Writers Guide
Some More Duran Duran Inspiration Today
Or…another of The Dragon's favorite Duran lyrics

Because you can just never get enough Duran Duran, I'm posting the following coo-el Duran Duran lyric, just to inspire all ya'll writers visiting The Dragon today. This is a great lyric from Mr. LeBon et al. At the show in New York in June, this was the "rare" song the fans voted for the band to play. I burst into tears when they struck the first note. You see, Lonely in Your Nightmare is the song John Taylor played right after announcing to the fans gathered at the convention out in L.A. that fateful night so long ago that he was going to pursue his solo career apart from Duran for a while. God, that hurt. So it's one of those songs that takes a little emotional support to get through if you're really listening to the words…

I think this song is the theme song for Book III of the Choices Meant for Gods trilogy and I just didn't realize it until I started typing out the words for this post. How interesting.

Lonely in Your Nightmare
By Duran Duran

Even on the darkest night when empty promise means empty hand
And soldiers coming home like shadows turning red
When the lights of hope are fading quickly then look to me
I'll be your homing angel I'll be in your head.

Because you're lonely in your nightmare let me in
and there's heat beneath your winter let me in

I see the delta traces living lonely out on the limb.
And a passing glimmer warm beneath your skin
Please tread gently on the ground when all around you earth turns to fire.
Only get a second chance when danger's on the wind.

Because you're lonely in your nightmare let me in
Because there's heat beneath your winter let me in
and it's silent on your stone field let me in

Must be lucky weather when you find the kind of wind that you need
C'mon show me all the light and shade that made your name
I know you've got it in your head I've seen that look before
You've built your refuge turns you captive all the same.

Because you're lonely in your nightmare let me in
and it's barren in your garden let me in
Because there's heat beneath your winter let me in

Because it's silent in your stone field let me in
and you're lonely in your nightmare let me in
Because you've waited through your ice age let me in

Because you're so lonely in your nightmare let me in
and it's cold out on your stone range let me in
Because there's heat beneath your winter let me in


"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: Duran Duran, Lonely in Your Nightmare, Choices Meant for Gods, dragon

Writers Guide
Some New Duran Duran Inspiration Today
Or…another of The Dragon's favorite Duran lyrics

Because I'm pretty much obsessed with Duran Duran (and I wanted an excuse to look at this picture again) and the boys just did a fantastic job at the Concert for Diana, I wanted to post the following coo-el Duran Duran lyric, just to inspire all ya'll writers visiting The Dragon today. This is my favorite Duran song (well, the Monster Mix makes it my fave).

Is There Something I Should Know
By Duran Duran

Please please tell me now.
I made a break I run out yesterday,
I tried to find my mountain hideaway,
Maybe next year, maybe no go
I know you're watching me every minute of the day, yeah.
I've seen the signs and the looks and the pictures,
They give your game away, yeah.
There's a dream that strings the road with broken glass for us to hold,
And I cut so far before I had to say:
Please, please tell me now is there something I should know,
Is there something I should say,
That would make you love my way?
Do you feel the same 'cause you don't let it show? Oh
People stare and cross the road from me,
And jungle drums they all clear the way for me.
Can you read my mind, can you see in the snow?
And fiery demons all dance when you walk through that door.
Don't say you're easy on me,
You're about as easy as a nuclear war.
There's a dream that strings the road with broken glass for us to hold,
And I cut so far before I had to say:
Please, please tell me now is there something I should know,
Is there something I should say,
That would make you love my way?
Do you feel the same 'cause you don't let it show?


"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: Duran Duran, Concert for Diana, Is There Something I Should Know, dragon

Writers Guide
Strength, Courage, Wisdom and Inspiration
Or...today's writers guide is all about the inspiration

I know writers.

That is to say, I know many writers in several writers' groups. Also, I "know" writers because I am a writer. So I know what kinds of things inspire us. I know what kinds of things put roadblocks up in front of us. Luckily (or should I say fortunately?), those roadblocks in my life haven't caused my muse to flee screaming...

In fact, my muse seems to have attached himself to me, which is comforting in an odd sort of way...

And so today's writers guide is for all of you visitors (and probably for myself as well). Just a little inspiration to get the pen moving across the page for you (or get your fingers dancing across the keyboard). It's a gift from my muse and me. Enjoy!

