Blast from the Past
This is a re-release of our very first offical Plotmonkeys post…posted by Leslie on April 17, 2006. It’s great enough to be read twice! And for some of you the first time…thank you all for celebrating our anniversary week with us…what a blast!
Of friends and monkeys…
Hi and welcome to our jungle!
I can’t believe I got singled out to be the first blogger here on our fun new site. That’s what I get for leaving my house for an hour right in the midst of a Plotmonkeys email frenzy.
Anyway, it seemed appropriate, given how this whole thing came about, for the first conversation to be about friendship. Yeah, yeah, gag me. Who wants to get slammed with a saccharine-sweet ode to playing nicey-nice first thing on a Monday morning?
Well, those of you who know me probably know I’m not very sweet. So I promise, I won’t turn this into a Hallmark commercial and make your teeth hurt. But I do have a few things I think are worth saying.
First, to be clear, I’m not talking about our best friends from 8th grade who can still make us crack up over shared memories, even if we haven’t talked in a year. Or our college roommates, or our siblings (I have 5 and adore them all.) And I definitely am not talking about our spouses. Mine genuinely is my best friend in the world.
I’m talking about writer friends…who are also something more.
Let’s face it, writing is a pretty solitary profession. We work alone, we don’t want distractions. There are days when I don’t even want to have to look at somebody much less have to actually smile at them. “Have a nice day!” says the mailman? Well, bite me, I’m not having a nice day because you rang the doorbell right when I’d finally begun to plot my way out of this quagmire. Grrrrr…
Even when we’re out and about in the world, a lot of times we’re not 100% present because we’re never able to “turn-off” that writer living inside us. We eavesdrop on conversations and spin stories about the people having them. We overanalyze movies and drive our sig others crazy by always predicting the plot twist. We frown at the chatty grocery store clerk because her incessant talking is interfering with the important conversation our characters are having in our heads.
In essence, we exist in the worlds we create every bit as much as we live in the real one.
Few people understand…unless they live the very same madness. So is it any wonder many of us count our most important friendships to be with other writers?
But even among our writer friends, there are different levels of friendship. I bet everyone has a bunch of what I’ll call MySpace friends. You’ve heard of MySpace haven’t you? Teens ask other teens if they can be their “friend” so they can get a sneak peek into a closed profile. And parents just pray the next anonymous “friend” isn’t really a twisted, perverted old man pretending to be a 16 year old boy. (By the way, for the parents who are brave, a good way to keep an eye on your MySpace kid is to create your own profile, make sure your kid knows Big Mama is watching, and then watch!)
Back to the point. MySpace friends…we all have them. They’re the familiar initials or first names next to a post on a message board. The ones who can make us laugh on an open loop or blogsite. The ones we feel we know, even if we’ve never met them in person or heard their voice (and probably never will.) Good for a smile. They’re safe, non-judging. A solid foundation. Not someone you’re going to pour your heart out to and maybe not even someone you email with directly, but someone you feel you might very well like a lot if you didn’t live a thousand miles apart. And if you knew them by some name other than RomRdrinCA.
The friendships stack up from there. There are friends on closed author loops–you know them a little better. With the screen of privacy and loop discretion, the gloves sometimes come off and blunt hilarity can commence. You care about each other, you kvetch and joke and share stupid videos and mourn when someone experiences a loss. You email and ask about each other’s kids and pick up and call once in a while when you sense someone is having a tough time.
Then come the conference friends you do meet face to face once or twice a year. I have quite a few of these (and most of them, like the Temptresses, overlap with my closed loop friends.) They’re people who mean a lot to me even though I don’t see them often. Every time I do, it’s like that friend from high school, we pick right up where we left off the last time.
There are chapter friends you see or talk to every month. Critique group friends you see or talk to every week. Writing partners you see or talk to every day.
And then there are friends like the Plotmonkeys.
You do live a thousand miles apart. You did first only become aware of each other as a name on a message board. You perhaps shared some funny exchanges on a closed loop and then via email. You did only meet in person once a year at a conference.
And yet…something was different.
If you go to the FAQ section of this website, you’ll see how we all met. But those little descriptions don’t really touch on how the four of us just seemed to meld effortlessly together.
We complement each other–balance each other–not just in our writing, but in our lives. We’re an incredibly good karmic “fit.”
