Studying?...at my age?

They say you're never too old to learn something new...I'm not sure who 'They' is but it's probably true. I am, however, having to learn how to study and learn again. It's been 18 years since I've been in school so my study muscles have gotten a bit lazy.

What am I studying, you ask? Well, I've decided that I need to study the art of writing. I'm obviously not getting very far on my own so I'm leaning on the knowledge of those who have actually gotten published in hopes of learning where I've gotten off track so I can finish this book and submit it.

Right now I'm reading the book "Writing Romance" by Vanessa Grant and thus far it's been very helpful. I've learned a few things about what editors and publishers want to see in a romance novel, how to get started and some great ideas about plotting. Publishing is a tremendously competetive marketplace and not just anyone can make it. I'm hoping that I can be one of the ones who can. I watch my dear friend Jane Porter: http://www.janeporter.com/ release book after wonderful book and travel the world on book tours and I'm so anxious to have a little bit of that for myself...but Jane has something I don't have- drive! She is sooo amazingly driven and so talented. Her books grab her readers and hang on tight but she has to work to make that happen. Writing isn't all play and no work, it's hard and it takes weeks and sometimes months to come up with an idea and see it from 'Chapter One' to 'The End'.

The point of this week's blog entry is that you truely are never too old to learn something new. Keep your mind challenged and active and it will see you through a long and wonderous life. Study things you don't understand, master a new skill, and for the love of Pete...READ!!!

My love story

Hello again my faithful followers. As I'm in the business of writing about love, let me tell you my love story...in a nutshell.

Today is my mine and my husband's 18th wedding anniversary. It is also the 20th anniversary of the day we met. I was 16, he was 19. I was contemplating taking my own life and he rode in on his big white horse...actually it was a 1976 Ford Mustang and yes, it was white...and saved me from myself. He was my best friend for a little over a year before we started dating and ten months after that we were married. A year later our son was born and the rest is history.

Our love was built on the solid foundation of friendship. Even today we can talk about anything, love spending time together and encourage each other in our various dreams and goals. We've had hard times and will probably have some in the future too but we cling together through those times and make it through each and every one. I can't imagine having to face those times alone.

So here's to you, my wonderful husband...HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

My Non-New-Year's-Resolution

Today is August 15, not January 1 but today I'm making a new resolution. I've been lazy and procrastinating about my writing but I had a wake up call this week...my computer got a virus and I lost everything- pictures, music, and all of my writing. :( It was a devastating loss. I had a little of my writing backed up on my flash drive but it was all older, unedited stuff.

So here's my resolution: I resolve to start and finish a book by the end of this year- get it ready for submission- and submit it before I start anything else. Work on one story at a time instead of 8 and actually finish something for a change. I also resolve to update my blog more regularly. Facebook is taking up too much of my time and I have to think of Facebook as a reward for finishing my daily tasks, I can't let it monopolize my time like it has been.

So there we go, time to prioritize and get with the program so I can make this dream of publication come true.

Do you have any dreams or goals you've been putting off? Tell me about them and tell me how you're going to make those dreams come true.