FRIDAY STIR FRY - Direction

https://morguefile.com/

I've been giving a lot of thought lately about the direction this blog should take. I think I would like it to be more than just my rambling thoughts. The problem is, I'm not an expert at anything, except - according to my son - griping.

I've had many jobs in my life, but not a profession. Well, except the few years I was a dental assistant. But, let's face it, who wants to read a blog about that?

I've worked in a Hallmark shop, a hot dog stand, a thrift store, and a factory. I've worked at Bass Pro Shops - headquartered in my home town - twice. For the last seventeen years, a government desk job, pushing papers. I've had flea market booths.

None of those jobs make me qualified to hand out wisdom or advice about anything.

Of course, I've written and published a book. One book. Well, two if you count my short story collection. By no means does that make me an expert.

If you have any suggestions for this blog, I would greatly appreciate it.

FRIDAY STIR FRY - Big Plans and Lists and Such

https://morguefile.com

So, last week I promised I would let you know what resolutions I have already given up on. I actually didn't officially make any. I've muddled things over in my head, but I haven't written anything down. If you have ideas in your brain, but nobody is there to hear them, do they still make noise?

I have hopes. Yeah, let's go with that.

• I hope I can finish and publish another book. I have three drafts. Surely I can complete one of them? Of course to do that, I will need to actually write.
• I hope I will write. 
• I hope I can start a freelance career. I got the idea a few months ago when I wasn't sure about the future of my day job. I've spread the word some, but I still have a lot to learn and obviously I need clients.
• Get back to being consistent with posting to this blog.

That's pretty much it. In order to accomplish any of these hopes, I will need to be less lazy. Which reminds me, I need a nap.

What are your hopes this year? I would love to know.

FRIDAY STIR FRY - Jack Of All Trades

http://www.morguefile.com

For the next meeting of one of my writer groups, they asked that we all bring a short presentation on something about writing or marketing that we are an expert about. In other words, our vice president couldn't get a speaker.

I don't consider myself an expert at anything. I know a little about a few things. Like my father-n-law used to say: "I know just enough to be dangerous."

I don't have an English degree. Heck, I didn't even attend college. So, I don't know all the grammar rules. I get lost when people talk about adverbs, prepositions, and dangling modifiers. My eyes actually glaze over. I know just enough to muddle through with the help of a dictionary and spell/grammar check. And thank goodness for editors.

I'm a pantser, so I don't do outlines. I know a little about story structure and arc but, not all the specifics. I mostly feel my way through a story. It's needs a beginning, a middle, and an end.

I know a little about marketing - how to use Twitter, Facebook and blog interviews. But, certainly not enough to teach any of it.

I wrote a good book, found a publisher, lost that publisher, and self published. But, there's nothing I can teach about any of that. A good number of members have written and published a lot more than me.

I would just skip this meeting, but writer meetings are kind of the only social contact I get on the weekends. And since I'm chairman of a committee, I need to give a report.

Maybe, I'll just ignore the request. Sorry, I forgot. That's something I'm pretty good at, especially as I grow older.

FRIDAY STIR FRY - Musings From The Past Week

http://www.morguefile.com

RIP Robin Williams

Like most everyone else, I was shocked at the news of his death. I don't own many movies, but one I have is The Bird Cage. I laugh out loud every time I watch it. One of my favorite interviews is from Inside The Actor's Studio. Classic. Please take time to view. And pay attention to the end when he talks about heaven.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IDy5GlUuf8


We also lost a great film actress, Lauren Bacall. Her passing signals the end of an era; when movie stars were glamorous - not attention seeking, bat shit crazy, like many today. RIP

Other musings: I've had back trouble this week, so not much writing done. I've mainly just been sitting in my recliner with a heat pad. I even had to take a sick day off work. I hardly ever do that. But, I think I'm on the mend. Knock on wood.

Plans this weekend: I've been kinda lost on where to go with my work in progress (WIP). Part of the problem is I've cobbled it together in bits and pieces. So, my plan is to sit down, read through what I have, rearrange things, and try to write it in a more linear fashion. When I get a handle on it, I'll post more excerpts.

I also have three blog stops I need to complete before they all give up on me. And with our writing conference coming up in about a month, I have stuff to do for that. Here's a link if you want to check it out.

http://ozarks-romance-authors.com/conference-2014/oracon-2014/

Leave your musings in the comments. All are appreciated.

FRIDAY STIR FRY - Guest Author

Please give a warm welcome to my writer friend Ellen Harger. We are both members of Ozarks Romance Authors http://ozarks-romance-authors.com/

Her newest release is an incredible book and I am honored to have her on my blog today.

1. People always ask me where I get my ideas. Tell us how you came up with the idea for your current release.

A version of the blog exchange between Mrs. Jones and a mysterious man first came to me in 2007. I gravitated to the idea of the blog because it takes a while before a blogger becomes a person to the reader. At first, it's just words catching viewers in a butterfly net. With enough time, the words produce a landscape that draws the butterflies to feed.

As the story incubated, I recognized similarities to a movie, "The Shop Around The Corner" with Jimmy Stewart and the Nora Ephron modern version, "You've Got Mail." Private correspondence allows for greater sharing of a person's inner truth. 

I was also influenced by Nick Bantock's exquisite book series about a mysterious letter/postcard exchange between Griffin and Sabine. The art and mystery is exceptional and I loved removing the letters from the book to hold as I read. The simple action made me feel like I was reading love letters between two amazing people.

   I've never see The Shop Around The Corner, but I may have to rent it now. 