One of us is the emotional one–thoughtful, caring, sensitive. Incredibly generous. For someone so talented and so successful, she can be easily hurt and unfortunately she has been targeted in the past because of her success. We rally around her, we encourage her, we support her and, when necessary, we try to protect her from the petty jealousies thrown in her direction. After all, attack one monkey and you’re attacking us all…
Another is the sensible one. Despite being wonderfully creative and imaginative in her writing, she can always cut through the nonsense and get right to the core of an issue, and, usually, come up with a solution. She’s a problem solver. She never gives up. She’s a voice of calm and reason but she never backs down from what she believes is right. I think of her as the mother of the group (even though she’s the youngest…)
Then there’s the fighter. She’s fierce, she’s tough, she can dish it out and she can take it. She’s got opinions–usually very good ones–and she’s not afraid to share them. But really, we’ve come to understand, she’s a roasted marshmallow. Hard and crusty on the outside–when necessary–but so soft and sweet in the middle. You’ll never have a more loyal friend. If I ever fly into battle, she’s my wingman and I’m hers.
And there’s the wise-ass. Umm…that’d be me. Smart comments and raunchy jokes come flying out of my mouth at the speed of light but my monkey pals can always see through them and know when I’m trying to cover up my own insecurities or make light of something that truly hurt me. And they feel free to tell me to shut up and get serious if the situation demands it.
See what I mean? We just…fit.
So here’s to the MySpace friends and the loopy ones. To the conference charmers and the chapter buds. To the critiquing saviours and the plotting pals.
And to the monkeys . I hope each of you has a few of them in your life.
Why don’t you pull up a chair and talk about yours…
Wow this is as good today as it was one year ago!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY PLOTMONKEYS!
THANK YOU DEAR MONKEY BLOGGERS! 
What a week. Thanks for sharing it with us, everyone!
Tomorrow we post the Grand Prize Jungle Madness Anniversary Week Winner, whew what a mouthful, LOL!
And then we get back to blogging in the jungle!
:love2:Here’s to another fun year.:love2:
Comment by Carly — April 21, 2007 @ 6:27 am
What a wonderful post and to think it was the first. I love the fact that the plotmonkeys are still the same today. Your friendship has lead to so many others friendships on this loop. Thank you for sharing your lives with us and letting us become a part of them.
Happy Birthday Plotmonkeys and to all of us who have become plotmonkey babies - you know to read, smile, laugh, and even become angry if there is an injustice to any of you.
You’ve shown us the hard work that it takes to be a wife, mother, friend and awesome writers. I think one of things that means to much to me as an unpubbed working towards the published goal is the truth that you give us.
And just so you know, I believe everyone of us who read and comment or lurk and don’t comment would have your backs anytime you need us.
I’m so glad to be a part of the plotmonkey family!!!!
Comment by Vicki — April 21, 2007 @ 6:47 am
I missed the first post a year ago so it was nice to read that.
I agree with the different types of friends you have.
You have friends everyday that you look for online to chat even if it is through IMs and sort of wish they lived closer so that you could hang out more.
Comment by BadBarb — April 21, 2007 @ 7:22 am
My love of reading romances has brought several wonderful on-line friends into my life (even BadBarb *g*) and I appreciate the Plotmonkeys and all my on-line friends who let me share in my love of these books and authors on a regular basis. My friends in RL don’t read romance, so it’s great that the internet has given me this opportunity.
It’s so cool how the Plotmonkeys are all such friends - it makes this blog a special place to visit
Plus it’s so much fun to be here, too.
Comment by Stacy ~ — April 21, 2007 @ 9:08 am
Jeez, Stacy, even on Sat. you don’t sleep in. You make me feel like a real lazy bones.
I don’t have any friends in RL that read romance either, so it’s nice to have some connection with other lovers of the genre, and to have a source of finding new authors. And also ditto what Vicki said. After this year, I know which is which based on the descriptions given in the first blog - and that’s kind of cool. Thanks for sharing so much of yourselves!
I’ll be waiting for my name to be called tomorrow!!
Comment by Jodie — April 21, 2007 @ 9:22 am
Honestly I only have one friend in RL that reads romance. Essentially all my romance reading friends are online!
Don’t they know romance makes the world a better place?:love2:
Comment by Carly — April 21, 2007 @ 9:24 am
Wow Carly your up early two days in a row…lol
Leslie that was great! Hope your girls show was a successs
This has been such a fun week and I’m so happy that I stumbled onto Plotmonkeys a few months ago, because everyday is a blast…
Comment by Tina Martinesi — April 21, 2007 @ 9:36 am
Leslie, What a lovely post! (I was a couple days late to the blog, so, initially missed it.) I continue to marvel how, essentially as competitors, the 4 of you remain such trusted & close friends. It says a lot for the depth of your friendship that you continue to do so.
