Belles-Lettres

Well...

2004-11-22T21:14:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since I've posted to this blog, and it's completely not related to writing. But I need to vent...so here it is...

Lately I've come to view life as people who stand on a mountain. How they live/conduct themselves/handle their finances corresponds to their position on said mountain. People who are fiscally smart hunker down, maybe they dig a hole, they know how easy it is to fall off this mountain. Other people, prefer to live life on the edge. They dance very close to the cliff and prefer to stay there. They haven't fallen off...but their position is very precarious. It's very close to the edge. Then one day a terrible storms blows over the mountain. The point is how you weather this storm. Are you snug and secure? Or have you gone so close to the edge that one only needs to blow a puff of wind and you fall right off?

One of my non-immediate family members just suffered major damage to their rental house. It wasn't their fault, just one of those things that happen. Because they are living pretty much paycheck to paycheck, and they won't be able to move back in to their rental house for 2-3 months, they are, essentially, homeless. A lot of it has to do with California because such a fucking expensive place to live...part of it is because they don't handle themselves financially well. They've almost fallen off...luckily they have family who is (and has been) there to bail it out. But once you fall in, it is so hard to get out of that vicious cycle...every paycheck you have is pretty much eaten up for food, bills, kids, etc. There's no opportunity for savings, and if you have no savings, then you are stuck living paycheck to paycheck.

It kind of freaks me out because it could so easily be me and mine. I mean I try my hardest to save and be financially smart, but since I'm getting laid off early next year, and you never know if your spouse is vulnerable to layoff as well...I don't even want to think of what would happen in that scenario.

So for now, it's me planning like mad for a secure financial future in these uncertain times.

Hmm...

2004-08-09T13:35:00.000-07:00

Been getting some traffic onto this site...sometimes its from a link from somewhere else...and then when I go to the referrer (no link to this blog)...I wonder how they got from there to here....puzzling...

Work has been extremely busy. As a result, writing has slowed to a trickle. I forget about this blog sometimes and when I come back, I remember that its a nice little place to write. I'm stuck at the last part of chapter 2. The hero and heroine are supposed to have a flirty conversation. I'm stuck! I've been married for nearly 10 years and I've forgotten how to flirt! Criminey. Tried to graft some Sorkin-esque dialogue from some West Wing episode to get an idea...but its not working.

Daughter starts YMCA Camp today and Son starts preschool (whole day and he is still not fully potty trained on #2). I'm a bit anxious and I hope the kiddies are okay.

Very Slow

2004-07-27T06:56:00.000-07:00

Dang. I finally finished chapter 1. I mean I have enough material in the manuscript for 5 chapters, but I've finally gotten to the point where I am finally happy...completely happy with the way its turning out. I am a very slow writer!!

I think PMS has a lot to do with it. When I have it, I don't write. :( I don't know why. Then inspiration strikes like lightning...and last night, I was off writing like a racehorse.

Now I have to refine chapter 2. :p

I mentioned this to Hubby last night and he was like "Great! At this rate, you'll be done in 5 years!" Thanks a lot Hubby. Heh heh.

I need to set myself on a schedule.

I've been reading Elizabeth George's new writing book and she mentioned that if you want to be published, you need to have talent, discipline and passion. Pour moi, its the discipline part I need to work on.

You need bum glue, she says. Bum is Aussie for ass. So that's it. Ass glue, you are being applied to my bum until chapter 2 is completely and utterly brilliant!!!!!!

Hmm...

2004-07-14T08:37:00.000-07:00

Man, I guess its been awhile since I've blogged on this blog.

I thought I didn't need to anymore, that the other blog would be sufficient for blogging. But today I want to blog here. Don't ask me why. Maybe its that time of the month.

So anyways, in regards to writing...having a full time job (which is hella busy) and the kids and the hubby are killing my creative energies. My mom is staying with us for a few weeks as well, and I feel like I have to spend time with her as well (Mom, watch the West Wing with me, the greatest show of all time). Throw in me having to get up at 4:00 am for work, and the writing time is zippo. Zilch. Nada. Sigh.

I've been having problems with the hero, who heretofore was a military guy. I know that romances should steer clear of politics...but reading a lot of mil blogs lately...they are so pro-Bush. It jars my delicate, sheltered, nerdy, bookish, liberal senses. So what is the problem? Why don't I just make Dan a libbie who opposes the war...but still does his duty when called. WHAT'S THE PROBLEM???

