The Hero's Journey & Family Time

So I've been working on a story and trying to outline it by using the Hero's Journey. It's my mission now to understand the HJ inside and out. So I found an outline of the Hero's Journey for Star Wars and printed it out. Then I made a basic Hero's outline with blank spaces. Last night as the family sat down to watch Star Wars I passed out the papers and told them this movie was an assignment.
After they stopped laughing and making sarcastic comments they actually read the papers and started filling them in. We only had a few minor stumbling points.
Did the HJ have to go in the order it was outlined? Does the supernatural aid have to come BEFORE crossing the first threshold? In Star Wars was the supernatural aid the lightsaver or the force?
Who is Luke's soul mate? Leia? Obi-wan? Hans?
Is the "Over coming temptation" the fight in the bar?
We're still not in agreement.
Any answers out there?
How does the Hero's Journey fit your work?

There's a new magazine for Gluten Free Peoples!

I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 2003 and in those few short years there's been an explosion in the availability of Gluten Free foods but this is the first magazine I've heard of that is dedicated to living gluten free. I'm soooo excited! Check out this amazing new magazine! "Delight gluten free" is a fun food & lifestyle magazine for people with Celiac Disease, gluten intolerance and food allergies. It hosts delicious gourmet recipes and easy semihomemade as well. Don't miss the Gluten-Free Meals on a Budget either. (And boy! Do we need that! Gluten free food can be sooo expensive!) Whatever your food allergy you should be able to find something that fits your household, in their February issue they offer gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, egg-free, soy-free and even some rice-free recipes. Not only that, this magazine has a travel section coming in May that will host lots of fun ideas and good advice for when you venture out on the road. Personal stories, inspiring articles on Autism, Q & A with the Doc are among the other features of this magazine. Subscribe to Delight Magazine!

What a Wonderful World....

Mayke it Happen Challenge

Liberty State Fiction Writers are having a "Mayke it Happen Challenge". The goal is to write 60,000 words by May 31st. Every one who does this gets a chance to win a read by an agent or editor.
:)
The best part about this Challenge is that they are offering support. Published writers and other Mayke it Happen participants will be part of a loop that you can turn to with questions or to ask for advice.
I've basically been dragging my feet in signing up. I have sooo many WIPs right now--do I really need to start another? But then again I haven't really been moving at the speed of light lately on any of them. More like the speed of snail. So maybe this would be a good way to light the fire.
Whatcha think? Wanna give it a try?
Liberty State Fiction Writers

Harlequin Celebrates

When life gets harsh I always like to turn to a good romance. Harlequin is celebrating it's 60th year by giving us presents! Free Books!
Check it out and get yourself some free reads.

When Bad Books Happen to Good People

Someone gave me a book by an author I've never read before and said, "This book was awful. Do you want it?"
Of course I took it. I wanted to disect it so I'd see what makes a bad book.
Was it just a matter of taste? Or something else.
Structure? Plot? Dialog?
So I'm reading this book and find it breaks all those rules I've ever been taught by critique groups and friends who are published.
Info dump.
Run on, stilted, useless dialog that does nothing for the story.
Too much tell instead of show.
And I hate the heroine because she says the stupidest things. Its like shes playing two different parts in the same movie. Hot/Cold, Hot/Cold.
Sometimes I'm not even sure where I am. She walks into a hospital room and "Joe" is asleep. She just starts talking and he answers her like he's been awake the whole time. I look back...yep, he was asleep. Wow, he woke up quick.
But the biggest problem I think is that everything in the book is like a bad soap opera (and forgive me, I actually I love ABC's soaps!). In this book, he is linked to she and oh, a coincidence! she slept with this other guy and now she's sleeping with him too.
Its supposed to be a thriller and the police come across as idiots and put all their faith in a probation officer to do their job. I have a friend who is a probation officer and she doesn't solve crimes. Its a real stretch. This character seems to do everything but her job. Very unrealistic.
Whew! Sorry for the rant but I think this bruised my brain.
My question is; How do books like this get published? Is it just that this author has nine other books out so everything she writes will get published? Where are the editors? How does this get pasted the gate keepers?
Opinions?

Clearing Out the Fog

Writing has not been flowing easy in the past few weeks. Just when I thought I'd have time to relax and get some serious writing done...issues came up. Minor but worrisome health issues. Tired, dizzy, tummy probs. So I couldn't really get the possibilities off my mind enough to redirect my thoughts to the WIP. These issues were basically minor but getting more invasive each day. Some days the dizziness would hamper my ability to shop or even walk. Since I normally move at the speed of light the dragging tiredness and dizziness were driving me crazy. Still had the shortness of breath that an allergist last year said could be just allergies. He wasn't sure. Doctors couldn't help. I think my symptoms were so vague they didn't have a clue.
And one day I thought I saw me on Mystery Diagnosis. There was a lady there that had a lot of the same symptoms I did. Not all, but most.
Could I? Was there really an answer out there?
Really couldn't write now because I started obsessing. Researching this condition. Was it possible to have some symptoms but not all?
I found a new doctor. (Checked her out on www.ratemd.com)
Went for a blood test.
So today I got the test results back. I have a B-12 deficiency. Got a shot and a prescription for vitamins.
Can't wait to feel better.
Who knew that one TV show could lead to such things?
I suddenly feel like writing again.
Life is good.
:)