The NaNo Victory Dance

Are you there blog?  It's me.  Again.  Having been the most neglectful I've ever been.  It's amazing I can keep my plants alive given the total lack of attention I've paid to my personal life in the past three months.  But I've been thinking about you.  I swear.  But I know…I know….actions speak louder than words.  So here goes nothing.

I’m finally emerging from the Bermuda writing triangle.  I spent a better part of November with my ass glued to the chair and my hands on the keyboard.  And have so happily typed my way to a third straight “win” in National Novel Writing Month.  Won with 51,733 words to be exact. 

Now, to be clear, anyone who hits the 50K word goal “wins”.  And by "anyone" I mean writers of all genres of all levels from all over the world.  We're not just anyone, but what I consider a totally fabulous group.  

And also to be clear typing 50,000 words of anything isn’t an easy feat so I’m tooting my horn and tapping myself on the back and raising the roof.  And along with 309,366 other novelists I committed to getting it done and while I’m not sure how many people crossed the 50K finish line, I know I am in very, very good company.

I’m still high on finishing NaNo.  It’s been a hell of a few months but I decided I wouldn’t let myself get derailed from something I really wanted to do. And now I have the beginnings and some middle of my next project.  Woot! 

It’s my fourth year doing NaNo and I always come out the other side feeling so much more inspired and proud and better.  And it reminds me that even though I’m suffering from a hell of a lot of paralysis in the rest of my life, I put my head down and despite lots of distractions (many of which were self-inflicted….like the internet and the TV and shopping and the internet) I got it done.  Which kind of renews my faith in the fact that if I put my head and my heart into something I can get it done.

I know, very so-cheesy-it-makes-me-want-to-puke happy ending here, but what can I say?  I’m feeling blissfully hopeful about what could be instead of what is.

And that’s that for now.  I’m taking the night off to buy myself a victory present (hello, Barnes & Noble) and am going to indulge in some TV.  Then it’s back at The Legacy final rewrites.  Like the saying goes, writers write.  And that’s just what I’m going to do.  Tomorrow.

Back at it....and here to stay!

So yes I’ve been off the map lately.  And I could make up a laundry list of reasons why, but I’m not so sure anyone is all that interested. If you are – let me know.  But my guess is everyone has enough of their own stuff going on.  So here’s the short version:

"I get knocked down.

But I get up again.

You’re never gonna keep me down."

Forgive me for that.  Sadder yet, it’s not the first time I’ve quoted it here, but dammit if it isn’t catchy.  

Moving on.

So I’m up again and getting caught up.  Trying to get back to things that make me happy and finding myself with a whole new bucket of obsession and lusts (of the shopping variety).  And there’s no better time to indulge than during a deliciously long holiday weekend. 

Punk!  Chaos to Couture:

So excited to see the Punk: Chaos to Couture exhibit at the Met, which was amazing on so many levels.  For one, I’m obsessed with the costume exhibits and being able to be that close to some of the most amazing designs – the Elizabeth Hurley safety pin Versace dress, the McQueen graffiti dress and some of the original Vivian Westwood and Malcolm McClaren designs from the 70s and 80s was just amazing.

I’m a child of the 80s who listened to Adam Ant and Blondie, but had no idea what punk rock was or what all was going on.  (I was a kid. I wasn’t supposed to.)  So to see the actual t-shirts Adam Ant wore on stage?  Ahh-may-zing! 

For the record I probably would have made a horrible punk, being all high-maintenance, but I embraced my Doc Martens in college and totally loved seeing the history and evolution of the exhibit.  Total appreciation for it.   Though maybe not for the designs made out of plastic grocery bags, but tomato, tomatho. 

Princesses Long Island:

If you haven’t already….if you’ve hesitated….if it looks like another throwaway reality show, let me assure you, you will not regret watching this show.

