A to Z Challenge, Part 3... I-J-K-L-M-N

Continuing the A to Z Challenge from Arlee Bird at Tossing It Out.

I is for Illiteracy
Most of us in the bloggy world are book lovers. We live to read and we take it for granted that we are able to. For us it is like breathing; we don’t even have to think about it. We are the lucky ones who are blessed with this skill. In the US our literacy rate is not that bad, but it doesn’t take into account that many are ‘functioning illiterate’. I cannot imagine graduating from high school and not being able to read. Sadly, that is more common than you might think. So next time you pick up a book or are reading a blog, take a moment to appreciate that gift.

J is for Jumping the Shark
Technically ‘jumping the shark’ is a phrase that came about in 1985. Jon Hein used it to describe that instant, that defining moment when you know your show will never be the same. It’s most often used to describe a popular show that does something so strange that it begins to go downhill. Although Jumping the Shark original referred to TV, it applies to literature as well. How many times have you been a big fan of a particular author and then they do something crazy with the characters or plots you have come to love? Have you ever been engrossed in a book only for the author to go off on a tangent that makes no sense before the conclusion? As writers, we need to make sure we don’t Jump the Shark.

K is for Kissing
Ah ..kissing. Most everyone loves doing it. It’s a sign of affection, passion, sometimes love. Most remember that first kiss no matter how many years or decades pass. And when we are reading a story or watching a movie and the authors and directors draw out that magnetic attraction, we root for the characters and our anticipation builds. A kiss is a magical moment….sigh… until you find yourself being kissed by a wretched kisser. Ladies, back me up here. We’ve all experienced it. So, here are few words of advice for those challenged in the kissing department:

-If you want to know if we still have our tonsils’, just ask.

-Teenagers in the 80’s loved the phrase, ”suck face”. It’s not the 80’s and we aren’t teenagers anymore.

-It is common knowledge women tend to be cat lovers. If we wanted to be slobbered all over we’d have dogs.

-If you have spent hours studying our mouth debating whether to kiss us, make a mental note of how big our mouth really is. Even sci-fi fans get a little freaked out when you try to wrap your lips around our entire head.

-Who doesn't love a little love nibble now and then, but we don’t want to have to call for the jaws of life to extract our bottom lips from your teeth. We may wonder if you are a cannibal who hasn’t eaten in a while, beside we prefer to be dessert not the main course.

When in doubt less is more. Start softly and let the passion build....


L is for Little Moments
Little moments… those moments that stick in our mind long after that have past. Moments that remind of where we have been. Moments that bring back memories and make us feel like a kid again. Those few minutes, when we are rushing around trying to accomplish more than humanly possible, but we pause to breathe. Those times when our minds wonder off daydreaming of that special someone or place. The seconds right before we burst out laughing when the humor is building inside. Those minutes we try in vain to hold back tears. The moments that take our breath away. We experience these moments all the time. As novice writers it can be easy to forget to incorporate little moments in out stories. All great authors do. It’s how they draw the reader in and make the characters relatable.

M is for Men
Last week Alex Cavanaugh gave us Genre Girls. So today I will give you leading men. Here are the leading men that draw me to the movies. Some of them may surprise you.

Michael Caine

Actually Sir Michael Caine. Great actor and a true gentleman. On my first film, he made me tea and wanted to know about my life & school (Wake Forest), and I was just a PA. What Academy Award winning actor today would do that?

John Cusack

Ok, I'm a sucker for all those John Hughes and 80's movies. Can't help but like Cusack, I grew up crushing on him.

Gary Oldman

Fabulous actor. There is something deep and forboding about him. In real life, I think he may be scary. He plays evil and twisted just a little too well. But I'd still love to sit down and chat with him; I'm sure the conversation would be interesting.

 

Clive Owen

Can't say I care for all his films but the man is just hot. Honestly, even if he didn't look like this he would still mesmorize me with that voice.

Jonathan Rhys Myers

There is just something quirky and compelling about him. His personality has many facets.

Colin Firth

I saved my favorite for last. He's the average man, the normal guy, the romantic, the not so perfect and yes, he's the nice guy. He's dependable and enduring. He'll make you laugh and hold you when you cry. He may not be able to carry a tune or dance but he'll wing it to bring a smile to your face. If men would only realize sometimes those are the sexiest qualities of all.

Now ladies, who are your leading men?


N is for Never Give Up
We all have those moments when we doubt ourselves, those of us who are newbie writers especially. Life gets in the way. Obstacles pile up. Insecurity creeps in. Writers block puts us in a fog. Time seems to disappear. No matter what challenges come up, we need to remember to never give up. That doesn’t mean that sometimes we don’t have to let go of something that isn’t working. It means always believe in yourself and your dreams. Sometimes we spend so much time building others up we forget to do that for ourselves. So make sure you are surrounded by people that encourage you to be the best you can be in whatever direction your passions and dreams take you.