Tossing in the Cards Dealt

August 31, 2011 by

Sometimes I’ll say (or write) something casually and then realize that off the fly comment has come deeper, trapped emotion.

Take for example yesterday. I put something out on twitter about my writing goals for this month and tagged it #sickofthecardsdealt. 

The remark inspired a renewed email exchange with a friend, which is always nice, but later I got to thinking about the comparison of life to a card game.

My husband and I used to play Euchre with another couple fairly regularly. We had a lot of fun — when I partnered up with someone other than him. His take on the situation was that I wasn’t an aggressive player; my take was that he was too competitive. In hindsight, his description of my style is accurate though. 

I like to play it safe.

But whether we’re talking about a game of Euchre or trying to launch a writing career, playing it safe just doesn’t cut it. You can only win if you take risks and put yourself out there.

So, I’m tossing in the hand I was dealt and looking for some new cards to play. Cards that I control.

Filed Under: Life, Writing Life Tagged With: , ,

Sometimes…I Want to Pull The Plug

August 29, 2011 by

I can’t be the only one who wants to crawl under the covers some days.

In this day and age, it’s so hard to just relax. But it’s more than taking some me-time, it’s completely tuning out the rest of the world and letting our personal internal battery recharge.

We’ve become a technology based world, and most of the time I am a total techno-junkie. I love gadgets, and want all the latest ones–even if it does the same thing one of my other gadgets does. Whether it’s an iPod or an iPad, a kindle or my cell phone, there’s usually something close by that has me plugged into the internet or I’m using my toys to work or play.

Until I have one of those days– like yesterday –where I want to shut the door to the rest of the world and reflect internally. I don’t want to talk on the phone, and I don’t want to play games. I do want to read…or maybe watch an old movie with my feet kicked up and a big bowl of popcorn.

But I read books on my e-reader and use streaming Netflix to watch movies.

So, I guess even on the days that I want to recharge my batteries I can’t pull the plug.

 

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: , , , , ,

There Ain’t Nothing: Musical Inspiration For A Black Moment

August 24, 2011 by

For those who like to know where I am with the writing, I’m prepping another round of submissions for “Harry” and have begun a round of rewrites on “Catch” while plotting a new series: “Shifted”.

I think the best part of starting a second draft is the first draft is finished. That isn’t meant to be as convoluted as it seems. Because that first draft is done, I know so much more than I did when I started the first. I’ve been living with the characters for quite a while. I get their quirks and I know what drives them. As the hook of the included song says: “I am stronger now, than I was before” because I’m armed with a lot of knowledge. I know the drive and the motivation behind the actions.

The song included is one on this book’s playlist: songs I think would be on my character’s iPods. Songs that would be playing in the background of the pivotal scenes if the book were a movie.

So, while I’m still enamoured with this story and while polishing it up is fun, enjoy the song and my exuberance. When I start finding troublesome plot points, it might be a different story.

There Ain’t Nothing, Scott Grimes

Filed Under: Life, Music, Writing Life Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Anazlyzing Joy: Learning While Recharging

August 22, 2011 by

Apologies for the week away. Can’t say much more than life gets in the way sometimes.

Sometimes, you have to just kick back and let your mind relax. I find this particularly true for me after a day of working really hard on my work-in-progress, which I did on Saturday. After six hours of unrelenting focus, my brain just puts itself on pause. Sort of.

The plan was to sit back in the recliner and enjoy some movies, and with the technological additions of Netflix and Hulu Plus, it really is like having a video store at the touch of a button or two. No matter how hard I tried to turn of the brain, though I couldn’t help but learn a few things while watching tv.

1: Sometimes a  teen crush just isn’t enough. About once a year it happens. A wave of nostalgia will hit me and I’ll ask my daughter if she wants to watch Hard to Hold (The 80s “romp” with Rick Springfield). Usually, she’s the voice of reason and says, “Don’t do it, Mom.” Yesterday…well, I guess she could sense mom was wound a little tight.  We got fifteen minutes in and it was either turn it off or run from the room screaming. The music from that soundtrack: Awesome. The partial nudity doesn’t leave the same impression it did on thirteen-year-old me.

