TKP - Stronger and Wider

Okay, so I had this great idea for my Kindness Project post this week! All my fellow posters (below) are always so inspirational and moving and great, and I'm usually floundering.

So I was in church Sunday night, and the speaker talked about David and achieving a hard-earned success. (When he became king at last.)

She said when people achieve success, they often change. But the change isn't always good.

(Argh. I should've saved the program because now I'm having a hard time remembering exactly how she put it.) 


Basically, she said something like for some, achieving a level of success means becoming more removed or distanced from others because the new role takes more time, or there are more responsibilities...

I felt like I could see how that could happen. Perhaps there's even an element of, "I did it. Now I have to work even harder to stay here." I don't know.

But she admonished us to do like David did. She said once he became king, his embrace grew stronger and his arms opened wider. (Then a few years passed and he kind of got off track, but that's not the point here.)

This is about when good things start happening, when you achieve that level of success, don't forget to keep looking around. Don't change. Keep looking for ways to help others and keep spreading the love.

Very Kindness Project, right?

I'm still working toward my level of success, so I'm still excited to tell folks about great writers I've encountered. (Honestly, I don't ever see that changing.) Below are three great editing clients I've worked with this year who you will LOVE:

#1-Alex Clermont came to me from ... I don't remember where. But he wanted to make a book from a series of blog posts written during his time as a teacher in South Korea.

I have to confess, I wasn't sure if what he was sending would hang together. But the truth is, it does.

Alex's book is soul-bearing, it's painfully honest. He's not afraid to tell the truth, even if you might get mad at him. And it's so good. I smiled, I cried... You will love this book.

Get it here:
-Amazon (link)
-Barnes & Noble (link)
-Website (link)

Mary Pax is one of the most fun science fiction storytellers I know. I'm not kidding. I look forward to getting her manuscripts to edit, despite the creatures who populate them.

I don't like creatures, and I'm always cheering for hers!

M. Pax

She's the self-publishing heir to Star Trek: The Next Generation. 

Get your fix here, FREE:
-Amazon (link)
-Barnes & Noble (link)
-Website (link)

Finally, Elle Strauss was my first editorial client. I was so touched that she supported my little editing business right away, and she still sends me clients.

For a contemporary YA romance writer, Elle can write the absolute most amazing war scenes.

(I know, right? And we thought she just did YA romance.) But I'm not kidding. The first book I edited of hers was set during WWII, and it was engrossing.

Anyway, she's got a new (non war) book out, and for now, it's FREE! Here's the blurb:

Elle Strauss

A teen swim athlete discovers a merfolk world that threatens to keep her out of the ocean forever.

Dori Seward can’t wait to get out of Eastcove, a sleepy fishing village on the border of New Brunswick and Maine. She bides her time by hanging out with friends, attending swim club, and holding her biggest competition, Colby–who wants more than just friendship, at arm’s length. 

Then Tor Riley comes to town and he has everything Dori dreams of in a boyfriend–looks, athleticism and mystery.

But Tor also has a tantalizing secret and Dori is determined to find out what it is. The truth is crazier than her wildest imaginations and more dangerous, too.

Dori has new fantastical enemies , and they will do anything to get to her.

Her life, her dreams and her love for Tor are all weighing in the balance. Will Dori risk it all in order to have it all?

Get it here, also FREE:
-Amazon (link)
-Website (link)

Finally, the BONUS, is one of our fellow posters, Megan Spooner (link), has a new book SKYLARK coming out, and she's got a contest going where everybody wins.

No lie. Everybody. Go here for more information (link).

That's it for me, kids. I'm so sorry I've been absentee lately. I'm revising like a mad woman, the girls are home from school, and we've been visiting relatives out of town. All of this equals me having a hard time getting around. But trust me, I miss you more than you miss me.

Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends! Please visit the other TKP posters listed below~ <3

Alina Klein                             Katharine Owens 
Andrea Hannah                      Len Lambert
Barbara Watson                     Liza Kane
Carolina Valdez Miller            Lola Sharp
Christa Desir                          Lindsay Scott
Claire Hennessy                     Matthew MacNish (available Jul 16)
Elana Johnson                        Michele Shaw
Elizabeth Davis                      Sarah Fine
Elizabeth Poole                      Sara Larson 
Erica Chapman                      Sara McClung
Jessica Corra                         Sophia Chang
Leigh Moore                          Tracey Neithercott

TKP, Faith & the Farm

So when bloggy friend Carol Miller (link) invited me to join The Kindness Project, naturally I declined. "I don't post on Wednesdays," I said.

Then I got to thinking about it, and I decided I'm not that old. I can be a little more flexible. And here I am.

I'm a week late because I wanted to see what everybody else did before I posted. But I'm still a little stumped about what to say... Kindness is one of those things I feel like I should do.

The Kindness Project is supposed to be inspirational. It's to remind us that even when we're feeling unkind, still be kind. That alone can make a significant difference in the world both for us and for others.

That's really cool. And really hard.

Last week, members posted about all sorts of things, and they were all good. The most meaningful to me, however, was by our fearless leader. Carol took the day to quote from Mother Teresa. Here's the part I liked best: 

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. 
Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. 
It was never between you and them anyway.

Powerful stuff.

It's a good day for me to try TKP. I've had an interesting thing come my way recently, and I can't wait to tell you all about it. I have to wait, but you'll understand soon.

So it's cool, but at the same time, I'm still feeling weighed down and Anxious.

I'm second-guessing my decisions, and I feel like I'm always looking over my shoulder. The old timers tell us not to be suckers. Don't be so eager to get published that you give away the farm.

At the same time, I wonder, "Didn't those old timers have to give away part of the farm to get to the point of being able to say things like 'Don't give away the farm'?" Is it possible to get where you want to be without sacrificing anything?

I've never been very good at leaps of faith. I'm super Type A. I like all my ducks behaving just like I expect them to behave, and if I tell you I'll have something for you tomorrow, well, you'll probably get it today.

I'm rambling, but my point is I do have faith. And I do make thoughtful decisions and not foolish ones, and when I'm at that point where I've done all I can do, I... struggle very hard with letting it go. So I try to remind myself of that faith part again. 

Source

Perhaps I've drifted from the kindness, but in the final analysis, it is between you and God.

Are you doing your best? Doing good work? Keeping in touch... (Wait, that's Garrison Keillor--!)

I'm sorry, Carol. I'm screwing this all up. Somebody make a goofy sound effect or talk in a funny voice...

Maybe we can just keep on encouraging each other. I know you do that for me all the time. Thank you~

Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends. I'll do better next time. <3

New Schedule and a BIG Congratulations!

First, a big, huge congratulations to my awesome bleep, critter, birthday twin, and fab writer-friend Tami Hart Johnson, who is officially a national bestselling author!!!

Bestselling author

I'm just bursting over here, so you can imagine how she feels. Here, go check her out (link).

And grab your copy of her debut cozy mystery The Azalea Assault (link)! (The cover and link are also in my sidebar -->)

As for my New Schedule, starting Wed., June 20, I'm moving my weekly post mid-week to take part in a very awesome blogging event called The Kindness Project.

I'll do my first post next week. (I'm late, I know, but I just found out last night, and I need to see how it's done!)

For now, here's what it is, and feel free to join me now or in July:

Too often kindness is relegated to a random act performed only when we’re feeling good. But an even greater kindness (to ourselves and others) occurs when we reach out even when we aren't feeling entirely whole. 

It’s not easy, and no one is perfect. But we’ve decided it’s not impossible to brighten the world one smile, one kind word, one blog post at a time. To that end, a few of us writers have established The Kindness Project, starting with a series of inspirational posts. We post the second Wednesday of every month.

Want to join us? Grab our button and spread a little kindness.

In the meantime, check out our other cool participants listed below, and I'll see you back here Wednesday! Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends~ <3

The Kindness Project

Sophia Chang                         Sara Larson

Erica Chapman                      Matthew MacNish

Jessica Corra                         Sara McClung

Elizabeth Davis                      Leigh Moore

Christa Desir                          Tracey Neithercott

Sarah Fine                              Katharine Owen

Claire Hennessy                     Elizabeth Poole

Elana Johnson                        Lola Sharp

Amie Kaufman                        Michele Shaw

Liza Kane                                Meagan Spooner                     

Alina Klein                               Carolina Valdez Miller

Blogs & Pinterest & Zombies

I just read another post about how blogging isn't what it was a year ago. Many of this writer's friends are no longer posting, and s/he laments, "Blogging is dead."

My daughter recently got an iPod Touch. It comes with the same iMessage app the iPhone has. First, she could only text me. Now she has two friends she can text. One million text messages later...

zombie scanner app

Seriously, she texts constantly. Occasionally they also jump on Facetime and talk, but then they're right back to texting.

The good news is, I've got an easy thing to ground when she misbehaves or doesn't do her homework. My point is I expect this behavior to level out once the novelty is gone. 

Maybe that's a faulty analogy. Regardless, I'm not so ready to declare blogging dead. It's like any other social media--it works for some people, it doesn't for others.

Blogging moves slower, it requires brains, and Blogger often makes users emit weird noises... Much like a zombie.

Personally, I find Twitter bewildering. It's like I'm posting my random thoughts in the hopes one of my friends might be online at that moment to catch me and reply.

