Fahrenheit 451

I’ve been eating up a lot words lately. With work, revising my own book, writing blog posts, tweeting, eating, sleeping, enjoying ice cream, having some sort of social life, twiddling my thumbs, day-dreaming about having my very own puppy, etcetera, I‘ve still been able to read the following books:

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Daimon by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Almost finished DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth

Now that I look at the list, it doesn’t look very long at all. Sigh. But it is was it is and seems like a lot more than I should be able to read under the circumstances. I’ve got to have time to brush my teeth and shave my legs, ya know. TMI all the way! Plus, I'm beta reading for one of my Tweeps. I keep myself busy.

Anywho, I love reading. A lot. It’s a part of my life I could never, ever give up. Which brings me to the audio book I’m listening to: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. The premise of the novel is books are outlawed and burned if found. (Pretty Dystopian if you ask me) In the society, thought has been diminished to practically nothing due to the lack of being educated through reading. And the lack of real social interaction. As well as the lack of looking around to see what really is happening in the world. Life’s “happiness” is based around robotic actions that truly won't bring lasting joy.

Its made me think about all the books I have, will have, and currently am devouring. If someone told me I couldn’t own them, read them, enjoy them, what would I do? Would I hide them in my air conditioning shaft? Would I succumb to the maddening law? Part of me says I would give in because I’m a pretty law-abiding individual—except when it comes to the speed limit, of course. Another part of me says I wouldn’t. Couldn’t.

It’s difficult to decide which path I would choose—the one I love or the one I know I’d hate.

Reflecting upon this thought brings me to a decision: I can’t live without books. I can’t live without feasting upon a story that lulls me away to a far away land, driving my imagination wild. Reading has become a large part of me, and I’m not willing to surrender it. I can’t. I won’t. Because I love it too much.

Now I pose the question: What would you do if you found yourself in such a society?

Writer's Crash

For the last week or so I've been editing. Outside of work, it was really the only thing I spent my time doing other than sleep--I love my sleep. My zone consisted of my laptop, iPod, some treats, water, and me. All else pretty much fell to the back burner. Social life--what's that? Seriously. 

As you read on my last post, I finished an edit. Clearly that made me way happy. The moment I finished, I felt like my life was pointless, I felt empty, and a sense of doom seeped into my skin. Uh, that ended the very next day. I started beta-reading for fellow tweep. Fun experience, for sure. 

Yesterday, though, as I drove home from work, my body fought me, saying, "You need a break, girl!" Pulling off to my local grocery store, I hit up the Redbox, rented "The Tourist" (been wanting to see that since it came out), and went home. Laying down on the couch with comfy pj's and my favorite blanket, I watched the movie without feeling that much guilt. I crashed. Nope, did nothing to do with writing. 

Ok, I lie, after the movie ended, it was way too early to go to bed, so I dipped back into reading Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. After about 50 pages and not wanting to stop reading, I went to bed. 

After such a whirlwind editing/revising week, I thought I deserved a break from the happy craziness of writing. 


How about you? Do you give yourself a wee break after a maddening writing binge? Do you crawl up in a ball and watch a movie, or go shopping? Or am I totally alone on this needing a short break? Please, tell me I'm not. haha

Buckets Full of News

Has anyone ever seen the British comedy, "Keeping Up Appearances?" If not you totally should. The title of today's blog has the word "bucket" in it. Made me think of that show. Although, you need to pronounce it "bouquet."

Don't know where that little side note came from. Must be from being tired this morning or from having cold hands. Your guess is as good as mine. Am I making any sense? Nope.

Well, some news:

I finished another edit last night. Wahoo! After a long socially deprived and being glued to my laptop and iPod week, it's done. Gah! With the help of my wonderful critique partner, Trish Wolfe, she's helped me to hone it in to something better. Sigh. I'm eternally indebted to her blessed little heart. I've got to give props to my friend Rob for editing it, too! Thanks for your wisdom! Soon I'll have a few people beta it to see if it can get any better. Seriously, how could it get any better? Just kidding. It can totally improve more.

I hope to be querying for an agent in a month. That's just the craziest thing. EVER! I never, ever thought I'd get to this point and I'm almost there. Totally at the freaking out stage of writing.

