Getting to Know You...Again

Okay, so it's been a week since the Getting to Know You post. I'm going to close comments at midnight tonight, so if you want to get in on the game, post in the comments on THAT post. Some of you have started following just this week, so now would be a perfect time to give me a shout out on who you are. How you stumbled into this crazy world of Mindless Musings, that sort of thing.

I'll be announcing the winner next week.

I've Always Wanted To...

For the past week or so, I've been going through my (thrashed) notebooks, trying to find little tidbits of information I've jotted down over time. See, I'm nearing the end of my current WiP, and I'm gearing up for the second round. Which means adding in little things to give the writing more depth, the characters more personality, the setting more believability. (Wow, that's a word. Didn't even underline it. I'm shocked.)

See, I carry a notebook everywhere I go. Little things I notice, I jot down, thinking I'll stick them into a story somewhere, someday. So I went hunting through the notebookage. It was actually quite disgusting. The corners are all curled, some type of granola bar was wedged in the wire, and yeah...it was pretty gross. Good thing I found those sweet cream-colored-page notebooks at Office Max.

I found some interesting things:

• Visor hats. These are cool, striped like a zebra.
• A wall covered with old license plates, the smell of oil and machinery.
• The smell of wet cement, the first rain of summer.
• A girl who has super-short (shaved) hair.
• A cat statue in the bathroom. I feel like it's staring at me. I had to turn it into the wall to use the bathroom. Someone who's rich?
• Someone who doesn't like onions, but loves onion rings. Hates cherries, but loves cherry-flavored candy, etc.
• High heels with skinny jeans. (maybe ankle boots)
  
• Someone who never takes their sunglasses off, even inside.

This is just a partial list of things I've jotted down while waiting in line at the post office, waiting to cross the street for a Jazz game, while visiting friends, etc. That cat really did freak me out. Yes, I made it face the wall. No, my friend wasn't rich, but I thought it would fit into a novel where someone was rich and someone who wasn't was visiting. I still haven't used it.

I didn't find anything to fit the character I'm currently trying to develop. But it was still fun. And now I have something to think about while waiting at the next red light.

So here's my question of the day: What real-life observations have you used in your writing? Which ones are you still waiting to use? What quirks or characteristics have you always wanted to write into a character?

What's With the Letter K?

Okay, I haven't been reading tons of books, but I have been reading tons of queries. And synop's. And reading writing/author blogs all over the Internet.

Here's my question for the day: what's with the letter K? It seems like every single male MC out there has a weird name that starts with the letter K (or a hard C, which makes the same sound). And I don't mean Ken.

No I mean, like Kendin. (I sincerely apologize if that's your MC's name. I just made that up. Srsly.)

Or Cotton.

Or Kornill.

Or something just so out there.

I mean, come on! What is with that? Are people not naming their boys normal things anymore? Where are the Jon's? (Yes, I'm extremely partial to that name.) The Trent's? The Jason's? The Landon's? Don't they deserve a story too?

I know this is my personal issue that I need to deal with. I'm just wondering if any of you can save me from the therapy fee I'm going to have to pay if the next book I pick up has a male MC with a K name.

Makes me wish I had named my boy kid Konanter.

*Snarf*

Anyway, so I started looking at the names of my male MC's. I've got Jon, Jared, Jag, Jesse (I even wrote a book about a Jess--a different book) and Josh. Apparently, I have an affinity for J-names. I also have Landon, Isaiah, and Hunter. Those are all safely in the middle of the alphabet from H-M. I even wrote a book with four brothers and their names are Jake, Kent, Luke, Mark. J, K, L, M. A character even comments on it.

This made me go hmmm.....and I love musing, so this was a good thing.

I also have Adam, Cal and Zenn. So apparently, my guys are either at the beginning of the alphabet or huddled in the middle. Does this stem from our human nature that most of us don't want to go first, but we don't want to be last either? More hmmm...

So what are you male MC names? Let me know, and maybe I'll make a chart because I'm just that geekalicious. Or maybe because I'm teaching charts to 6th grade next week for the country fair and I need something kewl to show them. Yeah, lets go with that one.

