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Monthly Archives: March 2013

The Dos and Donts of Running a Writer’s Group

30 Saturday Mar 2013

Posted by Megan in On Writing

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

authors, book reviews, learning how to write, the writing process, writers

As some of you might recall, I once gave advice on how to behave in a writer’s group in The Dos and Donts of Being in a Writer’s Group. That post is aimed at those looking to be members of a writing group, and to tell them how to stay being a member, lest they get removed if they don’t follow my advice.

Well, this post is aimed at those who are run or are thinking about starting their own writer’s group. I was once an organizer for one on meetup.com which I ran for about a year and half. I was also briefly part of another before that, which I’ll get to shortly. So here is my advice on how to make your group run smoothly, make it an enjoyable experience for everyone, and not lose members or see your group be blacklisted because of your lousy leadership.

DO Remember the Group is for Everyone – Not Just You!
While your reasons for creating a writer’s group will naturally be self-centered – ie, meeting other writers, getting others to critique your work – once the ball gets rolling, it can’t be all about you. You would have to give what you want your members to give to you. If you want a thorough critique, give the same to anyone who submits their work. Don’t make your meetings all about you. If it goes to way, you’re going to find it difficult to keep your members coming to your meetings.

Don’t Be Wholly Unlikable:
Don’t be rude and unpleasant to your members over anything. For the first writer’s group I joined, I submitted a synopsis of a high fantasy story. During the first meeting, it was pointed out as heavily flawed by a few members, including the organizer who was aloof and kind of cranky. I was a little shaken by the critiques because I felt foolish for having submitted something that was so flawed. But since the other members encouraged me to work on it, I did and I submitted the revised synopsis a few months later. Unfortunately, those encouraging members were not there that time, but that cranky organizer was – and boy was he ready to go after me. He not only ripped apart my work, he mocked and even made a few crude comments about the female main character. He also did it with this smug smile on his face as though he loved knifing me in front of everyone. And because of his rules of no response until everyone was done, I had to sit quietly as he went on and on with the damn smile on his face. Needless to say, I never came back to that group and it eventually it shut down. Gee, I wonder why?

So the bottom line is, don’t be a lousy person – even to those who submit poor writing. I once had someone who submitted something that had terrible grammar and paragraph structure, empty characters, and too many plot holes in only 10 pages. But instead of being rude, I pointed out what needed to be done to make the piece a lot of better. There was no need for me to be nasty, and there’s no need for you either.

DO Anticipate Wacky People:
I’m sure we’re all aware that there are a lot of wackos out there – and guess what? They’ll find their way to join your group and come to your meetings. Maybe you’ll have an inkling that’s there’s something a bit off about them once you get their email request or meet them when they arrive for the meeting. If so, get ready. I mean, don’t get ready for combat. But keep an eye on them. In my experience, I had some grouch come to my meeting…only to criticize it. He complained that there were too few members and how that wasn’t helpful for the writers, and he basically said I wasn’t a good organizer. This guy was not another author or aspiring author, he didn’t work for Meetup.com or anything related to what I was doing. To this day, I still can’t figure out what made him show up for that meeting, other than he was some miserable a-hole who wanted to make others miserable. People are weird.

Better Yet…DO Anticipate Drama!
There will come a time when you‘ll have to deal with pain in the ass members. Either they don’t follow your rules or they aren’t good for the group in general, it will be best to remove them to avoid any problems. And if you know for it is best to remove them, don’t hesitate. I made the mistake of hesitating because for some reason, I was worried of even more drama. Sigh! But I did get around the removing someone who refused to follow my rules. Too bad now and then I see him when I travel home from work. Let’s just say, if looks could kill!

DON’T Lose Your Cool if Things Don’t Work Out:
A common problem I had was the lack of attendance or frequent no-shows. I found it rude and annoying that it happened, and at one point I got peeved. I had spent a few months trying to make my group as inviting and interesting as possible, with little results. I followed advice from other meetup organizers, but no luck. After almost no one attended a simple social, non-critique meeting, I was so upset that I sent an email to the group saying how I was disappointed by the lack of attendance. That wasn’t cool of me at all. It was downright foolish and bitchy of me. So, learn from me and don’t lose it – even when things don’t work out the way you want them to.

