Today my Wonder Twin shares her thoughts on creativity. I found an old post I did back in '07 that's pretty much along the same lines (Arts & Crafts), which I wish I'd reread before I commented on Sister's essay. What I did say was that to me, "creativity is digging down into the deepest part of your soul and turning it inside out, so that what comes out is the most unique part of yourself. After that, it's your choice whether to share it with the world."
That's original. It took me a few minutes to come up with that. And yes, you can quote me.
The day job has been a little thin on work lately, so that I've had to set aside a few hours on Saturdays to catch up a little on time served. I'm okay with that once in a while, but I steadfastly refuse to give up my Fridays, the one day each week where I am alone and free (at the same time - which is a rarity in this house). This is the day to which I stake my claim with a big red flag that screams, "Writer at work - enter at your own risk!", hole myself up in the study and get creative.
Music of the Moment: The CD player is back to cranking, this morning with the Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl soundtrack. This is music that will get your blood pumping, which is what I need, as I am working full tilt on a rewrite of this manuscript. I've had my coffee (decaf, thank you) and Dunkin' Donuts and am ready to rock and roll ... er, swashbuckle. That's Captain Jack Sparrow.
Enjoy this beautiful Friday, and I hope you weathered yesterday's storms without incident.
And read a book. It's good for you.
=) JB
"And since you know you cannot see yourself, so well as by reflection, I, your glass, will modestly discover to yourself, that of yourself which you yet know not of."
-- William Shakespeare, English dramatist & poet (1564 - 1616)
Showing posts with label Quotable Quotes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Quotable Quotes. Show all posts
3.26.2009
The Sweet Sixteen
For those of you who don't care a whit about basketball, stop reading now. If you're as much an addict as I am, then press on, MacDuff ...
So, how did YOU do in your picks last weekend? I was 27/32 in the first and second rounds, and correctly picked 14 out of the Sweet 16. I'm sure there are those of you out there who did better than I, but really, did anyone get them all? Other than my husband, did anyone pick Western Kentucky to defeat Illinois? Did anyone expect Cleveland State to knock off Wake Forest? Maybe one or the other, but not both, right?
Funny thing about Cleveland State - they've only been in the NCAA tournament twice in history. The last time they played? Defeated Indiana in the first round. They were seeded #14 and we were #3, and CSU won 83-79. The WGH and I were still in school then - he actually went to Syracuse with the band for that game. Everyone expected them to stay for the whole weekend. It was a dismal 14-hour bus ride home for the pep band, he tells me.
That was in 1986; Indiana went on to win the National Championship the following year. The really crazy thing is this - I discovered a couple of rather interesting similarities between the 1981 and 1987 championships, an uncanny coincidence that may never happen again, at least in my lifetime. In both cases, the National Champion was the same for the previous year - Louisville (1980 and 1986). And, both the games that we won in '81 and '87 were played on my birthday. How's that for weird? I've been waiting 22 years for this pattern to repeat itself, but so far it hasn't happened.
It's rainy and cool here in the South today. A perfect day for staying in and getting some things accomplished.
Read a book. Or watch a game. It's good for you.
=) JB
"If A is success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut."
-- Albert Einstein, US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955), Observer, Jan. 15, 1950
So, how did YOU do in your picks last weekend? I was 27/32 in the first and second rounds, and correctly picked 14 out of the Sweet 16. I'm sure there are those of you out there who did better than I, but really, did anyone get them all? Other than my husband, did anyone pick Western Kentucky to defeat Illinois? Did anyone expect Cleveland State to knock off Wake Forest? Maybe one or the other, but not both, right?
Funny thing about Cleveland State - they've only been in the NCAA tournament twice in history. The last time they played? Defeated Indiana in the first round. They were seeded #14 and we were #3, and CSU won 83-79. The WGH and I were still in school then - he actually went to Syracuse with the band for that game. Everyone expected them to stay for the whole weekend. It was a dismal 14-hour bus ride home for the pep band, he tells me.
