Author Archives: olivia

Mar 13 2012
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Writing

The Never-Ending Pitch

Expecting Happiness (Yes, trying out different titles this week!)

Kristen and Jake were told that they could be anything they wanted when they grew up.  The problem is, beside each other, they can’t figure out what they want.  Like many couples in their late twenties, they’ve found themselves stuck in windowless cubes, trudging to meaningless jobs, grasping for purpose.  Most nights, they forget to even look at each other.  

Desperate for change, they’re willing to try anything.  They’ve already attempted multiple failed side businesses, ranging from operating a photography studio out of their extra bedroom to selling video game avatars online.  Well, that second part was just Jake.  Running out of ideas, they set their sights on parenthood as the missing key to their happiness.  

However, after a miscarriage jolts them back to reality, they instead decide to reclaim their childhood dreams of adventure.  They quit their jobs, sell their house, and set off on separate journeys.  While Jake heads across country by car, Kristen secretly chases an old flame to Europe.  Finding themselves on often parallel adventures, they are torn between the allure of seductive foreigners and their unrelenting longing for one another– until an ironic twist of fate ultimately forces them to decide whether they are better off together or apart.
——
Wish List:

1.  I want to make the last sentence about the twist of fate less clumsy/more exciting (not sure about the use of — either…)
2.  Looking for a spot to seamlessly integrate a brief physical description of each to paint a better picture
3.  It still feels book-reporty, I know…  I need to spice it up!

DISCLAIMER:  Some friends have already expressed concern that maybe my book is a reflection of my own life/relationship/desires/etc.  This is NOT the case!  While there are definitely tiny pieces of my life in this book, I chose to create conflict because the book is both fictional and more interesting this way! 😀

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Mar 13 2012
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Writing

Be brave.

Today took a lot of reminders for me to be brave.

I woke up early by spring break (and Daylight Savings!) standards to talk with the author of The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published, David Henry Sterry.  He and his wife make up an awesome team that scours the country for book pitches to help new writers get published.  As part of a promotion that they were running for their book, they invited surviving Nanowrimo participants (me!) to set up 20 minute phone consultations with proof of purchase.

Even though this made me nervous, I decided to do it anyway.  I was encouraged by their kind messages and honest/helpful input to other aspiring writers on their website.  As much as I hate to admit it, however, I more than once thought about backing out, (I’m telling you, the introvert is strong in me, I just force it away on a daily basis!).  There is something about sharing your creative ideas with others that feels very vulnerable.  As I waited for my time to call, I found myself scribbling the words “Be brave. Be yourself. Be strong,” on my notepad.

It turns out that I had nothing to be afraid of– David was great, honest, and full of tips that I look forward to applying to my pitch.  In fact, I realized that it is not input that I fear at all, just how it is delivered, which in this case was very kindly.  David definitely has a talent for coaching.  He even asked to see my manuscript, which is really exciting to me.  No matter what comes of it, it makes me think that someone may actually be interested in eventually publishing my book, once I get it all polished, of course.

He also suggested that I start an author’s Facebook page, forcing me again to remind myself to be brave.  Self-promotion can be intimidating, especially when my pitch and parts of my book still feel clumsy to me, but he shared that some publishers will not even look at your manuscript unless you already have an online platform.  So, I set up a page, and, to my disbelief, it already has more than 80 followers (including people I do not know)!

Being brave is making me feel very humble and grateful tonight.  I just want to say thank you to everyone that has already shown support.  And, for those of you that aren’t my friends on Facebook, I invite you to join my new “platform” by clicking like here, (I’d love to give faces to all of my mysterious Eastern European blog readers!  Yes, Google Analytics tells me you’re out there!).

Don’t forget, be brave too!

After all, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

If you’re writing a book, I highly recommend this guide, so much great advice!
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Mar 09 2012
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Life, Teaching

"For those of you that have never seen the ocean…"

Today my students got their wish.

Nearly 120 fourth and fifth grade students, at least two dozen parents, and five teachers piled into three funky old buses that bounced happily down the road to San Francisco.

