I can do hard things

When I was 14 years old I was diagnosed with severe scoliosis and had to have surgery right away. After being implanted with two metal rods running the entire length of my realigned back, I learned how to swallow handfuls of pills in one shot and was bedridden to a hospital bed for three months in my home, unable to walk, sit up, shower, use the bathroom, etc. without assistance. From that experience, I learned I CAN DO HARD THINGS.

When I was 16 years old, having fully recovered from my surgery, I got this crazy notion that I wanted to run a marathon. I trained for months with a very strict (and boring/lonely) regimen, including one dreadful 18-miler on a treadmill because it was pouring outside (not recommended :). I went on to finish the Honolulu Marathon in 1993 the day before I turned 17 and learned that I CAN DO HARD THINGS.

Due to spinal complications from my back surgery, I am unable to get an epidural when giving birth (believe me, I tried...a 23 hour labor will make you try anything). With diabetic complications, three of my four children were induced. Despite the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth of four very hard deliveries, I learned I CAN DO HARD THINGS.

I have had several surgeries in my life (including removal of a breast tumor), completed triathlons, earned a BA in Physics, learned what it means to live off of the local food bank, survived a tornado, moved 11 times in the same amount of years, homeschool four amazing children and have even written 2 books. I CAN DO HARD THINGS.

When I read my post last week about how wonderful and amazing nanowrimo was going for me, I nearly peed my pants. I once thought, hey, I've written 2 books, nano will be a breeze. A walk in the park. A piece of cake. But today, I would like to mirror the words of one of my critique partners:

I. DON'T. KNOW. WHAT. I'M. DOING.

THE HONEYMOON IS OVER.

THIS SUCKS.

PLEASE TELL ME I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE.

No, you are not the only one. And yes people--this is really hard. I'm plowing through, but I think I'm shaving years off my life in the process. My type A personality is having a hard time not editing as I go (I just don't have time for it right now). I hear chanting in my head all day, "Your writing sucks, your writing sucks." I know the story will be great, but right now it is not so great. It will definitely be a rewrite as opposed to a revise.

BUT, if there is anything I can take away from this post, it is that I CAN DO HARD THINGS. And guess what, I am and will continue to do it! Boo-yah!

A Stephenie Meyer Moment

So last night while plugging away at my nano I got really really excited. Because as much as I might plan and outline and THINK I have the whole story mapped out in my mind, my characters or setting or even plot surprise me with new twists. This happens all the time in writing and is one of the reasons writing is so enjoyable. But last night I was clobbered with an idea that took a very traditional concept (in Hawaiian mythology) and turned it on its head. Guys, its so cool!

It's like how Stephenie Meyer decided vampires didn't have to have fangs, or sizzle from crosses or holy water. And how they can come out into the sun...sparkling. I know Hawaiian mythology isn't as well known as vampire folklore, but STILL--it makes me so excited to feel like I'm inventing something no one had even considered before, and it's absolutely thrilling.

After finishing my word count and some, I talked my husbands ears off in the garage while he worked on his hummer. (Payback for silently listening to all his search and rescue stories)

Him-You're going to have to...

Me-I know.

Him-And what about...

Me-I did this and this...

Him-Wow. That is cool.

So yeah, you could say I'm excited to get going on my nano today. I can't wait to find out what's going to happen next.

One of my CP's just wrote about finding joy in writing here.

So what keeps you motivated?

Writing Victories

Every once in a while I need a small writing victory to keep me motivated. It's usually just positive feedback on something I have written, or the completion of a step in a project I'm working on.

This week my victory came in the form of a writing contest win. I won 1st place in the American Fork City's Scary Story Contest in the adult age group for my short story "Dine With Lady Death." I won some cash...oh yeah. Along with my picture taken by the newspaper (check out my beauteous pose on the top row, far left). And my name in shining lights is listed on the AF Library's web page.

It's no publishing contract, but it sure feels good to know someone liked what I wrote. But you know what's even better? I found out the 2nd and 4th place winners are both published authors, one of them with an MFA in creative writing. That made me feel pretty good.

And now I'm ready to take on NaNoWriMo. Bring it on !

NaNoWriMo approaches...

Anyone else doing nanowrimo this year? Are you ready?

**asks the girl who will be doing nano for the first time and is uber excited-slash-nervous**

Thoughts? Advice? Tylenol?

I heart book signings

Oh yeah! This is how I spent my Tuesday night:

Q&A panel at Provo library with four YA authors.

Crit partner Katie talking with BLOOD RED ROAD author Moira Young:

Her novel has been optioned by Ridley Scott...super cool. And she writes for 7 hours a day in a dark room with ear plugs. And oh yeah, the room is down the street from her home in the back of a salon. Too funny.

Here I am with hilarious Elana Johnson, author of POSSESSION:

Elana writes behind her piano in a spot hidden from the front door (so no one can see the chaos). She blasts music on her headphones to drown out the kids when she's working. I love hearing about how other moms write.

And here is Becca Fitzpatrick, author of the HUSH HUSH saga.

She announced that there would be a fourth book in the series. I even came home with a signed poster of SILENCE complete with a sexy shirtless picture of Patch. Ooh la la. (Husband LOVED it, by the way :)

Michelle Hodkin, author of THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER:

There's been a lot of hype about this one in the YA world and I am excited to read it. Of course, its the first piece of fiction she's ever written, period. Jealous...

Fun fun girls night out!

Write What You Know

I had a unique childhood having grown up in Hawaii. I didn't realize how different and special it was until I left for college away from home. Not only did people make fun of my 'accent' (and my frequent use of the word 'yeah'), they would ask 'what are you?' when trying to determine my ethnicity, or spontaneously start speaking to me in Spanish in which I just stared, dumbfounded.

Having lived on the mainland now for many years, I realize how blessed I was to have such an upbringing. Ordinary, every day things like camping on the beach, going to school barefoot, eating raw crab and sugar cane, or flagging down the manapua man (think of it as a chinese ice cream truck that delivers noodles and steamed buns instead of ice cream) became extraordinary.

When writing stories, suddenly my MC's go spear fish diving, play tag on the elevators at Turtle Bay Hilton, get stung by a portuguese man-o-war (jellyfish) and meet a cute boy at a hidden waterfall. (Okay that last one didn't really happen to me, but I FANTASIZED about it through my teen years, so yes, it made it into one of my stories.)

As a writer, I realized I had a wealth of information and experience that was unique, interesting, and best of all REAL. Most of what I've written so far has been Hawaii-related because this is what I love, and hopefully others will find it just as fun to experience along with my characters as I did writing it and living it.