Writing Prompt: Grandma Said What??

You are dealing with a bout of insomnia due to a reoccurring nightmare that started two days after the loss of your grandmother. Suddenly, you see a ghost who claims to be her spirit. Her spirit orders you to take care of something she wasn’t able to before she passed. If you do, she’ll leave you alone. If you don’t, she’ll haunt you forever.




When I thought of this one, I thought grandma wanted me to get rid of her dirty secrets but I thought that was a bit much. Grandpa would have found it before I could have and kept it for himself.


What do you think? What is Grandma's secret? And let's hope it has nothing to do with Victoria's!

Or Freddy Kroger's for that matter!

Today's Laugh: Doctor...Who? :-)

I couldn't resist putting this up. I am in love with Doctor Who (David Tennant is bloody fantastic!) and Catherine Tate. One video combining the two.... Melt in your mouth, not in your hand bliss...

Feedback on this - fantastic :) or ehh :(?

Writing Prompt: Help Kill Your Pal's Wife

One of the websites that I visit quite often is Writer's Digest. And they have the best articles to browse through if you ever need an inspiration or to drop money on some book you think will lead you to success...

Anyway, about every other day they post up writing prompts to give you a leg up on starting up a story. I have a couple of favorites that I will post up from time to time.

Try this on for size and leave a comment on how you think you first couple of sentences would go:

A close friend asks you to help him kill his wife and, to his surprise, you agree without hesitation—not because you particularly dislike his wife, but because she’s the only person who knows this one deep, dark secret that could ruin your life forever. Write about how you confront her and how the murder plays out.


Have Fun!!!!

Today's Music: Random but Fun

Just a simple little diddle stuck in my head....now it's stuck in yours too! Enjoy

Too Little, Too Late?; Writer's Conference in NYC

It has been about 12 days since "The Balancer" (working title for now) didn't make the cut for NaNoWriMo. Yes, yes, sad sad, blah blah.

Remember how my main lament was that the ideas just weren't coming? Well wouldn't you know, my Muse decided to come back from vacation and pop in and say, "Hey why not this?" or "That would be awesome if you did this?" or "THAT WOULD BE OF EPIC PROPORTIONS IF YOU DID THAT!!"

Yes, my muse screams when she gets excited. Doesn't yours?

But I am torn - I had wanted all this last month! When I was specifically carving out time to write and to flourish and get ready for January.

Oh, what's January you ask? Well in January, I will be attending my first Writer's Conference hosted by Writer's Digest. It is my chance to approach some 60 agents in hopes of getting great feedback and schmoozing and all that jazz.

So here's the dilemma. How can I approach any agent without anything to show for? Sure, I know what exactly I am going to write but I DO NOT want the conversation to go like this?

Me:....(just finished explanation/pitch). What do you think?


Agent: That sounds like a fantastic series. I can definitely see the marketability and I would love to get a read through. Is it ready?


Me: Ugh...well about that...it's not quite there yet.


Agent: What's not quite there?


Me:.....Like major revisions not quite there yet.


Agent:...NEXT!

(Both Charlie Brown depictions do justice as to what I would be feeling).

So it seems that I am amidst another scramble to finish (or at least 75% ) Book 1. I want more than anything to ensure that my money is being well spent for this conference.

So let's see what we can do! Novel in Month, Take 2!

BY THE WAY!

Anyone attending this conference? January 20-22 at the Sheraton New York Hotel! I'd love to hear from anyone attending. I'm going solo but wouldn't mind a buddy! Let me know!

Yea...NaNoWriMo Kick My A**

Well, I can't really say that...entirely, that is.


NaNoWriMo is truly about the journey. About learning about yourself as a writer. About your ability to sit down and bang out 50,000 words to form a novel.

What are my lessons? I learned about 4:

1. I can't just write out 50,000 words in a month

2. I learned that my family will get in way of me writing 50,000 words in a month.

3. I learned that my job will get in the way of me writing 50,000 words in a month.

4. I learned I get in the way of me writing 50,000 words in a month.

Now mind you, I have an entire book, no entire series, all planed out. But...the pressure of trying to bang it out (and not fully bang it out either, just enough to get to 50,000) put a damper on my imagination. There were days where I would sit in front of my laptop and want to write but nothing would come out. Writer's block is detrimental to NaNoWriMo. You can't afford it.

