I finally did it, I integrated the blogger into my website so that everything is housed in one area. Of course, I'm still tinkering around and I am trying to figure out how to add the Follow Me widget on. There are other things I have to consider like: Should I have a Blogroll? Should I have more stuff on the sidebar?
I'm really starting to like all the widgets Blogger has to offer but I think it's time to have a matching site. What do you think? Are you going to like the change?
Please make sure to change out my blog's URL in your links to the new one: www.jaxcassidy.com/blog
Hopefully I won't regret it because I don't have a lot of time to mess with the software...
Thanks so much for being here for me at blogspot and I'll see you over on the other side... :)
Of course, being Irish, I have to celebrate this particularly green holiday! This year is going to be a small and private celebration. In past years I would go out with buddies and we'd drink so much green beer we'd probably glow in the dark....well, today I'm meeting up with my writing friend and we're not going to be persuaded by the little leprechauns--even if they sing and do a little dance. Nope, I'm going to focus on finishing my edits. I'm gonna be a good girl for a change!
I just realized it's been a while since I wrote a story set in Ireland. I must do it in the near future because it's another setting, besides Paris, that I love writing about so much. Hummm, come to think of it, I actually have a project with an editor that I haven't received a response on since last year...
You know that in Dublin they have an actual festival for this holiday. It usually lasts six days and it's filled with all kinds of fun. Makes me wish I was there so I can put on the green wig.
Well, Happy St. Paddy's and I hope you guys celebrate for me :)
Besides my obvious movie, Korean drama, and shopping addictions...I would have to say the one thing I can't live without is seafood....sushi being the top of my list! I have kicked the soda habit and the red and white meats from my diet...however, being vegetarian most of the time has been good for my body and mind but I think I'd be heartbroken if I couldn't have my fish and lobster once in a while. I have friends who are totally allergic to shellfish and I don't know if I'd be able to cope if I had to give up that one vice! Heck, I even gave up drinking...except for the few occasional social meet ups where I'll have a beer or a glass of wine...but I've come a long way from those days where I could drink most grown men under the table. Maybe getting out of Hollywood was a good thing because at least I know I'm letting my liver heal. :)
Last night's outing with the girls was so much fun. I didn't realize how much I missed events like these so I'm verra happy I found some good friends in town. I've lived in a lot of cities and sometimes it could be lonely not having girl friends around. I guess it's just hard to meet up when most of the women I know have children or family obligations. I think going out once in a while refuels the spirit. We plan on doing an intimate writer's retreat next month at a B&B, even if it's for a day or so, I know it will be a good break from the usual surroundings. I'm actually excited about it. Now I just need to purchase a new lens for my Nikon or get it fixed. I am thinking it'll cost as much as the lens. I miss photography so it's time I stop being lazy and start shooting photos again.
I'm trying to get used to the Daylight Savings and I'm hoping it won't affect my productivity. I'm stoked about sending out my revised proposal this week to my agent. The sooner I get the edits done the sooner I can work on my contemporary. I have so many ideas and I'm just going to have to go down the list. Hope your weekend was awesome...now let's get crackin'!
Whenever I've been away from writing for too long, I feel insecure and uncertain of my abilities. In my head I am the most prolific and creative writer, but in reality, I'm just a kid who hasn't biked in years. Will I fall off or will I take flight and ride like the wind? I guess I tend to bottle up all those awesome ideas within me and I'm a little afraid to uncork the contents...but what should I really be afraid of? Failure? Success? Mediocrity? Hummmm, I won't settle to anything more than my best...which is what I really need to remember. My new favorite word...FIGHTING! (A Korean expression meaning: 'go for it!')
I've missed my weekly writing routine the past 3 weeks so it was so nice to start it up again. I think that even when you want to be reclusive, there's a part of you that needs to be pushed. Needs to have that companionship that will confirm that you have the support system even when you think you don't. Today is extra cool because my friend's birthday is next weekend and we're celebrating with an early intimate dinner as a prequel to the party. We're having sushi!!!! Can't live without my love for seafood!
Back to my current project...I laugh to myself because I am an erotic romance author and yet I must add in more meaty sexiness....yikes! How is that possible to lack sexiness in my storytelling? Makes me realize that we need those moments of imperfection to soar....to ride my bike without holding onto the handle bars. To feel the wind on my face and embrace the exhilaration of facing my fears head on.
Well, my mother purchases all kinds of foreign shows and movies that are dubbed in Vietnamese. I normally would roll my eyes because I never had time to invest in watching these things. But when you've got time on your hands, you become easily swayed. One day I thought I'd spend time with my mom and we started watching...It occurred to me that there's a huge explosion (and demand) for Korean series dramas and it's become very popular in our market. I always assumed these types of series programs are equivalent to Soap Operas, but after watching a few, I have to say I'm really impressed. The Koreans are known for their elaborate locations, fashion, and storytelling. In fact, the more shows I've seen, the more I realized how similar my storytelling is to what I'm watching. Of course, I don't throw in the exaggerated humor but the romance aspect is very much me. I can admit I got sucked in completely! I think that watching these shows/movies has lit a fire under me to pursue screenwriting and the movie industry again. It made me miss being on the movie set, and although I often worked my ass off, I enjoyed every second of it.
