Life Imitates Art

I'm hard at work on my latest book in the Gifted series, where the main character is a vegan. I am firmly omnivorous, so I don't know that much about the vegan lifestyle. Therefore, I did what any good writer does: research.

I bought a couple of things from the supermarket's organic aisle. Then a couple more. Started eating better and cutting out the fast food. Drinking more water. Still omnivorous, just ... less so (Let's face it, it's just research!). Figured out what rice milk tastes like (not bad). And guess what?

My cholesterol's down about 30 points. I'm losing weight. Feeling better. More energetic. Hey, who knew? These health-conscious eaters are on to something. :)

So, while I am still an omnivore, I am paying better attention to what I eat (and nudging the family to do so also). Go figure, my writing is good for my soul and body. Gotta love that.

Fun With Haiku

Last week, DH and I got on the subject of haiku. I don't know how. Some movie we were watching. The dialogue was weird and existential, and it sounded like--you guessed it--haiku. So DH began composing some off-the-cuff haiku, which was equally weird and existential (and some of it plain awful), about everything. When I asked him finally to have pity on me, this is what he came back with:

Stop it, you meanie
You mock my mad haiku skills
Get bent, crazy girl

What do you think? Is he an undiscovered talent, or should I get a pair of earplugs? :-D

Cut Out For It

A couple of nights ago, I got a call from a friend who's now living in Georgia. We haven't talked in a little while, but she's the type of person you can chat with and pick right back up where you left off. She told me she's driving a cab for a living. And I got one of those "A-ha" moments where it made perfect sense. You have to understand. I could plunk this woman in a foreign country without a map, and she'd still find her way home by the shortest possible route. She has an impeccable sense of direction (not to mention a knack for finding the greatest little out-of-the-way places to eat or hang out). She's also a very sociable person. So driving a cab is the perfect job for her, and I found myself a bit envious that she got to do something she's made for, for a living. And she loves it.

Which brings me to writing. I decided, after a layoff, that I want to start pursuing things I want to do, rather than stuff I have to do. I still have my "day job," and I'm not fond of it. For now, I can't argue, because I need to pay bills. But I've added some things to that mix, particularly looking for projects on Elance, and an editing job with The Wild Rose Press. (More on that in a later blog, once the dust settles.)

Let's face it. We have a limited number of years on this planet. What fun is it doing a job you hate for that entire span? Do what you're made for. If it isn't financially feasible to do it full-time, at least do it on the side until it becomes feasible (I'm not gonna have those college loans forever, by golly). Then, on the day you kick it, you can say you did something satisfying with your life. So there, world. I came, I saw, I wrote books. 'Cause I'm cut out for that.

My Future's So Bright ...

This has been a week of ups and downs for me, but today's an up day. I'm looking into a possible editing job, which is pretty much a dream job for me. Had I been born in NYC, that's probably what I would have been. I love words, and I love making them shine. This can be done via computer, which means that I won't have to relocate to The Big Apple to do it. Yay, me! The bonus is, I get to help other authors succeed!

Also, my agent E-mailed me to say that she'll be calling next week to work on my next round of revisions for GEMINI. I can't wait! I really hope this will be my year for writing. All I can say is, keep that good karma coming!