Please Eric, aMUSE me all summer long

Kind of a no brainer, right?

I mean, I pretty much start waiting for a new season of True Blood as soon as the previous one ends - even when it gets a little off the charts with that whole "Billith" storyline. I'm still not sure how I feel about that - or a few other side stories (4 babies, Andy? Weird.) - but I do know this: Alexander Skarsgard is absolutely muse worthy.

This next week is the return of many things I'd abandoned for a month - the gym, everyday writing, date nights with handsome hubs. I've bogged myself down with the day job, fixing up the yard at the new place, and power watching a bunch of TV shows. (Have you seen Scandal? Watch Scandal. So good.)

But this week, that's all gotta change. My pants are fitting a bit tighter, and the voices in my head are shouting at me to get back to a couple of WIPs - not to mention the couple of new shinies I've pushed to the back of the TBW pile.

Yep, my 2013 New Year's Resolution goals are slightly off course. The return of Eric Northman to Sunday night must-watch TV seems like a good omen that things are heading back on track. Welcome back, Eric. You've been gone far too long.

Happy Monday!

- Dawn

An adrenalized muse

I want to write a movie that includes a long car chase.

Yeah, I know it's been done before. For sure six times in the Fast and the Furious franchise, which, by the way, is my guilty pleasure. I love Vin Diesel. I love Paul Walker.

I love fast cars.

Ever seen Gone in 60 Seconds with Nic Cage? Eleanor is my dream car (1967 Shelby GT 500) - I even have a model of her on my desk. Call her my daily dose of inspiration.

Back when I was a starving journalist, my dream car was a Toyota Celica. I had a picture of one taped up in my cubicle, and promised myself that when I met my first professional career milestone, I'd buy it. When I left journalism for a slightly more lucrative career in communications, I made it happen. She was blue, souped up (though that's a different story), and very, very fast. She shifted like a dream, and cornered like she was on rails... *sigh*

But, she was the crappiest car in the world for Alberta, where nine months of winter wreaks serious havoc on a low profile, adrenalized sports car. (Important note: I never hurt her, though she was broken into and my stereo stolen...) I sold her about six years ago, trading in speed for the "responsible" Alberta vehicle. An SUV.

Thus making my father - and my poor dog (who crammed herself into the front seat for road trips) - extremely happy. But even though I opted for the sportiest SUV I could find, I still think about my Celica.

Every day.

Especially in the summer when the hot rods hit the streets.

These days, I fuel that adrenaline rush hole through movies with cars. Preferably hot cars. Going fast.

Yeah, I get that Vin Diesel is not the best actor, and that if not for Paul's pretty boy looks, The Fast and the Furious franchise would appeal mostly to men. I know the plot is thin, and the dialogue is cliched (especially in this last movie!). But there's action.

Lots and lots of action.

And I likes that.

So someday - not today, not tomorrow, maybe not for a few years - I'm going to write a screenplay with a long, long, LONG car chase. And if Vin Diesel is still racing cars on screen, then heck, he can hop in the driver's seat and take me for a ride. (Please?)

Unless of course Ryan Gosling wants the role. Because even though I *think* I want to write something fun and frivolous like The Fast and the Furious, I probably really want to write something a little more like Drive.

I'd just give Ryan a much better looking car.

This week - and for the past two weeks - I've been revising an old project that my script agent requested, and getting ready for some ultra cool upcoming meetings - which means fresh word count is WAY down.

I've leaned on Kiefer for a couple weeks to kick my revisions butt into gear. After treating myself to a movie break this weekend, I think I'll hand the muse avatar torch over to Mr. Diesel. He doesn't have to spout encouraging dialogue (I can do without the cliches) - all he has to do is look pretty and drive me across the finish line.

Fast.

Happy Monday!

- Dawn

RESOLUTION STATS

Total words last week: 0 (at least NEW words...)

Total words to date for 2013: 81,662

Total pounds lost for week: 0

Total pounds lost to date for 2013: 27 

Books read last week: 1

Total books read to date for 2013: 9

Movies watched last week: 1

Movies watched to date in 2013: 8

The muse came back

This!

