tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52926482329303480332024-02-19T07:46:48.754-08:00Writing in BerlinWriting, Editing, Reading, and More...Sabine Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06862653993925899285noreply@blogger.comBlogger184125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292648232930348033.post-84055930695169232842021-11-12T16:38:00.000-08:002021-11-12T16:38:38.953-08:00Oops I did it again!--Avoiding repetition in your writing<p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">A few years ago I wrote an article on avoiding repetition for <a href="https://eschlerediting.com/" target="_blank">Eschler Editing</a>. This week I have come to realize it is time to follow my own good advice. You usually don't get an agent/publisher without having done a lot of polishing a rewrites. So, when I signed my book deal and got the welcome to the team letter, I will admit, I thought the part about editing would be a no brainer. I mean I edit other people's stuff all the time, I know what I'm doing. And yes, I am pretty good at a things like showing not telling and not violating POV rules, but my downfall are those dreaded overused words. INSTEAD tried to kill me. THAT made me wonder if I had any other words in my book. IN FACT just laughed at me from page after page after page (as you can tell from the article I should have really known better). Needless to say, in the past week I have cut over 5000 useless words from my book. So here is my article, maybe it will help you find a few words that don't belong also.</p><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Write On!</p><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;">Sabine</span></i></p><h3 align="center" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(139, 14, 65) !important; font-family: Questrial, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida, sans-serif; font-size: 1.6em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 25.6px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Oops, I Did It Again!</b></h3><h3 align="center" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(139, 14, 65) !important; font-family: Questrial, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida, sans-serif; font-size: 1.6em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 25.6px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">6 Ways to Avoid Repetition in Your Writing</b></h3><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">By Sabine Berlin</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">(Originally written for <a href="https://eschlerediting.com/oops-i-did-it-again-6-ways-to-avoid-repetition/" target="_blank">Eschler Editing</a>)</i></div><div><span style="font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">If you’re brave enough to sit through </span><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">The Shining </i><span style="font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">(of course you are—what are a couple of ghosts and a madman to anyone who dares to write a book?), then surely you remember the classic scene where Shelley Duvall discovers that the Great American Novel her husband has spent all winter writing consists of ten words—typed over and over and over.</span></div><p align="center" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #993300; font-family: "courier new", courier; font-size: medium; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #993300; font-family: "courier new", courier; font-size: medium; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy</span></span></p><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Your own novel is certain to be more original, but anytime you string together thousands of words, you’re bound to duplicate a few. The problem comes not when you use a word more than once, but when your reader begins to notice the words and not the story.</p><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Unique words are fairly easy to avoid. Once you’ve used <i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">diaphanous</i> or <i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">solipsistic</i>, it’s not hard to remember that you’ve already enlightened your fans to your brilliant vocabulary. It’s more likely the common words that are the problem.</p><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Each manuscript is different and each author’s voice steers toward his or her own repetitive prose. (I happen to be partial to “in fact.”) So how do you avoid repetition in your writing?<span id="more-1791" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><h4 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(100, 100, 100) !important; font-family: Questrial, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 22.4px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Read or listen to your book out loud.</b></h4><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Our eyes tend to skip over our own words, especially when we’ve read them a million times. Reading your book out loud gives you a new perspective. It’s easier to hear that you’ve used <i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">okay</i> twenty times in a chapter than it is to see it. Take time to hear your words—then cut out anything you hear once too often.</p><h4 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(100, 100, 100) !important; font-family: Questrial, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 22.4px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Avoid overused words.</b></h4><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Five of the most frequently overused words I see when editing manuscripts are: <i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">so, still, though, very, </i>and<i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> well.</i> If you find yourself using these words more than once per page, do a search for them and ask: Do I really need this word here, or is it just taking space? If the answer is space—erase.</p><h4 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(100, 100, 100) !important; font-family: Questrial, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 22.4px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Use a thesaurus.</b></h4><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">This handy tool can tend to backfire on a lot of people, so use it wisely. Maybe you’re trying to find a different word for <i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">cold.</i> You type it in your online thesaurus and up pops a long list—everything from <i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">arctic</i> to <i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">wintry</i>. That’s great! You have several words to choose from. If you have to use <i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">cold</i> more than once throughout your book, you now have options to rotate with. Be careful with this. Sometimes simple is the best, and a reader will be thrown out of the story just as much if you use thirty words for <i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">cold</i> in the same chapter as if you use one—no matter how different they are. Use a word that fits the voice of the character/narrator, not one that puts up a red flag that you used a thesaurus.</p><h4 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(100, 100, 100) !important; font-family: Questrial, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 22.4px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">4. Rotate your characters’ names for pronouns.</b></h4><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #993300; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Chris went to the store. Chris bought a chainsaw. Chris cut down a tree and then Chris took it home. “What a lovely tree,” Chris’s mother said. “Thanks,” Chris replied.</span></i></p><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Here is another area where reading out loud can help you find a good balance. You want to make sure the reader knows who is being spoken about, or who is speaking, but <i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">he</i> or <i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">she</i> can act as silent words, easy to skim over without pulling you from the story.</p><h4 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(100, 100, 100) !important; font-family: Questrial, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 22.4px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">5. Repetition isn’t only about words. Think sentence variation.</b></h4><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Look at the example above. Poor Chris! He has a pretty boring story. There is no variation in his sentences’ lengths, rhythms, and syntax, so his tale becomes a laundry list of ideas. This happened, then this happened, then this. Try varying sentence length. Make sure you don’t start every sentence the same way. If you think something sounds repetitive, try one or two other ways to write it, and then go with the one that won’t turn your story into cleaning instructions. Example: <span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #993300; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Chris went to the store. The chainsaw caught his eye immediately, calling to him.</i><i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"></i></span></p><h4 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(100, 100, 100) !important; font-family: Questrial, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 22.4px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">6. Sometimes it’s okay to use the same word.</b></h4><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Remember our silent pronouns? Well, there is one word that is <i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">mostly </i>invisible all together. <i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Said</i> doesn’t draw the reader away from the story. It’s just there, not making anyone think too hard. There may be one or two places in your <i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">entire </i>novel where someone <i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">whispered</i> or <i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">hissed</i>, but for the most part, <i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">said</i> is the best way to tag dialogue. That being <i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">said,</i> even this word, when overused (i.e., appearing dozens of time on one page), can be noticeable. If your character has a strong enough voice, you shouldn’t have to tag his dialogue on a regular basis. Dean Koontz is great at this. Pick up one of his books (<i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0345533429/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0345533429&linkCode=am2&tag=eschlediti-20" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(97, 72, 223) !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Odd Thomas</a><img alt="" border="0" class="error" data-lazy-src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=eschlediti-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0345533429" data-ll-status="error" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=eschlediti-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0345533429" style="background: transparent; border: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 0px !important; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;" width="1" /></i> really showcases this technique) and you will see pages of dialogue with no tags whatsoever, and yet there is never any confusion about who is talking. Give your character a personality and you will avoid having to repeatedly identify who is talking.</p><h4 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(100, 100, 100) !important; font-family: Questrial, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 22.4px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Do this now:</b></h4><ol style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2em; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: inside; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 23px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Get a good thesaurus and use it.</li><li style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Find a friend to whom you can read your story out loud so both of you can make lists of overused words. You may find your lists to be very different. Tackle deleting/alternating the words on both lists.</li><li style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Find authors you admire and read their work, watching how they avoid repetition, not only in words but sentence structure as well.</li><li style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">If you have a character who overuses a specific word in dialogue, check to make sure you are not overusing that word elsewhere.