Kinetic Typography

I do enjoy Stephen Fry. Love this little video about language!

Five for Friday: Quote and Quotability

I want to branch out a bit on this blog, so today I'm going to try something new. I'm going to post five of my favorite things, whether they be books, movies, foods... anything can make the cut. (Hopefully I will remember to keep it up!)

In keeping with a writing theme, I'm going to use today's list for "Quotability" (i.e. how much the movie has permeated into my everyday life.)

5. Airplane!

I have to admit, I haven't seen Airplane! in years, but there is no denying how it has become a staple in my speech.

Most quoted line: Well, it requires a setup. The movie version is "Surely, you can't be serious?" "I am serious... and don't call me Shirley!" Everytime i hear the word "surely" I must follow up with the end of that quote! It's almost like it's law!

4. The Princess Bride

Again, it's not surprising to see my favorite movies on this list. The Princess Bride is a staple in my everday vernacular. Unfortunately, even though I quote it incessantly, usually the quotes don't fit the situation. I do overuse "Inconceivable!" but then again, who doesn't? Still, I think the best lines in the movies go to Fezzik (Andre the Giant) and Inigo Montoya (Mandy Pantinkin). The rhyming on the boat is classic, yet hard to throw in to everyday conversation:

Inigo Montoya: That Vizzini, he can *fuss*.

Fezzik: Fuss, fuss... I think he like to scream at *us*.

Inigo Montoya: Probably he means no *harm*.

Fezzik: He's really very short on *charm*.

Inigo Montoya: You have a great gift for rhyme.

Fezzik: Yes, yes, some of the time.

Vizzini: Enough of that.

Inigo Montoya: Fezzik, are there rocks ahead?

Fezzik: If there are, we'll all be dead.

Vizzini: No more rhymes now, I mean it!

Fezzik: Anybody want a peanut?

But, I digress.

Most quoted line: It's a pet peeve of mine when people don't use a word correctly. Perhaps it's my background in English Lit, or perhaps it's how I hate that the internet has destroyed language all together. But when I hear someone say "supposably", my skin crawls.

So, I give you, Inigo: (insert my best spanish accent) "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

3. Robin Hood

Not my favorite Disney movie by a longshot, but there are two quotes in this movie I use incessently. I guess this one will be a tie:

Most quoted line (1): (Usually only used when people are in my way, this requires a bit of pushiness. It only works when you stick out your belly) "Get outta my church!"

Most quoted line (2): (When saying goodbye) "Come back next year! On my birfday!" 2. The Wizard of Oz

An obvious choice, considering I have a tattoo reading "There's no place like home." Furthermore, the various electronics in our house are named with a Wizard of Oz theme (Tin Man, Toto, The Wiz, etc.).

Most quoted line: "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain..." (used when I get embarassed or caught-red handed)

1. Finding Nemo

There are so many quotes I use from this movie that if I started to list them, I would run out of space. From speaking in whale, to the shocked "he touched the butt!", Nemo has become a staple within my vernacular.

Most quoted line(s): Check out IMDB for a more comprehensive list of quotes, but for now, I will just list a few:

Dori: Just keep swimming!

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Seagulls: Mine! Mine! Mine!

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Crabs: Heeeeeeeeeey! Heeeeeeeeey! (it's important to make little crab claws with your hands when using this quote.)

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Squirt: We're gonna have a great jump today!

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Bruce: Fish are friends, not food.

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Dori (reading): Ess-cah-pay!

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Mr. Ray: Let's name the zones, the zones, the zones...

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Dori: I shall call him Squishy and he shall be mine and he shall be my Squishy. Come on, Squishy Come on, little Squishy!

(Yes, I do use ALL of these! ALL THE TIME! I know, I'm nuts!)

Honorable mentions:

The Muppet Christmas Carol:

Mice: Please sir, I'd like some cheeeeeeese.

Charlie Brown Christmas:

Lucy: "And presents for pretty girls?"

Singing in the Rain:

Don: "Hey Cosmo, call me a cab."

Cosmo: "Okay, you're a cab."

Creating a Book Trailer

Recently, I find more and more authors are employing the new idea of creating a "Book Trailer". Essentially, it's a movie trailer but for your book. This article has a useful list of what works in a trailer, but even better, there is a fantastic trailer embedded on the page.

How am I ever going to compete with that?

In other news, Force is live on amazon.com, through their Kindle store! I'm currently investigating other eBook publishers, but it's a time consuming process. Plus, I really just want to finish writing and editing the series so that all three books can go up together. Hopefully that will come soon! Until then, happy reading!

Distractions

It's very easy to get distracted from writing, especially with all shiny, flashy things around. I had a free evening tonight, and was all set to work on book three (still untitled), but then there was facebook, and twitter, and television, and the various blogs I like to read, and and and...

Now, I find it's 10:30 at night, and I've yet to write a word. Is it perhaps something subconscious about this story in particular? When i first wrote it, I hit a block. I took my characters to a dark place, and couldn't figure out how to get them out without upsetting "my readers" (I use quotes because there's all of three of you out there). But still, that was the way I wanted (or thought i wanted) the story to go. I've been stuck ever since, and it's been over a year.

Part of the reason I've been tackling it again is because I'm going to start publishing on the Kindle Store. It's an experiment, so hopefully it will be successful. I must say, without the help of Dan (my wonderful, tech-savvy roomie), I would never be in a position to post on the site. There are so many formatting-for-web codes and tricks that I just don't understand.

In my procrastination, I opened up my OneNote file for the series. It's kind of like my encyclopedia of the world i have created in my books. I have a page for each character, which includes quotes of descriptions I use throughout the stories. I also have pages for locations, and other important elements.

