Bonnie Staring

I resolve...

2012-01-01T03:27:00.003-05:00

...not to have resolutions this year, only solutions.

Of course, that makes it sound like there's only one right answer out there for whatever is bothering me or needs fixin'. But that's not the case.

Goals, old and new
As part of my new year festivities, I decided to take a look back at the goals I've set for myself over the years and evaluated the success I've achieved. Overall, I did well. Things got crossed off, tossed, improved and, sadly, completely abandoned after I decided I'd completed it.

And for some stuff, that's okay. For other goals, however, you need to pay some attention to them or they won't survive, or grow into something biggah and bettah.

Too many plates, not enough cutlery
Although you can probably tell from my utter lack of blog posts, I must admit that the latter half of 2011 had me spinning too many plates at once. Personally and professionally. Yes, I'd taken care to not sign up for too much, or agree to do things I had no interest in doing, but life, like a cat, isn't always content sleeping in a sunbeam. Sometimes stuff happens that we have to find a way to work around.

Time is another four letter word
And the huge workaround for me is time management (says the woman writing this post at an ungodly hour on New Year's Day). My ability to do five million things at the speed of light has abandoned me, along with the unfortunate hair colour choices I made back in the '80s. And that's OK. There are plenty of other people out there who can take on that challenge, whether they're armed with a case of Red Bull or not.

What I can do, however, is take a good look at my schedule and ensure that I get some time in for things that I truly enjoy. Good times with family, friends and the kitten of mass destruction. Reading. Really bad TV. And maybe, just maybe, that endorphin rush I used to get while doing that dreaded thing called exercise.

Le sigh.

Why the sudden navel gazing and sense of dissatisfaction? 'Tis the season. ;)

A new reality
A new year, to a lot of people, means a new start. For me, I'd like to look at it as a new reality.

Maybe relying on a Magic 8 ball to make my decisions isn't the best way to approach things. Go figure.

So my plan is to land here once in a while to share ideas and make note of my progress. Where this will all lead, who knows, but I hope to have fun along the way. And I hope you will too.

May 2012 be a blast for us all!

What I did on my summer vacation

2011-09-04T14:53:00.006-04:00

Okay, first I have to admit two things: 1) I wasn't on vacation for the entire summer and 2) I can't remember how long it's been since I've had to write this kind of essay, so I consider this fun. ;)

Learned a lot
From attending the Romance Writers of America National Convention to online workshops and gathering with writerly types in person, online and over the phone, I keep learning that I have a lot more to learn about writing, publishing, freelancing and finding that work/life balance that the media keeps harping about. This is an ongoing journey I'll be enjoying for the rest of my life.

Lived vicariously through a friend's skydiving adventure
When my friend Laura asked me to be her matron of honour for her August wedding, I immediately knew the type of bridal shower I'd "throw" for her. Always the adventurer, Laura had wanted to go skydiving for her 40th birthday, but things hadn't worked out. So her mom and I decided that instead of having friends show up with kitchen stuff and linens for a same-old, same-old bridal shower, we'd toss her out of a plane!

I hadn't counted on being so terrified for her, though. Seriously. Between the "what not to do" videos we watched to overhearing her last-minute instructions, I was ready to throw up. While every part of me wanted to convince her to stay on the ground, I gave her a hug for luck and let her go. Laura had a fantabulous time as did the rest of us watching from far, far below!

Ballooning!
This has been an epic adventure in the making. Four years. Ten attempts. A near-cancellation on-site at the last minute. Joanne had been hankering to go on a balloon ride ever since we all went ziplining for my 40th birthday. So I signed her up for her birthday -- all those years ago! Then we experienced a wide assortment of balloon-challenging weather conditions (too much wind, not enough wind, rain, hail, atmosperic turbulence... you name it, we experienced it) that prevented us from even going to the site. We appreciated the call-ahead service by Sundance Balloons so that we were disappointed a day in advance. :(

Then, the Gods worked in our favour. Even after going to the launch site and experiencing a wee bit of rain, the operator drove the group of us further north to escape the troublesome front and we FINALLY got in our balloon ride! It was frightening, fun and fantastic all at the same time. I spent most of the ride as close to the centre of the basket as possible, gripping a handle or solid surface. Despite a risky landing (we touched down in a gravel pit), we all got to toast our successful flight with a glass of champagne and the knowledge that we were finally able to cross this item off our respective bucket lists. Hooray!

Fun Times!
Not only did I get to work on interesting projects and hang out with groovy people (including a relaxing week spent at my parent's cottage and too much fun at Laura's wedding), I also was a contestant on a new game show that will be broadcast on Canada's Food Network on May 2012. I know, that seems like ages away, doesn't it?

But then I imagined that September 2011 would be ages away when I got back from New York in early July, yet here we are. What will the fall have in store? I dunno, but I feel ready for it!

How about you? Are you ready for what comes your way this fall?

Things I've learned at National - part two

2011-07-03T12:50:00.005-04:00

My apologies if you aren't a romance writer or still feel mopey because you weren't able to attend the Romance Writers of America National Conference in New York City this year. You can always go next year and use some of these tips!

Even people at National don't get as excited about raffles as I do
I've been known to be a bit... enthusiastic about winning raffles. When I hear my name or number called, I know I'm going to burn about 500 calories. We're talking a celebration worthy of a Prize Is Right run, people. So there I was, all jittery as I stared at my ticket numbers during the YARWA event, where they had so many prizes I knew I just had to win something.

I swear, they called about a bazillion numbers. My seatmates were watching me carefully. Cecily, a gal I just met at National, won some Jennifer Echols novels, which made me envious. Then Michelle Rowen won a fantabulous loot bag. Roberta, another TRW chapter mate, won something, too!

Things weren't looking good for me. I overheard Maureen McGowan tell her agent to keep his eye on me. I thought it might have been about how awesome my latest manuscript was, but she was warning him about the Bonnie Win Dance.

I watched, heart racing, as others picked up really cool prizes such as autographed books, t-shirts, gift cards... even "big girl rejection" panties. Numbers were called. Small shouts of joy and mild whoops echoed in the lounge. Some numbers had to be redrawn because people had left.

But I was there, waiting.

Then something wondrous happened. The prize offerings moved on to author critiques, and Leah Hultenschmidt, Senior Editor at Sourcebooks, leaned over and handed me her tickets. Michelle did too!

It was like playing bingo with too many cards. My eyes scanned the numbers as quickly as I could while it seemed that they were being called out more quickly than before. (They were, actually, the board wanted to expedite things.)

Then one of Leah's numbers came up!

I squealed. I whooped. I shot up out of my seat and did the best Bonnie Win Dance I could do despite my sore feet. Unfortunately most of the agents and editors had snuck out of the room so they couldn't witness it. (I made sure to track down Leah and thank her the next day.) But everyone there knew I won -- and was excited about winning a prize!

Now back to my fantabulous win. I didn't win just any critique -- I won a critique from Eileen Cook! WHOO HOOO! So excited!

Amazingly enough, I met some more people after that.

And there I was, thinking it had been a brilliant night before the raffle draws started! Many thanks to the YARWA board, the awesome people who donated prizes, my chapter mates who brought along their agents and editors, and everyone I met and have yet to meet!

Things I've learned at RWA National so far

2011-07-01T15:24:00.005-04:00

More people recognize me when I'm smiling
It's the freakiest thing. All I have to do is squint at my phone and my own chapter mates will pass me by without realizing who I am. But as soon as I smile at one person, five more appear.

The first timer ribbons and speaker ribbons colours look the same to me
I told a few speakers on Tuesday that they should really attend the First Timer's Orientation Session, including Winnie Griggs, the fabulous author running the session. Colour me embarrassed. She was very appreciative of me recommending the session, though!

Stay out of the pitch appointment bull pen as long as you can
This is what messed me up at my first National -- hanging out with so many nervous, stressed-out writers made me jumpier than a Cirque de Soleil member. This time I checked in 15 minutes prior and kept smiling, which, of course, led to me connecting with a lot of great people and took my mind off my nerves.

It's National, not Nationals
I have to thank Ali Cunliffe for correcting me on this one early in the week. I had no idea I'd been saying it wrong. Of course, that's the least embarrassing wrong thing I've said this week. ;)

Read nametags
Oh. Mah. Gawd. At least five times I ended up chatting up some "first timer" people who definitely have been here many times before. I thank everyone for being so nice to the girl from Toronto.

Don't hug people in a dark ballroom unless they hug you first
This kind of goes along with reading nametags. Even if you think you know them, you may not. 'Nuff said.

Taking breaks works
During my first National (in San Francisco) I attended every workshop I could and went out for lunches and dinners and drinks, oh my! This time around, I took time out for quiet times and I'm having a way better time.

The Marriot Marquis Times Square details:

The elevators
Even though I watched a video of how the elevators work at the hotel, it's still a surreal experience not having buttons to push while you zoom up 30 floors in a glass-enclosed bubble. These pods of terror triggered a lot of fears and created some new ones for me. Playing elevator bingo by checking off the letter of each elevator I took helped a little for a day or two, but not much. Le sigh. I'll get over it one day.

The room's toilets
You might describe them as "the flush heard 'round the world". And I thought the elevators were scary!

Well, that's all I have to say for now. I've got to get myself all prettied up for the awards as we cheer on Eve Silver, who's up for the RITA in the Paranormal category. Go Eve, go!

Oy May!

2011-05-25T00:21:00.003-04:00

The gods are testing me in extremely entertaining ways.

Now this all might be happening because I've taken on way too many things at once. I'm working full time hours on site this month, which truly limits the amount of time I can pretend I'm a cat and curl up in a sunbeam.

And then there are the two night classes I'm taking, which interest and scare me at the same time when I swing from "I don't have a clue" to "Oh, that's what that means" on the learning parallelogram.

And in one of my classes there is a student who has absolutely no sense of humour. A true personification of a lemon. I shall call him Sir Yellow, yet pronounce the Sir "sour" for effect. Seriously, it's been decades since I've had a classmate so tightly wound -- and the inner cheerleader in me wants me to make him laugh, just to see if he snaps into itty bitty pieces like the Terminator when he's exposed to liquid nitrogen.

And I'm coordinating my chapter's contest, with the help of a lovely gaggle of category coordinators. We're a week away from deadline and things are getting kind of frantic as the last-minute questions about eligibility and the rules come flying in.

So yes, the writing is kind of on the back burner with the current WIP on simmer as I whip my to-do list into shape and prepare for a restful June.

Well, restful until RWA Nationals at the end of the month!

Eek! What am I gonna wear?

I'm a fool

2011-04-01T23:37:00.004-04:00

Seriously. I was explaining the plot of Source Code to my husband this evening and, next thing I know, I'm sobbing.

Yeah, it's supposed to be an action movie, right? Kind of, but not so much. I'll leave you to discover that on your own.

Seeing the movie isn't what's making me feel like an April Fool. It's all the times I've consulted the Mystical Smoking Head of Bob regarding things completely out of my control -- kind of like when Jake Gyllenhaal asks questions of the big man in charge of the Source Code. Because what's out of our control is out of our control. Stamp saved. No erasies.

So all I can do is focus on the things I have control over. Like what to pick up at the grocery store. What to watch on TV. (Anyone else check out Mobbed?) What to work on when I'm at the computer (My novel? My taxes? Online games?).

It's all about choices. And yeah, I've made some foolish choices, like staying up waaaay too late to play at freerice.com or doing surveys in the hopes of winning fabulous prizes. Le sigh.

Procrastination is a skill I have mastered, so I really don't need practice there. ;)

What I can practice, however, is taking it easy. You know, do the Doris Day thing. Que sera sera and all that stuff. And while Doris is singing in the background distracting my inner critic, I can get some words on the page.

How about you? What have you been an April Fool over?

Writin iz harrd

2011-03-22T23:42:00.003-04:00

There. I said it. So no one can accuse me of lying when they're staring at a blank page wondering why the words aren't flowing like they should. ;)

Yes, it's been that kind of week. You know, when doing laundry or -- heaven forbid -- exercising is more tempting than staring at the work in progress. Le sigh.

At least I'm not moping about it. Too much. There are way too many things keeping me bizay.

Cat time! The kitten of mass destruction got some outside time over the weekend. Hooray! Only now it's gotten all cold again and he won't let us dress him up in a coat and booties. (It's way easier to do with dogs or cats that have been declawed.)

Article writing! Here's a link to a fun quiz on clutter I created: Got Junk?

Squats! Okay, call me crazy, but I do squats while I brush my teeth. I use a Sonicare toothbrush, which takes 2 full minutes to complete its cycle. And I can almost hold a squat for 1:30. The goal is to hit 2:00 without falling over or drooling on myself.

Not entering writing contests! You think this would be easy for me, but it's not. It's hard not to have perfect strangers telling you what they like (and don't like) about the first chapter of my manuscript. But the time not spent entering writing contests I can spend on, you know, actually writing. You know, when I'm not doing laundry or exercising while brushing my teeth. ;)

Paying gigs! I'm fortunate to have clients who keep on wanting me to do more stuff for them, even when I'm having a bad hair day.

Workshops and classes! Now, I will admit that sometimes it can be a hit-and-miss with some of them, but there's something to take away from every learning experience. Even if it's an updated chequebook and to-do list. ;)

Reading! There are way too many books on my to-be-read pile still, but I will get to them all somehow. It's been a good year so far: I've read 7 novels already. (And yes, I'm a slow reader, so don't go telling me how you read that many in a week.)

What about you? What keeps you bizay when the words aren't going your way?

Filling the well

2011-02-21T18:23:00.002-05:00

The past few days I've been doing a lot of catching up. With friends. With books. With movies.

Some call it filling the well. I can see why. It's hard to come up with new ideas or feel motivated or have the courage to put words on the page when the well is dry. Especially the inkwell.

Yes, I have a fantabulous new novel I'm working on. Yes, I even have what could be called an outline, if you want to get all technical about it. Still, I need more than the voices in my head to make me feel prepared enough to sit at the computer and get the words out.

Sometimes they don't want to play. And that usually means they're not cooked yet.

Raw words aren't as tasty as the well done ones. ;)

So what's a person with an empty well to do?

1. Read. Even when the books you're reading are so much better than anything you could ever dream to write. Even when you try to study the words to see what you can learn from them and instead you find yourself on the floor in a fetal position.

2. Watch movies. I've watched three in the past four days: I Am Number Four, Easy A and The King's Speech. Yes, a wild mix. All good (or excellent) for their own reasons, such as use of hairography in action scenes; clever dialogue; and showing goal, motivation and conflict so well that it makes me weep just thinking about it.

3. Hang out with friends. Laughter is essential to a healthy lifestyle, even more so than chocolate. Being able to compare notes on our lives, our loves and the whole "is this where we should be at in our master plan" discussion helps open up the world for me. People have hobbies besides reading and seeing movies? Who knew?

But filling the well shouldn't be a once-in-a-while occurrence. For it to be really effective, we should practise it often. Like on days that end with "day".

How 'bout you? How do you fill the well?

A nod to Coco Chanel

2011-02-06T23:36:00.002-05:00

She's the one who said, "Elegance is refusal."

Of course, Coco was talking about resisting the urge to take on the style of a magpie and grab at everything and try to wear it all at once. Or at least a feather boa with a pillbox hat and platform shoes.

Not that that wouldn't work for someone. On a reality show.

As part of my newfound "I have no resolutions, only solutions" way of doing things, I've been decluttering the chaos known as Casa Staring one drawer or shelf at a time. Yes, the process will probably take me until 2012 to complete, but then I can start all over again. ;)

What have I discovered so far? I have a lot of the same things. Books. White socks. Notepads. Packets of cutlery from take-out places. All useful but hardly interchangeable.

And that's when I start hearing Peter Walsh in my head. Accent and all.

I blame Oprah.

You see, I first met Peter when he was on Clean Sweep, a cute little program on TLC where a team of experts (a designer, a hunky carpenter and Peter) would clear out the crap in two rooms of a family's home and then make the rooms look nice and... spacious. They'd sell all the unwanted stuff in a big yard sale and everyone would be happy.

But then Peter started delving into the psyche of clutterers. And, in each show, he'd chip away at all those reasons we all hang on to the stuff.

He's written books about it. I've got them. Somewhere. I even went to one of his book signings, told him about my aunt who had an extension put on her house to store all her stuff and then got all tongue-tied when it came time to talk about me.

My aunt got the nice personalized note in her copy of the book. I got something more generic. I'll get over it one day.

Then time passed. The need to weed the junk waned with every episode of Hoarders I watched. I mean, come on, those people have issues with clutter. Compared to them, my home was tidy. Almost barren.

Then I started watching the Oprah Winfrey Network previews.

Wouldn't you know it? Peter Walsh has a show on OWN. It's called Enough Already.

Next thing you know, I start looking at all the stuff gathered in the corners and drawers, taking up physical and mental space.

Yes, the cat is nervous. The DH is too, but that's only when my gaze lingers on the concert programs and airplane model kits. ;)

Not that I think clearing out one drawer at a time will turn me into Coco Chanel or anything, but it's a start. At least I'd be able to find the boas, hats and shoes without all the plastic cutlery in the way.

How about you? How do you conquer clutter?

Back in the saddle again

2011-01-30T23:33:00.003-05:00

I won't lie; the last few months of 2010 were really hard on me. You know, the fame, the fortune, the Rocky Horror episode of Glee...

There's a lot to be said about making things hard for your characters when you write a novel. What people forgot to say was that sometimes, when you're really into your story, you might take it personally. Feeling crushed when the hero does something completely unheroic. Wanting to smack the heroine upside the head when she does something really, really dumb -- but only because you know what's going to happen to her next. Le sigh.

After swimming in the deep end of revisions, I was able to spend most of January filling the well. With mini cupcakes and salted licorice (not at the same time, mind you, that would be gross).