</li><li style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">For more editing help, <a class="trigger-checklist-popup" href="https://eschlerediting.com/oops-i-did-it-again-6-ways-to-avoid-repetition/#trigger-checklist-popup" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(97, 72, 223) !important; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">download our proofreading checklist—a secret weapon our editors use in-house.</a></li></ol><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Writing a novel is no small feat. You have to plot, punctuate, and polish—over and over and over. So give your eyes a break from reading the same words (over and over and over) by making things fresh and exciting each time you put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard).</p><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Remember: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy … and repetition does the same to your book.</p><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Let’s hear from you. What is the one word or phrase you find yourself overusing? Help a fellow writer by sharing below what your story <b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">can</b> live without.</i></p>berlinwritergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07606409758307661739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292648232930348033.post-16702114217910617102021-11-01T16:42:00.000-07:002021-11-01T16:42:31.121-07:00I signed a Book Deal!<p>Last time I posted I had just self published Oh My Oppa! It is a cute little romance in the Korean Crush Series, and I had the support of some amazing friends to walk me through the indie publishing world. I remember hitting that publish button and being so excited to start my writing adventure after spending so many years editing other people's stories. And then life hit–hard.</p><p>My dear mother-in-law's ALS went from bad to worse and we soon lost her. My day job switched and suddenly I was a manager with a lot more responsibility. I started grad school. Covid came and stayed and stayed and stayed. I finished my Master of Education in Higher Education Leadership. Two kids graduated. One kid joined a traveling soccer team. My husband switched positions at work. And for awhile I forgot about writing and books (well at least the fun type that were not 500 page text books) and the characters inside my head. </p><p>Thankfully, they didn't forget about me. </p><p>Fast forward to this summer. I'd just graduated with my M.Ed. and life was slowly starting to calm down when I got an email from an editor that I had sent a full version of And the Sky Full of Starts to months before. The email said she loved Sky and was going to recommend it for acquisition. There was just one hiccup–she was leaving the company to pursue her own writing career. (And good for her! We should NEVER give up on our dreams!)</p><p>Well, then I didn't hear and I didn't hear and I sort of gave up until...I did hear.</p><p>She had recommended Sky and the main editor loved it also! And suddenly there was a book contract and edits to be done and a webpage to be made (look for announcements on my upcoming website soon) and author pages to be put in place (follow me on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sabineberlinauthor/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>) and that dream I've had of publishing a book (by an actual publisher, with editors that loved my story even though they aren't my mom or niece or best friend) was one step closer to coming true. </p><p>I am so excited and pleased to announce that I have signed with Immortal Works Publishing to publish And the Sky Full of Stars (name subject to change). This really is a dream come true, and I can't wait to see where this new adventure takes me. </p><p>Oh, and I have to add–as I sit here editing my own book–it is pretty awesome. I think you're going to love it, so stay tuned for more announcements. </p>berlinwritergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07606409758307661739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292648232930348033.post-73145870387199344062019-04-20T06:40:00.000-07:002019-04-20T06:40:13.014-07:00Oh My Oppa!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkGtt2funUnwTpxQJ22cMEOEbgJIA_dS4ntpgz9Z1ZsjXSC9FctvchWUGfUsv2Y7Qr5TSmgKrjsRH-259BJGSwSpWL3ijMlmnyPX3e2QZmwE9kGlObR_parGaooT3-m924LicgC8W8lbO/s1600/OH+My+Oppa%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="314" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkGtt2funUnwTpxQJ22cMEOEbgJIA_dS4ntpgz9Z1ZsjXSC9FctvchWUGfUsv2Y7Qr5TSmgKrjsRH-259BJGSwSpWL3ijMlmnyPX3e2QZmwE9kGlObR_parGaooT3-m924LicgC8W8lbO/s640/OH+My+Oppa%2521.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Having a book release while you are in the midst of loosing a loved one isn't exactly the best way to go. However, even though it has been a month I am very proud of the fifth book in the My Korean Crush Series. Oh My Oppa! By ME!<br />
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I had so much fun writing this book. It combined my love of storytelling with my love of Kdramas for what I think is a pretty fun ride.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Kate Morrison has plans to rekindle her dying relationship when her boyfriend Derek invites her on a two week business trip to Korea. But when the trip turns out to be just that—business—she discovers that eating kimchi and bulgogi alone isn’t exactly what she’d hoped for.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Even though he can’t take his eyes off his laptop, Derek does try to make sure Kate isn’t completely bored. Unfortunately, hiring an oppa tour guide to show her around isn’t the solution Kate had been hoping for. All she really wants is for Derek to remember how much he still loves her. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Kate decides that spending more time with her “oppa,” Sean, might jog Derek’s memory. The problem is, Sean isn’t just attractive—he’s smart, funny, and he not only listens to her dreams about writing children’s books, he encourages them. With Derek too busy with mergers and acquisitions to find time to be jealous, will Kate be able to win his heart back before her new oppa steals hers away?</span><br />
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You can find it on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Oh-My-Oppa-Korean-Crush-ebook/dp/B07NHFVLL3/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=39TUDCGST20LL&keywords=oh+my+oppa&qid=1551383711&s=gateway&sprefix=oh+my+oppa%2Caps%2C144&sr=8-1-fkmrnull#customerReviews" target="_blank">Amazon</a> in both ebook and paperback. If you are looking for a fun, light hearted read, this is the book for you!berlinwritergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07606409758307661739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292648232930348033.post-67123512892367008262019-02-25T15:18:00.000-08:002019-02-25T15:18:28.994-08:00Silver Screen Dreams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFfj_tBtwJbYtemCh7KiyGAJPhMbcLF7OcyNp5ckABd2-vZxXqgAXptclMWm-LmGPaDFqRqDHjdfDLGXYpOeD-TDTbCQBAJQhJh-zW9GPVPiVY9HVJsrnybU-VvFegw3o5rXIC8v0R0Hn/s1600/silver+screen.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1006" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFfj_tBtwJbYtemCh7KiyGAJPhMbcLF7OcyNp5ckABd2-vZxXqgAXptclMWm-LmGPaDFqRqDHjdfDLGXYpOeD-TDTbCQBAJQhJh-zW9GPVPiVY9HVJsrnybU-VvFegw3o5rXIC8v0R0Hn/s320/silver+screen.png" width="201" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">It is time for book two in the My Korean Crush Series: Silver Screen Dreams by Jennie Bennett. Oh how I loved this book. There is nothing quite like falling in love with the guy next door (or across the street in my case). And when you throw in a hot movie star who has his eye on you, well it leads to a super fun adventure that you won't be able to put down.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">From Amazon:</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Summer Henley is sick of playing it safe. Safe career path (accounting,) safe place to live (with her parents,) and a safe best friend (Mark.) </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">In her dreams she was a screenwriter with a home in a Malibu and a hot actor boyfriend, but that was saved in her someday file. For the moment, she’d play the part of a good worker, good daughter, and good friend. Even though her heart longed for something more, especially with Mark.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">It wouldn’t be so hard to stay just friends if Mark would quit being so amazing to her. Knowing her dream, he’s secured her a spot as an extra in Korean television show, placing her directly in the path of the handsome lead actor. Now, two incredible men are vying for her attention and she has to decided if her dreams are really what she wants, or if her reality is better than she could ever imagine.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Jennie is amazing when it comes to bringing romance to the page. I loved watching Summer's dilemma and seeing the great final outcome. These books are perfect for K-drama lovers and really anyone who wants a good, clean romance (yes, you teen can read this and you don't have to worry). I love all the books in the series, but this one is my favorite favorite so far. Get your copy <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Screen-Dreams-Korean-Crush-ebook/dp/B07GL7N3QF/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1551134917&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=silver+screen+dreams&psc=1" target="_blank">here</a>!</span></span></span>berlinwritergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07606409758307661739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292648232930348033.post-88271334377255449672019-02-14T14:23:00.000-08:002019-02-14T14:23:12.203-08:00My Korean Crush Series Book 1<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUHVg56WDkOd1bK3IOhprArbI1sCtz1iB7ox9Kac_HeXq0DH6FaBOsAMddIyrwx9-RQDgW773-4EThjXw8o_8Jb7iIIXyVgMGZ0j2_bsPpYm42F6uiNVurprKeQQDGuy6FjfspvQMnOj_/s1600/Flower+Boy+Tour+Guide.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1209" data-original-width="751" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUHVg56WDkOd1bK3IOhprArbI1sCtz1iB7ox9Kac_HeXq0DH6FaBOsAMddIyrwx9-RQDgW773-4EThjXw8o_8Jb7iIIXyVgMGZ0j2_bsPpYm42F6uiNVurprKeQQDGuy6FjfspvQMnOj_/s320/Flower+Boy+Tour+Guide.jpeg" width="198" /></a></div>
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As promised, I'm back and am excited to share the first book in the My Korean Crush Series with everyone: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Flower-Tour-Guide-Korean-Crush-ebook/dp/B07FN7X5TD/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_4?crid=WR89PWE5K6SZ&keywords=my+korean+crush+series&qid=1550167297&s=gateway&sprefix=my+korean+c%2Caps%2C165&sr=8-4-fkmrnull" target="_blank">Flower Boy Tour Guide</a> by Shannon Kent.<br />
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When K-Drama Anonymous announced this book series I was super excited. I love all things K-drama and I love to read, so books that have flower boy oppas that make you swoon are like chocolate for me. This book did not disappoint. Here is the premise as taken from Amazon:<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Flower Boy: noun 1. slang for a really hot guy </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Hannah Reynolds travels to Korea in search of her own drama hero come to life. What she gets instead is gorgeous, but surly tour guide, Jae Lee. He seems determined to ruin every romantic location they visit with his snarky comments, but Hannah can’t deny the crackling tension between them. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">As they travel around the country with a busload of wacky K-drama and K-pop fans, their chemistry keeps drawing the two together. Hannah sees the mountain of problems standing between her and a relationship with Jae. They live in different countries. She’s flying home in five days. And he always takes an emotional step back whenever they get closer. But her heart doesn’t want to listen to reason. All it can see is the flower boy tour guide.</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The romance is fun, but the thing I love the most about this book are all the "wacky" K-drama fans. The author has created a handful of fun, unique characters that put a smile on your face from beginning to end. The hi-jinx that these ladies create will have you laughing. And, not to spoil anything, but the </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">friendships formed are so amazing that another book was created from them. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">As with each book in this series, you can read them in any order as they each stand on their own, but this book is a great place to start. So if you love K-Dramas and need a good read, go get yourself a copy using the link above. And if you have never ventured into the world of K-dramas/K-Pop then do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this book. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Just for Fun:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">W</span></span>ho would you want to have as your very own Flower Boy Tour Guide?berlinwritergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07606409758307661739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292648232930348033.post-69257373869369805462019-02-07T20:28:00.000-08:002019-02-07T20:28:49.682-08:00My Korean Crush SeriesFour years ago my friend Rebecca showed up on my doorstep with some bulgogi and told me I had to watch a K-drama with her. The rest is history. I was hooked. K-dramas are the best. They are fun, cute, romantic, and all the feels! I probably should state that they are not the only reason I took a break from blogging (but they might have been one of the reasons--man it is hard to stop once you get into a show). Life has been busy. I also went from being an Administrative Assistant to being the Coordinator of Academic Quality Assurance to now being the Manger of the Curriculum Department for a major university. The largest one in my state. I also took classes on the side and got my Certificate of Proficiency in Editing and Document Design. And I have done A LOT of editing--and a little writing. But K-dramas have been my release. They are my wind down time. My stress relievers.<br />