I've been admonished for this Luddite approach: Some other tweeter might respond, and I could make a new friend!

*nom nom nom*

But I'm kind of suspicious that way, and I'm not the type of person who chats with strangers about randomness. (Hmm... wait.)

My husband and I have lived in four different states and have friends all over the world. We use Facebook to keep up with everybody, share pictures, make jokes, remember when, share music, share movies, etc.

(Attention investors: I've never used it to buy or sell anything.)

I've always loved art and fashion and looking at photography in magazines. I also like finding unique items to buy and wear (or to dream of buying and wearing).

Me on Pinterest

Pinterest is the absolute most amazing outlet for my love, and every pin's a link to where you can find the item!

I don't use it to sell anything, but I have used it to buy stuff. (Attention investors: This one's sheer marketing genius.)

Goodreads I use when I remember to. Tumblr is simply baffling...

This silly little blog has done amazing things for me. I've had to cut back on posting, but...  (If you can recite my story, please skip to the "resume.")

I started this blog reluctantly, not expecting anything from it. I didn't know what to write about, and I didn't know a single other person with a blog.

Gradually, I met other blogging writers. We shared our writing mistakes, problems, fears, discoveries, ideas, successes, etc. Now we have a pretty tight circle of writer-friends, and I know of at least two who've sailed up the Amazon charts using blog tours.

For me, blogging has provided critique partners, feedback on short writing samples, actual writer friends, an agent. 

When I launched my editing business last year, blogger friends sent me clients, became clients, posted about it, told me where I could advertise. Now I have a steady stream of business. (Resume.)

Wait. That did all happen a year or more ago! Maybe they're right! It is dead, and I'm hanging out with... (insert shocking music) Zombies!!!

I think it's more as a good blogging friend (M. Pax, link) said last week on another good friend's blog (link): You've got to find the social media outlet that suits your personality. Then you've got to interact with others using it.

Then she said, "Muuhhh... brains... nom nom nom..."

What do you guys think? Am I missing it? How do you view the social media outlets? Why are you still blogging--or are you quitting? Any good brain recipes?

Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends! <3

Back, Books, and Breakouts

I'm Back! And I have to confess. last month was a total blur. Finished my WIP, revised it, prepped another MS for subs...

Let me start off saying a Big Congratulations! to everyone who completed the A-Z Challenge. I couldn't do it this year, but I think more than a thousand of you did. Great work!

The second of my three Bs up there is a new Book! is coming out June 5, and it is awesome.

Some of you might know Tami Hart Johnson, The Watery Tart, and my critter extraordinaire (link). She's writing a new mystery series. Here's my review of Book 1:

AZALEA ASSAULT (June 5) (link)
by Alyse Carlson (that's TH's pen name)

The first in a new series of gardening-themed mysteries led by amateur sleuth Camellia "Cam" Harris, it's layered and unexpected and very fun. (I kept thinking I knew who the killer was, and I was wrong every time!)

Cam is a lovable, grown-up Nancy Drew-style main character. She's the new PR person for the Roanoke Garden Society, and she's suddenly faced with a murder to manage in her old home town.

She learns new things about her old friends, and as the story progresses, everyone takes a turn being favorite suspect.

It's a quick read, and Carlson kept me guessing all the way to the end. If you're a friend or blog-follower,  you'll enjoy catching dashes of the author's trademark, sassy humor throughout.

Even if you're not a regular cozy-mystery reader, do give this one a whirl. It's twisty, turny, and tons of fun! Can't wait to see what mystery Cam tackles next (in "The Begonia Bribe").

Here's the link to it on Amazon (link). Get it!

Finally, for the Breakout (not acne). Last year about this time, I did a post about my memories of the Kentucky Derby. That post is here (link) if you're interested.

On Saturday, I was all prepared to root for Take Charge Indy or Union Rags, when a 15 to 1 shot, a Mexican jockey riding in his very first Derby on Cinco de Mayo, came out from behind and won the race.

Here's the link to coverage. (link)

I think they said the owner--a man who used to work two jobs, one of which was laying telephone wire at night--bought the winner I'll Have Another (cookie) for $11K.

Source

His son wants to get a hot tub with their winnings.

How much fun is that?

Yes, friends, I confess. I'm a romantic old derby fan, and that was what it's all about.

Dreams. Inspiration.

Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends. It's good to be back! And if you would, leave me an update in the comments section. I'd love to hear your news~ <3

Show Me the Story

I'm on the eve of returning to my YA sci-fi, and I have to confess... I'm wigging.

I started this MS in the spring of 2010 after finishing the MS that's about to go out on subs now. It's appropriate because I started it to distract myself from querying that MS. My path has been so odd.

