sing with me

I borrowed the idea from sanguinepen.

Here's a sample playlist of what I listen to when I'm working on my novel. Some of the songs just set the mood and others are associated with the characters. This should make it easier for me to keep all my songs in one place.

Enjoy!

ONE MORE DAY! I even switched shifts with someone at work so I could be out in time to watch the show live. Yeah, I know I'm a dork.

Tonight it's Spring Awakening, so, that means I'm taping Glee tonight. Haha. Kinda ironic I'm missing Glee for SA. I'll still be listening to people sing and stuff, right?

My dad sent me a package of venison (he hunts) and inside was a note with a recent family picture of my parents and my two brothers they had taken for our church directory. He said it was missing me and my sister and that they miss us very much. THEN, my sister sent me a video of my nephew laughing and being the most adorable baby ever! I admit it--I cried both times. I miss my family!! I love being out here, but I hate being so far away from them esp. with the holidays coming up. It's my first time away from home during the holidays and all. *sigh*

So. I need to start writing again. I've got my first critique meeting coming up in a few weeks, an offer from an editor to submit something again...and no ideas. I now understand the meaning of FML.

Anyway, Odyssey, the wonderful writing workshop I attended three(!) years ago, is now taking applications! I'm not kidding when I say this workshop was the turning point in my writing career. This year's instructors include Michael A. Arnzen (who was also my awesome second mentor at SHU), Elizabeth Hand, Gregory Frost, Alexander Jablokov, and David G. Hartwell. Laura Anne Gilman is the writer-in-residence. Visit www.odysseyworkshop.org for more information.

I just heard back about my angels/demons novella. It wasn't selected for the anthology, but the editor did write:

As I enjoyed many aspects of your voice, I would like to invite you to submit more of your work to us in the future. You can do this directly through to me at this address when you have something ready.

EEK! and YEA!

And the editor called me "Ms. Yang," not "Mr. Yang," like the last time I heard back from an editor ;)

I've been kind of avoiding making this post because I really can't put my thoughts into words, but I feel like I have to say something about my girl Jo Harvelle.

( SPN 5x10 spoilers )

So, has the SPN fandom imploded yet?

I admit, I looked at the some of the comments. Some were hilarious. Some were just mean. And all this time, we thought it was Jared/Gen :) I'm just cringing at the thought of how the Chicago SPN con is going to go this weekend. More security? Hehe. Anyway, I'm staying away from the wank. Lately, I've been distancing myself from the show and the fandom. It's not so new and shiny anymore.

I received some good news today. I was invited to join the Southern Orange County Writers Critique Group. I don't know if I ever told the story here, but I met a woman at work who was a member and we exchanged e-mails. She contacted me and told me more about the group and how to get in touch with the group's moderator. Imagine my surprise when I found out the mod was also an Odyssey graduate! I didn't feel as nervous about joining the group, so, I sent in a writing sample last week and heard back tonight that the group accepted me. They call it a small, elite group. I'm kind of wary of the word "elite," but if the mod is an Odyssey grad, then I'll give it a try. My first meeting is next month (they meet monthly).

Other than that, I've been feeling kind of meh. I guess it doesn't matter where you are (sunny weather, snowy weather), you still experience the seasonal blues. I guess I'm missing my family and it's my first time away from my parents during Thanksgiving. I doubt I'll be able to see them during Christmas either, so, I probably won't get to see them until next year. Damn, retail...unless I get a new non-retail job within the next month.

Next week, my cousin and I are going to see Spring Awakening. Yes, you can blame Lea for that. NEW GLEE THIS WEEK! Anyone else loving the CD too?

I need a haircut.

My Heart, Your Hands
SPN
Dean/Jo/John
NC-17
AU/Sam has successfully left the hunting world behind him and is a student at Stanford. Meanwhile, Dean and John still live as hunters. One day, they stop at the Harvelle Roadhouse and meet Jo, who desires the open road as much as they do.
Word count: 13,500
For polybigbang, thanks to valiant for the beta and irishbunnie for the artwork
Title from the song "My Heart, Your Hands" by Dommin, please see under the cut to listen to the fic's playlist

( SPN Fic: My Heart, Your Hands 1/2 )

Yes, I'm alive. Just not in the posting mood.

Apparently, I go back into repayment this month for my undergraduate loans. Need to apply for deferment ASAP.

Need to finish revising my polybigbang fic and post it tonight, then that will be the end of my writing obligations for awhile.

Watching My Best Friend's Wedding right now isn't helping me. *sigh* And they're about to start the boat scene.

Well, at least Glee returns next week! And I have this to look forward to (warning: SPN spoilers!)

