I Saw Orlando Bloom Today!

(Sort of.)

Let me explain that. At my "day job" (you know, the one I have to do, and then I go home and do the one I want to do, which is write), I see lots of people. A girl came in today and one of my coworkers was assisting her, so I turned away to answer the phone. When I looked back, there was a guy with the customer, wearing a hat.

Double take. Another double take. Try not to stare. Holy &%$*, what's Orlando Bloom doing here? Look again. OMG. This guy was the closest thing you can get to Orlando Bloom without actually being Orlando Bloom. And not washed-out, blond-haired Legolas Orlando Bloom. We're talking full-on, curly dark-haired, short ponytail, incredibly cute "Pirates Of The Caribbean" Orlando Bloom. I half expected him to be wearing a bandanna and black pirate shirt instead of a cap and tank top. I'm not particularly crazy about Orlando--Hugh Jackman being more my cup of tea--but wow. That was some doppelganger.

That was the bright spot in my day. Now, Fate, if you're listening: about Hugh Jackman....

Happy Earth Day!

Today is Earth Day, one of my favorite holidays! Whether you do something as big as a community cleanup, or something as small as choosing a washable travel mug over that disposable Styrofoam, remember that you're helping your planet stay healthy! Check out these easy tips on how to live green from WorldWatch.org! Happy Earth Day!

Toughing It Out

I recently hit a rough patch where I thought my writing was awful. I sulked last night about it and wisely stayed off the computer. But this morning, I got right back on the horse and worked on some editing. And y'know what? My writing isn't that bad.

All writers think, at one time or another, that their writing isn't worth reading. It's a natural part of wanting to be a better writer than you already are. Please, if nothing else sticks in your head about the craft--remember this. Write it down, and tape it to your computer:

Keep Writing.

Tough it out. Don't quit, because the very next manuscript could have been a New York Times bestseller.

Keep Writing.

Eventually you're going to write something that makes you remember why you sit in front of that damn computer every day and struggle to say something worth saying.

Keep Writing.

I've said it before, and I will say it for as long as it takes to encourage every new writer to be a better one. No one ever published a quitter. :)

Movie Review: "Slumdog Millionaire"

People have said it before me and probably said it better. Wow, what a movie!

Y'know how you let a book sit on the shelf forever and then kick yourself for not having read it sooner? This was that sort of thing for me. I never saw it in the theater, but I heard about all the good reviews it got. So I rented it this weekend, and it was fantastic.

I'm not even sure how to classify it, except that it's a movie about a kid from the slums that makes good...and you're gonna care why and how, right from the opening sequence. I don't think I have felt this bad for a character since Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness. All of the protagonists in the film inspire that same empathy. (And let me say that Freida Pinto is probably one of the most gorgeous women ever. Might have to use her as inspiration for my next heroine!)

If you're a writer, watch this movie for the way it strikes empathy from the word go. If you're just a movie buff, watch this movie because it tells a terrific story of hardship, family, betrayal, redemption, loss, and love. But definitely watch it, especially if you've been on the fence about it.

Final Edits on EARTH

I'm in the homestretch on my first book, EARTH. I have the final edits in hand, and I am working my way through them. I hope to have them done soon, and then I can jump back into the next book, WATER. While I'm doing that, I will be revising my synopsis for GEMINI and submitting that around again.

The warm weather is definitely slowing down my writing. I think I'm in such a happy frenzy to be able to get outside without a parka and dogsled! I can't wait to plant flowers. For those of you who celebrate, Happy Easter!

Ooh, It's Wednesday, Isn't It?

How'd that happen? LOL

Time management is a problem for many of us writers. You know you need to get yourself in front of the computer every day, but when are you going to squeeze it in?

The answer is, make time. You're a writer, and writing is your job. If you skipped work a lot, you'd get fired, right? So definitely block out at least half an hour daily where you tell the family (or friends, or roommates) that nothing but blood or fire is to interrupt you. If you want to be a serious writer, writing's got to be a priority.

I have a half-hour lunch at my day job, and strangely enough, I find I get a lot more done in that half-hour (or less, when you consider taking time to prepare and eat food too), than when I have an entire day to write. That little bit of pressure sometimes encourages me to focus better. There are days when I write only one sentence, but there are days too when I can get several pages in. (Remember that I am the type who can't shut off her internal editor and "puke out" a chapter. I have to edit as I go.)

In short, be aware that you need to treat writing like a job, even if you are your own employer in this case. That means consistent effort. After all, you can't get pubbed if you don't write anything and get to The End!