tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59105338185945332432024-03-13T00:23:30.859-04:00Forever Endeavor"I like persons better than principles, and I like persons with no principles better than anything else in the world." -- Oscar WildeTracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03726858055689145824noreply@blogger.comBlogger176125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910533818594533243.post-70711135692464930012012-02-15T08:00:00.011-05:002012-02-15T08:00:09.881-05:00Cliffhangers - Yay or Nay? <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUc5eXlx_0_oCecEqSzAZ_Ujh7Z4awh8ylpdEJ7KmhdBJYWk3UwKSxeWdj96d0xA0WNhW0bd8-o6mrs-EM30Y_5QRxLf-tCqKqM5nasyLyI5g99DJhhurECt48wPhlTJqsD90UYk89_Pc/s1600/cliffhanger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUc5eXlx_0_oCecEqSzAZ_Ujh7Z4awh8ylpdEJ7KmhdBJYWk3UwKSxeWdj96d0xA0WNhW0bd8-o6mrs-EM30Y_5QRxLf-tCqKqM5nasyLyI5g99DJhhurECt48wPhlTJqsD90UYk89_Pc/s400/cliffhanger.jpg" width="266" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jeffreyboggess.com/cliff-hanger/">source</a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black;"><strong>(Note: these are my thoughts based on my opinion as a READER)</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><strong><em>Cliffhangers</em></strong>, by definition, are when a story comes to an end where the main character(<em>s</em>) are, more often than not, figuratively hanging over the edge of a cliff. They (<em>and WE</em>) are left in a stressful situation where <u>something</u> is about to go down.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">I think with all the competition out there to snag readers' attention and bring them back for more, some writers are turning to the <strong><em>Cliffhanger</em></strong> ending for help . . . and I think that could be a huge mistake.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">What works in television doesn't always work in written fiction. TV is relatively mindless, whereas reading requires a certain level of imagination and time commitment. And, i</span><span style="color: black;">n general, readers need <strong>SOME</strong> closure at the end of a book as a payoff for that committment.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Now, I think the vast majority of readers are comfortable with what I call the <em><strong>Unfinished Business</strong></em> ending. Where you get to the end and realize that while some big questions/issues the MC faced have been answered/resolved, the result has brought forth more questions that need to be dealt with. BUT, in the <em><strong>Unfinished Business</strong></em> ending, most (<em>if not all</em>) of the initial story arc has been dealt with or resolved...and while the characters still have more business they need to take care of, they (<em>and more importantly the reader</em>) are at a <u>comfortable stopping point</u>.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">To use an example most have read: <strong>The Hunger Games</strong> -- When the book comes to an end, Katniss has survived the Hunger Games and gets to go home a victor. But, to those who've read the book you know there are a ton of things still left unresolved. Her relationship with Peeta being a big one...and what, if any, effects will her "breaking of the rules" bring down on them all. But, for the time being, everyone is safe and on their way home to deal with the aftermath in their own private way.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">The <strong><em>Unfinished Business</em></strong> ending gives readers something to think on. Gives them something to ponder while they wait for the next book to come out. And if you've given them characters they can fall in love with, they're going to want to come back for them alone.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">But if you end the book on an actual <strong><em>Cliffhanger</em></strong> (<em>I won't name any specific examples, but feel free to in the comments, if you'd life</em>), where you leave the characters in some sort of imminent danger and/or throw a brand new danger that you don't plan to explain until the next book...you run the serious risk of making your readers feel like they're being jerked around, and having them avoid the very thing you want them to come back for. The sequel.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><strong>What do you all think: Do the obvious cliffhangers bother you? Do you actually like them? If you hear that a book has a cliffhanger ending are you less likely to buy it until you know the sequel is about to be released? Tracy wants to know these things.</strong></span>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03726858055689145824noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910533818594533243.post-65503056765268227922012-02-01T08:00:00.064-05:002012-02-01T08:00:00.123-05:00Would You Rather Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: black;">It's been forever and a day since the last "Would You Rather" question. I've missed treating you guys like my characters and putting you in uncomfortable situations and watching you squirm. ;o)</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Now that I'm <em>only </em>posting on Wednesdays, I can't go back to doing one question a week...but I promise to work in at least one a month. So without further ado, on to February's question:</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #674ea7;">Our world has suddenly turned into an unfortunate dystopian society where our "Capitol" has decided the best way to keep us at bay is to eliminate one of our two major senses. As a <em>favor</em> for our cooperation each citizen gets to choose which sense they have stripped from them. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #674ea7;">Note: if you try to revolt, they'll take both from you and every member of your family. (<span style="color: #666666;">It's dystopian, dudes, it's totally meant to suck</span>)</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">So, Would You Rather?? </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">A) Surrender Your Vision</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">or</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">B) Surrender Your Hearing</span></strong>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03726858055689145824noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910533818594533243.post-89285300931456235742012-01-25T08:00:00.005-05:002012-01-25T08:06:51.768-05:00The 5 Stages of Querying<span style="color: black;">Let me just be clear about something here, querying is an addiction. Much like grief (<em>they go hand-in-hand more often than not</em>) there is a process un-agented writers must pass through in order to come out on the other side of querying, stronger than when they went in. Understanding the stages may help to soften the transition, so here goes:</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: black;">Stage 1: Excitement</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: black;">Oh, I can't wait! My manuscript is so freaking unique and my characters are the most lovable, quirky fictional people in the history of fictional people! Every last agent is going to love it! The hardest part will be figuring out which agency to sign with!</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: black;">Stage 2: OCD/Paranoia</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: black;">Okay. Queries have been sent, it should only be a matter of time until the requests come rolling in. In fact, there could be one coming in <em>now</em>. I should probably refresh my inbox/iPhone at least one more time before I sign off. Seriously?!? Why haven't they responded yet? What if it got lost in spam? *refresh* How will I know that they didn't get it and they're not just ignoring me? *refresh*</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: black;">Stage 3: Crushing Despair</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: black;">I can't believe my query/manuscript was rejected! What was I thinking? Of course it sucks...<em>I</em> suck. All this time I've been fooling myself into thinking I could do this. Clearly I don't have what it takes. I was an idiot for wasting so much time trying to chase a pipe dream. My dog has more talent as a writer than I do.</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: black;">Stage 4: Anger/Vengeance</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: black;">You know what? NO! <em>You</em>, Agent X, obviously do <em>not</em> have your finger on the pulse of publishing in 2012. You're going to regret passing on me some day. And when I'm a NYT bestseller don't even think about asking me to blurb one of your author's new books. Okay? Okay. In fact, you're officially unfollowed on Twitter <u>and </u>dis-liked on Facebook. So there!</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: black;">Stage 5: Acceptance/Determination</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: black;">Okay, so what if my manuscript wasn't the right fit for Agent X. It happens. I mean, it's not like I like every book that makes its way to the shelves. But, I've worked too hard to give in so easily. There are still approximately 9,000 more agents I could query. If I'm going down it's gonna be in a blaze of glory!</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /><br /><span style="color: black;">So there you have it, folks. The 5 Stages of Querying. The trick is to recognize which stage you're currently dealing with, look ahead to what's coming next, and always, always remember ... this too shall pass.</span><br /><br />Care to share what stage you're in?</span>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03726858055689145824noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910533818594533243.post-36201266956296276762012-01-18T08:00:00.003-05:002012-01-18T08:00:05.510-05:00Ode to Chace CrawfordSo, I'm boy crazy. To those who know me this is no big secret. But there are a couple men I swear were born for the sole purpose of making my eyes happy. One of those aforementioned men is Chace Crawford!<br />
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Henry Cavill is the other, but that's another post for another time).</span></em></div>
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For all the hours of pretty he has given me-- newly converted Gossip Girl fan, here-- I wanted to give a little something back. Hence....<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Tracy's Ode to Chace Crawford</span></strong></div>
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<strong>My darling Chace, oh how I love you</strong></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jO2zYQNlNO1xLYQe9tqI9njYM6ptn3Gw99B3a7v9RXXIIojeILIGfdciIVq44ZLva2GkPzk9yt_ZoPvQq8vVFQWXtFXgbkYLaEdDRRZycVhAQdXO_WwY_227XPmtg63FrvNP2tq2dOE/s1600/Pretty+face+Chace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jO2zYQNlNO1xLYQe9tqI9njYM6ptn3Gw99B3a7v9RXXIIojeILIGfdciIVq44ZLva2GkPzk9yt_ZoPvQq8vVFQWXtFXgbkYLaEdDRRZycVhAQdXO_WwY_227XPmtg63FrvNP2tq2dOE/s320/Pretty+face+Chace.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.people.com/people/chace_crawford">Source</a></td></tr>
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<strong>I love you when you're scruffy</strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsRNGDavf7kgJ6miTcEYcmBye0WEf7Auhmu5EcbeRM2nMgwU9l4aDRN1hfShgCQgO-TdUhA44_mm3yy5owneJm7G8SskytAUq9rlf-5eDK4oQKrfm7vgTMo6MaGGUTcC4NuTSiOJqyndM/s1600/Scruffy+Chace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsRNGDavf7kgJ6miTcEYcmBye0WEf7Auhmu5EcbeRM2nMgwU9l4aDRN1hfShgCQgO-TdUhA44_mm3yy5owneJm7G8SskytAUq9rlf-5eDK4oQKrfm7vgTMo6MaGGUTcC4NuTSiOJqyndM/s320/Scruffy+Chace.jpg" width="190" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://gossip.whyfame.com/chace-crawford-arrested-for-drug-possession-5192">source</a><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: small;">and when you're all GQ</span></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNXK1numM3alvA_lvsMXouwxFoAqxfigUoPWDbKTE-bCIGydGhnVZfzP3w06gwM7SeI-NVecdEzNIRCfxJXtLLTIUIlVTJpAJRwuJk2OcVYxNNVwdFXSJx7I5oqbKr3-NNPkRaQCYOXc/s1600/Chace+GQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNXK1numM3alvA_lvsMXouwxFoAqxfigUoPWDbKTE-bCIGydGhnVZfzP3w06gwM7SeI-NVecdEzNIRCfxJXtLLTIUIlVTJpAJRwuJk2OcVYxNNVwdFXSJx7I5oqbKr3-NNPkRaQCYOXc/s320/Chace+GQ.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.answers.com/topic/chace-crawford-large-image">source</a></td></tr>