That was in 1986; Indiana went on to win the National Championship the following year. The really crazy thing is this - I discovered a couple of rather interesting similarities between the 1981 and 1987 championships, an uncanny coincidence that may never happen again, at least in my lifetime. In both cases, the National Champion was the same for the previous year - Louisville (1980 and 1986). And, both the games that we won in '81 and '87 were played on my birthday. How's that for weird? I've been waiting 22 years for this pattern to repeat itself, but so far it hasn't happened.
It's rainy and cool here in the South today. A perfect day for staying in and getting some things accomplished.
Read a book. Or watch a game. It's good for you.
=) JB
"If A is success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut."
-- Albert Einstein, US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955), Observer, Jan. 15, 1950
3.20.2009
Sproing-g-g-g!!
Spring has sprung, although it's a cool 36 degrees in our little burg at the moment. Brrrr ... may wait an hour or so before I take my morning walk. It's not like I don't have 12 other things on the to-do list to keep me busy until it warms up enough to stuff myself into the walking clothes and set off. This is one of them (really - it says "blog", right there on line 9).
I've had a lot of things on my mind lately, so I'm probably going to muse on them all here. In all likelihood, there will be no rhyme, reason or point to this post. You'll just have to forgive and bear with me.
Junk mail. For about a week, I didn't clean out the messages that found their way into my 'junk mail' folder and kept track of how many I was getting every day. Don't ask me why I did this - I was just curious, okay? I was astonished at the results - 33, 25, 26, 11, 28, 32 and 14. That's 169 pieces of garbage cluttering up my Inbox from people I don't know, don't want to know, and don't want bothering me. What is up with junk mail, anyway? Do people actually get paid to create and send junk to every Tom, Dick, Harry and Sally on the planet? Why? How can this be productive? I can think of so many things that would be of greater benefit to mankind. I know of the old saying, "One man's junk is another man's treasure." Pfft. When it comes to junk mail, I just don't get it.
There are no hedges in Phoenix. The WGH is an eBay junkie. I could list a gazillion things he has in his garage that he purchased online. In the last couple of weeks he decided we needed hedge trimmers. So he goes to eBay, finds a gas-powered hedge trimmer that's very nice, bids on it and wins it. Woot. So this package is coming and he's tracking its progress ... turns out the seller was in Phoenix. Now, I don't know about you, but the first image that pops into my head when someone mentions Phoenix? Not hedges. Cactus, maybe. Granted, it's been a while since I visited the area, but still. Hedges? I talked to the WMVR about it. She obviously thinks a lot more reasonably than I do most of the time. She said that the person probably had hedges where he lived before, but had just moved to Phoenix and as he no longer needed the hedge trimmer, he sold it on eBay.
Okay, I'll buy that. But still, wasn't your first thought, "There are no hedges in Phoenix"? With the same inflection Tom Hanks used in A League of Their Own when he said, "There's no crying in baseball"?
Tournament time again. As most of you know, I love love love basketball. On any level. So my blood really gets pumping around March Madness time. Sadly, our poor alma mater had a less than stellar season, but with Coach Crean at the helm I feel confident that in a few years, Indiana will once again be a force to be reckoned with. Bring back the glory of the Knight era, only softer (Coach Crean is a much calmer man on the sidelines).
The WGH and I printed out brackets and filled in our picks. I actually took the leap and went all the way to the championship game this time (normally I go round by round). My Final Four: Louisville, Duke, UConn and North Carolina. I picked Louisville and Duke in the final game and Louisville to win it all. Call me crazy. I don't really put much stock in picks, anyway, because I firmly believe that any team can defeat any other team on any given day. Case in point - #12 seed Western Kentucky's defeat of #5 Illinois last night (although I should mention that the WGH did pick WKU to win that one, and I'm 13/16 so far in the first round). That's okay. I don't think the Hilltoppers will get past Gonzaga in the next round. I could be wrong. It's happened before.
