Pages

Monday, September 3, 2012

GUTGAA: Week 1 - Let's Get our Meet and Greet On!

It's Meet and Greet Time, Writers!!!
Deana Barnhart
Who's ready to get to know each other? I feel like we've already bonded...in a way. It's our writing that links us and which has brought us together for this six week blogfest. But just as our writing journeys differ, so do we all. And it's those differences that develop lasting friendships and writing partners. (How's that for deep?)
So...
Who's ready to meet some writers?

 Here are the rules as a reminder:
-You must first sign up on on the master GUTGAA linky list found HERE (this is so I know who is participating in any one part of the blogfest).

- Then, sign up on the Meet and Greet  linky list HERE (meaning you will have signed up on two different lists in order to participate). You can jump in any time this week, sign up and join the introductions.

-Copy the questions below and paste them in your Meet and Greet post along with a mini bio about yourself. If you don't like these questions, make up your own.

-You will have from Monday, Sept 3rd- Friday, Sept 7th to visit other's blogs and get to know them. Have fun and visit as many as you can!

Here is mine...

Me Doing Me!
What is 'me doing me' exactly? HA! Your guess is as good as mine. I'm 33 years old, married with two kids, and still trying to figure out who I am. But that's okay, because I love being an imperfect, constantly evolving human who still enjoys the thrill of discovering something new about myself. 
 What I have already figured out, though, is that I'm a loner, daydreamer, reader, family gal, 90's hip hop fan and guess what else? I love to write - to invent stories and characters. Gah! There's nothing like creating people and places, then throwing them into tumultuous situations. What's even better is learning that your characters and your story impacted another. And that's one of the main reasons I'm throwing this blogfest. Because if you haven't felt the thrill of that yet, and you're a writer. YOU MUST!!!!

Now for the questions...

-Where do you write? At my desk in the basement.

-Quick. Go to your writing space, sit down and look to your left. What is the first thing you see? Well, I'm visiting family in Atlanta so I can't honestly do this. BUT, I will imagine I did and what I see is my computer that crashed two weeks ago. I went and picked it up from the Geek Squad last week (fixed), but the crash erased everything so I can't use it again until the programs are installed again.

-Favorite time to write? Morning. My brain hasn't started to overheat yet.

-Drink of choice while writing? Diet Pepsi all the way!

-When writing , do you listen to music or do you need complete silence? I wish I could say I listen to music, but I'm waaay to easily distracted. Silence is my writing friend. The music comes before and after.

-What was your inspiration for your latest manuscript and where did you find it? I gain my ideas from anywhere and everywhere and I really hope I don't upset anyone by saying this, but my latest idea came from events surrounding the Aurora, CO movie shootings. Nothing about the shooting itself, just a tiny thing really. And it brought about this crazy, absurd story I'm obsessed with. Please know, however, the guilt I feel is pretty massive, that such a scary time for so many brought about one of my stories. My heart goes out to all those affected by that horrific tragedy. Whew, that made me nervous saying that, but I couldn't lie about the question.

-What's your most valuable writing tip? Save the Cat by Blake Snyder. If you haven't read it, you MUST! It changed my life as a writer!!!

Welp, that's me in a very small nut shell! I can't wait to learn more about you!

Reminder:
Wednesday I will be posting some information about getting connected with beta readers and crtique partners if you're interested.

123 comments:

  1. Great answers, Deana! Thank you so much for hosting this fab event - you rock!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yay! GUTGAA is underway. Love your answers. Mine should be posting in a bit.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This sounds great! Thanks for hosting!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great answers and thank you for hosting this!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Deana, very excited about this! I loved all of your answers and learning more about you. Re: the source that sparked your new idea, sweetie, you mustn't feel guilty for that. As writers, it's what we do. We're story-driven folk, and situations such as that, evoke our emotions and get our gears cranking. The way creatives deal, is write about it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks - now Salt n Pepa is playing in my head. Remember when one of them tried to burn down her boyfriend's house in Atlanta? Passion!

    I also love Save the Cat - great book.

    ReplyDelete
  7. How lovely to meet you Deana! I didn't need to know all that to know you're awesome because this event pretty much sums it up.

    I'm glad to know I'm not the only one out there that needs silence while writing - I was beginning to think there was something wrong with me.