2. Nicholas Cage is really that good. Moontstruck.  I love this film. Maybe it’s the sappy romantic in me. My husband wasn’t ever that impressed with it, which is why I can only indulge in it when he’s not around.  It was the daughter’s first time seeing it, and she too was impressed with a) just how good-looking Mr. Cage was when he was younger and b) the real, solid story that exists (and was woefully absent from choice #1)

3. Making your characters suffer makes for a great story. My Cousin Vinny. Any basic fiction plotting class will tell you the key to a good story is to keep making things worse and worse for your hero, until they hit the breaking point (and the story turns). This movie is a classic example of that, exhibited in the scene outside the cabin when Marisa Tomei’s character reminds Vinny that her biological clock is ticking. His response is to have a melt down and enumerate every single thing that has gone wrong since taking on his cousin’s case, especially the fact that the lives of two innocent teenagers depend on him. Wonderful Movie. Wonderful cast.

4. Sometimes everyone can get a happy ending. The Glee Project. Okay. Who else out there was surprised by the fact that all four of the final contestants sort of, kind of won. Yes, they named Samuel the ‘winner’ of the seven episode arc. Ryan Murphy then went on to say he was writing a seven episode arch for Damien as well (YES! He’s been my favorite for weeks now). Oh, and Lindsay and Alex. Guess what. You’re getting two episodes each.  I think the Glee Project did it’s job, because I can’t wait for the new season of Glee now.

5. Letting go is hard. Ok. I haven’t talked about my new television addiction here. Bar Rescue. Have you seen this one yet? The big guy who knows the science behind successful bars comes in and does complete make overs on failing bars and nightclubs. This week a Chicago’s bar biggest problem is Mom, who co-owned with son, wouldn’t let go of any control and let her son actually manage the place.  In the end, it was sort of simple fix this week. Yes, there were other challenges, but it wasn’t like we’ve seen in weeks past. It was just convincing a mom to loosen the apron strings. Yeah, nothing hard. :-)

Do you have a favorite lesson you learned from a tv show or movie?

Update:

As mentioned in the comments, it’s two days later and I’m still thinking about the final video from the Glee Project.  So glad they brought all the contestants back for the final video shoot. And so happy for the winner(s).  Looking forward to seeing them on Glee this season.

 

Filed Under: Life, TV, Writing Life Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

On The Lighter Side: I Agree With Floyd

August 10, 2011 by

I’ll admit it. I’ve been in a funk lately.

because of a particularly crappy hand that was dealt me, I was pushed onto a work path that I wasn’t expecting. Coupled with a very busy summer, with some record-breaking heat, and yeah….mommy has been kind of cranky lately.

Still, I truly try to look at the good things in life. Try to remember that tomorrow can be brighter and not wallow in the bad stuff.

One thing I refuse to do is complain about the heat. I hate the cold and the snow, and no matter how hot it gets outside, it could be worse. It could be snowing.

Floyd agrees with me.

Hope that brightened up your day!

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: , , , , ,

Writer’s Responsibilities: The Glee Project

August 8, 2011 by

So, I guess in writing this post, I’m admitting that I’ve become a fan of The Glee Project. Are you surprised? Really? It combines music and reality shows after all.

It’s addictive. Given the high drama between the contestants who are being forced to live together, to form bonds, and compete against each other for the prize of a limited run in season three of Glee, there’s rarely a dull moment.

The winner is only promised a few episode arc, but Ryan Murphy’s comments every week, coupled with daily announcements of actors/actresses who will be graduated off Glee this season, viewers can’t help but wonder if we’re looking at a crop of potential new freshman.

However, the big question that has been plaguing me is ‘what exactly is a writer’s responsibility to a show?’.

