tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9394081293332268712024-03-13T15:51:34.095-05:00ELLEN HARGERWriting at the Chick Lit end of Women's Fiction and the Women's Fiction end of Chick Lit.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15512871994903416390noreply@blogger.comBlogger193125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939408129333226871.post-63204316086949233052014-04-09T13:40:00.003-05:002014-04-09T13:41:08.645-05:00MOVED<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My blog has moved to my website. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please visit at http://ellenharger.com/blog/ for all future posts and the entire history from this blog.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm working on finding all the links to this blog and correcting them. If you found me this way, I'd love to know so I can fix it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cheers!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ellen</span></div>
Ellen Hargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16099018345786254049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939408129333226871.post-91818929280108936732014-03-26T09:53:00.000-05:002014-03-26T09:53:50.831-05:00The First Time I Stood Up For Myself<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elementary and high school don't count. I remember defying a group of girls who didn't like me. They wanted to drink a beer at a slumber party. Only one adult in that house drank beer - the birthday twins' mother who made the girls invite me. I knew she'd notice a missing beer. Double strike, the girls wanted to take the beer outside which meant discarding the can. On an Air Force Base. My father was Vice Wing Commander. We'd get caught. Whether I understood that those girls wouldn't be my friends if I complied or not, I don't know. I didn't yield because I didn't do stupid.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had little patience or like for my peers in high school, but whether you're a lemming or a condescending bitch, a high school attitude doesn't work in real life. I couldn't just ignore people and refuse to engage. I had to dull my tongue. I missed a spot or two.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first time I truly stood up for myself was when a surgeon told me I had a low threshold for pain. For three years I was made to feel like a hypochondriac because my kidney pain didn't manifest in a textbook location. My primary care physician and a gynecologist checked my ovaries and treated me like a hysterical Victorian woman who suffered from having a uterus. By the time I was in a hospital bed post-op, I'd had enough.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The doctor informed us after the surgery, he didn't have to take a rib. We had no idea he might. He also said the surgery went so well, he didn't insert a stint. <i>Okay - groovy</i>. I was in the hospital nine days because of his decision. On the fourth, I was still on morphine and my JP tube left on suction was very painful. (They only fixed that if my father requested. Not me. Not my mother.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was twenty-five and my parents wouldn't fight my battle for me, but my mother understood. When the women in my family get angry, tears form. It's obnoxious. She said something to me - I've never remembered what - and I turned to Dr. Full-of-Himself and said, "I'm not crying because I'm in pain. I'm crying because I'm so angry at you." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His attitude changed. We discovered I didn't know I was in charge of my pain meds. I was waiting for the nurses. Finally, I was scheduled for a second surgery to insert the stint and less than forty-eight hours after that, I was home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Life is full of turning-points. Some mean craning your head to look down a new path. Some are full swivel shifts several degrees. A few will change how you act in the future.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Working in the real world is vastly different than the nursery-like atmosphere of college. It took a truly insulting firing and a probation at another job to teach me to document everything. I love email. It's the best form of communication. Not only is it a record, my voice doesn't shake and tears don't throttle my voice. I took many injustices on the chin and defended myself with email documentation. I rolled with life by being accountable for my actions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, until a year ago my efforts were purely self-preservation. Last year, I published my first novel. I made mistakes. They are mine and cherish them. No one made me skip paying an editor. No one made me pick a particular blog-hop. My roll-out was weak but I wanted to do better. I hired professionals to help me understand branding. I was so proud of my first novel, I sought out a writing coach to help me get the second novel written in a timely fashion. I came alive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since last year, I'm no longer surviving to get a paycheck. My writing is my passion. My brand, my books are me. I will fight for them like I've never fought before. Everything in life was practice for this turning point.<br /><br />So I won't apologize for knowing what I want, for knowing who I am and what I expect. I will make mistakes but I won't apologize when I have to give tough feedback to a professional I've hired. This is <i>my</i> book, brand, website, launch. I am passionate about it. I will not apologize.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not crying because I'm in pain. If I'm crying, it's because I'm so damn angry. I hate those tears but they're as much a part of me as my defective right kidney. And I will stand up for myself no matter how much my voice shakes or someone makes me feel like a whiny diva. I will stand up and defend myself with documentation. I will demand my money's worth and I won't apologize. This is my creation and it deserves everything I've got.</span></div>
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Ellen Hargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16099018345786254049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939408129333226871.post-80141044178644156752014-03-05T14:23:00.002-06:002014-03-05T14:48:25.124-06:00What Happened?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm moving. To WordPress.<br /><br />I've long resisted leaving Blogger but everyone says the view is better. If you know me, you know I've never been a fan of one-lump-everyone. Plus, I like it here. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What happened?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My website swooped in, swept my blog off his feet, and asked My Mother Stuttered to move in down the street. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The blog's only request is to feel distinctive. To have a room of his own. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So while the morphing happens offsite, I'll begin my goodbyes to Blogger.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you for being my first. You welcomed me in and let me play with colors like fingerpaints on a wall. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I stickered you with widgets and rearranged to my hearts content.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You've been a good friend and nice home since 2009. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let the sniffing begin.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Ellen Hargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16099018345786254049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939408129333226871.post-3321014999436762632014-02-27T13:49:00.000-06:002014-02-27T13:49:06.392-06:00Lover<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Take your time," <i>Strong Enough</i> said in a soft whisper. "Slow down. Enjoy."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I was frustrated, I'd pout in a silent corner only to return, hugging the wall, hoping SE wouldn't make me beg. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Try again," SE said, turning the light back on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We fought a few times but I always returned, eager to join our rhythm. Over and over through ups and downs, SE and I moved together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once I got near the end, I rushed to release. It wasn't an explosion. More like falling off a short cliff. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I lit up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SE helped me be strong enough. It showed me the way. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our time together now over, I left for another. I took all that SE taught me - every lesson I couldn't hear before - and learned to slow down each day. To make more minutes count.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I near the next big release, I know while SE will always be my first, it will not be my last. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello new lover. Let's nurture each other.</span></div>
