Write Write Write

 I'm pretty sure I've made a mention here or there that I am writing a novel. I've been writing this novel for about seven years. Many of my friends know of this novel. I haven't kept it a secret even though I haven't let very many people read it.

I have no delusions of grandeur, I'm no JK Rowling or George RR Martin. I have a lot of weakness in my writing. Why do I write then? Simply because I can. I enjoy writing. Ever since I believe late elementary school or early middle school I had story ideas. Many of early story ideas I would try and incorporate all my friends as characters and create some far off space adventure for them.

In high school I was part of the Literary magazine. My focus then was more on poetry. I felt that I didn't have the attention span to write a novel. I also didn't feel that I was good enough in the grammar department to really write. My high school creative writing teacher told me that my strength was that when I write the reader pictures the surrounding, but I also allow the reader to use their imagination to have fun.

Now my current idea. It would be put in the paranormal romance genre. My friends are like so like Twilight. ::dying inside:: I assume Twilight is considered paranormal romance, but it's marketed as a young adult novel. But yes, I always begrudgingly say yes, like Twilight.

My friends next sentence is usually without fail: I wish I could write, but my story ideas aren't original.

Trust me, neither is mine.

The truth of the matter is that if you thought of it, someone else has too. I have a short story that probably would be put in a category like Dead Like Me. The Angel of Death story is pretty old and has been done countless times.

I tell my friends, who cares. If you have an idea, yes the gist of the matter probably has been done. But it's your story telling that's unique. Unless you completely plagiarize someone else's story, it's going to take on its own life.

Yes my universe has Native American shifters, vampires, werewolves, but it's not Twilight. My whole universe is different. Plus my vampires do not and will not ever sparkle.

Do I have a moment where I read a new paranormal romance and go OH NO ITS LIKE MY BOOK!

Yeah of course.

But then I continue reading and of course that author's world is different. Plot maybe the same, but its mine.

How many stories have you read where the heroine loves a man who she thinks wouldn't like her because she doesn't feel like she's pretty or hip or cool like Wonderbread?

Isn't that all romance novels?

It's our voice, our characters, and our universe that make it different.

Do I expect to be come the next Stephanie Meyer or Sherrilyn Kenyon.

Not at all. If I get published I'll be thrilled. If I sell 1 book I'd be on the roof. If I sell more than 1,000 I'd probably die from shock.

I'm probably not going to to National Novel Writing Month. I'm still working on this story. My best friend has put a deadline on me. She's tired of my two characters continuing their journey. She says finish it and her friend is going to help edit for me. Because I have had so many drafts over the years this story has grown and shifted.

So here's to writing! :D

Everyone Stay Safe

Thanks to Hurricane Sandy I can work on my novel instead of working today.  :)

Patrick Tigchelaar Lesson

My horse Lilly is a very opinionated mare.  After my injury a few years ago I haven't had the confidence I use to have.  I think when you're a young rider a fall means get back up and keep trucking.  Well now I'm an adult and my body isn't as resilent as before a fall equals time off work and that means no paycheck.  I'm worried sometime she's going to go bat ass crazy and I'll fall off.

But I think also I've been letting her get away with murder.  Saddle issues has been cleared up with the new saddle and when Patrick came yesterday he was telling me it's her.  She's just pushing my buttons and being a pissy mare.

So after some tough love she finally said OKAY I'll DO MY JOB!  And we had very lovely canter work.

Patrick told me if I could to ride today depending on the hurricane.  And I woke up early and headed to the barn to help and to ride.  She was being a butthead again, because I've never ridden in the indoor arena at the new barn.  So everything was going to kill her in there.  But I finally got her to work and we did fine.

One thing is for sure I need more leg strength.  My left leg is just not happy with life.  Usually it's my right side that's not happy.  Fix one thing another thing breaks.

Before I Turn 30 List...

                I was reading one of those girlie magazines before my hair appointment a few months ago.  They had a “Things You Should Have Done Before You Turned 30” list.  Sadly many of them I had never even thought of doing or have never done.  Some were stupid like be in one failed relationship, obviously I’m single, so they’ve all failed.  But others were like take an overseas trip. 