My head, that's the problem!!!! Its not gelling!! I am so whining right now. So if he comes back from war as a wounded veteran...does he show signs of post traumatic stress syndrome? I look to the West Wing episode ("Noel", season 2) where Josh is experiencing PTSD...and he kinda "deals" with it in the episode. I'm not sure I want it to be a factor in this whole book. I mean...Dan could have a mild case of it, I guess. But its a pretty serious subject and it takes a long time to recover from (some never do)...I don't just want to leave the impression that the love of a good woman and lotsa sex is the cure to PTSD, which obviously it isn't. But on the other hand, it is a romance. Where is the balance?????

I think I am psyching myself out. I entered that writing contest and won't be hearing back from them until like Sept...so a part of me is still on hold, breathlessly awaiting the validation of my writing self.

Sigh...I'll be glad when the 2 weeks of PMS plus the 5-7 days is over and I can stop playing head games with myself...

BTW, how I feel politically. :)

Dang

2004-05-14T12:39:00.000-07:00

I think I'm majorly PMSing. Girl who sits in the cube next to me...likes to torment me from time to time by messing up my desk. She did it just now.

I say, "You bitch," half-jokingly under my breath. She's gay...not that that has anything to do with anything, but she's very sensitive to being called bitch and other words such as that.

So then she's like, "What???"

And I'm like, "Never mind...you'd be offended." Later I wonder if I should apologize to her...but why should I????

A few minutes later, she comes up and messes up my desk again.

"Don't call me a bitch," she said.

"Then don't fuck with my shit," I say back. "I'm in a pissy mood."

"OK, I won't bother you anymore," she replies.

I think we're ok. I think. I'm not going to worry about it...cuz its just one of those days.

Questions...

2004-05-14T08:25:00.000-07:00

I just emailed Ch 1 on the manu to a fellow blogger to see what she thinks. Besides Hubby, who always says, "Oh, its great honey." I have a few online buddies who thought it was pretty good. I'm still frustrated at not being able to find a critique partner/group. Either it doesn't gel or they are too snobby. Sigh.

With only two weeks to go until I have to send it in to the writing contest, it still needs to be polished....Ch 1 that is...and I am starting to hyperventilate now.

Sigh. I have to start visualizing chapter 2 now. No problem. Really.

2004-05-11T09:19:00.000-07:00

Whoa, Blogger has come up with some pretty cool templates. This one is a huge improvement over the old design. Yay Blogger! More elegant and stuff like that. I'm going to try to add some functionality to the site later, since this new template wiped out my links, comments and the tracking system.

I've had some success in writing chapters 1-2. The writing contest I am planning on entering is due June 4, so I still have some time before I have to turn it in. Its the first meeting between the hero and heroine. Which I still have to expand on.

The problem I am having is that I'm really big on reading regency romances set in England in the 1800s. But since I'm writing a contemporary...the hero and heroine meet at a party...I have to stop myself from writing like its in the 1800s England.

"Have you tried the lobster patties, sirrah? I hear they are quite the rage," Kate said.

Dan bowed deeply to Kate. "Indeed, madam. I am ever at your service. Allow me to escort you to dinner."

She curtseyed (sp?) in return. "Thank you. You are ever so kind," she murmured, looking into his handsome, rugged face.

Bah. The problem is I keep picturing the hero to be like Colin Firth or Hugh Jackman (a la Kate & Leopold). But Dan is actually supposed to be a U.S. Marine in today's time. I don't know if a guy in this day and age would say, "Indeed, madam."

Having some writer's blocky just now, but I'm sure I'll work it out.

2004-05-05T15:38:00.000-07:00

I am a fricking genius! I am a fricking literary genius! Mwhaaaaaaaaaa....

Inspiration strikes. Also a bad attack of egomania... ;)

2004-04-23T08:56:00.000-07:00

Work fucking sucks today. I keep getting blamed for other peoples' shit until I have to point out that its not my shit and then they're like, "Oh, okay." Duh.

2004-04-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

Seriously, inspiration comes in fits and spurts. With boot camp coming up, I'm scrambling to finalize the character worksheets for Dan and Kate. Write what you know, they say. So Kate is going to be Chinese-American and will be a romance w/ a inter-racial relationship going. Jungle Love! Just kidding...not so wild. Dan is totally going to be white bread (but sensitive). Hee hee.

