Snow Hump Day!

You know, I usually agree with Simon on AI about 95% of the time. Granted, he doesn't have much tact when talking to certain people. I think he likes to piss off the girls. And Kara really needs to go (and stop singing)...

Could you imagine if Literary Agents or Editors queried people like that? You've got two minutes to tell your story with four people staring at you! I was nervous enough talking one on one with an editor, four of them, I'd probably pass out. LOL I'm not good talking in front of people. Put a mic in my hand, ask me to sing, not a problem at all. How does that make sense? I don't know...

I'm gearing up to revise the Lucky series while I still have people reading the first book. I have to beef up the synopsis and figure out if I want to add a line about book two and three to my query. I'll probably do it both ways just so I have it handy.

I also need to go back to Tiva's books and write up a synopsis and new query letter. Fun.

I've submitted two stories for publication, something I've never done before. I'm interested in seeing what comes of that.

I've entered the beginning of Lucky #1 for an author critique. I sent the first page to Dear Author. I still have three agents and four editors reading. I'll be sending them status update letters on Saturday.

Staying positive isn't always easy, especially the way things are going these days in the publishing industry, but I refuse to be negative about my writing. After skimming through the romance subplot in Lucky's books, I've realized that I did a fantastic job working through Lucky and Kenji's relationship. It's not a typical romance by any stretch of the imagination. But it's real. Lucky has real issues with getting close to people. She has a real reason she doesn't want to fall in love. Kenji isn't the typical alpha male (though it comes out sometimes), he's almost like the chick in the relationship. He knows how to communicate, he just doesn't know how to get through to Lucky because she's completely anti-communication. :-)

Now, I just need to make sure all the little pieces of the main plot work. More Fun.

One of the short stories I wrote and submitted has an erotic twist to it. Sure, I've written naughty before, but never did anything with it. My naughty isn't like other erotica naughty stuff. I'm not big on body parts words. To me, that's more porn than erotic. When I think erotic, I think of sensual, not graphic. Don't get me wrong, I've read some erotica, even with body part words, and it worked, and it was good. That's just not how I like to write. However, the short story is about a cursed man enslaved to a demon. He's been in my head for a while and I didn't know what to do with him. I want him for a novel and writing the short story actually helped me come up with a few ideas.

Problem? It's going to be paranormal in nature.

Everyone is writing paranormal now.

I refuse to write about vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters...not because I don't enjoy those types of characters, it just seems like everyone is doing it. If I do start writing it now, by the time it's done and ready for submission, freaking Romantic Suspense will be the next trend...probably.

So, cursed man, demon chick, and human heroine chick. Not bad, probably been done a million times, but I'm sure the right plot will come to me and tie it all together.

Beyond that, I'm not sure what the hell to write now.

Superhero movies are still big and graphic novels are growing by leaps and bounds. Suspense and Thrillers will always be around but they're never really trendy. I don't write historicals. I can't do humor well enough to even try. Horror, eh, maybe...I am kinda twisted, but torture porn in the movies is already so last year, I don't see it doing so well in books. Publishers want steampunk still. I've seen it. Science Fiction and Fantasy will always have a special place in my heart. Many of my outrageous ideas have a Sci-Fi twist to it. I'm not too bad at fantasy either, just not normally what I like to write.

The only thing I can think of is to look toward anime.

Light Novels are making a huge impact in japan. I think I have a general idea what they are, but I haven't found any english sites that show them as a whole. Problem with Light Novels, I can't draw. Bleh! Nor do I have the time right now to find someone to draw for me.

Anime has no rules. Seriously. I've seen Sci-fi-Horror-Romance-Humor animes. I've seen Paranormal-Romance-Fantasy. They mix up genres more than any other medium out there. But trying to find (or predict) a trend among anime is just as hard.

Kids love their anime. At first, I was kinda ticked off when it blew up and became popular here. I always felt like it was my special secret...okay, along with a few thousand other fans, but it was mine. Then, slowly, everyone else started to love it. (I blame video games!) Now, you can't get away from it. There is SO much anime out there, I can't even keep track anymore.

When I'm searching for a new idea, I try not to watch too much TV or movies, or read any other books. Maybe I should do the opposite? Not sure. Taking pieces from various areas of the pop culture world might actually help me this time.

