Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Writing Wednesday: Why All The Drama?...

Drama, drama, drama!

There is so much drama in our real lives, in books, on television, in movies. It's everywhere! It seems like the more we say, "I'm done with drama!" we get sucked back into it.

But what, exactly, am I talking about?

Let's take an example of something that is pure drama.

Soap Operas. And right up there are Reality T.V. Shows. THAT is the kind of drama I'm talking about.

In Soap Operas, you get a lot of the bad over-acting, back-of-the-hand-to-the-forehead "woe is me!" kind of stuff. (At least that is how it was when I used to watch them waaaaay back when.) The dun-dun-DUN! sort of mystery.

In Reality T.V., you get a lot of people trying to look cool in front of the cameras, putting on a false face and they usually end up falling on that face because they get stressed out, over-whelmed and break. And it's always "all about them" scenarios. More often than not, you hear that wail of "Why me?" thrown in there somewhere.

Okay, so where am I going with this? Well, there is this sort of drama in just about everything we read or watch, even on social media. We go to work and listen to that one person talk about everything happening to them, wanting someone to listen, but when you want to talk, it reverts back to them. You know what I'm talking about.

It's. Every. Where. You feel like you can't escape it. So why do we keep coming back to it?

Well, first of all, we like to know we're not the only ones going through a mountain of crap.

Second, we feel like it is blown out of proportion a bit, that maybe no one has ever really gone through anything like this, right? And it is totally worse than what we're going through. So it makes us feel better.

Third, it's that feeling of I'm-not-in-this-alone-someone-else-has-gone-through-this! sort of relief.

And finally, as we watch or read as the story unfolds, there is always a solution. Perhaps it is the solution you were looking for, but didn't realize it at the time.

There is a little bit of drama in just about every genre. It's what sucks the reader in. That problem the character has that just won't go away, no matter what, then suddenly, like a beacon, there is a solution. It's that arc that writers are talking about all the time. Like in Harry Potter. Harry just hates being with his relatives and can't wait to get back to Hogwart's. Everything is so much better there, until (drama!) Voldemort rears his very ugly head. But there is always a solution to the problem. Either one Harry figures out on his own, or through advice and brainstorming with his friends.

It's the pivotal moment. The one where we just KNOW the outcome is going to change and everything will be okay. Maybe. It's the "A-ha!" moment. And it is something we are drawn to, like a moth to flame, hoping that maybe somewhere in all of this, is a solution for our own problems. As writers, we write from experience. We write what we know. In all of our story-telling, not only are we sharing the story we have inside us, but we're also trying to get across that, hey, we've been there. And there is a light at the end of your tunnel.

What are your thoughts about this post? Leave some comments!

Monday, December 28, 2015

GTKM: 2...

It's Monday! That means it's another Get To Know Me post. Are you ready?

What is the one thing I will never do again?

Wow. That is a tough one. There are a LOT of things I never want to do again. But as the saying goes, never say never, you know?

Okay, I think I got it. After much deliberation, it would have to be:

I'll never live in Alaska again. Sorry to all my Homer homies! I'll visit, but I won't ever live there again. That was an experience and a half.

I love Alaska, but I don't love the winters. It was much too much for me to handle with my depression. The darkness really does affect you whether or not you buy into that. I know a lot of people utilized the tanning beds to get their daily dose of good sunlight, but if you don't have the money or a gym membership, you're kind of S. O. L.

I'm sort of finding that a lot of the rainy days here in Washington affect me, but no where near what winter in Alaska did to me. And the cost of living... well... that is not a state where you can survive living paycheck to paycheck. A lot of people do it. But it is no fun to run out of wood or fuel oil in the middle of winter. I think we were out of something for just a couple days, but we had electric heaters as back up. Even then, you're gobbling up electricity with those things and if you've got small heaters in a large place, you're still cold!

Okay, enough griping about it. It's in the past and done. So there, that is the one thing I will never do again.

How about you? What is the one thing you will never do again?

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

The Day Before The Night Before Christmas...

I know, I'm so wordy.

However, do not be offended by my next choice of words:

Happy Holidays!

It's simple. It's generic, but it is getting my point across to all of my many friends, no matter their culture.

And for those who don't celebrate, Happy December 23rd! It's Wednesday!!!

I hope this week finds you all well. I hope you all have a safe holiday, even if you aren't celebrating. Be careful of those who celebrate just a little too much because they have no boundaries. Ha!

Anyway.

I'm hopefully ending this year on a high note and beginning next with an even higher one. I'm ready for this year to be over, but it doesn't mean my typical, average every day issues will just magically disappear. I just hope to be dealing with them better as we get over the very large bump in the road called Christmas.

Things are looking better for us, here. Hubs has a new job starting soon. I'll be getting back to my schooling and hopefully finishing up my trilogy. I'll have book one out in audio shortly, as well. I also have my hands deep into other writing projects, as well as craft ones. We may have a move in our future, but not too far from where we are currently, just closer to my husband's work.

My kids are doing well, as is my grand-kidlet. One is in the medical field as a CNA, getting ready to move up the ladder. The other is currently working on a mechanic's license and already has an electrical one.

Hubs got laid off a few months back, but we've kept afloat, thankfully, due to him working a temp job. Which actually ended up being a dream job of his, but the pay just isn't enough. Things were tight around here, but with the help of one kid, we ended up being okay.