Bravo’s latest and greatest continues to suck me in and give me so much to be grateful for.  Now sure, there are times, when I wish my parents were loaded and I didn’t have to grind away at a day job.  And I’d also be lying if I said I wasn’t a little jealous that the most parental-dependent of the group dropped almost $6K on shoes and charged it all to her dad’s credit card.  I’d rather have $6K in clothes or purses, but you get the picture.  But then I think I’d rather have my own money to drop on things.

They all still live with their parents, with the exception of one girl who moved to NYC and works and supports herself.  This should not be unusual mind you, but the whole premise of the show is that some Long Island girls live with their parents until they get engaged.  Though they live with the parents until the wedding night.  And while I suppose there is some practicality to this plan (they must save a lot of money), I’d have to believe it might stunt your emotional and mental growth.  And it might be the reason these girls have spouted gems like these:

• Interventioning me
• Independament woman
• Spontanuity

These are not typos.  This is how they talk. And I’d like to thank them for that.

Then there’s the girl who drinks way too much.  We all know that girl.  There was probably a night or two when we each were that girl.  Though I never peddled Adderall to my friends at 3 a.m. at a post-party.  (To be clear, I’ve never peddled or taken Adderall at any point in the day or night.  Even I have limits.  Or smarts.  It could go either way on this decision.)  But watching this girl drink her face off in one scene after another makes me feel like even my bad choices are good choices.

And sometimes a photo does more than words ever could

It’s on right now.  Just put on Bravo already!

Twitter:

I’ve had a love/hate/struggle with getting on this bandwagon five years too late. I signed up for it in my “I need to be building my writing platform and this is a great place to start” phase.  And without even posting a single tweet I’ve managed to gain three whole followers.  (Thanks, friends!  You know who you are.)

But the more time I spend wasting away doing valuable research and surfing on the internet, I realize I need to get on board.  For one, some of my favorite authors and bloggers and general people of interest and friends are on there.  For two, it could be fun.  And for three, I need to be building my writing platform and this is a great place to start.

My hope is that it’s easy to maintain, but if I can text all day surely I can string together a sentence or two online.

Tweet!  Tweet! 

eBay:

I have managed to get back on the eBay bandwagon.  Partially because I’ve been watching so much Resale Royalty (more on that later) and partially because my closet it packed with things I don’t wear, don’t like or bought in the throes of bad judgment and I need to make space for the new.  And if the old is going out I might as well make a few bucks on it.

I’ve got a dozen listings cooking and so far have cleared ~$50.  Not a windfall, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. It’s a game. It’s luck.  It’s a time suck.  But I’m in it to win it. 

And maybe, hopefully (though I doubt it) I’ll think twice before I buy something so-so.  The reason I know I will never learn is that I have a jacket to return but I’ve managed to lose the receipt and now am probably going to get stuck with a cheapie store credit.  By the only vices I have left are shopping and Diet Coke so cut me some slack. 

The Legacy:

I’m knee deep in revisions and rewrites.  I’ve given in to way too many distractions (and a few naps) but I made some great progress this weekend.  My goal was to get it out pre-Paris…..less than three weeks and counting…..but I don’t want to rush myself.

I also know I can’t live in this book forever.  Eventually I’m going to have to send it back out and start on the next.  I really don’t want to be one of those people who spends twenty years working on one book that never sees the light of day. Sure part of the pleasure is in the process, but it’s also in starting something new.  So here’s to it and from it and to it again.

I’m also all caught up on The Killing, tonight’s episode aside and have to say it’s so damn good.  I won’t talk plot because I don’t want to be one of those spoiler people, but it definitely trumps the first season (particularly, Part II of Season 1).  Watch this too.  You won’t regret it.  (But if you struggle with TV violence skip it.  Pitch Perfect is practically playing on repeat on HBO and that’s more feel good.  I’ve literally seen it 20 times in the past 2 weeks.  I can feel the shame raining down on me.)

Time to wind down with TV.  I’ll have a much better reality update to come.  It’s good to be back!

PS - This is what NYC looked like on July 4th.  I'm literally standing in what is usually the middle of traffic on Park Avenue.  I love the city when everyone else leaves it!

