Flake-Out Friday–Honest Trailers

OMG, have you seen any of the Honest Trailer vids on YouTube? I watched the Harry Potter one that a FB friend had linked, then spent the next two hours looking at other ones.

Here are my favorites (the riffs on actor names are FAB!):

Harry Potter

Lord of the Rings

Twilight

(Sorry the vids aren’t embedded; when I pasted the embed code, it all changed to Iron Man 2, LAME.)

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Flake-out Friday–True Facts

A few weeks ago, author Mary Lindsey (of Shattered Souls and Ashes on the Waves fame) posted a link to a YouTube video, True Facts About the Tarsier.

I clicked the link and am SO glad I did. The narrator had me guffawing, fo riz.

I’d like to share that vid and another of my favorites: True Facts About the Angler Fish–It’s HIL-ar-i-OUS!

…what a pretty, pretty lady…

What are some of your favorite YouTube videos?

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Mental Health Monday–Cyber Dysfunctional Personality Disorder

My coworkers and I were discussing how much time we spend on social media sites. Since becoming a writer, I’ve delved into social media with enthusiasm (prior to writing, I barely touched my computer and rarely surfed the web) and haven’t once looked back.

Years later, I can’t imagine stepping away from the screen for any length of time.

And I know I’m not alone.

Urban Dictionary defines Cyber Dysfunctional Personality Disorder thusly:

Cyber Dysfunctional Personality Disorder (CDPD) is a non-hereditary, largely contagious, psychiatric diagnosis that describes a mental disorder characterized by abnormalities in the perception or expression of reality. Those who suffer from this condition will go on to create tens, if not hundreds of accounts on social networking and video sharing websites such as facebook, myspace and youtube. They will then converse with themselves across their many accounts in a lame bid to create the impression that they are popular and sociable. Often they will use their various accounts to team up on other internet users who have shown themselves to be smarter than them, in a desperate bid to restore some pride. Currently there is no cure for this ever increasing psychopathic trend, but most sufferers give the game away within a week, such is their lack of concentration and intellect.

Note: The smilie and the excessive use of question and exclamation marks give it away.

Pretty dang accurate, yes?

Are you a cyber addict? When did you realize it?

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Flake-out Friday–Upheaval

Hey gang!

I wanted to direct you to the lovely February Grace’s blog, where she’s hosting me for an interview today. THANK YOU, February, for having me!

If you check it out, you may get to see a snippet of NEW PRIDE’s cover!!!!!

And do check out Bru’s FABulous novel GODSPEED. Did I mention it’s fabulous? ‘Cause it is! (I adore how February combined steampunk, romance, and victorian-esque historical elements into a rich, engaging plot.)

Hey, as a special bonus, I’ll GIVE AWAY an electronic copy of GODSPEED to one lucky commenter on today’s post!

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For today’s post, I wanted to comment on the ups and downs of publishing. Gosh, can they be drastic or what?

Just last week, I went from losing a publishing deal (the press that was going to pub ENDURE shut down), to hearing that a publisher wanted to talk on the phone about my middle grade adventure ZODIAC COLLECTOR! (Fingers crossed!)

WOW.

What kinds of ups and downs have you guys faced?

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Psst, in case you missed Wednesday’s post, I’m gathering peeps for a Release Day Blitz for my novelette NEW PRIDE. Please refer there to see how to help, if you’re so inclined. THANK YOU!!!

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Mental Health Monday–A Joke Is An Epitaph To An Emotion (Nietzsche)

This is a post from 2010, when I first started blogging! I came across it the other day, and it resonated with me, so I decided to share it again with you.

On Friday, I had the honor of meeting a trusted colleague and friend for tea. I must say, he’s one of my most reliable coaches on my writing journey. Whenever I’m discouraged, I know I can go to him. He offers me unconditional support, sound advice, and tactful critiques. And he pays for dinner!

Halfway through my cup of Earl Grey, I realized not only does my friend have a knack for producing fascinating topics to explore, he also has an encyclopedia’s amount of information cataloged in his brain. One of his most remarkable talents includes an incredible penchant for remembering quotes and lines from songs and poems.

Anyway, during the course of our discussion, we touched upon emotions and how people cover them with jokes in order to suppress the pain of their impact. (In “psychiatry speak,” humor is considered a mature defense mechanism. It’s something relatively healthy people employ in the face of hardship and stress.)

My friend aptly pointed out this quote from Nietzsche:

“A joke is an epitaph to an emotion.”

