Ode To the Dogs in My Life

by atozmom, posted in Dogs

Isn’t it amazing how our pets always know what we are feeling?

My male English Mastiff just came up to me and wanted some pets (he doesn’t kiss though).  So, I petted him.  It’s like he knew that his Mommy was dealing with some things and wasn’t in the best of moods and needed some love.

The thing about my male mastiff is that no other family would take him.  He’s almost 200 pounds, scared of people (we think he was beaten as a puppy), and in his old age, not favorable to other dogs.  He slobs, drools, sheds like no tomorrow, and in general takes up a lot of space.  Yet, he’s loved in this house, especially by my kids.  He belongs here and even though I sometimes complain about how much trouble he is, no one wants him gone.

His undying devotion and love is proof that he is worth it.  I have no doubt he’d die to protect his family.  His love is unconditional, even when Mommy accidentally slammed the door on his tail.  He’s always there when you need him.

The same goes for my female mastiff.  She’s the lover in the family.  She kisses and likes other people.  But she’s old too and spends a lot of time on our bed.  Yet, when my son curls up with her at night, we can’t imagine our lives without her.  Despite the fact we now like in an apartment where I have to pick up their poops and have no dog door so I have to take them out myself, I do it willingly for all they do for me and my family.

Aren’t pets the greatest?

Why Could I Not Achieve Things Seemingly Impossible?

by atozmom, posted in Writing

David Liss, The Whiskey Rebels, P.309

This makes me think of my novel.  I’m dreaming to get it (or some other writing) published against all odds and I think, “Why not me?”  I’m just like anybody else with a good story to tell so why not me?  Against all the rejections, the no’s, I should come out on top.  This is what keeps me going, keeps me writing, keeps me believing in myself and what I’m doing.  Hopes and dreams—if you don’t have those, you might as well give up.

There Was So Much Out There, All for Me to Take, if Only…

by atozmom, posted in Book Reviews

I would grasp it. P. 265

Another quote from David Liss’ The Whiskey Rebels.  Great stuff.  We all know that possibilities are endless in this world.  It’s the grasping part that hinders many of us.  Sometimes it’s the knowing what to grasp or the actual process of grasping it.  Later, Liss asks, “Why else live if not to do it?”

This is a great question because we can get caught up in the monotony of life and lose focus sometimes.  It’s good to be reminded now and again that there is more out there than getting the kids off to school, soccer practice, and dinner.  Life is about living and doing, not just living.

On p 286, “Everything begins with someone who either does something or does nothing…”

So my question to you is: which will you be today?

The Whiskey Rebels

by atozmom, posted in Book Reviews

I’m getting such gems from this book by David Liss (could I ever be this good?).  On P. 220, “…beauty that made me love her, before I knew that our minds were perfectly formed for one another…”  This is great because I think most marriages are this way.  You see the outside first but once you’re married, you know the person so intimately that it seems your minds are perfect for one another.  Each compliments the other’s strengths.  I know this is the case in my marriage.

Liss goes on further a few pages down, describing marriage as, “…committing to law what was already in our hearts,” which is basically what a marriage ceremony is—committing to both the laws of the land and God’s law.

“I should live the life of my innermost desires.” Liss says this on p. 245, describing what a character wants for his wife.  Isn’t this what we all want for ourselves as well?

I know for me this is what I strive for every day.  I get up each morning and exercise because I want to be healthy and strong for my family.  I sit at my computer endlessly, typing and attempting to create what is on my heart and on God’s.  I strive to get my kids into the school I want them to go to because I want the best for their little minds.  I homeschool them until that point because I believe that the public system is not good enough and, frankly, I can do a much better job than they can.  I want them to start taking lessons of some sort once we catch up financially so they can discover what their passions are in life and lead the life of their desires.  I want my husband to figure out his passion in life and follow that to wherever it leads.  I pray every day that I find a literary agent who believes in my work and therefore in me and what I’m trying to accomplish in this world.

I think we all want to be living for something, something of our choosing.  Is that too much to ask?

Being Content in Life’s Circumstances

by atozmom, posted in Faith

So, today church was about being content and grateful for what’s in your life and to not take things for granted because it can all vanish in an instant.  I am trying really hard, but I often let life get to me and I really don’t know why.