This is the most awesome news since --

Well, since ever.

After a way-too-long hiatus, Jack Bauer is returning to the small screen. And this, my dear bloggy friends, is BIG news. At least to me.

You see, I am a huge - and I do mean HUGE - Kiefer Sutherland/24/Jack Bauer fan. Kiefer has owned my heart since Lost Boys, a movie that pretty much defines my youth since I watched it every. single. weekend. I'm not kidding.

But then came Jack Bauer. Rugged. Kick ass. Take no crap Jack Bauer. Oh yeah, and he's hot.

Cue: world change.

Not only did I see a different, even more awesome side of Kiefer, but my writing...advanced. It was after watching the first season of 24 that I finally understood the twists and turns that make a great thriller. I could identify with the "ticking time clock" so necessary in thriller fiction, the rationale of killing off main characters, even when it hurts. 24 took TV risks, pushed boundaries. Sure there were some cheesy moments, but 24 fueled my creative well.

When the show was cancelled in 2010 after admittedly a weak season 8, it left a Monday-night void that not even The Voice and The Following could fill - and I luvs me some Adam Levine and Kevin Bacon. I tried to watch Touch, but Kiefer seemed awkward in the role of loving, caring Dad (I kept waiting for him to yell or threaten torture or something crazy) and as I suspected, the show was cancelled after just two seasons.

 I've been filling my TV dance card with some fairly amazing shows lately - Homeland, Sons of Anarchy, Revenge, Hannibal, The Killing, Broadchurch, Mad Men and Game of Thrones. Not to mention Dexter and True Blood return to TV next month. I have no trouble admitting that I'd drop them ALL for a new season of 24.

Thankfully, having a PVR means I don't have to.

I can't wait for the new season of 24! Welcome back, Jack, even if it is a limited run. And of course, thanks for being this week's Muse Avatar. Though you never really went away, I'm looking forward to kicking some serious ass with you in the very near future.

Anyone else anxiously awaiting the return of Jack Bauer?

- Dawn

RESOLUTION 2013 STATS

Total words last week: 5,858

Total words to date for 2013: 81,662

Total pounds lost for week: 1

Total pounds lost to date for 2013: 27 

Books read last week: 1

Total books read to date for 2013: 8

Movies watched last week: 1

Movies watched to date in 2013: 7

I choose Usher!

If only Usher was a writing coach!

Okay, I admit, before this season of The Voice, I pretty much watched the show for Adam Levine. Sure, I liked the singing and the fun coach banter, but there was something a little creepy about Cee Lo Green, and it didn't take me long to get tired of X-Tina's ample bosom.

Enter Shakira - whom I have loved since Hips Don't Lie.

And Usher.

Aside from being some serious eye candy competition for Adam, Usher is my dream coach. No, seriously. Just watching his mentoring style makes me want to drop everything and be a singer - just for the chance to work with him. (Don't worry, I won't be gracing The Voice stage any time soon - I kind of suck at singing.)

Up until this season, the mentoring on The Voice has consisted primarily of some minor vocal corrections. Don't get me wrong, those tips have helped further the careers of some awesome talent. But Usher goes beyond the minor and strives for excellence. He's taken his team into the boxing ring for breath training and performance endurance, held a mirror up to force one girl to see her own inner beauty, and waltzed with one contestant to help her voice dance. He's laughed, complimented, and chastized. He's tough. Damn tough.

As he should be.

One of my writing mentors, Steve Berry, once said to me, "Nobody ever got to be a better writer by being told how good they are."

Wise words that are applicable to pretty much any vocation.

Practice your craft.

Strive for your personal best.

And never settle for anything less.

Yeah, Usher you can be MY coach any time. This week, please be my muse avatar. As the statistics show, I'm in need of a little push. And if I'm slacking, I honestly don't mind if you want to take a few rounds out of me in the boxing ring. No really. I even have my own gloves.

