Book Recommendation - The Dead and The Gone

I thought I'd go ahead and give you guys a book this week because I'm planning on taking off Thursday and Friday again.  Vacation!  Hooray!

The Dead and The Gone

By Susan Beth Pfeffer

 

Blurb from Goodreads: "Susan Beth Pfeffer’s Life as We Knew It enthralled and devastated readers with its brutal but hopeful look at an apocalyptic event--an asteroid hitting the moon, setting off a tailspin of horrific climate changes. Now this harrowing companion novel examines the same events as they unfold in New York City, revealed through the eyes of seventeen-year-old Puerto Rican Alex Morales. When Alex's parents disappear in the aftermath of tidal waves, he must care for his two younger sisters, even as Manhattan becomes a deadly wasteland, and food and aid dwindle."

Okay.  This is the companion novel to LIFE AS WE KNEW IT which I reviewed not long ago.  I enjoyed this story very much.

I caught myself lying in bed after finishing this wondering how I would be able to keep Super Spawn warm and fed.  Then I had a *facepalm* moment when I realized what I was doing.

Duh.  It's a book.  It's not really the end of the world.

Overall, a good companion to LAWKI, and I'm looking forward to the third book.    

Snow! In Florida!

 

Well, the flurries were forecast for Christmas day, but decided to hold off until Sunday.  But it really did SNOW IN FLORIDA!  We got to share a little in the winter wonderland feel this year.  Pretty awesome if you ask me.  Although, we didn't dare venture outside.  Too darn cold.

We had a fire in the fireplace, hot chocolate, and stayed snuggled in our blankets all weekend.

Super Spawn had an excellent Christmas and can't wait for our trip to Universal!

I hope all of you had wonderful holidays, and maybe even found the time to sneak in some writing time for yourself.  ;)

Have a great Monday, lovelies.

Road Trip Wednesday

Road Trip Wednesday is a "Blog Carnival," where YA Highway's contributors  post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on our  own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get  everybody's unique take on the topic.

This week's topic:  What gift would you give your favorite character?

First, we have to establish just who my favorite character is.  Hmmm... that's, like, really hard.

Well, lets start with my favorite Christmas show character:  Buddy the Elf.

I <3 Buddy the Elf.

For him -- a very, very large container of maple syrup, one of those huge bags of m&m's, and the world's best cup of coffee.


Then lets take Hermione Granger, who is one of my all-time favorite characters ever.  EVER!

For her -- one of those book bookshelf things.  You know, the ones that hang on the wall so it looks like books are just suspended by magic!  She could even put them up in her muggle parent's house!  Genius.

 

Last and anything but least, Westley from The Princess Bride.  Ah, Westley. 

 

For him:  I don't really care, I just wanted a reason to put a picture of him in my post. 

What would you give your favorite characters? 

I'm taking the rest of the week off from the blog, my lovelies!  I'm off from the day job, and will be hard at work crunching out the last few chapters worth of revisions to meet my goal.  I hope you all have a wonderful holiday!  **hugs and love**

The Worst That Could Happen

Kat commented on my post yesterday with something I thought I'd expand on.  She said, "It is way too easy to imagine bad things happening when you have kids. I think it's a survival technique-- or at least I try to tell myself that-- if I can think a few steps ahead, and imagine what could go wrong, and prevent it, then that's a good thing. It does lead to some scary imaginings, though."

Here I was thinking I was the only one who did that!  *phew*  lol  Really though, I kinda thought I was being a little crazy...neurotic at least.  Glad I'm not alone.

When I'm in any given situation my mind automatically goes into worst-case-scenario-mode.  It dreams up the absolute most horrific thing I can imagine happening.  Terror will wash over me and bile will rise in the back of my throat.  Tears coat my eyes and my hands shake.  Then I take a deep breath and begin thinking my way out of it.  What would I do?  How would I stop it?  How could I prevent it from happening in the first place?

An example:

We were at the mall one day, Super Spawn, Sister, and I.  It was storming outside and lightening struck, leaving us without power.  All the stores closed, forcing everyone out into the central area, and nobody was allowed to leave through the main doors.  (I don't know why...that still seems so odd.)

Now, I don't like crowds.  The worst things always happen when there's a crowd of people.  Super Spawn started freaking out and launched me into Super Mom Escape Mode.  Sister perched Super Spawn on her hip and I slung the stroller over my shoulder, and we picked our way through the people and down the still escalator.

All I could think is, "Someone is about to start shooting.  Someone is going to pull a gun and what will I do?  How will I keep my sister and child safe?"

Sister will tell you...I was freaking out.  In the end, we all got out safely (We got out a side door and climbed down a big embankment.  That was fun.  Not.), and nobody got shot.  Of course.  Still, that pressing worry of what would happen next is what drove me.

I realized when Kat posted that comment that those situations influence my writing as well.  My mind is used to panic-mode setting in and dreaming up awful happenings.  Too bad for my characters, huh?  lol

So are Kat and I the only ones who do this?  Do you dream up the worst that could happen during your normal days?  And more so...do you use this technique for your stories?

Nightmares

Do you ever have nightmares that you wake up and swear are real?  Dream horrible things that you just can't shake for days?

 

I do.  Especially when Super Spawn is away.  (Which doesn't help my anxiety level there.)

I have these vivid, horrific dreams where my worst fears are realized.  I'll wake in a panic, soaked in sweat, my heart racing.

And what's the first thing I do?  Run for a pen.  lol

Those feelings, that terror, is so overwhelming and so real I always feel like I've got to get it on paper.  I'll need it one day when I'm trying to evoke these feelings in my stories, when my characters are experiencing these events.

I don't like to be scared.  I'm sure not many of you do either.  We'd all much rather live a blissful life full of rainbows and sunshine and kittens.  Truth is though, life happens.  Bad things happen.  And we have to take inspiration from where we can.

Nightmares fuel my inspiration for writing the hard things, and Super Spawn fuels the good.  What about you?  Where do you find those emotions to write the hard stuff?

Brace Yourselves

I was going to do a vlog for you guys today...singing some lovely carols I wrote for you.  Alas, I've come down with the crud, and I don't think you enjoy the sound of dieing cats.  Do you?  Because if you do I can totally make it happen.

Next week should be interesting.  It will be the first time ever, in his 3 1/2 years alive, that I've been away from Super Spawn for more than just a couple of days.  I'm begging asking you not to hold any angst-riddled posts against me.

But, the excellent news is that the tallies are in from the surveys on the bloggers retreat!  I tell ya, working with Alicia and Erinn on this is SO MUCH FUN.  Not just because they're awesome, but also because they have some GREAT ideas that you guys are going to be thrilled about!  You should be hearing from us soon on the next step in the process.  We're so excited!

Now, go count your blessings and thank the "cold gods" that I can't sing for you today.  lol

OH!  Oh!  I almost forgot!  I think I've figured out my comp titles for my WIP!  *squeals and jumps around*  I'm so excited.  They feel so perfect.  And it's an odd combination, but it's SO COOL!

Revisions...well...we'll hope next week goes more on track.  All I've done this week is devour books.  lol  Have a great weekend, lovelies!!

Book Recommendation - Delirium

DELIRIUM

By Lauren Oliver

Blurb from Goodreads: "Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -the deliria- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy. But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love."

Oh. My. Gravy. 

Amazing.  This whole book was amazing.

