Jen Stayrook | I write things

May 11, 2012
by Jen
5 Comments

Happy Rook-a-versary!

Hubs and I are celebrating our fourth wedding anniversary, which led me to wonder, “What is the fourth year gift?”

Personally I think it’s Kachina dolls, but when I told Hubs he just shook his head and left the room. I think he’s upset I’m always right.

The balled up fists mean "I LOVE YOU."

In any event, I’m glad we’ve made it this far, Hubs, and I love you. I can’t wait until we celebrate our fifth year. I hear the gift is “Pool boys,” so start your hunt early!

EVERY picture I tried to take he was either covering his face or drinking something, so I said screw it. This is how he's going to be remembered on the internet--As the WATERBOY.

May 9, 2012
by Jen
13 Comments

Same-Sex Romantic Comedy Pairings a la Jen

SURPRISE.

*Jazz hands*

This morning I read an article on Pajiba about getting more gay romantic comedy movies out there with possible pairings we’d love to see. I am totally behind this idea. I ADORE the idea of Ewan McGregor and Jude Law in bed together:

Plenty of room for me to squeeze in between those two.

Or Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy:

I can't stand the cuteness.

But I couldn’t help but notice in the post a lack of love for the lesbians of the world. Where’s the lady hookups we’re all dying for? Luckily, I’m a lady (in certain company), so I think I’m a perfect judge for potential rom-com couples.

Morena Baccarin and Jewel Staite: Because seriously, the way they look at each other.

HEART.

Alyson Hannigan and Cobie Smulders: I LOVE Lily and Marshall, but you wanted to see this happen too, right?

Kids, there was one time when aunt Lily and aunt Robin...

Aisha Tyler & Felicia Day: Two of the funniest, nerdiest people. Ever.

They meet over a love of MMOs. I think I need a new pair of pants.

Jennifer Aniston & Courteney Cox: For obvious reasons.

Joey's head just exploded.

Kate Winslet & Natalie Portman: For no other reason than I LOVE these two actresses. And they’re adorable as hell.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE SMILING ABOUT BUT YAY.

Jennifer Lawrence & …Me: Admit it, Jen. We’d be good together. I’m just as adorably awkward during interviews as you are! And by “interviews,” I mean “pep talks in the mirror.” Our meet-cute would be AWARD-WINNING. (I promise I won’t try to go all Hunger Games on you.) Call me back.

I, too, play aggressively with action figures. WE'RE MEANT TO BE.

Did I miss anyone? Any other couples (doesn’t have to be female/female) you’d like to see added to this list?

I shouldn’t have to say this, but no hate guys. Unless it’s against clowns. Then have at it.

EDIT: Per a request from Annie Sisk, I’m adding Nathan Fillion to this list (LIKE YOU’RE SURPRISED).

Nathan Fillion & Wil Wheaton: Because they would bicker like an old adorable married couple.

And that means Anne Wheaton is left me FOR ME. You know, in case Jennifer Lawrence refuses to come to her senses.

April 17, 2012
by Jen
8 Comments

I’ve been Game of Thrones’d

I have a new obsession and it’s name is Game of Thrones. Or, TECHNICALLY, it’s “A Song of Ice and Fire.” But that’s too long and I always get the acronym wrong. GAME OF THRONES IT IS. If it’s good enough for HBO, it’s good enough for me.

Winter is coming....7,000 pages after this moment.

I first heard about Game of Thrones at the end of last summer, when everyone was all OOOOOOOOOMMMMGGGG THIS SHOW!!!!! And I was all, “Whatevs bitches. I’m just gonna watch Firefly on Netflix because I HATE CHANGE.”

I didn’t hear anything more about the books or the show until my writer pal, Dustin Hansen, was helping me with plotting and said, “Hey, btw, you should TOTALLY read these books. You’d love Dany.”

I texted Hubs and said, I WANT THESE BOOKS because whenever a writer friend says, “I love this book” I immediately run out and buy it. I’m such a sucker for peer pressure. Being the spoiled little snot I am, Hubs even brought me the books THAT DAY at lunch. I slapped him on the butt as thanks.

I read. And I read. And for good measure, I read some more. My goodness, that George R. R. Martin is a long-winded bastard.

After about 300 pages, I had yet to hit the “sinking in” point. I went back to Dustin and I was like, “DUDE. WHAT GIVES? You steered me wrong, my friend. I don’t know who’s who and I’m BORED. Why am I supposed to care about Bran and Jon and ZzZzZzZz….”

Dustin, being the generous and forgiving soul he is, said, “Keep reading. It’s slow, but it gets better.”

