Check Out These Rockstars!

Welcome to Rudan Thursdays where we talk about…things! Anything from books and movies, to blog posts and authors, to food and drink.

Allow me to shine the spotlight on three lovely ladies whose recent blog posts really stuck with me. Without further ado…

Victoria Mixon

An oldie but goodie, Victoria guest-posted on Jami Gold’s blog back in November. In this post, she explained story climax and drew an excellent mental diagram of exactly how it is supposed to be laid out for the reader. Brilliant post Victoria, thank you!

Jami Gold

Speaking of Ms. Gold, back in January she asked a question that had been bugging me: Do you call yourself a writer or an author? Her answer is both smart and sassy, admirable qualities, those. Thank you for relieving me of that particular burden, Jami!

Jenny Hansen

Every time I see this post in my “saved” folder I smile. The ever intuitive Ms. Hansen hit the proverbial nail on the head with her list of 10 unusual things about writers. I remember reading this for the first time at my allergist appointment, and while waiting for my turn to get poked with needles, I sat in the corner snickering, snorting, and belly laughing. This is a real treat, and for those avid readers out there who haven’t given writing a shot…maybe give it a try

And there you have it.

So talk to me. What did you think of Victoria’s take on story climax? Did her description resonate with you, as it did with me? And what about Jami’s answer to the writer vs. author question? What do you call yourself? How did you like Jenny’s 10 unusual things? Did you see yourself in her list?

Dagda, Morrigan, and Lir…Oh my!

Welcome to Tursan Tuesdays, where I take you on a journey through the Celtic world.

I am hoping the trials (literally) happening at the DJ will wrap up or otherwise go away soon so I can get back to researching really interesting posts for you all…ok, I really dig it too

For now, though, how ’bout this little gem from Celticlight1 I found on youtube:

The music is lovely, and there are fantastic artworks and descriptions of the gods and goddesses highlighted.

So talk to me. What did you think? Did you see any new gods or goddesses? I’d never heard of Tailtiu before, her story is very interesting. I’ve now got her up next on my list to research

ROW80 Check In

I’m sitting here, in a post 4-birthday-party-weekend stupor, trying to remember what happened over the last week. Pretty difficult considering I cannot remember what happened only a few hours ago.

Alright, I’ve got it now…a pretty good week this time around:

• Writing: Not as many words per day as I’d want, but a helluva lot more than last week. Plus I was able to get two very important pieces of my plot puzzle in place, which is exciting!
• Exercise: Still going strong here…missed Tuesday night for my daughter’s birthday, but I figure that’s an acceptable excuse.
• Reading: I finished Envy by J.R. Ward!  AH-mazing!! I stayed up ’til 2am to finish that sucker…worth every minute late I was to work the next day I also made great progress on Plot & Structure by James Scott Bell.

There you have it. I’m off to rest my brain and enjoy what’s left of the Oscars.

So talk to me. For my writing pals, how are your goals coming along? Are you in ROW80, and if so, how’s that goin’ so far? For my non-writing buddies, what goals have you set for yourself and how are you making progress?

Your Health!

Welcome to Slàinte Sundays where I give a toast to those posts I enjoyed during the week.

I apologize for the late post, however germs and illness are spreading through my household like wildfire and I have been struck low. I explained in more detail in my post from New Kids on the Writer’s Block.

That said, I will endeavor to carry on. Here are, in my opinion, the best of the best from the past week:

On motivation…

Laura Drake at Writers On The Storm Blog tells us how we can overcome our fears of failure.

Fae Rowan, also at Writers On The Storm Blog, shows us the other side of the coin, and tells us how we can overcome our fears of achieving success – of which group I am a part. Excellent post, very motivating!

Marion Spicher shares tips on achieving self-discipline, something we can all use!

Jenny Hansen asks a question that, I think, we all struggle with: Do Writers Need Validation? Really motivating post, I’m better for having read it.

Steena Holmes reminds us that we need to create boundaries and learn to stand up for ourselves, especially when it comes to protecting our writing time!

Diana Murdock talks about looking deep down inside ourselves and asking the tough question, do we really want this? Yet another thought-provoking post from Diana.

Marcia Richards offers five steps we can take in order to keep our dreams alive. Very important for those of us struggling to stay focused on our goals while juggling our crazy schedules and demanding families. And don’t miss her post on health and fitness where she shows us nine really easy ways to stay fit and not give up our routines. Impossible you say? Nope.

Elena Aitken shares an inspiring story of her nine-year old daughter’s self-confidence. A learning moment for all of us.

Cate Woods reminds us that as world creators and trend breakers, we writers need to think outside the box. Or just recycle it. Great post!

Piper Bayard, guest posting at Writers On The Storm Blog, explains the difference between what we writers think we know, what we need to know, and how we can learn what we need to know.

On craft…

David N. Walker gives us another well thought out post on craft, this time focusing on the Protagonist.

