Amie Stuart ~ On the Back Porch

Or a recent (edited) conversation with a writer friend who wants to quit writing.

Moi: I’ll be your cheerleader but I wont drag you kicking and screaming. There’s only so much I can do. I believe in you and you need to believe in you too
Friend: thank you Amie
Friend: I heart you
Moi: I know talent doesn’t count for near as much as it should but it does count. I can’t make you NOT give up……just like I can’t make anyone else give up. But I also believe that luck can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. You’ve got to make some of your own luck and believe in yourself even when the shit gets hard–especially when the shit gets hard. Now………keep your fucking head down and write. All the other bullSHIT will sort itself out
Friend: yeah
Moi: Write because you love it….not because of NY, not because you want an agent, not because of anything other than you LOVE creating things and you’re good at it. You ARE a born storyteller. Do what you love and the money will come.
Friend: I like that
Moi: Maybe not on your time schedule, maybe on the time schedule of the woman upstairs but it’ll come

Do I need to add anything to this? Can you? What would you say (or what have you said) to a friend who wanted to quit?

———-
I’ve written 3250 words yesterday and today…on the WRONG project. Um no comment please.
No Name

SCREWED

I’m over at SFC blogging about…BAD SEX!
And over at Naughty and Spice blogging about….blurbs…and showing off my new cover for MUS.

As reported, I managed 19 pages on Saturday. GO ME! A part of me wants to stop and edit, a part of me wants to push on. A part of me wants to work on sixty million other things. My editor wants edits LOL so I’ll be doing that tonight and tomorrow.

Speaking of bad….I really do have a reason to blog besides telling you I’m blogging somewhere else…..People, do your research. I know most of the folks who read this blog are seasoned authors (I assume so from who I see comment) so this is kind of preaching to the choir but you know if you don’t know something ask someone, or Lord GOOGLE IT! Yes I read contest entries this weekend. I had some wonderful entries that weren’t perfect and some perfect entries that weren’t wonderful and I had some entries that left me scratching my head.

I also finished Grisham’s The Appeal(thank you Lynn). While I really liked it a lot, I can’t really blog about it the way I’d like without posting a big-ASS spoiler, so I won’t. It was classic Grisham though….for the most part (but the large cast got real confusing real quick). One thing I can blog about is the stark contrast between the two opposing sides–the obscenely rich business owner with his trophy wife, and a child he doesn’t want and the poor, bordering on bankruptcy, trial lawyers who literally gamble everything to do what’s right and how important their family is to them. It was very day and night–and even more interesting after Shanna Swendson’s presentation on world building on Saturday.

SCREWED:

So I realized like yesterday that I haven’t been taking my thyroid medicine. I ALSO haven’t been writing–relax Raine already yelled at me. And I’m yelling at myself. I should have realized that “I don’t feel like moving” feeling was not just the crazy weather and PMS!

Shame on me!

I wonder if that’s what caused the nighmares too?!
Huh…..

Anyway…….the only surprise on AI last night was seeing Danny go bye bye! Oh and Asia’h went sooner than expected but hey…..I like Kristi!

ANyone watching New Amsterdam?! Interesting premise…not sure I”m hooked but the eye candy is good. Ohhhhhhh DIRT is back. Anyone…anyone….yeah I figured I’m the only one watching but I love it. And what about Jericho? I know this was one that nearly got cancelled last year but was saved–by NUTS! It’s really rocking. Lots of intrigue and great pacing…secrets, spies, shenanigans…and this last episode really TORE me up but I know it was done to push another character past the point of no return–in Heroes Journey speak we call it “What happens when you refuse the call to adventure” *sigh* but still….There are only 2-3 episodes left (for a total of six?) but you can watch them online!

If you’re interested in TV news and/or what’s coming back, one of my new guilty pleasures is Watch With Kristin!

So what are you watching?

Trying to watch American Idol while your children are jamming out to Rock Band. I NEVER thought I’d say this but if i hear Wanted Dead or Alive one more time….someone’s gonna die.

So let’s get to the girls…
1. Asia’h “Extra” Epperson–I wonder what movie she was an extra in. She did Whitney–and frankly I knew she was in trouble because Simon busts on ANYONE who does Whitney. Why I dunno….anyway I thought it was weak at the beginning and it sounded like she blew it at the end. No, Paula, she didn’t hit the note.

2. Kady Malloy–You’re so forgetable I don’t remember what your embarrassing moment is. I didn’t know the song. I thought it was horrible–made worse when I found out it was Queen. You were pitchy and flat and you….are NOT the next American Idol. I totally agree w/Simon in that you have NO personality when you sing. You’re like a robot. Just go back and watch the tapes. Seriously dude.

3. Amanda Overmeyer–Joan Jett?! Sweet! Great job….I though this was her strongest performance yet.

4. Carly “Greased Up” Smithson–Dude…I thought it was solid. She’ll probalby end up in the top 12 but she wasn’t stellar, knock it out of the park for me.

I think this was the point where Paula, who is actually coherent tonight accidentally insulted the crowd by calling some of them mutts because I have a note here that says someone called Carly a dependable dog. I kinda agree w/Simon about the wrong song thing.

OH and another thing…while on Boys night Paula said the boys were all wonderful and talented, on Girl’s Night it was all about apperances–but at least she was coherent if not useful. (I’m going to try and be nice–cuz you know if I found out Paula had like health problems that made her act like that I’d feel bad)

5. Kristi Lee “Dog” Cook–Very daring doing a Journey song because you KNOW Randy is going to be all over you and not in a good way, but I think she did a good job. There was a part of me that kept expecting JUST a little more and I never got it–she blew the high note. I disagree w/Simon–I don’t think she’s forgettable.

