M.J. Fredrick's Blog, page 102

Real Life Isn't a Romance Novel

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We use it as a trope, a source of conflict for our heroes usually. I've used it twice--a young wife dying suddenly, once in my historical and once in STTA. I read a book with the conflict this week, and it was the basis of the conflict in Mrs. Miracle, the Christmas movie I watched this week.
The thing is, in those books, the event has some distance. Time has passed, the hero is thinking of moving forward, or not, until he meets the heroine.
We don't see, but...

Off Kilter

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Last night we watched Public Enemies. I liked it, but it left me with an ugly feeling. I mean, not really uplifting at all, was it?
Then I woke up at about 1:30 worrying because it was supposed to freeze last night and I wasn't sure the dh had dripped the pipes. Of course I couldn't go back to sleep, so I finished reading this allegedly Christmas-themed Harlequin that people have been raving about on Twitter. For one, the only Christmas in it was a shopping...

Coming from Behind

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I finished the galleys on Surface today, not too terrible since they've already been through beaucoup revisions. Still need about 70 pages to go on DLB galleys. Hope to finish those this weekend.
Caught up on grading--woot!
I've been using the dh's computer and it is NOT energy efficient. For example, I've been on 28 minutes and have used 18% of the energy. By the time I get to writing, I'll have to charge it. I can't sit in my chair with the handy plug...

Goals for the 2nd Week of December

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1) Christmas party Friday—what to wear? What to take for white elephant gift?
2) Math district assessment Tuesday—do math like wild tomorrow
3) Tutoring one day
4) Blog at WNP and SPN Sisters
5) Grocery store
6) Finish galleys on Surface
7) Work on galleys for DLB
8) Work on bodyguard book—want to be done by Christmas vacation
9) House (didn't touch it last week, sadly)

Just In Case

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The weather forecasts are predicting a 70% chance of snow tomorrow. Snow. In San Antonio. In December. It's not even winter yet and my cozy pjs are already in regular rotation.

Now I know you Yankees are laughing, but seriously, the city will shut down if it snows. It never snows here. We had 2 ice days 3 years ago, but in my whole career I only remember being off for bad weather 5 times.

In 20 years. The last time it snowed I was in college.

So, just in case I...

Recurring Themes

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Even though I'm a morning person, this picture cracked me up.

I've been proofreading galleys on two stories and writing on the bodyguard story. I've noticed I have some recurring situations.

I have a lot of hospital scenes, and it's always my hero.

I have a couple of scenes where the heroine is stitching up the hero.

I have a lot of elevator scenes--you'd think I wrote for Grey's Anatomy.

I have a few confined-in-cars scenes.

Do you notice that in your writing?

Tuesday

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Yup, this is how I felt yesterday. This weather change that I love so much makes the kids lose their minds, and though I got to work early, it wasn't early enough to get ready for the whole morning, and a friend who'd emailed me her chapters to critique (which I did) emailed me back and said to wait, she'd revised (after I spent an hour and a half--argh!) and when I got home I found out the taxes on my MIL's house were due and I didn't know how much they are...

Goals for the First Week of December

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Yesterday I: finished my NaNo book, put up my Christmas tree, finished my Christmas cards (just need stamps), baked cookies, bought a present, cleaned my front and back patio, proofread 20 pages and finished up judging the Emily entries.

And yes, napped! The only thing I didn't do on my goals list from last week was get Cindi's baby a present, but I plan to remedy that at Borders after breakfast. Then go to the library and maybe go get some...

YEAH, BABY

Needs major revisions, which I will outline LATER. For now, I need to get my tree up and work on galleys and clean up my back yard--tons of leaves.

Shopping Halfway Done

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No, I didn't go try for the $200 laptop at Best Buy. Makes my skin crawl to think of the crowds. I did, however, finish shopping for my NJ cousin and Cindi's boys this AM. Tried for something else for my dad, but the website wasn't cooperating. Have the boy's and the dh's, just small stuff, may see about shirts or something later. Have something small for Mom, too, so need Baby Brother (easy), Mom and stepdad, Cindi (plus her bday), her daughter (plus HER...