Remembering The Good Old Days

Thinking about Thursday

Remembering The Good Old Days

Today, I am thinking about technology and how I ever lived without it. Sadly, my computer has come to the end of its cyber life. My personal IT consultant (who happens to be my husband) has given the professional opinion that my laptop is experiencing a fatal error and is not long for this world.

I am in the middle of a great online writing class. I have several author features coming up. I am starting a new shiny story!

AAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKK! 

As I started panicking about having to use his computer or my phone while I wait for my new computer to arrive, I got to feeling a little nostalgic.  

These used to be my computer. 

 

This used to be how I kept up with my friends.

This was where I learned about writing ( and everything else).

Of course, this used to be how my hair looked

Warm fuzzy feeling gone! 

Anyone else feeling nostalgic today? Or what to share their worse fashion choice? 

Weird Writer Behavior

Tell Me Your Story Tuesday

What is your weird writer behavior? 

I have a confession: 

I talk to myself. Pretty much all the time. Sometimes, I talk about what I am doing, sometimes I talk about what I need to do next and sometimes, I talk  about the lives of my imaginary friends. 

My favorite place to do this is in the car.  Thank goodness for the invention of hands-free cell phones! Now at the stoplights, I don't have to pretend like I am singing. 

It also keeps me entertained while cleaning. I've had arguments, first kisses and plotted murder, all while folding laundry, mopping floors and wiping down counters. 

If I ever get the opportunity to be a full time writer, my house will probably be much cleaner! Okay, probably not, but it is one of the possible benefits I keep touting to my husband.

So, Tell Me Your Story. What is your weird writer behavior? Do you talk to yourself? Follow strangers to finish hearing their conversation? Have a computer picture file of people you have never met?

 

 

What's in a name? The Reveal

The names are all based on characters from the board game 

CLUE.

 Based on characters sketches I found
here.

Miss Scarlett

Scarlett Mitchell~ I will admit to cheating just a bit here. Obviously, Scarlett represents Miss Scarlett. But, I had trouble deciding on a last name, so I used Mitchell as a nod to Margret  Mitchell, author of Gone with the Wind. 

In my novel, Scarlett is an heiress turned actress who celebrates the opening night of her play by hosting a murder mystery party at her home. When she disappears in the middle of it, everyone wonders if it was part of the act.

Colonel Mustard

 Amber O'Conell~  Scarlett's best friend is a security specialist named, Amber( A synonymy for Yellow/Mustard) O'Conell ( an anagram of Colonel). When Scarlett disappears, Amber knows it isn't part of performance and starts investigate all of the "Usual Suspects". 

Professor Plum

 Sage Lacil~  Sage (a synonym for Wise which came from Professor) Lacil (an anagram of Lilac, a synonym for Plum/ Purple) is Scarlett's former tutor. He meets Amber at the play and become her love interest.

Mrs. Peacock

Beau Byrd~ Again, I will admit to cheating just a tad. Beau (short form of Beautiful) is Scarlett's leading man in the play. He is emotional, handsome and absolutely smitten with her. 

Mr. Green

 Kelley Priest~ The character sketch I found stated that Mr. Green is sometimes referred to as Rev. Green. So, obviously, Kelley (a synonym for green) Priest. Kelley is Scarlett's philandering, conniving, boyfriend with a gambling addiction.  When Scarlett disappears, Amber suspects she may have been kidnapped by one of Kelley's "financial backers".

Mrs. White

 Virgina Ivory~ Virgina Ivory ( both synonyms for White) is Scarlett's agent. On the surface, she is bland and uninteresting. She believes Scarlett's disappearance is just another play for attention. 








So, there you have it. The grand secret to my character names.:)
What do you think? Can you follow my logic? Or does it only work in my mind? 
Have a great Saturday!  

Friday Plot Swap

Friday Plot Swap

Dawn's Plot Swap

Have a plot? Leave one

Need a plot ? Take one 

Have you seen a news story that got your wheels turning? 

