Dragon Wrangler

Deciding Who's Boss

2011-01-06T10:40:00.005-07:00

I GOT A DRAGON FOR CHRISTMAS.

Meet Fluffy.

I'm currently trying to get him to do what I say.

We may come to blows.

My newest follower: Debbie McCune. Check her out at [Notebook to Novel]

Beginnings

2011-01-03T08:22:00.012-07:00

A WHOLE NEW YEAR!!!!!!

New dreams.

New goals.

New possibilities.

Isn't it awesome we have so many chances to start over?

Merry Christmas

2010-12-24T19:43:00.000-07:00

Snow

2010-12-21T07:47:00.002-07:00

LOTS AND LOTS OF IT!!

And more to come.

Merry Christmas.

PTHHHH on being PC.

Audience With a Queen

2010-12-07T09:22:00.008-07:00

UNWANTED VISITOR

The other day, after bringing in the wood for the stove, I heard a loud low pitched buzz from the other room. Moments later a very large buzzing insect flew into my bedroom and headed straight for me. I screamed (yep, I screamed) and took off. I didn't have the presence of mind to see where it went.

I regretted that oversight for about 24 hours. I couldn't find said insect until the next day. I had to sleep with one eye open.

I knew it wasn't large enough to be a bumblebee. But it was too big to be a wasp or one of the yellow jackets we have to chase out of the back yard every summer. I suspected it was a queen of some sort.

I didn't want her to set up residence inside. (Scary)

Finally she came out. I shut off the lights and opened the curtains to tempt her to the daylight. I went out side and looked through the window to see what I had. There she was, a very large, very bright colored Yellow Jacket Queen.

I didn't feel honored.

My newest follower: Chris. [Hung Up On]

Megamind - Genius - Brilliant in Every Way

2010-11-15T08:54:00.005-07:00

IF I COULD GIVE THIS MOVIE TEN STARS...

Wait a minute -- I can

Ah-Hem. I GIVE THIS MOVIE TEN STARS!! and a smidge more.

MEGAMIND

I went to this movie because it was my nephew's birthday, and this was his birthday pick. I wasn't expecting much. From the trailers it looked like it was going to be similar to Monsters and Aliens (which I really liked, by-the-way). I couldn't see how doing the same thing over again would be worth the effort.

Boy was I in for a surprise. I LOVED it. And if I can be so bold, your kids will LOVE it. You parents will love it. Grandparents will love it. Your dog will love it. Even your fish will love it.

(There's a fish in the movie--the only spoiler I'll give. I promise.)

Now I'm going into enthusiastic writer mode. Tum da da. (If you're not a writer and don't really care about writer things and how to put a story together you can skip this next part.)

Here goes, without giving away any spoilers... Everything we writers try to get into our work is here in this movie.

Do we know the character's backstory? Yes.
Do we learn what what the stakes are prior to the first plot point? Yes.
Do the inner demons show up that come to bear on the hero later in the story? Yes.
Is the first plot point located properly within the story sequence? Yes.
Does it change the hero's agenda going forward? Yes.
Is there opposition to the hero meeting that need? Yes.
Does the antagonistic force have something at stake? Yes.
DO WE CARE? Yes.
Is there a mid-point contextual shift/twist in the story? Yes.
Does this pump up dramatic tension and pace? Yes.

Is there any character arc? Yes, all the characters have HUGE arcs.

It's all there. Everything the story is supposed to have from the beginning to the finish.

It was fun to watch it all work.
Besides that, it's just a fun movie.

Final notes: The music is by Hans Zimmer and has that great Hans Zimmer sound.
AND - just because the credits start running doesn't mean the movie is over.

My Newest Follower - Rick:

You can find him at [The Writer and The White Cat], and [Incident Commander].

Awesome Give Away Winners!

2010-11-08T07:40:00.007-07:00

Some of you may not know when you were commenting the last 2 weeks that you were being entered to win the last 3 of my October giveaways. If you are one of the lucky winners, then... surprise!!

Christy!

Kyle Hinterser!

Shauna!

Congratulations!!

Still waiting for Stephanie Abney to contact me. I'm going to give it one last stab, and then I might consider a second runner up.

Another one of my first followers: Tristi Pinkston. You will find her at any one of these places. [tristipinkston.com], [Tristi Pinkston, Editor], [Tristi Pinkston, Writing Instructor]

November is here!

2010-11-07T06:30:00.001-07:00

RUN!

The last Awesome Giveaway # 6

2010-11-01T07:19:00.007-06:00

ONE LAST GIVEAWAY

as NaNoWriMo begins--

Thousands of you will be cranking out 50,000 words in a month.

GOOD LUCK but stop by once in a while when you need to take a break from the mind numbing process of coming up with that many words. Enter the giveaway.

Comment on any posts last week and this week for the chance to win a copy of The Replacement, a Manic Bloom CD, or this book Once A Witch. One comment puts you in the running for all of the prizes. If you prefer one over the other, indicate which one. Other wise, to make it easy, for the NanNo-ers just say "I want to win." and leave contact info.

It's hard to be the only normal one in a family in which everyone has a Talent that allows them to do such things as disappear, control the weather, read the future, or turn people to stone. Tamsin is bitter that she does not have a magical gift and dreams of the day she can move far away. So when a mysterious Scottish stranger, Alistair, shows up at her family's bookstore and assumes that the 17-year-old is her very Talented sister, Rowena, Tamsin jumps at the chance to help him find the family heirloom for which he is searching. She enlists the help of her childhood friend, Gabriel, who has recently reappeared in her life. Tamsin and Gabriel travel through time to find what sinister Alistair wants, and in doing so they will set in motion a chain of events that could mean the destruction of her family.—Heather M. Campbell

See [Bookmom Musings] for her contest.

Still waiting for Stephanie Abney to contact me.

Another one of my first followers, Donna: You'll find her at [Coleman and Co.]

Vampires #4

2010-10-31T05:26:00.005-06:00

VAMPIRES ARE NOT SEXY

[according to Edgar Frog aka. Corey Feldman, Lost Boys: The Thirst]

What does he know?

Vampires #3

2010-10-29T06:15:00.007-06:00

SPOOKY DUDE

Christopher Lee

The reason I like vampires.

Awesome Give Away #5 - Manic Bloom

2010-10-26T23:28:00.006-06:00

THE MOST AWESOMEST GIVE AWAY YET

better than chocolate

and unlike Jaime, I love chocolate

I was going to save this give away until last because I'm really excited about it, but I couldn't wait. So here it is--

Manic Bloom, In Loving Memory.

Music is a big part of my writing. I'm always on the look out for a group that can help me get into the fictional worlds I try to bring to life. It's rare to find a group that has something to inspire me. It's even rarer to find a group that offers that inspiration with every song they've recorded.

Manic Bloom is one of those groups. Not only are they talented, their music is much better than the commercial stuff you find everywhere else.

I loved loved loved their first EP---played it until the songs were burned in my head and I could hear them without the help of the CD player. When my muse flagged I'd crank Manic Bloom up, shut out of the world and wait for the words to start pouring out.

I also anxiously waited for their second EP. Especially after hearing Toynbee.

My copy of In Loving Memory was a gift. Knowing how much I like Manic Bloom, Lori Cunningham gave it to me for my birthday. (Belated - but hey - it was a surprise.)

I couldn't wait to play it. Half way through Never Back Down I knew I had found my new favorite Manic Bloom song.

Until halfway through Death and Conversation--- That was my new favorite Manic Bloom song.

Then the next one. That too was a favorite. And so it went through the whole EP. I loved each song better than the one before it. What can I say? This is really good music.

I could take the space to talk about all the of separate talents that make up Manic Bloom, but I've done that before. (see review link below) Everyone of them is awesome and together they have created one of the best groups I have come across in a long time. I look for them to keep getting better and bigger.

Now here is Toynbee.

So what do you have to do to win your copy of this fantastic EP? Just leave a comment and your contact information.

Now go over to [Bookmom Musing] for another chance to win In Loving Memory. Then go over to Lori Cunningham's [Reflections] for another chance to win In Loving Memory. And keep tuned for all of this week's winners.

Official Manic Bloom website: [manicbloom.com]
My review: [The Magic of Manic Bloom]

My newest follower is Christy. You can find her at [Writing Without Regret]

Awesome Give Away Week #4

2010-10-25T10:20:00.012-06:00

THE WINNER OF LAST WEEK'S CONTEST

AND ANOTHER BOOK TO WIN

I wish I could enter my own contests

The winner of last week's contest.

Stephanie Abney
YEA!!!

Stephanie, you'll have to send me some contact info. I've looked for it, but you're being very mysterious. Email me at detalbic at yahoo dot com.

Now for today's AWESOME give away. That's right, today's.
(Hint - keep tuned.)

A second chance to win...

The light paranormals—think vampires, werewolves, angels, faeries, demons—that flood young adult lit often share a similar problem: by merely tweaking established archetypes, they feel largely interchangeable. No such pitfalls bedevil Yovanoff, whose first novel is not only startlingly conceived from the ground up but will still appeal to the legions craving doom, gloom, and, yes, romance. Mackie lives in Gentry, a small town that owes its history of good fortune to an uneasy relationship with the supernatural underground dwellers who protect them. Their price? Merely an annual human sacrifice, which they take in the form of a stolen baby, leaving behind a fragile nonhuman replacement. Mackie is such a replacement, and despite his allergies to iron and blood, he has somehow survived to be a teen—but now is about to meet his makers. From Booklist.

