I’m not sure why this post warranted a Roar in its title, but it did. So there!
So, I had an unexpected hiatus. I flew out to Utah last Wednesday for to visit my sister (am I the only person who made that “for + infinitive” construction when immersed in a Romance language? It’s possible…). All was going smoothly, though I didn’t have a ton of time for posting and commenting. Then Mr. Atkins drove out on for a big bike race and from Friday morning to yesterday morning, I had no computer access. Just email via his smart phone. So yeah! That’s why I was not doing the blogging/commenting thang. Mr. Atkins rode from Logan, Utah, to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for his race. Yeah, that’s 206 miles in one day. He’s crazy (but he married me, so we all knew that!). Then he got super dehydrated, so I had to take him to the hospital on Saturday night after the race. It was fun times, lemme tell ya! But we all good now. He did well in the race and we’re back home in Denver.
So yes! RTW! Lemme slap that badge on here:

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway’s contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.
This Week’s Topic:What themes, settings, motifs, scenes, or other elements do you find recurring in your work?
What about you? Do your characters have a penchant for shrugging their shoulders after being kissed unexpectedly by an arrogant, yet kind boy, while “Separate Ways” plays in the background? No? I’m the only one? Weird.
I LOVE that t-rex. Fifty bonus cool points to you.
Thanks! I’m closer to being cool. ^_^
I also love the T-Rex picture. And my characters don’t smile too much, but they do press their hands to their foreheads when they’re trying to deal with something stressful. and I’m pretty sure the unrequited love thing is in EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. of my manuscripts, big or small.
What is it about unrequited love? It’s just fun to write about, I guess! I’m glad I’m not the only one. :)
I find that criminals tend to pop up in my stories, also ghosts. I hope your husband is doing better!
He is–thanks! His stomach’s a bit tender and he’s sore (which makes sense, since he was on his bike for over 10 hours) but he’s fully hydrated at least. :)
Haha that T-Rex cartoon is great. My characters don’t smile a lot, but they do a heckuva lot of eye rolling. I’m starting to think they all have a serious medical condition.
I love the theme of not feeling comfortable in your own skin.
Teens roll their eyes a lot, so that’s fitting!
That T-rex picture is too funny! I giggled out loud. :P I don’t really know if my characters have any tics…now I have to go check!
It’s funny–ever since my teacher pointed that out about my chars smiling too much, I’ve become more sensitive about their other tics. But I still turn to shrugging or smiling first. Argh!
Thanks for dropping by!
music alllllways shows up in my books, too.
heehee, t-rex arms.
Every time I see that pic I laugh. But then I think, “It’s all relative, right? Riiight?” Just trying to defend the T Rex, I guess.
… as if the king of the lizards needed defending.
Thanks for visiting and commenting!
In early drafts of my first novel, my characters never walked anywhere. For some reason, they “made their way to the door” and she “made her way over to the table”. It’s historical, but still a really horrible way to make something feel old fashioned. I think I slayed all of them though.
Hah! My chars always “head towards” their destination, so I know what you mean.
I am stealing that pic! So funny! And your whole post made me laugh (well, not the dehydrated husband part, but the rest). Yay to 80s music in stories!!!
80s music is the best. I recently rediscovered the song “The Promise” by When in Rome. I may or may not listen to it every hour now …. teehee >_<