Happy Halloween!

I hope you get lots of sweet treats this Halloween.  No tricks! 

My own kids are in high school now and though they don’t plan to go trick-or-treating, they can’t wait to see all the kids in their costumes knocking at the door.  My daughter just loves all the adorable little princesses and clowns who show up.  My son likes to wear his scary masks and see how many of them he can give a fright.  LOL  Not the really little ones, though.  He wouldn’t scare them.  But anyone older than first grade is fair game!

I love Halloween in our neighborhood.  The homes are well lit.  Most are decorated.  And all are prepared for the inevitable swarm of ghosts and goblins.  My kids have always trick-or-treated here.  We know all the neighbors well enough to feel comfortable.  And the kids even know which ones give the good candy!  LOL  I remember one year when my kids invited school friends over to trick-or-treat with them.  As I was following along behind them with the flashlight, I could hear them giving their friends the low-down:  “Awe, lets just skip that house.  All they ever give is those black and orange peanut butter things.”  and “Oh, that’s Mr. & Mrs. Leamon’s house!  They always give the best popcorn!” 

(sigh) Those were the days.  Like the year that my daughter dressed as Jasmine (from Aladdin) and my son was her pet tiger, Rajah.  Kids grow up so fast!  It seems like just yesterday I had a little witch and a polka-dotted clown to escort around the neighborhood. 

Nita

Did you know that November is the National Novel Writing Month?  My CP and I are planning to participate this year.  Our goal is to start our novel on November first and be finished by November 30th.  That’s a big challenge, but I think we’re up for it. 

You can read about NaNo at their official web site: http://www.nanowrimo.org/ 

I’m really looking forward to this.  It’s good to set goals.  Plus, writing constantly (which is what this will require) should keep me from biting my nails waiting to hear from contests, editors, and agents. 

Nita

I finished judging the entries I was given for the contest.  I even managed to find something nice to say about all of them.  Of course, a couple of them were really good.  It was hard to find something they needed to improve. 

The easiest ones to judge were the ones that were in the middle.  Those were the ones that I could list several things I liked and several things that could use improvement. 

I’m glad I had the opportunity to do some judging, though.  It was a learning experience for me, AND it gave me more appreciation for the judges.   I’ve been guilty of complaining about judges in a couple of contests I’ve entered.  The complaints ranged from “Geez, that was harsh!” to “Come on! How can you give me such a low score without telling me why?” 

When I get my score sheets back from this contest I will view them from a different perspective.  It’s not easy to be a judge! 

Nita  

Saturday, October 28th is the last day of the first round voting for the Scarlet Boa contest.  If you haven’t read the entries and voted, you’ll need to hurry.

Here’s the link: http://www.stellacameron.com/scarletboa2006.html

My entry is #1031.  Of course, I’d love it if you voted for mine, but just vote!  Everyone who does is entered to win the white boa. 

The finalists will be announced on Wednesday, November 1st!  I’m hoping to make the finals, but even if I don’t, I plan to vote for one of the finalist entries.  Heck, if I can’t win the scarlet boa, maybe I can win the white one. 

Nita

I’m finding it quite difficult to judge these entries.  A couple are really good and I’m thinking, “Wow.  This girl is a great writer.  Am I even qualified to judge this?”

Then there is the opposite end of the spectrum.  There are a few that are just awful.  And I’m thinking, “How do I tell this girl what all is wrong without hurting her feelings?”  Sheesh. 

With all the scoresheets, I’ve tried to start off with the good points, the things I liked.  You know, “Your gramar is good.”  “The point of view works well.”  “I loved your story.”  Then I say, “I think it would work better if…”  Or “I need more…” 

But with some of these entries, I’m having a hard time finding something good to say.     Writers enter these contests looking for constructive criticism.  Judges are supposed to tell them what’s wrong and how to improve it.  Judges should also tell the writer what she’s doing right and help the author learn to emphasize her strengths. 

I want to do that — give good constructive criticism and encouragement.  But what do you say when you don’t have anything nice to say?  In this case, “nothing” is not an option.  Which means I’m going to have to read these entries again and again until I find something nice to say. 

What fun. 