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Ellen Hargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16099018345786254049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939408129333226871.post-55418693344980434442014-02-23T18:29:00.001-06:002014-02-23T18:29:50.918-06:00Cost of Originality<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Recommend you listen to ABBA's "Money, Money, Money" while reading this post.</i></span></div>
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If you're like me, you have two jobs - one paying and one soon-to-be paying. After covering bills, the second job purchases software, editors, marketing, subscriptions, domains, and <i><b>lots of paper</b></i> for the next novel. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Launching your own business means you have to spend money to make money. But some of us have tight budgets. The trick is not letting a</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> budget cost you your originality.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'m very fortunate to have in-house talent, but that also means more software, subscriptions, books, and courses. So d</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">espite the cost savings of a spousal art department, we must be extra creative.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The current project is website development. I have a brand style but we're laboring over the hook. After all, t</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">he home page is the first sentence. It invites a viewer in to stay and visit. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zyjHRP4C8e0/UwqOwYcBw2I/AAAAAAAAAr4/HC0lpZFeRDw/s1600/Gums.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zyjHRP4C8e0/UwqOwYcBw2I/AAAAAAAAAr4/HC0lpZFeRDw/s1600/Gums.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what's on an author's home page? A picture? ... Yeah, well pictures suck.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like most people, I'm hyper critical of photos of myself. I may be in my secret lair building an octopus to suck you in, but I don't enjoy looking like Frankenstein's monster. Or as if I have a broken neck. Or like my eyes are two different sizes and my gums want to take over New York.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If my picture is out front, not buried on the About Me page, I need to be cooler. While searching for inspiration, I found an amazing drawing by a comic book artist. ME WANT.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me can't afford.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what to do?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Make my own drawing. Would it be easier to dig quarters out of all the couches in my neighborhood? (Ding dong - Avon wants to talk to you on the porch while I dig in your living room cushions.) Actually, yes. I could mail a sack of quarters to Mase One and have a beautimous drawing. But I've started down the path of doing it myself (with A TON of help from Hubs/PixelTwister Art Department) and I'm not ready to quit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stay tuned for the BIG reveal of our labor of tears, raised voices, explanations in an extra calm voice, and me letting Jreamy do his thang.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cross your fingers my marriage isn't the cost of originality!</span></div>
Ellen Hargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16099018345786254049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939408129333226871.post-65638980808673024342014-02-21T13:16:00.000-06:002014-02-21T13:16:59.196-06:00Author Branding - A Consumer POV<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Author branding is invaluable but execution of a brand is a lot like finding your unique writer voice. Discovering individuality can mean wading through theory.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I decided to step back from being an author and look at this as a reader. Except as a reader, I don't visit author websites. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My generation may be well versed in computers, but we weren't baptized in them. I grew up this way:</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Walden Books, early, 1990, Christopher Pike. I read and reread him, dissecting and devouring every nuance and shivery moment with my best friend. We never knew when his next book was coming, so each time we were at the mall, we checked the shelves. We didn't need the newest release--we just wanted one we hadn't read. Each colorful option was like candy for our eyes.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></i></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay, so I'm not the best reader reference. Fine. Time for research. When I look at a few big names I consider valuable role models I find sites as exciting as watching a hen on an egg or as crazed as if all the kids at Chucky Cheese just did sour straws like cocaine. </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://jenniferweiner.com/default.htm" target="_blank">Jennifer Weiner</a> blogs every few months to once a year, and the rest of the information is so static, it's a statue. (Since I first compiled this list, she added a media link)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.megcabot.com/" target="_blank">Meg Cabo</a>t has the best combination blog and website but I still find it frenetic</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.sophiekinsella.co.uk/" target="_blank">Sophie Kinsella's</a> is similar to Meg's but not as visually appealing to me--too much white space</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://kristinhannah.com/content/index.php" target="_blank">Kristin Hannah's</a> has an IKEA quality. The website is made by a company who doesn't work with self-published authors. <i>I bite my thumb at you.</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://neilgaiman.com/" target="_blank">Neil Gaiman's</a> site has a hand firmly against my face and says don't come any closer. It informs me that it will take my request and fetch, but do not come in and sit down.</span></li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Matchy, Matchy - Bloggy Natchy</span></td></tr>
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.jim-butcher.com/" target="_blank">Jim Butcher</a> is cleaner than Meg and Sophie's but I find myself bored before I even start. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay, fine. Back to theories. A blog and website should be seamlessly connected. An All-in-One. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My brain translates this as ---------------------------></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Frankly, I prefer <a href="http://www.hgtv.com/living-rooms/top-12-living-rooms-by-candice-olson/pictures/index.html?soc=hgtvcom7440964" target="_blank">Candice Olson</a>. I view the website as the living room or kitchen--a place to get to know the </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">author and their work. The b</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">log is the game room or private office for interaction and delving deep inside. These spaces should compliment but be distinctive. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do I listen to the industry standard and design my author branding by a well established set of successful tips? Or do I let the consumer inside me in on the fun? As writers, we're supposed to celebrate our individual voices. Why wouldn't I do it with my brand as well? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The worst that can happen is that the industry is right and eventually I'll adhere, but at least I tried to be me.<br /><br /></span><br />
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Ellen Hargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16099018345786254049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939408129333226871.post-79915140778323846152014-02-14T12:08:00.002-06:002014-02-14T12:08:36.052-06:00Hands<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vlpB0bVeYfQ/Uv2jliPHDJI/AAAAAAAAApo/NS2h-yhqk5M/s1600/Hands+(1).jpg" height="209" width="320" /><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gCUukJmAf-o/Uv5aqdPQBRI/AAAAAAAAAqc/sx-GVbSTurc/s1600/hands.png" /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-89uiclNbRXQ/Uv2jmXHwebI/AAAAAAAAAp4/2p7tKzOc0gY/s1600/Hands+(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-89uiclNbRXQ/Uv2jmXHwebI/AAAAAAAAAp4/2p7tKzOc0gY/s1600/Hands+(4).jpg" height="209" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">February tribute.<br />In May, there will be a smile post.</span>Ellen Hargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16099018345786254049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939408129333226871.post-55542254967585330402014-02-13T12:37:00.001-06:002014-02-13T12:37:57.481-06:00My 2014 Valentine<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you to the people who made me angry in the past.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You challenged me to speak up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you to the people who love me even if we don't always agree. I cherish you for tolerating my opinion, and now that I have one, I plan to be proud but always, always respectful. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you to everyone who has believed in me despite my wavering confidence. You rolled your eyes to heaven as I questioned my chances and told myself no. You pulled out your hair as I slid back down, but you never left.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you to the professionals who helped me find my voice. For making me do the work. For making <i>me</i> decide.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you for helping me to be the writer I am today.</span><br />