Just leave a comment, contact information and you have entered!

Pop on over to [Bookmom Musings] blog for a chance to win a book from her. I read it when it first came out. I really liked it. Good luck!

Awesome Give Away #3

2010-10-18T11:26:00.013-06:00

ANNOUNCING THE AWESOME THIRD GIVE AWAY...

But first...

The Winner of Give Away #2 is....
Yea! Hurray! *Cheers and Whistles*

Pendragon Inman

Let's keep the fun going with Awesome Giveaway #3 in the Month of Giveaway Awesomeness. But first, make sure to check in often in the next 2 weeks, because we will be giving away more than one thing a week.

Lately there is an addition to quite a few new books making it to the bookstore shelves--a play list. I'm not 100% positive but I think this started with the Twilight books. Not only is a list included in a lot of these new books, but the website of the authors quite often features a complete or partial list of songs that set their muses to working.

When I find music the helps me get into that alternate reality, I play it exclusively while I'm writing that book. I played the Batman soundtrack (Hans Zimmer) for nine months straight. Manic Bloom is another group I've played for months on end.

This week I'm not offering something different than Bookmom Musings. This will be another chance to win the the Unseen Album from up and coming Electronica artist Lori Cunningham.

All you have to do is comment on any blog this week to be eligible to win.

Join Lori's mailing list on ReverbNation and receive access to unreleased music. [Lori Cunningham's official website]

See my review of Lori Cunningham's [Unseen here].
See a video of Lori Cunningham's up and coming project Emeria on [Bookmom Musings].

Vampires #2

2010-10-15T06:44:00.007-06:00

THE GENTLE ONES

A shout out to my newest follower:
Debbie at [Cranberry Fries]

Awesome Give Away #2

2010-10-11T10:44:00.009-06:00

THIS TIME IT'S A BOOK

a different kind of yummiliciousness

But First-- "drum roll"-- the winner of the tempting and guilt ridden box of chocolates from last week. The totally randomly picked winner is NORMA!

*YEA!!!*

(Now Norma doesn't have to "lick the screen." Her words, not mine.) I'll be in touch.

Let's keep up the giveaway fun by giving away something you'd expect from a blog called Dragon Wrangler. And that would be...

A Book about Dragons
Firelight

or.... if you'd rather

The Replacement

something completely different

One lucky commenter on any of my blogs this week will win their very own copy of one of these books, neither of which I've read yet, but really want to. (I mean-- I really want to.) But you get to pick one.

Descended from dragons, the draki's ability to appear human protects them from hunters. Jacinda lives with her pride in the Cascades, but she chafes under her special status as the only fire-breather in hundreds of years. Recklessly breaking the “no-fly” rule, she attracts hunters; mercifully, one hunter, a beautiful boy who looks upon her with wonder, lets her escape. After this, the pride intends to hobble her rebelliousness, and Jacinda is forced to flee. From Booklist.

“Magnificent and masterful! A world so captivating, you’ll never want to leave!” (Kerrelyn Sparks, New York Times bestselling author)

“Jordan executes a refreshing and exciting tale of forbidden supernatural love and desire. Jacinda is strong and spunky, just like her story. Readers won’t be able to put down this remarkable YA debut. An ethereal series start, Firelight should not be missed.” (Romantic Times Starred Review)

The light paranormals—think vampires, werewolves, angels, faeries, demons—that flood young adult lit often share a similar problem: by merely tweaking established archetypes, they feel largely interchangeable. No such pitfalls bedevil Yovanoff, whose first novel is not only startlingly conceived from the ground up but will still appeal to the legions craving doom, gloom, and, yes, romance. Mackie lives in Gentry, a small town that owes its history of good fortune to an uneasy relationship with the supernatural underground dwellers who protect them. Their price? Merely an annual human sacrifice, which they take in the form of a stolen baby, leaving behind a fragile nonhuman replacement. Mackie is such a replacement, and despite his allergies to iron and blood, he has somehow survived to be a teen—but now is about to meet his makers. From Booklist.

PICK THE ONE YOU WANT
AND COMMENT.

Any comments on any of the blogs this week gets you in the drawing for this. You'll have to tell me which book you want since I have no paranormal talents. (I only write about them.... other people's talents, not mine.)

Don't forget to pop on over to [Bookmom Musings] blog for her giveaway of the week, too. Good luck!

(And just so you know, Bookmom Musing is toying with the idea of doing a second giveaway this week. But for the moment she hasn't decided. If she does, so will I. )

My newest follower(s):
a group of people who write about the things they love. [Shooting Stars Mag]

Vampires #1

2010-10-08T04:42:00.009-06:00

ITS HARD TO GET BETTER VAMPIRES THAN:

BELA LAGOSI

and

CHRISTOPHER LEE

A lot more interesting than
one who sparkles...
Don't you think?

Awesome Give Away #1

2010-10-06T07:03:00.011-06:00

IT'S NOT A BOOK OR ANYTHING BOOKISH ---

But it sure makes reading your favorite book a lot more fun.

What would be 'good' enough to be given away in this Month Of Giveaway Awesomeness?

How about a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory box of chocolates?

Bookmom Musing is giving away a yummilicious Carmel Apple from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. But since I love love LOVE chocolate, (and don't really like apples) what could be better than to giveaway chocolate from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory?

One lucky commenter will win one of these small boxes of assorted chocolates this week!

Get your single layer of nutty clusters, melt-in-mouth butter creams and meltaways, all in milk and dark chocolate and white confection. Kosher (OU)

According to the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory website, the box of chocolates is deliverable, so you won't have to hunt down a store.

A plus when trying to win this decadent giveaway. All you have to do is comment.

For those of you who *must* have the Carmel Apple instead you can pop over to Bookmom Musings and comment there.

Happy commenting to fight for that box of chocolates!!

Or that .... apple.

A Month of Giveaway Awesomeness!

2010-10-04T16:04:00.009-06:00

JUST BECAUSE IT'S OCTOBER

Bookmom Musings wants to do a give away because her birthday is in October. In the tradition of the world's favorite people, Hobbits, she has decided to give away gifts to celebrate her birthday and reaching the magical number of 100 followers. I've been persuaded to join her.

October is my favorite month. I love watching movies about witches, ghosts, ghoulies and...

VAMPIRES.

I'm looking forward to a month of scary stories. Last year TV was disappointing, but I have a plan for this year. The Library. Bua ha ha.

To quote Bookmom Musings, "Post a comment--any comment--on any of the posts for the week (except this one), and you are entered to win the giveaway(s) of the week. Now, if you want to blog about my giveaways, become a follower (and I hope you do), tweet about my blog, or put up a billboard, that's great!"

And if that wasn't awesome enough (which it is), go visit Bookmom Musings who is doing some giveaways, too. So you can mosey over to her blog and get double the chances to win something in the... drum roll and reverberating echoey movie announcer voice...

Month of Giveaway Awesomeness!!!

My newest followers:
Jenn Wilks at Jenn Wilks - Aspiring Author Extraordinaire
Janet Sumner Johnson at Janet Sumner Johnson
Angie Lofthouse at Notes From the Writing Chair

YEA! IT'S OCTOBER!

2010-10-01T09:12:00.008-06:00

WE INTERRUPT THIS REGULARLY SCHEDULED BLOG

(Well, not so regularly lately... but I'm working on it.)

for an acknowledgment of my favorite month.

Expect a lot of pictures.

A shout out to my new followers:
Brandon Markham at [Towers of Bells]
David P. King at [The Cosmic Laire]

We All Have Dreams: Tony Robbins Day 1

2010-09-21T09:30:00.003-06:00

OUR DESTINY IS BORN OUT OF OUR DREAMS

Day 1 of Anthony Robbins’ book GIANT STEPS asks us to think about our dreams.

“Take a moment now just to dream and to think about what you really want for your life.” Giant Steps p. 15

My dream. I want to write a best seller.

Mine. ALL mine.

I could temper that and make it more modest by saying—I want to get better with each book I write. Well... I do... but it isn’t the deep burning WANT in my heart.

I could even focus on the other wants taking turns in my thoughts. I want to get back into shape because I really want to be something besides round. (dang - a blasted 'to be' sentence.)

I’d like to turn the clock back and take advantage of those moments I let slip by—remake some of those bad decisions. Bonus - I'd be younger.

So... some of my wants are doable. Some aren’t.

But this focus—this post—what I’m spending time with Anthony Robbins for is to take that HUGE want I’ve been harboring for most of my life and make it a reality. (and truth be know, is the same desire of most writers I know.)

I want to write something that’s a huge success—whether its this one, or the next one, or the next, or the…next.

But... Hopefully this one.

My first follower: Jaime Theler [Bookmom Musings] A really fun site.

Spending Time With Anthony Robbins

2010-09-14T09:20:00.002-06:00

WHAT GOOD IS INSPIRATION IF IT'S NOT BACKED UP BY ACTION?

Once while browsing through a bookstore, a book called AWAKEN THE GIANT WITHIN by Anthony Robbins leaped off the shelf at me.

I'm not kidding. It JUMPED--right off the shelf. No help from me. Hit me in the chest and fell to the floor.

Either the cosmos or a familiar spirit was trying to tell me something so I bought the book.

