Patti O'Shea's Blog, page 110
December 10, 2015
The Pantser's Lament
On the spectrum between writing by the seat of the pants and plotting, I definitely fall on the pantser side of the equation. I've tried to learn to plot, but it takes all the joy out of writing for me to know too much about the story. I like to write and let it unfold. Usually.
Right now, I'm pretty frustrated. I have less than 1500 words to go to reach a rough draft of a proposal (that's about 60 pages or 15,000 words) and I have no idea what happens next. The characters aren't sharing that information with me. Usually, they help me out and guide me to the next thing. At the moment, though, they're just staring at each other spouting inanities. It's enough to make a writer weep.
I thought Okay, work on the synopsis--maybe that will unstick you. This is a sign of sheer desperation as writing synopses is easily one of my least favorite things to do, although when it's completed, it is helpful to have a general idea of which direction the story is headed. This, too, failed. I made some notes about ideas I have for my heroine to resolve her issues, but no synopsis.
This is the times when I envy the plotters. They don't sit and stare off into space, searching for some answer to what happens next.They know what happens next in their stories. I don't. So I'll mull some more and hope either my hero and heroine feel like sharing or I get struck by an epiphany.
Right now, I'm pretty frustrated. I have less than 1500 words to go to reach a rough draft of a proposal (that's about 60 pages or 15,000 words) and I have no idea what happens next. The characters aren't sharing that information with me. Usually, they help me out and guide me to the next thing. At the moment, though, they're just staring at each other spouting inanities. It's enough to make a writer weep.
I thought Okay, work on the synopsis--maybe that will unstick you. This is a sign of sheer desperation as writing synopses is easily one of my least favorite things to do, although when it's completed, it is helpful to have a general idea of which direction the story is headed. This, too, failed. I made some notes about ideas I have for my heroine to resolve her issues, but no synopsis.
This is the times when I envy the plotters. They don't sit and stare off into space, searching for some answer to what happens next.They know what happens next in their stories. I don't. So I'll mull some more and hope either my hero and heroine feel like sharing or I get struck by an epiphany.
December 8, 2015
Batman, Robin and the Bad Guys
Watching Batman as an adult is a great way to spend a couple of hours. I'm talking about the 1966 movie with Adam West, Burt Ward, Burgess Meredith, Lee Meriwether and the others. I think kids would see the action, but adults can see the humor. It's campy as hell and the actors knew it and I think that's part of the fun.
While my parents are living with me, we've been watching a lot of movies. Because my mom doesn't like swearing or sexy stuff, that limits what we can watch. We've seen a lot of kids' movies, but Batman is the only movie that's kept both my parents awake until the closing credits.
Near the beginning, Batman has a shark chomping down on his leg. Robin's response? "Holy Sardine, Batman." Heh!
The plot is over the top. The bad guys have teamed up (Penguin, Cat Woman, The Joker, and The Riddler) to take over the world by kidnapping the movie's version of the United Nations. They have a device that dehydrates people, turning them into dust. They can be re-hydrated later.
I will confess that while the movie is a lot of fun, I usually end up rooting for the bad guys. I love Cat Woman and the Penguin and Cesar Romero's Joker. Their costumes are great (I especially love the colors of the Joker's suit!) and they're more fun than Batman and Robin are. I also love reading romances with bad boy heroes, so that might say something about me, I guess.
But of course, Batman won the day. He can do everything and has every gadget. He always seems to be carrying the right one with him when the chips are down, too. And the few times he didn't save himself, dumb luck saved them. Like the bat copter crashing into a pile of foam rubber.
Aside from rooting for the bad guys, the other thing that kind of bugs me about the movie is the way Cat Woman is shown not fighting. She stands around and lets the men fight. I also hated the fact that she trips as she's fleeing from Batman and then just stays there instead of trying to get up. Especially while Batman and Robin are just standing around, not doing anything. I know, it was made in 1966, but still...
Anyway, it's good fun and I think it's something the whole family can watch and be entertained by. It's live action, but very cartoony and no one really gets hurt. An enjoyable enough way to spend a couple of hours.
While my parents are living with me, we've been watching a lot of movies. Because my mom doesn't like swearing or sexy stuff, that limits what we can watch. We've seen a lot of kids' movies, but Batman is the only movie that's kept both my parents awake until the closing credits.
Near the beginning, Batman has a shark chomping down on his leg. Robin's response? "Holy Sardine, Batman." Heh!
The plot is over the top. The bad guys have teamed up (Penguin, Cat Woman, The Joker, and The Riddler) to take over the world by kidnapping the movie's version of the United Nations. They have a device that dehydrates people, turning them into dust. They can be re-hydrated later.
