Good News, Everyone! (Minor, but still good)

First of all, a special thank you to Donna Hole for giving me an award. Thanks Donna! You're a peach :) I'm glad to have you around these here parts.

Well, rather than wait around for all my news, I decided to make some of my own.

I actually got to write again yesterday!

Now, I'm not saying this will become a regular thing, yo. I mean, I still have a wedding to plan, and blogs to write and read and comment on, and work and chores et al to do and sleep to get. But-- go on, ask me how it felt.

CHORUS: "How did it feel, L.T.?"

IT FELT REALLY FREAKING GREAT!

Oh, writing, how I've missed you...

All the excitement about this story has come pouring back. And I do hope I can sustain it long enough to actually finish the sucker-- a.) because I like to work all at once, and b.) because it's going to be quite the undertaking.

Have you had time to just write lately?

Whoopsie

I am a bad, bad blogger. Bad! Bad L.T.!

Ah well.

I think I'm going to cut Mad Libs down to every other week or so for a while and see how that goes. More content, less mad-ness. Well, okay, more content at least.

Today's my day over at the Secret Archives of the Alliterati. Go check us out over there!

Waiting

I feel like I'm waiting on a lot right now. I'm actually sort of scared for when answers start rolling in.

I know I've written about waiting before, and what to do with yourself in the meantime, but what do you do when what you're waiting on seems to consume everything around you?

I get butterflies in my stomach every time I think about what I'm waiting for. It's not good for my disposition.

So, instead, I'm trying to take my own advice and focus on something else-- my wedding. I get giddy every time I think about walking down the aisle, and I'm sure that obsessing over what time the ceremony will be and where to stamp the invites is much more productive than worrying about things I have no control over.

Even if they are really wonderful, amazing things.

I am happy with the life that I have, and I have so much already. So I'll focus on what I do have and let the answers roll right on by, whenever they come. Doesn't mean I won't be investing in Hershey Co. for a few weeks. Chocolate soothes the bitterest soul :)

I know I've asked this before, too, but I could use a reminder today: what do you do to keep your sanity while you're waiting on something?

Mad Libs Results Day #20

Hurray! It's Mad Libs Day!

Today's my day to write at the Secret Archives of the Alliterati. If you haven't already, go check us out here.

On to Mad Libs Results! Today's winner, through sheer fortitude and an aggressive use of the word "wallaby", is Matt Delman. Sigh...

But Shannon and Stephanie had some pretty good offerings too! Check it out:

From Shannon O'Donnell:

“We all squatted the moose, and we all are expecting both balls to move toward the proximity fields] and to help create a moon in which those talks can be fat,” Mrs. Fletcher said.

From Matt:

“We all wallabied the wallaby, and we all are expecting both wallabies to move toward the proximity wallabies and to help create a wallaby in which those talks can be wallabiest,” Mrs. Wallabysky said.

From Stephanie:

“We all snorkeled the clownfish, and we all are expecting both piranhas to move toward the proximity eels and to help create a tooth in which those talks can be slimy,” Mrs. Snarfblatt said.

Get Yer Mad Libs Words Here! Mad Libs Words Today!

Go check out our first guest poster, Harley Mays, over at the Secret Archives of the Alliterati today.

Planning a wedding is AWESOME. It is all-consuming at times. Which means, I don't have any content for you today.

I hope you'll forgive me. I have Mad Libs Words though!!

Leave the following in the comments by Sunday evening to play. Go here for rules if you don't know how.

Verb ending in -ed
Noun
Plural Noun
Plural Noun
Noun
Adjective
Last Name

How Many Words Would a Writer-Person Write if a Writer-Person Could Write Words?

Sometimes I forget how lucky I am.

I mean, I live in the world that I live in. Frankly, it doesn't get much better than that. Thank goodness I wasn't born in a country where females are viewed as property, and therefore not worth educating. Thank goodness I wasn't born into a place where books don't exist, or a time where only the rich could read because only the rich could afford books. Or with a disability that would mean the same things.

Of course, there's always the oral tradition. This post isn't about that, though.

