Happy New Year, bloglings!

My New Year's resolution is to FINISH MY NOVEL! Yes, this is the same novel that was sparked from a series of nightmares I had, the same novel that I spent weeks researching at my local library, the same novel that kept me awake for some number of nights that escape me at this moment wondering what color eyes my main character had and whether to write the story in first person, the same novel that dragged me through the month of NaNoWriMo, the same novel that had me in tears when I lost pages of it to the Abyss (that place laptops send pages when they're in a bad mood and frankly don't think those pages are any good) until my mother made me Chai tea and my uncle Leo showed me how to retrive those precious pages.

Yes, that novel. Perphaps you can understand how we've gotten pretty close in this ongoing love hate relationship. This novel simply won't stop pestering me. And most likely won't until I've Finished It. Once and for all (but not really, because this is the kind of novel that will have kids who will grow to become it's sequels and learn from their ancestors how to keeps on pestering me until I've cranked out a whole series of those darn guys).

But in truth, I love that novel as much as it loves me. And we'll be together for a long time. Wish us luck!

Below I've posted 'Shiver' another author, Maggie Stiefvater, advice on goals and resolutions. Read through it! It may help you on your Yearly Resolutional Journey.

Note: I just realized that some of the pictures got cut off. If you want to view this post (and I highly recommend that you do) to it's full extent. Check out her blog


It’s that time of year again. The time of year where I start making my New Years Resolutions and then inflict a goals/ resolutions post upon everyone. (Yes, this is a habit.[http://m-stiefvater.livejournal.com/89996.html])

The truth is, me and resolutions are tight. I get righteously angry when I hear folks badmouthing New Years Resolutions. I grow pitifully sad when I hear people don’t have any goals for themselves. And then I get snarkily sniffy when I hear someone make an unwinnable goal without realizing it.

Here’s the thing about goals (and if you have already read 8,000 of my goal blog posts or heard me say this out loud before now, you can skip to the photos). A goal is like a bus. Let’s say you always wanted to get to Cleveland, for some reason. And suddenly a bus shows up outside your door. You say “whoo! buses go places!” and jump on. But you never say out loud that you want to go to Cleveland. You never tell the driver. You never really tell yourself. You just have this vague desire to see Cleveland.

Well, I tell you what. I can guarantee you that you will get someplace. And there’s a chance you might like that place. But I can also pretty much guarantee you it won’t be Cleveland. Seems obvious, doesn't it? but . . .

This is a life without goals. You might still enjoy yourself, but you might have ended up somewhere better and actually gotten your dreams if you’d made it a goal. And actually told someone else, so you became accountable.

Basically that’s what resolutions are: goals that become real because you wrote ‘em down. And they have an expiration date. One year later, they kick the bucket. They are at the time the most ordinary and magical thing in the world. Ordinary because a resolution, really, has no power. It’s just something you said. Something you wrote. You could break it if you want to. It won’t make things happen just because you happened to write it down. But they’re magical too because when I write my resolutions, I shape how my next year looks. I am literally crafting my own future, because for me, writing them down is a decision to pursue them. I change my life in the few hours it takes me to choose my goals for the year. Writing them down makes them concrete and a challenge. It tells me the person I’m going to be in 2010 -- the person I want to be.

That’s magical.

Now, that said, there’s good resolutions and bad ones. A good resolution is one that is

- largely in your control
- quantifiable


I’d also add, for me, that I like mine
- slightly out of my reach

I like the challenge of having to stretch to reach a goal. I also like to have a mix of easy and hard goals, because I like to have crossed off about half of them by June. Maggie likes the crossing off. With a big fat Sharpie. But if you make your goals too easy, you are defeating the purpose of them. Goals and resolutions are supposed to change who you are. If they're too easy, yes, you'll always hit the mark -- but you probably would've anyway. Shoot big and you'll win big.

Bad resolutions?

- mostly out of your control
- nebulous
- open-ended
- too ambitious
too far ahead of the game (not the same as too ambitious)


Examples of bad goals are: “get healthier in 2010.” What does that mean? When can you ever cross that off the list? How will you know when you’ve actually achieved that? It’s nebulous and open-ended. A better version of those would be: “get a gym membership” or “learn to cook ten different kinds of stir-fry” or “find a place to buy free-range, grain-fed beef” or “establish a 30 minute home exercise regimen.”