Happy Monday! Go be great.

- Dawn

RESOLUTION 2013 STATS

Total words last week: 3,000

Total words to date for 2013: 75,804

Total pounds lost for week: +1

Total pounds lost to date for 2013: 26 (Back to the gym this week!)

Books read last week: 0

Total books read to date for 2013: 7

Movies watched last week: 1

Movies watched to date in 2013: 6

Guest Post: Jessica Bell talks about adverbs and cliches

I'm pleased to kick off the month with a guest post from the amazing Jessica Bell.

In addition to writing beautiful poetry, mesmerizing fiction, and stunning song lyrics (for songs she actually sings and has recorded), Jessica has created a new series of help aides for writers - the "in a Nutshell" pocket guides. The first in the series, Show and Tell in a Nutshell tackled the difficult balance of showing vs telling - a common issue for amateur and seasoned writers alike. Jessica's easy-to-understand examples are supported with beautiful prose that clearly demonstrates the benefit of showing - her words almost leap off the page.

Now, in the second book of the series, Jessica looks at two other common areas of difficulty for writers - adverbs and cliches. Whether you write fantasy or romance, thriller or erotica, this pocket guide should be on your bookshelf - right next to your dictionary and thesaurus. It's that vital. Please welcome the talented Jessica Bell to talk about her latest non-fiction work, Adverbs and Cliches In a Nutshell.

Too many adverbs and clichés in your writing? I've got just the fix for you.

by Jessica Bell

Writers constantly have rules thrown at them left, right, and center. Show, don’t tell! Stop using so many dialogue tags! More sensory detail! More tension! Speed up the pace! Yada yada yada ... it can become overwhelming, yes? I used to feel overwhelmed by it all too. In fact, I still do sometimes. It’s hard enough to get the words on the page, let alone consider how to put them there.

In Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird, she says that in order not to be overwhelmed, a writer needs to focus on short assignments. She refers to the one-inch picture frame on her desk and how that little picture frame reminds her to focus on bite-sized pieces of the whole story. Basically, if you focus on one small thing at a time, the story will eventually come together to create a whole. I believe the same applies to learning the craft of writing. If writers focus on one aspect of the craft at a time, the process will seem less daunting and piece by piece it will come together.

My name’s Jessica Bell, and my own struggles with feeling overwhelmed inspired me to write the Writing in a Nutshell Series of pocket-sized writing guides. So you can learn to hone your craft in bite-sized, manageable pieces. In the first book of the series, I focused on demonstrating how to transition “telling” into “showing.” In Adverbs & Clichés in a Nutshell: Demonstrated Subversions of Adverbs & Clichés into Gourmet Imagery, I deal with another of the most common criticisms aspiring writers face: to absolutely avoid adverbs and clichés like the plague. But see, right now, I just used one of each. I also used a couple in the first two paragraphs of this post because they come naturally, and we utilize them frequently in everyday speech. But in fiction, too many adverbs and clichés weaken your prose. It’s considered “lazy writing,” because it means we don’t have to show what’s happening.

If your manuscript has too many adverbs and clichés, it most likely means that the emotion you felt while writing it is not going to translate to the reader in the same way. So how exactly can we approach the subversion of adverbs and clichés? For starters, play around with simile and metaphor when you’re trying to convey emotion, and for action, use strong verbs to show it happening in real time.

The key? Think smaller details rather than the bigger picture.

Need some help and inspiration?

In Adverbs & Clichés in a Nutshell: Demonstrated Subversions of Adverbs & Clichés into Gourmet Imagery, you will find thirty-four examples of prose which clearly demonstrate how to turn those pesky adverbs and clichés into vivid and unique imagery. Dispersed throughout are blank pages to craft your own unique examples. Extra writing prompts are also provided at the back of the book.

