And Writing
What’s Jack up to? As I type this in the basement he’s being such a loyal dog and has come downstairs to keep me company. Though I know it’s much warmer upstairs. But he’s laying by my side on the couch being a quiet sweetheart. Thanks Jack.I’m up and writing and that is pretty much my plans for the weekend besides bowling badly and running around with the teen twins. The NaNoWrimo words are adding up which makes me happy. I’m not sure if they make all that much sense right now, but hey, they’re adding up and that’s the point. December is for revisions.I hope you have a wonderful weekend.Best,KwanaYou Nanu-I NaNo
Today starts NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month where you are challenged to write 50,000 words in 1 month and for the first time I’m in. Eek!! Time to buckle down with some serious kamikaze writing.
Wish me luck coming out on the other side sane and alive.If you are feeling up to the challenge you can sign yourself up here or if you are already in be my buddy my name is kwanawrites.
Nanu-Nanu or NaNo-NaNo!
Best,
KwanaPlot Light
Howdy Peeps! Good day to you all.Check out this chandelier that I spied on my trip to the MoMA with PVE. Isn’t it wild and don’t you love it? I sure do and can’t get it out of my wacky head.
It’s by German designer Ingo Maurer done in 1997. The “Zettel’z is a grand chandelier where the Bohemian crystal drops are substituted by scribbled paper notes from some incurable romantic’s desk. The light shines through the paper mobile. In this work Maurer plays with traditional approaches to chandelier manufacture, using precious and semi-precious materials.”
“The truth is found between the lies”I like to think of it as a great plotting tool. Wouldn’t it be a fun way to plot out a story? You can arrange and rearrange the scenes while letting the light shine through to show you the way. Just be careful to not get burned!
Best,
KwanaThe Two Sock Moment
What’s Jack up to? As I write this he’s asleep on his blanket atop the couch as I listen to the rain continue to fall. It’s been some day.Those of you that have been with me for a long long time will remember my One Sock Moment post. I got lots of really nice comments and I liked that post (if I may say so myself) about not giving up and perseverance or maybe chucking it all. You can check it out here. Since that post life and the Gemini in me took over and the second sock seemed to take forever to get knitted with stress, family, dishes, writing and lets face it, The Not So Real Housewives getting in the way of finishing the other sock. Not to mention my Christmas knitting. But finally the One Sock Moment is over and just in time for Spring too. I now have a nice pair of 100% wool socks to wear for the upcoming warm days. Aren’t they pretty?
But really there is only one thing that can beat the feeling of getting over the hurdle of the One Sock Moment and that is the accomplishment of the Two Sock Moment.I have to remember this feeling and bring more of it into my sometimes (excuse the word but it fits) half @ssed life.How about you? What projects are just waiting for you to get back to them and polish them off. Bringing a sense of finality and accomplishment to your heart. I can quickly tick a few more off in my own life.best,KwanaThis Time They Got Me Right
Now this time (as opposed to the last time) blogthings got me just right with their quiz on what type of writer you should be. Of course there is one hitch. I don’t know a thing about film writing. Hmmm…
You Should Be a Film Writer
You don’t just create compelling stories, you see them as clearly as a movie in your mind.You have a knack for details and dialogue. You can really make a character come to life.
Chances are, you enjoy creating all types of stories. The joy is in the storytelling.
And nothing would please you more than millions of people seeing your story on the big screen!
Best,
KwanaLong Suffering Heroes
How do you feel about the long suffering hero in a romance novel? I’ve just finished two books. The first following The Quest was BROKEN WING by Judith James and the second was SEDUCE ME AT SUNRISE by Lisa Kleypas.
Both books though very different in subject matter struck me as similar in the fact that they both contained the Long Suffering Hero and that got me think if I really enjoyed the suffering hero as a character or do I go for more of “the rake” or “the bad boy”? Now I know on some level every effective character has to have some flaw or thing that he suffers over or he’s just flat. What I’m talking about here is the hero that feels he’s just so bad that he’s no good for the heroine or that super sweet do-gooder. Please don’t give me that guy. I’d just hurt him.
I’ll start with BROKEN WING and Kristie’s Ramblings on Romance Quest. This was an interesting book for me to get my head and heart around.Without a doubt I enjoyed it. A lot. I was pulled in right away and totally engaged. The author takes the tough subject matter of child prostitution and marries it with an innocent blossoming love story and an epic adventure. The love letters that she writes in the book are some of the most beautiful pages I have read in a long time. But for me I was frustrated by the very long suffering hero and the heroine that suffered right along with him. I wanted someone to stand up and be strong and fight. That said, I would still recommend the book. It’s an interesting love story that I’m still thinking about today. The historal detail is amazing. So am I a Quester? Kristie what do you think?
