Chick Lit Goddess

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

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Write This Way…

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You must write this way...no, this way! BOTH ARE WRONG!

Most writers want to learn how to be a writer, right?  With all the books and websites that are accessible, shouldn’t every book that is written be published by now?  Shouldn’t the wanna’ be writers be famously known like Shakespeare, Poe, Salinger, Blume, Steel, King, just to name a few?  My bookshelves are filled with “how to” books on writing, but am I published?  No.  One thing that I’ve noticed with all of these are the title of the books; they grab you right away!  Yes, that’s the point of them, but shouldn’t what’s behind the flaps be the main selling point of an instructional or guide?  Every author or co-author has their own style of saying how to write and get published.  I have read and tried my best to follow their advice but nothing has helped.

YOUR WAY IS THE RIGHT WAY TO WRITE

On Saturday night I started Stephen King’s book “On Writing: A Memoir on the Craft,” a book that has been recommended for emerging and current writers.  After reading only a few chapters, I was hooked on this book.  THIS is the book that will teach you how to be a writer.  “Why,” you ask?  Because he’s not saying do this or do that, no.  He’s simply telling you his story and how he began writing.  Currently I’m only on chapter nineteen (each chapter very short, 3-4 pages at the most), but I am truly in love with this book.  His story gives me inspiration and confidence to write…MY WAY!  That’s what I’ve learned, to write one way, MY WAY!  

The following are some tips that I want to share with you.  Some of these have been given to me (thank you to my writer friends) or I had to learn (sometimes the hard way):

  • WRITE WITHOUT EDITING!  Write a lot!  It doesn’t matter what you write or how amazing or horrible it might be, just do it!  You can always go back and edit or get an editor
  • Share you work!  Don’t be afraid to have people (friends, family and/or writing pals) read over your work.  Often times they will suggest something that will click and will give you insight or advice, sometimes that you didn’t even know you needed
  • It’s okay to have Writer’s Block — I did when I was writing my 1st book, and quite often!  I would write day after day and I would be on a roll, and the next thing I knew the cursor would be staring back at me asking, “Where’d you go, lady?  Come on, write!”
  • If you use a computer, click “save” a lot!  Just trust me on this one!
To close, I encourage you to learn to be a writer, your way.  🙂

Do Football and Romance Mix?

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Yesterday was a great day, FOOTBALL season began!  After months of waiting, some even anxiously awaiting to see if there would be a season this year, I was ready for my favorite sport to begin.  I put on my Roger Staubach jersey, a tradition that I started a few years ago, (hopefully) thinking that if I wore my jersey, my team would win.  Sadly they didn’t, thanks to Tony Romo and his…anyway, where was I?  Oh yes, back to my blog.

Since I’m in the midst of my writing journey, I wondered how many romance books are entwined with football.  It turns out that there are quite a few and HERE is a link I found.  I haven’t read any of these book, but would love to, I’d even consider writing one, that is after I finished a couple, of course.  While it might seem like a challenging task of writing about something most men enjoy, it can also do you good to learn the game from them and have them teach you something.  Your SO (significant other) might even find this so attractive they you might end up having some “halftime nookie,” a.k.a., inspiration for your book!

Until next time, y’all have a great day!

Fun Friday

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I know that I haven’t been writing my usual “Fun Friday” blogs, but I have to share this with you, only because I consider writing and editing FUN!

Two days ago I went to the library to work on finishing up my editing to turn in to my editor.  I literally sat there and started at my computer and didn’t do a darn thing the whole hour and a half that I was there.  I left the library on the verge of tears, feeling very overwhelmed and unaccomplished.  It wasn’t a good day.

Today I woke up and was ready to tackle what I needed to get done — finish the edits and turn them in!  I arrived at the library and began to work.  After about two hours, I needed a break and pulled myself away from my computer and picked up a book that was sitting on the shelf staring right at me.  It’s called Seven Pleasures: Essays on Ordinary Happiness by Willard Spiegelman.  There are seven chapters which are titled the following: Reading, Walking, Looking, Dancing, Listening, Swimming and Writing.  I read the chapter on writing and I was truly inspired to continue working to make my dreams come true, especially thanks to the following quotes:

Revision is another word for patience

Whom do you dream of when you write?  To whom are you speaking?  Who is your “you?”

“Only armatures say that they write for their own amusement.  Writing is not an amusing occupation.  It is a combination of ditch-digging, mountain-climbing, treadmill and childbirth.” Edna Ferber

Like virtue, writing must ultimately be its own reward.

A writer must only sit and begin.

What is written without effort is read without pleasure.

We must accept our false starts and our full wastebaskets as the conditions for our modest successes.

The writer’s satisfaction comes not from without but from within.

Writing is easy: All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead.

