Simplicity.

WORST Time to Get Writer's Block

They say whenever you get writer's block you should just write down all of your thoughts, and it should help. Well, I prefer to type my thoughts, so here goes nothing. I have to write a paper on the Development of the Sitcom. This will go along with the presentation that I have to do in about three weeks. I'm extremely nervous about this, but I might know a way that I can overcome my fear. The paper isn't coming along as easily as I thought it would. For starters, I think I'm just really stressed out right now. Articles for the paper are due Thursday, I'm writing an article for The Times (yes, I'm actually writing for The Times now, and it's not about dead people) is also due Thursday, and I'm not even really sure when the sitcom paper is due. I also have to finish an essay tomorrow in Lit, which won't be fun because I honestly can't even remember the topic right now. I ALSO need to start reading over chapters four through eight of my prospective novel and start licking envelopes to send the first four chapters, along with the query letter and synopsis, off to publishers. I think, even for a writer, there comes a time when you're just flat out writing too much. I also have a lot on my mind right now because one of my friends has been going through something very difficult, and although I wish I could help her, I know that this is something that she's going to inevitably have to pull herself out of on her own. So I had my Introduction to Film midterm today, and it wasn't too bad. I finally saw the guy-who-sits-behind-me-and-has-a-really-nice-voice's face for the first time today, and well, yeah he was pretty easy on the eyes. That sounds like something that would come out of a Meg Cabot novel, which is a good thing. Okay, so now I'm just rambling. Great, now I'm having writer's block in a blog. That's not good. Well, since this is obviously not working, I'm just going to go and attempt to write the article for The Times again. Wish me luck!

posted by Jennifer @ 8:58:00 PM 0 comments

Never Satisfied

If someone had told me that I would be where I am now this time last year, I would have been ecstatic. I honestly probably would have been one of the happiest people in the world for at least one second. In high school I always dreamed of doing "something more" which in my mind was getting my next book published and being on the college newspaper staff. Once I got to college I had this realization of wow, this is it? I guess I was foolish enough to assume that once you get to college your entire life will fall into place and everything will work out like you planned in high school. Well, life unfortunately has a way of surprising everyone; I've realized that. I'm currently sitting in the newsroom at The Gainesville Times. I definitely didn't see this coming. This job is one of the things that I would have died for last year. It's still a little surprising to me that I actually am here. I'm also finally making progress as far as publishing my third novel goes. I left it alone for so long that I began to think that it was just something that I wrote my senior year, nothing more. I know now that it can make it. I believe in it. And there's people that believe in me and in the novel. That's also something that I would have loved to know last year. As far as school goes, I'm sure that I would have been so relieved to know that I'm happy at GSC. I had many doubts last year concerning where I wanted to go to college, but I think I made the right decision. I'm also a major part of the newspaper staff at the college, which would make the senior-in-high-school-me proud. Today I was talking to the adviser of the newspaper who is also one of my professors. I was discussing a PowerPoint presentation that I have to do for his class, and he asked me how I felt about being the editor of the paper next year. There's no way I could have told him that I would do it. I'm not talking enough classes as it is right now, and I'm still extremely stressed. How could I handle school, being editor of the newspaper and going to work at three o'clock every day? I just don't see that happening. I do, however, think it's odd how I appear to have everything that I ever wanted in high school, and yet I'm still not satisfied. I work at The Gainesville Times, I'm in the process of getting my third novel published, and I could be the editor of the school paper. I mean, wow. How can I not be extremely happy? I feel like I have a lot going for me, but something just doesn't feel right. Something feels off -- wrong even. Maybe I'm weird. Maybe I'm normal. Maybe something will always feel off no matter what I'm doing in my life. I'm not sure what is going to happen in the next year. I don't know if the future me a year from now will look back and think silly girl. I honestly can't even guess at what will happen in the next couple of months. I want to be satisfied, and don't get me wrong, I am proud of everything that I'm doing. I can describe the way that I feel as a hiker who thought that the top of a hill had a glamorous view, but once she got to the top, she realized that it really wasn't as glamorous as she thought it would be. Of course, I don't like hiking, so who knows how I even came up with that.

posted by Jennifer @ 3:30:00 PM 0 comments

Book Publishing

A Few Things I've Learned About Book Publishing:

1. Most publishing companies require submissions to be made through an agent.
2. Most publishing companies frown upon "new" writers.
3. There are juvenile and young adult books, but different companies have different age ranges for each.
4. This really isn't a fact, but I thought it was funny. One of the publishing companies in the book that I bought says, "Does not accept pornography." This is a NOVEL and SHORT STORY publishing book. Did they really need to list that?
5. There are a ton of gay/lesbian publishing companies. I mean, I'm all for gay rights, it doesn't bother me, but I had no idea there were so many publishing companies dedicated to strictly gay and lesbian novels.
6. There are also what seems like a million publishers for comic books. I know that people read comic books (...wait, I should rephrase that, I know a comic-book-aholic), but I had no idea that there would be so many publishers for them. I would think that there would maybe be three companies (based in New York), but man, they're everywhere.
7. Royalty. It sounds like a nice thing, but it's not. Most publishing compaines give only 5-7% royalty to the author. That's why in order to really make money as an author you have to sell a million copies. If you think about it, you should at least get a dollar per book.
8. There are publishing companies everywhere, but the majority of them are in New York. A lot are in California. I did find two in Atlanta though, and they're both specifically for young adult novels, which is good for me.
9. This is how it seems to go (from my perspective): You first send a query, along with about three chapters of your novel to an agent. The agent will then respond to you within six months. Then you send your entire manuscript. They will then reply again, within six months. If they like you, they will then try to find a publisher, who will more than likely reply to them within six months. With all of the waiting for replys going on, I'd advise to go ahead and write another novel.
10. The publishing world is a mad house, complex, competitive corporation of crazy, cocky, high-class people who THINK they know what's good and what should never have been written. And it's your job to convince them that not only you're a great writer but that your novel is worth their time and their money. Sound like fun? I'm ready for it. Bring it on.

posted by Jennifer @ 1:39:00 PM 0 comments

Turn Around

Things have surprisingly been getting better. It's a little weird because I usually have bad luck around Valentine's Day (Cupid and I don't get along). Of course, this good period could just be preparing me for what is yet to come. Who knows, maybe I'm just paranoid.

Well, thanks to my genius uncle, I am currently typing on the laptop. Apparently it had not one but two virus's, and the one was this huge thing that was basically making it so that nothing, and I mean NOTHING could run. It's working so-so now, but this is the first time that I've been on it since he fixed it, so we'll see if it continues to behave.

Now, I haven't been watching Dr. Phil, and I took psychology last semester, but I've really been into self-improvement lately. I guess sometimes when things get bad or complicated or well, messed up you have to turn around and start over. Well, that's what I've decided to do. Starting with school, I've decided to retire from being a massive ball of stress all of the time. How do you do that, you ask? Well, I'm not really sure. Stop studying all the time? Stop feeling like you HAVE to get an A? Sure, it's hard when that's who you've been for the majority of your life, but it's working for me. It probably also helps that my classes really aren't that bad this semester. Mass Communication is a pain in my .... something, but I'll pass it (hopefully). I'm sure that sounds weird coming from me. I would honestly like A's and B's, but getting a C won't kill me.

I've also decided to start focusing on my writing again. More than anything, I want to be an author, and I'll never give up on it. I read an entire Meg Cabot book the other day (which is weird because I don't read too much), and I got this guide to agents and publishers book (which was too darn expensive). I'm going back to Catch Me When I Fall (while hoping that it's good enough), and I'm going to start making submissions. Of course, to do things the way that I want, I'm going to have to get an agent and then a publisher. This will take time, and I HAVE to impress these people. My head is saying, "I don't know if I'm good enough for this," but my heart knows that it's in me.

...AND I actually found an editor for Catch Me When I Fall. My English Professor said that she would do it, although it may take her some time. This professor is probably the sweetest professor that I will ever have. She's very motherly, and she's actually the first woman professor that I've had. I'm really excited that she agreed to edit the novel. That really helps. Now I just have to hope that it's good enough for her to read!

By straying away from studying ALL OF THE TIME, I've been able to hang out with my friends much more than I did last semester. I've even been able to catch up with some people that I haven't seen since ... wow, since graduation. It's nice feeling like I actually have a life, and it makes me happy, which I guess is what matters.

Well, I have to go to work now and complete my duty as the "Angel of Death."

I'll update again soon.

posted by Jennifer @ 2:08:00 PM 0 comments

Because I Said So

I'm a Mandy Moore and Lauren Graham fan, so I thought that I'd enjoy the new movie "Because I Said So." The newspaper gave it a horrible review, but I usually like the movies that the newspaper hates, so I never judge by that. I honestly loved this movie. It wasn't too long or too short. The plot wasn't something that you've seen over and over again, and the hilarious feminine-themed wise cracks kept me laughing through the entire movie. I also thought that the acting was great. This movie reminded me of how good of an actress Mandy Moore is. I would definitely recommend it for a girl's night out. It's sweet, true-to-life (not fake at all), and whether you've had a boyfriend (or husband) for a really long time, or if you're still searching for Prince Charming, I believe that all girls can relate to it (even if your mother isn't the meddling type). Oh, but I'll warn you, after watching the movie, you might have the urge to go and by something with polka-dots ;)

posted by Jennifer @ 8:38:00 PM 0 comments

Mia Thermopolis

Reasons Why I'm Like Mia Thermopolis:

1. I hate P.E.
2. I like Yoga.
3. My knees get weak, and I get all nervous when I'm around "hot" guys.
4. I fear public speaking.
5. I wanted my foot to pop like you see in old movies when the girl gets her first kiss, but I kind of forgot about it when it actually did happen.
6. I had braces.
7. I wore glasses.
8. I don't have a cat named Fat Louie, but I did have a blog at one point named Fat Louie.
9. I was unpopular in high school but okay with it.
10. I'm an only child.
11. I have brown hair and brown eyes.
12. I was in chorus at one point.
13. I have a "cool" grandmother.
14. I'd rather hide than be "sociable"
15. I can be a klutz.

But unfortunately, I am NOT a princess.

posted by Jennifer @ 9:15:00 AM 0 comments

Snow. Ice. Whatever You Want To Call It.

So I've been wishing for a day in which time stands still, yet I am still free to do whatever I want. I guess I kind of got that day today since it snowed outside, and therefore, all classes were canceled. I didn't think it would really happen. Whenever there's even the slight chance of ice around here everyone starts freaking out, but this time, they were right. I mean, they shouldn't have been freaking out, but we did actually get snow. I still have to go to work though -- I'm just hoping that the slush will continue to be slush and not ice when I have to leave. As far as using today to the fullest goes, I've failed. I slept late, which was nice, and then I watched Heroes and Veronica Mars (yes, I tape TV shows and watch them later). Now, as you can tell, I'm doing the whole Internet thing. It seems like everyone is on myspace today, which is kind of hilarious. Anyway, I don't have too much to say, but lets see what I can fill you in on ...

School just doesn't feel like school this semester. Maybe my mind just isn't in the right place or maybe I should have taken those seven classes that I signed up for. Either way, it's not going like it normally does. I'm used to being the girl who studies like crazy and makes A's because of it, but I don't really feel like that person this semester. I don't mind this. I like not being stressed out. But at the same time, I don't want to start falling down a hill that I'm not going to be able to climb back up. I've come to the conclusion that I flat out don't like my journalism professor (yes, the one who teaches two of my classes). He's rude and too straight forward, and I understand that many journalists are like that (believe me, from working at the Times, I've realized that), but he's a professor. He's supposed to guide people, not make them what to switch their major. So many people have dropped the Mass Communications class, but I am determined not to let it get to me. I can't say much about grades (I have a feeling that I'll be lucky to pass), but I'm going to try. If I pass everything this semester, and actually take all of the classes that I'm signed up for in the summer, I will officially be a sophomore by the end of the summer. If I drop one, I won't be a sophomore until the end of next fall. I know this shouldn't bother me. I'm beginning to realize that it is a better thing to be in college and working than to be only working and hating your full-time job. I just want to feel like I'm actually moving forward, not standing still.

Work has been decent lately. Ever since Lara left people have been running around like crazy monkeys. Of course, I don't think this is really due to Lara's leaving. The paper is going through a layout transformation or something, and it's making everyone go bonkers. I made a mistake on an obit the other day, but it wasn't that big of a deal. I also had some stupid bird poop all over my car in the parking lot. That was disgusting! Anyway, I won't go on boring you with my "angel of death" life. I am genuinely glad that I have my job though. At first I thought that I wasn't ready for the "real world" but this is helping me realize what I like and dislike about the possibility of being a full-time journalist.

...Of course, with the way things are going, I might just be in college for the rest of my life. Then I won't have to worry about a full-time job.

posted by Jennifer @ 11:38:00 AM 0 comments