Kristen Lamb explains how editors can spot novel illnesses usually within the first 20 pages or so. Very enlightening!

James Killick shows us how we can flesh out really great characters by asking them, yes the characters, 10 questions.

On networking…

Kristen Lamb offers us a few informative and educating posts on networking and social media. She dons her stethoscope as Dr. Twuth in this first post to explain the changes recently made by Facebook, and why we should embrace them. The second is a post on Mavens and why they are not only helpful, but necessary. Finally, Kristen shows us why blogging really IS important, and NOT dead as some insist on insisting – as long as you’re doing it right. Hmmm…I hope I’m doing it right… Check out my post from my writer’s group blog for more great info on Kristen and all she has to offer.

Roni Loren, Fiction Groupie, offers us five ways to protect our brand. Very enlightening, I learned some things I need to change in the way I network. Great post!

Just for fun…

Natalie Hartford shares with us this nifty little device that is at once useful and chic.

The wait is over! Jillian Dodd shares with us the results of her labor of love. Her daughter’s room turned out absolutely fabulous!

You all know how I love me some stories. David N. Walker tells a very interesting tale of Ruth and Boaz. It has some intriguing messages we can all take from it.

Jess Witkins tells us about her dream team of super heroines. This was so much fun! I only wish She-Ra had been included…

How simple it would be if we could simply spray on our clothing? Carrie Spencer gives us the deets.

Wow…we have quite a few peeps here again, so rather than list them all out, I’ll just say…

Slàinte…your health!

Your Health!

Welcome to Slàinte Sundays where I give a toast to those posts I enjoyed during the week. Without further ado:

Quite a lot on craft this week…

David N. Walker describes how important the antagonist is and how varied he, she or it can be. Very helpful and informative.

Jami Gold visited Writers in the Storm and explained the key elements in evolving your story from a simple thought or idea into a real, honest-to-goodness novel. A really awesome post!

Cate Woods shows us how we need to dig a little deeper to find our own hidden gems. Sometimes all it takes is a little, or a lot, of pruning – or ok, maybe bust out the weed wacker – to see the truly fantastic parts of our stories and how to nurture them and help them grow. Thought provoking, a must read.

Kristen Lamb never fails to deliver and this time is no exception. In this post, Kristen explains how we can add dimension to our settings, and how our settings can help show the story. Marvelous as always, I suggest subscribing if you haven’t already.

Tiffany Lawson Inman a.k.a. Naked Editor visited Jenny Hansen’s blog and offered great insight and analysis on Voice. Definitely a must read…right now. Tiffany also taught the many aspects of writing action, and broke it down so even I could follow. Read this one right after the other one…now.

James Killick asks Are you writing for the right medium? A question we should all take a moment to ask ourselves, and then evaluate our answers. Very interesting post.

Sharla Rae at Writers in the Storm gave valuable tips and advice on researching your historical novel. I found this information very useful, and don’t worry – there’s a link to Part 1 in the post. Or you can go here.

Elena Aitken offers wonderful advice on time management – highly useful! Great post.

Whew! Ok, let’s see what other gems I found this week.

On publishing…

Steena Holmes offers great tips and advice on self-publishing – part 1 and part 2.

Kait Nolan explains why it’s so important for authors to publish on as many platforms as possible. Very informative!

On networking…

When I think of networking, the very first person to pop in my head is Kristen Lamb. Did you know she’s not only a writer, but also a teacher and a doctor? In her series, Dr. Twuth, she prescribes the perfect remedies for our ailing platforms. Check out her latest post here.

Again, Kristen Lamb gives us, pretty much on a silver plate, everything we need to know to build the most successful author platform. Another must read right now.

Roni Loren, the Fiction Groupie, asks a question that immediately depressed and frustrated me. Is blogging dead? After all the hard work I’ve been putting into this, it damn well better not be! LOL What are your thoughts on this?

Kait Nolan informs us of the pros and cons of The Back Matter Swap.

On life…

Marion Spicher talks about the power of positive thinking.

Piper Bayard asks quite the thought, and discussion, provoking question – Which one are you?

Diana Murdock shares very deep and personal insights in her post about forgiveness.

Jillian Dodd‘s post makes you think twice when she asks, Is it ok to lie to your love?

Bridgette Booth reminds us of the clues we girls can sometimes leave when we’re in over our heads and head over heels for those boys, in talking about Sense and Sensibility by the incomparable, Jane Austen.

…and here’s a few fun ones for ya!

Carrie Spencer shows us that there really are people out there who are crazier than the Crazy Cat Lady.

Natalie Hartford found yet another super cool and useful toy – one you should never leave the campsite without.

Gene Lempp describes the ancient island of Cyprus, from “its humble beginnings to its richly layered culture built by conquest and strife.” Fascinating!

Elena Aitken reminds us that, when it comes to parenting, we’re SO not alone…and thank god for that!

Shea MacLeod offers a clip from Ancient Aliens. Really cool, check it out.

