A Halloween What I Watched: Interview With a Vampire

October 31, 2011 by

In recent weeks my dear friends from my RWA chapter and I have been discussing trends in paranormal romance: how it’s grown and evolved. From Urban Fantasy to angels and demons to sparkly vampires, there has been some good changes and some downright awful.

And while we had these discussions at our regular coffee get-togethers, my mind kept rolling back to Interview With a Vampire (the movie for the sake of this discussion). It had been awhile, but somewhere in the foggy recesses of my mind I remembered there being a lot of controversy over the movie when it came it out.

I also remembered falling in love with the genre watching the dark, brooding vampires going about their evil ways. Possibly attempting to do the right things now and then, but always failing there.

But those memories were distant, and I was struck with the urge to watch the movie again.  I knew that I had it on VHS in some box, stowed away somewhere in the house, but that would do me little good as I don’t have a viable VHS player.  Thank heavens for Netflix and a lazy Friday evening a couple of weeks ago, I was able to revisit this old favorite.

What did I learn from this encore screening? That sometimes movies are a classic for good reason, if it’s only me who considers them so. In addition to the reasons mentioned above, it was (and is) a good story that honors the traditions of vampire lore and builds a world that Rice remains true to.

So today, when we are celebrating ghouls and ghosts and things that go bump in the night, I’d like to give a nod to this classic. What is your favorite paranormal movie?

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

Permission to Stumble

October 26, 2011 by

Within my RWA chapter, I have a reputation for telling others to honor their process.  I always encourage those of us who don’t plot– can’t plot –to accept who we are and move forward. 

The thing is, I really stink at taking my own advice.

At the moment, I’m focusing on a new project. Writing the first draft used to be my favorite part of the process. A blank page I could fill with words, words I didn’t have to agonize over. Who cares if I use adverbs or say “turn” twenty times one page? It’s a rough draft and the plotter’s version of an outline. The flaws would be ironed out later. In draft two or three, we polish and prune.

In the last few days, however, I find myself struggling and reaching: looking for the perfect word, not just laying out the story. It’s like I’m trying to write that final draft without the benefit of the previous drafts.

I haven’t been honoring my process.

So, here today, I’m giving myself permission to stumble. It’s okay to write the wrong words, as long as I’m writing words. Not that I advocate writing crap for the sake of writing. I’m just giving myself the freedom to create: to write a first draft.

Do you have a hard time honoring your process?

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

The Chair I Sit In

October 24, 2011 by

Have you seen that commercial where the woman, in a business suit, meets up with her co-workers or friends at corner bar / restaurant? She apologizes for being late and they hand her a beer.  She turns and sits, and the busy street becomes a beach.

Chair I sit inI love that commercial, in part, because I have this torrid, secret affair with the beach. When I picture my dream house in my head, it is on the water. My backyard is soft, white sand, and my writing room has big large windows that look over said water.

Sitting on a beach is the one place my soul feels quiet, content with life.

As I sat down at my desk this morning one of my first thoughts was I don’t want to be here. I have one of those tenuous days planned where every step I take is going to be tied to the next one. If one thing falls out of step, it could be disastrous.

I’m not crazy about the chair I sit in.

I want it to sit in that large open room that overlooks the water.

I want to be working solely on my writing.

I’m making the mistake of letting my surroundings and my circumstances define me.  I can still be the person I want to be, even if I’m not in the exact place I want to be.

Life isn’t really about the chair you sit in, it’s about the person sitting in the chair.

In your fantasy of perfect, where does your chair sit?

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

What I Read: Write It Down Make It Happen

October 21, 2011 by

This book was recommended to me by MVRWA chapter-mate, Jill Kemerer at our annual brainstorming event. I’ve heard the principle before and have to admit being skeptical that writing something down actually encourages it to happen for you.

But that was because I didn’t really understand the principal.

When people tried to explain the concept to me before it was represented as sending a wish out to the universe, and then waiting for something mystical to wave a magic wand and grant it. That doesn’t quiet jive with me, though.