I will confess that while the movie is a lot of fun, I usually end up rooting for the bad guys. I love Cat Woman and the Penguin and Cesar Romero's Joker. Their costumes are great (I especially love the colors of the Joker's suit!) and they're more fun than Batman and Robin are. I also love reading romances with bad boy heroes, so that might say something about me, I guess.
But of course, Batman won the day. He can do everything and has every gadget. He always seems to be carrying the right one with him when the chips are down, too. And the few times he didn't save himself, dumb luck saved them. Like the bat copter crashing into a pile of foam rubber.
Aside from rooting for the bad guys, the other thing that kind of bugs me about the movie is the way Cat Woman is shown not fighting. She stands around and lets the men fight. I also hated the fact that she trips as she's fleeing from Batman and then just stays there instead of trying to get up. Especially while Batman and Robin are just standing around, not doing anything. I know, it was made in 1966, but still...
Anyway, it's good fun and I think it's something the whole family can watch and be entertained by. It's live action, but very cartoony and no one really gets hurt. An enjoyable enough way to spend a couple of hours.
December 6, 2015
25 Surprising Earth Facts
Two moons? I didn't know that.
December 3, 2015
Review: A Cat In Paris
This movie is available free for Amazon Prime members and that's how I saw it. All opinions are my own.
******Warning: There Might Be Spoilers******
I'm going to try my best to not spoil the movie for you, but I can't make any promises, so you've been warned.
A Cat In Paris is only a little over an hour long, but I'm going to call it a movie because it felt more like a film than a television show. It's animated, but just as entertaining for an adult as for kids. In fact, I think younger kids might be upset by it because it might be scary for them.
So the basic premise is a little girl named Zoe has a pet cat who goes out every night and the cat has a secret life as sidekick for a cat burglar. Zoe has lost her father and hasn't spoken since that time. Her mother is busy with her job, which awesomely was as a police superintendent or some other high rank in the force. I thought at first a DA or something, but was quickly proven wrong. Zoe's mom is after a burglar who's stolen a lot of jewelry and artwork, but she's also after the man who killed her husband--Victor Costa.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this movie. I had it on my watch list because I knew my parents were coming down and they don't like a lot of movies. I've found they enjoy children's movies more because there's no swearing or sex and usually no guns or blood. But it's hard to find a good children's movie that isn't going to bore me to death. A Cat In Paris had a high rating, so I figured it might be worth a shot. It ended up being a lot of fun!
At just over an hour, the story moves along quickly and there's no time to get bored. A lot is going on and there's actually action and suspense as the worlds of Zoe, her mother Jeanne, the cat burglar Nico, and the bad guys all get jumbled up together. This is part of why I think younger children might be scared and Zoe is in jeopardy at several points in the story.
Overall, I ended up enjoying the movie and I'm glad I watched it. I'd recommend it (with caution for young children) and give it 4.5 stars.
******Warning: There Might Be Spoilers******
I'm going to try my best to not spoil the movie for you, but I can't make any promises, so you've been warned.
A Cat In Paris is only a little over an hour long, but I'm going to call it a movie because it felt more like a film than a television show. It's animated, but just as entertaining for an adult as for kids. In fact, I think younger kids might be upset by it because it might be scary for them.
So the basic premise is a little girl named Zoe has a pet cat who goes out every night and the cat has a secret life as sidekick for a cat burglar. Zoe has lost her father and hasn't spoken since that time. Her mother is busy with her job, which awesomely was as a police superintendent or some other high rank in the force. I thought at first a DA or something, but was quickly proven wrong. Zoe's mom is after a burglar who's stolen a lot of jewelry and artwork, but she's also after the man who killed her husband--Victor Costa.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this movie. I had it on my watch list because I knew my parents were coming down and they don't like a lot of movies. I've found they enjoy children's movies more because there's no swearing or sex and usually no guns or blood. But it's hard to find a good children's movie that isn't going to bore me to death. A Cat In Paris had a high rating, so I figured it might be worth a shot. It ended up being a lot of fun!
At just over an hour, the story moves along quickly and there's no time to get bored. A lot is going on and there's actually action and suspense as the worlds of Zoe, her mother Jeanne, the cat burglar Nico, and the bad guys all get jumbled up together. This is part of why I think younger children might be scared and Zoe is in jeopardy at several points in the story.
Overall, I ended up enjoying the movie and I'm glad I watched it. I'd recommend it (with caution for young children) and give it 4.5 stars.
December 1, 2015
Scorpion Horror Story
I've made no secret of the fact that I hate scorpions and I hate finding them in my house, but recently my squeamishness level went up about five notches.
Every scorpion I've found in my house has always been on the floor. Step on them with nice, strong-soled shoes to kill them and then sweep up the carcass. Theoretically, I knew they could climb walls and stuff because I'd heard stories, but I thought that maybe Georgia scorpions didn't do that or preferred not to do it or something along those lines. Still horrible to deal with, but not as bad as it could be. And then it happened.
