.

I think I have mentioned this here and there, but here it is all in one spot.

I find writing by the seat of my pants exciting. There is nothing more exciting. And you are hearing this from the girl who loved the free fall (80 feet) ride at the Calgary Stampede. (They take you up 120 feet and drop you into a net 40 feet from the ground. THAT was fun.) Anyway, I love being a pantster writer.

But I have seen the light.

I find writing with the plot in front of me to be a bit boring. And you are hearing this from the girl who loved writing essays in university. I loved having everything researched and just laying it all out on the paper. Everything fitting so nicely together. Ahhhh…

But as I said, I have seen the light. That means I may have to give up pantster writing.

<Sob>

The works I wrote pantster style have needed SO much editing. The one I wrote plotster style has needed surprisingly little. I didn’t really realise it until well, editing it. But honestly, I didn’t really SEE it until I reached the ‘focus’ chapter in Lukeman’s book. I then proceeded to pull my hair out of my head when looking at my one story. Everything has to be focused? But I don’t know what the purpose is! I don’t know where I was going! It was FUN! That’s all and I think I got a pretty decent story out of it. Then I looked at my other story. The Plotster story. It was heaven to edit. It all had a purpose. I knew where everything was going. Everything added up and propelled the story. And sure, there were some surprises as I wrote, even though it was mostly plotted out. For example, one of the characters wanted her own point of view. It wasn’t tantalising to write and it doesn’t thrill me in the same way as my plotster story. But then again, that could come down to characters. I have some nuts in the one story. In the other, people that I would know. Not so nutty. More real, average everyday. It is less humourous and light.

So, my lesson is this: I need to plot more. It helps in the long run. But I also need to leave room for pantster action. Ooo. That sounds dirty! I need to know my characters and their motivations and where they are going before I start writing. Or at least once I am a few thousand words in. Then I will have focus. Then my work will have focus. And then I will become famous. I will bore myself, but I will be famous.

Ha, ha.

Tags: writing by Jean
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My books are on their way! They have left Vancouver! I’m so pumped. I might get my books from Chapters today or tomorrow! Weeeeeeee! I love books!

Did I even mention what I ordered?

Here’s the list:

How to Write a Damn Good Novel II by James Frey (Originally, I was going to buy the mystery one so I could slip mysteries into my books as one slipped into ‘The 15 Date Rule’. But then I got distracted. I almost bought then both, but I will hold off–for now. I am also hoping that I won’t miss out on too much having skipped book one.)

Sleeping With Ward Cleaver by Jenny Gardiner (I told you I’d have to buy it now!)

Creating Unforgettable Characters: A Practical Guide to Character Development by Linda Seger (I’ve heard good things about this one and hope that it solves some of my character issues.)

I’ll keep you posted on the books.

Currently I am reading As Seen on TV  by Sarah Mlynowski which is good. You know everything is going to blow up for the main character, Sunny. So you wait, dreading it. http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/As-Seen-On-TV-Sarah-Mlynowski/9780373250363-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+%2527as+seen+on+tv%2527

Enjoy!

Tags: books by Jean
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So now that I have my site all revamped and this blog software down pat, I want to change it all. I have new ideas in mind. Ideas which, of course, will require me to learn all sorts of new stuff. That means that I likely won’t actually do it. Not yet, anyway. I think I will change the ‘theme’ of my blog page’s style though. I have decided that there are much nicer ones out there.

 There was an interesting post in the Ask Daphne section on KT Literary’s website which has got my stomach doing little flips. Here is a link: http://www.ktliterary.com/daphne.html. It is the posting on ‘what is published’. There is a growing debate in the comments section on whether to post writing samples or not on your website. I have posted mine and I think it is a good idea. At the same time, my stomach squeezes like a dishrag full of water at the thought of someone plagiarizing me or me doing something ‘wrong’ and wrecking my chances of getting published. Eeek!

I went blog hopping this morning and ended up on a blog that was really good. And it made me feel inferior. Which is silly because we all have our own style. I think fighting this cold has got me a bit down. Maybe I shouldn’t edit my own work this morning–I might slash and burn everything!

In the end, I think today is a day to hole up at home. Well, except that I have to go wrestle 20 4-year-olds wielding paint brushes this afternoon. That should be entertaining. I think I had better take some cold medication before I go. I will not succumb to this cold, I will not!

Tags: blogs, life, website development, writing by Jean
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Hmmmm…I’ve noticed that my protagonist’s best friends tend to be a bit…well snippy. And a bit mean. I wonder what that says about me? Maybe it is some anger I have towards an old friend or something–or the fact that I find many women to have a snippy edge to them–or the fact that I am trying to add an interesting edge to my character dynamics.

Character foils? Maybe? Maybe not.

I think I need to work more on my character motivations. They have them, they are spurring them on, but they aren’t all that obvious to the reader. Which is fine in some regards, I don’t want to be obvious and boring. At the same time, I don’t want it to be so challenging or disjointed that the reader tosses down my work in frustration.