Anyway, I'm not freaked because I've forgotten it or anything. I remember the story I had in my head very clearly, and it's only changed a little. Also I still have all the notes I wrote about the other world and the aliens, etc.

(Did I just type the word aliens?)

See? That's the part that's got me nervous.

Mississippi, I-49 to I-20

JRM is my alpha reader. He's also my beta reader, he's also my best critter, he's also my post- post-revisions reader. And my constant encourager. Bless his heart.

So I'd completed three manuscripts in the spring of 2010 and was getting serious feedback from agents on the third when he said, "I wish you'd write a sci-fi for me to read."

Then we took a road trip from Spanish Fort (Ala.) to Ruston (La.), and the entire drive from the bottom to the (almost) top of Mississippi, at every road sign, he'd toss out something like, "They could live in Dabb Creek."

A few miles later, I'd add, "And Prentiss could have a brother named Braxton."

It actually got pretty good. Good enough that when I got home, I sat down and pounded out about 15K words of Prentiss's story, including her boyfriend Jackson, Jackson's best friend D'Lo, anemic Flora, and Cato. See the road-map of Mississippi, I-49 to I-20; they're all there.

Now it's time to finish it.

But I've never really done sci-fi. I mean, I loved Star Wars like every other kid my age, and when we all get together to watch it again, I can sit there and quote every character's lines for you.

And sure, I grew up thinking Flash Gordon was cool, and Xanadu was another favorite of mine. But that was more for the ELO than the story. (Or the acting--yikes!)

Then I sat down and flipped through Entertainment Weekly, and I came across this interview with Jim Rash (link). He won the Oscar for his screenplay The Descendants, and he plays the dean on NBC's Community (a show I love--in particular his character).

Dean Dean

IRL, he's a professor with The Groundlings, a comedy theater in LA that's produced actors like Kristin Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Maya Rudolph, Will Ferrell...

Anyway, Rash said this: "We're not here to teach you how to be funny. I don't care if any of this stuff is funny. I just want to see the story."

I know, the path my brain takes is sometimes hard to follow, but that encouraged me. I'm just a storyteller, right? All I can do is write the best story possible and see what happens. (And stop psyching myself out.)

This could be my biggest fail yet, but who knows. I'll run it through my alpha, beta, eta beta pi reader, and see what he thinks. I'll let you know. Wish me luck!

More soon, reader- and writer-friends~ <3

Once Upon a Time... Origins

DL Hammons (link), captain Alex (link), non-creepy expat Katie (link), and Mr. Q3E (link) are hosting this "Origins" blogfest.

We're to share how we started writing, blogging, or both.

For blogging, my story's pretty short: Janet Reid (link) said writers weren't ready to query unless they had an "online presence"--and Facebook doesn't count.

So I started a blog and coerced all my friends and family to follow. About six months later, I'd met many of you guys, and here we are. And it was the best decision ever--it led to my awesome betas/critters, it led to my agent, it led me to you...

As for writing, it's a bit longer. I wrote my first "book" when I was seven or eight. It was a sci-fi graphic-novel called Fury Woman. It was about a lady scientist who'd spilled acid on her face and turned evil.

almost-Fury Woman

I don't remember what she did when she was evil, but I do remember she looked just like Natasha Fatale from the Bullwinkle & Rocky show. Only with bigger eyebrows and a mole--those features were distorted by the acid.

Later I wrote another book that was illustrated by my bestie Dara (Rush) Bartee called Dignity & Detriment.

It had nothing to do with Pride & Prejudice, but there were princesses. I think there were also unicorns...

So it was always sort of me telling stories. Mostly to myself. Sometimes to my mom or Dara.

One day when I was a freshman in high school, I read something my brother had written for English class (he was a senior), and it literally blew me away. I couldn't believe he'd written it and I was so... burned.

How could he write that well? He didn't even want to write! He wanted to be a lawyer. (He now works in human resources and to my knowledge never writes creatively.)

But I followed his example and started taking my school writing assignments more seriously. I joined the newspaper staff, did some short fiction writing for school anthologies--and was always embarrassed by my lack of edginess compared to my peers.

My mom said I'd be a novelist then, but I quickly told her no way.

Real writers weren't dorks like me. And besides, I didn't have that... thing... that It... real writers have. I'd never write a book.

Still, I majored in English at LSU (geaux, Tigers!). I wrote some poetry for a while that made that same brother of mine cry when he read it. But when I showed it to a poetry professor at LSU, he said it was pretty derivative and not so great.

JRM said that guy was a tool, but the professor spoke words I believed.

So I stopped writing poetry.

I got my master's in mass communications and edited other people's writing for a while. I learned to write news articles and did that for a while, too. I pretty much did everything in communications, from public relations writing to television production to news writing to magazine writing and editing...

