One Significant Moment at a Time

Sea-foam Tinted Lessons

2012-01-30T11:44:00.003-05:00

Photo source This time of year, the sod on the football field at the city stadium turns from its summertime emerald to a mossy, sea-foam green. As I raced around the track at the field's perimeter during this morning's interval training run, it occurred to me that sea-foam green has colored important moments in my life. And as my mind lost itself in the past (possibly to avoid acknowledging

Rhythm Method

2012-01-26T08:53:00.002-05:00

What makes a story dramatic? Obvious answers come to mind, such as suspenseful plot lines, colorful but conflicted characters, and overwhelming obstacles those characters must overcome by the story's end. But many writers skillfully craft each of those elements and still, they have only so-so manuscripts on their hands. Something's missing. The key to dramatic writing is Rhythm. Rhythm is

Time in a Briefcase

2012-01-24T08:56:00.001-05:00

Ever since my kids can remember, there's been a locked briefcase in the house. Each time they rediscovered it, they spun the lock wheels, trying countless number combinations, in vain. Over time, it had became one of the most excruciating mysteries in their young lives. Years ago, my daughter dubbed it 'The Briefcase That Would Not Open.' The black leather case was rather heavy. When one side

Critiquing a Friend's MS

2012-01-19T08:39:00.001-05:00

Every writer knows the angst of sharing a newly penned story with readers for the first time. We're excited. And nervous. And we desperately want to hear how much the readers enjoyed the story, identified with the characters, shed a tear and laughed out loud. That anxiety triples when we turn our manuscript over to a critique partner. I'm still months (years??) away from experiencing that

Scrivener ~ Perfect For Me

2012-01-16T08:26:00.002-05:00

After the horror subsided of realizing I'd lost 75% of my current WiP, I faced the daunting task of trudging back to point zero and starting over. Since the work I lost was first draft drivel, I felt optimistic that this disaster would work in my favor. I'd write a better draft the second time around. I also decided it was time to try Scrivener, the writer's software about which I'd heard a

Vine Leaves Literary Magazine

2012-01-09T08:12:00.001-05:00

There's a new literary magazine on the scene, one which fills a gap previously unnoticed by industry markets. Vine Leaves Literary Magazine highlights the Vignette. According to Vine Leaves, a "'Vignette' is a word that originally meant 'something that may be written on a vine-leaf.' It’s a snapshot in words. It differs from flash fiction or a short story in that its aim doesn’t lie within

It's Gone; (almost) all gone...

2012-01-03T13:43:00.000-05:00

I opened my WiP today and faced the ultimate, authorial nightmare: Most of my novel-in-progress is GONE.Of the 25,000+ word manuscript, only 5,000 words remain. How can this be? Where did it go?? So many thoughts coursed through my brain as I searched every folder. I looked everywhere from the Recycle Bin to Auto-Recovery files to files where it couldn't possibly be. It's nowhere. I'm

My 2nd Blogiversary

2011-12-30T08:21:00.001-05:00

It's been an amazing two years here at Blogger, a time when I've met so many talented and encouraging authors, made some fab friends both within cyberspace and out here in the real world, and worked hard on my craft. The inspiration I draw every day from fellow blogging writers keeps me going. Thanks to all of you for sharing this experience with me! Just for fun, for anyone

Life Storms and Silver Linings

2011-12-28T08:21:00.000-05:00

I'm an optimistic person who believes all of life's storm clouds have silver, writerly linings. Life storms are what we write about. A story with no catastrophic spike on the plot arc isn't compelling and exciting. Who wants to write about a bunch of people who have no problems, no steep challenges to face? So

Deja vu Blogfest

2011-12-16T08:13:00.002-05:00

It's been six days since my accident and I'm healing slower than I thought. I think I'm just in denial that I'm even hurt. Anyhow, I won't be able to visit many blogs today, and I regret that very much. Need rest though. In the spirit of this blogfest, I'll post an entry from earlier this year, one that reminds me that even though I've been hurt and my day-to-day schedule has been

Holy Head Trauma

2011-12-14T09:03:00.000-05:00

Saturday was a busy day full of Christmas shopping and fun, but it ended with a freak accident that landed me in the hospital. I'd woken at 1am with a headache, so I got up to take a couple Tylenol. In the kitchen as I opened the pill bottle, a wave of nausea hit me like a brick to the head. It happened so fast, and the next thing I remember I was flat on the floor, blinking in the dark and

Frustrated!

2011-12-05T16:53:00.001-05:00

I feel like her today --> Question: Know why? Answer: Blogger Support I have two simultaneous but completely unrelated problems on my blog. 1. My Google Friends Connect gadget does not update when I get a new follower. It has shown Nick Wilford as my most recent sign-up'er for weeks, (*waves to Nick*), but I have at least a dozen new

Hey you! Read This (please!)