Eventually, I closed my group because I was tired of the drama and poor attendance. I probably should’ve done a lot better in running my group. So learn from me so yours will work out better than my group did!

Wednesday Interview: Matthew Head

27 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by Megan in Author Interviews

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

authors, books, fantasy, interviews, new books, self-published authors, self-published books, short stories, supernatural, writers

When some authors decide to do a series, they put out a prequel so their readers would understand what is going on in their story. Often, that prequel is another novel.

But Matthew Head has done something different. His prequel, The Chronicles of Darkness: Prequels, is not another novel – but three short stories, each about the characters in his forthcoming novel, which will begin the series. Matthew is here to discuss this plus his writing process:

MC: Was there ever a book that inspired you to write books yourself? If not, what did inspire you to write? IMG_0073

MH: I remember being impressed when “The Da Vinci Code” came out and there was all that massive hype around it – I remember people going to Paris and other locations from the book to try and hunt down the clues for themselves, it was mad! And I thought wow, all of this excitement from a book!

Then I went to university and we studied quite a bit of heavy literature there – it sunk in just how important the written word is. I guess I was enticed into it by the magic of the written word, because I think there is a magic to words – if written correctly they have to power to make us laugh, cry, feel anger, feel love. That’s colossal power and it’s thrilling to be involved with that.

MC: What is it about dark fantasy/supernatural that entices you?

MH: I’ve always loved that sort of thing – I think the idea that there’s still some mystery in the world is so exciting. The very fact that once upon a time people believed in all these creatures and beings is fascinating – regardless of whether or not there’s any real truth to it or not. I mean let’s face it, life today can be pretty dull – it’s all shopping at the supermarket and sitting at a desk and getting a bus, yawn, yawn, yawn. I think it’s a terrific escape to imagine fighting off a ghoul in a graveyard or encountering a werewolf in the woods.

MC: You’ve written three short stories that serve as prequels for “The Chronicles of Darkness: The Box of Infernos”. This is not something a lot of writers do. What made you do your prequel this way?

PrequelsCoverMH: I decided very early on I wanted “The Chronicles of Darkness” to be an immersive world. There’s going to be five books in the series but I want it to expand beyond that, I want my readers to be able to delve deeper and experience more. These prequel tales allow you to do just that.
They also serve as a literary smorgasbord, a tasting session before the feast of the books to come! In these prequels you’ll get a feel for all the themes that will be prevalent in my actual books. There’s “The Darkness at Down Street” which is spine-chillingly terrifying, then there’s “The Destiny of Melissa Smith” which is heart-breakingly sad. And then in “Beauty and the Beast” there’s a real blood-pumper of a story with a sting in the tail. Something for everyone!

MC: What advice would you give to any aspiring author?

MH: Don’t be put off by rejection from mainstream publishers. Believe in yourself, believe in your work. The publishing world is changing and with the ever expanding digital age that we live in the author has more of an opportunity to get their work out there than ever before. You could have written a stonkingly brilliant book but if the publisher doesn’t think it will sell copies because of its genre then they won’t touch you. That doesn’t mean your work isn’t worth reading – many people will love it! Roll up your sleeves and make it a success yourself!

MC: What can we expect from Matthew Head in the future?

MH: Well as I say “The Chronicles of Darkness” is a five part series so I’ll be getting those out into the world in the next couple of years starting in July. Then after that – who knows? I’ve got a almighty pile of ideas for a whole range of books in my brain and if I’m blessed with a long enough life then I’ll do my very best to get them all written!

