It's All About Love and the Dalai Lama

Today's Special Tidbit is a Dalai Lama jewel. He nails the reason I'm a romance novelist. Take a look:

"If a person has never encountered love toward himself or herself from any quarter, it is a very sad thing. But if that person can meet even one person who will show unconditional love - simply acceptance and compassion - if he knows that he is an object of someone else's affection and love, it is bound to have an impact, and this will be appreciated. Because there is a seed in himself, this act of love will start to catalyze or ripen that seed." --- Dalai Lama

I try to emulate that love through my characters and the stories they share. Books may not be able to substitute for the real thing, but my goal is to give hope that unconditional love is out there. I've always found that kind of compassion, love, and acceptance in the romance novels I've read and want to pass that gift onto my readers along with some sass and laughs.

For more on this topic, come on over to romancewritersonthejourney.wordpress tomorrow (Thursday, December 4th) where I'm guest blogging on my writing process and inspirations. I'd love to have your comments!

Sexy, Sassy, Smart Wishes --- D. D. Scott

Labels: Today's Special Tidbit

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Mark Twain is a Romantic Comedy Queen's Keeper

I haven't done a Today's Special Tidbit for a bit so here's one from a guy who will always be on my Keeper Shelf...Mark Twain:

"Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please." --- Mark Twain

How true this Twainism rings for me as a romantic comedy novelist. The facts are that life and love are full of laughter and natural shtick. I take the truths of the experiences and twist them a tad with my personal style/voice. As a writer, I make them appear to be fiction even though they're plum full of universal relationship truths to hook my readers.

Take for example, the second book in my Bootscootin' Series where it's all about The Ex-Factor. (How many of us haven't lived through that horror? LOL!!! Well, now I'm laughing...I wasn't back then...well...let's just say I shouldn't have been although I was...)

Here's my story hook: With both of their exes stirring the pot, can two chefs pull off catering a wedding without making minced meat of their relationship? Perhaps love is a lot like cooking...delicious with the right ingredients...or...not so delicious if the heat is simmering in Hell's Kitchen. Add a sex therapist to the mix and you get Hell's Kitchen meets Meet the Fockers.

How's that for some fun stuff to distort?

Sexy, Sassy, Smart Wishes --- D. D. Scott

Labels: Today's Special Tidbit

Friday, October 17, 2008

You Are What Your Deepest Desire Is...

So here's the terrific, Today's Special Tidbit of the week:

"You are what your deepest desire is. As your desire is, so is your intention. As your intention is, so is your will. As your will is, so is your deed. As your deed is, so is your destiny." --- Upanishads

The ancient philosopher and commentator Shankara nailed this concept for me. And I've relied on it time and time again to kick myself in the pants and bounce back into action after yet another rejection letter dares to land in my post office box or inbox.

I continue writing romantic comedies not because I'm delusional and neurotic enough to enjoy repeated stompings on my dreams, ambitions and goals, but because being a romance novelist and someday screenplay writer is my deepest desire. It's my intention. My will. My deed. My destiny.

All the more reason to get off my butt, have a couple dark chocolate squares, a martini or gin and diet tonic or Crown and diet, and get my whining, expanding thighs in my chair and attacking the keyboard once more.

I've got to keep doing the deed (aka cranking out the pages) to make my destiny my reality.

I soooo wish I could have cocktails with Shankara.

Sexy, Sassy, Smart Wishes --- D. D. Scott

Labels: Today's Special Tidbit

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Pygmalion and A Writer's Voice

Another Hump Day. Another fabulous quote by which to live one helluva sexy, sassy, smart life:

"People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, make them." --- G. B. Shaw, 1893

Gotta dig George Bernard Shaw and his beloved Pygmalion. Just as Eliza Doolittle taught Professor Higgins and Colonel Pickering that you can't turn a woman into something she's not by controlling her and suffocating her voice, heart, spirit and soul, G. B. taught us to go for the gusto. Create our own destiny. Be a gutsy girl.

But in so doing, Shaw cautioned us to use our own, unique voice and style to manifest that destiny. Once a Cockney flower girl...always at heart a Cockney flower girl.

Nothing seems more relevant to this life lesson than my journey to find and use my writing voice, maintaining my sexy, sassy, smart tone despite my critics and despite what the market may or may not be favoring at the moment.

This could be my key to success and sales.

I completely believe - and would bet on a double gin and tonic on the rocks with lime - that my voice will get me in print.

Now if I'd go by my contest slut scores, which range from perfect to how-could-you-possibly-think-or-call-yourself-a-writer, I could be a bit discouraged. But oh no. Not this chick. I'd rather have that polarizing voice - love it or hate it - than that voice in the middle that no one feels strong enough to emote about at all, taking it or leaving it but not seeking it out and waiting in long lines for the day it's released in yet another novel-length attempt at humor.