30 in Sweden?  That's the plan!

 

I was born overseas, but I haven’t experienced foreign lands as an adult.  I turn 30 on June 9^th 2014.  So I have roughly 20 months left to my 30^th birthday.  My best friend and I are three days apart.  I emailed her and said this is our list.  I’m making her come to Dragon*Con, so I told her if there was anything she really wanted to do, then include it on the list.  But she was like nah most of the stuff I’ll just go along with you.

1.       Go to Mardi Gras.  I’ve never been to New Orleans before.  (Next year hopefully)

2.       Go to Europe.  We’re planning this trip June 2014.  We’ll both be 29 and hoping we’ll be 30 when we’re in Sweden or Denmark.  We plan to also visit Germany.

3.       Go to New York City.  I plan to attend NY Comic Con next year.  I also hope to make it a long weekend and do the touristy thing.  I’m not a fan of big cities, so this might either drive me insane or be a fun trip.

4.       Go to Philly.  I figure why not. 

5.       Go to Gettysburg.  I’m a History nerd as well.  Should make it a trip.

6.       Get one rejection letter for my novel.  Now I know it’ll be rejected like 50 million times, because I am a crappy writer, but getting one means the book is done!  That’s the hardest part ever.  I think I’ll finish it soon and after I edit it like 80x million times I’m hoping to submit to someone by spring of 2013 or earlier if I’m happy with it.

7.       Show 1^st level dressage.  This is a horse related goal.  We can do it, just need to get out there.

8.       Pay off all debt.   So I can get back into debt in terms of a house mortgage.

9.       Get a new job.  I hope this happens sooner than later. 

10.   Apply to grad school.  I’m thinking about Uni. Of Alabama.  But we’ll see. 

A New Start

Nerds, Horses & USA!  ;) Git Er Dun!

 There are two things that my friends know about me; I love horses and I love the nerd culture. I had two different blogs my livejournal and my equestrian blogspot, but I decided to just combine them into one.

I've ridden horses for over 16 years. My formal education began at some backyard barn stable were I got two lessons. That summer was deathly hot and so I wasn't there for very long. My middle school librarian Ms. Eby owned an Arabian gelding and she was my idol. Not only did she have horses, but she was the librarian the keeper of the books! She encouraged me to start riding at Quantico Marine Corps Base Stable.

 

Sixteen years later I have owned two horses, managed horse shows, been involved with the VA equestrian community, won numerous awards, ridden western pleasure, speed, hunter, jumpers, side saddle, and currently ride dressage. My current horse is a 9 year old Appaloosa mare named Revs GoGo Dancer, but her barn name is Lilly.

Now another facet of my life is nerdism. When I first saw Star Wars as a little girl I was deathly afraid. The aliens in the cantina scene scared me. It wasn't until I was a little older probably 5^th grade when I got hooked on Star Wars. In middle school my friends and I could recite the entire film. I wore a Princess Leia costume to school. My buns were destroyed when I ran to the bus that day.  The things you remember as a child.  I'm an aspiring 501st member.  My Imperial Officer uniform has been forever ordered.  I'm patient but I can't wait for it to finally come in.  Sigh.  

But if you really want to be technical I was probably already a nerdy kid when we lived in Japan.

There I was exposed to kaiju. “Strange beast” in Japanese. Most people know of them as Godzilla type films. Why did Kaiju films not scare me while Star Wars aliens did, who knows. But I love Godzilla and I love Ultraman. There is something about the cheesiness about them that I just find so endearing.

My other nerdisms will reveal themselves over the course of the blog.

Of course this blog is going to share my stories and other ramblings of my mind. I don't expect a great following, but if you have fun reading, then thanks!

My other blogs if you're keen:

Imperial Boot: http://www.imperialboot.blogspot.com

This blog is for 501^st or anybody wanting to know information on how to use equestrian boots for costume purposes.

NOVA Sushi Review: http://www.novasushireview.blogspot.com

This is my sushi review blog. I review various sushi places in the Northern VA & DC area primarily.