Category: General Updates

Facade, General Updates

Sunny, Cold, and Thinking…

J.I. Soucie

Have you ever had a dream to sit down every day and write a little on your novel, short story, or poem until it was finished? Then when that book is edited and published to start that process over again? I certainly have and I have been striving to meet that goal for some time now.

I’ve had compliments on my writing in the past so it’s lack of confidence standing in my way. I can write…anyone really can, but some of us have more natural talent that is enhanced with continued learning and practice.

Yet, it seems God may either have “other” plans for me, or plans in addition to my own writing. I have gained a new position as Program Manager for Hope Alive Ministry whose outreach is to children with life-threatening and rare diseases. This is definitely a learning and growing experience for me.

I don’t plan to stop writing. Not by any means. I have continued to so working a little on Facade and reading books on plot and story engineering to help me gage the events in my book better. There is still something not quite working but I do have an idea…which if you excuse I’d better right down before I forget! brb

Okay…there. Got that down. Now as long as I don’t lose that paper I’ll be good. lol

In between getting ideas for Facade and working on the characters a little, I have been working on a personal experience story. I don’t know that it will ever be published but it will keep in the writing practice.

Have you ever had a story you wanted…no felt you NEEDED to tell but decided against it, even if it could help people, because in the process of helping others you could risk hurting those close to you? Yeah, it’s one of those. So even though I’ll be working on it, you won’t find details about it.

Now the question goes to you: What do you do when you are trying to come up with ideas to a story you have already started writing but it hits a roadblock? Do you work on something else and go back to the other book occasionally? What process do you use?

Facade, General Updates

Through Blizzard Winds and Blinding Snows

J.I. Soucie

Ahhh…sitting here relaxing by the fire of pellet stove, my Raggle at my feet. In case you didn’t know what a Raggle is it’s a dog that is part beagle part rat terrier. My Chihuahua has run off into the other room. Must be the heat was too much for her. Ha! And I thought they were supposed to like the heat.

Anyway, I noticed it has been quite some time since I have written a post. I have to admit there have been some things going on in my life that I have been working through and trying to manage.

That aside, I pulled out a manuscript I started and dusted it off. I put it away because something just seemed to stop me from writing it and I couldn’t figure out just what it was. And part of they way I wrote some of it just didn’t fit with the first part and totally messed up my plan for the book and left me stumped without a path or even a crumb of an idea of where to go next.

Now that my editing job has wound down and the only thing left to do is publish my client’s book after the beta readers are finished with it, I will be able to do more of my own work. The manuscript I pulled out I have currently titled Facade. I’m going to brainstorm on it and try to have it ready to go for Camp NaNo. Last year for NaNoWriMo I did try to be a pantser, but in all honesty, it didn’t work for me. I like to plan things out. I have an idea I write down and then work on the characters. Granted the characters start out as meager sketches and they reveal themselves more as the story goes on and I add the new information into their “file”. I’m very excited to work on this story as the real action takes place in the 1950’s. I actually had the opportunity to dress up in the 1950’s attire for the sock hop they had at my daughter’s school this passed weekend. It was awesome! I just imagined what a real sock hop was like.

Yes, I was dressed up as the good too-shoo girl in a poodle skirt, saddle shoes, and knit top with a ribbon in her hair and make up lightly done. There were pink ladies there and I stood next to one for the costume contest. I thought it was just for kids so imagine my surprise when the adults were called to the front to be judged. Oh my!! The pink lady next to me did a great job and I thought for sure she had it, even after all my research. In my mind I had already congratulated her, but instead I was congratulated as I received the prize for best costume!! Boy, it does pay to do your research doesn’t it? And going to the sock up with my daughter dressed similar to me, was actually fun coupled with research. It gave me some experience and a time and place to use my imagination for exactly this book! Couldn’t have happened at a better time.

So while the wind whips the snow around outside, I’m sitting here contemplating the next steps for my novel.

When you get stuck on a novel, poem, article, short story, or script, what do you do to clear the block? I would love to hear your answers. Please leave your comments below.

Facade, General Updates

Far Too Long

J.I. Soucie

It has been far too long since I sat down and wrote a post.

It has been busy here on the homestead. Summer vacation is over and school has started for my little one. Which means more time for me to do some writing. I will be able to get back into the writing craft that I have missed so much.

I sit here in my cozy recliner, the fan and the AC cooling the room. Brrr…almost a little too cold. My hubby is on the couch working on a text adventure game, which I might just delve into here at some point. May not happen until after NaNo though. We’ll see.

Our dogs are asleep, and so is our daughter. Quiet…ah…so that’s what it sounds like. *Looks around* Okay so now is the moment when some loud noise scares me five feet out of my chair. Ha! Can you picture that?

