Work in Progress

It's like magic around here lately. As soon as I sit down to write a post, some crisis crops up. I've had this particular window open on my computer about 10 times and this is as far as I get. But no more. I'm determined to post. By the way, the picture of Capt. Jack has nothing to do with the post, but I felt I'd been limiting myself with Daniel Craig and neglecting my Johnny Depp obsession. Besides, I thought this was a cool picture.

But onto the meat and taters. One thing I've noticed in my writing is how much it matures with each new book I write. My style and voice continue to develop. Its easier to read what I've written without cringing. It shouldn't be surprising, for the most part, we get better at anything with practice. But I think we as writers have difficult expectations of ourselves. We want to be at our zenith with every book. There is nothing wrong with that, the quest to be at our best is a natural one. On the flip, I think it also sets us up for struggle and disappointment.

We as writers are works in progress. As we continue to write, we learn to be more comfortable with our talents. Once we are, we can move onto a new skill or focus. We need to remember that each manuscript we work on is another step in our progress.

Writers tend to treat their current WIP as our children. We put our hearts and souls into them, terrified when we send them out into the cold, cruel world of publishing. Every rejection is a crushing blow smacking to the core of our egos. Talk about pressure. But manuscripts aren't children. They are products of our hard work. Yes, it hurts when they get rejected, but the next book will be better.

I'm working on a new book while my other one is in submission hell somewhere. Oddly enough, I don't think about the other book itself anymore. My focus is on what I'm writing now. I'm allowing myself to branch out into other directions with this story and I can see it in the writing. It makes me happy. And that's what writing should do. If I dwell on the rejections I'm receiving on the other book, it would be very easy to never come back to the book I'm working on. But I recognize that I'm still progressing. I am willing to accept the book out in submissions may not find a home. Having an agent is no guarantee for a sale. I'm going to have to be okay with that. Hence, a new book. This picture also has nothing to do with the post, but I liked it and I thought Orlando looked a bit dashing.

As I was saying, its easy to feel like your writing life has ended when a book is rejected. But having a new project is the best cure. You are a work in progress and each book you write continues your progression. Enjoy the process and be proud of the skills you develop no matter what.

Another Doodad for the Sidebar

Melissa has awarded me the "thinking blogger award." I was kinda hoping Daniel Craig came with this award, but apparently not. But here's a picture of him anyway. It may not be intellectual, but it gets me thinkin'.

So I need to give this out to five other blogs that make me think. That's a tough one because they all make me think. But I'll pick five out of the hat:

1. Rene Lyons. Besides having a great first name, she is a fun blogger and her chronicles about her writing career are fun and informative. I also won a book from her this week that I can't wait to read.

2. Joely. Another writer who is chronicling her journey as a writer that I find myself often nodding my head to in agreement. She is very eloquent in describing her struggles and her triumphs.

3. Kelly Parra. THis girlfriend has been on a roller coaster of a ride in her writing career and she always discusses it with candor on her blog. Her debut YA novel Graffiti Girl is coming out next month. She has been jounaling her adventures for this book and its been informative and interesting.

4. Nienke. Nienke looks for inspiration and is always happy to share it when she finds it. She finds these amazing writing links. Love it.

5. Toni. Toni has a nice mix of writing, family and world posts. I'm also guaranteed a nice Sean Bean picture if I go visit.

Here's the fine print for those folks that I've nailed.

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think.
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme.
3. Optional: Proudly display the 'Thinking Blogger Award' with a link to the post that you wrote.

Old Dog, New Tricks

I don't have many vices but I'm loaded with bad habits. Or rather, I lack good habits.

As the pace of my life picks up, the easier it is for things to get away from me. If I feel overwhelmed (which is easy due to my own brain chemistry) I feel desperate. I cease to view reality in its true perspective. My ongoing battle is my house. I cannot seem to keep it under control. Considering I don't enjoy cleaning house, I feel double the despair. But I'm trying to change that. Instead of seeing the house as one huge unconquerable mountain, I'm trying to change my thought process and break it down into more manageable mole hills. Part of that is creating good habits.

My first one is to straighten the kitchen in the morning after breakfast and lunches are made. It takes me an additional 10 minutes to do, but if I let it sit until dinner time, then it has grown into a half hour task.

