Challenge #4: Go to a concert

It’s been a while since I’ve been to a concert, and it’s such a fun way to spend a free night! I need to get a group of my friends together and go.

I tend to gravitate toward indie folk/pop bands, who mostly play at smaller venues here in town for very affordable prices ($20 or less). So now it’s time to scour the schedules and find a band I want to see.

Happy Friday, everyone! Do you go to concerts? Who would play at your dream concert?

When an Idea Fizzles Out

So the bright shiny new WiP idea (let’s call it Maddie) that I was working on is fizzling out for me. I wrote my last WiP first draft (let’s call it Viv) in a fever pitch, and I wanted that same sort of excitement with Maddie while I wait and take a break from revisions on Viv. But I haven’t found it. Writing the Maddie first draft feels more like a chore. Maybe it’s just not the right time for this Maddie idea, or maybe it never will be, but I think I’m going to have to shelve it.

I’m waiting to hear back from CPs and beta readers about my revisions on Viv, and I’m hoping to start another round of revisions this weekend, probably. In the meantime, I’m going to focus on reading good books, listening to good music, and looking for inspiration for another fever-pitch project.

Has a WiP ever fizzled out for you before? How do you deal with it?

Saturday Morning at the Farmers' Market

I went to a farmers’ market in North Houston early Saturday morning. It’s more of a produce market, I guess, because none of the products are local or organic, but everything was cheap.

I bought avocados, a tomato, and a red onion to make guacamole, all for under 2 dollars. I also may have gone across the street to the El Bolillo bakery (BEST bakery ever) to buy fresh tortillas and an obscene amount of pastries. Maybe.

All in all, it was a great way to spend a Saturday morning! Do you have farmers’ markets near you? Anyone have a good guacamole recipe?

Challenge #3: Go to a Farmers' Market

There are lots of little and big farmers’ markets around Houston, but I never make the time to go. The last time I went was in October 2010, actually, when I had first moved back here. I spent a Saturday morning at a farmers’ market (and at the delicious and cheap bakery across the street, natch), and I swore I would spend many more Saturdays like that.

So, in the next couple of weeks, I want to go to a farmers’ market and buy a bunch of vegetables and make something that’s actually healthy for dinner (as opposed to frozen pizza, which I have WAY too often). I’ll bring back pictures. :)

Happy Friday, everyone! Anyone have any fun weekend plans?

Connection: The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen

So, I finished The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen. And it was such a cute, fun, entertaining read! I picked it up initially because people were comparing it to Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, and if anything is remotely compared to that book, I’ll read it.

The Fine Art of Truth or Dare definitely had the same will they/won’t they tension that I loved in Anna and the French Kiss. It also had a main character, Ella, who felt so authentic that I just had to root for her, even when she made a wrong decision. Though this isn’t a summer book, it would be a perfect beach read, and if you’re looking for something fairly light and fun, I highly recommend it.

I discovered this song on Youtube (though I’ve loved Erin McCarley for a while now) while I was reading this book, and it seemed to fit. Ella has to start to understand herself before she gets involved with Alex, the ridiculously swoonworthy love interest, and I think this song portrays that feeling perfectly (or at least it does in my head).

Also, Ella is obsessed with a fictional late nineteenth century artist. Even though that artist tended toward landscapes or outdoor portraits, I couldn’t stop thinking about my own favorite artist from (roughly) that time period, John Singer Sargent, and my favorite painting of his, Portrait of Madame X:

Apparently, the portrait of this Parisian woman originally had her right shoulder strap falling down, but Sargent repainted it due to the uproar about its immorality. Fun fact.

Have you read The Fine Art of Truth or Dare? And/or is anyone as obsessed with Anna and the French Kiss as I am?

So, I Went to an Art Gallery

This week, I challenged myself to go to an art gallery, something I haven’t done since I lived in New York three years ago. Saturday evening, I went to an art opening reception in east Houston. Four artists were showing their modern art: two painters/drawers, one who created a dark room with videos of circles expanding and retracting like mouths breathing, and one performance artist. The performance artist was asleep in a child’s bed in the middle of the room, and he had a webcam trained on him and had set up chatroulette, which visitors played on his behalf. It was…strange. But hilarious.

The crowd was young and fun, full of artsy types that I rarely see in Houston (unless you count hipsters, which I never do). I’m definitely planning on going to more of these receptions. It’s an entertaining, free way to meet creative people and feel more culturally enlightened, if nothing else.

And if anyone in Houston is interested in seeing some very interesting modern art, CLICK HERE to see the details of the exhibition.

How was your weekend?

Random Bits of My Life Lately

Fave Quote: “Why are you trying to fit in, when you were born to stand out?” Ian, What a Girl Wants. I unironically love that movie. Seriously. I mean, Colin Firth in leather pants? YOU CANNOT BEAT THAT.

Fave song: For some reason, this song seems like the perfect baking song to me. It always ends with me dancing around my kitchen and spilling flour everywhere. Good times.

Fave Book: I’m reading The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen. It’s got a great teenage girl voice to it, and I’m already addicted.

Fave picture: The sky here has been just gorgeous this spring. I snapped this picture a couple of evenings ago.

How’s your May going? Any fun weekend plans?

Connection: When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle

This week, I’ve been reading When You Were Mine. It’s a modern YA version of Romeo & Juliet told from Rosaline’s point of view, the girl Romeo was pining over until he caught sight of Juliet at a party. I absolutely love the idea of this book, because I always thought Romeo was a fickle idiot. So, you know, a realistic fifteen-year-old boy.

