Fun Facts Friday

Another week has gone by and this one seemed a little long. On with the facts.

1. This week was big for me. I sent out queries and started another project, well, two projects. It feels good and awkward, but I'll get there. I'm having the usual feelings of--am I really good enough?--but I'm pushing through.

2. "I Will Survive" has been going through my brain radio. The original version by Gloria Gaynor and the version by Cake.

3. The Hunger Games--sigh. I really did love it. Yes, there were some differences, and yes, the book is better, but I think they did a great job. BTW- I'm Team Peeta.

4. Love this:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZsNlcr4frs4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

(I'm  not sure if it will show up since YouTube gives me trouble.) It brought tears to my eyes. Don't judge a book by its cover.

5. Thanks to Tyrean for the Versatile Blogger Award. Go check out her blog.

What are your weekend plans?

Have you had a fun week?

Have a great weekend!

Pushing reset

It's a strange feeling to start over, basically push reset on the old brain. I've been revising and editing that to start something from the beginning is almost scary. I do have some other projects started, and one to edit, but I'm not sure which one to focus on. I may teeter between two that I've been outlining. It almost like I feel stripped down, like I've had a loss and I'm trying to fill it with something. Weird, I know.

In some ways, it's exciting. A whole new story, new characters, new voice, new possibilities like I'm about to get a make over after losing twenty pounds. It's freeing.

Then I ask myself, "Can I do this again?" I know I can. I've done it before. It's just a feeling and it will pass.

Who knows what will happen, but I'm looking forward to fresh air.

What are your feelings after you finish a project?

Have a great day!

Stepping into the Land of Query

Yep, I started. I sent out a couple of queries. I wasn't sure how I would feel. It's like I was anticipating I'd feel one way, but after I sent them, I felt a little different. It got me thinking of what my Queryland would look like. Most people describe it as hell, which I can see. But are the first moments really like that?

Here's what it's like to me. After pushing the send button, a big gate opened. (Think large wooden gate that's very intimidating and heavy.) When I walk through it, I enter a field of wildflowers that seem to stretch for miles. Beautiful colors of reds, yellows, purples, and blues. They're about waist high, and when a warm breeze blows, they dance. In the blue sky above, there are some clouds that spell the word--Possibilities.

In the distance, I see two pathways. There are cheers and whistles coming from the one on the right. Loud music pumps, while confetti and balloons escape a multi-colored archway. My writer friends stand at the entrance, cheering with drinks in hand. The pink neon sign above says--Acceptance.

Just imaging a big party with balloons and people. Sorry couldn't find the right photo.

The path on the left is a lot different. An archway of dull bare tree limbs, making the path look like a prison. It's dark, and the path itself is full of weeds poking through brick. There is no sound, except for a cricket and maybe a growl, which is kinda scary. Wait. I hear a wolf howling too. The sign above the path is worn and the edges of the wood is stained with mold. It reads--Rejection.

This land is scary, but exciting. It's a step, and I don't know where it will go. I have my predictions and I'm not setting the bar too high. I'm being realistic. For now, I'm going to lay a blanket in the field of Possibilities and enjoy the sun.

What does your Queryland look like or what do you think it would look like?

Believe it or not--I haven't been checking my email like crazy. I'm being realistic and not expecting much.

BTW- I saw The Hunger Games--so great! Me likey lots.

Have a great day!

That movie

So it's here. The Hunger Games movie. I'm wicked excited. I'm going this evening. I've got kids and stuff. I know, no excuse.

Anyway, who went to the midnight showing? You may be sleeping cause you partied all night in celebration or something. Lucky you. :) But if you so happen to be awake, let me know.

Also, share your thoughts. Is it close to the book? Is it the way you pictured it? Spill it people. :)

Have a great weekend!

Simple

So, I'm keeping this short. I had this post written out in my head, but my morning time is not allowing me to write it. Yep, mornings are ridiculously hectic. I decided to ask my fellow blogging buddies a question. Simple, right?

With the Hunger Games movie coming out this week, I thought I'd keep in the spirit of the big screen.

What book would you like to see made into a movie and why? See, simple.

Have a great day!

*Yes, my brain is fried from edits. I'm almost done.
**The picture of Peeta and Gale is bigger because that's just the way it is. I had no power over the size. Okay, I did, but the small poster looked blurry when I made it bigger.

Monday Mumbles

It's Monday. Yep, Monday totally makes my brain tired just by saying the word. I hope everyone has recovered from the weekend. I'm still super sleepy and have a ton of edits to get back to, so this will be quick.

In an earlier post, I talked about a writing exercise where you add a character to an existing TV show or movie (fan fiction). Here's another non-traditional and easy way to get your juices flowing. It's something I've been doing for a very long time. Using music. Usually when music hits me a certain way, characters will make an appearance and show me a scene in their life, which then develops into a full fledged novel. But what I want to talk about is another way to pump up your brain by using music. This is how it works.

