Monkey Madness Monday

Sometimes it is so hard to pick a monkey pic.  There are so many cute ones out there.

So, I decided on an impromptu trip to the ocean to gets some much needed R & R and some writing done.

I left on Saturday, the weather was perfect for the drive, blue clear skies, sun shining down on my hamster mobile.

I sang at the top of my lungs to the radio the whole way down, sunroof open, driving a little faster than I should have.

I arrived around 2:00 pm, and after debating fun vs. work, decided to get right in on the writing.  I accomplished a few things in the hours I wrote.  I cut about 3oo words from the novel, went through pages and pages of research, and got some words in.  The word count doesn't really reflect the work that was done, but I did put a lot of time into it. 

The novel took a turn I didn't expect, and now I find myself doing a lot of research on teen psych facilities.  It's interesting for sure, but also very sad that teens find no recourse than to turn to violence, self harm, addictions, and eating disorders to get them through the day, landing them in these kinds of places.  I expected someone like my main character to perhaps spend a few days in a place like this, but come to find out the average time for someone like her is about four months.  Sad indeed.

Anyway, the day I got here was perfect, I worked, got a little sun, won money at the casino, took myself to dinner, and watched True Grit (I loves me some Coen brothers films).

Day two was mostly writing and research with a shopping trip in the middle.  Birthday presents, gummy butterflies and salt water taffy, and monkey candle holders.  I closed up shop around 4:00 pm, bbq'd myself a Gorgonzola burger and made homemade fries, then watched an SVU marathon into the night.

Here I am today.  Cleaning the place up, catching up on email and facebook, then back to writing for a couple hours before heading home.

A perfect quiet weekend.  I wanted to catch up on some other stuff too, video, blog posts, reading, but was immersed in my novel to do anything other than write (and the fun stuff).

Happy Monkey Madness Monday to you all, I hope you have a productive and fulfilling week.

Peace out,

Megan

F³A: Research

How much research do you do when writing?  Do you love it, or hate it?  Is it intensive or superficial.

I've done tons of research, but I can't stand it because it's usually when I'm in the middle of writing time, and I stop and go Crap, I need to know how to, or what is, or where is, etc.

I've looked up some weird stuff.  Death penalties, lethal injection, cutting, constellations, cancer, medieval villages and stature, suicide, the amount of tithes a large evangelical church receives and where the money goes, bloods and crips, aids, the list goes on and on.

While it's interesting, I almost wish I had a method to my madness so it didn't always take me away from my writing, you know, like having one of those . . . what are they called . . . outlines. ;)

I've never been an outline person. I just write.  If I do ever get stuck I write down point A and point B and make notes about what I want to happen in between.  Crazy I know, but then again, I'm a little crazy.

Tell me what kind of research you've done for your writing.  Was it interesting? A drag?

Happy Friday everyone, here are my nibbles.

Random iPod shuffle song: Just Breathe by Pearl Jam

Book of the Week:  Illegal by Bettina Restrepo.  I just got it from Amazon and can't wait to read it.

Movie of the Week: Rain Man my mom gave it to me because she thought the girls would like it.  I think she's probably right.

Quote of the Week: "Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing." ~ Werner von Braun 

Have a great Easter/Passover/whateveryoucelebrateordon't