tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61487958915864687532024-02-19T06:46:15.840-08:00Dear Novel...I Love You. I Hate You. I Love You. I Hate You.Lisa Aldinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423334732254639943noreply@blogger.comBlogger147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148795891586468753.post-51640517335290415692011-11-29T12:34:00.001-08:002011-11-29T12:39:23.917-08:00In Which I Reveal A Few Things I Love Because I Know You Totally Want To Know About Such Things1. Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley.<br /><br />2. Billie Holiday (Holiday) Pandora radio station.<br /><br />3. Gingerbread lattes.<br /><br />4. The dreary weather that forces me to stay inside and write things like stories and such.<br /><br />5. Dan in Real Life.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">What's keeping your spirits up?</span></span>Lisa Aldinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423334732254639943noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148795891586468753.post-38986015971552619612011-11-11T07:42:00.001-08:002011-11-28T07:44:16.128-08:00I Never Win Contests! Ever!<span style="font-weight: bold;">I won a contest! Yeah! I enter them all the time, whether writing something is required or just simply a comment. I never win, I swear, and yet I continue to enter them because that is the nature of me.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">This time! I won a 30-page request from an agent! Yeah!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Check out the </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://operationawesome6.blogspot.com/">Operation Awesome Blog</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">, if you don't already. It's pretty cool. Every month they have these Mystery Agent contests and what an amazing opportunity not only to get your work in front of an agent in a different way other than Query World, but I really love to see what other writers are working on. If you check out the entries you'll see what I mean. There's such a wide range of amazing work out there. Pretty cool stuff and it makes me wonder what bookshelves will look like in another year or two.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Anyway. I entered my completed strange little manuscript </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Slumber.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> My Twitter pitch and the first 500 words are up on Operation Awesome, if you be curious about this dark wierd book.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Happy Writing! Happy Friday!</span>Lisa Aldinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423334732254639943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148795891586468753.post-33915847522533510182011-11-09T06:35:00.000-08:002011-11-09T06:46:12.269-08:00PatienceUgh. I'm losing patience again. What is my problem? I want to finish this new book NOW. I want to query it NOW. I want an awesome agent NOW. I want the book deal NOW.<br /><br />I'm not ready! I know this! I need to prove to myself that I can write a good book. A book I'm totally completely mega-hotness in love with. A book that doesn't sag in the middle and fizzle out in the end. A book that stirs. A book...A book I can see on the shelves. I'm not there yet. I'M NOT.<br /><br />Someone smack me across the face already!<br /><br />Sometimes I think I've given up on my books too soon. I finish it, I'm done, and then I don't want to look at it ever again. I'm ready to move on to the next idea. But I refuse to give up on the current manuscript. I will exhaust all options for this one. I will make the BEST BOOK IN THE WORLD. Okay, exaggeration. How about the best book I've written? A book with a strong plot? With conflict all the way through?<br /><br />33,600 words y'all...moving right along...but I want to see this baby shine already!<br /><br />Are you patient?Lisa Aldinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423334732254639943noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148795891586468753.post-77002710720385391482011-10-28T06:59:00.000-07:002011-10-28T07:10:25.803-07:00ProgressI feel like I'm writing slow, but really I'm going at a pretty steady pace! Maybe it seems like I'm writing slow because I read about other writer's chucking out first drafts within a month, sometimes two weeks, two days, two hours (okay, maybe not).<br /><br />I believe progress on a draft is more than word count. I'm getting out about 500 new words a day, but I'm also brainstorming, figuring out the structure, moving things around, fleshing out characters, jotting down notes for edits.<br /><br />This story is following me around more than any other one I've written. It's always in the back of my mind. Cutting words is progress. Dumping a bad scene is progress. Figuring out a new plot point is progress, even if I don't write a word of it yet. Each day, this book is feeling more and more like THE ONE. Have I felt this way before? Sure...but this feels a different. I can't explain it.