My pink cell phone finally kicked the can. The battery just couldn't cut it anymore. I was too cheap to buy a new battery for the time being. Gonna get an iPhone4 later on this month, so I very well couldn't get a new battery when I was so close to finishing a contract with my current cell phone provider. I'm settling for an old phone of mine. It's so ghetto, but it works. haha

My ten month old niece walked for the first time the other day. It was the cutest thing in the whole world. Hey, but I'm way biased.

There's really nothing else, other than I'm gonna be reading lots over the next couple days because I can. Oh, the lovely joy that comes from reading.

What news do you have to share? Comment and then we can all revel in each others news. :D

Mysterious Ways and Writing

Yesterday, my withdrawals from seeing U2 in concert made me listen to their music almost all day. I had to do something to get over the musical high. Well, I ended up listening to their song Mysterious Ways like twelve times.

I tend to focus on the singer/lyrics of songs—everything else is pushed to the background. But this time around, I found myself focusing on each of the instruments individually and tuning out the others. Let me tell you, it’s hard for me not to listen to Bono’s voice. Anyway. The drums were being hit with a vibrant beat that varied throughout the song. The bass was thrumming with subtle precision that I could feel in my chest. The guitar electrified the song with power. And the lyrics were sung with a surge of intensity that made me fall in love with the song, again.

This exercise got me thinking about how you can’t have a kicking, rocking song like Mysterious Ways without having all of the elements (singer, guitar, bass, and drums) pulled together in a fluid expression of music. This is the same in writing. Without characters, plot, pacing, dialogue, and setting, a story won’t become a fluid masterpiece. If the characters are lacking development and the plot is falling short to grasp the reader(s) attention, then the story won’t shine. It’s the same with the technical properties of writing; grammar and punctuation. Those elements can throw readers off from the stories flow. In the end, the story must have all of these fundamentals well-executed.

The more times I go through my MS, the more I see how it can unravel into a polished whole. Also having others read it will help you become aware of what your story is lacking.

That makes me think of something someone told me last summer. They said that there will be numerous edits as I write my book. I didn’t believe them. Oh, man, I do now. It takes a lot of time cultivating your story and making sure that all its elements are well-meshed together. That’s what will get your story to its end. The End. The editing process is not easy, but it’s worth it. And you know what? It helps you to become more intimately familiar with your story; it’ll be even more alive and tangible. At that point, your story will have blossomed as magnificently as U2’s Mysterious Ways.

Photography by Julia King.

The BIG Four

My love for music pretty much equals the adoration I have for books. Traveling is equal, too, but not as easily accessible.  Today, my love for music is gonna trump books and traveling. Why? Because, my friends, today will mark the big fourth time I will see my absolute favorite band in concert--U2. I have adored them since 1997. It goes back a little farther, though. With having grown up with an older brother and sister who loved 80's music, U2 was a part of their listening enjoyment.

Alas, a year and four months wait to see the phenomenal U2 is almost here. Tonight is the night! And I will be dancing and yelling my voice horse and singing along with Bono--even if he can't hear my voice for the crowd. Perhaps I will get to dance with him this time. Wish me luck. haha. 

In honor of the concert, I am posted some of my favorite U2 songs for you (and me) to enjoy this fine May 24, 2011. Enjoy the tunes because it is a "Musical Journey" as Larry Mullen Jr. would say.

Before you listen to the glorious and perfect songs, which band is YOUR favorite and why?

Half-Blood & Daimon Swag Winner

I want to announce the winner of some great Daimon and Half-Blood swag by Jennifer L. Armentrout. First of all, I've read Daimon and really want to encourage all of you to read it. I can tell you from first hand experience that it is FANTASTIC! A great read! And you'll want to read it before you delve into Half-Blood--to be released on September 15, 2011.

If you want to listen to the astounding playlist that inspired Daimon, check out this link to my blog post for the contest!

Now the winner of the swag is...

hiba008

Congratulations! I will be emailing you shortly to get your address for the sparkly swag to be mailed off to you. BTW, I chuckled at how you said you loved, "DOG DAYS ARE OVER!!! because for someone who has absolutely no clue how to dance, this song really makes me want to jump no matter how weird I look!!" Way cute!

I hope everyone has a brilliant day!

FYI: Stop by my blog tomorrow to check out a little playlist of my own. It rocks, and I will for sure be listening to it all today and tomorrow!