    Polishing my pitch with spit-shine as we speak!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Nice to meet you Deanna! Thank you so much for hosting this even, I sorda just stumbled onto it, but I am very excited to participate and hopefully learn a few things and gain a few friends :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Deana,
    I'm also a 33 year old married mother of two. Does this make us writing soul mates? :)
    Thank you so much for hosting this awesome blogfest.
    Nice to get to know you a bit.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank you for hosting this and I enjoyed reading your answers.

    I'm a writing in silence person as well--and I'm not sure why I feel a bit guilty when I confess it.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Deana! Sorry about your computer! Thanks for hosting GUTGAA. Now I have to go look into that Save the Cat book...

    ReplyDelete
  12. yay deana & yay atl! spent many years there & my parents live in marietta =)
    boo p-word! my hub works for coke!
    and events affect my writing ideas too...i have many jotted down in a file...not enough time to do them!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Deanna,

    I really want to read Save the Cat, although I haven't gotten round to it yet.

    I'm also a total morning writer. :-D

    ReplyDelete
  14. Dear Deana,

    Thank you for hosting this blog hop event. I think this is a great idea, especially given how easy it is for a writer to "become an island." We need to come out of our shells, writing caves, etc. and make connections with fellow writers from time to time.

    Warm regards,

    Don #138

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your bio stood out to me; it's so heartfelt and real.

    Thanks for doing this again, Deana. Last year was so much fun and this year is even better! <3

    ReplyDelete
  16. So nice to learn more about you, Deana! I'm a Save The Cat fan, too. My latest WIP is definitely benefitting from it. I can see my first draft coming out cleaner already! Yay!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thanks so much for hosting this event! I've been having a ball reading everyone's Meet and Greet posts. :) Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Nice to meet you.

    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Great answers! It's nice to meet you. :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thanks again for hosting this! I hope your computer is up and working again soon.

    ReplyDelete
  21. If it makes you feel better, I wrote an Aurora-esque scene into my WIP recently. Good thing it doesn't have a chance to be published for a few years!

    You're awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thanks so much for hosting this blogfest, Deana :) I love getting to know other writers, and it's such a great opportunity!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I'm so curious about your new book idea now. So sorry about the computer, but I hope you are having a great time in Atlanta. (I was just there last month!)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thank you for putting all this together!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I don't think you should feel guilty using that event to create a story, after all the Hunger Games came from Suzanne Collins watching coverage on the war. Emotionally powerful things create stories, nothing wrong with that!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I belong to team silence, too. :) It's completely understandable how the recent tragedy inspired you-- emotionally charged events always impact our senses most, and we write b/c we need to make sense of them. Thank you for hosting this amazing blogfest. It's been a blast already and we've only just gotten started! :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Early morning writers, unite! =D I'm excited to get started on this. Need to run some errands today, but as soon as I get home I'm going to start visiting blogs and look for new internet friends.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hey, Deana. We don't have the query stuff up until next Monday...sorry not to make that clear.

    And I'm not offended by where you get your inspiration. Sometimes dark things need to happen to open the mind to possibilities.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Thanks for hosting, girl! It's great learning more about you through this. I hope you're enjoying visiting your family!

    ReplyDelete
  30. I REALLY want to check out Save the Cat. I should put that on my Christmas wishlist...

    Also, Diet Coke is WAY better, c'mon. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  31. I keep hearing about Save the Cat. I really need to buy it. I love a good book about writing. Thanks again for hosting this opportunity.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thanks again for this awesome blogfest!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hi Deana. It's great to meet you. Thanks for putting together this blogfest, I'm really looking forward for the weeks to come!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Hi there! This is such a great idea - thanks for hosting it! :)

    ReplyDelete
  35. Thanks for doing this, Deana. What a great networking idea. And thanks for being honest about your writing spark inspiration. Nothing to feel bad about at all. Think about all those bestseller thriller/suspense novels, crime shows, etc. Ideas speak to us however and whenever they like. Best wishes.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hi Deana,
    Thanks for hosting. I've already looked at some amazing blogs.

    ReplyDelete
  37. My computer crashed a few weeks ago too! 'tis the season for computer failure I suppose.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Fellow 90s hiphop fan. Love me some Gangsta's Paradise, also LL Cool J when his one pant leg was rolled up. California Love is my favorite song.
    Nice to meet you, and thanks for hosting this lovely shindig:)
    -Jenna

    ReplyDelete
  39. Love your honesty. Inspiration can come from anywhere - that doesn't mean you are celebrating the tragedy.
    Thanks for hosting!