<br /><br />I'm not sure where I got all this optimism from. It's annoying, isn't it? Do not worry. Another couple thousand words and I'll hate this book. I'll be sure to grumble here. Happens every time!<br /><br />How do you measure progress?Lisa Aldinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423334732254639943noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148795891586468753.post-86620110594815614822011-10-24T10:50:00.001-07:002011-10-24T11:00:25.921-07:00National Novel Writing MonthSo I don't think I'll be doing National Novel Writing Month this year. I feel kind of sad about it. I've done it for the last few years. I really like the manuscript I wrote last year for it, although it sits untouched right now because it needs a lot of fixing and I don't want to do that right now. Go me. I am now 25,000 words into my new romantical WIP. It's slow-moving, folks. The words drip out like honey, but do not always taste so sweet. I wrote large chunks out of order, and am now in the process of filling in the blanks, threading scenes together. I edit slightly as I go along. I'm enjoying it. I think I finally found a process that works for me. I figure if I didn't have a day job, the process would go faster but alas I have a day job. I do hope to have a solid first draft by December. I figure I'll let it sit over the holidays. Edit in January...Perhaps! Perhaps! I shall query in February. In fact, maybe I shall send out a small batch of queries on Valentine's Day...which would be kind of perfect for the story. Oh, I love that idea!<br /><br />What's your writing process? Are you writing a novel this November?Lisa Aldinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423334732254639943noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148795891586468753.post-89443782881326311612011-10-17T11:21:00.000-07:002011-10-17T11:24:59.888-07:00Re-ReadingDo you re-read books? It's a rare thing for me. Honestly, most of the books I read are okay, entertaining enough. But I don't love, love, love them enough to read them again. This is sad, I know. I'm a tough audience I guess.<br /><br />There are those precious few that I will pick up again.<br /><br />1) The Bell Jar (I read this at least once a year.)<br />2) The Dogs of Babel<br />3) Catcher in the Rye<br />4) This weekend I re-read The Disreputable History of Frankie-Landau Banks. I love this book.<br /><br />Are you a re-reader?Lisa Aldinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423334732254639943noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148795891586468753.post-78369585741526497282011-10-10T06:29:00.000-07:002011-10-10T06:31:43.688-07:00I'm Sick...But Check This Out...Well, I'm sick. Which means writing is going to be super hard. Bleh.<br /><br />Anyway.<br /><br /><a href="http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/2011/10/finally-i-can-share-my-secret-news.html">PLEASE GO CONGRATULATE SHANNON MESSENGER ON HER AWESOME BOOK DEAL! HOORAY! </a><br /><br />Shannon's an inspiration and mega-awesome!!!!!Lisa Aldinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423334732254639943noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148795891586468753.post-18132288731882445092011-10-07T05:51:00.000-07:002011-10-07T06:01:33.759-07:00Young Adult...The MovieHow great does this movie about a slightly (or completely) unstable Young Adult writer sound?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/paramount/youngadult/images/poster.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 207px; height: 298px;" src="http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/paramount/youngadult/images/poster.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/paramount/youngadult/">http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/paramount/youngadult/</a><br /> <br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Synopsis</span><div style="height: 165px;" id="more-description" class="read-more-container"> <p><span style="font-style: italic;">Academy Award(R) winner Charlize Theron plays Mavis Gary, a writer of teen literature who returns to her small hometown to relive her glory days and attempt to reclaim her happily married high school sweetheart (Patrick Wilson). When returning home proves more difficult than she thought, Mavis forms an unusual bond with a former classmate (Patton Oswalt) who hasn't quite gotten over high school, either. </span><br /></p><p>I can't wait for this one! But I would just like to say that not all Young Adult writers are stuck in the past. Really. Some of us are kind of stable adults. I'm not saying that I'm one of those or anything, but they do exist.<br /></p><p>Still. This movie looks funny. I love hot mess characters.<br /></p><p></p></div>Lisa Aldinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423334732254639943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148795891586468753.post-82832165749750293682011-10-05T08:59:00.000-07:002011-10-05T09:05:02.446-07:00The Writer LifeI took a few days off work. And I pretended that I write for a living. In two days I wrote 1,000 words in a first draft.