Tag Archives: Writing

Edible Easter Nests

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I’ve written over 6,000 words in the past two days so I’m taking an eyeball break today to play in the kitchen.  These are fun little macaroon cookie ‘nests’ I adapted for Easter after seeing something similar on the Today show this week.  The cookie dough looks like some gross salad my kids wouldn’t eat.  They just came home and turned their noses up at the cookies, because they are green, so they may not eat them.  Oh well, more for me, and they taste really good!  Happy Easter!  Recipe below.

2/3 cup sugar
2 large egg whites
2 cups shredded coconut
1 tsp vanilla or almond (I use almond) extract
1/2 cup chopped almonds
pinch of salt
green food color
Easter egg shape candy

If you want to tint the coconut, us a fork to toss it with food color and the vanilla or almond extract.  Set aside.
Whisk sugar and egg whites together.  Stir in all remaining ingredients.

Scoop into 2 tablespoon mounds about 2 inches apart on cookie sheet.  Bake for 15 minutes at 350, then quickly put the ‘eggs’ on top.  I used those little Cadbury eggs.  I think jelly beans would be prettier, though.

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Sunday Sleepies

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I’m tired.  The effect of losing one hour of sleep is probably all in my mind, but I did use it as an excuse to skip church this morning.  How about you?  Anyone else feel the effects?

Like I needed another product to make my butt any bigger.  Friday I discovered It’s no Nutella, which is now banned from my house.  Of course, I bought it for my children.

Thank you to the fellow LJer who suggested this tea   Wow!  I am on my third box!  I think even if you aren’t a tea drinker, you’d love this.  It’s just hot, cinnamon, calorie-free (if you put Splenda in it) comfort.

One of the gazillion contests I entered won me a partial request submission.  Out of 300 entries, 70 of us recieved requests, including my sis   so I’m excited, even though that’s still a lot of entries.
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I am going to get my big butt out of this chair and take my kids for a bike ride.  Then it’s back to querying.  Or working on WIP.  Or maybe a nap.  Have a happy Sunday, everyone!

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Critique Groups

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After many query rejections and some positive feedback, I’ve just finished my latest revision of the story I ‘finished’ (ha, ha, ha) in August. There’s no doubt I’ve revised this thing at least ten times, and have edited it to death, edited in fact from 113,000 words down to 72,000. I can do no more, and I think it is finally time for a critique partner, or group.

Do all of you have them? I fear commitments like this, which is why I haven’t sought anyone out before. But I think I need it, and I don’t want to ask hubby to read it again, even though he is brutally honest.

Anyway, if you have a second, please let me know how you went about this process, and whether you and your critique partners do a line-by-line edit, or a global, big picture view.  Also, do you all write the same genre? Any feedback would be awesome!  Thanks!

More Contests!

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I am addicted to contests!  Even though I never win anything, I keep on trying!  I’ve wasted nearly two hours this morning, Tweeting, Following, and scouring the web for dang contests!  Just full of energy from my breakfast of bacon, and Valentine chocolates one of my little kindergartners gave me.  Anyway, here are two great contests you can benefit from.  The first one, from author Shelli (who I was so excited to learn has written a MG book with angels!  Out on submission now!) has week long prizes with an awesome grand prize whether you are agented yet or not!
 faeriality.blogspot.com/2010/02/get-ready-for-marketing-mardi-gras-byob.html

The other is from author Elana Johnson elanajohnson.blogspot.com/
Both offer critiquing prizes!  Speaking of, you still have a couple days to bid on the manuscript critique auction from new agent  !

Good luck!!!

New Year’s Resolutions

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Time to post my resolutions for the New Year! I’ve always written them down, but this is the first time I’ve posted them in public. Sort of scary:

1. Finish current WIP by April Fool’s Day, and be ready to start editing. Then I’ll have written two books in one year! (well, two stories, since they aren’t books yet)

2. Keep polishing first story (girl and her guardian angel)until it sells!

3. Sign with an agent by the end of 2010.

4. Blog three times a week. And better blogs too, like the blogs the rest of you write!

5. Eat less sugar, and be more careful of avoiding the wheat and gluten that is poisonous to my health. Also no eating after 7:30 pm.

6. Commit to exercise regularly, rather than spatters and splutters here and there.

7. Go to church more.

8. Be a better mom, wife, sister, daughter, friend, teacher.

For once I didn’t list ‘lose weight’. Hoping this will happen if I follow numbers 5 and 6. Okay, I still have a few days before my resolutions take effect. Enough time to polish off all of the naughty food in my house, sneer at my elliptical machine, and lay on the couch with my new Snuggie, reading new books! If I think of anything else, I’ll post it!

Happy New Year to all of you!

Shannon