IT IS FINISHED!!!

After working on my first novel for the past thirteen months, I am happy to announce that IT IS FINISHED!!!! Yes...I managed to finish it up this week!!!

I don't know when I've been this excited!! My novel is complete!! I have a few edits of about 6-7 chapters to finish up, but the toils of writing the novel are finished!

I made the announcement to my friends & I can't believe all the outpouring of support from everyone who are cheering me on and wishing me luck with the publishing process. I even had one of my friends who is a Senior Copy Editor for a newspaper ask if I needed an editor! How cool is that??? Of course I need an editor...especially if I intend to get published!!

So..now the real work begins! I have already been doing my homework as to what the publishing process entails. I know for this phase of it all, the main thing I need to remember is...patience! I'm gonna need a lot of it I realize and I'm optimistic that maybe if I prepare to be patient then my wait to get published won't be as long as it is for some!

So...keep your fingers crossed for me and keep sending up those good thoughts! I need all the votes of support I can get.

Until next time...Dawn

ANOTHER CHAPTER DOWN....WE'RE ALMOST THERE!

My creative juices have definitely been flowing over the past several days! I'm finally well past the writing rut I'd been in for nearly three weeks. Ever since having a breakthrough last weekend, the words have been coming to me faster than I can get them typed into the computer.

I'm down to my last three (four at the most) chapters. I'm so stinking close it's scary. My goal all along has been to get my book finished by the end of this year. At the rate I'm going, I very well could be finished with it by the end of the month! That wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing considering I've also started working on some Christmas gifts (cross-stitch & crochet) and I really need to get busy and finish them if I hope to give as gifts in this Christmas season.

So...on to Chapter 57. There's still a lot of work ahead, but at least the work to be done does not seem as far reaching as where I was a little over a year ago when I started this book. I'll be back with another update again soon!

Until next time...Dawn

CHAPTER 51...HAPPY DANCE TIME!!!

That's right! I'm doing a happy dance as I write this!

I am happy to report that as a result Chapter 51 is now a done deal!!! Yes...it's finished! If there has been one chapter in the book that has been the chapter from Hell, this would have been it. I mean I don't really know what the problem was. I knew basically what I wanted the chapter to be about, but I got stuck on the dialogue and how it would unfold. Up until Chapter 51, every other chapter had practically written itself. I felt as though I was the mere vehicle through which the words flowed....until Chapter 51.
It occurred to me today when I was completing this chapter and moving into Chapter 52 that maybe this interruption in the whole writing process has been good and necessary. Chapter 51 is the chapter in which the stage begins to be set that will lead the reader to final part of the book to the end. And I have to admit as the writer, I am getting very excited as I write just as if I were the reader instead. There's still about 4 chapters to go before I can say IT IS DONE...but I know that now that I have overcome the stumbling block of the last three weeks that it won't be long now before I'll be entering a post to report just that!

But for now, you'll just have to hang in there a little bit longer before you'll get THAT good news! In the meantime, please keep sending those good thoughts my way so that I don't encounter anymore writing obstacles!

Until next time...Dawn

NOTHING LIKE A LITTLE SUNSHINE...

If there ever was a way to recharge the senses and get a person motivated, it would have to be a gorgeous sunny Fall day. The array of beautiful colored leaves falling slowly to the ground. The light breeze that feels cool in the morning and just right during the peak hours of the day. Clear blue Carolina skies. The warmth of the sun that hits the face instantly providing relaxation, serenity & tranquility. Perfect conditions for doing a little writing.

Oh yes, no doubt, there are a million other outdoor activities I could be doing to take advantage of the prime weather conditions...like mowing my yard or trimming back the bushes in preparation for Winter. But instead I prefer to use this perfect day to do a little writing on my book. This weather is exactly what the doctor ordered! If these conditions can't inspire me to work on my novel then I don't know what would. Yes...this is indeed the epitome of the perfect conditions in which to write.

Thus far today I've managed to work on Chapter 51 of my book. I had started this chapter prior to what I like to call my 'writer's fallout funk', that had invaded my being over these last three weeks, causing my inability to focus and just allow the story to write itself. Not only had I started this chapter but in the midst of beginning this chapter, I was prompted to write Chapters 52 & 53 in the process because I had one of my writing surges that would not let me alone until those chapters were cranked out. When I finally got back to working on Chapter 51, that is when I hit the brick wall and my mind went blank. It wasn't like I had no idea what the chapter would be about, but the words would not come.

Today is a different story (no pun intended), however. I've finally overcome the mental fog that had made itself at home over these last three weeks. And I have the beautiful weather to thank for it. The words are once again flowing and I'm already seeing the need to edit Chapter 51 down to an acceptable length. LOL

Well...just wanted give you a little update while I was taking a little break! But now break's over & I'd better get back at it.

Until next time....Dawn

BACK AT IT!!!

After taking an almost three week hiatus from working on my book, it's high time I got myself in gear & back to the business of writing those final chapters! Fall is here and there's no more time to waste! If I'm going to try and meet my goal of having my book completely finished before year's end, I'd better get busy!


For weeks now it would seem that my urge to write has all but disappeared from my inner being. I don't know if it's because I've tried to force the issue of trying to get those last five chapters cranked out, a state of ongoing lull, or just lack of motivation, but I'm happy to share that I think the phase has passed! Thank goodness!!

So, officially tomorrow I'm back at it hard & heavy working to finish my book! After all, I constantly remind myself that I will not and can not begin the process of submitting to publishers & agents alike until the work is complete!

I'll be back right here very soon to report on my progress! In the meantime, thanks for stopping by, all your votes of confidence & have a wonderful weekend!