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A few months ago--that same lovely friend invited me to join a group on Facebook full of K-drama fans. The rest is history. Now not only do I get to watch K-dramas, I have a whole community of amazing people to talk to about them. So when some of the girls in the group started a book series--My Korean Crush--of course I was interested. And so I read the books. Each one as they have come out and I have to say--they are awesome. Over the next few weeks I will review each book in the series so any of you reading this will know you have to have a copy for yourself. In fact, trust me, you don't need my reviews. Just go to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Flower-Tour-Guide-Korean-Crush-ebook/dp/B07FN7X5TD/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_5?keywords=my+korean+crush+series&qid=1549599932&sr=8-5-fkmrnull" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and get them! But if you want to know what I have to say then tune back in real soon (no really, I won't get lost in Dramaworld and never do another blog). Until then happy writing, happy reading, and happy K-dramaing!berlinwritergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07606409758307661739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292648232930348033.post-53929381801968871322016-05-09T06:00:00.000-07:002016-05-09T08:44:31.815-07:00I'm Not Wonder Woman--And That's Okay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lLGh9fUmOC1fKo7S3sZZkg0dhWNdzHr5xhifWIPs_PPtHiFhRUKfeOArIsEif1dTLxi045DQoTXLE-QI5wEWoWUh3FowMp0R-WJwJCQL6Kp6WA6oeOENuYijwlNXFPbQyVOmp8qol_Hx/s1600/wonder.woman.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lLGh9fUmOC1fKo7S3sZZkg0dhWNdzHr5xhifWIPs_PPtHiFhRUKfeOArIsEif1dTLxi045DQoTXLE-QI5wEWoWUh3FowMp0R-WJwJCQL6Kp6WA6oeOENuYijwlNXFPbQyVOmp8qol_Hx/s400/wonder.woman.02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’d graduated in December of 2012 and was now working full time. I was also still doing a part time editing job, along with kids, husband, house, and all the other jobs a mom has. Throughout Spring and Summer 2014 I kept telling myself that I just needed a vacation. I was certain if I could make it to August when my mom, sister, and I were taking my son and my nephew to Germany, everything would be fine.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then I went to the terminal and silently cried--in pain, but also in fear because something was seriously wrong and I was alone in a foreign country and what would happen if it really was a heart attack and we were over the Atlantic and I would never see anyone again and… </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I survived Munich, Reykjavik, and Denver Airports and was still alive when I finally made it home. But I was glad I’d planned one recovery day before I was due back at work. The morning after I got home I went to the doctor. After a few tests he determined that I was not having a heart attack, but was having a severe case of costochondritis--inflammation of the rib cage. I just needed rest, ibuprofen, and time. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Two weeks later when it still felt like someone was probing my chest with a knife blade, and when the fatigue returned with vengeance I was back in the doctor’s office. After several more tests I got the news: Fibromyalgia. The good news the doctor said was that overall I was fairly healthy and should live a long time. The bad news was that I would be in chronic pain and fatigue for the rest of my life. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And so I went through the next year struggling to get out of bed each morning, collapsing when I got home from work, not being able to focus on pretty much anything, and gaining almost 40 pounds because all I could do all day was sit at my desk and make it home to collapse on the couch. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By this time I just knew pain and fatigue were part of my life, and I really had no choice but to deal with it. But around August of 2015, something strange began to happen. I would get up to go to the bathroom during the workday and it felt like I was having an out of body experience. I was walking down the hall, but my head felt as if it was watching me walk and not really there with me. Also I could never stand up without getting extremely dizzy--even to the point of blacking out a few times. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It turns out I had a completely unrelated health problem--extremely low blood pressure (which my mom has so I probably should have been more aware of it, but I was no longer smart, remember?) My fibro was also getting worse, which meant I needed to stop using Dr. Pepper as my wake up fix because sugar was becoming a no no. It also meant no artificial sweeteners--so diet soda was out of the question (which was fine by me because, gross!). My doctor actually recommended a cup of coffee every morning, but absolutely no caffeine after 2pm.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I tried it for a few days--but I am not a coffee lover. I had to gag the stuff down which made me not want to do it, so I went back to my Dr. Pepper fixes just trying to have them not too late at night. I did this because let’s face it, changing your diet is hard, and it wasn’t like I had a deadly disease, so I mean who cared if I had a low quality of life? It was better that than giving up Dr. Pepper and Cinnamon Toast Crunch, right?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I made it through the holiday season with good days and bad. I would quit soda for a week and then need just one, which would completely addict me again. In January I actually quit for a whole month, but allowing myself one for my birthday threw me back into the caffeine mood. Soda was my drug of choice. I always joked, I could give up bread no problem, but Dr. Pepper--no way.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And then I got a new pain.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Turned out I had arthritis in my hip. So that was super fun. Again, not deadly, but my quality of life was just spiraling down down down. I couldn’t go out back and play soccer with the kids. I hated myself in any and all pictures. I could barely muster up the strength to go to my much needed GNO/Writing Group once a week. I just wanted to sleep.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was then that my friend sent me a <a href="https://youtu.be/4vl6wCiUZYc" target="_blank">TED presentation</a> on achieving your goals. It was exactly what I needed to watch. For some reason, that was the spark that made me want to change. I’d read enough to know that fibro could be managed (a lot better than I was managing it, even if I tried to tell myself that at least I was able to get out of bed most days--Sundays became my actual day of rest, sleeping pretty much all day to recover from the week.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was time to start reaching my goals. To get my life back. I decided of all the lifestyle plans I could choose, <a href="http://www.marksdailyapple.com/#axzz47uN4dhTg" target="_blank">Primal</a> made the most sense to me. So, a little over two weeks ago I took the plunge and cut all processed foods, soda, added sugars, and grains from my diet. I eat healthy fats, lean meat, nuts, seeds, vegetables, and fruits. In two weeks I lost 10 pounds and 9 inches. That has been an added bonus. But the real benefit has been that I have gone from a full dose of pain meds daily, to only have ibuprofen once in the last two weeks. (Because once the fibro pain stopped, I realized that I had tennis (mouse) elbow.) But even that is survivable. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Point is, I’m loving the way I’m feeling, and I want to keep it up. So I am going to blog again--sometimes about my fibro journey, sometimes about editing/writing, and sometimes about my accomplishments, because after a year and a half of feeling like I had no life, I have one back--and I want to keep it. The doctor said I would live a long time--I plan to do it in comfort. I'm not Wonder Woman anymore, and that is okay. I just plan on being a pain free me for as long as I possibly can.</span></div>
<br />berlinwritergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07606409758307661739noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292648232930348033.post-49961825588286240512015-02-09T13:45:00.001-08:002015-02-09T13:45:37.799-08:00Starting OverIt is never fun to start from the beginning when you thought you were finished with something. But sometimes it is necessary. That is where I am right now. I finished a full draft of my novel Room for Two last year, but there were a few major problems in the plot and it turns out that editing just wasn't cutting it. So I broke down and finally did a full chapter by chapter outline.<br />
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And here I am. Staring at a blank file. Ready to rewrite this novel from scratch. </div>
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It is a little nerve wracking. I am, however, looking forward to the challenge. A second write is always refreshing in the fact that I know my characters so much better than I did the first time through. It is amazing how much easier Elle's voice shines through. It is also terrifying because I can't help but think: Is this really the last time I am going to have to rewrite this book?</div>
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This is the second time I have chosen to rewrite an entire book from scratch. I claim it is because I am a discovery writer, and in some ways I am, but after outlining this time around I finally see the benefits of nailing down some key points before you start writing with just an idea in mind. Still you gotta do what works for you.</div>
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So how about it? Are you an outliner or a write by the seat of your pants type? Whatever gets those words down on paper--best of luck!</div>
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Write On!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Sabine</i></span></div>
berlinwritergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07606409758307661739noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292648232930348033.post-16549004977151785142015-02-05T14:00:00.001-08:002015-02-05T14:00:15.708-08:00Throw Back ThursdayThings have been a little busy here in Berlinland, but I have not forgotten my blog. Since Throwback Thursday is such a hit on FaceBook I thought I'd give it a try and post an old article I wrote for Eschler Editing. If you like it you can go see more great articles <a href="http://www.eschlerediting.com/" target="_blank">here.</a><br />
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I especially love that this talks about how Caroline should end up with Klaus. Funny how time can change everything. She should totally get together with Stefan! (I'm like 5 episodes behind this season, so if she does--don't spoil it for me!)<br />
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<h3 style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
Team, Who Cares?</h3>
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Love Triangles in YA Fiction</h3>