It's just a concept that I've been philosophizing to myself about today. What would happen if everyone (and I mean everyone) in the world could write a story?

Tell me what you think. Do you think things would be any different, or would they stay pretty much the same?

May I Have Your Attention Please!! and Mad Libs Results #19

Well, my lovelies. Today is a great day. A frabjous day. (Dang Alice in Wonderland. Can't stop thinking about it). Today, my friends, is The.Day.

Presenting.... The Secret Archives of the Alliterati! That's right, folks, we're launching today. Come on over and take a look-- yours truly has the inaugural post. And there might be some incentive there for you to stick around... she said mysteriously.

WOOOO!

Ahem. On to Mad Libs Results.

From Shannon O'Donnell:

The ballplayer’s international trip had grown into a source of ecstasy among many hard fields, who complained smoothly to the White House that they were being forced to take a quick vote on bed care so Mr. Swisher and his family could leave on the overseas beer next week.

From Susan:

The farmer’s international trip had grown into a source of disgust among many lanky sunglasses, who complained merrily to the White House that they were being forced to take a quick vote on cable care so Mr. Butterman and his family could leave on the overseas egg next week.

From Matt:

The wallaby herder’s international trip had grown into a source of sadness among many brown wallabies, who complained swimmingly to the White House that they were being forced to take a quick vote on rancher care so Mr. Carnarvon and his family could leave on the overseas ranchhand next week.

From Deb:

The fortune-teller’s international trip had grown into a source of mystification among many turbid techies, who complained secretively to the White House that they were being forced to take a quick vote on lottery care so Mr. Devine and his family could leave on the overseas jackpot next week.

From Mary:

The roadkill worker’s international trip had grown into a source of trepidation among many tawdry fungi, who complained scrumptiously to the White House that they were being forced to take a quick vote on fence care so Mr. Rodriguez and his family could leave on the overseas laundry basket next week.

Well, the gratuitous use of the word "wallaby" is always a winner in my book. Congrats, Matt. But if I had to pick a second, I'd go for Susan's lanky sunglasses.

Happy Monday!!! And the Ides of March, apparently.

T.G.I.F. and Mad Libs Words Day

Thank. Goodness. *Gasps*

*Crawls on shore, wearing bedraggled clothes, soot staining half of face, hair sticking out at odd angles*

Made it to another weekend. Anyone else relieved it's Friday?

Oooh! Ooooh! Me! I am!

Wait. I already showed that. Now I'm telling. Dangit, I can't wait til I have time to write again. I'm getting worn out. Used up. Out of practice. Cliche.

It... *is* Friday, right? I'm not stuck in some sort of sick, infinite loop, am I?

Happy weekend, everyone!

Don't forget-- The Secret Archives of the Alliterati launches on Monday (and yes! We are still looking for guest bloggers. Email us at alliteratiarchives[at]gmail[dot]com if you're interested). See you all there! And here. But mostly there.

Here are the Mad Libs words for this week. For a breif treatyse on how to play, go visit this post.

Occupation
Emotion
Adjective
Plural noun
Adverb (ends in -ly)
Noun
Last Name
Noun

Leave your answers in the comments by Sunday evening and I'll post the results Monday.

Trying on a new hat

I saw Alice In Wonderland last night, and it got me thinking about hats. (Great movie, by the way. Strange, but not unusual for the standard Tim Burton/ Johnny Depp/ Danny Elfman fare).

We've all heard the phrase "wear many hats". And as writers, we have a unique opportunity to do so. What's to stop us from wearing many hats? What's to stop us from being horror writers, and YA writers, and journalistic writers, and taking alternate Saturdays to show our prize-winning roses?

Well, the publishing industry, for one. Tradition/ publishing etiquette/ publishing edict dictate that THOU SHALT WRITE ONLY ONE. But this hasn't stopped some writers; writers like Stephen King and Neil Gaiman cross boundaries all the time. So why can't we?

