My Very Own Meme (and what’s a Meme?)

Monica Gudlewski, new blogger and one of the winners of the Captioning Contest on this blog, tagged me in a Meme that’s going around the blog-o-sphere.

First thing I said to myself, “Wow, that’s pretty cool.”

Second thing I said to myself, “What’s a meme?

So, me being a lover of research and learning new things, trucked myself on over to Wikipedia (yeah, I didn’t say I was looking for accuracy–just looking for a general idea).

First, as is usually the case on the good ol’ Wikster, the article has the headline of, “This article needs additional citations for verification.”

Whatever. I’m looking for a basic concept so I continue reading only to find a whole bunch of boring. (Click here if you want to read it in full.)

On to another internet source of information…Google.

And that’s where I find another link to Wikipedia, and this one actually makes sense.

The term Internet meme (pronounced /ˈmiːm/, rhyming with “cream”[1]) is used to describe a concept that spreads via the Internet. …The idea may take the form of a hyperlink, video, picture, website, hashtag, or just a word or phrase. The meme may spread from person to person via social networks, blogs, direct email, news sources, or other web-based services.”

Okay, so now I’m thinking it’s like those Blog Awards and Blogfests that are popular with bloggers.

So, of course I’m in!

To start this meme off, I’m  supposed to answer a few questions about myself, so here goes…

If you could go back in time and relive one moment, what would it be?

First time I held my twins in the hospital. It was incredibly scary and incredibly amazing all at the same time.

Taken on a lakeshore in Minnesota when twins were three-months-old. The logistics of taking them on a trip was a massive organizational undertaking, but well worth it!

If you could go back in time and change one thing, what would it be?

Lots of the little stuff that didn’t matter all that much but made me look like a fool or a b*tch, but none of the big stuff.

What movie/TV character do you most resemble in personality?

I ducked out in the middle of these questions to watch a few minutes of my one of my favorite John Wayne movies, McLintock. As a result, Maureen O’Hara’s character, Kate, is the first that comes to mind.

Might as well throw in the trailer to that movie while I’m here…

If you could push one person off a cliff and get away with it, who would it be?

No one. Instead I’ll just settle for putting them in my novels and making their character a complete moron and one that readers will hate. That way I can reread as needed :D .

Name one habit you want to change in yourself.

I’m suffer from procrastination with enough self-doubt thrown in to really sabotage myself, so I’d probably start with one of those. Someday.

Describe yourself in one word.

Headstrong

Describe the person who named you in this meme in one word.

Bloggernewbie (I just made up a word! Seriously, she just created her blog so click her link at the top of this post and support her!)

 Why do you blog? Answer in one sentence.

To write for public consumption on a weekly basis, and to make connections with other writers.

Name at least 3 people to send this meme to, and then inform them.

Artemis Grey

Florence Fois

Regina

Pitch your Novel in 140 Characters?!

Shelley Watters has an awesome blogfest going on over at her blog. Like so awesome that the winner gets a FULL request from Literary Agent Extraordinaire, Suzie Townsend!

(Click here for all the details)

To enter, you’ve got to do one simple little thing…sum up 375(ish) pages of your blood, sweat, and tears in the length of a Twitter post. 

And, because I love a challenge, here’s mine.

 

When her family dies on the Oregon Trail, a headstrong woman struggles through rough terrain and doubts of success in a male-dominated land

Show Me The Voice Blogfest and Contest

I’m participating in the Show Me The Voice Blogfest over at Brenda Drake’s blog. Here’s how it works (taken directly from Brenda’s blog).

Post the first 250 words of your finished manuscript (any genre) on your blog to get critiques from your followers and then hop around to the other participants’ sites and give critiques. Polish those 250 words and email them to me [Brenda].

All entries submitted before the cut off time will be considered. The first round will be judged by a chosen panel of your peers (agented and unagented). We’ll pick the best 20 entries and post them on my blog by March 24. The 20 entries we pick will be judged by Natalie [Fischer]. The winners will be announced on or before Monday, March 28.

So, without further ado, here’s my first 250(ish). Please, let me know your thoughts, especially the sentence I’ve marked. (In your comment, please specify if I should keep it as it reads now, or change the sentence to the version at the bottom of the post)

Name: Christi Corbett

Title: Along the Way Home

Genre: Historical Fiction

Charlottesville, Virginia

Wednesday, April 5, 1843

Every Wednesday Kate stood on the same front porch, her hand poised inches from the door, willing herself to finally do the unthinkable—walk away without knocking. However, during the hesitation, her courage inevitably fled.

Wednesdays were a long-standing tradition, and one she couldn’t disrupt.

*Stiffening her spine and her resolve, Kate rapped her knuckles on the wood.* Familiar footsteps clicked toward the other side of the entry and she forced a smile as the door opened to reveal an overdressed, overfed, overbearing woman.

“Katherine Davis, how dare you appear at my doorstep looking like some commoner? Get that bonnet on your head this instant!”

Her smile faded. “Yes, Aunt Victoria.”

Kate pulled the velvet cage over the mass of auburn hair secured in a knot at the nape of her neck, knowing full well she’d only remove it after stepping across the threshold. Under the guise of propriety, her aunt had tortured her for years.

From etiquette during afternoon tea to running a household, Aunt Victoria enforced her opinions over Kate’s every move. Recently she’d expanded her teachings to include the fine art of manipulating men. Snaring a husband was the ultimate goal.

Kate followed the perfume cloud into the parlor. Cream and gold wallpaper, the best her father’s money could buy, adorned each wall. Marble-topped tables stood between overstuffed chairs and a matching sofa. Polished mahogany frames held paintings of stern men and sweeping mountain ranges. A buffet displayed a china tea set adorned with red roses.

Taking a seat on the sole wooden chair in the room, Kate prepared for the upcoming interrogation. The bitter spinster didn’t disappoint.

*(I need some advice. Should the line above stay as is, or instead read Steeling herself for what she would endure over the next two hours, Kate rapped her knuckles against the door.)*

It Was A Dark and Stormy…Blogfest!

Today I’m participating in my very first blogfest ever (which is kind of amazing considering I’ve been blogging for a loooong time).

On January 19th, Brenda Drake (click here to check out her fantastic blog) put out the challenge. Sign up for the blogfest, then on Feb 7th and 8th post the first line to your finished manuscript (any genre) on your own blog. Get your reader’s input and polish as needed based on their critiques. 

Then, hop around to other blogfest participants blogs and critique their first lines. (You’ll need to scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the other participants names/links)

Then, on February 9th, enter your bright and shiny first line on Brenda’s blog.

THERE ARE PRIZES!!!!!!!!

Weronika Janczuk, an agent with D4EO Literary Agency, has generously agreed to award the following:
 
1st place — a critique of the first 50 pages + query
2nd place — a critique of the first 25 pages + query
3rd place — a critique of the query
 
So, without further ado, here is my first line to my historical fiction, Along the Way Home.
 
Every Wednesday Kate stood on the same front porch, her knuckles poised inches from the door, willing herself to finally do the unthinkable—walk away without knocking.
 
Thoughts?

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