    ReplyDelete
  40. That is horrible about the computer Deana :(

    And you shouldn't feel bad about your inspiration. I'm sure there will be an awesome story with great themes that come out of it.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Hi, Deana.

    Complete silence would freak me out, I think. But different strokes for different folks. I remember listening to the Authors' Advisory with Kevin J. Anderson and his wife Rebecca Moesta. They have to work in opposite corners of the house because he blasts music and she wants quiet.

    ReplyDelete
  42. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Great to meet you. Thanks a million for hosting this month long writerpalooza. I've been having fun "meeting" people and getting to know other writers out in the real world.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Nice to meet you! Your comment about 90's hip hop reminds me of one of my favorite group names of all time-- Toni Tony Tone. Amirite?

    ReplyDelete
  45. Great answers. I am also a big fan of Save The Cat, as well as other screenwriting books. I have found screenwriting tips a useful resource for novelist. I am excited to be a part of GUTGAA this year. Thank you so much for hosting. I can only imagine the amount of time and work that you have put into this project. You are wonderful and greatly appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Hi Deanna! You have a cool name. :) Nice to meet you! It's also nice to meet somebody else who can't write with music on. :P

    ReplyDelete
  47. Diet Pepsi and morning writing - I am so in agreement! It's nice to learn a little more about you!

    ReplyDelete
  48. Ohh, I have so-so been meaning to get my hands on Save the Cat. Maybe this is the kick in the butt I needed to read it ;)

    ReplyDelete
  49. Having so much fun with this today. Thanks again. ^_^

    ReplyDelete
  50. Nice to "meet" you. I'll have to check that book out. Thank you so much for hosting this.

    ReplyDelete
  51. I think the way that we get stories can elicit different reactions, but when you shared yours, it made me just awe - high emotions are essential characteristics for a story and I think it is something you will treat with the utmost reverence and respect with any elements that tie into real events.

    Thank you so much for doing all this work. I really am in awe at what you have set up and am having so much fun already!

    ReplyDelete
  52. I really need to read Save the Cat! Everyone swears by it. Nice getting to know you a bit. :)

    ReplyDelete
  53. Hi...so I don't have a blog to participate on that level, but this is a really cool event and I'm glad I came across your blog. Thanks so much for hosting it!

    ReplyDelete
  54. Deana, you are so dear and sweet and genuine, no one could think otherwise just because of where your inspiration came from. Ezpecially since it wasn't the incident. There.

    Now onto Save the Cat! Love it. Wish Blake Snyder was still alive and I could hear him talk. Also, condolences on your computer. Yikes!

    ReplyDelete
  55. Don't feel bad about getting inspiration from a tragedy. It's actually kind of beautiful. And I guarantee you're not the first.
    This has been so fun getting to know everyone. Dare I say we're trending in the blogosphere?? ;)

    ReplyDelete
  56. You are a rock star for doing this blogfest. Thank you so much. I think we should have Save the Cat t-shirts made. Awesome book.

    ReplyDelete
  57. This blogfest is awesome!! Thank you so much for hosting it :)

    ReplyDelete
  58. Thanks for hosting this fabulous blogfest, Deana! It's great to meet you! :)

    ReplyDelete
  59. Passing along events in stories, even a single small part of an event, or some spark within us inspired by an event, is the power that writers have. It's why all of us are drawn to stories. It's why books will never be gone, even if they evolve to something digital and virtual that we can't even imagine. I can understand why you might feel guilty about your story inspiration, but I wouldn't think of it that way--you are not gaining something from a tragedy; you are honoring it by continuing the memory of things that happened in one of the most potent art forms there is. :) Nice to meet you, and thanks for hosting this!

    ReplyDelete
  60. Nice to meet you! I'll check out Save the Cat.

    ReplyDelete
  61. Thanks so much for hosting such an epic blogfest!

    ReplyDelete
  62. Hi Deana, Thanks so much for hosting and organizing this great event!

    ReplyDelete
  63. Being a writer is awesome, isn't it? Except crashed computers are no good at all. That's why I say always be friends with a nerd or two so they can rescue you. Thanks for hosting this awesome blogfest. I'm very excited about it.

    ReplyDelete
  64. First of all, thanks a lot for this blogfest, and congratulations for the idea. I'm among your followers now, and can't wait to see your future writings.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Great to meet you Deana, and get to know a little about you.

