tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51960943361762958182024-03-13T23:16:42.479-04:00I Wrote a BookOne day while searching for a new form of electronic procrastination, I came to a startling realization. "No!" I cried, as my computer screen flashed a message: "You have reached the end of the internet." Then, I had an epiphany. "Why not create my own blog?" I thought. “I can constantly fill it with new things, and I'll never be stranded at the end of the internet again.” Thus began this blog, a blog about the adventures, misadventures, and nonadventures of an aspiring YA writer.Wannabe Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536810143228961531noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196094336176295818.post-84012424876342568912014-03-08T12:34:00.001-05:002014-03-08T12:35:15.667-05:00I am me<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgqjhJEcjVueu3yKlkmD9eyuMVJgloNIkDAwwB2jPYjtPAJVOmbF6BZZstL-aUQAp7efAXnQbI8XgWaurV5pih6BsA7whnbfyQU4kdTKmxtJUnAKZN49gw-BF1idieip6vhYoF0Ut568V/s1600/marilyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgqjhJEcjVueu3yKlkmD9eyuMVJgloNIkDAwwB2jPYjtPAJVOmbF6BZZstL-aUQAp7efAXnQbI8XgWaurV5pih6BsA7whnbfyQU4kdTKmxtJUnAKZN49gw-BF1idieip6vhYoF0Ut568V/s1600/marilyn.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>I think Marilyn Monroe said it best: "Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are."<br />
<br />
My immediate inclination upon logging back into my blog after over a year's abscense is to apologize. To say sorry for not keeping up with it and for not being able to come back with amazing news about finishing my book and querying and publishing. But I can't say those things, and I'm not going to apologize. For starters, why would you all want to listen to my lame excuses? And I spend too much of my life (not just here online, but at work and with friends and family) apologizing for things that don't need to be apologized for. <br />
<br />
I'm terrible at keeping up wtih a blog, and I need to own it. It's me!<br />
<br />
What I've come to realize in the last year is that we all have our own journies and we're all moving at different speeds and in the end when we reach our destination, it doesn't matter if we sprinted or took a decade because it will feel just as sweet. I'm not a fast writer, as it turns out. And that's okay. I don't have to be anything I'm not. I'm doing it because it fulfills me and makes me smile, and I'll keep at it for as long as it takes.<br />
<br />
Not to say that I shouldn't hold myself accountable in some way. I need to be better at working on my story and checking in on my blog, but apologizing isn't going to make that happen. So, I'm going to pick up from here. <br />
<br />
Maybe my blog and book suffered a touch, but in the last year, I:<br />
<ul>
<li>got married</li>
<li>became a vegan (after 15 years of vegetarianism)supported my husband as he left his job as a librarian to become a full-time musician</li>
<li>traveled</li>
<li>worked hard at my day job (9 scientific publications!)</li>
<li>entered my 8th year as a volunteer at the cat shelter I love so dearly</li>
</ul>
Whew! It's been great<br />
. And I'm sure you all have done some amazing things- I can't wait to get caught up. Wannabe Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536810143228961531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196094336176295818.post-13379683799471119032013-02-19T17:48:00.003-05:002013-02-19T18:10:40.530-05:00Ancestoral afflatusNope, my post today isn't about old relatives farting. Sorry to disappoint! But it is about finding inspiration. I don't think I've talked about this before, but one of the other activities I use to distract myself from chores and working on Power Trio is doing my family's genealogy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXl_IHwe9vwJ_zXpyz0T2HM3hQxyiEtaA94SrLQDeMrcbNjfxp2bayZi5eYJ1MQeyN_eLsqOcj0e6NMCN4tRLexqNBtzDOHL7C5YUW-pQBmxWnWz2_6EUVH71Bg8MX-KAlCSPlcVL9xu8/s1600/familytree.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXl_IHwe9vwJ_zXpyz0T2HM3hQxyiEtaA94SrLQDeMrcbNjfxp2bayZi5eYJ1MQeyN_eLsqOcj0e6NMCN4tRLexqNBtzDOHL7C5YUW-pQBmxWnWz2_6EUVH71Bg8MX-KAlCSPlcVL9xu8/s320/familytree.png" width="320" /></a></div>
In the 1980s, my grandmother (dad's side) typed about a thousand pages of genealogy .. on a typewriter! She traced everyone back to Sweden in the 1600s. I've had the book for almost two years now, and I've been slowly transcribing the information so that we can share it more widely, be able to search, and update it. Selfishly, I'd really like to update it, since it was done the year before I was born, so I want to put myself in there.<br />
<br />
[Random tangent: Here's a little note from my cat Winston for all of you: hoR^tg/y. I'm impressed he got a capital letter and a few symbols in there. Maybe he's the real writer in the family.]<br />
<br />
Back to the family tree- there's some really great stuff buried among the pages of basic demographics (date of birth, place of birth, date of death, place of death, and marriages). My grandmother took a trip to Sweden to visit the extended family still living over there and went to a place called the Horn and Pipe in Ljungby. This estate is fabled to be home to trolls. She brought back tons of documents with info about the legends and the home, and I've been typing and translating those too- thanks, Google Translator! I also had some family who went to Alaska for the gold rush. There are a ton of great photos of them with their huskies. As I've expanded and dug into the my mom's side of the family, I've been able to trace my ancestry back to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Wardwell">Samuel Wardwell</a>, one of the few men killed in the Salem Witch Hunt.<br />
<br />
What's been really neat is seeing how these bits of family history have manifested in my writing. I've given a few of my characters interesting family stories and tied them to historic events. I like to think of everything I do as "research," but learning about my family has probably served me better than all of the hours I log watching cruddy television.<br />
<br />
Anybody else out there have an interesting person in their genealogy Any skeletons from your closet that have made it into your writing?Wannabe Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536810143228961531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196094336176295818.post-24259167954333149752013-01-25T21:34:00.000-05:002013-01-25T21:38:11.421-05:00Watching The Carrie Diaries is like reading, right?Like any aspiring writer, I spend a lot of time researching. Reading books on craft. Checking out self-editing books. And, of course, reading tons of fiction. And since I write YA I must also research "the youths." I'm always looking for great YA reads. Just finished Ready Player One, and it's one I definitely recommend.<br />
<br />
As a devoted follower of Sex and the City and fan of solid works of YA, I was drawn to Candace Bushnell's The Carrie Diaries back in 2010. Then, like most things on my to-do list, I didn't do it. How convenient that they have now turned it into a TV show!<br />