Here’s where you learn more about Matthew Head and his books:

Facebook
Personal Website

Amazon

10 Days Until Game of Thrones Season 3 Premiere!

21 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by Megan in Entertainment

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Daenerys Targareyn, Game of Thrones, Game of Thrones Season 3, GoT, HBO, HBO Shows, humor, Joffrey Lannister, Queen Cersei, Sansa Stark, Theon Greyjoy, TV Shows, Tyrion Lannister, videos

Confession: I am one of the many who has spent most of the past year gushing and biting my nails over the HBO series Game of Thrones.

OK, that’s not really a confession because there are plenty who’ve been having the same sentiments. But I am so excited for the premiere of Season 3 Sunday March 31st that I literally have been obsessing over GoT during this month. I actually squeal when I see the trailers, I’ve been recapping the last two seasons on Time Warner Cable’s OnDemand, and I’ve been straining myself from doing too much research or else I’ll know too much about what happens to many of the characters.  game_of_thrones-logo

I know that sounds crazy, but damn that show gets me going. I love the intrigue, the suspense, the twists and surprises. GoT is all around complex – the characters, the storyline, the history, the motivations of everyone involved.

It is also so real. Even though GoT is a fantasy tale set in a medieval world, the conflicts and challenges each character faces is similar to our own. Even though honor and justice are considered good, those traits simply cannot be used in a cut-throat (literally) world where everyone is looking out for themselves and the big picture is all that matters. So what if someone is a lying, stealing cheat? A business needs to be run, the neighborhood needs peace, or you have to survive high school. It sucks, we all hate that fact. But that’s the truth of both our world and the world of Westeros.

I also like how most of the characters in Game of Thrones cannot be seen in black and white, and could only be seen in their gray – except of course, King Joffrey, who is solidly evil. Some of them lean towards the dark side, like Littlefinger and Theon Greyjoy, but you also have to consider their motives in order to understand and maybe sympathize a bit with them. After all, how many more characters do you need to make you seethe with rage?

Check out WinterisComing.net - great site!

Check out WinterisComing.net – great site!

Others have traits that are annoying and unlikable, like Sansa Stark. Sure, she’s snobby and naive, but when you step back and look at her situation, you can consider her a survivor. She witnesses the unexpected beheading of her father, then is forced to look at his head on a spike by the young man she was once infatuated with. She then spends weeks as a hostage surrounded by untrustworthy people, being beaten and tormented by King Joffrey in front of the whole court, having Queen Cersei needle her with her condescending pet name (I hate it when Cersei called her “little dove”), and believing her family is in danger or dead. She was alone in her situation and some people can fall apart in that situation. I’m not saying Sansa is a totally strong character, but I wouldn’t wish rape or death on her like some people do.

Anyway, I’m really excited for this coming season. I am also agonizing over it. I’ve heard some beloved characters die and I don’t want to believe it is true. I know many die in the books and HBO has to bring that onto the small screen, but damn! Yeah, it’s a violent game they’re playing, but NO!!!

I’m also looking forward to seeing the White Walkers and winter spreading over Westeros. Daenerys’ dragons should be amazing to watch. And also, gotta watch Tyrion – the best character on the show. Is there anyone who does not like the Imp? Didn’t think so.

Before I sign off, I’m giving you this humorous video to entertain you until March 31st. You might want to sing the words once Game of Thrones Season 3 begins!

Wednesday Interview: Deborah Nam-Krane

13 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by Megan in Author Interviews

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

authors, books, eBooks, interviews, NA, New Adult, novelists, publishing, writers, writing

The New Adult category is moving, and more authors are producing books with main characters between the ages of 18 – 26.

One of them is Deborah Nam-Krane, who will be publishing her first book in a few weeks. Born in New York City, but raised in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Deb has had a long love for writing and is excited her novel, The Smartest Girl in the Room, could soon be read by book lovers like her. Deb Nam Kane

MC: What was the big moment for you when you realized you wanted to be a writer, particularly a novelist?

DNK: I always looked at the really sweeping sagas that were in bookstores- and made into television movies!- and thought, “I really want to do that.” But it was when I was thirteen that the story I had to write came to me. All of the things I’d been reading- Judith Krantz, Nabokov, Austen, Bronte- percolated into something that just wouldn’t let me go.

