Category: writing

Writing Inspirations – chick lit

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Why I love chick lit
“I’m surprised you’re not married, Flora.”
“Oh?”
“You’re lovely and you can cook. What more can a man ask for?”
“It’s not what more a man can ask for, Charles, but what a girl can ask for. These days women are not prepared to settle for mediocre. There has to be a good reason to give up her freedom and independence.”
–Katie Fforde, Flora’s Lot

“It made me aware that I didn’t have a man and made me wonder if perhaps there isn’t something missing in my life.”
“Oh? What?”
“Love, companionship, that sort of thing…..And I may be quite wrong. A lot of women are totally satisfied and happy being single these days. But I thought I might have a boyfriend for a while and see if I like it.”
–Katie Fforde, Second Thyme Around

“But the trouble with falling in love was that it was involuntary, and no matter how well you knew it was a bad idea, if it was going to happen, it happened, and you couldn’t prevent it, however much you wanted to.”
–Katie Fforde, Practically Perfect

“There are some things I don’t understand about Jess and never will. No wedding dress. No flowers. No photo album. No champagne. The only thing she got out of her wedding was a husband. (I mean, obviously the husband is the main point when you get married. Absolutely. That goes without saying. But still, not even a new pair of shoes?)”

–Sophie Kinsella, Mini Shopaholic

 “It was more to do with the way she had taken control of her own future. She had seized it, given it a good shake, and forced new things to happen. Poppy was fearless, impulsive, and determined to make the most of every moment. She seldom bothered to worry about what might happen if she got something wrong.”

–Jill Mansell, Perfect Timing

“Rejection was bad enough on its own. To be buck-naked and rejected was the complete pits.”
–Jill Mansell, Perfect Timing
“I can’t help feeling as if there’s something missing in my life. But I don’t know what it is. And the harder I look, the more I can’t find it because there’s just too much pressure and not enough time… I’ve bottled all this stuff up for so long that now its as if I’ve lifted off a lid and it’s all pouring out. It’s like I’m always playing catch-up. I rush through my life exhausted and anxious and worried all the time. Not to mention hungry.”
–Alexandra Potter, The Two Lives of Charlotte Merryweather
“Age and experience haven’t made me this wise old master; it’s made me this anxious, strung-out thirtysomething who worries about everything. Whose life is completely out of balance. Whose forgetting how to have fun. And who spends her life reading self-help books trying to find herself when she was here under her nose all along.”
–Alexandra Potter, The Two Lives of Charlotte Merryweather

“I love television. I mean, I do other things, it’s not like I just sit on my own and watch TV all day long, but there’s really nothing better than curling up on the sofa with a good take-away and “Friends” or “Cheers” or something.”
–Gemma Townsly, When In Rome

“…Like when I go to the doctor, I’m always convinced the doctor thinks I’m wasting her time. The moment I sit down I forget what my symptoms are, and end up apologizing and leaving, only to remember that I’m almost dying of food poisoning.”
–Gemma Townsly, When in Rome

“He just wasn’t……The One. It’s a funny business isn’t it? You can lineup ten thousand men and know immediately that nine hundred and ninety of them aren’t your type. so then you’re left with ten who are possibles and you have to narrow it down by a process of elimination, And it can all be going really well, you can think someone’s perfect in every way, then they do or say one tiny thing that makes you realize you could never have a relationship with them.”

–Jill Mansell, Rumor Has It

“You shouldn’t call a  handbag a purse. A purse was what people used to carry coins in the sixteen hundreds…..A bag, on the other hand, is meant to be seen.”
–Candace Bushnell, The Carrie Diaries

“How can you relax in front of someone who doesn’t think you’re enough?”  
–Kim Grenenfelder, There’s Cake In My Future

“Man, I hate writing. I mean, you know, I love being paid to be a writer. I love reading what I’ve written. I love telling people at parties that I’m a writer. I just don’t so much like the writing part. As a matte of fact, lately, I hate all of it. Seriously, why do people ever want to become writers?”
–Kim Grenenfelder, There’s Cake In My Future

“I knew that one day my life would be entirely different; full of feelings and friends and laughter and color and with an almost entirely new cast to the one currently peopling it. I was wholly certain that someday there would be another man and more children and a different job and a proper home. I had no idea how I would get from the small, bare life I was now living to the full, colorful one I envisioned. All I knew was that it would happen. But right now it was a long way away, happening to a different Lily, and I was in no rush for it.” 
–Marian Keyes, The Other Side of the Story

