Kate Warren

I don't know if you have this problem, but I have an annoying tendency to start thinking when I'm supposed to be falling asleep.  Sometimes it's about the events of the day, the anticipated events of the next day, books I've read, or movies I've watched.  Lately (like tonight for example, or at this hour perhaps I should say this morning) I'm being kept awake by a pantheon of creative thoughts that refuse to quit playing Tilt-A-Whirl in my mind.

The current topic of note is my first novel.  I've been considering re-writing it as I believe I can do a better job with the story now than I did six years ago.  I think it's a good story and it deserves a better and more thorough treatment, which I am now capable of writing (though six years ago I may not have been).  It's also the first in a trilogy, so it would be an excellent idea to make it as good as possible so that people who don't know me personally might actually be interested in reading the series.

Why didn't I think of this five years ago when I self-published it?  I think it's because didn't know any better.  I was riding the high of having written a novel, knew no one else who had done so, and was pulled in by the ease of the POD world.  I also have a tendency to edit continuously as I write, so even a first draft isn't exactly a first draft for me.  It could be said that my interest in rewriting the book stems from the fact that now I do, in fact," know better."

I've also had some thoughts about the second draft of my new novel Bridging The Gaps.  Things I could add to give the story and setting more depth.  I've been getting very constructive feedback from first readers, and I'm encouraged that this is my best work yet.

Having gotten those thoughts out, I will proceed to playing mindless computer games until I'm too tired to keep awake.  Should take about twenty minutes.  Goodnight, or good morning, whichever you prefer.

Kate

I always have several writing projects going at once, but last November  I actually finished one.  The story idea began with an image of a dentist buying candy for Halloween and gradually grew to have a plot. 

Cut to November 2009.  Some friends finally convinced me to try National Novel Writing Month, known the world over as NaNoWriMo.  I had no idea what to write.  Going back and forth between different story ideas got me nowhere.  November 1st came and I still didn't know what I would write.  So I sat down and started typing, figuring whatever came out of my brain would be my NaNo.  Out came the first part of Bridging The Gaps (so named because I love bad puns and one of the main characters is a dentist).  I fully intended to change the title to one that was more serious, but it ended up being like a schoolyard nickname one just cannot leave behind.  No other title presented itself, and a story element that appeared later in the book became a reference for the title.

November 2010 saw my first NaNo Rebel year as I opted to finish Bridging The Gaps rather than starting a new story.  Now I am in the midst of creating the second draft.  Tightening plot issues, tweaking description and dialogue, cutting a bit her, adding a bit there.  I'm very excited about this book.  Read on for the synopsis.

Bridging The Gaps
Meet Ellen: Ellen is 48 years old, a little on the chubby side, and has just been left by her husband of 27 years for his younger (and blonder) girlfriend of six months; a girlfriend who Ellen didn't know about, and who doesn't know the new man in her life is still married.

Meet Ellen's kids: Stephanie, the oldest, is trying to find a balance between offering support to her mother and striking out on her own; Doug Jr. (aka DJ) is a college student whose grades are slipping due in part to his being too fond of alcohol, and who spends his spare time lusting after his dad's girlfriend; Matt and Melanie the 15 year old twins--Matt spends most of his time keeping his head down and going with the flow as best he can, while Melanie dreams of getting their parents back together and starts sneaking around with an older boy.

Meet Ellen's husband Doug: Doug is a jerk, but even jerks have feelings.

You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll probably want to beat the hell out of Doug. Set in the fictional small town of Troy Falls, Wisconsin, Bridging the Gaps features a cast of warm and humorous supporting characters and follows Ellen through the mire of divorce, the rekindling of old friendships, and the realization that that which does not kill us...is life.

It's Valentine's day.  A time for chocolate (if you're not allergic), flowers (if you're not allergic) and romance (if you're lucky).  Not all of us are in relationships, and not all relationships are the stuff of novels, but it's a day we can all appreciate.  Those who are looking for love can take Valentine's as a symbolic day of hope, of the love that will come their way.  Those who are in love can be thankful for the wonderful feelings they have and the person who inspired those feelings. 

Now on to some history...

St. Valentine's Day honors a saint who, according to legend, married young Christian couples secretly, in defiance of Roman law.  The Nuremburg Chronicle (1493) is the first printed record of this story.  The story further states that Valentinus (the Latin form of the name Valentine) aided Christians who were being persecuted by the state.  He was arrested and befriended emperor Claudius II.  Unfortunately he was sentenced to death after trying to convert Claudius to Christianity.  He is considered a martyr.

In addition to love, lovers, engaged couples, and happy marriages, Valentine is also considered a patron saint of beekeepers, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, plague, travellers, and young people.  Bet you didn't know that.  I sure didn't.  

The source for the above is a website called Catholic.org.  The link is to St. Valentine's page if you would like to do further reading.

Kate

If you want to be a writer you should read on a regular basis.  I've lost count of the number of articles and books I've read that include this advice.  Luckily for me I've always loved to read.  This year I have made a goal of reading more.  No specific numbers attached to the goal (I'm sneaky that way).  I'm planning to add more non-fiction, a little poetry, and read some of the classics as well as more of all my favorite genres. 

I've read all of Jane Austen's novels, and a few of her shorter pieces.  Recently finished a good-sized book of F. Scott Fitzgerald's short stories.  In the past I've enjoyed Jules Verne, Louisa May Alcott, John Jakes, Sharon Kay Penman, Michelle Moran, Nora Roberts, Jason Childress, Margaret Mitchell, Louise Baker and numerous playwrights.  Expanding horizons is one of my themes for 2011. 

Do you have any suggestions?  What are your favorites?  Don't be shy.  I won't bite