The First Step is the Hardest

I got this crazy idea the other week to totally change the color scheme in my living room from lighter green and red, to blue and green. But as you know, wanting to do something and doing it are two very different things. Making the change all at once felt like a daunting task (not to mention out of the budget), so after some stewing, I took that first step toward my goal. I purchased curtains that would still work with the old colors but would also compliment the new ones. And now the transition seems more manageable.

Something similar happened this last week with increasing the word count of one of my novels. At first I stewed, and stressed, and didn't think I could do it. Three thousand plus words to add - impossible! Until I took that first step. I went through my first chapter, and lo and behold, I increased my word count by a little. I kept going, and now a week or so later, my word count is right where I wanted it to be.

So many things in life are like that, for me at least. I have something to do or want to accomplish and at first it looks like this huge, scary, stressful monster UNTIL I take that first step toward doing it. Then all of sudden, that monster shrinks in size and is so much more manageable. Sometimes taking that first step is the hardest one to take.

What first steps in your life or writing journey have been the hardest?

I'd Like to Thank . . .

With the Golden Globes behind us and the Academy Awards coming soon (though I'll admit I don't watch either one), I was thinking yesterday about acceptance speeches.

Like a film, a book is a very collaborative effort. Sure the writer or writers actually write the manuscript, but there are so many other people who work behind the scenes to make a book possible. That's why I love reading a book's acknowledgements (typically before actually reading the book itself) to see who helped the author(s).

So here's my "acceptance speech" for my WIP: Ahem. First off, I'd like to thank my husband and kids for supporting my drive to create stories. Second, thanks to my writer friends for understanding and my non-writer friends for your interest in what I'm doing. Lastly, much thanks to the sweet woman in Iowa who answered my e-mail inquiries about schools in 1918 in such a timely manner.

Who would you be remiss in not mentioning in your book's "acceptance speech?"

Sharpening My Vision

In the next few weeks, I will inevitably make my annual trip to the eye doctor. Without contacts or glasses, my world is VERY blurry. Those who've also been to the eye doctor likely remember this funny contraption.


The doctor uses this to determine your prescription, asking a series of questions about which view - 1 or 2 - is best. Sometimes there is a major difference between the two, but sometimes it is very subtle. And sometimes one seems good enough (you can see pretty well, though maybe not completely clear). But then one more click and everything is sharpened.

I discovered that clarifying "click" last night with my WWI book. I was fine-tuning some research and adding a few minor setting details when I stumbled onto a picture of this - a chateau in a village west of Paris.

This was almost exactly the way I'd pictured the hospital run by Catholic sisters in my story to look like - a large stone building with beautiful grounds and long, gravel drive. And then came the click - my hospital could be an old chateau! So I inserted those extra details about the renovated chateau/hospital. For me they helped sharpen the setting and round out the story. I'm still giddy about it!

What things have "clicked" for you in your stories?