My second it to act rather than procrastinate. Not on the big things. The little things. There is a pile of stuff I need to take to my husband's office. It has been sitting here growing for almost a year. I go to my husband's office at least three times a week but I have managed to forget this junk everyday. So as soon as I finish this post, I'm going to go put it in the car. Same goes for putting things away. I've been working at making my laundry room a laundry room rather than a black hole of chaos. Instead of just dropping off my various cleaning products, I'm putting them away. Wow, I have a counter to fold laundry.

Third habit I'm working on is sweeping my kitchen floor every night. I really hate this one, but I realized it only takes me about 4 or 5 minutes. But this small chore saves me a ton later in the week when it is time to mop.

Oh yeah, and I'm trying to go back to making weekly menus. I got a new cookbook, Everyday Food: Great Food Fast (Vintage), and I've been using it to death. I find having a menu lessens my stress plus helps me cut my time at the grocery store.

What about you? Any good habits you are trying to develop?

New Blog

I joined a new blog and today that's where I'm at:

Journey - A Writer's Club

THIRTEEN THINGS YOU CAN BUY AT AMAZON

Punch in "Amazon Oddities" in the tag search and let the fun begin.

1. Toilet Monster: Could you imagine what would happen if you put this in the toilet while potty training your toddler?
2. Shirt Bib: I would love to see my husband wear this.
3. Dagobert Wooden Toilet Throne: Another product tailor-made for my husband.
4. Flash iCarta Stereo Dock: Some people need mood music, I guess.
5. Knitting With Dog Hair: I think the title says it all.
6. The 2007-2012 Outlook for Household Electric Kettles in the United States : In case you needed to know.
7. Lemon Squeezer 18ct Gold plated : So much nicer than stainless steel. But is it dishwasher safe?
8. Relaxman Relaxation Capsule: Your own personal Skinner Box. The customer comments on this one are great.
9. Baby Eel with Hot Garlic Sauce in Olive Oil : Why settle for a carrot or an apple for snack?
10. POKEMON EAU DE TOILETTE SPRAY: For those ladies who want to smell like Pikachu.
11. TOILET NANNY : This could save your marriage.
12. MANGROOMER Do-It-Yourself Electric Back Hair Shaver: The beaches may become safe again.
13. 5Lb Fat Replica: Ewww!



Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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What I've Learned From Link

If you've ever owned or been around any Nintendo game console, the name Zelda is probably familiar. The Zelda franchise is one of Nintendo's flagship games. No matter what console, there has been at least one Zelda game available. I've been playing it for, well, longer than I'm going to admit to. Anyway, we have the latest version for the Wii - "Zelda Twilight Princess."

The story doesn't vary too much, it pretty much centers on the hero, Link, who goes from being a simple village lad to becoming a hero. He goes through a journey, gaining wisdom and skills as he defeats monster after monster. This latest incarnation is pretty elaborate and the story has more to it. An evil empire of shadows has taken over the kingdom of Hyrule and is creeping over the rest of the light world (this story hasn't changed in 20 years). Link is the only one who can stop it. Princess Zelda is a prisoner of the shadows and her people are bodiless spirits trapped in a twilight world, cut off from their reality. Link goes through his journey freeing these people and conquering the twilight through a series of tests.

I find this game compelling for many reasons. I'm a video game geek anyway, but my addiction to storytelling makes this a match made in heaven. Also, I like the simplicity of the story and the hit-you-over-the-head meanings. For example:

The Journey: As you know, I have a "thing" about hero's journeys and Link's adventures personify the whole thing so well. From callow youth to full-blown heroic man, he has to go through a long journey fraught with danger to achieve his goal. The Zelda games are as simple as it gets, they all have a journey. But obviously it resonantes with people, these games have been around since 1986 and is published in many languages. Journeys appeal to people. As a writer, it is important to realize that and to know that as complex as your plot gets, having a clear, simple journey is a solid basis for your story.

Goals, Motivation, Conflict: Again, very simple but simplicity helps us understand. In Zelda, Link has a mini goal. For example, he needs to go into the twilight to defeat the shadows. So his goal is to conquer a temple or a forest. Motivation is the freedom the land and people will have if he is successful. The conflict is that he becomes a wolf in the twilight and it is never certain he will return to his human form. The game provides you with a choice each time you enter the twilight. I always pick "yes" because when it comes to video games and cheesecake, I'm a girl who can't say no. But this breakdown of a writing concept into a simplitic form shows you the strength of what you can do with your own character. It illustrates the concept of GMC in an obvious manner.

