Camping or make believe

As I type, my littlies are camping in the lounge in the tents we made from their blankets. It started out, as these things often do, with Master Four wanting to go play outside. Small problem - it's raining. And windy. And freezing (ok, not literally but it's cold). He's not fussed, dressed as he is in shorts and t-shirt... pretty much standard dress for kid who doesn't feel the cold at all.

I negotiated them to camping inside and it's keeping him happy... for now.

Of course, the bonus of inside camping in the lounge in the middle of the day is what you can take with you. Seems pretty much anything goes. Lego is a necessity. Cuddlies. Cars. Books. Everything they might need. And if they change their minds, they run to their room and grab something else.

In other words a whole heap of stuff they couldn't have on hand if they were really in the middle of nowhere.

It's one of the great things, really, about any kind of make believe. Stories, songs, pictures.... you can put in what you want from everything you have in your mind. But like anything else, there are rules. A minute ago Princess nearly-3 tried to bring in a second pram for her doll. Master 4 declared that it wouldn't ever fit in a real tent.

He had a point. There wasn't really room. But at the same time he fit a whole box of lego in. After some crying she had to choose to live by his make believe rules or her own.

Something I decide when writing every day.

What about you? Played camping recently? Do you write/read by other's rules? Wanna bet what the Princess decided?
=)

In training

There are exciting times in our house at present with little Princess 2-nearly-3 deciding she'll lower herself to toilet train. She's so stubborn and independent that the day she decided to try, she pretty much got it.

Here's the frustration... in the 'pretty much'.

Yes, i know I'm lucky (she's number 3 kiddo and by far the best at this... although a little older than the others were). Pretty much is very good. One accident per day is brilliant. But that one accident feels like a disaster. She gets all 'I can't do it' and I'm trying to be positive (while cleaning up... hard).

It's like learning to write.

Getting close is wonderful. Great feedback, maybe even some contest success, and stories I know are doing lots of the right things.

But still, there's that #$%@ on the floor and it's not quite there.

Like Princess 2 will hopefully get there one day so will I. And it's the same with learning anything. There are setbacks, it can seem impossible.

What about you? Toilet training? Learning something but not *quite* nailed it?

=)

Loose ends

Last night I managed to get out with some friends and go to the movies. We saw 'The Help' and despite how long it was and how much of a cold I have (i had no voice much to my friends' amusement) I really, really enjoyed it.

Now this wasn't where the loose ends came in.

Before I left home my kiddos were still awake and I kissed them all and promised to come in when I got home (being little they were all nighs pretty early). You have to understand i am home most of the time. Mummy is the constant and while i did go in and kiss them all, they were in a deep sleep and didn't really wake.

But it must have been playing on their minds. All three woke up through the night. In each case Dad got there first (thanks to head foggy cold) and all were asking whether I'd come home. I reassured them and they settled instantly.

I was the loose end. They couldn't quite relax properly because they didn't know whether I'd come home.

I think it can be the same with a story. Even when the hero/heroine are all sorted it can leave me with a nagging unease if other threads aren't tied up (which can be great if it's deliberate and gets me reading book 2 in the series).

What do you think about loose ends?

Royal Sho...

Yup, I'm too exhausted from yesterday's visit to the Royal Adelaide Show to finish the title. Taking a 2 yo, 4yo and 6 yo to a place full of showbags, amusement rides, hot donuts (mmm... donuts) and games was a tiring (and expensive) exercise.

And fun.

Princess 6's face when she watched some singers perform on the free stage was magic. Master 4's face on the pirate ship (little one) when he went really high and the way Princess and Ruler of the Universe 2 managed to convince the poor guy manning the bouncy castle to lift her to the top of the slide part she couldn't reach... 3 times (he tried to pretend he didn't hear her once when she asked but she was too persistent).

These are memories made.

It was a big day for them but it was the little things I'll never forget. I think the same is true of my fave stories. It's great to have action and big dramatic stuff but the little moments that catch you (and ones with kids always get me) can make a good book wonderful.

What about you, do you like the little moments?
=)

Stealing Time

I'm getting ready to start a new story. There are lots of writerly stuff I like to do... but not yet. This time is all about the mindset.

I like to read.

I like to remind myself of why I love to read a romance and get lost in the journey to happily ever after. There may or may not be chocolate eating involved. It's a time for sneaking in a chapter here and there to race to the ahhhh moment.

This week I have to make Princess 6 a birthday cake too so there is much juggling. I'm sure I'll be able to sneak some good books in.

How do you make time to enjoy a good book between life, kids, work? Any hints gratefully received.

Conference Wrap Up

On the weekend I attended the 20th (but only my 2nd) Romance Writers of Australia Conference. I had the best time. My brain hurts from all the new stuff i'm trying to cram in there. It started with a packed friday workshop by Bob Mayer and continued over other workshops and plenary sessions... and chats at breaks.

Some highlights:

From Bob Mayer

- Be ruthless... with yourself. It's the difference between ordinary and elite.

- Perserverence is more important than talent (yay, that I can do)

From YA (and adults) author Kelley Armstrong on pace

-skip the boring bits - go into scene late and get out early - make it so reader will read 'just one more chapter'

From a panel of wonderful authors/editor

-if the heroine cries, the reader doesn't have to

-changing POV makes the reader change teams... think about why you're changing

The social side was soul revitalising! From rooming with the brilliant Rach and having dinner with the lovely Jackie and her mum (!) to meeting new SE author (and awesome CP) Helen Lacey for the first time it was great to see friends as well as meeting so many new people. It's so great to talk writing for days on end (rambling AT my littlies doesn't count).

The cocktail party was great fun (see pic with me, Rach, Jackie and the lovely Chelsea) and three SARA (SA Romance Authors) members took out the prizes - i was super thrilled for them... especially Charlie 'Maggie' Chaplin.

The first sale ribbons were inspiring (see Rach and Helen with the wonderful Cathryn Hein) and the awards dinner a lovely evening.

Did you make the conference? What was your highlight?

Foodie Friday

We have a tradition, of sorts, in our house. On Friday we have something really nice for dinner to celebrate surviving another week and the stretch of weekend ahead.

Usually that something is cooked by my hubby doing his best hero impression. I cook every other night so it seems fair to me. We give the kids easy dinner and sit down together once they are in bed.

Yep, enjoying something nice is that important to me.

It's kind of like a good book. Uusually hubby cooks one of my faves. I know how it's going to turn out... in that it will taste nice (my HEA) but exactly what he chooses varies, and then he mixes up the recipe a little everytime too. It keeps it fresh and creates a great food experience.

Now, if only I could nail my story so well.

What about you? Is a good meal like a good book?