Below I’ve got eight topics. As always, respond to what catches your eye and ignore what doesn’t.

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1. “NO ROOM FOR MEDIOCRITY”

I pulled this from Galley Cat. Literary Agent Bridget Wagner had this to say about what editors want:

“I think editors are looking for game changing books — truly brilliant innovators that see the world (business, science, politics, history, etc) in a new way and who can tell stories in the process. And, they’re looking for authors with built-in media connections. As for what I look for but rarely find — I always have trouble finding a voice that grabs me and pulls me in. The voice that won’t let you go is so rare. And of course, I’m searching for non-American writers who can give us fiction and non-fiction in a fresh, eye-opening, more global way.“

So basically, they’re looking for writers to reinvent the wheel.  Oh, and make it look all sparkly too. :cool:
What say you?

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2. THIS KID ROCKS!

Listen to this 13-year-old boy’s rendition of Lady Gaga’s Paparazzi. It’s incredible.

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3. MY OBSESSION

I have a huge number of DVDs and I take extra special care of them. I don’t like fingerprints on my movie cases or—GOD FORBID—on the actual DVDs. Incidentally, the oil from your hands DOES do damage to the disks if they’re not cleaned properly …. but I digress. Everyone in my house knows I’m like the Soup Nazi when it comes to my DVD collection. If you borrow a DVD from me, please remember I’m not Blockbuster. You don’t have a week to keep it. I want it back that night, in the same condition. Forget about anyone outside my house borrowing my DVDs. It’ll never happen. Last time I did that, the thing was returned with pizza stains on the cover. The disk was scratched, whereas, when I lent it to them it was in MINT condition. Sooooo, as you can see, I am very anal about my DVDs. I am obsessive with my books too, but not nearly as much.

Likewise, my gynecologist has an INSANE doll collection in her office. They’re all over the place and if anyone touches them, she has a royal fit. Do you have a collection of something dear to you? If so, what is it, and are you as anal about your collection as I am about my movies?

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4. OLDIES BUT GOODIES

After decades of hearing about The Thorn Birds mini-series, I finally rented it from Netflix and I’m really not too sure how I feel about it. I knew the conflict centered around an ambitious priest who fell in love with a woman. And from what I remember, the book and movie were pretty controversial when they first came out. The Church attacked both relentlessly. However, what I didn’t know was that Father Ralph (the romantic hero) was a constant in the heroine’s life, (Meggie) all the way back to when she was a child. In fact, he was a father figure to her, in every sense of the word.

Initially, it felt kinda icky when I watched those early scenes of them together. While nothing remotely sexual was going on, I just kept thinking about what would happen between them when she grew up. Anyway, I got over it eventually and came to see them as star-crossed soul mates. The story drew me in and to my surprise, Richard Chamberlain (not one of my favorite actors, btw) was excellent in it!! Rachel Ward was okay … but I do think if they’d've gone with Jane Seymour as they originally intended, the character would have had more depth.

Have you ever seen this movie or read the book? What did you think about it?

The following clip is one of my favorite scenes.  After many years of waiting, Meggie and Father Ralph FINALLY do the deed.  I love how he goes chasing after her on the beach.  :-)

As an aside, I also re-watched another oldie-but-goodie.  Strictly Ballroom has aged well and if you haven’t seen this little gem, I strongly suggest you either buy it, or put it in your Netflix queue. This Australian import combines dance, drama, romance and comedy brilliantly. The following is my favorite scene because it’s when the hero finally realizes he’s in love with the heroine.

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5. YOUR WIP

Nathan Bransford posed a good question: “How long Is It Taking You?” I for one have been working on the same book for little over a year. But, but, but, I was also writing two others at the same time. So how long has it been for you with your current WIP? What’s the shortest time it’s taken you to write a book, and what’s the longest?

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6. THE END OF PUBLISHING

Check out this fascinating use of words by PenguinGroupUSA:

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7. FORBIDDEN LOVE

Instead of veggie porn, I’ve decided to do cuteness. Who says cats and dogs can’t be friends?

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8. MULTI-TALENTED?

We all know most everyone who visits this place is a writer, but what else are you good at? Me? I’m a great cook and I can paint too. I dabble in acrylics and oils. Watercolor painting drives me bananas. Can’t work with it. It’s too hard.

So what else can you do besides write? Can you sing? Dance? Are you brilliant with numbers? Are you good with cars? Or what about photography?