It's also a source of inspiration when you're stuck with your own writing. Being exposed to other creative storytelling pushes you to create. Watching these shows made me really reflect and see if writing is what I truly want to do...sure, it's a time suck...but what I gained in return for all those lost hours is the burning desire to write.
These are my three favorite shows: 1. Boys Before Flowers, 2. You're Beautiful, and 3. Coffee Prince
Coffee Prince is by far my favorite. It's about a girl who is mistaken for a boy and decides not to reveal the truth when she gets a job offer to work in an all male coffee house. Of course, she falls in love with the rich owner who starts developing feelings for her but thinks he's going crazy for liking a guy...things get complicated but I really love how the show focuses on the romance, about loving another person regardless of gender. The owner is confused by his feelings because he's a heterosexual male but abandons everything he feels to be with her--which is a courageous step. Like all good love stories, he finally discovers she is female. What I love most about this storytelling is how wonderfully written it is and how it shows a sense of reality to the situation without preaching or going over the top. It's very moving and it made me happy inside (and a teeny bit envious) because I wished I had thought up the concept!
Now that I'm feeling much better, I can't wait to make up for lost time by writing, writing, writing!
This crazy weather is kicking my butt. Seriously. Just when I think I'm recovering, I start feeling horrible again. I haven't wanted to do any work except rest but even resting makes me restless. I can't seem to get back into that work frame of mind, and productivity is non-existent it seems--but it appears there's plenty of time to think up new story ideas. Not that I need to add any more to my long list of "proposals to write"...but it keeps me a little sane. I've also lost interest in design work so it's become more of a chore these days than a creative outlet...I shall push on.
Well, this new vegetarian (sometimes seafood) diet I'm on has been really good for me. I've also cut out sodas completely, which I thought would kill me, but it was pretty easy. I now replace anything fizzy with teas, vitamin water, and plain 'ole boring water. I'll eventually cut out more sugar but man, it's going to be hard since I love to sweeten up my coffee and teas. Baby steps. I'll get there once I start running again. I just don't want to chance it until my foot heals completely. I kept pushing off my X-rays so I'm wondering if it's worth going to get it done at all. We'll see.
Thankfully, today I'm feeling more like myself and will be working on graphic projects. Since my hiatus from writing I've been thinking more and more about my Young Adult (YA) stuff. I'm really excited about doing them and can't wait to jump in once I've gotten all my current projects out. A lot of it has to do with watching all the Manga stories turned into Korean Romantic Comedies. It's been inspiring and it's something I'd love to write because anyone would be able to read it, not just for adults. Hopefully I can start on the brainstorming in a week or two. I've also been thinking about pursuing screenwriting again. I really miss it. I was wondering if it would ever fade away but the screenwriter in me is nagging me to seriously work on something for tv or film again. I've always loved writing romantic comedies and dramedies so I know it's a goal for me this year. I can most definitely do it but I'd have to sacrifice a lot of my social life. I kind of get anti-social when I'm juggling different projects. I'm ready to buckle down or else I won't have anything releasing in the near future which is kind of scary. I always wonder if my readers would forget me or be annoyed that I'm not writing fast enough. I won't think about it too much. At least I can say I am ready to get back on the saddle again...finally!
Speaking of movies--I'm really looking forward to the July release of BEASTLY. It's basically a modern day retelling of Beauty & The Beast. I totally adore Alex Pettyfer who plays the lead role...makes me feel sort of like a "cougar" for finding him attractive! Oh, to be 20 again!! LOL I've added a short featurette about the movie if you haven't heard anything about it...
Hopefully this is and will be a productive week for you!
Still feeling craptastic but I still have an optimistic outlook on everything thanks to this quote from Thoreau. It always makes me warm and tingly all over and I totally agree with him!
Besides having bad sinuses, feeling not so good, and fighting other long-term ailments...I'm particularly pleased that the new vegetarian (sometimes seafood) diet is working well for me. I just need to get more supplemental vitamins. I can tell that the change in my eating habits is doing wonders for me mentally but it may have been a bad time to start something new. That doesn't mean I don't plan on staying on track--I am going to very disciplined about it. On the writing front, I haven't been as productive as I'd hoped but I managed to get all that other freelance stuff done...just at a much slower pace. Snails pace to be exact.
While being laid up, my mom's obsession for Asian Dramedy series has rolled over into my life. There is nothing better than this type of time suckage. These silly shows take you on an emotional rollercoaster. If you've ever seen these types of shows which is basically a soap opera or RomCom tv series, you'd understand how easy it is to get roped in. I can't explain it but the silliness mixed with love story (emotional and passionate) and over-the-top humor just makes being sick kind of fun. I know, I'm a dork. :) I never thought I'd enjoy these shows but I'm pleasantly surprised.
Okay, time to rest up. I need to save the energy for the big deadline push this week. No time to stay out of commission for long. Duty calls.
