Daily Stats
Words: more than three, less than four thousand
Caffeine: morning cup + midmorning cappuccino
Evil Calories: left over apple pie from dinner out last night....tastes a little like feet, but the general idea is there
Reality TV: Project Runway reruns
Let me begin by saying that I know I'm not the most hilarious person ever in the history of time. I make no claim to be that charming. But, I've got thirty-some years of being told I'm "cute" to know that I'm at least working with something here. So, why then, when I go out to dinner and make a harmless joke about the salad, can I not even get any love from the waiter? He's being paid crappy minimum wage to bring me my food. His tip depends on how fabulous he makes me feel. Laugh at my sub-par joke, dude. I know you're distracted by the twelve-year-old with her thong hanging out at the table next to ours, but focus! I'm not saying my joke was funny, but it deserved at least a smirk. I would have even accepted a nose wrinkle. Something!!
Anyway...So, I think I might be a little on edge. It's officially been six weeks since that agent requested the partial, and I have yet to hear back. Clearly she blew her nose in it, then used it to line her trash can before she threw her half drunk latte away. I knew I shouldn't have spent the extra money on 30% recycled paper. Drat!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Deliver Me From the Hallway
Daily Stats
Words: none yet
Caffeine: morning cup
Evil Calories: resisting...fat pants getting snug
Reality TV: American Idol
So today I'm determined to get out of the hallway.
Makes no sense, I know. But believe me, it needs to happen. My MC has been standing in the hallway for about three days now. She needs to find something, and I know full well what that something is, but where she finds it is what's tripping me up. It's something very personal to a loved one who just passed away. My MC has no idea it even exists, so she must stumble upon it by accident.
Of course, I'm trying to be clever about it. Hidden in the back of a bedroom closet seems too obvious. Under the bed seems too lazy. Under the floor boards is way too over the top. I need something subtle, yet clever.
hmmm....maybe a hollowed out book.....or an ice bucket....or in a weird box from an import shop....or a ceramic frog with a hole in the bottom ("you put your weed in it!").
Words: none yet
Caffeine: morning cup
Evil Calories: resisting...fat pants getting snug
Reality TV: American Idol
So today I'm determined to get out of the hallway.
Makes no sense, I know. But believe me, it needs to happen. My MC has been standing in the hallway for about three days now. She needs to find something, and I know full well what that something is, but where she finds it is what's tripping me up. It's something very personal to a loved one who just passed away. My MC has no idea it even exists, so she must stumble upon it by accident.
Of course, I'm trying to be clever about it. Hidden in the back of a bedroom closet seems too obvious. Under the bed seems too lazy. Under the floor boards is way too over the top. I need something subtle, yet clever.
hmmm....maybe a hollowed out book.....or an ice bucket....or in a weird box from an import shop....or a ceramic frog with a hole in the bottom ("you put your weed in it!").
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Have I Met Me?
Daily Stats
Words: 1000+
Caffeine: morning cup + midmorning cappuccino + late afternoon cappuccino (zing-a-ding-dee)
Evil Calories: chocolate covered chocolate
Reality TV: American Idol
So, I was digging through some old files on my computer today, and I stumbled across some of my old writing. I cracked up because most of it was from my days of working in advertising, when I'd be so fed up with the annoying politics and cry-baby creatives that I'd hide at my desk and blow off doing real work so I could write. Which resulted in mounds and mounds of really short stories that made no sense at all.
But one really struck me, mostly because I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT THE HECK IT'S ABOUT!!! Seriously, I cannot remember!!!! I don't even really remember writing it! It's very odd...doesn't even sound like me. So, I thought I'd post it. It's very short, kind of hokey and it sounds like the narrator is being chasing by something (spoooooky...not). I didn't edit it or spell-check or anything. This is exactly how I found it:
There was something lying on the ground in front of me. It took me more time than I had to realize it was just a crumpled receipt. A 3-liter of Coke and an O’Henry bar. That wasn't a sign. Not one I could understand. I threw it back on the ground and continued walking. I knew that the weather should register something; hot, cold, windy, rainy. But I felt nothing. It was as if what pursued me had already caught up with me, and left upon me a thick layer, blocking out what everyone else was experiencing. The sidewalk was crooked as I stepped, somehow not tripping as the jagged edges seemed to rise to meet my feet. My pace was being slowed by simple concrete slabs. Concrete slabs that had no life, no souls, no memory. Yet, they had somehow formed an alliance with what was following me.
