Happy Memorial Day

Monday Moments will be quiet today in honor of Memorial Day.

Serioulsy, June! Quick sneaking up on me like that!

It can't just be me. But I'm feeling it. Are you? The month of June's edging it's way around the corner. The lure of a long holiday weekend is here, but then BLAMO...it's June.

What?

ONLY THREE MORE WEEKS OF SCHOOL!?! (sorry for the yelling)

I know I'm not the only one feeling this creeping up. So, some of you may recall that last year, the lovely Holly Cupala and I joined forces with our Summer Revision Smackdown. It was something we both needed and we used it to push each other. But then it organically turned into this much bigger thing, which included so many of you.

Alas, both Holly and I are in different stages of the writing process right now (although, I will admit, I am dealing with another revision). Ms. Cupala has a BIG event coming up...the release of her debut, TELL ME A SECRET. An exciting June for her to be sure.

As for me, I have two projects I need to crank on. And I reallyreallyreally need these next few weeks. How 'bout you? Anyone out there need to join forces to get 'er done before the kiddos are home for the summer? I have a little somethin' cookin' up in me brain. Let me know, because if you do...I'll share more soon.

Monday Moment #71: a writing prompt for your work-in-progress

(If you’ve already read this then skip past all the italicized blah-di-blah and start writing.) Monday Moments are writing prompts for your work-in-progress. They are questions that come from my experiences and are my favorite way to find out more about my characters. I find I learn a lot. Some of it I use. Some of it I don’t. But I always, always get to know my character(s) better just by answering the question. I hope you do too. )

Ah, the ways in which we screw up our kids (or potentially ensure they will one day utterly embarrass themselves) because we have given them incorrect information!

Like the time I overheard my girls talking about something they heard on the playground which involved people having sex. *mom is dying while hearing this and trying to figure out how to have the sex talk way sooner than planned* But then the younger one asked her big sis what it meant, and her sister answered, "I think it means they have sack lunch together. You know, sacks." *mom breathes easy and thinks this is a perfect answer*

Over the weekend we found piece of art lying around the house (this happens multiple time during any given day), which reminded my husband of a recent conversation he had with the girls. They were in the car when they began discussing such things as french fries and french toast when the french kiss was brought up. My husband decided to ask them if they knew what a french kiss was and they told him they didn't. He thought he'd let them in on it, but realized he was in over his head after he said, "It's when two people kiss..." and this is when he froze up but thought he needed to finish what he'd started but didn't know how, "...aaand their tongues touch." There was the chorus of  GROSS, of course. But then the girls started making up a whole bunch of other french things to ease the awkwardness (french telephone pole, french trees, french toilet). That's when the hubby asked, "How do you know it's a french toilet." The ten-year old girlie had the perfect answer, "Because it has a moustache." Duh!

Which is why this fun piece of art makes perfect sense to us, plus it made us all laugh.

First speech bubble: French bananas rule!
Second speech bubble: American bananas rule!

I do love the attitude that French banana has. Is he flipping the bird?

When has your character had an embarrassing/awkward/uncomfortable conversation or was told misinformation to avoid such a conversation?

Monday Moment #70: a writing prompt for your work-in-progress

(If you’ve already read this then skip past all the italicized blah-di-blah and start writing.) Monday Moments are writing prompts for your work-in-progress. They are questions that come from my experiences and are my favorite way to find out more about my characters. I find I learn a lot. Some of it I use. Some of it I don’t. But I always, always get to know my character(s) better just by answering the question. I hope you do too. )

This post comes to you as I watch the wrap-up of Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains. (I apologize to you non-reality tv watchers out there.) I admit it, here and now, I've been a Survivor fan since Season One. And, my how it's changed. And, oh how it hasn't. Right? Right!

This was the best season yet! What made it so great? In my opinion: the unexpected and the villains. I love how those two aspects translate to (and create) great books, especially in this market of the sought-after, high-concept novel. But truly, it was the unpredictability that made this season so great. In the past, I felt like (based a lot on the editing) I could predict who was going to go during Tribal Counsel, which is exactly what we want to avoid in our stories.

Thanks for a great season, Survivor. (I have to ask, who do you think should have won? I was happy for Sandra, but as nasty as Russel is, I think he was the best player.) Now, bring on So You Think You Can Dance!

Does your character make an unpredictable move in your story in order to get what s/he wants?

Monday Moment #69: a writing prompt for your work-in-progress

(If you’ve already read this then skip past all the italicized blah-di-blah and start writing.) Monday Moments are writing prompts for your work-in-progress. They are questions that come from my experiences and are my favorite way to find out more about my characters. I find I learn a lot. Some of it I use. Some of it I don’t. But I always, always get to know my character(s) better just by answering the question. I hope you do too. )

I love you all, I really do. And I love writing these blog posts each and every Monday (really Sunday). But I'm going to fess up. This one? Not so much. Not because it's difficult. Or because I'm sick. Or because I've got a million other things to do.

Nope.

It's me being a lazy, lazy blogger. Can I blame it on Mother's Day? It's just one of those days that I don't want to do anything that I typically or expectedly have to do: feed the kids, clean the kitchen, help with homework, write a Monday Moment. You know.

I even tried to get out of it, just like all my other tasks today. I turned to my hubby and said, "Will you write my Moment tonight?"

Okay, clearly that didn't work. Perhaps it's because we're now transitioning into this birthday. The good news? Such things turn into great Moments!

What task/event does your character want to or try to get out of?

Whip It, Whip It Good!

My morning drive to get the kids at school was met with a blast from the past. I think it was a message from writerly heavens to get it done today: to whip it, whip it good.

Seems appropriate that this came up this week, after my the most current Monday Moment. Can I just say, I find the power of our senses fascinatingly wonderful.

My car radio released Devo's WHIP IT into my brain and and I was instantly nine-years old again, watching the Park High Rangerettes (drill team) stomp around the gym floor in their white boots with ginormous purple pom-poms bouncing with each step to the coolest song I had ever heard. EVER!

And isn't it funny that Whip it or W-I-P It, or Crack the Whip have all been major themes around Cuppa? Coincidence, or not?

And as I listened to Devo's WHIP IT this morning, it felt like it should be a mantra for my day; a message about the way I need to attack the writing.

So, take a listen. Really. See if it will help you want to whip it, whip it good.

I can't embed the video, but you can see it HERE!

Anyone in with me today? Let me know!

Monday Moment #68: a writing prompt for your work-in-progress

(If you’ve already read this then skip past all the italicized blah-di-blah and start writing.) Monday Moments are writing prompts for your work-in-progress. They are questions that come from my experiences and are my favorite way to find out more about my characters. I find I learn a lot. Some of it I use. Some of it I don’t. But I always, always get to know my character(s) better just by answering the question. I hope you do too. )

It was a big week for music in our family. We had a band/orchestra/choir concert to attend. Plus, our first born hit the big double digits over the weekend, which involved throwing a music themed party.

Can I first say, 5th-grade-band teachers are amazing people. That has GOT to be one of the toughest jobs on earth. Got. To. Be.

Just take a quick 15 second listen.

(Yes, I know my video is sideways, but it's all about the sound. I'm still learning how to use my phone.)

Now, I must say, these kids have made progress. Truly. But as I sat there listening, I just couldn't help but to image a day filled with those new band-instrument-learning sounds. Wow!

Our girlie was in the choir, and how can you not love a choir that breaks out with this...



That song gave me a little oomph to kick some writerly rear this week!

Then there was the big double digit b-day party. Both my girlies have been saving their $$$ to buy their own ipod Nanos, so this is what captured the theme for my now 10 year old. Every year I bake their cake, whatever they want. So far, I've been able to do it. But this latest really had me worried. She wanted her cake to look like a CD. A challenge, I must say. But, you tell me...How'd I do?

We created a Rockin' Double Digits playlist that featured 10 songs, and I'd say the best part of the night came when it was dark and we broke out a bunch of glow bracelets for dancing. (For you moms out there, if you want a good hour of cheap fun...glow bracelets + music + dark = lots of fun. Or magic...

That was the last song. They decided to hook all of their bracelets together and each take a turn dancing in the center.

Music plays a huge role life in so many way (good and bad). What song or event with music is important in your characters life?