I scoffed, but I had paid for the books, dammit, so I was going to finish. If I could push myself through the TWILIGHT books (while jamming a ballpoint pen into my eye), Game of Thrones should be cake.

I don’t remember when I turned from “Just get through this” to “OMG What happens next?!” (I think it was around the time Tyrion walked out of the Eyrie like the swaggering badass he is) but I was hooked. Since then, I’ve watched the first season of the series three times and read the first three books. Now I sit every Sunday, eagerly awaiting the newest episode. I’ll start Book Four when Season Two wraps up (HOLY SHIT Book Three was exhausting).

There are still some flaws in the series–mainly, the lengthy descriptions and the need for a character cheat sheet. Oh, and I still HATE Jon and Bran. I’m told Jon gets better. Bran remains unbearable. AWESOME.

I love the series so much I’ve taken to creating “fanart” for Robb Stark (OMG SO PRETTY), the Dany/Jorah “ship,” and even few little *ahem* graphics that I find hilarious. Like this one:

Sidenote: I know I'm supposed to feel sorry for Theon, especially with the way HBO is driving home his character, but I can't. To me, he's just an exaggerated version of Draco Malfoy and I hate that punk.

What do you think of Game of Thrones? Have you fallen into the TIME SUCK that is A Song of Ice and Fire? (I GOT IT RIGHT!) Who’s your favorite character?

I have to admit, Dustin had me pegged. I absolutely ADORE Daenerys Targaryen.

April 4, 2012
by Jen
4 Comments

404: Today not found

Since Linda Grimes is taking a well-deserved break from blogging, I’ve decided to fill her Wednesday Hump Day posts. Linda–in all her wacky glory–uses camels to for her “hump day” antics. I’ve done the same, because hey, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Maybe just tinker a little.

Also, being a complete loser, I noticed something curious about today’s date:

Did you mean, "Take the day off?"

Happy Hump Day, guys!

Maybe we don’t really have the day off, but why don’t you tell me in the comments what you would do if you DID? We can daydream and maybe it will make the time pass faster.

March 29, 2012
by Jen
12 Comments

The Lucky Seven

TWO BLOG POSTS IN ONE WEEK?

“Jen must be procrastinating something.”

You bet your pretty little behind I am.

IN MY DEFENSE, it’s because I have this wonderful idea for a story in my head, and it WON’T LEAVE ME ALONE, but I force myself to continue with what I’ve started. Then my reward will be the shiny new WIP. (This paragraph made more sense in my head.)

But see, I was tagged to do this thing. This writer thing. And I never back down from a tagging. When I’m long gone, I don’t want people to refer to me as, “Jen the girl who never followed through when she was tagged. Also, we’re not sure if she wore deodorant.”

Here are the rules: (I stole them from Trisha’s blog post, because she tagged me, and I’m ridiculously lazy.)

It’s called The Lucky Seven Game, and it’s basically a game of writerly tag. If you’re tagged, you have to do the following:

Go to page 7 or 77 in your current manuscript
Go to line 7
Copy down the next seven lines/sentences as they are – no cheating
Tag 7 other authors

Okay, so this snippet is from my WIP Spring of Innocents that has been sucking my soul lately because it wants to be long-winded and twisty. I chose lines from page 77. Brynn, the MC, is searching for her daughter, Elie.

(FYI: I’m horrible at setting up scenes or writing synopses or anything where I am forced to write a short amount. That’s also why this is longer than seven lines; I DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE YOU HANGING MID-SENTENCE.)

“Missing something?” A voice behind the trio rattled. Brynn turned her head to see three men on horseback—ragged warriors with crimson cloaks. Red’s cloaks.

Wolves.

Brynn’s breath caught in her throat as she searched for signs of Elie. Nothing. She wasn’t with them. Words failed her and she wanted to run. Drochrath air, she had to be brave. Her life for Elie’s, that was the deal she made with herself. A Wolf jumped off his horse and swaggered toward Brynn.

“My lady,” he exaggerated his bow. The other men snickered. “We’re not here to harm you. In fact, I bring you,” he paused with a grin, catching Brynn’s eyes. Her heart pounded. Elie. Elie. Elie. “Joyous news.”

There you have it. TADA.

And now to tag seven unsuspecting writers…

I CHOOSE YOU,

Branli Caidryn

Harley May

Kristina Martin (She already did one: HERE)

Anne Riley

Tawna Fenske

Sue London

Denise Swank (Already done: HERE)

And even if I didn’t tag you, imagine I’m poking you right now, urging you to go forth and post your sevens!

…#notdirty.