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Ellen Hargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16099018345786254049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939408129333226871.post-86716033634336829322014-02-11T15:08:00.000-06:002014-02-11T15:13:07.899-06:00Why I'm Against Uni-sex Restrooms<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't give me that look. This is both pertinent and relevant. In fact, it's story gold.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At my office building I suffer a public restroom situation. I avoid the one in our suite because a few years ago I was irreparably scarred by the experience. (</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I work with men which on the plus side means I can skip make-up most mornings. Sure sometimes the say, "You look nice!" But that's only when I'm dressed like I have an interview. They notice that. Paranoid wenches.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> the two unmarked water closets in the hall are also rooms with a single toilet and a sink. This means that there's urine on the floor, the seat, the sink, the walls and door handle. I swear men are agitated sprinklers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So e</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">very time I enter an unmarked restroom, I think about the trend to make public restrooms uni-sex. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">EWWWWWWW</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm sorry but using the same toilet as a whole slew of men offends me deeply. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When it comes to toilets, I'm not playing the PC game. (Not that I ever do. Political Correctness is for pussies.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I say, if genderless restrooms don't have urinals, men must pee outside. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Ellen Hargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16099018345786254049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939408129333226871.post-91605125527207829092014-02-06T10:40:00.001-06:002014-02-06T10:40:43.836-06:00Review of "From Notting Hill to Love Actually"<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by Tiffany McGee</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Frankly, my dear, I DO give a damn. I love Chick-Flicks. I love the idea of happy-ever-after, light-hearted fun, and any other hyphenates you can conjure. Imagine my delight when I stumbled across <i>From Notting Hill with Love Actually</i> by <a href="http://www.alimcnamara.co.uk/" target="_blank">Ali McNamara</a>.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1dsYKJ7" target="_blank">Link to Amazon</a></span></td></tr>
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<i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>From Amazon: Movie fanatic Scarlett O'Brien dreams of a life as glamorous and romantic as all the big screen flicks she worships. When a chance house-sitting on iconic Notting Hill comes along, she knows living in one of her favorite movie settings is an opportunity too good to pass up.</b></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Leaving behind her skeptical friends, family, and fiance, Scarlett heads to London and finds herself thrust in the lead role of her very own romantic comedy. But can real life ever be just like the movies? Larger-than-life new friends, a handsome but irksome new neighbor, and a mystery from past may prove to Scarlett that living her life like a RomCom is more complicated than she thought!</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">McNamara weaves details of actors and Hollywood fairy-tales into a bright, funny romance. Making no secret of her love of Chick-Flicks, the author writes a story that's like a secret club - the only membership requirement is a DVD player. Movie references come fast and furious (Ha! One of the few movies not mentioned), and althought Scarlett takes time to explain many of them, a lot are tossed out for the reader to reel in on their own. As I read the story, I cheered whenever Scarlett encountered another RomCOM moment in real life, particularly those she didn't plan. In addition to her own burgeoning romantic comedy, Scarlet searches for her long-absent mother, the woman who imparted our heroine with her name and love of cinema.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In defense of romantic comedy, Scarlett opines:</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There's something very comforting about watching a Hugh Grant movie. You know no one's head will be blown off in the first three minutes, no one will be tortured, and the worst thing that might happen is seeing a lanky Welshman eating mayonnaise in his underpants.</span></i></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As far as I'm concerned, we can all use an escape once in a while, and that is exactly what Ali McNamara delivered.</span>Ellen Hargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16099018345786254049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939408129333226871.post-35824775957721666402014-01-31T10:41:00.001-06:002014-01-31T10:41:29.131-06:00Permission<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I turned a leaf in 2013 by working harder than ever before--hubs is great inspiration--but I used to</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> spoil myself all the time. Want to watch a movie? <i>OKAY</i>. Want a second helping? <i>Come to mama, you glorious extra portion of pasta.</i> Don't want to get up on a weekend morning? <i>Master turning five more minutes into an extra hour and a half.</i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After weeks of pushing myself, I took some time off. Except I didn't give myself permission. I snuck it like a child hoping my parents wouldn't notice and believing I got away with it. I was ready with excuses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"I have a headache."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"I will!" (Use teenage tone of beleaguered angst as if you've done everything ever asked of you and any questioning of your reliability is the greatest insult ever.)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"I have to clean first," says no one genuinely.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Too often I wait to say it's okay until after I've been a grump.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You must give yourself permission <i>before</i> otherwise you get pissy. And it leaks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This time, </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I asked my editor for permission in advance. She gave me another week, until February 1. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I didn't worry about my current novel and a funny thing happened. I wrote blog posts, prepped a short story for a literary journal, discovered the back story for my next novel, and invested time in marketing. And it didn't feel like work. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been one week and instead of feeling guilty or annoyed, I'm refreshed.</span>Ellen Hargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16099018345786254049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939408129333226871.post-70998598184275833922014-01-29T08:00:00.000-06:002014-01-29T10:10:15.149-06:00Why Did You Write Your Book?<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm reading, <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1a0kWz2" target="_blank">APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur - How to Publish a Book</a> </i>by Guy Kawasaki and Shawn Welch, and chapter one throws out a doozy of a question. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Why should anyone give a shiitake about your book?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have an answer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just don't share it. </span><br />
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<i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even now my heart thumps. Hook it to a sub-woofer and the windows would rattle. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.</i><br />
