My Weekly Update – Better Late Than Never

Twenty Seven days into 2013 and I now I am starting to understand.  Well, Better Late Than Never, right?

  1. I understand that my lackadaisical, laid back, ‘oh, I’ll get to it’ attitude about blogging is not for me.  I need a schedule. I am going back to announcing my schedule for the week – better late than never, right? 
  2. I understand that while I can’t spend all my time on social media and be a productive writer, I can’t ignore days of social media and expect to be on top of things.  Playing catch up all the time doesn’t work for me – better late than never, right? 
  3. I understood that I needed some time after my last job to relax and recharge.  But, 6 weeks out of work and I am bored and unproductive in every part of my life.  Far be it from me (What a great saying, I feel like my grandma) to use all this extra time to practice writing habitually, reading cognitively and editing effectively.  But, I am starting now – better late than never, right? 
  4. I am realizing that with so many opportunities out there for pitching/querying/submitting to agents/publishers on blogs/twitter/facebook/writer’s conferences. My three first drafts aren’t ever going to be ready, sitting on my desk unedited – better late than never, right?

Have you had any Better Late Than Never lessons learned this year?  

Awards

one-lovely-blog-award

Thanks so much to EM Castellan for the The Lovely Blog Award.

Also, a quick thanks and shot out to Karens Different Corners for awarding me the Liebster Award, although I am not sure I should except because I have more then 200 followers, I appreciate the recognition regardless. And, she is close to 200 herself, so follow her and prepare to gain knowledge and be entertained.

Post to Report On

Hey, Y’all: Dialect and Slang From the Write AngleAs someone from Texas, I have to practice not making all my characters sound like Texans.  What do y’all think about dialects and slang? 
Character Study by Left and Write – How much character development do you do before and during writing and editing? 
6 Things You Didn’t Know About Becoming and Published Author: a guest post by RaeBeth McGee-Buda on Amanda Fanger – #2 – Editing is Tough – I knew it. 
The First Draft Run Through Blues by Raewynn Hewitt – Makes me want to cry. 
Editing is Writing Too by Raewynn Hewitt – The push I needed to get off my butt and put my butt in the chair and edit. 
New Followers
Tim The Film Guy
William Stadler
Special thanks to my email followers as well.  
 

Next Week’s Schedule

Monday – Re-Introduce Myself Blog Hop
Wednesday – The Word Master Challenge
Friday – Imaginary Friend Blog Hop
Sunday – My Weekly Update

And, don’t forget to sign up for Blogging from A to Z Challenge on Wednesday, January 30, 2012.  Click the badge below for rules and Tips on Blogging from A to Z.

 

And, congratulation to Aldrea Alien for knowing her Bilbo/Gollum Riddles. Here are the answers:

1. Mountain.
2. Teeth.
3. Wind.
4. Sun in the sky shining upon daises on a hill.
5. Darkness.
6. Egg
7. A Fish.
8. A fish lay on a table. A man sat on a stool. And the cat got the bones.
9. Time!

SQM – The Hobbit

Hobbit-Movie-Poster-570x842The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was hyped from the moment the last LOTR movie finished filming.  It was inevitable.  Of course, I am happy Peter Jackson committed to this project.  He’s sees Middle Earth like no other.

The movie was beautiful. The scene filmed on New Zealand country side were epic and Jackson utilized the natural beauty so well in the movie.

It was comforting to see some cameo’s from LOTR such as Old Bilbo, Saruman, Galadriel, Elrond and the greatness that is Frodo.

I liked the movie more because of the franchise and some residual good vibes from the LOTR, but it was slow at times.  But, from the moment Gollum makes an appearance, until the end, the movie is amazing.

My favorite scene in the movie was the same as in the book; the riddle scene between Bilbo and Gollum.

A contest alert:  Guess the answers to the riddles? Leave the answers in the comments.  Whoever answers the most correct, wins a $10 Amazon gift card from me. 

1.  What has roots as nobody sees,
Is taller than trees,
Up, up it goes,
And yet never grows?

2.  Thirty white horses on a red hill,
First they champ,
Then they stamp,
Then they stand still.

3.  Voiceless it cries,
Wingless flutters,
toothless bites,
Mouthless mutters.

4.  An eye in a blue face
Saw an eye in a green face.
“That eye is like to this eye”
Said the first eye,
“but in low place
Not in high place.”

