Cobwebs

Quote du Jour:
“But John, if the Pirates of the Caribbean breaks down, the pirates don’t eat the tourists.”
–Ian, Jurassic Park

I mailed my five letters yesterday.

Got some good feedback on my query letter so I think I’ll tweak it just a bit. I still have five more submissions I want to send, but I’m going to wait until next week because it’s RWA Nationals right now.

Also I’m about to submit a favorite short story to an online ezine and see what happens.

Yesterday I felt like I was pulling the words out of me. Got another issue of the romance done. I am now just three away from completion. I need to get busy on another issue of the adventure, but I just can’t get into it for some reason. It feels very forced and I hate forcing the words.

I feel the same with the WIP. It feels like it’s stalled and I really need to get busy writing it if I’m to make my September 1 deadline (personal deadline, not a deadline with any agent or editor though).

My mind is already thinking what I can do next. I should start the sequel to the fantasy romance. I’d like to have that done by early next year.

I allowed myself to take the night off last night. Instead of writing, I sat down and watched the movie Closer (see below for review). I have mixed feelings about this movie and I’m not sure I’ll watch it again.

Saw some previews for the movie Sin City and I think I can’t wait until that comes on DVD. Another Clive Owen movie, but this one has lots of big names in it. Bruce Willis, Jessica Alba, Elijah Wood, et al. Looking forward to seeing this, especially since this is the movie they filmed entirely in front of a green screen.

Not much else to report at this time. I feel as though I have cobwebs in my head and I don’t know why. Perhaps another cup of coffee is in order.

Closer
If you haven’t seen the movie, Closer, I’m not sure it wouldn’t be a waste of time. While there were humorous moments, there were also difficult moments to watch.

Essentially the movie is about four people who continue to hurt each other. Julia Roberts walks around with a guilty look on her face the entire time. It’s almost as if she can’t stand playing the role of Anna and that she’s uncomfortable saying some of her lines. It makes me wonder why she even took the film to begin with. (She has an awesome flat though! It’s very cool.)

Jude Law, while a fine actor and I liked him in Cold Mountain, just annoyed me the entire time. He’s supposed to love Alice, writes a book about her even, but when he sets his sights on Anna, he loses his head. Like he can’t walk another day in life without her and he’ll stop at nothing – no matter who it hurts – to get her.

Clive Owen’s character had some terrific lines. He played his role with a sense of humor and didn’t once back off from the language he used throughout. I got a kick out of watching him on the London chat line. He’s sexy and interesting and knows how to get to Anna and Dan.

Natalie Portman did an excellent job and her character gained the most sympathy from me. Dan was nothing more than a selfish jerk who wanted something he couldn’t have and kept hurting poor Alice over and over again.

The dialogue in the film is harsh, riddled with strong sexual language which could make some viewers uncomfortable. There is no moral of the story or a happy ending. It’s a fitting ending to a dismal film about four people who only want love and honesty but have serious commitment issues and a tendency to lie.