Paint. One of the items on my to-do list for this, the first weekend I haven't had to work the day job in about 6 weeks, is to prep and paint the foyer and the living room. The WGH had a painting accident a couple of weeks ago - slipped and wrenched his ankle - so he's out of commission for a while, at least as far as getting on a ladder. But that's okay. He wants to do yard work. It's a fair trade - I hate yard work and like painting, and he hates painting and likes yard work. Isn't it convenient how that works out?
A writer's life. One of the other things on my list, of course, is to get this manuscript into shape and start submitting again. It's really almost there. I know what you're thinking - it was there last summer, and it was. Kinda. I did submit it a few places, but when some very kind and constructive comments came back from several agents, I decided it needed a little more tweaking. The BMWs have helped with that as well, and it's an even better book now. So don't hold your breath, but do keep your fingers crossed, pray, and send good vibes my way. We'll be there eventually.
Since the to-do list won't check itself off, I'm working on it. Number 9 is now complete.
Read a book. It's good for you.
=) JB
"I feel within me a peace above all earthly dignities, a still and quiet conscience."
-- William Shakespeare, English dramatist and poet (1564-1616)
I've had a lot of things on my mind lately, so I'm probably going to muse on them all here. In all likelihood, there will be no rhyme, reason or point to this post. You'll just have to forgive and bear with me.
Junk mail. For about a week, I didn't clean out the messages that found their way into my 'junk mail' folder and kept track of how many I was getting every day. Don't ask me why I did this - I was just curious, okay? I was astonished at the results - 33, 25, 26, 11, 28, 32 and 14. That's 169 pieces of garbage cluttering up my Inbox from people I don't know, don't want to know, and don't want bothering me. What is up with junk mail, anyway? Do people actually get paid to create and send junk to every Tom, Dick, Harry and Sally on the planet? Why? How can this be productive? I can think of so many things that would be of greater benefit to mankind. I know of the old saying, "One man's junk is another man's treasure." Pfft. When it comes to junk mail, I just don't get it.
There are no hedges in Phoenix. The WGH is an eBay junkie. I could list a gazillion things he has in his garage that he purchased online. In the last couple of weeks he decided we needed hedge trimmers. So he goes to eBay, finds a gas-powered hedge trimmer that's very nice, bids on it and wins it. Woot. So this package is coming and he's tracking its progress ... turns out the seller was in Phoenix. Now, I don't know about you, but the first image that pops into my head when someone mentions Phoenix? Not hedges. Cactus, maybe. Granted, it's been a while since I visited the area, but still. Hedges? I talked to the WMVR about it. She obviously thinks a lot more reasonably than I do most of the time. She said that the person probably had hedges where he lived before, but had just moved to Phoenix and as he no longer needed the hedge trimmer, he sold it on eBay.
Okay, I'll buy that. But still, wasn't your first thought, "There are no hedges in Phoenix"? With the same inflection Tom Hanks used in A League of Their Own when he said, "There's no crying in baseball"?
Tournament time again. As most of you know, I love love love basketball. On any level. So my blood really gets pumping around March Madness time. Sadly, our poor alma mater had a less than stellar season, but with Coach Crean at the helm I feel confident that in a few years, Indiana will once again be a force to be reckoned with. Bring back the glory of the Knight era, only softer (Coach Crean is a much calmer man on the sidelines).
The WGH and I printed out brackets and filled in our picks. I actually took the leap and went all the way to the championship game this time (normally I go round by round). My Final Four: Louisville, Duke, UConn and North Carolina. I picked Louisville and Duke in the final game and Louisville to win it all. Call me crazy. I don't really put much stock in picks, anyway, because I firmly believe that any team can defeat any other team on any given day. Case in point - #12 seed Western Kentucky's defeat of #5 Illinois last night (although I should mention that the WGH did pick WKU to win that one, and I'm 13/16 so far in the first round). That's okay. I don't think the Hilltoppers will get past Gonzaga in the next round. I could be wrong. It's happened before.
