Chick Lit Goddess

...because every author wants to feel like a goddess!

Link

Bartlett’s Roget’s Thesaurus

4 Comments

A few months ago I was at the library and asked for a thesaurus.  The librarian said that she didn’t know if they had one because everyone uses the internet, but that she would look.  Minutes later she came back with their “only” thesaurus that they had.  How can a library only have one?  While I understood how and why this could be true in my generation, especially with the growth and advances in technology.

As a writer, this really bugged me.  How can one of the most beloved type of resource for writers be not in use (print) anymore?  Aren’t libraries supposed to have books in print?  (I know that they are now carrying audio books now, but would you really listen to a resource book like that?)  Most of the time when I flip through a thesaurus or even a dictionary, it can give me inspiration and help me learn more new words.  Anyway, HERE is the thesaurus that I was handed.  At first I was confused at the layout of this book, but once I got that down, I was in love with such a brilliant book.  While I was there that day I was so amazed with this book that I didn’t want to leave, but I couldn’t check it out (you can’t check out resources).  Weeks later I was still thinking about that book and couldn’t find it at my local library, so I bought it online.  Below are some pictures that I took to show you how much I love this book:

Bartlett's Roget's Thesaurus

Index 1
Index 2

 

Categories

Definitions

Extra tidbits

Back cover

Your Memoir Character & Your Fiction Characters

2 Comments

Yesterday I started my Memoir class.  After reading the introduction, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it’s okay to exaggerate some.  The advice that was given was to write it how you saw and/or remembered everything about it, even if it wasn’t exactly true, (ex: stretching the truth in a conversation).

Like fiction, memoirs can be short or long.  They both have to have some kind of plot, with a beginning, middle, and end, but the most important part, especially in memoirs, are the main character.  You stories in either genre, have to make the reader want to turn the pages.  We the writers, want you, the reader, to connect with the story or characters that have been created.

HERE is a blog that I wrote awhile back and I’d like to revisit the following question: When writing, how much are your characters like or unlike you?

And The Week Begins

Leave a Comment

This week will start off busy, but that’s okay.

By the end of today I will (hopefully) have turned in another batch of edits to my editor and have written tomorrow’s blog.  I will have started on the loads of laundry that have been piling up, along with the other piles of clothes that we have (finally) unpacked this weekend.

Oh, Monday here you are to greet me with your glory.

(Yes readers, I’m STRESSED out).

This week consists of the following:

  •  Blogging, editing, starting my Nonfiction class from Gotham Writers’ Workshop, working on the assignments and preparing for my other GWW Mystery class which starts a week from Tuesday, writing an outline of some sort for NaNoWriMo, and of course the day-to-day wifely duties (laundry, dishes, shopping, this list never ends)!

Wish me luck!

Preparing for NaNoWriMo

11 Comments

Like I announced on my LAST POST I will be participating in National Novel Writing Month.  I have a little over a month to prepare for this monthlong journey and I’m already panicking with preparation, so I’ve decided to make a list on what I need to do:

