Friday, July 9, 2010

The Top 5 Things We Learned This Week

1. Editing can be fun. No seriously! We're actually kind of enjoying edits. Don't tell anyone though, ok? We don't want this getting around...

2. Spelling out "HOME" in fireworks still doesn't make people want to stay in Cleveland. Shocking, right? I feel like Cleveland was acting like a stage-5 clinger in the whole LeBron James scenario. Maybe it's time that we all start focusing on fixing some of the bigger problems that plague our city as opposed to pouring money into sports teams that most often end up playing like the Bad News Bears. Just a thought.

3. Twinky is an adjective. That's right, interwebs, when a guy is twinky, he's young and cute, but scrawny/undeveloped. So, Justin Bieber? Totally twinky.

4. Apparently, some people look like they just ate a large cheeseburger when they're actually 7 months pregnant. This makes me very, very sad.

5. I LOVE our Cleveland YA Book Club. This week we discussed INCARCERON followed by our usual publishing industry therapy session. I come home from book club meetings feeling happy and refreshed. It's just nice to hang out with other writers, people who really understand what we go through on a day-to-day basis. So, if you're ever planning a trip out to Cleveland (perhaps to take in one of our epic firework displays!?!) please shoot us an e-mail and see if your visit falls near a book club meeting.

So, what did you guys learn this week?

44 comments:

Stina said...

I love edits. Good thing because I just received the best feedback EVER on my wip and I'm going to be doing some major rewrites. Can we say NEW SCENES? I thought we could.

So of course I got zippo sleep last night as all these ideas for scenes kept hitting me.

Never heard of twinky before . . . other than the tasteless little cakes. Never liked them.

How is Incarceron? I won the arc to the sequel, which means I'm going to have to read the first book. I don't suppose it has hot romance. Nah, I didn't think so. :(

Have a great weekend, girls!

Matthew MacNish said...

Justin Bieber's cute? Sad about Lebron but you can't really blame him. Unless you're one of those fans who was burning his jersey last night.

Can you believe that? Those jerseys are not cheap. Ebay people!

Today's guest blogger is Guinevere Rowell!

Unknown said...

I learned that when I make cookies even reading the directions doesn't help. They still turn out weird and deformed. I love to bake but I suck at it... :(

On other topics it is disgusting to see Bethenney that far along and yet looks like she ate a cheeseburger... why do those people exist?

Candyland said...

I wish I looked like that at 7 months. I looked like this before pregnancy...
Twinky...I'll be using that today. Thanks...

Martina Boone said...

Being a teacher who is home for the summer, I learned unemployment is the best thing ever (as long as you're getting paid, that is). I wonder, is it possible to be a stay-at-home mom minus children? I could get used to this...

And just for you girls, I learned LiLo is definitely safer behind bars and justice possibly does exist.

Happy Friday!
Marissa

Jayne said...

I did giggle at sports teams playing like the Bad News Bears. :)

This week I learned that the fear of rejection is much worse than rejection itself, and so should be totally kicked to the kerb whenever it tries to rule my heart. Am working on it!

Lola Sharp said...

Yeah, I'm surprised you didn't add LiLo (aka Firecrotch and other less PG and more R rated nicknames) to your list. What a train wreck. I LOVE that they had cameras inside the whole trial! THAT is high quality entertainment. I'm on vacation in Maine, and I still made time to watch the good parts.

Twinky as an adj. is breaking news to me. Thanks for the heads up.

Okay, back to the family vacation...

Lola ----> out.

Christine Danek said...

I learned that the force is strong with you because my flight turned out fine with the kiddos.
I learned I am a slow writer and I'm learning to be okay with it.
I learned that edits can be fun too.
Have a great weekend!

DL Hammons said...

*making a cross with fore-fingers*

Evil....evil...edits!! UGH!!!!

Kelly Lyman said...

Please give me advice on how to make editing fun!! Right now, I'm so not feelin' it.

Oh, and I'm 6 months pregnant and look like I'm about to deliver. She sucks.

S.A. Larsenッ said...

Lola, your in Maine. Where? I'm from Maine. It's freaking HOT here!!

Ladies, that's what I've learned: Although Maine can have 40 degree nights during JULY!!!, we can still have a day that hits 106!! WTFruitloops is going on??

Dianne K. Salerni said...

I learned that although waiting is **HARD**, setting goals and making positive connections can help. It's that old Meet the Robinsons thing: Keep Moving Forward.

Rebecca T. said...

I learned that I miss posting every weekday, even though it takes time and that there are a bunch of really cool people out here (which I already knew, but it was a reminder) and that I love sharing my love of books with people :D

Check out my BEA BONANZA BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Rhonda said...

I've learned that Twinky might be my new favorite adjective!

I learned that fireworks mishaps CAN happen two years in a row and that having fireworks randomly directly at you is just as terrifying the second time around as it was the first.

I've also learned that, next year, we're totally sitting across the street from the "official" fireworks seating area.

Anonymous said...

HAve you been watching "I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant" again? My wife watches that sometimes. It's my cue to turn up the iPod and bury myself in my writing for a while.

Also, I learned that my son is going through a Star Wars phase and wants to be a jedi. Me too, kiddo. Me too.

storyqueen said...

Seriously, I looked as pregnant as Bethenny when I was three months! (But then again, Cali was over ten pounds at birth, sooo)

Shelley

K. M. Walton said...

Please tell me that it is her first baby!!!

I learned it sucks when your sister, who has been here for 3 weeks with her husband and baby, all leave and go back to Australia.

Anonymous said...

I learned that picture and "cute pregnant" people irritate me.

Also, that after you get a massive 4th of July sunburn, you will start peeling the following Thursday.