Paint. One of the items on my to-do list for this, the first weekend I haven't had to work the day job in about 6 weeks, is to prep and paint the foyer and the living room. The WGH had a painting accident a couple of weeks ago - slipped and wrenched his ankle - so he's out of commission for a while, at least as far as getting on a ladder. But that's okay. He wants to do yard work. It's a fair trade - I hate yard work and like painting, and he hates painting and likes yard work. Isn't it convenient how that works out?
A writer's life. One of the other things on my list, of course, is to get this manuscript into shape and start submitting again. It's really almost there. I know what you're thinking - it was there last summer, and it was. Kinda. I did submit it a few places, but when some very kind and constructive comments came back from several agents, I decided it needed a little more tweaking. The BMWs have helped with that as well, and it's an even better book now. So don't hold your breath, but do keep your fingers crossed, pray, and send good vibes my way. We'll be there eventually.
Since the to-do list won't check itself off, I'm working on it. Number 9 is now complete.
Read a book. It's good for you.
=) JB
"I feel within me a peace above all earthly dignities, a still and quiet conscience."
-- William Shakespeare, English dramatist and poet (1564-1616)
2.28.2009
Happy Happy Joy Joy
I thought it would be nice to have a more lighthearted post today to contrast the last one. After all, life is full of both happy and sad moments, and you can't have one without the other, right?
The Project. We've lived in this house for just over 5 years now, and we finally decided that it needed a bit of an overhaul. So we're painting. Now, the WGH loves to paint about as much as I love to go shopping. Ranks right up there with cleaning up dog barf at midnight, having a root canal or having someone jab you in the eye with a sharp stick. But it needed to be done, and we're working on a room or two at a time. It's the same answer as the one to the question, "How do you eat an elephant?" (One bite at a time.)
So here we are in the paint department at Lowe's, looking at every Valspar Signature series color sample under the sun. I never knew there were so many different shades of green, beige and pink. We bring the little cards home, prop them up on the baseboards and door frames and spend some quality time with them until we find the color we like the best. After several trips, we finally found a combination we really like.
It's a work in progress. And the more I look at the parts that are finished, the more I love them. Sometimes you just need something fresh and new to perk yourself up. And what better way to do that than to spruce up your surroundings a bit? My study, sometime in the near future, is going to brighten up from this very neutral and *yawn* passive shade of beige to a gorgeous color called Oxford Pink. I know what you're thinking - ewwww, PINK???? But believe me, this color is luscious. It's warm and rosy and cozy and I can't wait to see it on my walls. The recliner and my writing desk chair are both of a rather burgundy-esque color (bought at two different places at two different times and they're almost identical - how lucky was that?), and the pink walls will be a perfect complement.
The part that I'm looking forward to the most is being able to sit in here and just soak up the positive energy and turn it into a blast of creativity. It's all about the chi, yes?
Work in Progress. The other thing I'm working on again is the manuscript - slowly but surely. My recent five-month break did not include much writing, so I'm back after it. Unfortunately, the day job takes up most of my days, so I'm relegated once again, as I was so many years ago when the kids were small ... er, young (have you SEEN my kids?), to working on the manuscript in the evenings. Thank God for DVR and a husband who finally caved and ordered the service. ;)
It's finished, for the most part. The story is down. It's just in the tweaking phase once again. I finally figured out what was bugging me so much about the story, that one little plot point that just wouldn't gel quite properly, and once I did that the edits seemed to just start flowing. I have a legal pad on the desk where I've jotted some editorial notes, things I need to fix overall, which I'll get to as soon as I'm through the first pass, taking care of notes from the BMWs (most of which I've discovered have already been done - I told you it's been a while since I've looked at this thing). But the group is about 2 or 3 chapters from the end, and once that's in hand I'll make sure everything's nice and tight, and then ... well, you writers know the drill. The rest of you probably don't care much - you just want to read the book, right?