Secondary Characters: Oddly enough, the earlier versions of this game were pretty solitary. Link was pretty much on his own. In this version, he is surrounded by secondary characters and their place in his journey are very clear. In some situations, he can go no further in his journey without their assistance. They provide his motive and his conflict. They make his plight much more sympathetic. They aren't complex characters, but they illustrate to a writer the value of what they can add to a story.

Black Moments: This game is one black moment after another. Link's triumphs are always followed by a black moment. He is rewarded for his valor by being put into another miserable situation. Fortunately, the miserable situation leads to another set of challenges. And that is what a black moment does for our characters when we are writing. Our characters can either crumple or rise to the occassion. The more miseable the black moment, the greater reward when our characters accept the challenges it presents. In the game, the moment is very simple. Damsel is kidnapped, kid is greviously injured, etc. etc. But the affect is the same as what we have in our novels and it is up to Link to do with the situation what he will. If you want to win the game, you will proceed and accept the dangerous challenge presented. The biggest black moment was when I accidentlally erased my file and lost all my progress.

There are a bunch more, but I'm only a 1/4 through the game. Supernerd is ahead of me. Unfortunately for him, I'm hope while he's at school and I should be breathing down his neck tomorrow.

My point is that there are writing workshops all over. We can learn things from whatever we are doing. And while playing a video game can actually be a monumental waste of time ("Wario SmoothMoves" is totally a waste but a helluva lot of fun) it can have its value.

Chapter Two

It finally happened, I ran out of excuses for not writing and sat down and did it. Then is an immeasurable sense of relief when I complete the first chapter although I don't feel the commitment until the third. However, it has been such a long time since I got to chapter two, I've been patting myself on the back. I'm very happy with my writing on this project, I'm comfortable with first person POV and I'm able to challenge myself more.

I think most if not all writers harbor a fear that one day the well is going to dry up and they won't be able to write again. Its usually unfounded, but it swirls around our mind like a malignant fog, creating artificial barriers which lead us astray. I've been doing this long enough to recognize it for the falsity it is. I've had long writing droughts before, longer than this one, but it doesn't matter. It delivers a sucker punch all the same.

There isn't some magic incantation I muttered to get myself back on track. No magical being materialized to bless me with renewed creativity. It was more keeping my butt in the chair and supergluing my fingers to the keyboard. And turning off the Internet. Mentally, I bitched about how rough is was going until I found myself immersed in my story. Next thing I know, I'm at chapter two and I'm still going strong.

One thing I have discovered about myself is that I'm given to daydreams about my novel. But these are just phantoms until I actually do the writing. I can dream up plots and characters until the moon sets, but it only counts when I start writing. Very rarely do those daydreams actually make it to the page. But they do keep me interested. They help me flesh out my characters so that when I do write, I'm more in tune and can figure out how my characters are going to operate with the situations given.

So I'm back to writing. And, sigh, I'm now running out of excuses not to go to the gym. So I guess I'll be doing that too.

Other Stuff...

I have long given up on my kids riding bikes. My son cannot do it. He has a mental block about balance. I have explained to him if he wants to ride a Segway (yes, some kids want a motorcycle, he wants a Segway) he's going to have to learn to balance on two wheels. Diva wasn't much better, but yesterday she grabbed a bike and taught herself how to ride. Now I can't get her of the bike. Its her brother's old bike so we are going to buy her a new one.

Supernerd had his own triumph last week. My folks took the kids to Universal Studios last week. They took the commuter rail then switched to the metroline to get to the park. On the way home, a woman got onto the metro holding a baby. Since it was afterwork, there were no seats available. My son, without prompting, got up and gave her his seat. I think his grandma got misty eyed. He didn't think anything of it. At age 11, I didn't think this level of consideration existed without pressure from parent.

One more thing....

I found this on Amazon. How I found it, I don't know, but it is a crack up. Read the customers' reviews. Too funny.

