I don't know what it is but I am SO EXCITED about Christmas this year! Every time I stop by Target or the shopping mall, I can't stop oh-ing and ah-ing about the holiday wreaths, the adorable ornaments, and the pretty twinkly lights.
Bring it on, Christmas!
Here are a few things that have caught my eye in the past few weeks:
I love this idea of hanging stars and snowflakes from the ceiling! It adds such a visual punch to the room, and it's awfully pretty.
Oh, Martha Stewart strikes again! I really love using Christmas cards as a to spice up party decorations. Clever and cheap! (Also, mmmm punch. I want some of that punch!)
Snowflake marshmallows! You know what would be a perfect day? I'd grab my writer friends, take them to a lovely mountain cabin, make a batch of hot chocolate + marshmallows, and spend the whole day chatting about books and writing and laughing, laughing, laughing.
Pure magic! I wish I could be a kid again and wake up to this starry display on Christmas morning. Le sigh. Perfection!
So The Hunger Games trailer is now out! If you missed it (or if you want to watch it again), here it is in all its glory:
Um, yeah. I may have watched that trailer a dozen times yesterday. Maybe more. I'm kind of obsessed with the books, okay? Stop looking at me like that!
I know you're probably shaking your head and thinking, "Caroline, get help! Please!" but I think my obsession with the Hunger Games is totally awesome. Indeed, I'm such a super fan that I'm going to break down the trailer! Ready?
Our first look at the Seam! When I read the books, I imagined a grittier setting--dirty skies, houses squeezed together, layers of coal dust on the road--but the movie version has taken a frontier-like tone. I like it though!
Can I tell you guys a secret? I was totally Team Gale when I read the HG trilogy the first time through. It wasn't until I reread The Hunger Games that my heart softened toward Peeta. (You're not a weakling, Peeta! You're just so nice!) But I still have a soft spot for Gale.
I really loved the juxtaposition in this scene. All of the citizens in District 12 wear solemn blues, blacks, and creams while Effie sticks out in a bright magenta suit. Visually, this offers a stark comparison between the bourgeois Capitol and the poor rundown Districts. PS, I loved finally hearing the Capitol accent!
Who cried during the Reaping scene in the trailer? Be honest! *Raises hand* I literally had tears running down my cheeks. Bravo, Gary Ross, for casting Jennifer Lawrence in this role. Her reaction, her scream ("I volunteer!") was heart-wrenching.
The Capitol! Entertainment Weekly described the city as having a "Blade Runner" look and I have to agree. Very dark and sleek. I was expecting more of a circus-like setting from the way Suzanne Collins had described the city but I like the darker tone for the movie.
Rue!!! Do you hear that sound? It's my heart tearing in half.
Our first glimpse of Caesar Flickerman, the interviewer for the Hunger Games! Admittedly, I was a little disappointed with Caesar's toned-down digs. I love how Katniss described him in the book (powdered white face, blue eyeshadow and lips, a suit with "a thousand tiny electric bulbs") but it seems like the movie has pared down the garishness. That's okay though! I'm just glad Stanley Tucci got the role.
President Snow. Boo! Hiss! This might sound awful but when I first heard that Donald Sutherland got cast in this role I thought, "I hope he doesn't die before they finish filming the trilogy!" Eep, sorry, Donald! But another great casting choice by Gary Ross. And I'm sure Donald is in the best of health. :)
I'm not exactly sold on this Renaissance 'do and I still kind of wish that this role had gone to Hugh Laurie but Woody Harrelson is a fantastic actor. Zombieland, anyone? I have faith that he'll rock Haymitch. Don't disappoint me, Woody!
The Hunger Games begin! I'm glad we had this tiny glimpse of Thresh. He doesn't play a huge part in the book but he had such a commanding presence in every scene he was in.
YARGH!
Must I wait until March to watch this movie?!
So what did you guys think of the trailer? Have you watched it a gazillion times like I have? What are you most excited about? Did anything disappoint you?
And, finally, do I need to sign up for Hunger Games Addiction Anonymous? I think I might have to...
I stare at my manuscript---my once exciting, I-can't-wait-to-work-on-this manuscript---and I can only sigh. This quote from Sara Zarr rings especially true to me:
Right now I’ve got a first draft of a new book in front of me, and it feels like a massive pile of FAIL. (I should note: this is my book.)
Yes, exactly!
My manuscript is a massive pile of FAIL. The pacing is off. The world-building isn't full enough. The romance is lackluster. It needs so much work that, sometimes, I'm tempted to delete the whole thing and start over. Or, at least, work on something new.