Soon. I promise.
Music, music, music. As you know, I have a pretty decent collection of CDs full of classical and orchestral and jazz music, which I must, must, must have playing in the study while I'm working, either at the day job or at the writing desk. Right now there is silence in my little room because The Boy is still asleep next door. It's early at our house for a Saturday. The WGH will be up and painting soon, and I have to spend a few hours chained to the day job desk, but this afternoon ... look out manuscript. The music will be blaring and I will be tweaking away.
It's a little on the rainy gray side today. A perfect day to stay indoors and accomplish something.
Read a book. It's good for you.
=) JB
"Action is eloquence."
-- William Shakespeare, English dramatist & poet (1564 - 1616)
The Project. We've lived in this house for just over 5 years now, and we finally decided that it needed a bit of an overhaul. So we're painting. Now, the WGH loves to paint about as much as I love to go shopping. Ranks right up there with cleaning up dog barf at midnight, having a root canal or having someone jab you in the eye with a sharp stick. But it needed to be done, and we're working on a room or two at a time. It's the same answer as the one to the question, "How do you eat an elephant?" (One bite at a time.)
So here we are in the paint department at Lowe's, looking at every Valspar Signature series color sample under the sun. I never knew there were so many different shades of green, beige and pink. We bring the little cards home, prop them up on the baseboards and door frames and spend some quality time with them until we find the color we like the best. After several trips, we finally found a combination we really like.
It's a work in progress. And the more I look at the parts that are finished, the more I love them. Sometimes you just need something fresh and new to perk yourself up. And what better way to do that than to spruce up your surroundings a bit? My study, sometime in the near future, is going to brighten up from this very neutral and *yawn* passive shade of beige to a gorgeous color called Oxford Pink. I know what you're thinking - ewwww, PINK???? But believe me, this color is luscious. It's warm and rosy and cozy and I can't wait to see it on my walls. The recliner and my writing desk chair are both of a rather burgundy-esque color (bought at two different places at two different times and they're almost identical - how lucky was that?), and the pink walls will be a perfect complement.
The part that I'm looking forward to the most is being able to sit in here and just soak up the positive energy and turn it into a blast of creativity. It's all about the chi, yes?
Work in Progress. The other thing I'm working on again is the manuscript - slowly but surely. My recent five-month break did not include much writing, so I'm back after it. Unfortunately, the day job takes up most of my days, so I'm relegated once again, as I was so many years ago when the kids were small ... er, young (have you SEEN my kids?), to working on the manuscript in the evenings. Thank God for DVR and a husband who finally caved and ordered the service. ;)
It's finished, for the most part. The story is down. It's just in the tweaking phase once again. I finally figured out what was bugging me so much about the story, that one little plot point that just wouldn't gel quite properly, and once I did that the edits seemed to just start flowing. I have a legal pad on the desk where I've jotted some editorial notes, things I need to fix overall, which I'll get to as soon as I'm through the first pass, taking care of notes from the BMWs (most of which I've discovered have already been done - I told you it's been a while since I've looked at this thing). But the group is about 2 or 3 chapters from the end, and once that's in hand I'll make sure everything's nice and tight, and then ... well, you writers know the drill. The rest of you probably don't care much - you just want to read the book, right?
Soon. I promise.
Music, music, music. As you know, I have a pretty decent collection of CDs full of classical and orchestral and jazz music, which I must, must, must have playing in the study while I'm working, either at the day job or at the writing desk. Right now there is silence in my little room because The Boy is still asleep next door. It's early at our house for a Saturday. The WGH will be up and painting soon, and I have to spend a few hours chained to the day job desk, but this afternoon ... look out manuscript. The music will be blaring and I will be tweaking away.
It's a little on the rainy gray side today. A perfect day to stay indoors and accomplish something.
Read a book. It's good for you.