<br /><br />Huh.<br /><br />Maybe it's a good thing I have a day job to force me to use my time more wisely.<br /><br />I'm feeling like this publishing thing is taking me FOREVER. The people who start writing their first book today will likely be published before me. Ugh. My patience is dwindling. But I must trudge forward. I keep learning. I keep trying. I keep growing. I feel like I can't quit now. I've come a really long way. I've had a ton of set-backs. Each manuscript I write gets better than the last. I just need to have faith that this will happen for me. I have faith that it will happen for all of us dear writers. It's just a matter of when. And what book. The publishing stars must all align.<br /><br />Onward, writer warriors.Lisa Aldinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423334732254639943noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148795891586468753.post-82057707925128091472011-09-29T12:57:00.000-07:002011-09-29T13:11:02.646-07:00A New WIP SnippetFirst of all, I might have bought, like, four books in the last three days on my Nook. Can you blame me?<br /><br />The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer<br /><br />Lola and The Boy Next Door<br /><br />The Name of the Star<br /><br />Everybody Sees the Ants<br /><br />So. Many. Good. Books. Coming. Out. Can't. Breathe.<br /><br />Anyway.<br /><br />I wrote this little exchange today. A rough snippet from My New Lovely Sparkly Romantic WIP:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" > </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >"It's possible to go through life without being completely love-crazy you know."<br /><br />Emma's blue eyes sparkle. "True, but it's a lot less exciting that way." </span><br /><br />Is it FRIDAY yet?Lisa Aldinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423334732254639943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148795891586468753.post-31987214212762456902011-09-26T06:33:00.001-07:002011-09-26T06:53:51.620-07:00The Chosen OneSo I have chosen a new story to pursue! HOORAY! It's a YA Contemporary Romance. I do love my dark paranormal stories, but after my last manuscript, I need something light and fun to chew on for a few months. Let's put it this way: Nobody will die horrible painful deaths in this new story. Again, Hooray! <br /><br />Disclaimer: Okay - don't hold me to that. Because who knows where the story will go! <br /><br />So far, I have written 7,000 words. Aw, the first 10,000 words fly by, don't they? This time, I'm writing whatever scene I want to write. It could be in the middle, or the end. I've even started writing the last chapter. You see, I have a problem with middles and endings. I love beginnings. I obsess over beginnings. But then I let the middle sag and the ending disappoint. But if I use some of that fresh energy I have when first starting a story and put that into the middle and the end, I'm hoping this might help solve my problem. So I guess you could say I'm kind of outlining. But I'm outlining by writing out the scenes. And then I'll sew them together later.<br /><br />I don't know if the idea is something that would "sell." That's not my job to know that. I have no way of knowing that. All I know is that I like my characters, I like the plot, and I'm having fun writing this baby. It makes me laugh. I want to hang out with my main character. I wish I could call her on the phone. I wish I could invite her over for a BBQ. I'm still getting to know everyone else, but I'm hoping to make every single person come to life.<br /><br />I love starting a new story. This one is already brightening the dreary fall days, which is perfect writing weather. I imagine I'll use November to keep writing this one, although I know that's technically cheating for NaNo. Even though this story doesn't have magic in it, it feels magical to me. <br /><br />ONWARD! <br /><br />Don't you love the start of a new project, when fresh butterflies sprout within your fingertips, itching to just write, write, write?Lisa Aldinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423334732254639943noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148795891586468753.post-7332316182708402052011-09-23T13:14:00.000-07:002011-09-23T13:15:53.231-07:00Identity Crisis?In case you can't tell, I'm having a bit of an identity crisis around here. Don't mind the changing templates as I try on some new outfits. <br /><br />My blog background tends to match the current WIP I am immersed in. =)Lisa Aldinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423334732254639943noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148795891586468753.post-9685983117034285412011-09-22T08:00:00.000-07:002011-09-22T08:04:23.436-07:00Happy DaysI've been listening to this song all morning. It makes me happy:<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LCmbRjmaFJs" allowfullscreen="" width="420" frameborder="0" height="315"></iframe><br /><br />I'm looking forward to this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61i7pMfNJNL._AA300_.