Housewives and Dreams (did you get that Cocktail reference???)

So I’ve been pretty good working my way though my Book Architecture project for "The Legacy".  I'm committed to making this book better and giving it the one last shot I think it deserves and then sending it back out into the world, in a version that barely resembles the original, which I think is a very good thing.

So, if you’re writing a book or just have a random interest in how the hell to attack a revision, read on my friend.  If you have zero interest in that and are just here for some pop culture blabbering, just jump down below the pictures…you can start there! 

Okay, so here’s the short version of the Book Architecture Revision Method (so far).  Part One is "99 Scenes in the Right Order" (kind of like 99 Problems.  But not.)  

So first up, you write down all the scenes that you can, from memory.  Just a little something that clicks your memory for that scene.  And when you think you've got everything, print out the whole book out and go through page-by-page to see which scenes

were forgotten.  I actually did pretty well on this part and didn't leave too much out.  (Yeah me!  Pat on the back and a little reward.)  Add the scenes you forgot, and make sure every scene is accounted for.  

Now that the list is complete, run over them with a highlighter to decide what’s good (not perfect, but good enough for now).  What’s bad (needs work, needs to change, doesn’t quite sit right…you get the gist).  The forgotten (there’s probably a reason and that probably is a good sign that those scenes can go).  And if you’re feeling inspired, what’s missing (which you may not know now, or you might. This is the work in process part.)  I've added four scenes and actually changed one of my victims to someone else.  (And yes, if you're new to reading me, my book is a mystery so killing people is totally legit.

And when that part is done, you cut everything up.  Literally.

I oddly found this liberating and exciting. I'm a fan of taking it apart to put it back together again.  

  

So that’s where I am.  Everything is cut apart.  Now it’s time to dig even deeper into each scene.  This is also where it starts to get hard, but as the saying goes, nothing worth having comes easy.

And sometimes the mind just needs a break.  So there’s this:   

***HINT HINT HINT - If you don't give a hoot about writing START HERE***

I’m all caught up on The Real Housewives of Orange-you-Crazy, though oddly enough for some reason I have yet to chime in on it.  How have I been letting this opportunity pass me by each week??? 

Well….truth be told…I’m a smidge apathetic about this season.    It’s a bit on the odd side, feels a bit scripted (I know…how is that possible with REALITY TV??).  Allow me to revise that…it feels more scripted than usual.  And I can’t quite wrap my what-feels-sane-head around it. There’s so much going on yet it’s the same stuff over and over and I feel like it’s not all in context yet, so I’m just going to bullet what’s happened so far.  Maybe after another few eps I can really analyze the hell out of it, in an obsessive, unhealthy way.  So here we go:

• Tamra and Vicky have a wine business together.  When did that happen? And it’s called “Wine with Wives” or something like that, yet neither of them is married anymore.  (Awk-ward) But they also seem to hate each other.  And when they are setting up the office Vicky isn’t there.  And apparently she has a vodka coming out??  How does a person do that?  Can I make Audrey’s Vodka by slapping my name on some Belvedere? Color me confused. 
• Two words - Chin implant.  “It’s not about what Slade said.”  Yet so obviously the exact reason why she got it done.
• Alexis.  Will.  Never.  Learn. 
• Three words – General Hospital cameo.  (LMAO)
• And the other ladies aren’t bullies.  They were trying to be honest but you and your cubic zirconia are just too soft to see it.  (Or hear it.)
• I like Gretchen and Tamra as friends.  They totally crack me up and seem like they can get into all sorts of funny drunk trouble.  Still not liking Slade and his “buying” Gretchen a Rolls, but since we know that in the present tense they get engaged, I’m even less interested in him than I was before.  And bummed to know she won’t be dumping his Real Househusband ass.
• Brooks.  Shudder.  Ick.  Why?  Dump.  Him.  Now.
• Lydia.  I don’t know what to say about her. I found her squeaking noises and crazy eyes a bit off-putting at first.  But when she started to talk about how ridic Alexis is I kind of liked her a little more.  And the fact that she talks about what an insane pothead her mom was (is?) I kind of like her even more.
• But then I’m realizing her entire storyline may boil down to trying to get Alexis to forgive the rest of the gals and all be gal pals again and the whole, “I don’t get angry when my Mom smokes pot”.  Except she does get angry and resents her Mom for wanting to live in the land of the bunnies.  (Apparently it’s much happier there, in case you were wondering.)
• Happy to see the return of Laurie.  I always liked her.  I was hoping she would spread new Slade dirt.  No such luck.  But kind of oddly pleased that her formerly troubled kids are doing well. 
• Heather.  She had me last season.  She won me for life with “anyone who says blondes have more fun hasn’t met me yet.”  Cheers to that, my brunette sister!
• I also thoroughly enjoy Heather on her radio show and on Hot In Cleveland (or at least the part they showed on RHOOC).  “I’m gonna cut you like bad bangs, bitch.” Bravo!