Before even exiting our bus, one student exclaimed, “This is the best field trip I have ever been on!”

The initial view of the city was just as exciting as I hoped.  The students were giddy as they spotted the skyline, the Golden Gate bridge, Alcatraz.  They anxiously held their breath through the tunnel on Treasure Island, carefully making their wishes at the other end.  However, to my surprise, it was not just the city that excited them– it was the cows on the hillside before that, the coastal mountain range itself, (“Are those as tall as the Himalayas?”), and the glee of waving to other school children on passing busses out the window.

Of course, the Exploratorium earned its own acclaim.  Beginning with lunch outside the Palace of Fine Arts, eager children fed the ducks, the swans, and the pigeons in the perfect San Francisco March sunshine.  The exhibits soon followed, sucking them in with the truly magical promise that they would not get in trouble for touching anything.  My personal favorite was the rather low-brow, toliet-shaped drinking fountain.  While I could not bring myself to drink from it, (despite the promises of drinkability), I delighted in watching the students psyche themselves into it.

Oddly, however, it was the bus ride home that left me the most satisfied.  Despite an earlier response that we would not cross the Golden Gate Bridge, the bus driver announced a change in plans upon our departure.  To the sheer delight of the students on my bus, we did cross the Golden Gate Bridge, and it was magical.

“For those of you that have never seen the ocean,” the bus driver called out proudly, “turn and look out on your left.”

Cameras held out excitedly in the air, many of my students took in the vastness of the Pacific Ocean for the first time.  I wanted to cry, but I smiled instead.  Floating across the bridge on a crazy, bouncy bus full of happy children, I remembered why I decided to become a teacher.

“WHOA!!”
I love the lighting and the architecture of the Exploritorium.  I hope that its new home on the waterfront is just as cool!
Brought to you by popular demand, the teacher ninja photo.  Lisa was trying to view an optical illusion with one eye when I snuck in there for the pic… Clearly, teachers are always mature adults.

My infamous happy, sparkly shoes, (key ingredients for any good day!)

More of the cool lighting
Close-ups of plants because I can’t legally show you close-ups of the children…
“We really get to go over the Golden Gate Bridge?!”
Our own magic school bus!
Happy kids, (Note: This picture is not a close-up, so I think that I can get away with posting it!  Yippee!)
End Result: Two very happy teachers! (Really, five… But we were lame and didn’t get a group teacher photo…  Insert sad face… That last part is for you, Regina!)
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Mar 07 2012
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Life

A Little Creative Inspiration…

I deeply admire and am inspired by the creative people in my life.  Looking through a friend’s fashion illustrations this evening, I was struck by the same old message from the universe that hard work fuels success, not luck.  I know that my friend will be wildly successful, not because she is lucky, but because she is talented, works hard, and does not give up.  Check out her work on Pinterest or at her blog, Drawn to Style.

Thanks for the inspiration, Tanya!

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Mar 07 2012
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Life, Writing

For you multi-tasking introverts!

Awhile back, I mentioned a book that I was excited to start– Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking.  Being a multi-tasking introvert myself, I have read only the first few chapters, while also balancing two other reads simultaneously.  It is interesting, I’m just not in a hurry to get through it– it’s more of something that I pick up for fifteen minutes at a time, then let digest and inspire before returning for more.

Last night, my dear friend Tanya, shared a link to a talk with the book’s author, Susan Cain, allowing me to multi-task while also listening, perfect!  If you’re interested in the book, this is a great place to start, just let it stream in the background while you’re doing your other browsing.  It will leave you feeling reflective and proud to be an introvert, (if you are one!).

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Mar 06 2012
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Dogs, Home, Pets

Certain to fix your case of the Mondays…

In my family, it’s a sin to complain about Mondays.  You should be eager to get back to work.  Sometimes I am, sometimes I’m not.  Call me a sinner this week.  I had such a wonderful long weekend with Alex, eating at yummy restaurants, getting massages, enjoying the sunshine, you get the picture.  Somehow, getting back to work just does not hold the same appeal!
So, because everyone needs a good Monday smile, here is the highlight of my day– forcing my dog to try on his new beach outfit.  Who can resist a dog in a hoodie sweatshirt?  I certainly can’t.