2011-12-01T08:45:00.001-05:00

I’m thrilled to welcome several new followers since the Déjà vu Blogfest sign-ups began. Blogging brings people together and I’ve found some wonderful friendships here on Blogger. That’s why I’m so sad when I can’t follow someone back. Now, I have a personal follow-back policy. If someone finds my humble site interesting enough to follow, I want to extend the same kindness to him or her. The

NaNoWri(Lessons)Mo

2011-11-30T10:02:00.001-05:00

(Article first appeared today in Writing.com’s Drama Newsletter, of which I am a contributing editor.) NaNoWriMo will come to a close tonight for another year. Though I won't have a badge to display, saying I "won" by reaching the contest benchmark of 50,000 words in the month of November, I DO have a 25,000-word start to a brand-new novel that I'm very excited about. What's more important, I

Deja Vu Blogfest Sign-ups!

2011-11-16T03:30:00.000-05:00

Announcement, everyone! *clears throat* DL Hammons, Lydia Kang, Katie Mills and I are hosting the upcoming Deja Vu Blogfest! The fest is DL's creation, so below are the deets as presented today on Cruising Altitude 2.0. Mr. Linky sign-ups right below: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Déjà vu Blogfest You know one of the things that bugs me the most about the way our

How to Create a Custom Twitter Background

2011-11-14T08:43:00.001-05:00

I needed a different creative outlet yesterday, after writing 10,000 words on my NaNoWriMo novel between Wednesday and Saturday. So I decided to create my own custom Twitter background. It was easy and a lot of fun, so I thought I’d share with you how I achieved it. I created my background using Paint Shop Pro X2, but you can use Adobe Photoshop or any other similar software, as long as it

Testing, testing

2011-11-13T13:39:00.001-05:00

So, I’m trying out the Windows Live Writer software on my new laptop. Apparently I can create blog post here and upload them to Blogger. Pretty cool, if I can get it to work. If it works, I can use all kinds of funky fonts while writing my posts. This would be a good thing, since I’m one of those crazy creatives who hates a constricted list of choices why she’s feeling, well, creative. <—

String Bridge Chart Rush!

2011-11-11T00:00:00.000-05:00

Today's the big day! Huge congrats to my friend Jessica Bell, whose debut novel String Bridge is available for sale as of today at Amazon.com. Way to go, Jess! I have read String Bridge and I highly recommend it. The writing is lush and poetically descriptive in this powerful, character-driven book. It will stir your emotions and, if you're like me, have you at different times in tears of

...a VLOG? Oh no, no, no, no!

2011-11-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I interviewed the multi-talented Jessica Bell right here on the blog. If you missed it, I urge you to skip the nonsense to follow, and click this link to go directly to it, instead. Seriously, if you read on from this point, you won't come away nearly as educated and enlightened as you would had you read about Jessica. You still here? Okay, but just remember, you've been

Jessica Bell, Interviewed

2011-11-08T08:21:00.000-05:00

It was at this time last year that Jessica Bell and I were working together in an effort to finish the first drafts of our novels-in-progress. I was re-writing my NaNo novel and having trouble restructuring the plot with the new cast of characters I’d swapped for the less vibrant players in the NaNo version. Jessica was drafting Bitter Like Orange Peel, her second novel which was underway

Beginning is aMAZE-ing

2011-11-04T08:25:00.001-04:00

After three days of NaNoWriMo, I'm happy to say that at 5400+ words, I'm on track with my word count. (Of course, today I have a long run planned and I have to grocery shop...so I know I'll slip behind again before Monday. I'm not worried; you shouldn't be either. haha) I'll tell you this: Writing the beginning of a novel is ridiculously difficult for me. Thank God for NaNo writing

String Bridge -- A Review

2011-11-02T06:00:00.000-04:00

Jessica Bell’s debut novel String Bridge is the story of Melody, an Australian musician who put down her guitar to raise a family with her Greek husband. Four years later and living on his native soil, Melody realizes she’s become the empty, passionless shell of the person she once was. A return to music is the key to her salvation. But her struggle to decipher her dark feelings, to understand

NaNo Gauntlet Throw Down

2011-10-27T08:46:00.000-04:00

All right, after walking around with a NaNoWriMo gauntlet in my hand, fingering its tanned texture, putting it to my nose and inhaling its organic, rawhide perfume, and examining the crease points down its palm, I'm throwing it down. It's no matter that my last NaNo experience produced a 50k+ (though incomplete) manuscript that I was never able to finish. No matter that I have family flying

Goals, and a GREAT article on lit. mags

2011-10-18T17:01:00.000-04:00

Two writer goals I set for myself in January 2011 were: Publish a short story in a literary magazine; and, Sell a short story. I'm working toward other goals too, but this afternoon I want to focus on the two above. To accomplish the goal of publishing in a literary magazine, I organized myself in a couple areas. First, I created an account at Duotrope.com. For those who aren't familiar

Newsworthy Tid-bits!