When You Were Mine makes me think of this song I found through the website youmeandcharlie.com (if you don’t know it, check it out—it’s full of inspiring, fun stuff). This girl has such a sweet voice, and the lyrics are spot on for this book:

I also may or may not have had to watch Letters to Juliet to round out the whole Romeo and Juliet experience. And now I really want to go to Italy.

Do you like Romeo & Juliet? Do you see it as a love story or as a tragedy?

Challenge #2: Go to an Art Gallery

One of my favorite things to do when I lived in NYC was to go to Chelsea on Thursday nights. There were blocks of art galleries, and all of them had thrown open their doors (and opened their wine bottles) and were filled with young people. More interested in mingling than in reacting to the art, to be honest. And I loved it.

I haven’t gone to a single art gallery in Houston, even though I’ve been back here for almost two years now. And that needs to be rectified.

So my challenge this week is to go to one of the many we have in this city. I’m not the biggest modern art fan (I appreciate it, but I never feel like I understand it, and that frustrates me). But still. I think it would be an inspiring thing to do. I’ll report back.

How's your week looking?

Blank Pages are Terrifying

While I’m waiting for beta readers to read my manuscript, I’m taking a break from it and focusing on a new idea. I used to be a plotter, but I’ve begun pantsing these WiPs—writing them with only minimal planning and character development.

It helps me ensure that the characters drive the plot of this story. Because when I start out with only an idea of who the characters are and the inciting incident, I’m giving those characters the freedom to act and direct their own lives (hopefully with an entertaining story as a result). I can also find the characters’ voices much more easily this way—they just start talking.

But the blank page is freaking me out. It’s just so intimidating, when you’re starting a new project, to start typing the first words. I have to resist the urge to keep planning and just go for it. Fingers crossed it works!

Happy Friday, everyone! Anyone have any fun weekend plans? More importantly, did anyone see Vampire Diaries last night???

My New Love Affair with Twitter

I’ve been flitting in and out of Twitter for the past week as part of my first challenge for the summer, and I have to say, I like it! So many authors and writers and publishing types are having conversations and posting interesting (and often hilarious) thoughts. It’s like a whole new, interconnected world there, all happening in the moment and constantly evolving. It’s exciting to dive into it for a few minutes at a time, chat with friends, stalk my favorite authors. So many possibilities.

I can see how it could become super addicting, though. There’s just so much going on, so many awesome tweets to respond to, so many new tweeters to meet. The conversation’s never over.

Do you use Twitter? What do you think?

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

image from weheartit.com
Whenever I read a good book or see an awesome photograph or hear an amazing song, I tend to make connections between it and other forms of art that either remind me of it or are trying to say the same thing (or at least I interpret as trying to say the same thing).

I read The Paris Wife, a novelized version of Ernest Hemingway’s first marriage to Hadley Richardson for book club. And it had me dreaming of Paris during the Jazz Age, the time so richly depicted in Woody Allen’s film Midnight in Paris. I want to sit in a cafe and listen to the music and feel like everyone in the whole world is in the business of creating something beautiful.

Also, The Paris Wife makes you want to punch Ernest Hemingway in the face. So there’s that.

One of my favorite TV shows, The Vampire Diaries (no, I’m not being sarcastic—that show is seriously golden), had an episode centered around a 1920s-themed dance while I read this book, and this song that they played had me wishing I knew the Charleston:

So fun! Have you read The Paris Wife yet? Anyone want to go to Paris with me?

Soundtrack of My Life These Days

I heard this song on the movie The Romantics (see it, but only if you’re in the mood for a somewhat depressing—but beautiful—movie about a convoluted group of old college friends and a truly awesome use of a John Keats ode). And I haven’t gotten it out of my head since. Also, Lorene Scafaria wrote the screenplay for Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist and is directing the upcoming Seeking a Friend for the End of the World. So she’s just a little bit multitalented.

I couldn't find an official video for this song, so I used one with pictures from the movie.

Happy Friday, everyone! Anyone have any fun weekend plans?

Challenge #1: Join Twitter. And mean it.

I have a Twitter account, but I haven’t posted in over a year. I’ve kept meaning to, but I never used it well enough to make it count. I want to give it a fair shot this time. I’ll be posting about the books I’m reading, the writing process, new fave songs—all the good stuff. So follow me @cappuccinobooks. I’ll try to be moderately interesting. And if you have a Twitter account, let me know! I want to follow you. :)

Hi! And New Blog Ideas :)

Hey, everyone! I’m sorry I’ve been absent all month. Revisions have basically eaten up my life, but they’re almost over! I’ve also been thinking a lot lately about this blog, and I’ve decided to refocus it. Widen it, actually. I want to share more than just my writing life: I want to share my obsessions with music and books and art and everything that catches my eye. I also want this blog to help me change. I’m going to be challenging myself to do things I’ve wanted to but haven’t found the time for. I want to take advantage of what Houston has to offer, because this city actually has a great deal of culture and activity to it. Ballet, opera, symphony, theater, art galleries, all sorts of museums. Hiking, polo matches, parks, kayaking. I want a summer of random adventure. So I’m sharing it with all of you. Mostly to make sure I actually do it. Every other week or so, I’ll give myself a challenge and post about how it goes. I’ll also be posting about music I'm playing in heavy rotation, books I’m savoring, movies, TV, photography—whatever has captured my interest that week. What do you think? Also, how was your April? I can’t wait to see what everyone’s been up to!