<i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I began writing </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BLD5U78" target="_blank">Strong Enough</a></i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> to get the babbling out of my head. After the first disastrous draft, I set it aside without an ending and returned to observing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until I found a cause. Something lacking within story.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A voice.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For women.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who choose abortion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over 50 million abortions have happened since Roe vs. Wade but in most movies or novels <i>she keeps the baby.</i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Abortion is a topic with T-n-T strapped to its chest. Some want to fist-pump it. Others want to abolish it. While in the vast middle,</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> millions of women sit before TVs or books and wonder,</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "Am I alone?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whitney walks in these women's shoes. She tells their private story that is neither left nor right. She holds their hand and tells them, "I understand."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And now for a song. Hat-tip to author Suanne Bierman Laqueur for this special gem and its fabulous place in High Fidelity. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">DJ Whit approves.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just a taste of "Dry the Rain" by the Beta Band</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/VK9R3hvWfhU" width="480"></iframe>Ellen Hargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16099018345786254049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939408129333226871.post-43148049751857588722014-01-27T10:41:00.003-06:002014-01-27T10:41:35.125-06:00Noodling<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm a noodler. I enjoy trimming prose until it's tighter, leaner, meaner. But when is editing a liability? Maybe when you're </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">changing strong words for slightly better.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm a perfectionist. I want the best word choice and impact. <b>But</b> I used to noodle out of fear. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The years it took me to finish Strong Enough is fodder for many blog posts. Dozens of reasons help make excuses for why it took so long, but only three matter:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1) I didn't live to finish my novel. <i>It was a hobby</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2)</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I had no clue what I was doing</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3) S</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">cared to let go of my baby, I noodled and noodled and noodled</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once I released </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BLD5U78" target="_blank">Strong Enough</a></i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the three monsters above shriveled into raisins. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> heed the advice of other writers: </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Find an editor </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Delegate to professionals </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">INVEST IN YOUR CRAFT</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I leapt into my second novel and churned it out in months, not years, proving writing</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> was no longer a clueless hobby. Plus I was hooked on a special connection I made with several readers. What a high!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Taking your writing seriously makes the excuses slink away. Not that they aren't hovering, waiting to return. It's a constant battle to believe but each success makes a difference. That and learning to distinguish the good editing from the bad.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm eager to noodle Anonymous Blog of Mrs. Jones not because I'm scared, but because I want it to shine. And I won't edit forever. I'm far too eager to share.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Ellen Hargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16099018345786254049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939408129333226871.post-59161315326849533512014-01-24T10:13:00.000-06:002014-01-24T10:13:53.822-06:00Nicknames<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of all the stories I've written, not one character has a nickname. Sure Whitney becomes DJ Whit, but that was an echo of her progression and who influenced her. I'm talking about affectionate and personal names we call people whom we love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I come from a long line of interesting moniker-makers and was shaped </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by one of the masters. Random sampling from my Dad's arsenal: Mighty Mouse (his mother), Edger, Digger, Moses, Tooz, Peetees, Bear Cat, Gar-Burger, Ruboes, Mugly Utt, Catarino LaVinciano - aka Trina.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A sampling of my winners: Rosasita-B-Lizzie-Tishie-Tushie-Face, Ra Ra, Reesetofarian, Keatonian, SuPu, Jreamy, Clonater, Goober, Mulah/Moneybags (interchangeable for parents), Booger, Nutt Butt, Woman, Short Ones.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As much as I've borrowed from my life to write stories, I never tapped into this well until <i>The</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> Anonymous Blog of Mrs. Jones. </i>One particular character had to be Vee. Her formal name changed a couple times but that's how I thought of her. Vee. She's an interesting character because her essence came fully formed. I assigned specific attributes from people I knew but Vee was always her own person--always a beacon of positive thinking.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once I let out one nickname, another untapped well opened. Even though all my pets have enjoyed gajillions of nicknames, I, a bonafide dog lover, never included a Mugly Utt in a story. WTH? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then the perfect mate padded into the story of Gillian--a mutt mix of my own Wee Reese, Huero and Keaton combined to make lovable Buster. It was a joy writing this character. As a dog, he represents pure love--able to overlook all character flaws. As a friend, he shows Gillian how to open up again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In future writings, look for more nicknames, pets and nicknamed pets. I can't close the wells.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keatonian</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reestofarian</span></td></tr>
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<br />Ellen Hargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16099018345786254049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939408129333226871.post-53936588351952420502014-01-22T12:04:00.000-06:002014-01-22T12:04:48.874-06:00A Failed Attempt<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unlike DIY blogs that make every project appear perfectly effortless, I'm chronicling it all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My office upgrade takes second to writing and the holidays shoved it down even further, but to be honest, I'm intimidated to sew a chair cover. Without a pattern. For the first time in my life. After sewing only straight seams for curtains.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because that's me. I took painting courses before drawing. Yes, bass-ackwards supposedly works for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Case in point: last fall, I decided to test my skills on a far more simple project than my office reading chair--an elastic trimmed cover for my oval glass coffee table. The pattern concept a basic shower cap fit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My mother came over to give moral support and guidance (she of the famed "I-sewed-dining-room-chair-covers-the-day-of-a-party-while-massively-pregnant-with-you"). First, without a plan or pattern, we cut the oval too small. Then my mother left because watching me pin and re-pin was uber boring. It took a total seven rounds of pin-play (and ripping out stitches) to get the fit just right. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cover was smooth and taut, barely gripping the edges, but it worked. I noted the age-old wisdom of making a sample with plain, thin material and vowed to do that for the chair.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sadly, I have no picture of the table cover to share because someone forgot to pre-wash her material. After a party that included a vodka shot penalty for missed movie quotes*, the table cover needed to be washed and never again will it stretch across.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But at least I have a sample and experience for next time!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 person per team took the shots because they weren't driving, and the penalties were maxed out at a certain count. Otherwise, some people would be in a coma. After my first shot, I think I yelled out, "Taxi Driver" for anything obviously not romantic.</span>Ellen Hargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16099018345786254049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939408129333226871.post-78457730060497902772014-01-15T08:59:00.000-06:002014-01-15T08:59:41.141-06:00Interview with Author Allison Merritt<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DyWbjUHPWMw/Us79yxrsPZI/AAAAAAAAAm0/6tjqC7FtDBA/s1600/The-Convict-And-The-Cattleman300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DyWbjUHPWMw/Us79yxrsPZI/AAAAAAAAAm0/6tjqC7FtDBA/s1600/The-Convict-And-The-Cattleman300.