Figured out one of the ways I can write faster & an update

Posted on January 7, 2011 by SloanParker

So I have this cat. He’s clingy and smart and determined when he wants something his way. He likes to sit in the same room with me, most of the time on my lap if he can. But he also likes to lay his front legs over my wrist, and it really starts to hurt trying to type that way. I also make more typos. Usually it goes like this…He puts his paws on my arm, I make him move, and he moves right back. Over and over. I hate the idea of locking him out of the room because he just cries and pounds on the door. Plus he’s getting older, and I know that later I’d be sad not having had all this time together. Well, I came up with a solution. I have some extra space on my desk. I pushed the monitor back and made room for his bed. Check it out…

I can pet him. He can sleep. He can stare at me like he likes to do. Most importantly, I can write. We are all happy. Of course once he got himself situated, he was sort of hanging off the end of the desk. I’m a little scared he’s going to fall on the keyboard and erase all my work, then hit save before I can stop him. And now that I’m writing this post, he’s back on my lap. Dude! In other (I’m sure more exciting) news, I finished the first draft of Walter’s story! I’m now in revising/editing mode and will be doing that for a while as I have two novel-length books to finish. Off to edit… Have a great weekend. Sloan

The Seven Most Important Men in a Woman’s Life

Posted on January 5, 2011 by SloanParker

Thanks to author Tori Carrington I saw the following on Facebook this morning and it gave me a good laugh.

The Seven Most Important Men in a Woman’s Life

The Doctor – who tells her to “take off all her clothes.”
The Dentist – who tells her to “open wide.”
The Milkman – who asks her “do you want it in the front or the back?”
The Hairdresser – who asks her “do you want it teased or blown?”
The Interior Designer – who assures her “once it’s inside, you’ll LOVE it!”
The Banker – who insists to her “if you take it out too soon, you’ll lose interest!”
The Primal Hunter – who always goes deep into the bush, always shoots twice, always eats what he shoots, but keeps telling her “Keep quiet and lie still!”

Reading Goals for 2011

Posted on January 3, 2011 by SloanParker

Sampling of Sloan’s To Read List

Looking back on 2010 I’m disappointed in the number of books I read. Around 40 books (including novellas and an occasional shorter work). This number would be even lower if it weren’t for the two published contests where I served as a judge. Granted, I was incredibly busy. It was my first year as a published author, plus I finished writing/editing Breathe, outlined 4 novels, and wrote the first drafts for 2 of those.

The thing is, my writing and voice are much stronger the more I’m reading quality books by other authors, which means I need to keep reading, as much as I can. So I decided to make my reading goal public today.

For 2011, I’m determined to read an average of 1.5 books per week for a total of 78 books (I’m going to include novellas in that list, but not short stories. I’ll also be counting any audio books, otherwise this goal would be only 1 book a week or less). Yes, some of you are probably laughing at this measly goal, but I’m a slow reader and a slow writer. Usually my reading time is limited to just before bed and listening to an audio book while cleaning the house. My writing goals have to come first. Plus I’ve vowed to spend more quality time with my sweetie this year too. Oh, and there’s still that part-time “day job” that helps pay the bills. I’d love to read more, but I’m trying to keep this goal achievable without stressing myself out too much. Reading is one of my greatest joys in life, and I don’t want it to feel like a chore.

What about you? Do you have any reading goals? Or other resolutions for 2011 you’d like to share? I promise not to look back at this post come December 31 and bug you to see if you made it (well, maybe not…that kinda sounds like fun).

Happy Reading,
Sloan