Writing Inspirations – chick lit

Leave a comment
Why I love chick lit
“I’m surprised you’re not married, Flora.”
“Oh?”
“You’re lovely and you can cook. What more can a man ask for?”
“It’s not what more a man can ask for, Charles, but what a girl can ask for. These days women are not prepared to settle for mediocre. There has to be a good reason to give up her freedom and independence.”
–Katie Fforde, Flora’s Lot

“It made me aware that I didn’t have a man and made me wonder if perhaps there isn’t something missing in my life.”
“Oh? What?”
“Love, companionship, that sort of thing…..And I may be quite wrong. A lot of women are totally satisfied and happy being single these days. But I thought I might have a boyfriend for a while and see if I like it.”
–Katie Fforde, Second Thyme Around

“But the trouble with falling in love was that it was involuntary, and no matter how well you knew it was a bad idea, if it was going to happen, it happened, and you couldn’t prevent it, however much you wanted to.”
–Katie Fforde, Practically Perfect

“There are some things I don’t understand about Jess and never will. No wedding dress. No flowers. No photo album. No champagne. The only thing she got out of her wedding was a husband. (I mean, obviously the husband is the main point when you get married. Absolutely. That goes without saying. But still, not even a new pair of shoes?)”

–Sophie Kinsella, Mini Shopaholic

 “It was more to do with the way she had taken control of her own future. She had seized it, given it a good shake, and forced new things to happen. Poppy was fearless, impulsive, and determined to make the most of every moment. She seldom bothered to worry about what might happen if she got something wrong.”

–Jill Mansell, Perfect Timing

“Rejection was bad enough on its own. To be buck-naked and rejected was the complete pits.”
–Jill Mansell, Perfect Timing
“I can’t help feeling as if there’s something missing in my life. But I don’t know what it is. And the harder I look, the more I can’t find it because there’s just too much pressure and not enough time… I’ve bottled all this stuff up for so long that now its as if I’ve lifted off a lid and it’s all pouring out. It’s like I’m always playing catch-up. I rush through my life exhausted and anxious and worried all the time. Not to mention hungry.”
–Alexandra Potter, The Two Lives of Charlotte Merryweather
“Age and experience haven’t made me this wise old master; it’s made me this anxious, strung-out thirtysomething who worries about everything. Whose life is completely out of balance. Whose forgetting how to have fun. And who spends her life reading self-help books trying to find herself when she was here under her nose all along.”
–Alexandra Potter, The Two Lives of Charlotte Merryweather

“I love television. I mean, I do other things, it’s not like I just sit on my own and watch TV all day long, but there’s really nothing better than curling up on the sofa with a good take-away and “Friends” or “Cheers” or something.”
–Gemma Townsly, When In Rome

“…Like when I go to the doctor, I’m always convinced the doctor thinks I’m wasting her time. The moment I sit down I forget what my symptoms are, and end up apologizing and leaving, only to remember that I’m almost dying of food poisoning.”
–Gemma Townsly, When in Rome

“He just wasn’t……The One. It’s a funny business isn’t it? You can lineup ten thousand men and know immediately that nine hundred and ninety of them aren’t your type. so then you’re left with ten who are possibles and you have to narrow it down by a process of elimination, And it can all be going really well, you can think someone’s perfect in every way, then they do or say one tiny thing that makes you realize you could never have a relationship with them.”

–Jill Mansell, Rumor Has It

“You shouldn’t call a  handbag a purse. A purse was what people used to carry coins in the sixteen hundreds…..A bag, on the other hand, is meant to be seen.”
–Candace Bushnell, The Carrie Diaries

“How can you relax in front of someone who doesn’t think you’re enough?”  
–Kim Grenenfelder, There’s Cake In My Future

“Man, I hate writing. I mean, you know, I love being paid to be a writer. I love reading what I’ve written. I love telling people at parties that I’m a writer. I just don’t so much like the writing part. As a matte of fact, lately, I hate all of it. Seriously, why do people ever want to become writers?”
–Kim Grenenfelder, There’s Cake In My Future

