How To Be a (Chick Lit) Author

I Haven't Given Up Yet

2011-01-17T11:09:00.000-08:00

I've just given myself permission to wait until I finish one big dream before starting on the next. But I was just sitting there a couple of days ago and I had an idea.

It was an idea that changes my original Nano story a little, but it's basically the same. It just makes it better. I wrote it down and then gave myself permission to forget about it.

But then I had another idea for the same story the next day. Again, I wrote it down and gave myself permission to forget. Maybe this is how it's done.

I'm a Loser

2010-11-22T13:51:00.000-08:00

It's not going to happen. I'm not going to win NaNoWriMo.

Again.

I don't know why I thought it would be possible with a two-week vacation to Florida in November. I only just hit 4,600 words this afternoon. I should be close to 40,000 now.

Oh well.

But I'm not to give up on the novel. Even though sometimes I think the story drags and I should just give up because I suck at writing, sometimes there is a little flash of a good scene. So I just keep reminding myself that this is just a first draft. A starting point. Besides, I know I'm a rewriter. That's when it's the most fun. First drafts blow.

Oh No Nano

2010-11-12T04:34:00.000-08:00

I had really good intentions. I brought my laptop on vacation. I thought I'd have a ton of time to write after everyone went to bed. But it's not working out that way.

First, the time change and jet lag had me all screwed up. Plus, I am still getting over a cold. Still, as in two weeks. So I'm not sleeping well when I do sleep. And my brain hurts from all the coughing I've been doing.

Second, the family's been staying up pretty late. By the time they all go to bed, I'm totally wiped out, too, and just find myself staring at my computer screen. Too tired to think.

Third, cold medicine gives me writer's block. The only reason I'm writing this is because the Sudafed wore off and I am up early at my sister's in New Orleans. The kiddo's with grandma in Florida. I'm sure everyone will else around here will be up shortly since I'm hacking up a lung out in the living room.

I've got another week of vacation, so I'm hoping I can get on track. Not sure how, though. But if I don't, I'm going to have about 47,000 words to write Thanksgiving week (during which time my father-in-law will be staying with us).

Why does NaNo have to be in November? Why couldn't it be NaFebWriMo?

Hello NaNo!

2010-11-03T21:02:00.000-07:00

I'm in trouble. I already started over and it's only Day 3 of NaNoWriMo. Well, at least it's only Day 3.

But I love my NaNo novel. It's fluffilicious! That should be a word. You can find me HERE. I need to change my author profile -- that one's from last year. *gasp*

My synopsis is below. I'm going to try hard to leave it alone now and focus on the story. (I'm only 560 words in and should be at 5,000. Yikes.)

Kate Running (Working Title):

Everyone at Dunham and Burke loves Kate. She’s the life of every after-work party, at ease under pressure and would gladly set up camp in the spotlight. And, at 27, Kate McKendrick’s at the top of her game in this small advertising firm just outside of Seattle.

But when another writer is hired to be her teammate, Kate finds her job threatened and, more importantly, her status as coolest coworker. Now everyone loves Phillip with his tan face, toned legs and healthy lifestyle. A marathoner. Whatever.

On one particularly soul-crushing day, Kate declares anyone can run a marathon, to which Phillip retorts, “You wanna bet?” Of course she does. Kate’s not one to run away from a challenge. The only problem: Kate’s not one to run…at all. (That is unless it’s from the office to happy hour at Downtown Dave’s next door. Hello, $2 margaritas!)

Will Kate win the bet? Or will she die trying?

Why Am I Doing This?

2010-10-25T21:48:00.000-07:00

So, I started a blog post to answer that question last week. It was awful. I couldn't figure out why I wanted to write light-hearted women's fiction (aka chick-lit). I could think of really good, mature reasons to write a memoir or a children's book, but none for women's fiction. All I could come up with was: to see what the cover would look like.

Yikes.

I was ready to just give it all up. And I did for a few days. I just stopped working on stuff. But, tonight, I think I've answered my question.

I am doing this because I love to read light-hearted women's fiction. Think Sophie Kinsella and Emily Giffin and Lauren Weisenberger. These books help me escape. And laugh. They make me want to skip down the street while wearing a flowy pink dress and stilettos. To get a mani/pedi. To kiss my husband.

So, I am doing this because I want other women (or men) to feel this way, too, when they are reading something I wrote. To just have a little fun, darn it. Life doesn't need to be so serious. Books don't either. That's what I say, anyway.

The 6,000 Word Curse

2010-10-13T12:30:00.000-07:00

It always happens right around this time.

I start off with an idea and it’s like I’m writing to keep my family alive. I don’t even want to breathe I’m so afraid of losing the scenes, the pictures in my head. It just all comes spilling out. It’s like I’m stranded in the desert and the words are water, and the more I write, the less thirsty I will be.

I slow down after the first couple of thousand. I think. I write. I think. I write. But I don’t mind because this is what writers do. Yes? At least that’s what I think they do anyway. It goes on like this for a sweet little while and I think, “This is it! The idea is great! I can do it! Yay, I’m a writer! I will be published!” But then, as I approach 5-6,000 words…

It all dries up. Poof, it’s all gone. No momentum. No excitement. No idea what I’m doing.

This is when I start wandering in the heat. This time, though, there are no words to fill me up, and I start to get really panicked and depressed, and suddenly I look like Chevy Chase in Vacation and I’m stumbling along with a pair of pants on my head, yelling, “Taxi! Taxi!” at tumbleweeds.

What is it about this number of words that curses me?

Discouraged, Confused

2010-10-02T08:22:00.000-07:00

I came down the stairs around 9 p.m. Friday after having put our toddler son to bed late. We had a busy evening. My husband was still working, as employees of that big software company in Redmond tend to do when they get home.

I went straight to the kitchen to pick up dirty dishes and put away clutter when he said it.

"Have you been working on any of your books lately?"

My back was to him as I tucked away a high chair I'd thought about selling, but changed my mind (it's too old), and I mumbled, "No, I've been feeling a little bit discouraged."

"What? Couldn't hear you."

I turned around, but kept my eyes away from his. "I said, No."

"Why?"

Still not looking at him. "I dunno. I guess I've just felt a little discouraged." And then he dropped the subject and we made our way over to the couch. He turned on Vacation, which we've seen at least 100 times, and I zoned out.

What is my problem? Lately, I just don't care. (Although, I know I really do care to write because my heart started beating faster when I wrote "I just don't care.")

I'm re-reading Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird and I love it. But it's been inspiring me to write more freely than I have been. I've been trying to write with formulas in the interest of getting something done, but Anne says to write more about characters and let the story develop. What she says makes so much sense and every time I read her book I am so inspired. I think I'm lacking self-confidence and feeling overwhelmed.

