Finding Inspiration Whether You Wanted To Or Not

Hi Friends!

It's been a very long time since I've blogged, but frankly, I didn't feel as if I've had anything entertaining to blog about. I have been very busy, however, writing my next novel, "To Find You", which is a historical romantic suspense set in the spring and summer of 1912. I hope to publish it by the end of the year, so hang in there! Meanwhile feel free to check out my other books at Amazon.com

Okay, my intention was not to shamelessly plug my books. I do actually have some writing words of wisdom to share. I have a cute and true story about finding writing inspiration, even when the last thing you think you're going to do is sit your butt down in your chair and write.

Yesterday I was feeling rather ill. Went to an appointment and came back with absolutely no energy, which was odd for me. But, I had the entire day to write if I chose! The husband was at work, my brother was not here, the boy was at school and no furthur pressing appointments loomed. But I could not get off the bed. Add to that, I've been feeling rather bored with my novel, and I only have about three chapters left to write. Now, don't get me wrong, I think it's a marvelous story! I'm just to the point where I'm sick of working on it. Mostly, I'm tired of researching everything and anything about the year 1912. Yep, it was a total blast when I started, but now, by Chapter 31, the bloom has left the rose. I was also tired of describing things...the way someone dressed, the way a living room looked, the kind of motorcar they drove, what a doorbell looked like, you get the idea. And writing description is the hardest part of writing for me. I just wasn't feeling the love for the writing (I still loved the novel) anymore. Plus, I felt as if my 1912 characters sounded more like contestants on "The Bachelor."

So. Feeling physically sick, mentally drained and inspirationly (<-not a real word)  blocked. I decided since I couldn't get off the bed and I couldn't fall asleep, I would watch a movie (something I never allow myself to do in the day). I had one movie here from Netflix..."Somewhere in Time". Now, someone recommended this to me as a fantastic romance. I had never seen it, and had no idea what it was about, other than it was a time-travel romance.  So, I popped it in the DVD player.

Imagine my surprise when the character played by the very young Chris Reeves, travels back to...yep, you guessed it (or maybe you knew it) ...June of 1912. It was like someone calling to me..."Too bad you don't want to write your novel, here's a little incentive!".  I quickly regained a bit of energy, ran to my office, grabbed pen and paper and started taking notes on dress, speech, mannerisms, room decor, etc.  By the time the movie finished (and I was sorely disappointed with it), I had regained my writing mojo and had the descriptive tools I needed to strengthen my writing and my novel!

So what does this all mean? I have no flippin' clue. LOL. I just know that I needed some downtime, and I need to finish the book. Sometimes you just have to take care of yourself first and have faith that the rest will fall in place.

So, dear writerly friends, write as much as you can, when you can. Please take care of yourselves too. Take time to stop and smell the roses...just don't ask me to describe them without seeing the movie first.

    

Happy Holidays, Friends and Followers!

My last post listed my favorite books read in 2012. So, as a follow-up to that, I thought I'd share my favorite movies watched in 2012. As with the novels, these are not movies necessarily released in 2012, although many are; they are movies I've watched in 2012 regardless of release date.

And so, without further ado:

Linda's Favorite Movies from 2012! (in no particular order)

1.  Lincoln (2012):  PG-13

Director Steven Spielberg takes on the towering legacy of Abraham Lincoln, focusing on his stewardship of the Union during the Civil War years. The biographical saga also reveals the conflicts within Lincoln's cabinet regarding the war and absolution.

2.  The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) PG-13

To make the most of their meager retirement savings, a group of British seniors moves to India to live out their golden years at the Marigold Hotel. But upon arrival, they discover the once-lavish resort has wilted considerably.

3.  New Year's Eve (2011) PG-13

In this star-studded romantic comedy, the fates of a diverse group of New Yorkers are wound together on New Year's Eve -- including one expectant couple hoping their baby will be the first to be born in the Big Apple after midnight.

