Apropos of nothing, but kinda catchy, doncha think?

My husband first used it a few weeks ago when talking about the garden -- something about the birds and spiders and the suicide bees that get drunk on the flowers and fly into the picture windows and knock themselves silly. He immediately stopped and said, "That'd be a great name for a band." It's become our catch-phrase. In fact, I'm thinking of changing the name of this journal to Suicide Bees.

Anyhoo...I realized I hadn't written anything in awhile and, after a couple of glasses of champagne, thought I'd rectify that. So, this entry will either be really clever -- or more likely, really embarrassing.

I'm still plodding away on Heir to Murder. Pretty sure that title won't stick, but that's the project name. My goal is to have a rough draft by the end of July.

There was a big turnout at my local RWA chapter meeting tonight. In fact, I think it was the largest meeting we've had since I joined last fall. I'm sure the good weather and long daylight hours played a part. I'm not always certain that I'm writing Romance. I think my stories are more romance (little r) -- romantic elements, happy outcome probable, but romance not the main focus of the story. But I have to say that the writers in this group are very generous with their advice and encouragement. I feel like a sponge, soaking up every bit of information that I can. I don't feel I have much to contribute yet, but I look forward to the day when I can also give back.

Phrase to remember for next month's meeting: 50 cent karma.

...when your brain refuses to work? Usually at a time calculated to be the most embarrassing for you?

Tonight I had a couple of those wonderful moments. It was at my RWA chapter meeting during a presentation on characterization by one of our members. They happened, of course, at a point where we were supposed to participate by listing 3 character traits of a main character (presumably from a work-in-progress) and then writing a sentence or paragraph illustrating those traits from the POV of another character.

And what happens? I suddenly have a deer-caught-in-the-headlights moment.

It was completely stupid. I know my main character and her various physical tells and character traits. I've actually written this kind of thing already -- from the POV of the romantic interest in the story. But could I think of more than one trait? Shyeah, right. And could I write even a single sentence to illustrate at least that one trait? Not to save my life.

A few moments later came the next brain fade moment. We were to describe a place (from a list of choices) from the main character's POV in a way that also illustrated those character traits. One of the choices was "Mother's bedroom"  -- again, a scene I've already written and should be able to either reproduce or write fresh. And again, I froze.

I don't think I was able to write more than 3 words total. How embarrassing to be in a room of writers and be the only one to freeze like that.  Everyone was nice about it, but I still wanted to sink into a hole in the floor.

I just don't do well to be put on the spot like that. If I could've written even a mediocre sentence, I would have. And I would've been okay with that. But my brain didn't just come up with crap. Oh, no. It went completely blank. Words didn't come at all.

sigh.

I was tempted to title this post Freakazoid Weather. Snow in April. In Salem. Oregon. Really. I know I'm new here, but this can't be normal. A year ago this month we started visiting to explore the area and begin house hunting. I swear the weather was in the 70s during the day and 60s in the evening, with a few showers thrown in, because, hey! Oregon!

So what's up with the snow? I mean, it was eerily beautiful to raise the shades this morning and see the white stuff falling (and sticking!) on the hillside, but it's time to stop now. My poor plants are out there shivering and the bulbs are wondering what happened to the nice warm 70 degree weather they had just last weekend.

Who says global warming hasn't screwed up weather patterns? *sigh*

At least it wasn't snowing yesterday (though it was pretty darn cold) when I went downtown to the Blue Pepper for an all day workshop with my RWA Chapter. We watched and discussed The Hero's 2 Journeys -- the dvds of a workshop put on by Michael Hauge and Chris Vogler. It was an excellent way to spend a very cold Saturday. There's so much information packed in their lectures--so many aha! moments. I took copious notes, but I can see where multiple viewings would be beneficial.

Just as beneficial, for me anyway, was talking with the other members of the chapter. I'm such a newbie when it comes to writing seriously for publication. Yes, I've been writing for myself for years, but somehow that isn't the same. Since I finally made the conscious decision to work towards getting published, I've been struggling with actually getting started. I keep making fits and starts and getting easily distracted. It was great to get the advice of others who have been there--and to hear that I'm not alone. I don't know why, but somehow that makes it all a bit easier.