What's Laundry Got to do with Writing?

What’s Laundry Got to do with Writing

Or even blog postings.

Maybe not much you’d think. But that isn’t true if you like clean/clean-ish clothes and you find yourself standing by the washer in a puddle of water.

And then like the conscientious spender of money consumer you try to be, you go off to the internet to research …and get sucked up and spit out in a dozen different directions and ways to Sunday – as my dear southern mama used to say. Or variations of it.

Talk about headache inducing.

This one LUVS this machine, that one Hates it and thinks it’s a piece of crap.

Okay so You tell me. What’s a sane wise spender of money to do?

I need a washer.

At some point clean clothes become a necessity right? At least to all the people you have to be around at some point I would think?

We had to replace the dryer a few years back already so it’s okay. I guess. Now it’s easy to start to get paranoid about appliances, you know. Wasn’t there some old saying about that? Although how old a saying could that be come to think of it.

Okay, well this obviously isn’t getting a washer bought/replaced or even researched. And all the research is Seriously impacting my writing time with my obnoxious characters. [they’re teenagers – what can I say -- as Laurie Halse Anderson puts in her book ‘Catalyst’ --- main character running late trying to get around school security guard following the rules – the main char. /teenager has pulled out her license trying to use that instead of school id. Security guard looks at it – “She studies it and crosses her arms over her bosom. “There is nothing on that license that says you are a student here. You could be disgruntled. You could be hostile.” “Do I look hostile?” “You are a teenager.”

So please help with my washer research. I don’t want my teenagers getting more….teenager, while they are waiting.

Do you have magic?

Do you have magic?

Do you have magic in your life? Somewhere? Anywhere in your life?

Sure seems like there’s a proliferation of books that are about magical or fantastical things. So that would mean there’s a lot of people thinking about it. In some form or way.

Whoever would have thought wizards, vampires, and werewolves would be mainstream and you would have such talked about love stories forged about them. Well, from the vampire and werewolf stories anyway. We didn’t exactly get to see much of the wizard love story did we? Whether talking about Gandalf, which actually I wasn’t thinking of him but of a much younger wizard a lot of people grew up with called Harry.

But the Very popular themes that seem to be abounding now seem to be saying we are missing something in our everyday lives. That we long to escape those everyday lives, to find something somewhere. To find and fill what we feel we are missing in them. A magic something perhaps?

As a prolific reader I can recognize those themes, as a writer, as yet unpublished, I realize recognizing is not necessarily being able to write them. And while I don’t really see myself writing along the fantastical elements contained in such books as Maggie Stiefvater’s ‘Lament,’ ‘Shiver,’ and her coming book ‘Ballad,’ I do feel a magic of words sometimes. Where the words just seem to flow right across the page. And the Right words. The Perfect Words. But there are also the times where it’s just day-to-day slogging thro’ the pages stuff, where it’s merely a longing for and a memory of the magic while being down somewhere in the trenches looking up and wishing. And wishing is okay I think, as long as you back it up with action and work to show the universe that you are doing more than just sitting back wishing or ‘wanting’ with a little ‘w’ as Maggie talks about in one of her posts. Doesn’t wishing show us where we really want to be? Just as magic shows us who and what we can be. In our dreams for now, and for real later when we’ve made our dreams come true. Which is really what magic is all about anyway, right?

So what magic do you have in your life right now?

What are you wishing for?

And more importantly what are you working for and toward?

That really creates the magic in our lives. Doesn’t it?

Maggie Maggie Maggie

Maybe this is why the music and lyrics keep popping up in my head? No, surely can't be, because they aren't the same as these. At all.

But the prolific and super-multi-talented Maggie Stiefvater has done it again. Writing, music - writing, composing And playing of course - and various art forms. And she just keeps on displaying them - check this one out for her book out in October called 'Ballad'

And no this is Different than the music and art and film she did for her phenomenal book out Now called 'Shiver.' So you Should check that out too.
But here's the one for 'Ballad.' Enjoy.

and if that doesn't work the way it's supposed to - try this. cause it would be a shame for you to miss Maggie's really great creativeness, just because I'm trying to focus on all things writing instead of all things blogging and how to really do it.

And here is the plain old link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ooq9ioOgcmY

Does Anyone Else

Have music and lyrics popping up in your head? As a writer I mean, not a musician. And not like songs you’ve heard on the radio or anything.

