Weekly goals: #romantic #suspense

Wow! It feels great to write again. And I love these characters. They're snarky and fun and very real and human to me. It feels great to finally be immersed in a story again...been too long! Half way finished (49% is close enough!) and I can't wait to jump back into the story.

This week my goal is to keep on writing. I hope to do another 20,000 words. My other goal is to survive those words.

Calories #Dieting Week 6

It is amazing how much I am aware of calories now. There are days when I think my budgeted calories for the day are not enough and others when I feel I can’t eat that much. It truly is a daily battle.

For those interested, here is the formula to lose a pound. 

Negative 3500 = 1 pound loss.

There are several calorie calculators online to figure out how many calories you need to maintain your current weight. Find one and plug in your stats and it will tell you what calorie count to maintain. In order to lose weight you need to be negative 3500 calories. The method I choose for myself is to reduce my calorie intake by 500 calories a day below my ‘maintain’ weight ideal there by giving me a negative 3500 calories after 7 days. By this method I should lose one pound a week.

By upping my activity level and staying with a 1200-1400 calorie a day diet, I can increase the speed by which I lose weight.

There is a science to all of this; but you still have to figure out what is best for you. 

Changing Habits: Snacks #Dieting Week 5

Guilty, Guilty, Guilty of stopping and buying a Hersey’s bar or a bag of cheese doodles or chips in the middle of the day when I get hungry. It is the worst thing you can do for any diet. Obviously fruits and veggies (veggies I don’t like at all) are the preferred snacks. I like oranges and bananas. So a banana is great and an orange range under 100 calories or so; they are great snacks.

But sometimes you don’t want either; I have gotten into the habit of carrying the Special K bars in my purse. I really love the vanilla one and the chocolate and pretzel ones. They are great on the go, you know the calories and they satisfy the need for sweet. There are also all sort of granola bars and snack bars on the market just find the one that suits your taste and that craving for a snickers might be tamed.   

 Also, Trader Joe’s is a good place to find something healthy to snack on that doesn’t have several hundred unneeded calories!

Changing Habits: Food #Dieting Week 4

Oh yes, I am SO guilty of the McDonald’s run for lunch and sometimes dinner. I love me that greasy fried chicken and that saucy pasta. This is probably were the change is most noticeable for anyone trying to lose a few pounds or just get into healthier habits.

Now, I know if I deprive myself of my fried foods I'm not going to be a happy camper and I’d likely fall off the diet wagon sooner rather than later. So my motto all in proportion; find out the calorie count and instead of having what you really desire as a overflowing plate fit for a family of four for just your dinner; have half or a quarter of it.

A trick a friend taught me recently I have really appreciated. I love fried chicken as opposed to baked – though baked isn’t bad. But there really is nothing like a nicely fried wing or drumstick. So she gave me this advice:

• Use about two tablespoons of oil (or a tad more if you are frying a lot of meat) and use about ¾ cups of water. 
• Place both in a pot (a pot not a skillet because the contents will rise in a boil) and make sure *both are at room temperature* do not under any circumstances heat the oil before you add the water.
• Combine both room temperature oil and water into the pot. 
• Add the meat. 
• Bring pot to a boil.
• The boiling water will essentially poach the meat, thoroughly cooking it and when the water evaporates it leaves the oil at the bottom which will give the meat a gentle fry. 
• Then remove the meat and place on a paper towel to absorb any excess oil.

This process reduces the amount of oil absorbed by the meat and while not as healthy as baking; it will satisfy the craving for fried foods while reducing the grease consumption overall. However, whenever possible baking of course if preferred but changing ones eating habits is a process and this could be step one.

Changing Habits: At my desk Dieting Week 3

So it has been a few weeks since I started my diet/ weight loss journey and I am coming along if painfully slow. Everything is a change of mindset. As a writer I spend an inordinate amount of time sitting at my desk; in fact it is common for me to sit here for nearly 8 hours straight with the only break being ye ol’ potty break.(OK and food. Definitely!)

So this is where I started to change my habits. I set an alarm on my computer and every 45 minutes – 1 ½ hours (I have it varied) it goes off and I know I should get up and do something – no matter how small.

I either take a few minutes and do a fairly thorough stretch, back, hamstrings, arms, etc or I go off and take a short walk or do a flight of stairs or two before returning to my desk. I have also gotten into the habit of keeping small hand weights near my desk and at one or two of the alarms I do several sets of reps of different exercises.