I even read it. It was full of ideas on how to harness the strength living inside each one of us. Or, in this case--me.

I also discovered Michael Crichton wrote Jurassic Park after spending time with Anthony Robbins. Wow, that got my interest. I want to write a Jurassic type book. You know, best seller. (Since then I've heard there's some controversy whether the Michael Crichton and Anthony Robbins thing really happened or not, but I choose to believe it did. Otherwise this blog post will be really dumb.)

Later I found GIANT STEPS, this too by Anthony Robbins, a book listing the small changes a person (me) can make to get big differences. It's like an affirmations book of daily thoughts. I've tried a few of those before, but this is better. 365 Daily Lessons in Self-Mastery.

YES. *pumping fists* 365 days with Anthony Robbins without spending hundreds of dollars. (thousands for a scenic get-away.)

Can I write a best seller like Michael Crichton by doing what Anthony Robbins tells me in the little book? I want to give it a try.

SO
Next post

Day 1 - We all have dreams.

[Anthony Robbins - Wikipedia]
[TonyRobbins.com]

Pictures of the Day - Tornadoes

2010-08-27T10:34:00.012-06:00

FIRE AND WATER

I saw these on the news. Pretty awesome.

And - welcome to my newest friend Alexis Henderson [Maybe I'm Dreaming] [5th Fantasy] .

How Hard Do You Have To Work?

2010-08-23T06:20:00.002-06:00

THE AWFUL REWRITE

So you've finished chapter twelve after rewriting it several times over the past several days. You feel good about it. You leave your computer for a break and to do some other things around the house. Then, later, you stop, shake your head, go back to the computer and delete the last three pages.

And you do it all over again.

And again.

What does this mean? Insecurity? A drive for perfection? Not enough pre-planning so you know where you're going?

Many best selling writers tell how they rewrite their books several times over until they are satisfied. By rewriting they don't mean that they merely change a word or a phrase or two on a page here and there. They actually rewrite the entire book, some of them nine times or more. They make hundreds of changes with each rewrite. They grind through the entire manuscript again and again until it is as good as they can get it.

Can you say the same thing?

When you are finished with your novel, can you say it is done to very best of your ability, even if it took an extra nine months of hard work? Or did you settle for mediocrity?

With so many would be writers throwing their manuscripts into the ring (so to speak) you can't afford to not do your very best.

Now -- a shout out to my newest follower, Trep. Catch him on [The Write Stuff].

Since this is a new feature on my blog, earlier followers--look for your own shout out in future posts.

How to get good ideas for your story

2010-08-18T06:30:00.010-06:00

READ, READ, READ.

There are several things an author can do to strain out good story ideas from his subconscious mind.

Read everything you can get your hands on: library books, books you love, books you hate, newspapers, encyclopedias, backs of cereal boxes, cookbooks, books that want to eat you.

A writer should read while he is relaxed because that is when the stuff he's reading sinks most deeply into his mind; furthermore, reading should be his primary form of relaxation, not skiing or tap dancing or fishing or building model trains or watching television, but reading.

No novelist can expect to reap harvest after harvest of fresh ideas from his subconscious if he is not constantly fertilizing his subconscious with reams of other writer’ fiction and nonfiction. With every novel you read, thousands of facts, characters, images, narrative techniques, and plot twists are stored in your subconscious, thereafter constantly interacting below the level of awareness. When bits of this input jell and surface, they are usually in an original arrangement that bears no resemblance whatsoever to the books from which they came.

Do you have a list of books from which you are reading?

Write what you love

2010-08-02T07:16:00.004-06:00

LET EVERYTHING ELSE TAKE CARE OF ITSELF

While my computer spent time in the computer hospital, I caught the crud and endured a few sleepless nights thinking about writing.

Every writer I know hopes their work will be the next blockbuster. I know writers who write with that goal solely in mind. I’ve fallen prey to that malady myself.

While feeling crummy, it occurred to me that trying to write the next blockbuster could be an inspiration killer. How about is? Worrying that the story will be interesting enough for a million people to want to read could paralyze the thinking process.

Most of the time it does. It did for me. I have two rejected manuscripts to testify to that misguided approach.

How does one predict what the readers want next? Trying to guess could cause you to spend prodigious amount of time on a dud.

What if, instead, you write something you love? Write that book you would eagerly order from Amazon.com. There’s a huge chance your book will have more life in it than the best seller you’re trying to write.

And who knows…..

In the Hospital

2010-07-19T12:53:00.003-06:00

My beloved computer has contracted some dread computer-y illness, and so is going to the hospital today. Please keep it in your thoughts and have patience with the blogging break.

Brad Thomas Music Video

2010-07-12T08:30:00.000-06:00

I FALL IN LOVE

When I come across a song that goes its own way, instead of sounding like everything else, I'm an instant fan.

This is by the father of one of my piano students. I hope you like it as much as I do.

What You Don't Have

2010-06-28T08:30:00.001-06:00

BUT ARE THANKFUL YOU DON'T

We are constantly reminded to count our blessings, to be grateful for want we have. As we read the news and watch the news on TV maybe we should also be thankful for what we don't have.

What things are you grateful aren't part of your life right now?

Of course each of our lists would be unique.

I'm very glad that I don't have to use that old typewriter anymore. I'm really glad I don't have to completely retype every time I make a mistake. Computers are so much better.

I'm thankful for a lot more that I don't have...that old Ford Falcon...the green VW bug...the swamp cooler that sat in the middle of my room.

These are pretty superficial. There are other things that are pretty personal dealing with health and family. As I think about all the things that could be wrong in my life, I'm very grateful that I have other things that are good and right.

SoCNoC Update

2010-06-15T07:10:00.005-06:00

HALF WAY THROUGH

You probably can tell by the lack of blog posts that I've been giving this Southern Cross Novel Challenge an honest effort.

I'm a little behind on my projected word count. I should be at 25000 words, which is half of the goal. I had to pause for a little while to do some thinking about the back story because I found myself spinning wheels, writing the same scene about four times which I didn't realize I had done until I read it. (Different characters, but the same scene. Really--the same scene... different dialogue, but saying the same thing--practically.)

So as I take a needed breath to see where I'm going, I see that I've learned some valuable lessons.

I really can put out a lot of words every day, but I have to banish the perfectionist editor. He's locked outside yelling to get in, but I'm diligently ignoring him.

I really do have to have to get rid of the time wasters, like TV and the phone and movies in the afternoon... with my sister... ummmm.... yeah.

And I have to tell myself that there's time for one more paragraph before bed instead of watching Top Gear. You have to know what a sacrifice that is.

There's no not writing just because I'm not in the mood. Most of the time, after a paragraph or two, I can be back into it. And if not, I have something to edit later. I can't edit what's not there.

Food is necessary to keep the brain fog from rolling in. A walk will clear my head if a late lunch doesn't do it.

I need a glimpse of some kind of road to keep me from writing in circles.

Writing in the middle of the night sometimes works. But sleep works better.

And no matter how hard it is, I can keep going because there's an end.

That's the great thing about challenges.

Southern Cross Novel Challenge

2010-06-02T07:55:00.004-06:00

SO YOU SKIPPED NANOWRIMO

The total collective word count for the 2009 NaNoWriMo was 2,427,190,537. But if, like me, none of those words were yours, don't despair, we have a second chance.

You can enter the SoCNoC Challenge. (pronounced "sock-nock)

The Southern Cross Novel Challenge is a yearly event held every June. The southern hemisphere's version of National Novel Writing Month, June [comprising thirty days total, including one long weekend] was selected as the month for this challenge because it is considered the equivalent of the northern hemisphere's November in terms of weather and temperatures. This challenge is hosted by Kiwi Writers, a New Zealand-based writing group which houses members primarily based in New Zealand and Australia but stretching as far as the United States and Canada. SoCNoC is the largest writing competition in the Southern Hemisphere.

The rules for SoCNoC are simple. The goal is to write 50,000 words on one or more novels during the thirty days of June, and participants are allowed to work on an existing novel or on multiple novels. Even compilations of short stories or poems are allowed. The challenge runs from 12:00:01am on June 1 until 11:59:59 on June 30, both according to the local time of participants, and any genre and any language are accepted.

However, for the best possible experience, the staff does recommend that a new novel is begun for the challenge. They encourage participants to aim to finish their novels at both 50,000 words and at midnight [local time], June 30, when the challenge ends. [Wikipedia]

I know I'm a day late, but I'm doing it.

Virtual Walking Tour #3

2010-05-26T09:00:00.001-06:00

So I devised a virtual walking tour.

We're walking across America. Anyone who wants to join us can. Keep track of how far you walk at the gym or around the block. Put on that day's comments how many miles you've covered. I'll post them on the side bar with the others.

I picked Madawaska, Maine for the starting point, because of its northeastern most point on the map of the United States. Not exactly certain where we'll end up. There'll be a lot of miles.

My other two walkers decided to include their spinning also, so have ripped past me and left me in their virtual dust. *choke cough hack*

You, too, can be on the road -- leaving me behind. Even the late starters.

Fail Well

2010-05-24T10:00:00.002-06:00

TAKE A SHOT.

Don't worry if you miss.

Failure is a better teacher than success.

You can't learn without making mistakes.

Sometimes the thing you have to learn is how to keep going.

So do it again. And again.

The only real failure is quitting-- Or worse, not trying in the first place.