<br />
Because, somehow, in my head watching an entire year of TV takes less time than reading a 400-page novel.<br />
<br />
<br />
I lie to myself everyday.<br />
<br />
<br />
Anyway. Tonight, I watched the first two episodes of the show. I liked seeing AnnaSophia Robb in the lead role. I've been picturing her as one of the characters in Power Trio since seeing her in the Race to Witch Mountain reboot. I was surprised to see Knives Chau from Scott Pilgrim is still in high school- someone should get that girl a tutor. But, did anyone else watching notice that some of the cast strangely resemble other actors?<br />
<br />
I took me a full 60 minutes before I realized that Austin Butler wasn't Chord Overstreet.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Austin Butler Picture" src="http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMjI4ODg5Njc1OF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNzQwMTczNw@@._V1._SX214_CR0,0,214,314_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /><img alt="Chord Overstreet Picture" src="http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BNzY0MDQ5MzU4OF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNDc4NjkzNw@@._V1._SY314_CR12,0,214,314_.jpg" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Austin Butler (Sebastian in The Carrie Diaries) and Chord Overstreet (Sam in Glee)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And another 15 before I figured out that Katie Findlay wasn't Madeline Zima.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Katie Findlay Picture" src="http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMzkzNDMyNTExNl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNzAzNzA5OA@@._V1._SX214_CR0,0,214,314_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /><img alt="Madeline Zima Picture" src="http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTUwNTM2MjgyNF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwODAwMzUwMw@@._V1._SX214_CR0,0,214,314_.jpg" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katie Findlay (Maggie in The Carrie Diaries) and Madeline Zima (Mia in Californication)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: start;">
And now I'm thinking my relentless TV and movie watching might be the reason Power Trio has lain dormant for the better part of a year. Time to enact some no-tech nights.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">[Images from imdb.com]</span></div>
Wannabe Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536810143228961531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196094336176295818.post-51548574340507406472012-11-10T17:45:00.000-05:002013-08-25T16:17:19.793-04:00Working 9 to 5. And then 5 to 9.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjmGEBRgySIqosxbH4V6I_iXJmgaXWwXCoPUYtI6C9DGlWwtynLY1Q5FSalfZqnGyYMEr3LPvs6Cprc-Ckldq4PL60Lp01Ue7r3vX0Ni-3v5iC7ORvMzCwebYw-HjBXbbQcDOZC0HQFOP/s1600/Winston+at+the+shelter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjmGEBRgySIqosxbH4V6I_iXJmgaXWwXCoPUYtI6C9DGlWwtynLY1Q5FSalfZqnGyYMEr3LPvs6Cprc-Ckldq4PL60Lp01Ue7r3vX0Ni-3v5iC7ORvMzCwebYw-HjBXbbQcDOZC0HQFOP/s1600/Winston+at+the+shelter.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winston, when he still lived at the shelter. He gave a great<br />
stink eye, which really didn't help him get adopted (but<br />
it did wonders with me obviously!).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Hi everyone. I'm back with a vengeance. As the title says, I've been a busy lady lately. Work is going well and filling a lot of my time with SCIENCE! And about two months ago, after losing Wildman in April, I adopted another cat. Winston was a long-term resident at the shelter where I volunteer. He is a shy, adult cat who frequently hid or ran away, which made him not so adoptable in most people's mind. I decided to give him a chance. He took A LOT of work to get comfortable enough, but he's doing so great now. I couldn't be prouder. His first reaction when we move towards him is to run and hid, but a few seconds later, he comes bouncing back over, trilling and chirping. He gets better every day. Winston and my other cat, Marvel, are still working out there stuff. He likes her a lot, and she likes to chase him into corners and make him hide. There's probably a story in there.<br />
<br />
I finally took the writing class as part of Emory University's Evening Learning courses. It was a really great 5 weeks. I learned a bit about the craft, although a lot of the material is similar to what's available online on all of the amazing writer's blogs, but I think what was really good for me was to share my writing with folks and to receive feedback. It's reinvigorated my desire to find a critique group. That'll be a goal for the new year.<br />
<br />
Also, I don't know if you guys know this, but it's November! When the heck did November get here! This is the first time in three years that I'm not doing NaNoWriMo, and the biggest reason for it is that I seem to have completely lost track of time and forgot what month it is. I think I'm still back in September...<br />
<br />
Hope all of you are doing great out there in the wide, wide world. Happy writing!Wannabe Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536810143228961531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196094336176295818.post-88512526147148317842012-07-22T12:28:00.001-04:002012-07-22T12:28:03.493-04:00Lack of commitmentI was just rereading my post from March and laughing to myself about my resolution to finish the Hunger Games series. I didn't! Another one of those unfinished things on my growing to-do list. But, not to worry, I have found a way to rationalize my decision, so that I don't have to feel like the laziest procrastinator on the planet. When I saw the first movie, I enjoyed it. It was true to the book and fantastic to see the images come to life. I saw it with librarian bf, whose read the entire series. The theater was crammed full of people, most of whom seemed to have been long-standing fans. Which is totally awesome- I love how many kids are reading now! But as much as I liked the movie, I did wonder what someone who hadn't read the series would have thought. Soooooo, the scientist in me has arranged an experiment. I've read the first two books, and I'll see those movies. And then, I'll see the third movie without reading the book. Then, I'll know how both sides feel. See, it's perfect. I meant for this to happen. But the third movie (and forth, since they're doing it as a two-parter) is still a ways away, who knows what will happen before then....<br />
<br />
I've also been tearing through a fantastic graphic novel: Bakuman. Even if you aren't into manga, if you're a fellow writer or artist or creator, you should check the series out. I think they're on book 11 or so now, and I'm reading 9 today. It's the story of two young boys who want to become serialized in Jump, a weekly publication. The creators of the story have been in the business for a while (they did DeathNote together), and this manga shows the behind the scenes aspects. There are meetings with their editor, deadlines, writer's block, and all the other aspects of publication. Realistic and really fun. I will finish this one- I promise!<br />
