Dang, the policemen all looked like cops, you know? Not like this grinning goof with the doughnuts, but like law enforcement officers. Military haircut, toned shoulders, erect stance, clipped speech — both men and women.

I did not like to see this. Aren’t we all individuals? Different? Unique? Okay, so maybe it was the uniform.

Well, the district attorney and his assistant were textbook “squares,” right down to the cut of their suits, the skinny ties, and the horn-rimmed glasses. Everything about them was serious.

The defense attorneys were comedy-hall “liberals.” One had longish gray hair and a stylish five-button suit. He smiled a lot and worked at being either charming or earnest. His colleague was a rotund, bearded “absent-minded professor” type, complete with the short tie, ill-fitting coat, and rumpled shirt. He mumbled, shuffled pages, and dropped things.

I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was like watching a nightmare sitcom parade!

The lab specialist’s uncombed hair, lack of poise, and poorly-coordinated clothing fairly screamed “nerd” and “lab geek.” The technical consultants — who regularly testified at trials, about DNA testing and such — were immaculately groomed and spoke with modulated voices.

And the most galling? A woman of my own career. I winced when she took the stand and began to speak, because I knew the type — I WAS the type. Everything about the teacher from the prison shrieked “Educator.”

Don’t get me wrong — stereotyping is both obvious and shallow. But day after day I as I left that courtroom, I recall thinking, “I can see where the screenwriters get this typecasting stuff. Dang.”

But there are times when my characters step out of line. Cleora McGillvary, who is lonely, shy, and in some ways wise beyond her years, gave me a surprise this weekend. It seems she’s fallen for her music teacher in a big way! Okay, so this plot element, from an earlier on-line version of Mercy’s Hard Bargain, is one I’d planned to ditch. Apparently not!

So, like this cat in grown-up shoes, Cleora the heiress is flirting with disaster. The fellow she’s fallen for is everything honorable, but what future is there with an impoverished composer? And how much trouble will this cause for her father and new step-mother? Ha, plenty.

“In life,” says writer Lew Hunter, “one thing happens after another. In drama, one thing happens because of another.”

Twists like this keep writing projects interesting.

Cat illustration courtesy of VintageHolidayCrafts.com

Tualatin Hills Nature Park

It’s like Narnia in there. (Well, Narnia with mud. This is Oregon.)

This morning it was gloriously sunny. “People come here for vacation,” we told one another, “and we get to live here. Why would anyone sit around at home?”

If left to ourselves, that’s exactly what we would do! Like I said before, excuses are easy. And there are so many other things that need to be done. Like sleep.

Fast-forward to now. Saturday is also my writing day, when I get down to business with my next chapter. And I remind myself, just as I did on that jogging trail, that I get to write. Sure, it’s work. But it’s a privilege, not a pain-in-the-neck.

And as with jogging, when I’m done I feel wonderful!

One of the best gifts at this season (Christmas Break) is the gift of Time. I am able to get caught up, if one can call it that, with various social media sites. Those of you who visit this blog know that I’m pretty much a failure at social media. But I can be taught! S-l-o-w-l-y I’m learning that multitasking applies not only to my teaching job and house chores. I can multitask with social media!

So, just in time for 2012, comes Facebook’s newest update, the Timeline. Robert Lee Brewer shares what this Timeline format is like … and also how to customize yours before the changes happen. Check out My Name is Not Bob for details.

And if you click on the Facebook Badge (above), you’ll see how my profile page came out.

Some of you know that I have added a high school writing class to my teaching load this year. I have seven bright, motivated young men twice a week. I tell you what, these guys keep me on my toes! So I’ve been digging into my collection of ‘How-To’ books.

Barbara Baig’s gentle approach to writing is deceptively simple … and powerful. Using a pen, a (private) notebook, and a timer, students learn the skill of putting words on paper. Here’s the trick: Once you begin writing, you must keep the pen moving for ten minutes. Period. No backtracking, no crossing out. Forget grammar rules or even making sense! Get words on the page.

And you start off writing nonsense. But it’s like jogging on the treadmill: the hardest part is getting started. After five minutes or so, something happens. The creative mind kicks in. Suddenly you’ll find yourself working on a new scene in a story, or thinking out, on paper, the solution to a complex problem. It’s uncanny, this unlocking of the creative mind. Best of all, there’s a paper trail. You don’t “lose” what you thought. It’s all there to work with.

For a fledgling writer, the discipline of freewriting is revolutionary. My boys will tell you that after three weeks of daily ten minute freewrites, they’ve grown. “My short story,” said one student, tapping his notebook, “is all in here.”

And for the experienced writer? Learning to connect with the creative mind is empowering.

As a heartfelt “Thank You” to you, my blog-reading friends, I’m offering a set of the Mercy’s Embrace novels to one lucky winner. Join the so-opinionated Elizabeth as she loses her heart — very much against her will! — to the dashing and dangerous Admiral McGillvary. Delightful escapist reading that you, or anyone on your gift list, will enjoy! (Even my step-dad giggled his way through the series.)

It’s easy to enter — simply reply to this post. The contest will run through Sunday, December 18th, 2011, and is open to U.S. residents. I’ll announce the winner on Monday, December 19th here and also at Jane Started It!.

Even if you have these books, betcha don’t have signed copies! Why not enter?

First comes the draft, then the revisions. See, I’m a rewriter—I like working this way—so once the novel is finished I go over and over and over the manuscript.

Does the sequence of events make sense?

What have I left out?

Have I edited sparkling excitement into literary pabulum?

Is this even fun anymore?

Gad, ANOTHER typo?

Around and around and around. The Edit Spin-Cycle.

Bill Stout

“Talent is helpful in writing, but guts are absolutely necessary.”

Jessamyn West

Yes, it means my current Kindle is outdated. As a consumer I am feeling rather bummed.

But as an author I am elated. Because, you see, 63% of my sales are on Kindle. And in good time for Christmas, too!

Plus, right now my Kindle books are on sale. $4.19 each!

*Laura does the happy dance*

(Image is a link to the article at MSNBC’s Gadgetbox)