I took Reg fishing last night. We didn't catch any fish but we did catch a last minute discounted meat special in the supermarket on the way home. I picked up my new pillows, a catch of the day special and had my best night's sleep in months.  Makes a mental note to buy myself new pillows every year, they do not keep their softness over time. 

I have set myself a goal to edit 10,000 words a day though I am only 1/4 of the way to that target at midday today and need a break. I can see the part ahead of me can be dramatically shortened. It doesn't take me a lot of courage to remove a few hundred words, but to cut out a few thousand...I think I need a cup of coffee to give me the strength to do that.    This is why it pays to leave a novel alone for a while following an edit, so you have the courage to prune heavily when you come back.

Now there's a good idea.  I can go prune the roses, then pruning the novel will seem easy. lol :-). 

_I am one fifth of the way though this edit as I bring all the POV into deep third person and increase the mystery ... not explaining everything as I go way of telling the story.  It is time for a shower and change of scenery and some real life.  I hope to return with a passion to the editing again tonight. I am shortening some scenes and adding new ones as I work though. 

I do sometimes wonder when you actually know when a final edit will be a final edit...lol...then I remember my art training and I recall how you know this.

You look at a work of art and ask, "What does it NEED?"  When it does not need anything...that is when you STOP!.

Never ask "What more can  you do?"  Because you can go on sticking another bird in it and over tighten it up with details until it is amateurish and ruined.

Remember to ask the right questions of your WIP (work in progress) and it will give you the right answers :-).

Selling on EBay is a great way to earn some extra income if you need a fairly sedentary job while awaiting or recovering from injury, illness or laser spinal surgery. 

I have sold on EBay periodically on and off for years and I am proud of my high 100% positive fee

I wrote to EBay's customer relations people for several days about an issue I was concerned about in a minor buying and selling account and they would not assist me.  I told them they would loose four EBay accounts over the issue if they did not provide me with fair justice and I provided them with all the evidence they needed to see I was in the right.  I received non reply emails from them as a result saying they would do nothing.


Last night I canceled 130 listings on EBay, a selling manager program and my EBay store and re set up my own private sales store as you will see, above.  This morning EBay contacts me to say to disregard all the other emails they sent and that they will look into the issue for me.   It is a bit late EBay...I have set my own store up.  I enjoy looking after my customers and will love to do so without the middle man.  

Feel very welcome to look at my Flower, Horse, Landscape and Portrait galleries accessed from the above link bar and know I will never send you non reply EMails if you have a concern.  :-)
Best regards, Kathy

I sat up late last night and watched a Miss Marple mystery by the great mystery writer Agatha Christy.

I have been reading a lot about how to write mysteries lately as this had been out of my comfort zone.  I have a good plot but was interested in converting it into a who dun it instead of just showing and telling a good story.

After two days and nights away from my novel doing other stuff I got a new radical plot change idea for the supposed finished stage of my novel...this came from brainstorming how to make the story more of a mystery.

I then found myself anxious to write and wrote two hours of my work in the middle of the night and just now I will be obsessively writing for though till the end of the month as I work in this new plot change and even better story.:-)

Beginnings, Middles and Ends The elements of fiction writing

By Nancy Kress

Covering the main elements of fiction writing, Beginnings, Middles & Ends demonstrates effective solutions for potential problems, from how to hook the editor in the 1st few paragraphs to building drama and credibililty in prose.'

Books » Reference & Language » Writing Skills. To read revievs or order click link below.

_Miscellaneous Press has submissions open for An Equal Task: Celebrating Australian Women’s Writing.

• Submissions must be received by 5pm, Eastern Australian Time, Sunday 18th December 2011.
• Each entry must be the author’s original work, in English, not previously featured in any offline publication.
• Pieces will be considered anonymously.
• Copyright of work remains with the author/artist.

• There is a maximum of three submissions per person.

Non-Fiction

• Non-Fiction including personal essays and memoir.
• 3000 words maximum.

Poetry

• 100 line limit per poem or suite of poems.

Blog Posts

• Blog posts will be considered, providing they adhere to certain criteria:

Artwork

• Black and White or Colour Images will be considered. Please note: within the text the images will be printed as black and white. Only the cover may appear in colour.
• Illustrations will also be considered.
• If selected, we will need the high-resolution image to be provided on CD.

Only Online Submissions Will Be Considered

I will take a look at this later.  I entered two writing competitions this year. Far more of them I miss.  I would need to get better at time managing my writing time to enter this one. 
I have read Stephen King's book 'On Writing' and I love his time planner.  Write in the morning , exercise afternoon and read in the evening is a simplification of the basis of it.  I always think that that would be fine if you were not also doing a million other things to keep the household running and support a family as most women writers do.   If you feel like this then this submission may interest you.
Mind you I think his Mr King's ability to plan is life around his writing and fitness and leave the running of things to others comes down to hard work followed by success and well deserved income to allow him to pay for people to do all those other chores.  I am reminded that the only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary so I had best get writing. My writing work today is to pen a short story about drug abuse and enter a competition with it.

