Ciao, amici! I’m a day late, but Happy Valentine’s Day. I’ve said it before and I’ll (probably) say it again, but this isn’t a huge deal in my house. We try to acknowledge our feelings for each other every day, not just on designated days of the year.
That said, as of late I’ve been remiss in telling you how I feel about you. For that, I’m sorry. Please know I treasure all of you and am always grateful for this time we spend together.
You might remember my lament not long ago about my son eating my chocolate covered coffee beans. They still have not been replaced. In his defense, I keep telling him I don’t need them (I’m on a perpetual diet, but sometimes I cheat… hence me buying the CCCBs that he ate), so he takes me on my word and doesn’t bring me any. He’s still young and hasn’t mastered woman-speak yet, so it hasn’t occurred to him that I want them anyway. Man, when he settles down, he’s in for quite the learning curve.
Anyway, since I didn’t get my treat replaced, I had to make do with a cup of coffee and a square or two of chocolate.

It wasn’t quite the same, but it worked in a pinch.
So, because I had chocolate on my mind, and because it was Valentine’s Day yesterday, I thought the Charles Schultz quote was appropriate.
All you need is love.
But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.
This week was busy (as usual), but it was filled with love. And yes, a little chocolate and a lot of coffee. And I can’t complain about that. I hope you had a good week, as well.
And now, this week’s writing links:
Posts by me, about my work, or at sites I contribute to:
Me
Story Empire
- Do You Flume? | Me
- Passive Characters | C.S. Boyack
- Friday Writing Question: Your Favorite and Least Favorite? | Joan Hall
Posts by others in the industry:
- Tips for Writing Great Scenes | K.M. Allan
- Telling Words | Fiction University
- Multi-Book Delivery Feature | BookFunnel
- Hone Your Writer’s Eye | The Write Practice
- Keep Them Turning the Pages | Don Massenzio
- Crutch Words | Fiction University
- Privacy Settings | Nicholas C. Rossis
- Boot Soles as Evidence in Fiction | The Kill Zone
- 15 Literary Journals that Respond within a Month | Colleen Chesebro
- Benefits to Hearing Your Book | Don Massenzio
- 5 Pinterest Tips for Authors | Kobo Writing Life
- A Story’s Foundation | Legends of Windemere
- 6-Figure Master Plot | Fiction University
- Glyphs and Swashes | Natalie Ducey
- When the Words Won’t Come | Fiction University
- Three-Act Structure | The Write Practice
- Advance Plot with Careful Scene Design | Live Write Thrive
- Going from Author to Publisher | Kindlepreneur
- The Liquid Phase of Plot | Legends of Windemere
And when you’re done with these links, don’t forget to check out the sidebar, where you’ll find more links to some of my favorite sites.
Have a great week! Arrivederci!
Reblogged this on Kim's Musings.
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Many thanks, Kim.
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Reblogged this on Nicholas C. Rossis and commented:
Staci’s writing links of the week
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Many thanks.
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And I’m a week late. Sigh. V-day is no big deal in my house, either. And sometimes you just have to explain to the woman-talk-impaired that yes, even though you told him you don’t NEED them, you really do want him to replace your treats because he didn’t ask if he could have any, and wouldn’t he want you to replace his treats if you ate them without asking him first? Yep, kids. He’ll figure it out. Maybe. Eventually. 😉
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I’d never deny family or friends (or pretty much anyone, really) anything they wanted. Those CCCBs were “mine” but they weren’t mine. Of course he could have some. But all? When he could get them at work, anyway? FOR FREAKING FREE?
He’s definitely woman-speak-impaired. Maybe I should send him the link to this post as a gentle reminder. (Gentle: woman-speak for clubbing him over the head with it.)
I’m really looking forward to the day he’s in a relationship. It’s going to be so fun to watch!
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Women-speak…that’s priceless! Thanks for another awesome share, Staci, and for including my post, too. You rock! Happy weekend. 🙂
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Glad to do it. Happy Sunday!
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Haha, he’s young so he doesn’t understand woman-speak… classic. He’ll very quickly learn out there in the wild world though 😉
Love your coffee cup by the way 😁
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Right now, he’s “playing the field” (If you’ll forgive my old fashioned turn of phrase), so he doesn’t realize the necessity of becoming fluent in woman-speak. But he’ll learn pretty fast when he gets serious with a girl. Should be interesting!
Thanks. I love that mug, too.
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Hubby had a sweet card waiting for me when I got home. Brought tears to my eyes. But after almost thirty-five years of marriage, he still doesn’t completely understand women-speak.
Another great quote! And just so you know, a little dark chocolate is good for you!
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I’d much rather have a low-key night at home than a big production out. And it’s not the little dark chocolate that’s a problem; it’s a lot that I worry about. 😂
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I am 77 and still study women speak like a newbie. Seems it is ever evolving. Happy Valentine’s day, Staci.
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Why, I don’t know what you’re talking about, John. You act as though we’re complex and mysterious. 🤣
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😳
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Men are dense. They think they know, but they are clueless.
We don’t do Valentine’s Day here either. We don’t need a day to share our love.
Thanks for the links. I have a few favorite coffee mugs. One I had to hide from my kids, a Ziggy mug, a Steelers mug, and a be like Bob mug.
Happy Happy.
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I won’t let anyone use my new mom and new dad mugs that we got when my first born came along. I’m protective of my grammar mug and my Supernatural mug. And I try not to let anyone use either of the Mom mugs my kids gave me for Christmas one year. Other than that, any mug is fair game. I tend to collect them, so there are still plenty of options.
