Ann Benjamin's Blog, page 257
December 31, 2015
An excerpt from Life After Joe (New Year’s edition).
CHAPTER FIFTY: New Year
Days without Joe: 214
I’m not usually one for New Year’s resolutions, but this year seems different. I feel like, if I commit things in front of all of you, maybe I’ll achieve some goals. So, here we go:
Get off the road. Whoa, whoa—don’t freak out. Not anytime soon—however, by the end of this year, I have to commit to something. I don’t know what it will be or where, but I do know I can’t keep up this nomadic lifestyle forever. It’s not fair to me. To Apollo. To my family. I need to make a choice and go with it. Suggestions welcome.
Let the Katie thing go. She hasn’t called or texted. It sucks. It hurts. It may never happen, but, as Mr. Frank Sinatra says, that’s life.
Go back to work. Sure, I don’t necessarily have to, but I think the longer I stay away from some reality where I am regularly held accountable, the less touch I’ll have with anything approaching normal. While everyone has been accepting and understanding of my life choices to date, I think it will look less charming as time goes on. Yes, Joe died. Yes, I have a right to mourn his loss, but, no, that state of grief can’t last forever. I can’t go knocking on people’s doors with a box full of ashes and saying, “Remember when?” much longer.
Learn how to apply winged eyeliner. Seriously.
Start meditating.
So, what craziness did I get up to tonight? Of all the things, the person I was closest to (geographically) was Marissa, a girl I used to babysit. And here’s a secret for when you get worried around people you haven’t seen and have very little in common with: after enough champagne, nothing really matters.
I was glad I spent Christmas alone but happy to ring in the New Year with others.
It was a simple house party, and owing to the younger age of the group (I was easily eight years everyone’s senior), I had a glimpse of what my optimistic twenties must’ve looked like: The casual yet deep conversations. Lots of fun party drama to watch. An insanely funny game of Cards against Humanity. And—as a party trick bonus—I even learned how to saber champagne!
The hangover was not so severe this morning, although I can’t say the same for my hosts. I’m making breakfast, and then I think we’re all going back to bed.
What are your big plans for this year?
What will you accomplish?
Marissa’s favorite ice cream? Raspberry.
Tags: #happyNewYear #champagne
December 28, 2015
A look at my social media stats.
If I’m going to grow my numbers next year by 20%, I should capture a baseline of those numbers, yes? And be warned – some of them are quite low! But who am I comparing myself to?
In a semi-related tangent, I rarely (like, maybe twice a year) announce to my 550 facebook friends of anything related to my writing (that includes trying to sell my books or mentioning this blog). I do this because it’s a pet peeve when people use their personal lives to sell their professional ones. My books fit some of the demographics of people I know, but certainly not all of them. Same with my food blog. I guess I’m kind of always at war with myself about wanting people to know what I’m doing and growing my numbers, but also knowing that I prefer it when people find me/this blog/my writing organically.
Right, so, time for the numbers! (Plenty of room for improvement).
68 likes – Ann Benjamin facebook page
6 likes – A to Za’atar facebook page (totes amazing, I know)
439 followers – this blog (thank you!)
13,324 followers – my marching Tumblr account, grown from its start in 2011. As I’ll be publishing YA next year (and years to come), I’m keeping this active. I won’t post as often, mostly because I feel the core group is now more active on Instagram (and I missed the boat). Also, I’d love to figure out how to monetize the site!
699 followers – Pinterest, heavily populated by manuscript ideas and travel. Can someone please follow me so I have an even 700?
351 followers – Twitter. I have a love/hate relationship with the whole concept of Twitter, but I can see how it does well for some people I know. Twitter is usually an afterthought for me. I’m probably doing it wrong.
0 – newsletter follows or e-mail addresses for any type of listserv. In much of my research for marketing/self publishing types, there seems to be a HUGE focus on creating newsletter lists, but all I can think is how much I hate getting spam e-mail and extra crap in my inbox, so why would I supply that nonsense for others? I’m probably doing it wrong.