At the age of 35- 22 years after the initial thought came to me- it still hadn’t let go. My characters just kept tugging at me until I got it right.

MC: Where did the idea for “The Smartest Girl in the Room” come from?

DNK: Shortly after that first story idea, another one came to me. Both sets of characters spent so long in my head together that I realized- fifteen years later- they belonged in the same universe. Then things started getting interesting; the main characters gave each other a strength they hadn’t had before.

But I still couldn’t quite get it. I kept thinking about the phrase “write what you know”. Well, there were snippets of interesting things I’d been witness to, particularly in college. I went to Northeastern, which back then was a mix between a commuter school and a place with a lot of international students. There was much more socio-economic diversity than there is now, which might explain why there was also an undercurrent of tension around class. That aspect I really ran with here. SmartestGirlFinal

It was easy for me to put that story in Boston, and it was easy for me to write about that setting- I’ve lived here for over 22 years! That world took on so many contours so quickly, and I thought it was just the right setting for “my old friends”. Once I put those characters in with my new characters, it was as if the story wrote itself. Is that a cliche? Well, maybe we use those for a reason.

MC: Do you believe NA/New Adult is just a passing fad, as some say, or on it’s way to having it’s own space in a bookstore or online book store?

DNK: I didn’t think there was anything extraordinary about setting a story in college, or making a main character nineteen years old. I also thought that since the character would be what I thought was the older side of “young adult” it wouldn’t have trouble finding some interest in the market. But when I first started looking into publishing about two and a half years ago, the categories were really rigid. Eighteen was old for the young adult market, and romance and women’s fiction seemed to be interested in people that were already firmly “adults”- unless it was a historical romance, but mine wasn’t.

When I poked around and started asking agents informally about my character’s age, two recommended that I make the character eighteen instead. While I was willing to make some changes to get published, that just seemed silly.

I think New Adult is here to stay because I’m not the only writer- or reader- that wants to read about people that age. Having said that, while I think it’s going to continue to do really well online, I think it’s going to be a couple of years before the bookstores get around to displaying them in their own section, if they ever do. I think it’s more likely that they’re going to be included into general fiction or whatever other genre they fall into. And that’s fine, as long as booksellers can talk about them and readers can find them.

MC: You say that you much prefer to hold a book and turn it’s pages. How do you feel about the increasing popularity of eBooks?

DNK: I don’t object 🙂 Believe me, there have been plenty of times that I’ve carried around a heavy library book- plus a notebook- and thought, you know, maybe I should have looked for the eBook. I don’t object to anything that makes it easier for people to read.

I’d say I’m more worried about what eReaders can do, whether you have a dedicated device or you’re reading from your phone, tablet or computer. I don’t think people realize just how much information is being tracked when you use them to read. The most popular eReaders know whether you’ve finished something, how long it took you, where you stopped, how long you stayed on which page and what search terms you looked up. That information is then used to figure out what else you’re likely to buy.

As an author, great! It is now that much easier to find and sell to someone. As a reader… I don’t know if I want that much information about me in anyone’s database.

MC: What other plans do you have in your writing career? What can readers expect more from you?

DNK: The Smartest Girl In The Room is the kick-off book for The New Pioneers series. I have three more full-length sequels already written, and those are coming out as soon as I can get them spiffed up by my editor (and as soon as my fabulous designer can come up with something that’s as gorgeous as this cover). I also have a number of short stories that fill in some of the time gaps between the novels and delve into some of the backstories of these characters. This is definitely romance/women’s fiction, so expect a strong female focus, but there are a couple of fascinating male characters who inhabit this little universe too.

I might delve out of this universe eventually, but everything that follows is probably always going to have a connection to The New Pioneers, if only in my own mind.