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<strong>I love you when you're smiling</strong></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEira64NadYEPaLO72PjP7ihKUedBSgFVmpDNBh6gy2BfR3N76Wfvw-XHyjnyBbjTD_leiwNaI7A-IWoJqqzRNcbwizlnSJl-9mz76bOJeZAHBzRRay4oSIhRnPBIJQ23zameQnqkzsBLbc/s1600/Chace+Smile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEira64NadYEPaLO72PjP7ihKUedBSgFVmpDNBh6gy2BfR3N76Wfvw-XHyjnyBbjTD_leiwNaI7A-IWoJqqzRNcbwizlnSJl-9mz76bOJeZAHBzRRay4oSIhRnPBIJQ23zameQnqkzsBLbc/s1600/Chace+Smile.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://celebrityscoops.net/gossip/hollywood-stars/chace-crawford/">source</a><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: small;">and when you're sultry too</span></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSQTI51JUQ0hMdRyQ2DisvCekc8M4yQTneaMTocVwgoTORB9Pr6XrlwDGvVwSfnHHQ-6SoJMASIC7CjBolv9WGn5_rIDCk8MladRPOuDpyNJBkIR5UGH8FqJkHhL54KPLRjZOjIJSdsc/s1600/Chace+Sultry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSQTI51JUQ0hMdRyQ2DisvCekc8M4yQTneaMTocVwgoTORB9Pr6XrlwDGvVwSfnHHQ-6SoJMASIC7CjBolv9WGn5_rIDCk8MladRPOuDpyNJBkIR5UGH8FqJkHhL54KPLRjZOjIJSdsc/s320/Chace+Sultry.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fanpop.com/spots/chace-crawford/images/1975397/title/chace-photoshoot-photo">source</a><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: small;">I love you when you're sporty, baseball cap and all</span></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7QFXiTieANdyz5tyMwmi6jGL525iC6ZhwEUrgTW62hm_eFgDlla8XYtagJ1s84JbV6BLMN6ZA0kJkhvrDdinXzWLjP5bvj4AixrIgxG3aDBOzLikY9VOZaobKjN3R0bc14uyA1kx5X0/s1600/Chace+Sporty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7QFXiTieANdyz5tyMwmi6jGL525iC6ZhwEUrgTW62hm_eFgDlla8XYtagJ1s84JbV6BLMN6ZA0kJkhvrDdinXzWLjP5bvj4AixrIgxG3aDBOzLikY9VOZaobKjN3R0bc14uyA1kx5X0/s1600/Chace+Sporty.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://justjared.buzznet.com/2009/01/31/chace-crawford-flag-football/">source</a></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: black;">But if my preppy boy should stumble, I will catch you when you fall</span></strong></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEo32Vj6-zbYxjCxYNNpDklO_mjWaIynOxWDd3-uGcnX8EmoJKKHc5vMe30ohcnXhI4OOhegZ9CGjqtD14fKHu05qNHfp1OrWnuSs1QfLNiFQDJS7CJN727-l8mHQTQwoswnp0Likt5U/s1600/Chace+preppy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEo32Vj6-zbYxjCxYNNpDklO_mjWaIynOxWDd3-uGcnX8EmoJKKHc5vMe30ohcnXhI4OOhegZ9CGjqtD14fKHu05qNHfp1OrWnuSs1QfLNiFQDJS7CJN727-l8mHQTQwoswnp0Likt5U/s320/Chace+preppy.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/gallery/chace-crawford-gap-ad/">source</a><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: small;">I love you when you're shirtless</span></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqzNX5Un92TTaClvwjRy54hF37UOdn5djkZM6PfB5CK66UIGvF-X4jR1_l_pYW2OxH2Yfz4Hl_b17Medj2rNdD7nTBBg6n3RHqlnGKFSrds41-ZayKoyJ4ewpicsnOU6Ng9k8bHK6GeQ/s1600/Chace+shirtless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqzNX5Un92TTaClvwjRy54hF37UOdn5djkZM6PfB5CK66UIGvF-X4jR1_l_pYW2OxH2Yfz4Hl_b17Medj2rNdD7nTBBg6n3RHqlnGKFSrds41-ZayKoyJ4ewpicsnOU6Ng9k8bHK6GeQ/s320/Chace+shirtless.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.howmuchdotheyweigh.com/chace-crawford-weight/">Source</a><br />
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<strong>or in a suit of gray or blue</strong></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZULEX_-CpxGtrpx_uFu8D_cQ4XFTs0gV_fEmDYsB9bP1pYJXlLgHP7CyUqp9mSqln-a246uE8ghpfv-wOD6Ki59swiMP6XoKe1AYO_CuSYUHncY_I5zuJKM6ibDi6hMyDpYO1hkg9Qg/s1600/Chace+suit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZULEX_-CpxGtrpx_uFu8D_cQ4XFTs0gV_fEmDYsB9bP1pYJXlLgHP7CyUqp9mSqln-a246uE8ghpfv-wOD6Ki59swiMP6XoKe1AYO_CuSYUHncY_I5zuJKM6ibDi6hMyDpYO1hkg9Qg/s1600/Chace+suit.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">source<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Chace, you're the only one for me</span></strong><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJLpGxq0bgFQpd5U2KYYtNrbKvIPvfh1UzJRQjQAGn_Y28m9kPh2njLdd-mi8sAAuAOvsHn7LHYFZiE1w54yAjjQwxqoRhkpIO4d90GjOo0AerHS2C7RU6tZEZJ2fw_-4lEOIUBEa7-Q/s1600/chace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJLpGxq0bgFQpd5U2KYYtNrbKvIPvfh1UzJRQjQAGn_Y28m9kPh2njLdd-mi8sAAuAOvsHn7LHYFZiE1w54yAjjQwxqoRhkpIO4d90GjOo0AerHS2C7RU6tZEZJ2fw_-4lEOIUBEa7-Q/s320/chace.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tricia07ann.wordpress.com/tag/chace-crawford/">source</a></td></tr>
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<strong>But your friends are pretty hot too!</strong></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSzi-Bj5OnV-MinvexPWSYB2Fr_k0Sa2YiYuoEc-Z0wVz0DBOa3LAutnlmZTmVd4b1wggPHV1qR6lsHgSwhyxdTR1H2zsV5q5rSreQvFbhVY6TIodEQfAAamqpeFWPFSbgHr4N5k2qgM/s1600/Chace+friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSzi-Bj5OnV-MinvexPWSYB2Fr_k0Sa2YiYuoEc-Z0wVz0DBOa3LAutnlmZTmVd4b1wggPHV1qR6lsHgSwhyxdTR1H2zsV5q5rSreQvFbhVY6TIodEQfAAamqpeFWPFSbgHr4N5k2qgM/s1600/Chace+friends.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.eonline.com/celebs/Chace_Crawford/121362">source</a><br />
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To the guys who read this far, thanks for indulging in some girl humor.</div>
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And to the ladies...who's your "pretty pretty"?</div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03726858055689145824noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910533818594533243.post-8540519016343326262012-01-11T08:00:00.258-05:002012-01-11T08:00:06.985-05:00Negative Review Drama -- Oh Noes!! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6uz3KS16IKe4nXnQNcdqHXAVYBoIpWUmcTVUB_lZvSqsJ3p_U9wf5PASNEQIrDwfdZpPZGasTp_pi3h7CC4n0lWyZ4NaoTGQKcszfBLICiTvsSzMWMohcPZF8lTGSMCZVPr3fgh00PY/s1600/peeking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="146" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6uz3KS16IKe4nXnQNcdqHXAVYBoIpWUmcTVUB_lZvSqsJ3p_U9wf5PASNEQIrDwfdZpPZGasTp_pi3h7CC4n0lWyZ4NaoTGQKcszfBLICiTvsSzMWMohcPZF8lTGSMCZVPr3fgh00PY/s200/peeking.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.examiner.com/frugal-living-in-portland-me/blue-eye-peeking-through-fingers-close-up-high-quality-image-free-stock-photo">credit</a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;">I'm not gonna lie, much as I cringe every time a situation pops up with an author & reviewer having an unpleasant meeting of the minds for all the internet world to see, I <em>can't</em> look away. L</span><span style="color: black;">ike passing an accident on the side of highway, I want to believe I'm better than slowing to gawk at the carnage as it unfolds . . . but even as I drive by, I can't stop myself from glancing at the wreckage out of the corner of my eye (and maybe snapping a picture with my iPhone).</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Quite truthfully, I don't plan on reading reviews of my future books unless someone, be it agent, publisher, friend, family or fan happen to point something out to me (and they best only be pointing out the good stuff) in order to try to avoid stumbling into this trap, myself. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">As a fellow writer, I can completely understand how a scathing review can cut, and cut deep. It's hard enough to hear someone didn't like what you wrote, but if the review has a potential ranting or snide feel to it (as unfortunately some are wont to do), it's hard to fight the human nature to stick up for something you love. </span><br />
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<em><span style="color: black;">"Oh really, Mofo, you wants to take it there?"</span></em></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3Y2ZXCEk47osY1yXfLTtQvd4wcGJCT1MPL1ji8yPdz_K0mFL-QDEFbxA5rW8tik-7alDLWRi5YPUX1Iiai1fKxwAC2U-_1TvbXbDH-VaIWVufelbMB4dYhqiNTLXR57QK_BtNbRLZEg/s1600/Drama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3Y2ZXCEk47osY1yXfLTtQvd4wcGJCT1MPL1ji8yPdz_K0mFL-QDEFbxA5rW8tik-7alDLWRi5YPUX1Iiai1fKxwAC2U-_1TvbXbDH-VaIWVufelbMB4dYhqiNTLXR57QK_BtNbRLZEg/s400/Drama.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/recent/marmoldehoy/Drama_Wallpaper_by_mongolShawn.jpg"><span style="color: black;">source</span></a></td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="color: black;">But if I should find myself or one of my writerly friends facing down a review that scalds, I'm going to do my best to dissuade the temptation to respond in <u>any</u> way by pointing out... <strong>a majority of</strong> <strong>people read reviews to confirm what they <em>already</em> suspect</strong>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">Most of the time, people know what books they're dying to read and which ones they have zero interest in. </span><span style="color: black;">Personally, the only time I go checking out reviews is if I've never heard of the book before (which means I wasn't bound to pick it up in the first place) or, more likely, I'm on the fence about it. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">When I stop to read a book review, odds are good, I'm either pretty sure I want to read it, but don't know anyone who has & want to make sure it's not a total bomb with a great jacket or . . . </span><span style="color: black;">I'm pretty sure I <em>don't</em> want to read it, but there's something about the blurb that keeps me hanging in, and I need justification that I'm not being a stupid idiot & missing out on something great.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><em><strong><span style="color: blue;">Justification</span></strong></em>.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">It's my belief <em>that</em>, more than anything, is where reviews come in. They offer an unbiased (even if not always objective and balanced) opinion for those people who are on the fence and looking to have their own suspicions verified. <strong>Meaning: one bad review from a reviewer is <u>NOT</u> going to make or break your book in the court of public opinion</strong>. And it's not worth the hassle and drama -- for us or the reviewers -- to defend ourselves against their right to an opinion.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Now, I ask you all to bookmark this post for me, so I can be reminded of my current level-headedness should the above situation happen to Yours Truly. :D And, offer up any other suggestions on how we all can avoid the car wreck of inevitable bad reviews.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03726858055689145824noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910533818594533243.post-37427176977803363842012-01-06T08:00:00.078-05:002012-01-06T08:00:09.847-05:00What The Hell Am I Doing Here?Okay, so, that's a loaded question that can be taken several different ways.<br />
<br />
But for the sake of keeping it real in 2012, I'm going to admit it's a question I asked myself more than once over the past few months. Now, I can say that I was super busy (which I was) and that's why I went AWOL for a few months, but that's only part of the story.<br />
<br />
Truthfully, I was kinda burnt out.<br />
<br />
Back in the day, I started a blog because that's what you're <em>supposed</em> to do when you're a would-be author, right? And for a while it was a ton of fun! <br />
<br />
But then I realized all I was doing was talking about <u><span style="color: red;">writing</span></u>. Now, <span style="color: #444444;">I love writing</span>. Duh! Why else would I still be hanging around, trying to carve a place out for myself in the slippery slope of authordom? (Not to be confused with <span style="color: #444444;">author<em>dumb</em></span>, which is another ailment I often suffer from). That being said...<br />
