The Right Headspace

Let's just start this post off by agreeing that writing is hard. Not just is it hard, but it's hard on our mental health. (Hello, three year break!) There are so many different aspects of this work, and each of them can be draining in their own way.

In drafting, I struggle with perfectionism. I want to put my best work down to begin with, but this often stops the flow of my words.  It acts as my block, and it's exhausting to break through it. It's not something I can flip a switch and turn off either. (But thanks for that suggestion, Hubby! At least you tried to help!) I need to be in the right headspace -- or frame of mind -- in order to step beyond that paralyzing need to be perfect. This particular challenge has gotten greater as my writing knowledge has improved. The story that I've been outlining and drafting while I was on my break has been the one I've struggled with most of all in this respect.

YOU SAID WHAT?!

In revising, well...it's easy to take comments too personally. (RE: the whole perfectionism thing) This is where I have to be REALLY careful with how and when I read comments from my CP's. I don't want to get my back up and be all...

SHE HATES ME!

I also don't want to read the comments when I'm feeling too vulnerable or sensitive, because then can I wind up all...

I've got this!

Sometimes that means waiting a few hours, and sometimes that means waiting a day or so to be able to dive into the comments and take them with a positive mindset...

Waiting is not my favorite thing to do. I'm an action taker -- I don't sit idly by for anything, I go after what I want -- so it's hard for me to wait. But I'm learning to balance that feeling by diverting my focus. 

I've made it a goal of this year, and this month specifically, to work on my craft every day, but specified that "working on my craft" includes reading, writing, critiquing, revising, blogging, social media, etc. So I don't feel hedged in and limited. I've allowed myself that freedom to escape my own mind's games. That way if I'm not in the right headspace for a critique, I've got a whole list of other things to work on to better my craft without feeling guilty or putting myself through the emotional wringer.

I'm hoping that I've come back to this world with enough clarity from my break to keep the positivity flowing. And I hope that maybe my experience will help another writer who has struggled with the same things to not feel alone out there. Sometimes it's nice to have someone who understands to just say, me too.

Do you guys have any tricks for keeping yourself positive during this process? I'd love to hear them!

Super Spawn's MG Book of the Week

I thought it would be fun to let my kiddos have a chance to share their love of reading with you all, and maybe even provide some recommendations you wouldn't have otherwise known about. Plus, it gives a good picture of what actual MG aged readers are reading!

 This week, Super Spawn's pick is:

Trayaurus and the Enchanted Crystal

by Dan Middleton

 

After a day of experiments, Trayaurus and DanTDM are about to call it a night when a strange-looking crystal plummets to earth, breaking into five pieces that scatter far and wide. DanTDM and Trayaurus recover one of the shards and quickly realize they are in possession of an object more powerful than anything they’ve ever known.

Word reaches DanTDM and Trayaurus that other pieces of crystal have been recovered—a group of pigs have harnessed the crystals’ power to enable them to talk. But they’re not alone—Dan and Trayaurus’s archenemy, Denton, has also found a shard and manipulated its power for evil. He has created a cloning machine and is producing a terrifying marauding army intent on hunting down the remaining crystals in his effort to become all-powerful.

It’s down to DanTDM and Trayaurus to stop him. Will they prevail, or will the forces of evil be too great for them to overcome?

 

Things you should know about Super Spawn:

1. He is CRAZY about Minecraft.

2. He laughs hysterically at the videos Dan TDM puts on YouTube when he gets to watch them.

 

 

With that being said, the kiddo has been looking forward to this book since he first heard it was coming out. When we went to the book store over the weekend, it came as no surprise when he picked this one up. This is another of those books that isn't in the AR system for school, and so puts me through a lot of angst over it. I love that he still wants to read it though.

 

Anyway, Super Spawn devoured this book in a day, and immediately started reading it again. He laughed the entire way through it, and said it's one of his favorite books EVER. (Yes, he put that much emphasis on the ever.)

 

So if you've got a young Minecraft lover in your life, I'd say this one is worth picking up for sure. Maybe next week I'll get him on the blog to tell you all about a book himself. He also got FUZZY by Tom Angleberger, so maybe he can review it soon! If you have any MG recommendations for my boy, we'd be happy to hear them! 

Parenting the MG Reader

Being both a mom and a writer adds a lot of complexities to the task of developing my children as readers. It has been heavy on my mind the past couple of months as I've watched one child blossom and the other struggle in my own home over their school reading requirements.

I don't know about the rest of the world, but in our school district the kids are on the Accelerated Reader program (AR for short). Which means they read a book and then take a comprehension test on it, which earns them "points" toward their goals for the term.

Within this system the kids are also given reading levels and goals to reach in that regard as well. For Super Spawn, who is now 9 and in 4th grade, he's reading at a 7th grade level as of the beginning of winter break. Curly Girl is 7 and in 2nd grade, and she's reading at a 3rd grade level. Which is great!

Until I take them to the book store.

Super Spawn is big into middle grade fiction, which is wonderful. I've been sharing some of my all-time favorites with him this year. HARRY POTTER, PERCY JACKSON, MAGYK, and more! The issue arises when we're standing in front of a shelf of hundreds of books and I have to pull out my phone and plug the titles into the AR search to see if 1. there's a test for this book, and 2. if it's in his pre-set range. Let the frustration begin.

