Author: Marjorie Quinn

Writer/ Aspiring Author/ Reader/ Gamer/ Book Slave. Blogging my writing, travel, and random thoughts.  I blog book reviews, my writing struggles, favorite quotes I come across, and even some random creative prose. The views and opinions expressed on this website are purely my own. Some of the links on this website are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, the owner of this website will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services that will add value to my readers. House Stark/ House Mars/ Allonsy. Feel free to check out and even follow me on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr.

What’s On My Mind

November 13, 2011
I want a Dunkin’ Donuts coffee but don’t know of any D&D open this late. Sunday night everything has been closed all day or closed early. Should I really have a coffee this late? I keep thinking about my bitter coffee as I change it to some french or Irish flavor. Sweeten it up with tons of sugar. If it’s ice, let the sugar grind and crunch between my teeth. If it’s hot, burn my tongue to leave me with a sandpaper feeling.Coffee will most likely keep me up. In all reality, I don’t have to worry about coffee keeping me awake since I stay awake without any help from coffee or any other type of caffeine.

Maybe I only want this cup of coffee just to have an excuse to leave the house. I could just leave without an excuse, with no destination. No destination doesn’t appeal to me tonight. Even the person who runs away has an idea where their next step will be.

In the middle of autumn, the cold weather has set in. It makes it hard to leave the house. Comfortable bundled up snuggling with the covers. Don’t want the wind trying to find the bare spots I missed covering with clothing.

I could stay in and have relaxing de-caffeined tea. The coffee can have it’s turn grabbing me out of bed tomorrow fighting away the sleepy night dreams.

Road Tripping

October 22, 2011
I was having a conversation with myself on Facebook. That’s the moment I deleted it and came on tumblr to tell my story.

What do you do when you can’t sleep? I was thinking about driving to Boston for some early breakfast at the South Sea Diner. Maybe a stopover at Mohegan to win a few millions. Then I thought how much I wanted a Sweet Sue’s breakfast. Instead I would drive up to Phoenicia, NY. A quiet and smooth ride this time of night. Walking into Sue’s with the warm flour, sugar smell of cooking pancakes.

I realized while answering my own status feed that a spontaneous adventure would be perfect right now but I have no one to go with. Everyone is sleeping, partying, or doing something. Another good reason to caution when posting certain things on Facebook is the passenger. Never know who would answer back. I could go by myself but I feel half the adventure would be going with someone. Laughing, singing loud and off key to good music and getting to Sue’s to park outside talking, maybe even falling asleep, cramped in a car, warm. Wake up and order an amazing recipe mixed of fruit or nuts pancakes or omelets with pepper, onions and cheese. To drive home tired but coffee buzzed, full of sweet stuffed and content.

Is Amazon Publishing good for writers?

October 17, 2011

Scribner Books: NYT: Amazon Rewrites the Rules of Book Publishing

scribnerbooks:

The NYT has, surprisingly, published a trenchant article on the book business, while short on any kind of analysis, does provide a good overview of Amazon’s entry into the world of publishing.

Didn’t know that?

Yes, kids. Now Amazon does it all – acquire, publish, distribute, and sell books!…

 

October 21, 2011

Is Amazon Publishing good for writers?

Great post by Melissa C. Alexander. She had a lot of the same questions I had about the articles I’ve been reading about Amazon Publishing. She also has some very good perspective on the topic.

I feel the same way, just have to wait and see how it all turns out for writers, readers and publishing.

Learning Shoe Fashion

September 30, 2011
I like writing about different topics. Keeps my mind sharp. What I have learned in the past few months is the fashion shoe world. I am not a shoe girl so at first I was slow on the topic because how much can be written about shoes? Now I know there are many topics waiting to be written about shoes.

I worry this will get boring for me but I do have Celebrity Cafe to break up the shoe fashion and maybe soon I’ll finish my other project that I will not talk about just yet because I still don’t want to jink it.

Anyway, I would love people to check out the ShoeStyle.co blog and tell me what you think. The site is still in beta so the more feedback the better we can improve the site to serve you, the customer.

Another great thing is I started a ShoeStyle.co Facebook page. If you are on Facebook please click “Like”. I also started a Twitter page. Feel free to follow.

Independent Projects

September 22, 2011
Working on so much. Writing for sites I have a foot in, sites I don’t have much in except the work I put in for them and sites I will have my whole brain in but nothing paying. Enterprising is a poor business.

So I am trying my best to learn about shoe fashion. Find the trends and write about them. If I was only more knowledgeable on fashion now. I can do celebrity writing. Some news days are better than others. Most days are the same. The most fun I have is interviewing but I am growing tired of working for free.

Trying to research the bones of a new site. Don’t know if I should say what that site will be just yet. Don’t want to jinks anything. I need it to happen. If no one will hire me then I need to be a part of the makings of another business.

Still searching and applying for a job. Double time. It is a constant struggle. One day the economy is better the next day it’s worst. Applying is always the same.

Juggling.

Weekend of Storms

August 28, 2011
I have been eating and watching TV (Netflix…My So-Called Life) all weekend. Thanks to Irene I have been stuck in the house. So right now, I’m not hungry but I am searching for something to eat. I want iced coffee but I can’t have it cause I’ll be up all night. Listen to me. I will be up all night anyway. I want cookies and cream or Blue Bunny salty and sweet pretzel ice cream but we are out. So I’ll eat anything else in the house which, can be a lot. My mom is famous for her normally stocked cabinets.

I did go for a walk today but it was not enough. I need to get out of the house. This weekend wasn’t the only time I’ve been staying in the house. I stay in all the time. I have been driving with no destination. New York to Jersey to New York but think I need someplace to drive to. Someplace that wants me. Maybe someplace I could write. I’m so close to finishing.

