Archive for 2006
A Woman’s Work Is Never Done
May 5, 2006 | It's All About Writing
This week I am participating in Passionate Ink’s BIAW which started last Sunday. For those of you aren’t familiar with the term BIAW, it means you write a Book In A Week. No easy feat for a procrastinator like me.
The writer commits to a number of words, in my case 8,000, and logs their daily production into the group database. Here it is Friday and I feel I should be committed, not to a word count either. During this week from hell, everything and anything that could go wrong, did.
Sunday
Not that I didn’t have fun, far from it. The day was spent with my two energetic granddaughters. What a pair! They can think of more events for this lazy grandma than colors in the jumbo Crayola box.
Production – zip.
Monday
A was truly a horrid day. Enough said about that because I don’t ever want to relive it. Although the evening was great. Studly decided I needed to focus. Truer words, and all that. He came up with a plan I felt I could live with – every Tuesday evening we would meet for one hour and discuss my progress. Later that evening our critique group met and helped me do some basic plotting on my new novel.
Production – zip.
Tuesday
I was finally inspired to write. It really felt good to get back into the story. After dinner Studs and I had our little talk. We agreed I needed to produce 1000 words a day, seven days a week and email him every morning with my previous day’s word count. This is doable. In case you haven’t figured it out, I have zero discipline.
Production – 955 words.
Wednesday
Life is getting good here. My favorite son-in-law, okay he’s my only SIL, started a new job. I was needed to watch the girls for a couple of hours in the late afternoon. Banged my little fingers on the keyboard like crazy in the morning to reach my quota.
Production – 1225 words
Thursday
My daughter asked me to tag along, I love being needed, to walk through a house they’re interested in buying. No problem. It took just short of two hours and I was back at the keyboard. Studs agreed to give me an extra two hours to work at the end of the day because of playing hooky earlier.
Production – 2005 words.
Friday
I’m writing whirlwind today. Even doing errands this morning I was jotting notes on any scrap of paper I could dig out of my purse. WOOHOO!! Things are starting to happen. Lonnie and Wolfe met, are hot for each other, and fighting it all the way.
Monday stop on back if you have the time and I’ll let you know how the BIAW ended.
Have a great week-end!
Sloane
Inspiration, sometimes known as The Whack Against the Head
April 27, 2006 | It's All About Writing
I’ve been in a real writing slump this past month. Actually two. It was driven home when Studly noticed something was wrong and sat me down for a talk.
“Okay, Babe, what’s going on?”
“Nothing.” No truer words were ever spoken.
“You’re not yourself. What’s going on with the new book?”
“The exact same 1200 words as before.”
“Drag it out and let’s talk about it.”
After much whining and procrastinating I dragged out my two wrinkled pages of crap and handed them over.
“Aah, yeah. I see your problem.” Ya gotta love a guy of few words. “It’s just not clear.”
“Actually, I thought it just stunk.” Okay, maybe I’m being a bit harsh on myself, but the self-pity route seemed a good choice even if it was non-productive.
“First off you can’t have the guy’s dick “jumping to life”. Dicks just don’t do that. And if they did it would hurt.”
“G told me the same thing, or maybe it was Melissa.” His eyebrow cocked and the yummiest look swept into his chocolate eyes. “G is a woman, Studs, from my critique group.”
“Good. Now let’s get back to work.”
And so we did for over an hour. Studly has an amazing eye for sensitivity and logic in writing. Then again, Studs is a pretty amazing guy all around.
The next morning I sent off two samples of the first chapter to Beth and Yasmine. Beth liked the first while Yasmine is still scrutinizing my measly offerings. They both agreed one specific line had to be worked in somehow.
The first piece was sassy and bold, a style more suited to my nature per Beth. The second was refined and laid back. The characters in the first of this four book series were that way. Not these two new ones. They are smart, streetwise, and well-educated. Therefore the style of the book has to be action filled.
Now here’s my point. Are you ready? Grab my hand and we’ll take this leap of faith together.
You have to write your book true to your characters. I guarantee you it will not work if you force a style onto your hero and heroine that isn’t natural to them. Nope! I hear your refusal to accept the inevitable and I’m not listening.
Trust me on this – you will not have the inspiration required to write 50,000 plus words if you don’t listen to your lead characters. They know what they’re talking about.
Auf Wiedersehen, I’m off to Austria to help Wolfe and Eleanor sort out the fiasco they’ve gotten themselves into!
Sloane
Hell Yeah, I’m Proud to be an American
April 21, 2006 | General, Remembering
I promised myself I would never do this, never give notoriety to people or groups who are a drain on this nation. Now it’s come close to home and I can’t stop myself from lambasting one of the most evil factions of our country.