2011-10-14T08:26:00.000-04:00

Is it Friday already?? I hope you've had as productive a week as I have. Here are a couple headlines I'd like to share, that made my week a fab one: « Yesterday I listened to a live stream of Jessica Bell being interviewed on a Greek radio station. (Technology rocks!) The interviewer asked questions in Greek and translated the answers Jessica provided in English. (Her voice is so

Believe You CAN

2011-10-05T07:37:00.000-04:00

When I take an honest look at my life, I realize every failed attempt at a goal could be attributed to one simple fact: I didn't believe I could achieve it. And the greatest failure of my adult life has been attempting to write a full-length novel.During NaNoWriMo 2009, I wrote twenty-four chapters of Overcome, my first-ever novel work-in-progress. It was over 50,000 words and so a success, by

Up For Air

2011-08-31T10:53:00.000-04:00

I'm popping my head through the surface of the writing pool to gulp some fresh air and say hello. I've missed my blogging friends so much! But the energy coursing through me for my newest writing project is high, high, HIGH and I am loving it. Here's what I've been up to: * I'm deep in the planning stages of "Untitled WiP." *note to self: Figure out a working title, at least!* * The

Departure From Myself (+ PHOTOS!!)

2011-08-12T10:46:00.001-04:00

Taken from our cliff side table at lunch, Ravello, Italy (Amalfi Coast) The beauty of vacation lies in its pure departure from routine, everyday life. It's a reversal in quotidian tides; dessert before dinner. Heck, it's dessert instead of dinner. At least, that's how I'd describe my recent vacation to Italy and Malta. And though it was no surprise that I adjusted with yogic flexibility to

Strong & Beautiful, INSIDE & Out

2011-08-09T08:46:00.000-04:00

Just found this new video of my sister. Isn't she gorgeous?

Salmonella-spiked Turkey

2011-08-05T11:32:00.000-04:00

(Hello! I'm working on a post to share some vacation pictures with you. Unfortunately, all my pix are enormous -- as in 4320x3240 pixels. Anyone know if it's possible to mass reduce the size of whole folders of photos? 'Cause doing it one pic at a time is going to put me over the edge... In the meantime, here's a random current events entry.) In an attempt to re-acclimate myself with the

Where the bleep Am I?

2011-07-15T07:27:00.002-04:00

If you're reading this between July 15 and July 31, you will not find me here. I'm off with my husband, kids, sister, nephew and friend, vacationing like rock stars! Here's my itinerary: The evening of July 15, I'm taking one of these... Source ...leaving Atlanta on a flight to Paris, connecting the following afternoon (European time) to Pisa, Italy. I'll spend the weekend at my sister's

Characters that Capture the Imagination

2011-07-13T12:58:00.000-04:00

Photo Source The gym where I work out is only slightly larger than a corner pharmacy. But the modern facility with state-of-the-art equipment, located a short drive from our house is my daily, early-morning haunt. The cardio stage faces the weight training area, so when I'm not conjuring new character ideas during treadmill workouts, I am people watching. As you can imagine, those

Concrete Poem

2011-07-06T12:26:00.001-04:00

Just a little concrete poem I wrote a while back.Hope you enjoy it! The Call of the Whale My name is Dylan, “Lover of the Sea.” Or so my mother hoped I’d always be. The palm fronds swayed the

On Submission...again

2011-06-20T18:29:00.002-04:00

Image snagged from Source I spent the afternoon revising and spit-shining a short story for submission. It's amazing how much easier the editing process is when you've put the project aside for a couple months. I hadn't reread this particular story since early spring when I submitted it to a literary magazine called Independent Ink. That market generally takes 120 days to notify authors of

Facing the Fear

2011-06-17T08:52:00.000-04:00

On a warm spring day this year, my daughter opened a canvas camping chair and settled in to read a book in the shade of our small front porch. That evening, instead of hauling the chair back to the garage like she should have, she pulled up on the four corners of the chair back and seat front, collapsing the chair up into a vertical bundle. She stood it in the corner next to the front door and

An "O-less" Short

2011-06-03T10:09:00.001-04:00

Miss Match I’m hardly a girly-girl. I live large and in charge, and my tats, spiked hair and perverse jewelry keep any inquiring men at arm’s length when I’m in public. Still, as I rambled up the sidewalk flanking the Sunset Strip, I realized I was taking a risk. This late after dark, the freaks always emerged. I didn’t care. Fierce anger brewed in my gut. The fight with my

~PAUSE~

2011-05-26T09:33:00.000-04:00

The time has come for me to admit to myself and all my online friends that I need to push the cyber 'Pause' button, even though doing so will halt most of my daily Web adventures. I love this blog! And I adore all of you, my friends who have taught me so much about a writer's journey by sharing yours. I never want to lose touch with you! I'm not unplugging for good, just pausing. J Here's

Sneaky Red Sock GIVEAWAY Winners!

2011-05-23T09:44:00.001-04:00

The winners of The Sneaky Red Sock Giveaway are: Monica Mansfield @ Storytelling and MeSusanne Drazic @ Putting Words Down on PaperLinda H. @ Lind-guistics Whoot!!!! Each of you have won a signed copy of Ali Murdoch's poetry collection entitled The Sneaky Red Sock. Congrats! I'll be in touch via email to gather your mailing 411. Thanks for playing along, everyone!

Sneaky Red Sock GIVEAWAY!