=) JB
"Action is eloquence."
-- William Shakespeare, English dramatist & poet (1564 - 1616)
1.23.2009
There's a rock band in my basement ...
I'm not kidding. The Boy and a few of his friends have descended upon the WGH's studio - one of them (and I'm not sure which one, but I think it's my son) is on the drum set, two on guitars, and one on our old clunky antique baby grand piano.
The studio is downstairs, of course. Which is why I am not. I haven't heard much but a lot of noise so far, but whoever is playing lead guitar is actually quite good - every so often I'll catch a familiar lick (pretty sure I heard something from Beat It a few minutes ago).
Meanwhile, it's a mild and pleasant 60 degrees here, so I've shut off the heat and opened the windows for a bit. My plan was to enjoy a nice quiet afternoon, get some writing done, and then kick back and relax with a good book. Sigh. So much for the quiet afternoon. But the "band" apparently won't be staying too long, so perhaps I'll get my opportunity later.
Tomorrow I get to tag along with JT for her gig at the Smyrna Library's Winter Reading Program. I love going with her to these things. She's such a star (not a diva, mind you, but an honest to goodness, gracious, lovely, and entertaining speaker), and she really shines when she's in the spotlight. Okay, that might have been a little too adjectivey and cheesey, but you get what I mean. She's just fun to watch and fun to be with. So Little Ol' Me likes it when she drags Me with her.
Speaking of my Wonder Twin, our mutual pal Timothy Hallinan did a guest spot for her over at Murderati today with some great thoughts on "what not to do." My writer visitors should check it out (you might check it out even if you're not a writer).
The band is in full swing and I can no longer concentrate, so off I jaunt ...
Read a book. It's good for you.
=) JB
"If music be the food of love, play on; Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting, The appetite may sicken, and so die."
-- William Shakespeare (Twelfth Night, Act 1 scene 1)
The studio is downstairs, of course. Which is why I am not. I haven't heard much but a lot of noise so far, but whoever is playing lead guitar is actually quite good - every so often I'll catch a familiar lick (pretty sure I heard something from Beat It a few minutes ago).
Meanwhile, it's a mild and pleasant 60 degrees here, so I've shut off the heat and opened the windows for a bit. My plan was to enjoy a nice quiet afternoon, get some writing done, and then kick back and relax with a good book. Sigh. So much for the quiet afternoon. But the "band" apparently won't be staying too long, so perhaps I'll get my opportunity later.
Tomorrow I get to tag along with JT for her gig at the Smyrna Library's Winter Reading Program. I love going with her to these things. She's such a star (not a diva, mind you, but an honest to goodness, gracious, lovely, and entertaining speaker), and she really shines when she's in the spotlight. Okay, that might have been a little too adjectivey and cheesey, but you get what I mean. She's just fun to watch and fun to be with. So Little Ol' Me likes it when she drags Me with her.
Speaking of my Wonder Twin, our mutual pal Timothy Hallinan did a guest spot for her over at Murderati today with some great thoughts on "what not to do." My writer visitors should check it out (you might check it out even if you're not a writer).
The band is in full swing and I can no longer concentrate, so off I jaunt ...
Read a book. It's good for you.
=) JB
"If music be the food of love, play on; Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting, The appetite may sicken, and so die."
-- William Shakespeare (Twelfth Night, Act 1 scene 1)
1.01.2009
2009
Happy New Year, everybody!
I'm pleased to announce that the Lunch Room will be reopening soon. I hope you'll stop in for a bite every once in a while. You may notice some changes around the place, but the atmosphere should pretty much be the same.
I hope you've all been blessed with good things over the past few months ... has anyone had anything REALLY exciting happen while I've been away? Or anything you just want to share? I'd love to hear - the comments section is open.
Here's hoping 2009 is your best year yet. I'm counting on it to be for me.
I'll be back soon. In the meantime, happy reading!
