Just Curious

Nathan Bransford recently did a poll of his readers to get an idea of who was out there. Since I am on vacation today. I thought this would be a good time to find out some information about you guys. That way I can make sure that my posts are relevant. Plus, I'm just curious. :p

Also, this is a perfect opportunity for any lurkers out there to participate as well, since it's anonymous.

Also, please leave a comment of what you would like to see more or less of in this blog. Is WIP Wed. interesting? Does Face-off Friday make you happy?

Okay, that's all I can think of for now. Vote people! Ignored polls will be bad for my self-esteem. :)

**Today's Theme Song**

"Talk Dirty to Me" - Poison

(player in sidebar, take a listen)

Subjecting Myself to Public Opinion (cringe)

Today's post at Public Query Slushpile is my query letter for my first novel Shadow Falls. I am feeling a little self-conscious about subjecting myself to public opinion, but I figure it can only help me improve.

Come over and give your opinion. I'd love your feedback (good, bad, or ugly).

Also, Blogger was having issues yesterday, so if you haven't voted in my poll from yesterday, please do. It's located in the right sidebar at the top ----->

Tell me what you want to see for Friday's theme.

Thanks and have a great weekend!

(Insert Cool Title) Friday: You Decide!

I love a Friday. And I love a theme. So I was thinking, my Friday blogging needs a theme. Other bloggers have already started some: Follow Friday, Friday Funnies, that type of thing. Those are great and are under consideration, but I thought maybe I would look at a few other possibilities.

Then, I want you, the readers, to decide which you would prefer to see.

Here are the few I've come up with:

1.) Nonfiction Friday--I would depart from fiction and do a review of a non-fiction book. Based on what I read, these would probably most often be writing books, cookbooks, anything I've read for story research, or parenting books.

2.) Fictional Crush Friday--Author Gena Showalter does Beefcake Monday where she provides a hot guy pic. This would be similar, except I would feature a character from a book that I think is crushworthy.

3.) Film Friday--This one's pretty self-explanatory.

4.) Face-off Friday--I'll pick some debatable topic in writing or some cardinal rule, give the opposing opinions, then let commenters chime in. (i.e. Adverbs--Maligned or The Devil's spawn)

5.) Feedback Friday--I would ask readers to submit 250-500 word excerpts (or queries or synopses) for public critiquing and feature one each week. There would of course be rules put in place so that people are constructive and not rude. I think this could be helpful not only for the writer, but for us to practice critiquing others. However, this would require you guys to be open to submitting writing excerpts to me.

Okay, that's all I have for now. Please vote in the poll on the sidebar and let me know what you would like to see. -------------------->

Also, if you have a completely different suggestion, please comment. I'm open to other ideas!

Thanks! I'm excited to hear what everyone thinks.

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And on a completely different note. I was saddened to hear about the passing of John Hughes. His movies ruled my childhood. In honor of him, I'll leave you with some of my favorite movie quotes of his (care of imdb.com)

Pretty in Pink

Duckie: [as he is leaving Andies' room with a juice box in hand] Drinking and driving don't mix.
Duckie: That's why I ride a bike.

The Breakfast Club

Bender: Remember how you said your parents use you to get back at each other?
Claire Standish: [nods]
Bender: Wouldn't I be OUTSTANDING in that capacity?

Claire Standish: So academic clubs aren't the same as other kinds of clubs.
John Bender: Ah... but to dorks like him, they are. What do you guys do in your club?
Brian Johnson: Well, in physics we... we talk about physics, properties of physics.
John Bender: So it's sorta social, demented and sad, but social. Right?

Weird Science

Wyatt: Hi Chet.
Chet: [Grabs Wyatt] What the hell is going on around here?
Wyatt: It was an accident Chet.
Chet: An accident? An accident? Do you realize it's snowing in my room goddammit!

Garry: Maybe it was a dream, you know, a very weird, bizarre, vivid, erotic, wet, detailed dream. Maybe we have malaria.

Lisa: If you ever get the chance, shower with them. I did. Mmm, it's a mindscrambler.

Wyatt: Garry, don't you feel like a chicken?
Garry: Wyatt, if I could shoot an egg out my ass right now, I would! Look we can deal with shame, death is a much deeper issue.

National Lampoons Vacation

[after driving off the road]
Ellen Griswold: I think I broke my nose.
Rusty Griswold: I stabbed my brain.
Audrey Griswold: I just got my period.

Sixteen Candles (my all-time favorite)

Samantha: Donger's here for five hours, and he's got somebody. I live here my whole life, and I'm like a disease.

The Geek: This information cannot leave this room. Ok? It would devastate my reputation as a dude.

The Geek: Relax, would you? We have seventy dollars and a pair of girls underpants. We're safe as kittens.

[on the phone to the police]
Howard: What was he wearing? Well, uh, let's see, he was wearing a red argyle sweater, and tan trousers, and red shoes... No, he's not retarded.

Have a great Friday! And don't forget to vote. :)