Two Line Tuesday

I am stealing this from Travis, but it seems like such a good thing to do. So, here we go.

The two lines I recently read are from Carly Phillips Hot Property:

Ben hated sleeping on a friend's couch. He hated feeling like a loser who couldn't hold a job or make a go at any career he started.

The last two lines I wrote are an addition to page 2 of my manuscript Broken Rules:

"Go change your clothes, you nasty little bastard." His breath reaked of cigarettes, garlic and vodka.

Happy Tuesday everybody!

I'm writing again!

Karin sent me this a long time ago and it is one of the best writing quotes I think I have ever come across. It is usually the background on my computer either at work or at home.

It has been weeks...okay probably months since the last time I wrote something new. Last night I wrote four complete new chapters. It was great. I even talked hubby into reading the two newest ones and he liked them. Please excuse me for a moment while I go in the corner and do my happy dance .

I not only have an amazing critique partner, but now I have a fantastic reader. She owns a book store, so you know she is a rabid reader. She's caught things that Karin and I haven't in the million and one times that we've read it. Things I never would have thought about.

Only a few thousand more words to get out and the book will be done. The thing is, though, I've already started on another one. I know that is a dumb idea, but the characters wouldn't leave me alone until I atleast plotted out their story. So the outline is done and the first couple chapters are written.

The Dark Knight

I saw the new Batman movie today. I'm sad to say that I wasn't impressed. EVERYONE I know loves the movie and a lot have seen it multiple times. Maybe my expectations were too high, I don't know, but I was bored. Within 15 minutes of the start of the movie, I was ready to go. Seriously, I freaking fell asleep!
To all of the Batman fans out there, I hope you enjoyed it. Hubby loved it. Friends all loved it. Me, maybe I'm just a freak, but I was bored. Not a movie I am going to rush out and buy when it comes out. (Who am I kidding, Hubby will have to have it, so I will probably have to rush out and buy it the day it comes out and then hide it until his birthday or Christmas or something.)
Hope everyone had a great weekend! Talk to you soon!

Teenage Angst

I was digging through all my old writing and found my secret cache of poetry. I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe. Why is it, when we are somewhere between 13 and 17, EVERYTHING is horrible, no one will ever love us the way we deserve, and sex is a huge thing?

Karin jokes that I should write porn. I'm pretty proud to say that I can write a hell of a love scene. While reading all of my old angst filled (read really bad) poetry I came across some, and realized that even as a teenager I wrote porn. It's kinda surprising to stumble across some of my more... graphic descriptions. What is even more surprising is that I was very inexperienced when I wrote them.

This one made me smile at the memories it brought back. Everyone please hide your laughter until I am out of the room. Read this stupid poem, and we won't ever talk about it again, okay? So, here is my tribute to the horrible life teenagers believe they have.

Always Remember

We talk alone each night
With no one there to hold us.
The days stretch endlessly,
As the time draws close
For us to speak again.
Our time is short and precious
Minutes snatched from greedy hands.
Our worlds as separate as night and day
Yet as perfectly similar as dawn and dusk.
Though miles separate us
But a connection will forever bind us
I know deep in my heart.
Sometimes I feel so alone,
But then we talk and things are somehow better.
You brighten my mood without even trying
You bring a laugh to my heart
And a smile to my face.
The simple things you do,
I treasure deep inside.
The sweet names you call me
Make my heart melt and my knees weak.
Your words thaw the ice from my veins.
And bring warmth to my lonely soul.
I wish you knew how good it feels.
To have you say sweet things.
I love our chats our letters our visits.
And I hope someday you may even care.
I’ll be here when you need me.
To help and comfort and calm your fears.
I’m here to spread laughter and brighten your smile.
Always remember that.
Always remember us.

Okay, lets all go and get a margarita now, and bitch about real life!

A to Z All About Me

A-Attached or Single? Very Attached!

B-Best Friend? Rusty and Karin

C-Cake or Pie? Pie. Cake is gross!

D-Day of Choice? Saturdays. Usually the day I don't have to do anything.

E-Essential Items? A book to read.

F-Favorite Color? Dark blue.

G-Gummy Bears or Worms? definately worms

H-Hometown? Amarillo, Texas. But I was born in Memphis, TX

I-Indulgence? Books. I am addicted

J-January or July? January. July is WAY too hot!

K-Kids? none yet

L-Life isn’t complete without… Love

M-Marriage Date? December 22,2001

N-Number of Siblings? Two brothers.

O-Oranges or Apples? Apples

P-Phobias or Fears? Clowns... eeesh (I'm so glad I'm not the only one!)

Q-Quote? Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

R-Reason to Smile? I'm alive, I have a wonderful, supportive husband, an awesome family and great friends. Can't get much better than that!