What I have found since I've increased my activity level is that my energy level has gone up dramatically. That is a fantastic benefit! And you don’t have to start with a one hour intense cardio workout; just an increase in activity in the beginning.

 This isn’t The Biggest Loser – it is just the beginning of a healthier lifestyle and a healthier feeling.

Dieting week 1

I have done it and started a get fit and healthy kick this year. I am just off my first week of trying to retrain my brain to eat healthier and exercise a bit more. I have indeed lost weight my first week and I am thrilled but I also know that the pounds I lost could come back on with a vengeance if I am not vigilant. So I am taking this weight loss victory with temperance. Yes, I am happy but I also know I have a long road ahead of me; and this week has not been easy at all.

So I’ve decided to take you guys with me on this fitness adventure and share what tips, strategies and recipes I learn along the way. Wednesday will be my fitness blog day but worry not all the other days we will still have our guests, posts on romance and general tidbits as always.

So let’s get fit!

The first thing I did was something I had resisted for years, and that is to keep a dietary journal. Instead of a traditional journal I downloaded an app where I can plug in what I eat throughout the day and I have to say it has proven handy. Sometimes I eat things without realizing what the calories are; for instance I’d consume a handful of chips or pretzels and not count them in my daily intake.

That was wrong; every calorie counts and they should be hard working calories. After all, we are all hardworking people at our jobs, our homes, it is even work to keep up with friends at times so why shouldn’t our calories work just as hard

Be smart about what you eat, and remember to eat something that is worth it! I'm trying, it's not easy but I'm trying!

2012 new goals

Everyone make a goal for the new year? How to Keep Your New Year's Resolutions: 10 Great Tips for Keeping Your Resolutions This Year

• I resolve to work hard on all my writing. Polishing, sending things out, editing, all of it.
• I resolve to help my fellow writers by hosting them here, tweeting about them, or talking about their books wherever I am. Interested? Email me!

What about you? What's your 2012 plan?

June goals

Busy, busy, busy! And that doesn't even begin to describe what June is like for me. That's without adding in writing time. Plus there's the new Cars movie I absolutely must see. But every little writing minute counts, right?!

Picture from the Simon Dexter Blog, found from a google images search using the term 'busy'.

March Goals

Maybe I should start keeping track of my monthly goals rather than story word counts? Something to think of, though in this they're one in the same.

This month I have:
Bemoaned the fact that another month has gone from the calendar.
Wondered if we'll ever have consistent warm weather.
Battled head colds and sinus/allergy problems every frakkin' day.
Enjoyed maybe 3 days of sun, warmth, and teasing spring-like weather.
Wrote. Don't get me wrong there, definitely wrote!
Planned out a workshop for the 2011 NJRW Conference

Friday? Already?

Where'd the time go? It's already one month into 2011 and I feel like I haven't stopped for breath. Work, write, work, write. It's a cycle!

But then I love what I do and enjoy playing in the imagination sandbox.

Still, January 28? Sheesh.

What have you done this month? Make any resolutions? Keep any of them? What are your goals for February?

Do More
By William Arthur Ward

Do more than belong: participate.
Do more than care: help.
Do more than believe: practice.
Do more than be fair: be kind.
Do more than forgive: forget.
Do more than dream: work.

Friday Guest: Denise Eagan

It’s been almost a year since you last stopped by, how’s the writing going?

It’s been a tough year, with a death in the family and my youngest son applying for college and then leaving home. Lots of emotional changes, which can get in the way of writing romance. Romance novels, almost by definition, require a writer to pour emotion onto every page, and that’s pretty difficult if you’re already emotionally exhausted.

But these things are passing now and I’m starting to get back into writing again. One of the wonderful things about taking a forced sabbatical, is that while the words aren’t getting on the page, the creative process is never truly quiet. I’ve continued to plot, and I’ve built up this enormous back log of writing energy. It’s really starting to flow now.

What are your 2011 goals? If you have any!
I have goals but please, oh please, don’t call ‘em resolutions! Goals are something you plan to do, resolutions are things you have to do, and I’ve got a terrible rebellious streak in me. As soon as I hear “must” I think “why?” So yeah, goals. Definitely goals. And I’ve got a ton of ‘em, the typical lose 10 lbs, exercise more, eat healthier, yada, yada, yada. I have serious doubts about those.

I haven’t done it before, why believe I’ll do it now?

