Meet Guest Blogger Konstanz Dalrymple!

Today my wonderful friend Konstanz, is guest posting for me. She's such a warm-hearted person, I can't help but love her. Please visit her blog and follow her, she's a fantastic friend!

Hey there! My name is Konstanz Dalrymple,
I began writing in 2007 and just barely finished my first book in September! I love to write and I plan on being a writer for the rest of my life! Since I began writing I have conjured up almost 40 book ideas!

The book I just finished will be a series of two books. (Only the first book is done) For now I have set it aside so that I can get away from it! Then in a couple of months I can go back to it with a total fresh mind!

Microfiction Monday!

Susan's wonderful Microfiction Monday is here--it's fun, please visit her blog and read everyone's entries for the day! You're more than welcome to hope the train if you're up to it. :)

The challenge is to write a story in 140 characters or less. Ready?

Here we GO!

"Laddie! We be shipwrecked on this blasted isle--this is all ye could fish out?"

"Aye, Capn cleanliness is nextu godliness, dontcha know."

139 characters

Run, Elizabeth, RUN!

It was just this summer that it happened.

I was struck with such feral panic that all I could think was--RUN!

Really, I'm not joking.

My family decided for a nice long drive in the mountains that cut through Utah. We brought a cute little cooler along for a picnic. Well, being that it was July, all shady spots nice by rivers were taken. But we found one. It was more like an off-the-pathway type drive that ended against a drop of trees, cornered by more trees and a flowing river.

Do you have focus questions for your beta-readers?

I'm happy to share mine (you're more than welcome to use them!):

FOCUS GROUP QUESTIONS:

*As you read, please mark where you put the book down for a ‘breather’ and why.

*Do you find any spots where you just want to skip ahead?

*Is the dialogue fun?

*Does the romance sound real?

*Are the words easy to understand?

*Is there enough description to help you feel ‘there’?

*Is there too much detail? Please highlight where. And if you feel there is too much detail, which do you like    best?

*Do the characters feel real to you? Do you like the them?

*Do you find yourself connecting with the characters?

*Are the characters' voices distinctive—do they feel real?

*Does the main character’s transition sound realistic?

*Does the character’s ending circumstance sound believable?

Do you have your own list?

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Photo found at Photobucket.com

Microfiction Monday and Blogfest!

The talented Susan over at Stony River issues a challenge to create a story in 140 characters (or fewer) from a picture she provides. Brilliant, isn't she?

“Da, I promise I didn’t mean to! It was only a bit o’ dry ice it was!”

I hope you liked it! :D


And now for the Top Ten Countdown Music Blogfest!

Alex J. Cavanaugh is hosting his Music Blogfest, Top Ten Countdown today! Please visit his blog for the other wonderful entries.

Alex says,

"Counting down our top tunes of all time!

Music moves us. It inspires us! Now, tell the world YOUR ten favorite songs of all time. The Song, the band – why does it move you?"

1.  Disturbia by Rihanna--sometimes it feels like that to me (if you know the lyrics), but it sure is FUN to dance to!
2. Lovers in Japan by Coldplay--Love the sound of it and to dance to!
3. Where the Streets have no Name by U2--this sometimes fits me when I feel so earthbound, the times that I want to break the chains of daily grind and fly.
4. I'll Never Let you Go (Angel Eyes) by Steelheart--so romantic! Mike Matijevic has a gorgeous voice.
5. Dragula by Rob Zombie--have you heard the beat???
6. Alone by Heart--The singing is expressive and heartfelt. I love to sing to this. :)
7. To Where you Are by Josh Groban--This and the next 4 songs have to do with losing a loved one. They are so beautifully sung and moving. Listen to them if you can.
8. Stay by Shakespeare's Sister--
9. If I could be Where You Are by Enya
10. My Immortal by Evanescence--Amy Lee has a beautiful, emotional voice that I can match, and this song is so poignant, it brings me to tears. 

I've put my songs below if you're interested in listening to them. Just click "pop-out player" to play the entire list. The songs are not in the same order as above.

Coward!

 

photo credit

After returning from my writer's group, I've realized something about myself. I've been shying away from self-help books on writing. If you've read my post on how it's affected me, you'd know what I'm talking about.

It's like hitting the reset button for my brain. I'm suddenly out of sync and I feel as if I don't know how to write again. Many thoughts of doubt fill my head, and I wonder if I was even good at it before I read the self-help writerly book.


*le SIGH*

Rejected and Dejected

When it happens, I feel torn to pieces--almost hopeless as if I'm not good enough. Will I ever have what it takes for success? But my love for writing is a strong drive that forces me back into it. It's a HUGE part of me, how can I give up being who I am? Then I say to myself, it won't publish itself. The only way it can see its way to the shelves is if I pick myself up and finish.

Our biggest failure is giving up. How do you cope with rejection?


Lookie what I found! Who would've guessed?

Equality and Peace

Martin Luther King, Jr. wanted equal rights for everyone. His hope was for all to live together without prejudice.  One voice became many, though it wasn't easy. In my opinion, we aspire to attain his dream on many levels world wide to this day.

Have a great day!



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photo found at photobucket.com

Good V. Evil

Muahahahahaha!!


Welcome to The Fantastic Friday Writers!

I think I'll focus on evil today.

TIP:  you have my permission to make your villain as despicable as you want, just please, please GIVE him or her a redeeming quality. Why deny the opportunity for your readers to connect with your villain?

IE: Sinister Van Arson loves setting forests on fire, but not before he rescues his most favorite animal. The bunny rabbits. Okay, I know that's quite the exaggeration, but I bet you know what I mean.

Who would've guessed?

I write like
Stephen King

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

Here's the excerpt I used from Rock Star (some groupies are smothering him, and he's angry with one of his band members):

Changes in Writing

I was Anastasia's guest sometime ago, and it slipped my mind that I was over for some crumpets and chocolate and stuff. *Ducking* I'm reposting here anyway. Here I go (ahem):

Today, I’m posting about a particular struggle I have as a writer.

One thing that I do—which I believe is the bane for many writers—is every time I finish a how-to book on writing, and after I apply it, my writing changes. My book was thin, starving and gasping for rich oxygenated imagination. Well, I was able to apply the correct techniques to get it closer to publication, but I had to find a happy medium so that it wouldn’t stifle my creativity.

She's b-a-a-a-ck!

Hello everyone! Thank you so much for visiting, lurking and reading my blog these past few weeks. This year will be an adventure for me.

I need to make a goal, as hard as it is, to cut down on my blogging time so that I can nurture my WiP. He's been neglected long enough and needs my TLC.

My goal is to get it completely polished before Christmas of 2011!

Can she do it?

Yes she can! ;)

I just need to cut down on my networking. *SIGH*

I love my friends with just as much passion as I do my writing. This will be hard, but I will find a balance in there to say hi when I can.

When is your favorite day to visit other people's blogs?