I hope these quotes inspire you as much as they for me.  I have been lost and feeling a little tired, but after reading the wonderful chapter by Spiegelman, I am fired up and recharged!  I can’t wait to see what next week holds for me on this journey of being a writer!

**The Sex Blog**

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I check my blog stats at least once I day and the surprising thing is that the most highly read blog post was THIS blog about sex in Chick Lit books, but why?

Is it because the word sex is so alluring to our eyes? Is it because some of us are desperate housewives who crave attention from our husbands? Do we want to live our fantasies through the characters we can relate with…only to get so hyped up and nothing happens? While there isn’t a lot of actual sex in Chick Lit books, don’t we all want just a little bit more? Where is the gray area between Chick Lit and Erotic novels? Maybe a Harlequin novel…

My question to you — Why are topic about sex in books so popular?

Accomplished Writers Motivate Me

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Today I watched “Something Borrowed” by my favorite Author, Emily Giffin. This book was a great read and it will forever be on my Top 5 Favorite Book list. As the movie played on I began to feel somewhat of a closeness with the delightful and sweet (Rachel) and it’s all-about-me (Darcy) characters, just like I did when I read the book. Though the movie didn’t follow the book exactly, it was pretty close. I relived a few of my favorite scenes and wow…I congratulate Emily on what I can only dream about. Having her bestselling books (I heard that “Something Blue” is in the works), become movies, it makes me want to work harder to get my book published and hopefully have it turned into a movie.

For more inspiration HERE is an interview which I loved, especially her answer to the 4th question. Am I stubborn? Absolutely!

Chick Lit Writing Contest

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Fears. We all have them when we write, but I’d say that my greatest fear is entering a contest. I have often thought about entering a contest and this year I think I might, only after seeing THIS blog.

Some might think that writing a book is something to be more afraid of, but I disagree and here’s why:

1: The Anxiousness: I am a worrier, so turning in something to win terrifies me! I’d be panicking from the time I send off my work to the time I hear any type of result.

2: The Requirements: Again with the worry, no matter how many time I check over what is required and how and what’s required of me, I (think) that I’m bound to not do something right, which might mean that I’d be disqualified — not cool on my part!

3: The Work: I am not the best writer, but by submitting work into a contest, it makes me want to be a better writer. My ideas that I come up with aren’t easy, but once I got going (sometimes) I can’t stop.

4: Confidence: Since writing and completing my book I have come a long way and I have confidence in my work and want to share my work. I want to be known so what better way to get my work out there than to say I’ve entered and won a contest? Nothing at all!

On a final note, I encourage you to enter (a) writing contest(s) for fun! Go for it and give it a try! I will if you will!

Adding A Little “Hump” To Your Wednesday

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**WARNING: MATERIAL MIGHT BE RACIER THAN NORMAL AND MIGHT CAUSE YOU TO NEED MOUTH TO MOUTH RESUSCITATION A.S.A.P.**

Happy Wednesday, ladies!  Wednesday is also known as “Hump Day,” so I’ve decided to put a little spark back in to your week, and in mine as well.  Today’s high in Texas is 110 and I am in need of a better excuse to be hot, instead of just the unbearable temperatures.

FANTASIES…We all have them, so you might as well enjoy and indulge your mind…and body

It all starts with a kiss.  Now I’m not talking about the kiss that your grandmother would approve of, but the behind closed doors kiss, the kiss that sends chills up and down our body.  This kiss is best when done spontaneously and with a light amount of aggression, followed up by the light brush of lip on lip action.  The intensity begins to grow and grow, until the sweet and saltness of his lips make you hungry for more of him.

It’s been a cliché that these kisses only happen on soap operas and in movies, but I beg to differ.  While relationships grow and evolve and everyday life begins and those little quirks that you use to think were so cute are now annoying, that’s when we (men and women) need to ignite fireworks to remind your significant other, or even rekindle the passion you two have for one another.

Eduardo Verastegul

I would like you all to be introduced to the man who inspired me to write this blog today, thanks to Kathie Lee and Hoda on The Today Show this morning.  They replayed a clip of their first episode extension of the morning show.  HERE is the clip.  Instantly, I fell in lust with him, and couldn’t remember wanting someone so bad, not even Bradley Cooper.  Now, it might have been the way he was dressed, only because I am drawn to attractive men in suits.  He is a very sexy Latino…HOT, HOT, HOT!

Pretend your on the beach and it’s just you and your man.  How much sexier can it get?  Not much!  There is a reason why so many couples want to go to a beach destination for a (romantic) vacation — and it’s all because of the intimacy that two people can share on what can be such an erotic location.  Think about it…you laying on dry sand and your man hovering over you, and there’s no one around.  When he’s kissing you and his hands are arousing your body.  All of the sudden get drenched thanks to a wave — at first your surprised and a little bit caught off guard, but then you ignore it and keep paying attention him, who has now eased his way down to your shoulders.  Instantly, your nipples begin to harden and chills cover your body…(I would keep going, but my own beach fantasies have taken over).

