Category Archives: Inspiration

by | November 3, 2010 · 2:10 pm

Ten reasons why November is the perfect time to write

The Restless Writers were considering participating in NaNoWriMo this year. But one lingering bout with the flu, one schedule so busy that peeing had to be optional, and one flood of new freelance work all added up to a resounding not this year.

This doesn’t mean we’re not writing. We just have to do without the accountability, tips and motivational supports built into the NaNoWriMo community.

For those of you like us who are not part of the NaNo tsunami, here are some reasons why this month is still a great time to write:

10. We’re fresh off the flight from SiWC. Time to leverage that motivation into some ambitious word counts.

9. No-one’s getting any younger.

8. It’s getting cold outside, but it’s nice and toasty in front of your computer.

7. You won’t feel bad when you see those “Wrimos” tweeting their daily word counts, because you’ll be holding your own. (P.S. Tweets count…don’t they?)

6. Tweeting word counts—and not embellishing—will give you a warm fuzzy feeling, like a snifter of Drambuie.

5. Even though Scrivener for Windows isn’t yet available, now is a great time to check out some other software, like PageFour, RoughDraft and WriteWay Pro and see what you want to put on your Christmas wish list. See more options here.

4. What else will you do during the post-Halloween and pre-Christmas shopping and party marathons?

3. You still have two months to reach those writing goals you set for yourself last New Year’s. (Unless you’re @RestlessBJas, and you set your goals in September.)

2. There are no more reality show finales to distract you.

1. You’re a writer. This is your calling. Today is just another day that you have the chance to bring your stories to the world. So get to it!

Good luck to Wrimos and non-Wrimos alike!

Maria

PS: This was our 100th post. Cue the balloons, party hats, and wine in a box!

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by | October 26, 2010 · 10:03 pm

Table 28 reeks of awesome

The Surrey International Writers’ Conference was a hit!

The conference was a three-day bootcamp full of inspiration and motivation from the finest. Unfortunately, I came home with the flu, and I am still attempting to emerge from the post-conference fog. The flu, I should kick in a few days, no doubt. But the new friends, I hope to have for a long long time!

Thanks for the fun ladies! Here’s a little snapshot from Table 28 at the #SiWC2010 Friday night dinner. Yes, we reek of awesome.

Beckie

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by | October 12, 2010 · 10:30 pm

A Writer’s Job

A writer’s job is many things. It’s to tell stories. To document. To provoke. And like art, a writer’s job is never done; it’s only abandoned.

This morning I came across the quote below and it really seemed to resonate with me. In fact, I could still feel it tugging at me by the end of the day. Worthy of a yellow post-it note on my desk. And now a blog post to you fellow friends and restless writers:

“A writer’s job is to imagine everything so personally that the fiction is as vivid as memories.”    ~ John Irving

That’s good stuff, Mr. John.

Beckie

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by | September 2, 2010 · 11:05 pm

I am the midnight gardener

During the day, I am consumed with work and family commitments. But the night—it belongs to me. Sure, mostly because that is when I have the time to think about projects outside of grocery shopping, making lunches, and paying bills.

The night is for garden-puttering. If you happen to follow my tweets on twitter, you will already know that I pull weeds by the light of the moon—all while the hubs works with me, sometimes laying interlock stone and other times playing guitar to a chorus of crickets. You will also know we like to kick a soccer ball around the yard in the dark while stargazing.

Much of my late night activity is the result of being a bona-fide night owl. I am always more inspired (and productive) when the sun goes down. That is my time to write, paint, water the geraniums, and simply “be.” It is my time to postulate my next project and put my dreams on my to-do list. It’s also the best time to see the day in a whole new light. And what a treat it is to wake up the next morning and observe the results of midnight toil-abouts! Now, if only the neighbors would stop leaving garlic on our front porch (for real). We are not vamps, people. We just enjoy the night.

What can I say? Life happens. I happen later…

What keeps you up at night? What is your midnight garden?

Beckie

P.S. Books (with pretty covers) also keep me up at night. I’m reading some great garden fiction right now:

  • GARDEN SPELLS by Sarah Addison Allen
  • THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN by Kate Morton

Looking for more garden fiction? Check out these Library-recommended novels that have to do with gardens or growing green things. Fun titles like: SECOND THYME AROUND, CREEPING JENNY, BAD GIRL CREEK, and TULIP FEVER! You know you want to…. click here.

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by | July 29, 2010 · 9:20 pm

Who do YOU write like?

Okay, so, it’s almost Friday and I’m in for a little brainless fun. How ’bout that (as my grandfather would say). Simple. Writing. FUN.

Do you ever wonder which famous writer you write like?

I WRITE LIKE is a site with a statistical analysis tool, which analyzes your word choice and writing style and compares them with those of the famous writers. So, I gave it a go and plopped my first paragraph of my Middle Grade novel into the program:

Excerpt: BILLIE BOOTS, YOUR ROOTS ARE SHOWING by B. Jas

It all started with the man in the pinstriped suit. The kind of suit you get off the rack—and on sale. This man was Mr. Andy Beers and he turned my world upside down. He was a salesman of sorts. He sold my house. I saw the fateful handshake, the smiles, my dad’s bobbing chin and my mom’s perky performance at the kitchen table. I saw it all unfold from the relative safety of my swing. My parents had been washed over for sure by this stranger in the Lincoln Town Car. For a girl, I knew my cars, and as soon as I saw Mr. Beers drive up in that big boat, I knew he’d take my parents for a ride.