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<i>by Sabine Berlin</i></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316038385/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0316038385&linkCode=as2&tag=eschlediti-20" style="color: #a03231;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0316038385&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=eschlediti-20" style="border: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=eschlediti-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0316038385" style="border: none !important; height: auto; margin: 0px !important; max-width: 100%;" width="1" /> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0439023521/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0439023521&linkCode=as2&tag=eschlediti-20" style="color: #a03231;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0439023521&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=eschlediti-20" style="border: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=eschlediti-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0439023521" style="border: none !important; height: auto; margin: 0px !important; max-width: 100%;" width="1" /> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061963860/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0061963860&linkCode=as2&tag=eschlediti-20" style="color: #a03231;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0061963860&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=eschlediti-20" style="border: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=eschlediti-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0061963860" style="border: none !important; height: auto; margin: 0px !important; max-width: 100%;" width="1" /></div>
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Bella had her Edward … and Jacob? Katniss had her Peeta … and Gale? Elana had her Stefan … and Damon? Love triangles are everywhere in YA fiction, but I’ve recently seen tweets and comments that they are done. I’m not sure I completely agree with that. Teenage girls love a good love triangle. They like picking a team and arguing it with their friends at lunch, over Facebook, on the way to soccer practice. Unfortunately, teenage girls are not the ones who will be publishing your book. Agents and editors are tired of “the same old girl can choose between two hot, perfect guys and what will she do?” story. So where does that leave you? Before you cross out one of your characters to avoid a love triangle, take a step back and see what works—and what doesn’t.<span id="more-2438"></span></div>
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The Don’ts</h4>
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<li style="line-height: 1.4; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px;">Don’t let your protagonist be a tease. Yes, there might be more than one guy who’s right for her. But don’t have her kissing boy A in one scene and then kissing boy B in the next. All this does is make us lose respect for the main character. So she has a crush on two guys. So she needs to spend time with each of them to sort out her feelings. Fine. But there are ways of realizing which is the right guy that don’t involve playing back-to-back games of tonsil hockey.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.4; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px;">Don’t let her fall for the bad boy just because he’s hot. There isn’t a whole lot better than a hot bad boy. But that doesn’t mean your character should be with a bad boy, no matter how much you want her to. With that being said, if you give your bad boy a great story line, all of a sudden he isn’t just hot—he’s misunderstood. So if you’re determined that your girl needs to fall for the bad biker boy because he’s just too beautiful for words, then at least give him a personality to match.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.4; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px;">Don’t make it too easy to predict who she’ll be with. Why is it that there’s always a great guy who loves her until super-hot (insert the paranormal creature of your desire here) boy comes along and sweeps her off her feet? And why is it that even though he’s a cocky pain in the neck, he’s so super-hot that of course she’ll pick him? Yeah, don’t do that.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.4; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px;">Don’t make the plot of the book be about a love triangle. Make sure your book has real conflict in it that isn’t just about who the girl will pick. Give us a plot. Give us real conflict. And then if you can use that conflict to further the intensity of your love triangle, great—but don’t use your love triangle to further the intensity of your plot.</li>
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The Do’s</h4>
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<li style="line-height: 1.4; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px;">Do give your guys decent backstories. If you’re going to have your girl be wishy-washy in trying to decide who to love, make sure that there’s a compelling reason for her to love each guy beyond the fact that one or both of them is super-hot. I can’t think of a single <i>Pride and Prejudice</i> adaptation where I started watching and thought Mr. Darcy was hot, but by the end of each one I am completely smitten—and not just because of the accent! We love Mr. Darcy because he isn’t just pretty and rich. He is human. He makes mistakes, he is proud, he is a little bit of a snob, but in the end he has reasons for why he acts the way he does. Mr. Darcy has personality.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.4; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px;">Do understand the difference between being in love and being in attraction. Attraction in this case goes even deeper than looks. Your MC (main character) can find herself attracted to more than one guy. Love requires sacrifice; it requires putting the other person ahead of you no matter the cost. Love isn’t romantic getaways and moonlit walks on the beach; it is soul searching, heart giving, for better or worse, never ending. Your teen MC might not know that at the start, but by the end of the book she’d better have it figured out.</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.4; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px;">Do let Guy B find his own set of happiness. If you are going to have a love triangle where two guys are both perfect, the least you can do is make sure they both are happy. Sure, there are other ways you can deal with Guy B. You can kill him off, turn him into a jerk, or worse, turn him into an <i>evil</i> jerk. But if you’re going to spend the series building up both guys, then why not let them both be alive and well at the end?</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.4; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px;">Do let your guys respect one another on some level. Love triangles where the guys hate each other are too cliché. If your MC really respects both guys and they really hate each other, doesn’t that tip her off that one or both of them are really jerks? In that case, she shouldn’t be with either of them. But what if they respect each other—maybe are even friends? All of a sudden the reader isn’t certain which way she wants it to go.</li>
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Good, unique love triangles aren’t going anywhere—not any time soon—and that’s fine with me. I love debating every week whether Elena should be with Damon or Stefan. (We all know Caroline should be with Klaus, so there’s really no love triangle there.) If you’re going to write a love triangle, be unique, make us care, and give us a story that would still be completely worth reading—even if there was <i>no </i>love triangle.</div>
berlinwritergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07606409758307661739noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292648232930348033.post-17808049703655686502015-01-13T08:11:00.001-08:002015-01-13T08:11:49.195-08:00Book Review: Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Oy9wnodZTwlCfHZph6URdlkghdLQGOZEHwBxRew5Y2-j_Zgvnu3oWNRnc3e_aa38daVS4-vrK2k00I9ukPjX2SsndiD4n4f_BCY_Gj8s3ARD_qpr8p378SrWyr3O7Um6O3HUhG6dX3hw/s1600/Isla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Oy9wnodZTwlCfHZph6URdlkghdLQGOZEHwBxRew5Y2-j_Zgvnu3oWNRnc3e_aa38daVS4-vrK2k00I9ukPjX2SsndiD4n4f_BCY_Gj8s3ARD_qpr8p378SrWyr3O7Um6O3HUhG6dX3hw/s1600/Isla.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
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This is the third and final book in the Anna and the French Kiss series. The main characters are Isla and Josh who were both featured in the first book.<br />
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Isla and Josh have a lot in common. They both attend The American School in Paris, they both are New Yorkers, they both love comics, and it turns out they both have had a secret crush on each other for the past four years. Unfortunately, Josh has been in a relationship for most of that time and so Isla has had to admire from afar, but when she sees him sitting inside Kismet over summer vacation, finally girlfriendless, she figures this is her chance--or actually the pain meds from having her wisdom teeth pulled make her loopy enough to plop down at his table and strike up a conversation.<br />
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And so begins a whirlwind romance that takes us from New York to Paris to Barcelona and back.<br />
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I liked this book, but not as much as I liked the other two. One thing Stephanie Perkins is awesome at is description. I could totally picture Cafe Kismet in New York, the treehouse in Paris, and the steets of Barcelona--and I want to go to each of those places now!<br />
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The biggest downfall for this book was that there really wasn't much of a plot. Yes, it is a romance and we get that, but the other two books felt like they had real stories, and this one didn't. I liked Josh, but there wasn't nearly enough of him. And yes, this is Isla's story, but to be honest, I didn't really care for her. Not the way I found myself rooting for Anna and Lola in the previous books. When the book ended I really had no idea what Josh saw in her.<br />
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Still the other two are <b>must reads</b>, so if you are like me and have to finish the trilogy you will probably read this one and just know while it isn't all that, <br />
it isn't all bad. Hey, it is definitely better than Mockingjay was so at least you won't want to be hitting your head on a brick wall when you finish it!berlinwritergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07606409758307661739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292648232930348033.post-21125058399451926632015-01-08T08:05:00.001-08:002015-01-08T08:05:47.227-08:00The Long and Short of It!Is this the year you are looking to write that short story, novella, or novel? I am usually too long winded to get out a short story. In fact, I have only written a few short stories and one novella and they were for college classes. But this year that is going to change. The shorts are making a comeback and if you want to be part of it then I have a new article up on the <a href="http://www.eschlerediting.com/short-is-the-new-long-5-tips/" target="_blank">Eschler Site</a> that talks about short stories and novellas in the marketplace. It also links to a few really great stories to read so make sure to head on over and check it out.<br />
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Write On!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Sabine</i></span><br />
<br />berlinwritergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07606409758307661739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292648232930348033.post-76693939169888472322015-01-05T09:45:00.000-08:002015-01-05T09:45:29.423-08:00Healthy 2015!Well 2014 came and went. My year pretty much consisted of work, kids, and soccer. A few highlights were getting to teach an editing panel at Write Here in Ephraim, two amazing Critiki Retreatis, taking my 9 year old to Germany, and Thanksgiving in San Diego with the family. The not so great part of the year started about March and finally had its blowup in September with a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia.<div>
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I've dealt with chronic pain for a few years now so that was really no big deal. Over the past few years I have been diagnosed with IBS, Restless Leg Syndrome, Chostocondritis, and just general aches and pains with no good reason for them. In March I added Chronic Fatigue to that list. It increased slowly, not to the point that I was too worried until August. By that time I also got hit with what is called brain fog. I couldn't concentrate on anything and was tired all the time. I figured I was just overworked and was super excited to go spend nine days in Germany with my little bear.</div>
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The trip started out great. We flew into Munich (by way of Iceland!) and spent a day there, saw Dinkelsbuhl and Rottenburg, then on to Lubben to visit family. We went to Berlin (of course) and shopped, and I visited a bunch of places that I plan to use in the new book I am outlining, which right now just has a working title of Germany With Love (yes, I listen to Alphaville way too much, it was almost going to be titled Summer in Berlin!). The night we got back to Lubben from a full day in Berlin I had this throbbing pain in my chest. Again, I wrote it off as a lot of walking and carrying shopping bags.</div>