Some people might think of Texas men as non-attractive, well they are so wrong.  Cowboys are VERY sexy!  From head to toe, cowboy hat to cowboy boot and of course what’s in between!

There is something so sexy about a real cowboy, whether it’s the way they talk in that sweet charming accent from the south, or the way they are manly men with a touch of sensitivity.  These men are hard workers, on the land and in the bedroom.  Cowboys are known for waking up early, ready to take on the day of physical labor, and from what I hear just because the sun goes down doesn’t mean that they are ready to stop working, wink wink!  Their bodies are built to work overtime — and on you!  They take pride and cherish the women they are with.  **For quick sexy reads about cowboys click HERE.

This weekend I watched both Bridget Jones’s movies (Bridget Jones’s Diary and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason) and fell in love with Mr. Darcy!

While Hugh Grant’s character, Daniel Cleaver, is that bad boy we always like for some reason and his smile makes me blush, everything about Colin Firth’s character, Mark Darcy, melted my heart.  I loved how he never bashed Daniel for sleeping with his ex-wife, I loved how Mark was honest about everything he said to Bridget, good or bad.  While he always acted strong and macho, he didn’t act like it, nor did he need to, to win Bridget’s heart.  Above is a picture of the movie where he says my favorite line.  While at first I didn’t think that Mr. Darcy was sexy at all, not even attractive, his actions made me love him and his words stuck with me.

I encourage you all to watch these two movies and find out why you love Mr. Darcy.

Adding Spark To Your Writing and/or Editing?

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First of all, I apologize to all my faithful subscribers for not posting in quite a long time — I’ve been on vacation, reading for my reviews and editing my own book…oh, and I started another class at Gotham Writers’ Workshop, my last to receive my Fiction Certificate.

For my GWW assignment this week, it was challenging enough to where I was way out of my genre, yet not way too off to where it wasn’t enjoyable.  The piece I wrote wasn’t really dark, but more grey.  After I wrote the piece I read it over and over, not believing that I had written something that was so mysterious and showing, with a rare amount of telling — if any at all, like the assignment I was given.  I found this inspiring!  My passion for writing came more alive, though it never really left, it was just on hiatus.

With  these wonderful and creative assignments, it has taught me to open my mind to another kind of writing, not just the happy-go-lucky stuff that I normally write.  While I wasn’t quite sure about this class being the right time for me, I can see now that I was clearly wrong.  It’s motivated me to be a better writer and editor.  You might question the word “editor,” but since I’m in the process of editing, I think that it might be a great idea to incorporate new ideas with what I have already written.

I highly advise anyone who is in a slump with their writing to give taking a writing class a try.  It can definitely be the spark  that you need.

Click: An Online Love Story

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Book Review for “Click: An Online Love Story”

“Click: An Online Love Story,” by Lisa Becker

When I was approached to review Lisa Becker’s “Click: An Online Love Story,” I was thrilled beyond belief that someone had asked me to review their book.  This was a first, and it was truly an honor.  After learning the storyline, I was very eager to get started, as it seemed to be in my desired genre.  My only doubt was that it was written entirely in email form.  When I began reading the book, I literally couldn’t put it down.

Renee Greene is twenty-five days away from turning the big 3-0.  When she receives an email from her best male friend, Mark, asking her to go along with him on the journey of online dating, she discusses it with her sexually vivacious friend, Shelly, who encourages her to try it.  Feeling a little bit “desperate” and hoping that nobody finds out about this, especially Ashley, her prudish friend, Renee takes Mark up on his offer and fills out a profile on the Choose Jews website.

After going out on an abundant amount of dates with some sweet and some psycho men, their careers ranging from a doctor, a musician, to a wardrobe stylist for a TV show, just to name a few, Renee finally finds her man…only to discover something that could break them up and end her friendship with one of her best friends. I won’t spoil it for you – it’s way too good, but let me say that I was very surprised by the discovery of a certain “cuddler” …(oops, did I say too much?)

The title stands for itself!  This is truly a modern-day love story that I will never forget, and I could tell that it was clearly written from the heart.  Lisa Becker’s comical way of showing us that online love can be real, is truly brilliant!  She gives an honest and in-depth view of how it really is in the online dating world, even if you’ve never considered or been in it.  As for the email format, I found it easy to decipher who had sent the email, thanks to the wonderful deciphering of the all the characters.  The only thing that I would change are the characters ages.  I think that having Renee be as “desperate” as she is, she would be all for online dating because she’s still young.  If she were 35, then I could see how she being an older person might not be as interested.

The next time I am asked what book to read, I will definitely say, “Click: An Online Love Story!”

I give this book 4 ½ out of 5 stars.

**Click HERE to read my Guest Interview with Lisa!