kimlajevardi

Weekly News

Posted on June 18, 2014 by kimlajevardi

Seven days have come and gone. During this past week, the news has been filled with The World Cup, OJ Simpson, and a variety of life-altering stories that have and will continue to shape the lives of people around the globe. You can and probably already have heard your fill of those stories that are full of shock and awe – and just the right amount of attention-grabbing spark to make the headlines. But those aren’t the stories I’m interested in. 😉

This week, there were other stories, and those are the ones that grabbed my attention:

I just found out that all I need to be a professional soccer player worthy of World Cup ambitions is caramel. Without it, though, comes loss and dashed hopes. Just ask Uruguay.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/world-cup-2014-uruguay-squads-3712078

Um…I just don’t have words. Wait, one word does come to mind: CREEPY!

http://abcnews.go.com/US/dead-people-life-poses-funerals/story?id=23456853

And in terms of just being cool, and promoting more out-of-this-world research, this next news story fascinates the science side of me.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130910093913.htm

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Kim Lajevardi news feature | 8 Comments

Weekly News

Posted on June 11, 2014 by kimlajevardi

Okay, I know you have been waiting for my new weekly news feature. It’s all right, you can admit it. 🙂 Ever since I posted during last weeks IWSG, the computer has been pinging from the thousands of people awaiting anxiously for my new feature.

Well, maybe thousands is an over-statement, um… Oh wait, is that a squirrel?

Anyways, it is the dawning of a new age. *Duh, duh, dum* The age where Kim blogs more than once a month. You’re excited. I can feel it.

Without further ado…my new weekly feature: News that made me think, feel, or just slap my hand against my forehead.

This first story is from our friends over at livescience.com, and, well, damn. Just read it. Poor male ants – outlived by their own sperm.

http://www.livescience.com/46249-ant-sperm-use-teamwork.html

Not to go totally off in a different direction, even though that’s exactly what I’m doing. 😉 But here’s a little tasty bit that I just couldn’t resist. How could you possibly explain being late to work for this?

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/squidlock-giant-replica-psychic-octopus-snarls-london-commute-n121036

And in closing, who can resist a great song? This guy really knows how to make use of an airline delay. 🙂

http://canton-ga.patch.com/groups/goodnews/p/man-stuck-in-las-vegas-airport-shoots-celine-dion-music-video_cb35e173

Another month is upon us, a glorious summer month no less. It’s time for another round of The Insecure Writer’s Group blog hop. The first Wednesday of each month writers from across the web get together to commiserate, encourage, or just plain old chat about their writing lives. If you haven’t already checked out some of their blogs, click on the image above and get to it. There’s a lot of talent among our list and a slew of newly-released books as well.

On to my post for the month. In keeping with the long-standing tradition I began last month :), I have a question rather than an insecurity. My question stems from this under-utilized blog actually. I’ve been racking my brain to figure out how to meld my interests and curiosities with regular postings online.

Here are some of the thoughts that have rattled around amongst the cobwebs and dust currently taking up space inside my skull:

*I’m not a writing expert, and there are many more talented voices than I at work already posting about their writing journeys.

*I don’t have many hobbies because all my spare time is spent writing or vegging (vegging is an important part of preparing for writing I’ll have you know :P).

*I LOVE books, but I read for pleasure not for the chance to complete dissecting reviews for posting online (I save those for my CPs).

All of those truths about my life got me thinking about what I should post once I cleared the list of what I shouldn’t, and here’s what I came up with: I should post about the truly bizarre world we call reality.

Mark Twain once stated that: Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t.

And you know what, I agree. I believe that the best ideas I’ve had in fiction have been culled from experiences in life. Even fantasy shorts I’ve written have pulled from mannerisms of real people, or aspects of the human condition that are inextricable from what I picture when I imagine the scenes unfolding.

So long-story short, what do my many readers 🙂 think about the idea of a weekly posting about news events? Some of them will be wacky – I can’t help it, I’m a little wacky sometimes – but others will not. I have no intention of posting things about politics or religion unless of course those are found in one the truly weird news items I find – then all bets are off. But, ultimately, I’ll be focusing on those news pieces that capture my attention and occasionally my heart.

What do you guys think?

Have you ever found inspiration from real-life events?

Posted on June 4, 2014 by kimlajevardi | 16 Comments

Manuscript Wishlist May 2014

Posted on May 10, 2014 by kimlajevardi

Manuscript Wishlist May 2014.