It's funny how things work out. Once I started submitting my latest novel, I peeked into my Shiny New Idea box -- the box where I stick all those ideas that come out to distract me when I'm about to make a breakthrough or complete something incredibly hard, such as a semicolon placement. ;)

So I looked inside. Called out hello a few times and everything. A few of the ideas waved at me, but they were in an intense game of Texas Hold 'Em. So I gave them some space and wrote a magazine article or two. Then some ad copy.

A week later, I popped open the lid again.

BAM! An idea shot out of the box so fast I got a paper cut on my forehead.

The story has changed about a gazillion times since I picked the paper up off the floor, but I haven't had this much fun since, you know, when I started writing that last book. ;)

We'll see how I feel when I get to the middle.

Wringing out 2010

2010-12-31T23:04:00.004-05:00

It's been a frantic December, let me tell you. Of course, the hectic pace and overwhelming to-do list was of my own making. Obviously I misplaced my goals for 2010 and completely forgot what they were when I agreed to take on much too much before the festive season. Le sigh.

But here I am, delighted to wring out 2010 so that a shiny New Year, full of opportunity, adventure and perhaps a coupon or two can begin. Before I bid the old year adieu, let's take a look at those pesky goals I created and see where I went wrong. ;)

1. Go for it
Score: 65%
Yes, I'm hard on myself. But, looking back at the past twelve months, I could have been more proactive (or simply active). The majority of the score comes from me flying out on my own to attend the Lone Star Writing Conference in Houston this October. I went there alone and came back with a ton of friends with awesome accents! I'm still delighted by how much fun I had and the great opportunities attending a smaller conference offered. (Fingers crossed that something else comes from it, like those requested pages, I'll keep you posted!)

2. Finish what you start
Score: 89.5%
This one almost did me in, but I managed to finish most of the projects I wanted to this year. For those items not yet crossed off the list, such as taking over the world and reading some more books from my TBR pile, I'm well on my way to completing them by Valentine's Day... or Christmas 2013!

3. Think before taking on new things
Score: 100% (personal stuff); 70% (work stuff)
I spent way too much time working during the month of December and not enough time doing anything else like sleeping or spending time with the kitten of mass destruction (and the husband). That's no way to live.

4. Pay it forward
Score: 75%
This one was hard to do on some days, easy on others. Especially when you run into WMBS (well-meaning but stupid) types. Oops, that was my inside voice. Le sigh.

5. Clear out the clutter
Score: 90%
Yes, I still have some emotional baggage, but that's okay. That's what keeps things interesting. One big thing that has helped with the clutter reduction is staying out of the shopping mall. Huh. Or, as DH likes to call it, "shopping with a purpose". It goes like this: when you go to a store to purchase an item, you go to the store, pick up said item, pay for it and, get this, leave the store and the shopping mall! Crazy, I know, but it seems to work.

It appears that reducing the number of goals to achieve down to five from 10 didn't make them any easier to achieve. Hmm. Could it be that perhaps I didn't choose goals that resonated with my needs?

Shameless plug: Whaddya know? I wrote an article for Connected Magazine's website that covers that topic. Here's a link to my article, Resolutions That Work.

Happy New Year, everyone!

A Girls Night In for a Great Cause

2010-11-17T00:01:00.005-05:00

Last month, I held a Girls Night In event.

Girls Night In is an amazing new Canadian Cancer Society fundraising program to help support leading-edge cancer research for women's cancers (specifically breast, cervical, ovarian and uterine cancers).

And, since I'm never one to colour within the lines, I turned it into a Girls Afternoon In -- and made it a Great Exchange Party!

The idea was that everyone would bring those new or nearly new items they had kicking around the house (you know, the gift you couldn't regift, the super-low sale-priced stuff that you bought a few too many of, etc.), and "shop" from each other's treasures.

It's something my girlfriends and I used to do in high school, and it's even more fun these days, simply because everyone has way more good stuff!

There were books aplenty -- from spicy romance novels to The 4-Hour Work Week -- DVDs. CDs, fantabulous Prada handbag knock-offs, gorgeous scarves and knickknacks, and a whole bunch of other stuff that was picked over, tussled over and, in some cases, taken to Goodwill. ;)

One gal took home a boat. She's headed to Florida with it. (Okay, it's a toy boat, but I had you going there for a second, didn't I?)

It felt good doing something fun and doing something good at the same time. And, as one of the gals said at the party, attending the Girls Night In was "a lot easier than running a marathon"!

Thanks to Matchstick, a word of mouth company, I was able to turn the event into more than just a Great Exchange Party by offering up cupcakes, madelines, great tunes and some great-smelling giveaways from Chloe. No one left empty-handed!

Best of all, the money everyone saved by not going to the store was donated to the Canadian Cancer Society. More than $200 was raised! Way to go, gals!

Why should I care?

2010-10-14T11:00:00.003-04:00

There's been a lot going on around Casa Staring lately. Revisions being made, to-do's being checked off the never-ending list, vet appointments...

The kitten of mass destruction is healthy, don't you worry. He's currently under the bed, refusing to speak to anyone about what happened during his physical. Poor Zaphod!

And I've also been judging some writing contests. It's a great way to learn about the craft of writing when you see writers do it well and not so well.

No, I'm not naming names (or titles). And I'm not going to get up on a soapbox and say that heroes who play the accordion while channelling the spirits of dead aliens aren't intriguing (and that's just off the top of my head, feel free to use it if you want to), I just want to point out one thing:

When you tell your story, let a reader know why she/he should care.

I'm not trying to be facetious or mean-spirited here. It's just that, sometimes, a writer gets so involved with putting those words on the page, she/he can forget to add those little glimpses into a character's psyche that reveal what makes them special.

You know, like the villain who hates lime Jell-O. Or the heroine who brings dental floss to a gunfight. Or something a little deeper than the water left on the counter at a public restroom.

It's kind of like why I'm happily watching this season of Glee despite the lack of plot. All the characters are quirky, fun and have their fair share of teen angst struggles, and I care about what happens to them. Would I feel the same way if Season 1 never happened? I'm not sure.

How about you? What's a must-have for you to keep reading past page one?

Do you ever wonder...

2010-10-07T23:44:00.004-04:00

I opened a document from a client today that bled on screen.

Seriously. Someone was doing the "track changes" dance to an extended remix that wouldn't end. Luckily the original words weren't mine, so I didn't feel sorry for the little darlings that didn't make it to the next round.

But then I started thinking, what if the tracked changes gremlins could talk? What secrets would they share? Would they have opinions on what was changed and what was left alone? Would they experience edit envy and want to make those changes themselves?

Here's what my track changes creature looks like. And yes, she's a gargoyle, not a gremlin.

You should see how she reacts to dangling modifiers. Scary.

Yeah, I've been working on revisions, can you tell?

And speaking of working on revisions and scary things, I'm attending a writing conference on my own this month. Solo. Just me, my laptop and a room full of friends I haven't met yet.

I'll be at the Lone Star Conference put on by the Northwest Houston chapter of Romance Writers of America on October 16!

I'm very excited because Randy Ingermanson will be running a workshop on the Snowflake Method of book plotting (which will make my brain explode, I'm sure) plus there are three great agents taking pitches (Christine Wittholn, Naomi Hackenberg and Amy Boggs) and lots of other stuff I'm too excited to remember.

Now what I do have to remember is to not get nervous, meet some awesome people and learn a whole bunch.

Are you going? Maybe we can sit together at lunch!

All fizz and no gin

2010-09-26T23:47:00.003-04:00

That was one of the expressions a former advertising colleague used to describe campaigns that didn't work for him. His other was "all zip and no vinegar." They both meant the same thing: nothing for a consumer to connect with.

And that happens in novels sometimes. There may be a lot of stuff happening, but if you don't care about the characters involved, it becomes sort of a "so what" situation. And that's never a good thing.

But don't "they" want us to start a novel at an exciting, engaging point? You know, the one where all the action grabs the reader by the collar and drags her along for the ride?

Add some gin.

Give us a peek into your character's inner workings. No, that's not an invitation to fill the page with oodles of introspection, but add in a little bit about her fears or flaws or favourites -- something that makes her more real to a reader.

The fizz/gin rule can work wonders on a query letter, too. By focusing on the meat of your story, you can resist the temptation to "dress it up" with too many distracting side dishes.

Of course, some folks may prefer to have a veritable buffet of a query letter. You just never know until they respond... or simply ignore you. ;)

Wow, all these mentions of food is making me hungry. Hungry to finish my revisions. ;)

Moving targets

2010-09-09T23:12:00.003-04:00

No, this is not about a certain retail chain changing locations. ;)

The more I learn about publishing, the more I realize that the easiest part of the publishing process is the novel writing itself.

Everything else is a moving target. Genres heat up, genres cool down. Some publishers are fine with your name, others have a pen name in mind for you already. Agents retire, new agents start out. One day everyone is selling novel series, the other day stand-alone sales are it. Contracts are iron-clad, contracts are revised. And let's not get started on the covers. Le sigh.

So what's a writer to do? Write.

Sure, that's easy for me to say, especially when getting words on a page can feel like trying to tweeze my eyebrows with a plunger at the best of times.

For all I know, novels about narcoleptic accordion players could be totally out by the time I'm shopping my manuscript around. But then I can just change him into a guitarist. Without the beret.

How about you? How do you keep tabs on what's in, what's out and what to write?

Happy September

2010-09-02T00:01:00.003-04:00

I had such awesome plans for today's post. This would be my chance to wax poetic about the scent of fall, the cool breezes tugging at my shirt collar and all that fall crispiness. But with the heat and humidity making everything, including the Kitten of Mass Destruction, all lethargic and blah, I thought I'd save that for a more fall-like day.

August was a blur with family gatherings, a visit to the parent's cottage and a lovely wedding in Ottawa. The weather was perfect, the couple were tipsy during the speeches and there was a pool on site at the reception. Very cool. If only I left the chiffon at home. ;)

But the real reason I'm writing today (and coming out of hiding) is because I discovered something while I took a wee break from novel writing: I missed doing it.

Not right away, of course. Right before the separation, I considered never coming back. Why? Lots of reasons: writing a novel is hard, getting published is even harder, staying published drives people to drink and then... Amazon reviews.

Yeah, I'd let all the darkness get to me. It wore me down so much that parts of me were shiny. And no, I don't have pictures.

After a while, I imagined not writing. Snap! Suddenly I'd have all that time I spent staring at the computer, attending workshops, reading books on the craft of writing, going to my RWA chapter meetings, taking part in fun brainstorming sessions... wow, it would have been like when I quit smoking: I'd have an extra three or four hours a day.

So I gave myself the month of July to think about it. And July turned into August.

And then the first YA manuscript started poking at me in the dark, whispering about how I could make it better. Then the second YA manuscript threw a hissy fit and told me she needed a simpler storyline so the hawt hero could spend more time with her.

Le sigh. It's hard to sit on a dock at the cottage and enjoy the scenery when you've got two teenaged girls cat-fighting in your head. So I promised them I'd think about it if they'd shut up already.

But I lied to them. I was enjoying my non-novel-writing life. Heck, I even read a few books without pulling them apart or looking at character arcs and motivation...

That's when a scene popped into my head. And another. And another after that.

Problem was, these were scenes from both of the novels--and the third one I hadn't thought about in months. Suddenly, out in the middle of nowhere, all I needed was a good pen and some paper. I cursed myself for not loading the manuscripts onto my 400-pound laptop, but at least I could either write longhand or just tap away without worrying about missing anything during the rainy days.

So even though I'm back to writing, I'm really back to rewriting. And that's okay. The time apart on both manuscripts gave me some needed perspective on which darlings can stay and which ones I'll have to kill.

When do I expect to have the revisions done? No idea. Let's just see how September goes with getting some words on the page every day.

How about you? Has stepping away from a project ever helped you?

An oasis of bliss

2010-08-07T22:42:00.005-04:00

The strangest thing happened to me the other day. For the first time in, like, ages, I felt blissful.

No, I wasn't smoking anything. Or playing with pharmaceuticals. Come to think of it, I wasn't doing much of anything when it hit me: when I realized that I was happy with everything.

My hubby. My home. My work. The kitten of mass destruction.

Heck, even the dreaded WIP.

Maybe stuff like that happens to you all the time. For me, I tend to worry a little bit. Okay, a lot. About things I could do better. Things I should have done differently. Things that might go wrong.

Hey, even cheerleaders worry if it's gonna rain on game day. Or if their waterproof mascara really is waterproof. Or so I've heard.

Now does that mean I now see rainbows and cute puppies everywhere I look? Not really.

But it's pretty darn easy to find things to be happy about. Maybe it's not as easy as finding stuff to bitch and whine about. Then again, I've got a few decades worth of practice with that particular skill.

How about you? What keeps you on the happy train?

Cover quotes they never use

2010-07-28T00:24:00.004-04:00

Waving hello to all the attendees headed to RWA National. Le sigh. Couldn't make it down there this year, but plan on attending in 2011.

Before I joined the Romance Writers of America, I had no idea about how authors got other authors to give quotes about a novel, let alone paid much attention to the ones that appeared on the cover or on the inside front and back pages.

A conversation with Michelle Rowen got me thinking about what happens to the cover quotes that publishers would never use. You know, the ones like:

"Couldn't put this book down -- it was covered in crazy glue."

"Stuff happened. Then it ended."

"I loved it, okay? Now put the gun down."

"Everyone died. Kidding!"

"This got printed?"

"I loved it. Oh, hang on, I think that was the other ARC I read."

"If this makes it to the NYT list, I'll eat my socks."

Of course, we'll never know if any of these really ever happened, but it's fun to imagine. ;)

My WIP is at a standstill while I allow the rewrite to simmer and I work through the TBR pile.

How about you? Read any fantabulous books lately?

2010 Goal Check

2010-07-04T23:01:00.003-04:00

June swept in, grabbed hold of the nachos and disappeared around the corner. Whew! Now July has settled in around the inflatable pool and I'm running low on paper umbrellas.

Not that I have much to celebrate for this goal check, my friends.

Let's see where things are at:

1. Go for it
STATUS: Needs more work.
An object at rest, stays at rest. That's all I can say about this. Time to find my chutzpah, crack the whip and every other cliche out there to get back on the bandwagon. I will give myself points for running off to San Fran for a wild girls' getaway in early June. That's something I would have talked myself out of last year.

2. Finish what you start
STATUS: Do you smell something burning?
Ugh. The project that should be done is not. It requires a rewrite of epic proportions and I need to step away from it for a while. Right now we're not on the most friendly of terms. Yes, words have been exchanged and my heroine might be threatening to sue, but this too shall pass. Like a kidney stone.

3. Think before taking on new things
STATUS: It's working!
This is one area where I've experienced success. Yes, I've taken on some new things, but for reasons that work for me, my family and my schedule. The other stuff, someone else can do.

4. Pay it forward
STATUS: Ongoing
This one is challenging some days, easy breezy on others. It could be that when I'm working from home I tend to be completely unaware of anything or anyone except the kitten of mass destruction. But I'm making progress. Or at least I think so.

5. Clear out the clutter
STATUS: Ongoing
It amazing how stuff can pile up when I'm not looking. Thankfully, I haven't taken on a whole bunch of new things so I've had time to root around the physical and emotional stuff and toss some things out -- or drag them out onto the driveway so DH can run over them. No animals have been hurt in the decluttering process. All of Zaphod's toys, including the twig and bottle cap, are still present and accounted for.

So, am I satisfied with my progress. No, but that's okay. Some progress is better than none, and there's still six months left, right?

How about you? How are your goals for 2010 shaping up?

I had a birthday

2010-06-24T23:06:00.003-04:00

And it was a lot of fun. Shopping. Eating. A little bit of drinking and household karaoke may have been involved. Followed by pralines and cream ice cream.

All I can say now is I feel like I've been living like a teenager. In a much older body. LOL

Thanks to all who sent me Facebook wishes and caviar dreams. No, Robin Leach did not appear on my doorstep for an episode of Lifestyles of the Out of Tune and Infamous. And yes, I know I've dated myself by referencing a program that hasn't been on the air in this century.

Even more exciting was what happened on the day after my birthday: the earthquake!

So there I was, proofreading a document for a client on the eighth floor of an office building, when I could have sworn a bunch of elephants were dancing behind my chair. Or a very large graphic designer with a gang of production people. Carrying photocopiers.

I turned around and met the gaze of Hugh, the man across the cubicle farm hall from me. And that's when I noticed that the freaking building was moving. Not a lot, but enough to make me wanna throw up.

Bonnie: "Ohmigawd, are we having an earthquake?"

Hugh: "Feels like it."

Bonnie: "But earthquakes don't happen here. They happen in places like San Francisco."

Hugh: "Weren't you just there?"

Bonnie: "Yeah."

Hugh: "That explains it. You brought this home with you."

Lesson learned: people always blame the temp. ;)

Some people raced over to the window to watch the people spilling out of the office buildings onto the street while I struggled to remember what you were supposed to do during an earthquake.

Thoughts of standing in a doorway and avoiding elevators came to mind, but then I got caught up in everyone taking guesses at whether the quake was related to the G20 or not, or if another town was bearing the full brunt of the tremors.

I thought it was cool. Especially since it felt like being on that earthquake ride at Universal Studios. Except without the water and submerged subway.

And now I know that it's hard to proofread during an earthquake, no matter how small the tremors. ;)

How about you? Did you experience any wild acts of nature this week?

The good, the bad, and the fugly

2010-06-19T23:01:00.002-04:00

June has been a month filled with ups and downs. And I'm not just talking about elevators or my recent girls' getaway to San Francisco. ;)

I've been quiet because you really didn't need to know what was going on in Bonnieland. One day I'll look back upon late May/early June as a time when I needed to "shop at the perspective store," as DH so lovingly told me.

Yes, he's still alive.

What really helped was a tour of Alcatraz, truth be told. I stood and peered into each small cell and thought about how good I had it. Sure, the inmates had a bed and three square meals a day, but they had little else.

Not even a kitten of mass destruction (who greeted me with poop at the door upon my return).

And while last week I'd been fully prepared to peel the face off a perfect stranger because she couldn't put her shopping cart to the side like you're supposed to, now I'm feeling less dangerous.

