoroughly entertained.
I often don’t see a hummingbird at rest, but my neighbor has a tree next to my fence where they will sit. I tried to get a shot of them, but not sure if they came out.
So I finally got a pass on my portrait and uploaded the next one. In the meantime, I have the third one completed, and I’m working on a fur course.
I ended up getting 500 words on Tangling with the Wolf–the novella on my non-writing day while little one was here. Then I was working on Wolff Bros 2 edits based on my beta readers’ critiques. I hope to get that done today and then get the rest of my word count for today.
We had wild thunderstorms twice yesterday. We weren’t supposed to have any rain. But I will take any that we can get. Little one usually sings, “Rain, rain, go away.” And I tell her, “Oh, no, we need the rain!” I was telling her that all the little animals need the rain, and she finally was singing, “Rain, rain, come again.” I’ve got to train her right. lol
We have a better chance of rain today when we weren’t supposed to. I’m glad. It’s helping to cool things off a bit. Maybe I can get some more weeding done.
Okay, I’m off to finish these edits and then get back to writing.
Bumblebees are territorial and they can get mad when you bother them, but I just had to get some pictures of them so I was madly dashing around the garden taking shots of them every chance I could get.
I read where colleges are back in session, students are getting sick, no quarantine in place, just send them home wherever they are from–brilliant!–so they can spread the virus to their families and hometowns. This reminds me of when I was talking to a college student, from a great distance away, who couldn’t wait to go back to College Station, Texas A & M.
“I’m careful around my parents, but when I’m back at college, we’re going to party! We don’t get it. If we did, it wouldn’t make us that sick.”
“But people of all ages have died from it,” I said.
Nope, he didn’t believe it. Not big enough numbers to convince him. He’s immune. His friends are immune. Let’s party! And so now those same students are being sent back to their families–the ones they said they would protect–and…well, you know where it goes from there.
And who is responsible? The colleges that have opened, instead of doing things virtually. Or quarantined in place, so the students could get better on their own and not spread the virus further.
I rest my case.
I knew I shouldn’t read the news. Little one will be here soon. We’re going to feed the turtles if we can get out before it gets too hot. I’m up to 4,000 words on Tangling of the Wolf, need 16K more! That’s what I love about novellas. Short and sweet. Though mine usually end up around 28K.
This is a red crepe myrtle and I planted it last year, but all the other varieties of crepe myrtles had bloomed but this one. So a few days ago, I saw it had finally bloomed. I finally got out to take pictures of the flowers. Make mental note–this crepe myrtle is a LATE bloomer.
Well, still waiting for a review on the last portrait I did before I can move on. Though I’ve done the next two and one of my own.
In the meantime, I also started writing Tangling with the Wolf, the novella for Dreaming of the Wolf. I couldn’t think of anything–and then I found a writing prompt where someone drops a paper napkin on someone else’s table with a warning–leave, while you still can.
Okay, so what could be the trouble? Then I had it! Where I had lived before, different biker gangs ended up at a pub, armed with knives and guns and started a fight. Perfect!!!
So I have my first 2,000, and I’m off to write 2,000 a day, on days I don’t take care of little one. Three-thousand if I can figure out what to write!
I also was studiously digging up plants I don’t want, weeds I don’t want, and once it’s all cleaned out, I’ll plant a couple of plants I do want in their place. It’s best if you can plant the right plants in a place first, but sometimes you don’t know how well they will do until after you’ve let them grow, or not grow, for a couple of years. It looks like I’ll be replacing all of my sky pencil holly as one after another bite the dust. *sigh*
Still Working on No Hair Pictures–yes, she has a little peeking out.
We had storms and 2″ of rain last night, yay! So I was out weeding this morning because the weeds are easier to pull up. Both my dogs got out. The pest control man must have left the gate unlatched. I always check to make sure the gates are shut, and it looked like it from a distance.
I was out weeding out front when Tanner came running to me. He’s such a sweetie, so happy to see me. Max was long gone. I checked the backyard to make sure. He’s bad to run off. And he’s not eager to lose his newfound freedom. Tanner just wants to be with me.
Max and Tanner
It’s funny–in a dog psychology way–because Tanner is the alpha, Max the beta. Max is my lapdog, Tanner isn’t. So what’s with Max running off and Tanner not?
Anyway, Max came back, not to me, maybe he thought he’d be in trouble, but I was just glad I hadn’t lost him, and I took him inside and worked some more on the weeding. After I made sure the gate was shut.
Yesterday I spent most of the day trying to come up with a story idea for the Wolf in Trouble novella for Dreaming of the Wolf. I did finish all my promo blogs. Yay!
