After discussing the sheer size of the Iditarod novel with my publisher, I’ve decided to go ahead and begin edits of the manuscript for submission. I expect to add an additional hundred to hundred and fifty pages to the monster as I beef up the romance. I also plan on giving the main characters more angst, more issues. Lainey will be an active alcoholic rather than a recovering one. Scotch will have her own deep, dark secret that she’ll have to get through. Eventually, the race will teach them both to trust each other and their hearts.
I’ve also got a new iMac. What a beauty! I’ve been playing around with drawing on Artrage 2 and a Wacom tablet. The idea of getting back into artwork is a good one… I was an artist long before I was a writer, and am much more comfortable with airbrush and pencil than novels. It’ll be a learning curve as I get used to drawing on the computer versus the visceral feel of paper and pencils.
Work is going well. I’ve been able to focus more on the storylines, the ideas, the bits and pieces of artwork that spark in my mind. It’s such a relief from the constant stress and worry from my previous position. I still miss the guys, but I’m glad to be out of there. I’m a lot happier. To combat the RA, I spend three days a week at the hotel health club after my shift. I’ve noticed some toning of my arms and thighs… maybe I’ll get rid of my pot belly, yet!
Surgery for my right ear has been scheduled in early May. I’ve got an endoscopy next month to check the damage from five years of popping ibuprofen tablets, too. My doctor put me on Prisolec, and OH MY GAWDS I feel so much better! WOOT!
Hope everyone else is doing well. (Especially you, Zero!)
Hi,
I am very, very pleased to hear about your plans for Iditarod. I loved the story and saw a good documentary about the race a while ago on BBC Europe.
And what you mention about your plans on rewriting it sounds just great; I thought some angst was missing
Go for it!
Astrid
I just discovered your blog thanks to Holly Lisle. (I always like to know how people stumble across my blog, so I thought I’d mention it.)
I was inspired to comment because you use the Wacom tablet and I purchased one at Christmas that I’m not all that certain how to use. Do you know of any tutorials? I am using it with Photoshop Elements 3.0.
And, as a parting note, I’m off to check out your writing links.
About the only thing I can tell you to do is keep using it. It takes some getting used to … focusing on the computer screen rather than the ‘paper’ you’re drawing upon. I also run the programs full-screen so the transition between tablet and screen are the same.
I’m on a Mac, so I use ArtRage2 for drawing and painting. Then there’s Photoshop CS2 for tweaking the design, and Bryce 5.5 for 3D background work. But that’s the ideal rather than the reality. I don’t know near enough about the programs, so I’m still struggling along with all of them. Maybe someday I’ll be proficient enough to whip up what I’ve always seen in my head.
Good luck on the artwork!