I knew where I had to get to at the end of the brick road. But the putting it down brick by brick and having to skip bricks just to get to the end didn't work for me. So the 50,000 threshold eluded me.

So where does this leave me? Same place I was. The novel will get done. Just not done in a month. My current track record is three months, so I estimate about January. Which will be great because I'm going to my first writer's conference in New York in January (applause, applause, thank you). However, more on that later.

Am I glad that I went for NaNoWriMo? Absolutely. It got me to put down the plans for this series I'm writing and I think it's going to be a hit. Then that could be the ego talking.

Will I go for it again? Eh...why not? Everyone needs a good ass-kicking every now and then!

NaNoWriMo: Post Week 1; Writer's Conference

So...

Yea... This is what I should be feeling, exhausted but invigorated. Heavy but light. Drained but completed. All those opposite words. The reality of it....not so much.

Couple of things I have figured out this past week.

I have a lot of ideas, but not enough time to put them down on paper. My supposed schedule went out the window with work, family and other stuff came into play. Out of the 10K words I should have down on paper, I only have a little more than half.

Unacceptable.

So Week 2 is all about tweaking what needs to be tweaked, running away from all other things and locking myself in some Panera Bread somewhere and getting work done.

Hopefully I will have redeemed myself this week - cross my fingers.

In other news, I have decided to attend my first Writer's Conference (the crowd cheers).

I'll be attending the Writer's Digest Conference in January in NYC. Really excited about the networking that will be taking place, learning more about the craft and getting some pointers from agents and publishers attending.

But before I can really use it to its full potential, this bloody manuscript needs to get done!!

Sigh...Ok..I'm going.

Words of encouragement are always welcome. I've told my other readers that it gives me the mojo to keep going!

Today's Music: Katya's Theme

I have previously said that certain pieces of music can allow you to tap into a feeling, a story or possibly a character. The song which I think truly captivates my female lead in the new novel is "My Heart Asks Pleasure First." The rich undertones truly captures the sense of wistfullness but strength. Carefree but meticulous. Generally a case of opposite:. Katya's innate sense of duty but reluctant acceptance.

Enjoy it!

It is on!

Today marks the beginning of a glorious era... The start of my new career as a sleep-deprived author. Ohhh, I'm getting shivers just from the thought of it!

I'll be giving you weekly updates on my state of mind and how far I am going. The only thing is I will not be able to post the book up on here. To ensure that this book is publishable, it will need to remain in the shadows. Just so I can convince a potential agent/publisher that it has a market.

But that doesn't mean I won't drop a tidbit here and there. Teasers, yes, but it's something!

Ok, here I go, jumping in the deep end of the pool.

Hopefully, I don't drown!

NaNoWriMo in 1 WEEK! New Book Synopsis Inside!!

This is it...one week from today....

I will be embarking on a journey never taken....by me that is...

I will be writing an entire novel from scratch starting next Tuesday...

Do you know how excited I am? Oh let me tell you... I have gone crazy with reference books, name books, schedules, research in the name of writing this new book.

Shall I give you a synopsis.... Should I.... yea, sure why not?

:) Ok! I don't have a title for it yet but here it goes.

"As a child, Katya Stevens always had a gift - a gift to see spirits, the unknown, things not of this world. But due to familial pressure, she locked it away, never to be opened again. But at the age of 24, destiny would have other ideas for her when she is suddenly thrust together with Gregor, a sexy 600 year old Scottish Kyrios - a harbinger of Death. When her gift begins to activate in strange ways in response to odd events, Katya finds herself in a pact with Gregor and the rest of the Kyrios to find out the true extent of her powers. Powers that might be the only way to save the world of the Living from total annihilation."

That's a little taste of it. I was thinking of how the caption would look like in the back of the book once published.

Yes I said it - published. Sometimes you must speak things into existence in order for it to be happen. Anyway, I am super excited about this. I'm even waking up and finding myself writing notes down from my dreams. All of them related to the novel.

