In order to give you some insight into the harsh, gritty facts of my life, I will list 13 random things I can touch by reaching out – without getting up.
1. Glass of chardonnay. I will start with this as it might explain a lot about the rest of the post.
2. Eloisa James’ A Duke Of Her Own. I have been putting off reading this, because after this book the series is over and there will be no more Outstandingly Witty Georgian Romance. Until my WIP is finished of course. But that may take some time (see #1).
3. One stuffed little doggie. I got him as a present by a then-boyfriend on New Year’s Eve 1992 and he has far outlasted the relationship. His full name is Ludwig von Apfelstrudel and we have a very deep and meaningful relationship.
4. Wasabi peas. Much like me & Ludwig, we have a deep and meaningful relationship.
5. The couch Ektorp from IKEA. Actually, as my behind is touching it right now, I don’t really have to reach out for it.
6. Moleskine notebook & Moleskine volant. Where I go, so does Mr. Moleskine.
7. MacBook. I should name it, since we have such a deep and meaningful relationship. We even go to bed together every night. Would ‘Harry’ do, you think?
8. Remote. This is not for TV nor for DVD or other exciting gizmo. It’s for my lights. Because clearly getting up and switching them on and off is hard work. I don’t do hard work.
9. While on one level sort of immaterial, I still think I might say I could reach out and touch the internet from here. And just for the record, I’m so old I remember when there was no internet and we had to talk in person, and OMG, imagine what would have happened with the swine flu and stuff if that had still been the case. This is so much more hygienic, no? And before you ask, yes, me and the internet totally have a deep and meaningful relationship. DUH!
10. iPhone. I have a friend whose husband got his first iPhone a few years ago. One night when he was playing with it (yes, this is how it really went down), he turned to her and said: “You know I love you as much. It’s just in a different way.” That could have been me. Only I would have been lying. Unless the person I was addressing was ‘Harry’, of course.
11. One angel picture that my mother had in her room as a child. I’m adding this to underline that, indeed, there is a spiritual side to me. It’s just very deeply hidden. Like, underneath layers of information technology.
12. One acoustic guitar. This does not imply that I have a secret Bob Dylan complex (although I do have a very deep and meaningful relationship with Bobbie), only that I own a guitar which I occasionally use for making up various little songs. Which of course, if unchecked, could evolve into full a Bob Dylan complex. You won’t know it has until I start speaking very nasally and perming my hair and by then, it’ll be too late.
13. One paper bag, full w romance novels. It’s behind the couch and meant to be transferred to the attic, as there are only so many paperbacks that can line a room before it turns into a health issue. Checking which one was on top, I found it was Eloisa James’ The Taming Of The Duke, which I hadn’t realized until now was written by the same Eloisa James as the other one. Not because I think there are tons of Eloisas lining the streets but because it was years and years since I read this one and I didn’t even notice the name of the author then. Anyway, that means I got to touch Eloisa TWICE tonight, not to mention two SEPARATE dukes, and how is that for an evening, eh?
Dukes and dogs and white wine. Pretty much how I live.
You know I love you, right? Well, let me count the ways in which I love you…
Wow, incidentally, I ended up with 13 different ways! And it’s Thursday. How appropriate!
- In French: Je t’aime
- In Finnish: Mina rakastan sinua
- In Filippino: Mahal kita
- In Italian: Ti amo
- In Swedish: Jag älskar dig
- In Dutch: Ik hou van jou
- In Thai: Chan rak khun (to male)
- In Greek: S’agapo
- In Japanese: Aishiteru
- In Farsi: Doset daram
- In German: Ich liebe dich
- In Romanian: Te ubesc
- Icelandic: Eg elska tig
Image by Fanny.
I don’t know if you know Amanda Palmer? If you don’t, she’s a brilliant musician who goes all out in most things. Gutsy. I’ve had a huge girl crush on her since forever, but unfortunately Neil Gaiman snatched her up before I had time to act on it.
Darn that Neil and his messy Casanova hair.
Anyway, a while back, Amanda Palmer introduced LOFNOTC. That stands for “Losers On Friday Night On The Computer.” It was a twitter gathering for all of us losers hanging around the net on a Friday night. Or as the official slogan put it: “Don’t stand up for what’s right. Stay in for what’s wrong.” It made being a Loser On Friday Night seem rather less pathetic (if you want the full story, go to Amanda’s blog but beware as there will be four-letter-words a-plenty).