2011-05-12T08:43:00.000-04:00

[Don't miss the Giveaway details at the bottom of this post!!] A couple months ago, my sister's brother-in-law contacted me about a book his colleague wrote titled The Sneaky Red Sock. Ali Murdoch is the creative mind behind this eclectic collection of poems. Murdoch's sense of humor permeates everything he pens, including his Amazon Author Central author blurb: Ali Murdoch is an entrepreneur

Action Drives Reaction

2011-05-06T08:04:00.003-04:00

As authors, we strive to draw readers alongside our POV character and into the action of the scene. The goal is to so thoroughly engross readers that they forget they're reading words on a page and begin to watch the compelling scene playing out on the movie screens of their minds. Achieving this goal begins with an author's understanding of one simple concept: Action drives reactions. Consider

A-Z Thank Yous and An ANNOUNCEMENT

2011-05-02T09:55:00.000-04:00

(Very special announcement at the bottom of this post!) Is it May already?? I was in a bit of a haze this whole A-Z Blogfest: head down and plugging away. Then Friday's Royal Wedding had the reality haze feeling more like a fog, and now today's news that Public Enemy #1 is dead has me spinning in pea soup fog. *waves arms in the air, swishing the fog, clearing her mind* Thank you's are in

'Z' is for...??

2011-04-30T07:13:00.004-04:00

We made it to ‘Z’!! I’ve really enjoyed the A-Z Blogfest because it’s had me writing flash fiction every single day. I’m horribly burnt out and need a serious break, but it’s been a wonderful and wild ride. My heartfelt thanks to the talented Jessica Bell for coming up with the idea to practice ‘show, don’t tell’ skills using an A-Z list of emotion/feeling/state of mind prompt words. It was

'Y' is for...?

2011-04-29T08:04:00.000-04:00

Thanks for all the wonderful visits yesterday! The prompt word was 'Xenophobia' -- and almost everyone got it right! Whoot! Today, I have the Royal Wedding on my mind and had to tear myself from the TV to post this. I love watching happy history unfold! So, I've used a piece of flash fiction I wrote last year for today's excerpt. Although the piece overall reflects the prompt, I'm putting

'X' is for...?

2011-04-28T08:16:00.006-04:00

Yesterday's A-Z prompt word was 'Wanton.' Thanks to everyone who popped in for a visit and comment! J It's the final stretch!! Today's 'X' prompt word is depicted by a character in the excerpt below. See if you can guess what emotion/feeling/state of mind I've described that begins with 'X'. (There really aren't many 'x' states of mind!) Can't wait to read your comments! And remember,

'W' is for...??

2011-04-27T08:03:00.002-04:00

Yesterday's A-Z prompt word was 'Vanity.' So many of you guessed right, which is awesome feedback for me! Thanks everyone J Today's 'W' prompt word is depicted by a character in the excerpt below. See if you can guess what emotion/feeling/state of mind I've described that begins with 'W'. (This one may be tough, but I hope not!) Can't wait to read your comments! And remember, Jessica Bell

'V' is for...?

2011-04-26T08:21:00.001-04:00

I enjoyed all your comments yesterday! Thanks for visiting, and many of you guessed the prompt word. I was describing 'Uppityness.' Well done!! Today's 'V' prompt word is depicted by a character in the excerpt below. See if you can guess what emotion/feeling/state of mind I've described that begins with 'V'. Can't wait to read your comments! And remember, Jessica Bell is working with the

'U' is for...?

2011-04-25T08:04:00.002-04:00

I hope you had a wonderful weekend, and that those of you who celebrated Easter had a special holiday! Saturday's word was 'Terror' -- thanks for all your comments and guesses! Today's 'U' prompt word is depicted by a character in the excerpt below. See if you can guess what emotion/feeling/state of mind I've described that begins with 'U'. Can't wait to read your comments! And remember,

'T' is for...?

2011-04-23T07:00:00.003-04:00

Thanks to all the Crusaders and A-Z'ers who popped in yesterday! The prompt word I worked from was 'Selfishness.' Today I'm borrowing a little scene from a short story I wrote a couple years back, starring characters Michael and Kaitlyn. This excerpt depicts the 'T' word Jessica Bell and I are using to prompt our entries today. Can you guess what emotion/feeling/state of mind that begins

'S' is for...? (Crusader Challenge Entry!)

2011-04-22T08:52:00.001-04:00

My son missed the bus today, so I had to drive him to school. #@%$&* congestion around the school! Starting my day behind schedule. Yesterday's 'R' word was Rage. Thanks for the visits and guesses :)) Today, I'm combining my A-Z blogfest challenge with Jessica Bell and the third and final writing challenge for the Writer's Platform Building Crusade. So, my prompt today is: In 300 words or

'R' is for...?

2011-04-21T07:52:00.003-04:00

Yesterday's "Quirky" post was a blast to write. Thanks for all your lovely comments and guesses! Today's 'R' prompt word is depicted by a character in the excerpt below. See if you can guess what emotion I've described that begins with 'R'. Can't wait to read your comments! And remember,Jessica Bell is working with the same prompt words as I am this A-Z Blogfest. There's a link to her blog

'Q' is for...??

2011-04-20T07:54:00.002-04:00

Yesterday's 'P' word was 'Patronization.' That was a tough one for me to write about. Thanks for your guesses! Today's 'Q' prompt word is depicted by a character in the excerpt below. See if you can guess what personal attribute I've described that begins with 'Q'. Can't wait to read your comments! And remember, Jessica Bell is working with the same prompt words as I am this A-Z Blogfest.

