Don't Write for Trends

That is the advice I keep reading from agents, though, I can't help but wonder if it is the right advice. Granted I believe that writers shouldn't write just because a specific genre is popular. A writer should always write what they want to write. The ideas that they have that they know if they don't get down on paper it will drive them absolutely crazy. But what if you are like me a writer of contemporary with several paranormal ideas floating around in your mind. Is it wrong to set the contemporary aside and try to jump on the band wagon?

I'm not saying that I am going to. I won't begin a story until I am completely certain of the storyline, the characters and if I believe it is a story worth investing my time into. If I'm not going to enjoy writing it I'm simply not going to write it. But back to the topic at hand, Should you write for trends or not? I was leaning towards the not but then I dug and I found some interesting evidence to support the former.

Alyson Noel former YA contemporary writer is now more popular than ever with her Evermore Series. Megan McCafferty who as you know is the author of the books I am currently reading all of which are YA Contemporary. However, her latest title is a dystopian.  Lauren Kate known for her Fallen series wrote a book prior to the series that had no paranormal elements in it.

These are just a few and I'm sure there are several more. It seems to me they are writing for the current trend. Can you blame them? If you have the ideas floating isn't it okay to take advantage of the trends in order to establish yourself? I am really on the fence about this one. What are your thoughts? And do you know of any writers that seem to be writing for the current trends?

Also just a quick note regarding my book buying problem. It's not getting better. I bought two new books this weekend. I couldn't help myself.     
                                                                                                             
                                 

RIP Ryan Dunn

Not many people like the Jackass movies they find them disgusting and think they glorify stupidity. For me I have always thought the Jackass crew were geniuses to make a franchise out of never growing up. I have seen all the Jackass movies and what many people don't know is they started out making films under the name CKY and that was my first experience with this group of characters.

From the very first CKY movie, 13 years ago, I had two favorites Ryan Dunn and Bam Margera. In the more current movies Ryan Dunn advanced to be my favorite. So I was devastated to hear the news that he passed away. I always thought how with all of the stupid activities that this crew took part in it was inevitable for one of them not to make it out alive. Though, they defied the odds every time. Even Steve-O who I thought would be found dead in a hotel room from a drug overdose, sobered up, came out with a book and proved me wrong.

Out of all of them Ryan Dunn was the last one I expected to come to an untimely death. I guess it just goes to show that no matter how invincible you think you may be you're not. However, you can't argue that he didn't live life to the fullest because that is what he did.

I just want to say Thank You Ryan Dunn for making me laugh for the past 13 years and may you rest in peace.

Side note: There is speculation that he was drinking before taking to the wheel and while I don't condone that type of behavior it still doesn't make it any less of a tragedy. And if this is the case I hope the rest of the Jackass clan as well as the millions of fans learn that you should always have a designated driver.

Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

If you have never read one of my reviews before just know that I don't like to talk too much about the content of a book because I don't want to ruin it for those that have yet to read it. Though, I will discuss why I liked or disliked it and how I could relate to it.

I purchased SLOPPY FIRSTS by Megan McCafferty after reading all of the rave reviews on Goodreads. Now I will admit at first it felt as if it was taking me forever to read. Usually I can read a book in a day or two this one was going on to five and I didn't know if I would ever finish it. Once I got through the first hundred pages the book finally came alive and I couldn't put it down.

A quick overview of the story:

Jessica Darling is lost when her best friend, Hope, moves out of Pineville after the untimely death of her brother, Heath, due to a drug overdose. With her best friend gone she is left to deal with friends who she really can't stand AKA the Clueless Crew (as she refers to them), her sister's wedding, and pressure from her dad to be the greatest track star who ever lived, all by herself.
Through the course of the book I fell in love with Jessica Darling and even more with her interactions with Marcus Flutie. I felt like I was transported back to high school as I read and was surprised to discover how much Marcus Flutie reminded me of my ex-boyfriend when I was 15/16.

