tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77715570947180738452024-03-14T03:34:43.617-05:00Monica FumaroloJust another day in my writing lifeMonica Fumarolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06751397905523351234noreply@blogger.comBlogger159125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771557094718073845.post-50845407507102651562014-02-22T10:32:00.003-06:002014-02-22T10:32:32.638-06:00Day #9314 - Going for GoalsThe Sochi Winter Olympics will soon be coming to a close, and what a ride it has been. I seem to be in the minority of people that absolutely loves the Olympics - especially the winter games - but I always have. When I was little, I probably could have named everyone on the 1992 US figure skating team. I wanted to be Kristi Yamaguchi so bad! I remember in 1996 when Keri Strug landed the vault that won the US's Magnificent Seven team gold in women's gymnastics. I watched Tara Lipinski and Michelle Kwan in awe in the '98 Nagano games. I became obsessed with curling in '02 Salt Lake, the Italian culture in '06 Turin, spent my 20th birthday watching Michael Phelps win gold in '08 Beijing, sat through a nail-biting USA-Canada hockey final in '10 Vancouver, and fell in love with London (again) in 2012.<br />
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For a non-athlete, my life has been influenced and touched by these grand Olympic moments. For these Sochi games, I was particularly struck right away how artistry meets insanity. Think about it. Skiing aerials, moguls, the half-pipe, skating, and plenty more of these events are all a blend of making something look beautiful, easy and pushing the absolute limits of the human body and gravity. I've lost track of the number of times over the past two weeks that I've asked "How can they do that? How is that even possible?"<br />
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The answer I've been hearing over and over is consistent: a lot of hard work, plus if there was ever a time to go big, it's the Olympics.<br />
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Being exposed to this kind of attitude so often for the last has been good for my writing. Since I only seem to post here once a month, I guess it's update time. The last WIP I mentioned has been set aside for the time being. It wasn't right. As I tried to push that idea, I found there wasn't enough there to make a full story of it right now. It's frustrating - I haven't finished a first draft in quite a while now - but sometimes it's just about timing. Rather than get upset about it, I combed through some of my old files and notes, wanting to write something just for me. I reread an idea I actually spent a few months on last year, still really liked it but now I could now recognize why it didn't work the first time I tried it.<br />
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So I've gutted it almost completely, but with some changes right from the start it's completely different. I can't remember the last time I had so much fun writing. I've been going slowly and taking my time but day dreaming a lot, having fun building this world, been putting together a secret Pinterest board, adding to this idea's notebook from last year, the whole works. But the biggest thing has been that I'm keeping this one to myself for now. I'm going big. My characters are doing and saying things I've never tried before. And I have no idea if it's good, but it's finally fun again.<br />
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Who knows how it will end up. Maybe I'll hit 10,000 words and freeze up again. But that's okay. Because the goal right now is to keep on writing, and if there was ever a time to do it, it's now.Monica Fumarolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06751397905523351234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771557094718073845.post-19243181839472609202014-01-14T20:57:00.001-06:002014-01-14T20:57:12.952-06:00Day #9275 - FrozenI know it's terribly to cliche to talk about the weather, but for once in a long while, it's actually quite worthy of the level of conversation it's been getting. A week ago, it was -20 F. Today it was 50 degrees warmer - a downright balmy 30 degrees.<div>
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Take a minute to let your brain wrap around that one and explode if absolutely necessary. It's weird. It just is.</div>
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Anyway, Chicagoland has been covered in snow for quite a while now and the windchills last week were borderline scary (at least for this part of the country). A good remedy for this? Seeing the movie Frozen and then listening to the soundtrack on repeat.</div>
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Seriously. Great life choice.</div>
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So frozen is an adequate word to describe my physical environment. It's also a pretty good choice for describing how I'm feeling about my current WIP. I've discovered a pattern that frightens me. Simply put, I have a tendency to hit 10,000 words on a project and then freeze. Even though I know where I plan on the story going, even though I adore my characters and know them inside-out, I still get stuck. </div>
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I've been stuck on my current scene for the better part of a week because every time I sit down to the keyboard, the doubts come floating back in. About how despite all the queries I sent to agents for my first manuscript, I only got two or three requests for a partial or full and no offers of representation. What makes me think this story will be different? If no one wanted that story, who would want this one? Is it good enough? Or am I waisting my time? </div>
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But then the earbuds go in to try and drown the doubts out. Because the truth is, 10,000 words isn't half bad. It's a <i>something</i>. And As for this story, I love it. It's the kind of story I would have loved to find on a bookshelf when I was 17. And sure, I'm still in the dreaded first draft and there's a very, very long way to go, but I need to keep reminding myself that there's a reason that of all the plot bunnies that were in my brain, I followed this one for a reason. I need to give myself the benefit of the doubt. And yes, it may very well be that I'm the only one who ever reads this story. But it's mine to tell. I have an obligation to myself. So I'm not technically an author, but I am a writer as long as I keep trying.</div>
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So here's to being frozen, and here's to the thaw.</div>
Monica Fumarolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06751397905523351234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771557094718073845.post-83423255052165398082014-01-02T14:27:00.002-06:002014-01-02T14:35:53.614-06:00Day #9263 - New Year, Same-ish MeHappy 2014! In some ways, it's hard to believe it's already here. In other ways, it couldn't have gotten here soon enough.<br />
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As usual, I've been terrible about posting regularly on this blog. But in my defense, I didn't really feel like I had anything worth saying. "Hey guys, it's me. And things are exactly as you'd expect." Why write it and post it if we all felt like you'd be waisting time reading it? But still, I'm lucky enough to be in a position where I can express my opinions and all that jazz, and this blog has been such a part of my life for so long, I'd hate for this to be the year that I let it down.<br />