In honor of my husband, who’s obsessed with Kurt Cobain and Nirvana, I had to share this awesome post by my pal Barbara McDowell. Journey back to the time of flannel shirts, torn jeans, doc martens and moody, angry teens…those were the good old days…

Ok…yeah…I think that’ll do it.

To everyone in this post (because there are just too many people on here to list, and I’ve got a wip to work on)…

Slàinte…your health!

Your Health!

Welcome to Slàinte Sundays where I give a toast to those posts I enjoyed during the week. Without further ado:

On craft and the technical side of things…

Sonia Medeiros shares her lessons learned on the way to becoming a writer – valuable information.

Bob Mayer introduces us to Natalie C. Markey, a pro when it comes to the fine art of balancing writing and family.

Kristen Lamb reminds us not to treat the writer like a moron in her post, “Deadly Sin of Writing #7.”

Piper Bayard, the Pale Writer of the Apocalypse, shares her story of trials and tribulations on her way to becoming a writer…it’s an awesome reminder that we are all in this together.

What do you know about widgets? Take a quick and painless lesson from Woodie a.k.a. Carrie Spencer with Woodie Knows WordPress.

For fun…

Get ready for an awesome adventure in reading! 33 books…one series…all genres! Steena Holmes has all the deets.

Check out Carrie Spencer’s crafty side here – jewelry, t-shirts, and more!

Natalie Hartford delivers yet again in this hysterical post about the hottest new party trend…you gotta read this!

Come take a look in an ancient kitchen and learn the history of cooking from Gene Lempp.

On diversity…

Kait Nolan makes some great points about how certain traits in a character should not be written out, and about how important it is to give readers characters they can relate to.

Cate Woods talks about allowing kids to feel free to be themselves, and how they can relate to diverse characters in books…a thought-provoking post.

On life lessons…

YOU are the only one responsible for YOU! A must read from Marcia Richards.

A great point: Change doesn’t have to be painful. An excellent post from Diana Murdock.

To Sonia, Bob, Kristen, Piper, Carrie, Steena, Natalie, Gene, Kait, Cate (ok, how many of us are there?? LOL), Marcia, and Diana…

Slàinte…your health!

Tell Me A Story…

When you think of the Celts, you think of epic legends, y0u think of mysticism and lore, and, of course, you think of all those amazing stories.

Celtic tales are known as long, twisting sagas of heroes and heroines, of feats of strength and battles of wit.

*Fun fact: Many of the surviving tales have remarkable resemblances to themes, stories and even names in the tales of the Indian Vedas, written in Sanskrit at the start of the first millennium BC*

The Celts held the word so sacred that it was forbidden in their culture to write anything down; therefore, their stories were memorized and passed from person to person, generation to generation through oral storytelling. It wasn’t until the arrival of the Christian monks that the Celts’ stories were finally penned.

Their stories, however, were censored by the monks to the point some scholars argue what we know of the myths and legends of the Celts today is highly fragmentary. Other historians argue just as vehemently that it is possible to discern the true Celtic mythology behind the Christianized tales regardless of any censorship.

There are many, many well-known Celtic stories. One popular tale is that of King Arthur. Everyone knows this one. But what you may not know is that the real Arthur was a sixth-century warlord who fought against the Anglo-Saxons for his people’s freedom. The Celts would tell their stories of his bravery, even after his eventual defeat. Throughout the centuries, the historical details of Arthur became lost, and were soon replaced by the bards’ creative imaginings. And so, King Arthur was born.

Another popular story is of the time-honored romance of Tristan and Iseult. This is centered on the traditional Celtic elopement tale and features Iseult, the King of Cornwall’s new wife, running away with her lover Tristan, the King’s nephew. Hmm…this does sound familiar, doesn’t it? There are literally thousands of tales loosely based on this original theme. Hollywood has given us many examples of elopement tales, one being the obvious, “Tristan + Isolde,” of course, but another is the movie, “Troy,” in which Helen, the Queen of Sparta, runs away from her husband, the king, to be with Paris, one of the princes of Troy.

Finally, one of the most popular Celtic heroes was Finn, or Fionn Mac Cumhaill. Legends have it that he was the leader of the Fianna Eireann, and is described as being tall, fair-haired, and handsome. In typical hero fashion he is credited with such traits as strength, courage and visionary wisdom. As is true for the Arthurian Sagas, there are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of tales of Finn and his Fianna, their battles and their romances.

“Celtic mythology, the legends and oral storytelling tradition, constitute one of the brightest gems of European culture. It is both unique and dynamic. It is a mythology and folklore which should be as well-known and valued as its sister Indo-European cultures of Greece and Rome. Perhaps it should be prized that much more because it gives us a direct path back to the dim origins of civilisation in this part of the world.” – Peter Berresford Ellis

So, talk to me. What is your favorite Arthurian tale? Do you know of any Finn Mac Cumhaill stories? Which Celtic myths or legends are your favorites?