Writer at Random

Coach Carter

If you haven't guessed it already, summer reruns on TV mean more trips to Blockbuster. So here are a couple more movie reviews if you're interested:

Coach Carter, starring Samuel L. Jackson, based on the true story of Coach Ken Carter of Richmond, California. When Carter takes over as coach of the struggling Richmond High School basketball team, the first thing he must do is earn (rather demand) their respect--not just for himself, but for each other and themselves. He makes the choices simple: do it his way, or get off the team. Only a few walk out, and those who stick with him find themselves headed for triumph not only on the basketball court but in their personal lives. Carter bucks the school board, parents, and even the school principal, insisting that academics must come first, that athletic ability is no promise of the free ride so many inner-city kids have pinned their hopes on. My husband talked me into renting this movie, and I'm glad he did. It's inspiring and encouraging to see someone with the guts to keep school sports in proper perspective and point young people toward their true best chance of success: a solid education.

In Good Company

In Good Company, with Dennis Quaid, Topher Grace, Marg Helgenberger, and Scarlett Johansson. This movie follows the predictable course of age and experience trumping youth and energy. Following a corporate takeover, Quaid's character, Dan Foreman, finds himself demoted to "wingman" for newly promoted yuppie business prodigy Carter Duryea (Grace). And this, just when Dan (50-something) learns he's going to be a father again, and his college-age daughter (Johansson) wants to transfer to a much more expensive school. The ax falls on several of Dan's coworkers, and he expects to be next. Still, Carter's management tactics are mostly show with little bite as he apes his CEO's rhetorical motivational speeches on "synergy." But all the poor guy really wants is genuine companionship and real affection. Turns out Dan is the friend and mentor Carter has needed all along, and he learns a thing or two about family values and integrity in the business world.

Hotel Rwanda

Hotel Rwanda, featuring Don Cheadle, Nick Nolte, Sophie Okonedo, and Joaquin Phoenix. This movie received three Academy Award nominations and rightly so. The true story of one man's courage in the face of racial hatred and genocide is inspiring. I had to psych myself up just to rent this movie, expecting blood and gore, shock and tears. But though the film does not downplay the horror, the focus remains on Paul Rusesabagina, a Hutu hotel manager who determines to save as many lives as possible by sheltering both Hutus and Tutsis in the Hôtel de Mille Collines. In the end, he is credited with saving over 1200 people. I don't begin to understand the politics of Rwanda, or of any other nation divided by civil strife. I do know that I am horrified by what one human being is capable of doing to another, whether in Rwanda, Sudan, the former Yugoslavia, Iraq, or anywhere else. As individuals and as a nation, we need to take a stand for human rights. Even more, we need to be on our knees in prayer that God will put an end to such atrocities and bring all people unto Him.

Procrastinate--Who, Me??

The advantage to setting my own deadlines is that I can revise them and nobody knows.

The disadvantage to setting my own deadlines is that (drum roll, please) I can revise them and nobody knows.

In other words, flexibility is an asset, but when it turns into procrastination, it becomes my worst enemy. The really crummy thing is, nobody I know considers me irresponsible. When others are involved, I am punctual to a fault. I'm often the first one to arrive at parties or meetings, always early turning in an assignment, never late paying bills. So why am I so bad about meeting the very realistic writing deadlines I set for myself? As in, I'd intended to complete the first draft of my current novel-in-progress (yes, I know it's not really a "novel" until it's published) . . . well, I forget my original deadline, but it was months ago. I'd reset it (again) for today and just pushed it out another few weeks. I'm so close to the ending that I can taste it. But I just haven't made myself sit down and finish.

This morning on my way out for a horseback ride, I listened to one of my favorite workshop CDs, "Staying Organized Amidst the Chaos," given by Robin Lee Hatcher at the 2004 ACRW conference. At one point she says something like, "If you want to be a writer, you sit down in the chair and you write. A bookkeeper is someone who keeps books. A writer is someone who writes. It's your job. It's what you get paid for, or hope to get paid for." So, in the words of another favorite author/speaker, Deborah Raney, you've gotta "get your seat in the seat" and write.

So what am I doing right now? Blogging. Which is not working on my manuscript. Again. But it's writing . . . right??

Ready for Reno???

I am ready for Reno, but I'm not.  Never been to a national RWA conference, let alone as a Golden Heart finalist! There's so much pressure. Pressure to stand out as a competent writer. Pressure to present reasonably coherent yet wildly enticing pitches to interested editors and agents. Pressure to look elegant and poised in my (yet to be purchased) award s ceremony attire. Pressure for this life-long introvert to simply make it through those four days without going bananas.