Here's why:

1. I spent four days being a tourist in an incredibly fun city with Laura, my incredibly fun friend from college. Rode the hop-on/hop-off tour bus as if it were the best thing since Jell-O. Then we switched to the trolley cars. My arms and legs still hurt from all the hanging on for dear life.

2. I attended a local writer's group meeting (not one that I belong to) and instead of being treated like a welcome guest, my friends and I got the stink eye, a few shushes, and discontented murmur's when a few of us won raffle items. Little did we know we weren't their type of people. It's okay; the feeling is mutual. ;) Made me appreciate my writing group a whole lot more.

3. As much as it drives me nuts, I actually enjoy what I do for a living. There are a lot of people who can't say that, so I count myself lucky. And no, I'm not talking about my go-go dancing career. :)

4. The notes from my beta reader on the novel that almost killed me aren't that bad. Yeah, I have a ton of work to do, but it'll make for a much stronger story. Looks like I'll have to pick up more index cards. Maybe colourful ones! I heart shopping for office supplies!

5. I have the best husband in the world. Even if he snores louder than my grandmother.

What about you? What makes you appreciate what you have?

There's a nap for that

2010-05-30T21:31:00.003-04:00

I don't need to have an iPhone or iPad to have a good time.

Instead of being attached to a phone playing games, figuring out who performs that song on the radio or using something productive like a GPS or weather-forecasting app, I do things differently.

There's a nap for that.

Shazam Nap
This usually happens once I finally figure out the name and artist of a song I couldn't get out of my head and then play it on YouTube about forty times. Sometimes dancing is involved.

Transit Nap
When I get a seat on the subway, I close my eyes and magically wake up one stop before my station.

GeoCatch Nap
While taking the kitten of mass destruction outside for walkies, we both find a cool place in the shade and catch some z's.

Reality Nap
Sometimes the auditions on So You Think You Can Dance or the horrors of Hoarders and The Real Housewives of Anywhere just aren't worthy of my consciousness.

Pocket Cocktails Nap
This should go without saying, but after imbibing on a few cocktails, whether or not they came from my pocket, I usually need to catch a few winks.

Lightsaber Nap
After playing Star Wars with the kitten of mass destruction, which usually involves the two of us fighting over a cardboard tube and then me talking into it and telling him I'm his father, both of us need a nap. And an oxygen tank.

Sure, the App Store may have 200,000 apps, but I've had 200,000 naps. Beat that, Steve Jobs!

Don't call me; it's time for my Post-Blog Post Nap.

WMBS

2010-05-27T23:24:00.003-04:00

WMBS. It's an acronym my friend JJLB came up with the other day. It stands for Well Meaning But Stupid people.

We all have them in our lives, and sometimes (gasp!) we are them. Not sure if your actions cross over from well meaning to WMBS? Take this wee test:

1. Your friend is on a diet and having a bad day. You:
A) Send her videos of cute kittens, knowing that she likes them.
B) Send over your friend Raphael, your next-door neighbour who just happens to be a massage artist.
C) Bring over four-dozen chocolate cupcakes.

2. You've been bad about responding to a friend's emails and she asks which method is the best way to contact you. You:
A) Tell her to call you instead -- that way she can talk to your kitten, too!
B) Pick up the phone and call her, and apologize for being such a sloth when it comes to emailing.
C) Insist that email is the best way.

3. A friend asks you for help. You:
A) Ask what she needs, and ask if the kitten can help, too.
B) Tell her you'll do anything for her. And so will Raphael.
C) Offer to do something that's already been done.

4. You see a person approaching a door who has her hands full. You:
A) Hold back your kitten so he doesn't accidently chew the woman's legs off.
B) Hold open the door and offer to puch the elevator button for her.
C) Ask her if she'd like to purchase a box of Girl Scout cookies.

5. You see a homeless person on the street. You:
A) Give him some spare change and tell him about your pet kitten.
B) Buy him a sandwich or a coffee.
C) Ask if he has change for a twenty.

Okay, now tally up your scores.

Mostly As
You are a crazy cat person. Stop forwarding all the cute kitten videos to people who don't have cats -- they don't deserve it or understand it. Save it for your other cat-crazy friends. And don't volunteer your kitten to assist with anything. Your purrfect loved one is way too bizay to help a human.

Mostly Bs
You are a well-meaning person who goes that extra mile or volunteers other well-meaning people who happen to be masseurs to assist when things get bent out of shape.

Mostly Cs
I'm afraid you may be suffering from a case of WMBS. And that's okay. It happens to the best of us. You've got good intentions, but they get lost in the delivery. Now that you're aware of the problem, you can take the three cupcakes left over to the homeless guy. And throw in a box of Girl Scout cookies. ;)

And, for some strange reason, I've been listening to Weird Al's "I Bought It On eBay" while I wrote this. Here's the link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKtlK7sn0JQ

There are no more words

2010-05-20T23:25:00.005-04:00

The subway broke for some reason today. Only for a little while though, and long enough for the fuzzy unintelligible updates to stain my Madonna listening experience.

"Gonna dress you up in--"
"Attention all subway passengers, we are munamuna blah blah St. George Station waffle waffle munamuna. Shuttle bus whawhawha platform blah blah."
"From your head down to your--"
"The delay we hodgepodge oogle blah blah munamuna shortly. Thank you."

Yeah, I lost my groove by the fourth subway stop. Le sigh. At least the problem resolved itself while Madonna went through five more tracks. Shoo-be-do-be-do...

Then a woman yelled at me because I stopped at the curb. She actually tried to push me forward, but then held off when the car I'd seen approaching sped around the corner.

Her words: "Oh."
My words: "Next time someone isn't moving fast enough for you, go around them instead of pushing them into traffic."

And I hadn't even gotten to the office yet. Someone had colored my day in with a thick black crayon. They didn't even try and cover up the bits that went outside the lines and dipped into all my happy spots.

An innocent colleague sent me .docx files all day. I'm on a Mac for this particular gig. Le sigh.

Feedback on an article made it look like my words were bleeding. Gotta love track changes. ;)

But then, I thought about how I lucky I am to have a happy home, a happy husband and a kitten of mass destruction who has been known to be happy on some occasions.

Leaving the stress of the subway, the near-accident, and the evils of my workload behind me, I raced up the front porch to burst through the front door and greet my happy family...

And stepped in cat poop.

Apparently this was not a good day for kittens either.

Wants, needs, plants, weeds

2010-05-16T21:14:00.004-04:00

I love it when I can make a connection while killing things.

DH and I finally caved and plucked out all the pesky dandelions, raked up the five gazillion maple keys, and ran the mower over what remained of the grass. The kitten was quite impressed, as his favourite cement patch was still where he left it despite all the noise and fuss the humans made.

And all that yanking and pulling got me thinking.

First, that I was out of shape again. But we know that already, so I'll move on.

Then there are those who actually cultivate dandelions to make wine or eat the leaves in fancy chichi salads. They even brag about how organic they are, using natural ingredients from within that oh-so-righteous 100-mile radius.

I could get all the dandelions I want in a ten-yard radius. Huh.

And that made me feel like maybe I shouldn't have been so hasty with my destruction of the dandelions. Maybe I should have rented out my yards for organic dandelion farming. Zaphod the kitten could be the Chief Inspector.

Actually, he already has that title. You should see his business cards.

Then I thought about the things I do that act like weeds on my productivity: watching retro '80s videos on YouTube, cute kitten pics and vids, reality TV, chocolate, pondering my existence, writing things I've already done onto my to-do list so I can cross them off, etc., etc.

All these thoughts about weeding these things from my garden of to-dos takes all the fun out of everything. It turns me into Little Miss Crankipants. Or Little Miss Big Crankipants since I haven't been working out. ;)

But maybe, just maybe, everyone needs some weeds in amongst the plants. You know, just to keep things interesting and give us something to do when we don't feel like being perfect.

Is this starting to sound like an ad for medicinal marijuana? LOL Yep, there goes Bonnie, promoting de herb again...

All I know is I need to feed my mental garden with the good, the bad and the ugly or else I get bored.

How about you? Do you need "weeds"?

D-lightful month so far

2010-05-10T00:38:00.004-04:00

May swept in without the need for a raincoat, and now we have the heat back on. What's up with that?

And yes, I've been sweeping around like an extra in Mary Poppins with too chimneys to clean and one too many spoonfuls of sugar. Oh, I'd better start now before I break into song and start reminiscing about my favourite things. ;)

Some amazing things that have happened this weekend:

DECLUTTERING
I moved my To Be Read pile onto my bookshelf so it no longer sits in five tall stacks on a dresser at the top of the stairs, threatening to topple onto the kitten of mass destruction when there's a sunbeam nearby.

DISCOVERY
I found three novels I could have sworn I'd lent to deadbeat friends who never returned them. (They're back on the Christmas Card list again... well, I've now friended them on Facebook.)

DINING ROOM
Actually functioned as one today for a lovely Mother's Day lunch instead of its usual place for the kitten and the boxes of stuff to hang out. Zaphod allowed everyone to live, and I prepared a three-course meal without causing DH bodily harm. Go me!

DIGNITY

While enjoying a lovely post-workshop dinner with Harlequin Blaze's Senior Editor Brenda Chin and her editorial assistant Laura Barth, I did not make a complete fool of myself -- although I had performed a Madonna song parody before the workshop started. Yeah, that's me, the shy, reserved one with the sparkly lampshade on her head. ;)

And that's about it. May your month be full of great d's like these!

Ohmigawd!

2010-04-28T22:11:00.002-04:00

There I was, planning to write a blog post that didn't involve contests, but then fate stepped in and changed everything.

The results are in!

My novel, Megan Delaney: Mystic Misfit, took second place in the Connecticut RWA's The Write Stuff Contest! Whoo hoo! Many thanks to the judges and everyone involved in this contest. You da best!

And, just when I the chocolate fountain warmed up, I found out that...

My other novel, Camp Awakening, took FIRST PLACE in the Chicago-North RWA's Fire & Ice Contest! I truly wasn't expecting this. When I entered, my novel and I weren't getting along. In fact, my main character was convinced that I was ruining her life, having her appear in this book.

I'm happy to say that she's delightfully miserable at the moment. And promises to hang around until the bitter end. ;)

It's a terrific feeling when people think your "baby" is as cute as you do. Now I just have to make sure I don't drive people crazy with baby photos and tales of her adventures so far.

The inspiration continues

2010-04-25T19:08:00.003-04:00

It'll be a 6,000-word week, with the light at the end of the tunnel shining so brightly the kitten is having a nap in it. Le sigh.

There's been a lot of chatter about contest judging, that is writing contests and not the other ones where you fill out an online form and win free pizza for a year. It's been interesting to read what people have to say about contest judges and trying to understand the reasons why some score things low and others score things high.

I compare judge's responses to Amazon reviews, quite frankly. Because you never know how a reader will respond to your work.

And I think that's what some writers forget (including me on days that end with "y"): that everyone has an opinion, even if it sucks. Even if it means they think your protagonist is about as useful as a rungless ladder. Even if they'd rather get a full body wax than read past the first chapter.

Hey, I have opinions, too. And if I had my way, every TV show would have musical numbers. Even the CSI series ones.

Oh, could you imagine? DNA tests performed to the quick step? Processing a car done a la John Travolta's "Greased Lightning"? Or how about House and his team breaking into River Dance moves when they're analyzing a patient's symptoms? What channel can I get these on?

And speaking of creating the perfect story, here's a video I have to share on creating the perfect Academy Award-winning film. Enjoy.

www.cracked.com/video_18156_a-trailer-every-academy-award-winning-movie-ever.html

Still inspired, now with squee action

2010-04-18T22:28:00.004-04:00

I squeezed out 9,000 words for the novel this week. It was like taking on the world's largest zit, only less messy.

Seriously. Normally a word count like this would take months, especially now that I'm in Draft 2 mode. You know, the version where I need to let readers know where my characters are and what they might be thinking instead of just saying:

"Hey."
"Hey."
"Too bad about that thing."
"It's all right. I can deal."
And then they all died.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel. One previously blocked by my refusal to open a vein and hold it over the keyboard. By not going there, to that place where bad things happen to characters. And to writers.

SQUEE BREAK
My lovely novel, Camp Awakening, is a finalist in the Wisconsin RWA's Fabulous Five Contest! I totally didn't expect it (this is the second contest this novel has been a finalist for) and I'm verra, verra excited. Yes, I love contests, especially when it works in my favour. The feedback from the first-round judges was truly helpful (and I'm not just saying that, really).

The contest organizers even sent me this awesome button to put on my blog:

Isn't it purdy? Now I have to figure out how to get it in my sidebar somehow. Maybe my resident cabana boy can help me.

Have an awesome week!

Seriously inspired

2010-04-11T23:42:00.002-04:00

I know, I know. I keep on saying how everything from sonic toothbrushes to coupons for dish soap change my life, but this time I think it really happened.

On Saturday the Toronto Romance Writers hosted a workshop, "Writing the Breakout Novel," which was presented by uber-agent Donald Maass.

A lot of the members in our group were really excited when the workshop was first announced. And then they kept on counting down the days, marking calendars and checking the group loop for more details.

I wasn't sure what to expect, what with having had my life changed so many times before.

First of all, he's shorter than I expected.

Then he started speaking. And I found myself jotting down notes, having "aha" moments all over the place and realizing that, for the first time in ages, I "got it." This wasn't one of those workshops where you had to have an in-depth understanding of English literature or on every single genre of popular fiction; you just had to have the need to write a better novel.

You know -- a breakout novel. ;)

Now this workshop wasn't about writing novels about acne. This was about writing a novel that flies off the shelves, gets talked about and recommended, and maybe, just maybe hits the bestseller lists. What every writer dreams of having happen to his or her word-filled baby.

Donald asked a lot of questions and then, just when you thought you didn't have any more freaking answers, he'd ask some more. It was kind of annoying at first.

And that's when I realized something. He was doing exactly what my evil copywriting instructor from college would have us do: take our brainstorming to a whole new level by bringing in elements of our own experiences to make a stronger connection. One that would resonate with the targeted audience and create an inherent need for the product.

Whaddya know? The same tactics used to sell cough syrup can also apply to create books that fly off the shelves.

As if they sell themselves. Huh.

Okay, I must get back to the current work in progress. Time to dig deep and create something spectacular. Or at least a novel that'll get published, and maybe cause me to break out.

The muse is back in town

2010-04-04T21:20:00.002-04:00

Of course, now I have the strains of that Thin Lizzy song echoing in my head. I may have to listen to "Shake Your Groove Thing" a few times to shake it.

April has been a busy month already, with nearly 4,000 additional words on the WIP (my daily average hovers at around 500, so I'm verra, verra happy) and there is a wee light at the end of the tunnel.

It could also be that we're having some fantabulous weather, which means we can keep the windows open and the Kitten of Mass Destruction can enjoy fresh air with his sunbeams.

Now I know what you're thinking: waiting for the muse can be a dangerous thing. Even more dangerous than hang gliding over a volcano, or taking part in a yodel-till-the-death tournament. After all, once I land that forty-book contract (chuckles), I'll need to keep my nose to the grindstone and my butt in the chair, no matter what the muse says or doesn't say.

But spring is the time for renewal, for new beginnings, and, perhaps, finally getting those older projects finally freaking done. ;)

Now if I could keep up my current pace, this book might actually get done.

Cue the disbelieving kitten:

Lurking

2010-03-14T21:59:00.004-04:00

It turns out that I spend quite a bit of time lurking. And I kind of like it.

The only trouble is deciding when to de-cloak and post a comment or add an insightful tidbit to an ongoing conversation. One that might have already been going on for a few hours or a few days. Le sigh.

Is it better to simply be out there in the open all the time or bask in the shade of anonymity?

And yes, I had to look up the spelling for anonymity. ;)

They say old habits are hard to break, but I can't have been lurking for that long... at least I don't think so.

:::pulls on sunglasses and skulks away, even though it's hard to skulk in a pool:::

How about you? Are you a lurker or an active participant on loops, blogs and tweets?

Panic! at the bus stop

2010-03-04T00:28:00.004-05:00

I really should try walking everywhere, but then I wouldn't get to meet so many interesting people. Especially that talking-too-loud-on-her-cellphone babe, recently out of drug rehab who's dating the 98-pound weakling. Ah, those were good times.

So today I braved the awesome, sunny weather for a jaunt to the drug store. No, I did not run into cellphone babe or the 98-pound weakling there.

I did, however, run into someone already at the bus stop. Since I had my movie-star sunglasses on, I couldn't really tell who it was, only that a person-sized shape leaned on the pole.

"Do you have a light?" the woman asked.

I peeked over the top of my sunglasses. An unlit cigarette dangled from her lips.

"I don't smoke," I replied.

"That's not what I asked." She took a step toward me. "Do you have a light?"

"Sorry." I shook my head. "I don't really have a need to set things on fire."

Okay, maybe it was a snarky comment, and, as a former smoker, I could have shown a little compassion for the woman, who was obviously having a nic fit.

Luckily, she didn't pull a knife and leave me bleeding onto my bus pass. She laughed so hard her smoke dropped from her mouth. It rolled a foot before she picked it up and slipped it back into her pack.

"Funny," she said, "you looked like a pyromaniac to me."

I had to give her points for that great comeback.

Fantabulous news!

2010-02-28T00:34:00.002-05:00

Yes, I spend way too much time and money entering writing contests, but I can't help myself. And this one I entered last year. You know, before I promised myself I wouldn't enter any more until the current WIP was done. And before I caved and entered another contest. Or two. ;)

Here's the scoop:

CTRWA would like the announce the finalists in The Write Stuff Contest!

FINALISTS, THE WRITE STUFF 2010

YOUNG ADULT:
Megan Delaney: Mystic Misfit by Bonnie Staring
Diary of a Teenage Superhero by Sharron Houdek
The Pact by Constance Gillam

SQUEE! News like this always seems to arrive right when it's needed the most. And I really appreciate it. I've been lucky to have contest judges who "get" my voice, and I've also been lucky enough to have some contest judges who totally Simon Cowelled my work (in other contests).

