I don’t want to rant about this, because that won’t accomplish anything, but let me just state a couple “rules” that I think ought to be obvious but apparently are not:

1. If you haven’t read it, watched it, listened to it, or partaken of it in some way, DO NOT JUDGE.
2. Just because women like something does not mean it’s stupid.
3. It’s okay not to like something that is popular. You don’t have to drink the Kool-Aid. Rock on!
4. It’s not okay not to like something just because it is popular. That’s called ignorance. Or narrow-minded-ness. Take your pick. (Believe me, I know, because I used to do this all the time.)
5. Stories that revolve around ethnic characters are not automatically Quality Literature, despite what some publications would have you believe. You still need an actual STORY.
6. Stories that revolve around upper/middle class White People are not automatically lacking in value. Upper/middle class White People are STILL PEOPLE.

There are several things that spurred these all-caps thoughts of mine, but I’ll give you one recent example: Eat, Pray, Love.

People are all up in arms because this “rich” white woman who gets to “discover herself in brown countries.” They call her book self-centered and self-indulgent. They say Julia Roberts is a sh*tty actress and the movie sucks.

Hey guess what, folks? It’s a MEMOIR; of course it’s self-centered. That’s like saying, “Dang, I hate this double fudge cake; it’s too chocolatey.”

I won’t even bother discussing her finances, because it’s her money and if she wants to spend it on a year’s journey of self-discovery instead of car payments, that’s her business. As for the “brown” countries, well, last I checked Italy was European (generally considered “white”) and Indonesia is in Southeast Asia (arguably “yellow”). Also, she never thinks of these places as mere Crayola colors; her critics do. No, she explores and appreciates them for their strengths and virtues.

Now, I haven’t seen the movie, so following my own rule #1 above, I can’t judge it. But I will say this: it’s fine not to like the movie, or Julia Roberts, or even the book. (See rule #3.) Just don’t turn those specific dislikes into broad generalizations, okay? Because it’s ugly and stupid and makes the angels cry. (See rule #4.) Also, it looks a lot like jealousy.

Oy, so much for not ranting…

I was going to blog something brilliant, I swear. But then I napped instead.

-_-

• Confession: I keep visiting my own site just to stare at the adorable new header! (Sad but true.) Those little guys are my friend’s puppies, Bailey and Cooper. This photo was taken a year ago, so they’re probably not little anymore, but they will forever be puppies to me.

• So, my vignettes from Friday. I got the idea during a commute home last week. Basically I was trying to represent the different worlds I experience at any given time. There’s what’s happening around me; what’s happening with me / to me; and what’s happening inside me / inside my head. Seems like most people gravitated towards the third vignette, i.e., my story. And that’s good, haha, because my goal is to make a living off my stories.

• I’ve been told that August is when publishing (well, most of NYC) goes on vacation, so I don’t expect to hear back about my Twenty-Somewhere proposal for a while. In the meantime, I am finishing up sample pages to send to an agent who asked for them, and trying to figure out which project to work on next. I’ve got a fully fleshed out plot for a dark adult novel (think The Departed meets Lost, only it’s not about cops or an island) but there’s no urgency to it; the story will still be relevant for years to come. Meanwhile I’ve got a great premise for a contemporary/dystopian (yes, both at the same time) YA, and it’s extremely timely, but the plot is rather undeveloped right now. Then there’s also The Good Daughters, which I finally figured out and am eager to redeem. Sigh. Choices, choices…

• Another confession: I was worried I’d be jealous. Of Erin, I mean. Because signing an agent is a HUGE deal, a FANTASTIC accomplishment, and MY goal for 2010. (In fairness, it was her goal too.) But I can happily report that I did not experience one iota of jealousy when she told me. I felt nothing but joy and pride and excitement. And I still feel it. Her success was not only well-deserved and thus easy to applaud, but it also encouraged and motivated me. If she can do it, so can I. And then we can go through submissions together. And book deals together. And launch parties together. And rinse and repeat forever.

The good GREAT news to which I referred yesterday.

(!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I could not be more excited, proud, encouraged, inspired, and not-surprised. Because having read it, I knew Erin’s book was spectacular, and that she has a long and lively career ahead of her, and really, what agent wouldn’t want to share in that?

Erin and I have been in the trenches together for a couple years now, and this truly couldn’t have happened to a more deserving writer.

Me with the up-and-coming YA fantasy writer Erin Danehy

She’s smart, talented, beautiful, funny, nerdy, and fortunately for me, a great friend. Congrats, Erin! I know this is not the last time I’ll be spreading wonderful news about you.

Andy came back from his business trip with a backpack full of Swiss chocolate, which is (a) delicious, and (b) dangerous. I had been eating pretty well — apple and peanut butter for breakfast, no sodas, no snacking — but I think that’s all going out the window now. At least until I finish off the chocolate. Which will probably be in about… 10 hours?

…

Hmm. So, when I first wrote that (last night), I was mostly joking, but considering that I’m having some sort of weird, low-blood-sugar episode this morning, I might really have to eat all the chocolate! Gee, what a pity.

In healthier news, I contacted the woman that originally gave Twenty-Somewhere (episodes 1-4) a one-star review, and after reading the full 40 episodes, she changed her review to four-star!! She said she really enjoyed the book, and would love to read a novel about each of the 3 girls. (Me too! I’m working on it, folks, I’m working on it.) So that was a huge “win” for me, and totally makes this whole no-color-in-my-lips, light-headed-and-nauseated thing so much more bearable.

It also reinforces what “they” (agents, editors, etc.) say about how you really have to hook your reader in the beginning. (Again, I’m working on it.) So that’s my little nugget of writing gold for the day: HOOK ‘EM.

Anyway, I’m going to go do my best not to pass out at work. Tell me, what nugget of gold have you discovered lately? It doesn’t have to be writing related. And if it’s actual gold, like of the 24-carat variety, then you should probably send it on over my way. You know, for safekeeping.