Are there ever times when you hear something and it’s off limits to writing? To me, pretty much everything is imagination fodder. For example, the other day someone said something to me and I immediately wondered how to work it into a book. But then I got thinking, should it be off limits. First, they’re a writer, too but have never used it. Second, it might be too personal for them. Because, again, they haven’t used it.

      But think about TV. Shows like CSI or Law and Order take ideas right out of the newspaper and tweak and twist it to make it fictionalized enough to prevent lawsuit, but you KNOW what they’re referring to.Of course, when you (or rather I) use something overheard or whatnot, it’s probably not that well known. Many a time I have used familial faux pas or annoyances to “enhance” stories. Don’t most writers get their inspiration from reality?

      So when are things off limit? When does a juicy tidbit that all but falls into your lap go onto the “if only” shelf because you can’t get rid of it, but you aren’t sure to use it?

You’d think, hey it’s summer, I should be able to get more down. Well I’m here to tell you, not so much. One thing after another comes up (like the A/C breaking for the THIRD FREAKING TIME IN A MONTH OF 100 degree days) and thanks to the kiddos being off school, you have to deal with them because pretty much they stand next to your ear saying, “mom, mom, mom…” until you respond some way or another.

I really thought I’d have so much more done by this point. I even bet Lynn as much (but the month ain’t over, I still have time!)

I don’t know if it’s a heat thing. Or a kids home thing or just a combo of both, but summer time sucks. Who knows, maybe it’s the hard wire from childhood when you had summer off and didn’t have to do a thing and so now your brain knows it’s summer it shuts off!

Mine seems to be less and less useful……

So I have been working on a new book and there was a scene from an older–prolly won’t finish any time soon–WIP that I wanted to “borrow” from. Cut and paste. Cut and paste. Tweak, tweak, tweak. Viola, I have just added a scene or two in a matter of seconds.

I realized I have done this several times before. {Note to all interested parties–this is ALWAYS from my own personal WIPs so don’t go getting all litigious on me}.  I have many older WIPs that have holes here and there from ripping it apart to put in newer WIPs.

Is this normal? Do you often steal from yourself. Or maybe it’s not even stealing, but mining. Until it’s published, it pretty much is fair game, I guess. And it’s not like you haven’t already put the work/effort into it. But it almost feels like cheating. I can’t say exactly why though.

On the flip-side of mining, I have even written just a scene. Depending on what ispirired it in the first place, it tends to be vague enough that it may be worked into a WIP at a later date, but it was something that struck me too profoundly to not jot down–lest I lose it in my overfull/hyperactive imagination. As well as whole scenes cut that didn’t work. I don’t want to delete them completely–you never know when it will fit perfectly elsewhere. So I have a file of orphaned scenes.

A junk drawer of sorts for WIPs and whatnot.

What about y’all? (As you have probably noticed, I am always curious how other writers writer.) Lemme know if you go digging for dilemmas in your potential possibilities.

To Newsletter or not to Newsletter, this is my question! I know a couple of authors who have newsletters. I know many who don’t (or at least I am not on their “list”). I wonder if this is worth the effort and trouble to put one out.

Truth be told, I started thinking about it because I was added to a couple of “lists” without being asked (don’t even know two of the people and can’t imagine where they got my addy) and the crap in my e-mail is frustrating. Sure I can hit delete, but still, it’s rude to me . . . but that is a whole ‘nother issue.

Back to the question: Is it worth it? I have had a couple of opportunities to “mine” lists of folks–who knowingly added their name to a list to be used as such, but I never did anyting with it. I do feel like it’s a lost opportunity (don’t know that I still have their info at this point, though). But I am still unsure how to precede. I suppose it is a fairly easy way to spread word of a new book or cover. When something is hitting the stores. And of course there are contests newsletter folks run.

As a reader, the ones I am on, I admit I skim. Of course, I skim most of everything (my brain is warped slightly–it’s a form of ADD I think). But I will eventualy read enough times that I have read everything. Often times, though if their is a contest or time dated info, by the times I am done, it’s past whatever deadline their may be. I realize in many MANY areas, I am odd. . .  so I don’t often go by my quirks.

What about you, do you read the newsletters you receive? Shoot, are you even on any? I am curious if it’s worth it on either end.

So I am probably the only person who hadn’t seen The Da Vinci Code. (nor have I read the book), but Sunday it came on cable so I decided, “What the heck.” It was a veg-in-my-room day anyway, might as well use up 2 1/2 hours on a movie!