The blurb caught my eye...I mean, love as a disease?  What a freaking cool idea!  Plus, it's Lauren Oliver.  I very much enjoyed her book BEFORE I FALL, but I have to say, it doesn't hold a candle to DELIRIUM.

It's fast paced, but not so fast that you're missing important parts.  The writing is so poetic and romantic it felt like the word version of chocolate!  For real!  And the love interest?  *swoon*

Every aspect of Oliver's world building was phenomenal.  From the approved music to the procedure teens undergo to rid themselves of the deliria.  

It was a little reminiscent of UGLIES by Scott Westerfeld, but in a good way. 

DELIRIUM is going to be released February 1, 2011 from HarperTeen.  Go preorder it.  Seriously.  

This is easily one of the best books I've read all year.

The First Novel

Inspired by my sister's creation on her blog, I've written you a little Christmas tune of my own.  Enjoy...

The First Novel

The first Novel the author did say
Was to certain poor betas in computers they say;
In computers they read, critiquing their peeps,
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Novel, Novel, Novel, Novel,
Born is the next J.K. Rowling.
 
The apostrophes are ragged and weak
Slow down the pacing, and show me, don't tell.
Your prose is slight, try beefing it up.
And don't let me see you slacking, I'll beat you up.
Novel, Novel, Novel, Novel,
Born is the next Stephanie Meyer.

You've busted your butt, sing your praises out loud;
You sure have made your crit partner proud,
And with this manuscript you'll land that deal
With it will come the most awesome squeal.
Novel, Novel, Novel, Novel,
Born is the next Suzanne Collins.

Sometimes Plans Change

You can plan every day of your life up to the minute if you so please.  You can have guides, maps, and knowledge of your destination.  But things change.

Change is the framework of life.

I'm a planner.  Always have been, always will be.  I prefer to have dates set months in advance.  To know exactly, without a shadow of doubt, what will be happening, when, and where.

My sister and I...okay, so mostly I have been planning a trip back to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in February.  It was going to be the trip of all trips.  Super Spawn is getting tickets and traveling things for Christmas.  A portable DVD player, a pillow pet!

Then I learned that I'll be having Super Spawn opposite weekends of what I had planned.  Because other people don't plan, and adore making things difficult for me.  *glares*

Anyway, now we're going for the New Year!  Why not?  It'll be fun!  They'll still have all the Christmas decorations up!  It'll be cold...like it's supposed to be in Hogsmead.  We've already got tickets and everything.  So...it all worked out.

And the same thing applies to your writing.  You may start out with a story in mind.  A particular path you want that story to take, or a particular thing you want your character to do (or not to do).  Sometimes though, even with the best intentions, things change.  That character may develop a mind of their own, wander off into uncharted territory, and bring you the best story you've ever written.

Who's to say it couldn't happen?

So, keep your minds open to change.  Be accepting of it in your life and in your writing, and something good may come of it.

Find Your Voice

A million and one people in the publishing industry will tell you:  Make sure you infuse your story with voice.  A strong voice is essential.

(Are there a million and one people in the publishing industry?  Hmm.  Maybe.  Don't hold me to it.)

Credit

But voice can seem like this elusive pie in the sky that you'll never be able to reach.  It did for me at first anyway.  Then I realized what I was doing wrong.  I was trying so hard to write "well" I wasn't letting my own voice flow.  I began to understand that the way I talk is what separates me.  It's what makes me original.

Let's face it, no two of us talk the same way.  Where I choose the phrase "Thank all that is good and chocolate" you might say a simple "Thank goodness" or "Thank you, sweet chocolate".

You can tell a lot about a person by the way they move as well.  If they talk with their hands, have very expressive faces, or if they're stoic and cold.  That all lends to voice as well.  It's all part of the whole "show don't tell" philosophy.

Without voice, telling:  Rapunzel started getting scared.  Maybe the Prince wouldn't come to save her.

With voice, showing:  Rapunzel's hands began to shake and her breaths came in rapid gasps.  She swallowed hard trying to press the lump in her throat down, but the bile was determined to rise.  Clasping the ledge of the window to brace herself, Rapunzel looks out on the courtyard, but there's no Prince.  Maybe he wasn't coming.  Maybe she would be stuck in this tower forever, left to waste away to nothing.

Obviously these are not perfect examples (and make pretty much no sense), but you get the picture.  Right?

Is voice something  you struggle with in your writing?  Or does it come easily for you?

I've found in my own writing that the voice comes with a really strong character.  One I fully understand and relate to.

A new idea, tinged with sadness...

Well, I got one wish on my Christmas list this weekend.  A shiny new idea.

Unfortunately I feel like it's tainted with tragedy.  Yesterday tragedy struck our street once again in the form of a sixteen-year-old suicide. 

It seems like one house after another on our street has fallen to tragic ends over the last year and a half.  It leaves you wondering, "What's next?  When is it my turn again?"

It immediately brought to mind Jay Asher's THIRTEEN REASONS WHY as all the neighborhood kids gathered, wondering why.  Just why.  They all want to know WHY.  But I'm kinda glad they don't.  So much guilt could be associated with the why, and I would never wish that on any of them.

But out of it blossomed a story idea.  Something new for me -- a contemporary piece.  A piece about tragedy and grief, and how one teenager handles the consuming fear of the questions, "Why?" and "What next?"

Forgive me for being a downer today, I'm in a very contemplative mood.  I didn't know the neighbors daughter well, but it's hard not to be effected by such a thing.

Hug the ones you love a little tighter tonight, and make sure they know how much they mean.

So, I did an interview...

Between the excitement (and 70+ emails) of planning the writing retreat, craziness at work, attempting to break myself by falling down stairs, reading, and revisions...  I deserve a cookie.  No, a cupcake!  With the chocolate butter-cream frosting.  (Susan knows what frosting I'm talking about.  The best dang frosting in the whole wide world!)

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining.  It has been an awesome week.  Well, except the falling down the stairs part.  I might complain about that.

Anyway....

My sister started a blog this week called The Simple Pleasure of Reading.  She's going to be posting book reviews through the week, and featuring authors (aspiring and published) on Fridays.  Today, I'm the target!  So, if you'd like to see my interview, head on over!

In other news.... If you signed up for information on the retreat you should be getting your surveys today!    Let me know if you don't have them by this evening.

If you missed out on signing up, never fear!  Send me an email, and we'll get you looped in.

Book Recommendation - Life As We Knew It

Life As We Knew It

By Susan Beth Pfeffer

Blurb from Goodreads: "Miranda’s disbelief turns to fear in a split second when a meteor knocks the moon closer to the earth. How should her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis wipe out the coasts, earthquakes rock the continents, and volcanic ash blocks out the sun? As summer turns to Arctic winter, Miranda, her two brothers, and their mother retreat to the unexpected safe haven of their sunroom, where they subsist on stockpiled food and limited water in the warmth of a wood-burning stove."


I read this book because of the amazing review Susan gave it not too long ago.  It was just as good as she said.

The story is told through journal entries Miranda writes, which at first, I wasn't crazy about.  It felt like I was being held at a distance from the story.  An arm's length from being truly immersed.

As I kept reading, the more I liked it though.  The more I appreciated being held at arm's length.  It's not a fanciful tale of how one family survives and act as heroes without any loss on their part.  No.  It's a story about suffering.  About finding something, anything, positive to cling to in the depths of despair.  It's about sacrificing yourself, your safety, your well being for the people you love.  Being the epitome of un-selfish, and Miranda's path to get there.

