>Whatcha been doin’?

Posted on June 7, 2008 by Annie Rayburn/Carol Burnside

>My apologies. I’ve been lax about posting here. Bad Carol! But I haven’t been all bad. I edited about half of HUF after getting back some critiques, entered two contests and am working on getting four more entries ready. I critiqued 30 pgs and a synopsis for a friend, wrote some new material, and helped my hubby paint a garage and a bathroom.

One thing I did discover last month is that I’m not altogether a challenge person. I can do personal challenges, but apparently group ones shut me down. At least the CataU one did. Don’t think I’ll attempt that again. Maybe it was just a bad time to sign up, what with all the contests to prepare for, editing, etc.

Some days it seems like the world is rushing by, others the hours drag. Lately they’ve been in rush mode, but I’ll try to post more often.

How about you? Whatcha been doin’?

Posted in Contests | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

>American Idol – teleprompter kerfluffel

Posted on May 23, 2008 by Annie Rayburn/Carol Burnside

>In a recent article, folks are up in arms about the use of teleprompters on the Tues and finale American Idol shows. For those people arguing that the contestants should have been more professional and learned their lyrics, I have this to say: Walk a mile in their shoes, why don’t you?

Let’s look at this with a little less knee-jerk and try to deal with the fact that life isn’t always a neat little package of perfect, shall we?

For the two weeks prior to the finale week, the contestants were expected to pick, learn, practice and perform two songs each amidst shooting commercials, interviews, trips back home. More than likely they were also learning choreography and songs for the finale group numbers among other things like visiting makeup and wardrobe, dealing with a stage dad and oh, I dunno, maybe a brother who’s battling cancer. Need I remind you they only have one week between shows to accomplish all this?

For finale week, the two David’s were expected to learn, practice and perform three songs each along with all the other numbers they sang in groups and with legendary bands or singers. Talk about stress! I can’t imagine how frazzled they must have been and am surprised they recognized their own names!

Get real, people!

Posted in Entertainment, Rants and Opinions | 1 Comment

>Picture This Contest – I WON!!!

Posted on May 15, 2008 by Annie Rayburn/Carol Burnside

>I’m so excited!

Her Unexpected Family (Claire and Travis) won the Picture This Contest (Inland Empire Chapter), which required a 1-pg setup and a 5-12 pg scene that was the “most vivid, most sensual, most exciting or most emotional”. I entered with the first love scene in HUF and editor Patience Smith picked it for #1. Yay!

Posted in Contests | Tagged | 8 Comments