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">A chance to interview Allison Merritt means plenty of opportunities to talk self-publishing, but I enjoyed “The Convict and the Cattleman” so much, I want to know more about her journey with it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Did <a href="http://mymotherstuttered.blogspot.com/2014/01/book-review-convict-and-cattleman.html" target="_blank">"The Convict and the Cattleman"</a> go straight from your head to paper to published?</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o3zk35heLUo/UtXuXdA7LlI/AAAAAAAAAng/Z-W6xwXh4h4/s1600/authorphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o3zk35heLUo/UtXuXdA7LlI/AAAAAAAAAng/Z-W6xwXh4h4/s1600/authorphoto.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; line-height: 1;">If only it were that easy. Convict started in late 2008 as a really bad draft that my then computer, an outdated Toshiba Satellite, ate when said computer crashed and I had to start all over again--with an equally bad draft, but it was slightly better than the first attempt. I revised with some help from an online critique group called Rom-Critters (fantastic bunch of folks) in 2009. In 2010, I pretty much hated where it had gone and I started a third draft. I was shooting for submission with Mills & Boon, but I couldn’t make that thing stretch into 75,000 words, which is their requirement for submission length. I was so sick of it, I just crammed it into a dark, dank file on my flash drive and left it while I worked on super-crazy steampunk romances. It was a different tone altogether and it made me happy, whereas Convict started eating my soul (I swear). It stayed in that buried file until January 2013 when I was bored. Reading through it, I thought it was a little absurd in some parts, but it wouldn’t take anything to finish and polish. Five thousand words later, I was feeling a lot better about it. If not for an editor pitch on one of my critique partner’s group blogs for Lyrical Press, I don’t know where it would be right now. Maybe at a different house. It’s hard to say.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">What was the inspiration, the thought kernel that birthed "The Convict and the Cattleman"?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">All my good ideas seem to come when I’m in the shower. I read an article about how it’s relaxing there, so it’s easy to open up your creative mind. I hadn’t written anything since the summer of 2003 when I was doing my internship at college (that’s a book I swear to you will never, never see the light of day). My dad died unexpectedly that fall and for whatever reason, it drained all my creative outlets. In the fall of 2008, I was really depressed because I’d taken a job I hated, had to quit it and go back to my old job, which was okay-ish (at least it was waiting for me), but I was frustrated with the way my life was going. I started talking with an old writer friend of mine who was querying, had a Golden Heart nomination, and an agent. It seemed like if I should be frustrated about something, it ought to be about books. I’d gone to college to be a journalist--I suck at it, so that didn’t exactly fly--with the intention of writing novels in my spare time. Historicals have always been among my favorite romance genre, but I wanted to write something besides the historicals I was used to, set in the Old West, something that people would look at and go, ‘okay, this is different’. Boom! Penal colony.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Was this story research intensive?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">In some ways yes, because I could list the things I knew about Australia on one hand. They have sheep, crocodiles, deserts, kangaroos, and some of their population came from convicts. In the beginning, I had a huge folder I carried around with me that had maps, listed details about every Female Factory in Australia, details about convict life, transport ships, and even some things about cattle. In other ways, it was a typical historical--a little bit before my favorite decades, because I like historical romances set after the Civil War usually, but I never felt uncomfortable writing it. Especially because I don’t know squat about sheep, so I was really pleased that I could make Jonah a pioneer cattleman. Once I got around all the convict stuff, it wasn’t much different than writing a love story set in the Old West.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">What was the most enjoyable part of writing this novel?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Writing the ending! I was so surprised when I pulled it out again how close it was to finished. Don’t get me wrong, it needed work mechanically, but the story was all there. It really just needed a few thousand words to sew up the gaping hole between the hero and heroine and an epilogue for the happily-ever-after. It was a lot easier than I had convinced myself in 2010. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">I read that you thought your affair with historical romance was over. Obviously that’s changed. Tell us about your artistic shift after "The Convict and the Cattleman" was picked up.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">I really thought when I started writing steampunk and then came up with the idea for the Heckmasters, which is paranormal/historical romance series, that I was done with vanilla historicals. It’s so much fun to manipulate timelines and twist history. When I got the good news that Lyrical wanted Convict, I immediately thought, I need to come up with something else so I can keep writing for them. I hadn’t started any of the Heckmaster books yet, but I was sure I was going to self-publish those (shout out to my editor Holly at Samhain for loving the Heckmasters and changing my mind). I love unrequited love stories where someone has a change of heart, which led to The Wrong Brother’s Bride, the first book I set in the Ozarks. It was inspired by my love of Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield and visiting the Ray House. The deeper I dug into local history, the more inspired I became by places my characters could visit. One thing I should have reminded myself of was to never say never, because I didn’t think I’d ever write in the paranormal sub-genre period. I shouldn’t have said, I’ll never go back to historicals. I think they’re harder to write, but I do love them. Switching back and forth between sub-genres gives my brain a chance to reboot.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">What other historical romances are coming from Allison Merritt?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Wildwood Spring is releasing in February from Breathless Press, which is super fast considering it just contracted at the end of November. It’s set in Eureka Springs, Arkansas after the big resort boom in the late 1800s. It’s my ode to Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, which is one of my favorite romances. Minus the beast, because my hero is not beastly, just reclusive, but the heroine is a little odd, and there’s a too-macho-for-his own-good bad guy. It definitely has a dollop of weird in it, but it’s true to the time period, which makes it historical romance.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">My other historical release is The Wrong Brother’s Bride, also from Lyrical. I was told the release date is sometime in May back when I first contracted it, but with the switch to Kensington, I’m not sure if that will change. It’s the story of a man who returns home after his brother’s death to find that his brother’s fiance is pregnant and determined to keep the farm where he died. He offers her a marriage of convenience, but he’s loved her secretly for years. She’s not sure she can trust him because he was always unreliable when he was younger and her father never had a good word about him. As they try to make a life together, she’s surprised by the changes in him and she starts to see that she didn’t marry the wrong brother after all. It seems like they’ll live happily-ever-after, but then he’s accused of a crime that happened years ago and things start to look bad for the happy couple. Dun, dun, dun...</span></div>
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Ellen Hargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16099018345786254049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939408129333226871.post-16058405993120673062014-01-13T10:33:00.000-06:002014-01-13T10:33:28.463-06:00Book Review: "The Convict and the Cattleman"<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In September I attended ORAcon 2013 writer's conference. In my swag bag was a lovely piece of promotional material--the first chapter of a novel. It was printed on regular paper folded in half to make a wee book complete with a color image of the cover below.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was intrigued. I don't read much traditional romance (historical or otherwise) but I had to know if the title meant the heroine chooses between a convict and a cattleman. If not, who was the convict? I was instantly obsessed with the convict.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The blurb revealed the criminal was the heroine! Pleased, I read the proffered chapter. After that, I had to read the novel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">His love is the key to her release.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sentenced to seven years of servitude in the penal colony of New South Wales, Bridgit Madden is thrust into a world unlike anything she's known, dangers she never imagined and enemies with their own interests at heart. Certain that the conviction has ruined her chances of ever having a real family, she is fearful of her future.</span></div>
