Recently I've become addicted to a podcast called "Making It with Riki Lindhome". While this podcast is mostly about how actors and other people have made it in the entertainment industry, I find it fascinating to find out how people get their start. We always hear how certain actors go to LA/New York, meet their agent and become big movie stars. That usually (re. almost always) takes a few years to happen. This podcast is all about those forgotten years between arrival in the city and arrival in entertainment.
Recently, Riki interviewed nerd queen extraordinaire, Felicia Day. If you don't know who this person is, you need to discover her immediately. As I listened to the podcast, Felicia talked about how when she was having a really hard time in her life and career, the thing that helped keep her on track was a monthly meeting with a handful of her friends. They made goals to each other, kept each other on track and understood when things didn't quite pan out.
As she was talking about this, all I could think of was NaNoWriMo. As bad as my NaNoWriMo is, the community I discovered during the crazy month was one of the best parts. We had word wars, talked about characters, helped each other out of writer's block, it was an amazing group of people.
This gave me an idea. I know that there is a group in the Salt Lake Valley called "Writers of the West" (that meet every Thursday at The Coffee Club on Redwood and 4800 S), but meeting every week can be a bit tiresome, and I feel like giving everyone a month to get their goals done is a good idea.
So here's what it comes down to.
If you'd like to join me (and most likely Helen), for a monthly writers group (I keep wanting to say support group... which it kind of is... I guess), leave me a comment here or e-mail me and let me know what days of the week are the best for you. I'll try and accommodate everyone I can. Chances are, we'll meet the last week of the month on whatever day works for everyone.
I really think this could be awesome, so if you're interested just let me know!
4.11.2012
3.30.2012
"My Thoughts are Stars I Cannot Fathom into Constellations."
I've been contemplating on whether to do a book review on The Fault in Our Stars for a while. The thing is, I'm not really that good at book reviews. If you're looking for an excellent review for this book check out my friend Meg's review.
Since I'm generally a follower and not a leader, I figured what the heck, I'll give you guys my thoughts on this book. Now that I've had almost four months to collect my thoughts about it.
So here's the thing with John Green. It's no secret that I adore his books. When I heard that John was taking a leap and writing from a female perspective for the first time, I was stoked. He writes some amazing male characters and some truly interesting female characters as well, but writing a main female character can be a bit of a challenge when you've written primarily male characters. With a few exceptions, I felt that Hazel Grace was a very well developed character with faults and strengths that are incredibly relateable (even to those of us not dying from cancer). There were a few moments where I thought that she was a bit of a cliche, but a book with out cliches is hard to find, and the cliches weren't part of the main story points.
Clearly this book is not the happiest of all books. But the way this book flows is incredible. It takes the rollercoaster of teenage love and sets it to super fast. Just when you get the highest you can be, it brings you down a little bit, lifts you up, then plummets you down quicker than you'd like. It's heart crushing and heart touching all at the same time. I have never read a book that made me feel as many feelings as this book did.
I'm ending with Augustus for a reason. I read a lot of contemporary YA fiction. This (more often than not) consists of a lot of teen romances that end in happily ever afters and kisses and rainbows. It has some of the dreamiest guys that you can't help but fall in love with. That being said, after meeting Augustus Waters, I felt that most all the other guys paled in comparison. The thing about Augustus is that he is incredibly aware of how he effects Hazel. He is also, extremely set on getting what he wants. There is nothing sexier than a man who knows what he wants and isn't afraid to take it.
Hazel and Augustus' relationship is a whirlwind of a romance that manages to stay fairly grounded in the reality of their situation.
Warning: If you read this book, you will cry at least once. If you don't cry: We can't be friends anymore (just kidding).
Because I'm a quote-aholic, I'm going to end this post with quotes from this book... there will be a lot of them... sorry.
You can check out John Green every tuesday on his Youtube channel, Vlogbrothers
Since I'm generally a follower and not a leader, I figured what the heck, I'll give you guys my thoughts on this book. Now that I've had almost four months to collect my thoughts about it.
Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.
Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.
Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.
So here's the thing with John Green. It's no secret that I adore his books. When I heard that John was taking a leap and writing from a female perspective for the first time, I was stoked. He writes some amazing male characters and some truly interesting female characters as well, but writing a main female character can be a bit of a challenge when you've written primarily male characters. With a few exceptions, I felt that Hazel Grace was a very well developed character with faults and strengths that are incredibly relateable (even to those of us not dying from cancer). There were a few moments where I thought that she was a bit of a cliche, but a book with out cliches is hard to find, and the cliches weren't part of the main story points.
