This is what happens when Halloween costumes meet digital camera meet Microsoft Movie Maker meet book, what book? I need to finish a book? Of course not. What I need to do is add another dissolve transition to this movie.
Clearly, if you’re on limited bandwidth, this does you no good. I apologize.
Yeah, I know what you’re thinking: Dude, she needs to do this for a living.
I’m so there.
Today’s suggestion is from Cereal Box Reader
I would enjoy reading a meme about people’s abandoned books. The books that you start but don’t finish say as much about you as the ones you actually read, sometimes because of the books themselves or because of the circumstances that prevent you from finishing. So . . . what books have you abandoned and why?
I am one of the few people who never made it through The Da Vinci Code. I put it down at page 79 and never picked it back up again. This has less to do with the writing than the subject matter. I’m also one of the few people in the western world who is “meh” on the subject matter. Yawn. Whatever.
If I were into the story, the prose wouldn’t have bothered me as much. Sure, the gold standard is excellent story/characterization + prose that matches. But I’ll hang in there with a book if there’s a two out of three combination. Characters I love, even if the story moves a little slowly, a pot boiler, even if the characters are a little flat. And so on.
I tend to be a mood reader. I also try to respect a book for what it is. If something’s a lighthearted romp full of camp, I’m not going to get upset when the characters don’t bleed their emotions on the page. Ditto something that’s angst-ridden and angry. It is what it is.
I’m also an “aspiration” reader. I will read something because it was a NYT notable book, or won a Pulitzer, a National Book Award, A Newbery, and so on. I like to understand why something received that honor, even if I end up not really liking the book.
My (highly personal) bias is a writer should read outside her comfort zone once in a while.
Who knew there was so much to say about not reading.
Seriously? The blog entry topic choices are lacking these days. I have a word deficit, it would seem.
For instance, last night, we turned in Andrew’s football equipment (season 4 -3). Since, previously, The Season is On!!! I told him that now, The Season is Off!!! He disagreed, stating, that it’s the off season. If the season was off, that would mean it was canceled.
Touché, football boy.
Then there’s my partial ode, partial investigation into the Vanilla Bean Blended Crème at Starbucks. This drink contains no caffeine. And yet. My mood improves dramatically after I drink one. And it’s not a sugar rush/crash later deal either. I stay happy. I know it just can’t be the whipped cream, either.
So, you see my dilemma, of course. Does ignorance = bliss? Or do I dig deeper into this possibly unsavory phenomenon? I’m thinking this might require several trips to Starbucks in the near future.
In actual writing news:
The comments and entries are going strong over on the Wet Noodle Posse blog. Friday is question and answer day, so if you have a burning question about the Golden Heart (and who doesn’t), then stop. Also, each entry this week has an email link if you wish to submit a question.
I’ve been remiss in mentioning my article in this month’s posse ezine. The Before and After of Online Writing Classes is all about … wait for it … online writing classes. Let it never be said I didn’t do any promotion.
I found this courtesy of Terry over at Better than Salt Money:
It’s very addictive, but then, it’s for a good cause. Go forth and improve your vocabulary.
WordPress is a little wonky today. I’ll be back with … writing and wedgy updates when I can.
So the other night, we were talking about what to cook along with some (not so great) steaks we had on hand, and Bob asked:
“Do we have any veggies?”
Kyra popped her head up and said, “No! I don’t like wedgies!”
Wedgies–it’s what’s for dinner. Someone has been spending too much time around her brother.
And from the spam filter:
The Author, you – super hero!
Wow! Good resources here, Enjoyed the visit!
Very good web forum, great work and thank you for your service.
Very good forum! Good info!
I is pleasantly amazed! Thank!!!
What beautiful text and visitors!
There was merrily!
In between each line (ha, you have to read between the lines, nice) were URLs for payday loans, discount airline tickets, and lots and lots of discount drugs. I is pleasantly amazed! Because when you’re looking for drugs, it’s always best to go with the cut rate, Internet ones. There really would be merrily then.
Mr. Spam-A-Lot (AKA your-IP-is-now-banned) was right about one thing. I do have beautiful visitors.
It’s Friday! Let there be merrily!
Booking through Thursday this week:
You may or may not have seen my post at Punctuality Rules Tuesday, about a book I recently bought that had the actual TITLE misspelled on the spine of the book. A glaring typographical error that really (really!) should have been caught. So, using that as a springboard, today’s question: What’s the worst typographical error you’ve ever found in (or on) a book?
As a writer, I really, really sympathize. Since I have this (freakish) thing for pronouns, I generally catch those errors. The ‘h’ left off the she and dialogue being attributed to the wrong character. That happens once in a while.
But the worst (or funniest, depending on how you look at it) was one of my own. It was for installation guide. The phrase I meant to write was something along the lines of: It does not …
What did I type instead?
It’s doe snot …
Not one of the features in our software offerings, I’m afraid. So here I sit, not throwing any stones today.
I originally saw this on Diana Peterfreund’sblog. The kids loved it so much I had to bring it over to my blog to spare Diana a freakish spike in hits on that particular entry.
And since I have exactly zero words at my command today (oh, you should see MacKenna–or not. I have completely lost the ability to write), I give you this instead.
Consider this the family friendly, rated G version of 300.
Speaking of heck, a while back, so he wouldn’t say “a swear” around Kyra, Andrew referred to “Hell’s Kitchen” (the reality TV show) as “Heck’s Kitchen.”
It’s amazing what one little post will bring to your blog. For instance: my story TP-ing Casa de Clooney, a (relatively) harmless piece of fluff. Somehow, this brings people searching for George Clooney’s house (and well, who hasn’t). Strange as it may seem, George Clooney doesn’t live in my blog.
He lives here:
This, apparently, is an eight bedroom Tudor house. I bet the real estate description includes the phrase: Location, Location, Location!
Sometimes, he lives here:
This is Villa Oleandra (previously owned by the Heinz family — think John Kerry). It’s in Italy. This is not so much Location, Location, Location as Location, if you know what I mean.
So, as you can see, research for fiction–invaluable. Just imagine what I could do with my brain if it wasn’t filled with George Clooney trivia.
Still, in case it isn’t clear, let’s review. George Clooney does not live in my blog:
Any questions?
For those of you interested in entering the Young Adult category of the Golden Heart (okay, that may just be one or two of you, but still …), Trish Milburn aka Tricia Mills will be blogging at the Wet Noodle Posse today about entering the Young Adult category of the Golden Heart.
Hop on over if you’re interested/curious. The rules for YA were revamped this to reflect what’s going on in the market. So, it’s more young adult with romantic elements than young adult romance. And a big hooray for that. I can’t tell you how happy that makes me.
Writing Wrongs 