The kids have been home for spring break and the television is on more than ever. So its time for Thirteen Kids Shows that Drive Me Insane!
These are in no particular order. They all equally make me pray for a root canal.

1. The Power Rangers. You know these guys have been torturing adults since 1993? Thing watches this show in all its repulsive incarnations all day long. She won't watch anything else.
2. Dora the Explorer. Thing and Diva both loved this show. Dora's shrill shrieking makes my ears bleed.
3. Smurfs. Thanks to Boomerang, this show is on everyday and my kids love it. All three of them.
4. Snorks. More thanks to Boomerang. This show makes the "Smurfs" look like "Masterpiece Theater."
5. Horseland. This is actually a Saturday morning cartoon, but thanks to the miracle of Tivo, we can watch every day. Who says technology is wonderful?
6. Wonderpets. This show is just plain creepy.
7. Wow, Wow Wubbzy. This show isn't really all that bad, but it is set at such a frantic pace, I feel like I've been downing 12 oz. espressos when I watch it.
8. Winx Club. Another Saturday show that Diva will watch all the time. Fairy bimbos with annoying voices.
9. The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. I'm convinced I must have been an axe murderer in a previous life and this show is my punishment.
10. My Gym Partner's a Monkey. I like a lot of Cartoon Network's shows. This is not one of them. A little too irritating.
11. Scooby Doo Where Are You? Remember when we were kids and we loved this show? I loved it, particularly Daphne, she was so cool. Boy, was I an idiot. My kids watch this show in all its different forms as well.
12. The Doodlebops. Thing loves this show. I run and hide in the bathroom, gently bashing my head into wall until its over.
13. Max & Ruby. I thought this show had gone off the air, but while airing the shudderingly bad Easter show, the voice over said to be looking for new episodes. I'd rather clean a toilet with a toothbrush then be subjected to the whiny girl bunny and her juvenile deliquent brother.



Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

They Don't Tell You This in "What To Expect When You're Expecting"

I am the first to believe my kids are misbehaving. I have no blinders on when it comes to their behavior because I know what they are capable of. My mindset comes from the fact that I see too many parents who think their kids can do no wrong. They assume their children are angels and will not see or hear anything bad about their kids.

I've always been clear: if there is a problem with my kid, tell me. I'll listen, I want to know. I am more than likely going to believe you. I'm not unfair, but I know my kids aren't perfect and I want them to be likeable and pleasant, so if there is a problem, I want to fix it.

I blogged about a situation back in January about my daughter having problems with another girl and the mother's involvement. While I let the situation go, my manner towards the mother has been rather cool. I don't talk to her beyond a polite greeting. Anyway, damned if this situation hasn't popped up again. Diva never tells me when bad things happen. For her, its like water off a duck's back. She doesn't hold things against people and she has a strong enough ego that the actions of others don't really bother her. However, I do here about things from other mothers whose kids do talk. Apparently the little girl who hosted the pre-Christmas slumber party has been a brat and causing all sorts of drama and my daughter has been the focus of it. The teacher mentioned it to me and has assured me the little girl will be in a different class from the other girls. She and others assure me Diva is the victim in this one.

One of the other little girls hosted a spring break slumber party the other night. When I dropped off Diva, I talked to the mom. The other little girl didn't RSVP (which annoyed the hostess since she planned the party based on the RSVP's) but showed up anyway. When she mentioned this to the mother, the mom said well, since my kid wasn't there, it shouldn't be a problem. When hostess mom said that my daughter would be there, the mom proceeded to tell the hostess how our daughters were sworn enemies and there was going to be problems. Hostess mom, who gets a big high five here, tells her that if there is a problem, she will call her so she can come and pick up her daughter. The other mom was a bit taken aback by that. Hostess mom knows the score and wasn't real thrilled. Diva is one of her daughter's favorite friends and she says Diva is the one child who never says anything bad about anyone else. Anyway, the party went fine, the girls had a good time and there were no problems, no fights and the girls all behaved perfectly.

So here's my dilemna. I feel like the other mother is fomenting trouble. My first inclination is to go on the offensive and have a "chat" with her. I despise this idea that she is spreading trouble for my kid and I'm pissed. My maternal instincts are offended. My rational side says to let it go. We have less than two months left of school. All the other parents who deal with me and my kid (including the teacher) know the score and who is really causing the trouble. To say something to her would be more for my benefit, getting my irritation off my chest. I'm not at my best when I'm emotional.