Clearly this book is not the happiest of all books. But the way this book flows is incredible. It takes the rollercoaster of teenage love and sets it to super fast. Just when you get the highest you can be, it brings you down a little bit, lifts you up, then plummets you down quicker than you'd like. It's heart crushing and heart touching all at the same time. I have never read a book that made me feel as many feelings as this book did.
I'm ending with Augustus for a reason. I read a lot of contemporary YA fiction. This (more often than not) consists of a lot of teen romances that end in happily ever afters and kisses and rainbows. It has some of the dreamiest guys that you can't help but fall in love with. That being said, after meeting Augustus Waters, I felt that most all the other guys paled in comparison. The thing about Augustus is that he is incredibly aware of how he effects Hazel. He is also, extremely set on getting what he wants. There is nothing sexier than a man who knows what he wants and isn't afraid to take it.
Hazel and Augustus' relationship is a whirlwind of a romance that manages to stay fairly grounded in the reality of their situation.
Warning: If you read this book, you will cry at least once. If you don't cry: We can't be friends anymore (just kidding).
Because I'm a quote-aholic, I'm going to end this post with quotes from this book... there will be a lot of them... sorry.
"What a slut time is. She screws everybody."
"Some infinities are bigger than other infinities."
“Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book. And then there are book which you can't tell people about, books so special and rare and yours that advertising your affection feels like a betrayal.”
“(I didn't tell him that the diagnosis came three months after I got my first period. Like: Congratulations! You're a women. Now die.)”
You can check out John Green every tuesday on his Youtube channel, Vlogbrothers
3.11.2012
Amor Deliria Nervosa
Hey, look. I'm not dead! Just unemployed.
This weekend I've had a kind of emotional reboot. Yesterday, my best friend Helen kidnapped me from my imprisonment. Being unemployed and without a vehicle has seriously put a damper on my mood, and I was in much need of a day out.
Though the term "day out" may be a little misleading. She picked me up and we went to Beans and Brews for about 5 hours to write. Both of us at a booth just writing, researching, talking about characters. Since NaNoWriMo, I hadn't been to a coffee shop to write. I had forgotten how much loved writing in coffee shops. Especially Beans and Brews (they have the best chai tea I've ever had). It was a great reboot for my system.
Today I decided to continue the emotional reboot by doing nothing today but reading. I had been slowly working through reading Lauren Oliver's Delirium for the past few weeks, and had decided I was just going to sit down and finish it. My soul sisters Angel and Helen have sung praises about it and I wanted to give it a try.
Confession time: I generally don't like dystopian novels. I usually stay in my (relatively) happy contemporary YA fiction world because I have a really hard time getting into the dystopian theme and usually end up giving up half way through. They just don't appeal to me as much as other books do. That being said, I'm really glad I gave this one a chance.
I liked that the disease that everyone is afraid of being infected by is (basically) love. They break it down in a very clinical manner that makes the disease, "amor deliria nervosa," seem equally dangerous and thrilling.
Once Alex was introduced, his story with Lena was pretty predictable... that is, up until the ending. The ending, was pure brilliance. It surprised me to the point that I just stared at the last page for a good few minutes before closing the book.
Delirium is the first book in the trilogy, and I'm looking forward to see what the rest of this story has to offer.
Next up....
The Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum
This weekend I've had a kind of emotional reboot. Yesterday, my best friend Helen kidnapped me from my imprisonment. Being unemployed and without a vehicle has seriously put a damper on my mood, and I was in much need of a day out.
Though the term "day out" may be a little misleading. She picked me up and we went to Beans and Brews for about 5 hours to write. Both of us at a booth just writing, researching, talking about characters. Since NaNoWriMo, I hadn't been to a coffee shop to write. I had forgotten how much loved writing in coffee shops. Especially Beans and Brews (they have the best chai tea I've ever had). It was a great reboot for my system.
Today I decided to continue the emotional reboot by doing nothing today but reading. I had been slowly working through reading Lauren Oliver's Delirium for the past few weeks, and had decided I was just going to sit down and finish it. My soul sisters Angel and Helen have sung praises about it and I wanted to give it a try.
Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love — the deliria — blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.
But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.
