Thursday, August 16, 2012

But Your Work is Never Done

I finished my first draft on the 14th just like I said I would! I had a little mini celebration. I was going to go crazy and buy everything I need or want or think I might some day need or want. But then, I took a breath, and remembered that this isn't a big step. Finishing a first draft might have been cause to celebrate three books ago, but now? Nope. Especially since that third book I finished has yet to make it through a round of rewrites. So, I decided to put off the true celebration until this book (tentatively titled My Cyborg Savior) is in the inboxes of editors everywhere (well, not everywhere, but you feel me).

So what did I get on my mini celebration? Well coffee, which I worship and a muffin. I also got chocolate. And yes I indulged me deep seated need to own all the cosmetics on the planet. So I bought a little drugstore makeup. Hush up, and don't judge me! Okay *hangs head in shame* I deserve judgment. I acquired this makeup after receive other makeup for two concecutive days in the mail.

Anyway, it was just three things. A Wet & Wild bronzer/highlighter, and a mini eyeshadow palette called Walking on Eggshells that people rave about. I also got a nude lipstick from Revlon. I'm looking for the perfect nude lipstick, and not having much success. It can't be frosted, because frosted lips look gross (at least on me). But if it's totally matte you look like a walking corpse. This Revlon one is the best I've ever owned or currently own (which I only own one other nude lipstick because if my lack of success with them). It's not frosted, but has kind of a glossy finish. And its not so pigmented that in completely blots out my lip color. *shrug* It will work until I can stumble to a MAC counter.

So, on to tomorrow's plans. I'm starting my edits. I know you're supposed to let your manuscript stew for a while. A month would be nice, blah blah blah. But I really don't have that kind of time. I have nothing coming out, and nothing even for consideration at a publisher. Bad news. So I'm just going to jump in and go for it. The goal is 30 pages a day, which will put my finishing my first round in about 5 days. And if I feel confident with what I've done, I'll see if I can hunt up some beta readers. Hopefully I can stick to my schedule. I know already that it won't be 5 days, it will be six or seven because me and mom are going to Yaa Halla Y'all is on the 18th to see some awesome belly dancers! So excited, we wait for this every year! And since I never dress up and go out, I plan to look awesome from head to toe (except that I'll be in flipflops...but my toes will be painted!), which means getting ready all day.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Russian Tea Cakes

This is for Chastity Bush, because I couldn't find tea cakes that were exactly the same.

1 cup butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 cups sifted flour
1 cup pecans, finely chopped (or your choice if nuts but I use pecans)
1 teaspoon of vanilla
         Additional powdered sugar for coating.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Cream butter and powdered sugar together until fluffy. Gradually mix in flour, nuts and vanilla until completely blended. Roll dough with fingers into cherry sized balls (mine always end up being bigger, though). Bake on greased cookie sheet for about 30 minutes or until faintly golden.

Allow to cool slightly then roll in powdered sugar to coat (I like to do them twice). Store between layers of wax paper.

Nearing The End

Okay, remember that Fast Draft project I started and then just stopped posting about. Well it didn't turn into a real Fast Draft, but it's definitely still the fastest I've written a book, ever.

I'm not done, but I will finish the first draft today. Yes, I'm that cofident, because I'll stay up until 5 in the morning to finish if I have to. Though I guess technically that wouldn't be finishing today but whatever.

The one thing that bothers me about this book that I WILL have to fix is the fact that I skipped a plot point in the middle out of laziness. There's no other excuse. I thought something like "I want to be done and this isn't MAJOR so I'll leave it out." But really, I feel it's kind of needed and so when I go back for rewrites I'll have to change it. It should give me a good 10 to 20 pages more than I'll have now. Which is good, I don't know why I got all lazy and tried to make my book SHORTER. *sigh* Issues.

Oh, and another thing that bothers me is I don't have a title yet! Usually I get about 10-20k in and a title just pops into my head. No, not now. I'm reaching the end of this book and it's still under Sci-Fi Untitled. I made up a shitty title to pitch to Avon but I won't be keeping that. It was like My Cyborg Savior or something. It sucks and isn't unique at all.

Anyway, I'm going to go finish the end of this book. I've probably got 1000+ words to go or less maybe.