An Equal Task: Celebrating Australian Women’s Writing

Miscellaneous Press new project, An Equal Task: Celebrating Australian Women’s Writing, invites submissions from Australian women who wish to explore the mysteries of this, at times, difficult vocation as we juggle all the other responsibilities of daily life. This collection will not have a formal theme as such, but submissions addressing the above issues will be preferred. Further suggestions include: life, work/play balance, spirituality, ambition, goals and careers. Submissions will be non-fiction and poetry. Click here for further details.
Closing date: 18 December

I went bookstore window shopping yesterday and fell in love with this beautiful book but I will purchase it on line though the link below at a discounted price with free postage.

Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic Inspiration & Beautiful Spaces

By Rachel Ashwell

Format:Hardback, 192 pages
Other Information: col. Illustrations
Release Date: 13 October 2011

Welcome to Rachel Ashwell's world: as beautiful as it is comfortable, as inspiring and spontaneous as it is practical and personal. In this book, Rachel shares her inspirations and her humour, celebrates the charm of the old and battered, and demonstrates time and again how interiors touched with Rachel's magic transcend fashionable trends, extending a calming, personal welcome to all. In this new book, Rachel takes us to homes in the US - from a shabby shack on Malibu's oceanfront to a ranch on the wide, open spaces of Texas and to the wooded hills of the Catskills - and in the UK - from a houseboat and a city townhouse to a centuries-old manor house deep in the country, and Rachel's own London apartment.

All the houses, regardless of their size or location, embody Rachel's ethos and share the same qualities: a respect for beautiful objects from the past, an extravagant sense of comfort, an eye for the unexpected and that signature touch of bling. All are inviting, artistic, soulful, inspired and inspiring, beautiful, gentle, considered and, in their own way, perfectly imperfect.

About the Author
Rachel Ashwell founded the iconic brand known as Shabby Chic in 1989. Her vision and love of vintage style and flea-market finds have hit a chord with her customers who have found her comfortable, relaxed approach to design both reassuring and achievable. She has educated and inspired people through a series of books, including Rachel Ashwell: Shabby Chic Interiors, and through her television series, Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic On Style.

Books » Home & Garden » Homes » Decorating. Click link below to order at a discounted price.

_ I am back from the post office following posting two parcels of downsizing goodies to my EBay clients and another writing competition short story entry.  I loved writing that short story.  I sent two entries, one was called "Wake Up Darling," and the second entry, a far better edited version of the first and coming in at exactly the word limit of 1,500 words, I called "Wake Up."

As it was a rush to make the deadline and I did enjoy the short story writing experience so much I have decided to write with another short story competition in mind.  I could also join these short stories together in an anthology of short stories.

I have done a search of my mail box and found another short story competition and I am about to begin work on this one.:-
The Stringybark Short Story Award 2011 is for any short story of a maximum of 1,400 words, written by anyone, of any genre that has some reference to Australia.n  The winner receives A$300 cash, a certificate, publication in hardcopy and/or electronically and a copy of the book.  Second place receives  A$125 cash, a certificate, publication in hardcopy and/or electronically and a copy of the book.  Third place, A$50 cash, a certificate and publication in hardcopy and/or electronically and a copy of the book.
Stories must be sent via email.   Closing date for entries is 18 December  2011.  Winners will be notified by 31 January 2012.

For further information click here.

I love it when I can send my entries by EMail. That makes it easier for me.  I plan to begin my writing for this short story competition, today.

__
Playful Home Creative Style Ideas for Living with Kids

By Andrew Weaving, Andrew Wood


I loved the look of this book.

Tapping into today's trend to return to unstructured playtime and move away from over-scheduling and electronic games, "Playful Home" is perfectly suited to the times. Andrew Weaving celebrates the best of childhood, from his favorite games and crafts projects to the whimsical decor that kids love. The result is kids' rooms designed to feed and inspire the imagination, as well as to hold fabulous collections of toys and books.

With the philosophy of integrating play into our daily lives, "Playful Home" looks at twelve family homes designed with children in mind, from the foyer to the back door, which stylishly embrace kids' activities and interests. The featured spaces are the kids' rooms, which combine flair and fun so successfully that they end up being the hub of the entire house.

Including design ideas for displaying toys and collectibles, plus clever ways of storing them, as well as great tips on how to make murals and unique wall decorations, "Playful Home" inspires creativity as well as good design.

Books » Home & Garden » Homes » Decorating

To read reviews, purchase at a discounted price with free postage within Australia, click on link below.

_My plans to spend three four hour sessions writing today, were changed. 

I am about to have a mini nap...undo the frustration of silly idiots wasting 3 precious hours of my writing time. Ist afternoon is down the drain.   I had a garage sale 3 weeks ago and now I have this silly old man expecting me to sell to him and not respecting the fact that it is now my novel writing month and no I will not write down a full description of everything I had and still have so he can get it valued so he can then buy it when he feels like it...Gee...If I feel like sticking a sign in the carport...'Do not disturb without prior invitation and appointment or novelist will not be overly welcoming.'

Inheritance  By Christopher Paolini

Format:Hardcover, 704 pages
Release Date: 8 November 2011

Not so very long ago, Eragon--Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider--was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders.
Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chances.
The Rider and his dragon have come further than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaesia? And if so, at what cost?
This is the much-anticipated, astonishing conclusion to the worldwide bestselling Inheritance cycle.

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers

Children's » Fiction » Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic
To Order at a discount price with FREE postage within Australia click link below.