WIP update: Just topped 17,000 words and am getting to the heart of Chapter 5. Strangely, writing feels easier now that the two MCs (main characters) are split up. Not sure what exactly that means yet, but I do think it means something. I guess I’ll address it in the revisions. (That’s my new motto for everything, haha: fix it later!)

To make the most of today, my last Friday of not working (at least for a while), I’m in Houston visiting my parents for the weekend. Trying hard to relax, and to get a lot of writing in. Because next week, the real chaos begins. (Carpets cleaned, locks re-keyed, alarm system upgraded, FURNITURE AND ALL OUR JUNK MOVED IN, unpacking, re-adjusting. Oy.) A workplace move really cures you of wanting to look for houses, by the way. I’ve started to think Andy and I could live in our condo forever.

Anyhoot, I’m off to read and write and relax (and go to the rodeo! yeehaw!) but first, a video. Those of you who follow me on Twitter may have already seen this, but it really is worth seeing again, particularly if you’re into reading or you’re aspiring to be part of the publishing industry.

I don’t know why but lately I’ve had the urge to write fanfic again. I think because you don’t have to do any of the work to set up a world or characters. You just get to dive right in to the “good stuff.”

Sadly, you cannot be a professional fanfic writer. :’(

So instead, I watched Julie & Julia (hey, it’s about a writer!). And worked on Twenty-Somewhere. And read my friend Irene’s poignant yet hilarious new blog about leaving LA and returning to Austin. (She’s an actress/comedienne.) It’s called Les Grandes Changes. Read it.

Julie & Julia was cute, and I’m glad I watched it, but it’s a little long and I probably won’t watch it again. I will, however, play this scene repeatedly until it comes true for me:

That scene happens to take place in NY, but much of the movie is set in France. Do you know what else is set in France? The latest episode of Twenty-Somewhere! Check it out — “Episode 32: Paris, City of Fights”:

The plan is simple: Sophie will use the invite from Forward Fashions to fly Claudia and herself to Paris for Fashion Week. MJ will join them from England. Then the 3 best friends will spend 5 fabulous days together — together! in person! for the first time since graduating! — and it will be a perfect little holiday.

Perfect. That is the plan.

Unfortunately, the reality is anything but.

“Nice people with common sense do not make interesting characters. They only make good former spouses.”

You can watch the full video, Isabel Allende: Tales of passion, at YouTube or below. She’s actually rather funny.

Word Count – Aug 5, 2009:

Sadly the past two days have not been as productive as the first few. A couple of the hours I lost last night were to my writing group, though, so it’s hard to say that wasn’t worth it. The couple hours of Bones reruns, on the other hand… (I blame you for that, Margot!)

So what am I struggling with? Mostly just making myself do it. It’s totally a mental block. But once I put away all the distractions and just sit and put pen to paper (yes I’m going old school right now) after 20 min I’m totally in the zone.

Anyway, I always think it’s okay to fall off the horse, as long as you get right back on. So look for some impressive word counts in the days to come, eh?

In the meantime, here’s my silly dog. Eating leaves.

In addition to writing, one of my big passions is dance. This video encapsulates why:

This video also shows why I love Melissa, Ade, and So You Think You Can Dance. It’s totally worth watching the responses from the judges (particularly Mia Michaels) as well, if you can find that on YouTube.

Obviously as a writer I think words are worth a lot, but I think this dance expresses the issue of breast cancer at least as well as, if not better than, anything I have ever read.