I believe in working hard for what you want.

But when I began reading the book, I learned about the science behind it. The author talks about how the act of writing down your deepest wishes, plants those ideas a little deeper in your brain.  It makes the concept something more tangible. The book promised you will find yourself thinking about those goals you wrote down, and you will subconsciously begin doing everything you can to make them come true.

I was just too intrigued to not give it a try.

It’s a bit too soon to see if my two test goals will be achieved yet, but I have noticed a change in my attitude.In those rare occasions that I have quiet moments, my mind wanders to those written goals. When I try to clear away the clutter in my mind, what’s left is what I can do next to get a step closer to my dream.

The promise that writing it down, would make it more real to me was fulfilled.

I pass this book on to my readers here with the same enthusiasm that it was recommended to me.

Thanks, Jill.

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

Giving Up: The Only Way to Fail

October 19, 2011 by

“For us is the life of action, of strenuous performance of duty; let us live in the harness, striving mightily; let us rather run the risk of wearing out than rusting out. ” — Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919)

Giving upI find it true that there  is the only way to fail, and that is to give up.

You may be noticing a common theme to these posts lately (especially the midweek ones), and I suppose I would have to admit to being in a bit of a funk. By blogging about staying strong and staying focused, I’m reinforcing these ideas in my own mind.

(More on this Friday, when Write it Down, Make it Happen is featured in my What I Read Friday post.)

But today’s post is about the action behind the notion. If the “what” you want is to step up a rung of your career ladder, the action behind that is everything you do to make that happen. It’s the striving mightily that Roosevelt speaks.

Rust only gathers, when you sit by passively. I would much rather be the car whose engine finally gave out after hundreds of thousands of miles of work, than the car whose body rust away because it was left abandon in the field.

The only way to fail when you are reaching for a really high star, is to quit reaching. Reflecting back to Monday’s post, to hang on to passion, and work with all your reserve strength to achieve your goals.

 

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

The Power of Passion

October 17, 2011 by

As anyone these days can attest to, it’s hard to make time for the dreams we chase and the stars we reach for. The economy is such that we have to work hard and the demands of family pull and drain our souls of creativity and drive. I often hear myself asking “Why do I even try to make time for this.”  Or shake my head in amazement that I’m tapping at my keyboard when sleep would probably be a better use of my time.

What drives us to reach for the stars?

Why, passion, of course.

And I’m not talking about the rumblings and stirrings that we romance writers funnel into the steamy scenes, though that is one good use of passion. I’m talking about the driving force that pushes us forward and motivates us.

Why do you write?

Because I don’t know how to “not write.” Even when I’m fed up with the pull on my time, the stress, and the endless rejections, even when I collapse in a heap and say, ‘that’s it, I quit.” I’ll be back at the laptop an hour later.

I’m passionate about it.

If I weren’t, one of those times I threatened to quit would have stuck. Because I am, I truly believe it’s only a matter of time before my dreams become a reality.

What are you passionate about?

 

 

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

What I Watched: Netflix

October 14, 2011 by

It took me a long time to even give Netflix a try. Even after I heard several of my friends give it rave reviews. To me, it was an easy trap. It’s only a small, flat amount to be paid every month, but if I didn’t use the service, it would be a waste.

But once the kids talked me into giving it a try for one month, I was hooked. The commercials that claimed it was like a movie natal store at the click of a button weren’t exaggerating, in fact they were playing it modest in my mind. Besides all the movies, there were all these episodes of television shows I loved and ones I’d always wished I’d watched.

Nothing to watch on tv? All I have to do is push a few buttons and I’m looking at a presorted intant queue, and lists of suggestions based on what I’ve watched.

But what could a company like Netflix teach me about my writing?

For one thing, accessibility. If Netflix wasn’t easy to use, it wouldn’t be nearly as popular. Similarly, we want to reach as many people as we can with our writing. Accessible themes and relatable emotions will touch a broader audience.