It takes so much time and energy to be original and even when you think you are 100% original, there's some else out there with an idea close to yours.

If everyone thinks outside the box, does that leave you with an empty box? Maybe I should think inside the box?

Frack Me!

Friday was a very bad day. Someone broke into my paypal account and order at $2100 Apple computer from ebay and wiped out my bank account. The seller was able to intercept the package and should have it back tomorrow, so I should get all my money back shortly. I hope. What a frakin nightmare. I couldn't do anything this week, pay bills, go grocery shopping, buy new sneakers...nothing. ugh!

Well, I turned a really bad start to the weekend into a productive one. I submitted two short stories to different publications this week. One I wrote last week, the other I've had for a while, but never did anything with it. I've got my fingers crossed. Maybe I need something real bad to happen before something good does.

My doggie hurt her foot on the ice yesterday. She kept me up ALL night. Poor thing, I need to take her to the vet...BUT I HAVE NO MONEY! *Sigh*

The week in TV was all right. 24 Good. BSG ok. Smallville, pretty good. Supernatural eh...they need to get back on track. Fringe was back on. Yay! Not a bad ep either. Gossip Girl was fantastic. I love Chuck. Even when he's moody.

I bought Stepsister's Scheme by Jim Hines. LOVE the cover. I haven't read it yet, but I plan on doing that soon.

One more week and I'll be contacting some agents/editors who've had my stuff since October. I'd love to wait until the "economy" is better, but I'm trying to get as many reads as I can and need to continue submitting soon.

I have a plan, just need a bit more time to get it moving.

Positive thoughts! Positive thoughts!

Hope your weekend was better than mine!

Hump Day. No, not Hump me! Well, maybe...

Yesterday was a great day.

I watched President Obama's speech at my trainer's house during lunch. I've yet to check if he wrote it himself, but I'm sure he did. He's that kinda guy. Great speech too. Some lines really touched my heart. Well done.

I finished a short story! It sorta just came to me so I went with it. Has the makings of the premise for a novel. Could be interesting.

I'd post it, but it's naughty. lol I have to polish it up first, then I'm actually going to submit it. Whee!

American Idol is so fun to watch. No matter how bad a day you have, if you watch AI you can't help but laugh. I love how much the new chick fights with Simon. You won't win girl, give it up. Nothing rattles the Si-Man.

OMFG LOST is on tonight. And Lie to me. And Criminal Minds. What's a pop culture freak to do? Record two of them and watch one in someone elses room. Grr. Stinky, but I'll manage. I hope.

I haven't watched Fringe from last night. I may have time when I get home from the gym. Great show, I hope it sticks around for a while.

One of my friends just emailed me about a new book. Guess what its about? Female assassin. GRR! Granted this chick works for the mafia, so it's already different...but still! How the hell are writers supposed to come up with something new? It's all been done, damn it!

I've put Lucky away for a week or so. I'm doing my best to NOT read it over and over and over again. I know I need to read through whole series again, but I have to clean up # 3 first. Then the others. Fun!

On the suggestion of another friend, I won't be writing to the editors and agents who have my stuff until February. I tend to listen to my friends when they feel passionate about something. Maybe it'll help me be a little uh...luckier in the future. (sorry, bad pun)


I only watched the last hour of Biggest Loser last night. Very surprised they kept Joelle. She's got a 'tude.

I'm wearing clothes that fit me. I'm looking pretty cute....I think. Maybe I will find a nice guy this year after all!

Losing friends, gaining new ones...

I went to a wake on Sunday for a friend of mine from way back in the day. I only recently got back in touch with her after about ten years and now, she's gone. I knew two of my other friends were going to be there, so I wanted to go and show my support. It was great to see them, and I hope we keep in touch this time. Her family was there too. I didn't think any of them would remember me, so I didn't approach, though, I probably should have.

My heart ached for her brother. Because I know, if I don't die before my brother, I'll be a basket case for a very, very long time. Even though I have "best friends" my brother will always be my first and truest best friend on this planet...

I'm constantly checking myspace and facebook for old friends I've lost touch with. There are still a few I haven't yet found, but I am determined even if they don't remember me at first. Every person that has entered my life, even if for fleeting moments, has impacted me on some level. I'm still trying to find some of my old high school teachers. Maybe one day.

