Dear Writer’s Block, I hate you!

Dear Writer’s Block, I hate you!

by | Feb 15, 2022 | Opinions, Thoughts

I pretty much realized what I wanted to do with my life because I started writing fan fiction not long after I graduated high school. I realized I loved to write, which led me to designing websites, making graphics, and even though I didn't know it at the time, marketing.

I haven't written fan fiction in years, but I still love to write fiction.

Except I haven't written anything in close to two years.

The first thought I had when COVID-19 began and I started to work from home was, "Wow, I don't have to sit in traffic anymore. I'll have more time for writing!" Yeah, that didn't happen. Two years into this pandemic and I haven't written anything fiction-wise.

I am usually inspired by music. Whether it's a melody, a lyric, or maybe just a theme of the song. Taylor Swift has always been in a huge inspiration and country music as a whole. In fact, it was country music that first inspired me to write fan fiction. Who knew 20 years later, the Backstreet Boys would be topping the country music charts? Not me.

Today as I worked, I played a country music playlist of new songs. There were songs by artists that I love like Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, Kelsea Ballerini and Keith Urban, but I will be honest. Some of the new artists are a little ... too country?

I'm a woman who considers herself a walking Wikipedia of country music knowledge from the 00's and back until the days of Hank Williams (Sr., not Jr.) and Patsy Cline.

Where does this mix in with my writer's block? I was inspired this weekend with an idea, which I wrote and planned out a little Sunday evening. I thought listening to a country playlist would help inspire me to break that block. Inspire me!

Except the lyrics about trying to keep your daughter off the pole and your son out of jail just couldn't do it. I had to turn the playlist off. There was not going to be any inspiration coming from that playlist after I heard a few songs like that. Not that anything is wrong with that, but it's not inspiring to me.

I like to blame it on the fact that I write so much for work. I'm "written" out at the end of the day or on weekends. While that may be part of it, it's just I'm not inspired.

I wrote what I think is my best story, "How to be an Adult Fangirl (and Not Ruin Your Life)" after the 2018 Backstreet Boys cruise. No, it's not a fan fiction. But I was inspired and started work on an idea that I had already began months before.

The Backstreet Boys, especially Nick, have always been a big inspiration to me in so many ways that I can't list here that changed my life and I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for them.

So maybe once things are really back to normal and the tour happens and I get to hang out with my friends around the country and world, I see my boys and see live shows again, maybe I'll get inspired.

In the meantime, I guess I'll just write about having writer's block.

How ironic, don't you think?

“Saved by the Bell” still owns me 30 years later

“Saved by the Bell” still owns me 30 years later

by | Dec 1, 2021 | Opinions, Reviews, Thoughts

As a child and young teenager, my favorite television show besides "Beverly Hills, 90210" was "Saved by the Bell." Zack Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar - yes, I still remember how to spell his last name) owned my heart. He may have been the very first blonde I lusted after. (Nick Carter, you can thank him). I mean, it was so bad that I got in a fight in middle school because a girl ripped my Big Bopper centerfold poster of Mark-Paul. 

You didn't mess with my posters. "The College Years" may have been my favorite because that is when Zack/Mark-Paul was the hottest and don't get me started on the Vegas movie. That's the dream wedding. 

So why did it take me so long to watch the reboot on Peacock? Maybe it was because I was scared I would hate it and it would ruin the nostalgia and amazingness of the original "Saved by the Bell." I knew my faves were back on the show, even my beloved Mark-Paul, but I just didn't watch. 

Until I was sick the other day and decided to watch it. 

It may possibly be the best decision I made this past week besides getting a new record player/CD player/radio and yes, cassette player!

The main character, who is a girl, actually shares my birthday. Finally, someone who shares it besides Bill Cosby. And while Zack's son's name twitches me every time it is said outloud, I actually loved it. 

I love the fact that Slater and Jessie work at Bayside. I may not love the fact that Zack Morris is Governor and seems as if it's basied on Trump's presidency, I can overlook it. I mean, we just knew that Zack Morris was made for greatness. 

They mix the casts so well together so that's it's just not focused on the new casts of students, but also mixing in more of the original stars, especially in this latest season which brought back Lisa Turtle and even a tribute to Dustin Diamond who played Screech (and died earlier this year). 

But do you want to know the best part?

The best part is that we get to hear Zack and Slater say cruse words. I KNOW. I know this seems childish, but it was a Saturday morning teen show back in the early 1990s. There's no way they could say any four letter word on there, but they do on Peacock and it is AMAZING. It makes Zack seem more real. 

I'll leave my MPG lusting and fangirling with this scene from Season 2 of "Saved by the Bell" where Zack is teaching U.S. History (I won't say why he's teaching it because it's a spoiler.)

@allthingstswift A REVOLUTION indeed #taylorswift #taylornation #swifttok #savedbythebell #swiftie ♬ original sound - allthingstswift

Fangirl Rules To Follow in Your Respective Fandoms

Fangirl Rules To Follow in Your Respective Fandoms

by | Oct 9, 2021 | Opinions, Thoughts

Do you remember back in, I think it was '98 or '99, Chris Rock came out with a song called "No Sex (In The Champagne Room)?" and dedicated it to the Class of '99?

That song and this post is going to have a little in common. I'm going to share some rules of being a fangirl in this day and age that you can follow, laugh at it, or roll your eyes at. It doesn't bother me one way or another. 

