Heather Weidner's Blog, page 114
November 7, 2014
Stuff You Need to Know...
More and more Millennials are joining the workforce. Your generation is amazing with technology and gadgets. You can find anything in an instant. But I wonder if you're able to function without the gadgets. Here are seven things you need to know how to do.
1. Know how to read an analog clock. It sounds funny, but I had to explain "quarter past the hour" and "quarter 'til the hour" to an intern recently.
2. Know how to read a map. You may not always have your phone or GPS. Can you look at a map and figure out where you want to be? Did you know that odd numbered interstates run north and south, and even numbered ones run east and west?
3. Google is my best friend most days too. I love that I can find anything on the Internet in 3-10 seconds. But don't always depend on the wikis and non-original sources. Explore the original sites and books once in a while. You'll be amazed at what you learn.
4. Don't get so wrapped up in technology or the busy-ness of life that you miss out on living. Go outside. Go on adventures. (My husband is still trying to talk me into camping. We'll see.)
5. I love my SmartPhone. It's not the toy that I once thought it was. But don't let it be your only connection to others. I read a study recently that said that those under 20 have trouble reading others' facial expressions and emotions. Don't lose face-to-face contact. We're humans, and we need all kinds of relationships and connections.
6. Not everything in life has to have a survey to go with it. Sometimes, you should just enjoy the experience without feeling compelled to comment or offer an opinion.
7. And try good ole pen and paper every once in a while. There is something magical about expressing yourself by creating something. There's a connection that you don't get with digital media.
Happy Friday. I hope you have wonderful adventures this weekend!
October 31, 2014
Suffolk Mystery Authors' Festival - Nov. 8
Join the Virginia is for Mysteries authors at the workshops at the Suffolk Mystery Authors' Festival on Saturday, November 8 from 11-7 at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts. I'm doing a workshop on the History of the Mystery with Teresa Inge and Maggie King.
Boo! Happy Halloween!
Happy Halloween! The first tweet I saw this morning was that Arby's is giving free bacon if you say, "Trick or Meat." That got me interested in other fall freebies. Here are some interesting ones. They range from free downloads to doughnuts. Enjoy!
October 30, 2014
It's Frankenstein Friday...
Happy Halloween! It's also Frankenstein Friday. Boo!
October 26, 2014
A Writing Weekend...
I had the pleasure of attending Carolyn Greene's "Plotting a Cozy" workshop this weekend. She definitely earned her nickname as the "Plot Doctor."
In writing, there are plotters, pantsers, and a hybrid of the two. Plotters meticulously lay out the entire storyline with high level details for scenes, characters, and dialogues. Pantsers have an idea, and they write. I start out as a plotter. I do a high level outline. I write to the outline, but I do sometimes go where the story takes me. So, I guess I'm a plotter who does step off the path from time to time.
Carolyn offered some great worksheets and tips for outlining, defining characters, and creating the mystery. She color codes each piece and cuts them into strips. She lays them all out and then writes chapter summaries. She has worked out the entire novel before she ever starts writing.
I do keep a Word table of all my settings and characters. I'm working on a series, and I want to make sure that I maintain continuity between each work. If you get a chance to hear Carolyn speak, do so. She has some amazing tips for mystery writers.
Author Carolyn Greene, The Plot Doctor
On Sunday, I signed Virginia is for Mysteries with Fiona Quinn and Rosemary Shomaker at Barnes and Noble - Chesterfield Towne Center. We enjoyed talking to everyone who came out to see us. We celebrated Mystery month with Rosemary's raven.
October 21, 2014
October 22 is Smart is Cool Day
It's Smart is Cool Day, but we already knew that. Enjoy!
October 17, 2014
October 18 is National Chocolate Cupcake Day
It's National Chocolate Cupcake Day. I hope you enjoy the celebration!
Lee Child's PERSONAL
In Personal, Jack Reacher, a former Army MP, sees an ad for him to contact an acquaintance in a military paper that he finds on a bus. He does and is whisked away within hours to the former Pope Air Force Base.
He learns of a possible assassination attempt at the G8 summit, and our government thinks that a former sniper that Reacher put away fifteen years ago may be one of the suspects. Reacher, along with a rookie analyst from the State Department, try to track down the sniper, recently released from jail. Their journey takes them to Arkansas, France, and England where they battle two different gangs and bureaucracies of several governments.
The title becomes evident in the last few pages of the book. And Child ties up all of the loose ends. He does a good job with building tension in this novel. I always like Jack Reacher, but I wasn't that fond of his sidekick in this one.
Mary Miley's Book Launch
I had the pleasure of attending Mary Miley's book launch for Silent Murders this week at the Library of Virginia in Richmond. Her theme was the Roaring 20s, and the Art Deco Society of Richmond came in costume.
Mary talked about some of the myths of silent films. And the library featured Don Q, Son of Zorro, the movie that is featured prominently in Mary's latest mystery.
Mary's mystery series that features amateur sleuth, Jessie Carr, assistant script girl at Pickfair, is set in the heart of Hollywood's heyday.
Check out Mary's mysteries, The Impersonator and Silent Murders.
October 15, 2014
October 16 is Dictionary Day
Word Nerds Unite! It's Dictionary Day!
This is Hershel. We met him at the Merriam Webster booth at #SIBA14.
