What I'm Reading

I just finished reading the reissue of Karen Robards' Night Magic.

From Amazon: "Lovely romance writer Clara Winston dreams of meeting a sensitive, sexy man, and when CIA agent Jack McCain accidentally enters her life, Clara knows that she has found that man."

I couldn't resist that the heroine was a romance writer. It reminded me of the movie, Romancing the Stone, in the sense that this quiet, reclusive writer gets pulled into a harrowing adventure with a sexy hero -- one she could in no way see coming.

Do you like reading about writing heroines? Inquiring minds want to know!

xoxo,
bex

Friday Check-In

It's Friday again and while I am really, really happy the weekend is here I also can't believe how fast this week went. I had another busy week and I have not managed my stress well so this Friday I feel fried and burnt out and in need of a nap.

Tomorrow marks another day devoted to writing time and I am facing the prospect of starting my new secret project. This idea has been percolating in the back of my mind for about a year, and you would think that after all that time I would be ready to start writing it. Not true!

I am in what I feel like is a necessary pre-writing stage this time around, working out some of the conflict points for my story outline and digging deeper into character motivation. It is exciting and a little nerve-wracking, too -- I just want to make good decisions about the book early on so that the latter stages of writing it won't be as painful. Those stages will still be hard (they always are!) but I am hoping that good work now will lead to better work later.

What is your pre-writing regimen? Inquiring minds want to know!

xoxo,

bex

Academy Awards Anticipation!

I love movies and one of my dreams is to write one. And sell the screenplay. And see that the film actually gets made. It's a one-in-a-million shot, like the lottery, but you can't win if you don't play.

I have a screenplay that I have been toying with for a few years now... some scenes are more fleshed out while others I have not yet been able to bring into focus. I am excited by the idea, I just need to keep practicing so I can execute it. One of my writing idols is Nancy Meyers and I would love to follow her model.

Watching the triumvirate of award shows just inspires me that much more to work hard on this aspect of my writing. With the Oscars coming up, my hope takes on a more urgent longing and I know I need to make better progress on my screenwriting learning curve.

In addition to the awards themselves, I am so excited for the red carpet. I love football, but, really, this is my Super Bowl. Who are you rooting for on Oscar night? Inquiring minds want to know!

xoxo,
bex

What I'm Reading

Next up on my reading list: Magnolia Wednesdays by Wendy Wax. I fell in love with Wax's The Accidental Bestseller and couldn't wait to pick up her next book when I attended the literacy signing at the RWA conference in Orlando last summer. That I am just now getting the chance to open it does not reflect my excitement over having the chance to finally do so!

Happy reading and happy writing!

xoxo,
bex

Friday Check-In

This week felt like a good week. We got a little taste of spring after several relentless weeks of snow, sleet, and ice. I bounced off the walls like a fifth grader anticipating summer vacation.

But it was a good week, too, because I made progress on the book. Somewhere in between doctors' appointments, physical therapy, work, and family stuff, I got through the complete draft. It has been wrapped up and shipped off for review by an awesome someone who offered to read it and critique it. I can't thank her enough for her time and help.

It's quite possible that I will get the book back and it will look all red and carved up like the careless victim in a bloody slasher film. But for now I want to revel in this feeling of accomplishment.

Next up? Start pulling together the random pieces for my next secret project and see if I can begin to make sense of the elements I want to weave together. And of course, wait and see in what kind of shape my recent manuscript returns to me.

What are you reading or writing these days? Inquiring minds want to know?

xoxo,
bex

What I'm Reading

It's been a busy week because I have been actually working on my book! Still, in between doctor's appointments and a few restless nights I was able to start reading the next of the many books on my TBR pile: Posh by Lucy Jackson.

The book takes a look at the lives of a number of characters involved with an elite prep school in Manhattan. Students, teachers, and parents. I was at first attracted to the book because I thought it had much in common with some of the more adult YA books being written, but having finished reading it I think I would characterize it as more of a general fiction book.

I really enjoyed it. To quote a friend of mine, "I like observing the rich in their natural habitat." Reading books like these gives me a glimpse of what life might be like in this completely alternate universe.

Get to your local library to check it out!

xoxo,
bex

Friday Check-In

I had a very productive Saturday last weekend, but again the week has proven to contain more than I can handle. So tomorrow I will crack the wip open again and make the edits I identified last weekend. The good news: I am excited to be working again . . . not only on making the wip as good as I can make it but also in jumping into the next project. I have so many ideas, I just have to rustle them all up and find the pieces that make the most sense.

Wish me luck!

What are you working on these days? Inquiring minds want to know!

xoxo,

bex