Then in 2002-03, I had two lovely little girls.

Then in Fall 2009, I sat down and started writing my first book. In December of that year, I told JRM what I was doing.

That's my origin story! Hope you liked it, reader- and writer-friends. If you'd like to read some of our other bloggy friends's stories, go here (link).

Have a great week! <3

George R.R. Martin Cares

Everybody's reading that Song of Ice and Fire (or watching Game of Thrones, the HBO show based on it). A few of my male friends here keep talking about it, and I think Matt R. (link) even did a post about it last week on the Q3E.

I'll just go ahead and put it out there: I'll probably never read this book. It's not my genre, and it's 4,000 pages long. Yes.

But in the Dec. issue of Entertainment Weekly, they named their "Entertainers of the Year," and George R.R. Martin (the author) was one of them. (link)

Amy Poehler wrote a little blurb about him and why she likes him so much, which brings me to this post.

She said, "He cares about what happens to his characters as much as we do."

I'm always interested in what readers like about their favorite books, because I want to see if there's some way I can *do that* as I write.

Anyway, so caring about your characters. That's a given, right?

Well, I got to thinking about this, and I confess, I haven't always done it. I'm thinking of one of my villains in particular. He's a bad dude, and I didn't want to get to know him. I didn't want to be in his head as I wrote.

But that's the thing. You have to care about every one of your characters--even the bad ones, even the minor ones, even the ones who just get you from here to there.

What motivates them? What are they hoping to get out of life? Why are they in the way of the main character or helping him or her get to wherever s/he's going?

I'm not saying every book needs to be 4,000 pages long, because... well, see above reason. But it should at least show that every character is a known entity and someone we care enough about to understand.

What do you guys think? Am I the only one digging this?

In other News: Our buddy DL Hammons (link) is hosting the Semi-Finals Round of WRiTE CLUB this week. (Two different entries face off every day.)

One of the competing entries this week will be mine, but I won't tell you which--or which day b/c I don't know. But if you would, try to run over every day and vote/leave a comment. All the contenders will appreciate it.

Thanks!

And have a great week, reader- and writer-friends! <3

Francis Ford Coppola Does It

OK, I did it again. I got another Fresh Air podcast inspiration.

But this time I was listening to Francis Ford Coppola talking about his film career and being a writer. I mean, sure. It's screenwriting. But he had the greatest advice.

I was kind of already doing it (bet some of you were, too), so in truth, it was the greatest affirmation.

He said, "When you're writing, just keep writing."

OK, that's not exactly what he said.

The gist of what he said was that young writers don't trust themselves. They go back and read those first five pages right after they've written them, and lots of times, they tear them up.

Along with some potentially good ideas or inspiration.

(Historical Note: FFC's old, children. Back in the day, writers used to write stuff on paper. Which they cold tear. His point is sort of the equivalent of deleting it all today.)

Back to Frank! He said to write, write, write. (Just keep swimming.) Then put it away for a day or so (Stephen King says a month, doesn't he?), and then go back and read it.

Give yourself a chance to forget it, and then read it with fresh eyes.

It's something I tell my editing clients all the time. Take a break. Let it rest a few days to a week. You'll be amazed how different it'll look.

He also admitted that he copied all his favorite screenwriters and directors.

He confessed that his movie The Conversation was based on some movie he loved and wanted to copy.

And then he said the most important point: But that's impossible!

Which I interpreted this way: It's okay to emulate, to strive to write something like that book you love so much.

(The one that made you almost give up on writing because you'd never in a million years be able to ever write anything that good. Ever.)

I'm not talking about plagerism, as I've said before. I'm talking about being inspired. Being challenged. Being ticked off (or depressed) by other writers.

And then getting in there and trying to beat them, depending on your personality.

I'm a bit competitive, so after I get over the wallowing and the "Oh, I'll never write as good as Jessica Bell!" I get up, dust myself off, and then get ready to kick her tushie. (*wink*)

Yes?

OK, so here's the link to that podcast (link). And now hit it! I want to see some drills. Jumping jacks. Drop and give me 20K (words, that is)!

Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends! I'm planning to get some of my own revisions done this week. More soon~ <3

MLK, Joan Rivers, and Yoda

First, Happy Martin Luther King, Jr., day! I wrote a post about Dr. King that you can see here (link).

It's incredibly inspiring to remember people who have dreams, and who go after them in the face of such terrible realities.

I have a dream, although it's not as world-changing as MLK's.

And at the beginning of this month, I was pretty low thinking about it and where I am in the process. I was driving to the store in the snow and Fresh Air was playing.