There ya have it.  Analysis complete. Apparently, I write like Corey Doctorow—a fellow Canadian (also a blogger, journalist, & sci-fi writer). If you’d like to give it a try, visit www.iwl.me. Any text in English will do: your latest blog post, journal entry, comment, chapter of your unfinished book, etc. For reliable results paste at least a few paragraphs (not tweets).

And while you’re at it, let us know your results. Which famous writer do YOU emulate?!

Beckie

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by | July 9, 2010 · 3:26 pm

We’d Like to Thank the Academy…


As they say in Beckie’s (YA) neck of the woods: OMG!

We’ve received an award for our blog! The lovely @KoreenClemens is an aspiring YA writer from Colorado and she likes random pop culture, writing and eating BBQ, so naturally we love her!

And right near our first anniversary, too! This is much better than the traditional paper present, let me tell you…

Thanks  so much,

Lori (& Beckie & Maria)

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by | June 25, 2010 · 10:55 am

We’re Ready For Our Close Up

Who is your celebrity doppelganger? Do people tell you so-and-so should play you in a movie? My best one was Marissa Tomei. The worst? Rosie O’Donnell. Also, after I got an unfortunate haircut in the late 90’s, Monica Lewinsky (seriously – I was stopped in the street about it).

Being a fiction writer and pop culture junkie, I’m always holding casting sessions in my mind for my stories. (FYI, Nia Vardalos, you are the lead in my manuscript, along with Bradley Cooper. You’re welcome.)

At our most recent, booze-infused meeting, the topic came up of who we would want to play us in a movie, tentatively titled “Champagne: A Love Story”.

First up, Maria.

This one was easy: Christina Hendricks. They each have beautiful crimson tresses, quiet intelligence and an impressive rack. Also, both can rock the naughty secretary thing like nobody’s business.

Casting Beckie was a bit more tricky.

We tossed out Mena Suvari, Alicia Silverstone and Kate Hudson. But to me, they’re too ingénue. Too obvious. Our little Beckie has some seriously delicious quirks that those ladies don’t capture for me. So, Leelee Sobieski it is. She’s super cute and you just know her still waters run very deep.

And me?

I’m gonna go with Nigella Lawson. Sure, she’s not an actress, but she’s got big-ass hair, isn’t afraid to show some cleavage (hers real, mine more of an optical illusion) and is a mad demon in the kitchen.

And, in case you haven’t noticed, food plays a vital role in a Restless Writers’ meeting, much like New York City is the fourth character in Sex and the City.

Who would play you in the movie of you?

Lori

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by | June 21, 2010 · 6:15 pm

A Magical Time to Write: Summer Solstice

Do you feel a little more inspired today?

We’re celebrating Summer Solstice 2010, the first day of summer—also the longest day of the year, with the shortest night (night owls: take note).

Solstice represents a time of newness, nourishment and sustenance, a movement from dark to light, rebirth, and healing. It’s a time to turn attention toward inner balance—between our dark and light sides—as well as those forces in the world around us. An occasion of great change, Midsummer is a time to contemplate healing, nurturing and nourishing of ourselves & the earth.

Summer solstice is also the perfect time to start writing and/or perhaps give a writing project new life. What do ya say restless writers?

 On The Summer Solstice …
“Whatever is dreamed on this night, will come to pass.”

William Shakespeare – Acknowledging the magic of this time in A Mid-Summernight’s Dream

Beckie

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by | June 16, 2010 · 3:32 pm

We’re 1 year old and already toilet trained!

It was a year ago that our little band of restless writers was born. We met like most people do these days – online. I posted a ‘group wanted’ notice on Brian Henry’s most excellent blog and the rest is history.

Beckie is our social media maven – a commenting crusader who tweets ‘til it hurts. Without her, our following would likely be limited to immediate relatives and each other.

Maria is the queen of the quill – an enormously talented and technical writer with a limitless supply of resources for writers in all stages of their vocation.

And me? I just write about how I never have the time or space to write.

Since coming together last year, we have collectively:
· Revised a 300-page women’s fiction manuscript
· Consumed over 20 bottles of wine while scarfing 8 rounds of brie
· Revised a young adult fiction manuscript and children’s non-fiction proposal
· Guzzled Sangria as we nibbled on truckloads of baguettes (with associated dips)
· Uttered, “Holy crap!” countless times when reading Maria’s charmingly disturbing short stories
· Convinced Maria that at least 3 of her short stories must become full novels
· Drank enough Strongbow Cider to fill a hot tub

Our second year looks to be even more promising, with writing conferences and retreats in the works (and, of course, lots of wine). I hope you all keep dropping by our blog…we’ve loved having you…

As for you, Beckie and Maria: happy anniversary…I love you, bitches!

Lori

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by | June 11, 2010 · 6:32 am

Writing Roots

Beckie wrote about when she writes, which got me thinking about where I write.

I’m writing this blog post at the hairdresser. I have a ridiculous amount of hair (think Witch Hazel of Bugs Bunny fame) that was gray before I hit thirty. At forty, a swathe of sidewalk-gray roots is visible every 3 weeks. My point being, I spend a lot of time – not to mention money – at my salon.

The upshot of this is that the hairdresser’s chair affords me the opportunity to write, uninterrupted, for almost an hour (as long as I can resist the siren song of People and Vanity Fair).

Being in such a public yet confined space, I’m surrounded by fascinating characters and conversations – many have made their way into my writing. I know coffee shops are a haven for countless writers; one friend writes her best work in the tub; many find inspiration at pubs or lounges (note to self: must try that).

Where do you do your best writing?

Lori

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