Well, there you go. My brain five years ago. I certainly had a flair for the dramatic. It was as if what pursued me had already caught up with me, and left upon me a thick layer, blocking out what everyone else was experiencing. Oops...I think I just threw up a little.
Words: 1000+
Caffeine: morning cup + midmorning cappuccino + late afternoon cappuccino (zing-a-ding-dee)
Evil Calories: chocolate covered chocolate
Reality TV: American Idol
So, I was digging through some old files on my computer today, and I stumbled across some of my old writing. I cracked up because most of it was from my days of working in advertising, when I'd be so fed up with the annoying politics and cry-baby creatives that I'd hide at my desk and blow off doing real work so I could write. Which resulted in mounds and mounds of really short stories that made no sense at all.
But one really struck me, mostly because I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT THE HECK IT'S ABOUT!!! Seriously, I cannot remember!!!! I don't even really remember writing it! It's very odd...doesn't even sound like me. So, I thought I'd post it. It's very short, kind of hokey and it sounds like the narrator is being chasing by something (spoooooky...not). I didn't edit it or spell-check or anything. This is exactly how I found it:
There was something lying on the ground in front of me. It took me more time than I had to realize it was just a crumpled receipt. A 3-liter of Coke and an O’Henry bar. That wasn't a sign. Not one I could understand. I threw it back on the ground and continued walking. I knew that the weather should register something; hot, cold, windy, rainy. But I felt nothing. It was as if what pursued me had already caught up with me, and left upon me a thick layer, blocking out what everyone else was experiencing. The sidewalk was crooked as I stepped, somehow not tripping as the jagged edges seemed to rise to meet my feet. My pace was being slowed by simple concrete slabs. Concrete slabs that had no life, no souls, no memory. Yet, they had somehow formed an alliance with what was following me.
Well, there you go. My brain five years ago. I certainly had a flair for the dramatic. It was as if what pursued me had already caught up with me, and left upon me a thick layer, blocking out what everyone else was experiencing. Oops...I think I just threw up a little.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Meez Me Baby One More Time
Daily Stats
Words: not enough
Caffeine: morning cup + midmorning cappuccino (I heart my espresso machine...we're having a shit-ton of snow here and there's no way I could have made it to Starbucks)
Evil Calories: Tiramisu loaded with copious amounts of dark rum (that was by accident, but it turned out really delish!)
Reality TV: American Idol (Must see hot Aussie again. I don't usually go for the painfully gorgeous but I can't help myself)
Ok, I promise not to complain about the snow (stupid, crappy, annoying crap!). I'm sick of hearing myself whine. Ok, that's not true, I embrace my incessant complaining, but truth be told, I have nothing more to say about the snow (crappy, stupid crap!) It's cold, it's crappy, and it's EVERYWHERE I look!
*sigh*
In other news, I meezed myself! (look at the sidebar) Don't try this at home. Actually...you should try this at home. It's way fun! I wish she did more...like danced or did kung fu or wrote for me while I sat and stuffed my face with cookies. But she's adorable anyway, and she actually kinda looks like me (though she's much leggier).
And finally, I had a strange dream last night that the agent that requested the partial emailed and wanted the full. I scrambled around in the dreamworld (which means I kept taking elevators up and down an office building to try and find all the pages) and dropped them off at a security desk. No one was there, so I just put a sticky note on it and left it on the desk. Then I got a call from the agent saying that she like my book, but the ending was wrong. Not bad...just wrong. Like I'd accidentally put the wrong ending in and she caught the mistake as if it were a typo. Very strange. And of course I woke up before I found out if she wanted to rep me.
So if I ever hear from that agent and she wants a full, I'm officially psychic.
Words: not enough
Caffeine: morning cup + midmorning cappuccino (I heart my espresso machine...we're having a shit-ton of snow here and there's no way I could have made it to Starbucks)
Evil Calories: Tiramisu loaded with copious amounts of dark rum (that was by accident, but it turned out really delish!)