I love this blog. It’s fun, warm, interesting, enlightening &, best of all, real. Thanks to all who contribute & make me feel connected. Starting my day with all of you is such a good feeling.
Patricia A.
Comment by Patricia — April 21, 2007 @ 10:40 am
I also agree with BadBard
I agree with the different types of friends you have. You have friends everyday that you look for online to chat even if it is through IMs and sort of wish they lived closer so that you could hang out more.
I have 11 wonderful friends that I chat with everyday on a reading baord and wish that we all lived closer so we could hang out.
This has been a great week
it makes this blog a special place to visit Plus it’s so much fun to be here, too.
Comment by Cherylann — April 21, 2007 @ 10:44 am
Isn’t it great that, when you have a group of friends like the monkeys, how each persons personality compliments the others and each has a strength that can be offered to those who have different ones? Did that make sense??
I missed the first few months of the monkeys, being a late comer, but one of these days I will catch all the posts I missed. Not today though. The sun is FINALLY out, it’s almost 70 and I am going outside without a coat, hat, gloves, boots….
I have one or two friends in RL who admit to reading romance. I just had an arguement, well talk really, with someone at work who was disparaging romance. I asked them what the difference was between today’s romance books and say Jane Austen’s Pride and Predjudice. Isn’t that actually a romance story and the only reason it was in literature was because the author was dead all these years and the story was popular and people keep reading it?!?!?!?
Now I am trying to wrest that section away from the manager who has it. He’s not budging. I wonder if he reads it?
HAVE A GREAT SPRING DAY EVERYONE!!!
Comment by ev — April 21, 2007 @ 10:57 am
Loved that post. Really. And thank you all for opening your doors and inviting us in as friends. You ladies are fantastic, inspiring, and generous.
Keep hanging around and we’ll bring the bananas.
Comment by Heather Harper — April 21, 2007 @ 12:14 pm
Jodie, today is rare LOL. I usually sleep til noon on Saturdays, but I have a contest at my blog, and it’s going to be a gorgeous day, so I don’t want to waste it - woo hoo!
Comment by Stacy ~ — April 21, 2007 @ 12:37 pm
This was the beginning of a fun year filled with lots of love and humor. Congratulations to all the plotmonkeys for a wonderful year. I can always count on a good laugh with you girls. Once again THANK YOU and keep up this wonderful blog!
Comment by Tina — April 21, 2007 @ 1:03 pm
Thanks again everyone–so glad last year’s post got to be re-aired because the feelings are every bit the same today…even stronger!
And I definitely include a whole lot of members of this Plotmonkey community among the friends I have now that I didn’t have then!
Vicki–it’s great to know somebody else has our back!
Leslie
PS: The show was wonderful last night! My girls were fantastic!
Comment by Leslie — April 21, 2007 @ 2:55 pm
Comment by jeannie — April 21, 2007 @ 3:13 pm
Even a year later, I love reading your post, Les! It’s a great way to start year #2!
Thanks everyone for making our first anniversary such a wonderful one! Here’s to many, many more! :cocktail:
Comment by Janelle — April 21, 2007 @ 3:21 pm
Great post Leslie! I have to go call my best friend now!:-) Happy Birthday again ladies!!!
Comment by Carol — April 21, 2007 @ 4:28 pm
I know 4 people in RL who read romances, Stacy knows one of them Tee, and there are at least 3 people at work who read romances.
Comment by BadBarb — April 21, 2007 @ 6:12 pm
My best friend loves to read the same things I do and I have an aunt who does to, but that’s it. So it’s nice to “talk” to other people about the books you read.
I hope the next year is great for everyone.
Comment by Stacy S — April 21, 2007 @ 6:50 pm
Thanks for sharing that first post Leslie! I really enjoyed reading it and I look forward to reading posts for many more years ~ You guys are a great daily habit!
Comment by Robin — April 21, 2007 @ 6:50 pm
Thanks for a great year one and I look forward to many more!!! Also, thanks for reposting the first post Leslie, I missed it the first time around. Happy Saturday everyone.
Comment by Liza — April 21, 2007 @ 8:29 pm
I wasn’t here in the beginning,that was a sweet beginning,thanks for sharing.Cheers to many more days with the PlotMonkeys!:cocktail::cocktail:
Comment by danette — April 22, 2007 @ 5:12 am
You have had such a wonderful week, may it continue on and on to the next anniversary so we can just totally kick back and enjoy!
pat
Comment by patmcaudel — April 23, 2007 @ 7:38 am