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The pain persisted the last three days of my trip and the flight home about killed me (I thought it was because my bags were overstuffed with chocolate). The day after I got home I woke up and was sure I was having a heart attack. A trip to the doctors and several blood tests and EKGs later, they said it was just an extreme case of Chostocondritis (inflamed rib cage) and gave me some pain pills. Two weeks later the pain was not getting better, the brain fog came back in full swing, and I just knew I wasn't feeling right. So I got in with my actual doctor and we had a good long talk. He asked a lot of questions, looked over my medical history, and then started poking me in the strangest places. </div>
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These turned out to be Fibromyalgia pressure points, and man did it feel like I was being tortured when he barely touched them. So I got a diagnosis, got a rude awakening that I could no longer keep going at the neck breaking pace I was accustomed to, and got on some meds to help things out. That was in September. Since then I have learned a lot. I got to talk to an old friend from high school who suffers from this and learned a ton from her. (Thanks Jeanette). I have slowly started to overcome my brain fog and fatigue. I have realized that I get every bug there is and am working to build up my immune system to combat that. </div>
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2015 is going to be the year I take my health back. I want to write, I want to edit, I want to read, but none of those are possible if I can't even get out of bed. So those will be my rewards instead of my goals. The more I regain my health with diet, exercise, and knowledge, the more I will be able to do the things I love.</div>
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So yeah, I plan to finish Room for Two, I plan to outline and draft Germany with Love, I hope to work on expanding The King's Brother--and I want to do all of these things because that will mean I am healthy enough to do them. </div>
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Here is to a Healthy 2015--for me and for you. I wish you the best and hope to be on here a lot more with writing updates, editing tips, and so much more!</div>
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Write On!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Sabine</i></span></div>
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berlinwritergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07606409758307661739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292648232930348033.post-64045913515699010642014-02-14T16:12:00.001-08:002014-02-14T16:12:38.477-08:00What’s Your Excuse?<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love to write. I really do. When I am doing it I’m happier. So what happened this week? I could blame it on writer’s block--except last week my writing group gave me some brilliant ideas so that is no good at least until this scene is written. I could blame it on not having time, which would be a lot more realistic. I mean this is my typical day: wake up, make lunches, get the kids going, get myself ready for the day, take kids to school, go to work, lunch is spent going to my class, or running errands, work, pick up kids or take kids to soccer, get home around 7, make dinner, chores, help kids with their homework, get kids to bed, spend some time with my husband, edit, go to sleep around midnight. There, it is therapeutic to write it down (because as you know, I love to write). I am busy, really busy. It's a valid excuse--except it </span><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px; white-space: pre-wrap;">isn't</span><span style="line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"> really because lots of writers are busy, and they still write.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And so the question no longer is what’s my excuse? I could come up with those all day long. The question needs to be: How much do you want this? Do I WANT to write? Yes. Do I HATE paying the fee for not writing? Yes. (I owe 2$ to my writer’s group for this week, ouch!) Do I LOVE my story? Yes. Can I get up 30 minutes earlier? Err...okay there it is. This is my excuse. I like my sleep. I like my 8 hours. I want my 8 hours. And so a new question comes into play. Which do I want more? I wish I could say I was willing to set the alarm for 30 minutes earlier each day. Maybe someday I will.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Until that day--15 minutes earlier actually sounds doable. If you think you could wake up 15 minutes earlier to get some writing into your busy day, join me--not really I’ll be in my PJ’s and I won’t have brushed my teeth yet!--but in spirit. It's always easier to do something if you have a friend. So if you need that extra push, know that you are not alone. And hey, when you are ready for that 30 minute push--go ahead and shove me! And Happy Valentine’s Day!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Write On!</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>berlinwritergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07606409758307661739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292648232930348033.post-15335932386223515132014-02-02T13:11:00.000-08:002014-02-02T13:11:01.366-08:0038 Things I want to do while I’m 38<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-30e8a725-f46f-5623-b0ce-5197f4634aec" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br />
<h1 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-top: 10pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Happy Groundhog Day! I’ve always had a special spot in my heart for good old Punxsutawney Phil, myself being an honorary groundhog, although I do wish he’d see his shadow a whole lot less often! I also envy Phil. Did you know that every Summer he gets a sip of a magic potion that extends his life by seven years? Can you imagine how much you could get done in your life if you had an extra seven years for every year you live? No wonder he can hibernate all winter long. I on the other hand don’t have that luxury and only have so much time to cross things off my bucket list. And so in honor of my lovely 38th, here are 38 things that I want to accomplish this year! Some are easy, some are harder, and some may be downright impossible, but maybe a little of Phil’s magic will rub off on me and when I blow out the candles these wishes will come true.</span></h1>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Family Vacation.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I don’t care where or how long, even if it is just a three day weekend, but I want a true family vacation. One where Dustin doesn't get a million phone calls from work, and I don’t have an edit project that I just have to get finished, and the only soccer playing involved is if we choose to play it together as a family. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finish </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Room for Two</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I want this book to be all the way done--with edits--and a ready to send off to agents. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sky</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> only took me six years to get to that point (I’m there, right? But what if I just changed this one line? Kidding.) If I finish </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Room</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> this year it will have taken me three years from first writing down the idea until I finished it. That is half the time. SO does that mean the next book will only take me a year and a half? Heck, at this rate it won’t be long until I’m writing a book a month :).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Go to Germany with Bear</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. He’s going. Oma already has his ticket. I just need to figure out how to arrange work and life so I can go also. I really want to stand at Brandenburger Tor when my little guy gets to see our city (Berlin) for the first time, just like I got to do with the girls. Plus, I’m almost out of Badedas so I sort of have to go restock.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Read for Fun.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I miss just reading for fun. Not having to tear a book apart to figure out what it did right or wrong. Just curling up on the couch with Hertha lying on my feet and staying up until three in the morning because I couldn’t put it down. This year I am going to allow myself to just read for fun.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reread </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Son of the Shadows.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> That is my all time favorite book. I love that book and yet I have not read it for years. Why? Because my to read list on Goodreads keeps growing, and I don’t have time to reread books, but I love this book so so so so so much. So why shouldn’t I reread it?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make Stuffed Mushrooms</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I love stuffed mushrooms, and I always think I’m going to make them. I even buy the ingredients and then I never do. But this year, just once, I am going to make myself stuffed mushrooms--and if my kids are nice I may even share with them.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Read Stephen King’s </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On Writing</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I know, gasp, shock, horror. How can I even say I’m a writer and not have read THIS book? So I guess this is the year I become a real writer :).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Attend the First of hopefully many Critiki Retreati.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I have the most awesome writer’s group in the world. And this year I get to spend a whole weekend with them writing, brainstorming, eating, and watching chick flicks. It is going to rock!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Say Goodbye to My Dear Friend Dr. Pepper.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> He’s got me through a lot of tough times, but in the end I have to accept the fact that no matter how much I love him, he’s just no good for me. So this is the end.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Get Past Level 12 on Tetris!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I have this sick sick addiction to this game, and I swear level 12 is going to kill me faster than Dr. Pepper ever would have, but I am going to do this!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">11. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Take a Breath Before I Say Anything to My Kids When I Find Myself in Frustrated Mode. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wow, that’s a long and lofty goal for me. During that breath I’m going to remember how much I love them. How little and precious they still are (even if one of them is a teenager). I’m going to take a breath, and then I’m going to tell them I love them.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">12. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Read to My Kids More</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Bear and I have been reading </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Phantom Tollbooth</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and it has been so much fun. I love the time I get to spend with him when we read. I want that time with each of my kids.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">13. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Go on a lot More Dates with My Husband.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I love him. I love being with him. He’s my best friend, and we hang out a lot. But I want to go on real dates. Dinner and a movie, a walk in the park--I love him too much to make him take me dancing--but other there are a billion other places where we can go and just talk and be together. Why is it always so hard to find time to just date?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">14. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Say Goodbye to 38 Pounds of Me</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Saying goodbye to the Dr. should help me with this. I like myself, but right now there is just a little too much to like. I think I’ll like myself better if I let part of me go. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">15. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do a Load of Laundry Every Day.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I’m not just going to leave it all for one crazy day a week. In essence, I’m going to keep on top of the laundry. There will be socks in the drawers if it is the last thing I do! And I mean it this time, even more than beating level 12 of Tetris!