1. Not everybody is going to be friends. 

Something I learned pretty quickly is that no matter if you love the same band, you can't be friends with everybody. Some people just don't click that way. There are plenty of people in my fandoms that I'm not friends with, but I'm cordial and even talk to. Not everybody is going to be your friend. You don't have to go around and do these good deeds for people because that doesn't equal friendship. Sometimes it's just not meant to be. 

And if by chance you are friends with two people who don't like one another, at least acknowledge why they don't like one another and don't blow it under the rug as if it doesn't matter. You never know when words can hurt more emotionally than physically. 

 

2. Beware Who You Associate Yourself With

This is something I've learned late in life. I've always tried to be friendly to people who have been friendly with me. But after being burned more than once, I've learned that sometimes you have to look past the bigger picture of being cordial. Especially when it's getting involved in a project that could turn out to be bad and make you look bad. 

For instance, I have a popular website, Etsy shop, and I'm pretty known in the BSB fandom. That equals thousands of followers on social media outlets. Whenever I'm offered a chance to be associated with something, I always have to think about the bigger picture, especially if money is involved. There have been some that I knew I wouldn't want to be a part of from the get-go. There are some that I really wanted to do, but knew deep down I probably wouldn't have time to devote to it like I should. But you always have to ask yourself a few questions. Would this benefit me and most importantly, what is the benefit to my readers and buyers?

That leads me to ...

 

3. You Don't Have To Take Part In Every Opportunity That Comes Your Way

More than once, I should have listened to Taylor Swift and say "You Shoulda Said No," but I didn't. You might want to, but think about it for a minute, or a day. How is this going to benefit you? Will it benefit you? Is it just another scheme to have your name attached to something that will end up hurting you and your reputation in the long run?

I'm very wary of ANYTHING that involves money. 

For instance, me and my friend Hannah did an ad in the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame for Brian and Kevin from Backstreet Boys' induction and we raised money for it. We kept up with every cent and the whole thing made me nervous, but we did it, and the guys loved it and us fans that took part in it felt good that we did something nice for the boys for a change. 

If you have something that people want to use, such as artwork, that in return will not really benefit you, but benefit them, think long and hard because that's a piece of yourself that you are giving away. 

 

4. Make Sure They Are Friends For The Right Reasons

This is a biggie. If for any inkling people think you have some kind of connection to their faves, some might try to be friends with you for that reason only. You know how they say there is one bad apple out of the whole bunch? That's kind of how this is.

For every 10,000 amazing people, there's always going to be one. It hasn't just happened to me. It's happened some of my friends. It's happened to some friends of my friends in various fandoms whether it be Backstreet Boys, New Kids on the Block, Marvel, Jonas Brothers, One Direction, Harry Potter, etc. 

Sometimes you go into things with the best intentions, but only to find out the other person's intentions weren't as pure. And it sucks, trust me. 

5. Don't Worry About Who Likes You

There will always be people who just flat out don't like you, whether you've done absolutely nothing to the person or if maybe you've rubbed them the wrong way about something. Or vice versa. It goes back to #1 - You don't have be friends with someone. 

A fandom is supposed to be fun.  So say a group of people don't like you. Who cares? Are they your friends? Are they the ones that that you tell your deepest secrets to? If not, then who cares if they don't like you. 

6. Don't Stress Yourself Out Over It

Like I just said, fandoms are supposed to be fun. Don't stress yourself out over something. If it's literally to the point of making you physically sick, get out. A fandom isn't supposed to do that to you. A friendship isn't supposed to do that to you. A relationship isn't supposed to do that to you. 

Nothing that is supposed to bring you joy should do that to you. 

Being a fangirl is about being happy, carefree and fun. If it's not, that's when it's time to hang it up. 

 

Why Journalism Leaves A Bad Taste in My Mouth today

Why Journalism Leaves A Bad Taste in My Mouth today

by | Jun 8, 2021 | Opinions, Thoughts

A lot of people know this already, but I spent over 10 years in journalism. I won awards for not only my writing, photography and designs, but toward the end of 2017, my heart just wasn't in it anymore. In July 2018, I took a job in marketing and I honestly haven't looked back.

Why?

Because most journalism sucks now.

Newspapers, which is what made me fall in love with journalism, are full of nothing but advertisements because that's what keeps the newspapers running. That, or they are in the pockets of local government and not wanting to report on real news.

It was always my dream to write for Rolling Stone or Entertainment Weekly or something like that. I'll be honest, I neve came close. Yes I got to interview people like Luke Bryan or James Aldean or legendary actors like Scott Wilson, but it was never my full time job and when I did come very close to having that as my full time gig, it was taken away. The new "editor" was an alcoholic who sat around and told us about her sex life after coming to the newsroom at night, drunk, and then wrote us up when we were late with our deadlines because she made us listen to her.

Yes, that really happened at one of my past jobs.

That was the beginning of the bad taste in my mouth, but to be honest, it was all I knew at the time, so I took another newspaper job.

Now a days, I sit and roll my eyes at people who write for People Magazine or Us Weekly who do not do their research before writing an article. Because you know, the Backstreet Boys had to cancel their reunion tour due to the pandemic or someone who thinks Nick Lachey is a former member of 98 Degrees. Sometimes I wonder how these people got their jobs. Did they never learn to research? Hell, all it would take is to look at Wikipedia.

There will probably always be a part of me that looks at an article and know that I could do a better job at it. But the fact that these news outlets hire people who aren't worthy of the jobs because they obviously don't know the basics of journalism, leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

And it probably won't be one I'll get over anytime soon.