This is a book that will stick with you.  It'll make you look around and wonder, "Wow, how did I get so lucky?"

Go read it.  You won't regret it.

Road Trip Wednesday

It's that time again...Road Trip Wednesday time that is.  Head on over to the YAHighway to see what everyone has to say this week!

This week's topic:  Your six word memoir.  Literally, your life story in six words.

Here's what I came up with:

Tragedy becomes inspiration for achieving dreams.


And if you're interested in joining the writing retreat Alicia, Erinn, and I are organizing, don't forget to enter your name so we can send you the information!

Writing Retreat Spectacular!!

I think I'm going for a record today.  How many times can Holly blog in one day?  LOTS.

Spurred by a chain of comments on my blog post the other day, Alicia, Erinn, and I have been plotting.  We've come up with the idea of hosting a writers retreat for our blogger/writer friends! 

Here's the idea:  Bunches of blogging buddies, one trip, loads of laughs and learning along the way.  Critique sessions, all-night giggle fests, whatever your heart desires from the friends you only thought existed online!  If you're interested in being included in the awesomeness, give us your name and email address below.  Alicia is going to send out an email to everyone who responds with a survey. 

We're using the survey to determine the where, when, and how so that the most people possible can be accommodated.

The three of us are super excited about the possibility of meeting all of you in person! 

HUGE NEWS!

Everyone RUN to Susan's blog for her big announcement!  Go!  Now!  EEEEEEEE!!!!!!

When You Fall

There are plenty of sayings I could link to falling down and getting back up again, but we've all heard them.  Probably so many times that they no longer carry the same weight.

I took a literal tumble yesterday down about eight cement steps outside my office.  Yeah, ouch.  Luckily I didn't do anything more than earn myself some bruises and scrapes.  But, naturally, it had me in a contemplative mood all night.  Because that's just how I am.  Always trying to find the lesson, the deeper meaning to things.  ;)

There are more than the physical tumbles and falls we make over the course of a lifetime.  Especially as a writer.  One day we may be flying high on the devotion we feel to a project, and a rejection letter later -- well, we're face first on the pavement writhing in pain.

Dramatic example?  Yes, but it paints the picture.

Over and over again we may tumble and fall over the course of our writing careers.  It may be breaking into the market that proves most challenging, or it could be that tenth novel you can't get just right.  Whatever your place in this community, we're all gonna stumble and fall sometimes.  The important part is to reflect on it, to learn from it so that the experience will make you stronger.

And it really will.  While rejection or a critique may hurt, they will only make you a stronger writer in the end.  So get up, dust yourself off, and reassess the situation.  It's okay to wallow for a while, and by all means cry, but then get back to work and make it better.

Know Your Characters

Do you ever catch yourself thinking about the implications of a seemingly insignificant decision?  Not just directly, but how each affect could spiral into millions of effects?  It can be mind boggling to consider.

I'll confess to something...I'm regularly told what a good listener I am, and I'm not at all.  My mind wanders.  I think about motivations, consequences.  My thoughts fly off into the worst possible direction.  Disaster.  Chaos.  What would everyone do, how would it feel?

Maybe it's just because I like to torture myself, I don't know.  But when I write, I pull from these thoughts.  These random snatches of conversation that fueled so much more than a "The weather sure is nice" response from my brain.

I also like to sit and think about my characters this way.  I know what happens next in the story, yes, but what would have happened if they had chosen another path?  Do they wish they had?  Do they ever wonder? 

Maybe this is all a bunch of garbled nonsense because I'm tired and have to be up in five hours for work.  (Yes, I'm writing this ahead of time. ;) Although I waited until the last moment to do so. lol)

Each of our lives have evolved to where they are through a complicated web of decisions.  Choices.  Seemingly insignificant points in our lives that can change our entire future.  My future changed with a phone call, a cancellation.  Along with a couple, again insignificant, choices and I wound up meeting the man that would become my husband...the man that would turn my whole world upside down and shake it like a snow globe.

Can you find the moments where your characters became who they are?  It may be something huge...a tragic event.  Or it may be something as simple as a phone call.  Something your story never even mentions.  But do you know what it is? 

If not, maybe you should find it.  Truly knowing your characters gives more than life to your story...it gives it soul.

All I Want for Christmas

Is YOU!

Hehe.  I've had that song stuck in my head for days.  DAYS.

In preparing for the coming holidays, I'm thinking a lot about lists and goals.  What to get Super Spawn for Christmas (Way too much, that's what!), who to buy for, what to buy, card lists.  The sheer magnitude of list makeage in my life has come to an all time high. (And that's saying something because I LOVE making lists. I make them for everything.)

Naturally, this has bled over into my writing life.  I do this a lot, you guys should have expected it.  ;)

I'm thinking of goals to reach over the holidays, goals for the spring, and overall goals for the year.  The problem with these lists is that a lot of things are out of my control.  Most of them are within my personal sphere of control (which is where I like them), but some...well, they're not.  (Both writing and non-writing.)

That freaks me out.  *shudders*  Back to happy thoughts.

Christmas!  Trees!  Lights!  SANTA!!

Okay, better now.  Back to the real topic.  Goals, aka my wish list.

My Christmas Writing Wish List:

1. I want to make the time to get through all my round-one revisions of the WIP by the end of December.  The ones that have to be done before I can send them to Susan because they SUCK.  lol
2. I want to start outlining book two for the WIP's sequel.
3. It'd be super great if Santa would bring me a Shiny New Idea.
4. Get a good, basic query letter shaped for WIP to give it time to percolate.
5. Find a comparable novel for WIP.  This is proving much harder than I expected.

That's it!  My goals -- er, wishes -- for December.

What are your goals this month?  Are you working on your New Year's Goals (or Resolutions, whichever they may be) yet?

Book Recommendation - Wildwood Dancing

Wildwood Dancing

By Juliette Marillier

 

 Blurb from Goodreads: "High in the Transylvanian woods, at the castle Piscul Draculi, live five daughters and their doting father. It's an idyllic life for Jena, the second eldest, who spends her time exploring the mysterious forest with her constant companion, a most unusual frog. But best by far is the castle's hidden portal, known only to the sisters. Every Full Moon, they alone can pass through it into the enchanted world of the Other Kingdom. There they dance through the night with the fey creatures of this magical realm.  But their peace is shattered when Father falls ill and must go to the southern parts to recover, for that is when cousin Cezar arrives. Though he's there to help the girls survive the brutal winter, Jena suspects he has darker motives in store. Meanwhile, Jena's sister has fallen in love with a dangerous creature of the Other Kingdom--an impossible union it's up to Jena to stop. When Cezar's grip of power begins to tighten, at stake is everything Jena loves: her home, her family, and the Other Kingdom she has come to cherish. To save her world, Jena will be tested in ways she can't imagine--tests of trust, strength, and true love."

*Runs in circles*  

*Flails*  

*Dies*

It's like the Frog Prince meets Twelve Dancing Princesses meets Dracula.

*Dies again from sheer awesome*

Let it first be known that I love fairy tales.  LOVE THEM.  I don't care where they came from, I love them all.  The Irish tales of the Fae have enchanted me for years.  The classics American children are raised on were my bread and butter as a child.  

