Inspired by lack of inspiration

I'll start off by saying that I can very much see the humor in the fact that, me having writers block, has led me to write a post about writers block. 

I've discovered a very huge source of writers block is stress.  I'm trying to work on some new book ideas, get my synopsis done for Road Of Choices and move all at the same time.  Those are not things that flow well together.  What do I find myself doing out of all that? 

I've been writing on my role play site and another role play site, with amazing writers of all ages who push me to create strong characters and story lines.  I've spread myself so thin between two sites and then coupled with the stress of the rest, my brain feels like it's swollen one moment, and turning to mush the next.  I love writing with the friends I've made and RPing give a great option to work out possible plot ideas and see how they would flow and work out.  To see what works and what doesn't, but when you get in a very deep and detailed plot, it's as taxing as working on a book.

If I could figure out a way, to put out the thousands, yes..literally thousands, of words into my book writing like I am my role playing.  I'd have rough drafts typed out in no time. Instead when I open any of my WIP's...I just sit and stare at them. 

Well here's hoping I get my efforts refocused!

Time Slayers

Been playing a great new FREE online text based game.  Lots of fun...obviously it's kept me from my blog

http://www.timeslayers.com/index.php?REF=30

Drop by, play...have fun!  Luna will be there having a blast!

Authonomy

Today I took a brave, well brave to me, step and put my book up on Authonomy.com.  This site gives authors a chance to get their books out there and get feed back from the community and a monthly shot at being reviewed by HarperCollins publishing. 

Already I've had messages about swapping books to give feed back and receive it as well.  I think this is a great thing.  Outside of the shot at publication, the feedback is always welcome in the form of constructive critics.

So for anyone that wants to read it here is the link to Road of Choices. Feedback, comments, stars, they all help for a chance at publication and help me improve so please, drop by, read my book or any of a dozen good books on the site and help us all get a step close to our goal.

Kim Harrison's A Perfect Blood...on TV? Maybe!!!

I have been dying to read this book.  I bought it for my Kindle and I have to say, what I've read....I love.  The characters that Kim Harrison has created are so alive, so believable and so wonderful.  I read on her site that the show will be being made into a tv show.  I am so elated at this news. 


My only worry, truly, is the casting.  Kim Harrison's characters are so detailed, they are going to have to be particular about who they cast or the show's just not going to be believable.  I have no thoughts....yet...on who should be cast in the roles, but I'd love to hear anyone elses thoughts on who they think would fit.  The red haired Rachel, the sexy Ivy, the hilarious and determined Jenks.  Let us not forget Trent and Al.

Let me take this moment to say, if Trent and Rach don't hook up soon....I'm gonna scream.  The tension between those two is so thick, I can't stand it!

The lesser characters have to be portrayed right as well.  Kristen, Glenn, David, Wayde, Piscary, all of them.  There's an allowability for some variation, but the basics have to be there.  The actors have to be able to pull off the relationships.  The interactions in these books are so layered, if they don't do it right, it won't work. 

Here's to fingers crossed and an anxious wait on more info or a pilot!

Valentines Day

So the most romantic holiday of the year is coming up on Tuesday.  There's so many views on the holiday.  I personally, am not a fan.  To me, it's an excuse for the jewelry and candy industry to make a killing.  The suicide rate jumps this time of year too.  So many single people are made to feel inferior and like they've failed at life because they are single on Valentines day.  When are we going to have a holiday that celebrates the joys of people being single?  When are we going to let people know that just because you don't have someone to do romantic things for this one day of the year, doesn't mean you're a failure?

I shall be boycotting the holiday, as I do every year.  I don't like it, don't agree with it and probably never will.  Yes, yes feel bad for my significant other if you want, because they suffer, but they live though it. *laughs* I can let them know I love them any day of the year.  I don't have to do it on Valentines to make it special.

Why do we love to love the bad guy (or girl)?

We've all done it.  Watched a show or movie, read a book or a short story and it hit you.  The bad guy love/hate situation.  He's handsome.  He's suave.  He's just flat out sexy.  You find yourself rooting for him despite him being the bad guy.  Why?  Why do we do that? 

