Tag: Writing

Long Weekend

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life

I’m taking a four day weekend.  Yesterday, I took off and even skipped my class.  I stayed home and spent the morning studying for my science exam and taking it.  I think I flopped it.  I knew the material would get progressively harder and I have a tough time with science. 
The rest of the day yesterday was spent doing nothing.  Well okay I worked on a few little things like crocheting and – nope really did nothing.  I took a shower in the afternoon and tried a new shaving cream Vicki made and we watched top chef. 
Three more days to enjoy on this long weekend, I’m trying to plot out my time.  Saturday, we are doing batch cooking.  While Vicki is making cookies this morning, I’m going to create a cut list for the batch cooking.  This will give me a starting point for all the dishes we are going to make.  Then tomorrow when we get started I’ll know what needs to be done first and can start before Vicki has to be in the kitchen.
Aside from that I have to start the next unit for science and finish writing / editing my paper for my Prose class.  If I manage to get all that done, I will work on crocheting.  I have a number of projects I want to work on.  I may have to put up the card table and look over my yarn to determine what yarn I want for which projects. 

For all the wonderful people who wished my happy birthday – you made my day yesterday – thank you.  It is very affirming to have such an outpouring of well wishes.  I’ve turned 49 and I know a lot of women would be freaking out about it.  I just feel like I keep getting better.  This year I’ll finish my second bachelor’s degree and will hopefully move forward with my writing and a few of my other goals.  I don’t feel like I’m getting older, but that I’m getting better and better.

Weekend

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life, Writing

Bills are paid.  Grocery shopping is done.  I’ve done a small amount of homework.  However, I have two very long to do lists which aren’t getting done as quickly as I’d like.  I know I push myself (sometimes too hard) but I have a lot on my plate right now. 

Went shopping with Kelly yesterday and had a bit of fun wandering around the craft store, this was a good break for me as I was in a slump on the homework end.  It was good to get out with her and Vicki to shop in a craft store. 

Today is a study day.  I have a long list of homework I need to get done.  I also have to get some of my writing stuff done.  I want to finish off my grant and get it submitted so I can just be done with it.  I found another grant I want to work on but the deadline isn’t until June so I have lots of time to work on it.

One of the publications I have submitted to in the past contacted me to ask for submissions.  I’m going to get two or three things done for them this weekend.  Unfortunately the only payment I get is free copies of the magazine but it is publications on my resume.  I have at least one other submission to make today because the deadline is looming.  The articles all need editing and I have final edits on the grant material to do.  The other submission I think is ready to go – I just want to read through it once.  After I get these three things done, I’ll be switching over to homework and hopefully making good progress.

I’m supposed to go to my sister’s house today for a birthday thing for my nephew but it really depends on how much homework I get done.  If I make good progress I’ll go – if I don’t, I won’t be able to as I have so much to do. 

I did finish the capelet I was making for Vicki – I just have to sew the closing on it that we picked up yesterday.  I also worked on Kelly’s scarf that I ran out of yarn for.  I think by tomorrow I’ll have that done. 

I know it sounds like I had a tedious weekend but I had fun with Kelly and Vicki.  I also am getting stuff done which always makes me feel good.  Now if I can get just a few more things crammed into the too short weekend I will feel like I can tackle the week without a giant weight on my shoulders. 

Not Quite Done

by eileentroemel, posted in Life, Writing

Today is going to be a busy day.  I have homework to finish and need to help Vicki prep for Super Bowl food as we have Kelly and Dominic coming over to watch.  I also want to finish off my grant, work on crocheting, and a few other things. 

Yesterday was a bust.  I was in the middle of working on my grant when Ken said the tv channel he was watching went out.  This led to an all day affair with the cable / internet provider.  It eventually got fixed but it literally took until about 8:00 pm last night before we have tv services back.  I get glitches but I don’t get when they totally screw up.  I got the run around to begin with but had all the information and finally got someone who was willing to listen and work with me.  Now the service is correct – next I’ll just have to watch the billing to make sure they get that straight.  I’m sure my frustration and annoyance level will go through the roof as I try to get that fixed.

