Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Blouses 2012 - stylish blouses for 2012

Blouses 2012 - stylish blouses for 2012
 Blouses 2012 - stylish blouses for 2012

 
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Casual Bags for Girls 2012 - beautiful bags for 2012

Casual Bags for Girls 2012 - beautiful bags for 2012
 Casual Bags for Girls 2012 - beautiful bags for 2012

 
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Evening Dresses 2012 - stylish evening dresses for 2012

Evening Dresses 2012 - stylish evening dresses for 2012
 Evening Dresses 2012 - stylish evening dresses for 2012

 
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New accessories for 2012 - beautiful rings for 2012

New accessories for 2012 - beautiful rings for 2012
 New accessories for 2012 - beautiful rings for 2012

 
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Accessories 2012 - Earrings for Girls for 2012

Accessories 2012 - Earrings for Girls for 2012
 Accessories 2012 - Earrings for Girls for 2012

 
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Hollywood actress Hilary Duff|hollywood gossip Hilary Duff|Hollywood celebrity Hilary Duff







Hollywood actresses bridget moynahan|Hollywood celebrity bridget moynahan|Hollywood gossip bridget moynahan







Hollywood actress blake lively|Hollywood gossip blake lively|hollywood celebrity blake lively







Hollywood actress Anne Hathaway|hollywood gossip Anne Hathaway|hollywood celebrity Anne Hathaway









hollywood actress Renee zellweger|Hollywood gossip Renee zellweger|Hollywood celebrity Renee zellweger







[Wallpaper] Bu Bu Jing Xin 步步惊心

Digging through all my old fanarts made me miss Photoshop and it must be about a year since I last touched it.

Usually you can tell when I'm a) procrastinating and/or b) obsessed with something when I spent loads of time making fanart for it. Fanfiction is something I do on regular basis so unless a plot bunny take over, I usually don't use it to procrastinate :P. Anyway, the subject of my current occupation is Bu Bu Jing Xin.

相思十诫 is a song that takes a little getting used to, but I'm slowly falling in love with it, which is why I went crazy and made wallpapers around its theme (beneath the cut).







Click for full size

 
 


A Male Perspective

If you had told 15 year-old me that it was difficult for a man to write from a woman's perspective, he would have told you "Not for me, I can write anything!"

15 year-old me still had a lot to learn.

This topic comes to mind as I look at stretching the limits of how I've written before. Despite writing urban fantasy, a genre usually featuring female protagonists, I generally write male protagonists. Quite simply, I can write from a male POV much more confidently than from a woman's. However I've decided this just won't cut it. That's one reason why in Silent Oath, the character of Cynthia Keller becomes more important and this book features more of her POV than the first.

I have to grow as a writer. Constantly strive to improve myself.

Looking ahead at future book ideas, and the ongoing story of Nathan Shepherd, I can see many more areas where I'll need to be able to show a believable female perspective. Generally, I have been more comfortable talking to women than to men. Most of my closest friends are women, but until recently I have never considered how to train myself to look at things from that female perspective. Sure, there are plenty of things I get, plenty of things I understand are different for women than for men, whether due to genetics or societal influnces. But now I need to learn how to apply these differences, fairly, in my writing.

Thankfully, as we as my wife to ask for advice, I also have two great crit partners who are women, and several female beta readers.

I do think a man can write from a female point of view, and do it well. Just as a woman can write from a male point of view. It does, however, require a certain amount of self-awareness and ability to not only ask the right questions, but listen to the answers.

What about you? Do you think a writer should stick to protagonists of their own gender? Are there some things men and women simply will never understand about each other, or is it a more individual matter, that some men and women are just more open to understanding differences?

08.31 Wed

W E D N E S D A Y

August 31, 2011

Gareth Bain




Theme: Hugs & Kisses — The last word of each theme answer can mean either a hug (O) or a kiss (X).



Theme answers:

  • 18A: Method of looking for keys? (HUNT AND PECK).
  • 28A: Finishing by the deadline, sometimes (TIGHT SQUEEZE).
  • 48A: Bad-mouthing someone (TALKING SMACK).
  • 64A: Call waiting diversion (MUSIC ON HOLD).
  • 63D: Love letter closing, and in sequence, a hint to the ends of 18-, 28-, 48- and 64-Across (XOXO).
Love this theme! Super cute! I couldn't figure out what was going on until I got down to the reveal.



Bullets:

  • 15A: Noble gas (XENON). I don't really know what it means for a gas to be "noble," so whenever I see this clue I picture a cartoon-looking blob with a crown and scepter. I don't think nobles actually wear crowns, but that part doesn't really bother me.
  • 57A: Soccer star Freddy (ADU). Now that I work in a real estate law firm, ADU means Affordable Dwelling Unit.
  • 69A: Steve of country (EARLE). Excellent.