I've shared my love of NPR podcasts before--remember Gazumping? (link)

Well, this time T.G. was interviewing Louis C.K., and they played a clip from his Fox television show. In this particular clip Joan Rivers scolds Louie for quitting his gig after discovering he can't insult Donald Trump onstage in a Trump hotel.

Her words really hit home for me and how I was feeling that day. See, I was having a little writer's pity-party and telling myself I couldn't do it anymore. (TMI: It was also that time of the month, so there might also have been some hormones involved.)

Anyway, here's the short version of what she said (and remember, this is for me, but I thought you might like it):

"You know what's wrong with you guys? You don't know when you're lucky. Appreciate where you are for god's sake."

For some reason, that lifted my little chin. (The entire episode's worth a listen--if you're interested, here's the link.)

It's like what Yoda told Luke Skywalker when Luke was doing his Jedi training. The part about how a Jedi focuses on the present and isn't distracted by all the "what ifs." (Right?)

So look around. Appreciate where you are and what you're learning and who you're meeting. And don't forget to keep swimming. 

Til next time~ <3

You are here

There's just something about wanting to be there. Be a part of it. The whole Lost Generation, the beret-wearing allness of it.

The smooth jazz, coffee sipping, red-wine drinking, not caring about any of it It.

The whole, I believed. I gave everything I had. I've been lied to. I've lost it all. I have nothing left to lose...

I don't care if I lose it all. Just to be able to say I did...

The joy of it. The dance. The sipping and dipping and squeezing. The taste of eclairs or creme-filled croissants or seafood seasoned just delicately enough. Or meat, marinated for a good eight hours in garlic, red wine, onion, black pepper, and then cooked for another six hours on low heat...

The sounds of crashing waves and the feel of briny salt air on your face.

Nope. It's true. I still haven't seen Midnight in Paris.

But I have lived in south Louisiana and on the Gulf Coast, and well, I guess for us, that's about as good as it gets.

It's that weird break between Christmas and the New Year when anything's possible. When it's all suspended and everything's wishes and twilight.

I'd love to be in the writing cave, but instead I'm on the road. Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends. See you next week~ <3

Blogfest Special: Deja Vu

My good friends DL, Lydia, Katie, and Nicole are hosting this fun fest in which we dig up old posts that didn't get much "play" or that are favorites or whatnot.

This was hard! And as a result, I might sprinkle in some recycled posts in the upcoming weeks.

But anyway, without further ado, a fun rerun and looking forward to seeing what I've missed!

Cups of Literary Tea, July 2010

I'm not much of a tea drinker. I wish I were, because it sounds so refined and elegant.

I mentioned in a previous post that my first boss when I was an editor at LSU was from England, and she observed a strict tea time every day, complete with cookies (biscuits). She taught me so many little niceties.

Anyway, so I've been thinking about books and genre and what appeals to different readers and what doesn't. Of course, I was also thinking about agents...

The other night I looked at JRM and me sitting up in bed reading. He was holding a block of wood entitled TRUMAN. I was clutching my shiny copy of Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side. Being naturally curious, I leaned over to him.

LTM: What's Truman doing?
JRM: They're making the atomic bomb.
LTM: Sounds.... interesting. (Yik!)
JRM: What do you think it says about humanity that we've had the bomb for 60 years and it hasn't been used.
LTM: We love our children.

Personally, that sort of reading doesn't relax me. I start wondering if I'm getting credit for the course. But to JRM it's fascinating.

I boarded this train of thought because I needed a critique partner. (One of those non-relative, or husband or friend types.)

And I was pondering if it's really necessary for him/her to prefer the genre I write in. I think it is, but could I be wrong?

I recently "met" a fellow blogger who's writing fantasy books. This very imaginative (and good!) writer suggested I read his WIP, but I had to come clean--I think I'd be a terrible helper with fantasy fiction. (The true kind, I mean. The kind JRM devours.)

I felt bad. But I think my answer was correct. I've tried many times to read hard-core fantasy, and I always follow the same pattern: my mind starts to wander and I get lost (you really have to pay attention to that stuff). Then I'm faced with having to start over, and instead I just put the book down and grab a good-ole escapist YA romance.

(Not genre romance, mind you. I get the itch if I can feel the formula in a book I'm reading.)

But maybe that wasn't the right answer. Maybe having a critique partner who's not a big fan of the genre in which I write would make him/her more likely to catch problems...

I don't know.

Last weekend we hosted two of JRM's old law school buddies who are serious fantasy fans. I asked them what it is about the genre that appeals to them. Is it the descriptions? The worlds? The literary devices (e.g., time travel, quests, magic). They couldn't really say.

I don't think anybody can. That's like saying why you prefer chocolate over vanilla.

At the very least I like knowing there's a genre for everyone.

