"If you wish to be a writer, write"
-Epictetus

I like this quote because, quite simply, it's true. You don't need a college degree or someone's permission to write. If you think you have something to say, you just do it.

I have a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and I love that I didn't need an English degree to publish books. Life is your training ground for good writing. Everything and everyone you encounter prepares you.

I learned a lot from studying psychology that I'm able to apply to writing. Two of the main skills I brought from psychology are outlining and backing up your statements with evidence.

Of course, if that's actually true, I'm in the wrong business.

It's Friday morning and there are so many things I want to accomplish before I really get started for the weekend. There's so much laundry and cleaning to be done. Friends to catch up with. Some good daytime TV to be watched. But before I do anything I must write. It will be a guilt-ridden day full of regret if I don't write first.

Since I'm a chronic procrastinator, my remedy is to establish a routine as best I can. That means as soon as my feet hit the floor in the morning, I come sit in front of the computer. I spend 10 to 20 minutes surfing the Internet, reading e-mail etc. just to warm up my brain. Then I write in the blog before writing a minimum of two pages on my novel. So far, so good.

I didn't have anything fascinating to write for today, so I decided to allow myself to just ramble on, so I wouldn't have to waste more time surfing the Net for a blog topic. Now, I've rambled enough and I'm going to go knock out that two pages so I can get on with my day.

One of these days I'm going to enter a contest. I like writing contests because the can be a lot of fun if they challenge your creativity. Some of the coolest text writing contests with the most interesting premises come from Worth1000.com.

I originally discovered this site for it's beautiful and amazing Photoshop imagery. The site holds contests and talented Photoshoppers creative images beyond your imagination. I love Photoshop, but I'll never be on that level.

In addition to Photoshop, multimedia, Illustration and photography contests, they provide text contests. The format is usually pretty short and the concepts are intriguing. Some of the recent contests were to write book/movie style review of some important events in humanity's history, ridiculous letters to corporations, or to imagine what our things are thinking about us.

Maybe one of these days, I'll finish my current novel and enter one of these contests. In the mean time, it's fun to read the entries.

Yesterday I posted a quiz for vintage sex slang, and I just couldn't resist posting another quiz today. I did fairly well on the vintage sex slang, but I did absolutely miserable (literally, the site officially proclaimed my performance miserable) on today's quiz. Three out of ten correct. It started out so easy and then suddenly I had no clue.

They don't call it the toughest game on the web for nothing. I was the 134,654,110th person to take a quiz on Etymologic.

Here are the site's instructions:

In this etymology game you'll be presented with 10 randomly selected etymology (word origin) or word definition puzzles to solve; in each case the word or phrase is highlighted in bold, and a number of possible answers will be presented. You need to choose the correct answer to score a point for that question. Beware! The false answers will often also seem quite plausible, and some of the true answers are hard to believe, but we have documentation!

It's obvious that I spend too much time surfing the Internet because my favorite thing to post is interesting Web Sites. At least they're remotely romance and/or writing related, but I could probably fill a year just surfing the sites in my bookmark list. Should you ever need advice on how to waste time, I'm your girl.

I'm particularly fascinated with slang, and while perusing www.slangcity.com, I came across the Vintage Sex Slang Quiz. You can test your knowlege of retro sexual terminology. I got a 9/10 on the quiz. I should have gotten that last one right, but what can I say? You always have room for improvement.

Well, most of last week I was a terrible slacker. Not just on writing, but on everything. I slacked on my diet and my exercise, too. I'd say I slacked on the housework, but that's pretty much a given. My husband knew when he married me that I wasn't a domestic goddess.

So the question becomes, if I wasn't doing much writing, dieting, exercising or housework, what could I possibly have been doing? And the answer is that I'm really not sure. Last week is like a giant black hole in my life. I was there, and I remember milling about but I can't account for particular accomplishments or my time in general.

So, today if I don't re-establish my routine of writing, dieting and exercising, then all will be lost. I'm a terrible procrastinator. It's like and incurable disease I've suffered all my life. The only treatment is to stick to a routine. The first time I give myself permission to blow something off, well... last week happens. Wasted time and nothing to show for it.

This a been a bad week for writing so far. Like a nine to five job, I don't make myself write on the weekends, unless I'm on deadline or particularly inspired. So, Monday I was supposed to get up bright and early as usual and sit in front of the computer. Only there was one problem. I never got out of bed.