I did get some of the editing done on the grant but now I’m second guessing myself on what writing sample I should send in.  This is what my grant will be judged on for the most part so it is extremely important.  I want them to see my writing style and understand the story I’m trying to tell.  I also want it to be a well edited piece of writing.  Here is where the dilemma comes in – I have 25 pages which are well edited and start the story but aren’t the meat of the story (prologue and back story).  I have the beginning of the story which hasn’t been edited at all.  The prologue and back story has been edited by several people and I’ve had input from a variety of sources.  This means my edits have been thoughtful and constructive.  I’m not sure if I jump ahead if I have as good a quality of writing as the other part.  However, the beginning of the story is more action filled and jumps right in to the main characters and their quest but it isn’t edited.  I’ve had little feedback on it at all.  I’ve done little work on it myself as I’ve been working on editing the first part and writing at the tail end of the story.  I need to make the choice today especially if I’m going to start with the beginning because I will have to get the 25 pages I’m going to submit edited. 

This morning I was going to get up and work on my homework.  I’ve not touched it yet.  I’ve spent the last hour working on editing other people’s stuff and sorting through emails.  My last lab for this section is the next thing I’m going to work on and then I want to go back and review the ones where I got answers wrong.  The material is definitely getting more difficult and I need to have as many points as possible as I move forward.  Yes, I know two of my labs I only missed one and that is acceptable but I still am going to need the points.  Also, I have no idea at this point if I have homework for the other class as the professor has not posted anything and I wasn’t in class on Thursday.  This is particularly frustrating to me because I could have spent yesterday working on it but she hadn’t posted anything yet or answered my email.  I know my faculty told me to give her 48 hours (business hours) but at the same time it causes me stress because I can’t just stay home from work because she hands out a ton of homework.  Here is where I have to do what I can and let the rest go – obviously I’m working on that. 

I’m going to try to spend the next two hours very productively and then this afternoon I’ll be assistant chef to Vicki and have fun during the Super Bowl (who ever thought those words would come out of my mouth?)

My to-do lists got some attention but not enough…

Another To-Do List

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life

Actually it is probably two or three to-do lists at this point.  I need one for the basement as we have a crack in our foundation and we need to clean it and get it prepped to get fixed.  I’m pretty sure that is a long list of cleaning and reorganizing things.  Then there is my school to-do list.  One of my professors is very organized and helpful, and the other, isn’t.  Of course I have a crochet / crafting list.  Last but certainly not least – I need to finish writing my grant so I can ask someone else to read it before I submit it.

I was working on my science homework and a friend told me I didn’t have to get it all done then.  I told her everything is SCHEDULED.  Yup I’m back to the schedule my life mode.  I didn’t actually finish the chapter I was working on but I came close.  I’ll try to finish it tonight when I get home.  I’ll also work on crocheting tonight. 

The weekend will be filled with editing my grant to get a “final” version.  I can edit until time ends so I will have to cut things off if I want to get it submitted in time.  I have a rough draft for the four sections I need but none of them are final.  I’d like to get that finished this weekend.

Aside from that task, I have homework.  Vicki also told me we have three sets of DVDs to get through so I’ll probably get a lot of crocheting done while we watch DVDs.  I also still have to finish that last lab.  In addition to the lab, I’d like to review the ones I already did to see if I can improve on them at all.  I’ve taken five quizzes (labs) and three of them have answers wrong.  We can take them twice so if I can figure out which ones I’ve done wrong, I can do them again and add points.  The professor takes the highest score so if I do worse it won’t hurt my grade.

I have my first science test next week and am a bit nervous about it.  The labs / quizzes are fairly straight forward.  I don’t know how the professor will be and it isn’t one of my better topics, which means I’m a bit nervous about it.  I’ll have to schedule (there is that word again) some study time for the exam. 

Sunday we will have a couple over to watch the Super Bowl.  I’ll likely crochet through all of the game as I’m not a fan.  The couple is fun though so I can have fun with them even if I don’t like what is on the TV. 

Hopefully I will cross off many things on my to-do list this weekend.  The more I get off the list the fewer items that will have to carry over to next week’s to-do list.  Some might say I’m obsessive about to-do lists but I say it is just good organization.

