Four pages a day

I’m on a relatively long break and felt like reading a good fantasy book after concluding the Night Watch trilogy and sequel. I didn’t have any pending fantasy books (gasp!), though I do have a few contemporary fiction to finish, but I just didn’t feel like reading them yet. I decided to re-read a favourite of mine (no, not Lord of The Rings, although it's one of my favourites) but Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar series. I also read the Valdemar companion book I bought a few years back. It was fun reading about how Lackey came up with the concept of Valdemar and its Heralds. The book also included an interview with the author and one excerpt stood out for me:

“The only way to become a writer is to write. Don’t talk about it; glue your behind to the chair and write, at least four pages every day, even if you end up throwing them out. If you can’t make that time, you aren’t a writer. You have to motivate yourself; no one else can do that for you. If you can’t do that, you are never going to be a writer. Write until you’ve finished a book, then send it out and write another one. And keep doing it until somebody buys one. It’s just that simple.”

Can I Have This Dance

Can I have this dance
Composer: Adam Anders
Performed by: Vanessa Hudgens & Zac Efron

Take my hand, take a breath
Pull me close and take one step
Keep your eyes locked on mine,
And let the music be your guide.

Won't you promise me (now won't you promise me, that you'll never forget)
We'll keep dancing (to keep dancing) wherever we go next

(chorus)
It's like catching lightning the chances of finding someone like you
It's one in a million, the chances of feeling the way we do
And with every step together, we just keep on getting better
So can I have this dance (can I have this dance)
Can I have this dance

Take my hand, I'll take the lead
And every turn will be safe with me
Don't be afraid, afraid to fall
You know I'll catch you through it all

And you can't keep us apart (even a thousand miles, can't keep us apart)
'Cause my heart is (cause my heart is) wherever you are

(chorus)
It's like catching lightning the chances of finding someone like you
It's one in a million, the chances of feeling the way we do
And with every step together, we just keep on getting better
So can I have this dance (can I have this dance)
Can I have this dance

Oh no mountains too high enough, oceans too wide
'Cause together or not, our dance won't stop
Let it rain, let it pour
What we have is worth fighting for
You know I believe, that we were meant to be

(chorus)
It's like catching lightning the chances of finding someone like you (like you)
It's one in a million, the chances of feeling the way we do (way we do)
And with every step together, we just keep on getting better
So can I have this dance (can I have this dance)
Can I have this dance

Can I have this dance
Can I have this dance

[http://www.lyricsmania.com/]

Deep end

There are only two reasons you could be given a particularly tough yet juicy assignment. It’s either you’ve reached THE level you’ve always aspired to, or you’re just a baby that’s being thrown to the deep end of the pool.