The Write Life

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

Well although for me it's somewhat not so happy. This is my first fourth without my kids. Per the divorce papers, he got the kids this weekend. They are at the beach camping, and I am hanging solo. The upside is my neighbors cordially invited me over for dinner and to enjoy their fireworks. I bought a banana split ice cream pie to take for dessert.

I hope before that I can get some writing done. Sadly lately, my creativity is missing. On the upside, here in the next couple of weeks, I may have some exciting news.....So everyone be safe, but have a blast.

For those outside the U.S. enjoy your Sat/Sun..... :)

So here I sit pondering, (yes you read that right) Zombie Circus Acts. At a recent Birthday/Book Release party, I was inspired by an idea. Cirque De' Zombie. Therefore I am currently pondering bizarre circus acts performed by zombies.

Example 1.  The Flying Deadheads - They were originally intended to be a juggling act that sang old power ballads.....

^-^;; This is all I have so far..... So anyone have any ideas?

Well it's today only, here is the link, www.everydayweirdness.com   Let me know what you think? :)

On Thursday April 23rd, my short story "Everybody Wants One", will be available for your reading pleasure at  www.everydayweirdness.com 

I mailed my contract off today. My first publishing credit and I get paid. It is only $5.42 which works out to a penny a word, for 329 words or so. That is not so much as important as is the publishing credit.  :D

Life must go on. I hurt, am bruised and battered but I continue going each day. So for an update. I went to our local community college and took the placement test today. My math scores sucked, but here is what made me happier. On the writing part I scored a 90, and on the reading part I scored a 98. :) I won't bore you with the math score, let's just say math is not my strong suite and leave it at that.

Tomorrow, I am going to begin looking for employment as well as meeting the woman from the college whom deals with displaced homemakers. That is my title now by the way - displaced homemaker....I don't yet know what I should focus on, because I cannot add further financial strain to myself. Everybody keeps recommending medical coding as a career option, because it will be around for a long time... We shall see, I'm thinking maybe computers/networking/web development would be better suited for me, but I am willing to listen.

As for writing I am still trying. I just recently reread something I began last May. It sparked my interest and I am considering continuing it to see where it goes. I like what I have so far so wish me luck.

Real life has interceded and I am bruised and broken at the moment. I will be back shortly, maybe not whole, but well for the most part.

I know...I know I have been really quiet. Sorry illness flows through my house still. This post is only momentary to share something that tickled me pink.  Okay so how many of you out here in LJ-Land that write have a Muse? Show of hands please? Well it turns out...that this makes good sense.


www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

The Author of Eat, Pray, Love has some interesting thoughts on it, so check it out and then share about your own muse/genius. :D

Stolen from the f-list!

Comments are screened. If you've ever had a smidgen of a crush on me, feel free to comment below. I won't mock you, and only you and I will ever know. Then post it in your own LJ.


ETA: All this time I've been pronouncing meme as me...me not mem. I did not know until I heard someone on a youtube video pronounce it mem.... Eh how lame is that. I just wanted to share my disappointment.

Yes really, I wrote today even if it sucked like a dung beetle. Okay so here is the story. As you all know I was suffering from writers block. I even mentioned my runaway muse on Twitter. http://twitter.com/CrystalMartin/status/1144011158

Anyway somebody in passing mentioned I should be writing about the missing muse and thus it began. Today I started a story about my runaway muse and the call I got from the Vegas PD. Well I don't know if I like the premise or not, but I am going to write it just to keep writing. Maybe, just maybe I'll share it here in snippets. :)

Does anyone else out here in blogland twitter? If so follow me here. http://twitter.com/CrystalMartin

Well I am off for bed now, I'll be back sometime tomorrow.

Originally published @ crystalrmartin.blogspot.com/2009/01/writing-update-writing-really.html

 

Time for an update, I have been sick and accomplished very little in the writing world. Today I woke up feeling somewhat restored. I took an hour to my self and slipped away. My hair has been growing out, and I've been fighting the awkward stages. Well it finally got too long so I caved and went and got a trim.

Also for those of you interested, I made two interesting purchases, and I am going to rave about both products.

1.) EcoTools Makeup Brushes - $12 for a set of five. You can find these at Fred Meyers. I bought a set of five brushes, originally, and fell in love. The stick is bamboo the metal bit is recycled, plus the hair is synthetic. So all in all a nice product. I love the way they manage too. They are soft against the skin, hold the product well, and do not have a funky smell. So today I went and bought the foundation brush. Alas this one did not come in the kit. 7.99 for the foundation brush, but after using it, I have no complaints. The same brush from Lancome was around thirty-three dollars. (Ouch!) So if you want to save on cost this is a route to consider.

2.) Rimmel Lasting Finish Enhanced with Minerals 16 Hr. 6.99 You can find the Rimmel makeup at most drug stores. Okay lately I have tried several brands and types of foundation with mixed results. Last night out of desperation, I went to Makeup Alley, a website where average people review the products they buy.

This foundation had really high reviews and people were liking it. Desperate for a decent product, I caved and bought it. So I came home this morning after getting my hair trimmed and did my makeup with the brush and foundation. Here are the results.... Yeah I know the camera on my phone is crappy. I naturally have pale skin. I have to buy creamy natural or ivory products. Although the color is off look at my complexion it looks flawless. This also didn't settle into my fine lines either. As a side note I did not take the pictures right after application, there is probably a two hour wait in between. So there you go....

