Let’s talk about hashtags today.
A necessary evil for writers trying to market their work, or for bloggers trying to direct traffic to their site.
I’m old enough that I remember the days when this -> # was a number sign, or a pound sign — nothing else.
A couple bloggers that I follow have been posting recently about trying their hand at screenwriting. Which I, for one, think is AWESOME.
While I was in college – well, let me explain a little more detail about my college. I went to a liberal arts university (great experience, ouch on the wallet though) that ran a 4-1-4 schedule. The 1 was a separate term in January.
The January term (aptly called J-Term), was where students could either do a trip abroad, do a month-long internship, or you could take one seminar.
So, while I was in college, I used my J-Terms to just take classes. I had 2 jobs to work, thus no time for an internship or trip abroad.
Each year, I pretty much took a different variation of the same class – something that involved creative writing AND screenwriting.
Freshman year was called Flash: Short Forms of Literature and Film
Sophomore year was called Double Trouble: Texts and Films
Junior year was called Next Episode: TV as a Narrative Text
Senior year (my favorite) was called Writing the TV Sitcom
Sense a trend? LOL Continue reading
My musing of the week is going a little deep, but that’s because I need to give myself a good swift kick in the butt.
I recently followed someone on Twitter who posts a lot of what I like to call Inconvenient Truths.
- Excuses or accomplishments?
The choice is yours.- If you have a true passion for writing then you’ll never have to discipline yourself to finish a novel.
- If you need motivation from someone else then you’re not passionate about writing.
- @jaxon_wolfe
There are several more, and I picked the ones that aren’t quite so harsh to highlight here.
This guy doesn’t joke around. He’s been successful in the industry just in the last year. (At least he claims that) He has apparently even turned down a book deal from a publisher. I believe him anyway. When I first started following him, he I noticed he handed out a lot of advice to people who asked for it, but recently his feed has turned into pieces of “advice” posted often to the world.
When they started to get harsh, some of them struck a nerve. Especially like the last one that I quoted above.
Today is the first official day of my Christmas vacation. We are closed for two weeks, and I get to sit at home drinking coffee, cuddling with my dog, catching up on my DVR shows (woo, Masterchef Junior!), and getting myself into the Christmas spirit!
I’m done Christmas shopping, most likely. I’m pondering getting something small for Brad’s sisters but they have expensive taste and I have no idea what to get for them. I’ve wrapped all but a few presents for Brad’s family. My gifts for my side of the family went out via the USPS on Saturday.
I’d mentioned in a previous post about how hard it’s been to be excited about Christmas this year. The holidays are about tradition, and for the past 23 years, I’ve spent Christmas Eve with my dad’s side of the family, and Christmas day with my mom’s side. This year, Christmas is with Brad’s family.
I think I’ve finally reminded myself that growing up means things are going to change. I’ll be married next year, and eventually we will probably have a family of our own. One day, the new tradition could mean Christmas at OUR house!
When traditions change, I like to think that it’s a measure of progress. My life is on its way up! And for right now, while I will definitely miss spending Christmas with my family, I have to remember that Brad’s family will be my family too. And everyone has family members where they just kind of have to grin and bear it. Maybe one day I won’t have to do that. That’s my wish this Christmas.
On a happier note, this is my favorite time of the year for television! Everywhere you turn, it’s Christmas movies!
My top three Christmas movies:
I’m also a big lover of Christmas music, though I’ll be honest. I prefer the more modern renditions of the classics. My go-to this Christmas has been Casting Crowns’ Christmas album Peace on Earth. It’s my absolute favorite!
I got an idea for a Christmas story that I might write while I’m on vacation about the holidays. The good, the bad, the ugly. I’ll share it here when I write it! I also really want to get some stuff done with my novel, Cover Up. I haven’t edited the document in 11 days now, according to G-docs.
Gasp! I know! I’m on a timeline for myself. And I need that thing done by the end of January! So I’ve gotta get some work done. Guess I need to make some rules. Like 2,000 words before I can go FINALLY watch the last Hunger Games movie tomorrow.
So here’s a toast to Christmas. 
I hope yours is as stress-free and as good of a time as possible. If not, well, you can hide vodka in a water bottle.
After I got engaged last year, I bought some small trinkets and these boxes at Michael’s and made gifts to ask my bridal party to be in my wedding. They looked like this:
I made 6 total. For my 2 best friends, my 2 sisters, and my 2 future sister-in-laws.
I mailed all but the last two, because I live in the same town as my fiance’s family and I figured I would just give it to them in person.
But I kept leaving them on my kitchen table for months. Finally, we were going Christmas shopping with them yesterday and I remembered to bring them along, when my fiance let me know that they would probably say no.
“Why?” I asked him.
“Because my mom probably told them to say no.”
Well. Let me preface this by saying that it is well within anyone’s rights to say no. I get that a primary concern of being a bridesmaid is cost (though for the sake of his sisters, they won’t be in town soon enough to join our bachelorette party, and all I ask about their dress is that it’s navy blue. They can spend however little or much they want. So I don’t think cost is an issue here) or the responsibility (but my mom and sister and best friend back home are doing just about everything. We’re getting in married in Texas. I live in Virginia right now. There’s only so much we can do from afar).
Regardless of my opinion, though, they can say no.
More than anything, my feelings are hurt because of what my future mother in law said. I’ve never felt like they don’t like me necessarily, but I don’t feel very welcome either. Brad got lucky with my family. I guess someone had to get the short straw.
We’re probably moving to Texas next year, so this applies. (No kids though!)
I’ve never handled rejection well. Usually, if I think I’m going to be told no, I just don’t ask. It’s why I didn’t even try to join my family in Florida this summer. It’s why I didn’t use one extra vacation day to spend with my family for Thanksgiving.
Heck, while we’re reflecting on rejection, maybe it’s why I don’t do anything with my writing anymore. I think I’m afraid to let people read it. Because if it sucks, I would want them to tell me. And I can take criticism. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t sting just a little bit.
I got past it in college (because I mean I had to for creative writing seminars. We had a turn in every week), but it was always short stories. Bigger works that take months to finish, they’re my babies! I don’t want to be told they’re not good enough!
Fear of rejection is one thing I never really grew out of. I’m working on it. I know though that it’s the best way to grow. To face rejection of all sorts, be it not getting spoiled with every toy you ever wanted, or being told that your writing isn’t good enough. I do believe that it shapes you as an adult, or as a writer.
Doesn’t mean I like it though.
I did not ask Brad’s sisters last night. I kept the boxes in the truck. We’re going back over next Sunday (and Christmas) so I will reevaluate my opinion and decide before then if I even want to ask. I just don’t want them to say no just because my future MIL said no. They’re both old enough to make their own decisions (at 16 and 19, I would hope so anyway).
I’m a work in progress myself. I’ll figure it out eventually.
The Caffeinated Writer 