I was in my bathroom and walked out of the water closet area and what did I see? A black thing on the top of my shower wall. At first I thought it was a centipede because that's where they like to hang out, but then I saw the claws.
Okay, so I kind of freaked out. What if it was morning? What if I was taking a shower? What if that thing fell on my head and stung me? OMG!
Luckily my dad was here. He knocked the scorpion down to the shower floor with his cane and squished it with the end of it. Situation solved. Except now I know Georgia scorpions can and will climb walls. This is the stuff of nightmares for me. The pest control company is going to have to make another visit out here.
Every scorpion I've found in my house has always been on the floor. Step on them with nice, strong-soled shoes to kill them and then sweep up the carcass. Theoretically, I knew they could climb walls and stuff because I'd heard stories, but I thought that maybe Georgia scorpions didn't do that or preferred not to do it or something along those lines. Still horrible to deal with, but not as bad as it could be. And then it happened.
I was in my bathroom and walked out of the water closet area and what did I see? A black thing on the top of my shower wall. At first I thought it was a centipede because that's where they like to hang out, but then I saw the claws.
Okay, so I kind of freaked out. What if it was morning? What if I was taking a shower? What if that thing fell on my head and stung me? OMG!
Luckily my dad was here. He knocked the scorpion down to the shower floor with his cane and squished it with the end of it. Situation solved. Except now I know Georgia scorpions can and will climb walls. This is the stuff of nightmares for me. The pest control company is going to have to make another visit out here.
November 29, 2015
What "Orwellian" Really Means
1984 was probably the best book I read in English Lit.
November 26, 2015
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving for my American readers!
I hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving with the ones they love.
I hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving with the ones they love.
November 24, 2015
Writer Humor or Truisms
There are some really fun T-shirts and quotes and things out there right now for writers. I thought I'd share some of my favorites with you.
I really hate it when the voices in my head argue among themselves as though I wasn't even in the room. (My characters always talk as if I'm not there.)I know the voices aren't real, but man do they come up with some really great ideas. (Um, my characters feel as real to me as people do.)I'm plotting against you. I'm a writer. It's what I do. (I'm actually not too gung ho on plotting. Although I'm trying to get a little better.)Writing: Somewhere between torture and fun. (Mostly torture until the writing is done. Having written--past tense--is fun.)I understand your search history is kind of scary because you're a writer, but I'm worried the NSA might not. (I've probably been on a watch list for years)"You are a writer. The 'normal' ship sailed without you long ago. ~ Terri Main (I march to my own drummer.)"Being a writer is like having homework every night for the rest of your life." ~ Lawrence Kasdan (Definitely!)This novel won't write itself, but I wouldn't oppose the invention of a telepathic keyboard."A writer never has a vacation. For a writer life consists of either writing or thinking about writing." ~ Eugene Ionesco (Truth!)
I really hate it when the voices in my head argue among themselves as though I wasn't even in the room. (My characters always talk as if I'm not there.)I know the voices aren't real, but man do they come up with some really great ideas. (Um, my characters feel as real to me as people do.)I'm plotting against you. I'm a writer. It's what I do. (I'm actually not too gung ho on plotting. Although I'm trying to get a little better.)Writing: Somewhere between torture and fun. (Mostly torture until the writing is done. Having written--past tense--is fun.)I understand your search history is kind of scary because you're a writer, but I'm worried the NSA might not. (I've probably been on a watch list for years)"You are a writer. The 'normal' ship sailed without you long ago. ~ Terri Main (I march to my own drummer.)"Being a writer is like having homework every night for the rest of your life." ~ Lawrence Kasdan (Definitely!)This novel won't write itself, but I wouldn't oppose the invention of a telepathic keyboard."A writer never has a vacation. For a writer life consists of either writing or thinking about writing." ~ Eugene Ionesco (Truth!)
November 22, 2015
25 Survival Myths That Could Get You Killed
The odds of my voluntarily going into the wilderness are slim, but there is some interesting info here.
November 19, 2015
The Worst Advertising Has to Offer
Let me start this conversation by saying that I was an advertising copywriting major in college. I understand marketing strategies and campaign themes. I understand that sex has been used to sell products since the dawn of modern advertising. I'm not a prude and have no problem with sexy ads. I do, however, have a huge problem with the sexist schlock that Hardees/Carl's Jr. is passing off as television commercials. If there weren't child labor laws, I'd swear their campaign was created by adolescent boys.
I did a little bit of reading before starting this post and apparently Hardees has been bottom-feeding with their advertising for years now. I was unaware of it until recently. I'm not sure if this is because there aren't many Hardees in Minneapolis and so they didn't buy advertising there or if they've changed their media buying strategy to stations I watch in the last couple of years since I moved to Atlanta. That's not as important as the fact that they have a history of sexism.