For example, in ‘The 15 Date Rule’, I am trying to illustrate that a lot of women find my main character, who is smart and beautiful, intimidating. But how do you show that? Well, through their actions, which are not going to be favourable. But how do you show that it is intimidation or jealousy that is making them act that way? A little trickier–unless you make them really mean and again, obvious.

So, I suppose this is my puzzle of the week. A tricky, tricky puzzle seeing as I figure these things out in real life based on a feeling I get from a person rather than the words that they speak.

Tags: writing by Jean
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Spring is coming! It’s coming!

I have no idea what was discovered on Groundhogs Day this year, but here are some signs that spring is on its way:

• I sat on the front step and enjoyed the sun. The sun! And didn’t wear any mitts.
• I got to wear a vest the other day.
• I had my bike out.
• I am panicking that ski season is almost over. I’ve hardly been out!
• There is sunshine.
• We changed our clocks an hour ahead.
• I’m booking and planning our annual spring trip to Victoria. That means flowers and green grass!
• While sitting on the front step enjoying the sun, I saw an ant! a moth! a fly! and a beetle! Plus a disgusting amount of mushy dog poop from inconsiderate dog walkers all over the front yard where the snow used to be.
• Easter Creme Eggs.
• Suddenly there is wonderful fruit and vegetables in the grocery store at decent prices–meaning that somewhere in the world it is late summer.
• Muddle puddles.
• My husband shaved off his goatee.
• The cars always need washing.
• And sun.

Tags: weather/seasons by Jean
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Why it is dangerous to follow the links on Meg Cabot’s blog ( http://www.megcabot.com/diary/index.php) when you are trying to get some work done:

1. You end up laughing at some crazy kid using his cat as entertainment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGkQkVQt7ak&feature=related

2. You end up laughing at a librarians blog and then trying to post your own comment, which doesn’t go through, so you give up.

http://librarianavengers.org/worship-2/

3. You discover Patrick Swayze has cancer. And then you move on.

4. You end up following a link to Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Sleeping-Ward-Cleaver-Jenny-Gardiner/dp/0505527472/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1204826739&sr=8-1

5. And then you end up going to Chapters to find out what the book is actually about.

http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Sleeping-with-Ward-Cleaver-Jenny-Gardiner/9780505527479-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+%2527sleeping+ward+claeaver%2527&sterm=sleeping+ward+claeaver+-+Books

6. And then you end up trying to figure out if Ward Cleaver is that TV character from that show you’ve never seen.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ward_Cleaver 

7. You follow a link to an author’s site and realise that there is just too much to read on the Internet and you will never get back to work, so close everything down again, promising yourself you will go look at it all again later.

http://www.thedebutanteball.com/ 

8. You end up writing a blog entry so you can share the crazy links.

And then you notice that Sting’s song ‘Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot’ is song number 666 on winamp’s playlist. I’m just saying. That’s all. I’m not implying that Sting is evil or anything. Or that your soul is going to pilot you straight to hell or anything. Really, I’m not. I’m sure it is just a quirky little coincidence.

Oh my god! It’s a sign!!!!!!!!!!!

(Kidding.)

Tags: Internet, just goofing by Jean
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It’s time for some guidance in my life. Therefore my husband’s magic 8 ball is at my humble assistance. 

I asked if I’m going to get an agent. It said, “yes.”

Will I become a famous published author? “Without a doubt.”

Will I ever get my car radio fixed? (Evidently it will only work when my husband is in the car.) “Yes.”

And just in case it was coating things for me: Will I ever be able to sing like Ella Fitzgerald? “My sources say no.”

And as a second test: Is my name Jean? “It is decidedly so.”

So there you have it. If you want to know me before I become a famous writer, email me and become my friend. I am a very generous gal, you know. (In case you were not yet overcome by my blog charm.

Tags: just goofing by Jean
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Hmmm…is it bad that I don’t know who is the current premier of the province I live in?

That sounded rather bad, didn’t it? You see, we had an election on Monday–I voted–and I haven’t heard who won. Which, I suppose isn’t that unusal since I have not turned on the TV or radio since then. At least radio with people who talk on it (see Radio ADD post).

I think I had better go look this up. Hold on.

Okay, Ed won. I thought he would. He did amazing things for education in Alberta a few months ago. Go Ed. Even though you are conservative and we’ve had a conservative government since the 70s. But if you act like a socialist, I’m in. Free education for all! Now, about our health care…

Here’s a photo of him. I think he might be a bit happy that he won. Look at those teeth. Do you think he wore braces as a kid? Or maybe this is the photo not of when he won but of him right after the braces came off. “Look mom, no braces!”

Anyway, I usually am totally out of the loop when it comes to the news. I just find it so depressing. I mean, how many stabbings can you hear about before you get jaded, depressed or fearful?

