Kalayna Price

Good news and bad news... The good news is my computer came back over the weekend. The bad news is they didn't really fix it, so the screen was still flickering, and while the sound worked again, whatever they did broke the sound controls. So, I took it back to them, and I am once again laptopless. (I'd like to register that officially as a word...) It's a Monday. I hope all of you had a good weekend.

Wow, I logged on and realized my next (this) post is my 100th blog post! It took me long enough to hit that mark--I'll be celebrating my blogging 1year anniversary next month. So, in honor of the occasion and the over all slow rate I seem to be accomplishing most things this week, have a picture of a Galapagos Turtle. (In case you're interested, I took this photo last month at Riverbanks Zoo in SC.)

I went back to the round table critique group last night, this time with material to read in hand. It was a nerve-racking experience to read my work aloud, but I think I made it through without tripping over my tongue too much. (I tried to forget it was mine--I spent several years on stage, I should be able to read five measly pages to a group of 10 people, right?) The group liked it...maybe a little too much. I expected people to rip into it, and I did get a couple of comments that need to be considered, but for the most part, everything said was flattering. Ego stroking aside, flattering isn't very helpful. I plan to go back, and join, so we will see what happens. The first couple pages might be more polished than the middle of the book. I'm still a little concerned about the large gap between sessions and the amount of work shared. With the group meeting only twice a month, and only 5-6 pages per session (if everyone gets to share) that is 12 max pages a month. Over that spa...

Well, disaster hit this weekend. My wonderful, very tiny, almost always with me, do everything on, laptop had a short. The sound started flitting in and out and the screen began flickering. As it is under warranty (thank goodness) I took it up to Best Buy. They, of course, shipped it off to be fixed. I backed up all my material--well, I hope I did--so now to settle in for 2 to 5 weeks without it. 2nd day almost down...I don't know if I'll make it. I don't have a writing ritual, but over the last two years, my laptop has been the only thing I wrote with. Not that I NEED it per say, but it is small and light enough to fit in my purse, so I am rarely away from home without it. Lunch break? Great lets write! Stranded? Great lets write! I do have a desktop at home (rather old now, as I built it back in my freshman year of college) but it hasn't been turned on in over a year and it's not mobile. My husband passed down his old Power Book to me recently--but between its si...

Candy Havens , author of Charmed and Dangerous , hosts a free workshop loop called Write_workshop. Every month (or maybe every couple months) she or a volunteer instructor generously give free classes for writers. Next week she will begin her "Fast Draft" class, in which we (attempt to) write an entire draft in two (two?...) weeks. I've participated in and 'won' the Nanowrimo challenge (50k in the month of November) two years in a row, but a full draft in only two weeks? I'll admit I'm more than a little intimidated. I'm also very excited. Who else will be Fast Drafting next week?

I went to a local round-table critique group last night. I didn't bring pages with me because, well honestly, I was so very nervous I didn't think I'd be able to read them. It was quite a mixed bag of writers who attended: several poets, a man working on a civil war historical, a couple short story writers, a man working on his memoir, one writing a historical set in ancient Rome, some literary fiction writers, and a couple people who said they weren't real sure what they were working on, they just wanted to throw it out to the group to see if it was any good. Some of the writing was better than others, but everyone was kind to the author while still sharing at least a little honest and helpful critisim. To be truthful, there was a piece or two I didn't care for much, not because the writing was bad, but because the subject matter bored me to tears. So, when my turn to comment came around the table, I focused my critique solely on grammar and complimented some part ...

Do you ever look back and wonder how you ever got anything done in the past, and if you were able to do it then, why you can't now? The year I wrote (and finished) my first novel was a busy one. I got married, graduated from college, was working a crazy job, painted enough during the year to enter newly finished paintings in two separate art shows, and read over 100 books. I don't remember being over taxed by all that. I think I even had a social life now and then. It was hectic at times, but hey, life just is. So, why can't I juggle life now? Do you ever get the feeling someone is stealing your time? Maybe I just procrastinate more than I used to(hey most of that's research, right?...)or maybe there are more obligations that complicate things. Whatever the reason...I clearly need a plan to increase my productivity. So how do you balance your time? Do you have a set plan, maybe a certain time set aside for creative endeavors, or do you steal moments here and there as ...