The first commercial I saw touted a big burger by having some scantily-dressed blonde ask a stranger across the aisle on an airline, "want to join the mile-high club?" That ad was quickly followed up with a "flight attendant" in a tight, tight dress practically becoming orgasmic over a burger. I'm sure the real flight attendants who sometimes have to deal with sexual harassment from male passengers really appreciated that ad campaign. ::heavy sarcasm::
This summer, there was the barely dressed (and hinted at being naked, but strategically covered) blonde who liked to "go natural." The latest has the model in the ad saying, "nice package" to one of the guys in the ad. Way to be classy Hardees.
But oops, the CEO doesn't want class. He wants the ads to be sexist and horrible and if they're not offensive, he's sending them back to the ad agency to rework. The ass CEO said as much in Entrepreneur: The CEO of Carl's Jr. Doesn't Care If You're Offended By the Chain's Sexy Ads
NO! I don't mind sexy ads. I hate SEXIST ads. Ads can be sexy without being sexist. Ads can be sexy and classy. Ads don't have to be offensive to sell product. Of course, it appears that Hardees/Carl's Jr. doesn't want to market to adults, but rather 15-year-old boys.
The ad agency behind the awful Hardees campaigns is 72andSunny. No Clio for you 72andSunny. AdWeek even called out one of the Hardees ads in 2013 in an article titled The 10 Most Sexist Ads of 2013.
In a blog post on Vice titled Ad Agencies Have No Idea How to Talk to Women, the author says that he's not even going to talk about Hardees/Carl's Jr ads because neither the company nor the ad agency give a damn that they've reduced women to pieces of meat. Amen, brother!
You know what? IMO, this blatant sexism pervading the advertising world in 2015 is because there is a dearth of creativity out there. Instead of actually using imagination and talent to dream up a campaign that draws people to the product, ad agencies are sinking to appeal to the lowest common denominator. Sex sells so we'll just be obnoxiously sexist and we'll sell lots of product.
Apparently they are, but I've quietly added Hardees to my list of companies I'm boycotting. They probably don't care--I almost never eat fast food--but I don't care that they don't care about my boycott. This is my stand, however small it might be.
I did a little bit of reading before starting this post and apparently Hardees has been bottom-feeding with their advertising for years now. I was unaware of it until recently. I'm not sure if this is because there aren't many Hardees in Minneapolis and so they didn't buy advertising there or if they've changed their media buying strategy to stations I watch in the last couple of years since I moved to Atlanta. That's not as important as the fact that they have a history of sexism.
The first commercial I saw touted a big burger by having some scantily-dressed blonde ask a stranger across the aisle on an airline, "want to join the mile-high club?" That ad was quickly followed up with a "flight attendant" in a tight, tight dress practically becoming orgasmic over a burger. I'm sure the real flight attendants who sometimes have to deal with sexual harassment from male passengers really appreciated that ad campaign. ::heavy sarcasm::
This summer, there was the barely dressed (and hinted at being naked, but strategically covered) blonde who liked to "go natural." The latest has the model in the ad saying, "nice package" to one of the guys in the ad. Way to be classy Hardees.
But oops, the CEO doesn't want class. He wants the ads to be sexist and horrible and if they're not offensive, he's sending them back to the ad agency to rework. The ass CEO said as much in Entrepreneur: The CEO of Carl's Jr. Doesn't Care If You're Offended By the Chain's Sexy Ads
NO! I don't mind sexy ads. I hate SEXIST ads. Ads can be sexy without being sexist. Ads can be sexy and classy. Ads don't have to be offensive to sell product. Of course, it appears that Hardees/Carl's Jr. doesn't want to market to adults, but rather 15-year-old boys.
The ad agency behind the awful Hardees campaigns is 72andSunny. No Clio for you 72andSunny. AdWeek even called out one of the Hardees ads in 2013 in an article titled The 10 Most Sexist Ads of 2013.
In a blog post on Vice titled Ad Agencies Have No Idea How to Talk to Women, the author says that he's not even going to talk about Hardees/Carl's Jr ads because neither the company nor the ad agency give a damn that they've reduced women to pieces of meat. Amen, brother!
You know what? IMO, this blatant sexism pervading the advertising world in 2015 is because there is a dearth of creativity out there. Instead of actually using imagination and talent to dream up a campaign that draws people to the product, ad agencies are sinking to appeal to the lowest common denominator. Sex sells so we'll just be obnoxiously sexist and we'll sell lots of product.
Apparently they are, but I've quietly added Hardees to my list of companies I'm boycotting. They probably don't care--I almost never eat fast food--but I don't care that they don't care about my boycott. This is my stand, however small it might be.