Sometimes I feel I can conquer anything, I'm a warrior writer, and sometimes I feel I'm not worth conquering it. Like all I want to do is something I know I can do and that people will probably read -- blog posts on my running blog, Facebook status updates. Know what I mean?

How can I get some self-confidence back?

I'm participating in "Wannabe Writer" confessions at Confessions of the Unpublished. Go here for more info.

Advice from Anne Lamott

2010-09-19T08:12:00.000-07:00

I first read Anne Lamott's "Bird by Bird" many years ago. Before I began writing, in fact. I suppose it was a foreshadowing moment.

I think I read it because my mother gave it to me and I always read the books my mother gives to me. Maybe not right away, but eventually. They sit on my bookshelves or on the floor next to my side of the bed or in a box, even. And I get to them. Book by book. Bird by Bird.

I'm re-reading it now. Bird by bird is how Lamott breaks down the writing process. Scene by scene. Just get it down, chunk by digestible little chunk.

Thank you, Anne.

Beam Me to the Rewrite

2010-09-11T23:26:00.000-07:00

You know what I need?

I'm not a big Star Trek fan...in fact, I'm not a fan at all. Not because I think it's no good, just because I never got into it. Anyway, my husband was watching the latest film tonight, which means I was peering at it over my book until I thought, "This is nuts," kissed him goodnight and came upstairs.

But something occurred to me that would be really useful in writing. You know how they have those things that "beam" them to places? Can you beam yourself into the future? I'm not sure. But I was thinking: If I could just beam myself into the future, then I'd be done writing my book by now and I could just be focusing on the rewriting part, which of course, is my favorite part (for now).

So could someone get on a future beaming machine? Or, perhaps I could borrow a DeLorean...oh my god, I just looked it up...I spelled DeLorean correctly on the first try.

How James Cameron Helped Me

2010-09-04T08:48:00.000-07:00

I have three WIPs.

Don't tell my husband. He wants me to finish something -- anything! And having three at once will probably make the process slower. However, I am working on all three. It's just that I don't always feel like working on my fun romantic comedy. Sometimes I want to write about my life. And sometimes I want to write fantasy.

This exactly mimics my reading habits, which I think makes sense.

Last night, me and Mr. T watched Date Night with Tina Fey and Steve Carrell. It was a cute story, and I found myself paying close attention to how the storyline went, the rhythm of ups and downs, and how it all tied together at the end.

When it was over, I immediately looked up the screenplay online, but could not find it. I found screenplays for other movies I enjoy, though, like Legally Blonde, The Breakfast Club and Up.

I am intrigued by screenplays. To me, they are more concise novels. Everything has to count -- as it should be in a book. Every piece of dialogue must move the story forward. Every scene, too. I feel like this is more pronounced in films since there is sort of a time limit.

Since Date Night reminded me of True Lies in a way, when I saw the screenplay was available, I had to look at it. True Lies is not my favorite film, but I've always found it interesting and enjoyable. (I hadn't realized James Cameron wrote it.) Plus, Tom Arnold has some great lines in it.

I love how this screenplay was done! It's so organized. Every single mini-scene has it's own number. And it really drove home the point of dialogue telling the viewer (reader) something, but not overtly. For example, look at this:

"40 INT. BATHROOM - DAY

Harry and Helen maneuver around each other expertly. She is
doing her make-up.

HELEN
The plumber came yesterday. He
said they have to dig under the
slab or something and it's going
to be six hundred dollars to fix.

Harry is not really paying attention as he ties his tie in
front of the mirror. His mind is elsewhere. He couldn't care
less about there domestic problems.

HARRY
Uh huh. Okay.

HELEN
It's not okay. It's extortion.

HARRY
What did you tell him?

HELEN
I slept with him and he knocked
off a hundred bucks.

HARRY
Good thinking, honey.

Harry kisses her on the cheek and exits."

Isn't that wonderful? They were talking about the plumber yet I learned Harry is disconnected from his wife and that she knows it. Just one little scene. Scene #40 to be exact.

For some reason, this idea of moving the story forward through conversation just totally clicked in my brain. I knew I was supposed to be doing it, but was sort of struggling with how to do it. You know what I mean? Scene 40 from True Lies is just such a good example!

I'm also using Cameron's number system to write my novel. It's working for me. It helps me break things up into small manageable scenes. And I know it will help with editing later when I need to go back. I can just write on the page, "Insert this in Scene 40."

I'm bookmarking this script, which you can find HERE. The site I got it at is called SimplyScripts and there are a ton of films on there. If you are struggling to organize your novel and tighten the dialogue, infuse conflict or anything else you can't quite put your finger on, I would suggest checking out the site and looking up the screenplays for some films you admire.

All My Best Ideas Happen in the Bathroom

2010-08-15T09:56:00.000-07:00

Since my last post (actually about 20 minutes following that last post), I had the best idea! After I vented, I got up, walked to the bathroom and when I was washing my hands, the idea just materialized in my little head. (I really do have a little head. Last night, I was trying on hats at the Seahawks game, then I found out the one I liked was Youths 4-7.)

Anyway, I practically ran through the cubes back to my desk and typed up a rough synopses and first chapter in like 15 minutes. It was the strangest thing! I'm so in love with the story. I like my main character (she's not depressing like all my other ones always turned out to be -- why is that?). The subject is something I know a lot about and feel confident writing about.

And I'm excited to work on the book. In the past, I sort of dreaded it.

So I guess I just needed to vent. Also, I think I needed to get out all my bad words.

Oh, and on Saturday, I was taking a shower when the end of the book just popped into my head: how all the characters come together, how the puzzle unravels, what daring thing my MC has to do. I need to keep one of my son's bath crayons in there!

Why do all my ideas happen in the bathroom? Maybe I should keep a desk in there.

I Like It, I Like It Not

2010-08-12T12:29:00.000-07:00

I can't not post. I have to vent.

I have been working really hard on writing toward my author goal for the past couple of weeks. I'm excited about it, but at the same time I am depressed.

Why? I keep changing my freaking mind, that's why!

(Sorry to yell at you...not your fault.)

Anyway, I have finally chosen to go with what I originally wanted to do, which is write a fiction novel. I'm focusing on the Middle Grade novel. I had a really great idea. Or, at least I thought it was really great.

But today I'm changing my mind again. The story I was going to write centered around a mother's terminal illness and now that I'm almost ready to actually sit down and hammer out real pages, I just found myself not wanting to write about that. I really don't feel like writing about death. Mr. T knows how I hate to be sad or scared. It's why I only do silly movies like The Three Amigos or Hot Tub Time Machine, and why I won't watch stuff like E.T. ever, ever again (I had nightmares...still do!).

So, today during my lunch break at work, I was like, "Why am I writing about death? This isn't me." I got up from my chair, walked to the bathroom and on the way back I had a better idea that I like more, and I got really excited about it.

