Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Spring cleaning bits and pieces

Yes, I'm spring cleaning and yes, it's May, but here spring seems to be a flighty little thing. The tulips are up but the flowering crab, usually in full bloom by Mother's Day, is still leafing.

Actually I'm doing more avoiding cleaning than I am cleaning. Life has so many more interesting things in it than I'm finding under my child's bed. (Really. I am serious. Although I am finding some very strange stuff.) And it would have helped if I hadn't had those extra two cups of coffee this morning. I'm bouncing around like a highly caffeinated Tigger.

I have a confession to make. New flipflops. Pink. HEY! I had no choice! They're Borns and they were $15. You would have, too. You know you would have.

Good news yesterday: my very first novella is being repackaged! YEA!

Time to continue the excavation under the bed, and then onto the Basket of the Unknowns next to my chair.

Ah, SPRING!

11 comments:

sandi said...

And just what size are those PINK flip flops? Will they match my newly-died pink hair? I can't wait to see them. Maybe I can get a pair, too! :) We could be the pink flip-flop twins. Although back in my day we called them thongs - and as the famous Maxine says, "If you're wearing a thong on anywhere but your feet, there's a serious problem."

Thought a laugh for the day might help out with the dust bunny removal project.

see you Tuesday.

Janet Spaeth said...

You can't have my pink flip-flops! NO! THEY'RE MINE!!!! MINE!

Not that I'm even a bit territorial about them, but I will share this with you--they're safely stashed in my car where a certain Shopping Princess hasn't seen them.

Yet.

Once she does, it'll probably be all over.

Love the Maxine quote! True indeed!

And finally, there are no dust bunnies in my house. No, I have dust buffalo. Roaming in herds.

But! I found the bag of black socks! That soxy ghost put them right back where they were supposed to be, and that's where I found them today.

Archeological dig continues....

Missy Tippens said...

Hey, Janet! I just found your post on the Edit Cafe blog and then found your blog. :)

I didn't know Born made flip flops!! I love their shoes!! So comfy. :)

If I give you lots of sweet coffee, will you come clean through my piles of junk??! :)

Hey! YOu mentioned Tracie's chapter by chapter synopsis format. Does she have that posted anywhere on a website or anyhing? Sounds helpful!

Missy

Janet Spaeth said...

Hey, Missy! Good to see you here!

Born does indeed make flip-flops. The pink ones are my third pair of Born flip-flops. (Yes, it's a sickness, a sad sad sickness that I have.)

About the chapter-by-chapter outline, it's something that Tracie required when she was my editor and I thought, Ha. There is no way I can do this but it actually worked. It makes you think of the product--the book--and keeps things tight. I make sure that in the outline each thing that has to be dealt with, is.

Each chapter in the outline includes an event of some kind for the hero, one for the heroine, a bit about theme, etc. It also helps me keep track of how much time their lovestory is taking, so they don't meet, fall in love, and get married within a month. That makes me queasy in real life, so I'm really careful to account for the passing of time in my stories.

If there's something that will play an important part at the end of the story, I try to incorporate that, too, in each chapter, although I have to say that now that I'm getting old and sloppy, I sometimes just put a note at the end that says, "Sprinkled in every chapter is a reference to {whatever}," to remind me.

I still sometimes do the good old-fashioned synopsis. I like those, too. But to be honest, a ch-by-ch outline can keep me more on track that the narrative synopsis.

Wow, bet you're sorry you asked, huh? LOL!

Missy Tippens said...

Not sorry at all! LOL I appreciate the info. I love hearing different writing methods to try! Thanks!

Well, now I've got to figure out where to find Born flip flops for $15. :) T.J. Maxx?? Where did you find pink ones?? I want some! :)

Missy

Janet Spaeth said...

Psssst, Missy...Gordman's.

Don't tell a soul!

Missy Tippens said...

Well, goodness, your secret is safe with me. I've never heard of the place! I guess we don't have them in GA. :)

Missy

Debby Mayne said...

Big congrats, Janet, on your first novella being repackaged! When is it coming out?

After you're finished going through your stuff and Missy's, you're welcome to come here and sift through my junk. There's plenty of it to keep you busy for a while.

Missy Tippens said...

I also meant to say congrats on the re-release! Is that the Candy Cane Caboose book? I really enjoyed that one. :)

Missy

Kacie said...

We're definitely on the same page, sweetie! Now that I'm home, I'm hard at work "spring cleaning," which is really uh...er, unpacking. Yes, it's true. We've been here since December, and I don't have a single picture hanging on the wall. [blush]

With my schedule last semester, the move, and Elizabeth's arrival, though, things have been a little bit crazier than usual. ;)

It was wonderful to see you and the kiddos! Give them a big hug for me, and tell Meg congrats again. More importantly, though, hug YOU for me!

See you in SF!

Love,
K.

Danica Favorite said...

Wow, that whole spring clean thing is something I keep thinking about doing. And then I go have an ice cream and feel better. :)