Wannabe Writers #37

Wannabe Writers is a writing group for the un-published started by Sarah at Confessions of the Un-published. It's a place where future authors can ask questions, share stories, and get feedback. Interested in joining? Click here to find more about how it works.

Where I am in the writing process: Still writing Who's Got The Moves (aka novel #2). I haven't worked on it this week...no good reason, just haven't. I am participating in a mentor thing online that the online writing group I belong to is doing. I love it. The author that's mentoring me has given me some good stuff to look at in order to make WGTM better. Since I'm only on chapter 2, I think I can go back and incorporate her ideas. I'm excited!

My current problem(s): I am in need of a critique partner or critique group. I had one, but life got in the way and everybody had to bow out. Things didn't work out with the critique partner I had. I need a second pair of eyes to look at my writing (both novel #1 and novel #2).

My question this week: Does anyone know of good critique groups I may be able to join? If you know any that meet in Houston, that would be even better, but I'll be happy with online groups, also. Is there any place I can find a critique partner?

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is my 34th birthday. No, I didn't celebrate it in a big way...although my sis did through a surprise party for me Sunday. I know. Awesome little sis, right? I'm just happy that God has allowed me another year. This just means He's not done with me yet. I still got work to do for His kingdom!

Now, 35...that's another story. If God allows me to see my 35th, I'm doing it big. I'm going to start planning early. The way I look at it, when I turn 35 next year, I can either stay at home, lamenting over the fact that I'm only 5 years away from 40, OR I can celebrate the fact that I'm alive. I choose option b. I'm okay with aging. I think I'm getting better in everything with age. I like where I'm at in life. I mean, there are some things I'd change, but overall, my 30s have been pretty awesome. So, I won't complain about being another year older. I'm just gonna live it up!

Wannabe Writers #35

Wannabe Writers is a writing group for the un-published started by Sarah at Confessions of the Un-published. It's a place where future authors can ask questions, share stories, and get feedback. Interested in joining? Click here to find more about how it works.

Where I am in the writing process: Writing novel #2, Who's Got Tha Moves. I'd originally planned on plotting novel #3, Harmonie's Song, but I'm heeding to the call of novel #1, tentatively titled, The Incredibly Rocky Life of Zachary Barnes. It's been put away for about a year now, so I think that's more than enough time to come back to it. So, I'm writing Who's Got Tha Moves and revising TIRLZB.

My Current Problem(s): Oh how I long for the day I can afford to write full time...or at least have my own business so my schedule can be flexible. Right now, as a substitute teacher, I have the flexibility I desire, but not the finances. My sis and I are going the entrepreneur route, it'll be another year or two (or three) before we can leave our jobs to focus full time. I don't know. Sometimes, after work, I'm too tired to write. I have all these ideas in my head, and would love to write them out. Alas, since I can't afford to write full time yet, I'll settle for writing during the snatches of time I can get. I think if I can take a week-long retreat some time, I'll be good.

My Question this week: Am I the only writer who dreams of writing full time? Does anyone know of some relaxing, affordable writing retreats I can take? Or even ideal places for a writer to get away from the hustle and bustle of life just to write?

Random Thought Thursday

Speak Loudly. Last Saturday, a man by the name of Dr. Scroggins, wrote an editorial about how parents need to speak out about what their children are learning in schools. I'd agree with him if his comments were so off-based.

• Sex Education. I'm not sure how they do it where in Republic, Missouri, but in the district I work in, kids are taught about reproduction and the body in about 4th or 5th grade. This is no cause for alarm, though, because letters and permission slips are sent home before, letting parents know. If parents aren't comfortable with their child learning about reproduction from the school, they can choose "I do not allow my child to participate" option. It's not forced on the children. Now, in my opinion, if parents don't want their children learning about reproduction, the body, or sex in school, they had better be teaching it at home. Why? They're gonna learn it from somewhere. What better place to learn it than home? If parents keep their heads buried in the sand and refuse to talk to their children, they'd have no right to be upset if the child ended up a mother or father-to-be. If you're not telling your kids about the right and wrong way to touch, how will they know if a family member, friend, or even stranger, is touching them inappropriately? And kids are learning things earlier and earlier. I've heard kids in 2nd grade talk about what they plan to do with their boyfriend/girlfriend after school. I'm sure some are talking about it earlier than that. Sad? Yes. It's very sad. Some of these parents need to take off the blinders and stop saying, "Not my child." I'm all for parents choosing whether or not their kids have sex ed at school, only if the parent is giving them sex ed at home.