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2013 wasn't a bad year, but it certainly challenged me in ways I could have done without. But you don't want to read about that and I don't want to write it, so let's look at the the positives! Back in March, my winning short story entry to Lisa Burstein's diary contest was printed, putting my words and by-line out in there in a book! I'm still very proud of that. It was also the year that I got to go to my first ever conference. I spent about four days at the end of June/beginning of July at McCormick Place in Chicago for the American Library Association Annual Conference where I went to some amazing panels, had fun with my awesome roommates, met fabulous people (including a few favorite authors!) and came home with ARCs to spare. Thirdly, my brother got married! I was a bridesmaid for my gorgeous sister in law and the day was fantastic from top to bottom. It also became the third wedding in a row where I caught the bouquet (not that my friends really put up any sort of effort haha).<br />
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So yeah. Lots of good happened! Writing wise, apart from my short story, things were a bit harder. I found fun in <a href="http://stayradish.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">short stories in the blog I started with my critique parter, Stories by SaM</a>, but my longer fiction was a bit more troublesome. I finally understand what authors mean when they say that sometimes they need to write themselves into a story for a while to find out if it will be a good fit. I had two different projects that I loved, but the timing or something was just off so I made the tough decision to put them to the side. However, I'm working on something right now and so far, I'm feeling good.<br />
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I also made the choice at the end of the year to give the manuscript I'd queried back in 2012 one last shot through Swoon Reads. This is an imprint of Macmillian and how it works is kind of cool: writers can post their novels to their site and readers can vote for the ones they like. Swoon Reads actually plans to properly publish novels that are submitted here! So if you make an account (it's free), you can read my manuscript, and if you like it please vote for it! <a href="http://www.swoonreads.com/m/my-life-unscripted" target="_blank">(Click this link - you know you want to!)</a><br />
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It's only day 2 of the year, but I've already been busy and have a full calendar coming. Let's keep our fingers crossed for more good things for one and all!Monica Fumarolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06751397905523351234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771557094718073845.post-55116311772455056842013-12-23T17:41:00.000-06:002013-12-23T17:41:39.266-06:00Day #9253 - Goodbye, Raggedy ManEven though we've all known it's been coming for months, I'm still having a hard time fully wrapping my head around the fact that the day after tomorrow, Matt Smith's time as the Doctor will actually be over. He was my first Doctor, after all. The very first episode of Doctor Who I ever watched was The Eleventh Hour and I was immediately taken. How had I never heard of this before? How could I have ever dismissed science fiction and insisted it just wasn't for me?<br />
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Matt Smith, in a way, changed my life. Because of him and his portrayal of the Doctor, a dream of mine was able to come true.<br />
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This time last year, I was still grieving the departure of Amy and Rory. Like I said, I was new to the show so it was my first time dealing with saying goodbye to characters like this. At the same time, I was continuing to pursue my writing ambitions. I've been an aspiring novelist for a few years now, always practicing my craft and praying for my break. It came in the form of a short story contest: Lisa Burstein wrote a novel told through diary entries. Her challenge was to write the diary entry of a fictional character, pick finalists, let fans vote, and the winning story would be printed in the back of her novel. So I went back to The Eleventh Hour and there was Amy and the Doctor. I wrote a story about how much I'd love to travel through time and space with this amazing Time Lord, big chin and all. I entered it, forgot about it, and no one was more shocked than me when I found out I won. In March, a dream came true. I saw my name in print, in a book, for the first time. Something I'd written was out there for all to see.<br />
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All thanks to the Doctor. In the last few seasons, Matt Smith has had epic speeches and amazing adventures and wacky headwear and two hearts of gold. Through his portrayal of everyone's favorite alien, I learned how to look at humanity though a new lens. There is always hope and the choices aren't always easy, but in this Universe, no one is ever truly alone.<br />
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Last year, I welcomed Clara as the new companion with open arms. And over the years I've caught up on all the 'new Who' I'd missed, so I've seen how regeneration works before. I'm sure Peter Capaldi will do a great job and I really am excited to see what comes next for the show. But Matt Smith is my Doctor, and saying goodbye to my Raggedy Man will make this, in some ways, a TARDIS Blue Christmas.Monica Fumarolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06751397905523351234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771557094718073845.post-38558055553736011552013-11-17T17:35:00.001-06:002013-11-17T17:35:45.973-06:00Day #9217 - The More Things ChangeIt has been a very long time since I've been this bad at posting here, but better late than never, right?<br />
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And so, a recap. The past few months have been incredibly busy. The school year started back up and right away I was up to my eyeballs in all of the library things, plus my new official role as assistant director of the school's drama club who put together a comedy just in time for Halloween.<br />
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Of course I didn't actually get to see either of the performances of the show for an audience, but with good reason! After a very long engagement, Brother got married that weekend, so I now have a sister in law and brought my bouquet catching record for the year up to 3 out of 5 weddings.<br />
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And really, that's just the tip of the iceberg. So far, being 25 has been all about changes. But the more things change, the more they stay the same. My family is growing, but that just means they matter to me that much more. My job has brought more new people into my life as well, and for that I'm grateful.<br />
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But the thing that has the most to do with me, the change that is most predictable considering my life is this: I'm writing again. And I mean that in the long story sense. Yes, my critique partner Sarah and I have been writing <a href="http://stayradish.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">short stories for our blog Stories by SaM</a> so it's not like I've been completely dormant, but my success with long stories hasn't been so great. I grew very thick skin when I queried my first novel and part of me is still really disappointed that I wasn't able to find an agent for it. I wasn't expecting to need so much time to bounce back, but I was terrified of facing the page again. If that idea sucked, then how would I know if my others are any good?<br />