I'd made the mistake of going to bed really early the night before (I barely made it through the premiere of American Dad). Then for some reason, I woke up around 12:30 and then had the nerve to stay awake for the entire rest of the night. My body must have thought oh yeah, that two and a half hours should do it for you, then stubbornly refused to sleep until dawn.

I'd tried to watch some television to lull myself to sleep, but that was all she wrote. Literally, for the whole day. No writing. I slept late into the afternoon and then I had a headache from such a weird sleeping pattern. I had no energy to go to the gym and the entire day was a waste.

So, better luck Tuesday, right? Nope. I started Tuesday off with the funeral of a family friend. Then my husband decided he wasn't going to go to work that afternoon and the work day was a wash again. We spent hours at the gym because I had to make up for not going the day before and then it was dinner time. I don't know, where does the time go?

Now it's Wednesday morning and I have some catching up to do. I have critique group in two days. We took a bit of a summer hiatus, but come Friday I need to have some pages ready for their critique. Off to work.

retrosexual \ret.roh.SEK.shoo.ul\ noun

A man with an undeveloped aesthetic sense who spends as little time and money as possible on his appearance and lifestyle. Also: retro-sexual or retrosexuality n.

I found this word on Word Spy, a site devoted to the sleuthing of new words and phrases, after they've appeared several times in public forums. I've heard the term metrosexual so many times, that I hadn't given much thought to what the opposite would be called.

I think it's comical to refer to a man that doesn't know the difference between eggplant and purple and couldn't care less as retrosexual. The definition implies that a retrosexual is anyone who isn't a metrosexual, but I get an even stronger image. Rather an Archie Bunker type who would look down on the kind of man who uses hair gel and gets manicures.

This word immediately conjures a character image for me. Someone resistent to the Queer Eye for the Straight Guy movement. A man proud of his football jersey and jeans, and who wouldn't deign to consume anything other than pizza and beer.

I probably tend to write modern men with maybe the slightest leaning toward metrosexuality (my husband is a metrosexual and goes to the spa twice as much as I do). But, the word retrosexual gives me inspiration to try the opposite, it's always fun to see how that type clashes with the modern woman.

As a follow-up for the message I posted yesterday, I'm posting an update e-mail from the same source:

Metsy Hingle and her family managed to evacuate. Her father-in-law died the day they were evacuating (natural causes). As a result of the hurricane, her husband's first cousin died, and her godson is missing. Please keep Metsy in your thoughts and in your prayers.

Below is the most recent list of authors who've checked in and authors still missing. If you have any word on any of the authors listed as missing, please email me.

CARAVAN...

Our caravan will be traveling to Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisana to deliver supplies to churches who are sheltering and caring for the hurricane refugees and who can help get supplies further into the devestated areas.

We have had a LOT of offers from readers and authors willing to meet us along the caravan route with donations. In fact, many more offers of donations than we have people able to drive in the caravan to take it all down there.

So I'm looking for a semi truck - they can haul more than probably 20 mini vans worth of supplies, but cost only about 3x as much gas as my big old car.

If you know of anyone who is an owner operator, or if you know someone who owns a trucking company who could donate a truck and driver, please email me.

DONATIONS NEEDED:

For those willing to meet the caravan, I have put a list of things that are needed in the areas we'll be delivering donations to on the donation page at http://www.theromanceclub.com/hurricane (click on the link for the caravan)

FUNDS RAISED SO FAR...
We are now at approximately $800.00 in monetary donations.

We are only 4 authors shy of raising another $1000.00 through Voice America (that goes directly to our relief efforts, over and above anything they give as a corporation!)

If you'd like to donate money, go to http://www.theromanceclub.com/hurricane

If you'd like to be part of the author group raising money for vicitims of the hurricane through Voice America (and get some book promotion in the process), go to http://www.laurasmuchadoaboutbooks.net/hurricane

If you want to be part of the author group advertising on Voice America, it's only $147.00 for the 3 month promotion (Dec 12th - Mar 6th).

The more authors who participate, the more we'll raise! We only need 4 more authors to raise $1000.00! But...

If we get 30 authors: the donation to our effort raises to $2,000.00 and it's a 6 month promotion for the authors participating (Dec 12th - June 5th)

If we get 45 authors: the donation to our effort raises to $3,000.00 and it's a 9 month promotion (Dec 12th - September 4th)

And even though I know the authors participating in this fundraiser are doing so because they want to help, because it's advertising, the $147.00 is tax deductible.