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My DH STILL hasn’t learned woman-speak, lol. Have you seen the new M & M commercial for chocolate bars? It’s hilarious, and a great sales pitch at the same time 🙂
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I laugh every time I see that commercial. Thanks for sharing.
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We don’t buy each other Christmas presents but splurge on a great restaurant for Valentine’s Day (when we’re on our own) each year. My grandson recently got engaged, and it’s been interesting watching his learning curve, but he’s getting there!
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That sounds like a lovely way for the two of you to have some alone time.
And watching those learning curves is really fun! Wishing him a smooth and rapid education.
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Your comment about your son needing to learn woman-speak made me laugh, Staci. I’m glad you got some chocolate into your system anyway. 🙂 Thanks for the writing links!
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It had to be done, Diana. If he’s not going to supply me, I’ll just have to get my fix another way. lol
Happy weekend!
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So much good stuff. Thanks for sharing those links. You are amazing. And, we don’t celebrate VD either. It’s easier to show our love daily. ❤
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That’s the only way to live the good life, right? ❤
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You got it! ❤
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🙂
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Ah yes! The perpetual dieting. I took an entire year away from trying and I hated the results. 😦 Yep, you guessed it. I’m back to watching every bite I put in my mouth and walking at least a mile and a half every day. Deep sigh….Coffee and Chocolate – created by the Gods themselves! Have a great day, Staci!
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Sad, isn’t it, how weight comes on without effort but refuses to leave? Deep sigh, indeed. Happy Friday, Jan.
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That Charles Schultz was a wise man – and I’m drooling over your chocolate, Staci.
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He was, indeed. Sometimes I think I learned more from Peanuts than I did from Kindergarten. And didn’t someone say we learned everything we need to know by the time we got through Kindergarten? Very wise.
The chocolate is delicious. A square a day…
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Looks like a wonderful collection of links this time. Someone should publish a book on woman speak.
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That might be a pretty LOOOOONG book, Craig. 😉
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Um, my only comments are probably not safe for a public format.
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🤣
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Hope you crazy love birds had an awesome Valentine’s Day! Thanks for the shout-out.
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And I hope your hubby didn’t lock you in a steel drum (or some other crazy nonsense!) this year. What you consider a good time scares me. 😉
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Hahahaha. Just saw this comment!
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I don’t know if any guy completely ever learns woman-speak but they do get better at it over time, LOL. Wishing you a belated Happy Valentine’s Day and a great weekend ahead!
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I agree; better but never fluent. I’ve been with my husband since I was sixteen, and he’s one of the smartest people (if not THE smartest person) I’ve ever met. And he still hasn’t mastered the nuances. But he gets by okay. 😉
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Mine does too. But sometimes I leave him shaking his head, LOL. Because, you know…when it comes to woman-speak, we also change up the rules 🙂
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That we do. But don’t tell John Howell; I’m trying to convince him we’re not that complex. 😉
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Happy belated Valentine’s Day, Staci. Thanks again for including my humble blog in some of your links.
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You’re welcome. And happy belated to you and yours, too.
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Reblogged this on Author Don Massenzio and commented:
Check out this author inspiration and helpful writing links from this post on Staci Troilo’s blog. I’m honored, once again, to have some posts featured.
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Many thanks.
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You’re welcome.
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Love that mug! Hope you had a nice Valentine’s Day, Staci.
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Thanks. It’s one of my favorites, too. It’s a gift from an editing client who’s now a dear friend. It puts a smile on my face every time I use it.
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I love the quote and the photo … you’re an author after my own heart, lol 🙂 We love Lindt in this house! Happy late Valentines to you too, Staci! And we treasure you too. Have a great weekend 🙂
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Oh, gosh. That Lindt 90% bar is soooooo good. And my son thinks it’s way too bitter, so I’m safe with having it in the house. (In fact, I had two bars by the bag of CCCBs and he just shoved them aside.)
Thanks, Harmony. 🙂
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You mean he hasn’t learnt woman-speak yet! 😀😀 It’s taken me years to teach my husband that when I say I don’t want chocolate, it means I shouldn’t have any but I’m desperate for some! Lindt is some of the finest around. Happy belated Valentine and how true that love should be for every day not just this one! Great quote by Schultz!
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He has not, and probably won’t until he has a steady girlfriend. I’m actually kind of looking forward to watching him stumble through that particular minefield. I mean, it’s obvious when we say we don’t want something we bought, we clearly want it. At that very second. Geeez. We’re really quite simple; I don’t understand the problem. LOL
And yes, that quote is applicable every day of the year. Thanks, Annika.
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Hope you had a lovely V-day, Staci. And please, for the love of all men, teach your boy some basic woman-speak so he doesn’t completely screw up his first time wooing a girl 😀
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I probably should. But he’s very intelligent. And he’s known me for twenty-one years. You’d think by now he would have picked up the basics! LOL
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Happy late Valentine’s Day too Staci:) Glad you got your treat even if it wasn’t the beans. Yes all young men have to learn woman-speak!
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Ah, yes. The Lindt 90% is a decadent treat. But that and coffee is not the same. And the store no longer has the CCCBs, so either he has an epiphany and brings me some from work, or I’m out of luck. But, like I told him, I don’t NEED them, anyway. (He’ll never read between the lines.) 😉
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