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Eventually, I got over that fear. Or more like I got used to it. This summer, I jumped back in with a science fiction story unlike anything I'd ever done before. And after 100 pages, I had to stop. I still believe in the story, but I'm not the writer I need to be to give that story what it needs yet.<br />
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So it was back to the drawing board. Again. Not a fun place to be, but the great thing about finally finding a critique partner who understands how my brain works meant I wasn't alone. Her feedback on my short stories has been helpful, and it was actually the thing that got me into a new project. Code name: Red Novel. I've made it a hashtag and everything. Not going to lie, it's going slowly. It's a little bit painful. But it's different, I'm excited, and I'm taking my time. Simply put, I'm trying because sometimes, I think Yoda got it wrong. Sometimes, all there is is try.<br />
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And that, dear readers, is where I'm at.Monica Fumarolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06751397905523351234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771557094718073845.post-40689678244057792512013-08-13T11:54:00.001-05:002013-08-13T11:54:19.454-05:00Day #9121 - Road Trip to Tennessee<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/AD1NYcaTtoA" width="400"></iframe>Monica Fumarolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06751397905523351234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771557094718073845.post-27556420523901650882013-08-04T20:24:00.001-05:002013-08-04T21:25:05.308-05:00Day #9112 - Esther DayIn the English language, we're taught at a fairly young age that four letter words have the tendency to be very powerful, but none is more powerful than love.<br />
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It's a word that gets thrown around pretty liberally sometimes. I love this song or that movie or your haircut. It's a word that we know has big implications when you're romantically involved with someone. To tell a significant other "I love you" is usually a big step in the relationship, or maybe not a big step because maybe you're saying something that you both already know is there. (I'm just assuming here - I've never fallen in love so I can only guess.)</div>
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But the term 'significant other' is so misleading in a few ways. I'm not dating anyone, but that doesn't make the people who are in my life at the moment insignificant. And I love them, certainly not in a romantic way because that would be weird, but I love these people who make up my family and friends.</div>
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It all brings us to Esther Day. August 3rd was the birthday of Esther Earl, a Nerdfighter who unfortunately passed away when she was far too young at the age of 16 due to cancer. However, before she died, Vlogbrothers John and Hank Green told her the community would make her birthday a Nerdfighter holiday and the day would celebrate whatever she wanted it to. Wise beyond her years (or at least much wiser than I was at that age), she decided the day should be one to celebrate all the kinds of love that Valentine's Day looks over. The non-romantic love. The family and friends and platonic loves that shape our lives just as much, yet how often do we really stop and tell those people?</div>
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I'm guilty of not saying "I love you" very often. I feel it, I try to show it, but considering how much words make up my life, saying "I love you" is hard. But yesterday, for Esther and just because I should, I was at a baseball game with my parents, brother, and future sister-in-law. It was a beautiful summer night, we were having a good time, and I was weirdly nervous, but I said it. I told them all that I loved them.</div>
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And it was SUPER AWKWARD. Nice, yes, but also kind of FREAKING WEIRD. My parents were very touched, but it was especially weird to say to my brother (we both made a face, honestly) and then we went back to our evening just as it was before, only now I could feel good about the fact that my family knows for a fact that I love them. I used my words.</div>
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It shouldn't be hard and it shouldn't take an unofficial holiday to make it happen, but it was and it did, and I'm grateful for it. So thank you, Esther, wherever you are, for making such a fantastic choice. My family and I appreciate it.</div>
Monica Fumarolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06751397905523351234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771557094718073845.post-3280725217911466822013-08-02T15:48:00.000-05:002013-08-02T15:48:11.702-05:00Day #9110 - Twenty-Five Thousand and Fifty-Eight Reasons to CelebrateInternet, this really isn't a huge occasion in the grand scheme of things, but it is to me and I've decided to share it with you.<br />
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This summer has been hard for me. Emotionally I've had a lot of baggage piling up in a very un-fun way making it increasingly difficult to stay positive. Add on the fact that in just under three weeks I head back to work, turn 25, and my time becomes incredibly crunched and it just makes the pressure levels rise until I feel like I am going to burst. Or collapse. Or break down. Maybe even all three.<br />
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So writing should have been my escape, right? I put together the best outline I've ever done for a piece. I had to think so much about how this plot and these characters were going to fit together before I could get started, and I did it. I put in the hours. I have a notebook keeping all my thoughts consolidated. I have an amazing critique partner who helps me figure ways out of tough spots and cheering me on when I want to give up. But my demons wouldn't leave me alone. There would be days where I couldn't even think about this story, so I'd instead retreat into a side project for Stories by SaM. I kept reading and writing (and lately listening to audiobooks. <i>The Raven Boys</i> by Maggie Stiefvater is a book I liked last year, but am completely loving as an audiobook right now). But this story, code name Bluebird Novel, continued to give me trouble despite my efforts.<br />
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It wasn't even a question of why. I know why. I'm afraid I'm not a good enough writer for this idea. They few people I've shared the basic plot with have loved it, so imagine how deeply in love I am. I just want it to be great. I want the vision in my head and this journey these characters go on to be the best it can be. But am I a good enough writer to make that happen? Some days I'm convinced I'm not. Other days, I'm hopeful. The past two days especially I was finally able to get up off the mat and try again. And this afternoon, I crossed over the 25,000 word mark.<br />
