Hooray for My Writing Group!

Yes, that's right. I'm giving props to my writing group because they come up with the greatest ideas. For example, a writing marathon. Somehow, miraculously, all of our spouses have agreed to give us crazies an entire day to do nothing but write. I'm extremely excited in spite of not actually being able to join them since I live a state away. We will be together apart doing one of the things we all love best. So, good luck Donna, Debbie, DJ, Linda and Kirk! I can't wait! :)

Why?

Why? Such a great question - so open ended with many possibilities. Sometimes we have an answer and sometimes we don't. With a five-year old in the house, I hear it at least 100 times a day.

This week, as part of our family's "staycation" we visited a dinosaur park in Ogden, UT. It featured a handful of traditional, indoor museum-type exhibits with fossils, but the main attraction was the outdoor portion, with models of various species of dinos in a natural environment, that you could discover around a corner or behind trees, etc. Our kids loved it of course.

The aforementioned five year-old asked the big question: Why did the dinosaurs become extinct? To which I answered, "Well, honey, scientists have many ideas about why it happened" and went on to explain the various theories, such as volcanic activity, an ice age, disease, climate change, etc. Then, I added, "But no one really knows except for Heavenly Father." To which he responded, "I'm going to ask him when I get back to heaven." LOVE him.

It got me thinking, as writers, we create the world, we provide the answers. Does this mean we have a God complex? No, (although I'm sure there are some that do) I would argue it means we like to consider the Why? in everything around us, and let our imagination dictate the possibilities. When you think of all the dino extinction theories, I believe every one of them has had a story told about it - not to mention Jurassic Park, which asserts dinosaurs do exist, on an island near Costa Rica.

What has Debbie gotten me into now?

So You Think You Can Dance, that's what. One more obsession to take up the time I don't have.
Still its a great season and these two, Lauren and Kent are just awesome on so many levels.

They make great characters. Am I the only one who does that? When I meet someone or see a show or get cut off in traffic, I immediately start a character sketch in my head. It's not the same as judging people because I know that most of what I decide about the character is not going to be true of the person, but still I can't help myself. I start to think about who this person or that person might someday be in my writing.

I guess I sort of play a "So you think you can write" game in my head. It's a lot like the show about dancing, except there is less dancing and more daydreaming.

Who have you turned into a character lately?

Photo-op

I bought a book this week by an author I have seen several times at conferences. As is my custom, I flipped open the cover and read the plot summary inside the jacket, inhaling deeply at the fine smell of a fresh, new book. Then, I turned to the back to read the author bio and was really surprised by the author's headshot. Their look was very different from how I have seen them. In fact, I thought it was a bit of a sell-out.

Granted, everyone is going to look more polished in a posed headshot than real life, but this was a shocker. It was as if I'd bought a book Inker Kirk had written and his headshot featured him wearing a top hat and monocle.

It got me thinking about, if I am ever fortunate enough to have a book published, how I would want to present myself, to really reflect who I am in a headshot. Overall, when I think of some of the best I've seen, I think it's important to keep it simple. Hats, props, animals, etc. usually come across as you are trying too hard.

The photo I use for all my social media needs, of me posed in front of the bookcases in our living room is actually a poke at all the authors who try to make themselves look too studious in their headshots.

Just for fun, here are a couple links I found related to this subject. Warning: there is some language in the first one that may be offensive.

http://htmlgiant.com/author-news/author-photo-failures/

http://www.phenixpublicity.com/blog/2009/1/23/the-author-headshot-lets-discuss.html

Here are a few more classics. Can you guess what genre they write?

Never Give Up!

So I'm supposed to be achieving the first of my New Year's resolutions in three and a half weeks when I will run a 1/2 marathon. This goal has been on my agenda since, you guessed it, Jan. 1, 2010. Its been on the calendar since March and the training is going about as well as my writing this year...inconsistent at best.

What is a girl supposed to do when faced with a huge task and very little time? Give up? Throw in the towel and say, "Better luck next time. Maybe next year my schedule won't be so packed, and I'll fit in a diet and some training?"
Yep.
That's what I say...to myself. Then I remember Howard Tayler's advice. "It's hard to get worse at something you do every day." And I spoke with KBC (Kick Butt Coach) LIZZ, who said, "You could finish the half marathon today if you HAD to do it. So the question is do you want to do it or not?" (paraphrased that a little).

If you have met me, then you probably know that giving up on something that I want is very very difficult for me. In fact, I'd walk 13.1 miles and take all day to do it rather than admit defeat.

Lizz is right. I could walk the half marathon today if I had to (or if someone offered me enough chocolate.) So what did I do?

I set up a crash course of training, made a salad and ran 3 miles. Resolution #1 watch out cause I'm coming.

Next it's on to Resolution #2-write another novel.
Tell us about goals you are not going to give up on, despite the odds and life and such.

In Your Dreams

I can tell that my writers' group is working.  All the things taught are finally sinking in.

How, you ask, can I tell?  Is it because my writing is getting better? No.  Is it because I am able to outline a better story? No.  Are my characters more real or dimensional? No. 

It is because last night my dream had a full story arc.  It had a begining, middle, and end.  It had antagonists, protagonist, cool side characters, unexpected dialogue, and a great ending.  The characters all grew and changed.  It could have been a movie.  It even had a begining-of-act-three montage.  I was totally blown away that I had such a complete dream.  All the Inkers' efforts must be paying off.

ARGH!!!!!!!

I know. I should've posted hours ago. I have only two words for you: "McLeod's Daughters". It's this stupid Australian outback show that has me completely hooked. And now I've wasted an entire afternoon that I will never get back! I'm just going to close my laptop and make dinner. I can do that, right? Right?! ARGH!!!! I'm typing, but all I hear is an Australian accent!!!!!!!!