My Write Way

So, now that I've committed myself to Seascape and secured a friend to ride shotgun, I guess I gotta write! Like any other skill, we have to practice to get better and I haven't been practicing much lately. Now that I work only three days a week one would think I'd have plenty of time to write. Well, my time is spent on the porch thinking about writing, thinking about what my characters might be up to and thinking about that long line of people holding hardcover editions of my awesome story in their hands waiting for me to autograph them. Which begs the question, what is the real motive here? Is it that long line of fans? Is it the table stacked with my books, bookmarks and chapsticks? I thought long and hard about this and came to the conclusion that it's the women I write about. They're real women. Their names are fictional, but they're real. They walk among us, most hiding their trouble, just trying to fit in. I admire the women who choose to not take the easy way out. To go for the gusto. To make their own lives happen.

You go, girls!

Friends

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I’ve heard that if we want to be happy we should surround ourselves with like-minded people. I believe that to be true, so I said yes to an invitation to meet for coffee from a woman I would have met at a writing retreat in a few weeks. Happily, we hit it off. We have so much in common that neither of us can get it all out fast enough! I think that’s pretty funny. I have to make a conscious effort to not interrupt and say, “Me too, me too,” every five minutes, which, at my age means, I may lose the thought forever.

As I wrote in an earlier post, it has never really been easy for me to make friends but I see this friendship lasting a long time. Well, given that I’m old, at least until I croak.

Yes, I'm BUSY, but it's all good!

I went ahead and signed up for everything I could think of - and it all costs money so I can't back out! Well, some things didn't exactly cost me anything. For instance, the cruise to Bermuda, coming up on June 17th or the trip to Key West, coming up at the end of October. Those are treats from Kenny, my sweetie.

To get out of my non-writing slump, I signed up for this year's Seascape Writers Retreat in CT, led by Hallie Ephron, Roberta Isleib and S.W.Hubbard. I attended in 2009 and had a wonderful time. I learned so much and met so many terrific "sisters." I'll be work-shopping my WIP, The Seduction of Intent. I'll also be busy reading and critiquing portions of five manuscripts submitted from the women in my group.

I've registered for Crime Bake and will be submitting my short story, Listen and You Shall Hear for a professional critique (eek), and have registered to pitch my WIP to an agent. OMG And there you have it. I think I'm already behind.

Oh, and yes, I've become accustomed to eating, so I must go to work.

Better get writing.

~Dianne

One For The Money!

I just found out they're making a movie of Janet Evanovich's "One For The Money" Yay! Katherine Heigle will play Stephanie Plum and Sherri Shepherd will play Lula. I saw the pictures on-line and the "movie" Stephanie looks exactly as I imagined she would. The picture I saw of Sherri as Lula is hysterically funny. Can you even imagine writing a series so terrific that the thought of bringing all those familiar characters to life on the big screen actually makes people happy?

Another book I'd like to see optioned is, "The Help" I loved the story and all the women in it, especially Minnie. I'm a sucker for a good "...woman overcomes adversity story." When I wasn't reading it I was thinking about it. So many books, so little time. Sigh

I'm about to enter "Listen and You Shall Hear" into the 2010 Marguerite McGlinn NATIONAL PRIZE FOR FICTION AWARD contest. I have to start somewhere and the Philadelphia Stories site is a very friendly place so, I might as well go there first. More info on that later.

Have to go write my 50 words for today.

Latah ~ Dianne

The First Time I Stalked Someone

I pulled into the parking lot of the local Stop & Shop and began to make a list of the things I needed. Let's see; fat-free potato chips, Lite Chocolate Graham Crackers...My head jerked up as a fa
miliar figure passed in front of my car. It was a woman who looked exactly as I've wanted to look my whole life. I'd never actually seen her before, only a hundred times in my mind's eye.

Her legs were long and trim. Slim, but strong. Her arms were toned with the definition that comes only from a four-day-a-week gym habit. Her gorgeous, wispy, blond hair was swept up and caught in the back with a bone clip, leaving a few tendrils to frame her delicate face. She was wearing a summery, sleeveless dress of wash & wear linen in a shade of yellow resembling that of whipped butter and a pair of espadrilles with jute ties. A designer bag was casually slung over her shoulder and I couldn't stop looking at her.

I tossed my list onto the passenger seat, scrambled out of my car and into the store. I just wanted to get one more look. I couldn't seem to find her, anywhere. I must have looked like frantic mother searching for her child, and then it dawned on me - I was stalking this woman. I had to get a grip. What was going on here? Was I chopped liver, for crying out loud?

I turned the corner in the Whole Foods aisle and there she was. Hmm... there was Soy Milk in her cart, maybe I should try that. Oh, and tofu. Tofu? Maybe not. I don't want to look too good and chance being stalked. I'm much more comfortable being the stalker.

Latah' ~ Dianne

A page from Gina's life - before it came apart.

Waiting to be someone else.

There were nine women working in the office I was about to join as the newest employee; nine ordinary, everyday women. All, that is, except for one. There's always one. She was a little younger than I, a little blonder, a little thinner and I became obsessed with her.

She was very friendly, thank God, because I wanted to learn everything I could from her. For instance, how did she get so smart? How does she stay so slim? She's mentioned her hair colorist but how is it that her hair color looks so natural? I was sure it was. Her look appeared effortless and I couldn't wait to become her, as if the me I was wasn't good enough.

This situation forced me to be at my very best, every day. I scoured the beauty and fashion magazines, bought new clothes and shoes and even began to eat the foods she ate. But I never quite measured up. Each day she would come in looking even more fabulous than she had the day before. I wanted to be her. I needed to be her. I would be her.

And then I met David.

Suddenly, all was right with the world and I didn't need to be anyone but me. I will always strive to better myself and reach for my dreams, and I'm so happy that while I was waiting to become someone else, I learned the me I am is a-okay.

~ Gina

...you say you have no friends?

I've not had many. There were times it made me sad, times I didn't care and finally, the time I realized I would never have two better friends than my daughter Lisa and my sister, Shirley.

Lisa and I have always been a close mother/daughter - but it wasn't until I began running, after years of smoking cigarettes and fighting the battle-of-the-bulge - that we became close women. When I thought I was all alone at my first 5K race, there she was, smiling and rooting for me. She had a lump in her throat as I crossed the finish line and thought to herself, Hey, that's MY mom. I should be out there with her. She began running then, and we ran many road races together after that. I no longer run, but she's runs marathons with her husband, Scott. Together they are unstoppable! She has always been there for me, no matter what, even when others may have written me off, she was there with her unwavering love and great big smile. My Lisa.

My sister Shirley is quirky, funny, and very special to me. She lives in Mystic, CT but that doesn't stop us from getting together whenever we feel like it. What's a two-hour drive? If one of us is in a funk, the other makes the trip. We shop, eat, and spend hours in the book store. We tell each other everything and know it won't be repeated. What friend can keep a secret, huh? She has such a flair for decorating, you just want to curl up in her little house and never leave. In fact, I feel like going there, right now!

Oh yeah, they are my two best friends in the world. Who could ask for more?

'till next time,

~ Dianne