ETA - I thought it might be important to share these links...

http://www.lancome-usa.com/search/index.aspx?SearchKeywords=foundation%20brush

http://www.makeupalley.com

http://www.parispresents.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=36   [EcoTools Website]







Originally published @ http://crystalrmartin.blogspot.com

Today, according to all the calendars, is Martin Luther King Jr's birthday. Which means all the kids are home torturing me and that does not make a great holiday. I'll tell you what, kids and writing don't mix. Thank god for my iPod. :)

I have a short story that I just finished. Nine-hundred some odd words that I do not have a title for yet. It is a delayed original Christmas tale that has been percolating in my mind. I have recently been suffering from writers block, but just sitting down and pounding away seems to have helped. :D

Originally published @ crystalrmartin.blogspot.com/

Today my father told me the funniest true story. President George W. Bush, when asked what he was going to do now that he is retiring, stated that he is planning on writing a book. I found this idea hilarious. The reason is because I began to imagine the wonderful titles Bush could use.

So without further ado, I present my top favorite titles for George W. Bush's forthcoming book.

1.) The life and times of mad King George - Fitting really don't you think?

2.) An Idiot's guide to being President of the United States - This one speaks for itself

3.) Curious George: Playing President - I just couldn't stop laughing.

4.) How to ruin a country in 5 easy steps - Another fitting title

5.) Talk Foolish: It really Works - You're lucky I didn't use hookt on fonix....


So Mr. President if you like these call me and we'll do lunch. ^-~

For this bright shiny new year, I am writing goals. They are much more approachable and attainable to my way of thinking. So with that in mind, here are my writing goals for 2009.


1.)  In 2008 I wrote sparkly bits. I know this won't make a lot of sense, but there is someone who should remember mentioning this in their own ramblings. ^-~  My goal for 2009 is to write even more sparkly bits. Sparkly enough for a publisher to take note of. Wish me luck will you?

2.)  I am planning on working more on original ideas, and my goal is having more than three submissions in 2009.

3.) I have read a few excellent books about writing, my goal is to read a few more and keep learning. If anyone has any good recommendations then please share.

I do realize these three sound very general, but that is just the tip of the ice-berg. I just didn't feel like going into full detail on here. It would have bored everyone and they wouldn't want to read each step of how I plan to accomplish these. Let's hope shall we.

I hope everyone really enjoys their new year celebration!  *snuggles go out*  You know who you are, I do hope it snowed for you!  ^-~



    

Year in review – 2008

January 08 – Tattoo (Original)
2,912 Words

February 08 – 0 Words

March 08 – Legend of a Stone Sentinel (Original)
4,659 Words

April 08 – Began Ambrosia (Fan fiction/Vampire Knight)
See October 2008

May 08 – A Conversation about the Japanese (Fan fiction/Ghost Hunt)
1108 Words
Can be read here - http://love-of-anime.livejournal.com/78756.html#cutid1

June 08 – Possession is nine-tenths of the Law (Original/Submitted Oct 31)
369 Words

July 08 – Snapshot (Fan fiction/Vampire Knight)
1019 Words
Can be read here - http://love-of-anime.livejournal.com/80650.html#cutid1

August 08 – A Bit of an Accident (Original/Submitted Sept 30th)
483 Words

September 08 – Began Falling (Original)

October 08 – Finished Falling (Original)
16,578 Words
Finished Ambrosia (Fan fiction/Vampire Knight)
8,148 Words
Can be read here - http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4582577/1/ It was too long for LJ Cut

November 08 – Once in a Lifetime (Original Nano Project)
50,218 Words

December 08 – 0 Words – Recuperating from Nano 

WC Total 08 - 85,484

This is the first year I have ever tallied my word count. This count does not include editing work or unfinished projects. I am slightly impressed, yet slightly disappointed. Out of all of the words I wrote only two small projects were worthy of submission. I did try to balance my original writing, with my fan fiction writing, as much as possible in 2008. I will do a 2009 Goals post later....

Today I am happy for Youtube. You can view so many things, although ninety percent is useless, the other ten percent is a gold mine. I have learned of good products. (See Happy Post #3), I have learned the newest makeup trends, and how to apply them. How cool is that? Silvery Green winter look anyone? I have laughed until my belly hurt and tears of laughter escaped. How great is that? I learned the lyrics to the Boom Di Adda song from Discovery Channel. Look it up, I guarantee you'll find yourself singing/humming the tune. What a wonderful tool for learning, fun and entertainment... ^-~ Night all....

Today I am happy for something simple. My softlips, no not literally, softlips is a brand of lipbalm. I first heard about on Youtube. I found it in strawberry, and the rest as they say is history.

It is lightweight, has an unobtrusive taste, is non-sticky, and has an spf of 20. What more could a girl ask for? So today I am happy for a lip balm that scores high points. The funny part is I have never liked lip balm. :)

Okay here goes my second happy post. I am happy for my house, to come home to. Let me see if I can explain. We were at the in laws' for my niece's birthday party. We almost had to stay overnight because of the snow. I just wanted to go home, because I love my home, my bed, my pajamas. So today I am happy for my bed, pajamas, and home. :D

The rules:
1. Post about something that made you happy today even if it's just a small thing.
2. Do this every day for a week without fail.
3. Tag 8 of your friends to do the same.


So for my Friday Happy Post, I am happy I was able to pay my bills and avert disaster. It was pretty close this time around....

Since so many people on my friends list are already doing this exact meme, I will forgo tagging anyone.

Dear Santa... Dear Santa, This year I've been busy! Last Monday I gave jaguarlair a wet willie, then I took it back (-5 points). In February I pulled stormywriting's hair (-5 points). Last Tuesday I broke sarcasteak's X-Box (-12 points). Last Friday I punched naiyeli in the arm (-10 points). In August on a flight to Vancouver, I stole the emergency flight information card (-40 points). Overall, I've been naughty (-72 points). For Christmas I deserve a lump of coal! Sincerely, love_of_anime

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