 | 24 Jun 08 |
Today’s blog is by moi, who is most definitely not a guestblogger. I wanted to bring you lots and lots of really cool guestbloggers, and believe me, some are coming up, including Toni McGee Causey and Hank Phillippi Ryan, but today, you just get me. Sorry.
I was thinking about the cool job that Felicia Donovan has, and how it has to help with her writing. When I went down to the Pen to Press Retreat at the first of this month, I met a LOT of people who had cool jobs, including some who were lawyers, scientists, social workers, psychologists and other such fascinating things.
And what did I do before I wrote a book? Um, I wrote. I wrote for a newspaper for a while, and I worked in advertising for that newspaper as well, and I wrote newsletters and I taught writing and I have NEVER EVER EVER pointed a gun at someone and said FREEZE or I’ll SHOOT! I also have never argued a case in court, or saved a child from an abusive homelife. I’m just a writer.
I do work for a dance studio (a new one now, so I’m not sure who the psycho dance moms are yet, but I’m SURE they are there). That’s a LITTLE bit interesting, but not really.
I worked for the Sundance Film Festival, too, but guess what my job was THERE? Yeah, editing, which is pretty much WRITING.
I’m just a writer. I’m thinking about enrolling in a forensics course at the local college, just so I can learn some things about criminal justice. And maybe then I could get a cool job like Felicia has. I can pretty much guarantee you that I am NOT going to go to law school. But it would be cool to know more about forensics, even though I am a very, very thorough researcher. If I put something in my books, you can pretty much bet I can back it up with research, because I hate looking stupid.
But it would be nice to write books like Tess Gerritsen, who writes those cool medical thrillers, because she’s a doctor! So is CJ Lyons, and she writes really cool books, too.
If I wrote about the things I know, it would be a missive about carpal tunnel syndrome. And sticky computer keys.
I wish I had a cool job with a cool background, but alas, I am just a writer. Almost everything I have done relates to writing. Let’s hope I’m at LEAST good at that.
AND NOW, the winner of last week’s “WHAT’S YOUR BOOK ABOUT” contest is:
TERRY O’DELL!
Terry, send me an email (Nataliewrites at gmail.com) with your snail mail addy, and I’ll get your gift certificate and book on the way! (The weird formatting is trying to avoid spambots harvesting email addys.)
© 2008 – 2009 Natalie R. Collins. All rights reserved.
Natalie R. Collins was born in Logan, Utah and attended the University of Utah. She worked for eleven years at The Salt Lake Tribune, Utah's largest daily newspaper, before leaving to devote more time to her family. During the ensuing years, she wrote five novels. She also worked for the 2001 and 2002 Sundance Film Festivals as an editor. Natalie is a member of the International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, and Romance Writers of America.
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Natalie, as a writer I’ve always said that I know a little bit about a lot of things
by Allison June 24th, 2008 at 12:37 amI was just complaining to a friend the other day about how very sheltered I was growing up, and how I’m always afraid of running out of story ideas, or at least the emotional impact to deliver them. And how every other writer I know has had cool jobs (army intelligence… movie extra… paramedic…) or (heaven help me) had some kind of serious situation in life. Not that I’m courting trouble! It’s just all about the experience, you know? (I think you do!)
by Christa M. Miller June 24th, 2008 at 5:16 amYou know Natalie, working for the IRS might be boring in your eyes, but I can imagine several writing senarios from that one job. Then there is the cute little Robert Redfern story your have from your early Sundance Days. Of course there is the bevy of Insane Dance Mom stories. I think you underscore your experiences my dear, one thing about writing is letting others walk a mile or five in another person’s shoes.
Congrats Terry.
by Cele June 24th, 2008 at 8:12 amHey Natalie, you’ve had interesting jobs! Those dance moms are an interesting breed!
I haven’t done much interesting…I’m so boring.
by Jen June 24th, 2008 at 8:13 amOh and, I have an idea for a Jenny book. A Crazy Insane Dance Mom begins stalking the guest choreographer at Jenny’s studio. She’s fifteen years older than him, weighs twenty pounds more, couldn’t go en pointe or arabesque if her life depended on it, but she is vying to be front row fifty in his class and they apple of his eye before the week is out…. or else.
just a thought….
by Cele June 24th, 2008 at 8:19 amIf I wrote only about what I knew my stories would be all about juggling kids to social and sporte events
by wendy roberts June 24th, 2008 at 11:44 amI’m beginning to think I posted my Yippee! comment on another blog, because I don’t see it. Thanks SO MUCH!
I’m glad I popped by, and so happy. This sure beats the rejection letter I got yesterday.
I’m on the east coast and usually cruise the blogs first thing in the morning, so I’m often a day behind.
And did anyone else notice Allison Brennan at the Olympic diving trials?
by Terry Odell June 24th, 2008 at 3:00 pmROFLOL TERRY. I noticed because of the google alerts!
by Allison June 24th, 2008 at 6:42 pmWhich famous author said, “If you’ve made it through childhood, you have enough material to write a book?” I appreciate the kind words, but I think everyone has something to bring to a story. While I draw on my experiences a lot for THE BLACK WIDOW AGENCY Series, you’ve got people coming and going at the dance studio all day. What a window you have for observing personalities, characters and human nature! Use that!
“Sticky computer keys?” Yeah, I know about that, too, but probably not the way you mean. (Sorry!)
by Felicia Donovan June 25th, 2008 at 1:35 amWell, Allsion, hearing your name sure got my attention!
by Terry Odell June 25th, 2008 at 2:41 am