Wow! I haven't been on this blog in a long, long time!

I haven't actually abandoned blogging. I've been updating the other blog way more. But even that one hasn't had much life since I've been on a trip, and well, both my blogs are dead right now. But I felt like updating this one.

I visited Blogger after about a week and found out I have 3 more followers than I did last time, so that helps. That might have something to do with my decision to blog again.

I'm getting a treatment on my hands. I guess it's between some kind of arthritis, and the very beginning of the carpal tunnel getting sore, but anyway it's not as advanced as I thought it was. For a few days I'll be doing this treatment. Part of the treatment is to dip my hands in wax so I feel like a candle. :D But it works because I really do feel better. Not perfect yet, but there's still a few days left. I'm confident this'll make some kind of difference.

I gave up inkpop swapping for Lent, and it's pretty much the only thing I gave up for Lent that I actually could stick with. I've been kind of going up and down between spots 9 and 12. I think tonight I'll be in the top 10, number 6. That means The Wishing Well is going to be a top pick on...May?

I keep starting new stories that never make it past a couple chapters. I sometimes wonder if I'll be able to finish a book at all this year, or if I'll just spend it editing and promoting what I already wrote. I guess we'll see.

My faith blog is dead. I could update it more but I have this problem with not being able to update it for various reasons. Looking for inspiration here!! >.< Actually...I have lots I could blog about.
I need to work on it. *pulls up document to draft a decent blog post* Maybe I'll have better luck with long blog posts than short ones.

I'm out of things to say now.
HUGS! :)

picnik is too addictive :)

So this was my author pic for 2009, as voted by friends. And I found out about Picnik and edited it a bit. Now I like it a lot. :D I can't wait for spring...then I can take a 2010 author pic outdoors. :)

So. Some quick writing updates.
-I am still working on that novel for InkPop. I just want to have several chapters done before I put it up. :)
-As for my editing of The Shadow, I have edited (rewritten!!) 30k words in about a week, and 60 pages. I am about to reach the climax tonight. Whoo!
-I haven't been giving much critique on many stories due to being busy...studying for exams. Yay. *sarcasm*

All right, I guess I'll post a question for you to answer, if you read this blog post.

What are your favorite qualities in a character, and why?

Okay. Let's see if anyone reads this.

Until next time,
~Mariella

P.S. Please pray for Haiti.

I have a story up on InkPop.

It's a Short Story based off of my novel, The Shadow.
http://inkpop.com/projects/8600/the-shadow/
:)

~Mariella

12/30/09

Until I figure out what precisely to do with my professional blog, for now I am just going to throw out random ideas. Feel free to laugh at me.

I might put random prose on here for you to see that I really can write.
I might update you on my progress reading through my copy of The Writer's Market 2010---yes, I got my own copy. :) I'm kind of scared of it, but I need to get over that.
I may occasionally post the random squabbling about my random life on here, too, but if you want to get the full blow of my utter randomness, you need to check my personal blog.

I'm on InkPop. I don't have anything up yet. I'll try to throw something together by mid-January. Or maybe earlier, but I'm measuring based off of the amount of time I have on my hands. O_o

Well, I guess I'll have fun with the prose. :) I'll try to update here at least once a week, but I don't really do well when trying to sound professional. I'll learn, I suppose.

Love you all,
~Mariella