What about short attention spans. With so many options within a short reach, if someone doesn’t like a show, they can be on to the next one in less than a minute. And that’s not only true with TV it applies to reading too, what with wifi and e-readers. If we want to hold our readers attention, we can’t let the action sag or the tensin drop.

So, yes, I love Netflix. If there isn’t anything you like on broadcast TV, what do you turn to?

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

Life: A Construction Zone

October 12, 2011 by

For the past couple of weeks, the gas company has been working in our neighborhood laying new pipe and moving meters.  Of course, this has caused all kinds of havoc on the street. Besides the obvious day I had to take off work work from home, there’s the headache of maneuvering the heavy equipment and the damage to finely manicured lawns of the neighborhood.

So, you might be guessing that my positive spin on this would be that I can grab a lawn chair and a wine cooler, set up camp in the front yard and get all inspired for my rough-and-tumble heroes in Ultimate Catch. That is a positive, and if I said I didn’t enjoy some manual-labor eye-candy, I’d be blatantly lying.

But it was a completely different revaluation I had this morning as I was cursing out loud as I had to weave around the backhoe blocking the road.

Life is a construction zone. (And we should be issued hard-hats at birth.)
 

On a daily basis we have to maneuver bumpy roads and zig-zag to avoid pot holes. Sometimes our attempts to dodge the obstacles fail, and we have to shut-down for repairs.

 On the flip side, as we progress through each construction phase, there are improvements with the overall project. We get closer and closer to that bright, shiny finished project.

More time than not, the end result is worth the little bit of dust we have to endure along the way.

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

Navigating Stormy Seas

October 10, 2011 by

“ The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found those dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore. ”  Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890)

The above quote was waiting for me in my email box this morning from one of those “Quote a Day” places. I felt particularly drawn to it for several reasons, one being that given my current work in progress – Ultimate Catch – I find myself drawn to nautical themes more than I normally would be.

But the quote isn’t really nautical is it.

It’s about a lot more than rough waters, it’s about the rough days we all face. You know the ones. Like, when you get out of bed, step on the cat, stub your toe and hit your head all before you’ve cleared the bedroom.

For most, the prevalent thought would be “I’m going back to bed,” but not many can do that. We have to push forward. Go to work. Take care of the home, family, etc. We have to navigate the stormy seas, despite the perils. (Moaning and groaning while doing so is totally acceptable.)

That’s the definition of perseverance. Isn’t it? I always find it interesting when people say that managing stressful situations, working through difficult times, is not one of their strengths. I will often respond “I bet you’re better at it than you think.” And that’s not the generic sudo-support talk it seems to be on the surface. I truly believe people don’t give themselves enough credit. They don’t really notice the obstacles they maneuver on a daily basis, they don’t appreciate the challenges they overcome, because in their mind it’s just life.

Maybe the message we can take away from Van Gough’s words is that we’re all more like fishermen than we think. We just need to recognize that in ourselves.

Do you have any special tricks to handle the day-to-day crisis and persevere?

 

 

 

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

What If … I’m Jaded?

October 5, 2011 by

I’m a “what if” kind of writer. My ideas for the books I write come to me in question form: “What if…?”

That simple question, leads to more questions, of course. Those answers become plot points. The ‘what ifs’ are inspired from many things: song lyrics, news items, and even things I experience in my everyday life.  But lately I’ve noticed a new trend.

The answers to those what if scenarios have become very dark.

Not always the best course of action for a romance writer.

An interesting story requires twists and turns, heartbreak and heartache, but even my premises have taken a darker turn lately. Leaving me with another all important question.

Am I becoming jaded?

Have I developed a hard, crusty edge that doesn’t allow me to see the rainbow through the rain?

Since I’m still able to develop a happily-ever-after, I’m self diagnosing myself as not-quite-jaded-yet. In actuality, I’ve never been a light and fluffy writer and I think I’m just getting more comfortable with my darker toned voice.

How would you describe your voice?

 

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