'P' is for...??

2011-04-19T08:01:00.001-04:00

I want to thank Alex Cavanaugh for highlighting my blog yesterday and sending new friends my way! Thanks, Alex! And, thanks for everyone's guesses yesterday. The 'O' word was 'Oppression.' Kudos to those of you that got it!! (a tough one!) Today Jessica Bell and I are showcasing excerpts we wrote for a prompt word that starts with 'P.' After reading the passage below, can you determine

'O' is for...?

2011-04-18T07:59:00.002-04:00

Thanks for all the weekend visits! The 'N' word on Saturday was 'Naivety.' I enjoyed your guesses! Today Jessica Bell and I are showcasing excerpts we wrote for a prompt word that starts with 'O.' After reading the passage below, can you determine which emotion/feeling/state of mind I've depicted? After you guess in the comments, please follow the link to Jessica's blog and read her

'N' is for...??

2011-04-16T07:18:00.000-04:00

Hard to believe we've reached the half-way mark of this crazy A-Z ride! I've been having a blast working off the same list of prompt words as Jessica Bell. My partner-in-prose and I create short excerpts 'showing' the emotion/feeling/state of mind that is our letter-word of the day. We've been asking our readers to try and guess the word we've depicted. I've been having a blast, and I hope

'M' is for...?

2011-04-15T07:52:00.005-04:00

This week is crazy and I have been writing like a fiend. Fun! Thanks for those of you who chanced guesses at yesterday's word. It was 'Lust.' Today, guess which 'M' emotion/feeling/state of mind I've depicted in the short fictional passage below. Jessica Bell is using the same prompt word for a passage of her own. After guessing in the comments here, won't you follow the link and read

'L' is for...?

2011-04-14T07:00:00.005-04:00

Yesterday's post described 'Kindness.' Almost everyone guessed that, or 'karma,' which I think fits too! Today, my passage involves a lot of emotions. To successfully guess the 'L' emotion/feeling/state of mind, you have to look past the POV (it's not her!) and pay special attention to Jennifer and Jonathon. Ready? Here goes: “Your table is ready.” I followed my sister and the hostess.

'K' is for...?

2011-04-13T07:44:00.002-04:00

Yesterday's 'J' word was 'Jealousy.' Thanks for all your wonderful comments and guesses! Today, guess which 'K' emotion/feeling/state of mind I've depicted today in the short fictional passage below. Jessica Bell is using the same prompt word for a passage of her own. After guessing in the comments here, won't you follow the link and read Jess's entry? Here's my 'K' offering: Bradley

'J' is for...?

2011-04-12T07:00:00.006-04:00

I'm so happy Jessica Bell had the insanely creative idea to use the A-Z Blogfest as an experimental canvas for 'showing' emotions/feelings/states of mind. And I'm thrilled she asked me to partner up with her! We're working with the same list of prompt words and using them to inspire our fiction or poetry. Today, our prompt word begins with 'J'. Based on the poem below, can you guess what

'I' is For....?

2011-04-11T07:37:00.000-04:00

Saturday's 'H' word was 'Hope.' Thanks for all your wonderful comments and guesses! Today, guess which 'I' emotion/feeling/state of mind I've depicted today in the short fictional passage below. Jessica Bell is using the same prompt word for a passage of her own. After guessing in the comments here, won't you follow the link and read Jess's entry? Here's mine: The writer stared at her

'H' is for...?

2011-04-09T07:00:00.033-04:00

Yesterday's 'G' word was tough, but a couple people guessed right. It was 'giddiness'! Guess which 'H' emotion/feeling/state of mind I've depicted today in the short fictional passage below. Jessica Bell is using the same prompt word for a passage of her own. After guessing in the comments here, won't you follow the link and read Jess's entry? Here goes: 3:00 Marnie pushed the start

'G' is for...?

2011-04-08T07:13:00.002-04:00

Welcome to 'G' Day at my blog! Those who have visited during the A-Z Blogfest know that Jessica Bell and I are writing partners. Before the fest began, we generated a list of 26 words -- nouns the are emotions/feelings/states of mind. Each day we work from the same prompt word, and write fictional paragraphs with characters who 'show' the emotion/etc. My 'G' entry is below. After you read it

'F' is for...??

2011-04-07T07:19:00.000-04:00

Yesterday's word was 'Embarrassment' -- thanks for all your guesses and comments!! Today, Jessica Bell and I have chosen a word that starts with 'F', and we want you to try and guess what it is. The word is a noun and either an emotion, a feeling, or a state of mind. We've each written a short, fictional scene where our characters 'show' this emotion/feeling/state of mind. Here's my passage:

'E' is For...?

2011-04-06T07:08:00.000-04:00

Thanks to everyone for commenting yesterday -- our prompt word of the day was 'Disgust'. For those who are new to my blog today, Jessica Bell and I are A-Z Blogfest writing partners! We've chosen a list of words, all nouns, that refer to particular emotions / feelings / states of mind. Today, based on my fictional paragraph(s) below, try to guess in the comments what 'E' emotion/etc. I've

'D' is For...??