My WIP is set in a fairy tale!  (But it's definitely not a fairy tale)

Juliet Marillier is one of my all time favorite authors ever.  She won me with her novel DAUGHTERS OF THE FOREST.  I love it as much as I love Harry Potter.  There, I said it.  For me, Marillier is right up there with Rowling.

WILDWOOD DANCING didn't disappoint either.  The writing is beautiful, and Jena, the main character, is so real and so sincere.  It was a little hard to get into at first just because of all the new language/ pronunciations, but it only took me about thirty pages to get used to. 

It was excellent.  Engrossing from the very first page.  I highly recommend it.

Road Trip Wednesday

Time for another Road Trip Wednesday courtesy of the YAHighway!  For this weekly event bloggers are invited to answer a prompt on their blog, and then take a trip around the blogosphere to see what everyone has to say.

This week's topic:  What Movie Do You Wish Had Been a Book First?

This is hard.  My favorite movies were books first!  All of them! AAAAAAAH!!!

Okay, there was one film I saw not too long ago that, as soon as I walked out of the theater, I asked my sister if there was a book.


Avatar.

James Cameron created the most beautiful and awe inspiring world for his creatures.  It was breathtaking, and having no knowledge of the movie before I saw it, I immediately assumed it had been a book first.

Because where else would you find a world like Pandora?

If anyone gets a wild hair and decides to write one, I'll happily read it.  I'd love to lose myself in Pandora for longer than a two hour stretch.

Talking About Your Writing

I may have talked about this before on the blog, but if so it was long ago and I don't remember it.  So chances are, neither do you.  How do ya like that logic?

Talking about your writing.  Do you do it?  What do you say?  And how on earth do you fend off that horrendous question, "Are you published?" 

Just thinking of the question makes me feel all jittery and inadequate.  But WHY?  WHY do these words strike fear into the heart of un-pubbed/un-repped writers everywhere?

This Thanksgiving I took a stand.  I talked about my writing.  I talked about both of my books.  And I liked it.  I met someone who works in a bookstore, because I was willing to open myself up and talk about it.  I met another person who works at a small publishing house.  I got to talk to an old friend who wants to write a book, even has an outline, but doesn't know where to start.

I made a bunch of connections over the holidays with people I would have never imagined just because I was willing to risk the dreaded question.  "Are you published?"  And yes, I got it every single time the conversation swung to writing.  But I slid over it with ease, "I'm currently revising my second novel, and looking for an agent."

Everyone would smile and nod and say how great that was.  How they couldn't wait to read my stories.  And those feelings of inadequacy because I don't have a book on shelves yet slowly faded to the background.  Now I've got a connection to a bookstore in another city for signings once I do have a book.  Plus a new writing buddy to pass along the things I've learned.

So much good can come from putting yourself out there and talking about your work. 

I'm here to challenge you.  Talk about your WIP to someone today.  Someone removed from your writing circle.  Then come report how great it felt.  It's kinda like writing a goal on paper...to make it seem more serious.  I share my dreams with people to remind myself that it is achievable.  It's hard, sure, but we can do it.  We've all already done something more than most -- we wrote the book.  The rest is cakes and pies.

Do you normally talk about your writing, or is it something you keep to yourself?

Insanity

As promised, the insanity that is me when I get excited about something - captured on video.  Yes, I speak of my trip to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part one.  Along for the ride were my sister and brother-in-law, who are just as crazy as me...which makes for lots of fun when you're sitting in line for over three hours.

We went to the 10:45pm showing on Friday night and the crowds were still insane. The line went all the way down the theater hallway, wrapped back around and went out into the atrium area.  In the end they had to make our line about four rows deep.  Nuts.

So, want proof of my randomness and propensity to giggle at everything?  Here it is...

And then I thought I'd try to interview Super BIL...

Gotta love the awesome people you meet at these kind of shows...

And of course, with any making of a movie you're going to have some bloopers...

There were a lot more videos made, but you get the idea.

Doesn't that make you want to go to a movie with me?  lol  My sister calls me her personal entertainment system.  :)  I hope you all enjoyed a dose of my insanity.  We had a crazy good time, and the movie was awesome.

And Emma Watson?  OMG  She rocked this movie, let me tell ya.

I hope you all had wonderful holidays.  Much more insanity ensued on black Friday for the fearsome duo of my sister and me.  Unfortunately (or perhaps more fortunately) no videos were taken.  :)

Have a great Monday!

Road Trip Wednesday

This week on the YAHighway, another episode of best book of the month!

What's the best book you read in November?

For me, if you only count new books that I read (which were few, admittedly) I'd say Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg.

You can see my recommendation here.

What's the best book you read this month, lovelies?  I'm looking to expand that TBR pile that's getting monstrously out of control.  ;)

While we're at it, I thought I should let you know... I'm taking the rest of the week off from the blog.  *gasp of horror*  I know!  How dare I?  The nerve!

Seriously though, I hope you all have a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

On Monday I promise to have a super hilarious post about my adventure to the premier of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  You don't want to miss this, trust me.

And if anybody has a suggestion for a good book for a 16yo boy, let me know. (For my brother for Christmas) lol  I'm stumped.  He has read all the Harry Potters and the Percy Jackson series.

First Drafts and Their Weaknesses

I had planned a post for you guys for yesterday, and then thought I could do it today.  Unfortunately my slacker sister hasn't emailed me the videos yet.

We had the best time waiting in line for the showing of Deathly Hallows.  We met some great people and made a bunch of hilarious videos.  I'll corner her and force her to email them to me on Thanksgiving if I have to.  So look for that post on Monday next week.

For today, lets talk first drafts. 

Setting is something I struggle with in my writing.  In my first drafts you can pretty much guarantee that you're only going to get a vague impression of what the setting is like.  It's not that I don't see the setting in my mind, it's just that I don't want to over do it.  So in the interest of not going overboard, I do too little.

I think it is always easier to add than it is to cut from scenes.

What about you guys? 

I also find that in my first drafts I rush scenes.  Hold on to your hat because we are going places, people! lol  My manuscripts grow exponentially in revisions.

All the NaNo talk has had me thinking about first drafts and the way they differ from person to person.  Everyone has their own processes, strengths, and weaknesses.

So what about you?  What are you first draft weaknesses?

Ah, fun.

I'm home with Super Spawn today who is very sick, so no real post.  Sorry, guys.  Hopefully he'll be better and I'll be back tomorrow.

Friday! It's here!

It is finally Friday the 19th!  You all know what that means...it means it's the official release date of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1.  It means early this morning thousands were standing in line, and sitting in theaters across the country to get the first glimpse at the much anticipated movie.

Alas, I was not one of them.

Having a Super Spawn tends to mean I'm home in the wee hours of the morning.  Okay, so it means I'm always home in the wee hours of the morning.  lol

But lose no faith my fellow HP lovers!  I'll be seeing the movie tonight!

Seriously, I came to work bedecked in my Ravenclaw shirt.  Can't wait to show my boss...she's gonna make fun of me.  Love it.

If you've seen it, all I want to know is this:  Was it amazing?

NO SPOILERS!  lol  I don't want to know about anything they left out or added or changed.  I'm avoiding Facebook and Twitter until I see it because I want my first impression of the movie to be without bias.

Yes, I'm that serious about Harry Potter movies.  Don't hate.

