So I have another blog. Did you know? Sally and Me started as a chronicle of my adventures with Sally, my AlphaSmart 3000 (word processor). Really, we did well together, blogging and making notes of our journeys through the written land, but then things got busy, Sally got sidetracked, and I had to opt out of further posts. [I can't bear to delete it completely; for now, I leave it dangling in cyberspace.]
In the meantime...
Sally found an affinity for baking and cooking and the like, and last month she left home for enrollment at The Culinary Institute of America. By all reports (including her mentor, Sony Vaio) she's flourishing in her new surroundings and, since I promised our readers I'd update occasionally, I thought I'd share her most recent letter. Here's what Sally had to say:
dear janna,
i'm having such a good time here at cia. every day we learn some new cooking technique, practice using a kitchen gadget, or create an amazing dessert (i've mastered a chocolate ganosh torte with your name on it). it's fabulous! seriously, i think i've found my calling. (now, janna, don't let that news upset you. i know you think i was meant to be a writer, like you, but i've found my niche. it's my destiny. this is who i'm supposed to be.)
just yesterday we studied shrimp. did you know there are countless ways to prepare shrimp? you can boil it, broil it, saute it, fry it, filet it, grill it, bake it, toss it... bubba was right! it's one of my new favorite things, especially when served with a sweet jalapeno-pepper and pineapple tartar sauce. simply to die for, janna. to.die.for.
anyway, that's all the time i have right now. my kitchen buddy (kind of like a lab partner) and i have to perfect our mesquite barbecue sauce by tomorrow, or we lose certain kitchen privileges.
give my love to the fam. and can you tell paco [misterwrites' laptop] i said what's up?
love,
sally
So, as you can see, Sally's enjoying herself. Makes me proud. *sniff*
I plan to pen a response letter over the weekend. But I'm unsure about one thing... Do I tell her misterwrites sold Paco?
Showing posts with label Sally. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sally. Show all posts
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Tuesday's Stuff and Things #2
I've seen a lot of weekly topics on Blogger (like My Town Monday, in which both Josh and Travis participate) and, though I've never adopted any of them, I'd like to make up my own. Since I posted Stuff and Things last Tuesday, I decided I'd like to do it each week. It's a way to share whatever's congesting my mind, writing-related or not, in one fell swoop. It's okay that I do this, right? There's no Blogger Police who're supposed to pass out licenses for such a thing? Good. I thought so.
Today's stuff and things?
My daughter had to get the last of her immunizations this morning. It was my job--through all FOUR shots--to trap her legs between mine, crush one arm behind me as a vice grip would, and immobilize the other with my weak hand. Her tears were almost unbearable, but the reward of colorful band-aids and Goldfish crackers brightened her world once again.
I'm cheap. I know this because I can smell a clearance rack from aisles away, or spot neon-colored sale tags before I've darkened the doorway of my favorite store. When my eyes shift and dart back-and-forth, making me look as though I'm up to no good? It's simply that I'm afraid I'll miss a good deal, and one must be alert to such things. Always. And I most often refuse to pay full price for anything. Today we visited one of our local discount stores. There I got five new shirts for the school girl, a new shirt for myself, two notebooks and a plate. For $24 and some change. AWESOME. Then I very nearly split my lid when I spent the same amount at another store, on two pairs of leggings and a Koosh ball. NOT AWESOME. See? I'm cheap.
I've been able to expound upon the idea for my non-fiction book. I did some tweaking to my concept, which opened the possibilities for content. To give you a basic, at-its-most-general hint, the topic is motherhood. It will incorporate humor and the voice I use for my motherhood-themed column, with essays and anecdotes, and an extra special something. But that's all I'm giving you now. I've still got some research and brainstorming and compiling to do.
As for Novel 2 (I've decided not to deny myself progress on one book while I work on the other - I'll do both!), it still sits, lonely and with no recent updates. Thus far, the only work I've done has been on my AlphaSmart 3000, Sally, so I plan to transfer the files to word document soon. I'll be able to look at it with fresh perspective, I think, and that will allow me to move forward just a bit.
Still no word of any kind from agents. I'm not growing impatient at all, I just feel like I'm not doing all I can to be proactive. Which is silly, because what else can I do but wait on them? I'm not quite ready to send another batch of queries out, but may revisit that idea in another few weeks. We'll see what happens between now and then.
11 rejections, 13 out
Today's stuff and things?