Work in Progress Wednesday

This week, I'm showing you my uber-cute notebooks again. I have two I'm writing in now; the second one is almost full. I also have a third notebook, labeled NOTES. Since it's almost impossible to go back and add a detail you've thought of later [when writing by hand], I needed this third notebook. (Oh, and LA stands for the working title, Living Assistants. I have other notebooks, but they are labeled with a totally lame black Sharpie. Not even a shred of cute paper on them. One's called "EH" for Elemental Hunger, another novel I've written by hand. Well, "written" isn't the correct term there, as that book is not acutally finished yet. I didn't write The Mirror or Control Issues by hand, but I have sections of those two books that I did completely rewrite. When I did, I wrote them by hand. That notebook is labeled TM/CI. That almost sounds like YMCA. "Tee, em, see, I! It's fun to read and write, tee, em, see, i-hi!" Yeah, see why I need to write by hand? I can get off on a tangent like nobody else.)

Anyway, back to business.

You see, I have stupid little marks like the ones below, indicating a place where I need something more. Since I didn't have space, I simply drew a line, put the lame symbol and wrote the inserted scene. Um, yeah, it's a mess. I'm not sure I'm going to be able to figure out where those three stars go...

So I made a new notebook. Now I have a purple marker and I put a number where I need to add something. Then in my NOTES notebook (it has pink paper! Squee!) I label the number, write what I want added, and go back to my regular place.

Note: This page is a mess. I had written the scene between my MC, Jesse and his BF Lorenzo (L-zo). Then I decided that wasn't going to work. So the conversation is between Jesse and his not-so-BF-but-becoming-at-least-a-friend, Ty. So the whole thing is just a complete mess of scribbles, and arrows, and other stuff I hope I'm going to be able to figure out. I had not worked out my NOTES system at this point, so don't judge me too harshly!

It's so much easier. And I think I'll be able to figure it out when I actually go to type this bad boy up. Which should be happening soon. My goal is to finish this novel by the end of March. I think I'm going to make it. But I suffer from that 3/4-writer syndrome, and I can feel myself getting bored. But I've made a deep, personal commitment NOT to introduce a new character, a new power, or anything new at this point. I just need to tie together all the threads I've got unraveled. I can do it. I know I can. *repeats to self five times daily*

But I sorta suffer from my-endings-always-suckitis, so we'll see how long it takes me to come up with something that's actually tied all together. *repeat above mantra one more time*

Sidenote: Turns out the photobooth is not the best picture-taking program. Go figure.

How was your writing week? Goals? Major breakthroughs? Lay it on me, baby.

ABNA Quarter Finalist - That's Me!

Holy. Brown. Cows. I'm totally stunned, shocked and blown away.

I made the quarterfinals of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. My excerpt of CONTROL ISSUES can be read here. You can click on the button that says, "Download for Free" and read it. You can leave a review, too, which I would LOVE it if everyone would. (It helps me in the next round. )


Let me say it again: Holy. Brown. Cows.

Teen Book Drop 2009

Support Teen Literature Day is coming up on April 16th. Since I'm all over the teen scene, I've stumbled on some young adult blogs. One of them is the readergirlz blog. You should go check it out if you're a young adult writer.

This is a trailer for Operation: TBD (Teen Book Drop), where they've teamed up with publishers to take books to hospitalized teens all over the country. If you haven't found Guys Lit Wire yet, you should go there too. They have book reviews that are made of awesome. YALSA is also involved, and they have a great website and blog you should check out if you're a YA writer. These are on my daily clicks list.

Oh, and if you wanna find out what you can do, go here.

My Public Confession...

Okay, so I said I was going to take on the challenge to read 50 books this year. Um, yeah. A certain friend of mine has been kicking my virtual patootie. I think she's on like, 15 or something. Since I am the most competitive person on the planet (no, seriously. I was playing basketball with my husband-then-fiancee and I just can't play. I have to play. He ended up elbowing me in the skull, chipping a small piece of bone off my eyebrow bone. Is that what it's called? Anyway, you can still feel the piece of bone moving around in there, 12 years later. I'm just that competitive), I can't let this year go by without reading 50 books.

This doesn't seem like it should be that big of a deal. I used to read 2-3 books a week. Note the words "used to." That was before I started writing. This seems backward, but now I spend all my free time writing, editing, critiquing, and surfing the 'net.

I really need to get back to reading.

So here's my public confession. I've only read two books this year. Le sigh.