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Despite his reluctance to take in a convict, Jonah Andrus, a grazier and pioneer cattleman, needs a servant to care for his orphaned niece. When presented with Bridgit, who is far too beautiful and distracting, he initially tries to refuse. However, with a busy cattle station to oversee, he needs help right away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Upon her first meeting with Jonah's niece, Bridgit immediately falls in love with the girl and becomes entwined the mystery surrounding her birth. As she gets to know her employer better, Bridgit makes it her mission to remind him that family is priceless. When it seems as though she might have found the place she truly belongs, their love is threatened by lies and deceit, and both of them might lose everything they hold dear for a second time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't read much romance and as you probably know, I rarely review. Obviously this book convinced me to share. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The Convict and the Cattleman" is faithful to the traditional plot requirements of boy meets girl/girl meets boy, instant attraction, hot sex, love doubts, miscommunication and or secrets, trouble, and happy resolution. Yet, t</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">he plot was original enough to surprise me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Allison Merritt breathes a fresh voice into the genre. I was immediately hooked by the heroine being a convict and never disappointed. I liked Bridgit and Jonah. I liked their story and rooted for them to reach their destined HEA.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A delightful and satisfying read. Once finished, you'll be looking for the next Allison Merritt.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Visit Wednesday, January 15 when Allison joins me for an interview.</i></span></div>
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Ellen Hargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16099018345786254049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939408129333226871.post-76451424417949215252014-01-07T14:36:00.000-06:002014-01-07T15:22:26.551-06:00Well, Dirty Word<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Several months after starting my second novel, <i>The Anonymous Blog of Mrs. Jones</i>, I hired an editor. Time to vanquish one of the many Fear Demons.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Certain expectations (demons) rise up when a writer ceases to be edited by friends to work with a person who edits for a living. And if you're like me, you're</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> blinded with assumptions that don't color the world rosy or black. They <i>seem</i> clear.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After finding a direct, honest editor I could trust, I knew I'd be challenged on every thematic squiggle. I'd be told I'm too in love with my writing, cut the superfluous flowers. Or my story is too thin. Or I can't write. (<i>Strong Enough</i> is my first baby and I will love her forever, but readers have pointed out certain issues. Plus, I had over a decade to find every continuity issue and to rework every word. Twice.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Armored for the blows, I emailed my manuscript for my edi</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">tor to attack with a magnifying glass and whip. With pages so bloody I couldn't find their original words, I would spend hours covered in sweat and tears. This is how it's done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Early on I received praise and the edits were ... too easy. (Of course, I like editing.) I was pleased but knew my first chapters were well honed. It couldn't last. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More chapters returned with usual marks. (I can't use a comma to save my life.) I cleaned up each chapter and sometimes attacked weak spots I noticed before sending it back. More marks and silence. Marks and silence. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where were the piercing questions asking me to dig so deep I bled?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I stammer typed an email about how much I loved this book (help me make it worthy was my unspoken request). I received a simple, supportive "you go, girl." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Obviously this meant we were either doing one run through and we'd dig deeper next time, or</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> my book was merely cute and couldn't be taken seriously. M</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">y editor would never shove sunshine up my arse so the lack of blood meant I wasn't worthy. (huh?)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yeah, I cut reality to fit my expectations. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh I see how stupid it is now, but I didn't expect a Fear Demon to possess me. I was armed to the teeth with positive words penned by others. I've encouraged writers to believe in themselves, but deep down I didn't. Not in me. Not without years of struggle. There must be struggle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I asked Becky what she thought (hating each needy word). Her response humbled me. Not by taking me down from lofty beliefs but by lifting me up from lowly doubt.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I think it's utterly fantastic. Rich, descriptive and beautifully penned. If it's shit, I'll be the first to tell you."</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She wrote that. On Facebook. In front of other writers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, fuck.</span></div>
Ellen Hargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16099018345786254049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939408129333226871.post-30371782813400850132014-01-02T13:11:00.005-06:002014-01-03T13:14:33.012-06:002014 - Hey, Soul Sister<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's 2014! What to write for my first post in the new year? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turning 40? Meh. For a heartbeat last year I let society burrow into my brain like termites, but the rot has been exterminated. Forty is going to be awesome.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Resolutions? The topic has been covered. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On New Year's Eve, hubs and I wrote down and burned negatives from 2013. Some notes were actions, some were events, and a few were attitudes. I'd share them but they're gone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did the year-in-review on Facebook. Savoring the good is worthwhile. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2013 I</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Married my love and best friend, Jeremy Pollreisz.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Published my first novel, </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://mymotherstuttered.blogspot.com/2013/02/strong-enough-for-sale.html" target="_blank">Strong Enough</a></i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, as an ebook on Amazon and with Smashwords.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Invested in my Brand by engaging </span><a href="http://willwriteforlove.com/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Jarika Johnson</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> at Will Write For Love.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Took a chance and did a Summer Writing Camp with </span><a href="http://rebeccatdickson.com/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Becky</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="http://raneedillon.wordpress.com/about/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Ranee</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Completed my second novel and am working on edits with Becky, Editor of Fierce Bluntness (my cup of tea).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joined the Ozarks Romance Authors group - amazing group of writers.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Attended my first writer's conference, <a href="http://mymotherstuttered.blogspot.com/2013/09/my-first-ever-writing-conference.html" target="_blank">ORAcon2013</a>, and it was fan-freakin-tastic.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No matter what hardships tried to distract me in 2013, it was a wonderful year. I embrace only the good and in 2014 I look forward to</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Publishing my second novel, <i>The Anonymous Blog of Mrs. Jones</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Writing, writing, writing</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Such as sequel to <i>Strong Enough, Training Wheels, Wanderlust</i></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Publishing, publishing, publishing</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Marketing, marketing, marketing</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reading, reading, reading</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LOVE, LOVING, BEING LOVED</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and of course, turning 40</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rest will come in waves of unexpected glory or daily doses of joy. </span><br />