But this is the problem. I am constantly doing this. I get so far as to tighten up/complete a synopsis, or sometimes I even do chapter synopses, and then I drop the whole thing like it's crawling with spiders.

I feel like I'm spinning myself in circles and coming out of it more confused than ever. I am full of self-doubt. I am second-guessing every tiny detail. And all I really want is to just stick with something good and sit down to write it.

I know there must be something positive about this lame-o process, but I can't see it right now. If you do, please share.

Historical Fiction Romantic Comedy?

2010-07-07T22:05:00.000-07:00

I had to watch something at work today that was about the Gold Rush and I found it absolutely fascinating.

I realized something, too. I like history. I like how it explains things. "Oh, that's why it's that way." For example, I always wondered how the heck Rough and Ready got it's name. For real? Rough and Ready? But I learned it was a boomtown in frontier California and the miners gave towns "fitting" names. Very interesting.

And, when I really think about it, some of my favorite novels are set in significant historical events: Captain Corelli's Mandolin (the book, not the movie), Memoirs of a Geisha (again, the book), Cold Mountain (and yet again, the book), Atonement and all of Gail Tsukiyama's beautiful stories. Could I set a romantic comedy in history? I thought today.

Ron Howard did it with Bob and Howard Dolman's Far and Away, which is one of my favorite films even though Tom Cruise is in it, but it's pre-crazy Cruise so I feel okay about it.

So, it's not exactly a romantic comedy, but it has romance, adventure and some funny moments ("I do not wish to fight you"), and it's set around the Land Run of 1893.

Just a thought I wanted to throw out there...I really have no point.

Pop, Crack, Boom, Sizzle: Fireworks and Romantic Comedies

2010-07-03T22:11:00.000-07:00

Fireworks always remind me of Sleepless in Seattle. You know, when Tom Hanks is standing on the back deck of his floating house in Lake Union? He misses his wife. The audience just hears the pop-pop of the small explosions across the lake. I don't think it was the Fourth, though. I think it was New Year's.

But I'm sitting on my couch tonight. It's almost 10 on July 3rd and, thanks to my eager neighbors, I'm getting my own private show outside my living room window.

I'm watching When Harry Met Sally, too, which is sort of funny since the fireworks remind me of another romantic comedy she's in. I heart these two movies, and I may have mentioned before that my all-time favorite is You've Got Mail.

Romantic comedies are the best. I love them in the written form and the cinematic. I'm thinking I should write something I would read. Now there's a novel idea.

Blogger's Block?

2010-06-14T10:16:00.000-07:00

Is this a term? Is it possible I have blogger's block on a blog about writing?

I haven't been writing, although I had an idea for a story in the minivan on the way home from work on Thursday. I wrote it on the back of an envelope and stashed it in the little open spot under the radio.

I've successfully shot myself down, though, and lost enthusiasm for the idea.

Not feeling like writing lately or even blogging, really. Not sure why.

It's Time to Be Here, Not There

2010-06-03T12:11:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when you live in the future.

I’m not sure what I want to do. I don’t even know if I want to write a book anymore. I’m just not a solitary person. I’d rather be out with the hubs and friends, or taking T Junior to the beach, than hunched over my laptop writing the beginnings of stories that I’ll abandon a few thousand words later.

Blogging is different. It provides instead feedback and sparks conversation. I enjoy that.

Maybe I’ll write a book when I’m older; when T Junior’s in college.

And, I don't know about the marathon either. My shin splints aren't going away and I wonder if maybe I'm not made to run 26.2 miles.

Running a 5K is different. For obvious reasons.

Maybe I'll run the full mary when I'm older; when T Junior's in college.

Over the three-day weekend, we (me, Mr. T and T Junior) went to a friend’s house on Lake Chelan with her family and another family. While it wasn’t exactly relaxing (we brought the dogs, there were young kids), I, we, had a great time (despite one argument with Mr. T, which often happens when we are out of our regular routine).

My favorite parts of the trip? Sitting on the beach, digging my toes into the sand, chatting with my friends, and watching our kids play together and explore the lake. And that actually was relaxing until T Junior went sprinting into the water.

Mr. T’s best friend was waist-high in the lake teasing his 4-year-old son with Doritos: “Come and get it!” T Junior wanted some neon-cheese chips pretty bad, I guess, and accepted the challenge. Of course, he was surprised when he went down in the frigid water, but Mr. T was right there to pull him out. He was fine after a few minutes, some Annie’s chocolate bunny crackers…and a chip.

Anyway, that night I had a hard time falling asleep. Mr. T breathed in and out slowly on his pillow to my left, Bennie snored carefree and exhausted in his crate and T Junior finger-sucked loudly in his Pack ‘N’ Play to my right. But the night noises weren’t what was keeping me awake.

Thoughts of the elusive marathon ran through my head. Then, the guilt of not writing; not working on my “book.” Next, I wondered why I wanted those two things so badly.

The answer was not new to me. I’ve always known it: Just to say I did it.

Then I asked myself a question that sort of hurt my feelings: Why can’t you just be happy where you are? Why do you have to constantly be striving for things that consistently make you feel like a failure?

The urge to cry almost overcame me, but I continued the conversation in my head. I have a wonderful family, a husband who loves me (even though I can be difficult), a thriving son, a nice house, some money in the bank, a safe car to get me to a job that I like. I am healthy, I am getting fit. I have lots of great friends (who continuously forgive my often-flaky behavior). I’m pretty damn lucky, in fact.

Why do I feel like I need more, more, more? To BE more, more, more.

I mean, who cares? Who cares if I’m a marathoner or an author? Besides me, of course. My husband loves me as I am now. My son loves me now. My parents love me now. No matter what. Why do I feel this drive to impress myself and other people all the time? Most of those people I don’t even know.

It’s like I’m trying to keep up with the Jones’s, except with accomplishments instead of with possessions.

I always thought I was a “dreamer,” dreaming up who and what I wanted to be and do in the future. Always thinking about the future. Never content with the present, that's me.

I decided to see what being a “dreamer” actually means, and I looked it up here. I took their personality test and found out I may not be a “dreamer” after all. According to the test, I am an “advocate.” Here’s what that means, according to the site:

“ENFPs (Extraverted, Intuition, Feeling, Perceptive) are introspective, values-oriented, inspiring, social and extremely expressive. They actively send their thoughts and ideas out into the world as a way to bring attention to what they feel to be important, which often has to do with ethics and current events. ENFPs are natural advocates, attracting people to themselves and their cause with excellent people skills, warmth, energy and positivity. ENFPs are described as creative, resourceful, assertive, spontaneous, life-loving, charismatic, passionate and experimental."

I specifically like this phrase: “They actively send their thoughts and ideas out into the world as a way to bring attention to what they feel to be important…”. Ahem, blogging.

Reading about ENFPs didn’t answer anything for me, but it was interesting anyway.