Too ambitious are things like: “take over North America.” Too far ahead of the game is “take over United States.” Unless you’ve already started steps to take over the world, a better goal is: “win favor of local Congressman and infiltrate Virginia cheese shops.” First step to world takeover. Baby steps. Baby steps.

And goals that are out of your control aren’t great either, because you might still achieve them, but you can’t take credit. And more appropriately, if you can’t cross them off, it’s not because of you. They really belong on someone else’s list. That includes things like “debut on the NYT Bestseller List” “make husband take clown lessons” and “get made Employee of the Month” (unless employee of the month has certain steps you can take to get there).

There are some goals that sort of skirt the line, like “do sit ups for 15 minutes every day” -- it’s open-ended, so you can’t cross it off til the end of the year, but it is totally doable. I usually have one or two of those on my list, but a whole list of those would drive me batty.


Here are my resolutions for 2009, written last year.


1) finish LINGER on time

2) write RE: MYSELF (this is a secretive, uncontracted project)

3) *secret writing career goal that I can’t reveal at the moment*

4) *other secret writing career goal that I can’t reveal at the moment*

5) Talk to 1000 aspiring writers (well over)

Move house (just did)

7) Write/ record theme for SHIVER (two of them! you can hear them here!)

8) travel somewhere new on vacation (Savannah! whooo!)

become conversational with my spoken German

travel to the UK if I sell my UK rights before March (UK book tour! whooo!)

I did all of these but two, one of which I crossed out halfway through the year and changed to another (I switched “become conversational with my spoken German” to “become better friends with my guitar”)(see, one of those open-ended ones) and the other was write RE: MYSELF, which I thought would be my next in line to be published. Instead, I have another secretive project (man, too many of these) that’s coming next, and that’s the one I worked on. So I’m pretty cheery -- I feel like I really kept to the spirit of my resolutions.

Would I have done these things if I hadn’t written them down? Some of them. The easy ones. But all ten? Not. a. chance. They gave me purpose, direction, and drive. They gave me that bus to Cleveland. It’s especially important, I think, when you’re doing something creative with your life or when you’re not doing your writing, art, music, etc., for your living. It’s far too easy to say that you’ll work on your latest creative endeavor when the muse strikes you or that it’s not a priority because it’s not making you money. Believe me, doing something because you’re being paid for it is the least important reason of all to do anything. ANYTHING.

So I’m going to be working on ten new resolutions this month; I’ll have ‘em done by Christmas. Once again, it will completely define what I do with my year. I fully intend to smack 2010 around and generally make it succumb to my will.

How about you guys?

How to Kitten Proof Your House

My cats have discovered the upstairs bathroom. As you can imagine, this could only lead to disaster.

They've successfully chewed (yes, chewed) their through two roles of toilet paper! I don't know if they're teething or what but lately they've REALLY been into chewing things. I thought that was just dogs! When I've got my face in a book Jinx will chew his way through that book (I guess he's just jealous, that book being in his usual spot in my lap). The Cottonelle puppy totally doesn't desevere to be on the toilet paper package. It would be much more accurate to put a kitten on the package.

At least something good came out of their chewing. Its inspired me to come up with ways to "kitten proof your house" a list that I sure wish I could have had when I first got my babies.

How To Kitten Proof Your House

* When your clean their litter box (a delicate art that often takes years to master) make sure to put them in another room or enclosed area. Should you forget this tip it will result in your kittens desperately trying to knock their own poop (you read that right) out of the scooper. Though you might want to try letting them at it once because their cute little kitten determation will is just adorable!

* PUT THE TOILET PAPER UP HIGH! Or better yet, keep the bathroom door closed at all times.

*Do not leave anything dangling (especially not your brand new purple wig that your using for your Halloween costume, or they'll rip it to shreds). This will tempt them terribly and they will not be able to resist pouncing and tearing something apart that you'll have to vacuum up later.

* Keep all puzzles up high. I mean high, because these suckers can (and will) climb to get what they want. Trust me, do not leave your almost-finished-just-twenty-pieces-left puzzle out where they can reach. I speak from experience.

They may sound like a lot of work. But they don't cause trouble on purpose. You know that phrase 'curisoity killed the cat'? Whoever said that really knew what he was talking about. But it's worth it. When you have those moments cuddled up with them, puring and soft, you know it's worth it.