“Jessica Bell's latest pocket guide, Adverbs & Clichés in a Nutshell, will inspire you to leave bland behind and pursue your creative best. With force and clarity, she demonstrates how adverbs and clichés hobble vibrant writing. She then marks a course toward unique expression and provides workouts that will help writers at every level develop a distinctive voice.” ~Laurel Garver, freelance editor, author of Never Gone and Muddy-Fingered Midnights

Purchase links:
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon Ca | Kobo

Bio: The Australian-native contemporary fiction author and poet, Jessica Bell, also makes a living as an editor and writer for global ELT publishers (English Language Teaching), such as Pearson Education, HarperCollins, Macmillan Education, Education First and Cengage Learning.

She is the co-publishing editor of Vine Leaves Literary Journal, and the director of the Homeric Writers’ Retreat & Workshop on the Greek island of Ithaca.

For more information about Jessica please visit:
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Z is for Zombies

Last year was my first crack at the A-Z Blogging Challenge, a blogging phenomenon created by the amazing Arlee Bird. The object is to blog every day of the month of April (except Sundays), and to increase the challenge (if you want), to blog thematically from A to Z. No sweat, right? Last year, I blogged about music with Jessica Bell. This year, I'm heading back to my roots and blogging about all things thriller. Join me?

*     *    *

It's the final day of the A to Z Challenge and I am grateful for all of the new blogs I've discovered throughout April - but also relieved it has come to an end. I actually maintained three blogs for the challenge - it started as four, but I can only stretch so far. I blogged here, of course, and over at the "other me" website I talked about movies I loved as a child, and then I wrote in character as Chase Duffy talking about things/people that inspire him.

All three of my blog posts today have a zombie connection. The "other me" is talking about Zombieland, a great horror comedy. And Chase is chatting about his love of Zombie fiction. Chase is way out of my target audience range, but I'm glad he's a fan of Zombie fiction, because the thriller book I'm currently working on. The book is called Madonna of the Bones - and aside from the title and the general theme, that's about all I'm going to say right now.

I love this book. It's been percolating for almost a year, and I've been plucking away at research, jotting down scenes, and outlining the plot. It might be the most well thought-out of all of my projects. Which is why, now that the A to Z is done, I'll be back to my weekly blog schedule - and spending the rest of that valuable time writing Madonna of the Bones. Well, that and a few other things I've got on tap.

Zombies. They're pretty cool, no?

How are you ending off the A to Z Challenge? Zombie apocalypse? 

- Dawn

Y is for Yikes!

Last year was my first crack at the A-Z Blogging Challenge, a blogging phenomenon created by the amazing Arlee Bird. The object is to blog every day of the month of April (except Sundays), and to increase the challenge (if you want), to blog thematically from A to Z. No sweat, right? Last year, I blogged about music with Jessica Bell. This year, I'm heading back to my roots and blogging about all things thriller. Join me?

*     *    *

Yikes! That's my favorite exclamation when I read or watch something that creeps me out. Well, unless it scares the crap out of me - then I scream, loudly. Just ask my friends. I'm kind of a chicken sometimes.

I like a little "yikes!" factor in my thriller reads, though. That moment when the protagonist faces one of their fears, or is wounded, or gets into a predicament *I* can't see his/her way out of - until the end of the book.

When I write, I'm always looking for some "yikes!" moments, usually at the end of each chapter. Cliffhangers are not always easy, but they're worth it if your reader turns the page.

What are some of your favorite "Yikes!" moments in fiction or theatre?

- Dawn

P.S. - It's Muse Avatar Monday and honestly, I scrolled through "hot male celebrity" lists for almost an hour looking for Mr. "Y" in honor of the A to Z Challenge. (I know, tough job, but someone had to do it.) The best I could come up with is Ryan Gosling. Hey, there's a Y in his name!

The Book In My Bag Today: The Fault In Our Stars, John Green

RESOLUTION 2013 STATS

Total words last week: 0

Total words to date for 2013: 72,804

Total pounds lost for week: 0

Total pounds lost to date for 2013: 27

Books read last week: 0

Total books read to date for 2013: 7

Movies watched last week: 1

Movies watched to date in 2013: 6