My daughter had to get the last of her immunizations this morning. It was my job--through all FOUR shots--to trap her legs between mine, crush one arm behind me as a vice grip would, and immobilize the other with my weak hand. Her tears were almost unbearable, but the reward of colorful band-aids and Goldfish crackers brightened her world once again.
I'm cheap. I know this because I can smell a clearance rack from aisles away, or spot neon-colored sale tags before I've darkened the doorway of my favorite store. When my eyes shift and dart back-and-forth, making me look as though I'm up to no good? It's simply that I'm afraid I'll miss a good deal, and one must be alert to such things. Always. And I most often refuse to pay full price for anything. Today we visited one of our local discount stores. There I got five new shirts for the school girl, a new shirt for myself, two notebooks and a plate. For $24 and some change. AWESOME. Then I very nearly split my lid when I spent the same amount at another store, on two pairs of leggings and a Koosh ball. NOT AWESOME. See? I'm cheap.
I've been able to expound upon the idea for my non-fiction book. I did some tweaking to my concept, which opened the possibilities for content. To give you a basic, at-its-most-general hint, the topic is motherhood. It will incorporate humor and the voice I use for my motherhood-themed column, with essays and anecdotes, and an extra special something. But that's all I'm giving you now. I've still got some research and brainstorming and compiling to do.
As for Novel 2 (I've decided not to deny myself progress on one book while I work on the other - I'll do both!), it still sits, lonely and with no recent updates. Thus far, the only work I've done has been on my AlphaSmart 3000, Sally, so I plan to transfer the files to word document soon. I'll be able to look at it with fresh perspective, I think, and that will allow me to move forward just a bit.
Still no word of any kind from agents. I'm not growing impatient at all, I just feel like I'm not doing all I can to be proactive. Which is silly, because what else can I do but wait on them? I'm not quite ready to send another batch of queries out, but may revisit that idea in another few weeks. We'll see what happens between now and then.
11 rejections, 13 out
Friday, July 18, 2008
Drumroll, Please...
Okay, really, that's an unfair post title. I know it's nowhere near as exciting for my readers as it is for me that I'm about to explode with joy over my roadtrip.
(How's that for a run-on?)
I'll be leaving in a few hours, and I'll not have internet access for the duration of the weekend. Well... in all actuality, I could hop on my friend's computer, but I'll be using the next few days as a break from everything, my online endeavors included.
Although, I will be taking Sally along. Just in case I get some downtime and inspiration strikes for Novel 2. A writer must always have the means with which to write, no?
Hope you all have a great weekend, and I'll post again next week.
Man, I'm so excited. A round of Starbucks on me!
(How's that for a run-on?)
I'll be leaving in a few hours, and I'll not have internet access for the duration of the weekend. Well... in all actuality, I could hop on my friend's computer, but I'll be using the next few days as a break from everything, my online endeavors included.
Although, I will be taking Sally along. Just in case I get some downtime and inspiration strikes for Novel 2. A writer must always have the means with which to write, no?
Hope you all have a great weekend, and I'll post again next week.
Man, I'm so excited. A round of Starbucks on me!
Monday, June 9, 2008
Writing: What It's All About
Last week I got some much needed time away from home and its demands. Absorbing my freedom, I headed to the library with my alphasmart Sally, and copped a squat at one of the quiet tables. I succeeded in losing myself to the work in front of me, and completed the two projects I'd been unable to tackle before then.
First was a book review, for Christina Meldrum's Madapple, which I'll be posting here on June 16th, in connection with Blog Stop Book Tours. I can't wait to share those thoughts with you!
I also tackled what will be the latest intallment for my column. I have to polish it a bit, but it's not due until the 20th. Woo hoo! I can't wait to see it in print - it's always such a rush.
Anyway, I can't tell you how my time away to write rejuvenated me. That session served to boost my creative side. My thoughts were flowing and I felt such a relief at being able to express them. There's nothing like it, that feeling of accomplishment when you've written something and written it well.
How does writing make you feel?
First was a book review, for Christina Meldrum's Madapple, which I'll be posting here on June 16th, in connection with Blog Stop Book Tours. I can't wait to share those thoughts with you!
I also tackled what will be the latest intallment for my column. I have to polish it a bit, but it's not due until the 20th. Woo hoo! I can't wait to see it in print - it's always such a rush.
Anyway, I can't tell you how my time away to write rejuvenated me. That session served to boost my creative side. My thoughts were flowing and I felt such a relief at being able to express them. There's nothing like it, that feeling of accomplishment when you've written something and written it well.
How does writing make you feel?
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