Not Writing

I know, weird title, but that's the truth...I'm not really writing right now.

The projects that I've been working on for the last year are completed (first drafts) and they need new eyes, now. Normally I'd start a new project, instead of waiting the six or so odd weeks for feedback, but this time, I decided not to.

I've written a lot this year and I think my mind needs a little break. Plus there's all that gardening, er movie watching, er classics reading I have to do. Right? Something like that.

I'm not the kind of person who loves down time, which is why I always have a project going. This is new territory for me. I expected to be a little panicked, and to feel guilty, like I was wasting time, etc. I set myself a list of other tasks to do-- build a website! Blog more! Finally figure out what is behind my refrigerator! What I didn't expect was how much I'd miss the page. How much I'd miss telling stories.

Something changed this year for me in my relationship with writing. I used to write because I had to put words down on a page-- I had to arrange the letters. Any letters. I just wanted to see the words. I write, now, because I have to tell stories. They stalk my brain, these stories! They want out!

Last night while watching The Godfather (another number on my List Of Things To Do While Not Writing), I pulled up a word document and started playing around. Just tinkering. Not writing. But the words started to come and before I knew it, I was off. Just like that.

I often complain about writing. I complain that it's difficult and that it comes slowly and that it takes forever. I complain I have to do it. But last night, with just that page, I know I don't write because I have to. I write because I want to. Because I love it. Because even six weeks off from a book feels like forever.

It's funny, isn't it? How absence really does make the heart grow fonder?

Happy Monday!

XO,

R

Breaking Dawn...and some ruminations on tunes.

So I saw the movie this weekend (major props to my bff Joey Amron who assisted the entire edit-- what what!) and now I CANNOT stop listening to the soundtrack. Seriously, you guys, have you downloaded it? Because pretty sure my entire second novel is going to be written to "Turning Page."

My writing partner Leila Sales likes to make fun of me because I am not always up on music. I like to tell her I am a foodie for music, but she does not agree (I only know the one song by Florence and the Machine, and most of my playlists have Justin Timberlake on them). One thing that is really REALLY crucial for me in writing is to have inspiring music. I imagine it is what marathoners feel, as well. I mean, I don't run, so I can't say for sure, but if I did, I would need A LOT of inspiring music. Same thing goes for writing---I need some pretty awesome songs to keep me stomping the keyboard pavement.

I posted the soundtrack I listened to while I was writing When You Were Mine over at: Rebecca Serle

What are your favorite writing/running/reading songs? An what did everyone think of Breaking Dawn?

XO,

R

Grateful

I sat down to write this post and so many things popped into my head at once that I decided to make a list--- keep those grateful thoughts in order! I present to you the top-ten things I'm grateful for this year. If you want, consider sitting down and making your own list. I've always found that putting things down on paper---er, online-- makes them a bit more official. And what better to make official than the things you're thankful for?

1) My amazing friends. They rock, seriously. I don't know how I got so lucky, because I'm pretty sure when it comes to friends, I have the most incredible ones on the planet. This is me with my two blondes---Melissa and Melissa. Aren't they cute?

2) My incredible editor and agent. You guys, I have the most bad-ass team there is. Mollie Glick and Anica Rissi, you two rock my world.

3) My posse of writer gals. Here is us taking a pic on my computer. Jess Rothenberg was the only one who could figure out how to work the camera. We are good with words, not so much with technology.

4) The fact that I get to do what I love. Writing books is, as my friend Sarah would say, the cat's jimjams.

5) Chocolate! I made white chocolate cinnamon/cranberry bark yesterday. I'll share the recipe soon because OMG.

6) Good health. Health is wealth! I'm grateful for my own health, as well as the continued health of the people I love.

7) Coffee. Forever and ever gratitude, caffeine. Forever.

8) An apartment that I love. And that I am decorating...slowly (photo tour to come).

9) A wonderful family. I love you so much!

10) I'm grateful that most mornings I wake up happy-- albeit tired (I never was a morning person).