Take you favorite song or any song.

Got it. Now play it and listen to the words. Really listen.

Try and form a video from it--in your head. Let the music guide you to what you might think the video would or should be like.

See it.

Now write it. Develop it. It doesn't have to be long. Use the senses, set the setting, create the characters (or use the band) . . . feel it. You may be surprised what you might create.

It's fun and it gets the mind moving. Plus, you get to listen to some great music, and you may get some exercising by dancing to it (if it's fast).

How was your weekend?

Did you get your Hunger Games tickets? I did. So excited!!

Have a great day!

Fun Facts Friday

This week basically wiped me out.  Well, my post is green today. I'm not Irish, but I like to participate. I want to go to Ireland some day. So, this the St. Patty's Day edition.

1. Today, I'm making corn beef and cabbage. Yep, celebrating St. Patty's day early.

2. My kids will be making green, yes I said green, rice krispie treats. It's funny how they will eat a green rice krispie treat, but will not touch a pea.

3. Don't forget to have a black and tan or a Guinness. Or both.

4. Also, a shamrock shake from McDonald's. Although, I would drink the shamrock shake before the beer. Just sayin'.

5. Don't forget Irish potatoes. Cinnamon, coconut and . . . I forget what else is in them, but they are darn good.

Now, go crank up some Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphy's and have fun.

Do you have any St. Patty's Day traditions?

Have a great weekend!

That feeling

So I've been flying through a book that I have to say I love. The voice is fantastic, and you know me and voice--it equals total pink hearts swirling around my head. The thing that gets me after the love haze clears for a second is the thought that I'm so not up to that level. I mean really, me querying my piece of yuck. How do I even measure up to that? Total rejection for sure. What am I thinking?

Then after I freak out a little more and let the voices of my writer friends enter my head, I calm down and think.

It takes practice, and hard work. 

You have to push yourself beyond where you ever thought possible.

You have to take one step at a time.

You will write crap and you will fail, but you have to keep going. I'm pretty sure the author of this book went through the same thing.

Different voices all going through my head, reminding me to stay on track. I love my writer friends. No, I'm not crazy, at least, I don't think I am. I would think my writer friends would've told me. Oh boy, new story idea.

Anyway, the point is these books will come along, and yes, you will feel inadequate, but you have to keep in mind a few things. You have to look at the experience of that author. If they've been doing this for a while then they are seasoned. They also have editors. Plus, you have to look at you. You need to keep going and learning and you will get there.

Have you had this feeling before?

By the way--This is what I'm reading:

Have a great day!

Take the Over out of Overthink

This is something I am 100% guilty of--overthinking. I've done it all my life and never realized I was doing it till recently. In some ways, it can be good, but most of the time, it stinks. It turns into things becoming super complicated, which is totally not fun.

In writing, it has led my MS to taking forever to complete (feels like a lifetime). Why? I have gone over it and over it, adding this, deleting that, trying to twist it into something epic. I know that doesn't so sound bad, right? The problem is--I had way too much going on. In other words, I was trying way too hard and it wound up that I had way too many different plot issues and character issues that it basically became overwritten. It stinks and I guess I thought that it had to be super complicated to catch the eye of a reader or make a scene stand out.

The deal was --I had witches, and aliens along with some ghosts and fairies, can you say crowded and confusing. It was really hard for me to understand that less is more and that I need to step back and simplify. Simplify. A word that isn't used much in my vocabulary. A word that doesn't usually make an appearance in my real life. But why not? At first, I couldn't fathom it at all. Really, how do you simplify anything. Because in my real life, it felt like I looked at everything as hard, and I couldn't understand how others did it so easily. Then I realized what the reason was-- I was making it that way. I'd dwell over the stupidest things. Thinking about them over and over, which resulted in complete over complication=stress and feeling a little helpless. Even the simplest conversations were made into so much more in my head. Dumb.

So I decided to try this simplify thing. I took a step back, let out a breath and stripped things away, letting things be the way they're supposed to be. Straightforward, may be the right word. I didn't over analyze emails thinking that people didn't like me because sometimes in my head I thought they meant something else. I took it for what it was. An email. A simple, friendly conversation. Then I did it to my MS. It's funny because when I did, the story flowed better and felt light and easy. Now, I did feel a little like-- no way that's it, but others have told me to leave it alone and move on. Not to dwell.

It's not easy to simplify. I know that sounds weird to some, but it's true. The thing is you have to trust yourself and let things just be. I don't have the exact answer and I can't even fully describe how it feels, but you step back and let go. I think that's the only way to describe it.

Do you overthink? How do you stop?

Have a great day!

Fun Facts Friday

Oh, what a week. I actually edited 6 chapters. It's funny, it sounds like a lot, but when I look at the whole MS, it's not much. Oh well, I must move on.

On with the facts.