201 followers – Instagram. I really do enjoy IG – it seems like one of the best platforms to interact with people. Especially The Rock. No seriously, his Instagram account is amazing.
Anyway, I know it’s not a competition, nor does followers/likes = book sales. However, I do like a challenge and I’m ready to step things up in the next year. Not to mention, I truly enjoy the creativity and discovery for both the Pinterest and Instagram platforms.
Why am I quitting my job again?I also have accounts on WattPad, FanFiction.net, Goodreads and other writerly places.
Which social media platform do you most enjoy?
December 27, 2015
This is super soothing (and I could watch it all day).
(Also, I’ve figure out how to embed posts from Tumblr – whoo!).
December 26, 2015
A good visualization about next year.
I think it’s established I like a good podcast and while I haven’t read Big Magic (by Elizabeth Gilbert) which has been recommended by multiple friends, I did discover Magic Lessons, an audio recording related to the material of the book (great idea!). In the third episode, Liz speaks to her guest about how the many things in the guest’s life have been preparation for all the great things ahead. Liz makes a fantastic analogy of the journey as being on the runway and getting ready for take off. As a visualization, this concept really stuck with me. Given the unknown — but hopefully friendly skies that await me — I’m optimistic that I am ready to leave the ground soon!
If you haven’t checked out this podcast, I highly recommend it. No matter what your background or current goals, I think there is something that will speak to you as Liz chats with her guests.
Always post Audrey. Always.
Sunday Sentence.
“Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark in the hopeless swamps of the not-quite, the not-yet, and the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserve and have never been able to reach. The world you desire can be won. It exists.. it is real… it is possible… it’s yours.”
—Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged
By the next Sunday, it will be a new year (and I will be back at work…sigh). In the mood to look ahead for 2016, I searched out inspirational quotes (fortunately, the nice people at Bustle already had an article ready for me) and this one spoke to me.
Looking forward to the new year!
All true.
I think we all need a Leslie Knope cheering us on.
December 24, 2015
Family handshake.
Yes, it’s a thing.This is probably a weird post for Christmas Eve, but…it’s 80+ degrees out and I live in a Muslim country. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
In the early years of my married life to Hubs, we one day decided that there should be a family handshake. The reason behind this was simple. If we were ever to be separated (???) this handshake would be how we recognized each other (???). (Probably we watch too much television?). Anyway, what evolved (and has continued to change) is a family handshake (a series of complicated movements of which we mostly forget every time we do it).
The above .gif was the most recent addition to the neverending ‘end’ of the dance custom.
So, what kooky and crazy traditions do you have in your household?
December 23, 2015
Cool Asks for Fiction Writers.
She was a thirty-something author with green eyes and a penchant for travel.
Is there any specific ritual you go through while/before/after your writing?
No, but I want to find one/start one. I had a writer friend who would always light a candle at the start of each writing session and I’ve always liked the idea. (Lighting candles is problematic at work, where I seem to do a fair amount of writing, so I’m looking forward to a dedicated office space next year).
What is your absolute favorite kind of fic to write?
Fanfic. There are no rules and you are almost always writing for an audience who will wholeheartedly enjoy your work. That said, I’m a special fan of the light and dark ends of the spectrum – it’s either super fluff or killing off characters, there’s little in between.
Are there any other fic writers you admire? If so, who and why?
Literally too many to name. ALL the writers!
How many words can you write if you sit down and concentrate intensely for an hour?
If the ideas and words are flowing, probably 1,000 – maybe 1,200. I tend to aim for daily word counts of 1,000-1,500 words.
First fic/pairing you wrote for? (If no pairing, describe the plot).
These gorgeous nerds. I still love them (and write about them from time to time).
Inspiration, time, or motivation. Choose two.
Inspiration and motivation. I’ll always find make the time
Why do you choose to write?