I hope you all have wonderful weekends.  I've got a lot of revising and beta reading to do this weekend.  Plus that chili cookoff that we're gonna ROCK!  'Til Monday, my friends!

Super Spawn and the Deathly Hallows

I have no book review for you this week.

Excuses:  Super Spawn has been sick.  Deathly Hallows comes out Friday and I just HAD to re-read the book before I could see it.  I'm in revising heaven with the most awesome critique partner ever, and the best WIP I've ever written and just. can't. put it down.

But now I feel inclined to write a little ditty about Super Spawn and the Deathly Hallows because that sounds SO intriguing.  lol


It has been such an awesome week.  I'm going to take a moment to thank Susan for her enthusiastic support and friendship, not to mention her stellar critiques.

Also, I'd like to thank everyone who commented on yesterdays post.  It's something that I wouldn't ever wish on a person, and I hope one day something I say can help someone either get out, or deal with the after effects of the situation.

You are all wonderful, and thank you so much for the support and kind words.  Really.  It means a lot.

Okay, get over here!  Group hug!

Road Trip Wednesday

This week's topic is in celebration of Kirsten Hubbard's LIKE MANDARIN ARC contest going on over at the YA Highway!

For our topic we're supposed to tell about a time we did something completely crazy.

My answer for this is more serious than fun.  It was a defining moment in my life, the moment I stepped forward and actually stood up for myself for the very first time.  And no, I'm not exaggerating. 


It was September first of 2007, and Super Spawn was just over two months old.  My marriage was failing, and every dream I ever had was shattering right before my eyes. 


You see, I was in an abusive marriage.  Not physical abuse...not the kind that leaves visible marks.  The kind that cuts you on the inside and makes you believe you're worthless.  There were so many problems...more than I could ever dare list here.


But on that day, on September 1, 2007, I took control.  I came home from my best friend's baby shower to a husband who had gotten so drunk he had passed out on the couch and I couldn't wake him.


Instead of calling 911, I packed my bags.  I got the baby's things, I got in my car, and I drove to my mom's.


It was the craziest and scariest thing I ever did, and led to one of the most terrifying parts of my life, but I am so glad I did it.  SO glad I found the strength to take that step.


Emotional abuse is scary, and the wounds left behind may take longer to heal than a busted lip, but they do heal.  And they make you stronger. 

It's in the details

So, I'm re-reading Deathly Hallows in preparation for the movie this Friday.  I do this every time -- cram the book in one last time so it's fresh in my memory.  That way when they screw things up in the movie, I can still explain to my sister what's going on. (She hasn't read the books. She's one of those Twilight lovers -- and I try to explain how much more amazing HP is, but she doesn't listen.)

Anyway, back on topic.

Reading again, right.  Okay, so as we said in the comments yesterday -- reading this series, any of the books really, leaves me in awe of the amount of planning JKR did.  The way she wove those books together was masterful.

What I'm trying to grasp from this reading is how to effectively plan a series.  Did she sit down and plot out all seven books at the onset?  My gut says no.  She could have, but I don't know.

Either way, how do you handle such a massive undertaking?  Did she sit down to write the second book and go, "Hold on!  Let me go back to book one and see what I can pull in here to make the story richer."

How many of you have written, or are writing, series books?  Two, three, more?  What do you do to make sure details are carried from one book to the next?  Do you intentionally leave clues in the first book to feed the second, or do ideas stem from what you wrote and blossom in the later editions?

My current WIP is heading the way of two or three books, and though they've been in the back of my mind stewing on plot and characterization, I haven't sat down and really planned anything.  I've got a few  notes scribbled here and there, but that's all.

Tell me, lovelies, what do you do?  Or what would you do if you found your WIP couldn't be told in just one book?

Do you know what day it is?

We interrupt this blog post for an announcement that will shock the nation, send old men into hiding, and make young children cry (with glee). 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part one releases this Friday.  I repeat, this Friday!

Who has their tickets?  Me, me, I do!!  Unfortunately, I don't get to go to the midnight showing *shakes fist at sky* as I have a Super Spawn that must be attended to.  But I will be going Friday night...to the IMAX showing.  HOORAY!!!!!

So, for today's post I want to know:  Which Harry Potter book has influenced you the most, either as a writer or a reader, and how?

For me, it was Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.  It was, admittedly, the first book I read in the series.  I had seen the movies, and loved them, but never picked the books up.  When I picked this one up, my life was changed forever.  Seriously.  No melodrama intended.  I fell in love all over again with the art of words.  It drew me back to where I had been a few years before, back before a major life catastrophe.  It was like finding a long lost friend.

So much happens in OOTP, and Harry is forced to deal with more than ever before.  There's the betrayal he feels from Dumbledor, Ron and Hermione, there's always drama at Hogwarts, Voldemort is back, and then the unthinkable happens: JKR kills one of her lovelies.

I cried and cried and cried.  I cry every time I read it, and every time I watch the movie.  (It's my favorite movie out of all of them so far, so I watch it a lot.)

I'm not exaggerating at all when I say Harry Potter helped me find myself.  Because he did.  I've read the books over and over and over again through the years, and I'll never stop.  He reminded me of my love for reading, my love for words, and eventually he led me back to writing.

A Welcome Discovery

You know, I've posted several times about revisions and how painful they can be.  The thought of facing the monumental task of whipping Emerald in shape was daunting to say the least.  I do believe I did a lot of cringing. (And procrastinating)

Then I started the new WIP.

The perfect ending hasn't come to me yet, so I decided while I wait to revise.  I've been writing, revising, writing a little more, revising some more, etc lately. 

And there has been no cringing.

Yes, there are more -ly words than I will ever admit to, sentence fragments, missing commas, and all sorts of wording errors and omissions.  Yet I still don't cringe.

I realized -- I've fallen in love.  I am so head-over-heels for this story I don't think anything about it could make me cringe.  I love revising it!  I love fixing all the adverb-filled sentences and making them stronger because I AM IN LOVE.

Forgive me for being slow on the uptake, but I didn't know this was possible!  The first book I ever sat down and wrote was in high school -- never even went back and read it.  The second book I wrote -- well, tried to write -- is stuffed in a drawer, too painful to gaze upon.  Then came Emerald.  The first book I ever loved enough to go through the painful revisions.  I never loved the revision process though.

Now to have this WIP, and to have so much love for it that I'm looking forward to revisions?  I'm a little bit in shock.  I don't quite know how to handle it.  Well, except to plant butt in chair and go for it.

What about you guys?  Ever experienced the love so deep you can't wait to revise it over and over and over again?

Book Recommendation - Writing Down the Bones

Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within
By Natalie Goldberg

 

Blurb from Goodreads: "Wherein we discover that many of the "rules" for good writing and good sex are the same: Keep your hand moving, lose control, and don't think. Goldberg brings a touch of both Zen and well... *eroticism* to her writing practice, the latter in exercises and anecdotes designed to ease you into your body, your whole spirit, while you create, the former in being where you are, working with what you have, and writing from the moment."  

This book was originally published in 1986 (When I was two!), but I read the updated edition from 2006.  Some of the things Goldberg discusses in the book have been nullified by laptops and computers in general, but the message is still there.

Here's what I think -- if you haven't read this book, go buy it for yourself today.  Right this minute.  It'll be the best thing you ever did for yourself as a writer. Goldberg's book isn't so much about the craft of writing as it is about life as a writer.   It's about routines and schedules, goals and deadlines.  It's about keeping faith in yourself.