4.  Born to Be Wild (2011) G

Filmed in IMAX 3D, this documentary captures the unique and intimate connections that developed between two scientists and two species -- orangutans and elephants -- as the men worked to save the orphaned beasts and return them to the wild.

5. You on a Diet (2007) NR
Using the methods outlined in their best-selling book, doctors Michael Roizen and Mehmet Oz transform the lives -- and reduce the waistlines -- of four New Yorkers intent on adopting a healthier lifestyle. By tracking the quartet over a three-month period, you'll learn how the body metabolizes fat and discover the biological connections between the myriad variables that determine true body size, including genetics, stress levels and hormones.

 

6.  The Nanny (1965) NR

No one believes 10-year-old Joey (William Dix) when he claims it was the family nanny (Bette Davis), not he, who drowned his little sister. When his mother (Wendy Craig) and his aunt (Jill Bennett) suddenly turn up dead, the blame falls on him again. Only a kind neighbor (Pamela Franklin) believes Joey's story, but even with her help, he may not be able to prove his innocence before he becomes the nanny's next victim.

 

7.  Paranormal Activity 2 (2010) R

Doors slamming shut, shadows moving across the floor -- the unexplained, terrifyingly real supernatural forces are back, and this time, Dan, Kristi, Ali, baby Hunter and dog Abby become part of the nightmare as the cameras roll.

 

8.  Albert Nobbs (2011) R

Having for decades disguised herself as a man while working as a butler in a posh 19th-century Dublin hotel, a woman calling herself Albert Nobbs reconsiders her charade when a handsome painter arrives on the scene.

 

9.  Virginia  (2010) R

As he campaigns for state senator, Dick Tipton's career and personal life begin to careen out of control when his daughter starts dating the son of an emotionally disturbed woman he knows quite well -- perhaps a little too well.

 

10. Mildred Pierce (2011) TV-M

Based on the 1941 novel by James M. Cain, this HBO miniseries follows the turbulent life of Mildred Pierce, a fiercely independent single mom who works hard to win her daughter's love while struggling to make ends meet in Depression-era Los Angeles.

 

11. The Artist (2011) PG-13 

Winner of five Oscars, this artful black-and-white silent film follows the romance between a silent-era superstar on a downward spiral and a rising young starlet who embraces the future of cinema at the dawn of the "talkies."

 

12. J. Edgar (2011) R

Leonardo DiCaprio stars in this riveting biopic as J. Edgar Hoover, the longtime FBI director as notorious for his overzealous methods of law enforcement as for the rumors regarding his cross-dressing and close relationship with protégé Clyde Tolson.

13. The Descendants (2011) R

With his wife on life support in the wake of an accident, an affluent landowner tries to mend his broken relationships with his daughters. All the while, he's weighing his marriage -- and the decision to sell land his family has owned for decades.

 

14. W.E. (2011) R

This glossy ensemble drama juxtaposes the lives of famous divorcée Wallis Simpson and Wally Winthrop, a young 1990s housewife. Wally yearns to have a romance as dramatic as Wallis's but soon discovers that history can be misleading.

 

15. Midnight in Paris (2011) PG-13

In this charming romantic comedy, legendary director Woody Allen focuses his lens on an engaged young couple whose experiences traveling together in Paris make them begin to question the kind of life they want to live.

 

16. The Queen of Versailles (2012) PG

Meet the Siegels, glitterati who made a fortune in the time-share business only to see it crumble in the 2008 financial collapse. The site of their rise and almost-fall is their home (America's largest), a gaudy replica of the Palace of Versailles.

17. Les Miserables (2012) (I haven't seen it yet, but know I'm going to love it!) PG-13
The musical version of Victor Hugo's epic tale of love and sacrifice, first produced for the stage in 1985, now receives the big-screen treatment. The bloody era of the French Revolution is the backdrop to Jean Valjean's long struggle for redemption.

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Movie Watching in 2013!!!!