Monday Moment #86: a writing prompt for your work-in-progress

This post is going to hurt me more than it's going to hurt you. Trust me! (But be careful if you choose to read on because this Moment comes with a challenge.)

So, here's the thing. We're friends, right? If you come here to Cuppa, then we must be friends. If this is your first time visiting Cuppa, well...we must become friends veryvery quickly because I can ONLY share this with friends. Seriously!

Why?

I told you already.

It's painful.

*deep breath*

It's that time of year!

SCHOOL PHOTO TIME

Which is all fine and good until you find out how bad your school photo really is. So, with a little help from my chuckling hubby, we chose one of my photos. Oh yes. We did.

6th grade. 'Nuf said? Did anyone have a good photo from sixth grade?

Prepare yourselves...
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Oh the volumes this photo speaks! The rolled-forward shoulders. The retainer. And yes...the MULLET!

So. Very. Bad.

But I see this photo and I think, "That's who Judy Blume wrote for." And that girl, and so many just like her, is why I write today.

And because my husband laughed so hysterically at my mullet, I present him in sixth grade...

What sucks is that he was totally cuter, not nearly as awkward and homely, with only a bitty mullet.

Don't say I didn't warn you. This is a special two part Moment, because before a I share the writing prompt, I throw down a challenge: I'LL SHOW YOU MINE IF YOU SHOW ME YOURS. If you are a blogger, I challenge you to share your awkward school photo in tribute to the kid/teen you write for then post your link in the comments so we can all share in your awkward joy. Come on. You know you want to.

And for the Moment:

What memorable school photo or school photo experience has your character gone through?

Monday Moment #85: a writing prompt for you 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. )

There's a big transition in the air. Or really, it's already happened. All the kids are back in school, the air (at least here in Seattle) is cooling down, and we're all starting to grasp and cling to routines again.

I don't know about you, but this time of year makes me crave comfort activities and foods, on Sunday night in particular. I'd guess that in most houses (tell me if I'm off here) Sundays are the most routine and predictable. Typically there's no sports practice or activities, no meetings or doctors appointments, and it's the most common day for most to be off from work.

My family has a particular Sunday night routine, and we were anxious to get it started, even though the TV season wasn't ready for us to start (we watched a re-run). Sunday nights for us usually includes a new AFV (Americas Funniest Home Videos) and dinner (usually a cheesy-meat dip with tortilla chips and fruit) in front of the TV. We get all cozied up together on the couch, with our finger-food dinner, then we laugh at people doing ridiculous things, or people taking nasty falls or smacks, or kids/animals being down-right adorable.

I suppose it's good to be getting back to that good, clean humor since most of our family giggles around the tube have been at the expense of people like this:

Oh the joy of the big balls! (Yes, I did just say that.) But if you watched any Wipeout this summer, you know what I mean. And if you didn't, you have no idea the laughter you missed out on.

AND...I'm off topic.

Let's get back on course.

We all have our own idea of what a typical Sunday night (or happening) would be, and so do our characters. I might even guess, that given our characters' current circumstances, Sunday nights may no longer be typical, but they'd recall typical.

So, what is or was a typical event or occurrence on Sunday for your character?

Monday Moment #84: 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. )

Happy Labor Day, friends!

*hits forehead*

Why-oh-why couldn't I have blown posting a Monday Moment today instead of last Monday. Then I would have a really valid excuse. But, no! I don't have an excuse. None. Zero. Nada.

Monday Moment #84 should've of come your way last Monday, and the only excuse I can chock it up to is being human.

Dang! I have to be human?

Yeah. I am. Human, that is. I truly just forgot. Sure, I had a lot going on, but still...MM #84 was not in the currents of my brain waves. I believe it was Wednesday morning when I realized, and I truly had to think hard about it to know for sure. Yes, I had forgotten.

Those of you who know me, or who have been following these Moments from #1, know I'm committed to posting each and every Monday. But even the most committed have misses. Right?

Has your main character ever forgotten something important or dear to their heart? (If they have, tell them, I feel their pain.)

Monday Moment #83: 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. )

Coming your way a little late in the day, I know. Thanks for being patient.

Yesterday, Cuppa celebrated 2 years. Two! Although, I must say, it pales in comparison to the 60 years (Yes! 60 years!) my grandparents will be celebrating on Friday. (Happy Anniversary, Grandma and Grandpa. I love you!)