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Is the pacing off? Probably. Is the dialogue perfect? Not even close. But the pieces are starting to come together. My characters' voices are becoming more distinct. Their situation more dire. I'm actually making myself take a break right now so when I pick up tomorrow, I'll be able to carry over some of today's momentum. Considering how rotten I was feeling about trying to make this story work before, today 25,000 words feels like a miracle. Now only 55,000 to go... I think I can do it.<br />
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This book, if I can do it right, has the potential to be something really special. Could it be my 'big break?' Who knows. After my last tour of Queryland, I'm not getting my hopes up. However, I finally feel like a Writer again, which is no small feat. Even if this story only ends up being for me and a few people I choose to share it with, it's still definitely a Something.<br />
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So that's a good feeling. In honor of this nice big word count number and good feeling, therefore,<b><i> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaZQG0cyH5Q" target="_blank">click the link here</a></i></b> to listen to one of the songs on my playlist for this novel. Not only does it reflect how I feel sometimes (especially with my writing), but it also captures the feelings of my protagonist really well. =)Monica Fumarolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06751397905523351234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771557094718073845.post-30331360027582668212013-07-30T10:36:00.001-05:002013-07-30T10:36:14.972-05:00Day #9107 - 24 Until 25So I turn 25 in 24 days and as it turns out, this is bringing up a lot of <i>feelings</i>.<br />
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Yeah, I'm not wild about it either. I'm actually terrified. The thing about growing up is that it never stops. Well, I mean, yeah it stops when you're dead, but if life-life is stagnet, if you're not growing anymore, then something is wrong.<br />
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In a lot of ways, I do feel like this is the right age for me. My interests. My tastes in music and clothes and what my idea of a good time is. I have my own beliefs and opinions that I may not have had a few years ago. I care about different things. I see the world more complexly. I have dreams and goals and desires that my teenage self never would have been able to wrap her head around. They would have seemed to foreign and far away.<br />
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Yet, in more ways than I'm entirely comfortable with, I don't feel almost-25 at all. I still feel like wearing high heels means I'm playing dress up. I still don't have a solid understanding of things I think 'grown ups' should like stocks and stuff. (I also frequently still use the word 'stuff' - yeah, I have an English degree and fancy myself a writer.) My friends are getting married and having babies, but it feels like just yesterday we were going to each other's high school graduation parties. Now we talk about car payments and home projects. Instead of going out at 10:00, I consider it a good day when I'm in bed by that time.<br />
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So this last month before I hit the quarter-century mark will be a busy one. I've got a lot of emotions I want to sort through, I have to get ready for a new school year to start at the end of August, I have a massive stack of books to read, and I want to make more progress on my own WIP before said school year sucks me in and 'free time' becomes fictional again. Wish me luck, Internet. These 24 days are going to be something else...<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/LwVu1mn4hi4?rel=0" width="400"></iframe>Monica Fumarolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06751397905523351234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771557094718073845.post-21312311421436876122013-07-19T16:41:00.001-05:002013-07-19T16:41:36.542-05:00Day #9096 - Fortune Cookie Day<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/qNQ1Oq3LnVc?rel=0" width="400"></iframe>Monica Fumarolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06751397905523351234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771557094718073845.post-81411212920972564052013-07-07T17:08:00.001-05:002013-07-07T17:08:51.671-05:00Day #9084 - Dear JuneInspired by EmilieOfNewGloom's Letters to July and the also popular Document Your Life project, I've decided that after a year of doing favorite things videos every month I'd instead try making a video-letter to the month that has just past.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/-D5Q4W47YkU?rel=0" width="400"></iframe>Monica Fumarolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06751397905523351234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771557094718073845.post-72536822556644670922013-06-23T19:16:00.000-05:002013-06-23T19:16:05.217-05:00Day #9070 - Onward!Hey, you little blog of mine. Hey, you awesome readers. I've been neglecting you. Again. And I'm sorry, so here is me trying to make up for some lost time.<br />
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The last few weeks and months have been crazy for a lot reasons and in a lot of ways, most of which I am not going to share with Internet because A) not relevant and B) boundaries, people! What I can say is that at least the juices have been flowing when it comes to story ideas. Some of this has been great for output over on <a href="http://stayradish.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Stories by SaM</a>, but a war was waging in my head between two bigger concepts that I've had for a while.<br />
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Unable to figure out which to pursue, I thought that especially since it's summer I could be ambitious and try both. What resulted was two outlines: one took me almost a week to get out, but I was less sure it was really right with each passing day. The second one I churned out in less than a day. It was six pages long and that wasn't even getting into detail. This goes along with the lists of characters I've had brewing along with a map I drew up.<br />
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Yeah, you heard me. A map. This is serious.<br />
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Needless to say, I'm going to give this story my full attention with the other one going into the proverbial drawer along with the others I've had over the years.<br />
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Now is the hard part: the actual writing it. I love and hate this part, which is pretty normal for writers. Having an outline and lists and maps is great, but I'm only a writer if I'm actually writing. So wish me luck as I venture into this one. It's a genre I've never considered writing before and an idea I never would have thought could have come out of my brain, but that fact excites me more than it scares me, which I hope is good.<br />
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Also on the calendar is the ALA Conference in Chicago Thursday thru Monday - if you will be there, let me know! I'd love to meet people =)<br />
