Hum...

I have a new routine. I wake up, grab a cup of coffee, eat a bowl of cereal, sign into blogger, and stare at the screen. I've been doing this since my last post. This time, I thought I'd write something. Seemed like the thing to do since I'm already signed in and everything.

So, I was wondering how many of you actually read the genre in which you are trying to write? Sounds like a crazy question doesn't it? Like come on, of course I'm reading YA. I write YA. Hello. But you'd be surprised at the amount of writer's who don't read within their writing genre. And it's way important. Even more important that writing sometimes. Well not really. But almost.

But all that reading pulls away from writing time. True, but without it, how can you know what's going on in your genre? It's all part of research, and well, (whispers) entertainment. Reading happens to be one of those things that keeps me up too late at night, turning pages, hoping time will just stand still so I can get to the end already. Doesn't happen. I wake up sleepy, stumbling for the coffee pot, mumbling silent little profanities at characters who kept me up too late. But its so necessary. And I get to tell my mother I was up late "working" when she calls the next day. It's a win win. Hey, nobody needs to know I was reading WOLFSBANE until 3 a.m. Let's just make that our little secret. How about you? Are you reading enough material? Are you sleepy. Were you working late last night too? ;)

A Little of This and That.

I cannot believe I just picked up the fall schedules for the kiddos last night. Neither can one of my daughters. She sort of stared at a blank spot on the wall while holding the list of classes in her hand. Her sister waved a hand in front of her face. She blinked but she hasn't really spoken since. We expect the reaction. I've got one daughter who loves school and hates summer then the other who turns into a zombie around September. She just walks around the house muttering unintelligible sounds until June. It's entertaining.

I used to be the zombie, I think. I was never excited about school. Learning got in the way of my social aspirations. I was too busy being the class clown. Funny how things change, and then, Not change. I'm still a clown but now I'm the research nerd, geeking away on my computer, dredging up facts that no one would ever care about but me. If anyone ever went through my hard drive, the Google history would be startling. I could see the computer guy just sitting in front of my laptop, mouth agape while some dude named Ned whistles out a WOW over his shoulder. It would be that bad. Seriously, I once Googled belly button lint. Don't ask. But you should Google it. Very interesting. What's better is that I no longer think I'm alone in the universe of weird TC. No. As I encounter more and more writers, we all seem to be from the same kind of mold. We may be different in ways, but our minds seem to work about the same. I recently joined a critique group. We meet online since we're scattered all over the place, but its so neat to watch as one idea forms, then another, and so on. I honestly think a room full of writers could solve the economical problems in the world right now. Of course, we may end up turning John Boehner into a werewolf and Nancy Pelosi into a hobbit, or vice versa depending on which side of the aisle you're on. It would make for much better news and I bet people would be willing to pay for it. Anyone know of a good incantation off hand? Hum...something to Google later...right after I get back to writing;)

Novel Films Blogfest

So Happy first day of August, people. I can't think of a better way to welcome it than with a blogfest that makes you use your brain when its a hundred degrees outside. Thanks in advance to our host Madeleine over at Scribble and Edit for thinking up such a fun idea. I found out about this a few weeks back, and at the time, I could think of a ton of titles, but now I'm near blank. Should have written them down then. But here are a few that I can remember. I'll post more as they come to me later on. Things happen after that third cup of coffee. I'm still on number two so no miracles. Sorry.

Angela's Ashes
The Importance of Being Ernest
Hamlet
Twilight
New Moon
Eclipse
Breaking Dawn (read the book, will FINALLY see the movie in November)
Pride and Prejudice
Along Came a Spider
Kiss the Girls
The Client
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Black Beauty
Pinocchio
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Winnie the Pooh
Charlotte's Web
The Cat in the Hat

I'm sure there's more. It seems there should be. I mean, shouldn't Hollywood get on with it? I could name a hundred books that should be made into movies.What about you?

Oh, and please forgive me for my sporadic blogging lately. Things have been crazy busy. For those of you who have stopped by to read this, I don't deserve you but thank you for being here. Tell me what you've been up to and head on over to visit Madeleine's blog. You 'll be glad you did.

Happy Monday!