I’ve been through some tough times and we’re on an upswing right now:  new job, new apartment, new school, etc.  We have money now, especially here in the next couple of weeks once we get our taxes back and pay some debts off.  Still, I can’t help but feel…down.  I’m going to start P90X again tomorrow after two weeks off from our move so I hope that helps.

My husband’s out of town so we can’t move any furniture in until he returns.  I don’t have internet until the 11th (I’m just writing these and will post once I get it), which is really making me feel disconnected from the world.  I haven’t been inspired to write or query.  I haven’t been inspired to do much.

I’m back in contact with my sister after about 4 months of not speaking and she’s annoying. She’s well off but all I hear out of her is how poor she is and it’s getting old.  This is not to mention her other miniscule problems in life.

Then there are the moments when my son crawls into my lap and I just hug him and kiss him.

Still, it’s hard to get over feeling overwhelmed and down.  Today’s message was to trust in the Lord since He’s all we have really.  Our stuff can be taken away, people can be taken away, and even us will go one day.  He is the one constant.

So I guess I have to read my Bible more and trust more in Him and His plan.  Where else can I put my hope?

I Knew I Must Find My Voice, and Soon.

by atozmom, posted in Writing

The above quote is P. 166 from “The Whiskey Rebels” by David Liss.  Great stuff.  It’s from a character who is struggling to write like I sometimes do.  A writer always knows they must find their voice and the sooner the better.

Three pages later, the same character says, “Somehow we were happy.  Somehow in the midst of our ruin we had each found something, some part of ourselves we had been missing, I in my writing and Andrew in his secret.”

I love this too.  I find myself in writing like this character speaks of.  This is just a reminder to follow your passion no matter how bad it gets.

Writing Makes Me Happy

by atozmom, posted in Writing

I’m happiest when I’m writing.  The story flows and I can see it all in my head.  It’s great.  It’s what gets me through the days sometimes.  Especially when it’s snowing outside, I’m snowed in, and there’s nothing to do.

Without Marketing, Few Products Get Off the Ground

by atozmom, posted in Writing

I read this recently and I’m trying to apply it to my book.  I know the query letter is your marketing/sales pitch and maybe I’m just not good at sales (ok, so I know I’m horrible at sales) but I am good at writing.  I know my story is good.  So, why can’t I sell my idea?

If this book was meant to be, then I firmly believe God will make it happen (like He makes everything happen).  I try not to stress over it or let the rejects discourage me.  It’s just hard when you invest so much of yourself into a project personally to see it shot down at every turn.

But perseverance will hopefully prevail and I’m just going to keep at it.  Any encouraging words would be appreciated.

The MOST Important Rule for Writing Fiction is….

by atozmom, posted in Writing

your story must be believable.  This can include dragons and vampires and monsters but it must allow the reader to insert themselves as the protagonist and believe they can slew your dragon.  Much of this is driven by the prose.   A good writer can make anything come to life and this will be what gets your work published.

This rule also follows for non-fiction, memoirs, etc.  The story must flow in such a way that the reader can see it unfolding before their eyes.

Any thoughts on believability?

The Anatomy of Rejection

by atozmom, posted in Writing

I touched on this briefly last post.  It’s not that I get my feelings hurt when I receive a reject on my labor of love (my novel).

It’s this:  I want something so bad and I hold so many expectations and hopes that when I do get rejected, it’s not personal or a reflection of me.  It doesn’t hurt my ego or anything.  It’s a deflation of my dreams and expectations and the knowledge that there is still plenty of work to do.  It also is a lesson in patience (not my strong point by any means).  I have to wait longer to see my book in print, to see my dreams materialize, to hold my work in my hands and watch others enjoy what I’ve created.

I want it now is what it comes down to and a rejection signals, “Nope, not now but later.”

I know that my novel is good.  I know in my heart it is God’s work and it is meant to be shared to help others cope in this world.  I know that.  It’s just frustrating when I can’t seem to get that across to others.

No one said this was easy or life was easy.  What fun would that be?

I pray I get an agent soon.  I pray I get a publisher soon.  I pray my husband gets a job soon.  I pray we move to where I want to live and not to some hole-in-the-earth place where a job happens to be.  I pray my kids get accepted to schools where I can feel comfortable sending them to, where I won’t have to homeschool them the rest of their lives, where they can have friends and the whole school experience.  I pray these burdens on my heart are lifted.

I miss my old town.  I miss my old church.  I miss my friends.  My kids miss their friends.  Hell, I even miss my old house.

Do the trials of life ever end?