The thing is, I do care if I’m a marathoner. And I do care to be an author. But maybe that’s not going to happen as fast as I want it to. I want it now, like Veruca Salt. Maybe I just need to slow down. Not be in such a hurry to reach my goals.

Making myself happy is a good thing, but not if I’m miserable (or making others miserable) trying to get there. Not that I’m unhappy, but I often feel that I've failed somehow. It’s too easy to compare myself with others.

But I made up my mind (gasp! a decision?!) when I was drifting off in Chelan that night to slow down on my dreams. Take it easy; enjoy the journey of reaching my goals instead of clawing my way there.

Besides, there are some other things that have to be done in the here and now. I’m signing T Junior up for swim lessons this month. I’m going to make more date nights with Mr. T. I'd like to finish some scrapbooks. I think it would be fun to go on vacation more often with my family. I want to hang out with friends and watch trashy TV and drink wine. I'd like to enjoy running and working out and buying cute jeans. I want to read more. I want to keep blogging.
I don’t want to feel guilty about writing, or not writing, toward my author dream. I don’t want to feel panicked about running, or not running, toward my marathon dream.

I recognize that it's going to take some self-reminding. Upon returning home, I immediately got caught up in my usual "what's next?" mentality. But I really I want to be here now. I don't want to live in the future.
That's why, I decided, I’m going to be an advocate for the present.

Crossroads

2010-05-14T20:59:00.000-07:00

In July of '09, the story of a couch-sitting, laptop-addicted, disc-herniated mom attempting to run a marathon began. I needed to move, I needed an adventure, I needed something to write about, and boy oh boy, did I get it.

And I almost completed my journey -- the inspiration for the book I've been working on. But now I won't be running a marathon on June 6. So, my story stops? Or continues?

I am not injured, but I almost am. So I have to take it easy, do some bike riding at the gym, maybe swimming. Someday, I'll get my marathon.

The plot thickens? Or, the book dies?

Twenty Weeks?

2010-05-06T21:00:00.000-07:00

Okay. I did it. I think.

I made an outline. I had to. I had to stop writing aimlessly. If I’m ever going to finish something (and by something I mean a book), I have to have an outline.

It’s like training for a marathon. I need a plan to follow. Sure, I may stray from the plan now and then, but if I didn’t have it, I’m pretty sure I would not be running 26.2 miles four weeks from now.

I mean, have you noticed I haven’t updated this site in a bit? Yeah, that’s because I strayed again because…well, I’m sure there are number of reasons, but really it’s because there’s no outline!

But now it’s done. A complete outline. Complete. Not half an outline like I usually do. This is all there.

Twenty chapters. It may change, but for now, it’s complete.

And I crunched some numbers, too. If I am looking at about 80,000 words for my memoir/creative non-fiction novel (think Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster* except instead of being about losing your job and reinventing yourself through a blog, it's about being a mom and reinventing yourself through running and a blog, but unfortunately, without all the witty comebacks because I suck at those, and with a lot of disgusting details about ginormous blisters and the places where a distance runner needs to put BodyGlide), then each chapter would be about 4,000 words.

Four thousand! That’s not bad at all. I probably have blog posts that long. (Seriously. Have you seen this? Or this?)

So, 4,000? I can do that. I know I can! I wonder how fast I can do it? Twenty weeks? Should I challenge myself? Sort of a KerNoWriWhoa! type of a deal. Hmmm, that might deserve a logo…

Wait! Focus. No logos. Just words.

*This book really inspired me. It made me realize that memoirs don’t have to be all sad and reflective. They can be funny and sad. Just kidding. Sort of.

Organization and Excuses

2010-04-25T10:36:00.000-07:00

There were some great suggestions last time I asked how to organize my running memoir. I tried Liz's suggestion, but I'm not organized enough yet for separate documents. My outline is all over the document, as I try to figure out exactly what the hell I am doing. Maybe when I figure that out, I'll be able to create a solid outline.

Christina suggested headings, so I tried that today using the Bookmark Tool in Word. So far, I like this method because it's all in the same document and I can more easily keep track of my word count.

So finally, I have a total word count to share. It looks like I did a lot compared to last week, but I really only wrote maybe 500 words. It was a tough week. We got a puppy last weekend and T Junior has been sick for two weeks. This week it was a stomach virus and diaper rash. Plus, running and I've been busy at work.

Wow, that sounds like a lot of excuses.

Total Word Count as of 4/22/10:
Running Book: 11,521
Children's Truck Book: I'm not going to list this one for now; I'm not working on it.

Just Sharing

2010-04-19T21:16:00.000-07:00

My freelance story just published yesterday, so I thought I'd share.

Here's the link.

I even made a special trip to the grocery store with T Junior on Sunday night to pick up a paper. Going to try to hold on to the clips this time!

Chaptersize

2010-04-16T21:48:00.000-07:00

This week, I forced myself to sort of come up with some an overall theme and some chapters for my running memoir. And so I started a new Word doc for one chapter.

(By the way, it feels strange calling it a memoir. I'm not sure if that's what it is or not because sometimes I'm talking directly to the reader instead of just recalling stories. Know what I mean?)

Taking these actions was sort of an exercise in writing discipline for me. I'm calling it "chaptersizing." I had to stick to one subject and it had to have what resembles a beginning, middle and end.

Thinking of a whole book is overwhelming. But if you break it in to small, chewable bites, it seems less intimidating. Right?

Here's my word count for the week...I took advantage of T Junior's nap today to write. I had a hard time getting started, though. I'm sick and was not feeling inspired. In fact, not worthy to write about running. But that's another story.

The word count itself is getting hard to follow because I'm so disorganized. I need to spend some time merging some documents. I often write on my computer at work during my lunch hour, then send it home. Then, I've written in a different version of the same document at home.

Total Word Count as of 4/16/10:
Running Book: Not sure - at least 2,850 (yesterday and today)
Children's Truck Book: 0 hours or words :(

The Stories are Gone

2010-04-12T21:32:00.000-07:00

I took my son to the library for Story Time again today. Afterward, I asked the librarian a question I've been wondering about since 2007.

Where can I find my old clips?

In a former life, I was a journalist. First, a copy editor. Then, an assistant features editor. And, finally, the features editor at the King County Journal (formerly the Eastside and South County Journals, formerly the Journal-American and Valley Daily News).

I mostly edited. But I also did some writing. And, when I left the job to go be a suit-wearing corporate editor in 2005, I continued to freelance write for my jeans-clad friends in the newsroom.

In 2006, Black Press Ltd. bought the KCJ and closed it in 2007. With it, the archives. My stories.

I didn't care to print them out or make them PDF documents when I could have. I don't know why. I guess I always thought they would be searchable online. But they aren't.

Not even the library has them. I was told maybe I could find them on film, but it'd be a nightmare unless I had specific dates. Which, I don't.

