Back From The Future Bloghop

(Dear Readers:  Please suspend disbelief now…)

You're up before dawn on a Saturday when the doorbell rings. You haven't brewed your coffee so you wonder if you imagined the sound. Plonking the half-filled carafe in the sink, you go to the front door and cautiously swing it open. No one there. As you cast your eyes to the ground, you see a parcel addressed to you ... from you.
You scoop it up and haul it inside, sensing something legitimate despite the extreme oddness of the situation. Carefully, you pry it open. Inside is a shoebox -- sent from ten years in the future -- and it's filled with items you have sent yourself.

What's in it?

 I pried open the lid of the box to find two envelopes and a very nicely knitted crème slouch hat:  The first letter was plain, white simple stationary with “Jill” written on the front and “Read This First” scrawled across it in what I recognized as my own loopy script.  The other envelope was a rather dusty and dirty business sized affair, with a cancelled stamp and other markings signifying it had made its rounds through the mail. It was addressed to me. 

Curious, I opened the envelope marked “Read this First!” and began to read.  It said:

Dear Jill.

I found this letter stuck behind the fridge and thought it looked important.  Being the superstitious type, I thought perhaps its contents might change our future life so with great effort I sent it to you through time and space.  I’ll not tell you anything I know about your/our future lest you screw it all up except this:  Under no circumstance should you get that pixie hair cut you are considering!  And since you never take anyone’s advice, I’ve sent along the hat.

Take good care.  Your family is well.

You/ Me

I regarded the other letter.  The return address was smudged and faded, though I could just make out the words “New York”.  It was from February 26, 2013.  What news could it hold?  Would it really change my life?  I opened it and read.

Dear Ms. Haugh,
Thank you for your recent query regarding representation, which we have now had an opportunity to consider.  Unfortunately, I don’t think our agency is going to be a right fit for your manuscript.  Many thanks and good luck in your endeavor.

Betista Readmore
Bigdeal Literary Agency

I picked up the phone and made a three o’clock appointment for a haircut.  I brought the hat—just in case.

~Just Jill

 

Back From The Future Bloghop Here...

 

A Few Good Hops and a Question of Place

Oh—the never-ending search for a fabulous blog-topic!  What is a gal to do when one is knee-deep in JaNoWriMO, embarking on a second date with a new CP, researching Victorian Glastonbury and can barely come up for air except to read fabulously hilarious and scintillating blogs by other writers who have obviously rationed their precious time better than I.  (Yes, that was one sentence.)

As a newbie to the blogosphere, I have been so encouraged and welcomed by many of you who have reached out and somehow found me in the myriad blogs that exist.  You have taken valuable time and read my words, left comments and shared in the communal blogging-bowl. Thanks so much.  Not only have your witty words and candid thoughts inspired me, but your sense of community has made me aspire to that level of kinship, and so today, I wanted to share some of that bountiful harvest with others.

I must herald the call to all those bloggers interested in a challenge of the alphabetical sort.  Our secret ninja guide and mentor, Alex J. Cavanaugh, whose blog is the veritable mecca to those of us thirsting for manna in the chaotic sea of choices has information regarding the A-Z Blogfest which sounds like good fun and should hold yet unearthed gems for upcoming blogs.  If you need to know anything about the writerly world, (or pit toilets) go ask Alec.  There you will also find the “Insecure Writers Support Group”, (badge is in my sidebar) a wonderful blog-hop with a blog-flavor for everyone.  Try a double-dip! Alex’s blog is veritable treasure trove of inspiration and support.  Get thee hence and become a member of the Ninja Army. 

Proof that I am truly a secret member of his minions is this talisman, which the Ninja Gods left for me to find recently.

 

M. Pax is also offering a fun blog-hop called "Back from the Future"  starting March 1^st.  Since I find myself dealing with the theme of time-travel (of sorts) in my current MG novel, how could I refuse?  The prompt will draw you in and get that writer's brain working...so prepare to be involved!

  Hart Johnson’s always titillating  “Confessions of a Watery Tart" provided not only laughs during a harried week, but thoughtful introspection as well, first on her high-larious piece about memory—or lack of it.  (I would tell more, but I have quite forgotten it.) 

 

Her clever poll about “What kind of writer are you?” got me to thinking, and I so enjoyed reading all of the comments.

 

Also, Misha Gericke is hosting a very community-oriented contest at her blog, "My First Book", where people can nominate/vote for favorite blogs in categories such as , “Most encouraging blogger”, “Best reviewer”,”Best writing/inspirational post” and “Beginner with most potential”.  Fun stuff.

Have a great week everyone, and in closing, and to keep those lovely, inspirational comments coming (to someone deep into researching a place) I would like to pose a question:  How do you research/prepare to write about place and setting?  Do you draw maps, or stalk Google-Earth like some strange cyber-tourist?  Do your characters follow real streets or just hang with “lane” and “road”.  Do you use your Aunt’s old house or create a new one?  How much is too much?  If you are writing fantasy, do you first create the place you are writing about, or does it create itself along the way?

Looking forward to hearing your tricks of the trade!

~Just Jill