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There's only so much I can say about the craft of writing from my current perspective, and very little of it is stuff the majority of you haven't already discovered for yourselves. Honestly, after a while, I started feeling like Bubba from Forrest Gump, just rambling off all the different ways to fix shrimp, until.... <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PG0NSBEsTZQ/TwZHgkWI_6I/AAAAAAAAAbI/8I6QdGCEJpI/s1600/Forrest+and+Bubba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="169" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PG0NSBEsTZQ/TwZHgkWI_6I/AAAAAAAAAbI/8I6QdGCEJpI/s320/Forrest+and+Bubba.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"<em>Well, I guess that's about it</em>."</td></tr>
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<br />
Since I couldn't think of anything <em>useful</em> or <em>helpful</em> or <em>new</em> to post about every other day, I just sort of stopped posting entirely. And I was okay with that...except, I honestly missed you guys! *group hug*<br />
<br />
So, I decided to come back to Blog Land, say screw it to all the "rules" about <em>when</em> I should post and <em>what</em> I should talk about. I'm not going to worry about "building a brand". I'm just going to do what you should do with a blog...have fun with it! I mean, in the end isn't that what we really go around reading these things for anyway ...the personalities behind the blogger?<br />
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Oh, this doesn't mean I'm foresaking writing talk (as if I could), just that I'll be sprinkling in more of the rest of me throughout my entries. Meaning...me thinks more pictures of pretty looking men & discussions about my fave TV shows will find their way into my blog posts. :D<br />
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So...what all did I miss while I was gone?Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03726858055689145824noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910533818594533243.post-67958061310380225732011-12-20T07:00:00.050-05:002011-12-20T07:00:13.440-05:00Happy Holidays, Y'all!Hi, you guys! <br />
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Yes, it's me. Like, for real this time. <br />
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I know it's been way too long since I've posted anything, and I don't really have a good excuse. I mean, I've been swamped (buying my first house among other things), but everyone gets busy. Really, I think I just needed the break. Seriously didn't intend it to go on for 5 months, but it's amazing how fast time flies when you're not paying attention, right?<br />
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The one major drawback to taking such a long sabbatical is . . . I really missed you guys! I promise, I'm going to be back and in the fray again in 2012. In the meantime, I wanted to swing by and wish everyone a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEx0KNEkaofXDLYFLMoygrzQH4zPaSP1M_O1fnfPlU0BlYygu7iSkbIy8k4iQ6JG4jV4P1i1awRHo-EXoyIVTJioWvKPLCaHxrr5rybU_kYHWgtUG63Mi-k49ZpHyUL7cd5tXbg2Natow/s1600/mickey-mouse-christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEx0KNEkaofXDLYFLMoygrzQH4zPaSP1M_O1fnfPlU0BlYygu7iSkbIy8k4iQ6JG4jV4P1i1awRHo-EXoyIVTJioWvKPLCaHxrr5rybU_kYHWgtUG63Mi-k49ZpHyUL7cd5tXbg2Natow/s320/mickey-mouse-christmas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Before I dash away, I wanted to leave you guys with one of my favorite Christmas songs, that actually isn't even about Christmas.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Rd1Pyu9_rxo" width="420"></iframe>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03726858055689145824noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910533818594533243.post-79121858249170822252011-07-20T07:00:00.001-04:002011-07-20T07:00:00.512-04:00Near Misses are HOT!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">Let's face it, we all enjoy reading about a good snogging every now and again...maybe even like it when things get steamier. That's what romance in any good story is about right? The hugs, touches, kisses, intimacy.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">But, in fiction, none of that is as much fun if the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><em><strong>"near misses"</strong></em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">aren't there. You know, those scenes where the hero and heroine are just about to break and give in to the attraction one--if not both of them--has been trying to deny.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xKTV14yObI_ZKXeSCoPPxJ8brn-QVtTa261B7Mo5PR5fcDMsJXm-Wa197Iytdes6J4jTYYtgOZcXA8Nwn-wUSKDzFf-Xo88NpYn3Xs71g__IVJ2VdFu4jye6R6iuISZqvno-dhv0ptpR/s1600/jacob+kiss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #905376; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xKTV14yObI_ZKXeSCoPPxJ8brn-QVtTa261B7Mo5PR5fcDMsJXm-Wa197Iytdes6J4jTYYtgOZcXA8Nwn-wUSKDzFf-Xo88NpYn3Xs71g__IVJ2VdFu4jye6R6iuISZqvno-dhv0ptpR/s400/jacob+kiss.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 3px; border-right-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 3px; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" t8="true" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">In that moment,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><em><strong>they</strong></em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">want it to happen.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><strong><em>We</em></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">want it to happen.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><strong><em>Everyone </em></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">wants it to happen.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">But...it doesn't happen.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">Something stops them before they're able to be fully swept away. Whether it's a pair of teenagers interrupted mid-makeout by a parent, or an adult couple sidetracked by some other force of life, they aren't allowed to cross the finish line.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 3px; border-right-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 3px; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanwJkiVBihESYbs8sWUS-GWudINvP0G_avQxwTulPKlKq-4lLa7UV-bIaj6o3bnziS__apzS-lbw0AIpMmjQ-wNlCPma04B5iP-h10L_5N0yIa_bWQDlsUMH4lfw84E_L96v3qF9eLmml/s1600/near+kiss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #905376; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanwJkiVBihESYbs8sWUS-GWudINvP0G_avQxwTulPKlKq-4lLa7UV-bIaj6o3bnziS__apzS-lbw0AIpMmjQ-wNlCPma04B5iP-h10L_5N0yIa_bWQDlsUMH4lfw84E_L96v3qF9eLmml/s1600/near+kiss.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" t8="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.links2love.com/teens_kissing.htm" style="color: #905376; text-decoration: none;">credit</a></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">It's this dissruption--this sense of</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><strong><em>"Damn it! What would have happened if the phone hadn't rang just then?!?"</em></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">--that drives us insane as readers and makes us root for the couple to get together even more.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">So while all the hand holding and stares of longing are great, and most of us don't mind reading about some good nookie once the couple gets together, it's the near misses that truly set the scene.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">The better the near misses and frustration we feel as a result, the better the satisfaction when our heroes finally break through all their barriers. Make sure you don't skimp on this part while you're writing your story...the potential payoff is too great.</span>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03726858055689145824noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910533818594533243.post-6136647541010788162011-07-13T07:00:00.015-04:002011-07-13T07:00:11.145-04:00Forever is Sexy<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><b>Here's another one I really wanted to repost, mostly because I love anything paranormal...and okay, I have a major weakness for pretty men!</b></span></div>
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For curiosity's sake, I decided to take a quick gander as to <b><i>WHY</i></b> the paranormal market is so booming. From young adult to adult. Dystopian to romance. Paranormal characters are taking the literary world by storm and have been for quite a while. </div>
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But <i>why</i>?</div>
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I think the answer is pretty simple. Because the larger majority of readers are female. And though we all have different tastes there are some common themes most of us have a hard time denying.</div>
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1) <b>We're greedy with the idea of romance.</b> We want to be loved like we're the most important thing in his world. To win a man's heart & devotion for one lifetime is a wonderful thing, but to win it for eternity . . . PRICELESS! <i>(Where is Mastercard with a commercial when I need one?)</i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPa9TuikyZa7ppPUBF1_rSUjvZiUwuzKTN2MJDU2hO0J_KK9kFieMe5VBLQCmuquz0Exab4GCIchQYZottX_zfo5IvoVYEtsdoZb2zxcvCrDSMWtW8zgZEo7KYi57FhuQnxDGALR9trwRu/s1600/Legolas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #905376; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPa9TuikyZa7ppPUBF1_rSUjvZiUwuzKTN2MJDU2hO0J_KK9kFieMe5VBLQCmuquz0Exab4GCIchQYZottX_zfo5IvoVYEtsdoZb2zxcvCrDSMWtW8zgZEo7KYi57FhuQnxDGALR9trwRu/s320/Legolas.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px; text-align: center;">Legolas - Lord of the Rings</td></tr>
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2) <b>We love men with depth!</b> The more delicious layers we can peel from a man to get to the center of who he truly is, the more we fall in love with him along the way. We melt over the notion of all the late night, post-coital, secret-sharing talks it'll take to begin skimming the surface of the man who's been through so much. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPu_JPvVXYrY0gOqITcctkLpyOcnjT_T6PLTL7hCmnDZDfIYfqOsMASnGhzejLIoI2jwGoyEh5xSaPvDoEEPyoWv4J18yASZ65O_cIF2Io_j-HVsM1QVJsZo8syyhM95yxuYY8j4KaQ8g/s1600/Brad+Pitt+Louis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #905376; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPu_JPvVXYrY0gOqITcctkLpyOcnjT_T6PLTL7hCmnDZDfIYfqOsMASnGhzejLIoI2jwGoyEh5xSaPvDoEEPyoWv4J18yASZ65O_cIF2Io_j-HVsM1QVJsZo8syyhM95yxuYY8j4KaQ8g/s320/Brad+Pitt+Louis.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px; text-align: center;">Louis - Interview with the Vampire</td></tr>
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3) <b>We're more superficial than we'd like to admit.</b> Yes, we want a man who stirs our heart first and foremost, but that doesn't mean we wouldn't also appreciate it if he had a face & body we could stare at for hours! Immortal men provide the best of both worlds: They possess the wisdom of age & the beauty of youth.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 3px; border-right-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 3px; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFyTgvqBa0UATreXtMZKiCByXwullFFmWm9hnAzXw2SkjaXjoy8i2GwG7yvd0ZlPQHqU_Q7NQ2rZH5iDPFu9oTdPKgBEx-8rFqG6lxzU4juJzN7SKT-JCrJ7hvg_VgX1xXsrwxc_s-xPl/s1600/Damon+Salvatore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #905376; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFyTgvqBa0UATreXtMZKiCByXwullFFmWm9hnAzXw2SkjaXjoy8i2GwG7yvd0ZlPQHqU_Q7NQ2rZH5iDPFu9oTdPKgBEx-8rFqG6lxzU4juJzN7SKT-JCrJ7hvg_VgX1xXsrwxc_s-xPl/s320/Damon+Salvatore.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px; text-align: center;">Damon Salvatore - The Vampire Diaries</td></tr>