2004-04-19T06:54:00.000-07:00

It was a nice (yet tiring) weekend. Daughter had her 6th birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese on Saturday. 18 kids showed up...and so did many grown-ups. Luckily I was spared from doing all the major entertaining and cleaning...mostly did the hostess thing. I think she really enjoyed it. She made out like a bandit as well in terms of gifts...so she's happy.

Of course the day would not be complete w/o me gloating about it to Hubby...

Me: Did you see the party? Was it not great? Was it not grand?

Hubby: Yes, dear.

Me: Did you see me doing the hostess thing? Nary a flinch, even when 4 kids/parents showed up w/o RSVPing! The kids were having fun. The parents were well-fed. I was in the zone! Was I not in the zone?

Hubby: Yes, dear.

Me: Man, I rock.

Hubby: Sigh. You are gonna keep going on about this aren't you.

Me: Yes, I am.

Also picked up a cool romance, My Seduction by Connie Brockway. It was a nice, enjoyable read...sigh...

I go to Writers Boot Camp this coming weekend...so need to work on refining plotting points of manu. I wonder if wearing my Abercrombie&Fitch camo pants (complete w/ realistic military pockets) would be too much...

2004-04-15T06:31:00.000-07:00

There's something going around about Prez Bushie's speech back on 4/13, on how Bush's taste in ties distracted from his speech. Its pretty funny if you think about it.

I took a step back last night and took the time to sketch out in depth a little more of Dan & Kate's characters...for awhile there I was like, how can I write an idealized love story when the world sucks around me. Always with the bad news on tv...its so depressing. Then last night I was like, how could I not try to write a story...I need to get away...something that has a happy ending is perfect (at least for me) to escape from daily shit. I'm rambling now. Ha ha ha...now I can post my true thoughts because no one visits this blog! *evil laugh*

2004-04-13T05:28:00.000-07:00

You are a GRAMMAR GOD!

If your mission in life is not already to
preserve the English tongue, it should be.
Congratulations and thank you!

How grammatically sound are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

2004-04-13T05:01:00.000-07:00

Ugh. I have a really bad head cold. Its 5:00 am. I was off yesterday...tried to get up to go to work today but as soon as I went downstairs to get some breakfast...started feeling dizzy and ugh-y (is that a technical term?). Felt slightly bad that I couldn't go to work as they are anal about absences...but what can you do. Took some meds and instead of sleeping...I am blearily typing this entry with one eye open and reading other people's blogs....

Changing the subject...even though I am 32 years old...its amazing how much your parents can still affect you. My mom read some of my writing recently and she...being typically her...was kind of critical of it. It totally kicked me out of the zone...its all mental...I know, but I have this block in my head now that stops me from writing. I need to get over it. Its kinda weird...sticks and stones do break your bones...but words DO have the power to hurt you...

2004-04-10T15:24:00.000-07:00

Man this rocks!

You are a hip, happenin' young 'un in London...must record a bunch of sounds from all over into a mix that will wow the club crowds...whoever designed this totally kicks ass.

2004-04-09T07:56:00.000-07:00

MilBlogs...can't resist 'em. Just found a new one...e-rocky-confidential.

2004-04-09T06:33:00.000-07:00

I love sitting near an open window in the afternoon. After a long day at work, I flop on the couch, close my eyes and enjoy the soft whisper of the coastal breeze. The smell of spring is in the air. My lemon tree has four more tiny green baby lemons budding out...I take a deep breath and try to relax...

Listening to All Things Considered on the drive home keeps me informed, yet leaves me slightly depressed over the state of world affairs. So it makes it me appreciate these quiet moments so much more.

I'm still trying to "find my voice" on this new blog, so to speak. Not quite sure what to write about on a daily basis...

In the meantime, I'm having fun playing with my new slave....

2004-04-07T09:39:00.000-07:00

I'm starting a new blog. I had another one before that I kept for a year or so. It was pretty nice, but somehow I feel the need to shed that skin and try a new one. A new look...a new arc...a new blog. Can a blog become too public at some point? Where you feel like you can't post certain things because you are afraid some in your readership may become offended by it? Or maybe its because I am too sensitive.

I wanted to try a new blog, one where I can post my true thoughts and people will not necessarily read it.

So here it is...Belles-Lettres...

Sean from turning tables just put up a new post...very exciting stuff as he is one of my favorite bloggers.