Strength, Courage and Wisdom
by the lovely singer/songwriter India.Arie
Inside my head there lives a dream that I want to see in the sun
Behind my eyes there lives a me that I've been hiding for much too long
‘Cause I've been, too afraid to let it show
‘Cause I'm scared of the judgment that may follow
Always putting off my living for tomorrow
It's time to step out on faith, I've gotta show my face
It's been elusive for so long, but freedom is mine today
I've gotta step out on faith, It's time to show my face
Procrastination had me down but look what I have found,
I found
Strength, courage, and wisdom
And it's been inside of me all along,
Strength, courage, and wisdom
Inside of me

Behind my pride there lives a me, that knows humility
Inside my voice there is a soul, and in my soul there is a voice
But I've been, too afraid to make a choice
‘Cause I'm scared of the things that I might be missing
Running too fast to stop and listen
It's time to step out on faith, I've gotta show my face
It's been elusive for so long but freedom is mine today
I've gotta step out on faith it's time to show my face
Procrastination had me down but look what I have found,
I found
Strength, courage, and wisdom
And it's been inside of me all along,
Strength, courage, and wisdom
Inside of me

I close my eyes and I think of all the things that I want to see
‘Cause I know, now that I've opened up my heart I know that
Anything I want can be, so let it be, so let it be…

Strength, courage, and wisdom
It's been inside of me all along,
Strength, courage, wisdom
It's been inside of me all along,
everyday I'm praying for...
Strength, courage, and wisdom
To find me,
Strength, courage, and wisdom
Inside of me

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: writers guide, inspiration

Back to Inspirational Lyrics for Writers
Or…ever had one of these moments?

Considering the insanity I’m spiraling into these days, I can’t imagine why God would put anyone in my path who needed any sort of guidance. Yet I have two friends who are in need of support these days. And they’ve reached out to me. This is almost as crazy as parents letting me take their teens to youth camp a few summers ago… Yeah, picture Sandy Lender in the role of chaperone. Frightening. Strangely enough, no one died (although I taught the girls the term “loser magnet”).

As all you visitors to The Dragon know, I’m supposed to be in all-out marketing mode for my fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods. Every post is supposed to tell you how you can go order it at www.amazon.com, how there are great reviews there, how excited I am to be getting book signings lined up and my virtual tour arranged. Then there is a fulltime job and a few odd jobs that I do on the side that pull my energy level away. The house has gone into foreclosure, the divorce is under way (praise God), and I had to buy a pair of size 2 pants because I’m sick and tired of carting around safety pins to keep my clothes from falling off my body…so I’m not exactly a poster child for leading self-help groups. I am a chick with issues, you might say. Yes, I hide my issues well. ***insert cheesy grin here*** But does that mean I’m qualified to help anyone else? I can’t imagine…

But I felt the need to share a song that can inspire one when hit with bizarre situations such as the one I’m in now. It doesn’t completely apply because it’s for a guy to sing to a gal. (And, gee, wouldn’t that be nice some day, hunh?) Billy Swan and The King Elvis Presley himself have performed this one in the past, so it’s a gem. After you read through it, if you’re not in tears, tell me what songs have motivated or inspired you.

I Can Help (Billy’s version)
If you've got a problem, I don't care what it is
If you need a hand, I can assure you this
I can help, I've got two strong arms, I can help
It would sure do me good to do you good,
Let me help
It's a fact that people get lonely, ain't nothing new
But a woman like you baby, should never have the blues
Let me help, I've got two for me, let me help
It would sure do me good to do you good
Let me help
When I go to sleep at night, you're always a part of my dream
Holding me tight and telling me everything I want to hear
Don't forget me baby, all you gotta do is call
You know how I feel about you, if I can do anything at all
Let me help

“Some days, I just want the dragon to win.”

Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, fantasy novel, inspirational lyrics, Elvis Presley, Billy Swan, I Can Help, youth camp

Gimme Your Favorite O-So Inspired Lyrics

Have you ever been listening to a song on the radio, singin' along, groovin' out, when you suddenly thought, "Wait, what did he just say?" A friend of mine once pointed out that Blondie's "Call Me" has a line that sounds just like she's yelling "corned beef…on rye", and I've not been able to hear the real words since. But the real words to some songs are just as bad as the stuff we imagine we hear. Consider the literary genius of Starship's "We Built This City on Rock and Roll".

My favorite bizarre line out of a contemporary (and I'll use that word in an all-encompassing sense) music song is from Paul Davis's "'65 Love Affair":

Well I acted like a dumb dumb
You were bad with your pom poms

Fabulous. The thing is, I really like the song, but, even as a youngster hearing the song I thought, "Wait, what did he just say?"

One of my girlfriends likes the banality of Toto's "Roseanna, yeah!" Surely we can all get stopped in our tracks by several lyrics out of the Black Eyed Peas's catalog (and don't get me wrong; I love the BEP). So what's your favorite inspired moment of creative writing set to music? What bizarre lyric in a song makes you grin? Share! (Maybe we'll do serious lyrics next time...)

"Some days, you just want the dragon to win."