Such a Slacker

My apologies for not posting sooner and more often. It is amazing how caught up in life we get. I haven't been slacking in my writing however, although you would think otherwise by the lack of posts on this blog in recent months.

I wrote and self-published Writeful Advice in early mid-September, then we had a family tragedy so the rest of September and a good portion of October were taken up just trying to get through each day. As I was aimlessly clicking on articles and links, I came across the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) site and registered to write a 50,000+ word novel in 30 days. The strangest part was I had no plot in mind, no characters and no direction. I was beginning to think I had completely lost my mind, but that all changed the morning after I registered. I woke up with an idea in mind, and quickly wrote out the basic outline (it was all I was allowed to do until November 1).

Between helping my Dad and Uncle on the farm and taking care of my own livestock, I didn't have much time for writing. Of the 50,000+ words I finished with, about one quarter of them were written the last three days. For anyone who says it cannot be done, I am proof that it can - along with several thousand others.

The most unusual part about writing The Hidden Estate was I am a nonfiction writer. Taking the plunge and diving in head first showed me that I do have what it takes as a writer, no matter the genre. I do prefer nonfiction, as I like to teach others the many things I know (the reason behind The Homemaker Helper Series). I do have to admit, incorporating some of my knowledge has made for an interesting fiction title. The  neatest part for me is I also came up with an idea for a sequel, which I will be writing in between games at the Tim Horton's Brier this week.

I have also done some work on Cooking 101, the next book in The Homemaker Helper Series. I am almost happy with how it looks now, so if all goes well it will be released later this year. Instead of just putting together an assortment or recipes, I have included lists of things every kitchen should have, as well as the gadgets and appliances which make our lives easier.

The third book in the series has also been started, which includes (but is not limited to) storage, cleaning and decorating. I also have the outlines almost finished for each book in the series (which will be at least 12 by the time I am done).

After my week away, I will be refreshed and ready to get back to my writing projects at hand. I do have a few in different stages of progress and am working on setting personal deadlines so I can release one every two or three months. I will post again when I return from the Brier. Have a great week everyone!

Taking a Hiatus

I have been feeling rather stressed lately in terms of not getting "Cooking 101" out by this time, but have decided in order to make it better I really do need to have more time. Summer is always a busy time for me with the garden, helping my Dad and trying to keep on top of my own acreage work. We also sheared alpacas so I have fleece to process now, which will be a whole new experience for me.

In addition to the above, I am also in month number three of the HubPages Apprenticeship Program. It is a program in which I write articles, get paid for each one I submit and earn an additional ongoing revenue based on views. I am also learning more about choosing titles, using HP capsules and SEO. It is an intensive program which I am determined to complete; so in order to do so I have to put something on the back burner. Learning more about SEO will help with my books as well, so I feel the hiatus will be worth it.

My family and I are also taking a mini-vacation in less than a week to Jasper National Park. We have a cabin booked right up at Miette Hot Springs, which will be a nice treat for all of us. I am looking forward to some relaxation time; perhaps even do some writing just for me.

I will keep you all posted on the progress of the Homemaker Helper Series, but for the moment it is being put on hold. I will be working on it off and on; just not releasing any new books for a little while.

Stay tuned for posts on my Alpaca Fiber processing adventures; I will be trying my hand at carding, spinning and felting as soon as I get the proper equipment.

Have a great day!

Catching Up

Oh my...has it been almost two months already?!

I have been busy with Cooking 101 (anticipated release is on or before May 31, 2012), the next book in the series, as well as working on articles for HubPages, Knoji and a few other sites. I have also spent some time working on the third book in the series as well, which I hope to have finished within six months. In addition to the above, I have also outlined almost 40 ebook ideas, some of which I have used for articles.

Today our newest addition to our alpaca herd is one week old! I was very blessed as I was able to see the birth of this one; the little boy born in February was on the ground and probably an hour or more old before I saw him. I can't wait for the next one to arrive, but it won't be until fall. I think we have done well considering the five females we bought were supposed to be open (unbred).

Pictured below is the new baby at less than 24 hours old with her mama.

It took her a couple of days to find her legs and not fall flat every time she tried to run. It is nice now that the male born in February has a playmate. I can't wait until we have more!

I love staying at home and taking care of our animals. They are often my inspiration to write, and are most entertaining at times. If only I had more pens...

For those of you who are interested in more of what I have available please visit my website. From there you can like my Facebook Page, follow me on Twitter and check out my Pinterest boards. I also have an open forum available for members and non-members to interact with one another and make the most out of the free resources available.

Have a great day!

Diane

p.s. My website is more than just writing; it is a source for patterns, ideas and interaction with like-minded people all over the world.