We've Moved!

Come and visit us at our fabulous new home! We'd love to hear your comments.

We are now the Deadline Divas and 2007 is going to be a great year for all of us.

So, Puss says please add the new site to your links and visit often.

Fantastic Words

I watched my very favorite movie of all time this weekend - The Princess Bride. I hadn't watched it in well over a year, probably close to 2, so everything I've learned in the past couple years with regard to writing made me view the movie in a different light. It's still my very favorite movie of all time - but I have a new appreciation for it. Why? Because of the fantastic banter between the characters. The dialog is fabulous.

Do you remember who said it?

"Who are you?"
"No one of consequence."
"I must know."
"Get used to disappointment."

"Tyrone, you know how much I love to watch you work. But I've got my country's 500th anniversary to plan, my wife to murder, and Gilder to frame for it. I'm swamped."

"Bye, bye, boys. Have fun storming the castle."
"Think it'll work?"
"It'd take a miracle."

"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders! The most famous is never get involved in a land war in Asia, but only slightly less well-known is this: never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha... "

"I told you I would always come for you. Why didn't you wait for me?"
"Well, you were dead."

"No more rhymes now, I mean it!"
"Anybody want a peanut?"

And of course......
"Hallo! My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."

There are so many very quoteable lines from this movie, IMDB has a very long page devoted to it: here.


And in other news, the world of comics is yet again reiterating the average person's understanding of how the publishing world works: Fast, and they pay you a lot of money a month after you finish your first draft. *snort* Check out For Better or Worse today, here: For Better or For Worse
(For those of you who don't follow the comic, Mike finished the first draft of his book around Christmas time.)

Are You Right for Writing?

I love Holly Lisle's web site. I find something cool every time I pop over there. She has a quiz - and a discussion - titled Are You Right for Writing? Follow the link pasted above to find it. After everyone answers, maybe we can compare and discuss our results?

Here are my answers to her questions:

Question 1: A. 5 seconds. I get cold sweats just thinking about power outages.

Question 2: B. Finish your sentence, then answer it.

Question 3: B. Reschedule for a later hour.

Question 4: B. Will manage. You always have a pen, and there are napkins in restaurants.

Question 5: B. Your name on the spines of a shelf full of beautiful books?

Question 6: D. when you're making as much from writing as you make at your day job . . . and have for a couple of years.

Question 7: C. background and development for a number of related books, a timeline, and a whole handful of novel ideas;

Question 8: D. The writing.

Question 9: D. Your house doesn't need insulation; the triple-stacked shelves of all your books will serve quite nicely, thank you.

Question 1O: D. Don't ask.

My Score: 27

What she says: 10 - 29 points -- You have some seriously romanticized ideas of what writing for a living is like. You're going to be badly disappointed by the reality.

Now, is she correct?

If she is, then I have some serious adjustments to make about how I approach writing and how I prioritize my goals.

Ya Think?

While we're packing boxes getting ready...

to move, is there topics you'd like to see at the new blog?

We'd love to hear from you.


*Announcement

The Definition of a Writing Diva

The term DIVA was originally used to describe a woman of rare, outstanding talent. The term derives from an ancient Italian word meaning "goddess", which, in turn derives from the feminine form of a Latin word divus, meaning "divine one".

I had a longer (much much looooonger) post prepared, but blogger ate it. I'll rewrite and post it later. So please check back!

Thursday Thinker

That's the question, isn't it? So you've got an idea for a book or novella. You've got the story idea and maybe a couple of characters. Now what? Where do you go from there?

Do you do an intensive plotting session in which you lay down everything for the book?

Do you do character interviews?

Do you dive in and write by the seat of your pants?

What do you do to start the next book on your list?

BIC-ing Away - Muse Food

It seems some of us are still in the January doldrums, looking for ways to feed our muses and inspire our creativity. In my case, I'm having a hard time getting motivated to check the internet. I know - some would say that's a good thing. :) Amazing how a job title change from "professional blah-blah-blah" to "administrative assistant/receptionist" can actually come with an increase in work and responsibility, isn't it? Makes me wonder who's really running the show. ;)

But we were talking about muse food, weren't we? Since muses are creative beings, we have to treat them with creativity, right? So, why not try one or more of the following:

1. Color. Yes, in a coloring book. Or on a blank sheet of paper. Use as many crayons/markers/colored pencils as you can find, and let the color inspire you.

2. Take a walk. Look at the world Mother Nature has painted for you. Drink in the fresh air. (If you're exceptionally sick of cold, snowy weather right now, you might want to save this one for Spring.)

3. Flip through a photo album. Yours or somebody else's. Enjoy the reminder of days gone past.

4. Cook something fragrant. Anything from cookies to chicken to simmering mulling spices in cider or wine on the stove.

5. Touch everything you can. Feel the warmth and softness of towels freshly run though the dryer, the fluffiness of a favorite comforter, or the scratchiness of your significant other's wool socks.

6. Put an extra spice in dinner. A little garlic on your chicken, or a little rosemary in your bread. See if anybody notices. ;)

7. Go to a coffee shop and listen to the conversations around you. Soak in the different speech patterns, vocal tones, and unusual word choices. Imagine what those people's lives might be like - who are they, what do they do? Name them, and tell yourself a story about them.

What do you do to refill your creative well?

Nora comes to Lifetime!

Sorry this is so late. I'm sick again *blek* and my blog-brain is missing. This is basically an advertisement, but I'm really excited to see these four movies!

Lifetime is producing four of La Nora's books, the first of which is Angels Fall, starring Heather Locklear. It will air Monday, January 29th at 9:00 pm.


http://www.lifetimetv.com/movies/noraroberts/angelsfall/

Also, they're airing Blue Smoke, Montana Sky, and Carolina Moon. There are terrific actors/actresses playing the lead roles. I've read all these stories, so look forward to seeing how the movies turn out. Have any of you read these books?