It’s A Snowy Check-in Kind of Day

December 2, 2013 by Cathy C. Hall

I am not such a fan of real snow–well, not so much the snow as the fact that, generally, it’s cold outside when it snows–but I do so love the snow here at Cathy C. Hall’s!

And here is something else I love:

Wheeee!! Now I have some great, medium-great, and so-so great ideas to start my year of picture book writing. (I’m not counting the not-so-great ideas. I mean, what was I thinking, writing down an idea about a cow patty???)

And I kinda love this, too:

Um, yes, well…okay, it’s not the winner’s badge. But I’m two-thirds of the way through that rewrite, and rewriting is a whole lot harder than writing because you have to, you know, really think about all those swell writing things that you’re supposed to know but maybe left out. And I had to weave all sorts of nuances through the story and add character development and…fine. I didn’t finish the rewrite. But I’m still giving myself a small “w” wheee! (one exclamation point). I will finish that rewrite before the end of December, friends.

And here’s something else I’ll finish:

You have read 71 books toward your goal of 75 books.

There is something about the word “challenge” that’s very motivating for me. The Beneficent Mr. Hall might say I’m “too” competitive, but what is the point of playing a game if you’re not going to try to crush your opponent?

Um, anyway, I’ve been dominating that reading challenge at Goodreads, and just in case the December hectic hits, I’ve got a couple picture books around here to make sure I reach my goal.

And now it’s your turn. Here it is December already, and I want to hear about your Wheee!! (or even wheee!) moments. Because it’s a snowy kind of check-in day, here at Cathy C. Hall’s, and I so love a good, inspirational story!

Home Stretch Writing

November 25, 2013 by Cathy C. Hall

So it’s that last mad dash of writing, where we’re zipping in to the home stretch of whatever mad writing challenge we’ve pursued this month! I feel ~~supremely~~ ~~mostly~~ fairly confident that I’ll make PiBoIdMo–I mean, a title’s an idea, right?

But NaNo’s been a little more intimidating. I’ve been working on a rewrite and…well, you can read about Of Rewrites and Trees over at The Muffin.

And then, if you haven’t left a comment on Meg Moseley’s post to win her book, GONE SOUTH, zip over there and do so. I’ll be drawing a name tomorrow, so hurry!

And really, compared to coming up with yet another picture book idea and rewriting an entire novel, leaving a comment is child’s play.

Friday’s Fun Find: On To The Home Stretch with I Am the Very Model of a Wrimo Individual

November 22, 2013 by Cathy C. Hall

I like to check in at a blog called Operation Awesome–there’s often a Mystery Agent at the beginning of the month, and there are always interesting posts on writing and such. This parody, performed by the very clever young man, Errol Elumir, is an example of “such.”

You deserve a five minute break this Friday, before the last week of NaNo revs up into overdrive. Go and enjoy!

(And then take another minute to get energized with Meg Moseley’s interview and sign up for the giveaway of GONE SOUTH. Feel better? Great! Now get back to work! Whaddaya crazy? You only have a week left for Nano!!!)