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Ellen Hargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16099018345786254049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939408129333226871.post-69877441138008330012013-12-30T16:04:00.002-06:002013-12-31T13:27:54.114-06:00Jump For a New Review!<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Timing is everything, they say. (They who? Okay, me. I said it. And I'll say it again.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Timing is everything. But you have to be ready and willing to jump out of the airplane of life and dive, twirling into the wild beauty of free falling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As of today's post <i>The Anonymous Blog of Mrs. Jones</i> is humming along through edits with the amazing <a href="http://rebeccatdickson.com/" target="_blank">Rebecca T. Dickson</a>, but a few weeks ago, just before I uncurled my fingers from my newest baby, I noticed my other one, <i>Strong Enough,</i> playing alone. Crap.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of fall 2013 I dreamed about the <i>Anon Blog</i> release party and celebrated its cover. As the holidays took over and I noticed the end of the year coming up like a brick wall, I cuddled my To Do lists close and coo'd, "I didn't forget you or you or you or you."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Up went an FB banner featuring both my novel covers (thank you to PixelTwister Studio). Just this one action flushed me with new energy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dressed for success in 2014 (parachute, goggles, snazzy jump-suit), I flew over a prime jump spot. But it wasn't on my map. It was too early.<br /><br />Grabbing my interest was <a href="http://jenblood.com/" target="_blank">Jen Blood</a>'s end of the year promotion for a book eval. Lonely <i>Strong Enough </i>preened herself before me and I didn't think. I asked what Jen's services included and how much. Jen responded promptly with this option: <u>Publishing Evaluation and Consult.</u></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> For a spectacular fee she would evaluate </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Strong Enough</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and offer pointed marketing suggestions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hmmmmm, let me think. One of my most beloved Indie authors whose writing is as tight as Joan Rivers' face and as smooth as Lindt chocolate truffles is offering her skill, insight, and honesty? What to do. What to do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We closed the day of (I jumped) and it has been an exhilarating fall. I've cartwheeled through clouds and somersaulted with eagles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First let me say, Jen's evaluation turnaround was whirlwind fast. Even stricken with the crud she sent me updates and met our agreed deadline. I've poured over her analysis and my stomach still fwips.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's a taste: "First, this is a gorgeous book." I almost forgot to open my chute.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then she hit me with an added bonus. Yes, folks - THERE'S MORE. (I expect knives that cut cans any day.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She also reviewed my book. WOAH. Here's the <a href="http://amzn.to/1luxX3F" target="_blank">link on Amazon</a>, y'all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I stuck the landing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Ellen Hargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16099018345786254049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939408129333226871.post-41352167709002625492013-12-23T13:59:00.001-06:002013-12-23T15:17:03.436-06:00I Did It<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mad Scribbler here with some news. There's a big review coming.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jen Blood, an author<a href="http://mymotherstuttered.blogspot.com/2013/07/another-reason-i-dont-regularly-review.html" target="_blank"> I deeply admire</a>, reviewed </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Strong Enough</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (to be shared soon). Her enthusiasm blew me away. She used words like "love" and "want" (as in "I want the play list for the whole damn book.") </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BLD5U78" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RktVrAOZEDU/UriQwp_f3kI/AAAAAAAAAis/LtsF85ovtNY/s1600/SECover_v5.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BLD5U78" target="_blank">Available on Amazon and B&N.com</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WOW. <i>My play list? </i><br /><br />Listen guys, if that was it, I wouldn't be sharing here. I'd let my chihuahua lick my wounds (she does everything else). Jen's response sent me pirouetting through the house. I'll let her share in her words. For now I'll savor the play list reaction because...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did it. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I successfully wove music into a novel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How the essence of music makes us feel, how it transcends or defines mood is what I aimed to capture. And to do it without knowing </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">how</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> to write or evaluate music added to the pressure</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Except for being a dork, I am no William Miller (</span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Almost Famous</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">), s</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">o I was a bit anxious.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Deeanna Danger was a major score for my confidence. I searched for a blogger with music chops. <a href="http://deeannadanger.com/2013/08/06/summer-reading-book-review-of-ellen-hargers-strong-enough/" target="_blank">Her review</a> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">confirmed my research and hard work succeeded musically. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But Jen's statement confirms that as a writer I pulled off something I was told I couldn't do. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During a novel course, I was told to stop including lyric excerpts. Sound advice. It's cheating as well as poking </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> well-sharpened No.2 pencil into the eye of a</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> fierce beast capable of eating me alive</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Poke. Poke. Poke. ROWWRRRR. Boom, I'm consumed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It wasn't just a legal warning, though. I was told it was naive to try and incorporate popular music. If I gave up this cheesy, newbie desire I'd be a real writer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was not discouraged. I kept trying methods until I evaded the music dragon to claim my prize: a novel with a </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sound track. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Knowing I created a play list Jen Blood wants... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did it.</span>Ellen Hargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16099018345786254049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939408129333226871.post-45993484844407905532013-12-12T11:57:00.001-06:002013-12-13T09:42:11.082-06:00That One Summer With A Hollywood Agent<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More years ago than I want to count I took an acting course with a Hollywood agent/scriptwriter. She looked like Alice Cooper's older sister. She dressed like Alice Cooper. Does Alice Cooper have breasts?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was three long days of acting exercises and challenges. My heart raced triple-time and I was sweating because there was only one level of participation -- all in. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-htGiJHPvllc/Uqn3u8Yz_kI/AAAAAAAAAiY/FWXZ27oYeTg/s1600/AC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-htGiJHPvllc/Uqn3u8Yz_kI/AAAAAAAAAiY/FWXZ27oYeTg/s1600/AC.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Imagine her whispering in your ear, show more <i>love</i>.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the second day we read a script. We'd already practiced rapid memorization but this was read-then-act freestyle. GULP. We paired off and secretly thought about how we'd do it better each time a brave couple took the floor. It was a sexy scene between two long-term lovers. I knew my partner less than twelve hours. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we started, I giggled constantly. Mary, said agent, rasped for focus, her smoker voice as craggy as the Marlboro Man's face.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We did. I remember zero lines and no plot. I remember nothing but being on the floor surrounded by the others on their hands and knees feeding us lines. As my partner and I embraced we lived the scene, damn the words. It was glorious. I never flew so high. Mary gave us one of the only compliments of the weekend and I knew what it meant to act.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I left a little piece of my soul on the carpet where we'd laid entangled. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Acting is hard when you slip beneath self-consciousness and lose yourself to a moment. That one scene was as exhausting as a day digging for arrowheads during July in SW Missouri. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I stumbled around giddy but unnerved by the absence of a piece of me. In that emptiness I discovered I prefer existing behind the scenes, writing the moment that makes others giddy or unnerved. I finished the workshop triumphant -- my fearlessness as an actor best used for writing.</span>Ellen Hargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16099018345786254049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939408129333226871.post-58025904596371551092013-11-13T15:34:00.000-06:002013-11-13T15:34:01.651-06:00Write With a Saw<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I posted a quip on twitter and facebook that resonated with a few friends. </span><br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Wrote myself into a wall last night. I say wall and not corner because I plan to cut out a door and keep on trekking.<br />
— iNovelist (@ellenharger) <a href="https://twitter.com/ellenharger/statuses/400698280092635137">November 13, 2013</a> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was amazing to see the number of people respond with a "like" or comment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next I needed to sharpen my saw for that pesky wall.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's no doubt I'm on the right path with a new scene, but the wall I ran into was a minor character. I know very little about her and it silenced the tapping of keys. Last night I stared at the blinking cursor, typing one word after another like the keyboard was coated in quick-dry cement. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today I got out the reinforcements: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1) Power Drill - check</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2) Chain Saw - check</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3) 20 questions - yee haw!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To break through, a writing buddy asked basic character questions. "Is she an only child?" "What is her job?" "Does she have a favorite food?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not being in control of the order made it impossible to anticipate or fixate on questions. Lacking answers, </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I grabbed paper and wrote the questions down. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Randomness kept me dancing all over and it was </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>fun</i></b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My favorite question? "What is her superpower?" (Always a good one.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Damn if I know. Oh wait. Yes, I do. She's human truth serum. People can't lie around her. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Oh hell yeah</i>.</span>Ellen Hargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16099018345786254049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939408129333226871.post-88507771932823442872013-11-11T13:21:00.002-06:002013-11-11T13:21:39.456-06:00Abusing NaNoWriMo<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know the rules: write 50k words in a month.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once upon a time, as a NaNo newbie, it was all about hitting that minimum magic number to guarantee a NaNo win. This year w</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ord count is irrelevant. I'm harnessing the energy of NaNo participants to complete the second half of <i>The Anonymous Blog of Mrs. Jones</i>. If there's time left, I'll jump into <i>Training Wheels</i>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finishing a novel stymies the true power of NaNo -- to let go and see what happens -- b</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ecause voice is established, and all additions must work within a well-defined story. It's harder to insert moments via NaNo abandon.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Harder but not impossible. J</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ust because I'm abusing NaNo to finish a novel doesn't mean the point is different.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">National Novel Writing Month is about focusing on just writing. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As author Allison Merritt says, <a href="http://tabithablake.blogspot.com/2013/11/november-its-quantity-quality-comes.html?zx=803da82e7a48112b" target="_blank">"November: It's Quantity, Quality Comes Later."</a> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> That's the point -- stop editing and get working. For some, this is the one month in a year to truly write. For others, we write all the time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Make NaNo work for you.</span>Ellen Hargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16099018345786254049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-939408129333226871.post-81439769368238508022013-11-06T11:23:00.000-06:002013-11-06T11:23:58.707-06:00How I Became A Real Writer<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>It didn't take a degree.</b> Study is important and many of us like the structure and gold stars of school, but nothing beats doing. You don't need a classroom to learn grammar, style, or voice. Read a book, take a class or join a writing group. Degrees help focus but they can also herd too far. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bottom-line, it's the pursuit that matters.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>It doesn't take a contract.</b> I may be self-published but I still long for socal affirmation of a major publisher believing in me. When I began writing, finding an agent and publisher was the only way to realize my dream BUT IT'S SO SUBJECTIVE. That's what I love about self-publishing -- we remove the middleman who tells the public what topics are interesting. However, the achievement of a contract is a hard need to shake. I still labor over pitches and queries. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>It doesn't take selling your book(s) to strangers</b>. Though I think this is near the top of actions that trick your brain into believing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>It takes effort.</b> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://rebeccatdickson.com/2013/02/27/a-writers-routine-means-sweet-fck-all/" target="_blank">My effort won't look like your effort</a> but there are key principles.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><i><span style="font-size: large;">Never Give Up</span>.</i> Maybe it takes you a year to find your rhythm but that probably means your desire incubated then burst forth ready to succeed. Maybe it takes ten years of limping along. All effort leads </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your own voice</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A body of work</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Listen</span></i>. Other writers will share the basics a million times before it penetrates the skulls of newbies. It boils down to a writer's willingness to learn:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The difference between stage direction and showing</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Flow and tension versus forced narrative</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Obervation</span></i>. Notice how the authors you love write. Pause over a succulent sentence and discern how it functions. </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a reader, ask yourself what is (or is not) flipping your skirt</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No matter how painful, notice the common comments from editors, readers, other writers -- observing then fixing consistent criticism (too much exposition, using 'very' too much, etc) is a critical step.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ultimately, there are only a handful of quality answers. The scary fact is, the tenants of writing are simple: write with a unique voice, sharing a story that moves. Understanding these concepts intimately is the journey.<br /><br />A great journey never ends.</span>Ellen Hargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16099018345786254049noreply@blogger.com