I found a must-have craft book by writing instructor Les Edgerton called "Finding Your Voice: How To Put Personality in Your Writing" (check it out at www.lesedgerton.com)...and if you ever get the chance to take one of Les' classes, don't pass up the opportunity. He's the voice that helped me find my voice and gave me the courage to stay true to my sexy, sassy smart mouth.

So if you can't find the circumstances or opportunities you're looking for as a writer, don't be afraid to make them yourself, using your own voice.

And when someone asked you (as if you were Eliza Doolittle) if you're going to walk across the park (and perhaps figuratively fall in line with some other more socially acceptable writing voice), try responding just like Eliza did:

"Walk! Not bloody likely..."

Then run (or type) as fast as you can to your own voice and rhythm.

Sexy, Sassy, Smart Wishes --- D. D. Scott

Labels: Today's Special Tidbit

Friday, October 3, 2008

Chasing Dreams

Yes, I know, it's after Hump Day and almost TGIF. I'm a bit behind the blog posting curve, but here's the quote I'm boosting my confidence with this week:

"There's no telling how many miles you will have to run while chasing a dream." --- Author Unknown

Let's just hope for comfortable shoes...preferably cowboy boots...truly, the most comfortable soles around. And if you've chased a dream for as many miles as I have, those soles are what keep your soul charging on against your worn out mind and battle-weary heart.

For me, it's not just the boots but the locations in which they're covering ground that keep me in the hunt. Nashville, TN --- aka Music City --- is my Muse City. Setting my first series there was a no-contest joint venture, left-brain right-brain partnership. Could be because boots are acceptable 24-7 but so are sexy, sassy stilettos. Could be because the characters currently in charge of my muses can bootscoot and 'holler and swaller' with the best of 'em. Could be because there's this creative buzz blowing in off the Cumberland River that blankets the city (and the hills to its south) with bustling surges of possibility.

From the fabulous boutiques and top-notch pancakes in Hillsboro Village. To the legendary saloons along Broadway and 2nd Avenue that have been the debut stages of many of country music's greatest artists. From fried okra and fried pickles to the many other culinary ecstasies of the city's Meat N' Three diners. Nashville has it all, served up with southern sweet tea, big 'ole biscuits or cornbread and tons of sexy, sassy, smart charm.

I've chased my dream of making it as a published novelist for years. I've been figuratively kicked by the sting of rejections (many, many, many times) and been stomped on by people in my life who I'd thought would always stand beside me (sometimes life bites that way). But I'm still moving. And better yet, I'm picking up my pace, one baby step after another, taking my larger-than-I'd-like butt straight to the finish line.

I don't care how far I've got to go...and if I eat one less chocolate chip pancake and refuse to become one of Jack's Barb-B-Que's flying pigs, alls good-to-go. I'm not giving up the chase.

Sexy, Sassy, Smart Wishes --- D. D. Scott

Labels: Today's Special Tidbit

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Hump Day Quotes Kick-Off

I'd mentioned in my inaugural blog that I'm a big-time quote queen. I'm always on the look out for terrific tidbits to get me through life. I gravitate toward sexy, sassy quips, but also am a sucker for the ultra smart words of people like Mark Twain and Deepak Chopra.

I thought it might be fun to celebrate all these aha-said-it-so-well moments on Hump Days. So each Wednesday, I'll give you one of my favorite quotes to live, laugh and love by.

Here's today's pearl...although I'm more of a diamond chick...well, actually a QVC Diamonique girl...so I'll call these little wisdom-packed gems, Today's Special Tidbits...anyway, here it goes:

"If you were waiting for the opportune moment...that was it." --- Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean

Captain Jack...I know...not exactly on the same level as Mark Twain and Deepak Chopra...but a great tidbit nonetheless...and c'mon, who doesn't listen up when the words are coming from Johnny Depp's mouth?

Since Captain Jack's quote touts how over-rated patience can be, I'm immediately intrigued. Nothing...and I mean nothing...did I mention nothing...gives me greater fits than waiting on something or someone. When I've made up my mind, that's it. I'm on it and charging full throttle toward my goal.

Probably why my spiritual journey, in its many you-want-me-to-do-what, I-don't-think-so, are-you-freakin'-nuts experiences, has led me to a publishing career. LOL!!! How could it be good for my psyche...or those around me (interesting to get Sweet Man's take on this)...to be pursuing a career based on Hurry and Wait then Wait Some More?!!!

I'm telling you when it comes to Having the Patience of Job, Job is bellied up to some martini bar in my honor...convinced I'm the ruin of his reign.

If I were you, Job, I'd try the chocolate martini's...

Sexy, Sassy, Smart Wishes --- D. D. Scott

P.S. And please send your favorite quotes my way...Job and I are counting on you...

Labels: Today's Special Tidbit