Hmmm…so the story I’ve gone back to working on is Facade. I had mentioned this story before. The main character is Wesley who is based off Elvis and he has a twin brother, Keith. This is based of my fantasy of “What if Elvis’ twin survived?” scenario. I think we’ve all had it at some point. The funny thing is I just heard on the radio this morning that Identical, a movie that is based on that principle, “What if Elvis had a twin brother?” only in the movie the brother is given up because the parents can’t afford both babies.

My story is quite different. The twin brother in my story is believed to be still born but the father doesn’t give up. He and his mother, and mother-in-law, take turns clearing the baby’s airways and smacking him firmly on the back until the baby finally wails to life. The second twin, Wesley, is born more easily and thriving. The twins get along fine for several years until Wesley takes up a love of music at an early age. Keith just doesn’t have that same rhythm though he tries. Eventually, jealousy brews between the brothers and Keith is set out to take his brother’s place no matter the cost.

So I may go back to working on this story, though another story is weighing a little more on my mind.

Just wanted to give you all an update from, Maine’s Northern Woods to your laptop, tablet, or phone, have a good one!

Camp NaNoWriMo, General Updates, highly sensitive person

The Clicking of Keys

J.I. Soucie

The light shines down on me and my husband, both working at our laptops. I’m writing while he is programming an android garden app.

I realized tonight that the last post I had written for this blog was saved in the drafts folder instead of being published. I apologize for that. I’m not sure what happened.

I am still holding down editing jobs and reading, though, a few books may have to be put down for now (and possibly re-read later) because there are some books I need to read for research for one of my books. A couple of my books I’m at various stages of writing are in the creative nonfiction genre, which I have found enjoyable to write. One book is going to be about living as a highly sensitive person, and the other, about my experience as a teenager, caring for my terminally ill mother. I want this second book to be one of, not only sharing my experience, but also be a book that can be encouraging to teens who have lost, or are losing a parent, or parent figure.

I have signed up for Camp NaNo but have not decided which of these books I would like to write yet. I think it may be the second book since that is the one most ready to begin writing. The book about being an HSP (highly sensitive person), still requires a lot of reading, notes, etc. This one will be a while in the making. The first book I will be reading will The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You, by Elaine N. Aron, Ph.D.

I have also been listening to The Creative Penn podcast hosted by author Joanna Penn (J.F. Penn). I love this podcast. You learn so much about the creative and business side of being an Indie Author. Highly recommend if you are looking for a podcast dealing with writing.

I think that is all for now. Off to read and then to bed. Morning comes quickly!

Book Reviews, General Updates

Editing, Reading, Poetry, And Book Reviews

J.I. Soucie

I am amazed how busy one can become without realizing it. Somehow I have attained three editing jobs, reading, writing book reviews, and I have started writing poetry again. As you can imagine this, and being a mom and housewife, take s a great  deal of my time. I wanted to write a blog post to update you, my readers, to let you know things are okay, just that I have been  so busy I am not able to write the amount of blog posts I would like to.

The books I have been reading are Outlaw Salvation by, William Tasch, which is a Christian fiction novel, Bringing up Girls, by Dr. James C. Dobson, Mastering Creative Anxiety, by Eric Maisel, and The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder  Sourcebook, by Glenn R. Schirraldi, Ph.D. A lot to read at once and normally I read a nonfiction book in the morning and a fiction at night and that is all I will allow myself to read. It’s hard when there is so much you want to read about all at once, and hence, I know have four books all started and all being read at various intervals. I am thinking I will have to pick Outlaw Salvation as my fiction book and then choose a nonfiction book for the morning read. Bringing up girls may be the one I finish first. We shall see!

You can follow me on Goodreads for any updates and reviews on these books. Reviews will also be posted on Amazon.com.

A kindle book I just finished reading to my daughter last night was Tyrannosaurus T-Rex: Amazing Photos & Fun Facts Book for Kids About T-Rex (Kids Knowledge Series), by Deutsche Don Juan. I am in the process of writing a review and will be posting it soon.

That is all I have for now, but hope to be back soon and have more regular updates for you. Have a great day! :)

General Updates

Snow And Sunshine

J.I. Soucie

I’m sitting here at the dining room table with KLOVE playing on my iPad, my daughter bouncing a balloon around the house enjoying her winter break from school, my two dogs lying in the bright warm sun shining through the sliding glass doors. Several more inches of snow fell last night, upon which the warm sun shines and threatens to melt over the next couple of days. The snow is pretty and I don’t mind it all that much, but I must say I am itching to get outside in the warm Spring sun and feeling the warm sun and light winds on my skin while listening to the birds chirping and the dogs playing in the yard.