Mine's more the love story-anything genre, although I have to admit an aversion to creatures. LOTR was not my bag, baby. Sorry. So the love-story-anything-without-creatures genre.

JRM: There are no creatures in The Dragonriders of Pern.
LTM: Do the dragonriders fall in love?

That's all for today, kids. I'm actually on the road headed back home, so let's all thank Flower the cat for today's post.

My genre's anything I can bite.

Have a great weekend! And I actually am out of town til Sunday, so I'll be late making the rounds. But I'm coming! Til Monday~ <3

Hard Times, Good Times (for Writers)

Most of the friends who've hung with me the longest are artists. And all of my serious boyfriends/husbands have been musician-songwriters.

I don't know why--whether we just get each others' mercurial personalities or if I just have a strong aversion to money. As Michael Scott says, "Mo money, mo problems," right?

(Yes, I know it was Damon Wayans.)

Anyway, I thought of this because when we were in college, we debated how hard it is to be creative when you're happy.

What do you guys think? Yes/no? Were we simply listening to too much complaint rock at the time?

Regardless, it got me thinking. Things aren't currently ideal for me. And lots of other folks--in some cases worse.

In my case (new bleeps), over the summer we did a major relocation, and as is typical with such things, the adjustment period... well, it's a tough time fraught with stress, frustration, denial, anger, bargaining, depression...

But I was also thinking this can be a great time for writers.

Think about it: as writers we need hard times to draw on for future projects. If we never feel the extreme bad feelings, how can we possibly conjure them authentically for our characters?

Back in the day, writers used to put themselves in all sorts of terrible situations for their art. I do not recommend that practice. But I've decided to take advantage of this opportunity.

I'm headed back into the cave, and for the duration, I'll be blogging less.

I'm cutting my schedule down to once a week, except for special occasions like blogfests or announcements.

So my schedule is now Mondays only. And this Friday, I'll do a post for DL's Deja Vu fest (link).

In the meantime, I'll be thinking of you, and wishing you all the best. Naturally, I'll be making the rounds on Mondays as well, so I hope to stay in the loop.

Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends! I'm working, and when I'm not, I'm writing. Til Friday~ <3

I Quit Blogging

for the month of June. Remember that?

I was in the middle of moving 850 miles due north, and my life was insane. I wasn't sure how much access to the Internet I'd have, etc.

So a few weeks ago, several bleeps were posting about how blogging was getting them down. They were working hard, building up followers and whatnot. And they were frustrated.

There's not enough time to read all the blogs. There's not enough time to make meaningful comments. Some people still write pages and pages for a single post.

And some people still have word-verify on for comments... (*cough*Turn it off*cough*please.)

You all know my story. I started blogging because Janet Reid said to. Now I have an agent (I got through a blog) who is not Janet Reid, and she says for me to do what I want. It's not that important to my writing career at this point.

But I'll tell you a little secret... Blogging is that important to my writing career.

Writing's a tough gig. It's slow and it's isolating. It can make you unbelievably happy, and then it can make you just that sad.

In this blogging community, there's a group who've been at it for almost two years. A mere blink in publishing time.

We've been through all the trials and tribulations. We've been rejected again and again. We've become betas and critters and helped each other shine. We've landed agents or indy contracts.

We've scored awe-inspiring book deals. We've given up on traditional publishing and done it ourselves. We've launched books that landed in the Top 50 (or less) on the paid Amazon charts (whoot, Jessica!--link). We've gotten crappy feedback or mean reviews from "friends."

I could go on, but my point is, every time something like that happens, this community comes together virtually to rub a back, dry a tear, do a high-five, take part in chart rushes, blog tours, and release parties...

Remember how in times of presidential elections, they like to say, "It's the economy, stupid"?

Blogging is about the relationships, (not)stupid!

At least that's how it's turned out for me. You can look over there and see I don't have a zillion followers. But I've got many, many friends.

When I'm losing it with this writing thing, I've got at least two I can email on the spot. Writers who've been through it. Who are struggling, getting rejected, dusting themselves off, and going at it again.

Because as my good friend Matt (link) once told me about this time last year, "The only way to guarantee you won't make it is to quit."

So why are you still blogging?

Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends. Til Thursday~ <3

When it's in Your Power, Just Do It

My parents are pretty smart. (Now you all know how old I am.)

Seriously though, my parents had my older brother and me when they were babies. Literally. My mom was 20 when my brother was born, and then three years later, here came me.

They were married of course. That was just what you did back in 1960s small-town Mississippi. You married your high school sweetheart. Lucky for them, they were right. They're still married after all this time.

But that's not my point.

My dad told me once about some men he worked with who didn't believe in helping their kids financially.