It is interesting when I do see the news though. Usually it is at the gym during circuit training. I pedal and watch the words scroll by on the TV above me. Usually, I’m like, what? A hurricane? Cat food poisoning? A lady had a baby outside a firehall? (And then the trainer comes by and makes me start pedalling again.) But then sometimes, I am really disgusted and opt to watch footage of the lumberjack competetion where men are sawing through these really thick logs. I can’t believe that it’s a televised sport. And an American one no less. A Canadian sport, well, yes. We tend to televise lame things that suck viewers in. But Americans? Usually it is a bit more lively than lumberjacks.

Hey, that reminds me of a song, “I’m a lumberjack and I’m okay. I wear women’s dresses” and something or other…Kam used to only sing that part over and over again.

I think I need to get out more. Either that or turn on the TV more.

Tags: Uncategorized by Jean
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Radio ADD is a real and very serious disorder. So serious that I felt the need to climb out of my warm bed in order to share my story with you. At this point, there is no known cure for Radio ADD.

Here’s my story:

I’m not sure when I became first afflicted by Radio ADD, but it was in my childhood sometime. I can trace its roots back to my parents listening to CBC throughout the house. In fact, it was often on all hours of the day and could be heard in every room of the house. Every vehicle’s radio was tuned into AM 1010. I wasn’t even sure that the vehicles could pick up other radio stations until I got my driver’s license and could drive on my own, scanning through the stations. I recall the sheer delight when I discovered Zed 99 at age 16 through the truck stereo–I was stuck with CJAY 92 and 107 (and its varying call letters) at home on my own stereo. The dial on my own stereo never graced the AM dial, nor the FM regions that leaned towards CBC territory (CBC even stalks the FM dial). I always stayed safely in the middle where rock and roll hung out.

I didn’t realise that I had Radio ADD until I was in my 20s, although the signs were obvious by age 19. The summer I was 19, I remember impressing a friend by scanning through stations, listening for the first few riffs of a song and then declaring the song title and artist. If a person began talking on the station, I instantly hit the scan button. I was no longer able to listen to voices on the radio–not even advertisements.

By my mid-20s I had a sure case of Radio ADD. I was worse than a man with a TV remote during the commercials. I’d hear a DJ and I’d have to hit the button. I had to. If a song came on that I didn’t like, I had to scan. If the song didn’t fit my mood, I had to scan. It became a serious affliction that reduced my attentiveness as a driver. I had one tape that I could listen to over and over as I drove long distances. It soothed me. Fast song, slow song, fast song, slower song… And then the tape was thrown away in a clean-up fit initiated by someone else. I have never been the same on road trips.

This disease has reduced me to the point where I cannot stream in music. There is no ’skip’ button when you are streaming music. I can’t skim through for the song I want. I can’t listen to regular radio. The DJs drive me batty. And all the stations ‘talk’ at the same time–on the hour, etc. During those times, scanning is useless. Satellite radio is still my only hope. It isn’t a cure, but it soothes my symptoms. No DJs on the Coffeehouse, but after 18 months, the playlist is wearing thin. I have to find a new station. Somewhere with new music that doesn’t annoy me.

At this time I can still no longer listen to CBC radio. It has become a physical limitation of which I cannot seem to overcome. I try to listen. I do. Even the most interesting story that intrigues me eventually gets tuned out. After all these years, my ears are worn out when it comes to CBC. When my husband has it on, I tune it out. I try to listen, but I can’t. Before I know it, I have turned it off. Few people understand.

So until the cure is found for my Radio ADD, I will be flipping stations whenever a DJ comes on, tuning out CBC and skipping stations repeatedly, driving my family to the edge of insanity. Please, somebody find me a cure. But as Joan Osbourne says, “What if the cure is worse than the disease?”

Tags: music by Jean
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So as I have mentioned before, my husband has this magical power over electronics whereas I have the power to kill electronics. Evidently, all I had to do to get the radio fixed in my car was to take him for a drive and *poof*, it started working. Just like that.

With our powers combined….

As well, I decided instead of buying some new clothes (which I really need as I haven`t bought jeans or shirts in about a year or so and I`m starting to look a bit tatty) I would buy some music. And then I couldn`t decide what to buy. So, I bought a whole pile (online). I bought Ella Fitzgerald (x2 with Louis and the gang), Sara Bareilles (reminds me of Fiona Apple), Sheryl Crow (my fav) and Jack Johnson (his new one). My hubby was a little peeved that I bought a whole pile of music. But honestly, it is a whole lot cheaper than the big screen TV that he wants. And I bought some stuff that he would like. Don`t think I didn`t see him toe tapping away while he burned CDs so he could put the music on his laptop, oh, and his mp3 player.

Speaking of the music, it wouldn`t all download properly. I got around that, but then I ran up against the whole licenses problem which for whatever reason wasn`t letting me burn all of the songs to CD for a backup. So, I had hubby come over and of course the computer then acted perfectly fine. Oh well, I now have music everywhere I go.

I might just have to turn things up….

Tags: breaking things, cars, music by Jean
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