I really find it hard to believe there is so much drama in elementary school and that parents feel the need to cause more. I expected this kind of stuff in jr. high and high school.

How Dean Koontz Makes Me a Better Writer

I've always enjoyed words. When an author uses language in unique and lovely ways, I am amazed. Poets tend to have the advantage in this arena and while a poem inspire me in other ways, it does not inspire me as a writer.

When I was in high school and a staff member of the "Tepee Times," the school's newspaper, my advisor would read from Tom Wolfe's The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby. Wolfe has a gift for language and he dug deep to find unique ways of describing the events he reported on. He was able to communicate the wonder of his topic with the power of his words. As a journalism student, he inspired me to look at my stories in a different light and find new ways of writing a story.

Now that I write novel-length fiction, I look for new inspiration. I could rattle off the names of many romance writers who inspired me, who pulled me into writing. But as I've advanced in my writing, my inspirations change.

I suppose it would be more appropriate to find inspiration in literary novels, but my taste in fiction is far less lofty. Right now I'm reading Dean Koontz's Forever Odd and I almost lose track of the story because of my enchantment with how Koontz writes. I get weird looks from people when I say I draw inspiration from Koontz. I don't draw inspiration from all of his books, just the "Odd Thomas" series. Koontz's use of structure along with words moves me. Written from the hero's point of view, the books use a gentle humor with witty dialogue to deepen the poignancy of the character and his stories. Koontz uses short sentences with minimal articles and places them in small paragraphs. Odd is a simple person, uneducated but smart. He isn't a showy character and the way Koontz writes communicates this to the reader.

I like Koontz's use of dialogue to move his characters and reveal them. While Odd is an introspective character, Koontz shows this introspection is only half-right and uses his other characters and their dialogue to give the reader the other half of the story.

As a writer, particularly as one who writes in first person, I delight in Koontz's style. It isn't as easy as it seems to create a multi-dimensional character with just one point of view. But Koontz manages with a combination of things.

Anyway, as a writer, who inspires you right now? Is there an author's structure you admire? Their use of characters and plot?

Spring Cleaning

I seemed to have disappeared from the blogosphere. I wish I could say it was the overwhelming desire to write which kept me absent. No, I decided to dive in and do some spring cleaning. Each day this week I've taken a room and cleaned it top to bottom. Here's a suggestion: if there is a couple getting married and you really don't like them, get them silver for a present. My arm still hurts from polishing my silver. I don't have much, but what I have at least never gets used. I still polish it about once a year, but it is a royal pain. I washed all the wine glasses hanging from my bar. I rearranged the liquor cabinet (and didn't sample). Polished all the furniture. CLEANED MY DESK!!! I still have a tic from that experience. Cleaned the windows, went through the dvd's and put them away and cleaned out my bookcases. Ugh. I'd hoped to avoid this since I'm supposed to be getting a remodel. However, it appears that's not going to be happening for awhile.

Why this big urge to clean? Well, my house was dirty and it needed it, but it also serves a couple of other purposes. When I'm busy and active, I don't feel like eating. It keeps my mind away from those things that bother me and a lot has been on my mind lately. I tend to sink into melancholy if I think about things too much. I crank up my iPod and lose myself to the tasks at hand. It keeps me from worrying about those things I cannot change at this time.

I don't feel like writing right now. I'm in limbo with my last book and I don't have the heart to keep writing on anything new. So I'm trying to use my time constructively. Its too easy for me to lounge in front of the computer lamenting my struggles with writing and publishing. In the meantime, nothing else gets done. I'm hoping a clean house reflects a clean mind. When this is over, I'm hoping my writing juices will charge in and demand to be recognized.

Do you spring clean? Besides the obvious, does diving into a project like spring cleaning have any other benefits?

Verbal Graffiti

I know I haven't been around much and there isn't anything wrong, I just couldn't think of anything to say. Admittedly, this is a hectic time around the ol' ranch with baseball, girl scouts, and the other bazillion activities my family is involved in. Plus the weather changes have been tough. I'm tired more than anything and have the mental agility of a radish right now.