<br />Monica Fumarolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06751397905523351234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771557094718073845.post-39684420643694320982013-05-31T19:48:00.000-05:002013-05-31T19:48:01.481-05:00Day #9047 - The Very Merry Month of May<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RFPzk_WyDcw?rel=0" width="400"></iframe>Monica Fumarolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06751397905523351234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771557094718073845.post-71776264367170975422013-05-24T07:37:00.002-05:002013-05-24T07:37:30.467-05:00Day #9040 - RIP EckertA few weeks ago, I threw a funeral for my Halloween pumpkin, Eckert. Literally threw.<br />
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Monica Fumarolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06751397905523351234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771557094718073845.post-36302002908500540452013-05-09T21:21:00.001-05:002013-05-09T21:22:03.824-05:00Day #9025 - Let's Go Fly a KiteThis past Easter, my grandmother gave my three young cousin kites. Even though it was freezing, there was a good breeze going so us older grandkids (we'll always be in the kids category even most of us are in our 20s) took them outside and taught the youngins how to fly a kite. I brought my camera and here's what happened.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jgh4UQR0-Fs?rel=0" width="400"></iframe>Monica Fumarolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06751397905523351234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771557094718073845.post-66613427998939048302013-05-04T09:22:00.001-05:002013-05-04T09:50:48.012-05:00Day #9020 - Using My WordsLife keeps drumming along, and I'm equal parts happy and sad that I've been busy and haven't had quite as much time to write about it here. Happy because it means I'm doing other things, sad because I like documenting what's going on for fear that I will forget far too soon.<br />
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Now that the play I was an assistant director for at the high school is now over, my evenings have once again opened up. This includes going back to the gym (or at least thinking about it), writing, and author events. For the first time in what feels like forever, my writing has been making progress. Though it saddens me to put my fairy tale inspired project back on hold - it's simply not ready for me yet - this sci-fi thing makes me excited and I've had fun playing around with it and doing some world building. It now has its own composition notebook where I can keep all my thoughts together and I'm hoping to do some more outlining this weekend so more actual writing can happen very soon.<br />
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But unlike past projects, I don't want to do too much too fast. I think that's been my problem - I try to get ALL THE IDEAS down ALL AT ONCE and then I get into lulls. Luckily, thanks to the author event I went to at Andeson's this week, I think I've learned how to stop doing that.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WcGati2fdxcusTgczcYptiRL3KGi-NrUdXoaXZjM1zjAR0gE4vHnbaFCs58yE9HuYfgKdjHnbZuR_0xVTSJ5BNJ0ZPjVa4TcgKNuJm550PylE7fXTsxqncGU8LfQ5b3VIKiNWcBu-Uo/s1600/IMG_1402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WcGati2fdxcusTgczcYptiRL3KGi-NrUdXoaXZjM1zjAR0gE4vHnbaFCs58yE9HuYfgKdjHnbZuR_0xVTSJ5BNJ0ZPjVa4TcgKNuJm550PylE7fXTsxqncGU8LfQ5b3VIKiNWcBu-Uo/s200/IMG_1402.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lauren Morrill, me, <br />
& Lenore Applehans</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thursday night I headed to Naperville and got to meet the lovely Lenore Appelhans (<i>Level 2,</i> being rereleased as <i>The Memory of After</i>), Lauren Morrill (<i>Meant to Be</i>), and Lauren Oliver (<i>Before I Fall, The Delirium Trilogy</i>). They were all insightful, wonderful, and fantastic and it was a great little trip in the middle of the week because I haven't been to a signing in ages. <a href="http://fumafiles.blogspot.com/2013/03/do-you-believe-meant-to-be.html" target="_blank">I've written a review of <i>Meant to Be</i> over on my book review blog</a> and if you love Shakespeare, England, and love stories with quirky nerdy girls, then this is the book for you! As for <i>Level 2</i>, I have it on my Nook and can't wait to jump into this action packed tale of the afterlife.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_aqobzRyxPqXhwK7J_-P1v5DrJzGdN87tdhZqbhxszu46YPUHqHlzlQ8aAYs2UzOXqjjcvFctvCMplBZqi0DPN0GP68ilaVFzmTOUN8h7MyhqKyKt-AcnRofM0F7OBZEB4IGIOJ9WzlM/s1600/IMG_1410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_aqobzRyxPqXhwK7J_-P1v5DrJzGdN87tdhZqbhxszu46YPUHqHlzlQ8aAYs2UzOXqjjcvFctvCMplBZqi0DPN0GP68ilaVFzmTOUN8h7MyhqKyKt-AcnRofM0F7OBZEB4IGIOJ9WzlM/s200/IMG_1410.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me & Lauren Oliver</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But back to the writing part. Lauren Oliver's writing method was what struck me perhaps the most: she's currently working on three books at the same time, and she says she is able to do this 1) because she has no other hobbies so she rewards herself on a good day of writing with more writing and 2) because unlike other writers I know/have heard of who set a minimum word count for the day, she sets a limit. If she's working on one book, she'll go for 1000-1500 words a day. If she's doing two books, she'll do 750 words in one, then 500 in the other. If it's like now when she's doing three, she writes less in two and is copy editing the third.<br />
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As soon as I heard this, it was like a light went off in my head - how brilliant, right? She says that way, she's not binging on words. Even if she's in the middle of a scene and wants to keep going, she knows she'll still feel that way tomorrow and it actually makes it easier to jump back in and keep momentum. Needless to say I love this and will be trying this out in my own life.<br />
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Another writing announcement I have is that my critique partner and I have started a short story blog as a means of helping us practice skills and play with new ideas. The site is called Stories by SaM and you can check it out at <a href="http://stayradish.wordpress.com/">http://stayradish.wordpress.com</a>. Since May is Short Story Month, we're each taking turns writing a story a day following the daily prompt posted on StoryADay.org. We're doing this blog style so we can get comments and feedback from people, so please don't be shy!<br />
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And that, dear Internet, is what's been going on lately. For the most part. Well, it's as much as I'm willing to share with the PUBLIC for now. And since I forgot to post this last week, here's my April favorites video for you all to enjoy!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/p8wNfM1ppnw" width="400"></iframe><br />
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Hope you all have a fantastic weekend =)Monica Fumarolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06751397905523351234noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771557094718073845.post-49054211984398762132013-04-25T21:01:00.000-05:002013-04-26T12:30:15.824-05:00Day #9011 - Just Jump In, Already!When I'm feeling stuck with my writing, I like to read about writing and seek out as much advice as I can on how to make it work.<br />
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Needless to say, I do a lot more reading about writing than actual writing these days. And it comes down to one simple reason: I'm terrified. I've had very little success on this journey in the grand scheme of things, and I do so much dreaming and have so many ideas but then when I do have time to face the page, everything comes out all wrong and awful and it SUCKS.<br />