My goal: List at least one book per week from now on. I have the summer to catch up. (Yeah, that's what I'm telling myself.)

My 50 books in 2009:
1. TANTALIZE by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Like I haven't said enough about this book. I read it the first week of January. I have ETERNAL in my queue.

2. THE SISTERS GRIMM by Michael Buckley and Peter Ferguson

I have access to hundreds and hundreds of books. My DH has a classroom library. I brought this book home over the weekend and devoured it. A fantastic blend of fairy tales and detective work. You should read it if you like humor, fairy tales, mystery, and a fun time. It was fantastic.

So that makes 2 this year. I have a stack of 12-15 books on my table. I'm so gonna get caught up on this whole 50 books thing.

I blogged about which books I have in my queue here. What else do I need to read this year?

You so know I'm not going to lose this. Even though I'm only at #2...

Getting to Know You...

Getting to know all about you. Yeah, cue the music, people. (And name that movie/play, if you can.)

Okay, I don't know how many of you are actual subscribers and how many of you slipped and accidentally hit that subscribe button and now you don't know how to undo it. But I'm glad you're here! I love blogging, and I love comments.

So today is "Getting to Know You" day. I want to know who you are! I can see my followers (and I always try to click on you and follow you back. Yes, I have the sheep syndrome from time to time.) and it's fun to see your tiny heads on the side. But I don’t really know you.

So here's the deal. Leave me a comment with who you are. Who you hope wins Survivor or American Idol. What you do for a living. Your favorite food. Whatev. A short little blurb about yourself.

If it were me, I might say something like this: "I write YA fiction, adore reality TV, drive way too fast, and wish bacon alone could sustain life." It doesn't have to be like, your entire life history or anything. But just a little something to get to know you.

And I'm gonna bribe you to do it. Food usually works with teenagers and husbands, but since I can't send you my infamous chocolate pie through cyberspace, I'm going to offer up a copy of TANTALIZE by Cynthia Leitich Smith. Hey, the book is about a girl who runs a restaurant and that's totally food-related, so it's all good. So get introducing yourselves!

**Winners will be chosen by random number. No Sprite-spewage on this. Although bonus points will be awarded for that. ;)

FAIL Friday

I hope you have one of those big seat belts like on a roller coaster, cuz it's gonna be a wild ride. I bring you this weekly wrap-up of FAIL.

1. Driving slow in the inside lane. Come on. I passed a student driver on the right this week. They were going 10 under the speed limit! Has the general rule of "Slower Traffic Move Right" gone obsolete now? FAIL

2. Writing a query letter without the four parts. Check here for the first post. Also, submitting query letters to agents without following guidelines. I took a screen shot of Colleen Lindsay's tweet the other day. This comes after her made-of-win queryfail marathon last week. No punctuation? FAIL

3. Daylight savings time. I don't think this needs elaboration at all, but I will pontificate. Not only was I dog-tired because of the time switch, but our district decided to have professional meetings the Monday following said time switch. This does not a good week make. FAIL

4. Expired debit cards. This is a great story. I hope it makes you snarf. Me? Not so much.

So my debit card gave up the ghost on the last day of February. My bank didn't send me a new one. I was a little peeved. Called the bank. They said they did, indeed, send a shiny new card. Canceled said card cuz I didn't get it. Issued a new one to be mailed in 3-5 days for delivery in 8 -12 days.

Just wait. It gets better. "Just know it will come in a nondescript white envelope with no marking from XXX bank."

Are you kidding me? I probably threw the other one in the trash! I don't open every piece of mail. Who has time for that? There's reality TV to watch, blogs to read (and write), voices yelling in my head, kids who are hungry, piano lessons to drive to...and I'm supposed to open the nondescript white envelope with no indication as to what's inside?!?

Yes, yes, you are.

Whatever. The new one is coming. I have to write a check for everything. It's annoying. I hate my life for the next 8-12 days.

So then I decided to take all my tax stuff to my accountant. Thought I better open all the crap they needed so they wouldn't have to (they bill by the hour, you know). Guess what I found?

A nondescript white envelope.

With my now-canceled debit card inside.

