Have a cup of Christmas Cheer

Since I have shopping to finish, presents to wrap, a quilt to finish, a toque to knit, and many more such items on my to do list, I'm going to sign off blogger for the week (not that I've been around too much anyway - hope that changes in the new year).

So I'm leaving you with my favorite Christmas message.

JOY

This word reminds me how I can best remember the reason for the season.

Jesus

Others

Yourself

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas surrounded by lots of family, fun, and of course chocolate.

Three Way Mirror

The other day I realized, much to my displeasure, that I needed a new bra. I hate bra shopping. In fact, I had it a hundred times worse than buying a new bathing suit.

I picked out about ten bras and went to the change room that had a three way mirror it it. I tried bra after bra on and every time I looked in the mirror I realized something – I'm out of shape. Nothing like seeing yourself from all angles, to get a reality check. You really can't eat a box of Toffifees and lose weight.

Sometimes I feel like this with my writing. There are certain times when I see it better.  I get a reality check on to what I need to add and what I need to get rid of. Here are a few of my three way mirrors:

• After I let it sit for a while.
• After I get it back from a CP.
• After I've read a good book.
• After I've worked on another project.
• After I've gone for a long walk.

How about you? Are there times when you see your book better, without resorting to a three way mirror?

Passion vs Practice

I read a quote once that read something like this. "Don't mistake passion for practice."

It's easy to be passionate about things: writing, losing weight, spending time with family, doing well at our jobs, etc. But it takes work to accomplish those things, sacrifice even. I've often said I wish I could just lose five pounds. Usually it's when I'm putting a piece of chocolate in my mouth. If we're not willing to put forth the effort then we will not have the results.

This weekend my son went to a basketball camp where the main coach said this. "You can be outstanding or you can be comfortable, but you can't be both."

Hard work is exactly that hard work. It's something I've been missing these past few months. I can't use the, I'm busy or I'm tired excuse anymore, because if I'm really passionate about writing then I'll find time.

My goal this week is to etch out some time to write. It may not be a lot, but even if it's for a couple of hours, it will be more than I did last week.

How about you? Any goals this week?

Kidspeak

For those who write YA, I thought this might help you write authentic teenage dialogue.

I saw this in a news article and couldn't resist posting a few.

Below are some words that kids are using today.  How many have you heard of?

Flop

Used in a sentence: Last night was flop. I was supposed to go to the movies with my boyfriend but flopped on me. He’s such a flopper.

What it means: A flop is when a planned event doesn’t end up happening. A flopper is someone who often cancels last minute.

Replaces: Bailing/Bailer

Photobomb

Used in a sentence: My brother is standing behind us making faces in this picture – what a photobomb.

What it means: A photobomb is when a person or object is in a picture accidentally or intentionally and as a result, ruins the photo.

Replaces: Nothing. It didn’t exist before the digital era.

Lipdub

Used in a sentence: Have you seen that lipdub UBC did for Frosh week?

What it means: A music video done in one ake with a variety of people singing along.

Replaces: Lip syncing

POS

This is text speak for “Parents over shoulder.”

The Junk Drawer

I have a junk drawer. It's convenient to have somewhere to put things when I'm too lazy to find another home for them. Every once in a while I empty it out, throw away stuff that I don't need, and rearrange things to have some kind of order.

I tried to to NaNo last month and epically failed, but I did learn something. I need to be better prepared, because right now my manuscript reminds me of my junk drawer. I feel like I wrote chapters just to get some words and now I have a big mess. I need to go through all of it and throw stuff away that doesn't work, rearrange other parts that do work, and put it all into order.

How about you? Do you ever feel like your manuscript is like a junk drawer?

PS: Dress update. All that worrying for nothing. I didn't make it to my Christmas party due to a winter storm.

PSS: Sorry I haven't been around lately. My computer sucks, so I only have access at night when my husband isn't working or my son isn't doing homework. I'm hoping for a laptop for Christmas, or my anniversary, or my birthday. I'm going to try and swing by everyone's blogs this week.

Finding a dress

I have a Christmas Party this weekend where I have to wear a fancy dress. For those who don't know me, I'm a pretty casual dresser. My favorite clothing store is Sports Chek (I think you have those down south).

I bought a dress a few weeks ago, but I'm not completely happy with it, so today I went looking for another one. I probably tried on thirty dresses. Some were awful even though they looked good on a hanger, some were okay, but would a body shaping slip to make it look alright. Then I found the dress. The one I had to have. I thought it was on sale only to find out that out of the 100+ dresses this store had, it was the only one not on sale. Totally sucks. So instead I settled for another dress, or I'll go back and wear the one I originally bought.

I suspect that finding a dress for a Christmas party would be a lot like an agent trying to find a manuscript that they like. Some look good at first, but once they start reading them - not so much. Others are alright, but they would have to do a lot of work to make it fit. Then they find the book that fits in all the right places only to have it go to another agent.

All I can say is I'm glad I only go dress shopping once a year.

Joining the Thankful Bandwagon

Even though I'm Canadian, I'm wanted to list a few things I'm thankful for, because I forgot to do when it was our Thanksgiving in October.

1. I am thankful for good friends. People who you can be yourself around.
2. I am thankful for my family. People who accept me flaws and all.
3. I am thankful that I don't have to be in top physical condition to write a book, so I don't have to worry about getting a book published before my knees give out on me.
4. I am thankful for chocolate and peanut butter on toast (2 of my favorite things)
5. I am thankful that even though there are days where I think I suck as a writer, I still think I'm better than I was a year ago.

Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends.