Tremendulent!

In an attempt to liven my DW back up, here's 5 Things on a Friday!

1. I am TOTALLY renting The Meg tonight. I love shark movies and I adore Jason Statham, so this is going to be so bad, it's AWESOME. (And how hilarious is it that when I went to add tags to this entry, I apparently already have a Jason Statham tag? Good job, past!Seren!)

2. I'm taking driving lessons. Yay? I have an American license, but since I'm a UK resident, I have to actually get a UK license. It's...going. I only ever learned automatic, so this whole clutch thing is nuts. And what's with the no stopping at junctions? What's this giving way nonsense? I'm from the land of if you don't STOP, you get a TICKET. It freaks me out. However, saying that, today my instructor said I drove my best yet. Woo!

3. I'm almost done with my Christmas shopping! All the gifts to US people were shipped out last weekend. I'm taking myself to a cafe tomorrow to do my Christmas cards.

4. I really, really, REALLY want to get my motivation back for a tide of hope, my Abigail Ashe-epic thing. I'd love to get just one chapter out before the end of the year. Any tips on how to get one's muse back in line?

5. I met my little god-daughter last night and she's adorable, I'm so smitten! She smiles and seemed very interested in my hair and glasses. I cuddled her all evening. And my little 3 year old nephew is OBSESSED with Thomas the Tank Engine. He KNOWS ALL OF THEM BY NAME. He gets a little upset when little sis heads towards his trains, though. He's clearly been taught how to 'politely' get his parents' attention though, because sis was headed straight for his trains and he said, at the top of his lungs, "EXCUSE ME, MOM AND DAD, EXCUSE ME, MOM AND DAD," while pointing at her. It was hilarious and he's such a clever fellow.

I hope everyone is well! Happy Friday!!! ♥

Five Things on Friday!

1. I'm feeling a wee bit better this week than last. There are still things that need to be resolved, but I'm not quite as rage-y as I was. I probably need to find some kind of outlet for some of this stuff, but I'm not quite sure what yet.

2. My job is definitely managing to use every single skill I've ever accrued and listed on my CV. In addition to all the admin skills, it's calling upon my vet tech skills from way back in the day. I've spent the majority of the week looking at parasite eggs through a microscope. I know. *waves hands* I like it, though. It's nice to do something a little different than the usual.

3. I finally finished watching Galavant and my heart is filled with the purest joy imaginable. I'm also happily watching Death in Paradise on BBC. Not for the plots, just for the sunshine and the music. And Danny John-Jules who, fun fact, in addition to playing Cat on Red Dwarf was ALSO one of the Firey's in Labyrinth (the red feathery guys who try to take Sarah's head). Good times!

4. I was reading a writing blog that was discussing Wake-Up Calls and Turning Points and went - Ha! I've got that! I've already got that part! Holy crap, I'm in the middle of the story now! *flails* It's nice to realize that I'm firmly in the middle of things. I still need to work on fleshing things out as opposed to being very plot-point and action-oriented.

5. Well, I have a lovely bag of McCoy's Salt and Vinegar crisps that I'm going to decadently enjoy because it is Friday and I have been on my feet all week.

6. Ooh! Bonus point - I'm currently rocking a very cute outfit of jeggings, brown ankle boots, a chunky off-white jumper and a scarf with little sheep on it. Go me!

Happy Friday! ♥

Right. Someone on my friends-list came up with the 'schadenfreude boogie', but I can't remember who. havocthecat? Was it you?

But back to my original query, remember the job I didn't get because they decided to go with someone else who had a 'biology' background? Well, apparently that fell through and they rang me this morning to ask if I still wanted the position. Which, I do, but wow. What? Hee! I said yes and they're going to pay me what I requested and I'm actually quite chuffed!

I have a job! Eeeee! I start in two weeks, so I still have some time to do some writing and chilling out. *sighs in relief* I think this will be an interesting job and it's in a lovely part of the countryside, sheep everywhere!

Happy Friday! ♥

Anne Stuart is writing about writing, publishing and her life for 40 days on her blog over here. I'll admit to not being a massive fan of her books (although I love how effortlessly she can set a tone or a scene), but she has some interesting anecdotes and it's nice to read about someone who has really managed to be a full-time writer consistently throughout the years.

She quote Annie Dillard on yesterday's post and I just loved it and had to share:

“One of the things I know about writing is this: spend it all, shoot it, play it, lose it, all, right away, every time. Do not hoard what seems good for a later place in the book or for another book; give it, give it all, give it now. The impulse to save something good for a better place later is the signal to spend it now. Something more will arise for later, something better. These things fill from behind, from beneath, like well water. Similarly, the impulse to keep to yourself what you have learned is not only shameful, it is destructive. Anything you do not give freely and abundantly becomes lost to you. You open your safe and find ashes.”

I know that I don't do this enough. I hoard ideas, thoughts, lines, characters, saying that I'll save them up and use them when it 'counts'. I'm trying not to do that anymore. Because chances are, I'll either forget what it was and then it will never get the chance to be out there on the page, being given the chance to grow or explored.

Also! It's April 25 and that means I can share this picture:



(I'm afraid I don't know the original source.)

Happy Friday! Wooo! ♥

Weekend To-Do List

- Get new plates
- Clean bathroom
- Clean kitchen
- Write for at least 10 minutes Sat/Sun
- Read more Master and Commander
- Figure out ‘menu’ for family arriving later this week
- Make a list of favourite authors for possible ‘writing collage’ exercise

So, the ‘writing collage’ is actually something my husband suggested. It’s basically taking bits and pieces of writing that I’ve enjoyed and doing a bit of a collage or sections. Like a section of Jennifer Crusie, with a bit from another author, followed by a section of Terry Pratchett.

It’s part of my attempt to go a bit further in with my writing.

I feel that up to now my writing has really focussed on dialogue and I’d like to incorporate more details, more inner thoughts and descriptions. This collage exercise is just me picking out bits of writing that I enjoy.

At the moment my list of authors is:

Jennifer Crusie (which surprises nobody)
Isabel Allende
Madeleine L’Engle
Terry Pratchett
Stephen King (some of it, not all – the man can create an atmosphere of dread like nobody)
Raymond Chandler
Dorothy Sayers
Agatha Christie (these two especially for how they drop in important details so naturally)
Elissa Haden Guest

The plan is to re-type the sections I like to see how it feels to write them. Possibly overkill, but I like the idea of this, so we’ll see how it goes.

Anybody have any amazing plans for the weekend?

An actual exchange I had this week:

Co-worker C (who has worked in the office for 5 years): Seren, which of the laptops is best for taking notes?
Me (who has been there since January): Oh, um, the netbook is probably the best one.

30 seconds later...

Co-worker J (who has worked here for well over a year): Seren, which is the best projector to hook up to the laptop?
Me: Well, we've only got the one.

Co-worker D (who's been watching the whole thing and grinning): Seren, which one of these should I use?
She holds up two pencils.
Me: *snickers*

It's been that kind of week. I scared myself by knowing that shift 'p' in Wingdings 2 gives you a check mark. That was freaky. No idea why I know that. I've also been labelled the Mail Merge Queen. I'd like a crown now, please.

BUT! Check out this most amazing trailer that was made for me for my het_bigbang story: I Take My Chances



n_e_star, you are AWESOME!!!

I cannot stop writing the next bit of Teeth, Claws and Guinness! I had a writing schedule y'all! This was going to be ~after~ I wrote something else! I blame the weather and the way the valley looks outside my window. And Michael Fassbender.

Btw, I know nothing about football (UK, not American. I have a better handle on US football. I went to Florida State University and it's something of a pre-requisite.), so could someone sum up the whole league thing in 20 words or less? Who plays against who?

ALSO, TFIF EVERYBODY!!!!

(The 'g' has been replaced by an 'f', so it stands for 'Thank F*** it's Friday!)