Nita

Well, we’ve only had a couple of days of cool temperatures and already my hands are feeling dry.    We had our first freeze night before last.  I think it got close but not quite to freezing last night.  The heaters have been working some, though.  Not a whole lot, but enough to dry my skin apparently. 

My skin is not normally dry or anything, but during the cooler weather it gets that way.  The humidity is fairly low (unless it’s raining) during the fall and winter and the air is just that much dryer when the heaters are running.  If I don’t remember to use my face cream, I get little red bumps from the dry skin.  And if I don’t keep the lotion handy, my hands get all cracked and itchy. 

It’s a good thing I like pretty smelling hand lotions. 

Nita  

Not much to blog about today.  But I’ve been pretty good about posting something almost everyday, so I didn’t want to skip today.

I’m still working on judging those entries.  The one I did yesterday was really pretty good.  All the entries are anonymous to the judges, so I don’t know who wrote it.  But it’s good.  If the rest of the book is written as well as the first five pages, and if it’s as interesting as the synopsis makes it sound, well then I fully expect to see this one published. 

We mailed off the order form for my daughter’s graduation pictures.  Sheesh.  $500 is a lot of money for pictures!  But I figured if I didn’t do it, I would regret it.  Other than wedding pictures (hopefully not for several years,) this is likely the last time I’ll have the opportunity to get pictures of her.  You know how it is.  While they’re little, you can haul them to the photography place any time you want and order them to smile.  LOL  But once they’re grown, you’re lucky if you manage to get a snap shot of them during the holidays. 

Nita

It’s Monday.  Again.  *groaning*   The weekends always seem to go by so quickly.  Why is that?

I didn’t do a whole lot this weekend, so you’d think that I’d be rested, but no.  I’m going to need some extra coffee this morning.

I worked a little on judging a few entries in the Romancing the Tome contest.  That’s the contest where I entered A Real Husband and How Faerie Dust is Made.  Contestants are asked to serve as first round judges in other categories.  ARH was entered in the historical division and HFDIM was entered in paranormal.  So I have a few entries from the single title category.

It’s only the first five pages and a two page synopsis, so it doesn’t take long to read at all.  But I’ve spent lots of time filling out the “judge’s comments” section on scoresheets.  All judges have been asked to try and give the author hints on how to improve the story.  So while words like “I just wasn’t engaged” might tell the author why the score wasn’t as high as she might have hoped, it will help her more if I add something like “I need more sparks between the hero and heroine on the first meeting.” 

I’m hoping the people judging mine will do the same for me.

Nita

Whew.  Was that one a nail-biter, or what?  After 3 interceptions I was beginning to wonder if Ainge was trying to pass with his eyes closed.  At one point, Tennessee had been in Alabama territory 8 times and only managed to pull off 3 field goals. 

After the 51 points Tennessee scored against the number one ranked defense in the nation at the time (Georgia,) I really thought we would put a more points on the board than just 16. 

But in the end, that was enough for a victory.   Kudos to the Tennessee defense.  They held Alabama to only 13 points and made some great plays that might have otherwise resulted in an Alabama score.

And as much as I hate to admit it, Alabama played well.  They really made Tennessee work for it.  Maybe next year, Alabama fans.

Nah.    But we look forward to the re-match every year.  Go Vols!!!

Nita

Today is the eve of the “Big Game.”    One of the biggest rivalries in college football is the University of Tennessee and the University of Alabama.  

My husband and I love to watch Tennessee football.  We can’t wait for tomorrow’s game.  Go Vols! 

In honor of the long-standing tradition, I’m including a few funnies in today’s blog.  (This is just for fun.  No real offense is intended for Alabama fans.  LOL)  For the occasion, it’s in Tennessee orange even though it clashes with my blog colors.  

Q: What’s the best thing to ever come out of Alabama? 

A: I-20 and I-10    

Q. Where was OJ headed in the white Bronco? 

A. To Tuscaloosa…he knew the police would never look for a Heisman Trophy winner there!    

Q. Why did they build the Mercedes plant so close to the University of Alabama? 

A. Because they have an endless supply of crash test dummies right down the road.    

Q. What’s the difference between Alabama and cheerios? 

A. One belongs in a bowl. The other doesn’t!   

Q. How do you keep John Parker Wilson from hitting you with a football?
A. Wear a Bama jersey! 

Nita