Dec 9, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Social Media Saturday
So you noticed today’s post is late in the evening again. You may not even be reading this until Sunday.
No, I didn’t fall back into old procrastination habits or forget due to other events (although the last three days of consecutive Christmas parties has been a blast!). No, I did it on purpose.
I intentionally gave myself last night and today be social- wait for it- in the real world. I know! *gasp* I can hardly believe it myself.
Now I know some of you are thinking, “well, duh. You need that connection every now and then.” And others are thinking, “She must have a fever or something.”
Truth is, I needed to kick back with my peeps, raise my eyes from the keyboards and just hang out. And in the end, it was beneficial because the networking I did offline (is that even a real thing?) has opened up opportunities for future ventures, squared away plans for Blue Ridge, and allowed me to recharge the social batteries.
It’s okay to not do everything every day. It’s okay to relax and time for yourself in ways you don’t normally do.
Now I’m home with woolly socks, cat cuddles, some hot tea, and The West Wing. Hey, I didn’t say you had to stop all habits.
With a smile and a wave and an in-person hug,
Happy relaxing!
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Dec 8, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Five Things Friday
I love this time of year. [I say that a lot, don’t I?] Well, I do. The cool temps, the furry sock, the fur-family snuggling up like socks. It’s just so many kinds of wonderful.
One of the reasons I love it is I don’t get strange looks when someone says, “So, whadya do last night?” and I reply with, “I watched some Christmas program.” Yeah. They tend to frown on that in June through August. [Although they shouldn’t. Just sayin’.]
On average, I watch more Christmas shows than, well, average. Oh! Oh! *waves hand emphatically* And I almost forgot to mention that I’ve rediscovered the beauty of old shows on Hulu. Yup. Shows I used to watch as a kid and in my teens (am I dating myself? Well, why not? Someone has to!), like Charles in Charge! [Who remembers, “I loved my life out loud and it broke!”] Last week, with all the streaming apps on my Roku, I binged through Christmas eps of some awesome shows including Perfect Strangers, Family Ties, Growing Pains. Remember all those? My goodness. And how ’bout them old detective shows like Simon & Simon? That’s there, too.
But I digress. This post is about my favorite Christmas movies. I realize now this is a stupid post to write, because really? Only five favorites? That’s like asking a rabbit which of her kids she loves best? There’s too many to consider! But, I’ll do my best.
And since there’s this thing about copyright images, I apologize for not having any visuals to assist you this week. But you understand. Blogging is better when you’re not behind bars.
1. It’s a Wonderful Life. Y’all had better know this one. It’s how my Bedford Manor got its name. This is almost a sacred movie to me. I can’t just pop it in the DVD player on a Saturday afternoon. Oh, no. This is a house-cleaned, phone-turned-off, popcorn-made and chocolate in the mug kind of movie. When it’s dark outside and there’s a cozy fire in the fireplace [oh, please. Where else would the fire be? Wait. This is So Cal. Don’t answer that.] There’s always been a beauty in this movie. George’s ability to discover what really matters, and share that lesson with those he loves. Sigh. Pure beauty.
2. Miracle on 34th Street (1994 version). Don’t get me wrong, I like the original, too. But there’s something about this one that just grabs me. Sure, it’s a remake. But it’s also an original. And it’s well worth time to get the warm fuzzies and say, “I believe!”
3. The Polar Express. Who doesn’t adore this incredible visual delight? The children on the cusp of “Do I or Don’t I believe?” The train conductor leading them closer to Christmas. The singing and dancing elves. Santa! And the jingle bells. This, along with It’s a Wonderful Life (see #1 above, on the off-chance y’all scrolled past it), are the reasons I decorate with bells every year.
4. ELF. I love ELF! ELF’s my favorite! There is singing at the North Pole and in New York. Sugar, sugar, sugar, and wait . . . Oh yes. Sugar. What’s not to love?
5. Christmas in Connecticut. This old-time classic of the writer (go figure!) pretending to live on a farm, and a war hero pretending to love someone else, and there’s a boss and a corporate boss and babies who don’t belong to anyone, and an uncle who’s hired to flip flapjacks. It’s my kind of entertainment.
BONUS: And y’all know I’m not really wrong on this one . . . DIE HARD, the original. Oh yes. Nakatomi Plaza. Argyle. And that most quotable line, which, actually, is not terribly quotable when you’re writing a family-friendly blog. So, uhm. Use your imagination. And imagine Bruce Willis saying it. There ya go.
Five Things Friday: Favorite Christmas Movies
With a string of popcorn and something warm in the mug,
Happy viewing!
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . : That’s all she wrote!
Dec 7, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
You can tell a lot about a person by the way he or she eats, especially on a first date. Can I get a whoot-whoot nod of appreciation here?
Seriously. Think about it. Are they delicate? Do they play with their food? Do they take time to savor every bite? Or do they get right to masticating their steak? Do they take a bite of everything with one forkful? Or push the foods away from each other? Do they douse the meal with salt and other seasonings? Load up with butter? Or take it as it is? If they’re at a restaurant, do they look at the menu, ask for the daily specials, or just suggest their own version of what’s available? What type of restaurant is their favorite? Do they care that you’re at the table with them?
Whether you’re just starting to write them, or are introducing them to your best friend-reader, meeting characters is a lot like taking them on a first date to your favorite restaurant. Some of them will fit right in and know how to act. Others will take their cue from observation. And still others won’t care what anyone thinks.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Osso Buco from Bella Trattoria, Mission Inn, Riverside
Because writing is a holistic discovery that includes all the senses, taking your peeps to dinner is essential. Now, I mean this both figuratively and literally. Pros will tell ya, adding good food (like, oh, I dunno, coffee and beignets or maybe a specialty gelato) into your manuscript draws the reader in with something they can recognize. More than just for survival, food triggers emotions and memories. It can do the same for your characters, and lead them through their journey of discovery.
You can also use the #foodie reference by asking, “How would my character eat a Junior’s Cheesecake?” or “Do they fold their pizza in half?” Knowing how your characters eat will help you write them more accurately:
- Someone who is afraid of sushi doesn’t often go parasailing
- A traditional Christmas dinner leads to a character reminiscing and embracing heritage
- Does your character thoughtfully sip their coffee or talk with their mouth full?
- If your guy is willing to grab a coffee and hot dog from a street vendor, he may be more adventurous than his friend who wipes down the handle of the grocery cart before shopping
- When your gal pal dunks her shortbread into a cup of hot tea, she might be willing to check out the new movie or bookstore, but less likely to go nightclubbing
- Do they drink beer from a glass or a bottle? Do they abstain?
- Is there an after-dinner cigarette involved? Or a stroll under street lamps?
- Do they prefer a solid, four-course meal or do they pick snacks and finger foods from the buffet?
- And what about dessert? Pie? Cake? Cupcakes? Chocolate? All of the above?
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Do your characters embrace flavor and choice?
Giving your character the opportunity to express themselves through dialogue over a table of good food gives you the opportunity to show their mannerisms (and their manners!), and behavior patterns. How do they talk to those around them- waiters, patrons, tablemates? Do they order too much, leave food on the plate, eat from everyone else’s dish?
These are all insights that, whether you write them into your story or not, will give you the information you need to create a character your readers will relate to. And once they relate, they may even turn the page for that ever-sought-after second date.
[Look for The Character Cookbook by Molly Jo Realy, coming soon.]
Frankly, My Dear . . . : How Does Your Character Eat?
With a coffee cup and a dinner date,
Happy writing!
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . : That’s all she wrote!