Anyway, I've been outlining my romantic comedy story idea and I think I love it a lot. And guess what? No one dies in it. But there will be angst. There is always angst ;)

Dude. Another week just passed without me posting to LJ. That sucks. It just means I've been working way too much. Anyway, I'm here now!

Happy belated Halloween. Hope you guys had a lot of fun. Met up with some friends and we went out to a club. Danced with a hot dog (as in it was a guy in a hot dog suit). And I was a cowgirl :) Look for the pic in a FO post.

Aside from working, I was also busy revising my novella, which I submitted just in time for the contest. It was due today and I sent it yesterday around noon. I don't think it's going to be selected, but hey, at least I tried. FYI: It's really uncomfortable writing sex scenes on your laptop when you're in a public library.

I post my polybigbang fic on Friday. That also needs some revision. It never ends. But irishbunnie made me an AWESOME poster for it. She never lets me down :D

I thought SPN was on hiatus so I missed it last week. That makes it three weeks in a row now. Judging from what I've read, it doesn't sound like I've missed much. I'm definitely tuning in Nov. 19 though ;)

Anyone else watching the original V series on Sci-Fi/Sy-Fy? Oh, 80s TV, gotta love it.

So, yeah, I've missed you guys (and having free time!), but tell me what's up. I promise I'll read the comments, but I think I'm going to crawl into bed soon. My body hasn't adjusted to daylight savings time yet.

And GOOD LUCK to everyone doing NaNo!!

Dude. Where is my life? Yes, I've been MIA. Still working these 1-10 shifts that eat up my whole day. Received my first paycheck this Friday. Finally!

Now, I have two days off, but they will be spent revising/editing the novella. It's due Nov. 1 for the contest deadline. At this point, I don't think it's going to win or anything, but I want to at least submit it. Maybe the editors will be intrigued with the idea and invite me to submit the story as a longer piece. You never know.

Urban fantasy writer Justine Musk's latest blog entry here talks about "practice novels." It got me thinking about my own writing. What if my thesis for school--my market-ready manuscript--is a practice novel? What if I'm still practicing? She brings up the point that the reason why some writers aren't published yet is because they haven't failed enough. I wonder if I fall into that category. I've had my fair share of rejections so far, but maybe I haven't earned my writing scars yet. That article scares and inspires me at the same time.

In that case, the latest story idea to pop in my head is a romantic-comedy. Isn't that crazy? I think I want something light and fluffy to write. I've already cast Ryan Reynolds and Rashida Jones as my models, and they're so just pretty together that I have to make their characters fall in love. Even though I said no on NaNo this year, I'm debating if this will work.

I still have my cough.

And here, have a video of the Dead by Sunrise concert I went to last week at the Roxy.


I had a total blast! Chester was practically sweating on me (yes, I was in the front row!) I doubt I can ever stand that close to him again since LP plays stadiums and stuff. And I don't know why, but at this concert, I noticed all the cameras and people recording/taking pictures, which is cool and all, but I stopped bringing my camera to live concerts for a reason--so I could be in that moment, and it forces me to pay more attention and to remember things. Aside from the security issues, having a camera creates a filter, you know? Why watch a live concert through a screen when the actual show is right there in front of your eyes? *shrugs* That's just me. Anyway, they played all the songs I wanted to hear from the album. Hmmm...if I sang along with all the songs, does it count as me singing a duet with Chester? Hehe. Because, dude, that's something I've always wanted to do. Yeah, it totally counts.

Today's random, deep, obscure thought: Sometimes boys do stupid things. Sometimes they make you smile when they do stupid things. Sometimes you feel stupid when boys make you smile when they're doing those stupid things. If you understood any of that, here--have a virtual cookie.

P.S. I missed SPN for two weeks and I don't feel guilty about it at all. I still LOVE, LOVE Glee and Sons of Anarchy. And I'm sad no one wants to go see Paranormal Activity with me :( All my horror movie buddies are back in Michigan, I guess.

P.P.S. I'm new to the state of California and all, but I'm still sad both the Dodgers and/or the Angels aren't going to the World Series. I guess it's gonna be the East Coast representing!

Day off! FINALLY!

Dinner with halfdutch, then it's the Dead by Sunrise concert at the Roxy tonight! Whoot!

Found out one of my cousins back in Michigan had her baby today. A girl named Morgan :D

I'm on a biography kick. I just finished reading Captain Sullenberger's memoir (the pilot who landed the plane in the Hudson). Good, uplifting read. He talked a lot about how his past and his early love for flying helped prepare him for landing the plane safely. The past really does shape us, you know? At least that's what I took from it.

On Wednesday, I'm going to a social, where there will be media people there from newspapers/magazines. I plan to network my butt off.

Anyway, I have three days off, and I love it.

