Tag Archives: A to Z 2013

A to Z Challenge W – Z

01 Wednesday May 2013

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w

rite drunk; edit sober, according to Ernest Hemingway.

writePour a cocktail, some wine or beer, or a cup of tea if that’s your process. Write with your inhibitions relaxed, with abandon, joy, anger, and sorrow close to the top, just a sip away. Immerse yourself in the moment, like no one will ever read it but you.  Dare to take the path untaken, write the worlds unimagined, say the words you wouldn’t dare say. Be free. Be fearless.

Edit thoroughly, mercilessly, brutally. Brew a bucket of double espresso, get out the red pen and saber and slash the bits that are unworthy, darling or not. Writing is the art; editing is the business, uncovering the

xenocryst

the sparkly crystal surprise in the center of the rough bedrock. Some days, it’s just panning for gold, filtering out the silt and mud to find the true nuggets of genius. Your day or moment just might fill your treasure chest. Or just tease you enough to continue. Or it might leave you with little left to work with, or a whole new start.

Y

esterday may have been full of brilliance prose or blank pages. Regardless, you have to move on to the next chapter, paragraph or sentence. The thing that matters is what’s next. The past is only useful if it spurs you forward. Learn from your errors and move forward. No wallowing allowed. Every day is a battle. Writing isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s for the obsessed, the determined. It’s for the possessed who can’t not do it. It’s for the

Z

ealot wordsmith, storyteller, imagineer. We create because we must, no  matter the outcome.

Join us! There’s nothing like it!

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A to Z Challenge Day 19: V is for…

25 Thursday Apr 2013

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v

is for…

Voice.

 

Imagination is the voice of the daring. If there is anything Godlike about God it is that. He dared to imagine everything. –Henry Miller

The most important tool we have as a writer is our voice. One hundred people can write on the same topic but what makes the few stand out is voice. It is the one thing that is uniquely ours. You can blindly pick up a book by Hemingway, Shakespeare, Dickens, Austen, Plath, Rowling and you know who wrote it by the voice.  The combination of words and phrases, the cadence of dialogue and description, development of characters and pacing of the tale all help to determine voice.

We get to imagine our stories and worlds and dare to tell their story. We can imitate and study the style of our idols, but the words are stilted and counterfeit. When the words flow with ease, like a conversation with a friend, a story to a child, or a confession to a minister, then they become yours. You have found your voice. Now, it’s time to find someone who’ll listen.

A to Z Challenge Day 16: S is for

22 Monday Apr 2013

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s

is for…

Seduction.

Hey, I write romance.

Someone (yes, a guy) once asked me what the difference between seducing someone and romancing someone was. It made me a little sad.

For me, it’s really quite simple:

When you seduce someone, you want their body.

When you romance someone, you want their heart, their soul, their everything.

While Romance (if the feelings are mutual) will inevitably include seduction, Seduction doesn’t always lead to romance. Think Coyote Ugly.

seductionSeduction is hormones, prolonged glances raking down your body, licking lips begging to be kissed, pooling blood in tingly places, tangled sweaty bodies with no thought to what comes next. It’s a tango, a dance, a dare to surrender. Only now matters.

Romance knows the little things that mean a lot to me; what’s important to me is important to you; showing me that you care what I think and want; making me happy makes you happy. It makes me feel safe while jumping off the edge. It’s cuddling on the couch, touching me when you pass without even thinking, kissing me for no reason, with no warning. It’s breathless, sleepless, comforting, tingly. It’s reciprocal. It’s whole. It’s everything. Including seduction, but with a promise for tomorrow.

What’s the difference between seduction and romance to you?

A to Z Challenge (Cheat) Days 10 – 15

18 Thursday Apr 2013

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J

is for…

Juggling. Too much to do and too little time to do it. (Hence the massive catch up post today!)

I feel like the guy at the circus who balances the spinning plates on the tall, skinny rods. More plates are added, spinning and wobbling and whirling about. You have to give each plate repeated, constant attention, to keep them spinning. There’s always someone adding to the forest of spinning, needy responsibilities until they all come crashing down. That’s my week. It’s not atypical, but I’ve been particularly exhausted lately and just crashed and burned.