Well, the answer isn't that we can't. (It's also somewhat that if you're Stephen King or Neil Gaiman, you can just lick some paper and it will be a bestseller). The answer is complicated, and not easy to explain, but I'll try. First of all, a lot of writers are just more comfortable in a certain genre. They *are* horror, or YA, or journalism. It's how they think, feel, grow. It's where the ideas come from. It's the garden in which they grow their thoughts. They simply have no desire to wear a top hat one day and a saucy little chapeau the next. There's nothing wrong with that.

But then there are those who juggle hats like. . . a hat juggler. (Strong on the metaphors today I am not). They play three instruments, ride elephants and unicorns, sew, paint, build and garden (no, I'm not talking about myself-- obviously I don't have any unicorns. Yet). They write sci-fi when they wake up and thrillers before bed. Perhaps if you are already used to wearing many hats, it's not so hard to try on a new one. There's nothing wrong with a new hat.

Then there are those who only ever put on their beret/ hockey mask/ ball cap every day because they feel that's what they should wear. That's what the established authority says they should wear, and they will wear it. There's nothing wrong with this, either.

Me, well, I'm complicated, too. I think I've found a home in commercial fiction, but fantasy creeps in even there. I don't know what else I'd write though. And there is that whole "establishment" thing.

So, where do you fall? Are you comfortable trying new hats, or do you stick to one? If you could try on a new hat, what would it be?

Mad Libs Results Day #18

From Shannon:

Some daffodils suggested that the pillow would look even better were it not for heavy owlstorms that blanketed major cities in February, keeping would-be minivan seekers at home and kissing business, particularly teacher. Most experts now expect job baseballs will give way to gains in the spring, as still cautious American clouds edge happily back toward hiring.

From Ali:

Some children suggested that the napkin would look even better were it not for heavy couchstorms that blanketed major cities in February, keeping would-be laptop seekers at home and dreaming business, particularly programming. Most experts now expect job dogs will give way to gains in the spring, as still cautious American dreams edge always back toward hiring.

From Deb:

Some skeletons suggested that the closet would look even better were it not for heavy packagestorms that blanketed major cities in February, keeping would-be chocolate seekers at home and mutating business, particularly surgeon. Most experts now expect job alligators will give way to gains in the spring, as still cautious American crocodiles edge frantically back toward hiring.

I love all the different storms this week. Reminds of Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, haha. Thanks for playing everyone! What's your favorite?

JOIN US and Mad Libs Words Day

So, on Monday I announced that the Secret Archives of the Alliterati will be launching on Monday, March 15th. We need guest bloggers for every Friday, and while we've already had enough responses to carry us into May, we want more! (A special thank you to those of you who have already expressed your interest). If you'd be interested in a semi-regular feature or just a one-time post, email us at alliteratiarchives[at]gmail[dot]com to tell us a little bit about what you'd want to write about. We are looking for all sorts of posts! Either way, be sure to follow our new adventure.

On to this week's Mad Libs Words. They're noun-heavy again, so be sure to pick them all up:

Plural Noun
Noun
Noun
Noun
Verb ending in -ing
Occupation
Plural noun
Plural noun
Adverb

You don't need to tell the whole story to tell a good story

I was watching Disney/Pixar's Up a couple nights ago, and it really got me thinking. For those of you who haven't yet seen it, I'll try not to spoil anything. Basically, the first twenty or so minutes of the movie involve the main character meeting his future wife as a child and then shows their life together. Even though there's so much more to the story after they reach old age (the rest of the movie, in fact), that first twenty minutes is amazingly powerful, and poignant. All it is after their initial introduction is a montage without words. But it tugs on every heart string (I) have, and tells an incredible story. Without words. Without devoting more than thirty seconds to a single snapshot of their life.

I thought about this first part for a while, and realized that what the movie does there is tell a compelling and powerful story by only showing the most important parts. You leave that first twenty minutes feeling saddened that they're gone-- it seems as if the whole movie has already taken place-- only to discover there's still a lot more of the story to go. It's a masterful execution, and a technique we could all learn from.

If you haven't yet seen Up, I recommend watching it so you can see what I mean. If you have, I recommend keeping that first twenty minutes in mind the next time you're struggling with a narrative summary or a too-long story (I know I will). Some of the most compelling and powerful stories can literally tell whole lives in a few pages.

