Pitfalls (and Benefits) of Working From Home

Many of you know that I've been writing freelance web articles for awhile now. You can't find them under my name because I don't write web content under my name. The pen name for my web-based alter ego is Kat DeLong. You can google it and find some of the stuff I've done recently (no, I'm not the realtor in the Sierras), mainly for www.inrepose.com, www.familylobby.com and www.lifescript.com.

I mention this because today T was home with a bad sore throat (better now, thanks). I had two more quizzes to finish under deadline, so he was left to watch cartoons while I worked. I was writing a quiz on working from home, when I realized that if I took it, I'd probably fail. I didn't have alternate childcare for days that I had to work, I did miss the social interaction of an office (sometimes), and I was (gulp) working at the dining room table. But, in the end, I finished my work, and T was able to stay home when he didn't feel well, which is really the point when you think about it.

I have to go watch cartoons now. I wonder if he'll let me watch Hannah Montana with him later.

On this date: In 1997, I got married! Happy 10th Anniversary B!

Staring Into the Abyss

So I did it, and I remembered why I like to revise so much. I've revised all 148 pages of my YA manuscript into first person and have now caught up to the blinking cursor that is new material. Yikes. See, in order to revise, you have to have vised in the first place, which means that at least you have a jumping off spot. Right now, I'm just winging it, and it's not easy.

When I explained to Discomermaid Robin that I felt like my characters had lives of their own, and I just basically wrote down the movie in my head, she looked at me like I was crazy. I think she actually said I was crazy too, but I'm not sure. This is one of those things that I thought was universal - I thought everyone wrote that way - but apparently it is not. Now, the movie doesn't run without a little prodding. I have to give some stage directions.

Like now, Lexi is on the phone while she's at the jail, but I'm not sure who she is talking to. I basically try on different characters until one feels right. Is she talking to Alyssa? Nope. Trevor? Nope. Jessica? Hmmm. Maybe. But why? Its a lot like the book is already written, and I have to figure out what happens before the movie starts to play again. And characters will refuse to say or do things that aren't right to them, regardless of what I think. If they don't like the name I've given them because it is my favorite girl name that I never got to use in real life, I have to change it. If they decide that they would rather be slobs than have the case of OCD that I had planned, I have to acquiesce.

Does that make sense? No? Maybe I really am crazy.

On this date: In 1990, the X rating in films was replaced with NC-17.

Long Distance Parenting

DH is on a business trip in Peru right now. Before he left he installed some Skype thingamajig on my laptop that lets us make video phone calls. He called tonight and after a few minutes of messing with the cords - boom, there he was on my laptop screen. The kids really got a kick out of it and kept grabbing things to show him on the screen. After a while it was time for them to get ready for bed, but they were so wound up they weren't listening (like that's new). The funniest part was him telling the kids to go brush their teeth, and then counting to three from his hotel room 4,529 miles away. Ah, technology.

On this date: In 1957, Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas was integrated.

Cool Chapter Titles

I just finished Cecil Castellucci's new book Beige (which was great, BTW). She uses old punk songs as chapter titles, which gave me a great idea for chapter titles in the new YA I'm working on. No, not punk songs, but close.

Pet Peeve of the Moment: People saying that someone dropped the "f-bomb". Or the "s-bomb" or any other bomb that does not involve actual explosives. I heard it said this weekend on a political talk show, and once the pundits get hold of a contemporary saying, you know it's over.

On this date: In 1961, I Love Lucy aired its last episode.

Friday Potpourri

Being as I pay most bills online I don't go through many stamps. I did have to go and buy some today and I got the coolest Superheroes stamps:



It was so hard to choose which ones to stick on the letters. Choices are difficult sometimes.

On another note, there is a new movie out called Dedication that I'm sure I would hate. It is about a picture book writer who (of course) is having trouble meeting his Christmas deadline for his new book. He and his illustrator take the first half of the movie trying to come up with ideas and illustrations. When the illustrator dies, the publisher loans the writer and the new illustrator (Mandy Moore) his posh Sag Harbor digs so that they can collaborate - she gets a fat bonus if they meet the deadline. I'm so sure.

First off, most of the time, you never meet your illustrator, much less collaborate together on the next book. Second off, these people seem to have lots of money, which only lends credibility to the rumor that if you write one picture book, you're rich. Hang on...my butler has a question. No, not the blue Rolls. The silver one for tonight's outing. Thank you Jeeves. Anyway...being as each party usually gets a few thousand dollars advance for a book, I can only imagine what her fat bonus will be.

One of my favorite movies was Elf, but they do the same thing. Picture book writers = big money, learjets, and a house in the Hamptons. On the other hand, Stranger Than Fiction was quite enjoyable and not very annoying. Now I know why my mom, an emergency room nurse, could never watch Emergency with us on TV. Squad 51, squad 51...see the man on the corner of....

On this date: In 1866, H.G. Wells was born.

Jena, LA

Armadillo Season, my MG that is out with editors right now, is largely about race and how people react when the object of the racism is one of their own. It is set in a small Texas town that was all white until recently, when a black family moved in. The "N" word makes an appearance, and it is necessary when it does, as it flows from the mouth of a very racist grandfather. Colored is what he says when he is being nice.The local sheriff acts differently when the same infraction is committed by a white kid and a not-so-white kid.

I've had one editor comment that it felt like a period piece set in the 1950s, because racism like that doesn't happen in this day and age. I've spent a lot of time in a little town much like the one in the book, and I had to disagree - it does.

Enter Jena, Louisiana. It is all over the news today because of a racial divide in this southern town, complete with nooses hanging from trees and civil rights marches. I just heard a radio interview with a pastor in Jena, who didn't understand what the fuss was about - she loved all those nice colored people in town. Yes, she used the word colored. Repeatedly. In 2007.

I hate to say it, but I told you so.

On this date: In 1975, David Bowie hit number one with "Fame."

Ahem...Research

I'm sitting here watching a documentary on TV. It happens to be on a subject that I'm thinking of tackling for my next book and it's fascinating. No, I know I'm not done with my current WIP, but you always have to be looking ahead. And yes, I'm forbidden to do any actual work on it until I have the current manuscript to Agent E.

When I saw that this show was going to be on, I got almost giddy. Both because it was a chance to learn about a really interesting subject, and because it was like a sign from the universe that I'm on the right track with the next piece because it's an unusual subject, and there it was! Right on my TV. One of the people in this documentary is definitely going to be the model for the character in the book. It's so helpful when you can actually picture a person when you're writing. Too cool. I can't wait.

On this date: In 1960, Chubby Checker's The Twist hit number one.