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I think this is just the very tip of the iceberg when it comes to tapping into why, as a reading community, we just can't seem to get enough of the sexy creatures of the paranormal variety.</div>
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Any personal faves?</div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03726858055689145824noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910533818594533243.post-79101261422556864742011-07-05T07:00:00.001-04:002011-07-05T07:00:03.258-04:00There's Nothing Quite Like Your First Time<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">Ever wonder why so many of us <i>(non-young adults)</i> can't seem to get enough of reading stories about teenage love? Not that some YA can't get pretty steamy, but there are far smokier scenes in adult romance novels. So why do we still love our regular doses of young love?</span><br />
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Some of my guesses?</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">We Miss Being the Center of Attention</span></b></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 3px; border-right-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 3px; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNZ_EyHNN4Vt63WHASFBttAdfqnABcgF6xZdsLbj62X7Mf9pphObn9wuDWEMMTWL8MFaupBz8Nqiu-4h0GgR_whRT6GJyukJj7JL73gMwgta2hhyLaoaDcM2dMMa-R_2hFWSuv50TRgTN/s1600/Bella+%2526+Edward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #905376; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNZ_EyHNN4Vt63WHASFBttAdfqnABcgF6xZdsLbj62X7Mf9pphObn9wuDWEMMTWL8MFaupBz8Nqiu-4h0GgR_whRT6GJyukJj7JL73gMwgta2hhyLaoaDcM2dMMa-R_2hFWSuv50TRgTN/s320/Bella+%2526+Edward.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px; text-align: center;">Bella & Edward - Twilight<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br /></span></span></span></td></tr>
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There is nothing like that rush of realizing -- for the first time -- that his sun <i>(pardon the pun, Edward)</i> rises and sets for you. Adult men have just as many responsibilities as we do. A teenage guy can make the girl of his dreams the center of his world.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Their Complicated Isn't Really So Complicated</span></b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OLAZt0T57Bfy_IZmSUTs7rC1jgzQ1nGzLjjfFHIBCRZOCbZFv3Gii0f3sX6tzw3jnhxEk0HtS3DJDzXkzrKP5yBCzH4Ef0w1Z9UJYIK8H23MJExu3zaR6BnBFZ9_vPxM-ulNxIvZZD9r/s1600/Elena+%2526+Stefan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #905376; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OLAZt0T57Bfy_IZmSUTs7rC1jgzQ1nGzLjjfFHIBCRZOCbZFv3Gii0f3sX6tzw3jnhxEk0HtS3DJDzXkzrKP5yBCzH4Ef0w1Z9UJYIK8H23MJExu3zaR6BnBFZ9_vPxM-ulNxIvZZD9r/s1600/Elena+%2526+Stefan.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px; text-align: center;">Elena & Stefan - Vampire Diaries</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">It may not feel that way, but our lives are fairly unfettered during our teenage years. Emotionally challenging, you bet, but most are spared the worrying about bills, mortgage payments, shuttling the kids to soccer practice. A teenage girl can enjoy falling in love without a mile long To-Do list waiting for her when she gets home.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">You Can Only Experience Your First Time Once</span></b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jPKSuKE3e49JvIqenYIkW8s0ADslbuHxJ43JZIbHquxBS8MPQ9VsM4Nk65BV0EpugrjFqbE8gRAp0AD7ofq-OI1_CxDkrfk9OCDaRahyphenhyphen729ZE8xz6gVCwECbHbEk2_wopgyljY43aiV3/s1600/Joey+%2526+Pacey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #905376; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jPKSuKE3e49JvIqenYIkW8s0ADslbuHxJ43JZIbHquxBS8MPQ9VsM4Nk65BV0EpugrjFqbE8gRAp0AD7ofq-OI1_CxDkrfk9OCDaRahyphenhyphen729ZE8xz6gVCwECbHbEk2_wopgyljY43aiV3/s320/Joey+%2526+Pacey.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px; text-align: center;">Joey & Pacey - Dawson's Creek</td></tr>
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First kiss. First love. First sexual experience. First heartbreak. Those things only come along once, and because we don't have any experience with them all our senses are running full tilt. We're constantly caught in a state between terrified and exhilarated.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">We Still Believe Fairy Tale Endings Are Possible</span></b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbk_E60n63eAPa70sq134vYNnrJj87SOJ3Z6k1UT9rVFM7K7AaHGV2Y-15Rpv6GKt4N15K02US8lzcQBUraWoCw882hCaoR8AHaN746ASTw43z1xssxaTcNjtnA7xsbcjhXAXsQ2BE2DwA/s1600/Cinderella+Story.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #905376; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbk_E60n63eAPa70sq134vYNnrJj87SOJ3Z6k1UT9rVFM7K7AaHGV2Y-15Rpv6GKt4N15K02US8lzcQBUraWoCw882hCaoR8AHaN746ASTw43z1xssxaTcNjtnA7xsbcjhXAXsQ2BE2DwA/s320/Cinderella+Story.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px; text-align: center;">Sam & Austin - A Cinderella Story</td></tr>
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Not that we all turn into jaded shrews as we age. . . but after we suffer a broken heart or two, we often guard our emotions a little more carefully. After we lose our first love, we tend look at new romantic partners with the <i>hope</i> that he'll turn out to be our Prince Charming. Whereas the first time we fell in love we were sure it was going to last forever.</div>
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Those are just some of the reasons why I think I tend to get swept up so easily in a good YA romance. How about you?<br />
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<br /></div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03726858055689145824noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910533818594533243.post-86371555527280968842011-06-27T07:00:00.004-04:002011-06-28T06:26:58.977-04:00It's the Little Things That Count<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><b>I'm in a romance-y frame of mind <i>(must be the warm weather)</i>, so bear with me if my post seems to focus a bit more on that theme.</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">When it comes to romance in literature<em> (whether the main focus or as a side-story)</em> we tend to appreciate the big sweeping gestures. We're not fully satisfied until we've gotten the happily ever after where the hero was willing to risk it all for the sake of the heroine.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">Those grand gestures are all fine & good, but it's the little things that make us <i>(and our heroines)</i> fall in love with the hero.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">To prove my point, I've borrowed examples from a couple movies I'm sure most of us have seen before:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZPNdtTCaZ0EE9aZHSz_SQ4Zo5pj8aTYM4Vy21AyhnLLaVabq5k1vwr-W5LhWkSlAUx0nrO75j2jKHEzT41rlhyphenhyphen089rMS6V3FOpQLZoN6cY_hIYgQSZsyOTarkZhon7WTJRQh-vvl_Kqn/s1600/Never+Been+Kissed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #905376; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZPNdtTCaZ0EE9aZHSz_SQ4Zo5pj8aTYM4Vy21AyhnLLaVabq5k1vwr-W5LhWkSlAUx0nrO75j2jKHEzT41rlhyphenhyphen089rMS6V3FOpQLZoN6cY_hIYgQSZsyOTarkZhon7WTJRQh-vvl_Kqn/s1600/Never+Been+Kissed.jpg" style="border-bottom: rgb(238,238,238); border-left: rgb(238,238,238); border-right: rgb(238,238,238); border-top: rgb(238,238,238); padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><b>NEVER BEEN KISSED</b></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">Josie realizes how special Sam <i><b>(Mr. Coulson: AKA -- hottest English teacher. EVER.)</b></i> truly is when he volunteers himself to ride the Ferris Wheel, despite his fear of heights, simply because she had no one else to ride with. And then he tops it off by telling her he feels like he can really </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><i>talk</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"> to her. *sigh*</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vAf-8RCTzPPZGMZExoeMC2DyG3coYioTxwSyBP1V-xZ_JTCyJmzoGOOpZ_ZxM0gKaiMmhAcvyB8liOqrhluiouFU7u9nVwlXErwNLpYe3CkdsabpF9JQ64Cxp73BEoFUUr4aK7U3ohKM/s1600/27+Dresses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #905376; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vAf-8RCTzPPZGMZExoeMC2DyG3coYioTxwSyBP1V-xZ_JTCyJmzoGOOpZ_ZxM0gKaiMmhAcvyB8liOqrhluiouFU7u9nVwlXErwNLpYe3CkdsabpF9JQ64Cxp73BEoFUUr4aK7U3ohKM/s1600/27+Dresses.jpg" style="border-bottom: rgb(238,238,238); border-left: rgb(238,238,238); border-right: rgb(238,238,238); border-top: rgb(238,238,238); padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><b>27 DRESSES</b></span></td></tr>
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Jane and Kevin can barely stand each other, until one little song plays on the jukebox in a dive bar out in the middle of nowhere. Next thing you know, they're dancing on the bar and getting hot & steamy in the backseat of his car. Who knew "Benny & The Jets" karaoke could provide the spark for true love?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8d-RX6lOeI7x-1_yZNVi7lxpfPnWXcAVD45CSDH3w8jUFHIDKqdIj9JetoIx7GuINU_Q169ZX5CL46gu2P7_ljulF4mSv4-JuFzlnFzO6NaGcDw75u04J84dbvsxbIvq6ac2DmJiDB_c/s1600/howtoloseaguy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #905376; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8d-RX6lOeI7x-1_yZNVi7lxpfPnWXcAVD45CSDH3w8jUFHIDKqdIj9JetoIx7GuINU_Q169ZX5CL46gu2P7_ljulF4mSv4-JuFzlnFzO6NaGcDw75u04J84dbvsxbIvq6ac2DmJiDB_c/s320/howtoloseaguy.jpg" style="border-bottom: rgb(238,238,238); border-left: rgb(238,238,238); border-right: rgb(238,238,238); border-top: rgb(238,238,238); padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><b>How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days</b></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">Andie and Ben were both secretly using each other in an attempt to further their careers. Neither expected to actually fall in love, but for Andie things changed quickly after an afternoon spent playing "Bullshit" with Ben at a cookout. Watching him interact with his family shot an arrow straight to her heart, where all his smooth loverboy lines had missed the mark.</span><br />