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">16. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Watch a Sunset.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> One of my favorite memories was standing on a bridge in Iloilo, Philippines and watching the gigantic sun slowly sink into the ocean. I never get the chance to just sit and watch an entire sun set. I’m alway busy racing here and there, catching only glimpses of them. But this year I’m going to pull out a chair in the backyard and watch the sun sink behind the mountains.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">17. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learn a New Word Everyday.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Maybe I should get me one of those word of the day calendars, but even without it, by the time I turn 39 I will know 365 more words than I did today.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">18. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learn 5 New German Words a Day.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I have to do more of them because there are so many more I need to learn.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">19. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Send out 100 Query Letters.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Or as many as I need until I get an agent. I don’t love rejection, and I hate all the work of researching agents just to get told. No. No. No. I sort of gave up on </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sky</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> early on in the submission process, and I think my characters must hate me for it. This year I’m not giving up on </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Room</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. It deserves a home, and I am going to find it one. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">20. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Take Time Just For Me.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Take time to reflect on the beauty of the world, on all of my blessings, and on all that I can become. I won’t worry about schedules, and work, and dinner, and dishes. I’ll just find myself.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">21. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Praise Someone Everyday</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I have a great family support system, and I don’t tell them enough how awesome they all are. This year I will.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">22.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Write the First Novel Length Draft of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The King’s Brother.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Two books in one year? Is that a little lofty for me? Maybe, but I’m not getting any younger (obviously :))</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">23. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wash my face morning and night.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I am so bad about washing my face at night. I know it’s important, but at the end of the day, I’m done. I just want to go to sleep. I’ve been lucky my skin has stayed as nice as it has. But I better kick it in gear now before my age gets a hold of me.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">24. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Floss.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Yep. I’m not great at this either, but why not? I brush my teeth all the time, so why can’t I remember to floss all the time? It should be easy. It hasn’t been, but I’m going to add it to the list just for that reason. It’s now part of the 38. Sounds kind of ominous, like the 4400 or something? Hmmm. Can I write a sci fi story about my daily flossing adventures?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">25. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Organize My Craft Cupboard.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Yeah, that one might take me the entire year to accomplish, but by Feb 2, 2015 maybe I will be able to find a glue stick when I really need it!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">26. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paint my front door.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Not sure what color I’m going for yet, but something other than the boring white it is now.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">27. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make my own pickles</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. So, the Spreewald in Germany is known to have the best pickles in the world. And I just happen to have the recipe thanks to family connections. My kids won’t eat anything but German pickles, but a jar is now over $5 at the local International Store they sell them at, so this one is really going to be a money saver for me. Plus, it will be fun to learn to do. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">28. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make a Bedtime and Stick To It.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Those moms that put their kids to bed at 7 every night amaze me. I don’t think I could ever do that, but I do want to be better about a bedtime routine, especially since next year I have to wake the kids up about 45 minutes earlier in order to get Minchkin to school on time.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">29. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Introduce My Kids to the Original Battlestar Galactica.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> BSG was the show that turned me into a sci-fi junkie forever. I think it’s time I did the same for my kids. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">30. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keep My 20 Dollars. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My writer’s group has a twenty dollar fee to belong to it. We pay every week if we skip out on writing or on critiques. When we run out of the 20 dollars we either need to pay more or we are out. It is actually great motivation, and so far this year I still have all 20 of it. The goal is to keep it that way!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">31. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have Weekly Meetings With My Kids.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> They are growing up way too fast. I can barely keep track of it. I need to take time to make sure I don’t miss a single moment.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">32. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have a World Cup Final Party. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some people have Super Bowl parties. I’m more of a soccer girl. I’m having a party this year and hopefully I’ll be cheering on the USA, but given the bracket we got in, probably not. Still there will be a party.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">33. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Watch My 6 Hour Pride and Prejudice. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I got this two years ago and it is still in the plastic wrap! I don’t care if no one will watch it with me. I am watching it this year!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">34. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Teach a Workshop at a Writing Conference.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> This is a little bit of a cheat because I already know I am going to do this, but it has been a goal of mine and this year it is coming true. I will be teaching an Editing Basics and Beyond class at Write Here in Ephraim this March. I’ll be posting more about it as it gets closer, but if you are in the area come on over!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">35. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Add Some Signed Books to My Collection.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I collect signed books. I have an entire case full of them. I definitely plan on adding a few more to that shelf this year. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">36. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hike. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I used to go hiking all the time. Zion is one of my favorite places in the entire world, but it seems like once I had kids the hiking stopped. But they are all old enough now to come with me, so this year I plan to hike as much as I can. I mean I live in Utah. I should be hiking nonstop, right?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">37. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learn a Song on the Piano.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We have a beautiful piano in our front room, and I can’t play it. Well I can play Heart and Soul, but that’s about it. So this year I am going to teach myself a song. Any suggestions?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">38. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learn to Manage My Time Better. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m busy. I have way too much to do, and not enough time to do it all. But I think I could have more time if I learned to be more efficient. So instead of complaining that I can’t do it all, This year I want to figure out how to do it all. I’m not talking about being a super woman, just getting the things that need to be done, done. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well that’s it. Wow, it was really easy to come up with that list. I could have kept going once I started thinking of everything I wanted to do. But for now these 38 will suffice. Maybe next year I can add 37 more, because once you hit 38 you start counting backwards, right? Or do I have to wait until 40 for that? </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So how about you? Do you make birthday goals? Got a special day coming up that you are working on a list for? Good luck! And until next time,</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Write On!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Corsiva; font-size: 40px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sabine</span></div>
berlinwritergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07606409758307661739noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292648232930348033.post-53127013969461276202014-01-26T10:38:00.000-08:002014-01-26T10:40:24.204-08:00Books, Books, Books, Everywhere you look!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwe5dz57JsLCUY7-137DK6j3ZvXxyQauJFt7EAnFXlztoEnNtLWfzq5j47fBicoa4j2PFtMDRkXTfVNAEISK_wHQrdmNYXU9T0z8zMWFzknM6phf6u1BCGcnX5MM8mrXIp5dupe6dnkrYp/s1600/photo+(9).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwe5dz57JsLCUY7-137DK6j3ZvXxyQauJFt7EAnFXlztoEnNtLWfzq5j47fBicoa4j2PFtMDRkXTfVNAEISK_wHQrdmNYXU9T0z8zMWFzknM6phf6u1BCGcnX5MM8mrXIp5dupe6dnkrYp/s1600/photo+(9).JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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I love books. I love reading. I have so many bookshelves packed full in my house that my husband actually suggested *gasp* that I get rid of a few books. Not going to happen. My problem is I don't always have time to read. Actually as an editor, I read all day long. I just don't have a lot of time to read books for entertainment and not just to make sure subject verb agreement is in line, or POV isn't being violated, or semi colons are being used correctly. In order to remedy that, I have decided to put books everywhere I possibly can so the minute a free moment occurs, I can read. This is the best way I can think to get my goal of 52 books in for the year.<br />
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I'm in the midst of reading six different books right now.<br />
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I have my car/purse book: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Daughter-Smoke-Bone/dp/B00A7JMVZG" target="_blank"><i>Daughter of Smoke and Bone</i></a>. This book goes with me while I am waiting to pick up carpools, so I can get a page or two in during half-time, or when the line at In and Out is extra long. My car/purse book usually takes me longer to read than just my regular nightstand book, but if it is good enough (which this one actually is) sometimes I upgrade it to nightstand book when I need a new one.<br />
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I have my at work book: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ugly-Duckling-Goes-Work-Workplace/dp/0814408710/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390760938&sr=1-1&keywords=the+ugly+duckling+goes+to+work" target="_blank"><i>The Ugly Duckling Goes to Work</i>.</a> This is a slow read as well since I don't always have time to read at work, but when I do I like it to be something that will help me be better at my job or a better employee. My work book is usually always a non-fiction self-help book.<br />