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61i7pMfNJNL._AA300_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />No writing will be happening after October 18. I can pretty much guarantee that. <br /><br />And I'm off to grab a Pumpkin Spice Latte! <br /><br />Happy. Smile. Happy.Lisa Aldinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423334732254639943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148795891586468753.post-63063478902895428232011-09-21T07:48:00.001-07:002011-09-21T07:57:45.501-07:00I Can't Choose!As I've mentioned before, I've been bouncing around between a couple different manuscripts, not quite finding a steady rhythm in either of them yet. I love both, in that I-Just-Met-You-Oh-My-God-You're-So-Hot-Way. But I'm finishing up a completely-for-fun screenplay, trying to get it out of my mind and off my plate, and then I've got to choose which manuscript I want to pursue next, as in try-to-get-published.<br /><br />Manuscript #1: A YA Contemporary Romance<br /><br />Manuscript #2: A Middle-Grade Adventure<br /><br />I've done the YA Contemporary before, which crashed and burned, never quite becoming what I hoped it would. Middle-Grade Adventure is very, very new to me. I'm very nervous that I'm not doing it right. I read middle-grade from time to time, but not nearly as often as I read YA. It's been a while since I've been a teenager. But it's been even longer since I've been a kid, naturally.<br /><br />I don't want to be insulting.<br /><br />I don't want to sound stupid.<br /><br />I don't want to be boring.<br /><br />Who ever said writing for kids was EASY? God, it's so freaking nerve-wracking! Anyway - I'm finishing up the screenplay first. It's an idea that's been itching me for a few years, and I want it done, gone. This will be my break, but at the same time keeps my writing muscles in shape. In the mean time, I might write a bit in both manuscripts, here and there, and when November rolls around, hopefully I'll be ready to use NaNo to go full steam ahead!<br /><br />How do you decide which idea to pursue? It's a big decision, knowing how much time and effort goes into one book. It could take up your entire year!Lisa Aldinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423334732254639943noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148795891586468753.post-13090466137829722192011-09-19T07:35:00.000-07:002011-09-19T07:43:03.017-07:00IN WHICH I GUSHFor a while there, I was in a major reading slump. Every book I picked up, I couldn't stand, couldn't finish. I was just in one of those moods. Finally, my slump was broken by <span style="font-style: italic;">Nicholas Evans The Divide.</span> I love all of his books, so I'm not surprised that he finally got me going again.<br /><br />But now I've got 2 books that I'm reading that I am completely obsessed with. Guys, I am in love with these!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Night-Circus-Erin-Morgenstern/dp/0385534639/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1316443083&sr=8-1">The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern</a></span><br /><br />and<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Daughter-Smoke-Bone-Laini-Taylor/dp/0316134023/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316443185&sr=1-1"><br />Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor</a></span> (technically not out yet, but Nook provided a free 14 chapter preview that I am devouring).<br /><br />These books are so magical, so beautiful, that I seriously think I should give up writing because I will never be able to write this kind of loveliness. Check them out. They will both transport you to another world.<br /><br />Happy Reading!Lisa Aldinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423334732254639943noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148795891586468753.post-33907851536470219272011-09-16T11:28:00.001-07:002011-09-16T11:59:19.427-07:00The Guilty Pleasures I Watch and Second, Third, and Fourth ChancesDo any of you watch The Rachel Zoe Project? Okay, I do. This year, I have turned into a major Bravo junkie. Pretty much any show they put on the air, I will watch. My favorites are <span style="font-style: italic;">The Real Housewives</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Flipping Out</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Top Chef Just Desserts</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">The Millionaire Matchmaker.</span> Yes, I watch way too much reality TV, and it all comes from Bravo!<br /><br />Anyway - back from that tangent - back to Rachel Zoe. On the last episode I saw, she was getting ready to launch her new clothing line. Do I know anything about fashion? Nope. Which is why the show fascinates me. But Rachel said something along the lines of, "If no one buys my collection, that's it. I'm done. I'll have to stand on a street corner and ask people passing by if they want to buy a jacket from me."