New Publications – sort of…

by eileentroemel, posted in Writing

I just discovered that three of my items have been published in books or on the kindle.  The one is a compilation of CC&D magazine into a book.  It is called Cultural Touchstone and is available on Amazon.  I have two poems in there.  In After the Apocalypse I have one poem (a duplicate of one in Cultural Touchstone).  There is a poetry edition and a datebook edition.  I have to order the datebook edition yet. 

Also one of my short stories was published in Deadman’s Tome and that is now available on Kindle.  I was surprised when I did a search on Amazon and discovered my name came up with it. 

I’ve not been doing a lot of submissions because I’ve been so busy with school and work.  It is great to see my stuff out there in new formats.  The downside is I don’t get paid for any of them.  However, people are seeing my work.   

New Semester

by eileentroemel, posted in Life

Tuesday classes start for my new semester of school.  I’m feeling ambivalent about both of my classes.  I am taking Geography 120 – Weather and Climate and English 378 Prose Stylistics. 

Science is not my favorite topic.  I enjoy the ideas in science and the possibilities.  I’m not very good at the whole scientific learning.  As for the English class – I’m not really sure what it is about so I’m reserving my opinion on it.  I’m hoping it is a good class.

The nice thing about this semester is the science class is online so I can do it from home.  The English class is held in my building so I will be able to just take the elevator to the floor and go to class.  This makes getting to class much easier especially with the ambulatory issues I’ve been having.  Also it means Vicki doesn’t need to worry about coming back early from her volunteering to make sure I can get to class. 

Hopefully I will enjoy both classes.  It would be nice if I didn’t have a horribly stressful semester but you never know with classes.  The work may be extensive or there could be a variety of other issues to contend with.  I’m certainly not above whining about it either.  I’m just trying to go into this semester with a cautiously optimistic view point that I will do okay. 

Up until last semester I had a 4.0 in my classes for this degree.  Unfortunately I got an A- in my manuscript editing class which means my 4.0 is gone.  However, I’m hoping the science class won’t drag me down.  I’m still going to shoot for an A but I know this is a difficult subject for me. 

This semester I have six books.  One I was able to get one at the book rental.  I got four through Amazon because they were less expensive there.  I was going to get the last one through there as well but one of the comments made me nervous about buying it online.  The comment talked about getting the wrong version and it causing problems.  So I opted to get it from the university bookstore.  Vicki went yesterday to pick it up for me.  She couldn’t find it on the shelves and ended up asking.  They directed her to someone who asked her a ton of questions.  After she answered all the questions, the woman gave her the workbook for free.  I was very surprised as this book would have been $115.  By getting it free, it saves me lots of money.

Relaxed

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Writing

The last week has been very relaxed for me.  I’ve done a LOT of crocheting, finishing projects and getting them out of the way.  I’ve made hats, scarves, potholders, bibs, coasters, afghan, and a variety of other things.  I’ve watched movies and dvr items.  I’ve listened to music.  I’ve talked to a lot of people.  It has been calm and relaxing. 

Tomorrow I go back to work.  I’m looking forward to getting back in the swing of things.  My foot is manageable at this point.  I haven’t had it down for a full eight hour day but tomorrow will tell me how it is going to be.  I at least am up and walking on my own.  By the end of the day I’m exhausted depending on how much walking I do but I’m at least mobile again.  Hopefully by the time I start classes again I’ll be back to normal. 

With this being my last day off, I am going to try to get some other things done.  I submitted some of my work to a publication today.  I haven’t done that in months because I’ve been so busy.  I’m also going to work on the grant I’ve made the to-do list for.  In reality I have to have the grant writing completed by February 15 in order to give myself time to get it submitted.  Mostly I have to gather the information and get it in the format the grant wants it in.  It will be more editing than writing I think.  This means I get out my orange pen and have to be critical of my own work.  I’ll have to be objective and critical.  The question on my mind is – would this encourage someone to invest in my project, in me? 

