Insecure Writer's Support Group: No More Too Serious

Happy Insecure Writer's Support Group Wednesday! Thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh we have this ingenious outlet to vent our writer's woes or uplift with wisdom.

 

Last night, I saw Austenland the movie from the brilliant all-absorbing novel with the same name by Shannon Hale.

 

I haven't laughed so much during a movie in a long while. Seriously, I had some good knee slapper moments. With some luck, I didn't snort up a storm in the process (that happens to me, sadly enough, but with great endearing effect).

 

Hale's book was amazing and the movie didn't fail to entertain. At every turn there was something to chuckle about, be it a character's line, a fake duck shooting, or an arrow to the eye. I rather enjoyed myself and would recommend the film and, more importantly, the book one-hundred percent.

 

I bring this up because I can relate to Hale's character Jane. I'm lost in my own dreamland with my perfect "prince" and the perfect "ending". But my life already is perfect in it's own right. 

 

Jane finally realized that life was more than just Darcy. She threw in the towel and started living for herself. She stopped taking things so seriously. And once she de-Austen'ed her bedroom, she was able to pick up and move on.

 

So, this is to say that sometimes I (maybe we) take life too seriously by focusing too much on what we don't have, instead of what we do have. Here's the chance to unclutter your life and stop being so serious.

 

Do you feel burdened by seriousness? Do you feel like you could use some more chuckles in your life? And how do you unclutter the busyness of life? Have you seen or read Austenland? What did you think?

 

Hugs

 

Writing Jewels

IWSG: Taking that Terrifying Leap

Hi there, fellow IWSGers, friends, and followers alike. Alex J. Cavanaugh hosts Insecure Writers' Support Group. It is a fantastic place to find support from other writers; they may just have the same insecurities as you. It is a great venue to vent or to share writerly wisdom.

 

Today, I'd like to discuss my insecurity that the general public will reject my words. See, I am going to be releasing my book Félicité Found as a self-published work. I don't have a publisher backing me up. I just have me and me alone. It is freaky to take this step with hopes that all my hard work will shine through as a quality product. However, I know if I don't follow my heart and have confidence in my story, then I will regret it. So, as a friend of mine recently taught me: "Live life with no regrets." I guess here's taking that terrfying leap into the unknown. It's my story and I love it. And that's all that matters!

 

Come Monday, August 12, 2013, you'll be able to purchase my first baby, Félicité Found. And there will be a blog tour going on, to boot. Here's the tour schedule:

 

Monday, August 12: Sara Bowers

Tuesday, August 13: Elise Fallson

Wednesday, August 14: Jolene Perry

Thursday, August 15: Nick Wilford

Friday, August 16: Rebekah Callor Grow

 

A thousand thanks for their willingness to participate. There will be some fun content each day and a chance to win a paperback copy of the book!

 

See you then and hugs.

Also, do you have similar insecurities about your writing?

 

Writing Jewels

Insecure Writers Support Group: Defining

Hello there, fellow IWSG'ers and followers alike. For this edition of the Insecure Writers Support Group brought to you by Alex J. Cavanaugh, I'd like to discuss "defining."

Some back story about where this post's idea came from...

I'm listening to Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale. The main character's ex-husband left her for another woman (the cheating jerk). Now she doesn't think of herself as a successful internet business owner or the mother of two great kids; no, she thinks of herself as one thing: a divorcee. She has defined herself as something she considers negative.

This got me thinking about what I define myself as... And do you know what? I tend to define myself with all things negative instead of flowering myself with positive adjectives.

For instance: I'm single--in the bad sense that I have failed the dating scene miserably. There must be something wrong with me if I can't capture a guys attention... haha However, I should be defining myself as single in the sense that I can do anything, go anywhere, and not have to worry about a husband or children at this time of my life. I'm free as a bird!