Fail Without Fear.

Because, eventually, you'll GET it.

Prettier Than A Blue Bird

2010-05-01T18:56:00.004-06:00

LAZULI BUNTING

NEW AT MY FEEDER

Smaller than a sparrow.

Astonishingly beautiful.
I hope they stay.

Crazy Busy

2010-04-22T12:19:00.002-06:00

SO HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO BREATHE

I WILL BE BAAACCK.
SOON.
WAA HA HA.

Geology 101- Seriously

2010-04-01T11:13:00.002-06:00

IN HONOR OF TODAY

APRIL 1ST

Since one of my majors in school was Geology I couldn't help but get a good laugh at this.

Haunted By The Past And The Future

2010-03-29T08:25:00.000-06:00

I LIVE WITH GHOSTS

I'm constantly thinking about periods in history I'd like to write about. But it means a lot of research, trying to get the culture right, figuring out how the people lived and thought, and finding all those little things that makes the time come alive in the pages of a novel. No matter how hard you try to get it right, you always miss something. I've found this in reading novels set in historical times I know something about, invariably something's not right.

Writing about the future has another set of problems. Science Fiction needs science that is feasible. At one time I knew more about science than I do now. Things change so quickly, what was thought to be fact quite often is disproved, and what was thought impossible is discovered to be fact.... at least for a while.

So I write Fantasy.

Not so many rules.

The Ultimate Success Formula

2010-03-25T08:15:00.002-06:00

FOUR SIMPLE STEPS

All people who succeed consciously or unconsciously utilize the same formula for success. Use these four simple steps to achieve whatever you desire --

-- whether author, musician, graphic designer, or

-- shrimp boat captain.

1 - Decide what you want. Be precise. A goal like "Become famous" isn't very valuable because there's no indication of what needs to be done to achieve it. Therefore, there's no measurement possible. Clarity is power.

2 - Take action. Because desire is not enough.

3 - Notice what's working or not. You don't want to continue to expend energy on an approach that's worthless.

4 - Change your approach until you achieve what you want. Flexibility gives you the power to create a new approach and a new result.

Christian Bale - The early years

2010-03-19T10:27:00.001-06:00

EMPIRE OF THE SUN

Christian Bale as Jim Graham
Thirteen-year-old Welsh actor Christian Bale is brilliant as Jim in his feature film debut.

Steven Spielberg’s 1987 EMPIRE OF THE SUN, based on the autobiographical novel by J.G. Ballard, stars Christian Bale as Jim Graham, a British schoolboy separated from his upper-class colonial parents when the Japanese sweep into Shanghai during World War II. Temporarily orphaned, Jim attaches himself to Basie (John Malkovich), a fast-talking American opportunist determined make a buck off the spoils of war. Later, when the two are interned in a prison camp, Jim's boyish fantasies are fueled by the grace and daring of the Japanese fighter pilots whom he comes to idolize despite their enemy status. Spielberg's visually spectacular wartime epic is a testimony to the human will to survive and a child's ability to find wonder even in the midst of horror. [celebritywonder.com]

Are You Sure You Want To Be A Writer?

2010-03-17T06:14:00.001-06:00

IF SO....

you must be willing to embrace the inevitable despair that accompanies doing your best.

Of all the arts, writing is perhaps the most difficult. It’s not a performing art, so you don’t have the immediacy of a live audience to let you know how you’re doing. It’s only black marks on white paper--

Um... computer screen

--it’s not pretty like painting or architecture. Everyone thinks he can do it, so writing has little prestige.

It can be lonely work.

So we have to get used to the despair.

And keep on writing, of course.

Note: I also watch my musician friends work on their recordings just as hard and with the same hope that writers do. And looking to future success in the same way. And feeling the despair. Yet keeping on....

What do you do to keep going when you want to chuck it all and take up knitting? Or sleeping?

Your Destiny

2010-03-09T10:45:00.000-07:00

YOU CAN DECIDE

It's not what we do once in a while that counts, but our consistent actions. What ultimately determines who we become and where we go in life? The answer is our decisions. It's in these moments that our destiny is shaped. More than anything else, our decisions--not the conditions of our lives--determines our destiny.

Dream BIG. If there were no limitations holding you back, what destiny do you want?

Where And When Do You Create?

2010-03-03T07:00:00.001-07:00

DO YOU USE CREATIVE RITUALS?

If not, invent some.

Rituals can spark our creative process. For some of us, a ritual can be a simple routine that readies us for inspiration.

One writer begins her writing day at her dining room table with a fountain pen and a yellow legal pad because she loves the color of the ink. When she finally gets to her computer, she is surrounded by pictures she has gathered that fit her story.

You could read before you start working... go for long walks on the beach or in the park.

In my case to the nearest bench... just across the street. Then I have to get my strength back to go back home. Luckily the new hospital is on the other side of the parking lot.

Ah-hem... It's not that bad, really.

A lot of writers start their day with a cup of coffee and a gander at the rising sun. I don't drink coffee, but I like to watch the sun come up.

I try to start work early, before the world comes alive.

But when I'm having a difficult time, I put the timer on for twenty minutes (I have one on my computer) and I say to myself, "Okay, you're not inspired, fine, but you're going to do this for twenty minutes. Write something, even if its a list of things you're NOT going to write about..."

... werewolves, bungee jumping, the history of the south pole, a study of Frankenfish--I don't know why.

Usually by the end of twenty minutes, I've found my inspiration.

Lately I've been reading what I've written that day before going to bed. I'm hoping for that 'something' that inspired writers like J. K. Rowling and Stephenie Meyer. Maybe I'll get answers and clarity in MY dreams.

What rituals do you use that work for you? I'm always looking for other approaches I can try.

Do You Need More Time?

2010-03-01T07:00:00.001-07:00

THE TWENTY-FIFTH HOUR

If they can put a man on the moon and clone a sheep, they should be able to create more hours in each day, right?

Scott Westerfeld's novel Midnighters has an interesting concept. Those who are born at the exact moment of midnight get an extra hour a day. They have 25 hours instead of 24.

What could you do with an extra hour?

If you could discover where you tend to fritter away your time you might be able to add that one hour.

Think about it, five minutes here and ten minutes there add up. It's entirely possible to lose an eye-opening amount of time by wasting a few minutes several times a day.

People who know how to manage their time well usually have one skill mastered: They are aware of where they are in their schedules at all times. They may not be crazy about it, and it may have taken them a long time to train themselves, but they are able to keep their entire day in focus as they progress through each activity.

It might help to discover what kind of time waster you are.

Before you can manipulate your schedule so that it provides a boost to your efficiency at home and with your work, you need to first examine all the ways in which you don't make the most effective use of your time. The best way to do this is by keeping a detailed record that spells out exactly how you spend every minute of every day--or at least in five-minute increments.

For me, its the on-line games, FreeCell and Twitter. It used to be TV, but I put that on the weather channel now and ignore it the whole day.

What things trip you up when you're trying to get your WIP (Work-in-Progress) done?

Creating A Sanctuary

2010-02-24T07:05:00.003-07:00

A SPACE OF YOUR OWN

As writers we need some alone time to set the stage for creative reflection. A sanctuary offers a place to indulge our creative spirit to fuel our creative process.

Not everybody has the luxury of an entire room In that case carve out a corner in your living room or bedroom.

Once I created a getaway space in a wardrobe, complete with huge pillow, blankets and books. Get a chair and a basket filled with things you love - books, pictures, cds. If you don't create the space where you can go, you might not take the time to be alone. Surround yourself with meaningful treasures.

If you listen to music get a player with earphones. Or you might get candles or a string of small lights to enhance the relaxed, meditative mood for your personal space.

From time to time I have used my car as a getaway office. It was perfect because I could go anywhere.
My favorite spots were a high vantage point where I could overlook the whole valley and the cemetery where I was guaranteed privacy.

In a pinch, you could always turn your bathroom into an office. Lock the door, ignore the pounding from the other side and write.

Write To Be Great, Not Rich

2010-02-22T06:00:00.003-07:00

ARE YOU SERIOUS?

That's not the kind of advice I want to hear... EVER. I want to be the next Stephen King/Stephenie Meyer/Tom Clancy/J. K. Rowling.

Most writers do.

As a career, writing attracts more people than any other field in the arts. It's a crowded profession and only those who love it regardless of financial reward can sustain themselves for very long.

If you're only writing because you want praise and notice, it won't keep you going.

You've got to want to write even more then you want praise and recognition.

Of course most of us want money.

After writing because you love it, its really nice when it pays. I wonder how many people dance around with their check from working at the grocery store. I'd bet that every writer who got their first royalty check did a happy dance around the house and then posted the news on facebook and Twitter, and any place else they could shout about it.

THE KEY... Being able to see your project through to the end.

Professional writers complete a book and then work just as hard, if not harder, to get it published.

It's that stubborn stick-to-it-ness.

I have a closet shelf lined with novels waiting for rewrite. Instead of starting that next tempting story I need to take those down and finish them. Any one of them just might be the next Best Seller.

Birds At My Door

2010-02-20T06:30:00.000-07:00

I COULD FILM MY OWN HITCHCOCK MOVIE

"BIRDS, BIRDS AND MORE BIRDS"

Black headed Grosbeaks, Black eyed Juncos
White striped Sparrows

Mourning Doves, Flickers

House Finches
Enough House Sparrows to intimidate the Mourning Doves.

