Taking a Break

I've been writing all morning, so I'm taking a break... no, not by drinking as the above picture might indicate, but by blogging. Blogging isn't exactly a break from writing... but I feel I have to fill my blog friends in on my challenge (see previous post, Nov.9).

Just this morning, I crossed the halfway point! I can't believe it... over 25,000 words. It's been a lot harder than I thought, but also a lot more fun. Each night when Scott comes in from work, he says, "So, what's Marie been up to today?" I fill him him, and usually beg him for ideas on how to get her from where she is, to where I need her to be. I know this is hard to understand, but I don't want to give away my plot... not yet!

When I need inspiration, I do one of three things... I put on music, look at photos from our trips to France, or... the worse thing... I EAT. The last being my least effective help for writer's block, but the one I lean on most often :)

I am finding writing to be a little depressing. I know first hand why artists are known to be moody. It's a very lonely occupation, so to speak. I sit here, all alone, in my own private world.

If I'm not writing, I'm thinking about my story constantly. Sometimes when people are talking to me, I realize a few seconds into the conversation, that I haven't heard a word they've said, because I'm thinking of Marie Antoinette. I can't seem to help it.

On a lighter, and more hysterical note... this weekend I went to a Writer's Conference. My mom had asked me to go, way before I even knew about this challenge. Suddenly, it seemed like perfect timing, that we would be going to this conference, in the middle of my first attempt at writing anything other than a 3 page story. The first night, they gave those that wanted, an opportunity to read for five minutes anything they had written, and be critiqued. My mom and her friend, (my forever cheerleaders) begged me to read a little bit of my first chapter. I did....................

Let me just say, the silence was deafening... the critique brutal... this was a Christian writers group, so they were a bit surprised when my character came into the room. It's not that I'm writing a non-Christian book, but it isn't of the Christian Inspirational genre either. They weren't critical of my subject, it was my actual writing that lacked pizazz. As I was reading it, I knew it. I have a looooooooong way to go, so much to learn. Now it seems funny, but at the time, I was SO embarrassed.

Call me crazy, but this just spurred me on to MORE writing.

I will say, even though they did not receive my first chapter with enthusiasm that night, the next day, women kept coming up to me to ask me more about the book. I guess there was a spark of interest after all.

So, I'm off to more writing. Thought I'd share a few pictures of the places Marie has been in my book so far...

~Teri~

Marie and Louis' Bedchamber

An Outer Courtyard

The Gardens at Versailles