Do you have a plot in your head that would make a great story, just not one you intend to write?  

Leave it here on Fridays 

or 

pick up a plot for your weekend writing time.

Here is what I have for you this Friday: 

If you get stuck, just start making up words!

English has over 600,000 words -- but we're still adding more. Some words evolve over time or come from foreign languages -- and some were simply made up, including thousands coined by Shakespeare.

Laughter is the best...crime prevention? 

Police say a Southeast Texas bank teller thwarted an attempted robbery when she read the holdup note and started laughing.

This woman has already written a book, but her story opens up all kinds of possibilities
Marie Walsh says she was in prison for a drug crime she didn't commit, facing regular taunts and threats from inmates and guards, when her grandfather came to visit her and told her she had to get out.

 

 

So, what is going on in your world right now? The real or imaginary one. Do you have something you would like to share with the rest of us? Any inspiration to spread? 

What's in a name?

Thinking about Thursday

What's in a Name?

My first name is Dawn because my father was a morning person and told my mom,  "I just know she is going to be as pretty as the sunrise."

No Pressure there, right? 

My mom wanted to name me Cinnamon. True story.

Anyway, one of my favorite parts of starting a new manuscript is naming my characters. It is also one of the most challenging parts for me. 


I like names that mean something, even if I am sure no one else in the world knows the meaning. For example, the WIP I am currently revising has a wonderful dog named Alastair which means "Man's protector".Did you know that?

So, what about you? How do you name your characters? Do you frequent baby name sites? Name them after people you know? Find names that carry the meaning you intend? 

Do you have some names to share with us? 

These names are from a currently shelved, but completed novel.

Can you guess where they are from? (Hint: The novel was built around a theme related to the names)

Scarlett Mitchell

Amber O'Conell

Sage Lacil

Beau Byrd

Kelley Priest

Virginia Ivory 

Any ideas?

Signs of the the Time

Tell Me Your Story Tuesday

Signs of the Time

During some recent revisions, I realized  my main character was constantly opening and closing his phone. 

His phone also rang several times and after speaking to the caller he would hang up.

I reached out to the "twitter-verse" for a phrase to replace rang. Virtually no phones ring any more. They vibrate, signal, chime, do the Macarena (shout out to my crit partner, Teri Anne Stanley).

      

I started wondering and, honestly, feeling overwhelmed as often happens in the trenches of revision.

How do we keep our manuscripts current without dating them?

I especially feel for YA authors. When I look back at some of my early attempts at YA (written when I was a YA:) ), my characters are passing notes in class and talking on the phone for hours. Today, they would be texting under their desks and chatting on Facebook.

So, tell me your story? What have you come across in your revisions that dated the story? How do you making sure it is current without appearing to be trying too hard?

What if you mention Facebook today, get a book deal tomorrow and a year from now when your book hits the shelves, some new and improved social network site has sent Facebook the way of Myspace? 

Does it bother you to read a "contemporary" novel and find out-dated references to technology or phrases? 

 

 

Friday Plot Swap: April Fools Style

Friday Plot Swap

Let's Talk April Fools Pranks!

Dawn's Plot Swap

Have a plot? Leave one

Need a plot ? Take one 

Have you seen a news story that got your wheels turning? 

Do you have a plot in your head that would make a great story, just not one you intend to write?  

Leave it here on Fridays 

or 

pick up a plot for your weekend writing time.

Here is what I have for you this Friday: 

 

Yesterday I posted about My Dad's idea of an April Fools Joke (which he acted out in July!) 

 

Here is my favorite prank for today.

 A new way to communicate

The mouse and keyboard were invented before the Internet even existed. Since then, countless technological advancements have allowed for much more efficient human computer interaction. Why then do we continue to use outdated technology? Introducing Gmail Motion -- now you can control Gmail with your body.

So what is your best prank? What is the worst you have experienced? How could it be worked into a plot?