In the spirit of season, I’m regifting a blog article to you. Partly because I’m so far behind my 365 days of writing that there is no way I can redeem myself in 2010, but also because my good friend and fellow blogger, Colleen Friesen, has already gone to all the trouble of regifting this article in such a nice way that I didn’t see any point in reinventing the wheel.

Utne Research took the time to put together “The Year in Reading” — a compilation of lists that include everything from The New York Times Top 10 Books of 2010 to the year in yoga books from the Daily Cup of Yoga.

Happy reading!

photo credit: Mrs Logic

Catching up on the blog. Honestly there is not a lot of novel writing going on. Getting ready for the writer’s retreat this Friday, have big launch I’m working on at the day job, and am working on a couple other fun projects. I knew this week would be as such — with the retreat day looming.

I set a goal of 20K words during retreat. Hope to beat that goal….and just get the bones of this novel down. I have to get outside my own head. Write the damn book!

This morning I re-read yesterday’s work and did about 15 minutes of writing. I had to go into the office today for an all-day meeting. Then it was a busy evening, so I didn’t get much in today.

I did, however, have a fabulous time with writer friend at Joshilyn Jackson’s book signing. It was a full house. Joshilyn is such a great speaker. She is funny and when she reads, she draws you right into the story.

Went out for light dinner and drinks after the signing and got home just in time to go to bed. Back at the office tomorrow to do it all over again.

Tomorrow night: 1000 words.

Didn’t get as much done as I had hoped this morning. Best laid plans and all that jazz. Pulled together a scene I was working on a long time ago. Not sure where it will fit yet, but it’s one that was nagging at me when I went to bed last night – so I couldn’t ignore it any longer.

And I made changed (ugh….will those three chapters EVER be done?) to the second chapter. I’m still struggling with tense. I just started reading Jenny Gardiner’s new book Slim to None, and her narrative is first person, present tense and so now I’m waffling again, about changing it. Why am I having such a hard time with that? Writing in present tense is tough — Jenny does a fabulous job of nailing it. If you haven’t read her books, rush out and get them. The newest one is hilarious and can be downloaded to my Kindle, so I’m thrilled to be taking it with me to Alaska this weekend.

I’m beginning to think that this whole “tense” thing is what’s keeping me stuck. (or maybe I’m just looking for a scapegoat!). Either way, gotta figure that out — and soon.

I have my handy-dandy notebook (see it here) with me on our trip, and plan on using it every day — staying true to this project, I don’t have much choice! We’ll see how well I do. I’m not very disciplined (hence the reason for this blog), so it will be a challenge. Hmmm…hot tub or scribble in my writing book — might have to figure out a way to do both.

Good day today. Small breakthrough with Claire’s character. Re-wrote (ugh….backwards, again) a part of the second chapter. Didn’t get in my 1000 words before leaving for the “day job.” Bummer.

Worked all day at the office, and then it was off to Emily Griffin’s book release party, for her new book “Heart of the Matter.”  It was held in a swank new Atlanta hotel. Beautiful. My friends and I bought our book, a glass of wine, and then waited in line (good people-watching) for about an hour to get the new book signed by Emily. You could feel the buzz in the air. Readers talking about the book.

I met Jackie Cooper — author, film critic, and book reviewer — who told us the book was great, and shared his thoughts on Emily’s latest book in his book review on The Huffington Post.

It was a night of high fashion (not mine…), cocktails, books, authors, good friends, and good food. After the signing we strolled down the block and had a bite to eat at Einstein’s. Living in the suburbs, as I do, with all of the Taco Bells and Olive Gardens, it was nice to sit outside (and it was after 9 p.m.!), enjoy a glass of wine and a salad with my girls — like a grown up. For a moment I felt like I could live in the city.

Back on track with the writing tomorrow.

After my evening with  friends / writers / authors :  Jackie Miles , Linda Sands, and Joshilyn Jackson, and Jack Riggs  (and all of the above, in some cases), and a bunch of other writers from The Atlanta Writers Club, I was inspired.

The 2010 Townsend Prize for Fiction was awarded to Kathryn Stockett, for her novel The Help. Kathryn was not in attendance, but her mother was there to accept the award on her behalf. Very sweet. There was plenty of good food, great conversation, and nominees were on hand to sell signed copies of their books. 

I wrote (rewrote?) 500 words before logging on to my computer for the day job. The book is there, in pieces, as I’ve said, but it needs tweaking, re-organizing, and pulling together. I am hoping to be done, first polished draft, by the end of May. Fingers crossed. 

The issue I have is with edits. I can get caught up in editing as I write. Going back over it, sentence by sentence. If I can’t get past that obsession for first draft perfection, I will never be done. 

A writer once told me that the best way to write the first draft is to “Vomit it out.” Just expel the story onto paper or the computer screen. Good advice. Get the story out — and it will be crap…rest assured. Don’t count on having anything but crap on the first expulsion. I have the “crap,” and now I have to polish it. Rewrite. Move things around. Add things (Jeff..). Lots to be done.

On a roll today.