FAIL

5. Dancing with the Stars. Now, I think most of you are extremely aware of my addiction to reality TV. I watch pretty much everything. DWTS has been a favorite. Until this year. Um, the words "the Stars" are in the title of the show. The only person who could even be considered a star (Jewel) dropped out due to injury. There are no stars. Sorry. Playboy bunnies, the Bachelor reject and computer nerds do not Stars make, not matter how rich they are. Sorry, ABC. FAIL

What have been your FAIL moments this week? Lay it on me. Maybe then I won't feel so stoopid about my debit card. *snarf*

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger...Oh Yeah

Okay, so I listen to music a lot. My newest song is sweeter than anything. I first saw this video on Jessica Verday’s blog. It was made of awesome. I liked it. Moved on with my life. Then I watching TV (what else?) and heard a little snippet of it.

Enter my dumb self.

I gushed to my DH about this cool video I’d seen on a friend’s blog, and oh, my heck, you have to see it. So I find the post on Jess’s blog and show him. He’s, um, not impressed. Can’t even make it through the song.

Dumb self exits, hanging head.

I should have known. My husband does not get the things I do. It’s a sheer miracle we got married and have remained hitched for so long. My sense of humor is totally different. Oh well. Maybe that what makes it work.

Anyway, so I figured out the name of the song and downloaded it. Some of you may recall my new love for techno. Yeah, this is it.

Not only that, since the FAIL of my first novel, this song has become my motivation. Just listen to the words.

Work it
Make it
Do it
Makes us

Harder
Better
Faster
Stronger

More than
Hour Our Never
Ever, After
Work is Over

Work it
Make it
Do it
Makes us

Harder
Better
Faster
Stronger

Work it Harder
Make it Better
Do it Faster
Makes us Stronger

More than Ever
Hour after our
Work is never over

That part in yellow is what's been inspiring me lately. In all areas of my life. So, see? Good things can come from listening to techno music. Pshaw. Can someone please tell my DH that? Thx.

And because you've got to see the Daft Hands...

Blog Chain - Marketing Me

Okay, so this round of the blog chain started with H.L. Dyer. I think she's trying to kill me. Or something. Then everyone else in the chain is just fabulous, leaving me to look and sound like a complete loozr. Posting before me was Abi. And up next is Terri.

So here goes...I feel like George Costanza.

Not in my real life, but in my writing life. Because I'm sort of in between manuscripts right now. At least I don't live with my parents.

I don't really know how to market my manuscript. I've made a (totally lame) book trailer for the novel I just shelved. I loved Jess's ideas on necklaces and perfumes, but I don't have anything like that. Then we had songs from Kat and that totally rocked my world. I don't really have anything at this point in my life. Christine had some great ideas, and I'm going to be checking out the books she mentioned. But other than that...

What I do have is...me.

I think I'm my best marketing tool. I'm on facebook, myspace, twitter, I have this blog, I've written articles, I contribute to the QueryTracker blog. I'm trying to get myself out there. I'm pretty real. What you see is generally what you get. I have a unique name, so it's easy to Google.

I'm trying to network. That's it. That's my marketing plan. Have a recognizable name with established avenues to promote my novel once it hits the shelf. So far...it's a work in progress, just like everything else in my writing life.

What are you doing as far as marketing goes?

Work in Progress...Tuesday?

Wha--?

Yeah, tomorrow is my day to post in the blog chain, so I can't do a WiP Wednesday. Lame, I know. But I don't want to miss it.

This week it's pretty short. I recently had one of those light-bulb-above-the-head moments on a novel I wrote way last year. So I spent the weekend completely ignoring my current WiP and editing that novel.

But I'm refocused now. Or as refocused as I can get. This week's progress report is stats on the current WiP I've tentatively titled Living Assistants. It's a play on words...get it? I love it. But I try not to get too attached to my words, cuz I end up killing most of them.

Anyway, onto the stats!

Notebooks filled: 1.5 + several pages in a NOTES notebook for things I have to go back and add in on the second draft. Layers, baby. Layers.

Words written: this is a guesstimate from when I typed up my writing during NaNo. Five front and back pages was about 1000 words. So maybe 27,000? This scares me a lot. Because I'm almost to the end of this novel. Luckily it's a middle grade, so it might not need to be much longer. My goal was about 40 K. We'll see when I type this bad boy up.

Goal for having this rough draft done: April.