Leading me to:

k

is for…

Klutz. I come from a long line of well-meaning, good-humored (thankfully) klutzes. We are not a graceful people. I have come to accept that the harder I try to do something impressive, like cook a fancy meal, something is going to land on the floor. Or an entire chapter will go missing from one of the backups, or for no apparent reason, I’ll trip and stumble IN MY TENNIS SHOES in front of the cute guy in the store. Luckily, I’ve learned to…

L

is for…

Laugh at myself! If I got upset every time things didn’t go my way, I’d be highly medicated puddle cowering in the dark corner of my closet. I found an older backup of the WIP and found a workable version of MIA chapter (minus the many edits that I agonized over). The dogs had a particularly yummy snack. The cute guy pretended he didn’t see. (‘Would’ve been nicer if he’d offered a hand and helped me pick up the stuff I dropped, but…he obviously wasn’t my Prince Charming, or even remotely human. Seriously, who doesn’t help someone pick up their scattered dignity when it falls at their feet!)

M

is for…

Moving on! I’ve mopped and cleaned the floor (Yummy snacks didn’t agree with happy puppies. Thank goodness for mini carpet cleaners!)I’ve jumped back into WIP with little residual scaring and minimal loss time.

And who has time for romance when you’re trying to write the next Great American Novel (or controversial sensation. Hey, I’ve got bills to pay! I’ll take what I can get!) while working the Life Sucking Day Job, trying to spring clean, get back in shape, clean up the diet…

N

is for…

New Beginnings! Every day is an opportunity for a new beginning to your story. Forget the failings or disappointments of yesterday, the words that didn’t get written, the green juice you didn’t drink, the donut you ate and turn the page. It’s a do-over, if you want, or a just-forget-it-ever-happened-because-I-am-the-ultimate-queen-of-denial fresh new direction.

o

is for…

Ostentatious. I’ve always tried to live by the wise words, if you’re going to mess up, mess up big. And loud. And with sparkles and confetti and a marching band to egg you on! Then, take your licks, face up to the consequences and use it for fodder in your next book, art piece, memoir, or starring walk-on role in Joss Whedon’s next brilliant feature. No experience is wasted, even if it’s just to make sure you never, ever repeat it. But don’t shy away from things that scare you, or make you uncomfortable. Be happy! Be fabulous! Be daring!

Be Fearless

Time to take my own advice…

I may have “cheated” with this catch up post, but you know what? I didn’t give up. And that’s what matters to me.

“Never give up! Never surrender!” (from Galaxy Quest)

How are your challenges going?

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A to Z Challenge Day 8: H is for…

09 Tuesday Apr 2013

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H

is for…  HUGS!

The writing life lends itself to isolation. It’s not generally a team sport. Long hours alone with nothing but your thoughts, characters, and computer (or notebook), only to emerge depleted and exhausted can leave you feeling needy for human contact.

While social networking can make you feel less like you’re on this journey alone, there’s nothing like a good old-fashioned hug to lift your spirits and reconnect you to the real world. It’s even been said that hugs, among other things, can help you live to be 100 or more, and maybe even enjoy it!

So give a hug and get a hug! Hug your kid, a dog or cat, your significant other, your mom and dad, a friend, a stranger, your neighbor,  your barista, your bartender, someone elderly, someone who looks like they need it. Hug another living creature.

Best of all, HUG A WRITER!Couple Walking Under Umbrella

My arms are always open!

 

What do you think? Do hugs make a difference for you? Are you willing to make a difference for someone else?

A to Z Challenge Day 7: G is for…

08 Monday Apr 2013

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G is for…

Goals.  Write down your goals, for your writing and your life, and post them somewhere you can see them every day. I post them on my mirror so they’re the first thing I see when I get up, by my chair in the living room, and by my desk. I want to always have them in front of me so I know where I want to be, not where I am. Give yourself incentives or treats, be it gold stars on the calendar, special coffee in the café or a glass of wine at the end of it all. I work better with bribes or incentives.  I’ve even started paying myself, putting money in a jar based on how much I write.  Then I’ll spend it on a writerly prize: a conference next year.

Goal

 

How do you manage your goals? What are your short-term incentives?

A to Z Challenge Day 6:

08 Monday Apr 2013

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F is for…

Finish.

For me, this used to be the most difficult part of a writing project, to write through to “the end.” Right about the midpoint, a new story’s characters would start creeping out of the shadowed nooks and crannies of my mind. They would whisper at first and I could get away with writing down a phrase or page to quiet them and get back to the task at hand. Soon, they would be dancing and partying and having so much fun, that I would leave the WIP and stray, just for a while, to the new project.