2011-04-05T07:24:00.001-04:00

Jessica Bell and I are A-Z Blogfest writing partners! Today, we've chosen a word, a noun, that refers to a particular emotion / feeling / state of mind that starts with 'D'. Based on my fictional paragraph(s) below, try to guess in the comments what emotion/etc. I've depicted. Then, follow the link at the bottom to Jessica's post and read her take on our prompt word! (BTW, yesterday's word was

'C' is For...?

2011-04-03T07:30:00.006-04:00

Jessica Bell and I are A-Z Blogfest writing partners. Today, we've chosen a word, a noun, that refers to a particular emotion / feeling / state of mind that starts with 'C'. Based on our fictional paragraph(s), try to guess in the comments what emotion we've depicted. Here's a hint for mine: It's NOT the POV character who is 'showing' the emotion(/etc.). It IS through the characterizations

'B' is For...??

2011-04-02T07:30:00.002-04:00

It's Day Two of the A to Z Blogfest and Jessica Bell and I are going strong. See, we teamed up for this adventure with the hopes of stretching our writing muscles. Be sure to follow the link at the bottom of this post to her blog. Here's the deal: We have created a top secret list of A-Z prompt words to inspire our blogfest entries. The words are all nouns, and they are all emotions. We

'A' Is for...??

2011-04-01T06:07:00.003-04:00

The A-Z Blogfest is finally here! And ‘cause that’s how we roll, Jessica Bell and I have teamed up -- once again -- as writing partners. We decided to challenge ourselves with identical A-Z prompt words. Together, we created our list of twenty-six nouns, all of which are emotions. Each day, we will each write a paragraph showing a character feeling that emotion. It’s going to be fun for us

You've GOT to see THIS!

2011-03-28T08:24:00.001-04:00

This is the just released book trailer for Jessica Bell's highly anticipated debut novel, String Bridge. Not only is this trailer hauntingly beautiful, but its music track features Jessica singing the lyrics and accompanying herself on the guitar. She IS my definition for crazy-talented! Enjoy the video first, then read on to learn how you can be in the running to win fabulous book prizes,

My Second Crusader Challenge Entry

2011-03-23T08:03:00.000-04:00

The Challenge: Write a flash fiction story (in any format) in 100 words or less, excluding the title. Begin the story with the words, “The goldfish bowl teetered” These four words will be included in the word count. Inside a Fishbowl The goldfish bowl teetered on the table’s edge. Marilyn jerked back her finger, leaving another greasy fingerprint. Inside, tiny swells crashed, sloshed

Field Trip ~ Mortuary

2011-03-21T09:47:00.004-04:00

Artwork by ~En-Gel @Deviant.com We rode together in Courtney's Yukon to the funeral home. It was the first time I'd been in her car, even though we go back nine years. Actually, in all that time, I'd never met her outside the hair salon. With gas prices so high, it didn't make sense to drive separate cars the seventy miles, round trip. But the real reason? Neither of us wanted to be alone

Think Positive ~ Good Things Follow

2011-03-18T08:36:00.004-04:00

The power of positive thinking can never be understated. After months of mild, lingering depression, I have finally turned a corner. It wasn't easy to pull myself out of my computer chair, but once I did I was able to put into action a plan I'd devised to combat my sadness. When you feel down, it's so easy to isolate yourself and wait for it to pass on its own. Sometimes it even works. But

Congrats Carolina Valdez Miller!!!

2011-03-16T08:20:00.000-04:00

Have you heard the AWESOME news? The fabulous Carolina Valdez Miller has signed with an agent!!! It was only a matter of time. Someone of Carolina's talent, humor, and positive energy is destined for greatness. And now, the next stretch of her path is bathed in light and she can see where she's headed. I'm so happy for her!! Help her celebrate by getting in on this fabulous giveaway. Here's

#BeGrateful

2011-03-14T08:19:00.000-04:00

It's supposed to snow in northern Japan. As if the monster 8.9 earthquake and ensuing tsunami weren't enough, or the terrifying 400+ aftershocks -- some up to 7.0 on the Richter Scale, now search and rescue operations will be further hindered by snow. Temperatures will drop to the 20s and 30s, while whole communities have no electricity, or experience rolling blackouts, as experts scramble to

GOT To Work It Out

2011-03-10T10:14:00.000-05:00

It's been quiet on this blog. The only muscles I've been working lately are trained in a place like there, in the image to the left. My writing muscles? Tight. Cold. Atrophied. Is this what writer's block is? When you stare at the screen and nothing, I mean NOTHING inspirational comes to mind? I touch the computer keys; my fingertips settle into the grooves. But they just sit there. I

The Liar Society Virtual Launch Party

2011-03-07T08:42:00.001-05:00

HUGE congrats going out to Lisa and Laura Roecker, blogger superstars and authors of just-released The Liar Society! Join them today on their blog Lisa and Laura Write, where they're celebrating their debut novel with a virtual launch party. Throughout the day they'll share snippets of video from the live launch party held over the weekend and offer chances to win prizes. It's going to be a

Gone But Not Forgotten!