What do you think of the synopsis? Would you read something like that? I have a theory about the fascination with Death but they will be for another time. Tell me what you think!!!

Quickie Post on Second Wind!

Just to let you all know, I have posted the entire Second Wind novel in a PDF. You can know download and read!!

Leave comments on what you think!!

I'll be posting soon on my next project. I have finally pin down on what I want to write about. I am so FRICKIN' EXCITED!! 

Bring it on, NaNoWriMo!!!

Busy, Busy Busy

Sorry I've been remiss in posting the chapters of the Second Wind stories, but in light of the major exposure, I've been doing some heavy revisions. I've updated the Second Wind tab to put up at least up to Chapter 10. The rest should be coming within the next two days.

Look out for another posting soon! I'd like to share my next two novel ideas with you!

But until then, I'll leave with the musical styling of Rupee. Here's one for the jumpers! Light it up!!

I'm going NaNoWriMo!

Quick side note: Many of you do not know this, but I have already finish a story of novel length.

I know, I know - you must be like, what's up Kris?

Well the reason is that most do not know about it, mainly because it's my "practice" novel. I wanted to test the waters to see if I really could do a novel. At currently at about 70,000 words in about 3 months, I think I can do it. 

I plan to put up the novel on here (look to the top tab "Second Wind"), however, there is a few caveats that I need to say. This is really to a particular audience that I created this story.

If you have never divulged into the world of Harry Potter, or have not read the last Harry Potter book,

Then I think you would be rather lost. BUT if you have done the two above things, and are interested in how I create my craft, then please do read and leave comments. I'd love to hear from you.

But back to the original topic at head - NANOWRIMO!

NaNoWriMo is short for National Novel Writing Month. The goal is to complete an entire 50,000 word novel within the month of November. All for the grand prize - the fact that you completed an entire novel in 30 days. I am so excited at the prospect of sleepless night, gorging coffee and absolute chaos of words, characters and plots.

It'll be just like college! :)

Anyway I have two great ideas for novels that I have been dancing around in my head and I would like some input on which one to go with. I have a particular favorite but I want to create something that genuinely creates interest. Look out for the first two chapters of the ideas within the next couple of days.

Because, of course, the ultimate goal is this: 

ANOTHER BESTSELLING NANO- NOVEL

http://blog.lettersandlight.org/post/10770885712

So wild, so crazy, so ready!!

Fantastic dress Moment

I just have to highlight the fantastic dress Ms. Eva Longoria showcased as the Globes. Fierce!!!
Check out the back!

Imagine your heroine in a number like this! Watch out now!!

Experiencing Life = Stories

These past five days I learned something great. You ready?

Life...is awesome.

You could be saying, "wow, are you just learning this now? How is this blog worthy?"

Well, hold your horses and I'll tell you.

I have always enjoyed watching sports but never really took the opportunity to be a spectator in the bleachers so to say. So I made the conscious effort to be in the stands for a college football game and two Major League baseball games these past five days. It also included going out and meeting people.

And it was friggin' electric! I mean just being there with the crowd, singing and dancing. Having beer with your friends. Yelling at the referee or umpire for dumb calls. Yelling at the players for their stupidity. That's just a good time, that's enjoy your life. And you get to meet people. For instance, just yesterday I got the privilege of making on the Fenway Park jumbotron twice and upon leaving the park I was immediately recognized. There you go - new friends, another story.

But the more thought-provoking point is about the story that I have now. Sometimes we failed to remember that we are characters in this story called life. And so many times we simply watch others experience life for what it could be instead of doing it ourselves.

That's not interesting. That's not captivating. No one wants to hear that kind of story.

People want to hear about the crazy time you did this. Or that amazing time you had there. Or just to hear about the people you meet. You may not even realize this but your life really is a novel. It is a novel you will be telling your kids and grandkids about. I think we can all agree the whole "I walked 5 miles in the snow barefoot" bit is outplayed. Be the character you want to read about. Be the character where people get involved in and say "Wow, what else happened?"

This new revelation just boggles me and I have such a new appreciation for life. So I'm making my life story as interesting as the characters that I create.

I think I owe to myself.

Don't you?

Redemption - Good Story Theme?

