Here it is the first official day of the vacation. Just as I promised myself I will get to my novel. I know I previously wrote I would be M.I.A in the real and virtual world but I think its important to blog my progress. I will put up my progress each day.

For those of you who don’t know me, I tend to write in ‘chunks of time’ and what I mean by this is I block out a string of days where I dedicate all of my time to the writing project of my choice. This string will go on for at least 5 days. My children are on vacation with my ex-husband so I am taking advantage of the time alone by using it to complete my novel in progress. I am going to log my progress on my blog:

DAY 1: Today I begin the completion of my manuscript. I am going to use this week to dive into my novel with no interruptions. I find the toughest day when I do ‘crash write’ in a string of days is to organize all of my notes from the last time I wrote. It takes me at least an hour to organize and find the last thought I left off on before I put the ms (manuscript) away. So I am going to begin that now. I will then organize what I have done and have not done according the outline I made. From there I will know all of the scenes I need to write and break those up into the five days I am writing. At the end of the week, all my scenes should be complete and ready to organize into the novel. My word count will be complete! Then the editing will come into play.

For today though, at least the first part of this first retreat day, I organize.

Wish me luck!!!!

Erin

Well here I am with yet another blog. This one seems to have a nice fit for me though. I am going to be trying different things so bear with me here while I get my bearings on this darn technology thing. It would be nice if I didn’t have to learn all this stuff and just focus on writing but then again, that would be all too easy now wouldn’t it. Besides, what better place for a writer to stand on her soapbox and spew thoughts about right?

I am posting to my blog tonight from a text editor on my desktop. Trying to see if its worth doing it this way or not. let me grab a picture I’ve drawn just to see how it goes up from here. This is a digital image I reworked for my lilycopublishing blog. I am publishing a new book this year and a couple next year so I am getting my company in order. Like the design?

Its been a long time since I posted – I just moved into a great new apartment with my family. I really needed to downsize. An entire house was way too much for me to keep up with – I mean really – I don’t want to spend my days cleaning an entire house instead of drawing!

My new place has this wonderful view of a rushing river. With all the rain I have been watching the water rise and become more active. My drawing desk and art easel now face that beautiful view and if I open the window just a tiny bit I can hear the water running downstream. It is perfect.

Now the move is almost complete and I can get back to the work I love … drawing, painting, and writing.

Keep your eyes out for my newest creations, they will be posted VERY soon!

Again, thanks so much for following my sketchblog.

Erin Whalen

Hello peoples… so happy to say the spring bug is hitting Rhode Island. It has been a long winter! 60 degress today – I saw people outside with their rakes enjoying the day. Not me, I took my sketchbook outside instead of yard tools 😉 ……..

Here is my newest mixed media. The joker representing the state of mind in America today. It seems like we are playing a game with our money in the government and soon it will be all play money. Who knows what is to come. What I do know is I am really enjoying this guy. I tried a new thing with this painting, I burnt some of the edges around the artwork underneath to create a dirty look. Let me know what you think!

Painting has been an amazing release for me. I forgot how theraputic it was! My son told me the other day (he is 20 years old) that the best memories he has of me from when he was little was coming home from school and seeing me sitting on the floor amongst all my paints and creating with music going. He told me he used to say in his head “That’s my Mom!” How cute is that?!?!

Here are my finished paintings you have seen me begin on this blog and I am going to upload another I started in my next post and continue with this line of paintings. I absolutely LOVE them!

I had a few people wanting the lady in the tub and I finally sold it to one of the bidders. I am sad to say good-bye to it but proud to see it go out into the world where it can make its own way and influence people. After all, we make art to pass on our expressions and feelings.

The words hurt girl is up on sale now at my etsy art store and there is so much more to come so keep an eye out!!!!