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Bottom line, it's all the little unique pieces of someone that make us fall in love with them. Don't forget to add those things into your stories. We tend to fall in love in fragments, which means our characters should too.</div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03726858055689145824noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910533818594533243.post-9636417791840920042011-06-20T07:00:00.000-04:002011-06-20T07:00:05.787-04:00What if I Don't Like Her?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><b>I'm going to be borrowing a couple of my favorite posts </b></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><b>(they belong to me, no plagorism, I swear)</b></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><b> from another blog, because I'm curious to see how </b></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><b>my </b></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><b>peeps think. So, if some of these happen to look familiar, you'll know why.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><b>*******************************************************</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">We spend a lot of time in our novels -- love stories most especially -- focusing on the hero. Is he cute enough? Strong enough? Sensitive enough? Funny enough? Charming enough? Etc., etc., etc.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">It makes sense, because most of us females <i>(and maybe the occasional secure male who's interested in exploring his feminine side)</i> want to put ourselves in the shoes of the lead female character and live vicariously through her.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">But what about the heroine herself? Don't we have to like her too?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">Unfortunately, there have been quite a few books that I started and eventually <b><i>stopped</i></b> reading because the heroine got on my Last. Damn. Nerve.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">The hardest part of writing a story geared toward a female</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><i>audience</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">, can be writing a female</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">character<i> </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">that the majority of readers <i>want</i> to spend more time with. For me, I have to either want to</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><u><b>be</b></u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">her -- or at least be her friend -- for me to stick with the gal through thick & thin.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><b>She has to be humble, without being weak.</b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border-bottom: rgb(238,238,238) 3px solid; border-left: rgb(238,238,238) 3px solid; border-right: rgb(238,238,238) 3px solid; border-top: rgb(238,238,238) 3px solid; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Nz09AeloKWS1cwFNHalwpS8gYQ68IgWrhbpet2qTFHf9Zlpv4auDWDynNvmvHLCoYUn62GvFXNZ4TVLClxTMWrQbkgf3uzDEN533U2xzurGQ2Wq7eyaMPxkuuCbsTmhctIXZ6VcOLfJ4/s1600/Elizabeth+Bennet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #905376; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Nz09AeloKWS1cwFNHalwpS8gYQ68IgWrhbpet2qTFHf9Zlpv4auDWDynNvmvHLCoYUn62GvFXNZ4TVLClxTMWrQbkgf3uzDEN533U2xzurGQ2Wq7eyaMPxkuuCbsTmhctIXZ6VcOLfJ4/s1600/Elizabeth+Bennet.jpg" style="border-bottom: rgb(238,238,238); border-left: rgb(238,238,238); border-right: rgb(238,238,238); border-top: rgb(238,238,238); padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><b>Elizabeth Bennett -- Pride & Prejudice</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><b>She has to be able to take care of herself, and still retain her femininity.</b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border-bottom: rgb(238,238,238) 3px solid; border-left: rgb(238,238,238) 3px solid; border-right: rgb(238,238,238) 3px solid; border-top: rgb(238,238,238) 3px solid; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6GFwzQiPEGs__Czwp9K-5W9XAy3a6r2ueN6VtK0p3cK5fsQgL2FEWPB2cJchScVRkKnYWz7QDY8g3P95xMUpJT_4QGaPVOPMPYnhpvQvN1YkFZKf3VCcYJAYtbeskAdm-pzT0N8PwozK/s1600/Guinevere-king-arthur-1969861-1024-768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #905376; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6GFwzQiPEGs__Czwp9K-5W9XAy3a6r2ueN6VtK0p3cK5fsQgL2FEWPB2cJchScVRkKnYWz7QDY8g3P95xMUpJT_4QGaPVOPMPYnhpvQvN1YkFZKf3VCcYJAYtbeskAdm-pzT0N8PwozK/s320/Guinevere-king-arthur-1969861-1024-768.jpg" style="border-bottom: rgb(238,238,238); border-left: rgb(238,238,238); border-right: rgb(238,238,238); border-top: rgb(238,238,238); padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><b>Guinevere -- King Arthur</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><b>And she has to be just as willing to rescue the hero as she is to let him rescue her.</b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border-bottom: rgb(238,238,238) 3px solid; border-left: rgb(238,238,238) 3px solid; border-right: rgb(238,238,238) 3px solid; border-top: rgb(238,238,238) 3px solid; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2aZQSW2S-v4_lnTEu4mgcRPl2URZWhXgWFgkUUDl1bEQa0hB9yz-CZ8hyphenhyphenotEcdzTLhGZ1gI8xrJXJyAz-LgK3AH5UnHBTTw3TFRRkMFA9SzZCdgE5F_yixNSEAl3hwdi6K01xVHSITZD/s1600/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-mans-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #905376; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2aZQSW2S-v4_lnTEu4mgcRPl2URZWhXgWFgkUUDl1bEQa0hB9yz-CZ8hyphenhyphenotEcdzTLhGZ1gI8xrJXJyAz-LgK3AH5UnHBTTw3TFRRkMFA9SzZCdgE5F_yixNSEAl3hwdi6K01xVHSITZD/s320/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-mans-.jpg" style="border-bottom: rgb(238,238,238); border-left: rgb(238,238,238); border-right: rgb(238,238,238); border-top: rgb(238,238,238); padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><b>Elizabeth Swann -- Pirates of the Caribbean</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><b>(Apparently, I have a bit of Keira Knightly fetish -- who knew?)</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">
Bottom line -- It's not an easy job being the heroine. Not only does she have to make the hero fall in love with her . . . she has to make us <i>(the reader)</i> fall in love with her too.</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">What about you? Anything that a heroine has to do/be in order to keep you reading? Anything that completely turns you off and causes you to close the book, never to return?</span>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03726858055689145824noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910533818594533243.post-42333355551541571792011-06-15T07:00:00.000-04:002011-06-15T07:00:07.800-04:00My Soul Needs to Laugh<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><b>Do you ever have those days, weeks or even months, where despite having the best of intentions, you often find yourself feeling like this little guy?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE__NkwQrTurcIEzcHCO2B0UG-xp8OaOqOPNJxEkTek2eJET3-cxFaLjFBCkZUdz8zdBOZ0qPgwXRgb1fbY0hHTnbDEG5F1qYngQI2Qktz0mvd5oclR_ec5HfV0Ao7wk68ehUHihsrgL0/s1600/stuck-in-a-rut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE__NkwQrTurcIEzcHCO2B0UG-xp8OaOqOPNJxEkTek2eJET3-cxFaLjFBCkZUdz8zdBOZ0qPgwXRgb1fbY0hHTnbDEG5F1qYngQI2Qktz0mvd5oclR_ec5HfV0Ao7wk68ehUHihsrgL0/s320/stuck-in-a-rut.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Yeah, me too!<br />
<br />
On any given morning, there are an endless number of things I wake up telling myself I am,<b> without a doubt, going to accomplish today!!</b><br />
<br />
<i>Write. Walk the dogs. Blog. Get an oil change. Read. Workout. Clean the house. Change the wiper blades I bought 3 weeks ago. Catch up on emails. etc. etc, etc.</i><br />
<br />
And, sadly, on <b>*most*</b> days I don't come anywhere close to making a dent in my self-imposed list.<br />
<br />
Then--being the typical first-born child that I am--I get pretty down, stressed and feeling like I'm stuck in a rut.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><b><i>I'm a loser. I'm a slacker. I have time management issues. I need more hours in a day.</i></b></span><br />
<br />
It's taken me a while, but I've learned sometimes I need to pull back on the reins a little and remind myself that life isn't meant to be one ginormous <b>"To Do"</b> list.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, I let myself get so wrapped up in what <i>needs</i> to be done, that I forget about my addiction to laughing.<br />
<br />
I like to laugh, and I like to make other people laugh.<br />
<br />
If I'm feeling uber stressed, it's probably because I've forgotten to give myself permission to lighten up & spend some time doing things that will release the pressure.<br />
<br />
One of my current favorite pick-me-ups is <b><a href="http://www.damnyouautocorrect.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">www.damnyouautocorrect.com</span></a> </b>This stuff leaves me in tears!!<br />
<br />
I also de-stress by doing <a href="http://www.crazy4jigsaws.com/"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">online jigsaw puzzles</span></b></a><br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">What about you all? Do you have any favorite websites, movies, activities, etc. that are guaranteed to make you laugh no matter what? Please share!!</span></span></b><br />
<br />
<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03726858055689145824noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910533818594533243.post-78105042064748661962011-06-08T07:35:00.000-04:002011-06-08T07:35:14.451-04:00Summer Lovin' & A Bucket List <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl960q1xf-9fq6PTukFVOG_kwJtK-MfReSabZ376SamnODbXsBpzUZYhsMb1C6Oje2jBKdv0sqau7tTRgq1eJCPJOO11YqJ7E6lm9k-ghCr2HzMI_Fpjf0cDKAPZaN8MQYUsqfYVU3p0w/s1600/Grease+Summer+Nights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl960q1xf-9fq6PTukFVOG_kwJtK-MfReSabZ376SamnODbXsBpzUZYhsMb1C6Oje2jBKdv0sqau7tTRgq1eJCPJOO11YqJ7E6lm9k-ghCr2HzMI_Fpjf0cDKAPZaN8MQYUsqfYVU3p0w/s400/Grease+Summer+Nights.jpg" t8="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://millyfellintothewardrobe.blogspot.com/2010_07_01_archive.html">credit</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
No, I haven't fallen in love...but the summer is still young <em>(technically, it hasn't started yet)</em> so I'm not giving up hope.<br />
<br />
But I AM going to cut back to posting once a week. <em>(Don't worry, Would You Rather Wednesday will be back in the Fall)</em>. I learned my lesson last year that most of us are way too busy during the warmer months to post/visit as many blogs as we do when we're stuck in-doors. This way, I'm hoping to be able to get back to browsing everyone else's blogs during the week as opposed to feeling like I have to rush because I've got to come up with three of my own.<br />
<br />
***<br />
<br />
Enough about the bloggy business.<br />
<br />
I've also decided that I want to start a bucket list. <br />
<br />
Not one in my head, but I actually want to buy a pretty journal <em>(not that I don't already have a bazillion...I'm a sucker for a good notebook) </em>and fill it with all sorts of things I'd love to be able to try, places to go, things to accomplish before my days come to an end. I think maybe if I have my dreams written down somewhere I might be more driven to strive for them more frequently rather than constantly laying back and waiting for "some day" to come.<br />
<br />
Off the very top of my head here are a few things on my bucket list:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>** Vacation in Ireland</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>** Go to Game 7 of the World Series (prefer Orioles, but Game 7 is Game 7!!)</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>** Find a man I love more than myself and marry him</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>** Vacation in Australia</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>** Make the NYT Best-Sellers list</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>** Have a couple of rugrats</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>** Take a roadtrip from Maryland to California and back</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>** Learn to speak Portuguese</strong></span><br />
<br />
That's just off the top of my head, so I'm sure I could fill many more pages with smaller things as well as a few crazy, off-the-wall ideas.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;"><strong>What about you all, do you have a Bucket List? Is there something you haven't done/ experienced yet, but you really hope you do before you die? </strong></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03726858055689145824noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910533818594533243.post-29302924684154894312011-06-01T07:59:00.000-04:002011-06-01T07:59:12.541-04:00Ah, Bloody Hell, Blogger!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
This does not appear to be my week.<br />
<br />
Nothing catastrophic has happened, but I'm convinced there are gremlins out to get me. Between a big time snag with a few thousand scantron evaluations at work to a fried motherboard on my laptop to finally falling victim to some of the latest blogger snafus...I'm without a blog post this morning.<br />
<br />
I may be down, but I'm not out. <br />
<br />