Scrappy things.
And sometimes overwhelming all of them--
Starlings.

Christian Bale

2010-02-18T09:23:00.001-07:00

THIS YEAR'S EYE CANDY

Date of Birth: January 30, 1974, Haverford, West Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK
Birth Name: Christian Charles Philip Bale
Height: 6'

The 10th Anniversary issue of "Entertainment Weekly" crowned Christian Bale as one of the "Top 8 Most Powerful Cult Figures" of the past decade.

EW also called Bale one of the "Most Creative People in Entertainment" after his brilliant turn as the psychopathic yuppie serial killer in American Psycho (2000).

"Premiere" lauded him as one of the "Hottest Leading Men Under 30".

Filmography :

- Public Enemies (2009)
- Terminator Salvation (2009)
- The Dark Knight (2008)
- 3:10 to Yuma (2007)
- I'm Not There (2007)
- The Prestige (2006)
- Rescue Dawn (2006)
- The New World (2005)
- Harsh Times (2005)
- Batman Begins (2005) (VG) (voice)
- Batman Begins (2005)
- Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004) (voice: English version)
- Maquinista, El (2004)
- Equilibrium (2002)
- Reign of Fire (2002)
- Laurel Canyon (2002)
- Captain Corelli's Mandolin (2001)
- Shaft (2000)
- American Psycho (2000)
- Mary, Mother of Jesus (1999) (TV)
- A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999)
- All the Little Animals (1998)
- Velvet Goldmine (1998)
- Metroland (1997)
- Pocahontas (1997) (VG)
- The Secret Agent (1996)
- The Portrait of a Lady (1996)
- Pocahontas (1995) (voice)
- Little Women (1994)
- Prince of Jutland (1994)
- Swing Kids (1993)
- Newsies (1992)
- A Murder of Quality (1991) (TV)
- Treasure Island (1990) (TV)
- Henry V (1989)
- Empire of the Sun (1987)
- Mio min Mio (1987)
- "Heart of the Country" (1987) (mini) TV Series
- Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna (1986) (TV)

(Looking for suggestions for female actresses or musicians)

Taking Time to Capture Your Ideas

2010-02-15T06:00:00.002-07:00

DIPPING INTO YOUR WELL OF CREATIVITY

If you're out of touch with your inspired self, making a date to reconnect with that part of you opens the window.

Inspiration comes quietly. If you have to sit in front of your computer screen and look out the window absent-mindedly for an hour or two, don't worry. That's as it should be because its the sitting at your computer knowing you are going to write that gives your creativity permission to resurface. This is the time you've picked. It's going to happen, sooner or later.

And you must sit there tomorrow at the same time, for the same length of time, and the next day and so on, and so on, even if you don't write anything.

You'll begin to notice what your inspirations are, where they come from, what about them excites you. Then you must find a way to capture them. Many creative people keep journals of their insights and ideas. This is not a dairy of every day activities. This is a place to put your musings.

Chronicling your awarenesses, meandering thoughts and feelings gives them value and signals to your inner self that your creative process is getting attention.

Time is absolutely vital to your creative self. Sitting and staring isn't unproductive. Most writing happens while staring out the window. Don't berate yourself for day-dreaming. You're dipping into your creative well.

What is writing after all but putting your dreams to paper?

Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

Smart Cars - Going PC Green

2010-02-12T07:35:00.017-07:00

MAYBE I OUGHT TO SWITCH

Since the correct thing to do is trade your huge gas guzzling car in for a Smart Car, I thought I'd at least look into it.

What I didn't want was something like the real Smart Car.

Or the Gee Whiz

Happily, my research turned up a line of smart cars I'd actually consider.

Smorvette
Smorche
Smerrari
This is the one I wouldn't mind getting,
The Smambourghini

BUT...

What I'd probably end up with is this---
Peel P50

featured on Top Gear

I think I'll keep my gas guzzler.

Smorvette, Smorche, Smerrari, and Smamborghini Photoshopped - Drat.

Manic Bloom: the newest video

2010-02-08T06:44:00.005-07:00

TONIGHT'S WHEN I SAY GOODBYE

I love this. Hope you like it too.

We’re not alone -

2010-02-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

PARALLEL WORLDS EXIST BETWEEN THE BOOK COVERS ON YOUR SHELF.

GO EXPLORING.

Emeria Teaser - Broken

2010-02-03T06:00:00.001-07:00

LORI CUNNINGHAM AND ADAM AMOS

I love these songs. Especially BROKEN.

Are You Trying To Cram Too Much

2010-02-01T06:00:00.002-07:00

INTO YOUR TIME?

So you think your life is so out of control you just might have to take drastic measures--like sell all your stuff and live out the rest of your life getting closer to nature.

You don't really want to go that far, do you?

Some days, though, it feels as if you're doing the work of a hundred people. You're certain you're the only one controlling a runaway train.

You're pretty sure your schedule/life is running you and not the other way around.

But you don't need to feel guilty you never have enough time to do everything you want. Everyone's in the same boat.

Technology has contributed to our hurried up world by making you feel compelled to work longer hours and to respond to every beep and chirp. (Or go chasing it down.)

Working at breakneck speed is a well-entrenched North American tradition you've probably been at since childhood.

Today you have many choices in how you spend your time. Finding things to do is seldom the problem. More often the concern is finding time to do everything you'd like to. But you can't do all things, not even all the worthwhile ones, in one lifetime, so learning to make wise time choices is vital to your success and happiness.

Pick only what is the most important to you.

Master of the Messy Desk

2010-01-30T06:00:00.001-07:00

EVERYTHING IS IN ITS PLACE

REALLY...

We All Have Dreams

2010-01-28T08:49:00.007-07:00

WHAT ARE YOUR ASPIRATIONS?

We all want to believe deep down in our souls that we have a special gift, that we can make a difference, that we can touch others in a special way, and that we can make the world a better place.

What is your dream? Maybe its one you've forgotten or let go. If that vision were alive today, what would your life be like?

Don't give up. Dare to dream again.

Train one eye on the mountain peak, the other on the path.

Enjoy the climb.

NaNoWriMo Casualties

2010-01-25T06:04:00.019-07:00

WHERE HAVE THEY ALL GONE?

An inordinate number of the blogs I'm following dropped off the posting schedule two months ago.
They haven't written anything since November. Its really strange because they're all writers with interesting blogs.

That's why I follow them.

So where did they all go?

The last I read from any of them they were all excited about NaNoWriMo. They were signed up and really jazzed with plans to write a novel in a month.

YEA!!

I kept up with the ones who Tweeted their daily word count. Some of them started out slower than they wanted. Some shot through their word count right from the beginning. But towards the end of the month they all sounded pretty tired. Even so--most of them posted with jubilation when they met their word count goal.

Then...... nothing. They dropped out of sight... or is that out of the blogosphere? No Tweets, no facebook, no smoke signals. Silence.

Either they wrote themselves onto the grave....

Or they discovered their NaNo book was trash and decided to redo it.

Or they saw how really awful it all was, and quit.

Or they discovered what they wrote was so good they're working on rewrites.

Or maybe its taking two months to recover.

How To Find That Illusive Inspiration

2010-01-18T06:00:00.001-07:00

TRUE INSPIRATION

Must Be Earned.

If you wait to be inspired before you start writing, you most likely will wait for a very long time. That bolt of soul-clarifying insight usually doesn't happen while you sit around waiting for it.

You have to write.

The physical act itself will free the imagination.

There's a technique known as stream of consciousness, and that should be the strategy of your first draft. Whatever words flow into your brain, let them continue to flow through your fingertips.

In theory, at least in its initial phase, writing is easy. One word after another. Inspiration usually comes mid-sentence.

Your muse will sing, but only when you're already on stage.

Advice From The Book of Quotes

2010-01-13T14:00:00.006-07:00

OR A REALLY GOOD *FRIEND*

Since the first of the year my daily to-do list has been very short.

1. Work on my current rough draft.
2. Work on the current rewrite. (That's a different project than the rough draft.)
3. Focus on the current rewrite. Let the others stay in the closet until I'm finished.

This three point list is a lot harder to stick to than it sounds. The siren calls from the closet keep distracting me.

I get stalled trying to decide which one is the most advantageous to work on. I keep wondering if another one would attract an agent more.

Maybe I should work on one that keeps my interest. If what I'm working on doesn't even keep my interest then it's a piece of crap--right?

But what if it has potential? What if it's really good and I can't tell?

Then I should spend some time and energy on it. But is it this one or another one?

My mental debate keeps digging my indecisive hole deeper. Forward progress just isn't happening.

It wouldn't be a big deal if it had only been a two week debate, but I'm prone to this back and forth wrangling. Frequently. And I can work myself into some really good moods.

Which doesn't help with the writing.

SO I TURN TO THE BOOK OF QUOTES.

Being an author is like being in charge of your own personal insane asylum. ~Graycie Harmon

Uh-huh. Got that one down.

To think too long about doing a thing often becomes its undoing. ~Eva Young

Yeah. Got that one down too.

In desperation I turn to my best source of advise--and get the same thing she tells me over and over again.

"Just pick something and stick with it until it's done." -- Jaime Theler

That would be Number 3 on my daily to-do list.

For more from Jaime Theler see [Bookmom Musings]

New Year's Resolutions

2010-01-09T06:00:00.001-07:00

THE DREADED LIST

My list is usually shorter.

