Monday, April 30, 2012

Monday Mishmash 4/30/12

Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:

  1. I'm allergic to bunnies  Who knew? But when I went on my daughter's field trip to a farm and they brought out the bunny, my eyes teared so bad it looked like I was crying.
  2. Editing  Last week was the week of edits and critiques. I had virtually no time for my own writing. This week, I'm making time for my new WIP. No. Matter. What.
  3. Review  My picture book, MAY THE BEST DOG WIN, was reviewed over on Fairday Morrow's blog last Friday. You can find it here.
  4. Blogger's working again!  Yay! The issues with the new Blogger dashboard seem to be fixed. I'm so happy about that.
  5. Secret formula  Laurie Halse Anderson gave out a secret at the Pocono Retreat two weeks ago. She said for every 10 hours of writing, you should have 5 hours of reading and 1 hour of on-line time. Do you fit that formula?
That's it for me. What's on your mind today?

54 comments:

  1. Ohmigosh, allergic to bunnies? Don't tell Kate; she'd be devastated.

    Giving finals today. Hoping to get some writing time in while they work.

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    1. Yeah, who knew? My boyfriend in high school had a rabbit but I was never really around it so I guess that's why I didn't know about this. I unfortunately pet this little bunny and then my eyes watered and I was sneezing up a storm. I still think they are adorable though, and I think if I didn't pet it, I would've been okay.

      Good luck sneaking writing time while your students take finals. :)

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    2. When I started getting really bad allergies two years ago (Watery eyes, itching for no apparent reason, etc.) I was worried I was allergic to Pepper (My dog).

      I still don't know what triggers my harsh allergy symptoms, but I learned from tests it's for sure not pet dander, and have ways to keep them better under control, and glad I didn't have to send Pepper away.

      Some people develop allergies over time if not at birth or through genetics, hopefully your daughter's immune, I doubt she'd want to change schools over this anymore than you'd want to do it.

      Some people are so allergic to something, be it certain foods or pet dander, they have be a far enough distance to avoid the after effects, especially if they're fatal, which thankfully doesn't sound the case.

      I can only imagine it would've been for your daughter and her class to see you doubled over in agony if the allergic reaction was fatal.

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    3. I'm having the hardest time figuring out how to post here, lol! Love your list. Mine is just too long to bore you with.

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    4. Taurean, my daughter held the bunny and was fine. Thankfully! I wasn't always allergic to them either. It's something I must have developed later in life.

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    5. LM, sorry it gave you a hard time posting. Usually the comment box pops right up at the bottom.

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    6. That's what I meant. I'm just glad your reaction wasn't fatal, sometimes people don't realize the depth or range of their allergies until they unknowingly trigger a near-fatal reaction. There were a lot of local news stories where I live where that was the case.

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    7. Oh, yes! That's awful when things like that happen.

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  2. Does that writing time include writing blog posts? If do I'm doing well. My WIP was neglected last week. But I wrote 12 posts ahead! This week full on WIP

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    1. Writing is writing, right? Okay, not really but blogging is a form of writing so you get credit for it. :)

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  3. Unfortunately, my online time is way more than an hour. I should work on that ;)

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  4. Well, re: #5 the formula seems to be reversed for me. 10 hours online, 5 hours reading, 1 hour writing. Leave it to me to get it all wrong! Seems to be working for me though. Imagine what would happen if I DID reverse the formula!

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  5. Good morning, Kelly.

    I was glad to see Blogger working again as well. It was a great source of anxiety last week. Sorry about your new allergy. :( Good luck with your work this week.

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  6. Does writing my grocery list count as writing time? I didn't think so either. I'm gonna need to find some more hours.

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  7. Yes, I'm reading a lot! One novel for my own pleasure, a client's ms, and a few short stories. For now, I am finished reading student research papers.

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  8. I love Laurie's Secret Formula and especially that she gives such a general proportion of it to writing. I think I may sort of fit except I have to fit in my art somewhere in there and probably spend too much time online. And I sure could us a retreat in the Poconos! Last time I was there I was a child - I remember it was a wonderful summer vacation.