I have been trying to plan a vacation but I have had no help from the other person. It has completely sucked the fun I have planning a vacation. Should have made uncertain plans during the commercials of Top Gear so I could call the place a dozen more times.

After this weekend I am believing it is better to be alone. I am and do better alone. I’m tired of people ignoring me instead of saying, “I hate you”. I’m tired of people saying they will be there for you when they will be but only when it suits them. I’m tired of not being able to give up. I’m tired of getting no where. I’m tired of men taking advantage of me. I’m tired of people asking am I all right like I’m not allowed to be anything other than happy. I’m tired of worrying about everything and I’m tired of not being tried. I’ll just live in my head, put it on paper, and make a story.

Thinking about Tattoos

August 16, 2011
Tattoos are popular. It is hard not to find someone without some sort of permanent artwork on the body. Some may just get a tattoo just to have a tattoo. Something picked off a wall. Most have tattoos with a meaning behind the art covering their bodies.

I love reading and tattoos have always fascinated me. I have learned Sylvia Plath was drawn to a tattoo shop and after a night of spending time, looking over Tattoos and talking with a tattooist she had a morning of writing and a desire to return to that atmosphere at a later date (Anchor Books; Part 3, Boston 1958-1959, Page 261-2; Thursday, September 18). I don’t remember how I came across the book “The Book Made of Flesh: Literary Tattoos from Bookworms Worldwide” Edited by Eva Talmadge & Justin Taylor but it shows strangers tattoos of favorite works of literature. This is not a review of the book but I enjoyed seeing and learning the story behind people’s tattoos (all literary). It was everything I love to learn about tattoos.

My best friend, as one example, has 14 or more (It’s hard to keep count). Actually now that I am thinking about it most of my friends have tattoos. Some have even drawn the art themselves. What makes me different? To permanent. If I’m going to live with this, look at it everyday, I’m worried that I may grow tired of it. I can remove it now but that could leave a scar. I could cover it with another tattoo but it would have to be something I know would cover it. I could get a tattoo having to do with my first love…writing but I haven’t found anything that I would want forever. Maybe the book, “Literary Tattoos from Bookworms Worldwide” made me a little envious. All so sure of their favorite author, quote, word, poem, book, etc.

People should take tattoos more seriously. People turn 18 and they run out to get a tattoo. Most never think. I know so many people who regret their tattoo choice. I would have. When I was 19 many of my friends were getting tattoos. I was accompanying many of them. I thought I wanted a tribal gecko on my hip. I didn’t tell anyone because I was worried someone would do the same. Well, a friend got a tribal gecko on her hip. It’s hard to be original and we change. Now I would hate if I had that on me anywhere. It’s not me at all.

What about the tattoo artist? What happens if you are lead to believe he is good and he messes up? You now live with his mistake. We’ve all seen those web pages. Misspellings, crap work, crap art, etc.

Walking into a parlor think about what you liked 10 years ago. Think about what you like now. You change. It’s natural. I like hearing people say I got this and it still means something to me because it reminds me of this time and this emotion. Before you look at me with head cocked to one side and that questionable look on your face trying to figure out why I don’t have a tattoo when I love other’s tattoos so much know if I ever do get one it will be the right one.

 

Rejection Letters

August 8, 2011
I was going through my e-mail and (since I don’t delete as I probably should) I kept my submissions and rejections letters from a short story I tried to publish a few years ago. These letters don’t hold insults or special cause why they rejected it. These letters are just bland letters telling me I didn’t win the contest, they didn’t pick my story, and to try again next year. I was wondering should I delete them or print them out and hang them on my wall.  Would these letters help me write or could they discourage my writing? Do I need them because I have been writing well lately.

Pet Peeves

July 5, 2011
I wonder why people even decide to own animals if they are not going to take care of them.

You bring an animal into your home and say I will care for this animal. Feed, and nurture the pet. They will have love and a home with me. Then you leave it out all the time. Don’t take it to the vet. I have neighbors with pets and what makes me angry is the lack of care they show their animals.

I have owned many pets over the years, mostly dogs. I feed, cared, and cleaned up after them. I have no pets now because I know that I don’t have the time or money to take care of them. I wouldn’t be able to travel because I wouldn’t trust many people with my pet and I wouldn’t want expect them to take away from their time and watch my pet. These are the responsibilities I know come with owning an animal.

People hate stepping in shit and yet it surprises me how many people will not clean up after their dog. Let their cat out all day, everyday so they are almost hit by a car a few times a day. Leave others caring, feeding, cleaning up after the pet. Take responsibility for your pet. Either start taking care of it or give it to someone who will. You don’t truly care for your animal if you leave it to others to care for it.

Clean up after your dog. Keep your cats indoors. Respect your neighbor and care for your animals.

A Writer’s Life For Me?

May 10, 2011
I have trouble writing. I have trouble making a schedule. Sitting down, not being distracted and writing. I struggle. I have read many books, have taken classes, and I can’t seem to write. I was doing okay while taking writing courses in college. I have tried to make my writing a job. I would freelance if I was given assignments. I can’t seem to come up with topics myself. I have trouble thinking about articles to write. When I wrote for Celebrity Cafe and joonbug I did a fine job of writing. I have been doing an okay writing for ShoeStyle.co.I am a procrastinator. I am a perfectionist. I will correct as I’m going no matter how often I repeat to myself, “First draft is always shit”. I have tried to write in the morning, at night and I struggle. I can’t find anywhere to write.

Even this post took me a long time to write.