<br />
Reading now: Awkward by Marni Bates, Bakuman by T<span style="background-color: white;">sugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata</span>Wannabe Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536810143228961531noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196094336176295818.post-53554893714227334572012-07-08T19:39:00.000-04:002012-07-22T11:59:11.873-04:00Six Sentence Sunday - Power TrioI haven't been keeping up with whether or not this is still happening, but I wanted to try my hand at the Six Sentence Sunday posts I used to see all the time. This is part of Power Trio. It was harder to find six sentences that make sense out of context than I thought it would be!<br />
<br />
Sofie tossed a bottle of hand sanitizer over her shoulder. "Be careful you don't use too much," she said. "You can get nasty drunk from the alcohol absorbing through your skin and into your blood stream."<br />
"That's ridiculous," Addison said.<br />
"No, it isn't. I read it online." She slammed against her seat, which smashed into my already tingling legs.<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span>Wannabe Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536810143228961531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196094336176295818.post-57013287948302045272012-07-04T19:34:00.001-04:002012-07-04T19:37:34.333-04:00I'm still writing a bookLet's get the sad news out of the way. My wonderful foster cat passed away. Towards the end his medical care was very intensive and very emotionally/physically draining. I wouldn't trade the time with him for anything, but I found that I didn't have much energy to do anything else. He lived a very full life and I was happy to have him for the time I did (although I find myself wishing I could have seen what he was like as a kitten).<br />
<br />
In happier news, my real-life job is going well. I got to travel and I'm publishing a manuscript this month (I seem to be able to get writing done at the office!).<br />
<br />
Not much progress to report on the writing front, but I'm still working. A few of the other writers I know have gotten book deals- I'll be sure to tell you when their stuff comes out. In the next few months, I think. Seeing them achieve their goals is actually inspiring me to keep going. I hit a bit of a lull, but I've moved to a new writing spot (an adorable tea place) and the change of place is helping me thing of some solutions to the things I'd been tripping on before. Here's hoping the rest of the summer is even more productive.<br />
<br />
Happy Fourth everyone!Wannabe Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536810143228961531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196094336176295818.post-75520875246544276602012-03-10T13:56:00.003-05:002012-03-14T22:02:13.347-04:00Foster cat update: Horner's syndromeI thought I'd give a quick status update on my foster cat, for anyone who might be interested. I brought him one back in July (a few months after our senior kitty passed away). Wildman is an old guy, and a long-term shelter resident, so I wanted to give him a comfortable place to spend his "golden years."<br />
<br />
We think he's around 14 or 15 and based on the issues he's having, that seems pretty right. He's got chronic ear infections, so he's always on antibiotics, which help a little, but aren't ever going to completely resolve the issue. Also, the ear infections caused facial paralysis on the right side of his face (probably from all the scratching).<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-8TEjMu1X-bxtJGUgFFA6sVxxl0_OHJU_ouJq3_TT89t30HPAPT6a-q97EqywGoTxOFnVCMgbioQel0UjkJcumugeceFeQBnuTWdLceZZvK4jATjcCUPFjl1eN9AZ-mhCGkssxJsrNFY/s1600/Horner's.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-8TEjMu1X-bxtJGUgFFA6sVxxl0_OHJU_ouJq3_TT89t30HPAPT6a-q97EqywGoTxOFnVCMgbioQel0UjkJcumugeceFeQBnuTWdLceZZvK4jATjcCUPFjl1eN9AZ-mhCGkssxJsrNFY/s200/Horner's.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horner's syndrome of the right eye.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In the last few days, it's turned into Horner's syndrome- a condition where the top eyelid drops, the third (nictating) eyelid closes, and the pupil constrictions. He was also diagnosed with hyperthyroid (a normal cat has a range of 0.7-5, and in a senior cat, a level above 2.5 might be considered hyperthyroid (when you take signs and symptoms into consideration). Wildman's test came back at 13! Yikes. So now, he's getting twice daily pills for that too. And he's got high blood pressure, and he's on human meds for those. I crack up every time I go to the pharmacy to fill my prescription for "Wildman B."<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
He goes back to the vet this week to have blood drawn again. Now that he's on hyperthyroid meds, there's a chance it had previously masked some other issues (like kidney failure) so they'll check on all of that. Sorry for the long and rambling, non-book related post, but I wanted to share, just in case anyone else out there has a senior cat. I'd love to hear how things are going with your older pets (and the younger ones too)!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFfSWqaKiP-6O4Vyvsy_oVavD0FBQPN_IKc8bc1eEjVAPwY75aMrCxWp8BhX0GcsHWCpLF7LCyXdepuSRVz1GQPtBLhAswEF0Sg_XgPILV6zV_-ucaSxzzSgYZNDjTZ2m90jWWNcTzsDa/s1600/BestBuds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFfSWqaKiP-6O4Vyvsy_oVavD0FBQPN_IKc8bc1eEjVAPwY75aMrCxWp8BhX0GcsHWCpLF7LCyXdepuSRVz1GQPtBLhAswEF0Sg_XgPILV6zV_-ucaSxzzSgYZNDjTZ2m90jWWNcTzsDa/s200/BestBuds.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best buds!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Despite all of his issues, I think he's truly happy in our home. He spends his days napping on the couch and hanging out with my other cat. He's a lot of work, but it's totally worth it. Now a plug for senior cats- if you're considering adding to your family, consider an older pet. Not only are they trained and far less destructive, I think they appreciate a good home more than the younger ones do. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Also, I'm finally decided to finish the Hunger Game series, so my librarian boyfriend brought home Mockingjay a few weeks ago. Only now it's missing somewhere in the house. We had company over last weekend and I think in the cleaning frenzy that preceded, I tossed it somewhere randomly. I've looked in all the typical places (in my nightstand, in the den that we have set up as a library, the bottom of the coffee table) and it's no where. I'm getting desperate. Any suggestions? What's the weirdest place you've found a missing book?<br />
<br />
