Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Vacation Memories (or Laboring Over Labor Day)

Tip of the Day: If you haven't yet, visit the Grand Canyon. Talk about breathtaking inspiration!

I still have last week's vacation out west on the brain! In an attempt to cover everything I want to about the trip and how it relates to my writerly-obsessed self, here's a list:

1) Satelite radio in our rental car and lots of listening to "80s on 8" on the drive from AZ to NV where songs like "Take My Breath Away" by Berlin and "Alone" by Heart remind me of hanging at my dad's shop as a kid where he always had WARM 101.3 on the radio, much like the MC in my MG novel, BAKERIES, BOYS, AND BEST FRIENDS FOREVER.

2) Vegas is a great, iconic setting for novels and it can work for YAs as is illustrated by BAD KITTY by Michele Jaffe (girly mystery) and TRICKS by Ellen Hopkins (edgy) -- perhaps I can tap into this in a future novel. Or maybe a Grand Canyon mystery (I should also re-read the MG SAMANTHA HANSON HAS ROCKS IN HER HEAD by Nancy Viau which has a great Canyon setting).

3) Weddings are the perfect setting for laughter, drama, characters, and fabulous glam make-up and clothes.

4) Reuniting with the sibs and new bro-in-law's sibs and sharing stories from our teen years is a great way to contemplate future teen scenes.


Now that I have all these ideas, I need to get back into a writing groove!

Deena, Miss Subbing for Pubbing

5 comments:

Kate Fall said...

Deena, you look gorgeous!

We really need to set an hour where we write down and play around with summarizing all of the ideas we got this summer from our various travels.

Emily Marshall said...

Going anywhere new or just getting away from the daily grind always inspires me.

Love the pics, again. Looks like such a cute wedding.

Kristina Springer said...

Gorgeous family!!!!! :-)

DeenaML said...

Thanks, everyone. It was so much fun! And yeah, a list of vaca inspired ideas is so needed!

Anonymous said...

I want to go back there! But like Emily, any place will do.
: )
Nancy Viau