That's what getting feedback is all about. Sometimes they love it, sometimes they truly don't. And that's okay. As Nora Roberts says, "Everyone is entitled to their opinion, even if they're wrong."

Now if only I can keep my eyes, fingers and toes crossed until the winners are announced in mid-to-late April...

Practice makes it easier

2010-02-21T22:36:00.003-05:00

There is something to be said about doing something on a consistent basis. Whether it's working out, writing a novel, or eating Golden Oreos, somehow it gets easier do to, day after day.

But heaven help you if you do things the exact same way all the time. That's when things get, well, really dull. And that sense of sameness settles in like a dull ache behind your left kidney.

Perhaps that's why I never took up music; just the thought of doing scales over and over again made me rush to a blank canvas or notebook to sketch, write or send secret love notes to the boys who never knew I existed. Probably because I always signed those notes with "your secret admirer."

So instead of checking out more websites, classes and info on writing a novel (which I tend to do in times of stress), I took a breather and read some books. One I didn't get through; another in which the lead character bugged me so much I wanted to stop reading, but I couldn't put it down because the story was so darn good; and another that made me feel like I was 16 again.

I'd forgotten how much fun it is to read a book for the love of reading instead of studying it as a lesson to be learned. This is something I'll have to do more often.

And while I've been good about getting words on the page every day for my current WIP, I reached a point where I needed to take a step back and give it the stink eye. Some parts were, I hate to say it, skimmable. Trouble is, if the writer feels like skimming over a paragraph or two, how dare I expect a reader to be captivated?

Yeah, I went to the ugly place again. And picked up some postcards and a banana-shaped harmonica. Because everyone needs a harmonica once they've been to the ugly place.

But sometimes we all need to go to the ugly place -- especially after eating all those Golden Oreos. It's what helps us realize that things can be done in a different way (one cookie a day instead of an entire bag) or approached from a different angle (writing longhand instead of on the computer) to make the journey more interesting.

That's my two cents.

Ask and you shall receive

2010-02-03T22:45:00.003-05:00

Yeah, yeah, you've heard it before and so have I. But sometimes, when it's Groundhog Day or the stars are in alignment, things just happen.

Yesterday when a co-worker offered to take me out for a beer after committing a project-related faux pas (I'm working on site this week), I told him no. I said I couldn't be won over by a beer -- I wanted a chocolate fountain. One for my desk.

You might say I was a tad cranky about the incident. ;)

So this morning, what do I find on my desk? A mock-up of a desk-sized chocolate fountain!

Seriously. I'll have to take a picture of it to show you how cool it looks. And it's so much better than having a real one on my desk. Things might get messy, especially the proof reading. ;)

Contests!

2010-01-29T23:06:00.002-05:00

Okay, I realize that I love contests a bit too much. But I'm okay with it, and so is DH and the kitten.

Kidlit Writing Contest
And in order to qualify for one I need to post about it.

Mary at Kidlit.com is holding another contest for writers of Young Adult and Middle Grade novels. Enter the first 500 words by January 31 to be in the running for one of the critique prizes.

http://kidlit.com/kidlit-contest

Win Bacon for a Year
Seriously, you can win a weekly prize of bacon or the grand prize of bacon for a year. Open to Canadians only (sorry folks).

http://www.republicofbacon.com/en/casino/

Good luck!

Yes, but

2010-01-29T22:27:00.003-05:00

It's amazing how many times those two little words get spoken, one right after the other.

Sometimes it's simply because there wasn't enough time:

DH: I thought you were going to mow the lawn.

Bonnie: Yes, but the ice cream truck came by.

Other times it's because of things out of our control:

DH: I thought you were going to mow the lawn.

Bonnie: Yes, but then a car ran off the road, knocked over the ice cream truck and then the ice cream truck landed on the lawn mower. And now it's broken.

Other times we forget why we wanted to do something:

DH: I thought you were going to write 100 words a day.

Bonnie: Yes, but I had to mow the lawn.

Is there anything you're "yes, butting"? I'm sure there is.

In Second City improv classes, they take the time to discuss the problems with yes, but. When an actor uses that particular combination of words in a scene, it prevents the action from moving forward. You essentially are telling your fellow actor that his or her idea sucks like a Hoover. In fact, it's so bad that you need to stop it immediately and provide a new idea.

The but that comes after the yes trumps any agreement you think you've provided. And in improv, the hilarity ensues when the actors trust each other to go wherever the scene takes them. It's a beautiful thing when it works. And even if it doesn't, it's still fun to watch.

But on stage isn't where most of the yes, buts happen. Most of them take place when we look at the calendar, realize 29 days have passed since we made our New Years resolutions and see that our progress hasn't been as progressive as we'd like it to be.

Yes, but you've been busy.

Yes, but you've had to take care of a lot of things that popped up out of nowhere.

Yes, but your family needed you.

Yes, but the kitten needed attention.

But still, I have been able to work out on a fairly regular (three times a week) basis, take some time for me AND get a bit of writing in every day. With the exception of the evening I saw Rent (sniff!), I've gotten at least 100 words on the page.

They say it takes 21 days to form a habit. Fingers crossed that these ones stick. ;)

At least it's too cold to mow the lawn for now...

Rain = grumpy kitten

2010-01-24T22:38:00.002-05:00

Poor Zaphod.

He enjoys going outside when it's not too cold, especially when there's no snow on the ground.

But it's been raining. A lot.

So he's been kind of grumpy. And, like any loving cat, he's been taking it out on the people he allows to live with him.

The wishbone DH and I were letting dry out on the counter? Snapped in two pieces. We assume Zaphod got his wish. ;)

The black pants hanging to dry in the laundry room? In a fur-covered lump.

The blue snuggie in front of the TV? Still his favourite spot.

Thank goodness the upcoming forecast is clear...

I'm a quitter

2010-01-19T00:24:00.002-05:00

Yes, it's true.

After writing 53 articles for Examiner.com, I've decided to pack it in.

Here's the link to my last article.

And yes, I could have worked harder at building a readership (and increasing my revenue), but I have other things on my must-do list that take priority. You know, like getting the novels done, spending quality time with friends, family and the kitten of mass destruction, and working on those goals for 2010.

While Examiner provides an excellent opportunity for those who want to build a platform, I couldn't rationalize spending time creating five articles a week for pennies. As one friend gently reminded me, I do enough articles for free already. ;)

Sure, eventually I would have had a gazillion followers and then I'd be rolling in the dough -- but then I'd have to keep coming up with articles on a topic that left me feeling drained after only two months.

So cal me a quitter if you wanna, I don't mind at all. ;)

Almost missed my bus stop -- twice

2010-01-14T23:04:00.003-05:00

Some people detest riding public transit, while other embrace the tree-hugging environmental awareness aspect of it.

Me? I just love listening in on people's cellphone calls.

Take this week, for example. There I was, all ready to pull out the novel I'm reading at the moment (Eat, Pray, Love, if you must know, I'm just starting the India section), when behind me I heard:

"I'm not getting another credit card until you get a job."

Seriously people, who can turn down an ear-wigging opportunity like the one the woman two seats back was offering? Forget about reading or listening to an audio recording of an RWA workshop--this was Dr. Phil drama, right there on the bus!

Here are just a few of the highlights:

"My mom says you should get a job, any job. Even a part time one."

"Taking a break only works for the first three months."

And, my favourite:

"Maybe you can do some of those medical experiments. I hear the pay is pretty good."

Talk about a smart cookie. If your deadbeat boyfriend is out of luck career-wise, sign him up to test pharmaceutical products! It's brilliant, really.

Too bad I had to switch buses, I would have loved to hear more of her ideas. Fortunately, as I opened my book, the guy behind me answered his cell phone.

"Yeah, I've been waiting to hear from you."

Ooh! It sounded like a storm was brewing, so I tossed my novel back into my bag. Here are this call's good bits:

"Dude, you can't even show up to the court house on time."

"Why are you letting her hassle you like that?"

"She's always blaming you for something."

And then I had the strangest thought. What if it was the same dude on the other side of both conversations?

It's possible. After getting chewed out by the girlfriend, the guy calls his buddy to complain.

But I wonder why he needed to be at the courthouse. I guess I'll have to find out the next time I'm on the bus.

Luckily I have a pass this month.

Everyone has a reason

2010-01-06T23:42:00.002-05:00

Everyone has a reason for not getting stuff done. Some even have a long list they drag around with them, just to keep track of the many obstacles in their path. I too have been known to toss out the odd comment or loop post, claiming to be too busy, double-parked or without the cabana boys necessary to accomplish a certain task.

Then I heard a very powerful sentence. It was while I was listening to a workshop CD from the RWA 2009 National Conference. (Or it could have been 2008, I'm not sure.)

And no, I can't remember who was speaking or the name of the workshop. That would be too clever of me. ;)

When one critique partner on the panel started talking about why she wasn't getting things done, the other woman stopped her and said:

"You're not special."

Talk about harsh! I had to rewind it, just to make sure I heard it correctly.

"You're not special."

Then the woman went on to explain that, as writers, we all have the same issues: getting words on a page, dealing with revisions, handling rejections, coming up with new ideas, etc. And that doesn't even cover the other stuff, such as family, friends, pets, any medical conditions, etc.

The fact is, we're all special, but not so much so that any one of us should have it any easier than the next person. ;)

Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it... until I start whining about my next excuse. ;)

It's the third of January and my life has not changed yet

2010-01-03T23:06:00.002-05:00

Okay, it's only been three days, but it's a NEW YEAR. And big, important things are supposed to happen with a New Year, aren't they?

Oh, you mean I have to be the one to do them? Rats.

It's been a good couple of days for my current work in progress (the novel that was supposed to be done last year, but I'll try not to let that stop me from completing it verra, verra soon). Some big, clunky, what-the-heck-are-these-doing-here scenes got chopped.

Sure, I felt the loss, but the singing and dancing really didn't belong. And there really isn't room for leprechauns in this novel. There are enough paranormal elements to keep things interesting. At least I hope so.

To make up for the loss of words, I added in some new ones. A lot of new ones that may not make it in the final, final version, but I'll let them get comfy for now. Maybe they can wear my new Snuggie and curl up on the couch with the kitten.

Yes, Zaphod likes the bright blue Snuggie. His arms don't quite fit though. ;)

Goals for 2010

2009-12-30T00:03:00.003-05:00

It seems like it was just yesterday when I was checking out those goals for 2009 -- probably because I was. ;)

For 2010, I'm switching things up a bit, mainly because I'm finally realizing that I suck at multitasking. Seriously, even when I work from home I can't seem to remember to flip the laundry or feed the cat. Poor Zaphod.

So to make things easier and less stressful for those residing at Casa Staring, I'm limiting myself to five goals.

That's right: five. Talk about focus! Such streamlining!

Before you go thinking that I'm downsizing my dreams, take a look at my list:

1. Go for it
This covers just about anything and everything, whether it's landing a literary agent, another magazine column or that game show host gig I've always dreamed about. No more excuses; if I want it, I need to stop whining and go for it.

2. Finish what you start
Of course, this does not apply to boxes of chocolate or bags of chips. ;) This is mainly about the novel writing and the lure of the shiny new ideas that only come around when I'm in the middle of the project that should be done already. The way I see it, the more experience I have with finishing a novel, the faster I'll be able to write them. At least I hope so!

3. Think before taking on new things
One thing I've discovered over the past few weeks is that writing every day, working five days a week and getting in regular exercise and essentials like eating and sleeping can take up a lot of time. So before I add anything new to the mix, I better make sure it's something that brings me joy or saves the world.

4. Pay it forward
Sometimes I forget how freaking lucky I am with a husband who loves me (and cleans the house) and a cat who lets us reside in said house with him. Not only do I enjoy the work I do (okay, most of the time), I also get to work with some great people. And I'm also inspired by a great group of writers out there, both published and unpublished. So doing at least one nice thing a day for someone else is my way of thanking the Universe.

5. Clear out the clutter
This covers physical and emotional junk that is getting in the way of everything else. Of course, watching A&E's Hoarders makes me realize I gotz nuttin' on some folks, but I do have some work to do. And yes, it'll probably be a constant on every goal list I'll ever have, but it's an important one.

How about you? Have you cut back on your goals for 2010 or shaken them up to celebrate a new decade?

2009 Goal Tally

2009-12-28T11:19:00.002-05:00

Wow, where did the year go? Heck, where did December go? Time flies when you're having turkey...

2009 was an interesting year for me. Interesting in how easily distracted I was. Perhaps I lived as a magpie in a past life, or a burnt-out air-traffic controller. (And I say that with the utmost respect, as I shudder to think of the focus necessary to do that job, let alone for longer than two minutes.)

So here I am, with my list of 2009 goals at the ready.

1. Stay active
STATUS: A mere pass (5.5/10)
This was a challenge for me. In an effort to make it easier for me to get in some cardio when most of my day is taken over by sitting in a chair, I now have a treadmill -- and am using it an average of three times a week. So that's progress, I think.

2. Finish two more books
STATUS: One down, one to go (6/10)
Book one is so done I can barely remember it, and the revisions to book two are taking longer than anticipated. Now that could be because I basically ignored it during October and November. Le sigh.

3. Land a literary agent
STATUS: Feeling closer than ever before (8/10)
Do I need to say any more? Didn't think so.

4. Do it already
STATUS: Done! (10/10)
Have done a whole bunch of things (the game show, flying to Chicago for the day to see the Harry Potter exhibit, joining Facebook) that I would have probably talked myself out of last year. Well, maybe not the game show. ;)

5. Give back
STATUS: In progress (see Goal #6) (7/10)

6. Declutter
STATUS: Oh man! (in tandem with Goal #5) (5/10)
Unfortunately, the holidays meant more stuff has entered our home, so any progress made has been lost in the shuffle of all this new stuff. Ack!

7. Quality time
STATUS: Still working on it (6/10)
This one is hard to measure, but I am making more of an effort to take time for me, even if that means missing out on a project because the deadline is ridiculous.

8. Time off
STATUS: Done! (10/10)
The recession has made it easier for me to take the time off that I need. ;)

9. Let go
STATUS: In progress (6/10)
Yeah, I still have some baggage, clutter and other stuff that keeps on sticking to me like a piece of toilet paper.

10. Laugh more
STATUS: On it! (8/10)
While I must admit that I spent most of the fall in what I call "the darkness," due to what the characters in my WIP were going through, 2009 was a year full of good cheer, good friends and even better times. Is it because we're all learning to appreciate what we have? Live well with less? Heck, I don't know, but I sure do appreciate the positivity.

Final score: 71.5%

Of course, this tally clearly demonstrates that I need to be easier on myself. LOL Oh well, maybe next year...

How did you do on your goals for 2009? Will you be carrying any over into 2010?

Kelley Armstrong's cover model* revealed!

2009-12-20T20:10:00.004-05:00

BREAKING NEWS--Leaked documents reveal that a Canadian woman, and not a young girl named Chloe from Rochester, New York, was the model used for the cover of Kelley Armstrong's novel, The Awakening.

Our reporters were able to get their hands on this photographic evidence, proving the story must indeed be true:

*If you dare to believe this, may I interest you in some priceless Beanie Baby cards?

A double-dog-dare shameless plug (or two)

2009-12-17T21:28:00.002-05:00

I know, I know. Here I go again, asking for your help when I really haven't done anything do deserve special treatment or even paper umbrellas. But Grandma always says, "If you don't ask, you don't get." And she's a verra, verra smart cookie.

Help me win
I'm entered in a Canadian contest to win a trip to Cuba for 20 people. Talk about a par-tay! Of course, I need to wrack up enough points to be in the running to win, so that's where you can come in to help. Just click on the link, sign up and post a photo. Don't worry about the daily photo voting if you don't wanna. Here's the link:

http://www.tripcentral.ca/TRIP420/?1961045471

Help me earn a few cents
I've been writing for the Examiner for a while as the Toronto Freelance Life Examiner, but I haven't been telling people about it. So now I'm telling you. If you're a freelancer or know a freelancer, come on over and check out my articles on finding gigs, dealing with clients and other fun freelance life stuff. Here's the link:

Toronto Freelance Life Examiner

Thanks for your help! Oh, I better get some new tunes for my portable karaoke machine, Cuba is gonna be amazing!

Climbing out of the darkness

2009-12-15T00:26:00.003-05:00

Looks like the puddle I stepped in led to another dimension. One filled with snack foods and reality TV. ;)

The holidays are mere moments away, I have too much work on my plate (yeah, me!) and my current WIP is making me go there. You know, to a place where people suddenly don't crack jokes and burst into song.

Well, it's tempting, but the characters won't let me.

And there I was, back about the same time last year, thinking about how hard it is to get the words on the page without cracking a joke or bursting into song. Or Johnny Depp. Here's my blog post about it:

http://bonniestaring.blogspot.com/2008/11/bonnies-excuse-of-week_21.html

And you know something? It's hard to write anything as long as you think it's hard.

Yeah, I'm rolling my eyes, too. But it's true.

It's a lot harder to write when you think about writing instead of actually doing it. Yes, sometimes you need to let the ideas simmer and wait for the great shashoombas, but if you don't show up (by getting your butt in the chair), how will the muse know when to arrive?

Okay, must get back at it before the bad guy finds the karaoke machine...

Bon voyage, November

2009-11-30T22:02:00.003-05:00

I don't know about you, but I'm trying hard to remember where 2009 went. Just the other day it seemed so bright and shiny in front of me, like a new Diet Coke can. Le sigh.

And those goals of mine are now covered with dust. Okay, some of them aren't, but a few are looking a bit on the rusty side. I blame all the rain we've been having.

Of course, I have a choice to make. I can beat myself up for the next month for not making the absolute most of every single moment I had or I can enjoy the ride and celebrate the small victories. You know, like finding the missing socks or discovering how to upload files onto my iPod shuffle.

Hey, technically adept, I'm not.