But, of course, I'm not deleting this book. I'm going to keep plowing ahead, fixing the pacing and fleshing out the world-building and trying to make the romance believable even though I don't know how to do that quite yet.
I'm not giving up!
And yet...the Doubt Monsters nibble away at me.
Are these problems fixable? Am I capable of fixing them? Will my agent like it? What if *gulps* he hates it?
Dear heavens, I do hate those Doubt Monsters!
But it does bring me comfort that most, if not all, authors feel this way about their manuscripts. Again, from Sara Zarr:
The creative process, and the creative life, is mostly full of moments between the idea and the being done, the spark and the blazing fire, the shimmering magic and the finished piece. We’re always living in the gap between our vision of what could be and what might be, and what is.
I love that.
It helps me to see that I'm in the middle of a long road and that I can't stop walking now. If I want my book to be good, then I have to keep on trucking, keep on sweating, keep on pulling pebbles from my shoe. My book will get better with every step I take, even though some of those steps will rub blisters on my feet. Blisters make me stronger, right?
And I also take great comfort in knowing that every writer is on this journey with me. Some walk ahead of me, some walk behind me, but we're all on this bumpy road together. Cheesy, eh? But I like cheese.
So yeah. My manuscript. It really is a pile of FAIL right now but that's okay. It'll get better.
Thanks so much to everyone who entered my 150 Followers contest! I wrote down everyone's entries onto Post-Its and swirled them around in a Tupperware bowl. The winner is...
ERIN BOWMAN!
Yay! Congrats, Erin! I believe you wanted THE ADORATION OF JENNA FOX and THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY but I'll email you to confirm!
One
My weekend thus far has gone something like this...
Wake up!
Reeeeeevise.
Eat crackers + salami + fontina cheese.
Reeeeeevise.
Watch Animal Planet.
Reeeeeevise.
Flail.
Check email, wondering if Agent Jim has replied to me.
Zzzzzzz.
Huh? Wha? Check email again.
Jealous, aren't you? My life is so awesome!
Two
Today, I am forcing myself to get out of house and take a damn walk! Ideally, I'd love to stroll around the C&O Canal, but parking is usually abysmal on the weekends so I'll settle for my neighborhood. (Pretty trees though!) Whilst I walk, I plan on listening to the latest podcast from Freakonomics radio 'cause I'm addicted to it.
What do you guys listen to when you're walking or running? Music? Podcasts? If so, which podcasts? Pray tell me! I need to expand my podcast horizons.
Three
To prove that I'm not a total homebody, I went shopping on Friday and bought myself these black trousers from Express. (Go coupons!) The best part about these pants? They're stretchy! Bahaha! I may look all professional on the outside but I'm secretly rocking pants that I could fall sleep in.
Four
I'd love to get some blouses to go with my new pants. In particular these:
I'm partial to the green one on the left but Anthropologie wants me to shell out $178 for it. What ho, sir! That is far too much for a blouse.
Five
On the writing front, I'm nearly done with the fifth revision of my YA alternate history, REVOLUTIONARY! Wahoo, it is almost ready to send out to my beta readers!
But, uh, parts of it are still kind of awful. Clunky writing and not-so-good dialogue and maybe a few plot lines that aren't heavy in the sense-making. Still. My beta readers shall help me whip this manuscript into shape!
*Cue the biting of fingernails.*
Six
Since my life has been overtaken by revisions, I have imposed a reading hiatus for myself. No books until I get this revision finished!
*Fidgets*
However, I did finish The Night Circus last night because I had started reading it before my hiatus. Final verdict? Hmm. Such a lovely world and imaginative setting but I didn't get pulled in by the characters. Still, I'd totally watch the movie if a film adaptation is made. And especially if Tim Burton directed it.
After five and a half years of blogging, my little blog has reached 150 followers!
Wahoo! *Throws confetti*
To celebrate this awesomeness, I'm giving away TWO of my favorite Young Adult novels! I've chosen six books that I completely love, and the winner can choose any two he or she wants!
Behold, the choices:
From upper left to right: Lola and the Boy Next Door, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Plain Kate From lower left to right: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, The Adoration of Jenna Fox, Before I Fall
And now for how to enter!
Leave a comment with your email address. +1 Entry
Follow my blog. +1 Entry
Follow me on Twitter. +1 Entry
Tweet about the contest. +1 Entry
The contest will close next Wednesday at 11:59:59PM.Unfortunately, it is only open for U.S. residents due to those darn shipping fees abroad. My apologies!