<br /><br />Rachel Zoe has her own TV show. I think it's safe to say she's established. But even she was freaking out about putting her creation out into the world. But the part that caught my attention was that if she failed, that was it. She got one chance to sell. ONE. (How true that is for her, I don't know, but from what I can gather from also watching <span style="font-style: italic;">The City</span>, it seems to be this way in the fashion world. One chance.)<br /><br />At least we get more than one chance. In fact, we get many chances. If one book fails, we write another. We aren't shut out of the publishing world forever. Agents will look at a new project.<br /><br />Another example is from the movie <span style="font-style: italic;">Airheads. </span>For those of you who have not seen this classic piece of cinema, I suggest you turn off your mind and rent it. It's about this band called The Lone Rangers (yes, that is meant to be plural) and they want what any band wants: A Record Contract.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRwRKwtA61Aqq30s_QAmMFycWPEf5VY_rxtv5OGJfhAZhvkfQv9DGxkd0IeFQ"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 189px; height: 266px;" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRwRKwtA61Aqq30s_QAmMFycWPEf5VY_rxtv5OGJfhAZhvkfQv9DGxkd0IeFQ" alt="" border="0" /></a>At the beginning, Chaz (Brandon Frasier) sneaks into a record company and tries to hand off his demo to a record executive, who, of course, won't take it. And then some things happen and la-dee-da before you know it The Lone Rangers are holding up a radio station (with water pistols, however) until the radio station plays their demo and hilarious and idiotic things ensue.<br /><br />Publishing is hard. But at least publishing professionals give aspiring authors a CHANCE. They give our demo a LISTEN...and then reject it (kidding, um, but not really?). And there are so many contests and opportunities for writers. There's self-publishing. It seems the chances are endless for a writer to get work out there.<br /><br />PLUS you can always hand out your manuscript on the street corner to people passing by! Hey, the options are endless!Lisa Aldinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423334732254639943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148795891586468753.post-9637745833725400802011-09-15T07:47:00.001-07:002011-09-15T07:55:14.414-07:00The Moon Dog Inn Snippet<div><span style="font-style: italic;">I really like to share my writing. I do. </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Even if someone hates it, I like to put it out there every now and then because, well, just because! Perhaps this is why I am pursuing (whoa, it took me a minute to remember how to spell that word) publishing! Sometimes it can feel like everything is so secretive in the writing world, so here's my heart on a platter. Just kidding.<br /><br />Here's a little snippet of The Moon Dog Inn Rewrite<span style="font-weight: bold;">:</span></span><b><br /><br />Chapter One</b><br /><br />The purple man standing on the other side of the desk smelled like peanuts. As he yawned, revealing his sharp teeth, I tried to swallow my panic. I was deathly allergic to peanuts. The smell alone triggered symptoms, although Ma would say it was all in my head. But I felt the hives forming. I felt my throat closing up...<br /><br />"Excuse me?" the purple man asked, tapping his fingernails along the wooden desk. His touch scattered glitter across the reservations book. "Can I please get a room sometime before the sun rises? As you can see, my glamour has faded, and I would like to keep my head, thank you very much."<br /><br />I coughed and brushed the glitter away, plastering on a smile to hide my annoyance as I opened the dusty book and checked for his name. Ma would call me a terrible actress. When I'm irritated, it's written all over my face, no matter how hard I try to hide my feelings, and guests don't like to know how annoying they are. Ma, on the other hand, parades around here with an air of happiness despite the werewolf hair constantly clogging the shower drains and the smell of blood-flavored pillow mints hanging around the storage room. Her attitude, while comforting to our often running-for-their-lives guests, makes me wonder how we could possibly be related. But the guests love Ma. I guess that's why she has won employee of the month every month for all seventeen years of my life. That, and I'm her only competition.<br /><br />I swiped a silver key from the wall behind me, and said, "You've been upgraded to The Fairy Suite this evening, Mr. Tinkerbell." His name, I hoped, was a cover. "There will be no additional charge."<br /></div> <div><br />"But I requested a standard room," Mr. Tinkerbell said, flapping his purple wings. Glitter flew everywhere. As he leaned across the desk to get in my face, the smell of peanuts caused my throat to close up again. "I don't need special treatment," he spat. "Do I look special to you?"