Summer Days and Writing

What is filling your days now?

• Camping
• Wonderful World of Water sports
• Family Reunions
• Gardening
• Lawn care
• House Renovation

Or maybe all of the above?

Where is writing on that list? Are you making time to write?

If so, How Are You Doing it?

Here's Your Sign (that you're a Writer)

You know you’re a writer when:

-The hubby smashes his finger with a ten-pound hammer and all you can think about on the trip to the ER is how to put the screaming in a scene

-Poor grammar in famous books drives you nuts

-Reading for pleasure morphs into reading for stylistic ideas

-You talk to the voices in your head

-And they answer

-Interruptions from spouse/kids/phone/fire in the kitchen tee you off

-You've been writing since 5 am and are shocked when you realize the sun is up and it is lunchtime

-When the voices wake you in the middle of the night, the scrawl you made on the phone book by the bed needs translated

-Scribbling a chapter ending without taking your eyes off the road while driving actually makes sense.

-Human behavior in a mall is prime fodder for your wip

-People are suspicious when you stare at them in a mall

-Meals are a distraction and entirely voluntary

-Caffeine is your boon companion

-Chocolate is mandatory to complete tough scenes

-The family grows to expect non-verbal responses when you are writing

-Pen and writing material are close by at all times

-Post-its, paper napkins, used envelopes, and magazine covers are acceptable writing material

Being a writer gives you one of Life’s highest highs and lowest lows.

 

But you keep on truckin’ 

Songs Sunday

I break music into two categories. 

One, the kind that gets moves me like Lady Gaga, Shinedown, Nickelback, and Daughtry. Treadmill music actually.

Two, a playlist I named, My Writing Music

For writing, I need instrumental in various tempos according to what my characters are doing at the time.

In the gentle scenes, the oddly contrasting soundtracks from True Blood or Pride and Prejudice help me see the MC weep. Or imagine the kiss.

For combat/fight scenes, high drama or experiencing great fear, I go with 30 Seconds to Mars.

Their album, This is War, helps me envision the hall where swordplay breaks out. When the wizard raises his arms and calls down Hellfire. Or as my MC dies by the hand of her foe.

Plus it drowns out the TV when the hubby is watching ESPN.

Judging a Contest

What a dilemma.

When Charity suggested a blogfest at our critique group, UnicornBell, I figured Cool.

When she said it would be a contest, I did my imitation of Mr. Burns. Exxxxcellent.

Then Charity said, “Oh, by the way, the moderators of UB are the judges.”

“Sounds good to…hey, wait a minute. I’m one of those moderators.”

At any rate, it was a blast to read the entries. But *insert massively inappropriate curse word here* difficult to judge.

 “I had no idea.” – Jodie Foster in Contact.

So many great writers. 

How the hell do we chose the finalists? But we did say only four (or was it five) would make to the final vote and I’m not sure but what a coin toss was the deciding factor.

Go there now and cast your vote for the best entry.

I worry about the ones who didn’t make it into the final round and it hurts a bit. Lemme say right now, you-all done good.

Excellent writers. Excellent people.

Thanks again for participating. And thank you for allowing us to read your entries.

Hi-Five all around.