A year in review

A lot of things happened during 2009. My crit group just brought out our resolutions for this year and I was surprised to see that I had been reasonably successful with what I'd set out to do in the year... which was finish Haven and get it ready to start submitting to agents.

This year has been very eventful. I started this blog, got myself a Facebook account and finished a novel. Here's a run down of the year:

No of books finished: 1
No of books started: 1 (don't even go there, figured it had a better story in my head)
No of revisions done: Probably 3-4 (I've been a busy bee)
No of books read: Approx. 50
No of books started: 5 (I'm gonna get around to reading them eventually)
Still to read: 5 (that's just the ones I've got, not including ones started)
Fave book of the year: Hunger games
Reading at moment: Uglies

So how has everyone elses year's been? Did you accomplish everything you set out to do this year?

Merry Christmas...

I hope everyone has a very happy Christmas and spend the day relaxing with loved ones...

So, as a relaxing - and time wasting - note, here's a video I found on YouTube (you got to love the random stuff you can find there) from a very talented musician.

Have a Merry Christmas

Official Kissing Day...

Just found out that it's officially kissing day here on the blogosphere. So, what does that mean? Actually I have no idea, but it looks like posting a kissing scene is the thing to do... so, here's a scene from my novel Haven.

He leans into me, pushing me against the hard stone of the nearest building. “You can learn a lot about someone from the way they fight.”

“So, what did you learn about me?” I look away from him.

“Well... you’re driven, hate to lose, conflicted, keeps secrets.” He chuckles. “And, always do the unexpected.”

“All that from the way I get hit?”

“You did get a shot or two in.” He shrugs. He moves his head closer to me until our noses pretty much touch and say, “Like I said, a person’s way of fighting reveals a lot about them.”

I lean in and kiss him, pressing my lips hard against his. I rip my head away and divert my eyes to the ground. I know my face must be lit up like a neon cherry.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean it,” I mumble quickly, running the words together.

“I don’t see why.” He returns the kiss, forcing me into the wall.

I snake my arms around his neck, drawing him closer. He smells of cinnamon and rain. My heart races and heat surges through my body. I don’t want this to end.

* * *

I personally find it fun to write kissing scenes, what about everyone else? And, what's your favourite kissing scene?

Xmas Rush...

It's been very busy around here, trying to find presents and preparing for a Christmas where my families going to be separated on Xmas day and most will be working at various parts of the day... trying to figure out what to buy, getting postage that will let presents arrive at their destinations before Christmas day and getting the right food and treats for a very mixed up day is very overwhelming...

And, I'm running out of time with only a week left...

So, how does everyone prepare for Christmas? Does everyone leave things to the last minute? Or is there some other unfortunate soul (like me) who has to work the majority of Xmas day?

Querying is like...

Querying is like trying to find a car space at a full parking lot during Christmas time...

Well, it's sort of the same. You research the agents and see one that's seems to be a perfect fit (like someone's who's about to leave the parking lot) so you send in the query and wait (hoping you will get the parking spot soon)...

I know, it's not a great analogy, but it's helped me learn two things this week:

1.  Querying involves lots of waiting...
2. It's a really bad idea to go shopping in the weeks leading up to Christmas... no kidding, I spent fifteen minutes looking for a park (avoiding several near-collisions with people fighting over parking spots), just to leave and move on to the next shopping centre... I wonder if I can avoid shopping until after Christmas.

So, how do you handle querying? Or even handle Christmas shopping?

One thing to learn from Disney...

So, I had a day off and felt in a lazy mood so I went through my DVD collection. I was in an inspirational, family-friendly mood so I ended up with watching a marathon of Disney movies (Princess Diaries, Lizzy Maguire, Aladdin... okay, I admit it, I'm addicted to Disney...) and all these movies seemed to have one morale...

You can do anything if you just try and never give up...

I think that's the way we should always act (even though it's hard when nothing ever seems to go right). In any obstacle in life, especially with writing, there's always a voice that sneaks into the back of the mind asking why you bother trying... but, where can someone get if they never try?

My definition of luck is: 90% Hard Work, 10% Persistence.

Is there ever a time where you felt like giving up? Is there anything that helps motivate you to keep going for one more day?

A slang saying...

Isn't the English language bizarre at times. You can have a word that have multiple meanings or you can have a meaning that can use multiple words to define it. But, when words can change meaning as much as the latest fashion trend changes, who is there to inform everyone when they are now using a taboo word or the way they're using the word is now the total opposite of what they're meaning?

TV's naughtiest new swearword

I came across an interest news article that states a new swearword that seems to be all the rage across the television at the moment. Since when was it even considered a swearword?

How do words become slang? And, who gives the slang a meaning? Could it be that one person says a word (even if it's a totally ridiculous, nonsensical word) and whoever hears it passes it on? A bigger question is, when writing, is word choice is important so that the intended audience will understand what's being said, and also the story won't become outdated with the ever changing meanings of words and sayings?