My Favorite Time of the Year

That's right kids...it's Season Premier Week!!!!

My reading has abruptly been brought to a halt with one of the best weeks of the year ... right next to Season Finale Week of course.

So here is my schedule for the week.

Monday - Last night I took part in the House and Castle season premiers. I've never been much of a House fan...but I needed to pass the time until Castle came on and I must say... it was good. BUT not AS good as Castle. Come on fellow writer friends, admit it, Castle has got to be one of THE BEST shows ever for us novelists. And come on...isn't this boy cuter than all cute!!!!


Moving along....

Tuesday - This is the day I get to read ... the ONLY day

Wednesday - Ok well this night had its premiers a couple nights ago, but you can bet I'll be glued to FOX for a little So You Think You Can Dance and GLEE ... so that I can spend some time looking at...and listening to....



(Are you seeing the pattern here???)

But THEN happiness REALLY happens ... because ...

THURSDAY!!! GREY'S ANATOMY BABY! Ok I know I know ... this one is obvious! Um Hello!


But ACTUALLY I'm really into the show. I've watched it since the first episode. I feel it is my duty to watch ALL the episodes.

Ok so Friday and Saturday...well those days are not for tv or reading (although I'll probably be caught doing one or the other because I'm pretty lame like that, but lets pretend I'm not for a day)

So then we skip to ...

Sunday - a few little treats that night too. Desperate Housewives and Brothers and Sisters!
Where I can see a couple of these.....


So who what will you be watching this week?

On being Cliche'.....

Lately I have often heard the word Cliche' being thrown around. Unfortunately one particular toss of the word was used towards my MS. Not a happy word to me. I decided I wasn't really SURE what exactly the word meant. So I did what any unknowing, uninformed person would do...I Googled it!

Per Wikipedia -

A cliché (US: /klɪˈʃeɪ/ UK: /ˈkliːʃeɪ/, from French), is a saying, expression, idea, or element of an artistic work which has been overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect, rendering it a stereotype, especially when at some earlier time it was considered meaningful or novel. The term is frequently used in modern culture for an action or idea which is expected or predictable, based on a prior event. It is likely to be used pejoratively. A cliché may sometimes be used in a work of fiction for comedic effect.

Ok...so um...not too happy about it being used towards my book, considering I THOUGHT it was quite the original idea...sigh

But let's make sure I am understanding this word correctly. Here are a few examples I have put together that are "cliche'" with a possible remedy for each.

Cliche' - Driving in the car with children ... them saying "Are we there yet?"

Remedy - I was quite impressed when my children decided to break the mold and instead say "This is taking too long!"

Cliche' - The question given by husbands and children around the globe, "What's for dinner tonight?"

Remedy - This could be easily remedied by just asking, "What can we make you for dinner tonight mom?" See how original that would become!!!

Cliche' - Folding Laundry

Remedy - Ok...so um...there is no remedy just yet for that...BUT there is no denying it's a Cliche' idea!

Cliche' - Having to FORCE my children to clean their rooms

Remedy - Having children that do not make a mess of their rooms and when they do they pick up the toys immediately after.

Cliche' - TV Shows about Doctors and Hospitals

Remedy - TV Show about Dentists! (Capitalize on THAT NBC!!!)

And the number one Cliche' statement used more often than it should...drum roll please...

Cliche' - This is a very subjective business and I am afraid your novel is just not right for us at this time.

Remedy - Please send me your full manuscript along with your prospect advances and we will get your book/movie deal going immediately!

What???? I've got a point, you can't deny it!

But do you see what I see? Sometimes there is no way around what is Cliche'. Sometimes what is Cliche' just happens to be what works. So is it really Horrible that something about my book may or may not be Cliche'?

Things I learned from watching PBS

1. A new Song! "Why not smile, why not smile? Do you think your face is gonna break? Whyyyyy NOOOOOTTTT SMMIIILLLE?" (Seriously...do you think your face is gonna break???)

2. Feeding the ducks is like a relaxing brain massage. (Ummmm....I'll keep that in mind the next time my brain feels like it needs a massage....)

3. Even monkeys can be heroes. They are GREAT at finding chicks in the dark! (Bet my husband would've loved to hang out with those monkeys back in the day!)

4. Dr. Grover, The "Alphabet Specialist" from A's Anatomy on Sesame Street taught me that A is for Annoying. (He must have been hanging out with kids for too long that day)

5. Even poop can make a GREAT song topic.

And that kids, is why I love Public Television!!!!

Read about Editing Road Blocks at www.marybethsmith.com!