Update: Mockingjay has been found. It had gotten mixed in with the bf's comic books. But in sad news, it has to go back tomorrow since it's way overdue, but at least it's been found!!Wannabe Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536810143228961531noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196094336176295818.post-50768524465624965642012-03-03T20:30:00.002-05:002012-03-10T14:01:00.105-05:00My Darkest SecretI'm going to reveal something to you that I would never tell anyone (except maybe my mother). It's a dark secret that I keep hidden away because I fear what it says to the world. And a recent turn of events has reinforced what a terrible thing this is. Are you ready for it?<br />
<br />
.<br />
<br />
..<br />
<br />
...<br />
<br />
I use Internet Explorer 9. SOB!<br />
<br />
I'm the worst. I pretend day in and day out to be tech savvy. I chat with my web developer friends about html and java and way IE sucks because pages have to be developed using non-standard code. In public, I claim to use Chrome (because it sounds sooo cool). I'm also a PC, which I stand by, but would also likely not confess to these same friends (and as I mentioned above, I would tell my mom, only because I think she might still be using IE6 on her Commodore 64).<br />
<br />
I hate when I go to log in to blogger in my typical web browser and I get all these wonky images and error messages. I get it, you don't like IE, and you're not going to continue to cater to a non-standard web browser. But it hurts. Because it's a reminder of how not cool I am. And I swear, normally, I'm very nerdy-cool. I own every game system (yes, even a SegaCD). My basement looks like something out of a teen boys fantasy dream, equipped with a Dreamcast store display stand-up video game kiosk and three rows of comic book shelves (repurposed pantyhose shelves from a department store that went out of business).<br />
<br />
That's it. That's my secret shame. And that means when I want to update my blog, I need to open up Firefox (I know it's just as bad!!!!! Shut up, web people) and log in again. But I'm willing to do it for you!<br />
<br />
Hope everyone is having a great and happy March. Anyone do anything special for Leap Day? My mom donated blood and helped rescued a manatee. I saw a man taking the trash out in his tighty-whities. I think I win. Unless one of you can beat me.Wannabe Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536810143228961531noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196094336176295818.post-28352009247440066552012-02-10T19:36:00.001-05:002012-03-10T14:02:21.467-05:00Unfocused writingYou all might have noticed that I've been in a bit of a rut (i.e., stuck in an endless edit) lately. I'm taking a bit of time away from Power Trio to enjoy the other things I love in life. I'm reading some great YA- almost done with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Statistical-Probability-Love-First-Sight/dp/0316122386">The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight</a>. I've been spending more time at the animal shelter, which has been really cathartic (or should I say CAThartic, ha ha) since work has been a little high stress lately. I've also delved into some other types of writing. My significant other is a rapper, and after years of him refusing to use my lyrics in his songs (I had such gems as "back up against my mad crunk" and an entire song about Gambit and Rogue's relationship), I have been driven to write and perform my own (horrible, terrible, very bad) raps. Okay, rap<u>s</u> might be an exaggeration, but I am trying to finish one song. I'm going to record it too, in the little studio he has set up in the basement. When I do, you will be the first (and maybe the only) people to hear it. I'm also not going to use another parenthetical aside in this post. I apologize. Five is far too many. But I'm not sure that I can type any more without using my favorite piece of punctuation, so I should probably just go. Happy Friday all!Wannabe Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536810143228961531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196094336176295818.post-16529840713786311332012-02-03T19:20:00.000-05:002012-03-10T14:01:46.991-05:00Two months?!?!?!You will not believe this! I have been diligently writing blog posts every day for these last two months and then I guess blogger decided to delete them all. That or my cat ate them. Definitely one of the two.<br />
<br />
I've been a bad blogger. I still have all this fun content (including a quiz to help you figure out what kind of a bee you are). I need to get back into it. But between my surgery in November, and then the holidays, and now Wildman (my foster cat's) surgery too, I have had some focus issues. I am right now watching Wildman thrash about wildly (how fitting!) in his cat carrier. He's been in it all day, but he's still loopy from the anesthesia and I am not going to be suckered into letting him out. He needs at least another hour of quiet time. Then it's off to the small bedroom which I will fill with pillows and blankets. I have to say, it's pretty funny watching the carrier rock. It looks like something from a haunted house or Gremlins or something. He's all black so I can't really see him in there, but I can see the cage shimmy-shaking constantly. He had his ear cleaned and a tooth pulled and the rest of them scrubbed. Everybody cross your fingers that this time he'll end up feeling better for a long time. He's a 14yo cat with chronic ear issues and stomatitis and he's probably never going to get rid of all of his problems, but I will make sure he is as comfy as possibly for as long as possible.<br />
<br />
Work has also been crazy, but fun lately. There is a strong chance I will go to Omaha for a conference this summer, which is coincidentally where I set my first book. I am beyond excited to see the city I've spent the last three years researching and writing about. Not sure if I'll get much sightseeing done, but I'm going to try.<br />
<br />
Story updates! I've continued to edit Power Trio. Like a gerbil digging a hole in a glass terrarium. Or a gerbil running on a wheel and never getting anywhere. I didn't own gerbils (or any small mammal for that matter) growing up, but I think I can really relate. Along those same lines, if anyone is in the Atlanta area and is interested in forming a critique group, please email me: bookbossblog@gmail.com.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I'm off to get Wildman settled. I promise I'll try to be here more regularly... I mean, I'll make sure blogger doesn't keep erasing my amazing, Pulitzer-prize winning posts.Wannabe Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536810143228961531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196094336176295818.post-64815437487461728452011-12-08T16:38:00.000-05:002011-12-08T16:38:39.665-05:00Developmental milestones<div style="text-align: left;">I made it through NaNo, no better than last year. Actually, a little worse- I only wrote about 10,000 words. But they really aren't bad, and I'm happy to have at least those. I think it was hard to do NaNo because I've been on such a roll with editing the first book of Power Trio that I was still in that frame of mind. But now I have two options (writing or editing) when I sit down at the computer, so I can pick whichever I'm in the mood for. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Sitting down at the computer, however, has been difficult all on its own. <span style="padding-bottom: 14px; padding-right: 15px;">I had to have a minor surgical procedure (lancing a cyst the base of my spine), which has prevented me from doing anything for the last week. I was home from work and I didn't volunteer at the Santa pet photos over the weekend like I do every year (<a href="http://iwroteabook.blogspot.com/2010/12/gridlockd.html">http://iwroteabook.blogspot.com/2010/12/gridlockd.html</a>, but don't worry, I'm still going to next week!). But because I couldn't sit upright, I was barely able to do anything. I even had a hard time reading. It's tricky to read on your side without your arm going numb... But I'm back at 90% and able to sit upright for a little while at a time. I think that makes me the equivalent of a 7 month old baby. Progress!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="padding-bottom: 14px; padding-right: 15px;">In other news, my old, deaf cat recently found his voice and has taken to <span style="padding-bottom: 14px; padding-right: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">caterwauling (or the male, non-heat version of it). He made a bunch of noise when I brought him home in May, but he's been relatively quiet for the last few months. My mom came to town to help me out over the weekend, and she took to spoiling my cats (as any good cat grandmother would do). They got treats whenever they wanted, and extra wet food because she was worried the old, deaf cat was "too skinny." I think he's making a ton of noise, hoping that she's still here and will come feed him, but sadly, it's just me and he doesn't get wet food from me all the time. Only when <strong><u>I</u></strong> decide it's time, mwah ha ha (mini power trip). But if he keeps making all this racket, I'm going to have to put some food in that pie hole to shut him up...</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="padding-bottom: 14px; padding-right: 15px;"><span style="padding-bottom: 14px; padding-right: 15px;">Hope you all had a happy and productive November and are gearing up for a great December!</span></span></div>Wannabe Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536810143228961531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196094336176295818.post-30245113275375082282011-11-15T18:39:00.000-05:002011-11-15T18:39:19.521-05:00Staying alive, staying aliveI have a brief shining moment in my internet in my currently sad internet-less life and I've decided to spend it with you. Awwww. I wanted to give a few good updates and my thoughts:<br />
<ul><li>I'm hovering at about 5,000 words in Power Trio 2 but...</li>
<li>My move is done. The boxes are not unpacked, but I have located all of the essentials (work clothes), but...</li>
<li>The other life essential, internet, is not connected. Which should actually help me focus on bullet one, but thus far has only made life more complicated. Trying to coordinate all the move stuff with the old landlord, get the mail forwarded (what do you mean I should have done that weeks ago?!), and all that mess is much harder without access to email. Annnnnnd my work just changed their filter so I can no longer access personal email at work (good for them, bad for me).</li>
<li>And in cat news, which I know you can't get enough of, I've found a sort of new therapy for ear infections that I think I'm going to try for my semi-feral foster cat. Laser therapy that's supposed to help with inflammation. I haven't really looked into it yet, and I'm sure it's terribly expensive (I might be starting a Wildman fund), but after the two months of antibiotics and two flushings didn't do a thing (other than make the bacteria resistant) I'm ready to try something else.</li>
</ul>Okay, off to up that word count! Hope you're all doing well in Nano and otherwise.<br />
<br />
Of note, "no internet" is a label that I've used before. Probably last November when I moved. I'll have to do some exploring and find it... the NEXT TIME I have INTERNET.Wannabe Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536810143228961531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196094336176295818.post-60159323542395725732011-11-05T16:38:00.000-04:002011-11-05T16:38:07.348-04:00November Check-In #1<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR-XsYpIqf-r2hbfnLXexnW2GSqHXdclfvZN2apFVTINVriNVCn" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="rg_hi" data-height="220" data-width="229" height="220px" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR-XsYpIqf-r2hbfnLXexnW2GSqHXdclfvZN2apFVTINVriNVCn" style="height: 220px; width: 229px;" width="229px" /></a>Power Trio, book 2- 1700 words</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Move- 30% complete, family reinforcements coming Monday, movers coming on Wednesday (for the big stuff)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Dinner- thinking of making vegetarian white chili</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>I've already made two trips over to the new place. I moved a lot of the kitchen items, and now I'm craving white chili. I don't have measuring spoons or mixing bowls, but at least I had the forethought to leave the can opener. <br />
<br />
After I get that started (which will probably require a grocery store run), I plan on sitting down in front of the computer and duct taping my hands to keyboard until I get a decent word count. I have to make up for the last few days of slacking. <br />
<br />
I'm struggling with the little things in Power Trio 2. I know the main conflict/antagonist. I have a smaller antagonist. I have the love interest(s). I know where my characters are going to start and where they're going to go (mostly talking physically, but I do have some sense of character growth/change that I want to cover).<br />
<br />
I'm having a hard time coming up with the actual scenes. Which is why it's kind of perfect that I'm doing NaNo, because the whole point is to stop thinking and start writing. I'm sure if I just open the word document, something will happen.<br />
<br />
But, first, the chili!!!<br />
<br />
If anyone is up for a Word War later, I'll be on twitter. : )Wannabe Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536810143228961531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196094336176295818.post-7011416697502227792011-10-30T17:14:00.000-04:002011-10-30T17:14:27.034-04:00NaNoWriMo and the Year of WinningI'm revving up to try my hand at NaNo agian this year. I didn't "win" last year (<a href="http://iwroteabook.blogspot.com/2010/10/nanowrimo-and-bliss-of-delusional.html">http://iwroteabook.blogspot.com/2010/10/nanowrimo-and-bliss-of-delusional.html</a>), but I had a great time, met my current writing group, and wrote many more words than I would have if I'd just spent November the way I spent September and October.<br />