Pictured above is contestant Cameron Mitchel who left the show on his own accord last week. After two weeks of being put into a scenario where he was asked to kiss a fellow contestant during the ‘video shoot’ portion of the show, he decided acting contradicted with his moral/christian values. Ryan’s conversation with him during the previous last chance performances– when the contestant is singing for their life in front of Ryan– mystified me.  He said more than once that he liked Cameron and really wanted to write him: a character with strong religious values.

My question: if acting is truly that, why does Ryan Murphy need an actor or actress with strong values in order to write a character who believes in those things. Isn’t writing creating characters and scenarios from the ground up?

What are your thoughts?

 

Filed Under: Fiction, Life, TV Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

What I Watched: Cowboys and Aliens

August 5, 2011 by

What I Read/Watched is the theme of my Friday posts.  It is meant to discuss a writing techniques I learned from something I either read or watched the previous week.  While it’s not my intention to reveal plot-line spoilers, I may have to do so to explain what I learned.

When I first saw trailers for Cowboys and Aliens I was very intrigued with the mash-up of genres.  In the publishing world, we’re we’re told to know exactly which shelf your book should sit on, it seemed odd that a film wouldn’t have to have a clear, target market too.

This column is not about whether or not the movie successfully blended the genres, or even if I found it enjoyable (which I did), it’s about what I learned took home and applied to my own writing.

By the time I’d hit the mid-point of the film, I’d seen a character device I’ve recently studied come to life in Harrison Ford’s Woodrow Dolarhyde.

In the first few minutes of the film we learn that most of the residents in the small mining town fear the rancher. His son is allowed to run wild in the community because no one dares cross him. His own employees on the ranch fear his temper and wouldn’t even consider stepping out of line. We even see him torture an employee when he thinks he’s responsible for the destruction of her herd. So how do we end up rooting for him by the mid-point?

Rooting interests.

For every negative attribute I mention above, we are also shown a positive one and/or a motivation for that behavior. By the time we hit the midpoint, we not only understand Woodrow but we sort of feel sorry for him. We also know that his tenacity is going to be a huge part of the satisfying resolution.

Rooting interests are also used with Daniel Craig’s character. Neither leads are what could be considered an ideal hero, but the audience cares because we see redeeming qualities (as if wanting to save the planet wasn’t enough reason to root for them.) So, if you don’t get out and see this one for the amazing cast, and the unique presence, check it out for the a lesson in how to effectively use rooting interests in your own work.

Filed Under: Fiction, Life, Writing Life

Has Passion Lost its Impact?

August 3, 2011 by

He’s passionate about his work.

An incredible night of passion…

It was a crime of passion.

There’s something about a word that can be used in so many different ways and evoke such a varied field of emotions.

As a romantic soul, when I hear the word my mind gravitates toward the romantic…or the sexual, but there are negative orientations too.

As in two of the above examples.  If we say someone is passionate about their work, it could mean that they enjoy and give all of themselves to the task. But is that a positive thing? What of the partner who is left alone while said person works long hours. What of the children who lose time with a parent. What of all the life experiences and opportunities missed because this person gave their heart and soul to their job.

A crime of passion is another of my favorites. It was termed as such because the suspect killed or maimed another out of a romantic passion for someone that goes unrequited. But how can any act of violence be associated with something that should be meant as an endearment?

Or is it like what has happened with words like “love”, “hate”, and even “kill”.  They’ve become so overused, that are spoken casually. The emotional impact they once help isn’t near what it used to be.

What are the emotions and thoughts that come to your mind when you hear the word?

Filed Under: Life, Writing Life Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Life Lessons From an Equestian

August 1, 2011 by

I spent eight days at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky with my adult children for the U.S. Pony Club’s Championships and Festival where one of our club’s riders received the opportunity to take an Eventing clinic from Bill Hooz. Having heard some wonderful things about his teaching style, I decided to follow along.

Read all the details on my Kentucky adventure and the lessons learned at the MVRWA Blog.

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