August 30, 2010

It's still Monday - maybe not for long, but it IS still Monday and I finally made it to updates! I'm actually pretty proud of the fact, 'cause to be honest it's been a busy day and the momentum was threatening to carry me into tomorrow without pausing long enough for me to get here or post a new project on the Sophie's Sneeze page at www.brittneycassity.com (for those of you who may have missed the actual address of my website). I won though - there is a Wishing Star project up and ready, and I know what my goals are for the week here, so I'm in pretty good shape!
This week I'm On My Way To:
Rewriting and expanding the beginning of the closet monster story so that it forms 3 nice chapters. I'm working off of an outline and character description sheets for the first time. I normally let the story free form first, but keep hearing how this works "so well" that I decided to see what my opinion is of the process. So far the jury is still out.
I'm also launching my new addition to this blog on Wednesday. It's going to be called Wednesday's Words from Almost Comfortable Skin. Stop by and check it out. For your time you will get some words (that might be confused with wisdom if your not careful) that come from either personal experience or observed situations that have settled into the thought patterns that make me who I am. As an added bonus there will be a small illustration to accompany said words. Some are positive... some are snarky... some are just a little glimpse into the side of me that needs to be left out of my writing because it's not really a kid thing. Everyone needs an outlet. I hope Wednesday's Words bring a smile to your face or a new thought to your head!
Those are the two big things. On the minor side, I need a new update from Clyde, to get August's newsletter put together and added - along with some hand made Fiddlebug tote bags - into store inventory at the website (yes, go check it out, then check back often - there are some great freebies there too!)
So, there you go, my week at a glance... I wonder if I should just sleep in my running shoes!
(today's picture is my Mermaid - Prisma colored pencils - 2006)

August 28, 2010

Hmmm... well I did get 2 hours or writing in this week. I also made it to Writer's Group on time. So that means I'm only missing the Clyde update and 2 more hours of writing... Does that mean that me and the chaos of the week tied? I think that's how I'm going to look at it. Plus, if I manage to fit those in over the weekend, I'll look like I actually won - just a little later than hoped for. See you then!
(The picture was taken from my neighbor's wildlife camera and is honor of the bear of a week that all of us here at the house seemed to have as far as getting anything done.)

August 23, 2010

So here we are, nearing the end of August and at the beginning of a new week. It's got me thinking about the goals I had floating around in my head at the beginning of summer and how the path may have deviated from the plan here and there. Sometimes those deviations are good things, others... not so much. One of the not so great sliders from the path has been new writing. Marketing Fiddlebug and worrying about getting other finished manuscripts into the right hands has stepped in front of all of the new stuff floating around in my head. Considering that my favorite part of this whole thing is the writing, this doesn't make me happy in the least! I'm planning on remedying that starting this week. I'm still going to take a little time here and there to finish up the marketing plans under way at the website for what is already out in the world or heading toward it's birth, but I do believe it's time to give some new or neglected voices my attention. I need an adventure...
That being said, here is what I'm On My Way To this week: I've got Writer's Group on Wednesday, and am still awaiting the piece that I need to critique. If it doesn't come then I guess I'm going to get off easy and only be in the hot seat with the picture book version of Quillan and Dragonpox (which admittedly needs help and insight). I also need to get a new Clyde post up at the website - I think this one will be from Pennsylvania. The big thing for the week is that I'm going to add 4 hours of nothing but writing time in. I know it doesn't sound like much, but the mundane world needs attention too, so 4 hours is about all I can comfortably fit in. Hopefully I'll get it increased over the next few weeks. I'll let you know what comes out of that time on Friday! Until then, best of luck with your own path!