<br />
I had hoped to be completely done editing Power Trio (Book 1) before starting into Book 2, but the plot is pretty set, so I don't think there will be any major problems. I've also heard that you shouldn't start "Book 2" until you've sold Book 1. I can see the logic- obviously you don't want to spend a ton of time on a series that will never be published, but I'm so attached to the story and the characters I don't think I could not finish it. <br />
How's that for great English? Reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from Scott Pilgrim: "Double negative... it's tricky."<br />
<br />
Anyway, I'm feeling good this year. I might take a little time tomorrow and do a quick outline, so if I get stuck, I'll know where to head. Wish me long, and forgive me if I'm around even less frequently. I have to save all of my amazing wit for those ~1,600 words a day! Ha!Wannabe Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536810143228961531noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196094336176295818.post-75749357404900217232011-10-25T23:50:00.001-04:002011-10-27T20:11:57.068-04:00My LifeMy life in five bullets:<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>Just got back from an Infectious Diseases conference in Boston and I loved it (the city and the conference)</div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>My foster cat is having major ear infection issues (I hate staph...)</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>Power Trio edits are going well, but I’m thinking about pausing for November to start on Book 2!</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>I am addicted to the new Korean shows (previously on Netflix but now on Hulu). Mostly the ones based on Japanese mangas (like Boys over Flowers), but especially Lie to Me. Looooves it!</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>I’m a Tweeter: <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/MakeARumble"><span style="color: blue;">http://twitter.com/#!/MakeARumble</span></a> </div>Wannabe Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536810143228961531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196094336176295818.post-2766029773167251232011-10-08T16:27:00.000-04:002011-10-08T16:27:53.602-04:00ReinvigoratedA month since my last update! Bad blogger. Bad. Bad.<br />
<br />
I've had some exciting adventures in the meantime, so can you forgive me? I've meet a lot of new little ones- there is definitely a baby boom among my friends right now (If you live in Atlanta, do not drink the water! I'm convinced that's where all of these babies are coming from). I've helped TribeOne prepare for a month long tour. And am burning his CDs as we speak. I've also been looking for a new place to live, since my lease is up soon.<br />
<br />
And, in actual writing news, I also attended the GA Romance Writer's annual convention. After I had to miss the Emory writing course when the schedule changed, I was pretty bummed about missing an opportunity to learn some new tips and meet some other writers. Luckily, a coworker told me about this conference (on the day registration closed- talk about a snap decision). I was really nervous about it, because I don't really consider myself a romance writer. But my paranormal YA contains a good bit of it, so I figured I'd learn something. I spent last Friday and Saturday attending sessions on crafting a villain and the importance of premise. I met other writers of all varieties. I survived my first pitch. I even had a request from an agent for the first fifty pages. Nifty! But I hear not uncommon for conferences and I'm not sure if I'm ready to send them yet- especially after the feedback I got from....<br />
<br />
One of my favorite activities was the first five pages critique. We sat at a table with 3 others and gave honest feedback on the opening chapters of our books. I'm excited to make some changes (ahem, correct the rookie mistakes). I am also convinced more than ever I need to find a critique group. I'm torn between finding a local group that meets in-person or reaching out to the network of wonderful writers I've met through this blog. I think I might take criticism better over email (or at least the critique giver won't see my eyes well with tears and watch me run for a glass of wine), but I also sometimes need to have things explained to me a few times before I understand, which I could see getting very annoying over email. What do you think? Do you have a preference for in-person or e-critique groups?Wannabe Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536810143228961531noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196094336176295818.post-85030686597650141122011-09-08T20:59:00.000-04:002011-09-08T20:59:48.837-04:00Take a deep breath and let goDragonCon was so fun, and it was awesome to watch TribeOne performing. A good group of my friends from college came out to see him too and seemed really into it. Unfortunately, the event was at the one hotel that wasn't connected to the others and it was raining a bit that night, so the crowd wasn't as huge as we had hoped. But there's always next time, and there's a big show coming up next month (at one of my favorite venues- The Drunken Unicorn- how hilarious is that name?) that should be totally awesome.<br />
<br />
I love every performance, not just because I get to watch someone I care about do what he loves (that's a big part), but because I also get to use the experience in my Power Trio story. I'm constantly editing the music-related scenes and I've started noticing the quirky aspects of his shows that meant nothing to me a few years ago. What about you? Any aspects of your life serving "double-duty"? Do you cram writing time in at any random moment? Do you get inspired while grocery shopping?<br />
<br />
On an unrelated note, after almost two years of updating the website for the cat shelter that I volunteer at, I've decided to step down from that role. It was a tough decision that I know was right. I spend all day at work sitting in front of a computer, only to come home at night and spend hours updating our 500 cats' bios and photos. And after all that was done, I had nothing left in me to sit down in front of the computer and work on my story. I loved the experience, getting to know all of our cats, but I am really excited to let it go and pass the torch along to another "crazy cat lady." And I hope it means that I'll have more time for the blog and more time for my writing. Life is all about setting priorities. I have a hard time letting things go, and I'm know I'm not going to be able to look at the site, because I'll want to change every little mistake I see. But I'm ready to take those hours and wrap up Power Trio!Wannabe Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536810143228961531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196094336176295818.post-72551554133781862112011-09-01T17:22:00.000-04:002011-09-01T17:22:29.352-04:00Adventures in Beta ReadingSorry for the radio silence, but things have been hectic. I just hopped on for half a second to share the exciting news- I sent my first chapter to a beta reader! She's a friend who is a journalist turned stay-at-home mom. Now the downside- she really liked it and only had a few minor changes. But that's not unexpected, considering I've spent the last two months working on the chapter (due to my getting hung up on minor things instead of looking at the bigger picture). And now I'm scared to send her the second chapter, because it's nowhere near as good! *insert Cathy-style ARGH here* Does it ever get easier to put yourself out there?<br />