What an important idea to remember. Not only is this pertinent to my work in psychiatry, it is also useful to keep in mind when I’m writing. For the most part, anger and sadness come relatively easy to me as I construct a scene. It’s simple enough to describe yelling, slamming fists, and storming out of rooms. I’ve used several terms for tears and grieving too. What I get stuck on is humor. I can do the subtle stuff, sure–the puzzled expression, the dry joke, even the comical slip and slide on an icy sidewalk. But true laugh out loud humor eludes me.

As a good friend should, my literary cheerleader triggered a cascade of thoughts leading me to action from that simple quote. So often in my writing, I am in the moment explaining the direct, raw emotion. I’m left to wonder, where is the space to incorporate a humorous reflection, a comic relief character, or a joke to lighten an overly negative mood?

My new task, then, is to scour my writing and look for spots where humor can be incorporated. I am certain including little punches of laughter and happiness will make my characters more well rounded, more dynamic, and more human.

Epitaphs don’t only have to be on tombstones.

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Mental Health Monday–Expect the Unexpected

I watched the opening minutes of X Factor last week and was blown away by the first audition.

From Greensboro, NC, the singer came out on stage embodying The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. He wore high top sneakers, an oversized jean jacket, a plaid shirt tied around the waist, and had a hi-top hair cut with stripes razored along his hairline.

After he introduced himself, a country music tune blared–twang and all.

Screen shots of the judges going “WTF?” alternated with the kid waiting for his cue.

I watched, mesmerized, wondering whether or not I was about to witness a disaster.

As it turned out, dude could SING.

I bring this example up in order to discuss character development.

As writers, we want to paint a clear picture of who our characters are. We also want to make out characters interesting. And we need to do that by avoiding stereotypes and highlighting uniqueness.

What’s more unique than a “Fresh Prince Country Singer?”

How do youse guys develop interesting, unique characters?

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Flake-out Friday–Publicity Opportunity

As authors, we have to market ourselves. Lots of authors have readings and signings at bookstores, libraries, schools, etc.

Ever thought about having a reading for animals? Well, here you go:

(from LOL cats)

 And if you ever do a reading at an open mic night, make sure this guy isn’t there cuz he’ll just steal your thunder.

(also from LOL cat)

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Flake-out Friday–Blast From the Past

My dad cleaned out the storage shed in the back yard and found a lot of high school stuff I’d put away years ago. He brought the boxes to my house and I’ve been sorting through them bit by bit.

Finding my cheerleading jacket really brought back some memories. I was never really good at the jumps and stuff, but I had fun cheering, going to the games, and watching my team get creamed watching the athletes compete.

What fun memorabilia have you come across from high school?

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Flake-out Friday–Poor Man’s MacGyver

Trolling the interwebz last weekend, I spied a website whitetrashrepairs.com. Not the most PC term, but the site catalogues pics of cob-job masters that’d put MacGyver to shame. Here are a few of my fav pics!

 

EDIT: PICTURES REMOVED TO AVOID COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT. CLICK ON LINK ABOVE TO SEARCH SITE FOR PICS.

Anything catch your eye?

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Don’t forget to check out my GIVEAWAY posts. There’s a week left to enter!

Click HERE to see my announcement and book + 3 chapter crit giveaway (just leave a comment to enter)

Click HERE to check out Rachel Firasek’s new novella and get a chance to win it (just leave a comment)

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Mental Health Monday–A Better Pain Chart

When patients are admitted to the hospital, their vital signs are checked at regular intervals. Vital signs include blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and percent oxygenation of the blood. A fifth vital sign includes rating pain on a scale of 0-10. Since pain is such a subjective thing, the scale includes pictures to help the rater identify where they lie on the scale.

Pain Measurement Scale (CLICK THE LINK TO SEE PIC)

 

A better pain chart has been made and it’s circling around the interwebz like crazy. So I thought I’d share it with all y’all.

A Better Pain Chart (CLICK LINK TO SEE PIC)

 

I deleted the pic to avoid copyright infringement, so I’ll paraphrase the scale…

0: No pain

1: Not sure if I’m in pain

2: Just need a band-aid

3: Distressed; don’t like what’s happening

4: Pain is not effing around

5: Why is this happening to me???

6: Ow. Pain is super legit right now

7: I see Jesus coming for me and I’m scared

8: Pain is disturbing. I may be dying

9: I am almost definitely dying

10: I am actually being mauled by a bear

11: Blood will explode out my face any moment

Too Serious for Numbers: You probably have ebola. It appears you may also be suffering from stigmata and/or pinkeye

Quite useful, isn’t it?

Don’t forget to check out my GIVEAWAY posts. There’s a week left to enter!

Click HERE to see my announcement and book + 3 chapter crit giveaway (just leave a comment to enter)

Click HERE to check out Rachel Firasek’s new novella and get a chance to win it (just leave a comment)

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