And that LiLa rock :) (although I knew that already)

Lisa Desrochers said...

Sounds like you had a productive week. I just got my ed letter for Original Sin. How do you feel about doing mine?

Also, Personal Demons will be in the mail tomorrow! =)

Kerri Cuev said...

Just don't tell the teens that Bieber is a Twinkie lol. Adj. version, got it! Twinky!

Jill Kemerer said...

I laughed when the jersey got burned. Gotta love it!

Is she seven months pregnant?? That's me NOT pregnant. Hmmm.... Must get back into jogging schedule.

Have a great weekend!

Dara said...

#2 is as true as it gets. :) You'd think the city would actually learn that sports aren't everything, but no.

I also learned that going out to your car to scream in frustration about work does relieve stress, even if only for one glorious moment.

Jonathon Arntson said...

You guys are smart, like really smart, but your choice in television confuses me. That's the chick from the NYC show, right? Ugh. I used to watch those shows like crazy and then I quit cold-turkey and my life is so less stressful because their drama was becoming my drama and now I can take claim to my own drama. Maybe I should start watching those shows again...hm.

Creepy Query Girl said...

what if eating a large cheeseburger makes you look like your seven months pregnant? Makes me sad in any case...:)

Lenny Lee said...

hi miss lisa and miss laura! this week i learned striking out 4 times in a row at my baseball game :( doesnt feel so bad after eating a big pecan pie blizzard. :) that word twinky is fun. it got me thinkin about my cousin cathy whos a twinkler at christmas. twinklers put lights on buildings and big trees and on streets and big christmas exhibits. i like my stuff getting edited cause i dont do so good on my grammar and that punk stuff but im getting lots better. now im off to go swimming. have a really fun weekend.
...hugs from lenny

Krispy said...

Wow, you can spell HOME in fireworks?! I think Cleveland can give Disneyland a run for its money in the fireworks department.

Your book club sounds fun. How did you like INCARCERON?!

Samantha said...

Well, if you don't love Cleveland at least you have a great YA book club to belong to. I've heard good things about Incarceron.

I learned that it's totally worth dreaming big this week.
Have a great weekend! :)

Jill Wheeler said...

Wow, she looks like my SIL at 7 months pregnant. Hate.

Marsha Sigman said...

1) I have learned from your post that I hate women who are pregnant and only gain a few pounds on their stomach. I gained 30 pounds of stomach and 50 pounds of ass, thank you very much.

2) I learned that no matter how great you think your wip is...if you put it away for a while and then look back at it, it will have glaring errors that burn your eyes. MY EYES!!!

3) I have learned that my husband does not think it's funny to call him 'twinky' after reading the blogs of others.

MaDonna Maurer said...

1. Learned that "twinky" was an adj. Thanks!

2. In England, the grocery basket is emptied and put away at the checkout, not placed directly on the counter...thankfully the cashier just gave me an odd look, then smiled and nodded when I said I was new. =)

Sherrie Petersen said...

I like editing too, because I have a clearer idea of what I'm doing :)

As for Cleveland, well, I don't actually ever remember visiting your fair city, but I would love to sit in on one of your book club meetings. Maybe that should be a vlog. Just sayin...

Little Ms J said...

Things I learned this week:

1. Wine causes indigestion when you turn 33. Be warned.

2. Paraffin wax takes for effing ever to melt, but you should wait for it because your hands will give away the age your face betrays (a la Madonna). I'm just going to start holding them up when trying to get into clubs.

3. Horseradish Potato Balls are disgusting. Just trust me. The guys at Whole Foods are on crack. Or weed. That seems more natural and appropriate, right?

4. I get great creative jolts from muscle relaxers. The BJ's and pills for Kim? High as a kite.

5. High heels make you look skinny.

Lisa Gail Green said...

OMG I didn't know you were in Cleveland! I'm from Detroit. If you haven't seen this WATCH IT!!! Like now! Hysterical.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZzgAjjuqZM

Elana Johnson said...

What a great week! And I love editing too. I just wish my neck didn't hurt so much from sitting in front of the computer.

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

I learned that if you hear a constant high pitched alarm you should check your sump pump!

Carolyn V. said...

Those are awesome! And I won't tell anyone you love revising. =)

Myrna Foster said...

Thanks for teaching me a new way to use "twinky."

Talei said...

Well - I just learnt a new word 'twinky'. LOL. This week, I've learnt that sometimes you just gotta put yourself out there! And that I can write and work! ;)

Unknown said...

Hoping some of your edit-lovin' will wipe off on me. I'm 3 chapters from the end of my WIP and dreading revision. (And I'll look for a way to work the word "twinky" into a convo with hubbykins tonight.)

Joy Preble said...

That thanks to LeBron I now have a shameless wish that I will someday be fought over at that level by book publishers. Like going to auction but w/fireworks and billboards and possibly that red Camaro I've been eyeing. Maybe everyone duking it out in Times Square, pulling and yanking on a copy of the manuscript? Shouting "Joy, Joy. It's you baby. Only you." It could happen. You know it could. You know you want it too.

JennyMac said...

I can't wait to not hear a single additional word about LeBron James and his plan. An ESPN one hour special? Come onnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.

Annette Lyon said...

That 7-mo picture? So wrong.

Holli True said...

I looked like Betheny when I was about 4 months pregnant. Honestly! Who is that small at 7 months?? I just adore you two- you keep me laughing! :) I just had to stop by because I realized I've been dicking around on the internet for the past hour and it made me think of you! LOL!

TerryLynnJohnson said...

Wishing I lived closer to Cleveland! (except for that heat - maybe not)

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