OK, so I've got too many deadlines staring at me to think of something clever or even insightful to write here. Soooo .... I'm just going to announce winners of the Ten Word Novel Contest!
The Grand Prize Winner of the Ten Word Novel Contest is .....
*drumroll*
dmlbooks for his entry, "Cleaning ‘bot revolution. Humans are messy. ‘Bots clean them up."
Second place goes to .....
Joseph Miller for his entry, "Bambi vs. Darth Vader. Woo-ka. Woo-ka. Puuzzuu. Woo-woo. Roll credits."
And, because I'm nice and only had three entrants ... Heidi Windmiller you also get a prize!
Remember, your choices are either a copy of Doctor Fantastique's Show of Wonders magazine or a critique from yours truly of the first 25 pages of your manuscript. Let me know in the comments which one you want, and leave me your email address so I can contact you!
Congratulations everyone!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Feel Like You're Flying
I love to swim. In fact, I just came back from swimming in the pool. I haven't taken advantage of our pool all summer, but now I've been bit by the water bug. My husband says I must be part fish.
It's one of my happy places (along with Disneyland and wrapped up in a blanket with a good book). The water is so peaceful. The gentle ripples on the surface can be hypnotizing. And where else can you feel like you're flying? It's the closest you can get without some kind of machine, or jumping from an airplane. I also love the way my hair feels swishing around underwater. And how the world looks so different through a watery lens.
I wish someone would invent a way for us to stay underwater with ease. I love SCUBA diving (I'm certified - woot woot!), but it's such a hassle. Remember that scene in Star Wars when Obi-Wan swims to Jar Jar Binks's underwater home with nothing but that tiny breathing apparatus? Yeah, like that. Wouldn't that be freakin' awesome?
Where is the place that you feel free? It's probably pretty obvious what I'm going to say next. WRITING is freedom. From the farthest reaches of the universe to the deepest ocean, and even to the smallest micro-world, anything can happen as long as you can imagine it.
That's probably why I tend to write and read about things that don't happen in real life. Magic. Paranormal beings. Traveling to distant planets. Talking to ghosts.
Where does your imagination tend to take you?
Fly freely, my friends. <3
It's one of my happy places (along with Disneyland and wrapped up in a blanket with a good book). The water is so peaceful. The gentle ripples on the surface can be hypnotizing. And where else can you feel like you're flying? It's the closest you can get without some kind of machine, or jumping from an airplane. I also love the way my hair feels swishing around underwater. And how the world looks so different through a watery lens.
I wish someone would invent a way for us to stay underwater with ease. I love SCUBA diving (I'm certified - woot woot!), but it's such a hassle. Remember that scene in Star Wars when Obi-Wan swims to Jar Jar Binks's underwater home with nothing but that tiny breathing apparatus? Yeah, like that. Wouldn't that be freakin' awesome?Where is the place that you feel free? It's probably pretty obvious what I'm going to say next. WRITING is freedom. From the farthest reaches of the universe to the deepest ocean, and even to the smallest micro-world, anything can happen as long as you can imagine it.
That's probably why I tend to write and read about things that don't happen in real life. Magic. Paranormal beings. Traveling to distant planets. Talking to ghosts.
Where does your imagination tend to take you?
Fly freely, my friends. <3
Monday, September 5, 2011
I never thought I'd have to take last week's post title so literally...
So last week, I wrote a post called "The Wracking of Nerves," in which I talked/whined/paranoia'd my way through the dilemma of the week: still having a job after Labor Day.
The good news?
On Wednesday, at eight o'clock at night, my boss called me to tell me they were keeping me.
I get to keep my job, guys.
*pauses to let that sink in*
I AM SO FREAKING HAPPY! Thank you so much to everyone who has listened to me being neurotic and anxious and unable to focus on anything else. Thanks for all your well-wishes, and encouragement on this crazy journey. It's been amazing, and I'm so excited I get to keep on finding out what cool stuff can happen in a zoo for an educator like me!
Something else happened on Wednesday, though. My tooth, which I had gotten worked on six months ago by a dentist I will now refer to as the Butcher of San Diego, started to hurt. A LOT.