    Thanks for hosting this fest, it seems like a lot of fun! :D

    ReplyDelete
  66. Last spring a virus took over not only our desktop, but our laptop. That was horrible--not knowing if they could be recovered. (I had my writing on a flash drive, but there was other important stuff I could lose.)

    Luckily the files were fine. We just had to reload all programs. And I spent several days using the library computers--something I hadn't done before.

    ReplyDelete
  67. I love that you said 90's hip hop. Nothing beats that era. I feel bad for the kids growing up on Little Wayne.

    ReplyDelete
  68. Hi Deana, nice to meet you. I loved your answers. Thanks for hosting this.

    ReplyDelete
  69. I agree. Save the Cat is amazing. i can't wait for the critique partner connection tomorrow!

    ReplyDelete
  70. Thanks for hosting this. I'm really looking forward to meet many new faces.

    ReplyDelete
  71. Hi, Deana, and thanks so much for all the hard work putting this together. It is a truly awesome event that I'm enjoying a great deal.

    Have a wonderful week.

    Best wishes, Wayne

    ReplyDelete
  72. Hi!
    I’m hopping over from GUTGAA and reading all the meet & greet questions. I love to meet other authors. Nice to meet you! Thank you for all you are doing!

    Anabel Gonzalez
    www.dreamsaboutwriting.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  73. Nice to *meet* you, Deana! And thanks for hosting this awesome blogfest extraordinaire. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  74. I love your honesty about your latest source of writing inspiration. I know you well enough not to doubt your respect for those affected by that situation. Thanks for always being truthful...even if it makes you nervous at times!

    ReplyDelete
  75. Great to meet you! Thank you for hosting this Blog hop!
    I don't think anyone should feel embarrassed by their inspiration. Writing is a reflection of the world, and sometimes reflections aren't pretty.
    I've heard great things about "Save the Cat" as well so I will be requesting that from the Library this afternoon. I was travelling yesterday as well so I'm playing catch up with the meet and greets today as well.

    ReplyDelete
  76. Hi Deana!

    You are so awesome for hosting this contest. I can't imagine how much work it must entail.

    I must confess that I had a little inspiration from that awful Aurora event too. Makes me cringe to think about using it.

    Save the Cat is a great writing book.

    Very nice meeting you!

    ReplyDelete
  77. Nice to meet you, Deanna! And thanks for hosting GUTGAA! I have Save the Cat, but haven't read it yet. *hides* LOL

    ReplyDelete
  78. I was listening to an interview on NPR about a movie which, in previews, was getting poor feedback from the movie goers because the relationship wasn't believable. The director mentioned 'Save the Cat' and how they inserted one little scene at the beginning showing the guy being nice to the girl and people stopped complaining.

    ReplyDelete
  79. Thank you so much for hosting this blogfest!! I've already met several fellow writers who are so nice & supportive!!

    And, try not to feel guilty about getting a story idea from the Aurora shootings... Ideas are everywhere, not just in happy times but in tragedies as well.

    ReplyDelete
  80. Thanks for organizing this bloghop. It's been really fun already. I'll have to look up 'Save the Cat'.

    ReplyDelete
  81. Great to meet you! I've been visiting others and have many more to go, but I can already see that many of us have many things in common. What a great event!
    A2Z Mommy and What’s In Between

    ReplyDelete
  82. Great to meet the one behind the awesomeness. Thank you!
    Kat
    http://beyondthehourglassbridge.blogspot.com.au/

    ReplyDelete
  83. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  84. Hi Deana!

    Don't feel bad about the inspiration behind your WIP. Novelists get their ideas from newspaper headlines all be time. It doesn't mean you're making light of a serious situation.

    Anyhoo, I just wanted to tell you how awesome you are for hosting GUTGAA, and helping us writers out. You. Are. The. Best!

    Here's my GUTGAA meet and greet post in case you're in the mood for some cray cray ramblings ( I may have taken some liberties with your questions, so viewer discretion is advised): two nerds

    ReplyDelete
  85. This is quite an evite and very inspirational :).... I'm looking forward to knowing other writers and authors alike!

    Go here to know me.
    https://priyakanaparti.wordpress.com/

    ReplyDelete
  86. I got a late start joining in, but I'm so glad my friend told me about this hop. How exciting! I posted my meet & greet: http://1000wrongs.blogspot.com/2012/09/gearing-up-to-get-agent-hop.html

    Thanks for including me!