Which brings me to my post. We were sitting at dinner the other night and Diva starts going on about nothing. It started to grate on my ears. She wasn't trying to say anything, just make us aware of her presence with her constant yapping. Anything to grab our focus and make sure it remains on her. If you watch professional sports, verbal grafitti prevails over insightful comments. Its bad enough that we usually use the mute button on the television.

Writers do it too. In some ways, I understand it, there are word counts to meet. But I also think we as writers become enchanted with our own writing. I do it myself. I will go on an on describing the deserted warehouse or the easy chair or the bridal gown, thrilled with the quality of my prose, impressed with myself, then I go back and read it. YAWN!!! Ah well, at least I got it out of my system and didn't let it leave my hard drive like that. Too often I think writers ignore their better sense in favor of their vanity. They don't realize what they are writing is drivel and boring. They create scenes and conflicts that make no sense only to celebrate their own brilliance. I'm sure they see it in a totally different light than I do, but in the end, its what the reader thinks and feels. If we want to publish, we need to satisfy the readers not our own vanity.

Thirteen "Thursday Thirteens" You Will Never See Me Do

1. My Thirteen Favorite Vegetables. Maybe "Tuesday Two" but that's about it.
2. My Thirteen Favorite Tom Cruise Movies. He gives me the creeps.
3. Thirteen Rap Songs I Could Listen to Over and Over Again. I really don't have to explain, do I?
4. Thirteen Things I Love About Golf. Maybe its me, but geez, it seems boring.
5. Thirteen Recipes I Love with Velveeta. I go into convulsions just typing the word.
6. My Thirteen Favorite Danielle Steel Novels. Nuff said.
7. Thirteen Fashion Trends I Loved From the 1980's. Two words: Acid Wash.
8. Top Thirteen Episodes of "Full House." They play this show ad nauseum on Nick at Night. Like banging my head against a brick wall.
9. Thirteen Things I Love About School Mornings. I just spent 10 minutes helping Diva put an outfit together. She's only in 2nd grade. What is she going to be like in Jr. High?
10. Top Thirteen Household Chores. Does sitting on the couch eating bonbons count?
11. Thirteen Exercises I Enjoy. Does sitting on the couch eating bonbons count?
12. Thirteen Places I Enjoy Shopping With My Kids. I'm convinced I did something horrible in another life and am paying for it every time the whole family goes to Costco.
13. My Favorite Thirteen Pepsi Products. Don't care about red states and blue states. My world is divided between Coke and Pepsi.



Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Drooling with Envy

I've been getting Romantic Times off and on for more years than I care to admit. I usually get it for a year or two and forget to read them. I end up with a stack still encased in plastic then I quit getting it.

I recently got another subscription, justifying it as a "marketing tool" to see what the trends were, etc., etc. I did see where there were enough authors attending the convention I could easily become psycho stalker lady. But that's another post entirely.

I didn't really read the reviews. Truth be told, I don't really trust their reviews too much, no one seems to get a bad review. But that's okay, I like to see the synopsis and what's coming up.

But looking through those glossy pages at the little author bios and the advertisements for the books, I could feel myself drooling. I forget sometimes how badly I want to see my name on the cover of a book. Oh, I like to spout about how much its about the writing, how I love to write and am compelled to put words to screen. But like any starlet staring at the silver screen, I envision myself in those pages with my name scrawled across a book. I dream of giving some nonsensical interview where I spout bon mots about my creative process. And none of that has anything to do with the writing. Its the Hollywood red carpet stuff. I don't suppose I'm alone in the envy.

I usually don't talk much about my desires for publication because I try to downplay them myself. I try not let my dreams interfere with my reality. I try to live in the phase that I'm in and not look beyond. Right now, my agent is pitching and submitting my book to editors. That's as far as I can look. Hopefully soon I can look beyond this step. But for now, I will continue to look at my RT with the starry-eyed vision of a teenager reading "Tiger Beat."

Thirteen Things I Hate About Living in California

Gotta take the bad with the good!