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IWSG

Posted on May 7, 2014 by kimlajevardi

Another month, another chance to join in the virtual support group that calls itself the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. If you haven’t already checked out the talented group of writers that call this group home at the beginning of every month, do. It’s as easy as a click on the image above. 🙂

On to my own insecurity.

This month I should really say what I’d like to post about is a curiosity rather than an insecurity. It centers around my upcoming preparations to begin my second book. I’m slowly putting the finishing touches on book one, and I’ll edit on it in pieces over the next month or so, but all the big picture edits are done. So, what’s a writer to do?

Query? Yes of course, but that’s a lot of waiting around, twiddling my thumbs if I’m lucky. Crying and hiding under my covers if I’m not.

So what’s another option to keep my mind and anxiety busy? Book two. 🙂

I plan on jumping right on in to writing out an idea that began as a short a while ago. Over the time that it’s been squatting in my brain, many plot pieces, character elements, and questions have continually swirled around, refusing to let go. With the slight freeing up of grey matter that results from wrapping up the major writing portion of book one, I’ve decided to devote some real creative effort into the cloud of ideas that claim to be my second book.

My curiosity stems from the fact that I’m switching genres. My first book was a character driven, women’s interest mainstream fiction piece. Now…*drumroll please* I’m beginning work on a fantasy book, and this next part might be debatable, but if I were to be completely forthcoming, I’d have to say an epic fantasy book/trilogy. Seriously. 😮

And this transition is at the heart of my curiosity this month. My questions are:

1) Do you feel comfortable switching genres or are you a one genre kind of writer?

2) If you do write in more than one genre, what do you do to prepare yourself for the different styles, expectations, etc…?

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged IWSG Alex Cavanaugh Writing | 14 Comments

IWSG

Posted on April 1, 2014 by kimlajevardi

It’s that time again. Another month, another chance to celebrate our collective insecurities. If you haven’t already checked out the blogs of the talented pool of writers that participate in this blog hop, click on the picture immediately and get started.

As for me, well, not as many insecurities lurking around the corners in my little corner of the world this month. It’s not because I sold my manuscript for some fabulously high advance (excuse me while I pause to imagine that 🙂 ).

Okay, break’s over.

Anyways, my temporary spate of security is not due to anything other than a good old-fashioned vacation. Yep, that’s right, I went somewhere other than up to my office, behind my little desk, and *gasp* I didn’t write a word. Five days where I didn’t stare at my screen willing the last few chapters of my rewrite to finish writing themselves, and (come closer so I can whisper this next part) I’ve been more productive in the days since I returned than in the weeks preceding my vacay.

So, my question for everyone out there is: Are you a more productive writer after a short break away or does it simply pull you out of your groove?

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged IWSG Alex Cavanaugh | 8 Comments

IWSG

Posted on February 4, 2014 by kimlajevardi

Another month has come and gone, speeding by me yet again. But with the race of another lunar cycle comes an opportunity to reach through the virtual world toward the writers that make up The Insecure Writer’s Support Group. This wonderfully supportive group of ~~anxiety-prone~~ ~~nervous~~ um… creative, yeah that’s the word. This wonderfully supportive group of creative writers has a great deal to say about surviving: writing, revising, querying, publishing and many other activities linked to a writing career. If you’re similarly inclined, or just plain curious, hop on over and give their blogs a look. You might just enjoy a laugh or two.

On to my post. 🙂

This month I want to discuss writing contests.

Submit a Google search for writing contests, and you’ll get pages of hits. Contests that range from large to small, expensive to free, short story to novel-length, etc… In effect, an entry into whichever niche you feel your work best belongs. A foray into the size pond you feel you belong.

Do you feel like a big fish? Well, there are opportunities to submit to the big stage, make a real splash. You may even be lauded as a genius in front of the biggest agents in the business. Sweet, right?

Or are you just starting out, opportunities abound for you as well. Local writing conferences generally have associated contests that allow you to compete with a smaller pool of writers. I’d dipped my toe in that particular small pond. I didn’t win, but I did end up in the final five, providing a boon to my fragile ego and a momentarily calming effect on my insecurities.

So why am I telling you all this? Well, I’m thinking of jumping into an even bigger pool. Taking on a much bigger body of water. And I wanted to know, what are your experiences with writing contests? Has it helped you grow as a writer?