I don't know why I want them. Maybe because they are a part of my history. What makes my writing experience unique. Or maybe I just need confirmation that I've improved as a writer because some of them were written just out of college and I was not a journalism or an English major.

Today, I got the news I already knew. My stories are gone. But, still. I have to think they're out there somewhere.

I'm talking to you Tale of a Boeing Engineer Turned Pumpkin Farmer, Nordstrom Spring Fashion Preview, Yarrow Bay Gingerbread Recipe.

Where are you?

Organizing These Words

2010-04-09T21:07:00.000-07:00

Hey, it's Friday!

Total Word Count as of 4/9/10:
Running Book Words: 7,730 (2,619 this week)
Children's Truck Book Time: 0 hours or words

I did lots of writing this week, but it's all ADD writing. At least it's on the same subject (running memoir project) and I've been keeping it in the same document. But I've been feeling like I need to get some sort of structure going on. I sort of feel lost in my 17-page Word file. Can you imagine when it gets longer?

I can and it's not a good situation.

How should I handle this? Different chapters in their own docs?

Today, was actually one of my less productive writing days. I only wrote about 450 words. But at least I did something! Like running, a little is better than none at all. Right?

I sort of feel weird that I'm actually saying, well writing, out loud that I'm working on a running memoir. It's so specific. Sort of scary.

And I'm trying to answer the "So what?" question. I feel like I need to bounce my answer(s) off of someone. Maybe it's time to find a critique group.

Save This Article on Writing a Memoir

2010-04-07T20:31:00.000-07:00

I’ve been cheating on the picture book.

I can’t stay away from my running memoir. It’s all I can think about. So I’m going with it for right now. So sue me.

This post will be short because I’m just here to share the following article on memoir writing by Annette Fix (The Break-Up Diet). When I found this piece, I wanted to hug it.

Drawing From Your Life to Create...Your Story

Also...I’m reading William Zinsser’s On Writing Well and really enjoying it. He illustrates his points with excerpts and examples from other writers. The book is broken up in easy-to-digest chapters, too, which makes it simple for me to pick it up when I have five minutes to read and then put it back down without losing my place. I’d recommend it for any type of non-fiction writing, from journalists to memoirists. Even fiction writers would take something away from it, I’m sure.

Some Advice from My Husband

2010-04-03T23:01:00.000-07:00

I guess he reads this blog.

We were sitting in our usual spots. That would be our living room couches, which are arranged in an L shape. Me on the end of the loveseat that's closest to the end of the sofa where Mr. T sits. Our laptops logo-to-logo on the wide arms.

I looked up from my screen because Mr. T was peering over the top of the Dells at me. "I was going to post a comment on your author blog." He grinned. The corners of his mouth trembled and his eyes flashed.

What's so funny? "Oh yeah? What?" What could my computer-geek-video-game-playing-non-reader husband possibly have to say about writing?

"Yeah," he said in his deep, raspy voice. "I was going to comment and say that if you spent more time working on your book and less time blogging, then you wouldn't have to have a blog about how to be an author. You'd be done with your book." His cheeks were rosy and his eyes, normally in the shadow of his Croatian brow, were sparkling like twinkly lights.

I rolled mine. "Whatever."

I hate it when he's right.

Obsess-Much?

2010-04-02T14:33:00.000-07:00

I've been writing, just not here. But I really need to post updated word counts for The Pledge that I signed. I haven't been tracking it very well.

The thing is...when I write, I work all over a document. Sometimes I start from the top. Sometimes from the bottom. And sometimes all I do is edit (which isn't good, I need to save that for the end of the writing process). It just depends on my mood.

And I'm not sure how to track for the children's book I'm ~~supposed to be~~ working on. Maybe I will track time instead. I'll have to start writing it down.

It's just that, lately, I have been obsessed with an idea about my experience training for a marathon. And, I had to finish up a fun little freelance article I was writing for the NW Jobs section in the Seattle Times (scheduled to run April 18).

Soooo...here's my first word/time count for each piece.

As of 4/2/10:
Running Book Words: 5,111
Children's Truck Book Time: N/A

The Pledge

2010-03-22T21:48:00.000-07:00

I've wandered. I haven't been paying attention to my works in progress. I need to be better about fitting it in -- making time to write for me.

Today, I did the final interview for my paying gig over the phone. It's been a while (about a year?) since I've done a freelance article and my typing-while-listening skills are rusty. So are my interviewer skills. But I got it done.

Now, I just need to write the article. Well, finish it. I started writing it on Friday. I like to step away and come back to an article with fresh eyes.

In fact, every time I look at a piece of my writing, I can change it. That's why writers need deadlines. Maybe that's my problem with the things I'm writing for myself. Maybe that's why things like NaNoWriMo are so popular.

Liz over at Writing Mommy had a great idea to create a pledge for aspiring authors. I've been meaning to sign up, so here I go. You should sign up, too!

I, Kerrie T., take The Aspiring Writers Pledge to write a book in 2010 with the intent of publishing. I promise to update my progress weekly, ask when I need support and encourage others to complete the task at hand.

I just hope I don't wait till Dec. 31st to get it done...

Have Formula, Will Write

2010-03-10T11:29:00.000-08:00

I’m back on track. SCBWI meetings always seem to get me there. Not that I wandered far. Tuesday night’s gathering of children’s book writers and illustrators was refreshing. I left ready to write.

But after the hour-long drive home (not to mention the two-hour drive to get there that also included meeting Mr. T at a half-way point and transferring T Junior from my minivan to Dada’s sedan, a stop at the KFC drive-thru for a box containing three lamp-warmed crispy chicken strips, and a run in, then out of Starbuck’s for a Grande Extra-hot Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte), I was ready for bed. And today, I’m too tired to think. Especially after that last sentence. Yikes.

During the meeting, though, my brain was spinning in the right direction with ideas about my children’s story. Picture book author Clare Hodgson Meeker (A Tale of Two Rice Birds) was talking about Narrative Structure when I flipped the page in my notebook and scribbled some thoughts about my own book. I appreciated her advice about using structure, even though she received some grief from one audience member.

In Narrative Structure, Clare explained, there are three problems that need to occur in order to move the story along. And there is action, background, development, climax and the end. Clare wrapped up her talk and called for questions.

A woman raised her hand and asked how to apply the structure to stories that seemingly have no problems in them. Tales that are just told to set a mood. She threw out a title that describes the relationship between a son and a grandfather, but I think Goodnight, Moon would have been a better example.

In this classic (and a favorite of mine, T Junior, and pretty much everyone else on the planet), there are no problems. No obstacles to overcome. The tale meanders through a bunny’s soothing pre-bedtime routine of him saying “goodnight” to everything in his room and out the window. T Junior likes to repeat the line, “Goodnight nobody.”

