New Addictions

Hi. My name is Serena and I play Chuzzle.

I found a new game on the internet and it has taken over my life. It is so addicting. I fear for my writing career as I have to ramp up on my current WIP (work in progress). It is by Popcap games and you can play a free hour long demo on their site.

This is when you can compare game companies to crack dealers.

Sure, you get a free hours worth of play but it's not enough. Oh no. You want to play more and more and more. Suddenly, it's 3 in the morning and you have to get up at 7 and you can't stop playing.

So I beg you. Don't click the above link. It doesn't matter if all the cool kids are clicking on it. Just say no. I warned you.

Vacation is officially over, kind of

Okay, Christmas has come and gone so now it is time to knuckle down and finish miSTAKEn. My muse must have enjoyed the holidays because she won't leave me alone about this story. So many great twists and turns are in store for my reader and my characters. Yahoo. Buckle up, it's gonna be a bumpy ride. I shall get started immediately....What? What's that you say? Lucky Jeans has a 40% off sale at the mall starting today? Oh, well then, I will get started after a quick trip to the mall. :)

Earlier this week I met with my writing posse and we celebrated the holidays in style. Christina always puts on a great spread, complete with frozen mint chocolatini's (tastes just like chocolate mint ice cream with alot of vodka-which you can't taste at all so be careful!). We drew Secret Angel names and everyone scored big time. I was laboriously working on Christina's gift and completed it just in time. I made her a writer's journey scrapbook to detail all she's done up to her first sale.

Last year I drew Shannon's name and made her one and she sold. So, Christina will sell and then it will become a tradition. hehe. No pressure on poor Christina. But hey, it's her time. We all feel it.

The whole group (from left to right: Christina, Barb, Shannon, Kelli, Me and lounging is Erin)

Christina makes the most spendid desserts and I wanted to help out by 'cleaning my plate' so she would have less dishes to do. Really.

Look at my pretty new bag from my Secret Angel at our annual writers group holiday get together. Thanks Kelli!

Gotta have more robots...

So my housekeeper had to switch our cleaning date around and she has brought her 10 year old son with her. No problem. I put on Sky High on the dvd player while his mom cleans and I can do work in my craft room.

Now, I think Sky High was brilliantly written. Its a great story. Good character development, fast pacing, nice high concept and the whole 9 yards. When its all over, I ask him what he thought of the movie and he says, "There should have been more robots to fight. I would have liked a big robot fight in the beginning, but other than that, it was pretty tight."

Uh huh.

So, next time you are at the movies and you see an unnecessary, gratutious robot fight, you'll know they are catering to the 10 year old boy demographic. Just so you know.

Phoning it in

I've been a neglectful blogger and writer, for that matter. I am taking December off so I feel like a big, fat fraud blogging about writing when I am not doing any. I did get my back cover blurb about Fangs4Freaks (Nov 06) and was asked ideas for the front cover (which they will promptly ignore, but hey, it's nice to be asked). So I guess some writing type activity is being accomplished this month.

So, I am just phoning it in this holiday season. Tis the season.

Love Actually

The holiday season is a very tough time for most writers. Everyone gets so busy taking care of the holiday obligations that the writing tends to get set aside. Whenever this happens and I have a hard time getting back into the writing groove, I pull out a movie to help motivate me. You see, when I write a book its like I am retelling a movie that plays in my head. So, when I watch a movie, I can't help but think of how I would write the same scene I am watching. Of course, every writer is different, but this really works for me.

So, I popped in my favorite Christmas-y movie last night, Love Actually. Who doesn't love this movie? It's not a traditional Christmas favorite, I know but I really love it. Sure, I dig "A Christmas Story" and "It's a Wonderful Life", not to mention "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." But give me a love story (with comedy) and I am a happy camper. Do you write the book in your head while watching the movie? How do you write each scene? How does it unfold? Once you discover how your write, you can figure out what best motivates you to write. Then, no matter the time of year or new distraction, you can always get back into the writing. Which is a great Christmas present. Happy Writing.

Snow Day

Today is a snow day. That cold, white stuff is coating the Seattle area and typical of our fair city, there is panic in the air. The schools around my house closed, leaving excited children bundled to the gills roaming the yards and giggling maniacly as they clench fistfulls of snow, ready to hurl them at other giggling friends, passing cars and/or stationary mailboxes. So I ask you- "Where's my snow day?"

I have decided today is going to be my snow day. miSTAKEn will still be sitting on my computer when I come in from the cold. What a great excuse to make hot cocoa! And some of those little pesky neighbor kids could use a good snowball to the head. Hey, I'm kidding, kidding...kind of.

So I suggest if you have been cramped up in your office, tapping away at your keyboard while the unrestrained laughter of children outside distracts you then declare a Snow Day. Get bundled up, go outside and breath the fresh, crisp air. You'll feel great. Forget about all that adult stuff- like concerns that the slush will freeze and make traffic a mess. Just let it go and enjoy the moment. Declaring a Snow Day may be just what's needed to inspire your muse to come out and play.