Friday, October 12, 2007

Friday Fiver.

I've been so busy this week that my blogging has suffered. So a super-duper double-large dose of the top five for this Friday!

1. The writing is moving right along. This weekend I intend to reacquaint myself with my novel game plan and get back on the horse. I admit that journaling and scrawling notes from my intense reading schedule (need to update what I'm reading currently; don't pass out!) is my neutral zone. To actually create a story is my addiction, but my energy levels wane, and with the jet lag from last weekend (see number 2), I definitely went to neutral. I intend to get back to first gear this weekend and then keep accelerating from there. Reading a nifty writing process book I picked up in Oxford still and that is helping me immensely.

2. The jet lag sapped my creativity. I was affected more coming home than going to London. It was the adrenaline, I know. I zonked out in early afternoon and then was awake all night. Finally, hubby kept me out late playing pool late last weekend and that seemed to switch me over to the right circadian rhythm. I finally feel myself today and I intend to use the next six days to catch up on all my work, read, and just enjoy being home. Because I'm headed out for another four days next week. Whew.

3. I was inspired in London to buy for style and beauty. I bought beautiful things in London and here at home this week at stores that surprised me. I've decided to buy because I love it. And to quit taking myself so seriously. And to quit trying to make life perfect. How anal is that?

4. Cancer has returned for several dear friends and so I'd ask blog readers to please support cancer charities and fundraisers (wear that yellow livestrong bracelet!) to find a cure.

5. Trader Joe's is my new favorite grocery store. Metropolitan Market has long been my favorite, but Trader Joe's is so close and the organic milk and eggs are so good. I have long bought regular buttermilk. Have you tasted organic buttermilk ranch dressing? Oh wow. They have salty treats, sugary treats, incredible two-buck Chuck wines, everything. I am sorry to say I've only gone there occasionally. It is my new favorite place!

Happy weekend all. Keep writing.

Playing on the iPod: My Moon My Man (Feist)

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Writing Inspiration Wednesday

On the road traveling with hubby on his business trip, thus this post is late.

From Monica Wood's The Pocket Muse:

Cleverness is not wisdom.--Euripides
Listen to your elders. There comes a point in every draft when you have to examine a turn of phrase--maybe your favorite one, the one that occasioned the entire piece. Be honest: Does the smarty-pants phrasing illuminate something at the heart of the work, or are yolu just being a show-off, a smart aleck, a writer's writer? Be careful with these beloved phrases--sometimes we can't tell the difference between cleverness and wisdom.

I like that. A great reminder as I scribble away this week, making very slow progress on my WIP, but filling my notebooks as fast as I can scrawl. Who knows if it is good, but it feels great to let it out.

Playing on the iPod: Love Song (Sara Bareilles)

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Gadget Girl Tuesday

If you're into Internet marketing, you know the name John Reese. His Reese Report is worth gold and his Traffic Secrets course, well, I think it has launched most of the successful businesses on the web.

His new venture is Blogrush and while I've had mixed results and am still tweaking it, I thought it was worth mentioning here just FYI, in case people reading wanted to check it out.

Basically, it's a gathering of blog posts that are related to your blog's topic, updated with a widget (similar to my news widget to the right, below) and so far there have been complaints of crappy content, but if I know John Reese, he does not send out a beta project and then just let it sit. His team will tweak it until it works. So, just to let you know.

The Latest on BlogRush

In other news, headed out with hubby on his business trip this week, but will continue to post from my laptop. He's off to another trip next week too, but I can't join him. Bollox!

I assume it will be my chance to catch up on the first three seasons of the Office, clean out my closet for winter, and write and read into the wee hours!

Playing on the iPod: 1,2,3,4 (Feist)

Monday, October 08, 2007

Monday Catch-Up

Home from London. Missing London.

Started reading a British paperback version of Possession by A.S. Byatt on the flight home. Fantastic. If you've not ever read this book, go get it now. It's on every reading list I've seen out there. Antonia Byatt wrote the poetry throughout the book too, which blows my mind.

We bought books at Blackwells bookstores in Oxford and only had a few minutes to pick up what we could before we had to be up in Risinghurst to visit C.S. Lewis' home. Pictures from that and elsewhere on our trip coming soon.

Everything went smoothly while I was gone. Everyone survived and I feel a bit like I'm off to the races already with hubby traveling the next two weeks (I am going with him), so I'll be blogging in fits most likely.

Writing update later this week!

Playing on the iPod: Here We Go Again (Kanye West)