But then I am also full of questions:  

• Will Tamra’s gym ever open? 
• Why do Housewives keep bring psychic-types to cleanse their house?  Tamra.  That little lady in DC who ran the modeling agency.  Taylor in BH.  Is this the new fad?  Will Tamra marry Eddie?  What happened to her flock of children?  Though happy to not have to see Ryan and his inner lip tattoo. 
• Will Gina come back on the scene and stir trouble and have another drink-toss?
• Will Alexis ever get a clue?  Will Jim ever, well, stop being Jim? 

God help me, but I can’t wait to find out!  And if you didn't get the Cocktail reference, look it up.  Horrid movie.  I watched it so many times because of my love for Elizabeth Shue.  

Fab Five Friday - Obsessions Take Over

 

And I’m back.  Always have the best of intentions, but my day job is getting in the way of my dream job and sucking all my energy away as it’s sucking away the hours of my day. But I’m making a deal with myself and not opening the work laptop this weekend. It’s going to be all about me me me!!! (Knock on wood).

So yes I’ve been off the blogosphere for a bit, but rest assured I’ve had lots I’ve wanted to say.  (Does it count if I’m writing in my head?)  There’s been some highs and lows.  A trip to Texas.  Finished reading a book.  Started another.  Cleaned my closet.  Got a great pair of shoes. And yes, clearly procrastinated with my writing for no good reason other than the fear.  But then there’s this (so true):

  

So here we go again.  And here’s what I’m obsessed with this lovely (minus the humidity) Friday:

#1 - Before Midnight:

Not enough words for how excited I am for the next installment in the Before Sunrise/Before Sunset movie series.  I fell in love with Ethan Hawke in Dead Poet’s Society.  And then seeing him in Before Sunrise was my point of no return. 

That movie made me believe in all of the romantic magic of fate and destiny and the idea that one encounter…one day….can change everything.   And then he writes the book about her in the hopes they will meet again.  And then do.  (I might be crying a bit right now.  So damn great.)

Ethan and Julie Delpy are amazing together.  I am a bit obsessed with Jesse and Celine.  And I cannot wait to see what happens next.  There is something so sexy and dreamy about spending one day just talking.  Letting all the passion build up. Having such an intense human connection. 

Hurrah to Ethan, Julie and Richard Linklater for doing it all over again.

And if you haven’t seen these movies yet, first up I have to say, FOR SHAME!!!  And then I say get you on Netflix and get on it.  You won’t regret it.

#2 - Book Architecture:

I got this book after April’s Writers Digest Conference.  It’s essentially what it sounds like.  It’s a process of dissecting your book – organizing and revising your manuscript by literally taking it apart (as in cutting up the pages with a scissors, into the individual scenes) and then putting it back together again.  Change the order.  Toss what doesn’t work.  Write what’s missing.  Rewrite what’s almost working.   Okay, so maybe that wasn’t exactly what it sounds like unless you’re a writer and fan of architecture, but either way, a few weeks after I bought the book and one round trip business trip to Dallas afforded me the time to take a deep dive into the book. 