What are you grateful for?

Happy Thanksgiving, all!

xoxoxo,

R

Halloween= Classic Teen

Let's dress up...

Hey Guys!

So I have this tradition every year of dressing up as a teen television character.

It began with Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl (red headband).

Then it went on to Rachel Berry from Glee (that's my lovely friend Danielle in the picture with me-- she dressed up as Quinn).

And this year I decided to go back....way back. Brenda Walsh from 90210! It's worth it to have a comparison shot, here.

There will come a time when I am too old for this. But that time, apparently, was not this year.

No one really got the costume. There was a lot of "Audrey Hepburn?" but that was okay by me. Mostly because I saved the photo of Shannon Doherty on my phone and would just whip it out whenever someone questioned my costume authority. I know what I'm doing, people.

How about you all? What did you dress up as for Halloween?

xxx

R

ps RebeccaSerle.com is almost ready to be revealed! Check back with me on the blog to see when the new spiffy site goes up.

It All Ends

Yesterday was a long time in the making. I spent the very early hours re-reading Harry Potter book 7. I wept. A lot. I remembered. A lot. Discovering these books my sophomore year in High School. Feeling, like so many, lost and misunderstood. Reading under the desk in classes, seeing the first movie, lining up for books 4, 5, 6, 7. It's been an incredible experience and last night, seated in that theater, I was overcome by the magnitude of this thing--- the fact that one woman's idea could create, well, magic.

I have the same story most have. I fell in love with JK Rowling's world. The books marked passages in my own life. I remember where I was when the fifth was released, when I saw the third movie, etc. And yet-- there is this other thing now. There is the fact that, soon, I will get to hold my own book in my hands. That with every novel that is created there is the possibility of touching someone. I sobbed yesterday because I realized that what I felt, more than anything else, was gratitude. Gratitude for having read these books. For having been a part of something that has created so much goodness in the world. And gratitude for having been inspired all those years ago and for now having the career that I do. JK Rowling says that Hogwarts will always be there to welcome us home--- I believe her. Because the wonderful thing about stories is that once read (or watched), they become our own. I can't wait to share my first book with people, to have it slip out of my hands and pass on its ownership. But for now, I'm trying to say goodbye to Harry. It's been a bit more difficult than I expected.

With love,

R

For Hannah and Harry

So this weekend was my dear friend Hannah's birthday (that's us last week. She looks lovely. I look a little under-caffeinated). Anyway, Hannah and I have a long tradition of seeing Harry Potter movies together the day (or night) they are released, but this year we decided to incorporate Harry into her bday festivities. Sunday saw us at the theater, goodie bags in hand. Our friend Anne had the great idea to create our own candy collections based on the sweets offered at Honeydukes. We used Jellybeans as Bernie Bots Beans, Lemon Lollypops as Acid Pops, Gummy Worms as Candy Slugs, etc. It was so much fun picking up and labeling all the different treats. It reminded me of what I absolutely adore about Harry Potter: the joy I get from participating in the world. I always have the same feeling leaving the theater as I do finishing a book. I feel just a little bit magical, like the world is just a little bit more enchanted and that my role in it is to do something that, well, matters. Sounds cheesy, doesn't it? But I remember sitting in the cafe in Edinburgh where JK Rowling wrote Harry's first adventure and declaring to the world (or perhaps the slightly frightened barista) that one day I, too, would become an author. There must have been a little magic around because what do you know? It happened.

So here's to Hannah. May all your birthday wishes come true (especially the big, ridiculous, magical ones).

XO,

R

Rosaline on the big screen!!!

Fox2000 bought the film rights to my novel this week with the writers of 500 Days of Summer attached to write. As if the book sale wasn't enough! I think I'm still in shock so given the fact that I'm not using my words too well right now, I'll let Deadline speak for me...

http://www.deadline.com/2010/11/fox-2000-and-shawn-levy-to-tell-revisionist-romeo-juliet-story/

Cool, huh?

XO,

R