I have been quite busy lately. Still working on updating my poetry and Sackets Harbor books. I am checking to make sure the covers, book descriptions and manuscripts are all up to date and satisfactory. I am working on one book at a time and then will be adding them to Smashwords.

I am also updating the books information and covers on Goodreads.

I am still also working on my novel writing course through Winghill Writing School, and I am planning on writing a review on this as well.

Then recently I was contacted to do a book edit for a woman in the medical field. I have agreed to do a one chapter evaluation to see if we will be a good match for each other and if my editing skills will what she needs.

Then I have a couple of book reviews I am thinking of and will post them in the next couple of weeks.

So busy, but I’m taking my time and enjoying the creative process. Of course, the creative process doesn’t just apply to writing. I’ve been in my kitchen as well and posting pictures and recipes on another one of my blogs Happy Bellyz Cafe

I’m off for now. Have a great day and God bless!

~Janis

General Updates

Stepping Back A Bit

J.I. Soucie

Lately, I have had to make the tough decision to step back from writing a bit. I won’t be going as hardcore as I was trying to write, but not getting much done because of stress and not balancing social media very well. Health conditions are also butting in and I am exhausted.

So I am going to step back a bit from social media and blogging, but I will continue to write a little bit of something every day if I feel up to it. Right now, until my health is figured out, I must do this.

I hate to, because I love to write and would love to full time, but it comes a point when something you used to love so much, is now nothing but a stressor. Just means a break for a while and to attack other areas that need attention and the down time will also give me time reevaluate things.

In the mean time, if I do post on this blog. It will be maybe once a month just to update everyone or if I have found something  of interest on writing or a good book. I guess we will see what happens.

God bless!

 

General Updates

A Lurking Annoyance

J.I. Soucie

I have been praying for a few years now, for guidance in my life, especially in my writing. Seems I sit either at my computer, my ipad, or with a pen and paper and try to work on a story, but my mind drifts back to a story that I have a full rough draft on but needs a rewrite. So I just go to that wanting to do the rewrite and finish the story. Yet when I work on that story, I think of the new one I’d rather be writing. Ugh!!! I get tired of this go around and it is getting quite annoying. I have ideas galore and I’ll look over them, but I sit and ponder, “Do I really want to write these?” And I find I cannot answer the question because I am feeling overwhelmed and really just don’t know.

However, when I sit down and watch Star Trek (any of the Original Series or TTNG – I haven’t seen any other series), Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, the TV show Merlin (I love the story of Arthur…well I love that time period too.), and Battlestar Galactica, I can feel the excitement in my body and story ideas just fling left and right out of nowhere it seems, and I want to begin writing in the sci fi and fantasy genres. Several of my story ideas don’t jive with this and I am wondering if that is the reason I can’t bring myself to sit and turn those ideas into stories. Now that’s not to say those ideas will never be used. Perhaps somewhere down the road I may want to use them so I’ll keep them tucked away.

But right now, I think I am understanding more of what I am interested in and must let my creative side take hold of these interests and what excites me and gets my creative energy revved. Otherwise I’ll still sit here, writing nothing, publishing nothing, sharing nothing with the world. That is something I just cannot accept.

I have decided, with God’s guidance, I am going to go through all of my ideas and stories I have started, and put them away if they don’t currently fit in with interests and save these for later, when I know my tastes will either change, or I will want a break from a genre for a while.

So here goes, folks! Off to do some sorting out which I am praying, will lead to writing. Ohhh! And perhaps I will have a story idea ready to flourish by the time NaNoWriMo hits! That’s motivation!

Have a great day and thanks for reading!

God bless!

 

General Updates

Update

J.I. Soucie

My blog has been quiet for a while and the reason for that…my family and I have moved. It is taking time to set up our “new” house with our belongings aside from painting a couple of rooms. One room is finished and another is almost finished. I haven’t had much time for writing or school work, but things are slowly starting to settle down and I am looking forward to getting back into the writing. One story, Facade, keeps playing in my head when I go about settling the house. The creative inside screams..”Must write! Must write!!!”

Looking forward to writing time tomorrow! Can’t wait!

General Updates

Free Audiobooks!!!

J.I. Soucie

It looks like I may have to take a different tact with these quiz questions. All of the answers can be found on the internet. It looks like I may have to give everyone a few days to answer the first set of questions. I can’t list the next ones until the first set are answered.

The History of Sackets Harbor, NY and Day & Night: A Collection of Nature Poetry are the audiobooks up for grabs!!!

Come folks! Try your hand at these quizzes and win a free audiobook!