    ReplyDelete
  87. You're the 4th person to recommend Save the Cat this summer. I guess that means I should read it.

    Thanks for organizing this!!

    ReplyDelete
  88. Thanks for putting this together. Nice to meet you.

    Trish

    ReplyDelete
  89. Thanks again for setting this all up!

    ReplyDelete
  90. Your story sounds like it'll be interesting, for sure! I'm excited to read it when it comes out. :)

    Thank you so much for doing GUTGAA for all of us writers! And oh, Save the Cat is totally on my list.

    ReplyDelete
  91. Yes Deana, let's be friends. Let's rock out to Enter Sandman and talk about Jamie Fraser!

    Thank you so much for hosting this! I can't wait until Pitch Polish week!

    ReplyDelete
  92. I have heard so many great things about Save the Cat. I really need to get that one! Great to meet you and looking forward to this month's activities!

    ReplyDelete
  93. I've never heard of Save the Cat! I'll definitely have to check it out.

    These are great answers!

    ReplyDelete
  94. Hi, Deana--
    Thanks for doing this. There seems to be tremendous energy surrounding GUTGAA. I'm looking forward to the rest of it.

    And, yes, Save the Cat is an amazing book.

    Michael

    ReplyDelete
  95. Hi, thanks so much for holding this blogfest! This is really cool! It's very nice to meet you!!

    ReplyDelete
  96. Hey, Deana!! Thanks, again, for setting this all up. You know you rock, right? :)

    And, yes - Save the Cat is a MUST have!

    And no worries - inspiration comes from everywhere and it's exploring the "what ifs" of such events that could open up one AMAZING story! Best of luck with it ~ :)

    ReplyDelete
  97. generic xanax xanax withdrawal expect - generic xanax street value

    ReplyDelete
  98. generic xanax smoking xanax high - torn city cheap xanax

    ReplyDelete
  99. xanax online xanax generic substitute - xanax online safe

    ReplyDelete
  100. carisoprodol soma carisoprodol while nursing - carisoprodol 350 mg dose

    ReplyDelete
  101. buy tramadol online tramadol urine test - tramadol dosage for adults

    ReplyDelete
  102. xanax online xanax drug test detection - has anyone ever bought xanax online

    ReplyDelete
  103. generic xanax generic 3mg xanax - mixing xanax and alcohol side effects

    ReplyDelete
  104. order carisoprodol online carisoprodol thailand - carisoprodol unrecognized drug abuse

    ReplyDelete
  105. buy tramadol online tramadol hcl para que sirve - buy tramadol online no prescription needed

    ReplyDelete
  106. buy cialis cheap online cialis daily vs. 36 - buy brand cialis online us

    ReplyDelete
  107. buy tramadol online buy tramadol without rx - buy tramadol online visa

    ReplyDelete
  108. buy cialis online cialis daily packaging - buy cialis online in new zealand

    ReplyDelete
  109. buy tramadol online tramadol withdrawal after 3 weeks - tramadol online no prescription overnight

    ReplyDelete
  110. buy tadalafil online compare generic cialis price - buy cialis au

    ReplyDelete
  111. buy cialis online daily cialis new zealand - buy cialis online us no prescription

    ReplyDelete
  112. buy cialis generic cialis online cheapest - cialis cost walmart

    ReplyDelete
  113. tadalafil online buy cialis levitra viagra - cialis price in costco

    ReplyDelete
  114. cheap tramadol no prescription tramadol online no rx - where can you buy tramadol online

    ReplyDelete
  115. tramadol overnight shipping generic tramadol no prescription overnight - tramadol no prescription overseas

    ReplyDelete
  116. http://blog.dawn.com/dblog/buy/#fda tramadol addiction effects - generic tramadol medication

    ReplyDelete
  117. buy tramadol order tramadol paypal - how to buy tramadol online overnight

    ReplyDelete
  118. http://blog.dawn.com/dblog/buy/#blog tramadol hcl amneal - buy 180 tramadol online

    ReplyDelete
  119. buy tramadol 100mg tramadol apap high - buy tramadol online usa

    ReplyDelete
  120. http://landvoicelearning.com/#23561 tramadol 50mg tablets used - buy tramadol online forum

    ReplyDelete

Speak on young grasshopper