Not sure he’s liking the hood…  I’m officially one of those people that puts her dog in clothes…  Worth it.
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Mar 04 2012
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Family, Home, Life

Partners in Crime

For me, the biggest key to marital bliss is a shared sense of humor.   If Alex didn’t laugh at my jokes, the world would be very lonely.  After all, we all want to feel like someone else understands us.  Part of being married for me is knowing that Alex will be there to laugh at my jokes even when no one else does, (and mean it, too!).  When I’m a little old lady and people ask me for the secret to a long marriage, I’m certain that my answer will be laughter.

In the spirit of this shared laughter, I want to wish happy birthday to my favorite partner in crime!  I am so grateful that we share the same quirky sense of humor, (even when other people just stare at us in silence!).  Here’s to many, many more years of post-dinner track suit purchases and hysterical laughter.  We will definitely be the most interesting couple in the retirement community.  Do you think that they’ll let us in early?  In these outfits, it’s either that or GTL and fist pumping…

I love you, welcome to 28 years of age.  It certainly does not mean that we are always grown ups, as is evidenced from the pictures below.

I would like to add that part of the beauty of these pictures is that they’re 100% sober.  The best laughter doesn’t need help!
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Mar 02 2012
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Teaching, Writing

Luck & Hard Work

Luck and hard work can be very easy to confuse.  I work hard, but I do not always feel lucky with the results.  Teaching, in particular, often leaves me questioning the correlation between the two.  Maybe it is true of anything that is a craft– that the hard work takes longer to pay off.  
It is just so easy to think that successful people are lucky and forget the role that hard work plays in their success.  I know that I often catch myself thinking that published writers are lucky.  However, I also know that they put in a ton of work and refuse to give up, which ultimately matters more than luck.  After all, you will never publish anything if you do not write it or pitch it in the first place.  Maybe, then, the secret is not luck, but that successful people are the ones that do not give up.
I’m trying to remind myself of this, to keep myself motivated.  The ironic part is that I remind my students of this all of the time.  “This is hard!” they’ll say.  “Yes, life is hard, and you have a choice.  Either you can work hard at it and be successful, or you can give up and never succeed.”  I’m pretty sure that I said this at least five times this week.  Funny how sometimes we do not hear our own words.

I thought that you might also like the reminder to make your own luck.  If, like me, you’re pursuing a creative endeavor that would benefit from online networking, check out this great post about making your own luck.

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Feb 28 2012
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Writing

Expecting Happiness

If you know me, you know that I change my mind a lot.  Here is my new, and hopefully improved, pitch for my book.  I would love to hear whether you like this one or the old one better, (see Better? post for the old version).  So far, the feedback I’ve received is that the first one was better…  I really can’t decide!  I’ve changed the working title from Six Weeks to Expecting Happiness, I also welcome thoughts there, (kind of a play on the pregnancy/family theme).

Expecting Happiness

Desire for Escape.
Desire for Adventure.
Desire for Something More…

Kristen and Jake are much like many couples in their late twenties. They were told that they could be anything they wanted when they grew up. The problem is, beside each other, they cannot figure out what they want. Somehow, they have found themselves stuck in windowless cubes, trudging to meaningless jobs, grasping for purpose. Most nights, they forget to even look at each other. However, after the loss of a pregnancy forces them to reevaluate their priorities, they decide to reclaim their childhood dreams of adventure by embarking on separate journeys. While Jake sets off across country by car, Kristen secretly chases an old flame to Europe. Both searching for something different, they find themselves on surprisingly parallel adventures that may or may not lead them back together.

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Feb 26 2012
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Life, Writing

Dark inspiration.