I’m not a musician. Don’t even play the ‘radio’ all that much, so I don’t really listen to music much. I have been thinking maybe I should change that since Maggie Stiefvater uses music to help her write. And seeing her success maybe there’s something to be said for that right? I was wondering if maybe it would help my writing. If nothing else maybe help my characters stop running amok and doing their own thing. Sort of a musical chairs writing game or something. Maybe. Okay, so yeah, I’m getting a bit desperate to get these characters on their own and out of the house already so I can make room for all the others that have intentions on moving in. There’s only so much space in one’s brain to hold characters after all, and some are getting downright snitty at having to wait.

So thinking about writing to music isn’t exactly a new thing I’ve thought of, I’ve just not spent the time finding music I didn’t get annoyed with after awhile. Sometimes a really short while.

And it isn’t the first time I’ve had a tune and lyrics show up in my head and demand to be written down.

But it is rather annoying being treated by songs the same way as by characters.

I mean, why me? I could sort of understand the lyrics part since I have always jotted down poems and such, but the music part? I’ve not exactly ever been all that musical. So I’m not sure why they are showing up in my head more and more. Is it leakage from someone else’s brain? Like music/song waves in the atmosphere or something, and I just happen to be picking them up?

Darn if I know.

But hey. I can hear the music in my head, although that’s not going to help you very much, even if you do want it. But if you happen to be missing lyrics I might be able to help you. Call me.

The Highs and Realities of Writing Life

For those that are keeping track of Maggie Stiefvater’s phenomenal success with her latest book ‘Shiver’ – which debuted at #9 on New York Times bestseller list last week!

It is now #5 !!!

Congratulations Maggie!!!

And don’t forget she’s going to be at the James River Writer’s Conference in October so you all can sign up and come talk to her – before the rates go up on the Conf.!

For those that follow Maggie’s blog, she generously shares writing advice, and other practical things, such as how she manages to fit in writing with everything else she does [don’t forget she’s also an artist And a musician. Which is what I meant in my previous post that she is a bit scary. She’s So darned talented! ‘Shiver’ her latest book is written So darn well!!! And she’s darn cute. And incredibly nice. What’s not to be scared of! ;) ]

And such wonderful ‘real life’ adventures of parenting while finding out from her super-duper editor that her book that Debuted at #9 on the NYT list, is Now at #5 !

It’s too funny not to read for yourself –

http://m-stiefvater.livejournal.com/121026.html

Funny how reality comes in to keep us all centered and grounded huh? ;-D

Maggie reports that Things have settled down now. And yeah, that is a fun play with Maggie’s words. You’ll have to go over and read her post to get it.

Oh, word of warning, do Not be drinking anything while reading her post. Several comments said beverages were spewed over keyboards over it. Yeah, it’s pretty funny!

Come back here and tell me what you thought. You can type while you’re laughing can’t you?

Advice on How to Write a Novel

Maggie’s advice on how to write a novel - it's not to be missed for any writer -

http://m-stiefvater.livejournal.com/120688.html

This is also Fabulous Great advice from Maggie, from when she had her art blog [it also has some of her lovely pictures]

It is certainly worth checking out for her pictures, but do Not miss the advice!

http://greywarenart.blogspot.com/2008/07/virtual-sketching-and-butt-kicking.html

Yes she truly is wise beyond her years. [and a bit scary. ;) ]

Contest for Viola Book

If you've read my review and want to win an ARC
[ Advanced Reader's Copy for those that wonder what that means, it means a soft cover copy of the book, that publishers send out to generate interest before the 'real' book comes out. It's a preview book, so sometimes there are errors and things. But I didn't see any in 'Viola' ]

go here and follow the instructions -

http://www.libraryloungelizard.com/2009/08/new-contest-viola-in-reel-life-by.html



Sorry I can't offer my ARC copy up, I am a writer trying to figure out how to write the best I can and get published, and I've already taken pen, pencil, and post-it-note to it to mark all the things I like about it and Adriana's writing.
I was serious about all the colorful post-notes making it so colorful. Inside and out.
You can't ask for my 'Shiver' ARC for same reason.
[Thank God for the ARC, since I did buy a 'Shiver' book at Maggie's book launch too, and the 'real' 'Shiver' book is Way too pretty to mark up! And my husband is currently reading it. ]

So check out all the contests going on at different blogs. This one happens to be for 'Viola.'

'Viola' and 'Shiver' are both worth trying for - and if you have the money - certainly worth buying. Different books, yes. But both well written and well worth reading.

So Good Luck!