Well,

Posted in Uncategorized | 26 Comments

IWSG

Posted on January 8, 2014 by kimlajevardi

Once again it’s that time, time to share a few moments with other writers around the world. We may be insecure, but we’ve got a lot to say on the subject. So, if you want to learn more or if you’re a fellow insecure writer, hop on over to the blog via the picture above. There’s a large pool of talent awaiting you. It’s a new year why not find meet new people? Writers are always good. 🙂

And by the way, to everyone out there that is celebrating a new year:

Now on to my insecurity for this month. And I must admit it’s not really an insecurity. Since it is a new year, I’m taking this opportunity to set some writing goals for myself. Cliche, maybe, but I recently had a couple of weeks off, and during that time I did several things that I hadn’t done in a while: pleasure reading, multiple reviews for other writers, and relaxing. And, my creativity meter felt like it went through the roof. Because I want more of that, and I know it isn’t possible to quit my day job to get it, I want to set forth specific goals that may keep the creative juices flowing even when things get busy.

Read more books in the genre of my current work-in-progress. Instead of watching TV before bed, I’d like to commit to reading a bit each night from one of the books piled high on my bedside table.
Two reviews of other writers per week. I have a fabulous critique group, and I have let many weeks pass with one or fewer reviews. Not only is that a let down as a partner, but it lessens how much I’m learning about my craft. In order to continue to develop my writing skills, I need to think about how writing decisions contribute the whole of a story, and the best way I’ve found to do that is through reviewing the work of other writers.
Last but not least, I need to allow myself to occasionally take a break. Now, I’m not saying that I never do. In fact, I regularly have one day per week where I’m just too tired, or busy, or… but what I think I need to do is use that time in another way that fuels me instead of beating myself up over it. If I’m honestly stuck, or I’m just exhausted, I plan to put my head back and listen to music, watch a movie I like, or click through some beautiful images online. Something that keeps my brain creatively spinning while my body takes the break it needs.

Although this list seems simple, and I am already doing these things sometimes, I need to commit to a more regular habit. If I’m going to reduce my insecurities, or at least make better use of them, I need to work harder and smarter.

I know I’m not the only one making resolutions of sorts for the coming year. What are some of the things other writers want to commit themselves to? (Note: I didn’t say places :))

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged IWSG Kim Lajevardi, writers | 25 Comments

Dream Destination Blog Hop

Posted on December 4, 2013 by kimlajevardi

To celebrate the launch of two great new books: Soul Cutter and The Ghosts of Aquinnah, about sixty writers are hopping blogs. The purpose: to highlight the success of two of our own, but also to dream about where in the world we’d go if we could pry our fingers from our own keyboards. 🙂

Please check out Lexa’s and Julie’s blogs:

http://lexacain.blogspot.com/2013/11/celebrate-blog-hop-giveaway.html

http://julieflanders.blogspot.com/

So the question is, where would I go?

Well…

My answer is…Plitvice National Park, Croatia. Stunning, isn’t it? Those wooden walkways you can see arc over the surface of the stunning blue water, wind through the scenery of the gods, allowing visitors to soak in the waterfalls and surrounding mountainsides.

If that weren’t enough, Croatia has medieval cities, historic ruins, gorgeous coastlines, and stunning islands. I’m ready to pack my bags now. 🙂

But first, I’ve got a little reading to do.

Please check out the Soul Cutter and The Ghosts of Aquinnah.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged lexa cain julie flanders dream destination blog hop | 86 Comments

IWSG

Posted on December 3, 2013 by kimlajevardi

It’s December already, and so it’s time for another posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. Please take a moment to stop in to the blogs of the amazing writers of this wonderful group. Read a comment, drop a holiday note, or just sit back and chuckle at the myriad things that we’re all insecure about. It’s quite the list some months. 🙂

This month I’m not necessarily insecure, just contemplative. I recently received my monthly copy of Writer’s Digest, and in it, there’s an interview with Chris Bohjalian. He goes into detail about his writing process and how he pumps out around fifty pages, prints it out, edits, and then moves on to the next section. But once he reaches around 100-200 pages in, the book changes enough that he takes the new understanding of story and goes back to rewrite from page one.

I was interested in what he had to say about his process, not only because he’s successfully written sixteen novels, but also because that’s a formal approach to the same style I’ve stumbled through in my first novel.

It makes me wonder how others approach their process. I know the main discussion always comes back to pantsing versus plotting, but I doubt it’s really that simple for most of us.

So, my question this month is: what is your writing process?

If you want to check out part of Chris Bohjalian’s interview, check out the link below. For the entire interview, pick up the January issue of Writer’s Digest.

http://www.writersdigest.com/online-exclusives/jan-14/chris-bohjalian-bonus-wd-interview-outtakes