2011-03-04T07:48:00.000-05:00

Today is the Gone But Not Forgotten Blogfest, hosted by the lovely Erinn, Alicia, Holly, Pam and Quinta. As Erinn explains on her blog, "Nothing is meant to last forever...Sadly there are many AMAZING shows no longer on the air. Does this mean we forget them? No!...List your top 5 TV shows no longer making NEW episodes. They may still be on the air but in syndication. These shows may be GONE

Literary Fiction Crusaders

2011-03-02T07:47:00.000-05:00

Short post today because I'm sooo behind visiting all my awesome fellow Crusaders' blogs this week. It seemed wrong to keep posting on my own blog when I haven't reciprocated the lovely visits I've enjoyed. So instead, I'd like to introduce you to the kindred spirits in my Crusading Group. These authors are literary fiction's newest voices! Check them out today J Group 12 – Literary

Super 8 Debut Album Blogfest

2011-02-28T08:42:00.001-05:00

New blog friend DiscConnected is hosting the Super 8 Debut Albums Blogfest today. The idea is this: Share your list of the Top 8 Debut Albums, based on your taste in music and how those artists touched your life with their work. I chose 9 (couldn't narrow it down more!) I'm not a big music enthusiast. I LOVE listening to music, but I rarely know which artist put out which smash hit. And I

I 'AM' not; I 'DO'

2011-02-23T08:34:00.001-05:00

~My Mantra ~ I am not a writer. I WRITE. I am not a wife. I SHARE my life with the man I love. I am not a mother. I LOVE my children enough to teach them to be awesome grown-ups. I am not a super-fit goddess. I WORK OUT and ENJOY EATING healthy, nutritious foods. I am not organized. I STAY ON TOP of my responsibilities. I am not perfect. I STRIVE for balance and ACCEPT my humanity. And I

Pants on Fire

2011-02-21T08:29:00.000-05:00

Well, the first 'get-to-know-you'challenge put before us by Rachael Harrie proved one thing: Crusaders are a bunch of talented liars! Our challenge was to write a short entry that shared with readers our answers to a series of guided questions (what's your favorite thing in the world, interesting quirk, etc.) There were four prompt words we had to incorporate in the post, which was not easy!

Crusaders First Challenge Entry!

2011-02-19T12:10:00.002-05:00

One of my favorite things in the world is being a sister. Those who know me well recognize how defined I am by my family, so it seems fitting to introducing myself to new, Crusading friends by sharing a glimpse into my life with four sisters. Our parents, more rabbit-like than fuliguline, had us one after the other, naming us Nicole, Natalie, Noelle, Nadine, and Natasha. They stuttered

BPBlogfest Winners Revealed!

2011-02-18T11:25:00.000-05:00

It was such a blast to read all the interesting, funny, and creative questionnaire answers you came up with in the Bernard Pivot Blogfest! I hope those of you who played along continue to visit blogs on the list -- every entry was a must-read. There are a lot of us, for sure! But each blogger brought something unique to the fest. As you know, signing up for the blogfest put your name in the

What a Party!

2011-02-17T08:15:00.000-05:00

The Bernard Pivot Blogfest was a phenomenal success, and I want to thank everyone who played along for making the event such a great party! I made it around to almost all the participating blogs yesterday -- as of last night an astounding 150 of you had signed up! *waves to all my new friends* *fist-bumps to all my old friends* (<-- old?- lol) As I made my rounds, I added you to a Word doc

Bernard Pivot Blogfest Is Today!

2011-02-16T00:01:00.010-05:00

Welcome to the Bernard Pivot Blogfest! We have over 105 bloggers playing along, but if you've come by for a visit and you're not on the list, feel free to jump aboard! Mr. Linky is at the bottom of this post. We're having fun with Pivot's ten question questionnaire, made famous in this country by James Lipton of Inside the Actor's Studio. (Blank questionnaire found here.) Blogfest

Roland Yeomans E-Book Release

2011-02-15T14:02:00.000-05:00

I have great news about the wildly talented writer and always inspiring blogger Roland Yeomans. Roland's debut e-book The Bear with Two Shadows is now available. Huge congrats, Roland! You can download your copy from Amazon's Kindle store in under a minute. Isn't technology amazing! You'll find all the necessary 411 HERE. So happy for your success, Roland!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T11:42:00.000-05:00

I just spent an amazing weekend with my sister and her kids. My heart is full. I hope you spend your Valentine's Day reveling in love! (Pssst! Don't forget, Wednesday is the Bernard Pivot Blogfest!Still time to sign up... See you there!!)

