It's been a while. I've been busy writing...doing...being. The after-school program is a go, and that'll be starting up on September 14th. I'm in the last 20 or so pages of the play (and rewriting the same 7 over and over). And my improv troupe just had our second sketch show, for which I was one of the writers. So that's my life in a nutshell lately. And without further adieu, here are some links:
Rent Food Broke - "resources for the unemployed and under-employed in LA." Articles on being frugal and notifications about cheap/free goings-on in Los Angeles.
Advice from Brandon - the premise is that he doesn't always know what he's talking about, but so far he's been pretty right on.
I read an article somewhere (New York Times? Maybe?) about simplifying one's life, and I followed it to a bunch of blogs. I'm not pretending I'm going to whittle my belongings down to 100 items (my snowglobe collection alone outnumbers that), but I do like the idea of simplification.
Rowdy Kittens - "a blog for people interested in simple, minimalist living."
Becoming Minimalist - about a family of four living a minimalistic lifestyle.
So there you go! Hope to see you more often around these parts.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
It's Not All Pillowfights and Pedicures
I used to be a guy's girl. Most of my friends were male, I didn't have many close girlfriends, I didn't particularly like girls. I thought they were mostly catty and gossipy and mean.
I'm not sure when that changed, but when I look at the names in my "favorites" list on my phone, or think about my plans last weekend, or need to talk to a friend, the girls on the list far outnumber the boys.
I was having a rough night last night, and I called my best friend just to talk. I think she could hear something in my voice ('cause chicks are in tune like that) and she said she was coming over. I protested a little bit, because I didn't want her to have to drive all the way over from downtown, but ultimately I said yes, please, come over. And it helped enormously - in fact, sitting in my backyard with a beer, my dog and my friend, I was so appreciative of my life that it became really difficult to remember why I was upset in the first place.
Maybe it used to be a badge of honor for me, being a tomboy. Maybe I just had less emotions. Maybe I didn't have as many boy problems, and therefore didn't need girlfriends to share them with. Whatever the case may be, I really couldn't be happier to have such an amazing group of strong, wise, wonderful women in my life.
I'm not sure when that changed, but when I look at the names in my "favorites" list on my phone, or think about my plans last weekend, or need to talk to a friend, the girls on the list far outnumber the boys.
I was having a rough night last night, and I called my best friend just to talk. I think she could hear something in my voice ('cause chicks are in tune like that) and she said she was coming over. I protested a little bit, because I didn't want her to have to drive all the way over from downtown, but ultimately I said yes, please, come over. And it helped enormously - in fact, sitting in my backyard with a beer, my dog and my friend, I was so appreciative of my life that it became really difficult to remember why I was upset in the first place.
Maybe it used to be a badge of honor for me, being a tomboy. Maybe I just had less emotions. Maybe I didn't have as many boy problems, and therefore didn't need girlfriends to share them with. Whatever the case may be, I really couldn't be happier to have such an amazing group of strong, wise, wonderful women in my life.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
A Novel Idea
I just finished one of the best books I've read in my short existence - "This Is Where I Leave You," by Jonathan Tropper. It's rare that a book makes me laugh and cry, but this one did it. I also dramatically gasped and covered my mouth at one point. Seriously.
For the past year or so I've been following a number of writing-related blogs and websites. I'm not in the process of writing a novel, I don't know that I'll ever be in the process of writing a novel, but I find the world of publishing to be fascinating. Query letters, slush pile, form rejections...I've just been collecting information for a pursuit that I may or may not actually, ahem, pursue. For now I have my plate full with playwriting and sketch writing. It occurs that there are probably blogs and websites about playwriting. I should find them. But for today - here are a bunch of links from my files.
SlushPile Hell - Excerpts from awful query letters, with hilarious commentary. File under "people are dumb."
Janet Reid, Literary Agent - Self-explanatory. She gives really good advice and shares fun links.
Query Shark - Ms. Reid runs this blog also, where she critiques query letters and allows the writers to re-submit them based on her notes. Extremely informative.
Nathan Bransford, Literary Agent - Another agent blog. He also does a weekly critique of a writer's first page, selected at random and open to comments from his readers.
Editorial Ass - An anonymous former editorial assistant who is now an editor.
So for any of you out there who actually are writing a novel, and aren't following these blogs, enjoy! I fully expect to be thanked in your acknowledgements.
For the past year or so I've been following a number of writing-related blogs and websites. I'm not in the process of writing a novel, I don't know that I'll ever be in the process of writing a novel, but I find the world of publishing to be fascinating. Query letters, slush pile, form rejections...I've just been collecting information for a pursuit that I may or may not actually, ahem, pursue. For now I have my plate full with playwriting and sketch writing. It occurs that there are probably blogs and websites about playwriting. I should find them. But for today - here are a bunch of links from my files.
SlushPile Hell - Excerpts from awful query letters, with hilarious commentary. File under "people are dumb."
Janet Reid, Literary Agent - Self-explanatory. She gives really good advice and shares fun links.
Query Shark - Ms. Reid runs this blog also, where she critiques query letters and allows the writers to re-submit them based on her notes. Extremely informative.
Nathan Bransford, Literary Agent - Another agent blog. He also does a weekly critique of a writer's first page, selected at random and open to comments from his readers.
Editorial Ass - An anonymous former editorial assistant who is now an editor.
So for any of you out there who actually are writing a novel, and aren't following these blogs, enjoy! I fully expect to be thanked in your acknowledgements.
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