Sneak Peakin

I am all atingle with anticipation for the first sneak peak of the Hunger Games movie this Sunday during the MTV Video Music Awards.

Here is the teaser they are running for it. It doesn't give away much:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/hunger-games-mtv-teases-teaser-227751

EEEEEEEEE

Writerly Etiquette

I love making up new words.  Sorry if it bugs you.

I was going to protest again this week, but I read this and totally needed to share.

http://breebiesingerdespain.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-post-i-almost-didnt-publish.html

I've met authors like this and it turns me off of them.  Off their books, their classes, etc.  Since we try to take authors out for dinner, it even turns me away from a dinner date (with 6 other people).

What are your thoughts?

Humor Me

I like to laugh. It is one of my favorite things.

I also understand life can't be all laughs. Reality sometimes sucks, frankly. But to me, the best stories strike a balance. Even the most dramatic tale, if it desires to be true to life, must have some lighter moments, right? There are arguments for and against this.

One story that comes to mind on the against side is The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I wasn't able to read to the end. It was too emotional for me. But I read the summary to know how the story ended and can imagine there really weren't any light moments in that tale, yet it was excellently written, powerful. So, there are exceptions.

On the for side is The Glass Castle, a memoir by Jeannette Walls that I thought was beautifully written. Ms. Walls grew up with quite eccentric parents in some of the most dysfunctional circumstances one could imagine, and yet there are humorous moments where it shows that she appreciates the absurdity of her situation and is able to treasure some good times in the midst of the overall insanity.

How does humor come into play in your stories. Do you prefer your drama straight or mixed?

Legitimate Forgetfulness

I know I've protested in the past my day to blog.  But yesterday I actually forgot.  I wasn't home except for dinner and sleep yesterday. We took our kiddos for a last hurrah at a local water park.  It was great and fun and my last chance at a tan. 

I am so ready for my kiddos to head to school.  We need the schedule and routine enforced by the eight hours of school.

Hope your Wednesday wasn't destroyed by my lack of writing. :) hee hee

Query-ing

I know I've been sharing a lot from others lately, but I find the querying process very interesting and really liked this Successful Queries feature from Writer's Digest.

I hope it's helpful!

Olympic Dreaming

What do writers and Olympic gymnasts have in common? The impossible dream? The hours of dedication and sacrifice? Or maybe just the twisting and bending. Gymnasts bend, flip, and twist their bodies, while writers bend, flip and twist their minds.
Recently, while slowed down by illness I got sucked into a TV Series about elite gymnasts preparing for the Olympics in 2012. The fictional account of the struggles of 4 teenage girls to reach the goal of being on the medal stand at the Olympics struck a cord in my mind that was buried deep. I dreamt about the Olympics and couldn't get the stories out of my mind. And then during one episode where all looked lost for one of the girls her mother said something that put it all into perspective. While talking about the sacrifices everyone had made to support the gymnast in her dream, Mom said (something to the effect of), "You can't ask if its all worth it, because you're here and for better or worse you have to go for it. It's who you are."

Writing a novel, editing, honing, selling, and publishing can feel like an Olymic dream sometimes. Few succeed, but the pay off in the end is worth it and the journey is worth it.
Gymnastics is an individual sport in the end, but almost anyone who has walked the beam will tell you that it takes a team to win. Writing is also an individual art that requires a team of spotters, supporters, believers and dreamers to win.
No one could ask for a better or more inspiring team of all-stars than the Inkers. We dream big, and train hard and work late and never, ever give up.

So what's your dream? Are we dreaming big enough for the talent we have? Are your dreams Olympic size? If we're going to put in the blood, sweat, and tears, we might as well reach for the Gold.

Survey: National Parks

What is your favorite National Park?  Why?

Mine changes.  In the spring its Arches.  We go every April and my kids love it there.  I dream of taking pics there on a full moon.

In summer its Olympic National Park.  Rain forests, rugged beaches, lofty peaks.  Its so diverse.

At other times I long to be on the National Mall soaking up all the history.  Or wondering around the magic Redwoods.  In the throws of winter I long to be at the Grand Canyon, enjoying the sun.

So, where do you love?  Do you have favorite childhood memories from trips to the National Parks?

How to Be a Writer

I thought this was so beautifully said, I had to share:

How to Be a Writer

Duct Tape and other Alien technology!

My dear son came to me the other day and said, "Mom, did you know that you can lift 5,000 pounds with 100 strands of Duct tape?"
I wasn't even surprised. Because Duct tape can fix, make, and stick anything, it is my theory that it is an Alien technology brought to Earth with the ships that crashed outside Roswell, NM in the 50's.



Other Alien Technologies include:
Velcro
Tang
Kevlar
and powdered non-dairy creamer (which by the way is incredibly flammable and makes an awesome explosion.)

What alien technology do you use in your everyday life?

I'm Protesting

This is not an actual post.

I am protesting.  My fellow Inkers are not posting.

And therefore, neither am I.

(But happy Hump day to all you who actually read our blog)