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I have my kid book: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Phantom-Tollbooth-Norton-Juster/dp/0394820371/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390761002&sr=1-1&keywords=the+phantom+tollbooth" target="_blank"><i>The Phantom Tollbooth</i>.</a> I love reading to my kids, especially my youngest who still actually likes to snuggle up with mommy and listen to me read. This book is usually something I've already read that I want to share with my kids. Most likely a book from my past, although <i>The Phantom Tollbooth</i> somehow slipped past me in my youth, and it is a lot of fun discovering it now with my son.<br />
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I have my school book: <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Grimms-Marchen-Grimm-Bruder/dp/3895552380/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390761112&sr=1-5&keywords=grimms+m%C3%A4rchen" target="_blank">Grimms Märchen</a></i>. Yep, I'm taking a German Fairy Tale class this semester. Wow, do you know what the Frog Prince is about? I mean what it is <i>really</i> about? I love reading these tales in their original German. It takes me a lot longer since, well yeah, my German is not perfect, but it is a great helper on my language skills as well as a fun read.<br />
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I have my nightstand book: <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Scorpio-Races-Maggie-Stiefvater/dp/0545224918/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390761192&sr=1-1&keywords=the+scorpio+races" target="_blank">The Scorpio Races</a></i>. Just finished <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Warm-Bodies-Novel-Isaac-Marion/dp/147671746X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390761231&sr=1-1&keywords=warm+bodies" target="_blank"><i>Warm Bodies</i> </a>last night (check out my Goodreads link to the right for my review) and since my purse/car book was out in the cold car, I grabbed this one instead. I'm about twenty pages into it, and I really like it so far. I read these books the fastest because I get most of my reading done in bed, or one the couch with my chocolate lab sitting on my feet.<br />
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And finally I have my bathroom book: <i>I am<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Am-Malala-Stood-Education-Taliban/dp/0316322407/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390761320&sr=1-1&keywords=my+name+is+malala" target="_blank"> Malala</a></i>. Yes, I have a bathroom book, and I am not afraid to admit it. Mothers of the world know that sometimes locking yourself in the bathroom is the only time you will find peace and quiet (and sometimes not even then). My bathroom book is mostly my bath book, for those rare occasions when I can actually take a long bubble bath without interruption. Everyone needs a bathroom book, if nothing else your guests will be delighted that there is something more to read than the backs of shampoo bottles! (I know, I know, TMI.)<br />
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And so I read, whenever and wherever I can. I'm thinking about adding two more categories--a car book audio style to entertain as I drive to and from work when my Maroon Five station on Pandora just isn't cutting it for me. And a book on my Kindle App so I can read even when it is lights out time (even though hard copies will always be my first love). I don't have anything picked out in those two areas so I am open for suggestions! What do you recommend?<br />
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How about you? Where do you have books? What are you reading right now? Do you read a million books at once, or do you just race through one at a time? Let me know!berlinwritergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07606409758307661739noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292648232930348033.post-32694773469522173422014-01-13T05:49:00.000-08:002014-01-13T05:49:10.367-08:00New Article at EschlerI have a <b><a href="http://www.eschlerediting.com/two-secrets-to-achieving-your-goals/" target="_blank">new articl</a>e</b> up at Eschler Editing, which Angela and I coauthored. It is about fighting against the idea of absolute perfectionism and reaching your goals. If your goal is to write a book in 2014 then you have to check it out!berlinwritergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07606409758307661739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292648232930348033.post-19669916333483660202014-01-09T11:13:00.000-08:002014-01-09T11:13:10.203-08:00Happy 2014<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-5096438f-786a-ef3b-a827-4232c5d484f6" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Happy New Year! I’m a bit behind on getting this post going, but I’ve been on an editing marathon (8th graders Nanowrimo stories--more on that later). Last year was a crazy adjustment of not being in school, starting to do more editing with Eschler Editing, and getting a full time job--also editing--for a local university. I’m feeling more confident about things this year. I’ve set five goals for the new year. Spiritual--Family scripture study, Physical--Lose weight, Educational--Read 52 books, Business--continue to take on more edits and blog weekly, and Writing--Finish final draft of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Room for Two</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> and write first full length draft of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The King’s Brother </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">(I already have an outline/novella for this).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">So that’s it. Seems pretty easy. Doing pretty good on everything so far. Sometimes scripture study ends up happening in the car on the way to drop kids at school, and I still haven’t finished a full book (but I’m almost done with Warm Bodies). I’m doing good on the weight loss, already down five pounds since the 1st. Here is my blog, maybe I’ll even post two this week to make up for last week--yeah that’s probably not going to happen. And I have been writing 15 minutes a day. The final draft of room is at 35,000 words right now. So that’s not too bad.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The thing is, I know as time goes by things won’t be so easy. So, I’ve decide to reevaluate my goals at the end of each month and see how they are working out for me. For now all I can do is try. Yeah, yeah I know what Yoda says, but I sort of like what Chester Bernard said, “To try and fail is at least to learn; to fail to try is to suffer the inestimable loss of what might have been.” So I’m going to keep trying and learning.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What about you? What are your goals for 2014? Writing a book? Winning the lottery? Getting the laundry done and folded at the same time? Let me know and I promise to send positive vibes your way!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">HAPPY 2014!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Write on!</span></div>
berlinwritergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07606409758307661739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292648232930348033.post-32658664140728336352013-10-11T22:01:00.000-07:002013-10-11T22:01:35.192-07:00Goooaaaallllll!!!!I love soccer and I love Real Salt Lake. There is nothing like sitting in Rio Titno Stadium and hearing the beautiful word GOOOAAALLLLL!!!! echo through the stands. I love that word, and this week I love it even more. Not only have I made my goal for this week, but I did it three days ahead of schedule. 5,600 words in four days. The big goal is to finish Room for Two by December 12th. Right now I'm feeling really good about reaching that goal. 5,600 is a far cry from 80,000 so maybe I should only be yelling Goal!, but I'm feeling pretty happy right now, so maybe just a gooaall! How are your goals going? Do you have any big plans for Nano? Until next time....WRITE ON!berlinwritergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07606409758307661739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292648232930348033.post-54676588098112166572013-09-15T08:41:00.001-07:002013-09-15T08:41:36.754-07:00Salt Lake City Comic ConSalt Lake City Comic Con broke opening weekend records, far surpassing the expected number of guests--and I was one of the lucky 50000-80000 people that I have heard made it there on Saturday. I've seen lots of numbers thrown around at just how many people were there, but all I know is it was A WHOLE LOT!<br />
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I went with the intention of handing out business cards (which I did) but totally got sucked into some fan girl moments. I must admit there was no one I wanted to meet enough to pay 30$ for a picture with. I'm the type that would rather spend the money buying something tangible...like the next season of Superman Lois and Clark. Still I got to "see" Dean Cain, Dirk Benedict, William Shatner, and more so that was fun. But what I really liked was meeting authors and artists and having one on one conversations about the craft.<br />
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The other thing I loved were the panels. The first one I went to made the whole experience worth the drive. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Aaron-Patterson/e/B002O5G9AE" target="_blank">Aaron Patterson</a> spoke on self-publishing. I went because many of my clients are choosing that way and I wanted to have some insight to give them. I have been very anti-self publishing for a long time. It was for people who couldn't get published the traditional way (because they were not good enough). I've read plenty of self published books to prove that. But over the past year I've seen more and more good books finding their way into the self-publishing market, even some big time names, and so I decided to give it another chance. I'm glad I did. I will write more on what I feel is involved in GOOD self publishing and who should be doing it later, but for now, just know, it is not something to be laughed at anymore.<br />
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My favorite discovery among the booths was an interactive comic book called <a href="http://www.experienceanomaly.com/" target="_blank">Anomaly</a>. It will be coming out in a few weeks, and if you like comics, or heck if you are like me and really don't care for them that much, and you like electronics (iPads, Tablets, phones) then you have got to check it out.<br />
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Below are some pictures (that I didn't have to pay for, thank you very much). My favorite was a family of Whedon fans. I had to get my picture with Captain Mal and Captain Hammer (20 years later :)).<br />
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berlinwritergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07606409758307661739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292648232930348033.post-76306874543510253522013-06-23T08:31:00.001-07:002013-06-23T08:34:39.238-07:00Do This. No, Do That. No, Do This.If you are looking for ways to improve your writing, one of my favorite resources is <a href="http://www.davidfarland.net/" target="_blank">Dave Farland's Daily Kick in the Pants</a>. It is an email that comes to you, not exactly daily, but pretty close. One email the other day talked about who to trust when it comes to writing advice. The obvious answer was the person who has done it the longest and is the most successful. While I totally agree with this, I think it goes a little further than that. Why? Because even the most seasoned authors have different opinions on the best way to write. As Dave pointed out, just because someone can write, doesn't mean they know how to tell someone else how to write.<br />
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So what is a new writer to do? Well, for one thing: WRITE! All the writing advice in the world will do you no good if you are not sitting everyday putting pen to paper, or finger to keyboard. It isn't easy. Just look at my numbers for the last few days. Part of my problem is that there is so much writing advice that is going through my head. I have all the advice I tell my clients that I see make their stories stronger, I have all the advice that I've read in great books such as <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Elements-Fiction-Writing-Characters-award-winning/dp/1599632128" target="_blank"><i>Characters and Viewpoint</i></a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-First-Five-Pages-Rejection/dp/068485743X" target="_blank"><i>The First Five Pages</i></a>, I've got all the advice I've learned from going to workshops and con panels with amazing author's such as <a href="http://www.hatrack.com/" target="_blank">Orson Scott Card's Literary Boot Camp </a>or <a href="http://ltue.net/" target="_blank">LTUE</a> or <a href="http://www.worldcon.org/" target="_blank">Worldcon</a>, I've got all the advice I've gathered while having lunch with Brandon Sanderson or Dave Wolverton/Farland, or Dan Wells. It is all up there swimming in my head. These people are the best at what they do. I've sat with them, picked their brains, found what worked for them. So what is my problem?<br />