One of the greatest and heart-felt stories you ever read about are the down and out for the count characters who make a miraculous comeback. The prodigal son, so to speak. And even if you were to completely disagree with their previous actions or if what they have said or done, at the comeback you want nothing more to applaud and shout "Welcome Back!"

In every story, a character can't be perfect. They just can't. That's not real. You can't relate to a perfect character. Even the tall, dark, handsome character who ladies swoon over has some sort of sordid past. The only question in creating characters like that is how far can you go? How far can you bring your character down before they come off villainous or just plain out evil?

Here's a real life example - Whitney Houston. The reason I bring her up is because I just recently found a video of her performing of at the BET Celebration of Gospel.

It truly is a great video. The emotion fills the room as they watched this beautiful singer who had been pretty much written off as a lost cause by most people rose beyond expectations and was able to find her voice again (literally and figuratively). That is a wonderful story - when you think where she has been and where she has come from!

Then there are those who have just gone too far. Absolutely deplorable acts that can't be forgiven.

What do you do to make you unforgivable? Murder? Even those who kill can be forgiven. Kill multiple times? Sell drugs?

Very interesting thought - I'd love to hear what you think. How far can you go before you can't come back? Shouldn't everyone be able to make a come back?

Today's Atypical Music: Bastille Day

I am  all about breaking the norm. Reaching new heights. Not being so...typical. I think Today's Atypical Music choice definitely highlights that.

Beautiful, just breathtakingly beautiful. The swells of the music, the romantic notes of the violin and the intermingling of the orchestra. How does this not reach you? I can think of so many different scenes that could play out to this particular song.

As a writer, you want to create something like this. Where your readers literally fall in love with the scene, the characters. That their hearts swell with emotion and get so caught up in the character's turmoil, anger or bliss.

Everytime I hear this song, I can feel every emotion imaginable. I want to do that with my characters. With my stories. With my novels.

Sigh...it feels like a tall order. But I think the more that I listen to music like this and transfer the feelings of the song into my characters, it won't as difficult as I imagine.

I hope that I opened your eyes to some atypical music. Maybe you should ask yourself - does the music you currently listen to doing anything for you? Shouldn't it be more than just beats, or even words?

What do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this song.

Enough of my prattle and romanticism :) Enjoy you day!

I Want My Kisses Back Blog

An interesting post about courtship in America. It got me to thinking... is this the reason why sometimes romantic books and movies are so appealing to women?

Because the men that are created on the page and screen are nothing like the men that we see in our immediate world?

As an author, I have to truly understand what do possible readers want to read about? Are they looking for the ideal man? Or for male readers, the ideal woman?

Ideal - isn't that a bit boring though? Where's the drama? Where's the excitement in that?

I guess this is where the two ideas -Courtship/Idealism vs. The Real come apart. As a woman, I absolutely believe that courtship should be a vehicle where a man and woman come together with respect (for each other) come into play.

As an author, I need my characters to have depth. To have that possibility of idealism but unable to fully achieve it because of a fatal flaw, or just many small flaws.

The blog is an interesting piece and I am interested in what other topics will be discussed. I can't wait to juxtapose to whether it is realistic in the real world and in the fiction world.

I Want My Kisses Back: Courtship is dying………no maybe it’s dead:???

Today's Music: Stay With Me, Baby

So I am obsessed with music. Music is the doorway to my imagination and inspiration. So I thought I would begin to share with you what brings out the author in me.

For instance, whenever I'm on my music binge, I run through YouTube and let the "Suggestions" do the walking for me. So when I came across the 2007 Mary J. Blige performance of "Be Without You/Stay With Me, Baby" (slight pitchy, mind you, but good nonetheless) my fingers led me to the Ruby Turner version of "Stay With Me, Baby."

Just comparing the singers, you can still sense the desperation to keep their love beside them. What would that look like? A proud woman begging her lover to consider her feelings? Pride doesn't matter - just them.

 Then of course my imagination went off and POOF -  a new scene for my fic I'm working on!

Sigh...I love music...So I'll let you into my eclectic taste. Maybe it will inspire you :)

Being Exposed...to Family?