Is it just because they hit our radar on the sex appeal factor? Or because we all want to hope in the end that the bad guy will do the right thing?  Or is it because when it comes to our imaginations, we can have and want all the things that are bad for us and not feel guilty? 

Personally, I want to say option D...all of the above.  The bad guy, most of the time, is very good looking.  They use their looks to get what they want.  No matter how bad their intentions are, there's some drive, some reason that has them doing it and usually it's some great tragedy that makes your heart cry out for them.  And then you know in your imagination, they can be your dirty little secret.  No one can tell you it's wrong.  It won't ruin your life or destroy your future like marring the bad boy (or girl) you dated in high school.

Your imagination is a good place to indulge in all the bad things you shouldn't do in real life.  I say enjoy it.  Dive into the pages of your favorite story with the bad guy you love.  Be the cheerleader for the dark side.  Go on, get your pom poms out.  No one has to now.  I won't tell.  Promise!

Where does it come from?

Where do you find your inspiration at?  Watching movies?  TV?  Reading a book?  Daydreaming?  Or perhaps role playing sites or games?

Do you see a character and think it would be awesome to see that character done in "x" fashion?  Do you imagine that character versus another or a situation that they wouldn't normally be in?  Do you combine features, powers or traits from different characters to make a new one?

I have.  I'm sure a lot of us have.  It's nothing new.  To be honest, it's like the adage, no idea is new anymore.  Almost every idea has been done.  That's not surprise at all, but how you present it, how you tweak it to make it different from other versions of the idea is what makes it stand out.  A vampire hunter for example has been done, many times.  Buffy, Anita Blake (my all time fav by the way) and many others have hunted the monsters through time.  But a vampire hunter that's afraid of the dark?  Now that might be a new twist the world is ready for.  What about a werewolf hunter who's allergic to fur?  Yes, those are both kind of out there ideas, but you get my point.  Make your characters unique even if their occupation isn't.

On a slightly non writing related topic....

Who do you have a celebrity crush on?  What actor/actress, singer or (to tie it back to writing) author do you swoon over when you see them on TV or on the radio or book jacket?  I have friends that swear they don't have any, that they only think of their significant other.  To you I say.... BULLSHIT! (Insert hilarious laughter here!) Everyone, I don't care who you are, has that one famous person that just makes you sigh with see or hear them.  It's human nature and I refuse to believe that anyone out there doesn't have a celebrity crush.  It's healthy and good to fantasize.  It's not cheating, it's not bad and just because you think they're hot doesn't mean you're gonna run off from your sweetie and to hunt them down and marry them.  (More insane laughter)

So, on to those that are rational and can  discuss this with all the gusto, giggling and teenage like giggles, without over analyzing it.  Here..... (drum roll) is my top ten men mostly in order of hotness.  The number one spot is the only thing that holds steady at the moment. We'll cover women at a later date.  Please...feel free to drool.  I will not judge you.  For they are truly drool worthy.

Ian Somerhalder
Gerard Butler
Ryan Reynolds
James McAvoy
Cam Gigandet
Paul Walker
Paul Wesley
Hugh Jackman
Orlando Bloom
Alex Pettyfer

Interesting Post on Julie Anne Lindsey's blog

So I was catching up on my blog reading today and found something interesting on Julie Lindsey's blog.

Avoid the BLOCK: This is how I roll.... around it

Now, I'm a pantser, have always been one.  Initially or at conception at least.  But I do admit to jotting down future book idea when they come to me and will be part of the series I'm working on.  A lot of pantsers won't even attempt to plot or mini plot. To each their own, whatever works best for you, but Julie has some great pointers, so drop by her blog and check the article out.

Merry Christmas

I wanted to take time to say Merry Christmas to everyone.  I know not all of you celebrate Christmas, but I do, proudly and want to give you my wish for a blessed holiday no matter which it is. 

The true meaning of christmas....to give to those less fortunate....to show you care for others....to be good to one another and tell friends and family you love them.  *sighs* It should be christmas everyday.  But that's a soap box for another day. 