Find out more about Deborah Nam-Krane:

My writing blog
Twitter
LinkedIn
Facebook Page
Pinterest
Google +
 

The Pros and Cons of Self-Publishing

11 Monday Mar 2013

Posted by Megan in Self-Publishing

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

books, eBooks, Indie books, indie writers, Kindle, NA, New Adult, self-published authors, self-published books, Smashwords, the writing process, vampires, writers

This week marks six months since I released my first book, The Dark Proposal. To celebrate, from March 12th to the 16th, my book will be 99 cents on both Amazon Kindle and Smashwords. So spread the word!

As I look back on those six months since I became a published author, I want to address self-publishing. I’ve been meaning to do so for a long while, and I think now would be a good time.

I don’t regret self-publishing my book. While I did go for the traditional route initially, I was too intrigued by self-publishing that I chose to do that. I liked the idea of being in control of my product and not compromising with someone else or having someone decide how to market my book. It was my work, my product, my baby. I wasn’t going to turn custody of my work to someone else.

I admit it did cost money to release my book on my own. The money I spent was almost entirely toward my editor. The cover design, getting the copyright, and paying for a blog tour was nickels and dimes compared to getting my story edited. It is overwhelming and it can make you wonder if you’re crazy to venture into self-publishing, but it was better than the alternative, at least for me.

Keep in mind, most indie authors do not have overnight success. Most have to publish several books in order to see major profit. So, it is a huge gamble and the investment is enormous, almost not worth the headache.

But is it better than querying agents or going to a small publishing house? Sure, if you don’t mind waiting for agents’ responses, waiting for at least to have interest in your novel, waiting for that agent to get back to you and then possibly shop your book around to the Big 6. If you get anywhere, you would then wait for your book to be published – after it is edited and you might have to accept major changes to your baby, such as character ages or names, certain scenes you feel are important are cut out, etc. You also get no say on what kind of cover you want (that was one of the big things that attracted me to self-publishing because I didn’t want anyone to decide how on the cover but me).

Then your book is published. It is on shelves at brick and mortar stores with the public more aware of it than an eBook. There is some buzz and your book sells – but how well? From what I understand, a traditional author has to wait a few months to learn how many copies they sold, instead of daily. Yes, they may see more money – but is it guaranteed?

One thing I keep hearing about the benefits of traditional publishing is that an author knows for sure their book is good and worthy enough when a major publisher accepts and releases it. They have the major stamp of approval and their hard work has paid off. While that is true, I don’t entirely agree. I do agree that can be elating to know that Penguin or Random House would want your book above so many others. I would’ve loved it if my book was picked up by one of the Big 6. But patience and I aren’t friends, and I did like the idea of being in control of my product.

I’m not judging anyone who chooses to go the traditional route, I just don’t agree that what works for one author will work for all others. I really believe all authors need to decide what works best for them. This is a great time for authors because we get a chance to choose how to get our work out to the world. We get to choose what works for us personally, and that’s imperative when you are serious about being a published writer.

So if you want to do traditional, go for it. If you want to go indie, go for it. Just do what you feel is right for your product. To hell with the opinion of others because no one knows what is best for you. Both options have their pros and cons, and both are risky and time consuming. But if you are serious about getting your story ready by others, you would do what it takes to get them into the hands of readers everywhere – and there’s a chance you’ll be glad you did what you did. I know I am!

Pixar’s 22 Rules of Storytelling

08 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by Megan in Storytelling Musings

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

authors, how to write, how to write a book, novelists, Pixar, the writing process, writers

Pixar logo

Maybe some of you have heard of this amazing list, but I want to share it because it so spot on.

In the past couple days, the Pixar’s 22 Rules of Storytelling has been going around forums, blogs and other writing resources like wild fire. It is a perfect checklist to make sure the story you are working on is good enough. I don’t who exactly made this list, but it is a must for all writers:

  1. You admire a character for trying more than for their successes.
  2. You gotta keep in mind what’s interesting to you as an audience, not what’s fun to do as a writer. They can be very different.
  3. Trying for theme is important, but you won’t see what the story is actually about til you’re at the end of it. Now rewrite.
  4. Once upon a time there was ___. Every day, ___. One day ___. Because of that, ___. Because of that, ___. Until finally ___.
  5. Simplify. Focus. Combine characters. Hop over detours. You’ll feel like you’re losing valuable stuff but it sets you free.
  6. What is your character good at, comfortable with? Throw the polar opposite at them. Challenge them. How do they deal?
  7. Come up with your ending before you figure out your middle. Seriously. Endings are hard, get yours working up front.
  8. Finish your story, let go even if it’s not perfect. In an ideal world you have both, but move on. Do better next time.
  9. When you’re stuck, make a list of what WOULDN’T happen next. Lots of times the material to get you unstuck will show up.
  10. Pull apart the stories you like. What you like in them is a part of you; you’ve got to recognize it before you can use it.
  11. Putting it on paper lets you start fixing it. If it stays in your head, a perfect idea, you’ll never share it with anyone.
  12. Discount the 1st thing that comes to mind. And the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th – get the obvious out of the way. Surprise yourself.
  13. Give your characters opinions. Passive/malleable might seem likable to you as you write, but it’s poison to the audience.
  14. Why must you tell THIS story? What’s the belief burning within you that your story feeds off of? That’s the heart of it.
  15. If you were your character, in this situation, how would you feel? Honesty lends credibility to unbelievable situations.
  16. What are the stakes? Give us reason to root for the character. What happens if they don’t succeed? Stack the odds against.
  17. No work is ever wasted. If it’s not working, let go and move on – it’ll come back around to be useful later.
  18. You have to know yourself: the difference between doing your best & fussing. Story is testing, not refining.
  19. Coincidences to get characters into trouble are great; coincidences to get them out of it are cheating.
  20. Exercise: take the building blocks of a movie you dislike. How d’you rearrange them into what you DO like?
  21. You gotta identify with your situation/characters, can’t just write ‘cool’. What would make YOU act that way?
  22. What’s the essence of your story? Most economical telling of it? If you know that, you can build out from there.

Bookmark this page or copy and paste this list onto a Word document, and save it in your desktop folder where you keep all your notes on writing. This list will be worth referring to again and again in the future. I know that will be the case for me!

 

Insecure Writers’ Support Group: #2 – On Self-Doubt

06 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by Megan in Being an Author

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

book series, book trilogies, how to write a novel, Insecure Writers Support Group, insecurities, stories, the writing process, Trilogy, writing

InsecureWritersSupportGroup

I am taking part in the monthly blog hop, Insecure Writers’ Support Group. Started by Alex J. Cavanaugh, it is meant to do the following:

To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

I felt it was a good idea for me to do this. Not only does it give me an excuse to vent my fears the first Wednesday of every month, but it is nice that so many other authors are doing the same.

Entry #2

I really need to shut up and get a life. I keep having doubts over my trilogy and it is starting to get ridiculous. Sure, all writers deal with self doubt, but for me to analyze things to death is absurd.

Sometimes I wonder if I should contact consultants and beta readers, and ask if my story line for my trilogy The End of Eternity is intriguing enough and makes any sense. Of course, that would make me a whiny pain in the ass, and besides, some of those people charge money.

It’s just that while I was writing the first installment, I realize that not everything you think works for a story, will actually be well received. This is probably part of my maturity as an author. You learn to take your ideas and creations seriously and not be flippant about them. After all, they are a reflection of you. Yes, that is the brutal truth. Whether it is a reflection of you as a writer or as a human being in general is up to the individual who reads your work, but storytelling is a craft that cannot be taken casually.  Readers know when someone lazily crafted a novel and feel like they wasted their time with it. No self-respecting writer would want that.

So, how would I know if my idea for my trilogy would actually work? How would I know if I’ll be laughed and scorned by writers and readers alike? Would I ever be taken seriously again or be allowed to write a book again? (NOTE: by allowed, I don’t mean someone will stop me from publishing – what I mean is, would my name and work be so blacklisted as terrible that I could never recover?)