I finally started writing something on the novella late, so I need to type up my notes. I was trying to set up my mss for typing, but having issues with setting my indents, and just finally realized the blocking on the page somehow slipped to centered.
I’ll be off to have some fun with the kids in a little while for a couple of hours, and then home to work, then we’re having a barbecue later for Labor Day.
I’m off to weed just a wee bit more and then I’m running!
Wolff Bros 2 is finished! I finally figured out what I needed to do at the end! Yay!!!!! I did some more weeding this morning. My reward. But also, it’s cooler out this morning, so wanted to get some work done. Beta readers have the book and next I’m off to work on the promo blogs for Joy to the Wolves!
We’re doing no hair pictures. The one I did, I love the colors of the background, but the reviewer said it competed with the model too much. I still like the vibrant colors, but I agree that the one in green makes her stand out more.
So I resubmitted so I can do my next no hair portrait. I have 2 more and then, maybe short hair? Not sure.
But first, I’m off to find the blogs I need to write for the upcoming new release. After that, Dreaming of the Wolf novella, and then! I’m writing the Halloween novella for cougars. I’ve been doing that every year for the past two years now also. They’re fun.
I’m getting closer to the end of Wolff Bros. I better be. I’m running out of time to write the novella for Dreaming of the Wolf too.
I wrote 2,000 more words, broke up a couple of chapters, edited the first 19 chapters. I’m up to 96K, wrote one of the scenes I needed to, and now I need to finish another and add one more. 🙂 And edit 5 more chapters. I have to get this done by Tuesday, sooner, if I can.
I am taking the fur course now too. I kept seeing all the adorable fur baby pictures and decided to do it.
I was practicing on eggs and got tired of working on brown or white eggs.
I’m halfway through editing with the new idea on Wolff Bros 2. I hope to have this done completely done by Tuesday and then I’ve got to jump on a brand new novella for the 10th Anniversary release of Dreaming of the Wolf. I have no idea what I’m going to do for that one.
Have a great day! I’m working on my second portrait in Photoshop oil painting when I have time.
I was working on another fruit picture, figuring it would take a while to get my portfolio reviewed, so I’m a good way into it when I got a Pass on my portfolio! Yeah. So I’m starting on portraits now, though I want to finish the new grapes picture too. I know practice makes for better work.
I did get my Wolf Wore Plaid edits done last night and turned in, yay!
So now–back to Wolff Bros.
I was struggling with what to add to my heroine to give her more character–internal conflict. All the ingredients are there. The story is practically written and I had all the elements in there to make this work, but I needed more of a reason why she sticks to beach resorts for vacations and chooses to live in Florida.
It’s been bugging me all along. What is the reason? What? What? What?
And then my beta reader and I were brainstorming and I had it!
So now the question is, do I add a prologue to show the trauma she experienced? Or do I just show her fear in the beginning of chapter 1? That is the question.
When I wrote one of my vampire books, I had a riveting backstory for the hero and heroine. A reason they had been separated. A reason he was desperate for her to remember him across the ages. I talked about it. Telling. And then I realized the only way to really show their love was to show it. In a prologue, way before the modern day present situation. Forbidden Love. I had to show it in the scene, them loving each other, being torn apart, and….present day. He is on her terminal list. She’s a huntress of vampires. He’s a vampire. He has to convince her she is the one he has loved and that she loves him and has for all time. But she doesn’t even know who he is…
So in that case, trying to avoid writing a prologue didn’t work. It had to be shown.
In this story, I think I’ll begin writing a prologue, see how it turns out, and then I’ll have my answer. I think I’ll also have showing her fear in the opening of chapter 1. Sympathizing with a character is so important.
I weeded, it’s way too hot out even at 7 am. Next week when it cools down on Wednesday, I’m walking and doing yard work. As long as it’s not pouring. But it’s miserable out there right now.
Off to work on the new prologue, the opening of the first chapter, and then I’m off and running on the story. AND, starting my first portrait.
I took a break from Wolff Bros, because the deadline for Wolf Wore Plaid is only a week away and finished editing 16 chapters. I have 11 to go! Yay!
Little one will be here today, but maybe I can get a couple done before she’s off to her home. And then a few more done before it’s too late tonight. I still feel like I’m fighting a head cold.
I submitted my portfolio for review for the Photoshop art class, and in the meantime, I’m just practicing working on other comparable photos until my work is reviewed to see if I can move forward.
Hope you have a great day! I’m trying to hibernate, work in the books, and stay out of the heat until next week when we have a cool down. And then I hope to get a million yard chores done.