I was popping ibuprofen like it was candy, and it was just getting worse. So I went into a different, new dentist on Thursday, where they proceeded to tell me that it looked like the Butcher had screwed up my filling to the point where I needed a root canal.
Guess what Thursday was the day before?
That's right. The four-day weekend all dentists apparently take for Labor Day.
The pain got exponentially worse. When I left the dentist on Thursday, they told me to keep taking ibuprofen and I should be fine.
By Saturday afternoon, I was rocking back and forth on the couch, crying. My husband called the emergency number on our dentist's line asking if there was anything else we could do.
He didn't call back til almost nine o'clock that night, but when he did, he finally called me in a prescription for some stronger painkillers and antibiotics.
It took two hours to get them filled, but then I slept for the first time in three days without waking up in pain six times.
My husband had to drive me to work the next day, but I thought I'd make it through the day now that I had the super drugs. I was wrong. I should have stayed home. Despite working my way up to a very high dose, the pain was STILL breaking through every hour or so, sending me into paroxysms of pacing and moaning in pain-- really awesome to do in public, in uniform.
Finally, last night, I caved in and took the maximum dose I could. And I slept. And slept, and slept, and slept, until about 1:00 this afternoon, waking up only once to take a new dose.
It's finally starting to work. I just hope, when I finally go in to the dentist tomorrow, that they can actually take care of it... I'm not sure how much longer I can reasonably go about like this.
And that, my friends, is why I unfortunately STILL don't have contest results for you. But if I don't have them next week, I give you all permission to call me horrible names. In fact, you can do that now, if you like. Really. Go right ahead. I'm so hopped up on vicodin I'll probably just laugh.
Maybe.
Thanks for being patient, Alliteratus. Means the world to me. :)
The good news?
On Wednesday, at eight o'clock at night, my boss called me to tell me they were keeping me.
I get to keep my job, guys.
*pauses to let that sink in*
I AM SO FREAKING HAPPY! Thank you so much to everyone who has listened to me being neurotic and anxious and unable to focus on anything else. Thanks for all your well-wishes, and encouragement on this crazy journey. It's been amazing, and I'm so excited I get to keep on finding out what cool stuff can happen in a zoo for an educator like me!
Something else happened on Wednesday, though. My tooth, which I had gotten worked on six months ago by a dentist I will now refer to as the Butcher of San Diego, started to hurt. A LOT.
I was popping ibuprofen like it was candy, and it was just getting worse. So I went into a different, new dentist on Thursday, where they proceeded to tell me that it looked like the Butcher had screwed up my filling to the point where I needed a root canal.
Guess what Thursday was the day before?
That's right. The four-day weekend all dentists apparently take for Labor Day.
The pain got exponentially worse. When I left the dentist on Thursday, they told me to keep taking ibuprofen and I should be fine.
By Saturday afternoon, I was rocking back and forth on the couch, crying. My husband called the emergency number on our dentist's line asking if there was anything else we could do.
He didn't call back til almost nine o'clock that night, but when he did, he finally called me in a prescription for some stronger painkillers and antibiotics.
It took two hours to get them filled, but then I slept for the first time in three days without waking up in pain six times.
My husband had to drive me to work the next day, but I thought I'd make it through the day now that I had the super drugs. I was wrong. I should have stayed home. Despite working my way up to a very high dose, the pain was STILL breaking through every hour or so, sending me into paroxysms of pacing and moaning in pain-- really awesome to do in public, in uniform.
Finally, last night, I caved in and took the maximum dose I could. And I slept. And slept, and slept, and slept, until about 1:00 this afternoon, waking up only once to take a new dose.
It's finally starting to work. I just hope, when I finally go in to the dentist tomorrow, that they can actually take care of it... I'm not sure how much longer I can reasonably go about like this.
And that, my friends, is why I unfortunately STILL don't have contest results for you. But if I don't have them next week, I give you all permission to call me horrible names. In fact, you can do that now, if you like. Really. Go right ahead. I'm so hopped up on vicodin I'll probably just laugh.