I read an interesting blog this morning at Faith in Fiction ("The Champion"). Dave understands what it's all about, finding someone who really will champion your work. That's what I want--an editor and/or agent who "gets" my writing, shares my vision, and will work with me to bring out the best in my writing toward a satisfying career. I pray every day that God will show me who that person is and help me make the connection. Maybe it'll happen in Reno, maybe before, maybe later.

Can't wait!!

Back to the Blog

It's been way too long since I've posted anything, so I'm trying to make up for lost time today. In May, we went on our annual quasi-vacation in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where both my husband and I had to keep up with business-related e-mail, plus he had a couple of business meetings arranged and lots of phone calls to deal with. In early June, we anticipated the arrival of our missionary daughter and her family, home on furlough. What a delight to see our grandson, now 3 years old, and his new baby sister, born in March! We've had so much catching up to do, so that's where part of the blame goes for neglecting my blog.

And I confess, I continue to be preoccupied with my Golden Heart finalist status. I've had queries and proposals to get in the mail, various e-mail loops to keep up with, and a devotions assignment I promised to complete by July 1. Thankfully it's about wrapped up--just some final editing and I can have it on its way. Now I really have to get down to business shopping for a dress for the RWA awards ceremony at the close of the annual conference in Reno the end of July. Good grief, and be prepared with a semi-literate acceptance speech just in case I should win!

But I have to say, one of the biggest joys of the Golden Heart has been my new friendship with the three other ladies who also made the finals in Inspirational Romance. Julie, Tina, and Janet, you are truly my sisters in Christ, kindred spirits in this crazy roller-coaster ride called the writing life. We e-mail almost every day, sometimes several times a day, just to keep in touch, pray for each other, share a laugh, and generally lift each other's spirits as we deal with everything the Golden Heart means for our careers. Knowing they'll be with me in Reno makes this scary new experience so much less frightening.

National Treasure

National Treasure, with Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, and Harvey Keitel. An adventure movie in the same vein as Pirates of the Caribbean and the Indiana Jones films. Nothing particularly memorable, but fun to watch as Benjamin Franklin Gates follows in the footsteps of his ancestors to go in search of a treasure trove supposedly hidden away by America's Founding Fathers. He manages to steal the Declaration of Independence in search of clues to the location of the treasure, all the while attempting to stay one step ahead of a greedy villain and his gang. Of course there's the obligatory beautiful woman for Gates to team up with. Predictably, she resists him at first but soon succumbs to his charm.

Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith

Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith, starring Ewan McGregor, Haden Christensen, Natalie Portman, and Samuel L. Jackson. This is a must-see, if only for the satisfaction of learning how Anakin Skywalker transitioned to the Dark Side to become Darth Vader. The computerized visuals are stunning, a far cry from the original movies, and it's hard to believe it's been 20 years [Correction: 28 years, I was just informed by Robin Lee Hatcher (see comments)!] since Star Wars IV premiered.

As a Christian, I can't help but look at the "theology" of this "galaxy far, far away" in light of my own beliefs. We certainly can't and don't control God in the way the Jedi master the power of the Force. And though we battle evil in many forms, we cannot call it the "dark side" of God, for in God there is no darkness. One line, however, stood out to me. I believe it was Yoda, speaking with Anakin, who told him something along these lines: "You must train yourself to let go of everything you hold most dear." Doesn't Jesus tell us much the same thing? "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it" (Matthew 10:39). What turned Anakin to the Dark Side was his belief that by doing so, he could find the power to save his wife, the love of his life, from dying. In the end, he lost not only his wife but himself. We stand to lose just as much if we hold too tightly to what we love in this world, rather than put all our trust in our Lord. For where our treasure is, there will our heart be also (Matthew 6:21).

Ladder 49

Ladder 49, with John Travolta and Joaquin Phoenix. A firefighter trapped in an inferno replays scenes from his life while awaiting a rescue that ultimately fails. The movie portrays the bonds of friendship and loyalty among firefighters, along with the fear and worry their families endure. It's hard to find much of a plot interspersed through all the flashbacks, but the story is moving nonetheless.

Meet the Fockers

  Meet the Fockers, starring Barbra Streisand, Dustin Hoffman, Robert DeNiro, and Ben Stiller. Okay, we just had to rent it to see what all the fuss was about, and because I do like Barbra and Dustin. But the first movie, Meet the Parents, about drove me crazy with all its silliness, and this one is no different. Barbra plays a geriatric sex therapist, Hoffman is her zany husband, and of course DeNiro reprises his paranoid CIA character. Stiller is the foil for all their clichéd bathroom humor.