Many times I will have an idea of something in my head, for example, the interior of Mobius (described in an earlier post). In my travels across the inter-webs I sometimes find images that fit my imagined idea (for Mobius, it is the interior of the Guggenheim, and the exterior of the Kelowna library). I put these pictures in the OneNote file.

I find looking at these pictures helps me get inspiration, as well as helps me to remember exactly what I had been thinking weeks (or months) previous. Today, I came across the image for Zarek (a pivotal character in the second novel). I hesitate to post it here, because I would rather not affect a reader's imagination (which is why I will never post the pictures of my "fantasy cast" if Force was made into a movie), but I wanted to post a "tease" of what is to come once the second book (tentatively titled "Force of Nature") makes it on to the Kindle Store.

From: http://media.photobucket.com/image/gargoyle/Zappy_Kid/Gargoyle.jpg

In other news, I suppose I should mention that I have reverted back to my original title. It appeals to a wider audience, I think, and for purposes of Kindle-dom I find it is a better fit.

A Little Thrown, A Little Perspective, A Lot of Sadness

I've been thinking a lot lately about my lack of writing. I haven't felt driven in months. I'm not really sure why the brakes are on my series, but even still, I haven't written ANYTHING.

I want to write some more, but I'm lacking inspiration. This morning, I came across an email from one of my favourite authors, Jennifer Rardin. She is the only author (or even famous person) I have ever written to. When I picked up one of her books, it was just supposed to be a fun, quick read, but i quickly tore through the whole Jaz Parks series, and immediately afterward, began writing again. This was roughly last December...so over a year has passed, and I still have her response, and though it was short, it was definitely a surprise that she even wrote back at all. I've included my letter and her response below:

Dear Jennifer,

I must first start by saying that I don't think I have ever written an author before. But i just picked up Once Bitten, Twice Shy yesterday, (yes, only yesterday) and I am devouring it, and will be buying the rest of your series tomorrow.In a literary world that has recently been dominated by tween "vampire" romance, it is so unbelievably refreshing to pick up something a little easier for my 27-year old self to relate to.

Last February, I began writing urban fantasies for women (also answering that Avenue Q song...My BA in English was collecting a lot of dust) because I was having a hard time finding them at the bookstore (unless of course you are fifteen). I'm almost done my third novel, but I was starting to feel discouraged that the market seemed to only support the teenage market.

Anyway, the point I am trying to make, is as an aspiring writer in your genre, you have given me a new sense of drive. Jaz Parks is an incredible woman, let alone protagonist. Your writing is amazing and the story is nearly impossible to put down (I had to pull myself away from reading to seek out your email). I only hope to achieve that level of intrigue in my characters and plot.

So, I want to thank you so much for renewing my spirit, not just in writing, but also in reading. Unless i slow down (and I really don't want to), I'm thinking I will read your series and finish it by the end of the week. It's such a rush to find a book that does that to you and works your imagination.

Sincerely,

Shawna Logue

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Thanks so much for your kind words, Shawna! I'm psyched to know you're having fun with the series and inspired to do some creating yourself!

Take care!
Jen


You may ask why I am breaking my writer's block silence to write about this. Well, Jen has always had a strong web presence. She used facebook (and didn't hire someone to post for her), she tweeted, and she blogged. I started thinking about my own lack of activity on social media, and how my writing had fallen off the table, when i realized I hadn't seen a post from her come across my feed for some time. In fact, her last post was September 17th.

A little investigating, and I discovered that she passed away unexpectedly on September 20th.
I never met Jen, but I feel like i knew her. So to read about her death has definitely thrown me this morning. I am rethinking my writing strategy and hoping in the new year I will get back in the game. I think that despite whatever tragedy that ended her life, she would want to keep inspiring, and keep writing.

It boggles my mind how this has affected me. It has definitely given me some perspective. Most of all, it has made me sad. The literary world lost a great person in Jennifer Rardin.

True story. Just happened.

Okay, this blog is supposed to be about writing but I had to share this. I didn't know there were people like this in today's age.

A man sat down next to me at starbucks. After five minutes he waved his hands frantically to get my attention.

Actual conversation:

Me: "yes?"

Him:"Can you help me?"

I looked at his laptop.

Me: "With the internet?"

Him: "No, with facebook. I got an email and i don't know how to reply."

He shows me his Gmail which has 55 new messages, all from facebook.

Me: "Okay click the email."

Him: "Where?"

I point.

Him: "Why can't i click here instead?"

Me: "You can click anywhere on that bar."

He clicks.

The email says: "Hi i'm Valentina frm chile be my freind." [sic]

Him: "now what?"

I sigh.

Me: "Click the link at the bottom of the email that says TO REPLY CLICK HERE"

Him: "Where?"

Me: "In the yellow box."

Him: "You mean the red box?"

Me: "No, I think it's yellow."

Him: "Show me."

I point at the YELLOW box.

Me: "Click the link."

Him: "What's a link?"

Me: "The blue underlined text that links to facebook," at which point i take the laptop and click it for him.

Him: "It wants me to log in. Should i click keep me logged in?"

Me: "If you want to."

.... At this point two pitbulls humping each other go past the window.

Him: "I guess I should go get my dogs." He gets up to tie them up, which was my cue to exit.

The Infamous Staircase

When i came up with the idea for the staircase in Connor's cabin, I "invented" it in my head. I had no idea if it was possible, accounting for physics and the like. But I always felt that even if it wasn't possible, a little magic would do the trick.

I was just sent an email of Amazing Staircases and found Connor's stairs! That makes me so happy!!

(sorry - i have no idea where the photo came from aside from a chain email... apologies for not crediting it properly)