Mine gets tossed around January 20th.

The most popular New Year's resolutions is to go on a diet and start exercising.

It's already January 9th and I haven't made any resolution yet. I've been thinking about it, but my record for keeping resolutions is terrible/horrible...
really bad.

Maybe I'll think about it next year.

I'm Back!

2009-12-22T10:15:00.005-07:00

EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Brand spankin' new hard drive. Pristine clean. Nothing on it, except a new start.

It looks a lot like Christmas

2009-12-08T17:07:00.007-07:00

WE'VE HAD LOTS OF SNOW

I got stuck.

Had to be pulled out by a Good Samaritan.

I'm going to send him shortbread for Christmas. The real stuff--recipe from my Irish great grandmother.

PS. I've found an old computer that is working. Just.

Everything is slower than water seeping through 700 feet of sandstone.

My new computer is being looked at by experts. Well, it will be when the roads are opened again and people can actually get out of their driveways.

Someone told me the last time I lost a computer that he has a Mac so he won't have all the problems I've been having. Maybe I'll convert.

Broken Computer

2009-12-06T15:13:00.005-07:00

HARD DRIVE FAIL

Does not a Happy Holiday Make.

Will be back as soon as possible.

My Pick For New Moon's Most Cheesy Line

2009-11-27T18:25:00.000-07:00

YOU'RE SO BUFF

HOW'D YOU GET THAT WAY?

This is what I thought of when Bella said it to Jacob.

Palin Mania

2009-11-19T20:13:00.011-07:00

HOWEVER YOU FEEL ABOUT HER

WOULDN'T YOU LIKE TO HAVE BOOK SIGNINGS LIKE THIS?http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Sarah-Palin

Believe in Yourself

2009-11-17T08:50:00.002-07:00

EVEN IF NO ONE ELSE DOES

If you think you’re a writer…

If you read books thinking, “I can do this…”

In my case, “I WANT to do this… only better.”

If you stay up late into the night because you have to put your thoughts on paper…

If you self edit over and over (and over and over) because it doesn’t sound right and it’s driving you crazy…

If you know there’s a better way to say it, you just have to figure it out…

If you spend more time in the pen and notebook aisle than in the rest of the entire supermarket…

You’re a writer. Don’t let anybody tell you otherwise.

It takes a lot of work. Don’t kid yourself. Lots of sleepless nights. Years of study. Don’t let the hardship stop you.

What is wrong with this picture?

2009-11-13T08:37:00.006-07:00

I SEE THREE THINGS.

Taken at Meijer, a Midwest superstore.

Number 1: The Teen Self Help section is filled with YA books about vampires, witches and other paranormals.

Number 2: One of them is very different from the rest.

Can you see it? It's the book by my friend James Dashner... The Maze Runner.

Plus James Dashner's book has one or two other distinctions.... Can you guess what they are?

Apparently You Can Get Tech Anywhere

2009-11-11T09:25:00.002-07:00

PLUGGED IN HORSEMAN

About a mile out of town, I came upon a horse wandering down the middle of the road, heading across the center line. The guy on the horse looked like he was asleep. I stopped, not wanting to go around them because I didn't want to spook the horse.

Finally the guy looked up, saw me and aimed his horse back to the side of the road.

When I edged past I could see he was texting.

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME

DUDE TEXTING WHILE ON HORSE (well, not this one)

But this is the closest picture I could find that shows what it was like.

I really need a camera. (hint, hint--Anyone want Christmas ideas?)

Writing Is More Caft Than Art

2009-11-09T05:00:00.004-07:00

MASTERING YOUR CRAFT

When I was studying art I was told the world's masterpieces didn't come about from brief flashes of inspiration when the artists sat around eating their breakfast. There was a lot of work and a lot of failures that went on before the great pieces of art came into being. It was the daily doing, the painting and sculpting, the hour after hour of constantly refining those efforts and frequently producing flops before the artists were able to create their works of genius.

Dolly Parton, a hugely successful songwriter, in a 2009 interview with CNN's Larry King Live, indicated that she had written "at least 3,000" songs, having written seriously since the age of seven. Parton went on to say that she writes something every day, be it a song or an idea. Not all of them are recording material but many of them have become huge successes.
[Larry King Live: March 7, 2009]

As a piano teacher I've seen students with less talent than others go farther because they did the hard work. Two of my students, who were very talented, went divergent ways because one did nothing with his talent, while the other practiced all the time. He has gone on to make a wonderful career in music.

Even though some may argue there is a measure of talent required, I believe anyone who wants to learn how to write can if they put forth the discipline and practice.

Heavy emphasis on practice. And I guess you can't slight the discipline.

Wait a minute....
This is getting kind of serious.
The bloggy me demands to be heard.

Breathe.
Okay.

Back to mastering the craft of writing.

You have to write because you can only learn it by doing. You improve with every word. It's like running. The more you run the farther you can go.

I have a mantra I chant to myself while I do something hard, "Its not the the nature of the thing that gets easier, but our capacity that increases.”

Unlike running, where the body eventually tires and gives out, your mind will keep you in the writing game.

THE KEY...

Study the craft of writing by doing it. You can read all the how-to books you can find, but you have to actually write to improve.

Write. Everyday.

First Anniversary

2009-11-08T08:20:00.000-07:00

I FORGOT

Like so many spouses forget.

YEP....
I forgot.

I'VE BEEN A BLOGGER FOR A YEAR.

I started my blog on November 1, 2008.

I had actually planned on a nice post listing the great blogs I've discovered during the past year, but I guess I'll do that sometime later this week.

So, in the meantime...

TO ME!!

So I'm Not Very Bright

2009-11-06T06:15:00.000-07:00

HANNAH'S RUBY

For about 2 years, I thought this family had 2 dogs.

Dog #1
Dog #2

Uh-huh. Like I said...

She's a very interesting puppy. While Hannah's playing the piano, Ruby likes to sit on the piano bench, or in Hannah's lap.

What's worse than too much candy?

2009-11-02T17:54:00.021-07:00

HALLOWEEN AFTERMATH

Part of my celebration of Halloween has always been a movie-thon--watching as many Halloween movies as I can for the week before the holiday is over. I wanted movies about vampires, but I wanted REAL vampires. Nothing sparkly! I wanted blood and chills!

I also wanted movies about witches, and ghosts.

I didn't want any slasher movies because they're on all the time.

I couldn't find anything I was looking for, so I ended up watching every Casper movie that was scheduled (not quite the kind of ghost I had in mind, but oh well), a few R. L. Stine Goosebumps (instead of chills), and several other Disney movies.
Unfortunately, watching movies on the Disney Channel all week had an unexpected side effect. During the commercial breaks there were sometimes music videos by the stars of the Disney shows.

And Horror of Horrors... I discovered I like HANNAH MONTANA.

NOOOOOOOO

YESSSSSSSS

Something must be wrong with me. I'm big into heavy music. I swear. It had to be too many rated G movies, or something.

I know... I've come down with H1M1. (note the M.)

If I end up with Hannah Montana products in my car and on my desk,

I'm going to need an intervention.

Dragons and Girls #5

2009-11-01T00:01:00.000-06:00

Halloween pictures

2009-10-30T08:20:00.000-06:00

I looked around for cool Halloween Pictures. Some I've already posted.
These are my picks for the most disturbing.
Blood doesn't freak me out as much as really scary guys.

People Some of My Friends have Missed

2009-10-28T05:00:00.000-06:00

MY YOUNGER FRIENDS DON'T KNOW THESE

It's hard to believe these are already a part of ancient history.

Buffy, the Vampire Slayer: television series (1997-2003)

Sarah Michelle Gellar

At the young age of 16, Buffy was chosen to hunt vampires, demons, and the forces of darkness. In every generation there is a chosen one... she alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the slayer and saves the world...a lot. [IMDB.COM]

Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)

Louis De Pointe Du Lac

Brad Pitt

Vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac has decided to tell his story to writer Daniel Malloy how he became a vampire in 1791 at the age of 24 and what it's been like living for 200 years, an epic story of love, betrayal, loneliness, and hunger.

The Crow

Brandon Lee

The Crow is a comic book series created by James O'Barr. It was adapted into a film in 1994. Three film sequels, a television series and numerous books and comic books have also been produced. The story revolves around an unfortunate young man named Eric Draven. He and his fiancée, Shelly, are assaulted by a gang of street thugs after their car breaks down. Eric is shot in the head and is paralyzed, and can only watch as Shelly is savagely beaten and raped. They're then left for dead on the side of the road. He is resurrected by a Crow and seeks vengeance on the murderers.

The character has since become a cult icon of modern Goth culture.

Controlling Your Time

2009-10-27T08:30:00.001-06:00

NOT WASTING YOUR MOST CRUCIAL COMPONENT

The fact that there are thousands of places to go for helps on maximizing time tells me that I'm not the only person who is plagued with this problem. In desperation, I've gone to countless of those sources. I've bought books, looked it up on the internet, went to seminars, and attended classes at writer's conferences.

No matter where I went, the topics covered were pretty constant.

* set priorities,
* set and achieve goals,
* get over your internal barriers,
* effectively organize your daily actions,
* make smarter decisions faster,
* uncover better options,
* prevent burnout,

So... after reading/hearing/watching the same topics over and over--I have to face the ugly truth--my biggest obstacle to writing is...