6. Ramiele Mulabye?–I totally missed her embarrassing moment. I totally agree w/Simon that shew as predictable and I was a little bored even though I think she did a good job. She just really hasn’t impressed me like she did in Hollywood week.

7. Brooke White–Pat Benatar?! Does anyone remember that movie, The Legend of Billie Jean? I LOVED that movie…okay anyway, I actually like the acoustic and I know it’s difficult. I totally agree w/Simon here..it’s NOT a song that would have suited her and i was surprised when I heard she was doing it but she totally made it her own. I really liked it though I kinda felt like I was waiting on the punch line–I also realize she doesn’t have the powerhouse voice some of the other girls have, she’s much more low-key and that’s okay

Ok what is Simon so tickled about? He’s in a good mood.

8. Syesha Mercado–She’s so cute. And solid…much like Carly I think she’s very dependable and i agree w/Simon that it was a bit predictable. I really expected worse feedback for her–after all she did Whitney *eyeroll*

So who’s going home? DEFINITELY KADY. Her time has come to go. The other one is a tough call. Syesha? Ramiele? Asia’h? Or Kristi Lee? (who I really like an I really think she needs to be around–the show could use a nice solid country influence).

BTW was reading Country Music Weekly–hello Gary was in it–and Phil Stacey has an album coming out SOON! They had a pic of him and everything and I’d forgotten how cute he is!

NO writing! I ran errands all afternoon and cooked!!! Yes, I suck. Sven is going to beat me

Or took off her weave. I’m not sure which but it didn’t improve her speaking skills AT ALL!

1. Luke “Jitterbug” Menard–My dude What the WHAM were you thinking? You sounded like a really bad George Michael impersonator. Like REALLY. BAD. I agree w/Simon you sounded girly. Like 12 YO’s at a slumber party singing along with the radio girly. Buh-bye now.

2. David “Social Conscience” Archuletta–Good interpretation of a Phil Collins song but I have to agree w/Simon again–lighten up. You’re only seventeen. Not sure I agree w/Simon about you being in the season finale (Top 2? Ummm you and Michael Johns)

3. Danny “TMTH” Noriega--I’m totally laughing my freaking ass off over Tainted Love. What a song pick. MY DUDE! That said I’m not sure I liked it. It was definitely interesting. I think you’re just a little too over the top but I DONT agree w/Simon on this one. I almost think Simon was either a) Goading Danny or b) Goading VFTW

Paula…WTF was that mass incoherency? If you watch…all night….she’ll go to compliment whoever is singing, then stop IN THE MIDDLE and say ALL THE BOYS ARE WONDERFUL! WTF

4. David “Boogie” Hernandez–okay that was almost TOO easy Um WTF…….Celine Dion? What. The. F*ck! I wonder whose vote you were working for last night? Because that was totally…just…WRONG!

5. Michael “The Roo” Johns–Okay, I’m sorry but I totally laughed at his story about getting beat up. Totally disagree w/Simon here. I thought it was a great song, great interpretation and great vocals. He’s got SUCH a strong voice and IMO Star Quality stage presence.

6. David Cook–HELLOOOOOOO, I don’t remember what your embarrassing moment was. He doesn’t leave much of an impression on me. I almost wish he’d left the guitar at home. I don’t agree w/Simon that it was was risky and/or exceptionally done. It was a good interpretation–very alt rock/emo vibe but I just didn’t care for it. It’s a taste thing IMO.

7. Jason “Loose Dreads” Castro–You are so funny and so cute I just want to pinch your head off and hang it from my–oh wait. Sorry. I LOVE This song, don’t know the name of it but he has SUCH a PURE voice. I thought it was really great–not his best, but great. I didn’t get the degree of difficulty thing though I do know singing with just a guitar is hard.

8. Chikezie–I don’t remember your embarrassing moment either but who the hell cares. I totally disagree w/SImon–I don’t think it was Cabaret; I thought it was wonderful and strong. Ignore him, my pet. You gave me chills.

Sooooooo who’s going home? Paula? Can we vote her off the island? Seriously, overall I don’t think ANYONE sucked–except for Luke “WTF” Menard. I do think because of VFTW we might see someone who doesn’t deserve to go home yet leave us on Thursday.

Going Home: LUKE MENARD and….I dunno. Maybe Danny or one of the Davids–again I think it’ll be someone who doesn’t quite deserve to leave yet.

*I got pages last night. going to try and catch up on my Sven writing this afternoon but I have to buy food and get a haircut.
* I had a dream last night. Early this morning. Someone was singing “New York, New York” — it was bizarre but I’ve been having a lot of nightmares lately. Most of which I can’t remember other than having the bejesus scared out of me.

Daylight Savings Time is costing YOU!

That’s right…you heard me. DST which is supposed to save you money, is costing you a whopping $3.19 extra each year in utility bills.

I wonder how much the study to figure that out cost?

SCREWED:

Not much progress over the weekend. Sunday was a wash. Don’t ask what I did because the answer would just be NOTHING. And I do mean nothing.

It’s Monday and I’m not really here. Okay I’m here but I’m also there, talking about stuff I don’t really hate as much as I hate other stuff.

camp is great.

please send smokes.

Ya’ll totally need to go check out the video at NAS.

Today I slept late, drank coffee, answered emails, went to post office, went to other post office because first post office was closed, went to store and bought syrup and bell peppers–don’t ask–, got tags for car, answered more emails, blog surfed, chatted with Emma and went to Target to get new glasses for me and #1 son. Mine are candy apple red I can’t wait.

Anyway….writing 0 errands 5

Hours wasted playing Rock Band of quality time spent with children = 3