=) JB
"I am a true labourer: I earn that I eat, get that I wear, owe no man hate, envy no man's happiness, glad of other's good."
-- William Shakespeare (As You Like It)
I'm pleased to announce that the Lunch Room will be reopening soon. I hope you'll stop in for a bite every once in a while. You may notice some changes around the place, but the atmosphere should pretty much be the same.
I hope you've all been blessed with good things over the past few months ... has anyone had anything REALLY exciting happen while I've been away? Or anything you just want to share? I'd love to hear - the comments section is open.
Here's hoping 2009 is your best year yet. I'm counting on it to be for me.
I'll be back soon. In the meantime, happy reading!
=) JB
"I am a true labourer: I earn that I eat, get that I wear, owe no man hate, envy no man's happiness, glad of other's good."
-- William Shakespeare (As You Like It)
10.29.2007
Arts & Crafts
All that I desire to point out is the general principle that life imitates art far more than art imitates life.
A work of art is the unique result of a unique temperament.
-- Classic Quotes by Oscar Wilde, Irish writer and wit (1854-1900)
It's what Stephen King calls 'the craft' [from his brilliant book, On Writing]. I call it arts and crafts, because what we do is as much art as it is craft. I sort of superimpose my philosophy on his - King says write the first draft with the door closed (the craft - your solitary time, when it's just you and the words), then rewrite with the door open (that's where the art comes in - you're sharing your ideas and getting input, perfecting the craft with the extra stuff that makes it art).
I haven't quite perfected the art of the whole door-closed/door-open thing yet. I'm far from being a beginner, but I'm constantly striving to make myself a better writer, and I'm one of those people who needs affirmation - and lots of it. But I know that when it comes down to it, I'm on my own, taking the images from my head and putting them down on virtual paper. I get input from everywhere, but no one else can express my thoughts quite like I can (except perhaps JT, but we'll set aside the whole Wonder Twin thing for the moment).
Or maybe not. How's that for a segue? Unless you've never been here, you know that JT and I are critique partners. The Wonder Twins - we call each other that because we're very in tune with each other. Sometimes we'll email each other with exactly the same thought at the same time. We're so much alike it's almost scary.
But not so much when it comes to our writing. Each of us has her own unique voice. JT writes forceful, vibrant thrillers; I write softer romantic suspense. Not quite polar opposites, but still very different.
When we're critiquing, though, we're familiar enough with each other's style that we can edit and make suggestions without imposing our own on the other - enough to imitate (but never duplicate) the other's voice. We know each other's characters well enough to say, "So-and-So would never say/do something like that, what were you thinking?" And we know when the words aren't quite what they should be, if something doesn't sound like it fits our style. JT has an incredible vocabulary, one to envy. She employs it effectively in her writing. Her prose is eloquent but direct, almost terse - she gets her point across without mincing words. Mine's a little more sinuous. Flowery, even (no, really?). I do go overboard sometimes, and that's when she steps in and says, ahem, that's just a bit stiff and awkward, sister. (The WMVR does that, too, when she goes through the manuscript as my "first reader" - she calls me "Madam Author" when I get too formal.)
At the moment I'm sort of stuck with the door half open, half closed. The first draft didn't fly far enough with either my Wonder Twin or my independent readers, so I'm changing the story, and it's turning out quite a bit different from what it was. It's a new draft, then, but I'm still getting feedback on what I'm writing. My push now is to get it done and ready to submit by the end of the year - the next round starts in January.
The industry is starting to cycle back into its tighter, more restrictive standards again, and it's all the more important to make this effort the best it can be. We're starting over here, in a sense. Those of you who know me and have been with me from the beginning are in for a bit of a surprise in the coming months, but I promise it will be a good one.
In the meantime, I'm getting back into the swing of things, plugging away at perfecting my craft. All hail the artist, but quietly, because she's working ...
Read a book. Admire the art and appreciate the craft. If you get something good out of it, then the artist has done her job.
=) JB
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