Blessed holidays, to everyone.  May they be full of light, cheer, family and what really matters Love!

A smile for the day

Doesn't matter if you like country or not.  This song is hilarious and there are not many adult people in the world who haven't drank from red solo cup.  Enjoy this Toby Keith song and I hope you smile!

Braving the waters

My heart is still pounding from such a simple act.  Submitting queries to agents.  The feeling of my heart in my throat, and then it proceeding to rip its self from my rib cage is not new.  Every time I had contemplated sending my book out, nerves hit me.  Thanks to my beta readers though, I feel I've got the best story I can. 

I may not be the next J.K Rowling or even Stephanie Meyer, but I just want my work, my blood, my sweat, my tears out there for readers to enjoy.  I want them to meet the characters that have lived and breathed in my mind since I was a preteen.  I want them to enjoy it most of all.  My level of success won't be in the money I make, if I make any, but in the feedback from the readers. 

The thought that someone picked up my book and enjoyed reading it and want to see more, that's my ultimate high.  So, here's fingers crossed and hoping that out of the queries I send out over the next few days, will match me with an agent who enjoys my book.

Importance of artwork on book covers

Many years ago when I joined my favorite book club, I found an art book containing art work my Michael Whelan.  That book sadly is packed up in my storage shed waiting to be unpacked when I move again and have more room.  I was overjoyed yesterday when I stumbled across the artist website.

I love his work.  The details, the way he works the story into the cover and how he captures those small things that some readers wouldn't catch as they read.  His work, as it did in the past, made me stop and think how important the cover art is to a book.

I can't count the number of times I wandered into my local book store, with no clue what I wanted to read, only to be drawn into picking up a book because of the cover art. I've discovered many wonderful book just because of the cover art.

Sometimes I don't think we even notice why we reach for a random book.  Stop and think, pay attention next time you actually buy a book, how much the cover art pulls you in.  A lot of times the art it's self tells a story all on it's own, before you even read the blurb on the back or inside cover.

When it rains it pours....

So some of you know that I've been out of work since September with back issues.  Not a shock considering that the doctor said I had a bad back.  I've been getting MRI's and various things done to figure out what is causing my back to hurt since I hadn't done anything to strain it or anything.

So I went on the 29th and had my last MRI.  I have spinal stenosis or narrowing of the spine.  Now, I'm waiting to hear back on when I can see a neurosurgeon and decide where to go from  here.  Part of me is totally freaked out that I might have to have another surgery while the other part is just rolling with it and wants it over and done with.

The freaked out section is taking over slowly but surely as other people tell me what doctors have given as a solution for them or family members.  Some have mentioned fusing the spine, others have mentioned having to in and widen the area around the spinal cord so the pressure on it stops.  None of which, sound pleasing.

On the upside, I hopefully soon will be able to get back to my life and get back to being able to enjoy it once again.  I just don't think the call from the doctor can get here soon enough.

MVP

So I wanted to take a minute and talk about my current MVP's in my book writing process.  My beta readers, my shoulders to lean on, my support structure, and my friends. 

The book is technically done.   It's in the editing process now.  That's what made me want to thank my MVP's.  After you look at a project so many times it all begins to blur together.  My beta readers have shown me things that both me and my spell checker have missed as I walked through the pages.

I don't mind getting questions, having things pointed out, and being told that something doesn't make sense.  I'm sure I'm not the first or the last to think that something I wrote is clear as glass, only to find out that my delivery is flawed.  If it wasn't for my beta readers and my friends, I might never see these before I try to send this off to an agent. 

It means a lot to me that despite seeing my work while it's flawed and raw, they seem to be enjoying the story.  That, in it's own way, means more then getting published.  I've always wanted to write a story that people would enjoy and want to read.  To have memorable characters that would be believable and remembered.  Even if I can't find an agent to help me deliver it to the world, then at least I'll know that I wrote a book that at least a handful of people enjoyed and wanted to read.

So thank you to all my beta readers, my friends, my family.  Thank you for all the cruel to be kind words, all the times you make me say "duh, how did I miss that" and for all the encouragement.