Maybe.
Thanks for being patient, Alliteratus. Means the world to me. :)
Friday, September 2, 2011
Please take a number, we'll be with you never
Today is/was an incredibly busy day. We found a house to move into, a car to drive to said house, and everything else befitting of a family having just moved to a new place. Hooray!
Everything came together today, but IT WAS A LONG TIME COMING.
Oy, waiting. Am I right? There's a song on the Shrek: the Musical soundtrack where the cursed princess Fiona sings about life locked away in the tower. She reads books to pass the time, she tells stories to her dolls and she just knows that SOON, her knight in shining armor will be by any minute. The song continues through three ages of Fiona until adult Fiona ends with a heartfelt, almost maniacal verse about "the waiting, the Waiting...THE WAIIIITTTTTINNNGGGG!!!"
But she's knows that knight will appear. It just happens a handful of years later than she wanted.
As writers, we're all waiting on something. An idea to come to us. A crit partner to get back with their suggestions. The agents to say yay or nay. The editors to say yay or nay. The publishing date. And repeat. It could get to anyone and turn you into a real Shrek if we're not careful (or if we're not one already.)
So how do you deal with the waiting? The best advice I've ever had is "JUST KEEP WRITING"...but sometimes we need to take time out to do other things to get your mind off of it all. I'm waiting on something right now and was really grateful for the distraction of moving to take my focus off of it. Now that we're pretty settled, I've gotten back into running. And tonight? Hula class! Maybe inspiration for another book is in there somewhere.
What about you?
Everything came together today, but IT WAS A LONG TIME COMING.
Oy, waiting. Am I right? There's a song on the Shrek: the Musical soundtrack where the cursed princess Fiona sings about life locked away in the tower. She reads books to pass the time, she tells stories to her dolls and she just knows that SOON, her knight in shining armor will be by any minute. The song continues through three ages of Fiona until adult Fiona ends with a heartfelt, almost maniacal verse about "the waiting, the Waiting...THE WAIIIITTTTTINNNGGGG!!!"
But she's knows that knight will appear. It just happens a handful of years later than she wanted.
As writers, we're all waiting on something. An idea to come to us. A crit partner to get back with their suggestions. The agents to say yay or nay. The editors to say yay or nay. The publishing date. And repeat. It could get to anyone and turn you into a real Shrek if we're not careful (or if we're not one already.)
So how do you deal with the waiting? The best advice I've ever had is "JUST KEEP WRITING"...but sometimes we need to take time out to do other things to get your mind off of it all. I'm waiting on something right now and was really grateful for the distraction of moving to take my focus off of it. Now that we're pretty settled, I've gotten back into running. And tonight? Hula class! Maybe inspiration for another book is in there somewhere.
What about you?
Thursday, September 1, 2011
When My Obsession With Words Gets Me Into Trouble
Sometimes it is a good thing that I obssess over, analyze, and scrutinize words. (I agree, 'scrutinize' does account for both 'obssess over' and 'analyze' but using all three emphasizes the fact that it is a continuous action, often repeated in relation to the same phrase, as well as the fact that 'obssess over' and 'analyze' can be done exclusively as well as simultaniously.)
College papers for example. Writing novels for another.
Sometimes it is a less good thing. ('Less good' here meaning 'it can hinder, or in other ways complicate, my day to day life.)
Conversation with my supervisor at a work meeting:
Supervisor: I'm sorry. I didn't mean to volunteer you to help. I had a friend once who, when people asked "Is there anything we can do to help?" would say "What, do you have mouse in your pocket?"
Me: Asking if there is anything more we can do to help does not necisarily imply that we will.
Supervisor: What?
Me: You can ask if there is anything we can do to help without needing a mouse in your pocket because you aren't technically promising any help from either of us. You are only asking for information. *waits for chuckle recognizing the discrepency between what is commonly meant by a statement and what that statement actually entails*
Supervisor: *with an unsettled half smile* Analyzing my words huh?
Me: *while thinking, "No, just making conversation. Being more social as you suggested."* Sorry. I write too many essays. Did you get any coffee?
