So, what does it take to become a novelist? There are a few things you need, according to this author who felt like she should devote an entire two-minute video to the subject. Feel free to watch it. If not, I’ll sum up: You need a beginning, a middle, and an end, as well as to sit down and write the story.

And here I thought it was all difficult and stuff.

I’ve made no secret about the fact that I absolutely love being a freelancer. It affords me a flexible schedule, and I relish not having a boss breathing down my neck. Still, I love to see when people with “legit” jobs get creative and obviously enjoy themselves. Today’s clip is of a really fun presentation a math teacher did for his students. I can’t decide if it’s cool-cool or nerd-cool…

Remember that awesome Billy Joel song and how it summed up, like, a ton of history in just a couple of minutes, while simultaneously taking absolutely no responsibility for anything that has happened?  That was cool, and it had a beat you could dance to, Dick.

Today I came across this video that sums up the last decade in seven minutes flat.  I like the way the narrator manages to get in a few zingers, even while talking a mile a minute.

ETA: Oops, I guess it’s seven minutes and three seconds. Now how will we find the time to watch it?

Usually I can make these videos and other posts somehow relate to the writing life, but I’d really have to stretch pretty thin to make that work today.  Still, I thought this was pretty darn funny, even if it does have a laugh track.

Yesterday I talked a bit about why it’s so great not to have an office job.  Then I saw this video, and I’m thinking it wouldn’t be all bad.  This totally made me smile, even if I do have this song stuck in my head now.

As writers, we have to be really careful about the message we send with the words we choose.  That’s not to say we don’t appreciate a good metaphor from time to time, but if we’re not pretty clear about what we’re trying to say, then we’re probably also not going to get paid.

Visual artists, on the other hand, seem to have a little more wiggle room when it comes to interpretation.  I’ve recently been seeing quite a few of these “Literal Translations” of music videos, and some of them are really good.  Today I’m introducing you to one that actually made me laugh out loud a couple of different times. 

Hope you like it!

*If any of my real-life friends or family are reading this, I’ll bet you thought it was going to be yet another one of my rants about people who misuse the word “literally.” Don’t worry. I suspect that post is still forthcoming.

Yesterday I shared a little video about the “Imaginary Publishing Process,” as well as an anecdote about how it was so relevant to my life because…um…I know someone going through the process.  Well, here’s another one by the same folks that is probably even less likely to pertain to me, but is still really funny.

I particularly like #4.

If I did become a famous author, though, I think my first order of business would be to attach that title directly to my name.  You know, like how once someone has won an Oscar, they are forever known as Academy Award Winner George Clooney/Gwenneth Paltrow/Denzel Washington/Christopher Rouse?  I would want to be known as Famous Author Lorna Doone Brewer. 

Do you think the DMV would put it on my driver’s license?

I’m currently cheerleading from the sidelines as my business partner goes about trying to get her first novel published. Shoot. I’d better call her and make sure it’s ok for me to out her as a romance junkie…

Thumbs up from the soon-to-be-famous Tamara Morgan.

Where was I? Oh, yes. Tamara took some time out last November to pen her first romance novel during NaNoWriMo. I was quite impressed by her stick-to-it-ive-ness as she wrote in fits and bursts, as well as the occasional overly-wrought dry spell. I was supportive and encouraging and didn’t even laugh at her when she told me she cried over her own characters ala Joan Wilder.

But, the writing was only the beginning. In the ensuing months, Tamara has entered contests (and even won some), sought out an agent (and signed with one), and gone through a grueling revision process…while working on her second novel.

So, when I saw this video about the “Imaginary Writing Process,” I couldn’t help but think of all the time I wasted in junior high school, fantasizing something similar while pining to be the next Stephen King. (Because I was way more into ghosts and vampires than corsets and hard, throbbing members.)

When you have a cut, do you go looking for a Band-Aid, or an “adhesive bandage?” Dealing with diaper rash? You’re probably going through the bathroom looking for Vaseline, rather than “petroleum jelly,” right? When your nose is running, I bet you’re more likely to ask for a Kleenex than a “facial tissue.” (By the way, you’re a real wreck right now and might want to make an appointment with your doctor…I’m just sayin’.”)

Anyway, there are a whole lot of brands names that seem almost more common than the actual item they represent. Heck, I hear that in the South, they call all soda pop “Coke!”

That seems to also be the case with online searches. Yesterday’s post took a look at how our freelancing jobs may be in mortal peril should our clients discover Let Me Google That for You, and it made me realize how common it is for us to use the word “Google” as a verb. (See, I mentioned a part of speech…this post is now officially writing-related and therefore is guilt-free and NOT procrastination.)

Someone has realized that the ubiquitous use of the term “Google” may be somewhat detrimental to the newly-released Microsoft search engine called “Bing.” Check out this video at CollegeHumor.com to see what would happen if Bing used the word “Google” the way the rest of us do.

OK, so the video itself isn’t acutally funny, but it does introduce you to a pretty interesting application for writers. The idea is that it encourages you to keep writing by offering varying levels of negative consequences if you don’t. The kamikazee setting is pretty intense!

If any of you decide to use the application, I definitely want to hear what you think. Unless you just have that peanut butter and jelly song stuck in your head. In that case, you are kindly asked to keep it to yourself.