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    1. Yeah, the formula really does make sense. I'm trying to stick to it. But for me, I have to add editing for clients in there. I count that as reading. I'm well over 5 hours!

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  9. Oops - I meant "...generous proportion to writing."

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  10. Too bad about being allergic to bunnies. I'm trying to cut back on blogging time and focus on writing more. Also trying to figure out a wordpress quirk that's driving me crazy.

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    1. Good luck, Stacy. I tried Wordpress before Blogger and couldn't figure it out. So, here I am. :)

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  11. Just as you're allergic to bunnies, Kelly, I'm allergic to formulas. Yup, they make me tear up too! So point #5, while not 'wrong' for some, is wrong for me. I think my writing/reading ratio is a lot closer than L. Anderson's one to five.
    Happy to read blogger is working again for you. Good news to kick-start the week.

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    1. No formula works for every writer. We're all different. No worries. :)

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  12. I think I'm good on the reading and writing, but I'm way over on the online time =(

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  13. I share everyone's amazement over the bunny allergy - too funny! But it does remind me of the time I found out I was allergic to tigers. I felt like I'd joined a pretty exclusive group; most people exposed to tigers are probably eaten before they have a chance to find out if they are allergic.

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  14. I hour of online time? Hahahahahahahahah. Yeah, bunnies who would have thought! LOL

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  15. I've been re-calming time to write. Though I have been reading more because of the Kinkle. I have been slacking off of the online time - my blog, WR, even following other blogs and Facebook. I am still writing and submitting. Trying to keep my priorities and goals in focus. I like the formula you mentioned!

    Did they have angora rabbits? Lots of folks have problems with them.

    Have fun!

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    1. I have no idea what kind of rabbit it was. I'm still shocked it bothered me.

      Good luck with those submissions!

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  16. I have no clue if I'm allergic to bunnies. I don't think I've ever been too close to them.

    I don't have a formula for time spent on writing and being online. I need one, though, since I spend too much time online. I've cut back this year, though.

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    1. I had never really been close enough to know about the allergy, either. It was a total surprise to me.

      I need to cut back on online time this year, too.

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  17. Sorry to hear about your allergy, Kelly. I visited the review on your PB on Fairday Morrow! As of May 1st, I'm writing my first MG novel, so it's pretty exciting. :)

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    1. Did I just write 'visited the review ...?' Good grief, I meant I visited the site and read the review!

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    2. LOL. I knew what you meant. :) And thanks for stopping by the review.

      Good luck with your MG!

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  18. I love that formula. I do have my own schedule, which include reading and online time. One rule I try to adhere to but always manage to fail is to disconnect from electronics an hour before I go to bed so my mind has time to shut down and the thoughts milling around in my head find a cozy nook to settle into. I am a serious offender of my own rule and frequently go to bed with my mind going a million miles an hour. Sorry about the bunnies,..

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    1. I work right up until I go to bed. That's probably why it takes me so long to fall asleep some nights.

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  19. I loved reading this post! What really attracted me was that you are allergic to bunnies. (Not a joke but I think its hilarious.)

    www.modernworld4.blogspot.com

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  20. This week I'm falling behind. But, at least my sister and niece came to see me. :)

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    1. That's nice. I hope you had a great visit with them.

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  21. Sorry to hear about the bunny allergy- but at least it isn't something that you are around more often! What a great secret formula. Right now- I have some work to do to meet the secret formula- but I am doing well in some areas. :) Thnaks for sharing!

    ~Jess

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    1. Luckily, the allergy wasn't that bad either. It could have been a lot worse. I can handle some watery eyes and sneezing.

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  22. I love Laurie Halse Anderson's works but not sure I fit that formula. I think my reading and writing times are about the same... I guess I need to get to work on that :-)

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  23. Today I am having a dream. I want to go to an isolated place with a laptop and Internet connection. I want NO contact with anyone except my Internet Bloggers world, and I want to stay there for as long as it takes to have peace in my mind

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  24. Wow, sorry about your allergy. I saw your review on DMS, one of my fav sites. Your book is something.
    I doubt I fit anything when it comes to my writing, but this is good to know.

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