The “mood” question appeared to throw Clare off balance and the normally easy-going audience became uncomfortable because the asker seemed annoyed with Clare’s answer. First, our speaker instructed the audience member to go back and look at the book because maaaaybe there were some small problems that she just wasn’t seeing. The asker was sure there were no problems. Again, how does this apply to Narrative Structure? Then Clare implied the grandfather book might not be a very good story because it lacked conflict.

I tried to send a mind message to the audience member, who was sitting just two rows above me in the amphitheater-style college classroom: It’s obvious Carol’s here to talk about Narrative Structure. As she repeated throughout her speech, that’s what worked for her. We all know that there are different formulas out there. Let’s move on.

Throughout the night, though, different SCBWI members brought it up. One even announced he would be discussing that very non-structure structure topic in an upcoming class of his.

I, however, took a ton away from what Clare had to say. I like rules. I believe conflict makes better stories. Otherwise, why are you telling me about it? Not to take anything away from Margaret Wise Brown’s beautiful bedtime classic. She was a genius.

But I’m new to this whole picture book writing thing and having a formula to follow will be a huge help. Once I get the basic structure of my story down, then I can play! That’s the fun part, building upon the basics. Making a story real. Your own.

Okay; who’s ready to write?!

Me.

Time to Write

2010-03-07T12:46:00.000-08:00

I am really busy lately. Blogging and reading blogs is difficult to fit in. I'm writing for me, looking for sources and setting up interviews for the paying gig, trying to be present with my husband (instead of peering at him over the top of our laptops all of the time), taking more time to play with my son (I'd rather he doesn't remember me as "Dell"), working my part-time copywriter job, marathon training, reading actual books and attempting to get the laundry done (I've pretty much given up on the rest of the house).

I started writing something on my lunch break on Thursday. It's memoirish. It's about playing sports and being a girl and gaining weight and running and family. This is not the first time I've written about this so I wouldn't consider this a new project. It's ongoing but nothing is in the same document. I think that's okay.

Meanwhile, I still have my children's book. I've been working on this in spurts. I'll write a bunch. Then I will take a few days and let it simmer. Then I'll write down something I thought of during that time.

I've also been thinking a lot about an article (here) I read on children's picture book writing: age groups. There's a difference between picture books for toddlers and picture books for kindergartners and up, etc. I knew this, but never really thought about it.

It's interesting how "thinking" is different for me when I'm working on these two writing projects. For the memoirish one, I just write and I sort of remember things as I go. I'm thinking and writing at the same time. For the picture book, I think then I write. Then I think some more. Wait. Write.

The picture book is definitely easier for me to fit into my lifestyle. But I am having a lot of fun with the memoir. It's just a matter of finding a chunk of time in my day that is not already filled. I am not a morning writer, so getting up earlier does not work for me (not that I sleep in). I'm really slow in the morning and I tend to take so long that I run out of time to write. And there's too much going on in the evenings. Besides, I already stay up too late for the early hours I rise during the week.

T Junior's nap time in the middle of the day is the best time. I just have to turn all the other media off. And it's only a couple times a week that I'm home for this. I guess it's better than nothing.

For a while, I was trying to schedule the writing in. But then I had an excuse to not do it when I had a moment (like during a nap). Instead, I was getting up at 4:30 a.m., but I was so slow and tired that by the time I was ready to write, I had about 20 minutes left till the baby was up. Then it felt forced. I felt pressure. Not good.

This post has already taken longer than it should, but I needed to get it out there. Blogging is a good warm up. If only I had more time!

A Paying Gig

2010-02-26T17:05:00.000-08:00

I got an e-mail from a friend and editor today. She works in the city's only daily newspaper and she offered me a freelance job.

I took it. The subject is fun, and I couldn't pass it up!

Hopefully, I won't get sidetracked for too long.

I did actually do something toward my picture book goal today. I took T Junior to the library and looked for books that he would love: anything with trucks, trains, cars, etc. But I didn't want to get the ones that just show the truck with the word underneath "excavator," you know? I wanted real picture books. An actual story.

But I also had another reason for getting these. I had an idea for a story a few days ago that I wrote down (very rough draft, very rough). It was inspired by my former job at truck (big rigs) company. I worked at the corporate office, but loved to visit the plant floor. So, I was looking for picture books about trucks or cars, just to see what's out there.

We found two great books!

T Junior wanted to read Who Is Driving? by Leo Timmers over and over again. We may have to buy this one.

And I loved Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle, illustrated by Jill McElmurry. Fabulous story, engaging words and pictures.

It's been a long time since I've been to the library to check out books. We'll definitely be back!

Writer vs. Author

2010-02-22T15:28:00.000-08:00

I think I had an epiphany about writing.

I was reading the March issue of Runner's World of all things when I had it. On the very last page there is story about Apolo Ohno, the Olympic speed skater who is from Seattle (even though the article says Salt Lake City -- what's up with that?).

I didn't know this, but he didn't make the Olympic team on his first try (1998). What? He says he was at his lowest point after that happened (or failed to happen). Then, he says, this:

"One day, in the middle of a rainy, cold run, I stopped and asked myself how much I wanted to be a speed skater. If I was going to fulfill my dream, I knew that I needed to finish my run, no matter how many blisters I had or how bad I felt. That was the turning point for me." (Runner's World, March 2010)

How much do I want to be a writer?

Wait, that question is too vague. I am a writer. I write every day. All the time. I do lots of blogging, but I also start many stories (and never finish them), and journal in about 50 different notebooks that I have all over the house. I'm even lucky enough to have a part-time job writing. So, even when I'm away from my laptop, I'm writing.

What I need to do is define what I want to be. For example, I want to be a marathoner. So, I'm putting in the hours and the training, and like Mr. Ohno, I'm toughing it out, blisters and all.

What kind of writer to I want to be? A freelance magazine writer? A newspaper columnist? A professional blogger? Write for Web sites? A chick-lit author? Do I want to write YA? A memoirist? Or, do I want write about my favorite genre to read?

Picture books. I love them. No, I adore them. I absolutely coudn't wait until I had a child to read to. An excuse to buy picture books. I keep coming back to this genre (and I'm talking about over several years here).

So I've decided. I want to be a picture book author. The problem is, I keep straying from the genre whenever an idea for something, anything blows through my brain. But how much do I want to be a picture book author?

That is the question.

The answer isn't quite as easy as the one for how badly do I want to be a marathoner? Answer: enough to sacrifice time with my husband and son, and endure physical pain and self-doubt.

Hmmm. Actually, that doesn't sound that much different than what I would've written for the picture book question. Swap "emotional" for "physical" and I think I've got something here.

Busy, Busy

2010-02-19T21:21:00.000-08:00

I wrote tonight. For a little bit. In front of the Olympics in HD. Does that count?

I started on one topic, which I liked, but quickly switched over to something that's been weighing heavily on my mind and in my stomach. I won't post it because it's personal. But, basically, I haven't been the best person I could be in a difficult on-going situation that is happening around me.