I'm still working my part-time job and doing online schooling. Other than writing and craft stuff, not so much going on.

I wish you all well and safe for the holiday season, as well as all year long. Many blessings!

Monday, December 21, 2015

Getting To Know Me, Week One...

For the sake of making things simple, I will start referring to these posts as GTKM: 1 or 2, etc.

All right, here we go...

Who Knows Me Best?

Hmm... aside from myself. Duh. I would have to say my husband. He's the one who knows me the best out of everyone in my life.

I have best friends I've known since high school. Some I've kept in contact with continuously, others, just reconnecting. The friendships are still solid after all this time and it's fun getting to know them all over again.

Time has changed us all. We're not the same people anymore. They know a good portion about me. They know stuff from my past that my husband wouldn't know. But when it comes down to brass tacks, Hubs wins.

Sure, there are the usual little things that he'll forget, but he's the one who knows exactly what kind of nuts I'm allergic to. He knows that my mood affects my sleep habits really bad.

He also is the only one who knows that either a certain look on my face or tone of my voice means everyone should be ducking for cover, because I'm about to blow up.

He also is the only one who knows how to calm me down. He knows how to make me voice my thoughts and feelings. Something I struggle with, constantly.

I'm a writer. Ask me to write my thoughts and feelings down, don't ask me to speak them.

But he gets me to talk. I can honestly sit there and tell him everything that just pops into my head and know he'll understand and get it. No matter how bad it sounds.

He also knows when I'm having a writing "AHA!!!" moment.

So, yeah. Of all the people in my life, he knows me best. That's how it should be, right?

Who knows you best?

Monday, December 14, 2015

Getting To Know Me...

All right. I'm trying to make an effort here, to get back into blogging.

From this point on, I'll be posting every week a "Getting To Know Me" post.

It'll be fun! I'll even make it interactive. If people comment on the post with questions, I'll include those in my future posts.

I'm working on things. I'm trying to find some writing related stuff as well. I've pulled out posts from my archives before, from waaaaay back when I started this. So maybe I'll re-visit those as well.

This first post will be a general "Get To Know Me".

First and foremost, I'm a geek. I'm a gamer. A lot of you already know that. I'm a nerd to the core and I am proud of it.

I'm that person that has the collection of nerd gear t-shirts. The ones people love to look at, but don't buy because they won't wear it. Including one that says this:


Most people get the reference. Some don't. Some think it's the band.

I also like to live my life by using random, obscure movie quotes and song lyrics. I have a ton of useless trivia in my brain. If I could ever get on a useless trivia game show, I think I'd walk away with a good amount of cash. Psh!

I'm crafty. I can make all kinds of things. If I ever had the cash flow to do everything I know how to do, I bet I could fill an aircraft carrier.

Okay. So there is a little bit. Tune in every week to read more! I look forward to this!

Monday, December 7, 2015

#FREE For Two Days...

Hey everyone!

Just a quick note to let you know that starting today (the 7th) until the 9th, "Veritas, Shadow of the Rose: Book Two" will be free to purchase on Amazon.

This is the book:

This is the link.

Please share with your friends! Let's get the word out!

Now, if you don't have a Kindle, I do have "Veritas" on Smashwords as well. I'll be setting the price to free today (the 7th) until the 9th there, as well.

Here is that link.

I hope you all have a great rest of your week and I'll see you all soon!

Friday, December 4, 2015

There Isn't Much To Say...

I find myself sitting in front of my computer, more often than not, goofing off.

I know, I know, I could be writing a blog post for all you lovely people who haven't given up hope on my getting back into the swing of things.

I just find I don't have much to say. I'm disconnected a bit.

There is so much going on in my life, that I have fallen back into a very old, very bad habit of playing mindless games. It's sort of what keeps me sane.

However, with that being said, it also affects my writing, my crafting and everything else in between.

Writing is the first thing to take a serious hit. So I try very hard to make sure I sit down and write out something on a daily basis. Even if it is complete nonsense. Or even just a sentence or two. At least that way I feel like I'm moving a little closer to a finish line.

School is now taking a serious hit as well, but it has for a while now. Trying to juggle too much, something is bound to suffer. But that is the one thing that I need to buckle down on and get moving. So I have found myself reading back chapters to catch myself up again.

Since the passing of my sweet kitty, I've been a little more down in the dumps than usual. Poor Gir is right there with me. She doesn't know what to do. She keeps calling for him. She sleeps on me most nights. And I mean ON me. She's grieving. She's not eating like she used to and is sleeping a lot more.

Hubs is finally working a full time job again, with another opportunity on the horizon. One we were hesitant to take, yet both of us know if he doesn't, we're sunk. We're stuck in a Catch-22.

I guess I don't blog as much, because I'm afraid of coming on here and whining about problems all the time. I know everyone else out there has their own issues. Everyone has something to worry about. How you handle it tells a lot about you. But if I am building up a reader base for my books, how many of you want to read about how horrible my life is right now?

Okay. Not horrible. Stressful. That is more like it.

So on the other side of that coin, writing is the only real outlet I have. Blogging about stuff going on is therapeutic for me. I may end up doing a private journal so I can be free to blog about book stuff.

I'm trying. I really am. But it's so easy to get caught up in old habits. All I can say, is thank you, to those of you who keep reading this blog and hoping for more.

How do you break out of the doldrums? What bad habits are you constantly trying to break?