Last Saturday I was out with a friend, coming back from a Sox game, when I inadvertently let out that I need to go home and catch up on writing. Of course, since he has never heard about me writing, on came the questions:

"You're writing?"

"What are you writing about?"

"Can I read what you are writing?"

You can image my absolute happiness at his asking to read my work....Uh NOT! Are you Kidding ME?!

Of course I told him I would send him a copy when inside I was freaking out! And I am going to explain to you why.

Any budding author wants exposure. Wants the ability to give others a piece of their work and have it sought after. That's how you become known, that's how you become established. And if it had been anyone else, without a face, without a true connection to myself, I would have shrugged and said, "Sure I'll send you a copy ASAP and tell me what you think."

However, this is someone I know. Someone who I would take seriously if they had anything to say about my work. It is someone who I have a regular relationship with. Do you realize how particularly scary that can be? Writing is a bit like bearing your soul - your imagination coming to life on pages. It is a transcript of how you essentially see things or could potentially see things.

They say that the people who have the most power over your actions, whatever they may be, aren't really those within the field of work but your family and friends.

Even now, as my parents watch me write or ask me what I am doing and I respond with a resounding, "writing," I wait on baited breath for some discouraging word. It may seem silly that I wonder about what is travelling through their minds as they see their daughter engrossed in the world of fiction rather than in realm of law. But I think this is battle every author has to get through.

I know they'll be times where I may write something and think that it is a masterpiece and friends/family may not. I know they'll be times where I may want them fawning over some accomplishment like writing a full novel and I may only get a pat on the back.

It is going to happen. And I can't crumble because of it.

Why?

Because I am a writer. Plain and simple. Critics including friends/family will come and go, but I have to live with myself. In the long run, this will be one of many heart-clenching moments where I ultimately fear the possible rejection. But rejection isn't the end of the world. Not writing however ....would be the end of MY world.

So I will send my friend my work....well not until I run through it about 5-6 times more, bind it together into utter perfection.

Then I will send it to him!

What to come up with?

What to come up with?

Inspiration. Such a fleeting thing. There are times when things are coming out of nowhere, idea after idea and you don't have the energy or the time to write down everything you've been given from up above.
Then other times, you are drier than Sahara Desert. You got zilch. Nada. Zip. Zero.

Can you guess where I am right now?

Some background is in order. I've been writing this story for about several months now. Nothing for publication, it's simply to get my feet wet and see if I could write something of novel length. And so far I'm at just about the 60,000 word mark (fantastic!). I've even posted it online and gotten some followers/readers, ever ready for the next chapter.

But now it seems like I've hit a dead end. I know where I need to be at the end of the story. But I've lost transition. It's like I've lost my mojo. Like Dr. Evil and Mini-me left me to rot by myself.

Then I began to ask myself, where can I get some mojo? Maybe a trip is in order. ...Yea that just ended up with me going out around Cape Cod and leaving ideas back at the cottage.

Maybe reading other materials, stories, or the like will pull out my inner editor out. ...Yea that just ended up with me enjoying the stories and the editor taking a fiesta.

Now I'm about a couple of days late with my next installation with nothing and grumbling in the shower to myself, when BAM! it hits me. Well it was more like tangent into tangent into another tangent, but then BAM it hit me!

Finally know where to go! Thinking on it now, I've had my first writer's block. Kind of a milestone I guess. I've never had something frustrate me to no end but couldn't be abandoned for something else either. My story (which I might put up here at one point or another) has become a friend in a sense. All the characters have "lives" and they deserve an ending.

I guess this bout of writer's block was to show me persistence is going to be key in getting what I want out of this.

So, I'll raise a toast to writer's block: May you visit periodically but leave quickly.

OK! ...Where Do We Go From Here?

One of the most amazing things that we have been blessed with on this earth is imagination. The ability to think and see things beyond your immediate realm. To take leaps and bounds beyond any limitation your body may have. To push past barriers others may have placed in front of you. I thank God everyday that I am such an airhead. Airhead in the most endearing way of course. Take me anywhere and I am already somewhere else. However... sometimes it can take us places we might have wanted to go. Kinda like the unnecessary stop to Kansas on a flight to Hawaii. Let me explain...