Thanks again for all your help!

Laura

To donate money: http://www.theromanceclub.com/hurricane
To be part of the author group to raise $1000.00 or more: http://www.laurasmuchadoaboutbooks.net/hurricane

www.theromanceclub.com
www.laurasmuchadoaboutbooks.net

Authors we are looking for word about - if you've heard from them since the hurricane, please let us know!

Austin, Deann
Bogolin, Carol
Bosarge, Mimi
Buffinet, Jaquie
Carmichael, Giselle
Clay, Ann
Dark, Victoria
DuBois, Vicki
Earnshaw, Donna
Garza, Dawn
Horne, Jed
Landry, Sandra
Leighton, Anne
Light, Tori
Noel, Lisa
Raspberry, Dawn
Smith, Kitty
Talley, Wuanita
Thibodeaux, Bobbie
Vawter, Carl
Widmer, Mary Lou

Hurricane relief efforts are going on all around the country and I've been following many of them, but I'd like to post information about an effort for authors in need being organized by the romance community. Below is from an e-mail I received this weekend.

UPDATE ON FUNDRAISER:

1. We have raised a little over $700.00 so far in donations. If you can spare $5.00, $10.00, $25.00, or more, please consider donating at http://www.theromanceclub.com/hurricane. The money we raise is going to purchase gift cards that can be used for food, gas, clothing, medicine and more for authors and readers in the Gulf Coast states who need help now.

2. We need about 8 more authors to join in the radio promotion to raise an additional $1000.00 for the hurricane survivors. If you are an author, please consider joining the promotion for just $147.00 - your payment is tax deductible as an advertising expense, you'll be helping those in need, and you'll be helping us raise $1000.00 or more through Voice America for our project (over and above the amount we're raising with the cash donations). Go to http://www.laurasmuchadoaboutbooks.net/hurricane for more information or to register!

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS:

Obviously, there is a need for food, clothing and other basic necessities by survivors of the hurricane until the long term help and assistance arrives. We can get more items to survivors and relief organizations faster via a caravan of cars, trucks and vans loaded with supplies, and the total cost of delivering these items will be less than if the same items were sent via mail or UPS (which may not be available in the areas hardest hit by this disaster anyway)

We are putting together a caravan of authors and readers (and anyone willing to volunteer!) willing to travel to the Gulf Coast states to deliver food, clothing and other supplies to survivors. Basically, immediate needs items, that will be delivered directly to survivors and various relief organizations, as well as RWA chapters willing to help distribute to readers and authors who are victims of the hurricane.

You can help in a number of ways:

1. By being part of the caravan (2-6 days, depending on where along the caravan route you join in - caravan will begin in NE Ohio, drive through Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana and back)

Additional caravans can be arranged if there are people willing to be part of the caravan in other states! So if you're willing to make the drive, email us and let us know where you live and we'll help you put together a caravan of people along your route!

I have 3 children and a houseful of animals, and I KNOW it's not easy to get away for several days, and I know not everyone can afford the expense. But I hope anyone who can manage to make the trip will volunteer - the more cars, trucks and vans we have in the caravan, the more supplies we can deliver.

I will make the trip alone if I have to, but I'm really hoping I'll have some good company to join me!:)

2. By bringing clothes or food to one of the caravan's stops along its route so they can take the items down to survivors

3. If you live in one of the Gulf States, especially if you live near the areas most impacted by the hurricane, helping distribute the food and clothes. Email us and let us know if you can help distribute or if you can help us locate people and organizations most in need! OR if you can arrange a truck from one of the relief organizations to meet the caravan and take supplies.

4. Donating money to help defray the costs of the caravan (gas and hotel for drivers). Gas prices stink, and some of our volunteers will be driving more than 2500 miles round trip, getting around 12-15 mpg in vehicles loaded down with supplies (that's about 175 gallons for the drivers in the carvan driving the furthest x 3.50 - 5.50/gallon).

Tentatively, the first caravan will leave NE Ohio on Tues, September 13th, and arrive back in NE Ohio on Sunday, September 18th.

If you have any questions, email me, and thank you to everyone who is chipping in and helping with these projects!

Laura

www.theromanceclub.com
www.laurasmuchadoaboutbooks.net

AUTHORS WE'VE HEARD FROM...