<br /><br />For a fairy, no, he didn't. Bright, colorful skin. Glittery wings. Predatory teeth. A sharp dresser, wearing a pin-striped suit and a silver tie. Glowing, yellow eyes that gave me the chills. He also carried a complex many supernaturals had these days. Supernaturals wanted to be <i>normal.</i> They didn't want <i>special </i>treatment. They didn't even know how lucky they were. What I wouldn't give to trade my average, frumpy looks for a pair of wings and purple skin. </div> <div> </div> <div><br />"As you are probably aware, sir, there was a full moon last night," I replied, as calmly as I could. "Your standard room is no longer available, unless you like your furniture shredded by cranky werewolves, in which case, sure, you can have your original room. Be my guest."<br /><br />The fairy backed away, and tilted his chin upward. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a half-empty bag of peanuts, popping a few into his mouth as if they were pills. He chewed obnoxiously and shrugged. "I supposed the suite will do, " he murmured. </div> <div> </div> <div><br />Damn right. </div> <div> </div> <div><br />As he followed me down the maroon-carpeted hallway, candles flickering along the stone wall, a chill rubbed the back of my neck. I shivered and pulled the sleeves of my over-sized sweater over my hands. The Moon Dog Inn had a serious draft problem because the various creatures who stayed here all enjoyed damp, cold places. Probably because they were forced to hide in them to avoid the hunters. As I opened the door leading to the basement, where all of our suites resided, the fairy decided to speak to me. </div> <div> </div> <div><br />"Why do you dress like that?" he asked, practically breathing down my neck. "You've got curves, girl. Show them off."<br /></div> <div><br />It took all of my will power not to slug him in the face.<br /></div>Lisa Aldinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423334732254639943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148795891586468753.post-14638429472344727392011-09-14T07:27:00.000-07:002011-09-14T08:40:55.673-07:00What's Your Favorite Scary Movie?As fall descends upon us, I like to curl up with a scary book or a scary movie. I love scary movies, but the old-fashioned simple horror type, maybe even a little cheesy (as you might see from some of my choices below!) I do not like human centipedes or houses on the left, if you get what I'm saying. I like psychological horror over pure torture. Scare me, yes, but let there be a point if you are going to cross any lines. I like to be scared, a little freaked out, but not scarred for the rest of my life, thank you very much. I am a sensitive soul.<br /><br />Anyway, here are some of my favorite scary movies, in no particular order, of course.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-cL-Fj0mcrzOR0kma0wx0PORIZVrBKNBH5-m22ashBskm9_WemP6S6InUMeOVOKulx_gmpt2xJs1xy6mJT9CK8UJY-DvMiKM4hGbbRDv8Y1uMzJEx74kr0wQqsRf2fckAkGhz0DdI1c/s1600/descent.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 314px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-cL-Fj0mcrzOR0kma0wx0PORIZVrBKNBH5-m22ashBskm9_WemP6S6InUMeOVOKulx_gmpt2xJs1xy6mJT9CK8UJY-DvMiKM4hGbbRDv8Y1uMzJEx74kr0wQqsRf2fckAkGhz0DdI1c/s1600/descent.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Descent<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">(I cannot remember ever being so scared in a movie theater. My adrenaline was pumping throughout this movie!)<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.allmoviephoto.com/2004_The_Grudge/2004_the_grudge_006.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 368px; height: 200px;" src="http://images.allmoviephoto.com/2004_The_Grudge/2004_the_grudge_006.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Grudge</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.best-horror-movies.com/image-files/se7en-horror-movie-poster.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 314px; height: 479px;" src="http://www.best-horror-movies.com/image-files/se7en-horror-movie-poster.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Seven<br /></span><span>(Is this considered horror? Well, it was scary.)</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.swotti.com/tmp/swotti/cacheASBRBM93IHDOYXQGEW91IGRPZCBSYXN0IHN1BW1LCG==RW50ZXJ0YWLUBWVUDC1NB3ZPZXM=/imgI%20Know%20What%20You%20Did%20Last%20Summer3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 471px; height: 326px;" src="http://www.swotti.com/tmp/swotti/cacheASBRBM93IHDOYXQGEW91IGRPZCBSYXN0IHN1BW1LCG==RW50ZXJ0YWLUBWVUDC1NB3ZPZXM=/imgI%20Know%20What%20You%20Did%20Last%20Summer3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">I Know What You Did Last Summer<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.watchmojo.com/blogs/images/dawnofthedead.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.watchmojo.com/blogs/images/dawnofthedead.