Since my regularly scheduled post has been...erm...delayed, I give you some ManCandy instead.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3-853uc0Aeaam_SHhorw0L04GXSREHKztMRiGHCp1BkbvDg4a2effDp9_gZhW_VzMHpZh7SACR56o39JekQfccyl9sKgI5rEplgqzoFXBHXScD4eK1oTveL_doApupi7v2ED37YJuaA/s1600/Ian-Somerhalder-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3-853uc0Aeaam_SHhorw0L04GXSREHKztMRiGHCp1BkbvDg4a2effDp9_gZhW_VzMHpZh7SACR56o39JekQfccyl9sKgI5rEplgqzoFXBHXScD4eK1oTveL_doApupi7v2ED37YJuaA/s320/Ian-Somerhalder-4.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #674ea7;">Ian Somerhalder</span></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As if there might be some of you who don't know who Ian is...he's the actor that plays the deliciously evil/ wondrously conflicted Damon Salvatore on the CW's <em><strong>Vampire Diaries</strong></em>. (If you have not been watching this show shame on you!!) <br />
<br />
Ian is a 32 year-old hottie (Sagittarius) from Louisianna who not only owns the most amazing pair of blue eyes EVER...he's also extremely intelligent, has a body to die for, lobbies for animal rights and environmental awareness, keeps himself out of the tabloids...and best of all, can accessorize with scarves and hats in the most manishly sexy way.<br />
<br />
Yes, I've used way too many adjectives when it comes to describing Ian, but I believe he's worth it.<br />
<br />
Happy Hump Day, All!Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03726858055689145824noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910533818594533243.post-33257508822626624952011-05-27T08:47:00.000-04:002011-05-27T08:47:13.610-04:00Hug an Agent DayI hearby declare Friday, May 27th as <strong><span style="color: #674ea7;">Hug An Agent D</span><span style="color: #674ea7;">ay</span></strong>!<br />
<br />
There is no secret that, on most days, literary agents are both lauded & maligned by the unagented segment of the writer populace. <br />
<br />
We <em>need</em> an agent. We <em>want</em> an agent. But it can be hard not to get annoyed with what we believe to be their "shortcomings". <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>What do you mean I have to personalize my query letter to you only to receive a "Dear Author" rejection?!?</strong></span><br />
<br />
Yeah, I know. No sense in preaching to the choir.<br />
<br />
But, considering the fact I got back from my big, annual day-job conference last Wednesday and I'm <u>STILL</u> not caught up on all the things I missed while I was gone, I'm feeling extremely sympathetic to literary agents as a whole.<br />
<br />
I was gone for a week. One week. <br />
<br />
In that one week, I managed to fall woefully behind on blogging, emails, social medializing <em>(this would be the act of interacting with others via social media, just in case anyone is confused)</em>, the housework, the work built up on the desk at my day-job . . . and don't even get me started on the amount of behind I am with my WIP word target!<br />
<br />
I'm working like crazy to get caught up and it's like trying to climb a steep mountain covered in vaseline <em>(the mountain being covered in vaseline, not me)</em>.<br />
<br />
It's at times like this, it makes it easier to realize why it can take 12 weeks to hear back on a query letter. Or why we can wait as much as 6 months to hear back on a partial. Agents are always stuck in catch-up-mode just by the sheer volume of work headed their way. And I shiver to think what happens when they take time off for a conference, etc.<br />
<br />
Next time you want to rail at the amount of time it takes to hear back from literary agents, or want to grumble over their "holier than thou" attitude toward would-be writers. Keep in mind that maybe they're just super duper swamped too.<br />
<br />
So, I think a <span style="color: #674ea7;"><strong>Hug an Agent Day</strong></span> is called for.<br />
<br />
Just please make sure you know said agent and/or have given them sufficient warning as to why you are invading their personal space. We do still have laws in this country and I'm not sure, but I think you can get in trouble for tackling someone for affection they don't know is coming their way.<br />
<br />
Happy Friday!!Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03726858055689145824noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910533818594533243.post-89368021848192329082011-05-25T08:26:00.000-04:002011-05-25T08:26:31.679-04:00Would You Rather Wednesday -- The End of Epic Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_cy858DD1h_C5h7neDVQlSGyHTZ9yjXrfvi6_7zfzxZhO87D8gwpYwKrjh6CufzB3VOxQf41fuQZAsXmFTpGoZBs4heV3EUsGM2YXJegAmoqNrOnSWoLrmDQtsxjlGspsmGiuzmaaWk/s1600/would-you-rather.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_cy858DD1h_C5h7neDVQlSGyHTZ9yjXrfvi6_7zfzxZhO87D8gwpYwKrjh6CufzB3VOxQf41fuQZAsXmFTpGoZBs4heV3EUsGM2YXJegAmoqNrOnSWoLrmDQtsxjlGspsmGiuzmaaWk/s320/would-you-rather.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It's been a few weeks since we've had a <strong><span style="color: black;">Would You Rather Wednesday</span></strong> . . . so, of course, I'm going with what feels like a toughie question. And before you complain about the difficult choices of some of these questions -- remember, we're writers. Drama and heartache, it's what we do.<br />
<br />
So, without further ado:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>If your love-life were to be patterned after one of the long-standing, heartbreaking, bittersweet tropes, would you rather it be like . . . .</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>A) THE NOTEBOOK: After a few struggles to find your way to each other, you and the love of your life live happily with one another . . . until fate cruelly robs you of truly being able to spend your twilight years together.</strong></span><br />
<br />
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>OR </strong></span></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>B) LETTERS TO JULIET: You love hard & passionately for a short time, and then circumstance (or poor choices) send you on your separate paths through life . . . but in your golden years you're reunited and get to spend whatever time you have left in the arms of "one that got away".</strong></span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9bI5GjWaAQnjDGMOsUnoWK5pMs9dm8KQq10L0wG4uS9zP41mKAHn2MoknBWxkOme1bgsf3F-pImNR4aYqjb-SikYPAqkew-o1EINEdJFW-DcXTgdktjFj5oIeVSEJz6oCbAAMBkrHTw/s1600/LetterstoJuliet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9bI5GjWaAQnjDGMOsUnoWK5pMs9dm8KQq10L0wG4uS9zP41mKAHn2MoknBWxkOme1bgsf3F-pImNR4aYqjb-SikYPAqkew-o1EINEdJFW-DcXTgdktjFj5oIeVSEJz6oCbAAMBkrHTw/s1600/LetterstoJuliet.jpg" t8="true" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm definitely going to have to think on my answer for a while!<br />
<br />
Happy Hump Day!!<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
</div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03726858055689145824noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910533818594533243.post-42835131931459109032011-05-23T07:00:00.014-04:002011-05-23T07:00:10.027-04:00Game of ThronesI’m back. For real this time.<br />
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<br /></div>
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Work convention is now a distant sight
in my rearview mirror and I can return my attention back to writerly pursuits
once more. Well maybe not <i>all</i> of my attention.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Sunday evenings are now saved for HBO’s <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Game of Thrones</span></i></b>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_k1xg86uuYk1ljEMoVmetfizG_YXxFPhqPvplyfzhyphenhyphenbwQmGSjhzbEYlOOAY6qOMymKFhbkpihck_A-8n3-4hNiAHFUP2dCle4GEeCwFzw752-Arr0pLMbJYoB29XSwRZGi0e_l6Snnsk/s1600/Game+of+Thrones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_k1xg86uuYk1ljEMoVmetfizG_YXxFPhqPvplyfzhyphenhyphenbwQmGSjhzbEYlOOAY6qOMymKFhbkpihck_A-8n3-4hNiAHFUP2dCle4GEeCwFzw752-Arr0pLMbJYoB29XSwRZGi0e_l6Snnsk/s1600/Game+of+Thrones.jpg" /></a></div>
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I’ve never read the books … but can’t get
enough of this series. </div>
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From a viewer standpoint, it’s an engaging
story with lots of intrigue <i>(not to mention a minimum of one naked person per
show… and I’m a bit of a sucker for gratuitous naked people)</i>, and who doesn’t
love Sean Bean? Okay, maybe people who
weren’t big <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Lord of the Rings</span></i></b> fans might not . . . but, I digress.</div>
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It may be my imagination, but it seems more and more
books/series <i>(written by someone other than Sir Stephen King)</i> are being
optioned as television shows & movies these days. And more and more those
are becoming some of my favorite television shows & movies. </div>
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Coincidence? Maybe.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But the one thing all of these adaptations have in common –
the thing I like to keep in mind while constructing my own plots now – there
are stories within the story that keep the reader/viewer engaged while the main
plot builds its way to the ultimate climax. Having one central plot isn’t enough
to captivate the attention of most readers/viewers anymore. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Don’t believe me? Take your favorite television show/movie <i>(doesn’t
necessarily have to be adapted from a novel/series)</i> and see how many subplots
you can find. Then, after you find them, notice the way they all tie back into
the main plot. The better this is done, the more we tend to love it!<br />
<br />
And it makes me feel less guilty watching television if I can pas it off as a way of "honing my craft".</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><b>Do you have a favorite show/movie adapted from a novel or
series you’ve read? Are there any in the
works you can’t wait to see?</b></span></div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03726858055689145824noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910533818594533243.post-34795487777640173102011-05-09T07:00:00.104-04:002011-05-09T07:00:05.666-04:00The Treadmill Writer<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><b>Sidenote: I know I've been on extended leave lately, but I've been rather crazy with the convention I'm planning for work. So bear with me as I'm slow to post and attempting to reply to others using my iPhone. In about 2 weeks, all of this will be over and I'll be back to normal. Or, at least, as normal as I can be. I miss you all.</b></span></span></blockquote>
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<br /></div>
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Treadmill writing. Sounds like some sort of catch phrase for a unique way of
getting words onto paper, doesn't it? Like the way Plotters <i>(I've been converted, but that’s a
post for another time)</i> may use the Snowflake Method or Cork Story Board.</div>
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<br /></div>
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It’s not. It’s not about <i><b>how</b></i> you write, but <i><b>where</b></i> you write.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdpPzK5fzGmZt1wSBoohXpZO3OgLpDoOAZeIa5zfkheCC0bxyWx771DMvJVHcR0-qZuEMwUf4aK6qWbpmCJbc9ZQbKSKfiQ5w3Q-jgqd-_e1ftMWquX3YP5aL_8IumjyH8lxArH_d_EI/s320/TreadmillDesk12102588.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="213" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://officewalkers.ning.com/photo/desk-in-standing-position?context=latest">Credit</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Over the past two years as I’ve grown more
serious about my writing, like everyone else, I struggle to find enough time to sit
down to work on my revisions, create a new WIP, and devote a goodly amount of time to my blog <i>(recent vacay