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But enough of that crap. I'm sick of being scared, so I'm taking to my writing in the same way I've had to take on other aspects of my life in the last few months: just jump on in and hope to God I figure something out along the way.<br />
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It's actually all thanks to the authors I've been lucky enough to meet. Meg Cabot signed a book for me along with a card stating that I'm the world's best librarian and suggested to start small - make it your goal to write at least one page a day and if you do that, you'll have a 60,000/200 page manuscript in 6 months, maybe less. I met my critique partner at a Maggie Stiefvater signing where the author gave the advice to write the story you've always wanted to read but haven't found on a bookshelf.<br />
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But really, the debut authors are the ones who have gotten my butt in gear. I look at my signed copy of <i>Shadow and Bone</i> by Leigh Bardugo and remember how excited she was to be on her first tour for her first book, how cool she was and supportive and how I left believing in myself. I remember Jen Bosworth, author of <i>Struck</i>, who had an idea that maybe others thought was wacky but she went with it and it was incredible. And they were both so nice to me, and it meant the world.<br />
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Which is why I finally feel ready to face my latest idea. There have been two ideas duking it out in my head for the last few months while I've been terrified. One is fun, contemporary, so completely <i>me</i> (or at least who I've always thought writing-me is/would be) and I started writing it last summer, got 100 pages in, got stuck, recently reread it and figured out what I need to change, except I still can't get it to work the way I want it to. I mean, I know first drafts are supposed to be shitty, but I can't even get enough to work on the page to even approach shitty.<br />
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All the while, there's been this other idea that is just so not me. It's science fiction-y, dystopian-but-not, delves into a lot of social and political issues and I can't believe this idea ever came out of me. I mean, this idea is so BIG and it terrifies me because I want to do it justice. I love that this weirdness came out of me, but can I make it work? I think this could be something different, special, or maybe just completely crazy. And I want to see where it goes, so I'm just going to jump in already and let that other idea incubate for a little while longer. I have no doubt it could work someday, it just needs more time to simmer. In the meantime, I have this THING that is just SO WEIRD that I need to see where it goes.<br />
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After all, if Leigh can turn the Darkness into a villain in a world with beauty and magic and passion and all the feels and Jen can have a girl who's addicted to getting struck by lightning stuck in a battle between two warring religious cults in the middle of the apocalypse, maybe my idea isn't so crazy. Maybe it would be right at home with these other ones and this is me finally finding a voice that will be heard.<br />
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So, on the count of three. 1...2...God help me 3!Monica Fumarolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06751397905523351234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771557094718073845.post-13228170995716741322013-03-24T20:32:00.003-05:002013-03-24T20:32:39.205-05:00Day #8979 - PatienceOh, Internet. Remember when I used to be a more dependable blogger here? Someone who actually posted with a relatively high level of consistency with entries that weren't all embedded YouTube videos and contained, you know, words and thoughts with substance?<br />
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Well spring is here (though it certainly doesn't feel like it here in Chicagoland) and I'm determined to be better about that. New season, fresh start.<br />
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So what have I been up to? Quite a lot. There was the <i>Dear Cassie</i> release at the beginning of the month and was fun, but at the same time, after that day came and went, I was left with my usual paralyzing fear that always accompanies my writing. My Amy Pond contest entry is now out in the world, and it's my only writing 'success' to date. While it did give my confidence a boost and I did send out a fresh round of query letters, the responses haven't really changed. Form rejections. Gotta love 'em. Though at least I am developing a thick skin on that front.<br />
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I was also lucky enough for my pitch to be selected for Write On Con's Pitch-Fest and I got more feedback from fresh sets of eyes. It was really helpful to get constructive criticism. Unfortunately I queried so many agents with a letter that I now know wasn't the strongest and I still have a ways to go on perfecting my pitch skills. The rational part of me is winning that internal battle, knowing that it's better I learn this sooner rather than later, but there is that dark corner of my brain where the doubts dwell where I spend a lot of time, frustrated that I still can't seem to get this right and what if I'm not meant to ever be a published author?<br />
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Patience and practice, though, are the keys to success. Or at least that's what I keep telling myself, though if I'm honest, I haven't done much writing since the <i>Dear Cassie</i> contest as a result of these fears. I keep planning and planning and note taking and there's been a lot of thinking about writing and my story idea.<br />
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Just not really so much writing. So this upcoming week while I'm off from work (school district I work for is on spring break), I want to step away from my procrastination-via-planning and actually start writing this project. I'm a planner, not a panster, so I know I won't be too comfortable writing without knowing quite where I'm going for too long, but it's time to get back on the bike so to speak.<br />
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There's been a lot of other things filling my days too. Family members and friends announcing engagements and babies on the way and I'm also helping directing a play at my school. But this is the Internet, so you don't get to know everything =P Just believe me when I say there's plenty of good going on too.<br />