As I have said before, I am an avid reader of fiction. I've pretty much have touched every genre there is. Romance, sci-fi, supernatural, fantasy, action, suspense...the list could go on forever. And I see myself tapping into about everything. I am brimming with ideas that are screaming, Take me there! I want to go first! I'm the best!.

But for someone who initially didn't make it their life goal to be a published writer, the question that needs to be asked. Ok, you have ideas. Now what?

I may not know what exactly to do, but something tells I should just start writing. Plan, outline and write.

But I'm a lawyer, and that seemed to be too easy to be true. Let's do some research first, shall we? Research I can definitely do. Before I knew it, I was bombarded with books on How to Write Fiction, Fiction for Dummies, So You Want to Write a Novel, and whatever laffy-taffy title you could think of. Then I learned that no one will take you seriously until you've had some publishing underneath your belt...Does writing for law review count? No?...Ok...The research continued...who would give a nobody a chance to write? What do they want to read? Are my ideas any good for this? What in blazes do I have to create?...THEN it hit me.

I'm in Dungeons and Dragons. 

Before I lose you, hear me out. From what I know of the game (which isn't much), from the very beginning, you hit these doors or quests and have to make choices as to where you will go. Where you begin will dictate where you end up. I don't whether the creators of D&D meant this but it's actually pretty philosophical. Choices you make dictate how you end your journey. But I think the most crippling thing is harboring on whether you are choosing the right door. The point should be JUST GO! No matter what the door may be, you need to move forward. 

So that's me. Here I am, in the whatever eflin costume (with pointy ears), and I am just staring at the door because I don't know what is the best way to get in. For a moment, I forgot who I was. I am me, doggone it! I'll kick in whatever door that's in front of me if I want to finish and get publish! I might have the "author-baddies" tell me wrong way or have "fire-breathing agent-dragons" telling me I'm stupid (liking the analogies?).

But no matter what, I'm just going to get in, my way with my thoughts. 

So I'm just going to start writing. My ideas are calling to me. It's about time I answered them.

And It Starts...You Think You Know a Guy...

A line from one of my favorite Disney movies, the Lion King. It's the part where Timon and Pumba walk away in shock after Simba sends them away to discuss with Nala kingdom matters. Believing that they knew everything about Simba, to be sent on the merry way was enough for them to start questioning, who is this guy? I mean sure we've lived with him for god knows how long, but do we really know him?

Can you believe it I am my own Timon? To think I actually I want to write a novel. Not just any old novel or one novel but several novels! It's amazing when you finally start clearing the clutter in front of your eyes that you begin to see what really makes you tick. What really makes you smile. What really makes places you in that utter bliss.

For me, it has become writing. Or is this really a recent occurrence?

Since I can remember, I have had the most torrid love affair with books. Fiction. The stories that can take you from your mundane existence to different worlds. Worlds you were taught never existed and never would. Worlds and characters that only existed in dreamlike fantasies. Characters you wished from the deepest parts of your soul could be in front of you and interact with you. Everything the real world told you became non-existent with the story before. That story was the only truth you needed.

Some of the best afternoons and nights I have had have been with a toe-curling, gut-wrenching, breathtaking, eyes-popping book.

Sure, it sounds like something completely orgasmic, but a GOOD book can do that. Imagine the imagery words can illicit. The feelings that can swell in your heart. The sense of justice that can take root in your mind. That's what a good book can do. Turn your entire world upside down.

Is it amazing that people get to do that everyday? That people can draw up the power of fiction writing and change mindsets, change lives? Can you believe that simply with words, someone's life can be turned for the better? Get you to smile? Make you laugh or cry?

That, my friends, is my love affair with fiction. It constantly kneads my heart, massages my soul and enlightens my mind. It feeds my desires and enraptures my attention from beginning to end. And the best part? It happens over and over again with each book. Each book comes its own experience, its own passion, its own joy.

Again, I've always been the avid reader. My imagination knows no bounds and I have finally realized that I can't be alone feeling the way I do. Why not impart my passion to others who love to have the same experience I do?

So it starts...The "no-nonsense fact" lawyer by day becomes the fantasty-romance-suspense budding author by night.

Hmmm....You think you know a Girl...