Struggles

Hey out there. I can't believe it's been so long since I've put my 2 cents in here. I've written so many blog posts in my head lately I'm ashamed to say I've not put them online. Oh, well. I'm here now and that's all that matters.

I've begun my next story. I am so excited about this story and the fact that my idea is set for a series of books to boot.

Despite my enthusiasm, I am trudging along with the beginning. I don't know - for you writers out there - where your sagging points are: the end, the middle, where ever, but for me, it has always been my beginning.

Take my current WIP. I know the hero and heroine, I've worked out their conflicts and their locations and hook-up and issues. I'm pretty confident how the story line will work across multiple books and even how the characters will resolve their personal and relationship issues. Kinda sounds like it's set in stone and just go from there, right? For me, wrong.

I'm opening this story with the heroine in discussion with her girlfriends. Only, the discussion is being led into topics I hadn't anticipated and the heroine has already shown me a side of herself I never knew existed and you know what? It's frustrating, yet exciting. I'd compare it to jumping onto a new horse who is chomping at the bit to be off in his own direction. I'm stuck on his back and struggling with the reins to force him to go my way. Yes, it is a fierce struggle, but the story's worth it and then some.

On a different note, I skipped school today for the kiddos. Hadn't planned on it, but we got Direct TV today and between the hook-up then checking out the totally new everything about it, it was already lunchtime. I've learned the hard way that trying to get the little ones to listen up in the afternoon is a near impossibility unless we've already been at it all day. So the kids are happy and playing games and I have a few minutes to steal away. What is a productive, busy girl like me to do? Finish this up and hop back on that horse to try to break him in some more, of course!

Random Thoughts on Movies

What's new, what's new, what's new . . .

Ah, the movies. I get out to the movie theater practically NEVER, so I rely on everyone's favorite stand-by: Netflix. I LOVE this place! Not only can you make a queue of any movie you'd ever want to see, you can browse to your heart's content any older or obscure movie you'd never even heard of.

I've seen a few interesting movies lately that I thought I'd share with you. New in Town stars Renee Zellweger and Harry Connick, Jr. A formulaic, sweet story that wasn't bad, but I'd see the thing over again just for Harry. Yummy!

If you want something a little bit zannier, try out Just One Time. It stars Joelle Carter and Lane Janger and is an interesting take on an engaged couple where the boyfriend begs his future wife to fulfill his fantasy before they wed -- to engage in a threesome with (what else!) another woman. The interesting twist comes when she finally agrees, but with one condition: he has to reciprocate. This movie did not make me yearn to see it over and over or to buy it, but I liked the storyline. It gave an interesting perspective beyond the fantasy to the "what if" of the reality, or almost reality. Overall, it nicely assuaged my curiosity from when I first spied the movie.

A movie that fit the bill for my esoteric needs is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet. A side note, I really like the movies Carrey does where he portrays "regular" individuals, not simply zany ones. The movie premis is that Clementine (Kate) and Joel (Jim) have been friends/lovers for a couple of years. In an upset and impulsive move, Clementine goes to a clinic to have all memories of Joel erased. When Joel finds out, he wants the same done to him. A fascinating storyline and intriguing concept! You have to really pay attention to the movie, however, because it begins in the now then flips to the past then catches up to the now interspersed with two years of memories Joel has of Clementine. I don't know that I'd want to rush out to see it again, but if you're looking for something different, this'd be one to see.

I want to post a bit on some reads I've indulged in lately, but I'll save that for another day. And on a completely side note, now that my novella is submitted, I am working on the next story. A great story I can't wait to share with you soon.

Hope your day is going great and I'll post more soon!