On the other hand, I have some pretty concrete writing goals. Having taken that little sabbatical I now have two books I want to finish this year, and I’ve only really just started them. I’ve got another that I’d like to do a substantial re-write as well, and one more that I want to do some serious plotting on. All of that, of course, requires research. And I’d like to become more publicly involved. I love Victorian history, and I really would like to share more of it. I think a lot of people have a misconception about the era, and I’d like to help change that a little. So I’ve gotten on twitter (after a lot of hand wringing because it’s more technology to learn!) and I’m trying to set things straight with 140 characters a day.

Twitter isn't bad, Dee, once you get used to it. @ladyisabel Dee's Twitter: @DLEagan

How do you overcome life-interference when it comes to your writing?

Chocolate? Okay, that doesn’t overcome it, but it sure helps with the depressing parts of that interference. I guess the best way I overcome it is to keep my brain working no matter what.

Lots of days my fingers don’t get to the keyboard. I can, though, always think about my stories, and I keep a pad of paper in my purse to write down random ideas that occur to me while shopping or driving or whatever. Eventually I get them all in a file on the computer. I also put myself to sleep pretty much every night “listening” to my characters. I starting a scene in my mind—dialogue, thought, some description—and continue to construct it until I fall asleep. That way when I do get a chance to write, a lot of the words are already there.

No, they aren’t exact. Sometimes they’re worse, sometimes better, but one way or another I’ve always got a story going. As I said, life’s challenges can interfere with the writing, but it rarely stops the creative process.

What are you working on now and what are your plans for this story?

As I said, I’m working on two stories. One is a contemporary, with a screenwriter heroine. In 30 years of writing I’ve only written one contemporary, so it’s a stretch for me. But I like challenges in writing and once I got over the initial “can I do this? Do I have the voice for it?” it wasn’t as difficult as I thought. The second one is in Victorian America 1870’s ish. Both have light paranormal elements as in psychic connections and spirits, which move me away, again, from what I’ve traditionally written.

While the characters in the contemporary are fairly light, which is where my writing over the last years has gravitated, the hero in the historical is pretty dark. That, too, is a bit of a challenge, but fun. The biggest challenge is writing two entirely different stories at the same time. Lots of characters and plot twists to keep track of. It’s requiring a lot of organization.

Of course both stories have my traditional murder element, because I just love how throwing that into the mix alters relationships. For me, that’s what's most fun about writing romance: creating characters, putting them together and watching how they work things out. It’s the discovery process that is such a kick! And not just the relationship between hero and heroine, it’s the other characters in the story and how the developing romance affects them.

As for plans, no special plans other than to finish them and submit them. We’ll see what happens after that.

Thanks for stopping by, Dee! And good luck with your goals-not-resolutions. Any time you want to visit, feel free to do so.



Both Wicked Woman and The Wild One is available in paperback ad e-book form.

Monday Musings

January 3.

2011.

New day, new week, new month, new year.

Not much has changed.

I still spent yesterday writing all day. To be fair, I spent New Year's Eve partying and New Year's Day recuperating/Christmas partying/shopping.

What does this year hold in store for me? Yeah yeah if I knew that I'd be rich. I know what I'd like it to hold. Happiness, health, sanity, prosperity, and good friends and family.

I hope your new year holds everything you want from it! Go after it, whatever it is.

As for my Charity One-liner, Two whole people commented, so $10 goes to The Children's Aid Society. Maybe I'll try again not during the holidays when more people aren't crazed.

Happy New Year!

2011 is upon us. Still no flying cars, trips to the moon, or the complete eradication of poverty. On the plus side, also no World War III, nuclear destruction, or all out annihilation. Have to look on the bright side, eh?

This coming year I'm devoting to my 1922 Prohibition series, finishing up my Dark Regency story (and plotting the 2nd in that series) and possibly finally getting back to that Egyptian Contemporary Paranormal.

Anything beyond that is a bonus, though I also want to plot out a semi-traditional Regency (meaning no paranormal, no erotica, but plenty of sensuality and twisty red-herrings).

You? Plans, plots, ideas, goals? Hopes for the upcoming year? Happy, Healthy, Safe 2011 to all!

December?

It's December? I don't want to hear it. I refuse to believe it. I'm not ready.


Not for Christmas, nearly done with that shopping. But for the end of the year! Where did 2010 go? What happened to it? Why does time go by so darn quickly.


What did YOU accomplish in 2010? And what do you plan to accomplish for 2011?

And don't forget Friday guest Sandy Lender will be here!

OR my Title Contest!

TGIF!

This has been a long long week. In addition to the puppy, I think I had a bad reaction to my flu shot this year. Not that I've ever had a bad reaction before, and have been getting them for years, but there you have it. I hear they added in the H1N1 vaccine to the regular mix. Not sure that was it, but it's what I'm going with since it was the only outside variable.

