J.K. Rowling Isn't Perfect! Isn't It Wonderful?!

Here is my biggest fear as a writer: Negative Criticism.

I don’t know if any of you have noticed, but writers are really open to all kinds of criticism. We put our hearts on the line every time we allow our work to be read. It’s our baby. It’s personal.

I’ve been really lucky. I have a lot of support from family and friends. And I belong to a very supportive blogging community. You always have something nice to say – to me and each other. I really appreciate it.

Here’s something scary: Even some of the most popular authors receive negative criticism. They really do! Check this out -

Stephen King said that “[J.K.] Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephenie Meyer can’t write worth a darn. She’s not very good.” Stephenie Meyer must have been devastated! God save us from the “King”! I hope I never come under his radar.

But even J.K. Rowling has received criticism for numerous writing mistakes; too many adjectives or “ly” endings, too many exclamation points, and too many alliterative names: Harry, Hermione, Hagrid, Hogwarts, Hogsmeade. She broke a lot of the “rules” of writing!

But Stephen King is wrong, isn’t he? Because Stephenie Meyer has an extremely successful series and a huge audience. And with all Rowling’s “mistakes,” Harry Potter isn’t over by a long shot. That world that Rowling created? It still exists. Her audience still wants to be part of that world. A world in which children are empowered, where children do the right thing, where friendship is everything. Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series does the same thing.

I personally love both of these authors. I love immersing myself in their worlds. I don’t notice the mistakes, or the supposedly bad writing.

And isn’t that sort of why we write? We want to entertain and hold our audience captive. To take our audience along with our characters to a place where anything is possible.

My point is that we don’t have to be “great” – we don’t have to be William Shakespeare or Charles Dickens. I am never going to be a classic writer. I’m not even ever going to be JK Rowling or Stephenie Meyer. But I can be me, in all my imperfection, and be successful anyway.

JK Rowling and Stephenie Meyer aren’t perfect! Isn’t it wonderful?! Because it opens the door for the rest of us!

What's Wrong With This Picture?

What's Wrong With This Picture? And NO - it isn't my chubby, pasty white legs! You'll just have to read on to find out!

Pretty soon they’re going to start referring to me as The Crazy Lady on the Mountain.” Thank goodness “they” can’t see me for the most part. If they could, they might see something like this.  

I had a great run on the treadmill this morning. I listened to some good tunes with my ipod and headphones, sang a little - very little, LOL. Have you ever tried running and singing? It’s not an easy feat, let me tell you.

But sometimes I just have to belt it out. You know how it is. I can do that in the mountains. Nobody can hear me - except my husband and dogs. I sing, he smiles. I ask him if he likes my singing. He only hesitates a fraction of a second, barely even perceptible, before replying, “I like the fact that you’re singing.” Hmmm. Very diplomatic, as well he should be after 23 years of marriage.

My dogs love my singing, too. When I sing, they get that worried-maniacal-what-the-hell-is-going-on look, really excited, jump up and down, all happy, tails and tongues wagging. My captive audience. *smiles*

Of course, when you sing with headphones, you think, damn, I sound good. But my husband laughs and shakes his head. What?! I say. You know you like it!

Anyway, I finished my run, which went amazingly well. I love those days when I don't completely suck at running I feel like I can run all day. I ran four (yes, 4 mph really is running!) miles and then sat on the floor to stretch. Stretched one leg, then the other. Put my feet together and pull them in.

And then, What’s this? I ask myself. Why is one sole so much whiter than the other? Wait! What the...?

Yes, the crazy lady from the mountain had on two different running shoes and didn’t even notice. *sighs*

If nothing else, I’m good for a laugh.

Happy Friday!

Japan Wins the 2011 Women's World Cup

When the United States played Japan yesterday, two nations watched and prayed for victory as both teams fought valiantly for the right to take home the title. I've never seen the U.S. Women's team play so well. At least, not since 1999, which was the last time we took home the World Cup Title. They did everything right the entire game. They dominated, they passed well, they kept their heads and they had more shots on goal, but just couldn't put it away.

Does anybody out there believe in fate? I'm not taking anything away from the Japanese, because they certainly deserved to win. First they won their place in the final. And then they beat us, fair and square! They're an awesome team. But I had the distinct feeling, especially toward the end of the game, that Fate was intervening.

