Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery...but when is it plagiarism?

I am a pretty good mimic.  I think it's because I pay attention and really focus on absorbing the style of whomever it is that I am listening to, or reading about.  In grade 8, one of our  assignments was to take a favourite poem and swap out the main topic for one of our own.  I have always loved doing this sort of thing because it feels like the hard work has already been done, and all I have to do is plug in an idea into a fully functioning mechanism.

All these years later I find I am exercising my writing muscle again and I'm inspired to do a repeat performance of the plug'n play poem.  This time though, I've got my sights set on an adapted screenplay of one of the book series I'm currently reading. It's all so clear in my head, right down to who the actors are in the lead roles (Shirley Maclaine and Julia Roberts)! 

Now, what I can't figure out is how I could ever convince the publisher who owns the rights to the series I'd like to adapt, to actually have me write the damned thing instead of the author.  Hmmm....research needed...how did all those Academy Award winners for Best Adapted Screenplay do it?  Methinks my ambitions are a wee bit too grandiose....

They Like Me! They Really Like Me!

So far my writing career has consisted of me drafting content, and trying to promote the hell out of it with my meager means.  Today, in a very small but significant way, the tide has turned...I have been approached to write a piece for the local POMBA (parents of multiple births) newsletter.  This is so cool...the invitation stems from my writing on www.suite101.com , where I've created a series of articles on parenting twins.  So while I realize that writing an article like this is very small potatoes in the big scheme of things, it means a lot to me.  My writing has been noticed by someone, and it is appreciated.  That's a really great feeling.

Wherever You Go, There You Are..?

The idea that your core self is inescapable is not exactly revolutionary.  The idea is, if you're a shy person in your hometown of Boise, Idaho you will not all of a sudden be an outgoing social phenomenon after taking up residence in NYC.  While this used to ring very true for me, I think the theory could perhaps benefit from a caveat. 

At home, I am what would be called an Alpha.  I lead our household/family initiatives.  I am the one person in the house who actually knows our postal code.  I am the person who plans out what the weekend's activities will be. 

At work, I am also "Alpha" except when it comes to crap I don't know anything about.  If the subject matter happens to be child-related, or medical, or to do with makeup, grammar, knitting, or any other topic that makes me feel knowledgeable, there's no stopping me.  I can be persuasive, inspirational, and thought-provoking.  But the moment the topic turns to something more challenging for me like technology (I work for a technology company...), politics, or some specific current affairs that I've been tuning out, I become a completely different person.  I feel myself physically shrink, get red in the face, shake, and generally feel inept.

When I'm writing, I'm in the wonderful, empowering position of being able to reign myself in with no consequence if I find myself wandering into a topic out of my comfort zone.  I think in order to write you have to not only be able to reflect on the experiences you've had but have an insatiable need to experience new things and a need to share those experiences.

So I think the idea of "wherever you go, there you are" is true to some extent but is also completely a headspace.  Maybe it would be more accurate to say "you are what you know and what you want to know".

A Valentine Tribute to Heathcliff, er, Wuthering Heights

In general I'm not a huge fan of love stories, at least not in terms of fiction.   There are a lot of books in this world and there are other genres I find more worthy of my time.  But when I was introduced to Wuthering Heights, it was one of the first classic love stories to really sink its teeth into me.  I say "sink its teeth" intentionally, because I believe the supernatural elements of it are a great part of its allure.  I'm more of a Halloween girl than a Valentine girl. Now don't get me wrong - I don't enjoy just any old novel with vampires, werewolves, ghosts or other beasties.  It's got to be an engaging, thought-provoking story with characters that are fascinating, complex, and in whom I can see reflections of myself. Wuthering Heights takes that to, er, new heights. 

I've never been too keen on Catherine/Cathy though.  Heathcliff could definitely do better.  Heathcliff...sigh...I suspect that many Wuthering Heights fans are more attracted to the story than to Heathcliff himself as a love interest.  After all, he's an unlikely hero (if he can even be called that).  But on a personal note, I have to admit that I'm head over heels for him.  He's the quintessential bad boy, and whereas that hasn't worked for me in other romances, it definitely hits the mark in Wuthering Heights. 

So on this Valentine's Day, I pay tribute to the rather angry and despondent Heathcliff, and humbly suggest that when I reach the afterlife we should have a couple of beers and get to know each other. Catherine, I'm sorry but you're just not the right ghost for him.

Why Write a Novel—Your Reason is the Right One

Going to cheat today and link to someone else's blog. :) This is a good one though - lots of really great reasons to write a novel...I can identify with at least 4 of them...

Why Write a Novel—Your Reason is the Right One

Writers ROCK!

How amazing is this? In my mad research into "how to begin", I found this Luminary Writer's Database:  http://www.writersdb.com/  which is a free, web-based submission tracking tool.  Not only was this writer clever enough and ambitious enough to develop this, but he/she is now enabling other writers (ie the competition!) to use it with no strings attached!  I'm shaking my head at how wonderful and supportive this new world is that I'm stepping into.  (I know, I know...it should be "into which I'm stepping"...does one have to use perfect grammar at all time to still be considered a writer?)  :)

Split Brain

Research is something I'm very good at, almost to the point of obsession.  Right now I'm scouring writer's blogs for precious insights on how they got their start.  What I surmised pretty quickly is that writing is only a part of this business.  You have to spend a fair amount of time doing self-promotion.  After all, if no one actually sees your writing they're certainly not likely to be paying you for it, are they?  Here's my thinking....I have limited time available until I leave my "day job" (end of June), so with the precious little time I have, it's a chicken and egg situation.  Do I focus on writing, amassing a library of quality drafts, or do I work on my "platform" (blog, website, Facebook, Twitter, etc)?  I find doing both simultaneously is disruptive to both creative processes.  Something I'm pondering on a Thursday morning as I ease into my workday....

Leap and the net will magically appear...

...that has been my mantra ever since entering the workforce.  Or at least, ever since being in a career that makes we want to strive for personal and professional growth instead of wasting away behind all-day web surfing.   "Leap and the net will magically appear" helped me immensely with both a crippling lack of self confidence and intense anxiety related to talking on the phone.  But I'm now taking it to a new level:  I'm now taking one giant leap for mankind as I abandon my day job and give myself the biggest test of my life since having my twins:  it is time for me (and others) to find out whether I really have any talent at writing, and (cringe) whether I can market and sell my wares.  Of course I have all kinds of aspirations to be the next J.K Rowling, Judy Blume, and Robert Munsch all rolled up in one.  However!  The slightly more realistic side of me is hoping that I'll be able to convince just one person to read my stuff, maybe even inspire them to pay me $1 for the pleasure.  So, thanks for hanging out with me as I find my way to the net now that I've really leapt for the first time!