“I knew that one day my life would be entirely different; full of feelings and friends and laughter and color and with an almost entirely new cast to the one currently peopling it. I was wholly certain that someday there would be another man and more children and a different job and a proper home. I had no idea how I would get from the small, bare life I was now living to the full, colorful one I envisioned. All I knew was that it would happen. But right now it was a long way away, happening to a different Lily, and I was in no rush for it.” 
–Marian Keyes, The Other Side of the Story

Writing Inspirations – family

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Why I love my family (part #1)
(Dad & sis & nefs: Park City 2011)
 The other night, I was needing some information about an upcoming plot point in my NaNo story. I was stuck, so I phoned my father, hoping he could offer me some insight or suggestions. Our conversation went somethinglike this:
(Dad & I. Alaska 2005)
“Dad, here’s where I’m at….. My Girl Reporter is covering a protest at the local lumber mill. She knows it’s probably nothing because protests at lumber mills are a dime a dozen. But this one actually turns into something. You worked at a lumber mill for forty years. I need some kind of scandal.”
“Yes, we had protesters all the time. They were usually about something to do with how cutting down trees is killing the environment.”
“Yeah, I don’t want to write about that. I’m PRO-timber industry.”
“Okay. Let me think about it. The scene you’re writing…..is it a peaceful protest?”
 “It started out that way, but then I got kind of stuck in the chapter and didn’t know what to do, so Girl Reporter suddenly gets hit on the head by a flying boot and is knocked out.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know why. I just needed something to happen and….that’s what happened.”

 “She gets hit by a boot?”
“Yes.”

“Why not a shoe?”

“I don’t know.”

“Why not a two-by-four? At least that’s indicative to a lumber mill.”

“I thought a boot was funnier.”

 “You know, I read a lot of books. True, a lot are fiction, but all of the plots are at least realist. They could all potentially happen. And never have a read a scene with a Girl Reporter getting knocked out by a flying boot for no reason.”

“I know! That’s why it’s funny!”

(Dad & I: Tennessee 2005)
(Dad & Susan: Forks, WA 2008)

(Pops chillin’ at Patrick’s Point: 2004)

Writing Inspirations – family

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Why I love my family (part #1)
(Dad & sis & nefs: Park City 2011)
 The other night, I was needing some information about an upcoming plot point in my NaNo story. I was stuck, so I phoned my father, hoping he could offer me some insight or suggestions. Our conversation went somethinglike this:
(Dad & I. Alaska 2005)
“Dad, here’s where I’m at….. My Girl Reporter is covering a protest at the local lumber mill. She knows it’s probably nothing because protests at lumber mills are a dime a dozen. But this one actually turns into something. You worked at a lumber mill for forty years. I need some kind of scandal.”
“Yes, we had protesters all the time. They were usually about something to do with how cutting down trees is killing the environment.”
“Yeah, I don’t want to write about that. I’m PRO-timber industry.”
“Okay. Let me think about it. The scene you’re writing…..is it a peaceful protest?”
 “It started out that way, but then I got kind of stuck in the chapter and didn’t know what to do, so Girl Reporter suddenly gets hit on the head by a flying boot and is knocked out.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know why. I just needed something to happen and….that’s what happened.”

 “She gets hit by a boot?”
“Yes.”

“Why not a shoe?”

“I don’t know.”

“Why not a two-by-four? At least that’s indicative to a lumber mill.”

“I thought a boot was funnier.”

 “You know, I read a lot of books. True, a lot are fiction, but all of the plots are at least realist. They could all potentially happen. And never have a read a scene with a Girl Reporter getting knocked out by a flying boot for no reason.”

“I know! That’s why it’s funny!”

(Dad & I: Tennessee 2005)
(Dad & Susan: Forks, WA 2008)

(Pops chillin’ at Patrick’s Point: 2004)

Writing Inspirations – the movies, part 1

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Why I love Cactus Flower….
( 1969, screenplay by I.A.L. Diamond, adapted from the stage play by Abe Burrows. 
Starring: Goldie Hawn, Ingrin Burgman & Walter Matthau)

Because of clever dialogue like this……..
“Hey, in there!” (Banging on the door)  “Is something wrong? Hey, I smell gas!”

“Julian……”

“I’m not Julian. Wake up.”

“Julian……kiss me…..”

“Sorry, Julian, whoever you are.”