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Well, sometimes their advice, no matter how good it sounds, goes against one another's. What worked for one author, was different for another. Everyone has their own plot structure or unique outlining method, and don't get me wrong, everyone of their ideas is excellent. I love making Character Sheets based on the outline found in Gail Carson Levine's <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Magic-Creating-Stories-that/dp/0060519606" target="_blank">Writing Magic</a></i>. I love plotting out my story on <a href="http://www.writingexcuses.com/2012/10/07/writing-excuses-7-41-seven-point-story-structure/" target="_blank">Dan Wells 7 point structure</a>. But they each seem to be giving me different advice. They are only telling me what worked for them.<br />
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While there are a few musts in this industry: you must have compelling characters, you must have a plot that is intriguing, you must have a beginning, middle, and end, the way you get there might be very different than the way they got there--and it might be the exact same. So, what should you do? My advice, for what it is worth, is to keep reading those books, keep going to those cons and workshops, listen to what they tell you and try it. If it works for you--great, if not, find what will. The most important thing is to keep an open mind. Don't get set in the idea that this is the way it has to be. There are many paths to the end of a book, but one of them is not sitting around and waiting for your book to be handed to you on a silver platter. You have to want it! You have to work for it! Read, learn, and most importantly Write! That book is in there, now make your own path to finding it!<br />
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And as always,<br />
WRITE ON!<br />
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SabineSabine Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06862653993925899285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292648232930348033.post-52897358743870915742013-06-13T06:07:00.000-07:002013-06-13T06:09:55.650-07:00The Joy of EditingBack when I was finishing my degree and had oh so much time on my hands, I decided to add one more log to the fire and began editing for Eschler Editing. It started merely as a "Soccer Money" job since M is now not only on a club team, but has recently made the Regional Olympic Development Team as well (They narrow down the State ODP team from 40 players to 20 for this.) But along the way I discovered that I was learning too much to ever give it up, and having a ton of fun along the way. So now in addition to posting about my writing, I can post about being an editor and all the things I've learned. Hopefully some of it will help you. To start off, here is the link to my current blog post for Eschler Editing on <a href="http://www.eschlerediting.com/inventing-time-to-write-8-power-strategies-for-getting-your-book-done/" target="_blank">Inventing Time to Write.</a><br />
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Hope these tips help you become a more productive writer. Remember, now is the time to write your story!</div>
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Write On!</div>
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Sabine</div>
Sabine Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06862653993925899285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292648232930348033.post-9090246198082718502013-01-21T09:36:00.000-08:002013-01-21T09:36:04.396-08:00The Tree is NOT Coming Down!I love Christmas time! It is full of traditions at our house. The tree goes up the day after Thanksgiving. On the four Sundays before Christmas, we light the candles on the Adventskranz. St. Nick comes on the 6th of December and leaves treats in the kid's shoes. We watch ELF, and I always make my famous Schwarzwald Kirsch Torte. Technically Christmas time ends on the 6th day of January. Traditionally it is the day the wise men came, the last day of the 12 days of Christmas, and the day the tree comes down.<br />
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This year we have not quite stuck with tradition. For one thing, the tree didn't go up until the 23rd of December. I was busy with finals (I ended up graduating Suma Cum Laude!) and work, M had just made the Olympic Development team for the third year in a row, and I had a couple of manuscript edits that I promised would be done before the New Year.<br />
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Maybe it was the fact that the tree went up late, or maybe it was the fact that since the New Year started my life is still running on full gear, but the tree didn't come down on the 6th of January. I though that maybe it would come down today since I am off work and between edit jobs, but there is still the house to clean, books to be read, children to play with, a hubby to watch Downton Abby with, and a submission to get ready for this weeks writing group.<br />
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So, it looks as if the tree is here to stay. I remember one year when I was little. We used to have real candles on our tree, back in the day when it was easy to go to a Christmas tree farm and cut down a fresh tree each year. One year, the tree stayed fresh for so long that we kept it up well into February just for the lovely evergreen smell. We took down the Christmas ornaments and decorated it for Valentine's Day. The way it is looking I think I better get the kids to start cutting out some paper hearts, and who knows, we may even end up having to cut out some four leaf clovers as well!Sabine Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06862653993925899285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292648232930348033.post-22537490039842825202013-01-03T16:13:00.000-08:002013-01-03T16:13:29.105-08:00The Next ChapterOnce upon a time there was a stay-at-home mom who cooked, cleaned, chased after kids, and all of the million other jobs that only a mother can understand. Knowing that soon all of her children would be in school she decided that maybe she should go to school as well. Because she also loved to write, she signed up to take an English class at the local university one night a week. Three years later she graduated.<div>
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Yes, it is official. I am a college graduate. I have a BA in History through Utah Valley University. So now what? What is the next chapter in the book of my life? Most important is that I get to pick my kids up from school everyday, and spend my evenings hanging with my family and not with my textbooks. I hope that I will have time to blog a bit more, I plan on hitting a long line of books on my GoodReads list that have been put on hold, and I definitely plan on writing--a lot!</div>
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The good thing is that all my jobs are beneficial to my writing goals. Working as a part time cashier allows me time to read and brainstorm ideas. Working as a freelance editor gives me the chance to improve my writing and critiquing skills. And being a mom to a soon to be teenager keeps me up on the current trends that all my YA protagonists need to know about!</div>
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In January I plan on continuing sending out queries on And the Sky Full of Stars. I plan on working intensely on a second draft of Room for Two. And I plan on keeping up with my blog and hope to catch up with all of you. </div>
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I wish you all a wonderful New Year! </div>
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Write On!</div>
Sabine Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06862653993925899285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292648232930348033.post-9848562942564399302012-08-07T07:04:00.001-07:002012-08-07T07:04:54.643-07:00Being WickedSo I have not exactly kept up even when I promised I would. I guess you could say I've been being wicked. So now I will play catch up again. A lot has been going on. M has had two soccer tournaments in a row both of which her team won. The first one she didn't even plan on playing in because my nephew was here from Pennsylvania and we were going to have family time. We did help out with the teams snow cone fundraiser which turned out to be a huge success. On the night before the final game the coach told M she was on the roster and if there was any way that she could come to play in just that one game he would love to have her. She went, she played wickedly, she scored both the goals which in turn made them the winners! Since she usually plays defense this was a sort of big deal!<br />
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This past weekend they went up and played in the Park City Extreme Cup. They ended up winning that with a shut out tournament. Over five games they made 38 goals and had no goals scored on them. It was needless to say very wicked.<br />
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Speaking of Wicked, last week I took both M and C to see Wicked up at the Capitol Theater in Salt Lake. It was amazing. I've seen it once before in LA a few years ago and this was very comparable. Defying Gravity was mine and M's favorite song, and of course, C loved Popular. It was a fun girls night out and much worth the 3 month wait (I got the tickets for Mother's Day).<br />
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As for my own wickedness, I am a little behind on my writing, but only a little. The tuition deadline is coming up at work and there just hasn't been much time to write there. I am going to have to start getting up early to get in my word count I think. But I can do it. I have about 30K more words to go, but I have the end scene planned and I pretty much know what I have to do to get there, so from now until August 26 when I want to be done, it is full steam ahead.<br />
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The good news is I got another request for a partial so I have two partials out right now on SKY. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Writing ROOM I see how much my writing has improved and I have realized that it is likely it may get out there before SKY does. But SKY is a fun story in a great setting (I love Southern Utah) and it has been holding its own. So if I could get an agent on it before I even start sending ROOM out, that would indeed be wickedly awesome.<br />
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Until next time: Have a wicked grand day and WRITE ON!Sabine Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06862653993925899285noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292648232930348033.post-70657793531525905002012-07-21T13:13:00.001-07:002012-07-21T13:13:31.370-07:00Falling BehindIt is always easy to make your goals those first few days or weeks. At the start of June I made a goal to blog once a week, send at least one query a week for Sky and write 15 minutes a day on Room. I was doing great for a while, but then as usual life hit. Even though school is done, I still have homework. I have to read in German everyday so when I start my class in the August I am not completely behind. I am working on my senior writing project so that I can defend my paper in October instead of at the end of the term when I am trying to deal with finals. So, its not really like I have any extra time.<br />
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I am also looking at a full time job, and so I am doing some applications and some online training to get up to speed. The kids soccer schedule is never ending. But on a high note my house is clean. With that being said, sometimes I look at everything I have to do and tell myself its okay to fall behind, and it is. I am a busy girl. The problem is, I want to be a writer, and so falling behind is unacceptable. So I will recommit. I will write a blog once a week. I will send out a query once a week (after I rewrite my query based on the awesome workshop I went to this week on writing queries by Elana Johnson, but that is a topic for another blog). And now that I have figured out what I want to do with Room and have edited the previous fifteen chapters to make the ending work I am going for an even loftier goal. I want to finish the first draft by the end of August.<br />
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Those are my new goals. That is what I am committed to and I will not allow myself to think that just because I am busy I can fall behind. I want to write. I want to be published and the more I do each day, the closer and faster I will get to that goal. So until then....WRITE ON... because I will be.Sabine Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06862653993925899285noreply@blogger.com0