1. The weather. About the end of August through September we hit triple digit temperatures. I get real tired of it. Also, we don't have any distinctive change of seasons. Fall loses some of its charm when you are wearing shorts and tee shirts.
2. Theoretically, I can get to Disneyland in 30 minutes...If I leave at 2 a.m. and take the carpool lane. It's more like an hour with the glut of traffic. It takes forever to get anywhere.
3. Same for the beach. It's even worse because most of the traffic is on the last 5 miles. Very frusterating.
4. Gas prices. I filled up my car the other day and it cost me $88. So it really doesn't matter how far places are, I can't afford to drive there anyway.
5. Fires. Every year around October we go up in flames. I've already been evacuated once in the three years I've lived in this particular house and I expect it will happen again. And the air is unbearable.
6. Smog. We've actually improved greatly over the last 20 years, but it is still nasty.
7. Housing prices. A newlywed searching for your first home? "Starter" homes will run you about $350,000-and that's for a fixer upper.
8. Southern California Edison. This company is run by the minions of Satan, I'm convinced. We have decreased our power usage by over a third over the last 2 years. How have we been rewarded? They jacked up our rates.
9. Earthquakes. I live about 10-15 miles from the San Andreas fault so I'm expecting the Big One. I just hope it doesn't screw up my DirecTv and my Internet.
10. Water. Drought is always an issue and again, my water company takes full advantage. We have constant rate hikes no matter what our water table measures.
11. Feb. 5, 2008. California has had its primary election in November, so by the time it roles around, most of the candidates have dropped off. Now we are going to be a part of Super Tuesday and with our numbers, the candidates are going to come in droves. Like I don't have enough trouble with vermin.
12. The Lakers. A 35-32 record? Embarrasing.
13. Celebreties. I live in the land of Lohan, Spears and Hilton. Enough to give you the creeps.



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Uncompromising

I just started watching "House" this season and I'm really hooked. I bought the first two seasons on DVD and my husband and I have been watching them. Hubby has a thing for Drs. Cameron and Cuddy. I'm amazed with the characters and the writing. House is uncompromising as a character. He is so full of qualities we don't admire and yet we can't help watching him. He is an awesome anti-hero. And he doesn't just have quirks, he has full-blown issues. Big, ugly issues we should dislike him for, yet we root for him everytime. The writers have included a great ensemble to surround him, all of them with big issues as well, all of them flawed. House doesn't tiptoe around them either, he is like the proverbial salt in the wound. I love it. My mother loves the show although House himself makes her uncomfortable, particularly the Vicodin addiction. She doesn't like it, but she watches anyway.

I want to write like that. I want to create characters which make people cringe. Its tough, though. Our natural tendency is to create characters who are sympathetic and particularly if you are writing romance, its even tougher. A compelling character is rarely a likeable character. How many times have you seen a movie and come away more interested in the villain than the hero? Goodness is boring.

I think the balance for us that write romance or most genre fiction is to create a good guy with flaws deep enough to create uncomfortable conflicts. I try to start out with a character with an issue so deep it seems unsurmountable then create a story which takes this character up and down a roller coaster of redemption.

What do you do to make your character compelling? How far are you willing to go to make that character difficult?

Cleaning the Closet

Its official, there is nothing to motivate me to exercise and lose weight.

I cleaned out my closet (again) and discovered how many cute clothes I have but can't wear because I've gained to much weight. You think that would motivate me to get out there and lose weight. It doesn't.

My gym is less than a mile from my house. Babysitting is included in my exorbitant monthly fee. They have great facilities and I always see someone I know and like. I should be motivated to go, but I'm not.

Kelly talks about training for some running races she wants to participate in. She is eager to push herself physically and is looking forward to the challenge. I am green with envy. I wish I enjoyed physical activity.

To be honest, I'd rather sit on my butt. The only walking I really want to do is shopping. Not only do I not care for exercise, I love to eat. I am definitely one of those people who lives to eat. And I particularly enjoy things that are bad for me.

My family history is loaded with heart disease. My mother has been on high blood pressure medication forever and my dad has had a stroke. My blood pressure is very good but my cholesterol is very bad. Yet I'm still not motivated.

I'm heading to the gym today and I'm going be watching every bite I eat. Please pass the veggies *shudder*. This is so much harder than writing.

So what do you do to motivate yourself for diet and exercise? Any tips?