Like Marcus Flutie my ex was a Dreg, smarter than anyone I knew, bored with everything and dressed to set himself apart from everyone else. The similarities between the two are uncanny.

At one point in the story Jessica is called down to the guidance counselor where she is lectured about how she is a smart girl and she shouldn't be hanging around the likes of Marcus Flutie. I almost laughed out loud at this point just because I had the same thing happen to me. Most people would think that this is farfetched. Why would the school get involved with relationships? I'm living proof that they do.

My ex wrote a poem for English class which I read before he handed in and I thought was amazing. I was even jealous that he was able to write something that I could imagine reading in a text book one day. However, the content of the poem was frowned upon by the teacher, it really wasn't that bad, and she sent it to the principal. Now this teacher had it out for him from the very beginning. She spent more time sending him to the principal's office, for the minutest things than actually teaching him. After the principal got a hold of the poem it made its way to my counselor. I sat there with my blood boiling as she asked me ridiculous questions such as has he ever hurt you? This about the boy who rescued an injured bird while we were out for walk one day. Not only did he rescue it from stray cats and cars he took it back to my house gave it water, food and a name and nursed it back to health. He also cared so deeply for his siblings and cried on the phone with me when his grandfather passed away. Oh yeah he was totally the type of guy who would hurt me. He wasn't that type of guy even if he was rebellious in their eyes he never physically hurt me or anyone for that matter. It wasn't his style.

As I read this particular scene I wondered how Jessica would react in the similar situation and I was thrilled when she reacted the same exact way as I did. I wish I would have read this book back then. It could have helped. It could have given me something to relate to since I was exactly like Jessica. I was completely lost.

I think this book has a great voice, Jessica Darling is witty and entertaining and most importantly realistic. I had bought the first three books in the series and in the beginning didn't think I'd ever get to the other two. But after finishing SLOPPY FIRSTS I couldn't wait to start reading SECOND HELPINGS. So stayed tuned for that review.

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

I just finished reading Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson and I loved it. A quick overview of the story:

Tyler Miller has always been somewhat of a nerd, invisible amongst his classmates, until he gets caught for spray painting graffiti on school property. After a summer of community service and a labor intense job he is back at school with a new body and reputation. The girl he has been lusting after, his dad's boss’s daughter and sister to his enemy, for a majority of his teen year’s takes notice. You would think this is the part where things begin to look up for Tyler but a web of deceit turns his life upside down. (I don't want to give too much away for those who have not read the book yet.)

As an aspiring writer I am always reading agents profiles and interviews and the thing they are always talking about is voice. Twisted is the perfect example of a book having a strong voice. At times I felt like I was in Tyler's head going through the motions with him. The voice was consistent and realistic throughout the entire story and even after I had put the book down Tyler's voice was still in my head.

I'm embarrassed to admit that this is the first Laurie Halse Anderson book I have read. I know. I know. As an aspiring YA writer I should have read Speak years ago, but at least I've seen the movie. Right? No. *Hangs head in shame*

It's kind of like being a New Yorker and admitting to have never walked across the Brooklyn Bridge or have been to the top of the Empire State Building. Shameful but it happens. However, after reading TWISTED I plan on buying all of Laurie Halse Anderson's books. And if you are in the same boat as me and have never read one of her books I suggest you go out to your local library or bookstore and do something about it. You will not be disappointed.

Did you read TWISTED? If so what are your thoughts? Is there a book that you are ashamed to admit that you have never read? Would love to hear what you have to say. (I always try to respond to comments, but Blogger and I have been fighting lately and Blogger has been very stubborn and making it impossible for me to do so. I will try to make amends in the meantime.)

The Hangover 2

After I went to see Bridesmaids, which if you read that post you know I didn't exactly want to see, I went to see The Hangover 2 which I was dying to see. Even though I was dying to see it I went in not expecting much because let's face it when is a sequel ever as good as the original. Never.

So I laughed and I did find it quite amusing. However, it was the same exact storyline as the first movie. The first one I loved, but for the second one they had the perfect opportunity to take it to a whole other level and they didn't. When you have the guys repeating the same lines to mimic the first one that is where you know you have a problem. I get it, the first one was a hit, a classic if you may, but that doesn't mean they couldn't shy a way from the original storyline and make the second one a classic in its own right. 

Zach Galifiankis, Ken Jeong and Crystal the Monkey made the movie. Did anyone else see the pictures of Crystal walking the carpet for the premiere? In her pink dress and white pearls she walked that carpet as if she was Paris Hilton, waving to the people, posing for pictures and just hamming it up. If you haven't seen all the pictures Google them ASAP! I'm in love.

Anyway back to the movie. 

If you haven't seen it and are scared it won't be as good as the first you're right. However, if you go into it as I did with little expectations you may be pleasantly surprised. Or you can always buy, rent or turn to one of your movie channels to catch the original.

New York Don't Disappoint Me!

The New York Senate has a chance to vote in favor of gay marriage and I pray for all those people who have been stripped of their rights, just because of their sexual orientation, will finally have the same rights as their friends, family, coworkers and every other person they pass on the street.

It amazes me that in the year 2011 we are still as a country divided on the subject. What also amazes me is the response that people give as to why gay marriage should not be allowed, It is not in the bible. I'm sorry but our first amendment rights is the freedom of religion. So why is it that our country is being ran by a religion?

Not to mention homosexuality has been around longer than religion. In the times of Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome it is known that many men, including emperors, had homosexual relationships. So I feel like that argument has no ground to stand on.

Religion aside a person is a person and every person should have the right to marry who they want to. Please lets take a step forward instead of two backwards.

~Bully, Bullied or Both~

Excerpt from my Work in Progress: Watching her fail miserably gives me satisfaction like nothing else. Every time Eric inches away from her a smile forms on my face. I just can’t let her see since she would rip me to shreds. So I secretly listen and secretly smile knowing that I am no more pathetic than she is.

I always have more than one project going on at a time. Currently I am actively working on two but have three others that I add to when the inspiration hits. One that I am actively working on has been a WIP since I started writing my first book. I have the whole plot figured out, the characters fleshed out and all the subplots ready to come alive on the page it is just moving slower than my other projects. I think mainly it is because I want to get it right.

The main story focuses on bullying and how high school can be glorious one minute and the next your worst nightmare. Bullying has been going on as long as man has walked this earth but it has been making its way into the media over the last couple of years.

Personally I think bullying is part of being a teenager. I know I dealt with my share of it as I navigated the halls of school. I'm not going to sit here and go on and on about how I was bullied and act as if I myself was never the bully because at times I was. It was easier to be the bully than to be the one who was being bullied and I think that is why I sometimes took that route. I'm not exactly proud but I'm not going to deny it either.

In elementary school I was the one being bullied and middle school was when I began to bully in order to protect myself. The truth is no one wants to bully the bully. I wasn't viscious or purposely cruel it was more or less if you mess with me I'm not going to sit back and take it.  Then when high school came I honestly couldn't be bothered with pretty much any of it. I was done with the drama. I guess you can say I was growing up. Though, for some bullies they never grow up. It's all they have ever known and they will spend the rest of their days picking on others in order to feel better about themselves. I'm actually mortified to think back and recall some of the names my friends and I called people. I'm even more mortified to think back and recall some of the names my friends and I were called. When they say kids are cruel they are not kidding. 

Some names I was called in school: 

Stone Cold 

Lesbian

Toliet Paper (My initials are TP) 

Bitch

Slut (Meanwhile at 26 I've only dated three guys) 

A guy once told my friend I had a nice body if you put a paper bag over my head (That one has always been my favorite)

I've been on both sides and really want my WIP to be able to showcase both sides. While it is a slow process I am already happy with how it is coming along so I know that the end result will be completely rewarding and satisfying.

So tell me what names were you called in school. Were you the bully, bullied or both?