Wednesday French Inspiration

Premiere Classe The smallest and unclassiest hotel rooms in France 

(The link takes you to previous post about Premiere Classe)

Today my thoughts are on expectations.  It is very hard for things to live up to our high expectations.  So why do we set them so high?    Are high expectations a good thing or a bad?  I think it can be both.  Sometimes our expectations get in our way and sometimes they push us to try harder.

I can recall experiences from my past in which my parents' high expectations kept me from making poor choices.  But I have also experienced times when I knew that I could never reach my  high expectations and instead of doing my best I felt paralyzed by the realization that I would most definitely fail.  There have also been times when my high expectations have kept me from enjoying the journey.

What are you thoughts on high expectations?

You can check out my Friday Post on Mormon Mommy Writers about my muse.

Come back tomorrow for my interview with Michele Ash Bell about a her newly released book

Summer in Paris.

You won't want to miss it.

Wednesday French Inspiration

Statue of Marcellus* in the Louvre Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities

"What the heck is he thinking?" 

Many women ask themselves this question very often.  We just don't get men.   I have a problem--my man character is a teenage boy.  If anyone ever reads my manuscript I am hoping they don't say the same things that have been said about Edward Cullens.(Not saying I agree with that article.)

So how can we write what men think?  I think first you have to accept that men and women are very different creatures mentally.  So if you are like me and you need to learn to write believable men get out there and start learning.  If you like to laugh while you learn, then watch this video about what Mark Gungor has to say about the differences between the sexes.

Who is your favorite fictional male?  Was he written by a woman?

 * Am I the only one that noticed the only finger remaining on Marcellus? (That was part of the reason we took his picture.)

Did you know that you can now hear more from me on Fridays at Mormon Mommy Writers?

My contribution last Friday was about the need for wholesome books.

If you live in Utah or will be there in April,

please respond to the polls in the right sidebar about the

Seriously in Real Utah Life Meeting.

If none of the suggestions in the poll work leave a comment and let me know.

Wednesday French Inspiration

Arc de Triomphe at the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle

Writing a novel is a lot like driving around the Arc de Triomphe.  

You have all these ideas and hope converging into one novel.  You have to be a little crazy and a little daring to drive right into the middle of things.  Some times you get cut off, some things may hold you up.  There are no lines that you must stay within.  You forge your own path.  Heck, you may even end up in a few accidents in the process.  You may miss your stop the first time around.  But you just keep going until you get another shot.  But in the end you come out on the other side and you feel grateful to be alive and a sense of accomplishment.  (At least that is what I am assuming.)

Below is just one of many videos on You Tube about this crazy one of a kind roundabout.

Where are you at in your roundabout?

 You really should check out the links under the picture to get a better vision of the process.  Great stuff there.

Did you know that you can now hear more from me on Fridays at Mormon Mommy Writers?

My contribution last Friday was about the merits of writing.

If you live in Utah or will be there in April,

please respond to the polls in the right sidebar about the

Seriously in Real Utah Life Meeting.

If none of the suggestions in the poll work leave a comment and let me know.

Wednesday French Inspiration

America is my country and Paris is my hometown - Gertrude Stein

Today I am somewhat empty.  I am missing Paris.  It has been almost a year since my brief visit and I am craving a sequel.  No matter how many chocolate bars and croissants I eat, I just can't recreate that feeling of joy I felt every time I stepped into the Parisian streets, the cafes, the museums. 

When you finish a great book with compelling setting and lovable characters it is hard to accept that it is over .  You want there to be a sequel.  You crave more.  Your heart can't adjust to the truth that you must return to reality.  You feel somewhat empty.

How do you return to reality?

Did you know that you can now hear more from me on Fridays at Mormon Mommy Writers.

My first contribution was last Friday about criticism.

If you live in Utah or will be there in April, 

please respond to the polls in the right sidebar about the 

Seriously in Real Utah Life Meeting.

If none of the suggestions in the poll work leave a comment and let me know.

Wednesday French Inspiration

Château de Chenonceau*

When you tour the Loire Valley during the off season you may not get the full experience.  I love how the covering over the scaffolding tries to fool your eyes.  If you close one eye and turn your head and squint a little then it might look like the real thing.  It leaves you somewhat unsatisfied.

Have you ever read a book like this?  Maybe it has be a first, second or third draft of something you have written.  It looks good.  It works for the most part; however, it needs revised yet again.  If you want to pull in the big crowds your work has got to do more than an off season castle.  Sure it will draw a crowd, but just imagine all the bells and whistles.  Fully restored and the gardens in bloom.  Your book completed with the best word choices, the subplots weaving seamlessly with the plot.  You would have a real page turner on your hands.

No matter what you are doing in life, do it well, and make it something you are proud to put your name on.

 *The link above will take you to previous Chenonceau Wednesday French Inspiration posts.

And the Winner is.......

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!  

You girls are just too great.  When I asked for some advice you had my back.  A girl needs friends she can count on.

So I rocked it out old style and wrote your names on sheets of paper and had Hubby pull one lucky winner out of the pot.  Well that lucky girl is

Jenn Johansson

Her schedule breakdown :

I spend a couple of hours blogging every couple of days. I'm trying to write a little every day, although it seems to happen in bigger chunks on some days and infinitesimal chunks on others. I try to sleep 8 hours and the rest of the time I spend on family and pretending to care if my house is messy. :)

I am right there with you about ignoring the mess, maybe if I ignore it long enough it will get the hint and leave.

I also found a great post by InkMom about her cleaning and scheduling regime.   It is worth a look to any girl in the same boat as me.  

For those few of you who can't get enough of me and my craziness, I have a new jig over at Mormon Mommy Writers.  I will be there weekly on Fridays.  Even if you aren't mormon, a mommy or a writer. I think you will love to chat and get to know some wonderful women. 

Jenn you can email your address over at amberlynae (at) gmail (dot) com

Wednesday French Inspriation

Versailles window/door latch  LP= Louis-Philippe

No matter the continent, country, of city you visit, you will always find the park benches, trees, or buildings tagged by some person trying to leave their mark.  "I WAS HERE" the markings scream.  Where does this desire to leave our mark on the world come from?  We are not dogs that have to leave our scent to spread the world there is a new kid in town... however, as a human we do have a desire to create and so some how brand the world with our name.

Some people do this through music, some through painted or sculpted art, some through writing, some through sciences.  There are many grandiose ways of leaving behind our "I was here" sign.  The desire to create is a godly desire.  We long to make something that is so distinctly ours. 

Today my thoughts are focused on the fact that we do in fact leave our mark on the world.  Each day you are carving you mark, your every action whittles away at the very fibers of this earth.  I am not talking about our carbon footprints, but our spiritual ones.  Some days your only progress may seem more of a mess and less than a masterpiece.  Some days your work may cause tears.  Other days the crowds may gather to cheer your name for your efforts.  But every thing you do will leaves the world changed. Whether or not you leave behind bookshelves filled with your work or walls covered with your art; you will not leave this world unchanged.

We must be as the scouts and leave the earth better than we found it.  Make your life and your life's work something you are unashamed to put your name one. 

When people see your "I was here." may they be filled with overwhelming joy.

 

Don't forget to enter last weeks giveaway  of The Time Traveler's Wife  BOOK if you haven't already.

And respond to the polls in the right Sidebar about the Seriously in Real Utah Life Meeting.