notwithstanding)</i>. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All of this has done wonders for my skills as a writer, but it doesn’t come without it’s drawbacks. Along with expanding my writing horizons, I’ve also expanded my <i><b>midsection</b></i>.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Let’s face it, it can be hard enough to find the time to fit
a workout into a busy schedule as it is. Therefore it is nigh impossible for us writers to
find the time to fit in both an hour of working-out <u><i><b>AND</b></i></u> an hour for writing in
the same day.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the latest issue of
Romance Writers Report <i>(thank you, RWA)</i> there's an article discussing the growing trend in treadmill desks. Seems some writers have decided they
want to have their cake and eat it too . . . wait, you know what I mean. More
and more of us are deciding we don’t want to have to choose between being
healthy and being a writer <i>(caffeine addictions not included)</i>. </div>
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<br /></div>
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That's where the treadmill desk comes into the picture. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sVbuONOx_TVVyI1WCSC01AabE5y6sk_C5HtxBAzpqTBJ3iebmiEfyP6MlEMwkrbpcPXJevRZyETu91Wa-UitSb3U6wdc-eqB4pgghcZyNPF4uKInVeIv9Jsag0e7hHlF4izEkFipYH4/s1600/make-your-own-treadmill-desk-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sVbuONOx_TVVyI1WCSC01AabE5y6sk_C5HtxBAzpqTBJ3iebmiEfyP6MlEMwkrbpcPXJevRZyETu91Wa-UitSb3U6wdc-eqB4pgghcZyNPF4uKInVeIv9Jsag0e7hHlF4izEkFipYH4/s320/make-your-own-treadmill-desk-7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.100directions.com/walking-and-working-i-built-myself-a-treadmill-desk/">Credit</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Assuming you already
have a treadmill, there are multiple ways to turn your workout space into your writing space as well. Adjustable
desks/tables can be purchased for those that have the cash to go that route, or--with a little effort--you can rig your own station. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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If you're interested, Google "<b>Treadmill Desk</b>” to get some
ideas on how to make yours work for you.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why bother?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, in the twenty minutes it’s taken me to write this blog
post, walking at a 1.0 MPH <i>(which is nothing more than a nice strolling pace)</i>
I’ve burned <b>45</b> <b>calories</b>. May not seem like much, but that’s 45 calories I wouldn't have burned sitting on my rear end at my desk. Imagine what I can
do when I use it for my marathon writing bursts, brain storming sessions, or even my personal reading time.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I've only just created mine, but I'm loving it already. Not only am I not having to decide between whether I want to write or be able to wear shorts this summer, but I seem to think more creatively when I'm on my feet and moving around.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Curious to hear if anyone else is
using something similar …or how do you attempt to keep yourself active and still get your writing time in?</div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03726858055689145824noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910533818594533243.post-39401643929204805302011-04-04T07:00:00.001-04:002011-04-11T07:52:51.499-04:00Play Ball<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong>Update: I'm going to extend my blogcation for a little bit longer. I'm in the midst of some serious re-writes on my latest WIP and with the A-Z challenge occupying most of you this month, I don't think I'll be missed too much between now and May. I'll still be popping around to say hi though. </strong></div>
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<br />
<br />
In lieu of my celebrating the start of the baseball season here in Baltimore, I'll be taking the week off from the blog. I'll still be swinging around to try to catch up on everyone else's, but won't be posting anything new. <br />
<br />
I'll be busy spending quality time with some of my favorite boys.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5udwm0BhyphenhyphenQYUHDkEA8EbEv_okLnikINSoYMa1aDrslGDFaKSAS9tDNtDwpC30BDIgce0tztMtMnSktsaG3SRjIlTrcaPY5hnDCXkEjS1Eyyoka9no0x97zogmOb72HWZxB5sZif12fU/s1600/jj+hardy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5udwm0BhyphenhyphenQYUHDkEA8EbEv_okLnikINSoYMa1aDrslGDFaKSAS9tDNtDwpC30BDIgce0tztMtMnSktsaG3SRjIlTrcaPY5hnDCXkEjS1Eyyoka9no0x97zogmOb72HWZxB5sZif12fU/s320/jj+hardy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JJ Hardy<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian Roberts</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvyCef7wqIow9LY04d7G0SCTbbQmMifIu06PIY1XBdwFYudL3jywqqKLRrxKY87fW1nUHFHdr65BVvuvVw9oPb4MZ6k2vCMnkqOJQIj3xNKUi-jEAK935i8PEiP1LFofilWTgbRxu8vJA/s1600/Jake+Arrieta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvyCef7wqIow9LY04d7G0SCTbbQmMifIu06PIY1XBdwFYudL3jywqqKLRrxKY87fW1nUHFHdr65BVvuvVw9oPb4MZ6k2vCMnkqOJQIj3xNKUi-jEAK935i8PEiP1LFofilWTgbRxu8vJA/s1600/Jake+Arrieta.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jake Arrieta</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
and</div>
<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjya810bj-LBvbdgkh6OJSr6VkOtqwYslPLaCKDvvOP9_inR4jewYSLkRTMUsLBOS8xqOzER4GAL0lXqF2UhqWbMW55epuClTM2fkAzc4bW8giZsh5szRplMch5efU40-25FRjioOypgOI/s1600/Nick+Markakis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjya810bj-LBvbdgkh6OJSr6VkOtqwYslPLaCKDvvOP9_inR4jewYSLkRTMUsLBOS8xqOzER4GAL0lXqF2UhqWbMW55epuClTM2fkAzc4bW8giZsh5szRplMch5efU40-25FRjioOypgOI/s1600/Nick+Markakis.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nick Markakis</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
<div>
<br />
<div>
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03726858055689145824noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910533818594533243.post-61145927046776182011-04-01T07:00:00.028-04:002011-04-01T07:00:13.779-04:00Hi, I'm Tracy. The Resident Book Club IdiotSo, yeah, second month of the book club and I pretty much completely forgot about it. *face palm*<br />
<br />
In my defense, work was a bit crazy in March, and . . . okay, mostly, I've just got completely sidetracked by reading two separate YA series <i><u>at the same time</u></i>. Luckily, I've read one of the selections previously, so I'm still going ahead with this post. Feel free to join in if, unlike me, you remembered to read your book.<br />
<br />
If you forgot, no sweat. I promise to do better in April.<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">(Speaking of which, one of the selections is most definitely going to be CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS by Cassandra Clare. What can I say? I'm totally a Jace girl . . . actually, if I'm being honest, I love Magnus Bane more than anyone.)</span></span></b><br />
<br />
So, feel free to respectfully post your thoughts in regards to the book(s) you read:<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #717171; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><b>Not quite sure what to talk about? Feel free to steal some of these ideas:</b></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><b>-- Overall did you enjoy the story? Would you recommend it to a friend?</b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><b>-- Do you plan to read the rest of the series?</b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><b>-- Who was your favorite character? Why?</b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><b>-- Were you satisfied with the ending?</b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><b>-- What do you wish the author had done more of?</b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><b>-- What do you wish the author had done less of?</b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><b>-- Were the characters likable? Were they believable to you?</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><b><br /></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><b><br /></b></span></span><br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03726858055689145824noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910533818594533243.post-67960716486626492622011-03-30T07:00:00.034-04:002011-03-30T07:00:07.784-04:00Would You Rather -- Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>(CONTEST ALERT: David Powers King -- who bears a resemblance to Joshua Jackson of the Dawson's Creek fame -- is having a </b></span><a href="http://davidpowersking.blogspot.com/2011/03/100-giveaway-candy-princess-monster.html"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Candy Princess Monster book giveaway</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>, celebrating reaching100 followers. I decided to be nice and share, plus it gets me another entry in the contest to mention this. So go check it out. David's a good guy and I'm pretty sure he doesn't bite)</b></span></div>
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<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><a href="http://thelosttwin.blogspot.com/2011/03/would-you-rather-wednesday_23.html">Last week: You guys were asked to choose whether you'd rather play the role of Hero, Big Bad or Sidekick with personality.</a></span></b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
The hands down winner was the <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">VILLAIN. </span></b>The majority of you, it would seem, would rather play the role of . . .<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnIfnM5Pbmkl4uxcvDkGEAIbIE6G3BiInk_UoNzXCHw5Tjkvy113VKKqYAEsp65L63UuGC2qyEb2hfW4TlwdEaIXLzLHx_55MPaewBUpDOwajW5IoRq9iI1JR3zmQOgi9c6N5Xp-lm9s/s1600/Villainess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnIfnM5Pbmkl4uxcvDkGEAIbIE6G3BiInk_UoNzXCHw5Tjkvy113VKKqYAEsp65L63UuGC2qyEb2hfW4TlwdEaIXLzLHx_55MPaewBUpDOwajW5IoRq9iI1JR3zmQOgi9c6N5Xp-lm9s/s320/Villainess.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Misery -- Every Writer's Greatest Fear</td></tr>
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<b><div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>OR</b></span></div>
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</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAYfkvDSRBW7alOZNV0sAcjvwaabGCVRoizisxln-0FPX20BnKLQlKT94cttW6SX3c2VY6wji8U8mx2o3EmkmkeisBp1p8i__iSBaiTJQFxDavFlE6Iz_5A7PToAURhViPboL4uSG_Bg/s1600/Villain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAYfkvDSRBW7alOZNV0sAcjvwaabGCVRoizisxln-0FPX20BnKLQlKT94cttW6SX3c2VY6wji8U8mx2o3EmkmkeisBp1p8i__iSBaiTJQFxDavFlE6Iz_5A7PToAURhViPboL4uSG_Bg/s320/Villain.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ever Dance With the Devil in the Pale Moon Light? (RIP Heath)</td></tr>
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><b>Me, I'd rather be the one who gets all the killer one-liners! That's right, I wanna be . . .</b></span> </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6RwCwStKrgi7J2vlth_96uTi7KxJ78Qcvmo0QSk8O8b-T6k0e4fYNckhAH99ix9hA6Dr4Hlebe-J1Fx1PPXjQKVLMeoazQmNiPAc58JIHgsNGadPoYgV-fDVuAdEUh8ScicjLfw2rD8/s1600/Sidekick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6RwCwStKrgi7J2vlth_96uTi7KxJ78Qcvmo0QSk8O8b-T6k0e4fYNckhAH99ix9hA6Dr4Hlebe-J1Fx1PPXjQKVLMeoazQmNiPAc58JIHgsNGadPoYgV-fDVuAdEUh8ScicjLfw2rD8/s320/Sidekick.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Duck Man</td></tr>
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<div>
So for this week's burning question:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Your trying to promote your latest release and your publisher books you a gig on celebrity challenge reality TV show, would you rather be on . . . ?</span></span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A) The Amazing Race</span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">or </span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">B) Dancing With the Stars</span></span></b><br />
