Monday, March 7, 2011

Writing is Like a Box of Sephora Glitz & Glam

I apologize in advance to Alex. I know this post is going to send him running far away from my blog.

My sister-in-law Kimmie is gorgeous. Like model gorgeous. She's all girl. Girlie girl. And Kimmie loves her make-up. I go through phases. One minute, I'm stocking up at Sephora. The next minute, I'm going weeks (okay, months) with nothing more than sunscreen (hello, summer!). Whatever Kimmie gets for Christmas, my in-laws get me as well. This is a good thing. Two years ago, I got the BEST bathrobe EVER. One of those nice fluffy white ones that you relax just looking at. It's wonderful to spend a lazy Sunday morning lounging around the house drinking coffee and writing in that thing.

This year I got the Sephora Glitz and Glam Makeup Deluxe Sampler. Did I mention Kimmie likes sparklies right now? Yes, she does. This is the last thing in the world that I would have purchased for myself. I'm not sparkly. Usually.

I have had more fun with this little box full of glitz and glam! As I was playing around with it this afternoon, I thought - this is what writing is like (there it is FINALLY!). You try the cheek stain...it works! It's subtle, but gives you color and a little bit of shine. Rub a little on the eyes (because it can also be used there)...and you have to wash it off five minutes later because it burns. That was a fail. But the Tarina Sparklecity was a definite go - pink AND sparkley? Can't go wrong. The fun has been in the experimenting.

Which is where the fun in writing is. I had a two hour break in between classes on Thursday. I sat in the breakroom, hopped up on Madagascar Vanilla Carmel coffee and scribbled notes in pencil on the back of two schedules. It was so freeing. I'm in the middle of rewrites at the moment, which can feel very limiting. But if you lift the lid off that box and just go crazy with the experimenting? All the fun comes back. It's Josie Maran Argan Bronzing Oil with a hint of glimmer and Nars Orgasm Illuminator which highlights with glitter shine! I've discovered hidden gems - the radiance has surprised me, overjoyed me. I'm not going to lie - there have also been real stinkers, things like cheek stain on the eyelids that didn't work (and actually hurt), but those get thrown out and I find something else that fits the story better and makes it Glitz & Glam.

So you see, writing is like a box of Sephora Glitz & Glam. It truly is. Sometimes it works, sometimes it burns. The fun part is trying new things, finding what works and what doesn't. It's creativity - whether you're putting it on your lips or on a blank piece of paper!

How is your writing going? Any sparkling? Any pain?

11 comments:

  1. You had me at Sephora! (I LOVE that store)

    But you're so right, not everything I buy there is something I keep (thank goodness for their no-questions-asked return policy). Same goes for my work - a lot of days are hit and miss. Sometimes a subplot seems like it's working, but it doesn't.

    Right now, I'm sparkling. Which makes me happy, because last week it was all about the pain!

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  2. WOOT WOOT for makeup references in terms of writing. I LOVE playing with makeup. I LOVE playing with my writing too. Some times things work and some times they don't but I really like the experimenting process.

    This is a great comparison.

    I wear matte makeup so much less than sparkles (or shimmery). I just like knowing I'm sparkling.

    I don't have time to write anything but essays right now...and those aren't sparkling (no matter how much you scrub concrete....it don't sparkle!)

    But I am glad you're sparkling right now!

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  3. Right now I'm standing at the edge of the first draft pool and dipping my toe in the water. Perhaps if I approach it with the idea of experimentation (with my outline to keep me afloat) it could be fun instead of holy-cow-terrifying-what-if-I-DIE. Thanks for your post Jennie B., I really needed the reminder that writing is supposed to be fun, it's so easily forgotten when you're focused on getting everything perfect first time!
    - Sophia.

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  4. Tee hee - great metaphor! I confess to being a closeted girly-girl - I'm not REALLY, but every now and then I adore playing around with anything glittery and sparkly, and that present would have made me all giggly and happy!

    As for the writing, though, I feel few sparks at the moment. It actually feels much more like I'm trying to get ready for a big first date, and I'm not sure whether the guy likes it subtle or sparkly. Yikes...

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  5. I didn't run, but I promise, there is no sparkling makeup in my writing. Or anywhere else for that matter!

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  6. I used to be addicted to make-up sets when I was in high school. Even now I look at them all the time, I just don’t buy them as I don’t wear that much makeup anymore. As for writing, I’m trying to make my current WIP sparkle but it looks like an overly made up drag queen instead.

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  7. Sparkly and occasionally painful--yep, that's totally my writing process! So much fun experimenting to see what works and what doesn't. Almost as fun as make-up experimenting! :)

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  8. LOL!!! You are so funny--it burns, fail! :D I would lurv that b/c I'm a Sephora junkie despite having the same approach to makeup as you.

    Me likey this analogy! :o) <3 xoxo

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  9. Oh...Sephora makes my eye make-up loving mouth drool. I LOVE the tie in! I never really thought of it like having fun like that. Just bouts of cursing my crit partners for not letting me skate on things...;) "well...YEA that doesn't make sense but couldn't they just have ignored it?! Seriously...it's like they are FORCING me to be better! Geez..."

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  10. I feel like I have a lot in common with your sister-in-law, I love make up. I sit and online shop the Sephora site for hours.

    I love the idea of just trying things out in your writing and seeing what works and what doesn't. Great advice!

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  11. Love this analogy! It's so true!

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