July 25th Challenge

Hi it’s Christina –

Good Morning! WOW, lots to cover today, luckily I know where to start. Happy Birthday Dad! Love you!

Next, LOCAL AUTHORS (Belle Mead, Branchburg, Bridgewater, Flagtown, Flemington, Hillsborough, Manville, Montgomery, Neshanic, North Branch, Raritan, Rocky Hill, Somerville, Three Bridges), you only have SIX (6) DAYS LEFT to register for the First Annual HillsboroughLibrary Author’s Day. Initially there were only 20 – 25 authors who were going to be selected, but after some creative rearranging, there is room for more, but the slots are filling up fast.

THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR THIS EVENT. It’s a day for you to come out, sell some books, and network with other authors in the area.

The book signing will be from 1 – 4, but there is going to be a workshop, or possibly two, prior to the event (details are still getting hammered out). Also, during the signing, there are going to be readings done by the authors. (I think it will be a “pull names out of a hat” process.) Again, I will have more details for you as they become available.

Look, it’s going to be a great day. Click on the link above, and sign up. I can’t wait to see you there!

Now all NON-AUTHORS - if you happen to be in Hillsborough, New Jersey on Saturday, November 15^th, please stop by the event. We already have authors from numerous genres, both fiction and non-fiction (coffee table books, biographies, memoirs, poetry, children and YA, romance, mystery, and horror), so there’s a little something for everyone. Events like these are much more laid back than the ones held at the big name bookstores. You’ll get to meet and actually chat with the authors, not just get pushed through a line.

Hey, you can get a jump on your holiday shopping for the readers on your list. How great a gift is a signed copy of a book?

So, last night’s critique group went well. I was the only one who brought anything to share, so we spent most of the time talking about the Author’s Day event. I brought with me a chapter of Faerie Tale Queen that I was having an issue with; there was just something not quite right, and I couldn’t figure out what.

Now, I really don’t like just pulling a random chapter out of thin air. When I bring stuff to a critique group, I start with chapter one and then go chronologically, otherwise it takes forever to get folks up to speed so they have a clue what’s going on, but I was desperate. I couldn’t get the chapter to gel, and even though I pushed forward, it was still a big distraction, and I kept revisiting it.

Since I was the only one who brought something to share, the eight of us hashed it out for a good twenty minutes after I finished reading, and I think I can make it work now. I have one sentence to delete, one small dialogue exchange to add, and one cat reference to reflect change of mood and one food reference to mark passage of time to plop in, and I can move on. The fix was so easy, I just couldn’t see it, and it bogged me down.

I know I’ve said it before, but the benefit I get from these various writing groups I have joined is immeasurable. I have learned so much, and I have grown so much as a writer because of them. Their value to me is priceless. I encourage all writers to get involved with writing groups in their area. You won’t be disappointed.

Today I only have a few hours to write. Yeah, I know it’s Friday, a day I usually spend all day writing because I don’t have to go to work, but Dani laid a guilt trip on me last night. Summer is half over and she has only left the house three times. The poor child is bored out of her skull. So today we are going to catch a matinée.

At noon, we are going to see Lucy. If you haven’t seen the previews for the movie yet, you should check it out. It looks interesting. It’s the story about a woman, because of some incident, becomes able to use 100% of her brain’s capabilities.

Although the number 10% is thrown around a lot when they talk about how much brain function the average person uses at one time, more current research has shown it is closer to 16%. Regardless, the percentage of our brain we utilize at any given time is still a paltry amount. (In actuality, your entire brain is in use, just not all at the same time.) It’s reported that even geniuses, like Einstein, use less than 20% of their brains. Could you imagine what it would be like to tap into more of your potential? If you’ll excuse the pun, it’s mindboggling. Anyway, it’s a fascinating concept, and even though the movie is pure fiction, I am looking forward to seeing it.

Okay, I’m off to tweak chapter 42 of Fairy Tale Queen, and then hopefully be able to pound out chapter 43 as well. I hope you have a fantastic day, and happy writing!

Your Last Challenge was:

This ought to be good…

“This ought to be good.”

“Mmm Hmm.”

“Got the camera?”

“Yup.”

“So what do you think, America’s Funniest or Caught on Camera?”

“I’m thinking Ridiculousness.”

“Ouch, really?”

“Have you known any of Buddy’s ‘brilliant ideas’ not to be complete disasters?”

“Good point. Oh, there he goes.”

“I can’t believe he’s actually doing this. He’s such an ass.”

“No. No. NO!”

“Oh CRAP!”

“Put down the camera, and call an 911.”

Your Next Challenge is:

Fire lit the night sky…

You have ten minutes (be honest). There is no right or wrong, just write. Spelling and punctuation don’t count, and NO ONE is allowed to criticize what someone else has written. Go.