Blue pens emptied: 3

Black pens emptied: 1

Color of pen I like best: blue

Point preferred: medium (none of this fine stuff)

Hours of sleep lost due to writing: this week? Maybe 6

Number of times playlist has repeated: unknown

Number of times the bad guy has shifted: 3

Heroes episodes waiting on the DVR: 2, oops 3 (from last night)

Hours spent on distractions: countless


So the writing goes on. How are you doing on your WiP? Wait! Don't post until tomorrow.

(Sc)Hairy Commentary

So I got a haircut. I always know it's going to be quite the day at school when I do. See, I teach elementary school. Grades K - 6, and I see the whole school over a two-day period. So I knew last week would be one of those endurance weeks where I have to answer the obvious question of "Did you cut your hair?" like a billion times. With a smile.

Add to that this one: "Did you dye your hair?"

Yes, kiddies. Yes, I did.

So I bought copious amounts of Dove dark and braced myself for the onslaught of obvious questions. Through it all, there were some pretty darn funny looks, staring, double-takes, and yes, even laughing. On Wednesday, I channeled a chicken and most of my hair on top stuck straight up in one of those things-that-chickens-have-that-no-one-knows-what-they're-called.

I also got a lot of funny comments:

1. From a fifth grader (yes, I'm smarter than they are): "It's weird...but I like it."

2. From a third grader: "Is that a wig?"

3. From a fifth grader: "You look like a rockstar." (If only they knew...)

4. From a kindergartener: "You look like my mom."

5. From a sixth grader: "Bok, bok, bok, b-gok!"


And last, but not least. From my dear hubby (DH).

DH: "I really like this style, babe. It's way better than your last one."
Me: "The last one was a stepping stone to this one."
DH: "That was one ugly stone."

I told you I could barely go out in public. Apparently I wasn't the only one who thought so. *snarf*

Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Okay, so this week is obviously music week, cuz that title is a song too. Le sigh. Can't win 'em all. Or maybe I am winning...

Anyway, today I'm asking for your best dialog. I'm planning a post on the QueryTracker blog about writing dialog and I didn't want to toot my own horn. Well, at least not quite so loud. I'm going to be using some examples from my own writing in the post, but I'd like to have some others.

So here's what I'm asking you to do.
1. Email me your best dialog. The most powerful line someone speaks in your book. The wittiest. The awesomest. Email: elanajohnson (at) gmail (dot) com. Oh, and put "dialog" in the subject line.
2. I may use it, I may not.
3. You can include a little blurb (if you want) that sets up the dialog. I don't need a one-page synop—or even a 250 word query letter. Just give me the context. (Example below.)
4. I'll credit you as the author and provide a link to your blog on the QT blog post. I'll also be analyzing why I think the dialog works so well, so if that bothers you, please don't submit. The readers of the blog will NOT be asked to critique your dialog - only I'm doing that. I'm nice. Promise.
5. The dialog excerpt shouldn't exceed 100 words. I want your very best! Your short very best.
























Okay, here's an example from one of my own WiP's. I don't want to say I'm the queen of dialog, although I am feeling quite Bee-ish lately.

This is a scene between Vi (Violet) and Zenn. They're walking in the park after dark—gasp!—and a hovercopter has shown up demanding to know why they've decided to become Rule-breakers. It's from a dystopian sci fi novel, just so you know. Oh and it's her birthday in a couple of week and Zenn's already said he has something for her. (blurb: 61 words)

Zenn turned toward me. "What have you done now?"
"Nothing," I answered. "I've done nothing this time." I'd been good for two months. It was the end of the term, the weather was finally getting better, and I didn't see any reason to cause problems.
"This time?" he asked. "What about last time?"
"Violet Schoenfeld, stay where you are!" a mechanical voice boomed. "The Green demands a hearing."
"Vi! The Green? What have you done?"
"Can I have my present now?" I asked.
(dialog: 79 words)

I am not going to analyze my own dialog here. You'll have to wait for the blog post on the QT blog. Neener, neener. However, if you'd like to rip me apart, that's fine. What does this dialog show? Do you get a sense of the characters? No? What do you get? Anything? Let me know. It's entirely possible this stinks of dead fish, but I kinda like it.

Remember, I don't want your dialog submission in a comment. Save the comments for your pithiness on my dialog. Or that picture of Adam Lambert...

Man, getting shredded has never felt so good. Bring it on!

Meme - What Does That Word Mean, Anyway?

