No more Peaks and Hop Along Monday!!

Playing on iTunes: "Whatever Lola Wants" by Ella Fitzgerald

It's that time again!! (No not THAT time!! Gees...gutter head.) Hop Along Monday!! Today's phrase is, to me, just disgusting. What do you, the average Joe, say whenever if a frustrating glitch "rears its ugly head" during your day? Prime examples might include "Damn" or even "Dang it". Nope....Conor's phrase of choice ladies and gentlemen? "Crap-O'Matic Bubble". And I am so not kidding!! To me (and cover your ears if you are easily disgusted), the words crap and bubble in the same sentence evoke an image of....uh....well...I really don't wanna say because I'm easily disgusted as well. Blech!

__________________________________________
Here's the scenario (completely fictional of course ;): Conor and I are driving towards his parent's house, discussing the evening's dinner, when all of the sudden "Egads!" his phone rings!! It is a text.

"Can you pick up some canned corn at grocery store?" The text is from his mother, but we are already two blocks from their house.

*sigh*

"Crap-O'Matic-Bubble," he says, staring down at the message.

*sigh*
________________________________________________

To me, this just doesn't illustrate the emotion of this mildly frustrating event. Don't you guys worry, though...I think this may be his most disgusting crap phrase...so it shouldn't get too much worse.

THE REAL POST:
Two more chapters to go! Can I get a w00t?

I have a fabulous idea for the second book, which I will start on just as soon as I get finished editing the first. Although, this has recently becoming kind of an interesting debate within my own head. Shall I show you? Ok....take a peak in my brain, but just this once:

"...I am so writing that second book but what if none of the agents think it's saleable and I never even get a good response from an agent should I just start on the second book anyways or maybe I should start working on another book THAT ONE FOR ADULTS maybe it will sell better but then what if the agent does like the first Izzy book and I haven't even started on the second one will she not want to represent me thinking I might not finish and what if I...."

OK.....DONE! No more peaks for you.

Destroying the Universe and Taco Bell

Playing on iTunes: "Bagman's Gambit" by The Decembrists

Hark, what is that I hear? iTunes? It is! It is! That must mean I have my computer back!! :) That's right ladies and gentlemen...I have my computer back and it officially stays on longer than 10 seconds at a time. *sigh* sweet technology.

Alright...I have a question. I was at Taco Bell this evening, which never tastes as good as it sounds...and noticed their new dollar menu. It's called "Why Pay More!". This sign drives me nuts, as it's seems like they should be asking me a question instead of shouting at me! Why doesn't it say "Why Pay More?". Am I not understanding the punctuation? Are they really correct and I'm just a confused English major? I just don't see how this is not a question....and it kind of drives me nuts. THEY HAVE IT PLASTERED EVERYWHERE!!!!!

Alright...that is enough of the Bell. But if you have any answers...please share. I don't know if I am going to be able to sleep tonight. (And no...it isn't the beans.)

Moving on....

Since I have my computer back....I am going to finish my book! :) I am going to write a bit tonight (after this debate is over) and all day tomorrow. My computer WILL remain working, and I WILL start editing next week. EXCITEMENT ABOUND!!!

Oh! Not related to writing....I hate the people who invented the game "Spore" primarily because it does not work with the Powerbook G4's. Bastards. I was really looking forward to raising a cute alien and then destroying the universe. Damn.

This really was a depressing post. I think it's the politics on the tv. It doesn't depress me, it just changes the tone of my thoughts.

Oh!! I voted this week!! I won't get into politics...but I voted for Obama. If you want reasons...too bad. I have them (good one's too...not just Sarah Palin's SNL spoof's) and they are mine. I voted in person with a absentee ballot (I'm going to be in CA for the election). It was fun.

That is all.

Gaaaaaames!!!!!

Playing in iTunes: "Piano Man" by Billy Joel

My good blogging buddy Georgie B has gone and started a war. :) Nah, he actually is a link in an interesting game for bibliofiles!!! So, I have decided to participate (against my will). I have been asked to write six book related (about me) things on my blog, and tag six other people to do the same. So, without further frivolous writing....

1) Peter Pan is my all time, all time, all time favorite book.....of all time. I AM OBSESSED!!!!!

2) I have worked for various bookstores in their children's section for a little over five years.

3) I am writing my second book! (The first one was absolute crap and is locked away in a swiss vault, due not it's value...but it's humiliation factor).

4) Talking literature and breaking down characters and ripping apart plot lines is, seriously, one of my favorite things to do in life. You have no idea.

5) I actually prefer to see the made into movies first...that way there is nothing to compare it to. The movie could be great....and then the book will be fabulous!! Win, win situation.

6) I have almost as many fashion photography books as I do fiction. (Although my collection of self-improvement is fairly extensive as well.)