Ahern, Pam
Ames, John
Anderson, Alice
Anderson, Carol
Atkins, Melanie
Barr, Nevada
Barton, Janet
Becnel, Rexanne
Blake, Jennifer
Brandt, Nancy
Broadfoot, Amanda
Brite, Poppy
Callais, Tina DeSalvo
Caubarreaux, Donna
Church, Mahala
Claire, Cherie
Coen, Cheré
Colley, Barbara
Cornelison, Beth Brubaker
Cox, Connie
Cox, Suzanne
Cromeans, Donna
Crone, Moira
Delaney, Donna
De Noux, ONeil
De Noux, Debb
Dillon, Charlotte
Dixon, Deb
Dunbar, Mary Price
Edelen, Mary
Emery, Lynn
Evans, Robin
Fennelly, Tony
Ferdinand, Leslie
Ferguson, Jessica
Fossen, Delores
Friedmann, Patty
Gilmore, Sheri
Graham, Heather
Grant, Elaine
Graves, Paula
Gray, Amanda
Grey, Sable
Griggs, Winnie
Haines, Carolyn
Hanes, Judith
Hamilton, Lisa
Harris, Diane
Heitzman, Mimi
Herren, Greg
Hillman, Pam
Hingle, Metsy
Hinze, Vicki
Holden, Christine
Holland, Joyce
Horner, Nancy
Ione, Larissa
Kamenetz, Rodger
King-Gamble, Marcia
Knight, Allison
Kopfler, Pamela
Krieger, Martha
Lewis, Michele
Longshore, Martha
Love, June
Lyttle, Marilyn
Mallory, Rickey
Mann, Catherine
Manning, Jo
Martin, Janet
McCaffrey, Kevin
McInerney, Fuchsia
McKinney, Megan
McNabb, Fran
McNair, Don
McSween, Ginger
Merrill, Delores
Minyard, Debbie
Morris, Ann
Newman, Connie
Newton, Stephanie
Noto, Melanie
Orloff, Erica
Petit, Sandie
Proctor, Candice
Robinette, Kristen
Rowell, Patti
Rowland, Laura Joh
Roy, Renee
St. Amant, Dale
St. John, Kelley
Samms, Candace
Samms, Lee
Searle, Amy Jo
Shoe, Nita
Shoemaker, Juanita
Sinclair, Elizabeth
Sinclair, Linnea
Slagel, Lucy
Slaughter, Carolyn
Smith, Ann
Smith, Julie
Smith, Marge
Snell, Dianna Love
Spindler, Erica
Stephenson, Carol
Stone, Lyn
Tedder, Lorna
Vail, Ginny
Van Fleet, Rita
Wagner, Nancy
Webb, Debra
Welfonder, Sue-Ellen
White, Elizabeth
Wilson, Gayle
Winn, Judy
Worth, Lenora
Zimlich, Jan

Authors we are looking for word about - if you've heard from them since the hurricane, please let us know!

Austin, Deann
Bogolin, Carol
Bosarge, Mimi
Buffinet, Jaquie
Carmichael, Giselle
Clay, Ann
Cole, Kresley
Earnshaw, Donna
Garza, Dawn
Hardin, Paula
Horne, Jed
Landry, Sandra
Leighton, Anne
Noel, Lisa
Raspberry, Dawn
Smith, Kitty
South, Sheri Cobb
Talley, Wuanita
Thibodeaux, Bobbie
Vawter, Carl
Wall, Ellen

It's Monday so that makes it a work day. It's also Labor Day and that sure sounds like a work day. But, it's a holiday. And that implies that I should sleep in, right?

No, it's a work day, even though I'm tired from attending BBQs and baseball games over the weekend. I'm tired and I didn't go to the gym yesterday, so I must go today.

But, it's a work day.

Yesterday, instead of posting to this site, I was sitting in the hair salon reading my new favorite magazine, Real Simple. In the magazine I read about something I thought was pretty cool, Invite an Author to Your Book Club.

I checked out the Web site at www.bookclubcookbook.com, and it has some wonderful tips for hosting a book club and having the author attend the meeting over the phone.

Now, I've never really participated in a book club as a reader because it's all I can do to keep up with my writing group. But, I love the idea nonetheless. The romance section of this site only features about five different romance authors, but that's bound to change. I would certainly consider participating in the future.