It is funny I have lots of hats when it comes to life.  I have my business skills which are practical and in some ways cold.  I have my creative skills which are grand and range through a variety of topics.  Somehow I have to fold both these sets of skills into writing a grant that will help me focus on my writing and business as an author.  It is interesting to see myself pull from all my life experiences to help me further my career as a writer. 

Grant Writing

by eileentroemel, posted in Writing

This semester I’m taking a grant writing class.  I’ve noticed a lot of similarities between grant writing and submissions for publications.  There are similar tips like:
·         Follow the directions exactly
·         Be concise and polite
·         Expect to be rejected

I’m thoroughly enjoying this class as I feel like there are a lot of practical applications I can use it for.  In class, I’m working with a client who is hoping to have a successful grant completion to bring in money for her business.  She is a small business owner in a non-traditional area for women.  The grant will be exceedingly involved and take longer to write than the course will take.  However, through the course I’m hoping to get a base of material that will give us a jumping off point writing her grant. 

There are a few websites that are particularly useful:

·         http://grants.gov/
·         http://www.sba.gov/
·         http://www.nea.gov/index.html
·         Government department that applies to your area
       o   Make sure you check out local, county, state, and federal levels
·         http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RD_Loans.html

These are just a few of the resources you can find for grants and loans. 

First you have to do a lot of research.  Then you have to do more research.  Be aware you are going to be unsuccessful at finding grants; you will follow a lot of dead ends that initially look promising. 

Be persistent.  Grants requests are often rejected, repeatedly.  Keep trying, edit and redo your grant to fit the place you are applying to.  Keep moving forward and keep trying.  Like getting published, what appeals to the evaluators this year may not appeal next year, which would then open the door to your project (hopefully). 

Be clear on what your project is, what the goals and objectives are, and how this fits with the grantor.  Write the grant like you are the grantor – what matters to them is how it benefits them not what it does for you or your organization. 

The book I am using in class is Winning Grants Step by Step written by Mim Carlson and Tori O’Neal-McElrath and is quite good at outlining the different steps.  Even with it, though, you have to be a strong writer and be very determined. 

I’ve got my fingers crossed that the grant I’m working on will help the small business owner and give me some great experience writing. 

Contest

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized

I just submitted my 100 word blurb and 5000 word entry for a romance novel on www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com.  If you have a romance novel done (or near done), then check it out.

I’ve had this novel done for a while.  I’ve been meaning to submit it to Harlequin but never gotten around to it.  Now I’ve gotten around to submitting it for a contest.  All the first chapters are going to be posted for people to vote on.  The top 25 will be advanced with 3 more being selected by the editors. 

Now it is a wait and see thing.  Fortunately I won’t have to wait long as they will notify the winners by October 12.  Then there is another round where editors review and only three end up finishing.

I’m nervous about this but at the same time I know if this doesn’t work then I’ll figure something else out or just submit it again, and again, and … you get the picture.  Or I might actually figure out how to go through and self-publish. 

Wish me luck and let’s hope I get lots of votes…

 

They’re Here!!

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized

We got the girls from the airport last night.  It was so hot and so busy there I didn’t get out to give them a hug but I’ll get plenty while they are here.  Stephanie is off early to visit her friends in Ripon. 

Last night Ken even got out of bed to talk to the girls for a while.  We chatted with the five of us.  Stephanie likes her afghan but says it is too warm.  Virginia on the other hand likes it because it is warm.  I’m glad they like it and it will get used. 
After everyone went to bed I got in some more writing.  I’m working my way through a chapter and hope to finish it today but that depends on how much down time I get from visiting people and activities.  I’m probably going to get minimal writing time while the girls are here.  That is okay though because the girls are here!!! 
It is unbearably hot outside still.  We are again in the triple digits today.  Virginia and Stephanie are used to it but it knocks me on my bum.  When I went out yesterday I felt like I’d walked into a wall.  My glasses steam up when I go outside.  That is a sign that I shouldn’t be going out as far as I’m concerned.  Hopefully by Sunday it will cool off enough to be tolerable but I’m not holding my breath. 
Virginia is still sleeping so I’m going to work on writing until she is up and about.  Then we will see what mischief we get into.