Reality TV: American Idol (Must see hot Aussie again. I don't usually go for the painfully gorgeous but I can't help myself)
Ok, I promise not to complain about the snow (stupid, crappy, annoying crap!). I'm sick of hearing myself whine. Ok, that's not true, I embrace my incessant complaining, but truth be told, I have nothing more to say about the snow (crappy, stupid crap!) It's cold, it's crappy, and it's EVERYWHERE I look!
*sigh*
In other news, I meezed myself! (look at the sidebar) Don't try this at home. Actually...you should try this at home. It's way fun! I wish she did more...like danced or did kung fu or wrote for me while I sat and stuffed my face with cookies. But she's adorable anyway, and she actually kinda looks like me (though she's much leggier).
And finally, I had a strange dream last night that the agent that requested the partial emailed and wanted the full. I scrambled around in the dreamworld (which means I kept taking elevators up and down an office building to try and find all the pages) and dropped them off at a security desk. No one was there, so I just put a sticky note on it and left it on the desk. Then I got a call from the agent saying that she like my book, but the ending was wrong. Not bad...just wrong. Like I'd accidentally put the wrong ending in and she caught the mistake as if it were a typo. Very strange. And of course I woke up before I found out if she wanted to rep me.
So if I ever hear from that agent and she wants a full, I'm officially psychic.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Losing Your Voice...?
Daily Stats
Words: 1000
Kleenex: 10 (there's hope for the trees)
Caffeine: morning cup + midmorning cappuccino + late afternoon cappuccino (it's laundry day, back off!)
Evil Calories: still can't move from ODing on apple pie
I've always preferred writing in first person, so when I began writing my first book, it was the obvious way to go. Third person was always a little bizarre to me. I didn't understand who I would be as third person (do I see all? do I only see what my MC sees? Am I God-like? If so, am I a God, or the God? If I'm the God, can make women stop wearing colored hosiery and outlaw tapered leg jeans?). I also thought that I would lose my voice writing in third person. That I'd just be a boring, robotic tone transcribing a story.
But, for my second book I decided to give third person a go. Oddly enough, I think I actually have a stronger voice. There's this little window of opportunity to poke fun at your MC that I don't think is there when you write in first person, especially if your MC is having a total brown out. I actually think I prefer it now.
And then I learned that several of my friends won't even consider reading a book if it's written in first person. I was totally baffled by this, but apparently it makes them "uncomfortable" to be that close to someones story (ummm...paging Dr. Freud!). So now I'm wondering...is this common? Are there many people out there that will cast a book aside simply because of the voice it's written in?
And on a totally different subject, when I opened my computer and read the top headlines this morning I was so thrilled that cappuccino almost came out of my nose. I was at a family event last night so I missed the Oscars, but I saw the amazing Marion Cotillard won best actress for her portrayal of Edith Piaf in La Vie En Rose! If you haven't seen this movie, you must. Edith's life was immensely tragic, but the film is amazing, and Ms. Cotillard's portrayal is so incredible you'd think she was possessed by the little sparrow herself. So, go to Netflix and add it to your queue!
Words: 1000
Kleenex: 10 (there's hope for the trees)
Caffeine: morning cup + midmorning cappuccino + late afternoon cappuccino (it's laundry day, back off!)
Evil Calories: still can't move from ODing on apple pie
I've always preferred writing in first person, so when I began writing my first book, it was the obvious way to go. Third person was always a little bizarre to me. I didn't understand who I would be as third person (do I see all? do I only see what my MC sees? Am I God-like? If so, am I a God, or the God? If I'm the God, can make women stop wearing colored hosiery and outlaw tapered leg jeans?). I also thought that I would lose my voice writing in third person. That I'd just be a boring, robotic tone transcribing a story.
But, for my second book I decided to give third person a go. Oddly enough, I think I actually have a stronger voice. There's this little window of opportunity to poke fun at your MC that I don't think is there when you write in first person, especially if your MC is having a total brown out. I actually think I prefer it now.