<br /></div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03726858055689145824noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910533818594533243.post-37376446102644623922011-03-28T07:00:00.066-04:002011-03-28T08:10:26.251-04:00How'dya Do, Mary Sue?We've all heard about staying away from the dreaded <b>"Mary Sue"</b> type characters. Those MC's we inadvertently make so perfect and/or gifted they are ultimately unbelievable -- and often unlikeable.<br />
<br />
A while back, I came across this link. A <a href="http://www.ponylandpress.com/ms-test.html"><span style="color: blue;"><strong>Mary Sue litmus test</strong></span></a><strong>,</strong> if you will. Not a bad little tool to play around with.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><b>(Be forewarned, it can be a bit of a time suck when you start playing around & checking out all your characters with a test like this -- and if you're like me, </b></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">you</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">WILL</span></b></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><b> run all your players through the gamut)</b></span><br />
<br />
It's a fun little check point, but keep in mind that these tests aren't fail proof. It's more about the way you build your character, and why their talents are what they are, that ultimately determines whether a character is <b><i>Mary Sue</i></b> or not.<br />
<br />
For instance . . . <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><b>Bella Swan</b></span>, from the <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Twilight </span></i></b>series.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyL3Ud6qtzv7i2aMk5mndeM4TXe-1kJUuOhnbvYM0SglrW183SSwJFpzJpaqGxS_q5mi_Ckvy6bq0Wp54BU3mHlzgLqaTg8erimo_uQTdEBcON-QrdVfPb7xxY6DrHSDY6mHbmYjQaEKc/s1600/bella-swan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyL3Ud6qtzv7i2aMk5mndeM4TXe-1kJUuOhnbvYM0SglrW183SSwJFpzJpaqGxS_q5mi_Ckvy6bq0Wp54BU3mHlzgLqaTg8erimo_uQTdEBcON-QrdVfPb7xxY6DrHSDY6mHbmYjQaEKc/s320/bella-swan.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Bella is often -- believe it or not -- one of the fans' <u>least</u> favorite characters. Granted, she's a human <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><b>(at least, most of the time)</b></span> competing with paranormal beings, but she's often out-shined by the characters around her. She's too, "oh gee, my flaws aren't even really all that bad" girl-next-door. Honestly, even the most boring Cullen is ten times more interesting than Bella, in most situations. <br />
<br />
Yet in the Mary Sue litmus test, she scored a <b>15 </b>which would signify she isn't a boring, goody-goody Sue.<br />
<br />
<br />
On the flip side, you have <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Jace Wayland</span></b> from <i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">T</span></b></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">he Mortal Instruments</span></i></b> series.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWz8QWIdRoURmmn_4huT2HiIVeBRPB9g9vOmovNMpKV4F81NvSIljs9sJ1et9JLV5cQf7UF-L-3J11ReqwKbb2kX8yCw9lhW5DbhTU72G6Kz0xuup3M62hl7Lq6Rjdw2L7-qS4iOHunY4/s1600/AlexanderNifongOtherShoots_28329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWz8QWIdRoURmmn_4huT2HiIVeBRPB9g9vOmovNMpKV4F81NvSIljs9sJ1et9JLV5cQf7UF-L-3J11ReqwKbb2kX8yCw9lhW5DbhTU72G6Kz0xuup3M62hl7Lq6Rjdw2L7-qS4iOHunY4/s320/AlexanderNifongOtherShoots_28329.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><b>Okay, so that isn't technically Jace, but in my mind Alexander Nifong should be!</b></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
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</tbody></table>
Jace scores a <b>58</b> on the test which would qualify him as a Uber Sue<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"> (and that was with me being generous on some of the questions)</span></b>. Yet to anyone who's read the series, he's one of the most vibrant characters in the crew. His abundant gifts are well-balanced by his shortcomings in a way that makes him feel like a real, flawed human being <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">(or Shadowhunter, whatever)</span></b><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So in the end, you have the freedom to do whatever you want with your characters. . . just make sure that for every positive they have in their corner there is a potential negative aspect as well. Otherwise, you might end up with the prodigal son/daughter with a dazzling Colgate smile that all your readers end up <i>hating</i>.<br />
<br />
What about you guys: Any characters come to mind that you can't believe the author got away with creating so Mary Sue? Or have you read a story with a character who was sickeningly Mary Sue, yet you still liked them anyway?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03726858055689145824noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910533818594533243.post-60565169093454722582011-03-25T07:00:00.003-04:002011-03-25T10:14:33.806-04:00In Case You Haven't Heard About Amanda Hocking. . .In case you haven't heard, Amanda Hocking <span style="color: #a64d79;"><strong>(something of a indie cult hero)</strong></span> has just landed a <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2011/03/4-book-deal-found-by-self-publishing-star-amanda-hocking.html"><strong>pretty sweet traditional four-book deal</strong></a>.<br />
<br />
This worries me.<br />
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Not about Amanda, she's obviously put a lot of hard work into her writing in order to have obtained her success. I've got no ill will towards her in any way. My concern is that this will encourage a deluge of hopefuls to flock to the indie route, citing her success. <br />
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There's no secret that it's oh-so-easy to "e-publish" via B&N or Amazon these days. And, in my opinion, there are far too many people who jump the gun. Not having the experience, editing help or objectivity to put out a product that others will love as much as the author does. Adding to the stigma those who choose to self-publish have to fight through already.<br />
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Since I don't have any intention of going the self-pubbed route, myself, you'd think it wouldn't really care either way. <br />
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Except, I happen to be a <em>huge</em> ereader user. <strong><span style="color: #a64d79;">(Seriously, my Nook and I are starting to look alike)</span></strong> And right now, when I do a search for a topic -- say paranormal romance -- on B&N, the search engine pulls up both traditonal and "indie" titles. Often times the only way to tell the difference is the price <span style="color: #a64d79;"><strong>(and usually the quality of cover artwork)</strong></span>. <br />
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I can spot the difference, but does the average non-writing reader realize what they're getting when they purchase a $0.99 book? Now, some self-pubbed work is actually pretty good. But, sadly, a good majority of it is pure <strong>crap</strong>!<br />
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Having no way to quality control the work that's put out there, it's the reading public that will suffer in the long run. And anything that runs the risk of turning off book readers is a <u><em><strong>bad thing</strong></em></u> for all of us, no matter what route we take.<br />
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Do you all think about or care about this kind of stuff? Have you indie published yourself? If you're thinking about it, have you planned to have a professional editor review it first?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgacwCaMPOYZ246i8yLAW8nOEz9CRx_crBSrS4bU3q1LqDQNFyXiSsQw80H9xENVLbb6Njs3y1uc9DZPglqHB_0UMAGgiZvvxDkJho62d0aBP0GCtnrmLhz1wCZxgtHQjUeWgrR2jmEp7U/s1600/happy_friday.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgacwCaMPOYZ246i8yLAW8nOEz9CRx_crBSrS4bU3q1LqDQNFyXiSsQw80H9xENVLbb6Njs3y1uc9DZPglqHB_0UMAGgiZvvxDkJho62d0aBP0GCtnrmLhz1wCZxgtHQjUeWgrR2jmEp7U/s1600/happy_friday.gif" /></a></div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03726858055689145824noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910533818594533243.post-1414032613901635682011-03-23T07:00:00.051-04:002011-03-23T09:11:55.195-04:00Would You Rather - Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>Helpless Plea : If anyone knows how to add the share buttons on blogger when they absolutely refuse to be added, please hit me up with an email. Blogger and I are about to throw down.</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtDStcN4HWJc7OKJQdZQAG3k0FNeU0fFXGgPzeodyPMLV6KIpRn6NQvZUAuY_t_SrvchjvVXeDdN2nOo1zgy8NsMuJ7B6c-v2XEH1kMDNoT9a96LmV7W3au-XEFF9t_JpSdxMSKrstFk/s1600/would-you-rather.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtDStcN4HWJc7OKJQdZQAG3k0FNeU0fFXGgPzeodyPMLV6KIpRn6NQvZUAuY_t_SrvchjvVXeDdN2nOo1zgy8NsMuJ7B6c-v2XEH1kMDNoT9a96LmV7W3au-XEFF9t_JpSdxMSKrstFk/s400/would-you-rather.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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BTW, thank you all for leaving such awesome comments on my St. Patty's Day blogfest entry. I actually won one of the prizes!!! I'm positive it was because of all the nice things I paid you guys to say.<br />
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Okay enough about me.<br />
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<a href="http://thelosttwin.blogspot.com/2011/03/would-you-rather-wednesday_16.html#comments"><span style="color: blue;">Last week you all had to decide between living life in Hogwarts or Middle Earth</span></a><span style="color: blue;">.</span> At first, it looked as though Harry & Co were going to run away with the results, but at the midway point the hobbits came on strong <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><b>(actually, I think it was the elves, but whatever)</b></span>. Sadly, it wasn't quite enough for them to defeat the wizards, so The Potter won. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfphU-NcvEMG8uwF2DFnvvx3XE5bUzoi-W1MLXSDNVmWbGAVssyYhCfJJs5B6eG4RPTuWv2gR7c5Ax1EjJd-eftCCh746qNytQKR6_EVCKtjP32SFJTvxNUgG1ftUPny9xdDbyC5UIIyY/s1600/ginny+weasley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfphU-NcvEMG8uwF2DFnvvx3XE5bUzoi-W1MLXSDNVmWbGAVssyYhCfJJs5B6eG4RPTuWv2gR7c5Ax1EjJd-eftCCh746qNytQKR6_EVCKtjP32SFJTvxNUgG1ftUPny9xdDbyC5UIIyY/s200/ginny+weasley.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ginny Weasley - Most Popular Girl on Would You Rather Wednesday</b></td></tr>
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Me, I'd rather spend my life hanging around Hobbiton & Rivendell. And at first, I thought I wanted to be Arwen -- unbelievable gorgeous & hooking up with the future King. But then realized I'd get bored waiting around for him to get back from saving Middle Earth. At which time, I decided to become Legolas instead. That way I can be a kick ass fighter <u>and</u> stare at my reflection all day. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><b>(Yes, I absolutely would be vain if I was Legolas, thankyouverymuch)</b></span></div>
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Anyway, now on to this week -- this time we get <b>THREE </b>choices to choose from!</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">If you were given the chance to star in a blockbuster movie based off the most amazing book you've ever read, would you rather be cast as . . . ?</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">A) The Hero/Heroine</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">or </span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">B) The Villain / Villainess</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">or </span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">C) The Comedic Sidekick</span></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03726858055689145824noreply@blogger.com28