Confessions of a Chocoholic

If a sweet tooth can be genetically passed on, then my love of chocolate is an inherited trait from my paternal grandmother. Frequently, when we'd make the trip to visit her, we'd pick up some chocolate frozen custard for her (and us) to enjoy. If we wanted a treat or dessert for grandma, we knew she'd most enjoy the chocolate ones. And I'm the same way.

In my humble opinion a dessert is not a dessert unless it is partially or wholly made up of this delectable ingredient, but it has to be the right kind. I don't mean like European vs. American chocolate, though I do appreciate the creaminess of the chocolate from across the ocean. I'm really not a big chocolate candy or bar fan. I much prefer something with real chocolate substance like gooey brownies with ice cream, fresh-baked cookies or moist cake.

But if we're out of the good stuff, then I may slightly lower my chocolate expectations to include hot fudge a la mode, or lower them further still to snitch a piece of candy from the kids' stash. I will admit to even pilfering chocolate chips in times of a chocolate famine. 

Are you a chocoholic? If so, what type of chocolate do you prefer? What's your favorite dessert? 

Clearing Out the Clutter - Most of the Time

I am not a hoarder - quite the opposite. I love to get rid of things I'm not using or don't need: clothes, household items, papers, etc. There's constantly a box in my basement for goodwill items. Once I take them to the store, it's not long before I start another box.

For me, there's something thrilling about organizing a drawer or closet or space and purging out what isn't necessary or useful. My husband jokes when I get into organizing mode that the rest of the family should watch out or Mom might organize them all out of the house.

Interestingly this need to organize and purge doesn't apply to the various manuscripts on my hard drive. And thank goodness for that! As I was going through my edits the other week, I found a spot where my editor felt one chapter ended too abruptly. She wanted me to add more to the scene. To my relief - and luck - I found a continuation of that scene, which I'd written about five years ago and kept on my computer - just in case. Having that scene already written made it easy to rework and plug it into the spot I needed it. So, as much as it pains me to say, there are times when it's good to keep a little clutter around.

Are you a hoarder or are you all about clearing out the clutter (a get-ridder)? What things are easy to let go of? What things are harder?

I Heart These . . .

In the wake of Valentine's Day, I thought I'd share some love - movie love that this. My husband and I love watching movies and quoting movies. We even had a tradition going to watch Out of Africa every year, though that sort of fizzled out - why that movie, I don't really know, especially since it's very sad and long.

But here's Five Movies I Love to Watch Again and Again.

1. Dan in Real Life

2. Confessions of a Shopaholic

3. Persuasion

 

4. North and South

 

5. The Bourne Identity (see, they aren't all romance movies!)

What movie(s) could you watch over and over? What's your favorite type of movie?

Conflict is Key

When I started writing my first book - sort of my pre-draft - I was sure I didn't need conflict. I would have a nice, lovely story without all the angst - characters happily would go about their business. Thankfully I wised up to the importance of conflict and wrote a story rife with it - fires, attempted kidnapping, illness, death, loss of home and wealth, unrequited love.

Because a story without conflict is boring, meaningless, with little power to draw us in.

I once attended a writers class where the instructor talked about what made successful books and movies. He believed the key was the way these books and movies upped the stress levels in readers and viewers, taking their stress above their current level, then resolving that stress at the end. Good conflict creates that vicarious stress and resolution, sucking us into the story and keeping us caring about these fictional characters.


One of my favorite tv shows that does a fantastic job with conflict (especially interpersonal/relationships) and upping those stress levels is Masterpiece Theater's Downton Abbey. It's about the lives of a wealthy, titled family in England during WWI and the lives of their servants. After this last episode - full of relationship strife, war, death, impediments to love and dreams - I told my husband what a big mess things had become for the characters.

And we love it. We have to keep watching until that stress is resolved. We're drawn in. We care about these people.

Have you watched Downton Abbey? What are your favorite types of conflict in books or movies (physical, internal, familial)? What other movies/tv shows or books are examples of good conflict?