Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Retreat in Retrospect

The retreat was great! Everyone gave a little 'class' on different aspects of the writing process (query letters, character bible, metaphor and symbolism, writer's block, etc).

We read aloud some of our pages (which I highly recommend), and did a couple of writing exercises.

One of my favorite exercises is this: we all put 3 characters into a hat and draw out 3 random characters (make sure you don't get your own). From there, we have to write up a scene with the characters and then we read them aloud to the group. The situations are so unlikely, and usually the characters end up out of character, and we laugh until our sides are sore. ^_^

It was an awesome weekend and I'm energized to do more work on my book(s).

Thanks CRAMP-ers!

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Writer's Retreat

Look! It's my monthly post. ^_^

I'm going on a writer's retreat with my awesome writing/critique group (the CRAMP) this weekend. I'm so excited! :D

I've written up my first query letter for a workshop we're going to do, and I'm all proud of myself. My first step toward querying agents for my book(s). Woot!

Now I just need to finish a manuscript.

But I've been writing pretty steadily for the past few months, so things are progressing and the CRAMP is giving me awesome feedback on the stories.

Progress is being made!
The dream is being lived!
Victory is on the horizon!

Hoo-ra!

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Just DO It

I read a blog post by Sara Zarr (http://www.sarazarr.com/archives/1782) and it got me thinking.

I think I let fear dictate to me too often in my writing. Especially in my blogging (hence the reason I update maybe once a month). I think ‘what on Earth do I have to say that’s so important? My ideas can’t be all that original, so why should I post them up here where anyone could read them?’

Maybe my ideas aren’t that original. But then again, maybe they are. They’re my ideas, with my own unique background influencing how I see them. And true, my ideas might not change the world, but they might, just might, touch someone. One person who needed to hear what I had to say.

I promise to myself to keep on writing. To keep on dreaming and hoping. To keep fear at bay by doing, instead of letting myself be paralyzed.

To quote Galaxy Quest: Never give up. Never surrender!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Attack of the Pizza-wielding Psycho

Oh, it's been way too long since my last post . . .

So, I thought someone was robbing my friend’s car Saturday night, and apparently I’m very polite just before I attack with a box of pizza.

My friend, A, had exited the Little Caesar’s Pizza before me, when I noticed a rump (not hers) sticking out of what I thought was her car. Now it was dark, and this car was a very similar color to A’s, and other than the color of the car, all I really noticed was that it was a man’s rump and shoes sticking out of my friend’s car.

My brain cries thief! and my adrenaline kicks into high gear.

I approach the supposed thief (keep in mind I’m carrying 2 boxes of Hot-n-Ready) and say, “Excuse me, sir?”.

Right about this moment, my brain also starts to notice details about this car. The interior is different from A’s car, and there’s a pair of humongous headphones hanging from the rear view mirror. And the gentleman is extricating himself from his car to face the person who’s addressed him.

Before he can fully exit the vehicle I mutter “sorry” and rush over to A’s car, where’s she’s been standing wondering what the heck I’m doing. (Apparently she and the guy made eye contact and had a silent “what’s she doing” “how should I know” conversation).

I jump into A’s car and tell her to drive (Drive, you fool!), and when we’re away, she asks what that was all about. I tell her “I thought he was robbing your car”, at which point she starts to laugh hysterically and says “That was the politest confrontation I’ve ever seen”.

So next time you hear someone say, “Excuse me” from behind you, make sure that you’re in your own car and not about to be clobbered by the pizza-wielding person who thinks you’re robbing their friend.