There is not one person in this country who is ecstatic about the war in Iraq. Families are ripped apart and changes happen within them that can never be repaired. The death of a serviceman or woman affects not only the family and friends of that person, but also the general population. Let me tell you a little story about just such a situation.
Lance Cpl. Philip John Martini was born July 10, 1981. His was an American family just like thousands of others. They loved, argued, and laughed as life moved them forward. One day young Phil decided he’s alter the direction of his life and joined the Marine Corp. His tour of duty took the proud man to Al Anbar, Iraq. A gunshot wound took his life. What was kept alive after this tragedy was the memory of a decorated young man even though his family and friends deeply grieved.
Be prepared, for now comes the horrific part of the story.
There is a church in Topeka, Kansas that has taken the Lord’s word, twisted and contrived, to express the filthiest evil to ever be on printed pages and web sites. Studly printed out the pages because he knew I’d never believe it if I didn’t read it for myself.
This sick, self-appointed cult of insanity teaches, teaches mind you, hate. Not only do they teach it, they practice it with a vengeance. Their pastor, I refuse to capitalize the low life’s title, encourages his mindless minions to go forth across our country and picket the funerals of service people who died in Iraq.
But they don’t stop there. No, not these cowards. They also go to the Veteran’s hospitals carrying signs proclaiming “God Hates America”. How would you like to see that when you’re laying there with a limb or two blown off in the war?
Their web site is a demented display of chapter and verse quoted from the bible. The words are correct but this despicable cult has turned them against the people of this country.
At Lance Cpl. Martini’s funeral this band of cowards got the surprise of their lives. There were over 300 motorcyclists and a crowd of strangers, good people, lined up along the parkway of the church prepared to do whatever it took to keep LCPL Martini’s family and friends shielded from the hate mongers. The police contained the river of slime to across the street and down the block from the church.
I am ashamed I was not there to show my support of a fine soldier. I am exceedingly proud my personal Marine took time off work to go and protect his now dead brother. I have pity in my heart for the unthinking fools who follow this Hitler-like man of the cloth. And I pray God will lift the shroud covering the eyes of the madman’s congregation.
If anyone is interested in their web site, please enter your email address in the comments. I refuse to type their address here so the pervert can’t google his church and celebrate the attention he is receiving. This may not be to clear to you all but I’m very upset about this and beginning to babble.
Sloane
Happy Easter
April 14, 2006 | Holidays
The Christian world is preparing for one of its most religious celebrations – Easter Sunday – the day Jesus arose from the dead.
Two years ago friends and I nestled into the theater to watch Mel Gibson’s “The Passion”. The impact of this production left me speechless. I recommend you rent this acclaimed film. The actors, their performances, and the cinematography surpass every other movie.
Yes, the subject matter is sensitive, especially at this time with all the unrest in the world, but make an effort to look beyond the religious aspect. Consider Jesus as an every day man caught up in the hysteria of his people, a scapegoat if you will. The atrocities he suffered, by what we determine an advanced society, are heart wrenching.
It is phenomenal to me the brutalities we inflict on our fellow humans in the name of righteousness. Over the centuries we obviously have learned nothing to better our relationships with one another.
To all of you, of every faith, I wish you peace and a new found respect for each other.
Sloane
Do you see the test pattern?
April 11, 2006 | General
Before I yank out all my unnaturally blonde hair I’m going to try this one more time.
Here goes!!!!!
YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 3, 2006 | Family
We had a wonderful week-end. The dance team performed better than ever and came away with two gold ribbons. It was totally awesome. Bob Fosse would have been proud, those little ladies danced their hearts out.
Aurora has some interesting sights including a casino I did not visit, didn’t seem right with the kiddies. Our Comfort Suites hotel room was large enough for all four of us to be, well, comfortable. The location was excellent because right next door was Walter Payton’s Roundhouse Complex, excellent food and service at reasonable prices.
But the best, the very best thing, was our girls won two gold ribbons. WooHoo!!
Sloane, the overly proud grandmama
Spring has Sprung
March 31, 2006 | Family
and to our family it means the round of dance competitions has arrived. My 8 year old granddaughter has a natural flair for dance, thank God, because the kid’s in at least six classes a week plus a dance team. It’s now time to hat up and head out on various weekends for cities beyond our horizon to watch the kids compete.
Today we’re off to Aurora, Illinois, which is not the entertainment capital of the world. Saturday morning the girls check-in by 7:30 a.m. By all that’s holy, there is no justice in this world and my daughter will not let me go in my bathrobe. Like Studly says, “It’s good to see you up at the crack of noon.” I still wonder why I love that guy.