So, it's been hovering over me. And I wonder if this situation that I've been creating for myself is something that other people struggle with, too. I wonder if maybe I could be on to something. Perhaps an article for a magazine.

It's something that interests me. Sociologically. Is that a word?

Maybe I should actually use my 2010 Writer's Market. Now there's a concept.

Copywriting Clips

2010-02-18T14:37:00.000-08:00

Copywriter 9/08-present - TOPICS Entertainment - DVD, Software Publishing

Wisegal Game Box - Spring 2010

***

Amelia Earhart Game Box - Spring 2010

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Nanny 911 Game Box - Spring, 2010

***

Adventures Series Children's DVD Boxes - 2009

More To Come

Re-Inspired

2010-02-09T22:49:00.000-08:00

I was starting to have my doubts.

The past couple of days, I've been thinking maybe this author thing isn't for me. I just don't seem to be as passionate about it as I should be. Maybe I only have enough enthusiasm for one hobby at a time because running is really taking over and pushing writing out of its way.

But then I had my monthly SCBWI Western Washington meeting tonight. I can't believe I considered not going as I sat in traffic on I-5.

If you want to be a children's (or any genre really) author, I highly recommend joining the Society of Children's Bookwriters and Illustrators. The meetings are full of aspiring writers and authors. You can feel the passion and the energy all around you.

I'm so glad I went. Not only was tonight's speaker, Erik Brooks, entertaining and inspiring, but a new friend was there, and she always makes me feel better. She recently published her first children's book, The Terrible Tenor. She's also a runner and has encouraged me multiple times to turn my Mom vs. Marathon blog into a book, which (I have to be honest) I've thought about before.

But I have no idea what angle to go after on what seems like a very broad, possibly overdone topic. So I'll think about it some more, which is what I always do until the excitement bubble pops and drains all my juicy ideas till my brain dries up.

No!

I'm going to work on this. I'm feeling re-inspired after tonight.

Remembering AJ

2010-02-04T13:17:00.000-08:00

AJ was pretty much the cutest puppy I'd ever seen. Still is. I was heartbroken when he passed away in October at the age of 6. He was my boxer buddy and I was hoping he'd be alive long enough for my son to remember him.

I'm writing a children's book about dogs and I keep thinking of AJ's happy disposition. They way he jumped straight up in the air at dinner time. The way he held his favorite toy, a Jolly Ball, in his jaws and the proud trot he did when retrieving it. How he was always trying get someone to play "tug the ropie" with him. I hope to work his traits into the book somehow.

I miss his happy face.

Inspiration: The Fire Engine Book

2010-01-31T20:10:00.000-08:00

You know how published authors always say to write, write, write and read, read, read the genre you are interested in?

Well, they are right. I don't have any problems writing -- but I've been focusing on the wrong genre. As I grew up, I forgot how much I loved children's books. I used to love to read to my youngest sister when she was little. I'm 13 years older.

I went away to college when she was 5, I think. Then I graduated and got a job. Finally, I had a child to read to when T Junior was born on May 27, 2008. I have read to him every single day since the day of his birth. He loves books, and he sits on my lap every night for exactly four of them.

His taste in books is starting to expand, and I can read some of my favorites to him that, before, didn't interest him: Click, Clack, Moo, and King Bidgood's in the Bathtub, and Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus.

Tonight, I was reading The Fire Engine Book. We both really enjoy this book, which I think was first published in 1950! The words describe actions and the illustrations are engaging.

While reading this evening, I really paid attention to the simplicity of the book. It's describing what happens on the way to a fire. Then at the fire: "Crank! Crank! Up go the ladders. Up go the firemen with their hoses!"

It's genius in how simple it is. It made me realize that I am overthinking it. And I had an idea, which I worked on before writing this post, thank you very much.

So read! Read your genre and get inspired!

Update

2010-01-31T14:06:00.001-08:00

Doing laundry instead of writing.

BOOOOO!

Not Off to a Good Start

2010-01-29T15:47:00.000-08:00

I have not written one word toward my book since starting this blog.

I've done LOTS of blogging HERE and a little HERE, but nothing to help accomplish my dream. Tomorrow morning, I have a long run and then I'm sure there will be other weekend stuff to do.

I'm going to aim for 30 minutes tomorrow. I will fit it in somehow.

Inspirational Book No. 1

2010-01-27T21:46:00.000-08:00

"'Help, help!' cried the Page when the sun came up!"

I adore King Bidgood's in the Bathtub by Audrey and Don (illustrator) Wood.

When I read this book to T Junior, it makes me want to write. I believe Audrey wrote it for both the parent and the child, as I enjoy it just as much as my son.

I can't believe it came out in 1985!

I'm old.

First Step: Pick a Genre

2010-01-25T13:08:00.000-08:00

Today, after a fun trip to the library for story time with T Junior, I decided to just put my foot down on myself and write a children's book.

Two days ago, I felt the urge to write a memoir.

A week ago, I was all about Chick Lit.

Before that, YA.

I know I can't be everything to all people. I think I have too many interests. I love children. I love sports. I love the color pink! I like thinking about the '80s as retro. I want to share my life story.

Gah!

If I could just pick one and stick with it, that would be great.

Clip: Moore Memorable

2010-01-25T12:58:00.000-08:00

Moore Memorable

Maple Valley couple turns to local shops to make wedding at the Moore extra special

By Kerrie T.

Shop SE Contributor

Two weeks ago, Julienne Haws said she was insane. Planning a wedding do that to a person, especially if more than 400 guests are expected. But, luckily for Haws, she had help and resources for the Sept. 1 even that went off without a hitch (pardon the pun).

Haws, a 27-year-old technical designer for clothing and accessory company Zumiez, met future husband Leif Andersen, 25, while he was working at the Lake Wilderness Starbucks in Maple Valley. A year later in 2006, Andersen, a member of the punk band Sirens Sisters, asked Haws to marry him on the stage at the Moore Theatre in Seattle.

"He asked me if I would be his wife, and I say, 'Yes,'" Haws says. "He suggested we get married on the stage, so we tried really hard to get the wedding at the Moore." And they did. But how do you transform a 100-year-old theater into an intimate setting for a wedding?

Haws turned to her favorite places to shop in Southeast King County. She also had help from her new mother-in-law, Sue Roberts, owner of Three French Hens, a home decor and interior design store in Maple Valley.

This isn't the first time Robers has done a wedding. "We did my dauther's two years ago in Enumclaw," she says. "It was so decked out, King County came and took pictures."

Roberts says Three French Hens designer Ann Steward "did all the magic." Haws wanted the wedding to invoke an old Hollywood glamour feeling in her guests. "We wanted it to be more like a swanky part," she says.