August 20, 2010

SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!! I love that word! But I'm skipping new flower additions for a while. I'm waiting for the new deck to be complete (slow going, it's just Scott and the boys working around Scott's nightmarish work schedule. This picture was taken before they started laying the decking.) so I can see how the landscaping needs are looking. (Plus it's too hot, and has been too dry for me to be comfortable dinking with the existing beds and their root systems. I really don't want to kill everything!)
You can check out the new store at www.brittneycassity.com right now I've only got some freebies listed (but free should make people smile anyway) but I'm working on getting some of the rest added in, so keep checking back!
I'll also be launching the new addition here on September 1, and have made enough headway that it shouldn't make me want to pull my hair out for a few months anyway!
I hope you enjoy your weekend - I know I will be! See you again on Monday!

August 16, 2010

Yes, I was bad and missed Friday's post. And here is it Monday again already too! I'm not sure where the weekend went, but gone it is, so I'd better get on with getting back into the swing of things(without kicking myself for neglecting to pre-plan any of my updates for today)for this week.
I've been working on a new addition for this blog for a while now. I'm planning to start it up the first Wednesday of September. I don't want to give too much away on it yet, but it's been keeping my drawing hand busy and giving me an outlet for some of the things that come to mind that aren't really appropriate for my website. That being said, one of my goals this week is to get caught up with what I've got ready to scan into the computer. I'd also like to get some more done, but I'm refusing to add that to the list since I consider working on this particular project "down time".
My other big goal this week is to get the store for the site attached to the site itself and make sure all the items are added. Paypal took me a little longer to get set up than I had anticipated since I just wasn't home that much over the past couple of weeks. Seeing as the West Virginia State Fair is in full swing in Lewisburg I think that I've got a great reason to stay home in my pajamas, avoid the traffic and hordes of humanity, and develop some new technological know-how. (those of you who know me can stop snickering now... ~smile~)
I'd love to say that I'm actually going to write... I miss writing. I miss getting to know new characters and finding out how the established characters are planning to change the plot behind my back. I like words. Unfortunately there are only so many hours in a day, and marketing has sucked them all up. At least I'm still being creative and there are words involved. Hopefully after the store is set up I can get back to the part I love best! Until then, I'm on my way to the rest, and this time I will be back at the end of the week to let you know how it all went! Good luck with your To Do List!
(Note: The pic is me and Scott at my 20th class reunion on Aug. 7, 2010)

August 9, 2010

Here I am at the second Monday of my "vacation". Life has been too busy for things to feel much like a break, but I'm pretty sure that's how all vacations go! Once again, I'm not going to set any literary goals other than updates this week, but I'm also not shying away from ideas if I get them (and I've had a couple starting to bubble up in the absence of The Plan too, so that's an added perk!) I'll see you again on Friday to let you know if my muse decided to let me get away with some actual time off or if she just decided to bite harder to gain my attention! Enjoy your week, and best of luck making it to the end of your own tunnel!
(Picture: This picture is of Chance and I reflected in Moncove Lake earlier this summer)

August 6, 2010

Friday came around awfully fast – even more so since I didn’t have a whole list of things hovering over my head to do. I did finally get the bank account set up, and I finished the rough draft for the picture book of Dragonpox and got critiques done in time for writer’s group, so I feel like I’m getting a little caught up.
Now it’s time to enjoy some family time! Enjoy your weekend, and I’ll be back on Monday to let you know how vacation is going.
(I thought I'd add a picture of Moncove Lake in honor of taking some time off - it's a great place to get away and it's just down the road from me!)

August 2, 2010

I looked at my newly flipped over calendar today to see what this week has in store for me. Then I looked at next week too. Then I did a few completely nonsensical mental contortions dealing with getting all the ducks in a row while tossing a couple of new ones into the gaggle, or herd, or whatever the heck duck groups are named. After that I sat and stared and finally gave in to logic. I've got too many things in too many places going on this week, and my friend Mary will be visiting next week. This means that I can gleefully say "To the petting zoo with the ducks! I'm on vacation!!!" Of course this doesn't get me out of updating my website or here, but it'll be interesting to see how my accomplishment list looks on Fridays without the goals list on Monday nudging it forward! Really though, it's vacation... there will be no floggings for lack of progress!
(picture: Nibbler in the flowers - if only she would weed!)