• Book Ban. Ok, I get it. There are some books that some people feel isn't appropriate for kids to read. I agree parents need to be more aware of what they're kids are reading in school. What I don't agree with is comparing the books he listed to soft porn. I mean, really? I've read both Sarah Ockler's, Twenty Boy Summer and Laurie Halse Anderson's, Speak. Twenty Boy Summer is basically about a girl dealing with the death of a loved one. Speak is about a girl dealing with rape. How he compares it to soft porn is beyond me. And thing is, he has disputed comparing the books in that manner. Some of the comments I've read is saying he didn't compare them that way. He said, and I quote, "In high school English classes, children are required to read and view material that should be classified as soft pornography. One such book is called "Speak."" Those were his exact words. Sounds like comparing to soft porn to me. And really, there's something seriously wrong with people who'd think rape scenes are like soft porn. And I'm sure both books have helped teens across this country...maybe even the world...through some very difficult times. Through Speak, victims of rape have a voice, which is normally silenced. So parents, yeah, be aware of what your kids are reading. Speaking as an educator, we need parents to become involved in their child's education. Instead of banning the books, read them with your kids. Discuss the book. Talk to your kids.

In the name of Christianity. I am a Christian. I'm in love with God, believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and believe that He'll be coming back again. I believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven. I read my Bible daily (seriously, I do) and I am very active in my church. With that being said, I am so sick of people doing and saying things in the name of Christianity. I don't know about the god some of these people serve, but the God I serve wouldn't be happy with some of these goings-on. I do not profess to knowing what goes through God's mind - no one knows what goes thru His mind...that's why He's God and we're not - but I do read and study my Bible. This allows me to catch little glimpses of His personality. I honestly believe that He'd be disappointed in what some of these peeps are doing in the name of Christianity. Some of these people are painting the wrong picture of God and who He is.

Temporary Insanity. I can't believe this article. I mean, really? REALLY?

Writing Wednesdays

I've tweaked my Writing Wednesdays a little bit. I will make Sharing the Spotlight posts only once a month. Other Wednesday posts will be all about...yep, you guessed it. Writing. Whether I find a helpful article, blog post, etc, on the web or I'm updating progress on my current wips, these posts will be on Wednesdays.

I added 2 word count meters to my blog so I can keep track of my writing. Who's Got the Moves is the novel I'm working on now. I hit a snag cos of summer (thought I'd get a lot of writing done, but I didn't), but I'm over the snag. Note to self: update word count meter. I thought I'd get started on novel #3, tentatively titled, Harmonie's Song, but I'm feeling the need to get novel #1 (no title) out and revise.

I love writing!

Tickle-Me Tuesday

Funny Facebook statuses found here.

• Look at your status. Now back to mine. Now back to yours. Now back to mine. Sadly, yours isn't mine. But if you stopped posting about other things and made this your status, yours could be like mine. Look down. Back up. Where are you? .........You're on Facebook, reading the status your status could be like! Anything is possible when your Facebook status looks like this one...
• This just in... Apple has just hired LeBron James to fix the iPhone signal problem!
  knows how to stop the BP Oil leak from putting out... Just put a giant wedding ring on it!
• is wondering if you choke a smurf... what colour would he turn?
• hates it when people say stuff in their status updates that you really didn't want to know? I hate that. Anyway, I gotta go poo.
• is wondering on which day God created Justin Bieber... couldn't he have rested on that day too?
• just found out that the next Hannah Montana will be played by Justin Bieber.
• sometimes runs up to strangers on the street and yells "YOU'RE IT!!" and then runs away.
• is a little down since nobody wished her a happy birthday today, which isn't surprising really, since it isn't my birthday.
• can't go out this weekend... I'm babysitting Justin Bieber
• What can you write in 140 characters? How about the memoirs of Justin Bieber?

Man-ificent Monday: Derek Ramsey

This week's cutie pie is 30 year-old, Derek Ramsey. Ramsey is a model and actor from the Philippines. He's also a former VJ of MTV Philippines.

Word(s) to describe: Wow!