What's On My Desk? 1.0
One's desk, much like their purse is a very personal thing (or at least it should be.) I think it says a lot about the person who spends their time at it.I love to see where other writers write. Kami Garcia often shares what's on her desk and purse on her blog. Maggie Stiefvater has also shared her office space or the chaos that can become her desk when she gets to drawing.I've shared my work-spaces in the past too, but it's been some time since I've done so and I thought I'd share with you a few things that are sitting on my desk today.Research books on Spain gotten from my base Library. I really must visit some of the places I'm writing about. I'll call them research trips!At any given time there is a notebook or three on my desk (or in my purse, or beside my bed).I found an old hair ribbon I used to wear back in College during sorority events (Go Phi Mu!).I have a box of colored pens I purchased at a local market. I got them for my son who likes to journal and draw, but he left them here last week and so I've been using them too. I like colored pens, because sometimes black or blue ink, just isn't enough!
I found some neat pencils while visiting Belluno, Italy this weekend. Belluno was so charming, much like these pencils I picked up in a little boutique, they have Swarovski crystals on their tops. Charming, sparkling writing utensils. Oh what joy!If you're wondering why I have toys on my desk, that's totally my youngest son's fault. He likes to bring me little treasures.I found some Swarovski crystal pencils on amazon I think these would be lovely presents, don't you?
My Writing Playlist
I've never actually posted one with regards to what I was writing, but I got a little inspired yesterday, with all my sharing and so I thought I'd share some more...These songs I find either inspiring in some way or are relevant to my manuscript's theme...I'm sure I'll add more songs to this list as my mood, or the story progresses...
I've been feeling creative and inspired...
Here's what my Muse has found pleasing...I made this little graphic so I could print out and tape into my journal - but quickly discovered that my printer is out of ink. Grrr, I purchased those before I left Miami, but I guess not using them for nearly six months can make them feel all ignored and decide their not in a printerly mood.I so do love Shakespeare's Sonnet 43... The way it speaks of yearning is so poignant. I'm totally channeling this feeling for one of my characters.The photo I used I found via Tumblr. Apparently it's a statue located in Rome. So it's on my list of things to see when we visit. I just have to figure out where.Music definitely helps rev up my creativity. I recently discovered The National, I've had their album High Violet on near constant replay. They're heading straight toward being one of my favorite bands.
Florence + the Machine 
... Two songs specifically I've found to be quite thematic, for my writing these days, Cosmic Love and Blinding off of the Lungs album.Le Sigh. Love those. Here are a few links to the two albums I referenced. These links are affiliate codes...Stuffing A Bra, and Plot-Holes
One of the things I struggle with when drafting a novel is plot. Or rather really big plot-holes that the Titanic could re-sink itself in. I have to remind myself that (for me anyway) character is more important. I love character driven novels and so it is very important for me to write a novel with characters who are real. The plot holes I know I can fill in later so long as I've got the main plot points down.I wrote myself a little note to remind me of this...
Of course, a character who stuffs her bra, actually could be pretty cool to write! I was simply using this analogy to remind myself that I want real characters, not ones full of fluff and nothing substantial.Happy writing!
J.K. Rowling's Pseudonym is Robert Galbraith
J.K. Rowling can write incognito and still find success. The renowned author of The Harry Potter series has penned what is being described as “classic crime novel” called The Cuckoo's Calling under the pen name of Robert Galbraith.Smashing!
Plot Synopsis:A brilliant debut mystery in a classic vein: Detective Cormoran Strike investigates a supermodel’s suicide.After losing his leg to a land mine in Afghanistan, Cormoran Strike is barely scraping by as a private investigator. Strike is down to one client, and creditors are calling. He has also just broken up with his longtime girlfriend and is living in his office.Then John Bristow walks through his door with an amazing story: His sister, the legendary supermodel Lula Landry, known to her friends as the Cuckoo, famously fell to her death a few months earlier. The police ruled it a suicide, but John refuses to believe that. The case plunges Strike into the world of multimillionaire beauties, rock-star boyfriends, and desperate designers, and it introduces him to every variety of pleasure, enticement, seduction, and delusion known to man.You may think you know detectives, but you’ve never met one quite like Strike. You may think you know about the wealthy and famous, but you’ve never seen them under an investigation like this.Will you be scooping up The Cuckoo’s Calling? (I just did!)You also must check out Robert Galbraith's author bio.It's hilarious!
J.K. Rowling's Pseudonym is Robert Galbraith
J.K. Rowling can write incognito and still find success. The renowned author of The Harry Potter series has penned what is being described as “classic crime novel” called The Cuckoo's Calling under the pen name of Robert Galbraith.Smashing!
Plot Synopsis:A brilliant debut mystery in a classic vein: Detective Cormoran Strike investigates a supermodel’s suicide.After losing his leg to a land mine in Afghanistan, Cormoran Strike is barely scraping by as a private investigator. Strike is down to one client, and creditors are calling. He has also just broken up with his longtime girlfriend and is living in his office.Then John Bristow walks through his door with an amazing story: His sister, the legendary supermodel Lula Landry, known to her friends as the Cuckoo, famously fell to her death a few months earlier. The police ruled it a suicide, but John refuses to believe that. The case plunges Strike into the world of multimillionaire beauties, rock-star boyfriends, and desperate designers, and it introduces him to every variety of pleasure, enticement, seduction, and delusion known to man.You may think you know detectives, but you’ve never met one quite like Strike. You may think you know about the wealthy and famous, but you’ve never seen them under an investigation like this.Will you be scooping up The Cuckoo’s Calling? (I just did!)You also must check out Robert Galbraith's author bio.It's hilarious!
You know she's a writer.... #amwriting
She can be frequently seen staring off into space.People have described her as having "her head in the clouds".She loves to read...Voraciously.[Adverb heavy yes. But still applicable. Besides... I like an adverb now and again.] I've had my butt in my chair and my hands mostly on post-it notes.I've been busy story-boarding my manuscript in an attempt to figure out some plot points that just weren't working for me and how to best arrange a few things that "need" to happen.I've also been dealing with more "skin cancer" crapola -as I've had to have three more skin extractions and am convinced that I should change my name to Frankenstella.But it is something that had to be done.I'll get more into it in a later post.My post-its are calling me.xo,nicole