The most I can do is get my work critiqued as much as possible. I already take part in an online critique group that meets twice a month. I’ve joined a local writers group. I was part of a group that was the remnants of last year’s NaNoWriMo, but it conflicted with my schedule. I’m thinking about joining a website called Critique Circle for further help, but I’m a bit unsure of how that site works.

Thing is, I’ve learned the importance of getting as many eyes on your work as possible before you actually publish it. It is also good to find someone who understands what you hope to achieve and is a good beta reader or editor to help guide you. Once you find that relationship, never it let go! That has got to be a match made in heaven.

Anyway, I keep on writing, but I hope someone gives me the proper guidance if I want to continue growing as an author.

I Watch Too Much TV

04 Monday Mar 2013

Posted by Megan in Entertainment

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Game of Thrones, Once Upon A Time, television, The Americans, TV, TV Shows

I know some say this is the Golden Age of TV, but damn, I have been watching TV a lot lately. Not even three years ago, I hardly ever looked at that thing – with the exception of CNN or NatGeo. I did used to watch “America’s Next Top Model” religiously – but luckily I grew up and a got a life.

But these days…damn! Sunday nights are quite busy for me now. First off, I have “Once Upon A Time” and then I have “Girls” right after. On Wednesdays, I watch “The Americans” on FX. I also catch up on “The Daily Show” OnDemand. These days, though, I have to balance between “Once Upon A Time” and that History miniseries, “The Bible”. Right after comes the new show on the same channel, “The Vikings”. I’ll be watching that OnDemand.

But! In a few weeks, I’ll be hyperventilating as I get ready for the season premiere of “Game of Thrones”. I discovered the series late last May after hearing so much buzz about it, and now I am so addicted to the program. I am starting to do a recap by watching both seasons OnDemand to gear up for Season 3 on March 31st! Once_Upon_A_Time_Logo

That could brighten up my Sundays. I hate to say this, but I’m starting to lose interest in “Once Upon A Time”. This past Sunday’s episode is starting my long awaited decline. I guess I’m overly optimistic about my shows even when they’re sinking fast. But I’m beginning to lose faith in this program. Far too many crumbling relationships, confusing storylines, and characters not making sense anymore. It is not as exciting as it used to be. With this past episode, I am disappointed that Snow White/Mary Margaret will go over to the dark side, even though her getting nasty was bound to happen. But did she really have to go from being so good to be hell-bent on wanting to commit murder? And Cora is too evil to be believable. While I knew she was responsible of the death of Snow White’s mother, her killing Johanna was too much. She’s now a caricature of evil, which means it is overdone. And what is with Regina? The show’s writers clearly don’t know whether to make her try to be good or be pure evil. Her character is really all over the place this season.

Anyway, I’m disappointed. But then again, when “Once Upon A Time” first started, I thought it should’ve been a miniseries or a movie. To make it a series to last several season is make confusing, endless storylines that will mess up the story – and sure enough, it is.The_Americans_Intertitle

On FX, “The Americans” is amazing. It is deep and really makes me think. As I watch Philip and Elizabeth Jenkins live their average American lives while being undercover KGB agents, I find it hard to fathom how they could literally lie to their own children as they are. Sure, spies have done that for decades – and still do it to this day all over the world. But wow, it really boggles my mind that anyone would have such commitment to their cause or government, that they would deceive their own flesh and blood.

But I also worry that this is another show that should’ve been a movie or miniseries. Hopefully, it doesn’t self-destruct like “Once Upon A Time” is or like “True Blood” did last year. I likely will not watch Season 6 this year, as I am still annoyed that the show was ruined itself, as displayed here in this post I wrote right after the season finale. Game_of_Thrones_title_card

However, I’ve got “Game of Thrones” to look forward to! This better be awesome! I hope George R.R. Martin finishes the last book in time, and I also hope HBO keeps its budget for the next several seasons. They had a problem with their series a few years ago called “Rome” which only lasted two seasons because they basically couldn’t afford to produce it anymore. But I have faith “Game of Thrones” will survive.

But yeah, I do watch too much TV. For someone trying to shed some pounds, this is absurd 🙂

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