2. Who or what has most influenced your writing career?

I wish it was one thing but over a course of my life, many things have reminded me to write. I've loved stories since I was too young to scribble. I was an avid reader but it took years to cultivate the belief that I could write a story worth reading. However, one of the aspects I love about my family is their joy of sharing stories about each other. It doesn't matter if we've heard the tale a thousand times, we relish the telling, the cadence and execution. We laugh for hours regaling each other with well worn stories. It's magical.

   Telling stories with family is a great way to pass along our history. I think that's becoming a lost  art.  

3. Tell us a little about your next project.

I seem to be shrinking my word count because the next story will likely be a novella, titled Oak Land. I wrote the draft during my first NaNoWriMo in 2008, pollinating the daily word count like a drunk bee. The result was a memorable train ride for a young woman embracing her potential future. 

   Train rides can be magical. Think of Harry Potter or Agatha Christie. I also am a believer in NaNo.  It's a  great way to get words on paper.  

4. Is your writing area messy or organized?

Yes. I think it's a disaster but twice now I've had a party and showed curious visitors my messy work space only to be told I was crazy. But I don't like to file or shred until there's a healthy pile. And do I love my piles. What I love about my office is it's all mine. Everything in the room is about writing: a giant desk, the majority of my books, a reading chair, a giant cork board, a window and two dog beds. 

   I think it's wonderful that you have your own writing space. 

5. Now, tell us something quirky about you. 

I've always talked out loud to myself. Even after a getting caught and burning with awkwardness. I had imaginary friends as a small child so I talked for them, so now I mutter when I'm deeply engrossed. This quirk has translated well into a technique for writing dialogue. My level of commitment is best illustrated by a story. (See what I did there? Refer to question 2.) I took an acting class with a Hollywood agent/writer. She had us memorize a scene purely by listening to the exchange, no scripts. After several people successfully repeated the conversation, I took a turn and added attitude to differentiate between the two speakers. Mz Hollywood announced that I obviously talked to myself. I smiled because it's true.

   Thank you so much for letting us know a little more about you Ellen. And good luck with your current release.   

Ellen Harger, Author

http://ellenharger.com

Please, tip your author with a review.

Blurb:

An apartment fire costs everything, including the illusion of a tolerable marriage.

Gillian is depressed, her moods shifting like earthquakes raising deep, roiling anger. Convinced her friends and family won’t understand, she turns to strangers through a blog she writes as Mrs. Jones, a nondescript anyone.

Despite exposing herself on the internet, she assumes no one will notice her among millions of voices. Cathartic writing helps her to transform as she makes new friends, seeks help from a non-traditional therapist, and considers divorce.

Then a Mr. Write answers. A strange man who asks questions, who peels away the layers. Gillian finds love, but life is absurdly stubborn. She must confront her husband, Evan, before she can move on.

Also, I have a special feature to share: the blog from the novel lives. A sample can be be viewed at: ellenharger.com/mrsjones

Big Easy Blog Hop

                                         

I'm participating in the Big Easy Blog Hop today thanks to Shirley McCann. http://shirleymccann.blogspot.com/

I'll answer four questions. I was supposed to get three other authors to participate, but most of my writing friends had already done this. So instead, at the end, look for links to blogs I enjoy and don't forget to check out Shirley's blog. Here goes.

What am I working on?

I just finished edits on my debut novel Beyond The Horizon coming out June 27th from Breathless Press. So now I actually have time to get back to my new novel. The working title is Coming Home. It's about a woman returning to the small town she grew up in after her mother's death. She's been gone ten years, but she discovers some things never change including the heat between her and her ex high school sweetheart.

How does your writing differ from others?

That's a hard one. I don't think any two writers are alike. Everyone has their own voice. We all have our favorite authors.You can attempt to write in the genre and style of Janet Evanovich or Stephen King, but it will be different because it's your voice, not theirs.

Why do I write what I do?

I don't do paranormal or erotic which seem to be the hot sellers right now. I guess I'm more old school. Romance with some suspense and a happily ever after ending. That's what I enjoy reading. I believe if you try to write what's popular and it's not what you're into, people can tell, and you will fail. I just want to tell two people's love story.

What is your writing process?

I work full time at a stressful, demanding job that leaves me pretty tired at the end of the day. My writing happens mostly on weekends, unless I get a burst of energy and inspiration mid-week. I'm a pantser - in other words - no plot and no plan. I just write the first draft straight through letting the characters and setting speak to me. And then I revise and revise and revise. I enjoy the revision process. It's kind of like polishing a raw diamond. At the end, you hope you get a shiny piece that people will want to buy.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure and check out these other blogs:

http://havenovelwilledit.blogspot.com/

http://sherivelarde.weebly.com/books-and-more-blog/welcome-breathless-press-author-h-k-sterling

http://www.ptierneyjames.blogspot.com/

FRIDAY STIR FRY - What Not

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1436001

Is Spring finally here? Shhhh - don't scare it away. This has been the longest Winter in my recent memory. Lots of frozen stuff and bone chilling cold. I tremble every month when my utility bill arrives. Hopefully we are on the downhill side.

I'm doing the writing waiting game right now. Hope to make a big announcement next Friday. Fingers crossed.

One of my writer friends said it takes her all day to write on her blog. Of course, she tries to impart wisdom and writing advice. Me, on the other hand, just write whatever is on my mind. Sometimes it's profound and wise (yea, right) but, most times it's just a brain dump. which can get pretty messy. All that brain matter splattered on the page.

Did you guys do the John Travolta name generator?

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/low_concept/2014/03/john_travolta_called_idina_menzel_adele_dazeem_what_s_your_travolta_name.html

Mine is Warren Farster. Pretty funny. If you do it, please post your name in the comments. Would love to see them.