Here's the thing: I thought about starting this blog for far too long, worrying about things that don't matter at all. Like what to call it, how to build it, what I'd say, and wondering if anyone would read it. Truly, none of that really mattered. When I finally decided to do it, I just did. Dove right on in. I did a little brainstorming with Jaime (thanks, Jaime) and decided on Cuppa Jolie then pulled it together in an evening. I wrote my first post. Then posted. The rest is Cuppa history.

I'm so glad I did.

Mostly, it's because of all of you. All the connections I've made. With readers. With fellow writers and bloggers. Basically, with my friends (whether I know you personally or not). You are all the reason Cuppa feels like a cozy place for me. A place I can pull my feet up on the sofa, sip on my latte, and enjoy!

There are anniversaries of all kinds. What anniversary does your character celebrate?

P.S. Can I just say that I wish I could celebrate with a copy of Mockingjay. I can't wait to get my hands on it. How 'bout you?

The Terrible Twos?

No way! Two can't be terrible.

TODAY IS CUPPA'S 2ND BLOGIVERSARY!

Perhaps I'll eat a cupcake. Or something sweet!

Maybe even more appropriate, I'll have a cuppa something fantastic. I hope you will too!

Coming Out From Behind My Cuppa

Some people just ooze talent. People like the amazing Sonya Sones. Not only does this amazing author of novels-in-verse capture teens with her extraordinary storytelling, but she captures people in photographs like no other. You can see some of her favorites HERE.

I've visited other author's websites and noticed their great photos, and often underneath I've seen, "Photo by Sonya Sones." And every time I've seen such a photo, I've always thought, Oh how I'd love to have Sonya take my photo.

Guess what?

She did. *squeeee*

She sent them to me last night.

Getting these special Sonya photos, paired with something learned at the conference, I'm thinking it's time to come out from behind my big white mug. What do you think?

During the conference, Team Blog's very own leader, the lovely Alice Pope, presented a session called Moving Your Career Forward with Social Networking and Blogging with social media guru, Greg Pincus. Now, while I was unable to attend that session, I did follow the tweets and read the blog post, and one point they made stood out to me. Here's the hot tip link. They mentioned how many people at the conference recognized them from their photos (featured on their blogs, Facebook, and Twitter) and said it's good to use the same photo across all platforms.

Of course this got me thinking. Because who could ever recognize me, unless I walked around with a big white mug in front of my face? (Although it has been fun when people have recognized the name Jolie and then asked, "Hey, are you Cuppa?" That gets me every time.)

So, you tell me. Time to change my photo to one of these by the fab Sonya Sones? And if yes, then which photo?

Photo #1

Photo by Sonya Sones

 

Photo #2

Photo by Sonya Sones

Photo #3

Photo by Sonya Sones

 

Photo #4

Photo by Sonya Sones

Photo #5

Photo by Sonya Sones

I also wanted to mention that those people who signed up for the Pro Track during the summer conference were also photographed by Sonya (that alone is worth the extra cost). Just one more reason to keep dropping those coins into your SCBWI 2011 jar. Anyone get their photo taken as part of the Pro Track during the conference? I would love to hear about it.

Monday Moment #82: 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. )

Guilty pleasures!

I have 'em. We all do, right? Yes?

I just finished watching Big Brother. *head falls, a bit embarrassed*

So, I've never really tried to hide the fact that I love reality TV. I do. I really do. But watching some, like Project Runway or Top Chef, I feel I can justify a bit more. With Project Runway I'm fascinated by the creative process and seeing the end result. With Top Chef it's the food and I might just learn something.

With Big Brother, well, really...what good reason is there to watch it other than fantastic DOSES OF GUILTY GOODNESS?

Sure. I try to think of some. Like, I love to pay attention to character. It's true. I love watching the way people speak and interact and react. It's fascinating, and as a writer, I always feel like I can learn something from a cast of characters. See...I have reasons.

*pops another Hot Tamales in mouth*

Second guilty pleasure of the night. I admit it. I have a huge box of Hot Tamales right next to the computer and I've been popping 'em this whole time, even though certain friends make fun of my love of such candies.

So, I ask again. We all have them, right?

That's what I thought.

Then, so should our characters.

What guilty pleasure(s) does your character indulge in?