“What are you doing?”

“Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.”

“You were kissing me.”

“I lost my head.”

“How did you get in here? I don’t remember–“

“You left the gas on.”

“Gas? Oh…..I’m alive? I blew it! I blew it! Oh, boy, I really blew it!

“Take it easy. You’re lucky I broke in.”

“Why did you?”

“I thought you were dying.”

“Well, that was the whole idea.”
“Okay, lady, that’s the last time you catch me saving your life…..and as it happens, you were going about it all wrong. I believe you’re supposed to put your head in the stove.”
“It’s a second-hand stove–there were no directions.”

“Why did you do it? Because of Julian?”

“How do you know about Julian?”

“You called me that while you were kissing me.”

“I wasn’t kissing you, you were kissing me. And by the way…..is that all you did?”

“There wasn’t much time.”

“I’m sorry. I guess I should be grateful. What’s your name?”

“Igor Sullivan.”
“Igor Sullivan. That’s wild.”
“I made it up.”
“How come you picked Igor?”
“Igor’s my own. I made up the Sullivan. It’s a good name for a writer.”
“You’re a writer? You’re the writer! The one who keeps pounding on his typewriter all night. You drive me crazy!”
“Why didn’t you complain? I could’ve met you earlier.”

Writing Inspirations – the movies, part 1

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Why I love Cactus Flower….
( 1969, screenplay by I.A.L. Diamond, adapted from the stage play by Abe Burrows. 
Starring: Goldie Hawn, Ingrin Burgman & Walter Matthau)

Because of clever dialogue like this……..
“Hey, in there!” (Banging on the door)  “Is something wrong? Hey, I smell gas!”

“Julian……”

“I’m not Julian. Wake up.”

“Julian……kiss me…..”

“Sorry, Julian, whoever you are.”

“What are you doing?”

“Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.”

“You were kissing me.”

“I lost my head.”

“How did you get in here? I don’t remember–“

“You left the gas on.”

“Gas? Oh…..I’m alive? I blew it! I blew it! Oh, boy, I really blew it!

“Take it easy. You’re lucky I broke in.”

“Why did you?”

“I thought you were dying.”

“Well, that was the whole idea.”
“Okay, lady, that’s the last time you catch me saving your life…..and as it happens, you were going about it all wrong. I believe you’re supposed to put your head in the stove.”
“It’s a second-hand stove–there were no directions.”

“Why did you do it? Because of Julian?”

“How do you know about Julian?”

“You called me that while you were kissing me.”

“I wasn’t kissing you, you were kissing me. And by the way…..is that all you did?”

“There wasn’t much time.”

“I’m sorry. I guess I should be grateful. What’s your name?”

“Igor Sullivan.”
“Igor Sullivan. That’s wild.”
“I made it up.”
“How come you picked Igor?”
“Igor’s my own. I made up the Sullivan. It’s a good name for a writer.”
“You’re a writer? You’re the writer! The one who keeps pounding on his typewriter all night. You drive me crazy!”
“Why didn’t you complain? I could’ve met you earlier.”

Writing Inspirations – food

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Why I love food
(via: tumblr)
Last night, i was so busy NaNo-ing (yes, i’m using it as a verb now) that i completely forgot to eat dinner. i don’t usually eat a proper breakfast either, so by late morning today, i was screaming-starving, generally lethargic and feeling overall uninspired about everything. 
(As a writer in the mist of an important project, this is bad news.)
And then…..my little work group decided to go out for lunch. No, i did not eat a purple cupcake for lunch, but what i did have fueled both body and mind. 
(PS: We tried a new burger place around the corner that had some major killer sweet potato fries.)
And now, thanks to the jolly sustenance, i am so excited to get home, slide in front of my laptop, and see what fun-ness my characters can get themselves into!

Writing Inspirations – food

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Why I love food
(via: tumblr)
Last night, i was so busy NaNo-ing (yes, i’m using it as a verb now) that i completely forgot to eat dinner. i don’t usually eat a proper breakfast either, so by late morning today, i was screaming-starving, generally lethargic and feeling overall uninspired about everything. 
(As a writer in the mist of an important project, this is bad news.)
And then…..my little work group decided to go out for lunch. No, i did not eat a purple cupcake for lunch, but what i did have fueled both body and mind. 
(PS: We tried a new burger place around the corner that had some major killer sweet potato fries.)
And now, thanks to the jolly sustenance, i am so excited to get home, slide in front of my laptop, and see what fun-ness my characters can get themselves into!