And this would happen again and again until I had a drawer full of half finished, partially baked stories, withering and shriveling away. Sure, I had stories. Lots of them. But not one made it to the finish line before I got distracted by another idea, promising flowers and wine and good times until…

I found the best way for me to finish is to write fast and furiously (I’m sure you’ve heard of NaNoWriMo).  It’s too fast and chaotic to get distracted. There’s no time for tangents.  And for me, it got an entire project down on paper. Sure, it needs editing, tightening up some places and filling out others. But you can’t edit a blank page.

Finish your chapter. Finish your book. Finish your project. Just finish…

Finish

How do you get yourself to the finish line?

A to Z Challenge Day 4: D is for…

05 Friday Apr 2013

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D.  is for…

dragonmead

That’s “Drrrrragonmead.” You have to read it with the rrrrolled r’s and a Scottish-Irrrish brrrogue. This is my favorite microbrewery. It’s beers are crisp, flavorful and clean. And with it’s Final Absolution’s 8.5% alcohol content, you don’t have to drink

Ring of Fireis my all time favorite, brewed with jalapeno, serrano and habenero peppers. If you like things spicy, you’ll love this! It’s surprisingly smooth with a surprising little afterburn of spicy goodness. While it does have a lovely heat to it, it’s more of a complex spicy flavorburst. One sip and you’ll be hooked!

Unfortunately, it’s only available on tap in Warren, Michigan sporadically. But any of their other house made brews will definitely make it worth the trip. If you’re ever in the neighborhood, let me know. The first round’s on me!

What’s your favorite local flavor?

A to Z Challenge Day 3: C is for…

04 Thursday Apr 2013

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C is for…

Coffee, Chocolate, Cocktails

You know, basic writer fuel. It’s our birthright, practically an obligation, as writers to enjoy copious amounts of external stimulants and rewards.

Coffee: To wake up those brain cells and accelerate the synapses so we can create and type really, really fast.. I like it dark and bold and straight and just a little bit sweet. Like my men. Or with the works, a venti-triple-shot-caramel-coconut-peppermint-hazelnut-mocha-iced-no-foam-frappa-scalding-hot-frozen-chino. Non-fat, of course. But don’t scrimp on the whip. Every girl needs a little whip cream. And sprinkles. Did I miss anything?

Chocolate: To reward, bribe, or just keep my blood sugar up for one more chapter. But mostly because I LOVE IT. Again, the darker the better. And organic, if possible. Here are five little words of golden writerly wisdom: Dark chocolate covered espresso beans. Enough said.

Cocktails: Deep, dark red wine, the drier the better & craft beers are my every day go-tos.(Watch the next post for my favorite.) But at heart, I’m a tequila girl(I’m pretty sure I’ll go further into depth when we hit “T” day), so it’s usually a top shelf margarita on the rocks if I’m going for the hard stuff. I make a killer Raspberry Royal margarita. Or a mojito, in homage to Papa (yeah, that’s the reason), while writing on the imaginary beach in my mind…

So, what’s your favorite? Feel free add your favorite recipes or plug your favorite local brewery.

A to Z Challenge Day 2: B is for Believe

03 Wednesday Apr 2013

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Day 2: B is for…
Believe

“Believe in love. Believe in magic. Hell, believe in Santa Claus. Believe in others. Believe in yourself. Believe in your dreams. If you don’t, who will?” – Jon Bon Jovi

Writing isn’t for the faint of heart. No matter what you hope your end game will be (the next J. K. Rowling or just a joke on the bathroom wall), you have to believe in yourself. You can’t wait for validation, accolades or even encouragement from anyone else. YOU have to believe.

It took me a long time to believe that I could do this, that my dreams were just as important as anyone else’s. It’s easier to help someone else achieve their dreams than to risk failure. If you don’t try, you can’t fail, right? WRONG! Not trying, not believing, is the biggest failure. Be fearless! And if you’re going to fail (in your own opinion), then DO IT BIG! If you’re going to mess up, do it loud! Do it kicking and screaming all the way down. And at the end, still don’t stop believing.

When writing, there are good days and bad days. There are days when words flow effortlessly onto the page accompanied by unicorns and fairies, and days that you can’t buy a vowel from the miserly trolls that have imprisoned your muses. Still, you write on. You’re a writer. You’re an artist. You’re a goddess/god. You’re worth it. Believe it.

As long as YOU believe, you cannot fail. There will be trolls and cheerleaders,\; pay attention to that which serves you and ignore the rest.

“Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen.”
– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Clap your hands if you believe!

How do you keep the faith and keep believing? Let me know! I’d love to hear! I’ll be your cheerleader or slayer of trolls.