Let me back up a sec and say, I HAVE seen many a show on what the book was about, all the debates over the historical aspects and ramifications and whatnot as well as interviews with Mr. Brown. So I was not coming in with an empty head. Even with all that, I hafta say, I enjoyed the movie.

Having said that, I think I may have looked at it a little different than some. As a writer, you tend to pick apart things and wonder how you would do them the same and how you would do thim different. On a purely fictional aspect (it was fiction after all despite all the speculation surrounding it), I think Mr. Brown did a great job weaving in clues, hunts and all around mystery in the story. I actually managed NOT to get too tied up in what I think on a religeous aspect and with that was thoroughly entertained!

For those who know me, that was a feat in and of itself. I tend not to be able to suspend any disbelief and will get mired down in, buts. (I can come up with some wacky buts!)

I think sometimes you just have to let go of what you know or think. (Had I not known ANY of the hoopla that had accompanied the movie, I don’t know if I would have still have enjoyed it or not. I may have gotten caught up in the “buts”. ) I was happily surprised.

Have books or movies “happily surprised” you before?

Good news Tuesday . . . I sold another book to Samhain. It’s a contemporary western–ish. More details to follow.

It’s been one of those weekends. The DH has been working at the Basketball play-offs. Left over two-weeks ago–and will be home after the series is over–whenever that happens. The A/C went out Friday night (and it was 101 ° here yesterday) SHEESH! So selling the book is wonderful news.

I know summer time is slow for most folks. Getting writing done is becoming more tricky–BUT I had my notebook in my big green handbag, that everyone thinks is ugly, and wrote after me and two of the kiddos got out of a movie (Kung Fu Panda) waiting for the other two to get out of theirs (Zohan). It was kinda fun to write in a place you might not think of writing, seemed less inhibited since all I could do was wait for 1 and 2. Hmm . . . . have to see where we end up next and make sure I have my notebook!

Anyhoo . . . . Anyone else have some good news to share?!?!?!

I love TV. . . I mean I really LOVE TV. From the moment I could watch TV, I have been addicted to it. As a child, there weren’t near the choices my kids have now (we were just discussing this over the weekend–no Disney Channel, no Nick). You only got to see cartoons on Saturday or the occasional Disney movie on Sunday nights. During the week the only kids programming was PBS–and I sat there for all three or fours hours it was offered, from Sesame Street, Electric Co., 3, 2, 1 Contact to the Spanish show that came on at the end–I watched it every day–didn’t understand a word of the Spanish show, but I was ever faithful!

Eventually, I graduated to Black and White 60’s reruns. I could tell you about any and every episode of Andy Griffith, I Love Lucy or Beverly Hillbillies. And let me tell you how devistated I was to learn Ernie from My Three sons was not only way older than me, but way, WAY older–and bald. 

My watching habits have changed–and increased. I love have soooo many channels now. Some Saturdays, I will veg in my room and hoard the TV. 

The other night, I was watching a cheesy movie at 1 A.M. and kept thinking, “This is a great story line.” Yes, it was cheesy, but some was because it WAS 1 am and my mind was a tad on the mooshy side and some was there were ways they could have gone to give it a little extra . . . edge. My mind warped ahead how it would make a good book and how to twist it to make it more interesting. I always try to come up with the “internal thought” running through their head. Something a TV watcher is without that a reader benefits from. (but at the same time a TV watcher get the mood music so it’s a trade off)

I realized I actually do that with a lot of my TV watching now. Everything is food for the grist! It doesn’t matter if it is a topic on The View or a CSI episode, anything can be worked into a story. So really, my watching TV now is . . . RESEARCH!

My kids . . . yeah, they proabbly watch too much TV, but I have one or two budding writers, so really, I am just helping them in their training–That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

(Don’t even get me started about actors who say, “Oh, I don’t really watch TV.” WTF!

 . . . Whatevah)

It’s summertime, school gets out TODAY for my boys and I am in a festive mood (yeah, they will be home pretty much 24/7, but I don’t have to worry about alarm clocks and homework, lunches and report cards–YAY!).

So in that mood, I’d like to introduce y’all to Kim, fellow HHRW gal and a sweetheart. She has a new release coming out soon (which BTW just receieved 4 stars from Romantic Times–WOOHOO!) and I wanted to share . . .

She will be a “behind the books” author in September, but I wanted to get a plug in for her soon-to-be-released book.

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