Writing Inspirations – Running

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Why I love running….
For obvious reasons (naughty NaNo) I’ve been living almost exclusively in my head lately. Even as busy as work gets, my head is still wrapped around my story…..ever plotting away. 
I’m a pretty consistent (though not over-enthusiastic) exerciser. First thing I do when I get home is pull on the workout clothes. Last week (for that above, obvious reason), my daily workouts were down to zero. I planned on this, because I needed to really focus on word-count. And since I’m all nice and ahead now, last night, the running shoes came out from the back of the closet, and I hit the trail.
Let me tell you why I love running so much (when I don’t hate it). 
1) It feels good, physically and mentally. And I’m all about things that make me feel good. The knowledge that my muscles are working properly, and with my ponytail slapping rhythmically against my neck. That’s “good” to the extreme. 

2)  For me, there’s a sense of accomplishment when I make it to “that tree,” or across “that bridge.” It’s a way of pushing myself toward something that takes great effort. And even if it’s in the form of a side cramp or breathing too hard, the rewards always come. 
3) Most of the time, when I allow myself to get into “the zone,” there is nothing more I can focus on than simply staying upright. I have to stop planning, over-thinking, and making lists in my head. Because…..my lungs are burning, my legs are aching and all I want to do is dive off the path and on to that nice, soft grass for a rest. But those few (semi-painful, albeit) moments with a clear head can do wonders when it’s time to think again.
4) Thinking. I do some of my best thinking when I run. The only problem with that is–by the time I’m home–I sometimes forget the brilliance I’ve just conjured up. My iPod shuffle doesn’t  have one of those voice-activated recorder thing. Maybe I need to invest in one. Merry Christmas to Mary, maybe?
Yes, I woke up a little sore this morning, and yes, while planning my day, the LAST thing I want to do is go for a run tonight. But I know that will change. I guess I can always pray for rain….. 

During last night’s run, while in my good thinking mode, I mentally wrote a new scene while my iPod blasted this song.
(And let’s just say…they’re not sittin’ in church…) 

Writing Inspirations – Running

Leave a comment
Why I love running….
For obvious reasons (naughty NaNo) I’ve been living almost exclusively in my head lately. Even as busy as work gets, my head is still wrapped around my story…..ever plotting away. 
I’m a pretty consistent (though not over-enthusiastic) exerciser. First thing I do when I get home is pull on the workout clothes. Last week (for that above, obvious reason), my daily workouts were down to zero. I planned on this, because I needed to really focus on word-count. And since I’m all nice and ahead now, last night, the running shoes came out from the back of the closet, and I hit the trail.
Let me tell you why I love running so much (when I don’t hate it). 
1) It feels good, physically and mentally. And I’m all about things that make me feel good. The knowledge that my muscles are working properly, and with my ponytail slapping rhythmically against my neck. That’s “good” to the extreme. 

2)  For me, there’s a sense of accomplishment when I make it to “that tree,” or across “that bridge.” It’s a way of pushing myself toward something that takes great effort. And even if it’s in the form of a side cramp or breathing too hard, the rewards always come. 
3) Most of the time, when I allow myself to get into “the zone,” there is nothing more I can focus on than simply staying upright. I have to stop planning, over-thinking, and making lists in my head. Because…..my lungs are burning, my legs are aching and all I want to do is dive off the path and on to that nice, soft grass for a rest. But those few (semi-painful, albeit) moments with a clear head can do wonders when it’s time to think again.
4) Thinking. I do some of my best thinking when I run. The only problem with that is–by the time I’m home–I sometimes forget the brilliance I’ve just conjured up. My iPod shuffle doesn’t  have one of those voice-activated recorder thing. Maybe I need to invest in one. Merry Christmas to Mary, maybe?
Yes, I woke up a little sore this morning, and yes, while planning my day, the LAST thing I want to do is go for a run tonight. But I know that will change. I guess I can always pray for rain….. 

During last night’s run, while in my good thinking mode, I mentally wrote a new scene while my iPod blasted this song.
(And let’s just say…they’re not sittin’ in church…)