Procrastination.

A basic definition of procrastination is putting off the things that you should be doing now.

So how do you know if you are affected by this terrible condition?

When you put off your most important tasks.. (in my case,writing).. until later and then later and later, while you are getting busy with many not so important activities, you might be a procrastinator.

The problem might be as simple as

* Waiting for the right mood
and
* Waiting for the right time

But sometimes publishers move dates forward for when they want your project. If you've been procrastinating and waiting for the mood to hit, you might have to do your entire rewrite in a week. That's happened to me twice.

Since I'm looking at procrastinating from a writer's point of view, I see other things that lead to procrastination. (Besides, computer games, that is.)

* Lack of clear direction in your story
* Underestimating the difficulty of the task.

Sometimes writing is just plain drudgery. The actions scenes are fun, but rewrites, or rough drafts, or line editing can be mind boggling hard. In my case its the rough draft. THE WRITING IS SO BAD. I wonder from the beginning to the end if I'm any good.

* Underestimating the time required
* Unclear standards (each genre requires something different)
* Too ambiguous plot

* Fear of failure or fear of success
* Perfectionism

For me, better planning is the answer. Though, over planning can be a way to procrastinate the actual writing. I know one guy who's been planning his book out for 3 years.

Developing a set routine is working for me. Not turning on the internet is the hardest habit for me to break. That is a work in progress.

Really Creepy Houses - Which One Would You Visit?

2009-10-24T10:45:00.001-06:00

SO MAYBE THESE AREN'T TRULY HALLOWEEN HOUSES

BUT I WOULDN'T SPEND THE NIGHT IN ONE

#1
#2
#3

What About You? Which one would you stay out of?

OR, WHICH ONE WOULD YOU GO IN ON A DARE?

The Telling use of words

2009-10-22T09:26:00.011-06:00

THE WORDS WE USE

Why do we choose the words we use? As a writer I wonder about these things.

For example, take the description of Chocolate.

How is chocolate described most of the time on TV cooking shows?

DECADENT

What do they mean? Chocolate is extremely desirable, a taste treat one can spent the evening enjoying.

But what does decadent really mean?

Corrupt, immoral, degenerate, debased, debauched, self-indulgent, characterized by decadence, esp. culturally or morally: a decadent life of excessive money and no sense of responsibility.

I don't know about you, I don't think of chocolate that way.

How about saying chocolate is luxuriant? It means somewhat the same thing only with more positive context: rich, silky, abundant in glorious taste.

Images from [Closet Cooking: Chocolate Cheesecake]

There are other words I wonder about.

Sinful, as in pleasures
Bad
Wicked
Guilty

How about:
Rich
Luscious
Succulent
Delectable
Enchanting
Delicious

What do you think?

Game Woes - Facebook Distractions

2009-10-21T09:30:00.000-06:00

I FOUND THIS ON FACEBOOK

Try MahJongg Dimensions for a new 3D challenge. Do you have what it takes to top the CafeMom leaderboards? Play now!

ah-oh

RUN!

DON'T WALK!

I'm a game junky. I am. Really. I can't even walk past a jigsaw puzzle spread out on a table. I'll be stuck there until it's put together.

Lately I was introduced to a really awesome game on Facebook. I joined, learned how to play, learned how to build armies, make (pretend) money and climb each successive level while racking up the points.

But I ran into a problem.

I couldn't shut it off. Not even when I was off line. At least I couldn't figure out how. The whole world played this thing, so it was on all the time. I was getting attacked ALL THE TIME. (I know... duh.)

Wellllll. I stay away from these things for a reason.

I had to babysit the thing. I couldn't leave it. For four days I fought back, trying to keep my points, trying to build power so that my little army could keep going. During the middle of the night I fought characters whose names I couldn't even read.

When I was forced to leave because of other commitments I constantly worried about my points.

I couldn't stop.
*laughing manically*

It took a virus to shut the whole thing down. Other wise.....

I'd still be in that wonderful land with all of its really hunky generals.

(They were really quite yummy. Besides all the points, I mean. There was that one... with the hair and the sword. Yeah... sigh.)

When Is Your Up Time?

2009-10-19T09:59:00.001-06:00

MAKING YOUR BIORHYTHM WORK FOR YOU

When is your best creative time?

Mine? Early in the morning.

I'm talking *early*. I'm the widest awake at 4:00 am. If I ignore it and turn back over in bed I lose that time. It's almost like I have to wait until the next day. So I have to make certain I don't sabotage my day.

Going back to sleep isn't the only way I can lose my creative time.

I can get lost in checking email, reading and commenting on blogs, checking out Twitter and Facebook. If I go vote on Ourstage I can be there for hours. There's Myspace and on and on and on. Not to mention Spider Solitaire, etc.

So what happens when I do all that during my creative time?

I lose the time and my biorhythm goes back to sleep. Then I beat my head against the wall trying to pound out something that sounds good.

Mostly it doesn't.

I found out the hard way I can't cheat, trick, or worst of all, ignore my biorhythm.

It's my partner.
I need to at least acknowledge it's there.

I found a free site where a person can check every day if you want to know what your rhythm is. [FREE Biorhythm Readings]

Only I really don't understand it.

But I like this site because it doesn't matter that I don't understand the biorhythm charts. There are several other methods provided for figuring out my optimal creative time, such as Tarot, Runes, I Ching, Numerology, and -- my favorite -- Coin Flip. (I think I'm going to use this one the most. Question - Do I write today or not?)

I could always go by the stars. Though it's a mystery to me how orbs of gas very far away have any effect on our lives here. But many believe in it.

"Astrology is based upon both Time as well as Place of birth. The planetary positions are calculated as a function of Time while the directional cross and the segmentation of the Houses are entirely dependent on Place. Thus an Astrological Chart is created from a point of intersection between Time and Place."
[The Premise of Astrological Theory]

UM... oooookay.

How ever you come up with your best time to write, compose, paint, or whatever else you do, my advise is -- don't waste that time by doing other things. Or you could be spending your time like I do on those days--staring instead of working.

Manic Bloom Video - Running From The Scene

2009-10-16T16:45:00.000-06:00

MANIC BLOOM VIDEO

Still feeling under the weather, so I thought you would enjoy this.

Vampires - Vote

2009-10-15T09:54:00.010-06:00

FEELING A LITTLE CRUMMY

SO NEW PHOTO CONTEST

This one is also toothsome. I'll bet the one I like doesn't get many votes.

LOUIS

SPIKE

EDWARD

Jack o' Lanterns - Vote

2009-10-13T09:18:00.006-06:00

WHICH ONE DO YOU LIKE?

I've found several interesting Halloween pictures. I was going to post my favorites, but couldn't decide. Then I figured you'd like to pick which are the best. Today's choices are both quite toothsome. I see pies coming soon.

#1#2

What is your Favorite Halloween Movie?

2009-10-12T06:00:00.000-06:00

MY SECRET INDULGENCE

Yep. Have to admit it.

I really like the first 30 minutes of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I get the biggest kick out of Tim Curry.

He ranks right up there with Christopher Lee in having awesome singing chops. We don't hear very much of either, but they both have it in spades.

Checkout Christopher Lee's The King of Elfland's Daughter.

David Wenhan - Van Helsing - Eighth Post

2009-10-09T06:00:00.002-06:00

VAN HELSING

David Wenham adds a little comic relief to the dramatic adventure movie, "Van Helsing," starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale.

David Wenhan as CARL

Wenham plays Carl, a friar who is assigned to help Van Helsing (Jackman) in his mission to take out Dracula.
Though described by writer/director Stephen Sommers as the most intelligent member of the group, Carl's real job is to help tell the story to the audience and to lighten the mood when it gets a little too dark. [See interview]

Favorite quote: If there's one thing I've learned, it's never to stick your hand into a viscous material.

David Wenham - First Post
David Wenham - How can this be the Second Post when I was so wrong
David Wenham - The Two Towers - Third Post
David Wenham - The Two Towers Extended - Fourth Post
David Wenham - The Two Towers - Take Three - Fifth Post
David Wenham - The Return of the King - Sixth Post
David Wenham - Dark City - Seventh Post

The Crow - October Post #1

2009-10-07T10:28:00.009-06:00

One of my favorite stories is The Crow. Its one of those stories that's told over and over again using different times, different places, and different characters. But esentially its the same story, there are a few deviations, but not many...

That's the point.

I got hooked on this concept after reading Michael Moorcock several years ago.

My favorite treatment of The Crow is the TV series starring
Mark Dacascos.

This series didn't suffer from the bad reputation that have plagued most of the movies.

“The Crow: Stairway to Heaven”

Dacascos didn't strain at the role. His character had the usual inner demons but was likable at times and was easy to root for. He could be sinister without coming off as unbalanced and insane.
What I liked the most was the obvious martial arts training of the actor. This guy knew what he was doing.

Mark Dacascos

Hawaiian Mark Dacascos is a world-renowned martial artist, winning countless kung fu and karate championships in the early 1980’s. Ambiguous good looks has allowed him to play characters of different nationalities. He first got noticed with the television series The Crow: Stairway to Heaven (1998) and has now appeared in numerous movies.

"I AM OMEGA" recently seen on SciFi (Syfy).

To further demonstrate his versatility, Mark made his debut in 2005 as the host of Iron Chef America, a cooking show on the Food Network.