  • 3D: Penultimate element, alphabetically (ZINC). Expecting a little too much science out of me today!
  • 11D: Brisket source (STEER). Me: "deli?"
  • 28D: Fashion statements in the 'hood (TATS). Oh for crying out loud. Really? That's just … I don't even know what to say. PuzzleHusband and I both have tattoos and there's no possible way North Arlington qualifies as a "'hood" on any scale ever conceived of. Unless, of course, you're being completely ironic. But obviously that doesn't count.




  • 53D: "The Stranger" author (CAMUS). I believe "The Stranger" shows up in a clue in today's New York Times puzzle as well. Weird.
Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

  • 14A: N.L. West team, on scoreboards (ARI).
  • 22A: Peace Prize winner Wiesel (ELIE).
  • 24A: Love god (EROS).
  • 33A: Young newt (EFT).
  • 43A: Harald V's capital (OSLO).
  • 46A: Future fish (ROE).
  • 73A: Punk rock offshoot (EMO).
  • 66D: Hobbit enemy (ORC).
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Everything 1A: "Les __" (MIZ); 4A: As a friend, in French (EN AMI); 9A: Actor Romero (CESAR); 14A: N.L. West team, on scoreboards (ARI); 15A: Noble gas (XENON); 16A: Latin stars (ASTRA); 17A: MLK birthday month (JAN.); 18A: Method of looking for keys? (HUNT AND PECK); 20A: Relay race closer (ANCHOR); 22A: Peace Prize winner Wiesel (ELIE); 23A: Wide shoe size (EEE); 24A: Love god (EROS); 26A: Working parts (INNARDS); 28A: Finishing by the deadline, sometimes (TIGHT SQUEEZE); 32A: Computer pioneer Lovelace (ADA); 33A: Young newt (EFT); 34A: Many Semites (ARABS); 38A: Reveal (TELL); 40A: Knight's ride (STEED); 43A: Harald V's capital (OSLO); 44A: Capital on the Willamette (SALEM); 46A: Future fish (ROE); 47A: World games org. (IOC); 48A: Bad-mouthing someone (TALKING SMACK); 53A: Food packaging unit (CALORIE); 56A: German river (SAAR); 57A: Soccer star Freddy (ADU); 58A: In __: moody (A PET); 60A: Like Chris and Pat, genderwise (UNISEX); 64A: Call waiting diversion (MUSIC ON HOLD); 67A: Big name in kitchen gadgets (OXO); 68A: Violet lead-in (ULTRA); 69A: Steve of country (EARLE); 70A: Nth degree (MAX); 71A: Eyelid annoyances (STYES); 72A: In small pieces, as potatoes (RICED); 73A: Punk rock offshoot (EMO); 1D: Whom Goya painted both nude and clothed (MAJA); 2D: OPEC co-founder (IRAN); 3D: Penultimate element, alphabetically (ZINC); 4D: Encourage (EXHORT); 5D: Couch disorders (NEUROSES); 6D: Raggedy gal (ANN); 7D: Speck of dust (MOTE); 8D: How perjurers may be caught (IN A LIE); 9D: Concerto highlight (CADENZA); 10D: Sixth sense, briefly (ESP); 11D: Brisket source (STEER); 12D: Curved (ARCED); 13D: Works in the garden (RAKES); 19D: Lofted iron (NINE); 21D: Villainous laugh syllable (HEH); 25D: Acre's 43,560: Abbr. (SQ. FT.); 27D: Prefix with space (AERO-); 28D: Fashion statements in the 'hood (TATS); 29D: "Eureka!" elicitor (IDEA); 30D: Sass (GALL); 31D: Early development sites? (UTERI); 35D: 2-Down's location (ASIA); 36D: Political group (BLOC); 37D: __ puppet (SOCK); 39D: Actor Jared (LETO); 41D: Ages and ages (EONS); 42D: He succeeded Coty as French president (DEGAULLE); 45D: Latin percussion pair (MARACAS); 49D: Plastic surgeon's job, for short (LIPO); 50D: Sharper, as eyes (KEENER); 51D: Smoothed in a shop (SANDED); 52D: Hosp. picture (MRI); 53D: "The Stranger" author (CAMUS); 54D: X-rated (ADULT); 55D: Hale (LUSTY); 59D: Pad __: Asian noodle dish (THAI); 61D: A portion (of) (SOME); 62D: Checkup (EXAM); 63D: Love letter closing, and in sequence, a hint to the ends of 18-, 28-, 48- and 64-Across (XOXO); 65D: Wrath (IRE); 66D: Hobbit enemy (ORC).