Anyway, that story aside, I love being a loser on the computer on Friday nights. And here are the reasons why:
1. I get my best writing done on Friday nights. I’m relaxed and happy and still under the delusion that this is the weekend when It Will Be Done.
2. YouTube. Helloooo, you gotta love YouTube. Just check this vid out and tell me you don’t love it.
3. Research. I love it. And there is no better place than Wikipedia for it and no better time to indulge in it than a Friday night.
4. Romance Divas Board. You’ll always find people there who don’t bat an eyelid when you talk about the voices in your head. This is especially true since my Friday night is most (US based) people’s afternoon thus allowing me to catch all the non-losers too.
5. It’s allowed to write under the influence. I like my inner editor best when she’s dead drunk.
6. Blip.fm. You can sit on your behind and twitter annoying links that will have 50 people accidentally listening to the brilliance that is Mudhoney.
7. While we’re at it – twitter. It’s like the world biggest cocktail party, only you don’t have to dress up.
8. You can write, chat and be on the phone all at once. While watching TV and twittering. To the sound of Mudhoney. It’s the overstimulated modern writer’s wet dream.
9. Makeup Geek. Seriously. I’m addicted to her tutorials. And in front of the computer on a Friday night is an excellent time to try out a new look.
10. You can have wine while doing this. And you can chat with your friends. See above.
11. You can learn all about 18th century underwear.
12. There’s free stuff for you to read all over the internet. Like here.
13. No one expects you to wear anything but comfy jammies and you’re allowed to eat ice cream straight from the container.
So – love. There are many kinds of love and many shades to it. Sometimes you believe in it, sometimes you hate it. But it’s an essential part of life.
Especially if you’re a romance writer.
Here are 13 things someone said about love that resounded with me.
1.”We are all a little weird and life’s a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.“
- Unknown
2. “Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. ‘Pooh?’ he whispered.
‘Yes, Piglet?’
‘Nothing,’ said Piglet, taking Pooh’s hand. ‘I just wanted to be sure of you.“
- A. A. Milne
3. “Have you ever been in love? Horrible isn’t it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens up your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up.”
- Neil Gainman (The Sandman)
4. “The only abnormality is the incapacity to love.“
- Anaïs Nin
5. “I know most girls, they get weak in their knees for what’s beautiful, you know, that’s all they see, that’s all they want. But I’m not like that. I don’t just see what’s beautiful. I fall for the other stuff. I love what’s not perfect. It’s just how I am.“
- Wendy in Les Poupée Russes
6. “You must never let them know that you care or they will kill you.“
- Charles Bukowski
7. “You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.“
- Dr. Seuss
8. “There are four questions of value in life… What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What is worth living for, and what is worth dying for?
The answer to each is same. Only love.“
- Johnny Depp
9. “You are the body hidden in the trunk
You are the habit I can’t seem to kick
You are my secrets on the front page every week
You are the car I never should have bought
You are the dream I never should have caught
You are the cut that makes me hide my face
You are the party that makes me feel my age“
- Like A Friend by Pulp
10. “All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.“
- Charles M Schultz
11. “An integral part of any relationship is knowing that you could be killed in your sleep at any time.“
- Trent Reznor
12. “I’m selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.“
- Marilyn Monroe
13. “To love is to suffer and there can be no love otherwise.“
- Fyodor Dostoevsky
And btw, I love that last Banksy painting so much.
Images by SarahWynne & Simon Booth
If I were to list my top 13 favorite movies, this list might look different. Still, considering these are all movies I know the dialogue of almost by heart, I suppose I must have seen them a lot of times. For some reason.
1. Lord Of The Rings. This would be the whole trilogy as I can’t distinguish between them. I’m not ashamed of this one. I’ve loved Tolkien since I was eight and sneak-read Lord of the Rings when my sister picked them up at the library. Typical quote: “So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you.“
2. Fletch. Wee-eell, I have to blame this one on my ex who forced me to see this about 4,000 zillion times. Not that there aren’t good and useful lines in it. Typical quote: “Alan: You’ll be wearing rubber gloves. Do you own rubber gloves? Fletch: I rent ‘em. I have a lease with an option to buy.”