Just pretend for a minute that we are dealing with the Gods. When they're sitting around the table debating about who should win, from their POV, the United States certainly did not need the win as badly as Japan did. So Fate intervened - just a little - to give the tsunami-ravaged country a much needed morale boost. Again, I'm not taking anything away from Japan. They've just proven they're the best in the world. Just sayin'...

Below are the recordable details of the game:

Article first published as Japan Beats the United States for the 2011 World Cup Title on Technorati.

The United States lost the 2011 Women’s World Cup title to Japan, first-time winners, after 90 minutes of regular play, 30 minutes of overtime, and then finally the penalty kick phase.

United States took the lead when Alex Morgan scored during regular play, with Japan’s Aya Miyama scoring near the 80th minute, tying the score at 1-1. Two fifteen minute overtime halves followed, in which the United States took the lead again when the formidable Abby Wambach headed-in the second U.S. goal during the first half overtime.

But the Japanese women’s team couldn’t be held down and Japan scored their second goal during the second half of overtime, when Homare Sawa got around a confused defense, tying the game 2-2.

During the penalty shoot-out, the United States missed their first three chances and Japan out-shot the United States, 3-1.

It was a fierce battle between the two teams but fate was with the Japanese women’s team, earning Japan a much needed morale-booster for the tsunami-stricken country.

Read more: http://technorati.com/sports/article/japan-beats-the-united-states-for/#ixzz1STMTy8El

Who in the Heck is Amanda Hocking?!

Who in the heck is Amanda Hocking? I had never heard of her until the other day when a friend referred me to an article written about her in The New York Times Magazine. This is a 26 year old young woman who sent out a few query letters and said to heck with it, and self-published over at Amazon.

Last year, Hocking downloaded and sold five books the first day, five books the second day, 6,000 books in June, 10,000 in July and now she sells 9,000 books per day. Per Day!! And then she was approached by St. Martin’s Press and now has a $2 million contract for her next four-book series called “Watersong.” What an amazing and enterprising young woman. I’m really happy for her and her success. We all hope and pray that things will go that way for us.

But what really blows me away?! She says it takes her two to four intensive weeks to complete a book! Granted, she says that she’s really been working on it in her head for over a year, so that by the time she sits down to write, it’s basically already written – her words, not mine. So she basically already has the outline in her head, but even so, that is amazing! I don’t even think GOD can write that fast!

It’s taken me the best part of a year to complete seven chapters of my first novel. One year! Fifty-Two weeks! Why can’t I write a book in two to four weeks like Amanda Hocking? Clearly, I’m struggling. My problem is that I think I need to be perfect, and if my writing isn’t good enough for me, then I just don’t write. If I don’t write, then I can’t fail, right? Conversely, I have next to nothing to show for my year of writing. I finally made some level of progress when someone told me that I need to lower my standards. I know this sounds like pure craziness...

So now I’m wondering what would happen if I just committed myself to some intensive writing over the next couple of months. To make writing my priority, to give up everything else, to not over-think what I’m writing and just write, write, write, even if I’m not happy with what I’m writing. It seems to me that at least I would have a foundation to be going on with, something to rewrite and edit.

What do you think? Does this sound like a good idea? How long does it take you to write a book? Do you have any kooky quirks?

Tag, I'm It!

Tag, I’m it! I’ve been tagged in a game of Blog Tag by Rachel Morgan. The rules are easy. Answer six questions about myself on my blog and then tag eight of my blogger friends.

So here it goes:

1.   Do you think you’re hot?

Let’s put it this way: Inside every old person is a young person screaming, “What the hell happened?”

2.   Upload a picture or wallpaper you are using at the moment.

In honor of summer, this is my current wallpaper.

3.         When was the last time you ate chicken?

Yesterday and the day before...probably today. My husband thinks I only make chicken breast, but it’s not true. I make...other stuff, too. For an explanation, read this:  Are You There God? It's Me, Gwen.

4.         The song(s) you listened to recently.

When I went running yesterday, I listened to my ipod. The song I finished with was "All These Things That I’ve Done" by the Killers. I love this video! 

5.         What were you thinking while doing this?

I’d better finish this before Rachel thinks I forgot or refused to participate.

I’d better finish this so I can get down to a day of serious writing.

How do I download a song/video from YouTube?

6.         Do you have nicknames? What are they?

            Gwennybug

            Gwenifer

            Gwendola

7.         Tag 8 blogger friends.

• Katie
  
• Julie


• Libby


• Heidi


• Teralyn


• Trisha


• Tim


• Crystal