The Legacy revision project is underway and I have my one agent lead on deck when I’m done.  I need to prioritize this baby and get it done quicker than what I thought would be a fairly easy lickety-split refi.  But four months later and I *finally* have a closing date for next week.  Ohthankgod!  Word to the wise fellow New Yorkers….don’t go co-op.  They have no respect for your time.  Just saying.

First up.  Book Architecture.  Then I can deal with home architecture.

#3 - Million Dollar Listing – New York:

As a Bravo-addict I’ve seen endless commercials for this show.  And nothing about it really appealed to me.  I worked with brokers for a decade and while I did have the good fortune to work with some really great guys, I also got to meet the smarmiest of the smarm.  Why would I want to watch this on TV?  I lived the commercial broker life.  I’ve worked with residential brokers and know a lot of them are cut from the same smarmy cloth. 

And then there was a marathon on earlier this week. 

Bravo was ramping up for the season premiere which of course requires playing all of last season’s episodes, what seems like non-stop.  (Where are my Real Housewives reruns when I need them???).  So Million Dollar Listing… 

Who am I kidding?  Totally.  Sucked.  In.    

Egotistical dudes acting like frat boys with trust funds.  Ridiculous New York real estate.  Even more ridiculous clients who bash the hell out of the most amazing $10M apartments with views of Central Park that are so ridic they kind of look fake.  Oh, and best of all?  Complete male-bitch-fight drama between these custom-suit wearing, Rolex-watch-flaunting, potty-mouthed, I-have-a-full-time-driver broker dudes. 

Need more reasons to watch?

It’s grown men throwing drinks in each other’s faces.  Jumping in the pool at the other broker’s showing just to piss him off.  (And, yes, I wrote POOL.  As in a NYC apartment.  With.  A.  Pool.)  It’s catty and ridiculous and over-the-top and preposterous and dripping with self-absorbed egotistical obnoxiousness.  Which clearly makes it ahh-may-zing.  And you get to gawk at Ryan’s bare ass in the season opener.  In case you needed a little nudity to pique your interest.

I have one word for you. 

Watch.

The Met Ball:

Monday night.  All the fashiony fashion guys and gals hit the red carpet outside the Metropolitan with the “Chaos to Couture” theme.  (bee-tee-dubs…cannot wait to see this exhibit and flash my member pass to skip the line.)  More on that later. 

For now, so much really cool fashion:

  

 

But where was Rachel Zoe? I miss her already.  Which brings me to…

#5:  The Rachel Zoe Project.  As in “the end of”….

I read online that this season was the last. And I kind of have no doubt because the season finale had “series finale” written all over it.  There were flashbacks.  Voiceover retrospectives.  And a closing shot of the cast that might as well have been Kelly and Steve and Dylan and Nat dancing the night away at David and Donna’s wedding.  (I’m pretty sure Mrs. Teasley was rocking out in the background somewhere.)

I’m so sad if RZ is really dunzo.  For one, because I just love the show.  Fashion.  Drama.  Celebs.  Hysterical catchphrases.  Great style.  Paris. New York. Milan.  LA.  Award shows.  Photo shoots.  Chanel.  Jewelry.  Over-the-top everything.  Vintage shopping. I could go on and on. 

I’m sad to see it go. Thank god I have all the old esp. from iTunes.  (Obsessed.  Party of One.)  And in the last two seasons there was Mandana who I think just might be one of the coolest cool girls out there.   What can I say?  She just rocks.  And I barely had enough time to develop a proper girl crush.  I wanted to see what other outfits she came up with.  How she continued to style her hair, which is the same general length of mine (bangs included). But hers always looks so much better.  And I want to know – does she still eat Cheetos for breakfast? (She’s my hero.)  Is her ulcer finally gone?  Is she still working until midnight on Sundays?  (Hope not!)

My dream is that we’ll meet again. Like Jesse and Celine. But hopefully it won’t take us nine years. 

Until we meet again, there’s this.  (Seriously.  Watch these movies.  Now.)