  • GET ALL THE NECESSARY ITEMS: Notepads for scratching down notes: legal-sized is best because it allows you more space to get creative.  Get a Mobile File Folding Cart.  This filing cabinet if wonderful!  It’s light and very portable.  (If all goes well I am planning on beginning my filing system soon).  Get a mini-notebook to keep with you at all times so if an idea pops in your mind all you have to do is write it down.  File Jackets have saved my life as far as keeping things organized.  These large folders are big enough (depending on if you get the large size) to put your legal-sized notepad in.  Of course you’ll need pens, but you will need an eraser.  Since I’m in the editing process, you will need an eraser, on you love.  HERE is a link to the eraser that I have.  Sticky Notes are my favorite item to use when writing, editing or jotting down reminders about your characters to place on your computer screen.  Write an outline for your novel.  If you’re like me, you probably are beginning to wonder what to write.  Using an outline will prevent you for completely stressing out and might help writer’s block stay away…or postpone his visit until you write your next book.
  • MAKE GOALS: Writing 50,000 words seems like a lot, but it averages to be around 1,650 words a day.  It doesn’t seem that bad once you see the number, right?  I’m not saying that there won’t be days when you can’t even write 500 because there will, and that’s okay.  You can create a writing schedule for yourself, similar to a To Do List.  Say you write 500 words a day at the least and if you don’t make it, make it up during the weekends.  Don’t worry, you can do it!
  • GET A SUPPORT GROUP: Having a friend or a writing support group during the month of November, can be a wonderful thing.  If you’re up for it, have them read what you’ve written and talk things over.  If you bounce thought between each other, most of the time you’ll be lucky enough to get a burst of inspiration.
  • PUMP YOURSELF UP: Get excited!  If you’ve never taken part in NaNoWriMo before but have always wanted to write a novel, this is your chance.  You can do it!  If you have, then remember how it felt when you finished writing your first book.
  • WAIT FOR IT TO BE 12:00:01 ON NOVEMBER 1st of 2011: Now that you’re ready, all you have to do is wait for time to pass.  Remember to breathe to calm your nerves.  It’s important to not stress before you get going.
  • WRITE: It’s time to start writing and by then end of the month, you’ll be able to say, “I wrote a book in a month!”

It’s That Time Again

2 Comments

In just over a month National Novel Writing Month starts and I’m ready…I think!  While I was interested in it last year, I was more focused on finishing my first book.  Since I finished it in March and am in the editing process, I’m itching to get back to writing!  While some of you know I have started writing another book “Somewhere Down In Texas,” I have another story that I want to write even more.  That’s why I plan on participating in NaNoWriMo in November, 100%!  I’m very excited about it because it serve me new challenges!  In the beginning of October I will be taking a six-week Memoir class from Gotham Writers’ Workshop.  A week later starts my Mystery class also to be taken from GWW, though this course is ten weeks.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m horribly nervous and anxious about these challenges, but I’m also very excited!  I can’t remember when I’ve had so much going on at one time!  (Not to forget that birthdays, a girl weekend and Thanksgiving will be somewhere in between…imagine me pulling my hair out right now).

I hope to get through this with flying colors thanks to green tea, visits to the library, support from friends and family and of course wine!  Please know that if you don’t see me blogging as much don’t worry, I will be back once November is over with.

So, who’s going to join me during the National Novel Writing Month?

Mystery Chick Lit! Do I Dare?

3 Comments

As some of you might know I’ve been thinking about taking a Gotham Writers’ Workshop class on writing mysteries!  Now some might think that this is way out of my league, even I think that.  As I evaluated my DVR today, I realized that more than half of them are crime and mystery shows like CSI: Las Vegas, The Mentalist, NCSI: Los Angeles and at the extreme, Dexter, just to name a few.

I have only read one mystery and loved it, though I forgot the name of it or who it’s written by, but I was so intrigued and loved every minute of it.  I recall finishing it in two days.  That was ten years plus years ago and ever since then, I have been plotting a mystery in my head, but haven’t put any of it on paper.  Since I have had a lot of luck with Gotham Writers’ Workshop, last night I decided to sign up for the class that begins in early October.  To get myself started I began looking online for helpful mystery tips.  THIS was the best one that I found.  Since I am a Chick Lit writer in the making, I want to incorporate mystery into one my next books.  If you don’t know what that means, HERE’S the definition.  Now HERE is the best guide I could find how to write Mystery-Lit.  After reading this I am now even more exciting about beginning the mystery writing class.  Wish me luck!

 

It’s Savory Saturday

3 Comments

Green Tea. My favorite!

 Since yesterday was the first day of my favorite season, I anticipate that I will be upping my intake of the savory drink, tea, green tea specifically!

I first started drinking green tea when I would have sushi, and I couldn’t get enough of it.  When my husband and I received our wonderful Keurig machine as a wedding present, green tea was at the top of my list!  HERE is the link to the Keurig machine and Keurig cups.