There have been a number of sitchiashuns (say it with a New York accent for full effect) that have made me feel a wee bit cranky. Hotmail server issues. People offering suggestions months after the request for ideas and the plans set in motion. Public transit fare hikes. Ugh, it's just Cranky Pants Central over here!

Shoot, I promised myself I'd stick to being positive and not portray a fine Canadian whine. ;)

I think it's best if I let Heather Small do the talking for me:

What Michael Jackson has taught me about writing

2009-11-27T00:11:00.002-05:00

My girlfriend and I headed out to see The Blind Side the other day. Trouble was, I misread the playing time and we got there about three hours too early.

We stared at the list of other films and spotted This Is It. Turns out neither one of us had seen it yet, and we were there just in time to catch it like a good beat.

And yeah, I got a little sad. Especially when you saw the footage of the dancers who made it into the show. To be part of the Michael Jackson tour was huge. No, bigger than huge. Their careers were totally made, if they weren't made already. Too bad the tour never made it past rehearsals.

But this post isn't about them, it's about MJ.

Even in rehearsals, he knew what he wanted. He brought it and expected everyone involved with the show to bring it. Over and over and over again.

At one point, MJ was discussing with the band on how one number should be played. He said, "This is how the audience expects to hear it." And that really resonated with me.

Why? Because he got it, brought it and made sure everyone around him lived it. This tour was his thank-you to the fans who supported him.

And sometimes, well, a lot of the time, I find myself saying "this is **it" instead of "this is it." Sure, it's part of the process, but am I doing myself any favours putting my work down?

Probably not. I think there are enough naysayers and critical types out there to tell me how hard it is to succeed and how difficult things will become when I get published.

All I can do right now is sing, er, write my heart out. And maybe put on sparkly socks...

Overloaded

2009-11-22T21:38:00.003-05:00

There's a lot of stuff happening. Too much, actually. And I've been trying my darndest to keep up, I really have, but what I have left with at the end of the day is "I guess I'll work on the novel tomorrow."

And you know what? That really sucks.

Trouble is, it's no one's fault but my own. I could have adjusted my schedule to get some quality writing time in. Surely I didn't need to see those CSI reruns, did I? Surely I didn't have to spend that hour or so playing online games?

But I did. And I know exactly why: I'm preparing for Draft Two -- the big honkin' revision round.

This is the round where some characters die or develop a new personality. Where plot points get polished or eliminated. Where foreshadowing and perhaps a description or two see the light of day.

Yeah, and I thought Draft One was bad. Huh, that part seems easy now.

So instead of staring at the Word doc until my forehead bleeds, I'm doing anything else. Like raking leaves, reading junk mail and watching a little trash TV. It's not like I meant to put off the writing, it just kind of happened.

Oddly enough, it appears that most books sold today didn't just happen -- they had authors who actually COMPLETED them. Le sigh.

That's my cue to get my butt in the chair again and get those words happening. Hopefully in a way that works for me, an agent, an editor and a whole bunch of readers.

But I'm still going to watch The Biggest Loser. That's a must-do. ;)

Motivation can creep up on you

2009-11-14T20:56:00.004-05:00

Okay, I have to admit that I really wasn't looking forward to today. For the past two weeks I've been working on site for a client (meaning no naps or pajama-wearing during business hours) and doing a lot of freelance projects evenings and weekends. And some beta-reading and contest-entry judging. Mucho biz-ay.

So part of me was sorely tempted to not attend my RWA chapter's meeting today. I mean, I could have slept in, caught up my coupon clipping and had some quality time with DH and the evil kitten. But I had to go; it felt like I hadn't been there in ages.

And I'm so glad I went. C.J. Lyons did a great workshop on getting to the bones of your story and mapping out the pivotal points to bring up the emotional volume of a novel. Okay, I'm totally paraphrasing, but it made some things really click for me.

Of course, I also jumped at the opportunity to be a guinea pig and got the entire room to help me get a basic plot for my next WIP done. Thanks everyone! Now I just have to hold off on that one until I get the current WIP complete. Ah, the lure of a shiny new idea is too tempting...

It was also great to see other crazy people, er, I mean writers. People who get how frustrating things can be, people who understand how writing can be awesome and the exact opposite at the exact same time. I felt refreshed, encouraged and, perhaps after taking a wee nap, ready to tackle the next batch of pages on the current novel.

And I couldn't have gotten that from staying at home with the coupons. ;)

It's not me, it's just that I own a cat

2009-11-03T23:46:00.003-05:00

It's been a rough week over here at Casa Staring.

First, I went away on a wee trip to NYC with my mom for educational purposes (we studied shopping, bargain-hunting and how to ride the subway without ending up in Jersey). Then, while I was away, DH took Zaphod, the kitten of mass destruction, to the VET.

And he had to get a shot.

So, I returned home to find a twitching, hiding cat instead of our usual escape artist. He spent the entire weekend under the bed, stepping out from the darkness only to eat or use the litter box.

I felt so freaking guilty. I tried lying on the floor and talking to him.

He hissed.

I tried playing him the Fame soundtrack.

He growled.

Then, taking DH's advice, I ignored him.

It took four days for the ice around his feline heart to thaw. Of course, he's still giving me the stink eye when he thinks I'm not looking. But at least he's talking again. Really, really loud.

Of course, my becoming a crazy cat lady isn't really a significant event. Not when we've got H1N1 vaccine issues, politicians dancing and leftover Halloween candy everywhere. Le sigh.

And it's times like this, when the nights get dark in about twenty seconds, that I realize I live in a city where winter involves freezing temperatures and that other four-letter word, snow.

I wonder how Zaphod feels about wintering in Bermuda... I know DH is into it. ;)

Great news! And a cool contest!

2009-10-16T18:10:00.004-04:00

In case you weren't aware, I love contests. Not just the "win a car with a box top from your Rice Krispies package" kind of contests (though I enter those ones, too). My ongoing love/hate relationship is with novel-writing contests, namely because sometimes I love them, and sometimes I don't. ;)

A good friend of mine (cough, Michelle, cough) had the audacity to suggest that I should spend more time writing than entering writing contests. I mean, really. Be productive with my time? But entering contests is productive! I get my hopes up, dashed, strengthened, beaten to a pulp and then raised again. Sometimes all in the same day.

If only exercising could be this much fun!

And it's the close calls that hurt the most. Like one contest this year where my manuscript came in fourth place in the first round, but only the top three went onto the finals. Sob!

Oh, put those tissues away, because, like a good romance novel, this post has a happy ending. ;)

My novel, MEGAN DELANEY: MYSTIC MISFIT, took FIRST PLACE in Young Adult category of the Toronto Romance Writer's Golden Opportunity Contest!

First place! Can you believe it? Megan and I are both thrilled with the news and plan on celebrating this win with some time plotting out the next book in the series (which will be written some time next year, if all goes well).

And this totally makes up for all the times when this novel didn't even come close to winning. At least all the judges I've had have given me some great feedback.

Enough about me. In case you're writing a Young Adult novel and are into entering contests, Mary Kole at Andrea Brown Agency is running a query contest!

Here's the link: http://kidlit.com/kidlit-contest

2009 Goal Check

2009-10-05T09:32:00.003-04:00

Wow, it's October. The month of cool days, leaves crunching underfoot and goblins knocking at my door. Gotta love the goblins, especially when they expect treats without wearing a costume. ;)

And, as a total slave to my to-do list, I need to check in on my goals for the year. With winter nipping at my heels, it's time to start thinking about goals for 2010 -- and a good way to determine them is to see if any from 2009 are still sitting there, waiting for a miracle.

Here's where I'm at:

1. Stay active
STATUS: Oh crap.
Yeah, yeah, I know. I talk a really good talk, but I really need to just walk. Now committed to doing 30 minutes a day of any type of activity -- even if that means doing squats and lunges while watching The Biggest Loser.

2. Finish two more books
STATUS: One down, one to go.
Completed book one (hooray!) and have over 50K done on book two, which will need a whole lotta love once I get the first draft complete. Having it done by the end of the year looks totally doable at this point. Gulp!

3. Land a literary agent
STATUS: Working on it!
Do I need to say any more? Didn't think so.

4. Do it already
STATUS: On it!
Have done a whole bunch of things (the game show, flying to Chicago for the day to see the Harry Potter exhibit, joining Facebook) that I would have probably talked myself out of last year. Well, maybe not the game show. ;)

5. Give back
STATUS: In progress (see Goal #6)

6. Declutter
STATUS: On it! (in tandem with Goal #5)
I have no idea how all this stuff got into our home. The piles are slowly diminishing and we're trying out best not to add a bunch of new stuff to the mix.

7. Quality time
STATUS: This still needs work.
Again, I seem to be able to put off gathering easier than anything else on my to-do list. And Facebook makes it easier to sit at home and pretend I'm a social animal. LOL

8. Time off
STATUS: Done!
Thanks economic downturn! My overstuffed schedule is now totally manageable. ;)

9. Let go
STATUS: In progress
Yeah, it's a slow and steady work in progress, but changes take time, right? Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

10. Laugh more
STATUS: On it!
The achievement of this goal has been made possible by America's Next Top Model, Glee and some other reality TV programs that should not be on the air in the first place. LOL

Whew! Those goal sure have given me a bunch of stuff to work on. Let's just hope I can get more crossed off my the end of the year.

How about you? How are your goals for 2009 holding up?

Bonnie's review of Breaking Dawn

2009-09-17T23:18:00.003-04:00

Normally I don't do book reviews on this blog, simply because there are enough book-reviewing sites out there. And I'm lazy. ;)

But after being nagged incessantly to finally read Breaking Dawn, the last book in the Twilight series, I felt I had to say something. Like "I want those hours I spent reading back."

Okay, it wasn't that bad. I guess, after getting to know Edward, Jacob and the extremely annoying Bella, my expectations had been raised. Perhaps a little too high.

If you haven't read this 760-page epic yet and plan to, stop reading here. If you've read it already or simply plan on waiting for the movie, keep going.

Here's my review, told from Bella's point of view.

"Oh, how I long to become a vampire, even though I really haven't planned it out. Oh Edward! Huh, I don't feel so good... Aha! Let me make a decision that puts everyone in jeopardy, Yeah, that's it. Sure, people may die, including myself, but I did that in all the other books, so why not this one?

"What? I didn't die? It all worked out? How fabulous! But wait, there's more -- all those concerns I had about my beauty, my charm, my clumsiness? Gone! Not only am I absolutely perfect, I have set new standards in adjusting to my vampirism. Le sigh. Oh, life is perfect, even with the smelly werewolves lingering around.

"Oh dear. That "everyone in danger" thing? Looks like that's still the case. But, wouldn't you know, I have an ability that will allow me to save everyone! I know, wild 'eh? Thank goodness I ignored everyone's advice and did my own thing anyway, even though it put all at risk."

The End.

Yes, I realize I'm being cranky. One day I'm sure that some readers out there will have something similar to say about any of my novels. And it may hurt a little. But I think Ms. Meyer can deal. ;)

Less is more

2009-09-13T15:08:00.003-04:00

Or at least that's what I keep trying to tell myself as I weed through my closets and bookshelves. ;)

Yes, I'm still on the clutter-busting bandwagon. Even more so since I've discovered what a stress-reducing effect it has when I'm in relatively clutter-free areas of the house. Zaphod the cat, however, is on the alert, feeling that this change signifies some threat to his reign over us mere humans. He'll get over it soon enough.

But what I can't get over is some of the stuff I've held on to for longer than I care to admit. Or the reasons I gave myself for holding on to it. Sure, most women dream of dropping two dress sizes overnight, but some items, like over a dozen vases, baffled me since I'm not particularly fond of fresh-cut flowers. (I'd rather see them growing in a garden.)

I also discovered that Aden and I possess enough travel-sized toiletries to take a trip every month for approximately 17 years. And don't even go there with the dental floss -- I should take up macrame to make use of this resource. ;)

Then there are some areas of the house where clutter-busting doesn't happen. Namely my record album collection. I still cringe when I weeded through the vinyl and sold off a few I'd considered unwanted, including Kilimanjaro by The Teardrop Explodes.

Days later, I felt the loss as I couldn't get "Sleeping Gas," the album's most popular track, out of my head. How was I to know that I'd need to hear it again to banish the song from my grey cells? And how was I to know that as soon as it left my house, I'd want to have the album again.

So I won't make the same mistake twice. If there is a vinyl album in the house, it shall stay here until we trot off to the nursing home. And I'm sure they'll have turntables wherever we end up. You just can't stop the '80s.

Have a listen and see if it sticks in your head, too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fed3j2zkdgg

Breaking the rules

2009-09-02T21:23:00.003-04:00

Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad, and sometimes it just shakes things up.

Now I'm not talking about breaking the law -- that's totally different. And the last thing I need is someone pulling up this blog post in a courtroom and pinning the blame on me for the crime. You know what I'm saying?

But today I took a moment, while walking Zaphod around the back garden, to wrap my head around some of the rules that were holding me back. You know, those "shoulds" that keep on thundering in my head whenever I turn the music down.

If you don't hear voices in your head, you may be at the wrong blog. Thanks for stopping by anyway. ;)

The shoulds. They can strangle any motivation right out of you if you let them. Instead of going after you're dreams, you're making brownies for a little league team. Of course, if your dream is to make a whole bunch of brownies, you're in luck!

I hate to admit it, but Dr. Phil reminded me of something the other day. No, not that anyone can get on TV, but that kids (and us older people) need to learn what it feels like to accomplish something on our own. That is, to go after something and achieve it because we want to, not because someone's urging us to do it or it was someone else's dream and they've now foisted it on you.

There's nothing better than going for something and getting somewhere. Sure, you may not get to the destination you initially intended, but if you don't try you'll just end up covered in cobwebs at square one. And that's doesn't make for great dinner party conversation, unless you're sitting beside someone who doesn't want to talk about it. ;)

No, I'm still not over it. Give me another year or so.

So I guess I'm saying, "Don't let those pesky rules stop you." There's nothing quite as exhilarating as taking a risk. If it pays off, great. If it doesn't, you're no further behind than when you started -- and now you can try something else.

What's the biggest rule that gets in your way?

I don't wanna talk about it

2009-08-27T15:45:00.003-04:00

Don't you just love it when you try to catch up with someone and they don't want to talk about anything?

Usually this isn't much of a problem for me, since I can always make up for the lack of convo with my tales of contest wins, coupon finds and other buzz marketing-related activities.

Here's how the conversation went:

MOI: "Hey there! Long time no see. How are things going?"

DWT: "Okay, I guess."

MOI: "Glad to hear you're feeling better after that medical thing."

DWT: "I don't wanna talk about it."

MOI: "Oh, okay. How's work going?"

DWT: "Don't ask."

MOI: "Oh. Hey, someone brought pork rinds."

I stop to enjoy some nibbles and notice that DWT is now scanning the room, looking for someone else to not talk to.

MOI: "So, any big plans for the fall?"

DWT: "No."

MOI: "How about next year?"

DWT just shrugs, clearly feeling saying the words out loud is too much trouble.

MOI: "Wow, look at the time! 6:35 already? I better call in to check on the cat, he's at that needy stage right now..."

As you can see, I wasn't my normal "fill in the blanks" self. In this case, I felt kind of stumped. Actually, more like closed off.

Perhaps that wasn't this uncommunicative individual's intent, but when it happens a lot, like, say, all the time, it makes me feel like, just maybe, this person really doesn't want to talk about "it" -- or anything else -- with me.

There are some things some people don't want to talk about (politics, religion and pork rinds), but it's kind of hard if the person you're conversting with doesn't indicate a single topic which can be discussed. As a windbag, I should see this as an opportunity to take centre stage and run my mouth off, but, thanks to comedy school, I've learned how to read an audience.

And right now I'm thinking this particular audience would rather be anywhere else. ;)

That's cool. I'll just know where to hang out at the next gathering -- the other end of the room. Unless, of course, I don't feel like talking, too.

I'm a finalist!

2009-08-23T22:24:00.003-04:00

Okay, so I may have mentioned that I like to enter contests on occasion, even though the odds of winning (especially in novel-writing contests) can be slim to none. I even promised myself this year that I would limit myself to five contests. Five!

And it appears that number three is my lucky number. WHOO HOOOOOOOOOO!

Picked up right from the announcement (I took out the other categories so people wouldn't have to scroll forever, even though a bunch of awesome authors are finalists):

Toronto Romance Writers
Finalists for the 21st Annual Original Golden Opportunity Contest - 2009

Young Adult
Final Round Judge: Anne Heltzel, Penguin, Razorbill
ADVENTURES OF A TEENAGE TRUTHSEER Cat Schield
MEGAN DELANEY: MYSTIC MISFIT Bonnie Staring*
SUGAR HIGH Bethany Cunningham Gabbert

* TRW member

I'm up against some pretty fierce competition, both of the other finalists have won awards in other RWA contests. And that makes me feel excited and nervous at the same time. How will poor Megan compare? OMG, the pressure!

It's all good. This is the kind of awesome, fantabulous news I needed to get me out of a rather long bout of "itallsucksitis." Well, this sure helped me get all cheerful and full of sparkly goodness!

This novel has been through many, many changes -- and it appears that it's back on the right track again. ;) Now I can get over it and focus on the current WIP, which needs some care and attention due to my mad dash to another city for a weekend BBQ.

It's been a highly social weekend for me with two parties, visiting a girlfriend and her 70-pound "puppy" and trying to get some paying work done.

Now I just have to distract myself until they announce the Golden Opportunity winners in late September. Ack!

Lessons learned during a heat wave

2009-08-18T16:07:00.003-04:00

Summer finally arrived in Toronto -- and I must say that the soaring temperatures provided an awesome learning opportunity for me.

1. Heat rises
Zaphod, the kitten of mass destruction, has spent the past week on the basement freezer, chillaxing. It took us an hour to find him the first day, and when we did we ended up sitting there with him because it felt so nice.

2. Business attire is whack
I had to work on site during some of these hazy days, and I melted on the way there and back. Why do businesses insist on people wearing clothes when it's so darn hot. Then again, that's probably best for everyone...

