Tremendulent!

Beginnings. I have the hardest time writing them. I'm not altogether sure why. It's possibly because I put so much importance on them. After all, they're what traditionally hooks the reader, so naturally, I want people to keep reading.

I was reading this post over on J Crusie's blog (seriously, if anyone knows some other good writing blogs - send them my way) and I liked the comments regarding characters. How often it's the characters and not necessarily the plot that keeps someone hooked. And I think that's quite true for me. I've read books and fic whose plots just don't stand up simply because I loved what the author did with the characters and the dialogue.

So what gets you hooked into a book? Plot? Setting? Dialogue? Characters? Interesting font choice? All of the above?

How do you prefer for novels to start? Do you mind a longish prologue or do you want to just jump right in?

Hope everyone is having a lovely Sunday!

Oh, all-knowing friends-list, I have a question. Actually, I have two questions.

1. If you have a small town of roughly 2,000 people, would it be possible for them to only have a smallish medical practice of say, four nurses, one permanent MD, and one part-time MD? Said town is located fairly close to a larger town with a hospital, so it wouldn't take too long to reach it in an emergency. Does that amount of staff sound reasonable? Perhaps they have some visiting consultants?

2. In said clinic, would it be reasonable for them to have x-ray equipment and the supplies to handle broken bones? Nothing complicated or anything that required surgery, but just the basics to tide someone over until they could get to a large hospital the following day?

Thank you!!!

I'm doing some plotting and writing today (does it count if the writing is in a notebook and not on a computer?) and I've run into a question.

I'm writing the next bit in the Eleven/Amy series and it's going all wibbly-wobbly, timey-whimey on me. And my question is this:

How much influence do you think the TARDIS has over where they end up? My mind is drawing a bit of a blank, but I'm sure she's deposited the Doctor in places where he needed to do something, even if he doesn't know he needed to do something.

So, because I like polls:

[Poll #1674581]

Matt and Karen look adorable and thank you for helping!!!

So, I'm deliberately not looking at my Big Bang for the next 48 hours in order to approach it later with new eyes and do some editing.

Instead I'm just reading a lot and spending far too much time on tumblr.

You know what's an amazing time-suck? Going to delicious and typing in a favourite pairing and then reading fic and gazing at picspams. I'm currently in a Mulder/Scully mood and there are over 2,000 entries on delicious for them.

I'm thinking a re-watch is in order. I've totally forgotten most of the mytharc stuff. I might skip the cancer-arc though, that seemed to go on for too long.

However, my all time favourite episode is probably Quagmire with Big Blue and the Ahab speech.

( I've always wanted a peg-leg - Spoilers )

I, for some reason, don't have any X-Files icons, so Ripley and Hicks will have to do. Woohoo, Aliens!

So, I finally talked teh husband into watching Community last night. He's not what you would call a fan of TV and I kept saying, 'But this is FUNNY! It's got JOHN OLIVER in it! AND Chevy CHASE! How is that not amazing?'

So, we started with the pilot and the second Abed started to actually quote The Breakfast Club, my husband was in stitches. Of course, the show only gets better from here on out, so Yay! for something funny to watch!

Speaking of watching stuff, should I be watching Leverage? I hear good things.

Super quick question.

What are some fun fashion websites to peruse?

I'm looking for wardrobe inspiration for Amy Pond, to be specific. I've already looked at Anthropologie.

Thank you!

( Have a Matt Smith piccy )

Keeping this brief 'cause relatives are about to descend.

( What I thought: )

Oh, I caught an episode of Justified last night. Why hello, Timothy Olyphant in a cowboy hat. How you doin'?

First off, I think I need to see it again.

( Spoilery spoilers )
Goodness gracious that was long. I've also got Doctor Who thoughts, but I think I'll save those for tomorrow. :D

This is not that day. :D

( My two pence about shipping Eleven/Amy )

Have I mentioned how much I love having a show I'm actually excited about watching? 'Cause I am. Oh, I've also started watching Ashes to Ashes. And everyone was right, this show is pretty much awesome, too.

I love writing tips. I love Elmore Leonard, Neil Gaiman, Philip Pullman and Jeanette Winterson.

Therefore, THIS is pretty awesome.

My Personal Faves:

My most important rule is one that sums up the 10: if it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.

Do not place a photograph of your ­favourite author on your desk, especially if the author is one of the famous ones who committed suicide.

Try to be accurate about stuff.

Write.

Write a book you'd like to read. If you wouldn't read it, why would anybody else? Don't write for a perceived audience or market. It may well have vanished by the time your book's ready.

Never stop when you are stuck. You may not be able to solve the problem, but turn aside and write something else. Do not stop altogether.