Confession time: I generally don't like dystopian novels. I usually stay in my (relatively) happy contemporary YA fiction world because I have a really hard time getting into the dystopian theme and usually end up giving up half way through. They just don't appeal to me as much as other books do. That being said, I'm really glad I gave this one a chance.
I liked that the disease that everyone is afraid of being infected by is (basically) love. They break it down in a very clinical manner that makes the disease, "amor deliria nervosa," seem equally dangerous and thrilling.
Once Alex was introduced, his story with Lena was pretty predictable... that is, up until the ending. The ending, was pure brilliance. It surprised me to the point that I just stared at the last page for a good few minutes before closing the book.
Delirium is the first book in the trilogy, and I'm looking forward to see what the rest of this story has to offer.
Next up....
The Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum
2.13.2012
I wish I could say more...
Wow, that whole idea about blogging more often is NOT happening. *facepalm*
I've been unemployed for almost two weeks. When I got laid off I thought "Hey, maybe this will give me more time to write". Although, I have been keeping up pretty well on my TV blog, I keep thinking that I need to post here. I come into a new post page and just stare at the blinking cursor. Then after about 15 minutes of just staring, I turn on an episode of Psych/Charmed/TBBT or something else.
Why is it that when I was employed I had all these ideas and a treasure trove of characters, and now that I have the time to write... Nothing. Zilch. Nada.
I've been unemployed for almost two weeks. When I got laid off I thought "Hey, maybe this will give me more time to write". Although, I have been keeping up pretty well on my TV blog, I keep thinking that I need to post here. I come into a new post page and just stare at the blinking cursor. Then after about 15 minutes of just staring, I turn on an episode of Psych/Charmed/TBBT or something else.
Why is it that when I was employed I had all these ideas and a treasure trove of characters, and now that I have the time to write... Nothing. Zilch. Nada.
1.12.2012
Currently in this episode of Anna's Life...
Well Happy New Year everyone!!!
I wish I could blame the lack of posts on the fact that I'm super busy writing an awesome story, or on the recent releases of John Green's The Fault in Our Stars and Marissa Meyers' Cinder, or because I've been busy getting things ready for my mom to come visit this weekend. However, I'm not going to lie to you guys.
I'm just lazy.
And busy.
But mostly, lazy.
So to get over this laziness, I'm going to do a "Currently" post.*
The Fault in Our Stars
Dial Up Tour EP
Chai Latte from Beans and Brews. I'm addicted. It's kind of bad.
What's Your Number?
Currently I'm in the middle of a Legend of the Seeker marathon.I'm not sure what compelled me to re-watch it, but I had forgotten how much I loved it.
*shamelessly stolen from Helen.
I wish I could blame the lack of posts on the fact that I'm super busy writing an awesome story, or on the recent releases of John Green's The Fault in Our Stars and Marissa Meyers' Cinder, or because I've been busy getting things ready for my mom to come visit this weekend. However, I'm not going to lie to you guys.
I'm just lazy.
And busy.
But mostly, lazy.
So to get over this laziness, I'm going to do a "Currently" post.*
Book:
The Fault in Our Stars
You need to go buy this book. NOW! I'm 80% sure that this book is going to be my favorite John Green book. I'm also about 98.8% sure that this book is going to make me cry like a little girl. John Green just wants me to FEEL ALL OF THE FEELINGS!!!!
Also, this book makes me want to write. Like a lot. It also makes me laugh out loud.
Also, this book makes me want to write. Like a lot. It also makes me laugh out loud.
Music:
Dial Up Tour EP
I'll be seeing these guys in concert in a few weeks so their music has been on repeat.
Drink:
Chai Latte from Beans and Brews. I'm addicted. It's kind of bad.
Wishlist:
*closes eyes*
I wish for a giant chocolate shake.
That's pretty much all I want at the moment.
Movie:
What's Your Number?
This movie is extremely funny. I've watched it three times in one week. Anna Faris and Chris Evans are amazing!
TV Show:
Currently I'm in the middle of a Legend of the Seeker marathon.I'm not sure what compelled me to re-watch it, but I had forgotten how much I loved it.
Bane of my Existence:
The cold. Utah is cold. I hate it.
Excitement:
MY MOM FLYS IN TOWN TOMORROW!!! Also, Beauty and the Beast is 3D comes out tomorrow, I met one of my new favorite authors yesterday and my best friend had her baby today. It's been a pretty good week. (:
Wallpaper:
Made by me.
*shamelessly stolen from Helen.
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