<br />
On a related note, my super talented boyfriend has been invited to perform at DragonCon this year. He'll be doing nerdcore hip-hop at the Kingdom of Loathing event (KoL is an online game that I've been playing since 2005! I get to meet the game's creators!!). For those of you not in the Atlanta area, DragonCon is our big sci-fi convention- a long weekend of autographs, comic books, video games, and general nerdiness. This is the first year I've gone as a participant, but I've been a few times to people watch before. I'm excited (not just to watch him perform) but also because there's a YA panel on Sunday morning that Beth Revis is part of. And about a billion other interesting things. <br />
<br />
All this lead to a realization. Watching TribeOne (my boyfriend's "rapper name") get prepped and ready over the last few weeks, I've discovered a new respect for him. I've always been the shy one, and I've admired his ability to get up in front of a crowd. But now that I've writing something and gone through the nerves and the anxiety that come with sharing my writing, even with close friends, I can see how difficult it can be to put not just your physical self out there, but your thoughts and words as well... man. I have oodles of respect for him and for every other artist out there who takes a risk and shares something with the rest of us. Which of course applies to all of you out their in cyberland- thank you for sharing with me- via your blogs and your books. Looking forward to reading more from all of us!Wannabe Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536810143228961531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196094336176295818.post-34297852863162743672011-08-14T20:25:00.000-04:002011-08-14T20:25:27.666-04:00The Girls in the Band<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">As you know, I'm in the midst of editing Power Trio. I can see the finish line. It's right over there on the other side of this big ol' mud puddle. No big deal, right? I mean, I don't want to get dirty. I wish someone would come and carry me over there. But that's not going to happen, so I rolled up my pants and started walking. Only after jumping in with both feet did I realize that it wasn't mud; it was quicksand, and with each passing day I feel like I'm sucked in deeper. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Sorry for the melodrama (I am writing YA afterall), but I really do feel like I'm not making much progress. So, this morning I set my computer up at the kitchen table, instead of on my couch like usual, poured a big glass of Diet Coke, and got my soundtrack ready. The three main characters are in a band, so I love listening to music while I work. I thought I'd take a moment to share the inspiration songs I used to create a Pandora station for each one:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
Kay (lead vocals, guitar):</div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/KtA7YIFapnY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
Addison (vocals, bass, keyboard):</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/L93-7vRfxNs?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"> Sofie (drummer):</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/WQlImg2bm28?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Sorry for the weird videos. I tried to find originals, but didn't have much luck. If you're intrested in more, here are the band websites:<br />
<a href="http://www.ilovemetric.com/ffpreorder/">http://www.ilovemetric.com/ffpreorder/</a><br />
<a href="http://www.daftalive.com/">http://www.daftalive.com/</a><br />
<a href="http://www.theshirelles.com/">http://www.theshirelles.com/</a>Wannabe Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536810143228961531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196094336176295818.post-2860398739755263972011-08-02T22:57:00.000-04:002011-08-02T22:57:30.727-04:00Can't hug every catCan someone explain to me how it is that my boyfriend can't listen to <u>me</u> talk about cats for three hours straight, but he has no problem listening to this song three hours a day for an entire week? I have earplugs in, and I can still hear it. I think it's made a permanent impression in my brain.<br />
<br />
I think the part of me that is a little bit of a crazy cat lady doesn't like people making fun of this, but then I watch that cat play on the keyboard and it's all worth while.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/sP4NMoJcFd4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
P.S. Pretty sure the original interview was a fake, but still a very entertaining song.Wannabe Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536810143228961531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196094336176295818.post-36641171205675282072011-07-30T20:07:00.000-04:002011-07-30T20:07:33.056-04:00ProductivityMy cats have a special radar. They can sense when I'm being productive, and they spring into immediate action.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaI9N8fSZAoKluRZG6td6KQiT5e10-YpJMIojTg78OGyuxlesWK_kE_Bb6cnTzbFBdUIwwsIhVb2gdjeSbo1UTQ3N1TeX1SF4mAMqChH2ViLeIQ-EGsVUbQxEpj0JfB4t-2M20vMd1lqN-/s1600/0730111950a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaI9N8fSZAoKluRZG6td6KQiT5e10-YpJMIojTg78OGyuxlesWK_kE_Bb6cnTzbFBdUIwwsIhVb2gdjeSbo1UTQ3N1TeX1SF4mAMqChH2ViLeIQ-EGsVUbQxEpj0JfB4t-2M20vMd1lqN-/s320/0730111950a.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div>In the foreground is Marvel, and in the background is Wildman. My legs were propped up on the coffee table, so he was using his nails to balance on my knees. Marvel crammed onto my chest between my face and my computer. <br />
<br />
Sorry for the quality- taken with my camera phone.<br />
<br />
I'm curious- what are your biggest distractions (kids, TV, attention-grubbing pets)? And how to you resist the temptation to set your work aside?Wannabe Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536810143228961531noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196094336176295818.post-39656448928718738522011-07-30T11:34:00.001-04:002011-07-30T19:40:08.479-04:00DISA......ppointment.<br />
<br />