And then I learned that several of my friends won't even consider reading a book if it's written in first person. I was totally baffled by this, but apparently it makes them "uncomfortable" to be that close to someones story (ummm...paging Dr. Freud!). So now I'm wondering...is this common? Are there many people out there that will cast a book aside simply because of the voice it's written in?
And on a totally different subject, when I opened my computer and read the top headlines this morning I was so thrilled that cappuccino almost came out of my nose. I was at a family event last night so I missed the Oscars, but I saw the amazing Marion Cotillard won best actress for her portrayal of Edith Piaf in La Vie En Rose! If you haven't seen this movie, you must. Edith's life was immensely tragic, but the film is amazing, and Ms. Cotillard's portrayal is so incredible you'd think she was possessed by the little sparrow herself. So, go to Netflix and add it to your queue!
Friday, February 22, 2008
Contests, Schmontests!
Daily Stats
Words: 1000
Kleenex: 436 (better than yesterday)
Caffeine: morning cup + midmorning cappuccino
Evil Calories: Apple pie (I am hellbent on perfecting pie crust from scratch...even if it kills me or makes me gain nine hundred pounds!)
Reality TV: DVR'd Millionaire Matchmaker
When I was eight years old I wrote a short story about a gigantic bunny that ate my sister. Though she was a bit concerned about my mental state, our school librarian encouraged me to enter my story in the school writing competition. To my surprise, I won third place and received a lovely plastic bronze medal that my mother still has hanging on the wall in the family room. Writing has been my thing ever since. (As is occasionally sending my sister pictures of enormous bunnies just to freak her out.)
However, I'm sad to say that that was the one and only writing contest I have ever won in my life. You'd think I'd take that as a sign. But, here I am, churning out yet another Writer's Digest "Your Story" piece to submit. I've entered about five thousand of those and have never won boo.
Hmm...maybe I should submit that gigantic bunny story. The advisory council at Gladys Wood Elementary (which consisted of the PE teacher, the librarian and the lady that sold popcorn in the lunch room on Fridays) obviously thought it was a winner.
Words: 1000
Kleenex: 436 (better than yesterday)
Caffeine: morning cup + midmorning cappuccino
Evil Calories: Apple pie (I am hellbent on perfecting pie crust from scratch...even if it kills me or makes me gain nine hundred pounds!)
Reality TV: DVR'd Millionaire Matchmaker
When I was eight years old I wrote a short story about a gigantic bunny that ate my sister. Though she was a bit concerned about my mental state, our school librarian encouraged me to enter my story in the school writing competition. To my surprise, I won third place and received a lovely plastic bronze medal that my mother still has hanging on the wall in the family room. Writing has been my thing ever since. (As is occasionally sending my sister pictures of enormous bunnies just to freak her out.)
However, I'm sad to say that that was the one and only writing contest I have ever won in my life. You'd think I'd take that as a sign. But, here I am, churning out yet another Writer's Digest "Your Story" piece to submit. I've entered about five thousand of those and have never won boo.
Hmm...maybe I should submit that gigantic bunny story. The advisory council at Gladys Wood Elementary (which consisted of the PE teacher, the librarian and the lady that sold popcorn in the lunch room on Fridays) obviously thought it was a winner.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Breathing is Overrated
Daily Stats
Words: none
Kleenex: 784
Caffeine: morning cup + fourteen packets of EmergenC
Evil Calories: can't taste anything
Reality TV: American Idol
Mother of crap, I feel like hell. Up until now I've been able to dodge the plague, but apparently my time has come. You know what I love about being sick? Trying to sleep. It's so great waking up every half hour unable to breath out of your nose and it feels as if your cat has died in your mouth.
So, today I will be hiding in bed with my computer, sneezing and hacking all over my work. It'll be the best time ever.
Words: none
Kleenex: 784
Caffeine: morning cup + fourteen packets of EmergenC
Evil Calories: can't taste anything
Reality TV: American Idol
Mother of crap, I feel like hell. Up until now I've been able to dodge the plague, but apparently my time has come. You know what I love about being sick? Trying to sleep. It's so great waking up every half hour unable to breath out of your nose and it feels as if your cat has died in your mouth.
So, today I will be hiding in bed with my computer, sneezing and hacking all over my work. It'll be the best time ever.
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