You CON duit!

Have you ever played the game Jenga? It's a game where you remove blocks one at a time, and the tower stands precariously, wobbling and threatening to fall with every move. Such was the cleavage of the pirate wench who took my registration for CONduit on Saturday. At one point she leaned over, bending to reach the paper on the table. "No!" I shouted with too much enthusiasm. "I've got it."

For some people, CONduit is a conference to imagine being a Jedi, flying aboard the Starship Enterprise, or dressing up like a space pirate. For the rest of us "non-believers," it's another conference to network and learn the craft of writing. I got to hang with the King of Awesome, Graham, so despite all the weirdness, I had a great time.

I didn't stay too long (really, how many pirate wenches can one woman take?) but I did glean a few tidbits that I thought I'd share.

On a panel, hosted by James Dashner and Jessica Day George, they talked about how young adult fiction has become a lot edgier, to the point of nearly anything goes. Then some creepy guy in the audience talked about his book where a 13 year old girl is intimate with a 40 year old man. They both told him that doesn't fit into the anything goes realm.

Graham and I had lunch with Dashner (along with a group of very lovely people) and after lunch we enjoyed a great story told by Jessica. Fabulous story. In fact, if you ever see her, make sure you ask about "Dom Con."

My favorite part of the conference was the Writing Excuses podcasts that I got to sit in on. I particularly enjoyed the episode titled, "Mating Plumage" inspired by Dan Wells. It was about book covers, titles and first lines, and what grabs a readers interest. Very good stuff.

While I can't necessarily recommend the conference for everyone, if you have a high capacity for weird, than it's worth your time!

Shhhhhhh?

Something I think is considered universally annoying is when you go to a movie theater and someone sitting near you does a running commentary throughout the movie.

However, it occurred to me as I was watching a movie rental recently and as I was watching some TV shows this week that I am guilty of routinely doing that at home. Not content to sit and merely view the entertainment before me, I speak out, sometimes even scream out - chastising characters, complimenting performances, or booing results.

As stated in previous blogs, I do not watch many hour dramas on TV (I can't talk about the Lost finale yet. I'm still recovering, in more ways than one.). So, most of the time my commentary is directed at "reality" fare such as Survivor or American Idol, a format that is much easier to interrupt and still follow what is going on. My TV watching partner, the hubby, doesn't seem to mind my outbursts and adds his own more occasionally.

In fact, I see our mutual commentary as a bonding ritual and an enhancement to our entertainment, if you will. That's a good thing, right? A couple of examples from this week's American Idol finale:

Hubby: I never liked Hall and Oates and I reallllly don't like them 30 years later.

Me: This is painfully embarassing (covering eyes). Make her stop. Make her stop! (During Paula Abdul's monologue)

Rest assured, I have never exhibited this behavior in a public venue. However, I understand why I instantly liked Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Famous Failure

This week our town begins 12 days of craziness known as the Pony Express Days. This city celebration is all out fun from the Rodeo to the country music Concert 12 days later. There are contests and tributes and tournaments and carnivals and even helicopter rides. All to commemorate one of the most famous financial failures in US History...The Pony Express Trail.

Historically and innovatively the trail represents a dynamic change in the perception of America. Suddenly when mail could be sent across the country in a matter of days rather than weeks or months it didn't seem so vast. The wild West became connected to the sophisticated East and then the telegraph and railroad made travel and messaging so much easier. BUT financially the Pony Express Trail never prospered. Mail only traveled on the trail from April 1860 to November 1861, a mere 18 months. Not a lot of longevity for a business.

My point is that sometimes what is a failure in one aspect is a triumph in other ways. Something every writer can learn from and appreciate since we all know that our manuscripts and stories will be flawed. That doesn't mean that they won't be remembered for 150 years or more.

Hooray for Mac N Cheese

I was sitting down to a bowl of Mac n Cheese with my daughter and her friend.  They started telling me their game they were playing before lunch and ta-da!  a story idea comes right out of the conversation!! 

Kids are a great place to get ideas.  Their rules for how the universe works are awesome. (In part of the conversation, where I was asking for clarification, she said, "yeah, its only fair".)

I can't write more here--I need to get this idea saved on my computer.

Happy writing and idea hunting!!!

Quick!

Why do girls wear perfume and makeup?

Because they stink and they're ugly!

Hahahahehehehe!

Your turn. :)

Thai With The Tayler's

Saturday night, our writers group had the opportunity to eat dinner with Howard Tayler and his lovely wife, Sandra. If you don't know who these people are, you should. So click on their names. DO IT NOW!

Anyway, back to Saturday night...the food was excellent, and while my pallet could sing praises (I now dream in Tom Ka Gai), the company was even better.

Howard gave us some wonderful pearls of wisdom. The first was, "I like to eat babies."

I'm pretty certain you had to be there to get that one.

Then he said, "Do you know the difference between an onion and a clarinet? No one cries when you chop a clarinet."

I know, I know. I had to resist the urge to "boo" myself :)

But the advice he gave that I really want to focus on is this: "It's hard to get worse at something you do every day."

As soon as he said this, it was like a little lightbulb pinged above my head. I often fall prey to discouragement and even doubt when it comes to my writing, but Howard's words helped me realize I can accomplish what I want. All I need to do is put in a little time every day. It's a great formula. Pick a hobby/talent/dream and put in the time. You will see results.

Now I sound like an infomercial. But product placement aside, Howard's words were exactly what I needed to hear. Well, not the clarinet bit.

At the end of the day, there is always a little luck involved. But when luck comes knocking, if you haven't done the work, then your dream will pass by. Oh, Mighty Luck Guru, I'll be ready.

Thanks again to Howard and Sandra for the experience!

Unfinished Manuscript

I haven't forgotten you,
staring at me,
untouched for weeks now.

My work-addled brain,
too tired to take you on,
tries to keep the story alive.

46,000 words of promise,
characters trapped in the same scene,
the cursor challenges me to move on.

Soon my normal schedule returns,
a reunion with my old friends,
Will I remember them?