Our girls compete twice, tap and hip-hop. They are very talented and have more spirit than most of the other teams. It sure would be great to see these little chicks get a top ribbon for all their hard work.
You all have a wonderful weekend and think of me as 500 little, giggly girls do their best to invade my private space.
Sloane
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
March 27, 2006 | Family
Today is Studly’s oldest daughter’s birthday. Bean is a very young and happy thirty-something and shares her life with a great guy. They have this dynamite three year old son who is filled with energy and imagination. They are the perfect family.
Bean has an artistic talent inherited from her mom. They attend art classes together and therefore share a unique bond above being mother and daughter. If not both, at least Bean should be instructing young people on the benefits of drawing.
So a very Happy Birthday, Bean! You’re a terrific woman.
Sloane
Your Place or Mine?
March 24, 2006 | It's All About Writing
The enraptured sigh, the long staring gaze, or quick hops in the sack testing multiple positions are not what writing sexual tension is all about. For each type of romance there is a draw between your hero and heroine. If you don’t have the tension, you ain’t got a sellable romance.
Sexual tension can be broken down into the explicit meaning of each word.
SEXUAL: of or involving sex which equates to wanting it.
TENSION: mental or emotional strain which equates to not being able to get it.
So what you have here is a great emotional strain to have sex with a specific person, but it’s not happening. This is what you must create between your characters in your story. The longer you delay the actual act, and increase the attraction, the better your readers will love the story.
How do you build Sexual Tension? In one word, awareness. Each of your characters needs to notice small things about the other. Sure Cassie can appreciate the bulge in Clive’s jeans while he’s admiring her breasts, but it’s not all tits and ass.
You must tease your reader while your characters are slowly becoming more aware of each other. Consider it a form of foreplay. Such as;
Cassie glanced down and was startled by the bulge in his jeans. Her eyes widen in admiration. Clive tweaked a smile, knowing what she’s doing, though she wouldn’t admit it, even to herself.
It’s more than body parts. You also need to write more than the physical. Each character must be aware of the others values, good and bad;
A warmth spread through Clive as Cassie clasped the tiny hand of the lost child.
Cassie’s lips tightened when Clive cursed at the driver who had successfully run them off the road.
Our couple has become more aware of each other and therefore we have successfully drawn them closer.
Think of it this way – Do you remember when you first fell in love? Did you notice everything about this new person all at once? Or did the scent, strength, and mannerisms dribble into your conscientiousness a drop at a time? More than likely the nature and character of your other half slowly made itself known to you.
This is how you need to write sexual tension, a bit at a time. As your story progresses the awareness increases. It may go on for pages, even chapters, until Clive and Cassie are so attuned they have to make love.
Another important key is that by now your reader is begging for Clive and Cassie to make love and live the happily ever after. It’s up to you, the author and the genre you write, to decide how explicit the love scene will be.
If you’re shy, you can bring your couple to the location – bed, couch, floor – then write a few lines before the door closes and provides them with the privacy they deserve. Or you can write it all, leaving nothing to the reader’s imagination. Either way, it must be fulfilling to the characters and more importantly, to your reader.
Do not cheat your reader. They have invested both their hard earned money, to buy your book, and their valuable time to read it. You are obligated to provide your reader with an afterglow.
Until nest Tuesday, Happy Writing…
Sloane
Is It or Isn’t It
March 20, 2006 | Friends
Last night Studly and I decided we need a night out after a wake and babysitting. Off we went to the local gin mill and met up with two of our favorite people, Lou and Sharon. They are greatest. Both are knowledgeable on every possible topic. As conversations tend to do, we rambled on until we stopped at Dolly Parton and the fireworks began.
Sharon and I agreed Dolly’s boobs are fake. Lou was adamant they are not. Studly nodded sagely and refused to commit himself. This discussion grew into an argument which developed into bar banging to stress our personal opinions.
Lou stated he had just heard an interview with Dolly who confirmed those huge melons were definitely hers. I relayed an interview I’d heard about twenty years ago where Dolly told the public Porter Wagner had said the pint-sized singer wasn’t big enough to be on his show. After that Dolly got implants and became a star. Sharon contributed the fact that women didn’t develop watermelons after puberty and lugging around gargantuan tits would have to produce major backaches. Studly announced we should never tell men a woman’s tits aren’t real. Men just can’t accept that.
Of course we’re still friends. We’ve had several discussions that would have busted apart lesser relationships, but we’re cool and appreciate everyone’s ideas, even if are guys are wrong.
So here’s my question to you all this morning – what’s your opinion on Dolly’s mammaries?
Sloane