3. Getting emotional takes too much energy
Seriously, I don't know how people who have tempers who live near the equator survive. Just the thought of getting angry makes me sweat. But if someone were to drink all the Diet Coke or eat all the ice cream...

4. You're never too old for the kiddie pool
Lukas (my five-year-old next-door neighbour) invited me to splash around in his whale-shaped blow-up pool -- and if I wasn't on a deadline, I totally would have taken him up on it. Even if that meant being seen in public in my bathing suit.

And, last but not least...

5. Summer has its own schedule
This is a both good and bad. Flexibility is something I cherish, but the Cancerian in me lives for timelines and checking things off the to-do list. So when holiday schedules and pool parties get in the way, sometimes I get a little twitchy. Okay, a lot twitchy. But I'm learning to deal, with the help of the chilling kitten.

What has this heatwave taught you? Anything cool? ;)

What a week!

2009-07-17T23:07:00.002-04:00

Completed another week of onsite full-time hours (it's amazing how quickly I forget the way most businesses operate), managed to avoid the temptation of giving the completed manuscript a good proofing (I'm waiting until August) and ended up winning tickets to the upcoming Depeche Mode concert. Sweet!

Oh, and Zaphod turned two on Wednesday -- and decided a party would interfere with his napping schedule. He's asked for a new window to perch on for next year. ;)

With all this going on, I've still managed to do some outlining for the next novel. Being another novel for young adults, I've done some more research on the approach I should take. Actually, the workshops on writing for kids (and adults who think they're kids) that I attended at Polaris really gave me food for thought.

Hey, who needs to go to RWA Nationals when I can attend groovy workshops right here in Toronto? And let's not forget the uber-informative workshops my local RWA chapter offers.

But I don't want to make the mistake of thinking way too much so that I run out of steam before I even put pen to paper. As a pantser by heart, outlining is kind of painful for me. Helpful, yes, but part of me feels that planning takes the fun out of things.

This, coming from a woman who used to be a project manager and still is a control freak, strikes me as funny. But when it comes to my writing, the only thing I want to plan is putting my butt in the chair. If only that could lead to novels that don't need to be rewritten four times. ;)

Maybe I just need the right inspiration for organizing my writing:

Things I learned from the Polaris convention

2009-07-13T00:21:00.004-04:00

For those not in the know, Polaris is a very cool convention that celebrates all things science fiction. It's roots are based on Toronto Trek, which DH and I used to attend many, many years ago.

This was my first time at Polaris, and I rode on the coattails of Michelle Rowen, who participated on some panels, signed some books and even did a reading from Stakes & Stilettos. The Klingons were strangely absent for that one. ;)

And i must confess that I did not partake in the entire three-day event: I was only there for eleven hours. Some were longer than others.

Here's what I learned:

Favourite new saying: Enough with the Battlestar Dramatica!

1. Stormtrooper costumes come in kids' sizes.

I probably knew this already, but it was nice to be reminded that Star Wars really is fun for the whole family.

2. Spending an hour in a room with BSG fans is fracking insane.

I thought us Trekkers had it bad. Not only did these fine people dissect a "fave" scene, they even debated the finer points of goals, motivation and conflict in character development. It was kind of like being at RWA Nationals. Only with Cylons.

And check out this video promoting the event.

3. Darth Vader is a gentleman.

We could hear him from our lunch table and, for the briefest moment, as he followed us to the Dealers' Room. But, at one point in the evening, he stepped aside to let Michelle and I pass, sweeping his black robe out of the way so we wouldn't wreck his chances for a date at the Masquerade Ball.

4. People always stop and chat in tight spaces.

Be it the Dealers' Room or the Art Gallery, some humans (and other life forms) feel the need to gather and block traffic, keeping people away from Buffy and X-Men merchandise. And why is all the really cool art not for sale?

And, last but not least:

5. Some fans should invest in a mirror.

Seriously people. I want to be awed by your costume, not ewwed. At one point, when all that stood between me and a David Duchovny signed photo was a jiggly mass trying to escape from a too-tight Xena outfit, I had an idea. Why not create a product that's the size of a pepper-spray canister yet shoots clothes onto people. It could change lives, especially at next year's event.

All in all, it was a lot of fun. And I resisted the urge to buy any trading cards -- or costumes. ;)

So I did the Facebook thing

2009-07-07T22:44:00.003-04:00

I'm still kind of in shock. I mean, I never really planned on joining Facebook. There were all those reasons I had:

1. It scared me.
2. I was afraid that only strange men who wanted to trade me for camels would be the only ones to invite me to be their friend.
3. It would take over my life, so much so that I wouldn't have time to exercise on a regular basis.

and finally,

4. It really scared me.

While there were all perfectly good reasons, something kept on bugging me. Okay, more like someones -- mainly my pals Michelle, Joanne and Laura. They'd pledged Facebook allegiance eons ago and, every once in a while, would tease me about how all the cool kids were members.

Then they all said it was fun. And helped them lead fulfilling lives.

So, in a moment of weakness, I joined. And it's true: it is fun!

Okay, perhaps it's really Crackbook, not Facebook, as my pal Andrea called it on "my wall," but I've been assured by everyone that the urge to update my status and look up friends every ten seconds will eventually subside. Which is a good thing, since I have to get a bunch of work done over the next few weeks. ;)

I've connected with people I haven't spoken to in years -- and it's as scary and exciting as I thought it would be. Then I have to remind myself to take it slow and not expect everyone to expect me to hold a big par-tay with chocolate fountains and cabana boys.

Even though that really sounds appealing right now.

A sad farewell
And yes, it saddened me to watch coverage of Michael Jackson's funeral today. Poor Paris; my heart went out to that girl. I hope that the media will leave her and the rest of her family alone while they grieve.

I still remember when my mom bought Thriller to use as her exercising soundtrack. This may have something to do with my fear of zombies.

Rest in peace, Michael, and thanks for the great tunes.

It is done... I think

2009-07-03T17:11:00.005-04:00

It's about time I took a peek out of the cave of revisions to proudly proclaim that the revisions to the WIP that just won't die have been completed!

Well, almost.

I know there's two scenes that need some description added in, as right now they're mainly dialogue. While what my characters are saying might be interesting, it would be best if they weren't sitting in an empty room a la Picard and Data on the holodeck. ;)

All I need right now is a little breathing room before I give this puppy a final read-through and give things a polish and, where needed, a touch of narrative or description. Who knows? If I'm feeling punchy I might even toss in a dash of introspection.

Then I'll finally be able to get to that other novel that's pouting in the corner. No, it's just giving me attitude and playing really loud tunes.

So while I should be celebrating, I feel I can't yet. Not until it's really, completely, totally done. But, according to what other writers have said, that really doesn't happen until the book is printed. And until I start actively submitting this, that won't happen for a while.

Nothing like starting a new month on a somewhat uplifting downer. Le sigh.

Oh no, I'm not going to let my own self-doubts take this moment away from me:

It's done! Hooray!"

Now if only I had abs like that. ;)

Check out my Qubit profile!

2009-06-24T16:54:00.002-04:00

I know, I know, it just doesn't get any more exciting than seeing my image and life's goals up on a site for a science-based game show!

Check it out!

Try not to get too groovy with the techno-pop playing in the background.

Now I must get back to the WIP... "THE END" is nigh!

a 30-page week

2009-06-21T23:28:00.002-04:00

Now I realize there are a gazillion writers out there who can pump out 30 pages in a single day if they really put there minds to it, but for me, a 30-page week is fantabulous.

The end is nigh. Well, of course, now that I'm almost there, I completely forgot about a pivotal scene that must be added to tie up one major loose end that can't be left dangling or it may get caught up on something and strangle the possibility of a series. Yeah, and I'm working on my run-on sentences too.

And to help make my summer even more fun, I'm helping out in my RWA Chapter's contest. It's pretty darn cool seeing all that happens behind the scenes: the voodoo rituals, cover-model auditions and martini-tasting parties. Sheesh! It's hard to imagine how we find the time to tabulate the results. ;)

I'm hoping this will keep me too busy to enter more writing contests. Oh, you don't know how tempting it is for me when I see all the "deadline extended" calls for more entries. Funny how our chapter's contest didn't have to do that. In fact, we got more this year than last year. So much for the economy making people limit their entries (or maybe they just entered ours...).

Okay, I'll stop bragging now. It's not like I had anything to do with it -- I was too busy taping a game show and putting my thoughts on paper for my tell-all account of the Canadian game show industry.

Is that the phone ringing with offers already? Or is Grandma calling again?

Subject change alert! For some reason, I ended up seeing The Hangover. As some of you may not realize, I find it hard to watch comedies simply because a lot of them, in my opinion, totally suck. Or I could just be jealous because I didn't write them. ;)

So when The Proposal ended up being sold out, Michelle and I had to choose between Terminator: Salvation (which she had seen already) and The Hangover (which Michelle wanted to see in the first place). Funny how that worked out... hmm.

Michelle let me choose, so I went with the one I expected to be completely horrid. Besides, she really wanted to see it anyway.

And you know something? I found it to be... hilarious! I laughed out loud numerous times. It was so unexpected, I even forgot to finish my popcorn. The Hangover had some moments that could be improved upon (and covered up), but overall, I enjoyed it.

Plus, when I got home from the movie theater, I sat down and wrote eight more pages in the WIP.

Now if that isn't the sign of a good movie, I don't know what is. LOL

How about you? What are your fave summer movies so far? (No spoilers please!)

People are biz-ay

2009-06-17T23:04:00.003-04:00

The writing on the novel that I should be working on is going well, thank you for asking. ;)

And I've learned a huge lesson over the past week: my schedule is way more flexible than I thought. It all started with DH getting a job with super-cool incentives, like flights at a price that makes the bargain-hunter in me squeal like I'm at a Duran Duran concert.

So the first thing I did was contact some girlfriends to see when they could either welcome me to their home (after I flew across the country) or join me for a fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants trip (since she gets super discounts at hotels).

And then I forgot... they have kids! Oh, and really busy lives too, even without the kids. ;)

Rats.

Then I even had a crazier idea: I was going to go to the RWA National Conference next month. I mean, I could fly there for next to nothing, so that would make up for the $500 entry fee, and the $200/night hotel bill.... yeah, then I dropped the calculator and went back to dreaming of an affordable getaway. Like flying to an airport and hanging out there for the day, like that movie I can't remember the name of about the man who lives in the airport.

And I might be terrified of completing this manuscript. Thanks to those who stepped forward to support me at my last RWA chapter meeting; it's helped, along with the deep breathing and not thinking about writing the very last chapter (even though it's almost done and just needs a bit of a revision).

In the meantime, I'll just lie down a bit until my breathing returns to normal again. ;)

How about you? What are you most afraid of when it comes to your work?

In our heads

2009-06-14T18:41:00.003-04:00

The weirdest thing happened the other day. DH and I were driving home from a very exciting grocery shop (lots of coupons were used!) and a song that had been in my head since we were in the produce section came back to me, loud and clear. And it wouldn't go away.

Once we got home, I told him a song was trapped in my head.

"Me too," he huffed as he lifted the cases of Diet Coke out of the trunk.

"Really? Which song?"

And, wouldn't you know it, we both had the SAME SONG trapped in our heads!

You don't understand: our household is of two musical tastes: his and mine. Rarely do I venture into his progressive-rock filled universe, and he doesn't dare to trip on over to retro '80s more than three times a year.

But for some reason, such as being together for over two decades, we were both thinking about this song by The B52's:

How about you? What song's been trapped in your head lately?

Angsty goodness

2009-06-09T23:36:00.002-04:00

There are dark times ahead, my friends. Mainly because I don't do too well in the summer sun. ;)

Seriously though, June has been a month of highs and lows already, and I haven't even gotten to all the game-show appearance stuff yet. (I can't spill any details, at least not until the show is broadcast. Let's just say I'm still buying lottery tickets. LOL)

So what has me all angsty, but in a good way? Getting closer to THE END. Sure, it's the same place I reached about this time last year on the same stinking manuscript, but this time it's stronger, more fun and filled with vitamins and minerals.

My motivation? The novel-in-waiting, which has gone from being all shiny and new to a foot-stomping terrible two to a... project I can't wait to lose myself in. Yeah, it's the part of the process I enjoy most, without all the revising and editing and pulling out my hair and rewriting entire sections thing.

I've even been doing something called plotting. Go figure.

And even though I'm not attending the RWA conference this year, I'm working hard on my pitch and my query for the novel that has almost killed me. A shorter title may be required, for a start. ;)

Now I must get back to the manuscript... no, the other one!

What about you? How do you balance finishing one project and starting another that's way more enticing than the one that needs to get done?

Shiny new idea alert

2009-06-02T21:45:00.002-04:00

OMG. It's happening again. The shiny new idea has wooed me.

Just this afternoon I was sitting at the computer, minding my own business, when I suddenly looked up and realized it was two hours later -- and an unfamiliar Word document filled the screen.

And dang it if it wasn't the novel I'm going to work on next. Once the current masterpiece is no longer in pieces.

Seriously. It snuck up on me like an empty bag of Golden Oreos -- you know, one moment it's sealed and the next minute it's completely empty?

Yeah, I found the zone. Too bad it's for the wrong manuscript. LOL

But it's not all bad. I make some good progress on the shiny new manuscript, but now the tired, not-so-new one is giving me the stink eye.

Waving buh-bye to May

2009-05-31T23:22:00.002-04:00

I'll be honest; I take on way too much at the best of times and when I have a relatively short to-do list, I panic. Well, maybe panic isn't the right word... the DH has offered "you get all twitchy. bitchy and kind of nuts."

Thanks honey. ;)

But my June is looking kind of doable. I'm not hyperventilating too much, despite the game show appearance and still not having the revisions done on the current WIP. It's the bane of my existence right now -- I may need to seek therapy (chocolate or retail) to get me over this last hump and start submitting it.

Is it possible to have separation anxiety with a Word document?

And as tempted as I am to start working on the shiny next project, I can't. After all this time I owe this WIP a satisfying rewrite, even if my schedule needs an overhaul.

This is the novel that has taught me the perils of writing by the seat of my pants: stuff gets all messed up and ya gotta fix it all in revisions. Ugh.

Now this doesn't mean I'm a convert to the glory of outlines. I don't think I'm ever going to be the type of writer who can plan every last detail before I sit down to write, but I will approach things with some sort of idea about where I'm headed.

It's just that planning doesn't sound all that exciting. I put it up there with laundry and dusting, which I get the DH to do since I'm the luckiest woman alive. ;)

June is the month when big things will happen. Science trivia questions will be answered (hopefully some by me) and the revisions will reach a successful end.

They better or I'm gonna get all twitchy, bitchy and kind of nuts.

How about you? Do you have a secret for finally getting that project done?

Good news and bad news

2009-05-23T16:34:00.003-04:00

The good news: I'm going to be on a science-based quiz show!

The bad news: I'm going to be on a science-based quiz show. LOL

Can you freaking believe it? I, Bonnie Staring, a woman who figured out a way to stop taking science classes after Grade 9, will be a contestant on Discovery Channel Canada's new game show, Qubit.

Hooray!

As I've said many a time before, it can happen people, all ya gotta do is:

1) Show up,
2) Be enthusiastic,

AND

3) Know what color a polar bear's skin is (it's black, by the way).

Of course, they may not broadcast my episode once they tape it, for fear of giving all things scientific a bad name. As with the written test I had to do before qualifying for the "on-camera" round, there are some questions that made me scratch my head and wish I was on So You Think You Can Dance.

Not dancing, mind you, and probably not thinking either. ;)

Turns out there are some scientific concepts that aren't covered in everyday life. Well, maybe they are, but I just don't know the correct terms to describe them. ;)

So now, while I'm putting the finishing touches (finally) on my current novel, I'll also have to sharpen my science skills. Or at least find them.

Can an aspiring romance author win big on a science-based game show? Stay tuned!

Put some clothes on

2009-05-20T12:37:00.003-04:00

Forgive me, but it's the first really, really warm day in Toronto -- and that means young women everywhere have forgotten to put on anything.

Seriously, the nail on my pinkie is covering more than some of the "outfits" I spotted on the bus and subway this morning. I sincerely hope that these gals have sunscreen on because UV exposure is in their future. Ya don't need to contact any psychic hotline to confirm that prediction.

Now, I admit, I'm an old bag. I too used to enjoy the flounce of spring in full teen-aged swing, wearing short skirts and other items of clothing that Mom would have preferred I left at the thrift store (vintage rocked the '80s, let me tell you), but I recall having way more clothes on than my contemporary counterparts.

And, like the skinny nekid girls of today, I was way too busy having fun to notice what anyone thought of the Union Jack I converted into a mini-dress. ;) London called, and yes, they wanted it back.

Maybe all these patches of young skin appearing all around me are reminding me that my patches aren't quite as glowing as they used to be. Is that why I'm getting all judgemental?

Or it could be that I'm just not hip to the "newd" scene.

Whatever. I'll just carry some spray-on sunscreen with me for the rest of the summer so I'm at the ready if it looks like someone is overexposed in more ways than one. ;)

How about you? Are you flouncing it for all to see this spring?

Agent:Demystified

2009-05-12T15:10:00.002-04:00

I just have to share this if you haven't been to the Miss Snark's First Victim blog lately:

It's hilarious but true. For more details (and to order the book), head on over to http://authoresspress.com/

So I guess I should admit that I'm totally procrastinating right now, but at least I know why: I'm afraid to let my WIP go.

This YA novel and I have spent way too much time together, sorting through the details, drama and debilitating typos. ;) The WIP, started way too long ago, needs to be released into the world so that I may focus on the next egg in the novel nest.

Sigh. It's like letting go of those concert shirts that don't fit anymore.

But I have to get to the end and mean it. No more second-guessing or noodling. I'll get to the end very, very soon. And then start the process all over again with the next WIP.

And I'll find the joy in it all somehow. Perhaps through chocolate...

The results are in

2009-05-08T23:02:00.003-04:00

This has been a very exciting day for me for two reasons.