Sabertooth V.S. The Mad Hatter

You know it's really Halloween season when you go to your Grandma's and find her freezer is stocked with Reese's. Yes, it's finally here. The time of year to stuff your face with candy and howl at the moon. I'm still not sure what I'm going to dress-up as this year. My mom's going to be Joan Jett and Lennon's going as Dracula (he has declined all of my offers to lend him my body glitter so he can sparkle like Twilight vampire, Edward Cullen, despite how many times I've tried to convince him).

I'm thinking about being Sabertooth (due to my past obsession) but he doesn't really have a signature look. He pretty much just wears a trench coat the whole movie. He does have those gross nails and sharp front teeth but, then again, he's bald and it would be kind of hard for me to pull that off. Plus, it's really no fun to be Sabertooth if you don't have a Wolverine to yell at (which is pretty much what they do half the movie).

Another contender is the Mad Hatter. He's really zany so it would be totally fun to be him. He's got a crazy costume, though. But that's kind of the point of Halloween. It's one night that you get to be someone else. Someone totally opposite of who you really are. It's kind of magical, really, the fact that you can transform, even if it's just for one night. That's part of the reason I kind of want to be a male character this year.

Mom suggested that I be a TV. I could get a big cardboard box and cut holes for my face and arms. And I could drive everybody crazy by signing the Wonder Pets theme song over and over again.......

Aww, the choices.

Furry Angels with Tails and Devil Horns

I call them my babies. My mother calls them Jingles (due to the annoying bells attached to their collars). You would call them......Kittens! Yes, we adopted two new family members. It might be easier to describe their complex personalities by making them profiles. So, here it goes!

Name: Jinx, after the character in a Meg Cabot (one of my favorite authors) book with the same name.

Sex: Male

Fur Color: Ashy white

Eye Color: Light Blue

Build: Jinx is definitely the fatter one! Our vet says we should be feeding them only twice a day but I think I've been feeding him every time he meows for it. Which is, like, five times a day maybe. The vet says his already overweight (oops!)

Personality: I think Jinx is the Alfa male (judging by the way he dominates the food bowl). He LOVES to sleep and be cradled like a baby. One time I was holding him and I put him down on my bed because I had to use the bathroom. He followed me there and waited patiently next to the toilet the whole time I was using it. When I picked him back up he fell promptly back to sleep in my arms. He also likes to play. He enjoys wrestling with his brother

(this is an especially amusing sight).

Jinx is very bossy and is used to getting his way. If he's hungry he'll start crying and he'll follow you all around the house trying to trip you until you feed him. I've explained to him countless times that he's supposed to be on a diet but he just doesn't seem to get it. But it's worth it. You know, when you have those moments with them all cuddling up with you on your lap so nice and soft and warm. He's a furry angel with devil horns.

Name: Forrest (as in Gump)

Sex: Male

Fur Color: Mostly black, but he has a white spot on his neck and his face is almost totally white

Eye Color: Yellowish green

Build: Forrest is sort of scrawny. When we first go him we could see his ribs. He's normal weight now but still way skinnier than Jinx.

Personality: Forrest is Lennon's cat so he probably knows him better but I'll write what I know. Forrest is probably skinnier because he's a heck of a lot more active. Once, he saw a fly buzzing around in my room and you could tell just by looking at his face that he was totally determined to catch it. And, much to the shock of us all, he did. I'm serious! He leapt into the air and caught the fly in between his claws. Then, much to the disgust of us all, HE ATE IT! I know, gross. Forrest, even though he's skinnier than Jinx, will eat anything. I found a popcorn seed in his poop once. He is also very protective over His Mouse. His Mouse is this stuffed mouse that he absolutely loves. It's his favorite toy and he won't let Jinx touch it.

The babies also love each other. One of the sweetest sights I've witnessed is when Jinx was upstairs sleeping in my room and Forrest was downstairs, crying. Jinx lifted his head and sprang from the bed and rushed to Forrest who immediately clashed into to his brother and began a fur-flying wrestle. To qoute 'X-Men Origins', they totally have the "We're brothers, Jimmy. And brothers look out for each other" thing going on.

Learning Australian

I've mastered my British accent and I do a pretty good Southern accent but I absolutely suck at Australian accents. My goal is to master it as well. A good way to practice is by watching my favorite romance movie, 'Australia' (hey, what do you know this movie also has Hugh Jackman in it......but minus the claws). And when I do master it, I hereby swear to make a video of me using the accent and put it on YouTube no matter how embarrassing it is!