Things checked off my ToDo list: Finished synopsis AND the partial. Reading it through one last time Saturday and then emailing it off. Very excited about that, no matter what happens. And within the next several weeks, I plan on finishing the story and working on a couple other shorts and unfinished stuff.

October is jammed packed with conferences. I say jammed, does 2 count? ALBACON in the beginning of October, then New Jersey Romance Writers at the end. I'm really excited about ALBACON, it's the first conference where I'm on a workshop panel. We'll be discussing history, research, and writing with someone else. I think it'll be fantastic!

(PST: Registration for both is still open!)

Chapter One

This weekend I planned on writing 20-25,000 words. This included chapter one which is always the hardest to do. It has to be intriguing, progressive, captivating.

Great!

If it's just that good, people will read more. If it's not, chances are they'll never read chapter 2. Or, for that matter, buy the book. I've read at least parts of chapter one either online or standing in the book store. If I don't like it, of course I won't buy it. What's the point?

Hence the several hour chapter one tweaking marathon.

I personally think it was worth it. :) Here's hoping others do, too.

Friday Guest: Wendi Zwaduk will be here with her newest release My Immortal, a contemporary paranormal being released from Total-E-Bound. Don't forget to stop on by!

Tuesday Comings and Goings

Today I'm revisiting the blogs I guested on last month. I have prizes to give away and need to get those out to the appropriate winners! I should have done that weeks ago, but August is always busier than I think it will be. All that vacationing and end of summer stuff to get through. Not that vacationing is difficult!

Last day of August and it's downright depressing. Where did the summer, the year get to??? I had big plans for this year, and it's flown by with only a few things on my list accomplished. Better revise that and soon, or this year will be a total bust.

Day 4 of my Writing Vacation

I haven't been sleeping well but I have been writing! And OK, I admit, I've been napping in the afternoon, too, which is so so nice. And yes, all right...I've been out by the pool every morning. I hope to go back on Sunday with at least a faint tan!

As for writing, I'm so excited about my progress! I've done maybe 5 chapters, am really starting the heavy part of the romance now. Lots of angsty unfulfilled lust. I love it. I've done a bunch of marketing, too, which is always a time suck but kind of important.

My goal today is another 6 chapters. I know, crazy, but it IS a writing vacation. If I can't write here, I'm never going to be able to do so home with another snow storm or 3 barreling down. Maybe that was it. I had snow-freeze. Couldn't think about the story with nothing but white as far as the eye could see.

Day 3 of my Writing Vacation

As promised, though I'm sure you'd rather not see this. Pictures from my view:

One day I'm going to see that stupid rain forest on this island. El Yunque. I've said that for going on 4 years now. However, that trip is not going to be today. For today, I'm diving back into my ghostly hero's head and seeing what fun I can stir up.

Yesterday I managed to keep my sanity and write about 5,000 words. Words I like, mind you. Words I'm keeping. I've never been one for the 1st draft, 5th draft writing, but with this story I'm finding I need to keep moving forward and not revise until I like it. So I'm writing forward, jotting down what I want to fix later, making notes to add in this about Marcus (my manly ghost) or Sydney (my lovely heroine who frees my ghost) or what to take out in terms of secondary characters. I don't want them overrunning the story, and I realized just before I left that they are.

I hear the north east got more snow. Anyone up there still talking to me. :)

Day 2 of my Writing Vacation

View from my window: Picture not yet taken. Will upload tomorrow. Promise. :)

But the view, despite having a laptop in front of me, is beautiful! It can be distracting. Especially when Horatio the pelican flies by with his family. Two years ago there was a pelican I named Horatio. He was a loner, always flying by at the same time. Last year he acquired a family! Who don't have names but that's because naming is so darn hard. So it's now Horatio and Mrs. Horatio. I do feel bad, she should have her own identity and name, but honestly, what goes with Horatio?

Yesterday, after crashing for several hours from a long midnight flight, then crashing some more outside so I can say, Yes! I was on a tropical island! Look at this tan! I booted up the laptop. What did I do? Looked up times for Percy Jackson & The Olympians. I'm 1/4 way through the book, but saw the movie anyway. Yes, I will finish the book.

Taken for what it was, I enjoyed the movie quite a bit. And yes, that might have something to do with Sean Bean playing Zeus. Deal. Overall, however, I think the book will be better. They usually are.

Today: write at least 3 chapters (+/- 6,000 words) It IS a writing vacation, after all!