The writing class that I had been looking forward to for months was rescheduled and I won't be able to attend. I got a nice little refund (technically, all I've gotten so far is the receipt, but I'm sure the actual money will come through in the next few days). That's how the cookie crumbles!<br />
<br />
I'm going to see about signing up for it again when it's offered in the fall, but for now I'll have to keep meandering my way through this. I'm setting a goal for myself to share my work (at least the first few chapters) with one person by the end of August. I need to do it. Get it over with. Rip the band-aid off, but I'm on the uphill of the roller coaster and I don't want to take that first drop.Wannabe Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536810143228961531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196094336176295818.post-66428078439615742422011-07-14T22:39:00.000-04:002011-07-14T22:39:29.908-04:00Antici....PATION! <br />
<br />
One of my least favorite things about being a "grown-up" is that it gets harder and harder to find things to look forward to. (Crap. I ended that sentence in a preposition. I'm in edit mode, so I'm trying to be better. Let's try that again.) <br />
<br />
One of my least favorite things about being a "grown-up" is that finding things to look forward to gets harder and harder. When I was in school, I loved counting down the days to the next break- Spring, Summer, Winter, whatever! And birthdays! Oh how I looked forward to my birthday. Now, birthdays are just another day (except I do get to eat cake without any remorse). And summer feels like any other season in my windowless office.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEMhOr5CES5XVokZ_qM1v36yT3KIcLmeoysGxWmEO9a0RM0d8PHOGFoRCdobXqKCIjkS6xRidRgIkewfJVNKRS_2tgjD9vl01KP_ENSuRZu-EcgtSUHKaEZ1r-V3ciCaP1jxUPWzHOhY0/s1600/me.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEMhOr5CES5XVokZ_qM1v36yT3KIcLmeoysGxWmEO9a0RM0d8PHOGFoRCdobXqKCIjkS6xRidRgIkewfJVNKRS_2tgjD9vl01KP_ENSuRZu-EcgtSUHKaEZ1r-V3ciCaP1jxUPWzHOhY0/s1600/me.png" /></a>I get the occasional vacation, but only when I save my days like a Western Scrub Jay hoarding peanuts. So instead I've got to find other things to fill my heart with eager anticipation. And I've found one such thing. And it's writing-related! I signed up for a five-week writing course at Emory. I'm pretty excited, because the class is being taught by a published author whose website describes her as a scientist turned writer, with no formal training (like me!). </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Emory also offers a certificate program, which I could decide to do at a later time. It involves something like 40 hours of classes over two years. The grand total is $2000, which is pretty hefty. Not sure I'll do that, but I'm not ruling it out now. First things first, we'll see how this class goes.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>I thought about signing up for this for the class for months, but I wasn't sure if it would "do anything" for me. Seems like if I want to write a story, I should just write it. And if I want to edit a story, I should just edit it. But after spending almost three years writing the story and months of editing the same five chapters, I'm realizing that things need to change. I'm ready to learn, and not too proud to admit that I need some help. Maybe the class won't solve anything, but maybe it will. I'm willing to try!<br />
<br />
Back to school! If it doesn't work out, then I'll have the end of the class to look forward to. (Crap... I'll look forward to the end of class.)Wannabe Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536810143228961531noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196094336176295818.post-80596817842405253702011-07-07T11:54:00.000-04:002011-07-07T11:54:48.132-04:00Smelly Cat<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have been singing the song from Friends for the last few weeks.</span><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETQfuzNGT58"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETQfuzNGT58</span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On May 27, we decided to foster a semi-feral senior cat from the cat rescue I volunteer with (despite considering myself a very logical person, I occasionally make very strange decisions). He's adjusting very well, and it has been a learning process for all of us.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A little back story: I've known the cat for two years- he was a resident of the room I clean regularly. When I first started cleaning, he was very wild. He'd been brought in as a feral cat. Probably already about ten years old and very much "intact." The group had him neutered and tipped his ear, with the intent being to release him again to live out his life, but he had bad infections in his right ear, which led to repeated hematomas. So, they kept him at the shelter to make sure that he go the care he needed. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the room, he liked to hang out on the top shelf, a place where most people couldn't reach him. But I'm tall enough to get to the cats that try to hide up there. I was hand feeding one of his friends, and he would take a piece of food from me. But he always let me know that he didn't like it. I remember once he was hissing so much that he choked a little on the kibble.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After a year of working with this wild cat, we got to a good place. And in the last few months, he would come to see me when I came into the room. He'd let me pet him without hissing or cringing. Sometimes, he would even reward me with a purr! I wanted to help him turn that final corner- from feral cat to happy pet. I thought bringing him home would be the best way to do that. </span></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He's been in our home for over a month now, and we had a rocky start, but things are going great now. He has his moments, and his first instinct is always to hide, but he sleeps next to me every night (sweet, until you remember that he really smells). The hematomas caused that ear to curl up in what is called cauliflower ear that emits a funky odor... </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Which leads us to today. I'm taking him to the vet. He's very food motivated and not familiar enough with cat carriers to be scared of them. I think I'll be able to get him there , but I'm nervous to see how he reacts to the vet. I have a feeling I'm going to have to put drops into his cauliflower ear. He barely lets me touch it now.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He also inspired me to add a cat into my amnesia girl story. Which I have been working on instead of Power Trio... bad!</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">'Men have forgotten this truth,' said the fox. 'But you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.' </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-Antoine de Saint-Exupery</span></span></div>Wannabe Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02536810143228961531noreply@blogger.com2