Before I started writing my book, a picture of a little family enjoying a picnic inspired me.  They were in a grassy field, with the slanting sunlight of late afternoon streaking the shot, shadows creeping in around the edges.  The young mother, father, and baby sat on a little blanket, seemingly happy, but also somehow deeply dissatisfied.

Pictures and music inspire me, make me want to write.
Today, I discovered a photographer whose haunting images are filling my head with new ideas.
Thanks, Mike Shaw.
Courtesy of Mike Shaw Photography
Courtesy of Mike Shaw Photography

Courtesy of Mike Shaw Photography
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Feb 25 2012
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Life

Wolves & Unicorns Unite

This afternoon, my mother-in-law brought over an early birthday present for Alex– the infamous Mountain Three Wolf Moon t-shirt.

Photo courtesy of amazon.com

Now, I have to tell you, Alex has been threatening me with this t-shirt for months, maybe even years, I’ve lost track.  Every time we stop at a gas station, he cruelly taunts me that he is going to go inside and find one.  It is so infamous, that I did not even need to see one to know what he was talking about.  Images of flea markets and truck stops flooded into my mind.  Just thinking about it, made me feel mortified.

Well, apparently, the hipsters found one first.  Typical.  The three wolf t-shirt is now a legend.  Alex said he is pretty sure that if we move to Portland, wearing the t-shirt will instantly get us friends.  They won’t even care if we are from California.  The three-wolf t-shirt trumps all!

To convince me of this point, this afternoon he introduced me to the lore of the t-shirt.  Now, I get it.  It’s not just a white trash, hippie, or even hipster fashion statement, it’s a super power, (and, don’t get me wrong, I love hippies and tolerate hipsters).  According to reviews on Amazon, the t-shirt is so powerful that it will get you women at trailer parks and Walmart!  I’m really not sure what my husband is trying to say here… Although, according to the music video review, it’s powers also extend to super models!  That’s slightly more comforting.

Thanks Alex and cool music video.  NOW, I get it.  And, I also discovered my own secret weapon in all of this research, the Mountain Unicorn Castle Purple T-Shirt!  If before I thought it embarrassing to be in public with the Three Wolf Moon T-shirt, (and, of course, that was before I knew about its powers…), now I’m thinking that the perfect antidote is its unicorn brethren.  Then, Alex and I would truly be the perfect power couple!  Watch out Portland, two new hipsters were born today!

Photo courtesy of amazon.com
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Feb 24 2012
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Life, Travel

Mother Russia & Foreign Markets

According to Google Analytics, I have a steady stream of traffic from Russia on this blog.  I wonder who my mysterious Russian viewers are?  Are they real people or some sort of electronic webpage crawlers based out of Russia?  I’m very intrigued.  Clearly, the nerdy international relations major in me is still alive and well.

Alex and I actually went to a Russian market with friends this weekend.  Well, a Russian and Korean market.  Quite the combination!  If you’ve never been to a foreign market before, go!  They’re a nerdy international relations major’s dream!

Whether they’re here or abroad, I love visiting foreign markets.  They’re always stocked with really unusual items that I find fascinating.  Among the most interesting finds this time were vodka hidden in a babushka doll and hula hoops with “massaging” spikes, (they weren’t really spikes, just felt that way when I tried it out, to Alex’s amusement, in the middle of the store!).  Not to mention all of the scary variations of meat, (head cheese or whole eels anyone?).  I always find these stores reminiscent of watching an episode of Bizarre Foods or Anthony Bourdain… An instant and cheap adventure!



I actually have a not-so-secret obsession with foreign markets, as well as babushka dolls, so this outing was an unexpected thrill!  (And, way more accessible than actually going to Russia or Korea!)


***

ADHD side note of the night…  This Portlandia clip hits a little too close to home.  What shall I try next oh-great creative occupational wizard?  (Documentary maker, tried that, wedding videographer, tried that too, writer, sure!  Who knows, maybe making my own jewelry is next!)

http://www.hulu.com/embed/zx-5g3QHCwdFe1AZzQ2rFA

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