How Do You Color Your Scenes?

I've discovered that self-editing and amping is soo slow, especially after a stressful day at the office. The last thing that I really want to do is sit down in front of of my iPad, put my fingertips on the docking station keyboard, and type some more.

Now that I've got that complaint out of the way, it's fun to climb back into my story, and update it with a new perspective. It's fun to look around the environment of the scene and be true to the characters, adding more of what is said, seen, and felt.

What do you do to color your scenes? Do you focus on one small detail, or on the bigger picture?

Is it a Girl book or a Boy book?

30,000 words, woo hoo! It feels like I've written a hard-earned million words on a book that has taken my thoughts and dreams for over two years now.

I'm a very slow writer, with short poems my preferred style. A sci-fi novel is quite a stretch. My re-write is taking 28 chapters and telling a complete story in each. 1 down, 27 to go!

This re-write takes my MC from age 17 down to age 14, aiming for the middle-grade reader.

My son told me that because my MC puts on lip-gloss in chapter 1, it's a girl-book. Oy!

What indicators do you use in Chapter 1 to tell the reader that the book is geared primarily for one type of reader? (e.g. Boys or Girls?)

I ran out of excuses!

Yes, I finally ran out of excuses to not do my edit, so here I am, working on chapter one (of twenty-eight). My stretch-goal is to have the edit done by early June.

If I can walk a 5K race, (Yes, I turtled my way in last-place, but I FINISHED), then I can amp my book up to 50,000 words.

My goal is to have each of the 28 chapters stand on its own as a complete short-story, with the later chapters building to the book's climactic moments.

It's kinda that way now, but lacking some poetry.

If you know me, I'm all about poems. Not just rhyme, but pacing also.

Poetry has a flow to it. Sometimes it walks, sometimes it runs, and sometimes it just skates around the edges.

Don't be Shy. Share a Talent!

What do you do when you're not writing stories?

Me, I co-write songs and sing a little at my church.

Here's a sample of a couple of songs that I've co-written.

This one is titled, "I Will Always Reach For You" and is sung by my co-writer, Todd Cunningham.

This one is audio-only, and is titled, "God Bless This Country."  Yes, that's me in my first real attempt at a studio recording.   Not bad for a first try!
God Bless This Country (on SoundClick.com)

Please share a bit about what you do--links to pictures, video, or audio are great. 
PG-rated material (good clean fun) only will be posted.

Thanks y'all!