Lesson learned: Analyzing words and their meaning during small talk is not the best idea.
Do your writing habits ever spill out into your everyday life and make you wish they hadn't? Or do they slip in by way of snappy, flawless dialogue, complete with seemless beats and the ability to sense what people around you are thinking?
College papers for example. Writing novels for another.
Sometimes it is a less good thing. ('Less good' here meaning 'it can hinder, or in other ways complicate, my day to day life.)
Conversation with my supervisor at a work meeting:
Supervisor: I'm sorry. I didn't mean to volunteer you to help. I had a friend once who, when people asked "Is there anything we can do to help?" would say "What, do you have mouse in your pocket?"
Me: Asking if there is anything more we can do to help does not necisarily imply that we will.
Supervisor: What?
Me: You can ask if there is anything we can do to help without needing a mouse in your pocket because you aren't technically promising any help from either of us. You are only asking for information. *waits for chuckle recognizing the discrepency between what is commonly meant by a statement and what that statement actually entails*
Supervisor: *with an unsettled half smile* Analyzing my words huh?
Me: *while thinking, "No, just making conversation. Being more social as you suggested."* Sorry. I write too many essays. Did you get any coffee?
Lesson learned: Analyzing words and their meaning during small talk is not the best idea.
Do your writing habits ever spill out into your everyday life and make you wish they hadn't? Or do they slip in by way of snappy, flawless dialogue, complete with seemless beats and the ability to sense what people around you are thinking?
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
No post today (except this one)
Right, so I've had a bit of a busy day on my hands. As a result, you don't get a post today except for this one telling you that there won't be a post today.
Which I suppose means there actually was a post today after all. Huh. Circular logic makes my head hurt.
Oh, and my Ten Word Novel Contest ends at midnight tonight by the by. So head over and enter it!
Which I suppose means there actually was a post today after all. Huh. Circular logic makes my head hurt.
Oh, and my Ten Word Novel Contest ends at midnight tonight by the by. So head over and enter it!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Contest Winners!
Two weeks ago, I announced my first contest ever here at the Archives. I am very happy to announce today that we have our winners!
Chosen by Random.org, the winners are...
Adam Heine and Melanie McCullough
Congratulations!! Because both of them told me who their favorite Harry Potter character is (both chose Snape - coincidence, or maybe Snape is among us?), I am going to grant first pick of prizes to Adam because he was the first one chosen by Random.org.
Winners, please email me at keriannmartin726 [at] gmail [dot] com with your mailing address and prize choice! (See the original post for prize choices)
In case you all were wondering (you were, right?), my favorite Harry Potter character is Hermione Granger. Mostly because I can identify with her the most. She's a worrier (me). A peacemaker (just ask my mom). She's a great friend (I try!). But most of all, she keeps the trio together when the boys are being childish. She keeps them moving forward and working toward their goals. Without her (spoiler alert!), they would have NEVER found all the horcruxes. She is the smart one in the bunch. I love that she's a book nerd too (totally me). Don't get me wrong, I love Harry and Ron! But honestly, they could be so immature. Hermione RULES.
Have a great week! <3
Chosen by Random.org, the winners are...
Adam Heine and Melanie McCullough
Congratulations!! Because both of them told me who their favorite Harry Potter character is (both chose Snape - coincidence, or maybe Snape is among us?), I am going to grant first pick of prizes to Adam because he was the first one chosen by Random.org.
Winners, please email me at keriannmartin726 [at] gmail [dot] com with your mailing address and prize choice! (See the original post for prize choices)
In case you all were wondering (you were, right?), my favorite Harry Potter character is Hermione Granger. Mostly because I can identify with her the most. She's a worrier (me). A peacemaker (just ask my mom). She's a great friend (I try!). But most of all, she keeps the trio together when the boys are being childish. She keeps them moving forward and working toward their goals. Without her (spoiler alert!), they would have NEVER found all the horcruxes. She is the smart one in the bunch. I love that she's a book nerd too (totally me). Don't get me wrong, I love Harry and Ron! But honestly, they could be so immature. Hermione RULES.
Have a great week! <3
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)