Fun Galore

2011-02-11T10:28:00.000-05:00

Lots of great bloggy peeps and activities to pimp! Here's what you don't want to miss: Second Writer's Platform-Building Crusade If you've been visiting writers' blogs in the past week or so, you've definitely noticed this photo on sidebars everywhere. Rachael Harrie @Rach Writes is launching this event for the second time, after the huge success of the first Writer's Platform-Building

Accused of Being "Loose"

2011-02-09T09:06:00.001-05:00

²~Photo Credit~² I've got my first draft in front of me, and I'm loosening up, I swear it... I often wish I could read a slew of first drafts from published and unpublished authors. Intellectually, I understand first drafts are raw, messy, unrefined. I've heard other writers describe theirs. I've read countless articles and how-to books on the subject. But to see a couple first drafts would

Little Darth Vader

2011-02-07T08:24:00.001-05:00

Though I'm not an avid football fan, I love the game and never miss the Super Bowl. In fact, Super Bowl Sunday has become a holiday in our house. And truth be told, it's mostly because we love to watch the commercials. Here's my pick for the best Super Bowl 2011 Commercial: How cute is that?? I thought most of the other commercials were lackluster. I did love the Snickers add with

You've Come a Long Way, Baby

2011-02-05T07:34:00.001-05:00

Christine Hardy @ The Writer's Hole had a fun idea for today's You've Come a Long Way, Baby Blogfest. Since the craft of creative writing is a journey, she thought it'd be fun to share some of our earlier work, illustrating just how far we'd come since, you know, back then. So, below is a piece of flash fiction I wrote in May of 2008. It was for a daily contest, which asked me to produce in 24

High on Plot Pot (waves to Jessica)

2011-02-03T09:27:00.000-05:00

One drop at a time, I'm filling the 'plot pot' for my revitalized WiP. Formerly known as Overcome, the story has changed on many levels. It feels like a brand new project. The inciting incident and the character who instigates it are virtually all that remain of the original storyline. And that character, once the antagonist, is now the story's hero. The new working title is Safe in

Just Do It!

2011-02-01T08:34:00.000-05:00

So, yesterday was a pretty crappy day. A few loose ends had become frayed from neglect and required my full attention. Spinning them back into resolvable strands I could tie up took all morning and most of the afternoon, leaving me exhausted and depressed. But every terrible experience has its lessons to teach, so here's what was reinforced in my mind yesterday: Don't put off unpleasant

A Word From the Muse:

2011-01-27T11:24:00.000-05:00

I'm feeling colorful today. I was sitting here this morning, on this terrace, creatively inspired. Then it got drafty out there on the veranda, so I moved inside to the living room, where I began to write. Later, I recharged; ate a bowl full of greens with slices of deep red tomatoes for lunch in this room. And all day long I'll write, and write, and write... ...wander around my big,

My New Blogfest -- Come Sign Up!

2011-01-25T10:13:00.002-05:00

Right click the image and save. Upload it to your sidebar and include a link back here, and you'll be entered an additional 5 times in the blogfest giveaway! (Details below) I've surpassed the 500 followers milestone and I feel like celebrating! This blogfest is designed to bring as many of us together, to get to know each other better. And I thought it'd be fun to use Bernard Pivot's

Dear Me...

2011-01-24T08:19:00.002-05:00

The following is a letter I wrote to myself, outlining my writing goals for 2011. I do this every January to kick off the new year, and to hold myself accountable as the months tick by. If you have never written a motivational letter to yourself, I highly recommend it. Even if you don't share it with anyone, it is a wonderful tool for self-organizing and prioritizing what's important to you.

Please READ! (I need your help...)

2011-01-22T15:46:00.000-05:00

Anyone looking for my Significant Other Blogfest entry, just scroll down :D Since I changed my blog template, some of my followers are no longer able to view my blog. Obviously, if you are reading this, you aren't one of them. I'm trying to figure out if the problem lies with the browser viewers are using, so please help: Please leave me a comment today, or email me at NicoleDucleroir(at)

Significant Other Blogfest!

2011-01-21T07:26:00.001-05:00

Thanks DL Hammons and Talli Roland for hosting the Significant Others Blogfest, where we writers give our blogs over to our better halves and let them rant express what it's like living with a writer. Enjoy!! This is me and my husband, Christian, a few weeks before our wedding. My big, Italian family threw us a shower in New York state, since most of my aunts, uncles and cousins wouldn't be

Off-the-Cuff Poetry: Double Acrostic

2011-01-19T08:48:00.000-05:00

I'm feeling lots of love and harmony in my universe today, mostly because my sweet friend and crit partner showered me with both on her blog today. I hope you pop over to visit Jessica Bell today, to see first hand why such a talented writer is also an amazing friend. I'm into Day #7 of the 15 For 15 contest at Writing.com. Halfway there! Each day, out of the 50 entries the contest judge

Off-the-Cuff Contest Entry #3

2011-01-17T08:07:00.000-05:00

This is the exact photo prompt for yesterday's 15 For 15 Contest. My strategy when drawing inspiration from these prompts is to avoid the obvious, and find the clever story hidden deep in the picture. This time, for example, I didn't want to do a western-style story, a cowboys and Indians scenario, or a period piece from the 1800s. Here is what I did come up with. As always, forgive the

Off-the-Cuff Contest Entry #2

2011-01-16T07:28:00.001-05:00

Today's 15 For 15 photo prompt was similar to this one. The lion in the original picture is seated under a more majestic looking tree, and he looks more...I don't know, regal? Anyways, this one gives you an idea of where my inspiration came from. I was a little stymied; animal pictures do that to me. I'm not a fan of stories from the POV of an animal. Here's what I came up with for my