I've made a lot of new friend just in the last year alone and already I can't imagine my life without them. Sadly, I know I will lose touch with some of them in the years to come, but with the internet, I'm hopeful to remain apart of their lives even if only sporadically.



I'm VERY excited about tomorrow. I'm pissed that it's not a national holiday or half day or something. I'll probably sneak out of work during lunch and head over to my trainers house to watch some of the ceremony, I hope that's enough to hold me over. :-)

Considering today is MLK Day, I think it's wonderfully fantastic that the inauguration is tomorrow. Very fitting. Maybe now the rest of the county and the rest of the world will truly start to look beyond the color of someone's skin and seek what is in people's hearts instead. I've been fortunate enough in my life that I haven't been surrounded by racist people. Yes, there are some bigots in my family, but they are older and set in their ways....as some would say. I call it ignorance. Plain and simple.

The world is constantly changing. While many people do not like change, it must happen. My theory about this is odd, yet to me, makes sense. When people stop changing, learning, growing, they start to die on the inside. They keep their ideals and beliefs so close to their chest that it burns a hole inside of them so deep they can't recover. If the weather stopped changing the planet would die, right? If we as the human race never changed, we'd still be in caves hunting with spears. If the universe never changed we might not even be here.

It's okay to be weary of change. Not all change is good. But if you keep an open mind and an open heart, more will come to you than not if you simply realize change will happen.

I'm ready for change. I'm ready for the struggles that come along with it.

I don't remember which speech it was, but I had a feeling, deep down inside that Obama was going to be our president. For once, I'm glad I was right.

HEROES/24/GOSSIP GIRL tonight! *Squee*

OMFG!

It really hasn't been this cold in NJ since I was a kid. I think. It could be that I was just so fat it didn't matter before. LOL. Well, it's damn cold now. I'm SO glad I don't live in that apartment anymore...yesh!

BSG starts tonight! *Squee* Only 10 episodes left, dang that sucks. I probably won't watch the spin off show, don't have the time. Ah well...

Okay, CSI last night pissed me off. The episode was good. The end was kinda good. That kiss...was bad. BAD! BAD! I used to be one of those Sara-Gris shippers. I even wrote a couple of fanfictions about them. I dunno, that kiss just didn't feel right. It should have been softer, slower, tender, almost needy. Not sloppy and gross! UGH!

Supernatural was pointless except for the last ten minutes. God I love Dean. I love angsty tortured men, he's in my top ten faves these days. I think I'll have to do a post on that some time soon. *swoon*

Smallville, ok. Liked the time travelers. I always love time travel anything.

I sent Lucky's Charm to a myspace friend to beta read for me. I love hearing new opinions about Lucky. It can only make me better. Ex-roomie has Lucky #3. Only problem, I talked to him about the plot a lot, so he has more information in his head than he's read so far and it's a bit confusing. So, I told him to try and forget what I told him. LOL

I'm still trying to come up with my next idea. I know what it won't be. Horror, Steampunk, Vampires, Were-anything, Shapeshifters, morphers, or changlings.

I was thinking about topics I have a strong grasp on. I asked my brother to help me. He says "Songs, Movies, and TV Stuff." O.O I know more than that, don't I?

I know how payroll works. I know how to make nail polish, sorta. I know the Star Trek and Star Wars realms very well. I know anime. I know a nice fraction of history, religion, and cultures from around the world. I know football. I do know movies and music and tv. Everyone usually comes to me with a plot or actors and asks me what movie they were in. I know video games. I know books and writers. I know the internet.

None of that helps me.

One of my favorite topics ever is time travel. I like to think I have a nice grasp on the topic, even if it is fictional. I usually have to explain things to people. Like, last night on Smallville. Both kids were from the future. One kid found a baseball. The other kid said "They never found that in all your items." So the first kid asks Clark if he can have it, Clark said yes. I go "well duh, that's why they never found it." Doesn't make sense to everyone, but it does to me. Instantly.

I should be a time traveler.

Maybe I should revisit my Time Healers idea and make it for grown ups. Could work, but aren't there enough time travel stories out there already?

Ugh.

It'll come to me. I know it will....

Eventually.

Maybe.