My dad worked for Exxon in Baton Rouge, so we were somewhat upper-middle-class. My brother and I both had nice cars in high school, but my mom also taught. It was a dual-income situation.

Dad's short-bed was a gold Chevy.

Anyway, dad told me he knew there was wisdom in that. Bootstraps and all.

But he also liked to tell how he and my mom moved from Liberty, Miss., with everything they owned in the back of a pickup truck.

A short-bed pickup truck.

My brother was two, I wasn't born yet, and my dad's point was that if his parents had been able to give them a little help at that time, it would've been far more meaningful than $100,000 now, when he's established, has a home, etc.

It's the timing of the thing, Dad said.

My parents also believed in reading the Bible to my brother and me every single morning. Most mornings, Mom would just read a chapter from the Proverbs.

My brother and I still laugh to this day how those darned verses are so lodged in our brains, one'll just pop out at any time. If I've been out late (or didn't sleep well), I often think of this one:

"He that (greets) his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him." (Prov. 27:14)

For the sake of this post, however, there's one that goes like this:

"Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it's in your power to help them. Do not say to your neighbor, 'Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow'--when you now have it with you. (Prov. 3:27-28)

Most everybody wants to give back and help others, but it's hard when we're so distracted by life, job worries, writing, kids, you name it.

But there are many ways to help and "do good." I've been thinking about what all I see if I just slow down and look around me. Little things. They make such a difference.

Have a great week-end, reader- and writer-friends! You guys always do me a world of good. Til Monday~ <3

Another reason to tell your story

So I was catching up on my Entertainment Weekly reading, and it was that "reunions" issue. I'm sure most of you've seen the pictures.

They reunited the cast of Family Ties, Romey and Michelle, Glen Close and Michael Douglass for Fatal Attraction, and of course The Princess Bride.

I never knew the backstory of Princess Bride. That it had once had Robert Redford attached as director. That it almost didn't get made.

That Rob Reiner had to cut everyone's salaries, had to cut all the expenses for sets, basically had five guys portray the "army of Guilder."

And it didn't fare very well at the box office.

But it became a cult classic. Who under 40 can't quote at least five lines from that film?

The starter, "As you wish," to the ender, "You'd make a great Dread Pirate Roberts." Or my favorite... Heck, I don't know if I can single out a favorite!

Anyway, it got me to thinking about movies that "shouldn't" have done well, for whatever reason. Or the movies that no one would get behind that everyone ended up loving.

Since we're getting close to Halloween, I'll toss out two scary ones: Blair Witch Project and Halloween.

I mean, seriously. Nobody believed those movies would be hits? Nobody? How does that happen?

Then my thoughts went down a different path. Can you imagine how different Princess Bride would've been if Robert Redford had directed it?

I doubt it would've been as silly-funny as it is, and I'm not sure it would've become the cult-classic it is today.

I feel like there's a lesson here. See what you think about this: We've talked about telling your story before. What if these examples illustrate why you're given the stories you're given.

Other writers might be just as good as you, possibly better. But no one else can tell your story the way you can.

What do you guys think?

Pondering.

Have a great weekend, reader- and writer- friends! Til Monday~ <3

When the Revolution Starts

Over the weekend, I chatted with a friend about the "Occupy Wall Street" protests, and we both agreed it reminded us of the French Revolution.

I proposed the question: Who do you think will say, "Let them eat cake"? (You know, Marie Antoinette's infamous response when she was told, "The people have no bread"?)

Source

Supposedly that's a journalistic cliche, and the beheaded French queen never actually said those words. 

As for who'll demonstrate his/her cluelessness today, I like to think it'll be one of those Kardashians. 

But perhaps that's the writer in me.

My guy friends have always played the "when The Revolution starts" game whenever another of our friends does anything militia-ish (like purchases a big truck or moves to a remote location or mentions owning a gun).

Example: "We'll all be in so-in-so's barn with the gun collection when The Revolution starts." (laughs)

I don't actually know anyone with a gun collection, but I have been pondering my lack of fire-starting skills. The last time I thought of it when I watched that Tom Hanks movie where he was trapped on that island. 

You know, in Castaway. I'dve never got that fire going.

To bring all this nervous laughter around to writing, I was also thinking this weekend about how popular dystopain fiction has become.

How did everyone know to start writing about the end of the world as we know it about two years ago?

I've never been one of those writers who tries to capture "Our Times," but here's my question: Is it possible our writing is always marked by what's going on around us? 

Like, even if we're spinning tales of romantic comedy, are they still laced with the meltdown of the global economy? Or something else?

I do know when the Revolution starts I'll be headed South. Those country boys can survive, and they all seem to know how to get a good fire going.

Have a great week, reader- and writer-friends. Stay safe. Til Thursday~ <3