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So that's enough for one rambling post. Hopefully "next time" will be sooner rather than later =)Monica Fumarolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06751397905523351234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771557094718073845.post-63914320749195274202013-03-12T22:35:00.001-05:002013-03-12T22:35:21.477-05:00Day #8967 - Q&A<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hey there, Internet! The awesome and most excellent Erin Brambilla recently tagged me in a blog post on writing and all kinds of fun things, and I thought it would be a fun way to share with you guys what my big writing project thus far (the one that has brought me to Queryland) is about. So here goes!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">1. Who would win in a staring contest, Harry Potter or Percy Jackson?</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Ordinarily I am totally Team Harry, but this is tricky because Percy </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">is the son of Poseidon and can control water, so that probably means he </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">can keep his eyes extra hydrated. I've got to go with Percy on this </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">one.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">2. You’re out of black ink on deadline day, in which color do you print </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">your manuscript to send back to your (perhaps hypothetical) editor: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Cyan, Magenta, or Yellow? Why?</span></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Cyan, absolutely. Pink just doesn't suit my story, and if I really did </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">have an editor, I feel like trying to make him or her read 200 pages </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">of yellow text would be a great way to get dropped by said editor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">3. Tell us about your book.</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">INSERT NEXT BIG THING QUESTIONS HERE</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>What is your working title of your book?</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I'm actually working on a different project right now, but the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">manuscript I'm shopping around is Stage Directions.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>Where did the idea come from for the book?</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I was in theatre in junior high as well as all four years of high </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">school, and it's a bizarre and crazy world to be a part of. There were </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">so many times when things would happen that me and my friends would </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">say "you couldn't make that up if you wanted to," so I decided to </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">write a story in honor of those years and people.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>What genre does your book fall under?</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">YA Contemporary (with a dash of romance)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I'm so far out of the loop with keeping up with teen actors, so my </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">answers may suck here. For Colin, I picture a young Zachary Levi and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">for Annie, I always pictured me haha =)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">In her final months of high school, Annie Miller deals with drama on </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">stage and off as she juggles figuring out what her ex-boyfriend wants </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">from her, coming to terms with her growing feelings for her best </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">friend Colin, and being an understudy for a play in which everything </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">that can go wrong, does.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I've been in Queryland for almost a year now with no big news yet. I'd </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">prefer to go the traditional route when it comes to publishing.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">First draft took about 4 months (summer vacation - one of the perks of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">working in schools) full time, but I've been polishing and continue to </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">work at it as I get feedback from readers.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I'm a huge fan of Sarah Dessen, Stephanie Perkins, Elizabeth Eulberg, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">and Maureen Johnson so I think if you like their stories, you would </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">like mine.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>Who or what inspired you to write this book?</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I wouldn't have been able to write this without my years of theatre </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">growing up, my summer as an actress for my local park district, and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">finally becoming a teacher and helping direct plays now (actually at </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">my old high school!). A lot of that went into this book.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Theatre plus music plus cool nerds plus drama onstage and off plus cute boys =)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">4. An asteroid is screaming toward Earth and only one dance craze is </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">allowed in the hidey-hole that saves humanity: Gangnam Style, The </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Electric Slide, The Macarena, or The Harlem Shake. Which one do you </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">save? (And you’re not allowed to say none) Also, if you are brave </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">enough: Post a video of you doing said dance. THAT’S RIGHT. AN </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">OPTIONAL CHALLENGE!</span></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Oh this question. I dislike this question because I really don't keep </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">up on dance crazes! Mi going with the Electric Slide because at least </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">there is a level of full body, choreographed movement that I can do </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">without looking too odd. It's timeless, whereas I'm convinced the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Harlem Shake and Gangam are things that will puzzle and confuse us for </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">years to come if we even bother to remember them at all, like Mambo </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Number 5.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">5. What book are you currently reading?</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I'm currently between books, but I just finished the original novel </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">version of <i>Legally Blonde</i> by Amanda Brown as well as <i>Dear Cassie</i> by </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Lisa Burstein. Next up is <i>Me Before You</i> by Jojo Moyes.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">6. Who is your favorite author? (I give you permission to cry that you </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">can only choose one and then I’ll let you choose, say, two or three if </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">you must)</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">This question is impossible!! I have an English degree and a library </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">degree!! Okay, if I really had to narrow it down, I will say Jane </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Austen and Shakespeare for my more literary self, and Stephanie</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Perkins, John Green, and A.S. King as a select few of the YA authors I </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">love.