I loved, LOVED, this book.  It's the best writing book I've ever read, hands down.  It's inspirational and uplifting, plus there are some tips and ideas in there to get the words flowing I'd never thought of before.In fact, it's probably something I'll lend out quite frequently.And happy veterans day to my US readers!  

Hope you get to enjoy a day off from the desk job.  Super Spawn and I are going to the fair! 

Road Trip Wednesday

Welcome to another YA Highway Road Trip Wednesday!

Today's topic: What's your favorite literary cliché?

 It was a dark and stormy night.  The wind ripped through the trees, and the rain pounded on the ground in a deafening roar.  Stephan ran through the musical rain with the smell of grass dancing on the air.  Something was after him -- a predator, a beast.  The night was so dark it was like Stephen had been lowered into a vat of shiny, black ink.  As he ran, his fear increased, his heart dancing in his chest.  Then he was falling through the air, limbs flailing for purchase on something solid.

When he woke, he was in bed.  Stephan yawned and stretched, not remembering what had brought him out of such a deep sleep.

Hehe.  Can you find all the cliches?

Checking In

How are all those NaNoWriMo's out there doing?  Everybody hitting their word count?

For those not doing NaNo this year, how are the WIP's?  Revising?  Editing?  Finishing up that painful first draft?


My WIP is going well, the first chapter has been handed off to an alpha reader, and I'm hard at work trying to shape the ending.  Urgh, the ending.  My lovely characters always seem to get particularly prickly toward the ending of my first drafts.  They think it's funny to snicker and pass secrets amongst themselves instead of moving the story forward.  They know where it's going, I know where it's going, but they're like a pack  of three-year-olds who have decided they don't want to do something.

Sometimes I tell them, "You are as bad as Super Spawn!  Get off your butt!"  But they just laugh at me.  It's a game.

I've got one chapter left to finish up the WIP, and get the ending where I want it.  One chapter.  And my characters turn toddler.  *headdesk*

Do you guys have these kinds of problems?  I had lunch with a writer friend (who writes adult fiction) on Saturday and we talked about this.  She said it's the same for her, the endings are always the hardest to write.  So I wanna know what you think, lovelies.  Weigh in!

The Most Wonderful Time of Year

The store shelves are caked with red and green glittery things, and the mornings are crisp and cold.  All little boys and girls are prepping their lists for the wonder that is Santa Claus. Turkeys are baking in ovens, and small towns prep for the biggest event of the year.

The Chili Cook-off.

What?  Did you think I meant Christmas?  Thanksgiving?  Hehe.

Every year my dad holds a giant chili cook-off with the grand prize of bragging rights for a whole year.  Judges (like real judges who preside over court rooms) come from the surrounding counties to sit on our panel.  They carefully taste (and re-taste if necessary) each chili concoction to choose the best of the county.

Now, it's not all about the chili.  There's also the spirit award, and let me tell you -- we've GOT some spirit.  My sister, brother-in-law, and I are teamed up this year.  I've designed our table to assure we win the grand spirit award, and my brother-in-law and sister have been concocting the world's greatest chili.

I decided our theme this year was Witches Brew...so not only will we have a simmering cauldron, but our ingredients will read:  brains, heart, eye of bat, tail of newt, and so forth.  I've got labels to replace the can labels with and everything. 

Oh yes, the spirit award is in the BAG.

Okay, so what's the point?  What does this have to do with a blog about writing?

The inspiration for everything I write comes from my surroundings.  The people, the things they say, the yearly events we partake in.  Those tiny details are what really make a story shine.

When I read a book about a small town I expect to really feel like the characters are in a small town.  Too often the town is not only small by size but by personality as well.

I'm from a tiny town.  There was one caution light in my little county until I went to high school.  Football is the epicenter of our world, but not college -- high school.  We have festivals pretty much every month, and parades with the smallest excuse.  Chili cook-offs are anticipated all year.  The guys ride around in huge four-wheel-drive trucks with elaborate boxes in the back for their dogs.

There's nothing small about a small town other than the numbers.  It's a close-knit community and a way of life with a huge personality.

The small details are what will make your writing sing.  Don't forget to slow down sometimes and enjoy them, listen to them, and use them.

Friday Fun - Picture Books

Super Spawn loves to read.  Hurrah!

The tricky part is getting him to read something that isn't Thomas the Train or CARS.

So this week when his school had their Scholastic Book Fair, I got excited.  (Duh.  We all would.  lol)

Every day as we came and went from the school I eyed the books.  On Wednesday afternoon I finally took the time to stop and look around.  We made a deal.  Super Spawn could pick a book, and I could pick a book.  This way he got his favorite characters, and I got to search for a new author and/or illustrator to add to our shelves.

*insert squeals of delight here*

I adore picture books.

We wound up with another train book, and this jewel...

Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk

The blurb from Scholastic: "Sam is a mouse who lives in a library and loves to make up and write his own stories. When he leaves his stories in different parts of the library, humans find the stories and want to know who the writer is."

Cutest. Story. Ever.

One of my all time favorite bedtime stories is Wynken, Blynken, and Nod by Eugene Field.  The version we have is in a compilation book and the illustrations are...gosh...they're breathtaking.  I could stare at the pages for hours.  Combine that with Field's beautiful words...even Super Spawn lays quietly for the story.  (and that's AMAZING)

Do you guys have any favorite picture books you can recommend?  And anyone with little ones have any debut authors/illustrators you're in love with?  I'm always looking for new books to entice him with that are not full of TV/Movie characters.

Road Trip Wednesday

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and we  answer it on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

Today's Topic: If you were made supreme ruler of the publishing world, what would be your first ruling?

Muahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!  The thought of being supreme ruler of anything sends vibrations of excitement through me.


I like to be the boss.  Why do you think I write?  When I write I get to play supreme ruler of the universe!  This job is right up my alley.


But supreme ruler of the publishing world?  Oh boy.  What wouldn't I do?!

First, I'd create the biggest library in THE WHOLE WORLD.

And I'd sit in the middle of it in a squishy armchair and read.

I'd hold story time for young and old alike, and we'd talk about the books we read and the meanings behind the words.


Hmm...maybe I should have been a Lit. teacher.


Does it have to do with publishing?  Meh, not really.  Does it sound AWESOME anyway?  YEP!

What about you guys?  What would you do as your first ruling of supreme ruler of the publishing world?

Outlines, and how I use them

** Quick side note.  Look at the new badge for my blog the lovely Susan gave me!  It's to the right -->   Don't you love it?  I love it!  The little mouse is precious.  Thank you, Susan!!!**

No big surprise here -- I'm not an outliner.  (And I realize outliner is not a word, spellchecker.  Thankyouverymuch.)

Well, I don't outline for the first (usually) half of the story anyway.  I just write it.  Let the words flow and all.

Until I hit The Wall.

 

It's inevitable.  At some point in any story I'm writing, I'll hit The Wall.

I don't always see it coming.  I'll be cruising along, loving my characters and the direction then BAM!  How the heck do I get out of this?!  

Ah, the joys of writing.

That's when I pull out the note cards and sticky notes and get to planning.  First thing I do is decide where the story is going to end.  Then I look at where I am and where I need to be for the big-picture.

Okay, at this point I'm still OMG HOW DO I GET THERE?!