Right! Very simple...kinda fun. Who doesn't like to talk about themselves? That's why we're bloggers, right?

Anyways, next comes the fun part. Tagging my poor unsuspecting friends!! SPIN THE BOTTLE IT IS!!!

Alright.....*spinning*........Pink Ink!! (Oh good!! She's playful...she might like this!!)
Again.......*spinning*........Babo!!! (I'll make him do it...he doesn't have a choice...)
My arm is getting tired......*spin*........Serena!!! (Games, games, games. I think Serena likes games.)
Alrighty.......*nudge*..........Christine!!!!! (Look, another post for ya!! Already laid out...)
*sigh*........*poke*...........Allie-Boo!! (You rarely update....so I dunno if the bottle chose wisely.)
OK...one more time....*broke the bottle* (oops)....Janna!! (You guys should check out her blog...she's always interesting!!)

AND THE RULES FOR ALL OF YOU CHALLENGEES!!!

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on the blog.
3. Write six random bookish things about yourself.
4. Tag sixish people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know he or she has been tagged.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Attention Spans & Motivations

Playing on iTunes: "Blackbird" by Evan Rachel Wood





It's "Hop-Along-Monday" people...and you know what that means!! Cheesy-ness abound. Every Monday I will give you a new crap saying that my good friend Conor uses (on almost a daily basis...*sigh*). Today's cheesy saying...drum roll please...."Get over yourself." Now, that doesn't sound THAT crap, but it really depends on the context in which it is said.

Example:

Me: "Oh magoodness that work-out wore me out!"
Conor: "Get over yourself."

or......

Me: "I can't stand it when Suede talks in the third person!!"
Conor: "Get over yourself."

Do you see how this might be even remotely irritating and cheesy after a while? He has been saying this one for a few months now with no end in sight. I may have to hit him.

ON TO THE POST!!

Attention spans.........*goes to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich*.............
Oh crap! I forgot I was blogging. What was I talking about? Oh yeah, attention spans.

I am surprised that in the past two months I have been pretty diligent with my writing schedule. I write for about four hours a day, working to get at least one, if not two chapters written and have refrained from doing too much editing. (Although I am starting to get ancy.) I think I have kept my excitment for this project up, primarily b/c the story kicks ass but also b/c I have really been working to emmerse myself in the story. I have a playlist that I listen to when I am not writing. I watch a lot of movies related to the genre I am writing in. And I read a whole lot of books on writing to keep my motivation up.

QUESTION:
Out of curiosity, how do you guys keep your motivation up for a certain project? If you work on numerous pieces at once, how do you keep your excitment for all of them?

Since the Question has been asked.....

Playing on the TV: Spongebob Squarepants

On my last post, Georgie B asked me what my book was about. I started to answer his kind question in the comments section, but it quickly turned into another post in and of itself....so here is that post! :) I just copied and pasted from the email....

"Hahaha... sure Georgie! I've been a YA avid, avid, avid reader for a long time, and my family finally talked me into putting one of my ideas into a book. It's proving quite a challenge, but I'm working diligently on it every single day. (I'm really proud of that fact.) Actually, I am enjoying the hell out of it. My goal is to write a Bourne type series for young adults. My main character finds out, in the first chapter, that her parents are hiding secrets (yes, yes...kind of cliche spy type secrets.) But wait!! they are not the secrets you think!! They get taken by the "enemy" and only Izzy (my teenage protagonist) can save them. Along the way, after meeting up with an incredibly attractive guy, she finds out that EVERYTHING she has ever thought about her life and her parent's life was wrong (including the cliche spy thing). She has to infiltrate two very secretive and dangerous organizations (no...not secret societies), save her parents, deal with romance, and deal with the moral dilemmas that her parents have now forced her to face.

Whew!!! That was a mouthful. I tried not to give anything majorly away....but that is the general gist of the storyline. There are steamy (but no adult sexual stuff) scenes, along with some car chase scenes, foot chase scenes, stuff exploding, and some Ah-ha! moments. I am thinking I will be finished by the end of this week, if not the beginning of next. Then, it is time for editing. I can already tell that is going to be even more time consuming. I am kinda anxious to get to it, though to see how polished it will be.

Right, now that I have written you a book just in this email.....

Thanks for the question!! Makes me feel proud to answer...."