The key is the snapshots. I'll take one example, from the middle, that might have a slight spoiler. Carl, the main character, and Ellie, his wife, are lying on their backs watching clouds when one of the clouds takes on the shape of a baby. Suddenly, the sky is full of clouds that look like babies, and the way the two of them smile suggests they're going to try for one. They're shown decorating a nursery. Ellie paints the wall joyfully. Then the scene cuts to a doctor's office. Ellie sits in a chair, head in hands, shoulders shaking. Carl comforts her from behind.

We don't get a lot of information here, but it tells us everything we need to know. We have some questions: did Ellie ever get pregnant? Or, why can't they have a baby? But those questions pale in comparison to the story, and we're okay not knowing the answers. Saddened, but okay.

Using snapshots in your writing could easily and effectively reduce summarizing narrative to a powerful, yet brief tool to tell a story. I intend to experiment with it myself.

Do you think this would be an effective tool for you?

Mad Libs Results Day #17

So, yeah. I'm starting to wonder if there's a business to be had in psycho-analyzing these Mad Libs results. Take a look at this week's results; you can also find the source article here.

From Shannon O'Donnell:

By Friday, some baseball study ballplayers were demanding something more than an end to his fangirl: they were calling for his drool. That only added to the increasing sense that it would be
luckily impossible for him to run the television and the moose with the husband case in the background.

From Matt:

By Friday, some pillowcase blue wallabies were demanding something more than an end to his sheet: they were calling for his pillow. That only added to the increasing sense that it would be
sharply impossible for him to run the blanket and the mattress with the bed case in the background.

From Bane:

By Friday, some mutt stinky corvettes were demanding something more than an end to his detective: they were calling for his speaker. That only added to the increasing sense that it would be juicily impossible for him to run the joke and the shrubbery with the knight case in the background.

From Deb:

By Friday, some rattlesnake inflationary reptiles were demanding something more than an end to his physicist: they were calling for his farmer. That only added to the increasing sense that it
would be disproportionately impossible for him to run the cosmonaut and the pitchfork with the sunbeam case in the background.

From Stephanie:

By Friday, some bed comfy bedbugs were demanding something more than an end to his slippers: they were calling for his chocolate covered pretzels. That only added to the increasing
sense that it would be sleepily impossible for him to run the monkey and the quilt with the pajamas case in the background.

Clearly, Shannon's anxious for a baseball game (or her husband is, possibly also a moose), Stephanie and Matt need a nap (or a good night's sleep), Bane's dog needs a bath and Deb wishes it would stop snowing. Amiright?

Good show, chaps, good show :)

Some Bad News, then Some Good News, then a Pretty Please?

Mad Libs Results aren't far behind...

First, my bad news.

I'm going to have to cut down the number of days I post to this blog to three a week. Don't worry! There will still be delicious, tasty content on all of those three days-- including Mad Libs.

Why, oh WHY!?!?!? you may be screaming to the heavens. Or not. Either way, I will answer, my dear readers.

It's because of the good news.

See, four of us got together and decided we'd gang up on this whole blogging thing and do a group writing blog. Not that you don't already know them, but in the event that you don't, I'd like to take a moment to introduce you to Matthew Delman, Bane of Anubis, and Stephanie Thornton-- three powerhouse, up-and-coming writers who totallyneedtobepublishedrightnowtheyarethatawesome!

*Ahem*. Anyway, they rock. And roll. However, you may have noticed that there are only four of us. And five days in a week. This is where the pretty please comes in. We will be posting Monday through Thursday regularly, but we are looking for interested bloggers to rotate Fridays. We want people who want to post either a "regular" feature, or a series of posts, or even just one-time posts. If you think you might be interested, email us a little about what you'd want to write about at alliteratiarchives [at] gmail [dot] com. If you have no idea, that's fine too. We don't bite! We'll respond to every inquiry.

The Secret Archives of the Alliterati will launch officially on March 15th, 2010. Our first guest blogger will therefore be posted on March 19th, 2010.