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">7. What inspired you to become a writer?</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I have always loved reading and stories and have spent most of my life </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">caught up in day dreams. Finally I just figured why not see what </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">happens if I write them down?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">8. What’s your favorite eReader?</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I have an old-school Nook which I really like for when I'm traveling, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">though I also use my iPad as an eReader which works well too.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">9. Favorite internet distraction?</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">YouTube, with close runners up being Pinterest and Tumblr.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">10. Favorite fictional boyfriend?</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">These questions are killing me!! Mr. Darcy and Mr. Knightly from the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Austen universe are favorites. And Captain Wentworth! And then there </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">are so many from YA who are great, so I guess for the sake of picking </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">one right now I'll go with Eli Stock from Along for the Ride.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">11. If you write drunk and edit sober, name the drinks for each. (Like </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">mine would be wine and coffee)</span></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">I don't do it often, but I enjoy writing with a glass of wine or a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">beer every now and again because I'm more willing to roll with however </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">things come out. More often than not, though, I'm accompanied by </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">coffee or tea.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">And that's my first Q&A! I tag whoever wants to be tagged, go ahead with Erin's questions because they're good ones =)</span><br />
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Monica Fumarolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06751397905523351234noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771557094718073845.post-31834155693783178302013-03-05T14:47:00.000-06:002013-03-05T14:47:04.238-06:00Day #8960 - Release Day<i>Dear Cassie</i> by Lisa Burstein is finally in print, which means I finally got to go to the bookstore and see my short story printed in a book for the first time!!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/J7RyN84Oiek?rel=0" width="400"></iframe>Monica Fumarolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06751397905523351234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771557094718073845.post-27175058351728104102013-02-28T22:26:00.002-06:002013-02-28T22:26:41.959-06:00Day #8955 - February FavoritesZombies and sci-fi and Shakespearean tragedies,<br />
these are a few of my February favorite things!<br />
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Also, happy birthday to my pals born on February 29th. Because I never know if it's appropriate to say that a day early or on March 1st (which feels really late because then we're in a new month).Monica Fumarolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06751397905523351234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771557094718073845.post-62571221026520278632013-02-24T19:41:00.001-06:002013-02-24T19:41:06.335-06:00Day #8951 - Five Years, Five ThingsFive years ago today I made my YouTube account, so I of course had to make a video to mark the occasion.<br />
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Monica Fumarolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06751397905523351234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771557094718073845.post-29600468487033972212013-02-17T17:13:00.002-06:002013-02-17T17:13:58.652-06:00Day #8944 - On Doing it Anyway<br />
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Isaac Asimov, a notable science fiction author, once said, “You must keep sending work out; you must never let a manuscript do nothing but eat its head off in a drawer. You send that work out again and again, while you’re working on another one. If you have talent, you will receive some measure of success - but only if you persist.” </div>
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It’s a sentiment I really like on the whole, but I’m not going to lie: that last line sort of eats away at me. It is my greatest fear with this dream I have with writing and now video making, that ‘if you have talent’ part.</div>
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Because the first part, I have got down. I keep on posting on my various blogs, even when my view count has inexplicably plummeted in recent months. I keep making videos and trying new things which is a lot of fun, but still I don’t have a very large audience or reaction. I keep working on fiction, lately trying my hand at short stories and again, having a lot of fun trying, but who do I share them with when I have no agent or ‘readership’? Could it be Mr. Asimov was right and that maybe I just don’t have the talent?</div>
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It’s a question I can’t answer, and I’m not sure if anybody can. The rejection letters seem to imply I do not have talent, but I’m not ready to admit defeat just yet. So I’ll keep blogging and filming and writing. Even if for no one else, even if it’s just for me, I think that counts as some measure of succes in that I’m taking on my fear of failure by simply, simply trying. By doing it anyway, I succeed.</div>
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Though if you want to comment and subscribe and all those other fantastic things, I’d be really appreciative of that, too. =)</div>
Monica Fumarolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06751397905523351234noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771557094718073845.post-79109029619639882462013-02-14T16:34:00.004-06:002013-02-14T16:34:54.352-06:00Day #8941 - Single Awareness DayIn which I share a true story about one of my favorite Valentine's Days. Hope everyone has a great day, no matter your relationship status!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/muO3ZUtJQsk" width="400"></iframe>Monica Fumarolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06751397905523351234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771557094718073845.post-74081465833850474612013-01-30T15:49:00.000-06:002013-01-31T15:50:56.468-06:00Day #8926 - January Favorite Things<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EaDqSuQ8Kuw" width="400"></iframe>Monica Fumarolohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06751397905523351234noreply@blogger.com0