So I sit on it.  It could take a day, or it could take a week, but eventually it'll come to me.  I'll see the window through the curtains, down the stairwell to the left.  Then I go scene by scene -- what needs to happen and how to reach the ending.

The best part?  While I'm waiting for that epiphany, I'm revising.  Then the grand moment arrives, I write my little heart out to the ending, and I've got a descent draft ready to go to my alpha reader.

Is this the easiest way to write a novel?  No, probably not.  Is this the way for most people to write a novel?  I'm gonna guess no again.  

Is this the only way I can get words on the page?  Yep! 

If you outline, how do you do it?  Scene by scene or a general story arch?  And if you don't outline, do you ever hit that wall?  How do you work your way around it?

It's a *headdesk* kind of day

I was planning a picture post for you guys.  Then everything went haywire.  So I have no pictures.

Fail.


In their place I give you.... VIDEO CUTENESS!!  After I made the vlog for you guys last week, the only thing Super Spawn wants to do is record himself.  So, here are a couple doses of cuteness for you today...

On a sorta side note -- is anyone else out there dealing with food allergies?  I believe I've mentioned before that Super Spawn is allergic to nuts.  Well, I was worried that with Halloween he'd feel a bit upset when I removed all the unsafe candy from his bucket. 

Boy was I surprised when that only turned out to be a handful worth!  Most of the candy he got was totally safe for him to eat.  YAY for a safe Halloween!!

Friday Fun -- Writing Style Q&A

This has been saved in my blogger dashboard for, oh I don't know, EVER.  I don't even remember where I found it at this point, but I think it'd be fun to share.  I'm going to answer all the questions and then pass it on to you guys!

I want to know: How do you write? 

1. Are you a “pantser” or a “plotter”?

Mostly a pantser.  I don't usually know where the story is going until I'm there. Now, I will sit down and think out a very basic plot line and character arc, but I'm not an outliner.  I have notes, usually about a sentence for what each chapter/scene will be about.  Then I have notes on motivations for each character.  That's all though, the rest I learn along the way, and nothing is set in stone.


2. Detailed character sketches or the character builds itself?

My characters always build themselves. And usually that happens before I ever start writing the novel.  One day a new character will just show up in my head to chat.  (That makes me sound like a crazy person!)  I may jot down some notes about motivation, but that's about it.

3. Do you know your characters’ goals, motivations, and conflicts before you start writing? Or is that something you discover only after you're in the thick?

Yes.  Always, always, always.  They may develop or evolve as I write, but I always start out knowing what they want, why, and what is keeping them from it.

4. Books on plotting?


I don't know if I've read books on plotting exactly...I've read a lot of craft books, but not just "This is How to Plot".  I've read Donald Maass's books, some style books, first pages books, etc.

5. Are you a procrastinator or does the itch to write keep at you until you sit down and work?

I've got the itch.  I think about it, wish for it, and crave the solitude of my words all day long.  Then when I finally sit down to write it's like THANK GOODNESS, FINALLY!!!  lol


6. Do you write in short bursts of creative energy, or can you sit down and write for hours at a time?

Short bursts. I never have hours to just sit and write. I'm not even sure I could handle sitting still for hours at a time to just write.  I'd have to jump up every few minutes to do something I'm so used to the short bursts method.  lol  But with a full time job and a Super Spawn (who's always in the middle of everything, as you witnessed) the only time I have to write is done in short bursts.  It works for me.


7. Are you a morning or afternoon writer?

Time doesn't really matter.  Probably more of an afternoon/evening writer, but I write in the morning sometimes too.  Just depends on the day.

8. Do you write with music/the noise of children/in a cafe or other public setting, or do you need complete silence to concentrate?

Well, I need noise.  I write in restaurants a lot...a whole lot.  See, I write on my lunch break every day, so if I want to eat, I write in a restaurant.  That tends to be when my best ideas come.  I also write with music once in a while, but it's either something like Brahms, Bach, or Celtic instrumental music.


9. Computer or longhand? (or typewriter?)

I wrote 3/4 of Emerald's Keeper longhand before I got my fabulous netbook. It was pretty arduous.  Now I use my netbook all the time (I even carry it in my purse).

10. Do you know the ending before you type Chapter One?

No, never.  I tried that with my WIP, but then my imagination went wild, and it'll have a much cooler ending now.  :) 

11. Does what’s selling in the market influence how and what you write?

No.  I mean, I'm going to strive to write the most original stories I can no matter what the market says.  If I see something identical to what I'm writing on the shelves, yeah, that might make me change it up, but I'll never write to trends.  (I know, I know.  Never say never.  But really...I'm not a trendy type person.)

12. Editing – love it or hate it?

Meh.  I love what editing does for a novel, but it's not the most fun thing in the world to do.  lol  I like that last round of edits where you feel everything clicking into place.  Best feeling ever.

There you have it!  Now you know pretty much everything about my writing process.  Your turn!  Answer in the comments, or post it on your blog and leave a link in the comments for me.


Come on, it's fun!

Road Trip Wednesday

Welcome to YAHighway's weekly road trip around the blogosphere!

This week's topic:

What's the best book you read in October?

Well, I'm heartily embarrassed to admit I didn't read a single dad-blame book in the whole month!  *insert gasps of horror here*  I know!  But October was my very own OctoWriMo in which I battered out a first draft of my new WIP.

Writing is a good excuse for not reading, right?  (And I actually did read one book, but it's tomorrow's post.  So you have to wait.)

To make up for it, I'm going to give you a special treat!  A Vlog so you can "meet me" in person!  I was going to do a vlog for the conference post (and even went so far as to make one) but chickened out and didn't post it.  So, here you are...Holly Live!  (Sort of.  Okay, not really, but it's as close as you'll get on a blog.)  Please forgive me for the wet hair and PJ's lol  I decided to squeeze it in just before Super Spawn's bedtime.

(PS I'm reading Lauren Olliver's BEFORE I FALL, not If I Fall like I say in the video.  Oops.  Guess that's what I get trying to make a video with a three-year-old nearby!)

Maybe a little random

**Edited to add:  You must go over to Susan's blog today for her Big Announcement!  Plus, she's giving away lots of cool prizes!!**

Okay, so if you've been following this blog for a while you know I get random sometimes.  Welcome to another episode of Holly Randomized!

On my drive down to the conference I heard this song as I was breezing through radio stations, and it caught my attention.  First because of the happy, bouncy music, but then the words grabbed me.

Lyrics:
...
How did we stay so long together?
When everybody, everybody said we never would
And just when I, I start to think they're right
That love has died...

There you go making my heart beat again,
Heart beat again,
Heart beat again
There you go making me feel like a kid
Won't you do it and do it one time?
There you go pulling me right back in,
Right back in,
Right back in
And I know-oo I'm never letting this go-ooo

I'm stuck on you
Whutooo whutooo
Stuck like glue
You and me baby we're stuck like glue
Whutooo whutooo
Stuck like glue
You and me baby we're stuck like glue

Some days I don't feel like trying
Some days you know I wanna just give up
When it doesn't matter who's right, fight about it all night
Had enough
You give me that look
"I'm sorry baby let's make up"
You do that thing that makes me laugh
And just like that...

There you go making my heart beat again,
Heart beat again,
Heart beat again
There you go making me feel like a kid
Won't you do it and do it one time
There you go pulling me right back in,
Right back in,
Right back in
And I know-oo I'm never letting this go-ooo
...