Thirteen Things I Love About Living in California

1. The weather. It's going to be 79 degrees today. And its March.
2. I can get to Disneyland in less than 30 minutes.
3. I can get to the mountains in less than 20 minutes.
4. I can get to the beach in less than an hour.
5. Wine.
6. Concert venues. Not so much anymore, but when I was a young singleton I went to concerts practically every weekend.
7. Proximity to Vegas. I don't go all that often, but knowing I can get there by car in less than 4 hours gives me an odd sense of comfort.
8. BPAL. This is for Gypsy. I can go to a brick and mortar sale if I want. They also sell their scents in some of the stores in Hollywood.
9. Did I mention the weather? Bears repeating.
10. Cars. I love cars and we have lots of them. Its like people watching for me.
11. People watching. I love watching people. They fascinate me and we have all kinds here.
12. Museums. While this isn't unique to California, I put it down to remind myself to go this summer.
13. Celebrities. I'm as shallow of a stargazer as they come. Its so cool when you can say "wasn't that so-and-so?" and know it probably was.



Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Secret Identity

Chrys wrote a wonderful post yesterday about "owning it." Writer's tend to be reticent about admitting they are writers. But really, is there any reason we should not be declaring to the world what we are? What are we afraid of?

I'm one of the worse. I don't tell anyone I'm a writer. I'm not embarrassed or anything, I just don't like the questions. Most people I know don't read the genre I write it. Most of them lean more towards the Jodi Picoult style of book. They wouldn't appreciate what I write and that's fine. However, I realized that I'm a few steps closer to publishing. I have an agent, the book is in front of editors, it maybe more of a question of "when" rather than "if." So if I sell and publish am I going to suddenly announce to the world I'm a writer? I can only imagine the weird looks I'm going to get with that one. So after reading Chrys' post, I felt empowered. I decided I wouldn't be shy about admitting my "secret" identity.

Until my MIL came over last night.

"So when is your book coming out?"

Okay, I know I have explained this whole process to her before and now I remember why I don't tell people about my writing. The process of getting published is one people seem not to grasp. I don't think non-writers realize how very difficult it is to get published, particularly these days. Last night, I really didn't want to re-explain what was going on. I didn't want to talk about how a couple of editors have already passed on the project and how there has been no news from the others.

Writing is a personal profession. We invest ourselves into our writing and rejection stings. Yeah, its nothing personal from the other end, but we can't help thinking it is a reflection on us and our talent. For me, writing is too important, being a writer is a facet of my character, one I like to protect and for others to treat it callously is painful. They truly don't mean any harm, but it hurts none the less. How can they be so casual about something so important to me?

Because they have no idea how important it is to me. Because I haven't "owned it" in their presence. I'm certainly not reticent about other things. I'm not sure why I am with writing. Anyway, I can't expect people to appreciate my being a writer until I appreciate it myself.

Accepting Your Voice

Three Cheers for Daylight Savings Time......

I'm waiting....

I'm not loving it myself. It is so dark in the morning! Ugh.

So I didn't do any writing this weekend. Granted, it was busy, cookie sales are still in the forefront and baseball has kicked into high gear. However, I did have time and I did have motivation but I had no inspiration.

I'm in an odd position. The book that is out with editors is a new genre for me but one that obviously flows well with my voice. Great. I have enough of the second book to create a proposal and I like it very much. Awesome. Now what do I do?

My inclination was to do something completely different, like a historical, but now I feel perhaps this is something that needs to move to the back burner. As much as I like to write the genre, perhaps I'm pushing my voice in a way it doesn't want to go.

I've always enjoyed writing a variety of things but I think I need to start focusing on what I'm good at. It might be time to let go of those ideas which probably don't fit with my voice. In some instances, it isn't difficult. I had this romance story idea which revolved around the first female general manager of a Major League Baseball team. Would have been fun, but, well, out in left field for me. I like to write erotica, but I really have no desire to take it all the way. There are a lot of erotica writers out there and most of them probably do it better me.

Its tough for unpubs because we basically have a big wide world of ideas open to us. We don't have the pressure to satisfy an editor or a publisher or even a reading public, we can indulge in our fancies. But I think we all reach a point where we realize we would be better writers if we narrowed our focus.

I'll probably keep trying to write the great historical, but I have to acknowledge it isn't going to be my bread and butter for writing. More like a hobby.

Anyway, have you ever felt this way? Is there a genre you'd love to write but know it isn't likely to happen?