The Golden Heart
For those of you not writing romance novels, the Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart novel writing contest is like the pinnacle for all of us unpublished people. To be nominated is an honour and to receive your non-finalling score sheet is an excruciating experience sometimes.

So when I spotted the envelope with a Texas return address, I wondered if I should just stick it in a drawer or let the cat play with it. Not that I haven't done well with previous entries; I mean, I haven't finalled or anything like that, but there's the odd lowball score that makes me kind of cranky.

And, with the way I've been feeling about the current WIP that I'm revising -- which is also the one I entered into the Golden Heart -- I was afraid to know what five anonymous judges thought.

Turns out they liked it. Even with the way it was before (but that's probably because they only saw the first two chapters and not the rotten ending). With a 39/45, my entry was in the top quarter! Squee!

This is also the highest GH score I've received to date, so I'm verra, verra happy.

Qubit
Remember that science game show I did a written test for earlier this week? Well... I qualified to move on to the next round: the videotaped audition.

Can you freaking believe it? Not only did I pass the test, they think I did well enough to try me out on camera! And we all know how shy I am when it comes to being on TV. LOL

Oh. Mah. Gawd. Never in a million years would I have guessed that I had science smarts. The weird thing was how confident I felt after completing the written test, which involved answering 50 questions about, you guessed it, scientific stuff.

There was one question that I did not understand at all. I'm hoping there won't be any like that for the next audition, but odds are they're gonna ask me that one again with the cameras rolling. ;)

So if everyone could send happy science thoughts my way, I'd really appreciate it!

Maybe I should go see the Star Trek movie to help beef up mah brainz.

Dandelion whine

2009-05-07T22:23:00.003-04:00

Instead of editing the dreaded WIP, I've been editing the dandelions in the yard.

It's a pretty good workout, actually, getting down on my hands and knees and taking out all my frustrations on those pesky little (and sometimes huge) weeds.

This afternoon, as I moved to the front yard to do battle, my neighbour and her five-year-old son Lukas ("It's snowing!") pulled into their driveway.

Lukas scrambled out of the car and asked what I was doing.

"Pulling out the dandelions," I said.

"Why?"

I decided to go for the most honest answer: "Because I don't like them."

"Why?" Don't you just love five-year-olds?

"Because dandelions are yellow and the grass is green. I want everything to be green."

He smiled and looked up at me. "Like a forest?"

"Exactly!" I quickly agreed, delighted that I was able to stop the whys so rapidly.

The next thing I knew, Lukas decided to "help" by yanking off all the dandelion flowers, leaving the leaves and roots behind.

He gleefully kept on yanking a few up, showing them to my and dropping them into my weed bucket. His mother apologized and made a move to stop him, but I told her that was okay.

It was too much fun watching him hard at work to ask him to stop. Once he was done, I suggested he go over to his own lawn to "fix those dandelions."

Sure, it took me longer to find all the weeds after his help, but watching him take delight in getting rid of those pesky yellow yard killers was well worth it.

Tomorrow I'll ask him for help with the clover in the side garden. LOL

Iz cranky

2009-05-05T23:40:00.004-04:00

The WIP that should be done by now and I are having some issues. Not only should it be done (yeah, define "done" LOL), but it should be simmering with a nice, tidy synopsis, preparing for the great agent hunt.

But it's not. And there's no stinkin' synopsis yet. The "THE END" is a little further off than I realized. Like about five gazillion miles.

Or I could just be overthinking things, which tends to happen when I spend way too much time alone with Zaphod the kitten.

If only the little guy could edit for me, it would be so much easier. ;)

So I took a Hugh Jackman break today (blame Michelle) and went to see X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Yes, I went and paid money to see a film I could have downloaded from the Internet. Forgive me for being someone who enjoys sitting in a theatre (well, one that's free of people on cellphones) and eating bad-for-you butter-covered popcorn while watching bare-chested men prance about onscreen.

Okay, there wasn't all that much prancing, but it was nice seeing Hugh in front of a backdrop of exploding things. It really brought out his features.

And, as someone not too familiar with all things X-Men, I enjoyed it. It did feel kind of long, though, and Hugh's hair was the exact same length throughout the film, even when he was in the military.

Yeah, that bugged me. It really shouldn't have, but it was on my mind as I watched Hugh slice and dice some enemies. Le sigh.

While the film distracted me from my evil crankiness of doom, I still had to come back home to the WIP. An intervention is scheduled for tomorrow. A trip to the Dr. Phil house may be in order. I'll keep you posted.

How about you? Did you find Hugh's hair distracting in X-Men Origins: Wolverine?

It's May?

2009-05-02T18:02:00.004-04:00

Oh. Mah. Gawd. There I was, minding mah own bizness when I noticed that a) there wasn't any snow on the ground; b) the dandelions were taking over; and c) I haven't needed to wear my fuzzy bunny slippers for at least three days.

Must be spring. For real. That means summer is gonna be here next week. ;)

And it's a perfect time for a goal check, if you ask me. So let's see where I'm at:

1. Stay active
STATUS: Oh crap.
Oh dear. I kind of fell off the treadmill and into a tub of ready-to-spread frosting on this one. It's amazing how one missed trip to the gym can turn into a week. Le sigh. Okay, back on the horse for me.

2. Finish two more books
STATUS: Halfway there!
Whoo hoo! I am mere inches away from a big fat "THE END" on my first novel for 2009, and totally ready to start on my second novel for 2009 in about a week.

3. Land a literary agent
STATUS: Not yet.
Must write "THE END" (and rework the stinky synopsis) before I start submitting the novel mentioned above.

4. Do it already
STATUS: On it!
List of things in progress are: auditioning for a game show, going hot-air ballooning, seeing Aerosmith in September (one of my life's to-dos as I am a babe of the '80s) and a bunch of other things. Hooray!

5. Give back
STATUS: On it! (see Goal #6)

6. Declutter
STATUS: On it! (in tandem with Goal #5)
DH and I have gone through boxes upon boxes of items and have donated them to a women's shelter, to Goodwill and to toy drives. The best was donating some items to a neighbourhood school to be used as part of their raffle to raise funds for their breakfast and after school programs. Of course, if I buy some tickets the odds are I'll win my own stuff back. LOL

7. Quality time
STATUS: Needs work
I miss my peeps. And I make it way too hard to gather with others. Le sigh. Must stop using the WIP as an excuse to stay cooped up in the house with the cat.

8. Time off
STATUS: In progress
The one-day off a week is going pretty well if we don't include March and April. ;)

9. Let go
STATUS: In progress
Hey, I can't get it all done in five months. There's way too much to cling to!

10. Laugh more
STATUS: On it!
Thanks to some great books, truly tasteless TV shows and great people I hang with (but not often enough), my laughter quotient is at an excellent level.

And I don't think I'm doing too bad, considering that some of these tasks are totally going against age-old habits of yore.

How about you? How are your goals for 2009 holding up?

You know I just have to

2009-04-26T22:37:00.003-04:00

There's a call for contestants for a new game show. It's called Qubit and it's going to air on Discovery Channel Canada.

Did I mention that the show will be testing contestant's knowledge of all things scientific?

Do I come across as someone who has a chance? On second thought, don't answer that. I need all the hope I can get.

Anyway, I'm verra, verra excited. So excited that I made the DH fill out and application, too. LOL We've both been invited to do a 30-minute written test. If we qualify, we then move on to an on-camera round to see if we can answer questions without looking strange on television.

As if that would happen.

And I know what you're thinking. Probably something along the lines of, "I had no idea you were interested in science," or the ever-popular, "Are you kidding me? You dropped out of high school physics because it didn't include palm-reading and crystal balls."

Okay, so my ability to distinguish psychics and physics needed work back then, sue me.

But what I really need is your help. No, you don't have to vote for me or anything like that.

What the DH and I need are some good online science quizzes to help us brush up on our knowledge of all things scientific, be it geology, biology, chemistry, the dreaded physics, space... shoot, I'm breaking a sweat just trying to think of all the categories!

Feeling jitters about Twitter

2009-04-20T22:29:00.002-04:00

I know, I know. Everybody is doing it and it's verra, verra cool. But there's still this part of me that clings to my cassette tapes and turntable whenever something new steps into my path.

Oh, but give me a product for free, a coupon or a contest entry -- and I'm all over it like glitter on Edward. Le sigh.

My main fear is Twitter addiction, but there's something else that kind of makes me get all nervy: putting my thoughts down in 140 characters or less.

I mean, I find it hard enough trying to sit down and write a novel instead of a 30-second radio spot, so how is Twitter going to help me?

Well, I'd spend less time getting my thoughts out to the universe, I guess. Hmm, that might have something to do with the overall appeal. And the fact that there are some pretty nifty Twitterers (is that the term?) to follow. Like the exercise guru who puts out different exercises that you can do anywhere, anytime.

Plus, there are some Twittering contests out there...

But first, I might want to catch up on all the other stuff piling up around me... including the WIP. ;)

You know I have to ask: Twitter -- friend or foe?

Oh, hello there!

2009-04-16T20:05:00.003-04:00

It's been a tornado of terrificness over here, let me tell you.

The work has been piling in, which is good for the economics in BonnieLand (real Kraft Dinner for everyone!), but not so good for that lovely novel that was supposed to have been completed by April 12.

:::whistles:::

Yes, I'm back on the horse of words (which sounds more uncomfortable than it is) and making progress. Of course, if I had actually kept up the steady clip I was at before all the work suddenly landed... I'd be in a coma. ;)

And despite all the tales of doom and gloom blowing around and raising prices at the grocery store, I'm finding inspiration wherever I turn.

It's things like reading about someone's first sale (yeah Nelsa!), nomination, win, incredible opportunity or just plain uber-cool happening that remind me how the road isn't always so bumpy and gloomy. Even if the soundtrack's been compiled by Morrisey. ;)

And then there's the lovely warm weather. The crocuses survived the last snowfall of spring and now the kitten wants to go bird hunting. Not that he has a chance at catching one, put Zaphod does get points for effort. And his ability to meowl. A lot.

Will this be all the inspiration I need to finally get this WIP done? YES. Stamped-saved, no erasies. My next WIP is screaming so loud, it's drowning out the cat.

So I'm gonna get back to work, for me.

How about you? What's been inspiring you lately?

Deliquent blogger alert!

2009-04-05T20:09:00.003-04:00

Things have been a little sparse here in BonnieLand, and it may continue for while longer before I get back to posting more often.

My excuse? I can no longer multi-task worth a damn -- and haven't even been able to check out all the cool blogs I normally visit. Right now I'm finding out what's going on by talking to people or emailing.

Talking? Emailing? Next thing you know, I'll be sending letters by mail again. ;)

DH and I are also planning some getaway time -- together -- and we're feeling all angsty about leaving poor Zaphod back at home with our friends coming in to feed him. I know, we're being totally irrational and it will be way harder for us than our kitten, but we can't help ourselves.

He's probably just waiting for us to finalize the dates so he can contact his party planner.

And it's actually nice outside (well, nice is relative, since they're calling for snow tomorrow). Stuff is growing in the garden and it looks like we need to decide if we should seed the lawn or just pave over it and rent it out for parking space.

But then where would the hammock and inflatable pool go?

I'm also working like an overzealous limbo dancer as my deadline of April 12 approaches for my WIP rework. It's gonna get done, but with about 120 pages to go, it won't be pretty. Hopefully it will be in English. LOL

What are your big plans for April?

Bonnie's excuse of the week

2009-03-30T23:41:00.003-04:00

Oh. Mah. Gawd. I think this is the best excuse ever!

"I forgot all about it."
Blame it on multitasking, my addition to Diet Coke or my love of watching Ice Road Truckers (even the repeated episodes), but I completely forgot to find an excuse to stop writing.

And you're probably thinking, "Cry me a river, blondie."

Seriously though, I got so caught up in my words, some other stuff didn't get done. Of course, I can't really think of what those tasks are off the top of my head, but I'm sure they'll come to me eventually. Like when I run out of clean socks or groceries.

Now if only I could do this all the time. No, not go without food or clean socks, but be able to relax enough to let the words come out and take over.

Some authors talk about their characters taking over and allowing their authors to simply type what they are doing. And I used to think those writers were smoking something funny. Characters talking to you? Yeah, right.

But I've found that the more I get to know my characters, the more I know what they're going to say... or how they're going to react when the chocolate fountain falls over. Sob!

It's not that they're talking to me, per se, but it could be interpreted that they are. And this is what makes me forget to file the bills, delete emails and see if I have anything to donate to the local food drive.

This is when I must do a shout-out to my DH, because without him, our home would fall apart, socks would never be clean and we'd be out of milk for our tea. Over the years, he has learned to recognize when I'm in "the zone" (he's got scars) and stays fah, fah, away.

Zaphod still gently reminds me if I have been ignoring him, but then races down the stairs to hide from the crazy woman at the computer. Smart kitten.

How about you? How easy is it for you to get into "the zone"?

Blogged down

2009-03-26T23:51:00.007-04:00

I hate to say it, but I'm feeling blogged down lately.

And it appears I'm not the only one out there. Maybe it's because I'm finally getting some solid work on the WIP and the gazillion other writing projects on my plate. Or I could just not have much to say that doesn't sound like I'm getting all cranky over nothing.

Oh, but I do have something to go on and on about: the kitten.

Zaphod is totally enjoying the arrival of spring. When he's not at the window, following the activities of birds or those evil squirrels, he's at the front door, waiting to be put into his harness.

Yes, Zaphod has fully accepted the harness and doesn't struggle too much when we put it on him. Perhaps that's because he gets to go for walkies and explore all over our front yard, driveway, backyard, the neighbour's yard (she has a nice patio) and try to squeeze in the gap under our front steps.

And he does it all while looking terribly handsome.

It appears that Zaphod's main goal when he gets outside is to cover himself with bits. This is easily accomplished by lying down near broken sidewalk paths or gravel and rolling a bit. He's very good at it.

He also practices his poses in case Tyra Banks drops by when she's casting for America's Next Top Housecat. Look at those eyes! He's waay fierce.

And, of course, all this rolling, hunting and posing does leave a poor kitten exhausted.

Can't wait until we get the hammock set up in the backyard this summer -- I know one member of this household who'll get plenty of use out of it!

It's all Edward's fault

2009-03-23T00:30:00.003-04:00

Okay. So I pre-ordered Twilight to get the extra-cool 3-disc version and the added bonus of an official film cell. Which thankfully features Edward and not Charlie, Bella's dad.

I wasn't going to watch it, but I just had to see the 22-minute interview with Stephanie Meyer.

And that's when I watched, transfixed, when she admitted she "kind of fell into writing" and didn't really plan on pursuing it until her sister insisted Stephanie's story should get published.

Oh. Mah. Gawd. Could you imagine if Twilight sat there under Stephanie's bed or tucked away in a cupboard? Not only would I have a big hunk of time back to do other things (since I've read three of the four books in the series and have now seen the film three times), but, more importantly, I wouldn't know Edward Cullen. And the thought makes me shudder.

There's just something about tortured souls that makes me happy. Go figure.

Now the DH is very happy to finally understand what the whole Twilight madness is about. Yeah, it was a real shocker when he declined on joining me and the gals to see the film in the theatre. While he describes it as an "angsty chick flick," he does admit he enjoyed it, despite my ongoing commentary and long, drawn-out sighs.

Zaphod, however, left during the baseball game.

So instead of spending the entire weekend writing, I got 12 pages done. It wasn't even half of what I aimed for, but it's better than nothing.

I'll do better tomorrow... as long as I unplug the DVD player. LOL

Bonnie's excuse of the week

2009-03-15T17:51:00.002-04:00

It's been a wild week, with a blissful rest stop at the spa on Thursday. (Don't hate me because I'm so relaxed, it was a gift certificate!) But all this chillaxing helped me discover what I'm currently battling against:

"Fear of the slumpy middle"
We've all had this happen with one thing or another. A new project or shiny new idea starts with such promise and enthusiasm, we joyfully put pen to paper or apples in the apple peeler/corer/slicer/dicer or head to the paint store.

In other words, we get swept away. Any snide remarks from our inner critics are drowned out by the oohs, ahhs and squeals as we delight in the brilliance of the words, aromas or wall colours. We don't mind fumbling along, because it's all so new and groovy.

Then we hit the middle.

It's the part of the project when the motivating oomph of beginning is long forgotten and the white light at the end of the tunnel hasn't shown up on the radar yet. For some, it's a dark and scary place; for others, it's when the evil "whatever" strikes -- making us think that other ideas, recipes or rooms to decorate would be so much better than the pile of drec we're working on right now.

It's the slumpy part of the process that places us all into two groups: those who love to start and those who are determined enough to finish.

It's fine to be a member of both groups, but if you're only going to buy one team t-shirt, be sure to sign up for the team that gets to the finish line.

I'm sure you've read a book, tasted a recipe or walked into t a room that didn't quite meet your expectations. Overall, it's fine, but there's something about it that sags a little. Too much description in the part where the heroine is picking out what to wear on her first date with the hero, too few strawberries in the feildberry pie or a coffee table that overwhelms the overall balance of the living room.

It's not a big thing, but it's enough to make you keep on shopping.

That's where I'm a t right now in my WIP: the dreaded slumpy middle. Of course, my middle will not be slumpy; every scene will have a purpose with no extraneous babble about zombie-loving flamenco dancers or gratuitous chocolate fountains.

Le sigh. At least, that's what I'm trying not to do. :)

How about you? How do you keep things fresh at the middle of a project?

Delusions and Misfortune

2009-03-11T23:56:00.007-04:00

Two things happened in recent weeks that have me thinking about karma, life and something other than Bob Marley songs. Thank goodness.

The first was JD Fortune, formerly of INXS, suddenly coming out of the woodwork and claiming that he was back to living in his car -- just like he did before the whole Rockstar: INXS thing got started.

Huh.

So you record an album and go on a worldwide tour with one of the most fantabulous bands in the world... and then become a homeless Canadian again?
Dude, what happened?

