Friday, November 26, 2010

CALLING ALL WRITERS



Calling all writers!

What kind of writer are you?

An outliner?

Or

A seat-of-the-pantser?

I’m a seat-of-the pantser that has been trying to find my way, feeling as though I need to have more planned out before I begin, yet can’t seem to get myself to do so. I’ve tried the Snowflake Pro, which is amazing and it did help in getting me to know my characters better, as well as forcing me to focus more on what my story will entail. But beyond that, I just CAN’T seem to get anything down on “paper”.

Is that okay?

So my question to all of you published as well as non-published writers is, which are you? As I often read a well written book, I can’t help but wonder if that author is a plotter or a seat-of-the-pantser.

What are your secrets to accomplishing a well rounded, well written story?

How do you go about it?

What steps do you take?

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

A MOVIE TO REMEMBER



Well I must say I am in love with Rob Pattinson all over, again. I loved him in Twilight, and I loved him in REMEMBER ME. Wow, what an amazing movie. Great story! Great acting. For whatever reason I had not remembered what the ending was to be about. That came as a totally shock. Here I was going along loving this story, totally engrossed in it and yet had no idea where it was heading. The idea was never a thought or a possibility. It was as if I was given two stories in one. It made me want to go back and watch it again with new eyes. But then again I don’t know if I could handle it, knowing what happened in the end.

Very powerful, and moving.

Definitely a movie to REMEMBER

Saturday, November 13, 2010

A MONSTROUSE BOOK


THE WRITER’S JOURNEY is quite a monstrous book in size as well as the information it contains. I must admit it took me some time to get through it. Although I don’t regret reading it I must say in many ways it was way beyond my comprehension. So much information that I had a hard time deciphering it all. The examples were extensive which had its advantages as well as its disadvantages.

I would have to say what I took away from this book is the sense that characters are quite complex, thus are humans. I now have a different perspective on the structure of a novel, and even more so the importance of it. This book also put to words the feelings an amazing movie or book can provoke. Why, how, and the importance of it.

At one of my writing meetings, we watched the concepts of this book being taught by the authors on DVD. Though I was only able to watch the first half, I must say it was easier to comprehend then the book. I would highly recommend the DVD’s verses the book.

What book on the craft of writing has had the greatest impact in your writing journey?

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

MEETING BIG TIME RUSH WAS A BIG TIME SUCCESS

WHAT WE DO FOR OUR KIDS!



I’ve been blessed to meet and get many autographs in my life from famous people, singers, and authors. Each experience has been a bit different. Some better than others.

My two youngest daughters’ are HUGE BIG TIME RUSH fans so when I happened to discover they were going to be signing their CD’s at a Borders nearby, there was no way I could say no.

Little did I know the adventure I was about to embark on.

You needed to be there that morning when the doors opened at 9:00 AM to obtain a wrist band. In order to obtain a wrist band, you needed to purchase a CD from Borders. And there was a limit as well. Only 600 people would be getting these wrist bands with a chance to meet BIG TIME RUSH.

So I asked the woman at Borders what time she thought would be a good time to be there in the morning. She wasn’t sure but thought when they opened at nine would be fine. After my questioning the time she said that if I wanted to be safe 8:30AM, 8:00AM should be good. Into our conversation she mentioned that I could purchase the CD’s ahead of time…as long as I had a receipt to prove I’d purchased them from Borders. It might help me to obtain a wrist band sooner that day.

As the days slipped by I decided I’d purchase the CD’s ahead of time. So off to the store near my house I went to purchase three CD’s. One for my two youngest daughters and one for their friend that would be going with us. The only problem was, when I got to the store they only had two left! The store clerk called around and the closest Borders to have a copy was seventeen miles away. The very Borders we’d be going to, to meet BIG TIME RUSH.

So my husband was kind enough to make the trip to get the extra CD. A week later, my eldest daughter decided that now SHE would like to meet BIG TIME RUSH as well. So I went back and forth to whether or not I would make the trip to purchase yet another CD. Mind you we already had a CD that we’d ordered directly from BIG TIME RUSH before we knew about this but in order to get the wrist bands, you HAD to be purchased them from Borders. And I had asked my daughter several times if she wanted to go early on. Anyway, one day while out shopping in an area I only go to every couple of months, I spotted a Borders that I’d been told the week before had no copies of the CD. But I decided to stop anyway. You just never know. So I did, and thanks to God they had just received two in!

So now we're set!

As the time neared, I still debated on what time to go. I went from 9:00AM, to 7:00AM, to 5:00AM! And I'm so not a morning person.

I was so worried about getting up on time, and what awaited me, and if I’d be one of the lucky 600 that I never did fall asleep. When my alarm clock went off at 3:30AM, I pulled myself out of bed and got ready... Slowly. After all, I’d probable me the only fool there!

As I approached the Borders at 4:45AM, my jaw dropped when I spotted the parking lot. It was full! And not only was it full, there were tents…that’s right, TENTS set up. I walked past the tents and people, many with lawn chairs with sleeping bags and pillows. There was even one person with a tray table set up with a laptop on it! There were moms, and dads, and teenage girls.

Okay, so I’m not the only crazy parent/person in the world!

So I made my way around the building to my place in line, about number 105. There I quickly met others around me, and talked about how insane we were to be there so early in the wee hours of the morning, in the dark, in 33 degree weather…all for a “chance” for our children to get to meet BIG TIME RUSH.

In the end, I was excited to leave with my four wrist bands for the girls. I’m not sure if lack of sleep and the whole ordeal had something to do with it but I left with tears in my eyes, as well as thanking God for allowing my girls this opportunity. You see, I knew now much this would mean to them, and after talking about it for the past couple of week I hated the thought of how disappointed they’d be if I didn’t get them…and how disappointed I be after all I went through in hopes of making my girls dream come true.

I must say that having the CD's purchased ahead of time, and going at 4:45 in the AM made a HUGE difference. You see, they let the people that had purchased the CD's ahead of time, go in first! There’s another story behind that…



That night when I went back with the girls, we had to wait for an hour and a half before BIG TIME RUSH was to arrive. But the girls never complained. We actually met people in line, as well as I saw most of the folks I’d stood beside in line that morning with. We sat in our assigned area, on the second floor in the religious section. I have no doubt that wasn’t a coincident; for I truly believe that it was God that blessed this special occasion.



Finally after another hour or so it was our turn. The girls could hardly contain their excitement. Even though you weren’t allowed to take pictures with them, and only allowed to have them sign the one CD you paid for, the girls were thrilled. It was a very quick process and though I wish it wasn’t so rushed, I must say I was happy that each of the girls received a high-five, or handshake from each of the boys. They truly seemed to give their attention to them, however brief it was and with all the distractions it couldn’t have been easy.



So, would I do it again?



You bet ya!



Thanks BIG TIME RUSH, you were awesome!