(**Note: Some of you might have seen that earlier this week my Keurig machine died.  I will hopefully be getting a new one tomorrow).

If you do not have a Keurig cup, that is okay.  As long as you have green tea bags, you can still have and enjoy the drink.

There is no other kind of tea that is better than Green Tea!  While some might think that this Chinese tea is bland, I disagree.  When served hot this soothing tea it has a woodsy flavor and a hint of tang, but when served cold its natural flavors mixed with a lemon exude a refreshing summery taste.

As a writer I think it’s important to have a warming or refreshing drink, green tea is my choice.  On a good day (meaning without having writer’s block), I can drink up to seven or eight cups.  I also must tell you something that every writer needs if drinking a hot drink, a Mr. Coffee mug warmer.  This can help keep your tea nice and warm while you write.  I also bought another one and placed a glass candle (Yankee Candles, for an example) on top of it and let it melt, for a nice aroma while you write.

Below is a recipe for creating my perfect cup of tea.

Pick your favorite coffee mug
Put the tea in the Keurig maker!
Patiently wait for it to brew
Drink up!

One note about drinking green tea is that it’s good for you.  Without going into too many details, green tea can help fight cancer and heart disease.  It can assist in lowering cholesterol, burning fat, preventing diabetes and strokes and can also help wart off dementia, says the following link.  (Please see THIS site if you would like more information on the benefits of green tea).

Now that this blog has been written, I’m off to make yet another cup of green tea!  You should too!  Happy Sipping!

Fun Friday

2 Comments

When I was a kid I loved to play games, especially board games.  Now when you think of board games, you would usually think of Monopoly, Sorry, Scrabble, Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Mouse Trap, right?  But it’s 2011 and since late last year, my husband and I have started to have games nights and quite often.  I have refound my love for playing board games!

Of all the games we’ve played, Settlers of Catan is my absolute favorite game, even over Scrabble, the famous word game.  When the guys suggested that I play this game with them, I thought they were crazy.  I looked through the instruction manual and was shocked to see that it was over ten pages!  Ten pages of instructions for a game?  No thank you!  Why on earth would I play this game?  The first night I played with my husband, brother and our friend Wade.  The game is about trading and having a good hand, consisting of resources (bricks, sheep, stone and wood), in order to build roads, settlements and cities.  I know some people don’t find any of this interesting, but I once felt the same way.  I was soon obsessed with this game and begged my husband to play it with me, even the boring two player version.  He laughed and staggered himself to the bookshelf, pulled out the game and began to set it up.  (I was one happy wife).  A few nights later, we played this with another friend who hasn’t yet played this game, “Oh yay, we get to play Catan!”  That night the friend became so obsessed with this game, that we played five games that night.  Finally, someone was loving the game as much as I did.  After playing about twenty, yes twenty games, I still hadn’t won and was beginning to get very frustrated.  Evan the first time we taught my brother, he won that night!  Really?  Now I was really getting mad.  Finally after playing for about four months, I finally won, though it was only against my husband who knows strategies and has really good luck, I felt that it was still damn awesome!

Weeks later, I’m still in love with the game and have even had dreams about bricks, sheep, stone and wood; it’s obvious that I play the game a lot.  There are expansion packages you can get to add to the game.  HERE they are.

 

Making Your Dreams Come True

6 Comments

A few nights ago I went to the Dallas premier of “Hold Your Peace” that was written, produced and directed by one of my Guest Authors, Wade McDonald.  Wade is not only my friend, but he’s also my inspiration and someone I strongly admire.

As an unpublished author, I think it’s pretty darn cool that he has made his dream a reality, something I hope to do too.  I was one of the very few to read his draft of “Hold Your Peace,” which was previously known as “The Best Man,” and from the very start I was a fan of the storyline.  It was cool that someone shared my dreams, though I didn’t know just how well the dreams were shared…until I saw the movie!

Thanks to all the time he’s invested, determination and the work he’s put into making me see that dreams can come true.