5.  It cannot be seen, cannot be felt,
Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt.
It lies behind stars and under hills,
And empty holes it fills.
It comes first and follows after,
Ends life, kills laughter.

6.  A box without hinges, key, or lid,
yet golden treasure inside is hid.

7.  Alive without breath,
As cold as death;
Never thirsty, ever drinking,
All in mail never clinking.

8.  No-legs lay on one-leg,
Two-legs sat near on three-legs,
Four-legs got some.

9.  This thing all things devours:
Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;
Gnaws iron, bites steel;
Grinds hard stones to meal;
Slays king, ruins town,
And beats high mountain down.

Come back on Sunday for the answers.  And, go see the movie and read the book.   

hobbit-poster-gollum-andy-serkis

I leave you with the desperate, sad, and pathetic words from Gollum, “Thief, thief, thief…! Baggins! We hates it, we hates it, we hates it forever!” – Poor Gollum

 

 

Related Post: 

The Hobbit:  An Unexpected Journey (2012) by My Filmviews
CinematiCaptions: The Hobbit Edition by My Filmviews
What’s it got in its pocketses? by Today I Watched a Movie
The Hobbit Lives Up to the Hype by Love Your Movies
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) Review by Tim’s Film Reviews
“The Hobbit”: More Complicated than Some Critics have Acknowledged by The Living Notebook
The Hobbit (12/12/21) by Andy Watches Movies
Characters from ‘LOTR’ who appear in ‘The Hobbit’

My Weekly Update – Books and Movies

“Better to have a little experience and a lot of imagination than vice versa.”The Daily Writer

The Hobbit

hobbitpostersI try not to see the movie until I have read the book. So, I spent the week reading the book and then I saw the movie. I wish someone had told me I didn’t need to read the whole thing, the movie covers only 1/3 of the book.  It was a good read. The movie, on the other hand, didn’t really start until Gollum made an appearance. It was all visually beautiful, but it didn’t move until two hours in.

I was pleased to discover that my favorite part of the book was also my favorite scene in the movie; The riddle contest between Bilbo Baggins and Gollum in the Troll Kingdom.  Both book and movie version were laugh out loud funny.  Come back later this week and read my SQM post on The Hobbit.

I also saw Skyfalls.  I went to the movies with my parents and then at dinner learned their first date was a James Bond movie.  How romantic.  My mom informed me that my dad had taken 2 other girls to see the movie, as well.  But, she married him anyway.

What movies have you seen lately?  Did you see The Hobbit?  What did you think? 

Post to Review

Fess Up Friday:  I Like Wearing Old Lady Shoes by Cynthia at Read is the New Black – Have you found your niche when it comes to writing?
What Writing Step Are You Afraid Of?  by Jami Gold – I am afraid of Writing Query Letters, but I think my reasons are off base, how about you?
17 Signs You’re Actually, gasp, an ADULT by Paul Angone at All Groan Up – I am living #3 right now. But, I haven’t seen it in 5 years.
Appreciating Art by Tasha Seegmiller – Have you ever taken a scene from your favorite piece of art and wrote a scene? I wrote a scene that took place in Van Gogh’s Iris in a Field. It turned out pretty good. Give it a try.
New Followers
Vanessa Wester Writer
Young Hungry and Restless
Shannon Thompson
M.L. Swift
Ciucela . . . 
John Lucas Hargis
 

Next Weeks Highlights

mlswift.blogspot.comJanuary 16th is the first meeting of the Progressive Book Club.  An online book club hosted by M.L. Swift.  Click on the badge for more information.

 

 

sylmion.blogspot.comMy First Book: Announces The Word Master Challenge.  Every month, Misha will present a theme.  This month’s Theme:

HOW NOT TO WRITE A NOVEL BEGINNING.

In less than 300 words, I want to see your idea of the WORST beginning you can possibly write. The funnier and more creative you are, the better. To make it easier for me, you have the WHOLE of January to enter, but you must please enter the SPECIFIC entry link into the linky list below. For information, click on the badge.

Both events will occur every month and you can join anytime.