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Dawn of the Dead<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/public/cLUKBh75-DLch74bI-AGYyMFWoXi3vwb0RamgvjqSbKMed6hnqcWMQxk9N1vxBvbRiYncAo0jXFTuqEOj_E2Yz1l1Wcw1RCyYLEr4tqsTw73dH5COj52u_8kLp0Iq1uBT0ZHCabdqZbKpSAGuPCC3E0KTvgaZEvR3hdK4hWQt0LKTMOyhXsDoefcMKUBe146AGoKOCBnfknQoR5Nxug5dGdwdz4NQBjlzMFsaVWZntkFkl5WZlz6sFu0M-jvT-Hmgyhh0ye_tQHyFcQpYkVbJdCMvrHA4HnRleg9O3ANp05DfyyROMWviBcJg2omaoPZfKH3yoJKvNDPb4f4lwRY"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 250px;" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/public/cLUKBh75-DLch74bI-AGYyMFWoXi3vwb0RamgvjqSbKMed6hnqcWMQxk9N1vxBvbRiYncAo0jXFTuqEOj_E2Yz1l1Wcw1RCyYLEr4tqsTw73dH5COj52u_8kLp0Iq1uBT0ZHCabdqZbKpSAGuPCC3E0KTvgaZEvR3hdK4hWQt0LKTMOyhXsDoefcMKUBe146AGoKOCBnfknQoR5Nxug5dGdwdz4NQBjlzMFsaVWZntkFkl5WZlz6sFu0M-jvT-Hmgyhh0ye_tQHyFcQpYkVbJdCMvrHA4HnRleg9O3ANp05DfyyROMWviBcJg2omaoPZfKH3yoJKvNDPb4f4lwRY" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Silence of the Lambs<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://darkaeon.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/pans-labyrinth-poster.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 416px; height: 312px;" src="http://darkaeon.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/pans-labyrinth-poster.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pan's Labyrinth</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.ring-themovie.com/images/ring_logo.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 225px;" src="http://www.ring-themovie.com/images/ring_logo.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Ring</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://content9.flixster.com/photo/12/20/73/12207311_gal.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 462px;" src="http://content9.flixster.com/photo/12/20/73/12207311_gal.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scream</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://s11.allstarpics.net/images/orig/i/h/ih7icihsvhzoozs.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 244px;" src="http://s11.allstarpics.net/images/orig/i/h/ih7icihsvhzoozs.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Sixth Sense</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And there you have it! I'm sure I missed some.<br /><br />As for books, you can't go wrong with Stephen King, in my humble opinion. But fall breeds a plethora of good books, scary or not, so there is rarely a drought!<br /><br />I'm currently diving into <span style="font-style: italic;">The Night Circus. </span><br /><br />Do you have any scary movie suggestions for the season? Any good book suggestions out there?<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Lisa Aldinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423334732254639943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148795891586468753.post-84540284706913769572011-09-09T11:29:00.000-07:002011-09-09T11:35:12.832-07:00Manuscript-Speed-DatingMan, I can not keep working on one manuscript. I am all over the place. It's kind of driving me crazy. I wish I could focus but I keep dipping into old works, new works, screenplays, flash fiction. I guess this is the fun part, trying to worm my way into a comfort zone with one. I'm manuscript-speed-dating right now.<br /><br />Today, I started re-writing <span style="font-style: italic;">The Moon Dog Inn.</span> Any old followers remember that one? I loved that little book, but the manuscript was a mess. I figured a total re-write couldn't hurt, and even if it's too late for anyone to be interested in it, it could be good practice, a reminder that over the last year I have learned some things about writing, that I know how to improve, to keep moving forward.<br /><br />I do this same thing with reading. I jump from book to book until I find one that I can settle in with. Speaking of, there are so much great releases coming up this fall. Have I mentioned that I love this time of year?<br /><br />Happy Friday!Lisa Aldinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423334732254639943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148795891586468753.post-39643147302517310522011-09-08T10:32:00.001-07:002011-09-08T10:43:39.744-07:00Why the Synopsis Doesn't Have to be THAT EvilI'm bouncing around between a few different projects right now, kind of depending on my mood. I've been spending the most time with a new middle grade project, which is explosively fun for me. I've only written adult (okay, that novel is about ten pages long and eternally unfinished) or young adult (a few manuscripts), so I'm excited to try a new genre.<br /><br />I've noticed that a main problem that I have with my stories is that I let the middle sag. I suffer from that boring middle syndrome, so I thought I would try sort-of outlining. I've started working on a synopsis for the middle grade book, and I'm kind of loving it because it forces me to push the story forward, to make it exciting, and hopefully when I get to really working on it (about 4,000 words in right now), I won't wander away from the focus and let things get boring. It's also the first super-action-packed book I've written, which could be why I'm having such a blast with it. I tend to write softer, more psychological stories, I guess? But this one certainly isn't staying in one place.