Three French Hens delivered. Steward and Roberts used silk flowers and faux jewels for table centerpieces, along with vintage instruments and antique sheet music as a tribute to Andersen's career in music. On the Moore's stage, 10-foot-tall hanging mirrors framed the dance floor and the huge chandelier rented from the Seattle Opera House.

Local graphic designer Jenny Phillips created the backdrop for the stage. "She made distressed canvas look like old sheet music," says Haws.

Roberts says guests had to have a ticket to get into the wedding. "It actually felt like a producion...it felt like you were in a Dean Martin or Frank Sinatra lounge."

And she says they couldn't have done it without the help from the theater. "The Moore went above and beyond for us."

Kent antique store Whimsical Whites went all out for the wedding, too. Owners and sisters Kathleen Sanchez and Kristeen Casaus created bouquets for Haws and the 11 bridesmaides. They also made boutonnieres and corsages for special guests using herbs grown in the garden behind the store and vintage trimmings they started collecting well in advance. "We knew the wedding was coming up," says Sanchez, "so we loaded up on the trim, laces, ribbons and feathres." Plus, they grew the herbs specifically for the event. "We used veronica, sedum, lavender, and specially grew dusty miller and lamb's ears because of the color. She liked the silvery colors," explains Sanchez. "Everything in the bouquets was vintage, except the flowers, although we did research on the era to choose them."

Casaus and Sanchez combined silvery, metallic ribbons from the 1920s with antique brooches, diamonds, feathers, herbs and white roses to create each piece. "They listened to what I wanted and ran with the idea," says Haws, who has been shopping at Whimsical Whites for years. "I love them. I love theri store," she says. "If I need something for a bridal shower or Christmas, we go to them."

Haws went to Wild Wheat Bakery, Cafe & Restaurant in Kent for hors d'oeuvres and cake -- lots of cake. "We wanted (the wedding cake) to be really massive, a show-stopper," says Haws. "We decided to do it not completely real." Since the wedding cake was mostly non-edible, Haws and Andersen asked Wild Wheat to make a variety of cakes for guests.

Wild Wheat owner Mark Handman says they created 20 cakes for the wedding. "We don't do regular wedding cakes," he says, but Wild Wheat Bakery has done a lot of weddings. Handman says they made everything from chocolate mousse to chocolate ganache and lemon mousse cakes to marjolaine, which has layers of ground hazelnuts, meringue and chocolate French buttercream.

A wedding has to have more than cake, though, so Wild Wheat created hors d'oeuvres that included mozzarella caprese toasts, bruschetta and lemon honey chicken skewers. Handman says they make hors d'oeuvres for special occasions only. "When somebody asks," he says, "we'll do it."

Haws and Andersen turned to more local companies and friends for music, invitations and bridesmaid gifts. Kirkland card company Natalie Eden created the invitations, and AshleyDanae Designs made the gifts. The Maple Valley company, which partners with Three French Hens, makes unique candles and Memory Block Tiles. Andersen's bandmates performed at the wedding, and the couple even hired Federal Way's Total Experience Gospel Choir to sing after the ceremony.

Two weeks ago, Haws said her wedding was going to be amazing. By all accounts, it was. "Not only was it beautiful, they are just a cool couple," says mother of the groom Roberts. "At the end, they came out to the edge of the stage and bowed."

Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2007 - published in SHOP SE, a special section of the Seattle Times

Clip: Little House Rugs

2010-01-24T20:48:00.000-08:00

Little House Rugs

Judy Taylor spins a passion for yarn into a shop on her farm

By Kerrie T.

Shop SE Contributor

The sweet, distinct smell of lavender greets visitors at Little House Rugs in Auburn. There is no parking lot, but a narrow gravel driveway leads shoppers to Judy Taylor's passion -- a 12-by-12-foot detached, converted garage featuring hand-hooke rugs, lavender products and more. Dense fields of lavender, herbs and flowers surround the shop on Taylor's 7-acre farm, more than half of which is occupied by a flock of Jacob sheep and angora goats.

Little House Rugs seems at home on the farm. Taylor and her husband named the farm Edeldal, the Norwegian word for noble valley.

"I bought the farm and noticed grass doesn't mow itself," sayd Taylor, so what started as one pet goat has, 19 years later, turned into a flock of about 25. They're there for more than weed control. Taylor also shears their wool, sends it to a local mill to be spun into yarn and then dyes it herself.

She says the idea for Little House Rugs, which opened in June, developed on the farm. "I started with what I was growing and that led me to all these crafts," says the overalls-clad Taylor. "I'm just a crafty-type person."

Her small yet efficient shop is canopied with bunches of drying bundles of hand-crafted yarn. Hand-hooked teddy bears, rugs, sweaters, and homemade lavender spa products and sachets line the perimeter. "I love this little spaces," she says. It suits her earthy inventory. With the garage door open, the shop has the feel of the open-air markets where she originally began selling, and still sells, her hand-crafted products.

Taylor began spinning yarn in 1993. "I just showed up at a spinning guild meeting and learned,"she says. Soon after she took a rug-hooking class. "I was in love. I was hooked, as they say."

Taylor practices the Nantucket style of rug-hooking in which a thicker yarn, like what she spins, is used. Some rug-hookers use fabric strips, which also are available at Little House Rugs, along with yarn dye, hooking kits, patterns and other supplies. "Rug-hooking is very easy," says Taylor, who teaches classes and makes custom pieces for people. The Web site, http://www.littlehouserugs.com/, lists upcoming classes and events.

Rug-hooking enthusiasts Barb Delaney and her daughter, Sarah, made the drive from North Bend to Little House Rugs. "We found Judy's Web site on the Internet and just thought we needed to come check it out," she says. "We're very glad we did because now we have a bunny to hook and lavender sachets to make."

While the Delaneys stroll down the driveway to visit the sheep, Jeff and Julie Talvi of Covington browse the lavender products. They were on a Sunday drive when they noticed Little House Rugs. "We saw th sign and the lavender," says Julie. "We passed by, and we decided to turn around and come back." Taylor says many of her customers are her neighbors or people who drive by like the Talvis.

Inventory at Little House Rugs will change with what is in season -- think pumpkins, apples and cider-making in the fall -- but Taylor's handmade crafts always will be available at the shop, which has limited hours b ut also is open by appointment. "Little by little I'm trying to get more well-known," says Taylor. "I'll just keep learning and trying new things."

Sidebar:

MISS ABEARICA CONTEST

Judy Taylor's Little House Rugs is holding a teddy bear-hooking contest titles Miss Abearica. Four judges will decide who will take home the first-prize tiara for their bear and the $50 gift certificate to Little House Rugs. There also will be a $25 gift certifactes for a runner-up and a people's choice bear. For more details, visit http://www.littlehouserugs.com/. The deadline for entries is Oct. 31.

Bear caption:

Judy Taylor has created about 100 bears and sheep using rug-hooking tools.

Kerrie T. photos

Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007 - published in SHOP SE, a special section of the Seattle Times