Contestant in Dancing With the Stars season 9 (2009)

I was going to list all the movies, but there are too many. If you want to look into it -- check out the [Mark Dacascos official website]. There you can find a picture gallery, a filmography, videos, and many other interesting features.

Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S

2009-10-05T06:00:00.001-06:00

MY NEW FAVORITE CAR

Zero to sixty in 3.6 seconds, top speed 209 mph.

Flat out can suck up 21 gallons of gas in 90 minutes.

The first SLR McLaren 722 Edition sold out faster than Superbowl tickets, leaving Mercedes-Benz's most rich and discerning customers clamoring for more. Only 150 examples of the 2009 Roadster 722 S was released, becoming available Jan. 1, 2009. Base price had not been announced to the public, but if you had to ask...

Dragons and Girls #4

2009-10-04T06:00:00.000-06:00

BEST FRIENDS

David Wenham - Dark City - Seventh Post

2009-10-02T06:00:00.002-06:00

DARK CITY

David Wenham as SCHREBER'S ASSISTANT

Dark City (1998) is a movie I have liked for a long time. I was really surprised to discover that David Wenham is in it. Like I said earlier... others knew who this guy was. I was clueless.
John Murdoch awakens alone in a strange hotel to find that he has lost his memory and is wanted for a series of brutal and bizarre murders. While trying to piece together his past, he stumbles upon a fiendish underworld controlled by a group of beings known as The Strangers who possess the ability to put people to sleep and alter the city and its inhabitants. Now Murdoch must find a way to stop them before they take control of his mind and destroy him. Written by Anonymous

David Wenham - First Post
David Wenham - How can this be the Second Post when I was so wrong
David Wenham - The Two Towers - Third Post
David Wenham - The Two Towers Extended - Fourth Post
David Wenham - The Two Towers - Take Three - Fifth Post
David Wenham - The Return of the King - Sixth Post

When You Can't Get Out of Bed Because of Christian Bale

2009-09-30T12:40:00.009-06:00

WHO WANTS TO GO TO SLEEP?

My creative time is early in the morning.

I'm talking 4:00 am early.

Which means I have to get out of bed--frequently when I don't want to.

I have to plan ahead. Getting up early actually starts with going to bed early the night before. Sometimes that's a lot harder than getting up.

For example, I really shouldn't have stayed up late watching the Christian Bale movie I discovered at 10:30 pm.

Only I hadn't seen this one....

RESCUE DAWN

Who can resist Christian Bale?
I know... I'm weak.
It sucked me right in and didn't turn loose until it was over.

So.... as I have many times before, I slept through my alarm clocks. All three of them.

I need something bigger.

Dragons and Girls #3

2009-09-26T10:30:00.001-06:00

DRAGON IN LAVENDER

Portrait of a Wax - Dragon by Kyena

Creating Time

2009-09-24T09:30:00.004-06:00

FIRST THINGS FIRST

Wanting more time seems to a common theme among writers, and probably everybody else as well. All the comments on my last post were about wanting more time.

I found this awesome post by Michael Hyatt on creating time.

Stephen Covey tells the story in First Things First of attending a seminar, in which the instructor pulled out a wide-mouth gallon jar. He sat it on the table next to some fist-sized rocks.

“How many of these rocks do you think we can get in the jar?” he asked.The students made various guesses. The instructor then proceeded to fill the jar with the rocks. It looked like it was full. He asked the class, “Is this jar full?” Everyone looked at the jar and agreed that it was indeed full.

He then reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. He then dumped the gravel into the jar. The gravel went in between all the little places left by the big rocks.

Then he grinned and once more asked, “Is the jar full?” By this time, the class was on to him. “Probably not,” several of the students said.

“Good!” he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He poured it into the jar. It went into all the spaces left by the big rocks and the gravel. Again, he asked the class, “Is this jar full?”

“No,” the class shouted.

He said, “Good!” He then grabbed a pitcher of water and poured almost a quart of water into the jar. Then he said, “What’s the point?”

Someone said, “If you really work at it, you can always squeeze more stuff into your life.”

“No,” the instructor responded. “That’s not the point. The point is this: if you hadn’t put these big rocks in first, would you ever have gotten any of them in?”

I would make an additional point. The big rocks are a metaphor for the important stuff. If you don’t make room for the important stuff, it will be overwhelmed by the less important stuff." Michael Hyatt - Creating an Annual Time Block

Hyatt then goes on to say how he blocks out his year so that his important stuff gets scheduled. He says, "Make sure you schedule time for the things that are important to you. If you don’t, you will find yourself scrambling to find time for the things that are important. If you are not careful, you will wake up one day and discover that you have spent your life living for other people’s priorities."

Only I'm thinking...

SCHEDULE YOUR DAY -- Don't let your writing time get lost in all the other things you need to squeeze into your day. The rest of time will take care of itself.

Buy Your Manuscript

2009-09-22T13:16:00.012-06:00

I FOUND THIS ON THE INTERNET

No kidding.

I'm-not-going-to-give-out-this-site.com is a library of over 70,000 essays, term papers, book reports, biographies and articles spanning over 190 categories. Members have these benefits:
Full essay details (size, grade, level) Essays rated and commented Exchange private messages & chat w members Up to 100 new essays added daily Comprehensive search engine	Immediate FULL access Independently verfied Privacy guarantee We WON'T spam you Fast customer support

Note the misspelled word *verfied*.

Why write your own stuff when you can buy it. If I could get my next novel out of a vending machine, all my struggles would be over. Just put in the coins, punch the button and voila... manuscript ready to ship to the nearest agent.

But why stop there? How about a vending machine for pets?

Or the next great idea for personal transportation.

How about more IQ points?

What I really could use, though, is a machine that sells genius talent.

David Wenham - Happy Birthday

2009-09-20T19:15:00.000-06:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVID

Born 44 years ago on 21 September. We want to wish him a happy birthday.

Wenham worked as a bingo caller and an insurance clerk before becoming successful as an actor. We think the change was a good one.

Never Give Up - Picture of the Day

2009-09-18T06:00:00.001-06:00

IN THE INSPIRED WORDS OF GALAXY QUEST

Step Up Your Game

2009-09-16T06:00:00.003-06:00

RAISING THE BAR

We keep hearing the agents and publishers out there are going through some hard times. As writers, we hear that with mixed reactions.

How can their hard times even compare with ours? All they have to do is pick something to publish. We have to write it.

They don't lock themselves up for days on end, fighting with words hour after hour, dragging characters and stories out of the keys in front of a glaring screen. They don't pour their hopes and dreams into a work they then send out for others to accept or dismiss as inspiration or hackneyed drivel.

All we want them to do is give us a chance. Look past the queries we sweat over because for some reason they're harder to write than a 13 volume epic. They're not as good as our novel. Just give us the benefit of the doubt.

We know there's more competition at every stage of the book business. There are fewer editors at fewer publishing houses acquiring fewer projects. Bookstores are ordering fewer books. The agents are getting more queries and submissions than ever before. It's tough out there, and it's not the time to complain.

Both the agents and publishers are on our side. Honestly. They can't do what they do without us. They want to see our submissions sparkling because right now they have to look for perfection.

It's time to step up our game! This means everything--our queries and our submissions need to be absolutely 110% perfect.

Then we need to understand the bar will never go back down. Yesterday's best writing isn't as good as today's. Tomorrow's writing has to be even better than today's. It's this way because there are so many writers out there trying to get the same contracts. Only the very best will stand out from the avalanche of material pouring in.

It's a good thing. Really.

I have to tell myself this. Stop fretting and put that hungry drive to work and write the best thing you've ever done. Then when you're finished.... do it again. Go for 120% perfect.

What's In a Name?

2009-09-14T06:00:00.003-06:00

IF SOMEONE ASKED
"DO YOU KNOW WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE?"

Can you say yes?

Do you know where to find them?

Do you know who created them?

Is your question the same as mine?

How do I create a name like one of these?

While you're here, scroll down the side bar and take a look at a promo video by Lori Cunningham. I'm sure you'll like it.

Dragon and Girl #2

2009-09-12T11:54:00.002-06:00

I couldn't find the original source for this picture.

While you're here, scroll down the side bar and take a look at a promo video by Lori Cunningham. I think you'll like it.

Remembering 9/11/2001

2009-09-11T08:45:00.007-06:00

WHERE WERE YOU?

NEVER FORGET

David Wenham - The Return of The King - Sixth Post

2009-09-10T06:00:00.004-06:00

LORD OF THE RINGS

The Return of the King

David Wenham as FARAMIR

"I'm sure that there is a jealousy from Denethor towards Gandalf of that friendship of Gandalf and Faramir. And it manifests itself in a frustration with the youngest son by Denethor and an obvious preference for Boromir. Fortunecity.com

Since the loss of Boromir he does the duty of two sons.

Faramir caught in Denethor's madness.

Never living up to his father’s expectations, he fights and rides like the best of them

Eowyn and Faramir

Faramir gets a happy ending when he falls in love while recovering from his wounds. Considering Eowyn trades in a King for him, he must have something pretty special going on.

David Wenham - First Post
David Wenham - How can this be the Second Post when I was so wrong
David Wenham - The Two Towers - Third Post
David Wenham - The Two Towers Extended - Fourth Post
David Wenham - The Two Towers - Take Three - Fifth Post