Now in SEDUCE ME AT SUNRISE we have another long suffering hero that can’t get
his head out of the past. First off, I loved this sexy book. But much like the hero in BROKEN WING this hero, Kev, feels that he’s not fit to lick the heroine’s boots. Though he doesn’t mind trying to lick at other parts of her. At times I wanted to reach though the pages and shake him too which I guess says something great for the authors writing. But this hero never got too deep in his sorrow that I put the book down. He was a fighter and filled with non-stop passion. Totally tortured, but acting a bit of a rake. But what pulled it out for me with this book was that the heroine didn’t fall into The Long Suffering Hero trap. She upped the ante and refused to suffer with him. She challenged him and fought against him to pull him out of his shell.So I guess I can take a long suffering hero if he’s got enough bad boy in him to be interesting and strong or the heroine has enough fight in her to challenge him.
What do you all think about long suffering heroes? Are you Team Ashley or Team Rhett? I think you know where I stand.
Um, sorry about that. I just can’t get over Twilight.
Have a great weekend!
Best,
KwanaMonday Musings
I’m still floating just a bit over the surface of the ground almost a week after the election. I don’t care. I’m ever hopeful whether it’s fashionable or not.Anybody watch TRUE BLOOD last night? It got good and freaky. Sam suddenly turned into one of the more interesting characters on the show. Too bad it will be ending soon. Bummer.On the upside I got the cutest little black dress for a formal I have with the DH coming up for less than a song. I also picked up a black satin 3/4 sleeve 1 button jacket that I know I’ll get ton of wear out of for even less of a song than the dress. I love it when that happens.
Here’s to a great week and to me making it to the gym.Best,KwanaHappy Birthday Jack!
What’s Jack up to? Jack is happy and chilling after his birthday party weekend. Well, not really a party, he is a dog after all and I’m not crazy. At least not THAT crazy.
Happy Birthday Jack!
Yep! Wild Jack turned 2 (or is it 14? I just don’t get the whole dog years thing) on Saturday. Thanks for adding just a bit more more nuttiness to my already heavily topped sundae of a life, Jack.
I’m back from a fun filled and super inspirational weekend at the New Jersey Romance Writers conference. I’m exhausted, but feel the need to go to the gym and see if my membership is actually still any good thanks to Mel and this cool new blog she’s starting called FatChicksRunning. Now I refuse to out myself as a Fat Chick, but really who am I fooling? Like Mel, I’m a woman of a certain age who doesn’t want to be a certain size anymore and it’s time to do something about that. So I’m off. Hmm… Now which way was that gym?
More on the conference soon. So much to talk about. So many smart women. So much work I need to do. Eek!
Best,
KwanaCasting On
What’s Jack up to? Jack’s wondering where this week went to. Nah, that’s just me. He’s doing the hanging in the hall closet thing that he loves so much. I just don’t get that dog sometimes and I’m sure he’s probably thinking the same thing about crazy me.
Casting on in knitting is always done with a a little bit of fear and excitement. But like the point of the One Sock Moment a decision must be made otherwise you’re left stuck in the same place or hopping around in a circle on one foot.
So you cast-on with nothing more than a vague road map, a pile of string and faith in your ability to produce something out of not too much, but your drive and ambition.
Notice it doesn’t hurt to have something lovely like Pride and Prejudice in the background to inspire you!
Tell me what have you been thinking about casting on? A book, a painting, a business venture, a night class, a new love, an old love? Yummy. Don’t get stuck in a one sock moment. Time is too short.
Take a deep breath and cast-on.
Best,
KwanaMonday Musings
What’s Jack up to? Jack’s chilling after a busy Sunday in the neighborhood full of fun at our annual block party. Hopefully it will be a quiet Monday for him.
It’s going to be a work Monday for me. Time to get back to my WIP after stepping away for quite a while. Now that the kids are back in school it’s time for me to really get real and as Tim Gunn says, “Make It Work.” If not now, I don’t know when.Speaking of making it work, did anyone see the season premier of America’s Next Top Model last week? I swear it’s Tyra’s world and we’re just living in it. I enjoyed it though. As silly as it was with the whole futuristic thing for the first hour with Tyrabot, Alpha J, and Beta J. I don’t know what they were smoking?Sidebar: For all you writers with piles of rejection letters look of Joclyn who tried out for Top Model 30 times before making it on the show. Don’t ask me how she did it with it being only cycle 11 or 12, but she did. So don’t give up. Keep writing and keep submitting.There were some interesting moments in between the show with Whitney’s My Life As A CoverGirl spots which I really liked and also the new what are the models up to spots. This week featuring Tocarra.This season to spice thing up there’s a transgender model named Isis and it’s causing all sorts of controversy just like the producers hoped it would. But Isis does take some fierce pictures and will prove to be a tough opponent.My pick for some girls to watch are: Joclyn, Elina, Isis, Brittnay and Marjorie
Photos thanks to CW and top from Connie Briscoe’s blogBest,
Kwana