3. Romancing the Stone. Do I need to justify this? The opening sequence is awesome. Plus, it taught me Cartagena is in Colombia. Typical quote: “Now I ain’t cheap, but I can be had.“
4. The Breakfast Club. Yes, I was a teenager in the 80’s. There’s just no getting around The Breakfast Club if you were. “You’re an idiot anyway. But if you say you get along with your parents, well, you’re a liar too.“
5. Highlander. OK, OK. This is also because of my ex. Funny thing is, I can hardly recall the plot, but I still know half the dialogue by heart. Typical quote: “I took his head and raped his woman before his blood was even cold.“
6. Adam’s Rib. This is my favorite movie. The. Favorite. With a capital F. I could go on for hours about its outstanding awesomeness but I won’t. I’ll just say: SEE IT if you haven’t. Typical quote: “Amanda: And after you shot your husband… how did you feel? Mrs. Attinger: Hungry!“
7. Star Wars. Yes, it’s the curse and sign of geeks everywhere that they know most of Star Wars by heart. We use it to locate each other in bars. Typical quote: “When I left you, I was but the learner, now I am the master.“
8. Grease. My little sister loved this. She watched this every afternoon for two years, I swear. Typical quote: “You know, if we fix up this car, it could be make-out city.“
9. Army of Darkness. I’m a dork. What can I say? I love this movie more than words can say and in terms of quotes it’s the best. Tyical quote: “Arthur: Are all men from the future loud-mouthed braggarts? Ash: Nope. Just me baby… Just me.“
10. Top Gun. I blame this on youthful folly. And the volleyball scene. Yeah, the volleyball scene… *sigh* Anyway, typical quote: “I feel the need… The need for speed!“
11. The Mummy. It’s so adorably cheesy. I love this! Plus it features a librarian heroine and contains eons of Egyptian historical inaccuracies, so what’s not to love? Typical quote: “You know, nasty little fellows such as yourself always get their comeuppance!“
12. Working Girl. 80’s power suits FTW! Typical quote: “I have a head for business and a bod for sin. Is there anything wrong with that?“
13. Constantine. Yeah, I love this. It has Keanu Reeves being really, really good for once; it has demons and angels; it has exorcism and Rachel Weisz – and it has super-fab low key sexual tension between the MC:s. The only thing I don’t like is Peter Stormare at the end. Overdoing it by the dozen. Typical quote: “You are going to die young because you smoked 30 cigarettes a day since you were 15 and you’re going to go to hell because of the life you took. You’re f****d.“
I wish someone would make a movie with this soundtrack. I don’t know exactly what it’d be about, but I’m pretty sure it would be beautiful and all shades of wonderful.
- Ca Plane Pour Moi – Plastic Bertrands
- Boys Don’t Cry – The Cure
- Aphrodisiac – Bow Wow Wow
- Whatever Happened – The Strokes
- Is It Wicked No To Care? – Belle & Sebastian
- Rockers To Swallow – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
- Good Morning Britain – Aztec Camera
- There She Goes – The La’s
- Baby, I Don’t Care – Transvision Vamp
- I Don’t Like Mondays - Tori Amos
- Weapon Of Choice – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
- Veronica Fever - The Raveonettes
- Bastards Of Young – The Replacements
Image by angelsk
Everybody knows the importance of the first chapter. But what part of the first chapter is the most important? That’s right, the first page. And what part of the first page is the real crucial part? Mhm. The first sentence.
Not that I think you should normally start your writing by trying to find the perfect first sentence – opening lines are often like the cherry on the birthday cake, which you can’t put there until you’ve baked the cake, whipped the cream and layered the darn thing together. But they do a lot for the overall impression…
Here are my 13 favorite opening lines (off the top of my head). They’re all very different, from very different books, but they all have in common that they grab you by the hair and pull you in:
1. “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Jane Austen, Pride & Prejudice
2. “There was a hand in the darkness and it held a knife.” Neil Gaiman, The Graveyard Book
3. “Call me Ishmael.” Herman Melville, Moby Dick
4. “Scarlett O’Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm as the Tarleton twins were.” Margaret Mitchell, Gone With The Wind
5. “I was never a virgin.” Susan Isaacs, Lily White
6. “We were somewhere around Barstow near the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold.” Hunter S. Thompson, Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas
7. “She grew up in a land of fairy tales and miracles.” Karen Essex, Leonardo’s Swans
8. “It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn’t know what I was doing in New York.” Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar
9. “He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad.” Rafael Sabatini, Scaramouche
10. “It was a pleasure to burn.” Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
11. “Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. “J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
12. “Marley was dead, to begin with.” Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
13, “In 1940, when I was thirty-one and an old maid, while the whole world waited for war, I fell in love with John Berringer.” Susan Isaacs, Shining Through
So what are your favorite first sentences?
Image via A Y U M i