S-Superman or Wonder Woman? Wonder Woman!!!!Girls kick ass!

T-Tag 5 people. I don't know 5 people to tag.

U- Umbrella or poncho? Neither. I love the rain.

V-Vegetables? Yum

W-Worst Habit? I smoke. Everyone hates it, including me, but I am working on that problem too.

X-Ray or Ultrasound? Neither.

Y-Your Favorite Food? Grilled cheese (sad but true)

Z-Zodiac Sign? Gemini

I stole this from Karin Huddleston huddlekay.blogspot.com go see her, she's awesome!

Making myself write

So, at the conference, one thing I kept hearing over and over and over was "write every day."

Guess what I haven't been doing....

I absolutely know I need to write more, but I always have all of these really bad excuses. I don't want to look at a computer anymore today... I have to cook dinner... I'm tired... There's a show on TV that I really want to watch... Stupid TV. I took the time to notice last night, even when my critique partner and I are "working" we are watching TV, how bad is that? Or, we are playing with her baby, or conversing with friends, relatives, spouses. And once I realized this, I almost cried. She (my critique partner) is one of the most valuable people in my life right now, and here I am wasting her time. I do have to say, before we got too sidetracked she was able to help me edit down an article I have due tomorrow, but then, we both just quit.

She was asked to join another critique group, and I hope it works out for her. I don't seem to be doing her any good at all. She does wonders for me, but what do I do?

Anyway, hopefully I have the will power to let my husband watch TV while I go in our office and write my little heart out. I promise myself, and my friend, I will write everyday. Maybe not on here, maybe not on my book, but somewhere. I have to. It is too important for me to just let it go.

We Won!

A few weeks ago, I got an email that said I was a finalist in the FiW 2008 writing contest. I screamed, jumped up and down like a five year old, and called my critique partner. She's really the only reason I submitted anything to the contest.
More time went by and she and I went to the conference. There were a lot of amazing people there. I got to meet editors and publishers and authors and realized that they are people just like me. I'm not completely over my fear of rejection (I know, everyone gets rejected, but still...), but I'm not terrified anymore. Let me set the scene for the awards luncheon.
My critique partner and I are sitting with an editor/publisher (a little nervous-making), we are eating bar-b-que (and I'm certain I'm going to slosh the greasy mess all over my clothes, and I was wearing light colors too, imagine that!).
There are a few hundred people in the room, and the president of PPW comes to the podium. She thanks us all for being there, and knows we are anxious to get to the awards. So, she reaches over and grabs the first envelope off the table. She announces the category, the judge.... and someone reminds her that there is a guest speaker. The tension level in the room spikes.
We make it through what seems to be the longest speech ever, and then the awards resume. Now, when I found out that my critique partner and I both finaled, I was pretty worried that we were going to be competing in the same category, but she finaled in Mainstream, and I'm a Romance girl (Well, I thought I was anyway.)
Finally we get to the mainstream category and my critique buddy wins. I want to jump up and down and scream and yell for her, but I manage to hang on to a shade of decorum. Category after category follows. I can't sit still in my chair. My knee bounces. I click my pen over and over. Finally, the romance category. And the finalists are... And Honorable mention is.... And third place is..... (I can literally feel my blood pressure rising. My eyeballs are going to explode out of my head, I know it.) And second place is.... And finally, the winner of the Romance category is Crystal Phares with Broken Rules.
I sat there like an idiot for a full ten seconds before my critique partner pushed me and I realized I had to go and accept my award. Reality had shifted for me, and I knew I was in an alternate universe.
I shook the appropriate hands, said thank you, and made it back to my chair without crying or falling down (a bonus in my life). After all was said and done, she and I sprinted to my car and immediately pulled out our cell phones. We both tried to be cool about it, sitting in this nice hotel's parking lot in a 400 degree car, both of us panting from exertion, heat and excitement and we call our husbands.
"Hey baby, how was the conference?" Mine sweet, sweet hubby asks.
"It was good. Met a lot of really great people, got some good advice."
"How was the awards lunch?"
"It was bar-b-que." My voice is quavering at this point and I want to tell him so bad that I'm ready to just yell it.
"You won didn't you?" He knows me WAY too well.
"I did! So did Alex* (I changed her name to protect the innocent involved!)" I practically screamed into the phone.
"Congrats! I knew you would win." He KNEW I would win? How? Did he pay off the judges?

See, my hubby is one of those people who believes in others. He has read maybe 3,000 words of the 65,000 I have written, but he knows it will work out. I want it too bad. And he wants it for me.
So, all in all, the 2008 Frontiers in Writing Conference was a HUGE success in my mind. Thanks to all the people who gave me great advice, and to all my friends and loved ones who have stood behind me! You're the greatest!