1. Has anyone seen AWAKE? (I'm talking the TV show not your current state of being.) Lots of hub bub about it. I'm certainly watching. Very interesting.

2. I'm about to read this for the Philly Book Club (a club formed from the genius minds of Frankie Diane Mallis and K.M. Walton):

I've heard I may need some tissues.

3. Starting to get the 'fear of the query' syndrome. I'm so nervous to start, and yes, I'm beginning to have nightmares that not one agent requests even a partial. So scared.

4. I'm in love with ETSY. Such cute things. I can't stand it. I'm such a sucker.

 5. I've realized when I post a picture like this: 

I get lots of comments. I didn't realize there were so many Angel and Spike fans. Makes me smile. It was such a great show.

6. Did I mention I can't wait for this:

7. Okay, so this one is not a fact, but a question, for, well, research for me. Do you believe that some other living form exists somewhere out in space? Yes, I'm talking aliens/extra terrestrials. If you do, why? If you don't, why not?

There are the facts. Do you have any interesting facts you'd like to share?

Have a great weekend!

What's hot?

So, what is the next big YA thing? I don't know. Although, it doesn't effect what I write, I just find it interesting. When Twilight came out, it seemed like everyone and their mother was writing a vampire book, and now the dytopians have taken over. It's interesting to me. So, what's next? The fairies and the mermaids are having moments, and angels, well, we know they have experienced some attention. There are a some contemporaries that are taking readers by storm. Lots of them great stories and some maybe not. It's all subjective, remember?

My favorite vamps. I don't know why, but lately I'm missing this show and yes, this really has nothing to do with my post. Okay, maybe a little, but not much.

In the world of interior design, we have a thing called color forecasting. A group of people forecast (they do research and stuff) what colors will be the 'must have' paint color combo of the year. I find it so fascinating because that's usually the first question some clients ask me. What's popular now? or What is the next big thing? What's funny is--it's all subjective. If you like it--do it. If not, don't do it because it's what's hot right now because you'll hate it in a few years. Of course, if you have tons of money and don't mind re-doing it over then okay, but not all of us have this luxury.

Color forecasting chart for 2013-2014.

Same goes for writing. If you are writing something simply because you think people will love it because it's hot right now or may be the up and coming thing and you will get an in and make tons of money, please make sure you love it. What I'm saying is write what you love, not what's popular. Most of the books that are up and coming and popular were not written for that reason. They were written from the author's heart. What do you think?

Questions of the day:

What do you like to write?

What do you think will be the up and coming flavor?

Also, head on over to Alex J. Cavanaugh's blog to see the amazing participants for The Insecure Writer's Support Group. I forgot to do my post today. Shame on me. See what deep edits do to ya (yes, I'm sort of losing my mind. That should've been my post). So, go and check them out.

Have a great day!

Inspirational Monday

It's Monday. Yep, first day of the week. I can't say it's my favorite day, but you have to get through it. So, I thought I would put together some quotes to get you pumped.

"This is for writers yet to be published who think the uphill climb will never end. Keep believing. This is also for published writers grown jaded by the process. Remember how lucky you are."

- Terry Brooks

"Screw the fear."

- Jo Leigh

"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity."

- Albert Einstein

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your dreams. Small people always do that, but the really great ones make you feel that you too, can become great."

- Mark Twain

"When asked, 'How do you write?'
I invariably answer, 'one word at a time.'”

- Stephen King

Some of these I've used before, some I've just found. A little inspiration never hurts. In the up and coming months, I will be needing quotes like this on a daily basis (not that I don't need them now). I hope this puts a little smile into your day and a little motivation to have a productive and fun week.

What are your goals this week?

Now, get to work.

Have a great day!



Wow! It's super dark.

So, I'm deep within my revision cave. In fact, the batteries on my little lamp are dying, but I'm trying to finish the most tedious part of writing (at least it is in my mind). Line edits. Holy cow. It's something you can't rush on, but you want to get it done because it twists your brain like a pretzel and your eyes feel like they're permanently crossed.

A little creepy, and it's pretty dark.

I know everything must be polished before that query goes out so I'm trying here. The patience is getting antsy, but I'm learning how to tame that beast.

The question is how long will I be in this crazy dark hole? I'm hoping a month max., but you never know. So what happens if I'm here longer? I would need food, water, a bed, shower (trust me I'm not an outdoorsy gal). Since I already have lappy, I will also need books, journals, MP3 player...chocolate. I would also have to decorate (the interior designer in me can't just live in the dark). I wonder what that would look like.

Who knows, if I'm here long enough my cave could wind up looking like this:

See lighter paint color, lighter mood. Plus shelves and even a window.

Or this:

Gotta have space to entertain, when I have crit partner or book club meetings.

Or this:

Okay, so this might be overboard, but if I'm here too long this is what will happen.

See what happens when you are in the revision cave too long.

What would you need in your cave?

What would you want your cave to look like?

Have a great weekend!