It's kind of amusing that Southern California is freaking out over some rainy weather. I get that it might cause mudslides and stuff like that, but seriously, rain? I, on the other hand, cannot wait for it. I've been missing it. It's perfect weather to stay in bed and I actually don't mind the clouds. Conan brought up the impending storm last night too and I loved his little skit on "the breaking news." Haha. We both came out West at about the same time, so, everything he says I can basically relate to.

Bought my ticket to Dead by Sunrise today. Yea! In less than a week, me and Chester Bennington in the same room! I'm gonna buy the CD tomorrow since it just came out, but from what I've heard on youtube, I like all the songs. Have a listen.


**Guh. I love his voice.

Oh, did I mention I was going to be a cowboy(girl?) for Halloween? I debated on being Rachel Berry since I do own skirts and argyle, but I figured maybe not everyone would know who I was. Then, I saw the "Last Name" number on Glee and decided a cowboy would be cool. I pretty much have the entire outfit picked out from the hat to the belt buckle. I even have my little sheriff's deputy pin from when I graduated from the Citizen's Policy Academy :)

I'm brainstorming what my next writing project should be. Everything from romance to my YA to fanfic. I know I just finished my novella, but my fingers need to be on the keyboard, you know? I get jittery if I'm not writing. I doubt I can do NaNo though. With this job and the evening hours, I don't think my writing schedule can work. Or maybe I should stick with a smaller project until the next idea comes along, like querying agents again. I even thought about applying for the Clarion workshop since it's right here in San Diego, but then I had to remind myself I had to apply for the right reasons and I couldn't think of any. I think when my mindset is at the right place, I will apply. Who knows? Maybe in a few months when the applications are due, I will be.

It just sucks going through the motions. Ha. Maybe having the rainy weather around is a big deal after all. At least my cough is going away.

Whoo! Day off! I slept in! Read in bed! Currently reading Kathy Griffin's memoir and I love it. I uploaded some new icons including this gorgeous and sexy Finn/Rachel one by gigglemonster. Seriously, I'm in love with it. Makes me want to write fic becca_radcgg ;) And I made a new layout featuring my new OTP. Like I said in an earlier post, shiny!

Gonna head out now to buy some cough medicine, but yeah, so, what's up, people?

Haven't posted in five days, but that's what happens when I work crazy 1-10 shifts. Anyway, the job is going well. I just have sore feet every night, but it's a good feeling to help customers find books and to see the smile on their faces when you hand them that particular book they were searching for. Yea! books!

Anyway, my body picked a good time to get sick :( I've had a bad cough for a few days now, like hacking cough. Not fun.

I really want to go see Paranormal Activity! It's playing in my area! Now I just have to convince some people to go see it with me. All my horror film buddies are back in Michigan :(

I also really want to see Dead by Sunrise on the 19th at the Roxy. It's Chester Bennington's (Linkin Park singer) side project. Any Cali folks interested?

Anyway, I still love my TV shows esp. Glee and Sons of Anarchy, and Nip/Tuck returns soon! I'm debating on signing up for apocabigbang because I really want to write SPN/Zombieland crossover fic :D And then there's also NaNo...oh, decisions, decisions...

I finished my angels/demons novella today! Whoo! 150 pages, 26K words. It's pretty much crap at this point, but I'm proud of it! I love the feeling of finishing a story esp. something new and original.

In the back of my mind, I hope the contest thing doesn't work out so I can spend more time with these characters and expand the story. I did a lot of research on angels/demons and there is some cool stuff I wish I could have put in, but it would have turned it into a full-fledged novel. Then again, if it doesn't work out, I think this novella could make a good prequel. I did leave the ending sort of open-ended. I guess we'll see.

devilwrites, I'm going to e-mail it to you by Wednesday.

*sigh* One more day of freedom before I start working a full-time job again.

For jenab
( Supernatural, Dean/Jo, grey, Shadows Return )

For gigglemonster
( SPN + Dean/Jo + cerulean + The Girl Who Played With Fire )

For joans23
( True Blood + Eric (gen) + white + slow motion )

For xxkezziexx
( SPN + Sam/Lucifer/Ruby (gen if poss) + white + The Resistance )

For lisek16
( Alias + Vaughn/Syd + orange + The Lost Symbol )

For roseredathena
( SPN, Dean/Ruby, firelight orange, Appetite for Destruction )

For becca_radcgg
( Glee - Rachel (don't care about pairing) - aubergine - If you give a mouse a cookie )

Taking a writing break today to go watch "Zombieland." Should be fun!

And I cannot stop listening to the new AFI CD! Go buy a copy!

Bigger caps here by rinslet

Uh. I may be OTPing them on the show and in real-life.

I reached my word count, so, leave me some drabble prompts, okay?