Yeah, I've used it in a sentence. I've read it on the Internet. But I'm one of those smile-and-nod people. Then I frantically look things up later.

So here you have it. This is what "meme" means. I'm sure you would have all been able to come up with that on your own. *snarf* And when I used it in a sentence, I used it wrong. Le sigh.

Anyway, Emily over at Lefty in my Write Mind (which is the coolest blog title, right?) tagged me in this meme.

Seven things about myself. Recently, my SIL Lisa, did this. Her post was so freaking awesome, I just feel like linking to it and calling it done. Sadly, I do not currently wear men's deodorant. I should, I know.

And Emily did such a great job telling about herself. I mean, who can top a plane crash? Not I, said the lazy dog. So I guess you're stuck with my lame answers. I will try to tell you something different about myself. BUT, there's a catch. You've got to tell me something about yourself too. Ooh! I know, let's play the LINKAGE GAME, blog-style!

This sounds complicated, but trust me, it's not. We played it at a faculty meeting at school once. It was supposed to build faculty unity or something. One person stood at the front and said a couple of somethings they did that summer. If you did the same thing, you had to run to them and link arms. Then you said two or three things you did that summer and hoped against all that's holy that someone would link to you, too. No one wants to be a link loser. Most of the time, it was like watching an NFL game as teachers tackled each other to get to the front. Cuz no one wants to go last either.

Okay, so LINKAGE GAME, blog-style. So I'm gonna list seven things about myself. You choose one where we "link" (basically something in common, or something you wish you'd done--like wear men's deodorant--or something you can relate to) and post a comment about it.

Then you can do the same thing on your blog (post seven things about yourself with a LINK back to me, and ask your blog readers to find a LINK to you, etc.). Doesn't this sound sooo fun? I've never been more excited. By the way, the more general in nature the things you list are, the more likely you are to find people who can LINK to you. Wow, that's a long, convoluted sentence. Good luck with that.

Getting to Know You...Getting to Know All About You... *cue the music, peeps*

1. I have attended four colleges/universities. Just to earn my bachelor's degree. I spanned an entire state from north to south in order to accomplish my goal. College was like a curse. I hated it. HATED it. Then I went on to earn 53 graduate credits. I guess I like torturing myself too. Or maybe just getting paid more.

2. I have two kids. One boy, one girl. They are awesome. When they're asleep. They have shining moments when they're awake, too. I seriously do love them to death.

3. I teach elementary school. I started in the year 2000 (kinda like, "I've been to the year 3000...") in a 4th, 5th, and 6th grade music and art classroom. I designed my own curriculum based on the State core since there isn't, like, a textbook on that kind of stuff. After three years of that, I switched to 3rd Grade. Then I moved into the Computer Lab last year. That's where I've been for the past two years. Teaching rules.

4. I have a horrible, terrifying, don't-mess-with-me fear of heights. The world spins. My stomach churns. I can't see. No joke. You would only catch me at the top of the Sears Tower if it was the final location of The Amazing Race and Phil was up there with a million dollar check. And maybe not even then.

5. I am missing the oily layer on the tear film in both of my eyes. Probably because of my 24/7 contact wearage in high school. Yeah, we think we're invincible, but bam! Take that! Can't ever wear contacts again. And unimaginable amounts of dryness, which almost always equals pain of some sort.

6. I have severe addictions to the following: Oreos, bacon, dying my hair, watching reality TV, driving too fast, laughing too loud, sleeping in on the weekend, facebook, blogging, reading, stamping, salt, writing, downloading songs from iTunes and making copious numbers of (unlabeled) CDs, and eating out. It's a good thing I don't smoke or drink.

7. I often leave my house without wearing shoes. I just can't be bothered to find them and put them on when I'm just running the boy kid to scouts or piano or basketball practice. Sometimes the clutch hurts my left foot and then I know--I ride the clutch. Oh well. It's better than riding the slow boat to China, which I also often do.

So there you have it. Not as witty as Lisa. Not as exciting as Emily. Can you LINK to me? Leave your LINK in a comment and post your own "7 Things About Myself" meme on your own blog. I can't wait to see how we LINK UP! And don't be too literal about the linkage. At school, someone said they spent time with their grandkids and a girl came to the front and said she was going to have a kid. Basically, if it has the same letters, you can link. Or knil. Or inkl. Or whatev.