What else am I going to do with all these ideas? They are my stories to tell and I’ll keep writing them until I’m out of ideas.
Do you ever have plans to write anything other than fic?
Fic allowed me to write original fiction. So, the question should be more centered around when I’m going to get back to fic.
What inspires you the most?
Music and art. The lyric of a song. It doesn’t take much to set off my creative spark.
Weirdest thing you’ve ever written/thought about writing/etc.?
My most recent idea centers around a murder/accidental death at a high school, a missing alias and someone losing their virginity. Not sure if I see this one actually happening.
A fix you wish you had written better, and why?
In my YA work, there are certain cliches I’ve used to often (someone mistaking a situation for something that it is not). If I went back for a rewrite, I would figure out some other plot device.
Favorite fic from another author?
Again, ALL the fic.
Your favorite side pairings to put in?
Depends on the fandom. In my original fandom, it was the canon main couple who I constantly neglected that was fun to work in (since I like concentrating on the side pairings).
Your guilty writing pleasure?
Well, fic. Without much time to write my OCs, fic has taken a back burner. I hope to revisit some short story ideas in 2016.
Do you have structured ideas of how your story is supposed to go, or make it up as you write?
I always have a beginning and an end. In the rough draft, I let my characters go for whatever they want. In future drafts, I’ll work out the details and chop what needs to be cut, but it’s fun to see where I go when there are no rules.
Would you describe yourself as a fast writer?
Relatively. Even when working full time, I tend to finish writing a book in 5-6 months.
How old were you when you started writing?
I’ve literally always written – stories, plays, scenes. I think I made the choice to focus on novels versus screenplays in my early twenties (even though next year I’ll be getting back to screenplays).
Why did you start writing?
There’s always stories to tell. To think that an entire world can be created simply because words are strung together is a pretty powerful thing.
4 sentences from your work that you’re proud of.
Just four? Here’s something completely out of context that I wrote in 2009 (the prompt was Seven Deadly Sins, I think you can guess which one this was about).
Her body, curved and lithe, silky and smooth, inspired most who saw her to reverently claim she was descended from the goddess Venus herself, an immortal daughter who walked the Earth, designated to lead men astray. Most did not make it past a single glance – lost forever to the large blue bedroom eyes, surrounded by a nimbus of pale lengthy lashes. Bordering between cerulean and the wild sea she was allegedly born from, they could shift between simpering and seductive in a heartbeat.
She was quite literally made for sin.
December 22, 2015
Book Review: Throne of Glass
This series had been recommended by a friend and author, whose opinion I definitely respect. Upon receiving my favorite holiday gift (a gift card to Amazon so I can download to my heart’s content), I bought the first novel and finished it in record time.
Y’all, I loved this book so hard.
Growing up, I was influenced and utterly adore a young woman in a traditionally male role (hello Alanna!), so I immediately warmed to protagonist Celaena. She’s tough. She likes to eat. She’s guarded (and rightfully so). Against her better judgement, she’s also a teenager with feelings and emotions. And she happens to be an incredible assassin.
Highly recommend.As I’m already well into the second book (and can’t wait for the holiday break to tear through the remaining novels in the series), there are so many things I realize my own writing is missing. If I compare the love triangle in my current YA project it has none of the straight up gravitas that Ms. Maas’s does. I think it’s the ultimate complement to an author that inspires other writers to do better. The cast has depth and personality and I also loved the inclusion of supernatural and mythological elements. Essentially, there is enough packed in the first novel that it absolutely stands alone, but also sets the foundation for the remainder of the books (another thing I need to work on!!).
And finally, I was unbelievably proud to see that the origin of this series came from support and the audience over at FictionPress – something the author gives thanks to in the acknowledgements of the first book. Way to go!
A foodie type review (me posting somewhere else).
I had a great night yesterday at the launch of the Punjab Grill – read all about it on my side project, A to Za’atar.
A lovely evening made better by my fantastic +1.
