Monday, January 08, 2007

I am a Terrible Pen Pal

I may have mentioned this before, but it's true no matter how many times I say it.

I am seriously the world's worst Pen Pal.

You'd think email would make it easier. I'm on the damn computer all the time, right?

But it doesn't. It actually makes things worse, because I forget emails. I don't want to; it's not that they're unimportant. But I think, "I don't have time to write back now, I'll do it later," and nine times out of ten I've forgotten by then.

And then I hate myself for it, but I get so many emails a day that I never remember who I owe emails to, and it seems the kids have some sort of radar for when I sit down to try and figure it out, and the bottom line is, if I owe you an email I'm sorry. Maybe you could email me again and remind me?

I promise I won't forget this time.


We watched "Munich" this weekend. Damn, that is a good movie. And damn, Eric Bana is HOT in it! He never really appealed to me, but the 70's-looking Bana, with stubble and longer hair ...oh yeah! Yeah! Not to mention our lovely new Bond, Daniel Craig, is in it too.
But no matter who was in it, it's an excellent film. Bana was freaking robbed when it comes to the Oscars. That was a performance worth a statue, and while I can't comment on the performances of last year's Best Actor nominees (because sad to say, I haven't seen any of the films)...they must have been truly amazing to top Bana.

I hadn't wanted to see the film, because I thought it was about the actual tragedy at the Olympics and I don't particularly like movies where everybody dies at the end (except The Dirty Dozen.) But it wasn't. It's about the aftermath, and it's about assassination, and if there's one thing I love to see movies about it's assassination. (Unless it's tacky "what-if" films about assassinations of actual living figures, in which case I do not watch. That's not a political statement, simply a matter of style.)

Anyway, go rent or buy "Munich".


And I almost forgot: Happy Elvis' Birthday, everyone!

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16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Those award shows have become like professional "All Star" games. It is no longer a representation of the best at anything, it's just a popularity contest (for the most part). -JTC

Stacia said...

Very true. It's still a dsappointment, though.

I remember years ago arguing with my old rommate, who insisted Pulp Fiction would win Best Picture. There was no way that movie would win--too unique and interesting.

But we live in hope. I do love the Oscars, and I hate that I don't get to really watch them now.

Robyn said...

I hate that the award is no longer about who gets the Oscar but what designer they're wearing.

I am a bonafide Banatic. I thought he was the only reason to watch Troy. (Couldn't stomach Brad and his weird girly twirly sword moves.) I agree; Munich is an amazing movie and his performance should not be missed.

Stacia said...

Funny, Robyn, I hate that they all have stylists now and so there are fewer opportunities for stars to wear really bad outfits. I miss people like Demi Moore with her ugly bicycle shorts outfit.

But I agree, the whole red carpet thing is so overblown now.

You know, I still haven't watched Troy? We own it and just haven't gotten around to it. I'll have to try harder, because I'm a fan now.

Yes, it was amazing. I'm glad I saw it.

Stacia said...

BTW, JTC and littlebirdblue, thanks for commenting on my opening at Miss S. Very disheartening to not only have your beginning flop, but see how few people even cared enough to say anything.

Anonymous said...

Not a flop, an opportunity. To me, it pointed out the fact that your first, natural writer's instinct (knowledge) was correct and you just need to trust it. One of my mantras; Just do what you do. -JTC

Anonymous said...

Heh, I even liked Eric Bana in that bizarre Australian indie prison film where they make fun of his ears so he has his cellmate cut half of them off with a shiv. The irritation he displayed as the guy was slicing away--"Hey theh, hurry up, I'm bleedin ta death!" Not "Ow, ow, ow, ow!" Just "hurry."

I agree about Troy--EB was the best thing in it. I had a real hard time swallowing Brad Pitt as Achilles. (Not as hard a time as I had swallowing Colin Farrell as Alexander, though, what a freaking joke that was, IMO.) Did you know BP refused to wear sandals because he has "ugly feet," and made the costume designer do anachronistic boots instead? How vain is that?

Who did win best actor? I never really follow the oscars (except during the LOTR years). Was it Viggo Mortensen--cause if it was him *drool, drool* I can forgive the committee.

Oh, and I did read your pages over at Snarky's, though I didn't comment. I thought they were pretty good, especially for a rush job, and she was maybe unjustifiably tough on you. But that's just my opinion, and I don't have to read a billion queries and five billion pages a year. If I did, I'd probably be a bit unforgiving (and bitchy and probably committed to a mental intitution by now).

But I've come to the dawning realization--judging by what's being published in my genre (SFF)--that agents might actually be pickier than publishers. That may be the case for ER, and maybe even straight romantic fiction. Agents are all about "fresh and new," but the ratio of "fresh and new" to "same old same-old," in published books makes me wonder. Same with the writing. I've seen stuff published recently that can't remotely stand up to your writing--from big trade houses, no less. Something to think about.

Sorry to ramble. Just feeling talkative, I guess.

BTW, what's with the comment moderation? Was somebody bad?

Ann Aguirre said...