Often times I feel that since I'm not published, I must be a terrible writer. All the rejections pile up and make me depressed. Therefore, I define myself as a crappy writer at times. Yet, I am a writer. Just because I'm not published by one of the top 5 traditional publishers (YET) doesn't mean I'm less of a writer than anyone else. I am a writer because I write and that is what should define me--not that New York Times Bestselling Author is printed on my book(s). Although, I would rather fancy that being the case. :)

Anyway, let's take a step back and re-evaluate how we define ourselves and make sure it is positive. We'd all be a measure happier, I think, if we consider ourselves better than we do.

Do you fall into the defining yourself negatively trap? How do you define yourself? Have you read Midnight in Austenland or any other Shannon Hale books for that matter? If not, you're missing out folks!

Writing Jewels   

Top Ten Movie Countdown Blogfest

The awe inspiring author and blogger extraordinaire, Alex J. Cavanaugh is hosting this pretty nifty blogfest. I decided to join in by sharing my top ten favorite movies. My twist to this blogfest: I'm sharing my favorite quote from the films.

 

Here they are (counting down to my absolute favorite):

 

10. The Prestige: This movie was mind blowing. I left the theater speechless, still mulling over the film.

      Quote:

      Cutter: "Now you're looking for the secret. But you won't find it because of course, you're not really looking for it. You don't really want to work it out. You want to be fooled."
 

9. The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy - This is a laugh every second from the very beginning movie until the end.

      Quote:

      Ford: "If you want to survive out here, you've got to know where your towel is."
 

8. Despicable Me - Can I say hilarious? Well, I just did or rather typed it.

      Quote:

      Agnes: "It's so fluffy, I'm gonna die!"
 

7. Powder - Just a superb masterpiece of a movie that twists my heart every time I see it.

      Quote:
      "Lindsey: Your father. Your father hurt you a long time ago. You're so sad, he made you so sad. He thought you were ugly, and he kept saying that you weren't... I'm sorry.
       Powder: Do you? Do you?
       Lindsey: Do I what?
       Powder: Do you think I'm ugly?
       Lindsey: I don't know what I think when I look at you. But sometimes I think, I think you're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."
 

6. Sherlock Holmes - Wow, talk about amazing and the music by Hans Zimmer rocked my world.

      Quote:
      "Mrs. Hudson: Oh, he's killed the dog. Again.
      Watson: What have you done to Gladstone now?
      Sherlock: I was simply testing a new anesthetic. He doesn't mind."
 

5. The King's Speech - Amazing!

      Quote: (Pardon it's vulgarity)
      "Lionel Logue: Do you know the 'f' word?
      King George VI: Ffff... fornication?"
 

4. Madagascar - I chuckle every time I see this one, and I've seen it many, many times.

      Quote:

      "Mort: King Julian! What are they? What are they?

       Julian: They are... aliens! Savage aliens! From the savage world!

       Maurice: They've come to kill us! And take our women! And our precious metals!

       Mort: [begins weeping]

       Julian: Get up Mort! Do not be near the King's feet, okay!"
 

3. The 'Burbs - This is definitely a King Family favorite. I still chuckle every time I watch Tom Hanks eating the sardine and then he blows his nose in the newspaper and it sounds like an elephant.

      Quote:

      "Ricky Butler: Mr. Officer, wait! I mean, there's these people and they're in my parents' house and they're eating all their food."
 

2. Waking Ned Devine - The scene at the end dealing with the old woman and the phone booth gets me laughing to tears every single time.

      Quote:
      "Annie O'Shea: Have we won?
      Jackie O'Shea: No, but it got my apple tart brought in now didn't it."
 

1. The Italian Job - What can I say other than THIS MOVIE ROCKS. Music rocks too! My favorite line in the movie is brought to you by Mos Def and Mark Wahlberg.
      Quote: (pardon it's French):

      "Left Ear: This dude got dogs. I don't do dogs... I had a real bad experience, man.

       Charlie: What happened?

       Left Ear: I had. A bad. Experience. Damn it. I'm deaf!"

 

So there you have it, folks. My top 10 favorite movies. What are yours?

 

Writing Jewels