<br /><br />So maybe using the synopsis as an outline will help. It sure has gotten me excited about the story. I keeping thinking, "I can't wait to write that scene!" I'm definately not a detailed outline person, but writing a few pages that describes the story event-by-event will remind me where I'm going, and why. Otherwise, my characters may end up sitting around and simply talking about stuff. Boring!<br /><br />We've got some great, dreary writing weather here now. I love grabbing a Pumpkin Spice Latte, slipping on my sweater boots, and letting words fly from my fingertips.<br /><br />What's cooking in everyone's writing oven this fall?Lisa Aldinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423334732254639943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148795891586468753.post-75692442692100859832011-08-26T12:36:00.000-07:002011-08-26T12:39:19.310-07:00An Old ManuscriptSo I just started reading some of my old manuscripts today, which is never easy for me to do. The first one made me cringe and I immediately stopped reading. The second one I started revising, because I totally saw the issues with it from page 1, but also some potential there. The third...the third...
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<br />I COMPLETELY FELL IN LOVE WITH.
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<br />This has never happened to me before! This is the novel I wrote for NaNo last year and I haven't touched it since then. It's a mess, sure, but I LOVE THE MAIN CHARACTER SO MUCH.
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<br />EEK.
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<br />Me thinks I shall give this one another go.
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<br />By the way - HI!
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<br />Lisa Aldinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423334732254639943noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148795891586468753.post-61603422881900877092011-06-07T07:43:00.000-07:002011-06-07T07:45:05.428-07:00BreakHey guys! Sorry - I've been absent. I'm taking a break from blogging for awhile. While I do hope to return--it's such a great way to meet fellow writers--I just don't have the time for it right now. But, hopefully, I shall return sometime. I wish that everyone gets an agent and a book deal while I am away.<br /><br />Thanks!<br /><br />LisaLisa Aldinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423334732254639943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148795891586468753.post-8394467555454155462011-05-24T08:05:00.000-07:002011-05-24T08:10:38.896-07:00First Draft Done! Kind of!Okay - so I'm not technically done with the first draft. The ending's still not written. And I'm only at 43,000 words. BUT. So much has changed about my world. It's taken me some time to understand how it works. I think I have a better grasp on it now but I want to go back and start editing that stuff in, cutting old stuff out, etc.<br /><br />First Draft: Take 2.<br /><br />Or I guess you could call it a Do-Over.<br /><br />Yeah - I have saying that: Do-Over. Rewrite. It sounds so daunting. But I can do it! I've got the characters in my head now, the world. Do you want to know what the Core of the story is?<br /><br />One word.<br /><br />ESCAPE.<br /><br />Have a good one all! I may be in and out of the blogging world. I want to nail this story, guys. Seriously. I love it. I think it could really work. I'm not an agent or an editor or anything so that may be my delusions talking. But my delusions keep me going sometimes. Don't judge!Lisa Aldinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423334732254639943noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148795891586468753.post-31377066623381070992011-05-20T10:25:00.000-07:002011-05-20T10:26:43.692-07:00My Character's Body Has Been Found...I killed a character, remember. She was once breathing. Now she's not. But her body has just been discovered...and the RUMORS are flying. What happened to her? Was she murdered? Did she kill herself? Was it an accident?<br /><br />Can I just say that this story is SO MUCH FUN TO WRITE. =)<br /><br />Happy Friday!Lisa Aldinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423334732254639943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148795891586468753.post-11775630979293062782011-05-18T08:58:00.000-07:002011-05-18T08:59:30.696-07:00I Killed a CharacterWell, I killed a character yesterday. I don't mean that I cut her from the story. I mean she's in the story. But she's dead. Oh, yeah. This story is turning out SUPER happy! =)Lisa Aldinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05423334732254639943noreply@blogger.com6