So what does this have to do with anything?  Leave it to me to think of the most abstract meaning.  It totally reminds me of my relationship with writing!  When I start to feel down, feel like my writing is the worst it could possibly be, something happens that makes my heart beat again.  It reminds me how much I LOVE writing.  I remember how great it makes me feel, and it's all better again.


Some days you want to just give up, then you have this great idea -- maybe a really stellar paragraph or a shiny new idea -- and your heart pitter-patters again with that excitement, that love.


I'm right, aren't I?  :D


Here's the music video, the band is Sugarland and the song's title is "Stuck Like Glue."

The Conference Experience

Hundreds of writers, a plethora of agents, editors, and publishers, plus workshops on everything from your first page to marketing plans.  There's only one place you get all of this awesome stirred up together -- conferences!


Well, the conference started at 7am Saturday!  Oy.  So, we had a genre meet and greet which was super fun.  I didn't get to meet any YA writers, but I met a bunch of awesome MG writers.

The first session that morning was on engaging the YA reader (which wound up more geared to MG).  I missed about the first half of it though because I wound up with the very first pitch appointment that morning!  That was pretty darn lucky.  Well, I hated to miss a big chunk of the YA talk, but I was very happy to get to meet the agent before she had been stuck in that room all day long.

Now, the pitch was a source of much angst for me.  It's intimidating!  And as much helpful information as I found out there from agents and the like, I didn't find much from fellow writers.  So, I thought I'd include what happened in my pitch for you guys.  Take from it what you will, maybe it'll help someone not be so nervous about the process.

It wasn't until about two minutes before I walked in that I got nervous.  The nerves only lasted briefly though, I was fine once I got to talking with the agent.  This is how it went for the most part:

Agent:  So, what are you here for today?

Me:  I wrote a YA novel called Emerald's Keeper.

Agent:  Tell me about it.

Me:  In Emerald's Keeper the world is getting darker, light-consuming creatures feed on the pure of heart, and fourteen-year-old Mandy is the only one that can stop them, but she has to find the strength to let go.

Agent:  Oh, really?  What does she have to let go of?

And so it went!  She asked questions, I answered.  She asked about the main plot, themes, subplots and the like.  Once we were done she said she liked my premise very much and asked that I send some pages.  Just that easy!  There was even a little time left to chit chat on a more personal level.  You know, just asking, "How was your flight?" or whatever.

I can honestly say if I ever do another pitch, I won't be nervous.

Another great thing about conferences?  So, maybe I'm a little anti-social in person, I'm a writer, I think it's a pre-requisite.  lol  At lunch I found an empty table and pulled out my nook, thankful for a little time to rest my brain.  A few minutes later a lady came and sat beside me (who I assumed was another writer).  We chit chatted a bit and she asked what I write.  I told her, and asked what she did.

She was an agent.  Guess I should have studied the faculty list better!  But then we talked a little more and she slid me her card and asked that I send her my materials.  How freaking cool, right?!  A minute later an agent that reps screenwriters came and joined us and I got to be included in their shop talk.

I also got to attend a session on marketing.  It was pretty good, I learned what a press kit is, and what goes in it.  They also talked about blogging and being on twitter as important steps.  (check, check)  Something that worried me a bit though was that the lady teaching the class suggested putting a press kit together to hand agents you have pitch sessions with.  Eep!  Not sure that would be a very good idea.  I almost said so, but I didn't want to challenge her during her own session so I held my tongue.

I got the impression that a good portion of the people there were doing self publishing, so maybe having printed press kits would be a good idea in that situation.  I don't know, I'm not a marketing genius by any means.

The last session I went to was on narrative drive.  It was really interesting the way he took parts of three different books and showed us on a sentence-by-sentence basis how the writer moved the plot forward and kept the reader hooked.  He also said this that struck a chord with me: No matter what you write, these four words need to drive it: tell me a story.

So simple, yet so true.

That's really it!  I mean, other than my tire blowing out on the way home it was an excellent trip.  But I figure for all the good something bad had to balance it out.  ;)

There you have it, my friends!  If you get the chance to go to a conference, even a small local one, do it.  It's so worth it!

Checking In

Stopping in to say the conference is going great!

I'm at lunch chatting with a couple agents and eating some great food!  Seriously, the vegetarian lasagna is amazing.

Anyway, we're going to have a lot to talk about on Monday!!

I'm really looking forward to this afternoon's workshops and the speakers tonight.  Plus, if lunch was this good I bet the banquet tonight is going to be great!

Finally!

It's here!  Friday!  Woo!

Today, I leave for The Conference.  I'm ready to go with my log line, a couple copies of my first pages and synopsis (just in case, not to hand anybody unless they specifically ask for it), and a pair of gorgeous heels.

What?  You don't wear gorgeous heels to conferences?  Well, neither do I usually, but these are so gorgeous I simply must wear them.  Plus, there's this whole banquet thing I'm supposed to wear a dress to. 

I'm excited, and nervous, and excited all over again. Hopefully I won't suddenly freak out when I walk into my pitch appointment -- that would suck.  I'm going to try to keep my cool.  Agents are people just like us.  Maybe I should pretend I'm talking to you guys...that might help.  :)  I'm rambling in all my excitement.

There's a whole session on YA, a session on marketing, and some really great speakers I'm looking forward to.  Maybe I'll learn something new to share with you.  (Plus I get a whole weekend in a hotel room by myself.  Nothing but chocolates and my WIP to keep me company.  *sigh*)

Anyway, I'll take some pictures for you guys, and will give a full report on Monday.

Wish me luck!!!

Rule Breaker

I am a rule breaker.  I've probably broken every writing rule known to man in the course of drafting my stories.

And you know what?

I don't care.

I find it perfectly and spectacularly awesome that I can, amazingly, use astonishingly high amounts of -ly words in nearly every sentence.  Really.

I love that I can allow myself to write without worry of run on sentences, or dangling modifiers.

Every time I see a missing comma it makes me smile.

My tense may change every other sentence, but that's okay because my character is being genuine.

It's the first draft, and I'm allowed to break the rules!

Will I go back and fix them?  Yes.

Giving myself the artistic license to write whatever I feel allows me to be authentic to my voice -- to the character's voice.  I can go back and refine it later.

It's what works for me.  I allow myself to use "just" every other word if necessary, along with "so", "like", and "maybe".

Whatever works to get the words on the page.

What about you?  Do you allow yourself to break the rules, or do you stress over every single word?

Road Trip Wednesday

Today on the YA Highway we're talking comp titles.

What's a comp title?  Well, it's a book and or author that are similar to your manuscript either by style or subject matter.

Okay, so picking comp a title is kinda hard.  When I was looking for comps for EMERALD'S KEEPER, I dragged my sister to the bookstore and made her sit with me and go through stacks and stacks of YA books.  True story.  We were there for hours reading, and I left with the tallest tower of novels ever.  ;)

In the end, my sister and I decided my style of writing and imagery best compared to Aprilynne Pike's WINGS, and Holly Black's TITHE.  (Ha, even the covers are similar!)

Two, fairly different, yet still similar titles.

I foresee another trip to the bookstore to find comp titles for my WIP.  I've never read a story quite like this one before, so it should be a fun hunt.

What are  your comp titles?  How did you pick them?