Read what he told the Winnipeg Sun, after he appeared on ET Canada and reported that INXS gave him the big kiss-off at the Hong Kong airport. He's now retracted that statement.

Then I started thinking about what he was like on Rockstar: INXS.

A total diva. Couldn't work with his team on a team project and ended up stealing the spotlight (which resulted in the song Pretty Vegas). Thought he was better than everyone else. Didn't bother rehearsing. Changed the rules when they didn't suit him...

Perfect frontman material, or so we all thought.

I mean, the guy was awesome to see in concert, even though he wasn't Michael. Le sigh.

Let's hope he saves his royalties from his solo project, which is releasing soon. ;)

As for item #2, it all started innocently enough when someone posted a comment on an eloop (I know, I shouldn't read them) about how despondent she was over some rejection letters she'd received.

I totally felt her pain and could see that she was just entering the "submitting to agents and editors" part of the novel-writing journey.

Luckily there are a lot of fabulous, giving writers out there, who flooded the forum with encouraging words and nifty ideas of what to do with rejection letters. I won't repeat any of them here, but I really liked one involving freezer bags. LOL

Then one member came on board to eloquently proclaim how agents and editors aren't interested in supporting new authors (how encouraging!) and, once people get their first book published, they don't even have to work hard at it any more since people will buy their next books anyway.

I'm totally paraphrasing here, and may have even misunderstood what the person was trying to say, yet this is how I interpreted it and it made me kind of mad.

Well, really mad.

Why? Because I know some published authors -- and they work EVEN HARDER once they get their first book published. So I don't know who this Negative Nelly's been reading, or hanging with, because she's got it seriously wrong.

And I would hope the initial poster, who got her first rejections, realizes that that's not the way it is. Because if I had read something like that when I got my first-ever form-letter rejection, which confirmed my worst fears that everything I wrote was absolute crap and not even worthy of another look, it might have made me even angrier than I am now. ;)

And if I got the pessimistic poster's words wrong, my apologies. Still, I feel the need to vent because there may be some people out there who think everything is all sunshine and chocolate fountains once you get that first novel published.

Sure, chocolate fountains may be involved, but there's always stormy weather. Right JD?

No song title no cry

2009-03-10T17:32:00.003-04:00

Two weekends ago I had a fabulous Saturday night, even without Edward proposing to me. And now I can't get a Bob Marley song out of my head -- the cover band that performed it that night made me a Bob Marley believer all over again.

But as each day passes, I'm finding it harder and harder to remember how the song I enjoyed so much went. Rasta zombies ate mah brainz.

I even searched through my LPs, because I know I had a Bob Marley album. Once I lent it to a friend and he returned it to me with peanut butter on it.

Jah, he was peanut-butter-and-jammin', mon.

Then I remembered that I sold the album at a yard sale a decade ago. It seems that I now wish I had kept the dozen or so I sold, which totally goes against my decluttering way of being.

So I sought a Positive Vibration and went over to YouTube to see if I could find the song that way.

Three hours later and I was beginning to feel like I was Waiting in Vain.

Or like Burnin' and Lootin'.

And I wasn't about to go and claim I Shot the Sheriff...

I know, kill me now. ;)

So I broke down and cashed in an Amazon gift certificate and bought Bob Marley and the Wailers GOLD, a two-disc CD containing 34 ganga-grooving tracks.

Yeah, even though I should be saving my money and not spending it on a whim. Even if it has a really good beat and I can listen to it while I'm on the treadmill. I mean, that's what Duran Duran and Madonna are for. ;)

The DH thought I was more nuts than usual. "Do you remember any of the lyrics?"

"Something about music and everyone being happy," I replied.

Yeah, like that would narrow things down. ;)

Well, the CDs arrived today. Squee! Or rasta-squee!

So instead of working on the WIP, I popped the first disc into the player and started jammin' through the tracks. What I didn't realize is that with every song I listened to, the memory of the one I was trying to find grew fainter and fainter, like a soft dreadlocked echo over the waters of my mind.

The kitten was not impressed. Zaphod staged an Exodus from my office, seeking the safe haven of the basement, where the ska-inspiring beats couldn't reach him.

I'd miss him, but I had a song to find.

And then the wildest thing happened: I found the track!

But it wasn't the same.

The cover band had performed Trenchtown Rock, but at about twice the speed, making it a more workout-worthy tune. Sure, I was delighted to finally know what the heck the song was called, and how the lyrics described how everyone was listening to music and getting happy, but it wasn't fast enough for me to sweat to. Sob!

And I still had 25 songs left to listen to on the CDs, which wasn't a bad thing, as I recognized most of them. Even Zaphod came back, looking more relaxed than before.

Then I found it. It was the perfect move-your-butt-because-you-can't-help-yourself track.

Iron, Lion, Zion. And it was the last track on the second CD!

Enjoy!

Bonnie's excuse of the week

2009-03-08T23:49:00.003-04:00

The words are still flowing, but I want to make sure they're the right ones. Le sigh.

And this insight brings me right to this week's excuse:

"If only someone would validate my work for me."
Oh yes, my friends. From time to time I lose my grip on reality and can only believe what other people have to say about my work. And sometimes, they don't like it.

I know, can you believe it? ;)

Whether from a beta reader, critique group member, agent or contest judge, their word is gold. Mine is Silly Putty with a hunk of comic strip stuck to it. And no matter how much I try to stretch and shape my own opinion so I can hear it better. it just shrinks back as soon as someone else says they don't like something I've done.

As my published friends say, "Just wait 'til you get Amazon reviews."

It's crazy, I know. And I'm not the only creative person out there who suffers from this. Heck, even those uncreative types do, too. If a hairdresser gives me a nasty haircut, all it takes is one of her associates to say, "Wow, your hair looks great!" and I'll forget how much I hate it until I get home and see it in the mirror.

So what's a woman planning on putting her words out there for all to see, mock and critique to do?

Suck it up.

Seriously, there's no other way. If I can't take the heat, I should close up shop. But I can take the heat -- I even picked up some SPF 4000 sunblock, just in case.

If I waited around for everyone to like what I did, I'd never get anywhere. LOL

So how do you deal with other people's opinions?

Edward's proposal

2009-03-05T16:47:00.004-05:00

I must preface this post by stating that I am a happily married woman. And I am still happily married to my first-and-only husband.

Now let's get to the good stuff.

It all started with my girlfriend Geri's win-win situation. Like me, she enters a lot of contests. Unlike me, she wins a bunch of them. ;) So when she won four tickets to radio station Q107's Million Days of Summer Party, she generously invited me and two other contesting colleagues.

We were uber-excited because they would be giving away FIVE trips to the Dominican Republic during the event, which also featured bands covering Beach Boys, Bob Marley and hard-core summer tuneage.

Then, to make it even more of a fun night, Geri also had a gift certificate for dinner for four at a nice restaurant. Nice, meaning wear something better than sweats. Nice, meaning make a reservation. Oh yeah, she won that gift certificate, too. Le sigh.

So we all met at the chic restaurant and couldn't get over how skinny and barely clothed some of the waitresses were.

"I don't think I'm gonna be able to eat with all that skin showing," Geri said.

And I couldn't blame her. Even though the interior of the place was dark, all the fake-and-bake tanned arms, legs, chests and backs were a little unnerving.

Then Edward appeared to take our order. Okay, his name wasn't Edward, it was Will. And he bore a striking resemblance to Robert Pattinson, who plays Edward Cullen in Twilight.

As soon as he left the table, Geri said, "Gee, I thought with the movie he wouldn't need to keep on waiting tables."

We enjoyed a lovely meal, giggling like schoolgirls whenever he made a comment or refilled our water glasses. Yeah, it was like being 16 all over again. Too bad I was old enough to be his mother and outweighed him by 40 pounds. On a good day. ;)

After we ordered desserts and coffee, Edward, er, Will, announced that we still had oodles of room left on our gift certificate.

"You can order whatever you like," he said with a flirtatious smile.

"Like tequila shots?" I asked.

"Oh my God, I can't believe you said that. It was just what I was about to say. No one ever says that, we must be soul mates. Will you marry me?"

I kid you not, that's how it went down. Our waiter, Will, suddenly became Will You Marry Me, looking all pale and glowing in the dim interior of the restaurant.

I might have said yes. And then asked if we could take his picture.

"Because you always take photos of the guys who propose to you, right?" he replied. "You must have tons of them."

At that point, I suspected he might have taken it a bit too far to increase his tip. After a few more jokes and laughs, he ran away. You could hear the wheels burn against the pavement as he peeled away.

Too bad. It would have been nice to have a picture for my album.

The radio station party was a total blast, but no one there proposed. LOL

Bonnie lashes out

2009-03-03T23:46:00.007-05:00

Okay, if you've been reading my blog long enough, you know that I'll do just about anything to get something for free.

Well, the folks at Matchstick thought I was enough of a fashionista to be part of a group to try the new Lancome Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara. You know, the mascara that adds extended tubes to the end of your lashes so they look really, really long?

You know I had to try it, since I am one of the many people born every day with barely there lashes. Please note Exhibit A to see what I mean:

Seriously, my nickname in high school should have been No Lash Girl. Even Korby Banner, the makeup artist on Style By Jury, told me to not even bother curling my lashes.

"Sweetie, with lashes like that, all you can really do is pray," he said as he tweezed my brows during a makeup session.

So I just had to try Lancome's Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara. Of course, I was afraid it might work too well and prevent me from wearing my glasses because my lashes would be too darn long. Hey, it's good to fear success sometimes people. ;)

Of course, this is where I should have totally glammed myself up for the after shot, but I wanted you to SEE my lashes. Yes, it is possible. If you don't have long lashes, you can simply put them on:

Not only can I have the long lashes I've always wanted, the mascara stays in place and doesn't land in your lap while laughing too hard (which could happen with an inferior-quality product that shall remain nameless).

But what does all this have to do with you? Well, how about a coupon to save $5 off your very own tube?

Forgive me for getting all tubular, but this was a really fun product to try -- and have in my beauty arsenal for occasions that call for luscious lashes!

Bonnie's excuse of the week

2009-03-02T11:43:00.005-05:00

The writing is still going well, so hopefully I haven't jinxed myself by bragging about it here. It's been a productive week and the weather is still wintry. So it's only a partial boo hoo.

Here's what's been getting in my way this week:

"Email."
I don't know if it was because it was a short month or everyone suddenly thought it would be a great time to promote themselves, but my inbox has been jammed with a lot of stuff.

And, in some cases, it was a lot of stuff from the same people. Grr.

I'm all for tooting your own horn and getting word out about new products, services or whatever it is that you do, but emails are truly a case where, in my opinion, less is more.

How much is too much? It probably depends on the individual. For me, unless you're offering me information that's updated frequently, I don't want to hear from you more than once a month. In fact, even if you have updated stuff, group it all together for your next newsletter instead of sending me little bits every week.

Let me miss you. Please.

Sure, I could simply unsubscribe, but then I might miss out on something, like the reason I subscribed to your mailing list in the first place. ;)

That takes me to the murky waters of lists. Sometimes I'm on a mailing list simply because I contacted the emailer for another reason. As a writer, I could have been doing research for an article, or asking if I could quote the person for my expose on the high cost of pork rinds. Does that mean I want to receive your ongoing mutters about yourself? Probably not.

Now I know I'm ranting to the choir, but what do you feel is appropriate promotional contact? Once a quarter? Once a month? When is it too much?

The muse returns

2009-02-26T21:31:00.003-05:00

I really don't know what happened. For the longest time I was staring at my WIP, willing it to write itself, when suddenly the muse pulled back into town. And she's shown no signs of leaving.

Of course, my daily word count isn't nearly as high as I'd like it to be (especially with March 31 looming around the corner), but I'm making progress. Freaking progress, at that.

With all this writing and doing the paying work, that doesn't leave a lot of time for much else. Still, I'm finding time to watch way too much TV, and even get a little peeved when President Obama made The Biggest Loser appear two nights in a row.

Still, that man makes me believe just about anything is possible. Even my novel. LOL

Then I started thinking about what has made the past two weeks different for me with my writing? It's still cold outside and I'm in dire need of a spa day, but something is making the words flow more freely.

It could be that I'm fighting the fear more effectively.

You see, this is my last kick at this particular can before I call it a day and move on. Life is too short to spend years on one novel. With a box of shiny new ideas clamoring for my attention, I have to be more selective about the projects I spend my time on.

So, even though I'm afraid of having to let this one go, I'm no longer afraid to give it my best shot first. My characters deserve it. And maybe it'll be the first in a series.

Hey, you never know. ;)

What about you? When do you decide to give up on a project and move on to the next one?

Bonnie's excuse of the week

2009-02-23T10:19:00.002-05:00

It's been a very interesting week... no, it hasn't, I'm a total liar. There's snow on the ground again and I really don't like my winter boots, but all the ones on sale are only available in size 6 or 10. So yeah, I'm not too happy.

"I'd rather be napping."
It's pretty sad when you'd rather be unconscious than face your WIP, but that's what happened to me this week. And how can I focus on character motivation and plot when the couch looks so darn comfortable?

Sure, I needed to be awake for the work that pays the bills, but then the sandman would come calling -- and I was ready to answer with a resounding yawn. Then the snoring started. Le sigh.

And it saddens me that the only thing my WIP is motivating me to doright now is nap. That says a lot about how captivating my novel is at the moment. LOL

So what's a writer to do? Well, for now, I'm going to take a wee break and have that nap. Obviously my body needs it, and maybe it'll give my subconscious a chance to work up some fabulous ideas I haven't thought of yet.

Well, here's hoping...

What are you afraid of?

2009-02-18T15:57:00.002-05:00

I'm not a psychology major, but I think people's fears are really interesting. Most everyone has a fear of some sort, whether it's spiders, snakes or flying squirrels.

One of my biggest fears is heights. It's stood in the way of a few things for me, and two instances were even caught on camera when I was on Stuck. There's an Armed Forces obstacle course with my name on it, and one day I will return to conquer it.

It just won't be today.

One of my friends has a fear of paper cuts, which I find truly freaky and may borrow for a character in a novel... perhaps a newspaper reporter or bookkeeper. ;) And there was a gal in high school who would scream at the sight of an eyelash curler, but I think that might have been the result of memories of a makeover gone horribly wrong.

As I've experienced, fear stops a lot of people from going after their dreams. Luckily for me, my dream is not climbing Mt. Everest or an open staircase in a really tall building. But my fear of making mistakes has made me pause and miss some cool opportunities.

I hope by now I've learned when to ignore those warning voices in my head. Especially the ones that sound like Jack Bauer.

What about you? Do you have a weird fear -- or one that's stopping you in your tracks to success?

Happy Family Day

2009-02-16T18:21:00.004-05:00

In Ontario, we have a holiday in February called Family Day. I think it means we're supposed to spend more time with our families since all the malls are closed. ;)

As a freelancer, it's not really a holiday for me, but DH, Zaphod the cat and I all spent some quality time together between the laundry and Dr. Phil. And we will again watching 24 and Heroes. Actually, the cat gets kind of cranky during 24 with all the gunshots and shouting. Hmm, the same applies to Heroes as well, go figure.

But the best part of Family Day was taking Zaphod for his first outdoor walk of 2009. Yes, we have an indoor cat, but he comes from a feral family (he was an abandoned runt of the litter) and longs to go outside. He tells us this by meowling (a cross between a howl and a meow) at the door until someone with opposable thumbs gets the hint.

We even have a harness and a leash for him. No, he doesn't like it, but those are the rules.

My poor kitten isn't the same size as he was back in October. That's because he's finally fully grown. When I tried to put the harness on, one of the straps didn't reach. At all. I had to extend it to the longest setting, and then I asked Zaphod to exhale as I did up the latch.

We'll have to hook him up with a medium-sized harness when the stores are open tomorrow.

Even if he was feeling self-conscious about his weight gain, he didn't seem to care as he bolted out the front door and immediately rolled around on the porch, the sidewalk, the driveway and chased a squirrel up a tree.

For him, life is good. Now I just have to find him before he leaves little bits of dirt all over the place.

Bonnie's excuse fo the week

2009-02-15T11:03:00.000-05:00

Wow. It's been a week like no other for me. And here's why:

"I had no excuses this week."
Seriously. This was the most productive week I've had in ages in terms of my novel writing. Finished the first chapter (which took me forever to start because of, you know, all those excuses) and the brand-new synopsis.

Did it all in just over a week. Twenty-one pages in total.

Of course, at this rate it will take me three months to complete this rewrite instead of the six weeks I have left until March 31. But I'm not worried. This time I have an outline -- and character motivation that actually makes sense.

Oh, and a story that isn't bogged down my too much stuff. It kind of feels like streaking. ;)

So, instead of waxing poetic on this blog post, I'm going to tackle Chapter Two.

No excuses!

Missed it by that much

2009-02-11T01:07:00.002-05:00

Have I told you how much I love the North Texas RWA Great Expectations writing contest yet?

No, my entry didn't get selected as one of the finalists this year, but it came really, really close. Like, by FIVE points. And I'm okay with it, honestly. Because the main reason I entered this contest was to get some feedback on my WIP's opening scene, which kind of bugged me.

Turns out it bugged three other people too, but not too much. ;)

Of course, this wonderful news has totally taken me away from the current final, final, final revision of my other manuscript. You know, the one with a due date of March 31, 2009. The rewrite that's still sitting at Chapter One, waiting for the writer to get back to the keyboard after checking over all the judges' comments on that brighter, shinier WIP.

Yup, I need to focus. In an all capped kind of way. ;)

I'm so easily swayed by my love of all things contesting. Le sigh. And it's all a roll of the dice. Through all the contests I've entered, I've learned that there are two types of judges:

- Ones who like it

- Ones who don't

The three times I've entered the Great Expectations contest (even with the manuscript that should never have seen the light of day), I've been lucky in getting judges who like my voice and style, even with weak plots and characters who make no sense whatsoever. Maybe that's why I have great expectations about the Great Expectations contest. LOL

How about you? Are there any novel writing contests that you LOVE to enter?