If it's any consolation, I don't do Senorita Snark anymore. It wasn't an intentional dissing of your efforts; I just don't read the blog. :)

Stacia said...

Oh no, I didn't think anyone was intentionally being cold; just that I'd hoped for more comments all around. No worries, Annie.

Thanks again, JTC...

Stacia said...

Sorry, kis, for some reason I didn't see your comment earlier. Yes, I had an issue, but trust me the moderation is NOT staying. It's horrible.

I hadn't heard that about Brad Pitt. Funny, someone on AW mentioned how thin Angelina Jolie looks lately, and someone else replied, "Yeah, but all the woman BP dates do that." Hadn't occurred to me until then. So maybe he's really a huge dickhead.

Gotta watch Troy...as soon as I finish watching my favorite Troy, as in Dr. Christian, in the bootleg DVDs of Nip/Tuck Season 4 my best friend sent me! They're just starting to show this season on TV here and I couldn't wait. Don't worry, I'll still buy the DVDs when they come out. I'm no thief.

I wouldn't be complaining if it was my beloved Aragorn. I think it was Philip Seymour Hoffman, who I do adore, really I do. I just hink it's a shame Eric wasn't even nominated.

Thank you, thank you...I don't know that I'd say unjustifiably harsh (although I sure appreciate you saying it, lol), but I admit to being disappointed. I didn't think it was great, but I didn't think it was that bad, and certainly I thought there were worse examples that she seemed to like better. But that's why it's personal taste. I actually think the lack of comments hurt me more than what Miss S said. I knew she was being deliberately cold and harsh--she emailed me to tell me so. But I hoped the Snarklings would have more to say, especially after they liked the hook so much. Anyway, thanks so much. I feel much better.

I guess I'm chatty too.

Camille Alexa said...

I enjoyed Mr. Craig in *Layer Cake*.

And about the hook comment- if only it was so easy to see the strengths in everyone's Snarked pages! You're a brave lady.

Anonymous said...

If it's any consolation, I don't do Senorita Snark anymore.

I used to visit there religiously, and frequently commented, but the momentum seems to be fading. There's just too much--I read the Q&A, but never the comments anymore. I still visit EE every day, but I don't comment much there either. I'm kind of in a heavy research mode right now, and doing less "playing," if you get my meaning. I promised myself I'd only waste time if it gives me the warm fuzzies, and that's not too many places, really. Even Agent Kristin, whom I adore, doesn't get more than a cursory visit from me these days.

I've actually been finding Rachel Vater's and Jenny Rappaport's blogs to be hugely helpful and entertaining, and of course my one really guilty pleasure is the smart bitches. But right now, I'm mostly reading what's available for free in ero-rom, researching publishers and trying to spend at least two or three hours a day actually putting words on--well, not paper, but at least on screen.

Stacia said...

Thanks, littlebirdblue. Like I said, I don't want to sound ungratfeul or like I'm bitching about what was said--it's good, very helpful advice, gotten for free. It just required a little more bravery than I expected, I guess. :-)


Kis, I love Rachel Vater and Jenny Rappaport--they're both at the top of my query list. BookEnds is a fun blog too but they don't really rep urban fantasy like my project, which sucks.

I know what you mean. I tend to take little breaks as well. I don't comment at Miss S as often as I used to--it's really only if I have something to really add anymore. I go in cycles with my websites and stuff, maybe you do too.

Which publishers are you looking at? I know someone published with just about everyone, so email me if you're looking for specific info you can't find anywhere else.

Anonymous said...

Thanks, December, that's very kind of you.

Mostly I've been checking out which pubs have stories similar to mine in style and--I don't know the right word--philosophy? I'm about 20 000 words into what I'm hoping will be a category-length ER, but I'm not envisioning the traditional Cinderella ending for it (or for any of my stories, really). That kind of narrows the field a bit, but it looks like there's still options for me.

Another thing I'm really paying attention to is the quality of the excerpts offered on the websites. My interest in certain publishers is waning, the more typos I find in the bits that are supposed to attract readers. And any website that's hard to navigate brings that pub down a notch, too.

The EREC site is very helpful, and I'll definitely be in touch with you as I get closer to finishing. Thanks again.

Anonymous said...

Thanks, December, that's very kind of you.

Mostly I've been checking out which pubs have stories similar to mine in style and--I don't know the right word--philosophy? I'm about 20 000 words into what I'm hoping will be a category-length ER, but I'm not envisioning the traditional Cinderella ending for it (or for any of my stories, really). That kind of narrows the field a bit, but it looks like there's still options for me.

Another thing I'm really paying attention to is the quality of the excerpts offered on the websites. My interest in certain publishers is waning, the more typos I find in the bits that are supposed to attract readers. And any website that's hard to navigate brings that pub down a notch, too.

The EREC site is very helpful, and I'll definitely be in touch with you as I get closer to finishing. Thanks again.

Stacia said...

I believe Liquid Silver doesn't require HEA. They're someone to try.

Anything I can do to help...let me know.