So, that is basically what my book is about. It is the only time of the day that I allow myself any bit of seriousness. :) Otherwise, nothing but mayhem, anarchy....AND TAKING OVER THE WORLD!!! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

Hop-Along-Mondays

Playing in iTunes: "Throw it On Me" by Timbaland feat. The Hives

"Chill out, hop along!!" - Yes, this was actually said to me in all seriousness. Oh, Conor........ *shakes head*

Cheesy title yeah? It just so happens to be the topic for this post!! A friend of mine, who goes by the name of Conor, is notoriously cheesy with sayings. So, on the way to the gym today I told him I was going to enforce "Hop-Along-Mondays". Every Monday, I will give you a saying "straight from the horses mouth" and you can decide how terribly cheesy it is.

"What does this have to do with writing?" you ask. Well, one of the characters is loosely based on this friend of mine (sort of Izzy's Ron-Stoppable) and a few of these phrases may be making their way into book one!! Should be fun to spot, nonetheless. Feel free to comment with some of your own notoriously geeky phrases!! They may just make it into the books!!

Geekily yours,
Terra

P.S. Yes Conor...I have linked to you, so now you have to update!!!!

Bastard Friends

Playing in iTunes: "Creationist" by Kerli

This write-in is only halfway working!!! How can I be expected to write five whole chapters when being tempted with french horns and burgers!!??? How, I ask???!!!

(I have made it to Chapter 13, though. Two more to meet my goal of 15 by tomorrow!!)

In up news, I have, most definitely, made my way, way way past the point of writer's block. Chapter ten looks a bit like the toilet paper roll if left to my Bichon, but that is for edits at a later time. :)

WHERE IS MY MIND!!???

Playing on iTunes: "Where Is My Mind" by The Pixies


I am having a write-in!!! This book is going down in a blaze!!! I am halfway through and wondering how long it will take to get through the next eleven chapters. I think I can actually finish this week. It takes me an hour to write a half a chapter. So, between today and tomorrow, I bet I can get to chapter fifteen...and finish by Friday. EDITING HERE I COME!!!

On another note (still related to minds) I hate it when my subconscience talks to me. For instance, I am sitting in the bathtub with the incredibly scalding-hot water, trying to determine the solution to a problem my heroin has gotten herself into when EGADS!! I have solved it!!! Then, a little part of my brain which likes to play games says in echo "EGADS!! I THINK YOU'VE SOLVED IT!!" to which the larger part of my brain goes "YES!! I THINK I HAVE!! I...NO WAIT....I LOST IT!!! BRAIN! YOU BASTARD!!" *sigh* That, unfortunately, is an actual re-enactment of a scene from two days ago. I am still struggling with that chapter...

Like I said, though......THE BOOK IS GOING DOWN IN A BLAZE OF GLORY......THIS WEEK!!!!!

(Apparently, I have had an attack of the capital letters.)

Yours (annoyed) as usual,
Terra

The Perfect Music

Playing on iTunes (but only because I am not writing my book!!) "All I Want Is You" by U2

When I first began this silly adventure called "writing a book", I usually wrote in silence. This....was not a wise decision. My first couple of chapters came out well written, but with no emotion. So, I started listing to some of my favorite, more emotional music. You know...Muse, Incubus, the Mars Volta, Coheed and Cambria...that sort of thing. These guys make me want to cry, throw things, and make love at the same time. Herein lies the problem. I pay more attention to the words than I do to my writing.

So, I have begun downloading music from movies that are similar to my book. I am no best friends with the Bourne soundtracks. They're beautiful and really help me feel the strong emotions I need to write with. Methinks those first few chapters are going to need a re-write. (Not that the whole book doesn't need that anyways.

Anyways...it was definitely a wise move on my part. I will listen to Muse in the car while I think, and the brilliant John Powell while I write. :)

Chapter Length

Playing on iTunes right now: "Knights of Cydonia" by Muse

As I write this book, I am trying to figure out what the ideal chapter length is. I understand that not all young adults are bibliofiles, so most get a little ancy in their pantsy wondering when the next chapter will start. Right now, my chapter's are running about 10-12 pages long. I have them broken up into scenes which are about 4 to 5 pages long. That wouldn't seem so bad, except when you make each scene an individual chapter, I am already on Chapter 14. I still have a lot to say!! And that count means that the book will be about 40-50 chapters long. Even I know that is a bit much. I was hoping for around 25. *sigh* I hate math. I will eventually figure it out. I think I am aiming for a page count of about 300. I am on page 67 right now. If I keep on with my chapters the way I am, I am going to have a 21 chapter book.

Wait....that's not bad. Oh good! My math was, apparently, slightly off. I guess I just needed to have it in writing. See the wonders of "the word"? It makes sense of everything, even arithmetic. :)

Right, I am on to Chapter 7: Scene 1 tomorrow night. I think I need to start setting an entire day aside for editing. I only have one chapter fully edited (not counting the final thousand edits before it is sent to the agency), so it seems I have a lot to do. On that note, I better get to work...or sleep, I haven't decided yet. Wish me luck on both!!