Anyway, back to 'Australia' the best romance movie ever. It takes place in Australia (duh) during World War II. When English aristocrat Lady Sarah Ashley goes to Australia to take care of the ranch that has been keeping her husband away from home, her life changes. First, she discovers that her husband is dead, believed to be killed by the Aborigine medicine man, called King George. Then, she finds out that the man who she believed was helping her run her cattle ranch has actually been deceiving her and she is left to run the ranch by herself. She finally secures the help of a (or the) Drover and finds herself falling in love with him along the way. Her heart is stolen by a newly orphaned Aborigine boy named Nullah who she is willing to fight for.

Nicole Kidman's character is a great role model who never gives up. Nullah nicknames her 'that crazy lady, Missus Boss'. 'Australia' has it all, romance, humor, adventure, admirable accents.

My Latest Obsesion

The Fact: I love X-men Origins: Wolverine. I know every single line in that movie my heart. I've watched it at least twenty thousand times (not that I'm keeping track!)

The Story: I didn't really want to watch X-men Origins because I heard that in that movie they show how Wolverine got his claws and that it involves some surgery scenes. And ever since a extremely traumatic hospital experience that involves a painful fall that resulted in stitches and a fainting mother, I've developed a phobia of hospitals and surgery. Of course, watching the Incredible Hulk movie probably helped, since that movie contains a VERY intense surgery scene (which I can sum up in two words: BIG NEEDLES!) I'm sure you can relate.

That all changed when my dad picked me up one day and all he could talk about was how awesome the new X-men movie was. When I protested he just said, "But, Sam, the surgery is really short! They don't even really show anything!" Ha. He doesn't even think The Hulk is scary. But I couldn't resist. I am fond of the other X-men movies, so I thought I'd give it a try as long as he promised to watch it with us.

I was blown away. No, serious!

Does this have anything do with Hugh Jackman's role in this movie, Samantha? No! Well.....kind of. But this movie is totally awesome!

What about the surgery scene you were so worried about? Oh, that. Well, Dad was right. It is really short and they don't show anything really gory, unlike some movies (yes, I'm talking about you Hulk.) Plus, I've mastered the art of very tactfully excusing myself to the bathroom and timing it so I come back just in time to watch Wolverine get mad at those guys for talking about erasing his memory and jump down the waterfall.

Why do you love this movie so much?

Did I say it was awesome already? It shows the story of what happened to Wolverine and how he became who he is. There is a really sweet love story which ends tragically and some pretty cool fight scenes ("Back to back!")

Do you recommend watching this movie?

Definitely. Just don't watch it with me or Lennon because we will ruin the experience for you by saying every single line before they say it (we've mastered the "Jimmy! Victor!" accents) and will probably laugh deliriously at parts that aren't supposed to be funny. Which, if you ask me is just what happens if you watch the movie as many times as we have.

Pet Peeve

I really hate it when I walk into a movie theater and five minutes into the movie I can totally predict how it ends. I wonder, are movie writers actually writing a story or are they following a (or I should say, the?) Basic Movie Formula?

The Basic Movie Formula

• Introduce main character (s)
• The 'Mains' fall in love and\ or are impressed by (wo) man
• Everything is going okay-happy, happy, happy......
• Movie presents some problem
• 'Main' lies about something and\or makes a deal with villain
• The 'Main's lover figures out the lie
• Every ones glum (lover walks off) cue sad music (did you ever think about how much we are manipulated by music in movies?)
• Villain and 'Main' fight (what I like to call 'The Final Fight'), lover comes back
• Villain dies or becomes good, cue happy music
• The End.

Ugh! You see how you can apply this to films (mostly kids films)? Also, whats up with all these sequels for kids movies? For instance, 'Shrek'. I'm a big fan of the first movie. I would have been perfectly happy to remember Shrek and Donkey and Fiona the way the first movie left off. But then they had to go and install 'Shrek II' and 'Shrek The Third'. Another example, 'Ice Age'. It's my brother's favorite movie. And I'll admit I had some pretty good laughs when I watched the first one for the first time. But the second one? And the third (which I'm too scared to go and watch in the theater for fear of leaving my brain forever scarred)? The stories for both of these films weren't written half as well as the first ones.

Filmmakers seem to have it in their heads that a great way to save a movie that's going downhill is to make it 3D. Maybe they're hoping that animated figures jumping out at us from the screen will distract us from their lack of a good storyline.

Ugh. What's happened?