Learning to Write

I'd written for years before deciding to seriously pursue publication. Once I started on that path, I realized there were a lot of things I didn't know or didn't know how to do correctly such as point of view, proper manuscript format, and more.

When I decided to submit my story to editors and agents for the first time, I was told I needed a synopsis in at least 2 forms - one ranging from a single sentence to a couple of paragraphs to include in my query letter. The second form was a longer version to submit to an agent/editor upon request along with the first 3 chapters. The general rule of thumb for a synopsis is to summarize the highlights of the story into 4 to 5 pages. My first attempt at a synopsis was 24 pages long. And I felt I'd only included the "important stuff." Luckily, I met a few great women who were more than willing to share their wisdom and their time.

If you live in an area that doesn't have a writing group close enough to join (like me), there are some great places on the web that can teach you what you need to know. One of the best places that I've come across is Janice Hardy's Fiction University - Fiction University    Ms. Hardy has posts on nearly every aspect of writing as well as posts on how to query agents/editors and editing after that 1st draft is finally finished. She also has a section on the writing life.  Just one word of caution, make sure you have a few hours to spend online. Once you get started reading all the great articles posted, you'll lose track of time pretty easily.
 

This I know for sure...

It's been crazy hectic around my house the last few weeks. We had family visit from out of town and when one set of relatives left, another came. It was nice to see and catch up with everyone in person instead of through quick posts on Facebook or emails.

This week I had four separate appointments that I had to get to. Thankfully, only one of them was early in the morning before I had to be to work. The other three were in the afternoon after I got out of work. While I normally prefer early morning appointments, it's too hard to make up the time when I go in late to the day job.

I'm looking forward to getting back to my regular boring routine. :o)

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My current WIP (work in progress): I made much less progress than I was hoping to. It seems like these revisions are taking forever, certainly much longer than I expected.

Quote of the week: "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it." ~ Jack London.

What I'm reading: Fatal Justice. This is the second in the Fatal series by Marie Force. These books are addictive. I plan on picking up the third book from the library tomorrow.

Random things: I can't believe that it's time to start shopping for school supplies and related items. It seems like summer just started.

Random Photo of the Week:

                      I don't think the kitten has mastered the art of sleeping in his bed yet.

Summer Cooking

Our house is situated so that the sun shines on the back of house in the late afternoon and evening. Unfortunately, the kitchen is in the back of the house. On those 80+ degree days, the kitchen can feel much hotter than the rest of the house even is I keep the back door and the window blinds closed.

This makes me less inclined to want to make a meal cooked in the oven. In fact we often joke that the oven is "broken" from June to early September because we don't use it during that time. (Though we do use the toaster oven because it doesn't heat up the kitchen any more than it already is.) The downside of not making any oven meals is by the time mid-August rolls around I'm really tired of paninis, of salad - various pasta types and the lettuce types, sandwiches, pizza and other types of take out. Plus I still try to make healthy meals at least 5 days out of the week.

One day last week I was complaining to my sister that as much as I don't want summer to end, I'll be glad when the weather gets cooler so I can use the oven and not pass out from heat stroke. She hates the hot weather in general so she's always glad when summer comes to an end. (She wears shorts even when it's in the middle of winter because she's always overheated.) Anyway, she said that she uses her slow cooker/crock pot a lot in the summer and gave me the recipe listed below. I made it for dinner one night and it was a huge hit so I thought I'd share it.

Slow-Cooker Enchilada Lasagna

1 lb ground beef (I used 90% lean)
2 cans (10oz each) enchilada sauce (I used Old El Paso brand)
1 can (15oz) black beans, rinsed
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained (to make it spicier, use diced tomatoes with green chiles)
1 8oz package softened cream cheese
1/4 cup milk
1 8oz package shredded cheddar cheese (Colby-Jack works well too)
6 uncooked lasagna noodles

Cook the ground beef until browned. Drain any fat that has accumulated during cooking. Leaving the cooked ground beef in the pan, stir in the enchilada sauce, black beans, and tomatoes. In a separate bowl, mix the cream cheese and milk until well blended. Stir in 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheese.

Place 2 cups of the meat sauce in the bottom of the slow cooker. Layer 3 of the lasagna noodles over the meat sauce. (You'll probably have to break the noodles to make them fit properly into the slow cooker.) Next layer in the cheese mixture. Repeat all of the layers one more time. Put the rest of the meat sauce over the top of the last cheese layer and cover with slow cooker lid.

Cook on Low heat setting for 4 hours or until the liquid is absorbed. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheese over the top. Let stand with the lid on for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Uncover and let stand an additional 15 minutes before serving.

Makes approximately 8 servings

This I know for sure...

I watch very little television during the summer. In fact other than the Next Food Network Star on the Food Network, I only watch one other program. Needless to say, watching so little television should give me a lot more time to read once I've written my designated number of pages for the day.

In the past, that's definitely true. I'm sorry to say that's just not the case this year. It seems like it's taking me much longer than usual to finish a book even when it's a great book that I can't put down. I've been reading the same book since the weekend and I still have 122 pages out of 412 pages total left to read though I do hope to finish it this weekend. I have way too many books borrowed from the library that are going to have to be returned before I get a chance to read them at my present reading rate.

Do you find you read more or less during the summer?

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My current WIP (work in progress): Still have family visiting so no real progress on revisions. Hope to get back on track next week.

Quote of the week: "It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." ~ Confucius   This seems very appropriate for me lately.

What I'm reading: Fatal Affair by Marie Force. This is the first book in the Fatal series. Ms. Force is a new author for me. I'll definitely be reading the rest of the books in the series.

Random things: An update on my mom's rosebush. I read that coffee grounds are good for rosebushes so I'm saving the coffee grounds from our morning coffee to mix into the soil and will be keeping my fingers crossed that the rosebush survives.

Random Photo of the Week:

Our first trip to the vet. He definitely doesn't like to ride in the car. He cried the entire time.