New releases? Not in the AR system. Could take months for it to show up there.


What does he want to read? The newest LAST KIDS ON EARTH book, of course.


But guess what, even though it's now in the AR system, it's no longer in his range. He's moved above it level-wise. Except he loves this series, and he wants to read it no matter what. 

 And I'm supposed to tell him what? Sure, I'll get it for you and you can read it, but it can't count toward your school goals? 

Sorry, but that's a load of crap. It's almost like a punishment for reading something he loves just because it's below his level. I hate that for him. However, I still bought him the book.

With Super Spawn I also have the added challenge of appropriateness. Yes, he reads well above his grade level, and only continues to improve. We're reaching the point where books like DIVERGENT are falling into his reading range. Now, I LOVE that series. I own all the books and movies. But just because it falls within his capacity to comprehend it, doesn't mean he's at the right maturity level for it. *Cue freakout because he wants to read it, and he knows I've read it, and it's staring at him on our bookshelf begging him to read it*

Our kids are being pushed to challenge themselves to read more complex stories, which is fantastic. Until you hit that wall where they've leveled up beyond their maturity and their teachers are still pushing them farther.

In the case of Curly Girl she's being pushed really hard to read higher level books, which causes her to take less tests, to struggle with her goals, and to not want to read her AR books at all. They're pushing her too fast. Let her just be a 2nd grader for a minute! She will grow at her own pace! The transition from early readers to novels is a hard one for kids. Super Spawn struggled with it too. It just takes time.

All of this to say that I'm not sure putting all of these restrictions and guidelines on our children's reading is as beneficial as we (as parents) are told it is. Isn't there a better way? Wouldn't more freedom to choose help to grow their passion for reading far more than shoving a certain level of book down their throat?

As I writer I worry the implications this has on the novels we put out. What if, because of my sentence structure, my book is labeled as a 6th grade reading level, but the content is appropriate for a high school level of maturity? Is that going to automatically put my book in that "you can read it but it won't count" crowd? I'm not sure I like that one bit.

Do any of you have thoughts on this or similar experiences to share? I'd love to hear them.

Goals for 2017

Seeing as tomorrow is New Year's Eve, and I'm just getting back active on the blog, it seems like the perfect time to talk about goals.

Something I've learned in my time off from writing is that you should never set goals that you don't have complete control over. I'm a big fan of setting goals. Always have been. However, I've been known to set a few that at least had elements that were beyond my control. That's a dangerous game to play, and if you're as goal driven as I am, it can cause a big spiral down a long path that's dark and full of brambles. That's not the kind of place I want to be.

So, this year my focus will be on goals entirely within my control.

Holly's 2017 Writing Goals:

1. Finish revisions on my current project.
2. Find a title for said current project that I actually like.
3. Once it is as perfect as I can make it, query the revised project.
4. Finish a draft of the new project I've been outlining/drafting.
5. Outline that other new project I've been stewing on.
6. Start another draft or round of revisions or both!
7. Remember to enjoy myself.
8. Settle into a blogging routine.
9. Stay active on Twitter.
10. Reconnect with old friends and make some new ones.


What about you guys? Do you have a list of writing goals for the new year? I'd love to hear about them!

I'm back!

I know its been about 300 years in writing world time that I've been gone. Time travels faster in fiction, you know. In the real world though, its been more like 3 years.

Why did I leave?

To finish my degree. I'm an accountant now!

Did I miss writing?

Tremendously. Every so often I'd tell my husband how I just needed to write, and that I was going to work on this new idea no matter how little time I had...and he'd smile and tell me to go for it, of course. Then I'd realize that the little time I thought I had actually didn't exist. Between work and kids and studying I had zero time to myself.

Which is why I'm so excited to be back at it full-force. School is done, and all those hours I was spending on studying I can now devote back to writing! Huzzah!

What did you miss while I was gone?

I got married! That's why the name has changed on the blog and twitter! Yay! I also gained a cute, silly diva of a step-daughter. Super Spawn has turned NINE and now reads MG fiction! Plus I got this furry beast of a puppy that I love to bits and pieces... his name is Barkley.

Sweet Barkley

He's just the cutest.


What am I working on?

I've got a couple irons in the fire. At the moment I'm working through a big revision of one of the novels I wrote several years ago. I've also got an outline of a NA Contemporary I'm looking forward to putting some work into.




I can't say for sure how much I'll be blogging. I'm testing the waters to see how they treat me. If you're inclined, drop me a line to say hello! I can't wait to hear all about everyone's projects and latest news!

Just an FYI - I'm leaving my old posts here. It's not all of them, because I switched platforms for a while and I didn't bother importing those over, but it's a good deal of them. I enjoy looking back and reading through them, so I'm going to let them stay.

A Favor?

BEGINNING OF THE ARCHIVE POSTS:

Guys, I've officially begun the Big Blog Overhaul of 2011!  Which means, the new blog is live at www.hddodson.com!  YAY!  It's so shiny!

But I need to check and see if you guys are seeing the feed in your Google Readers/Blogger Dashboards/etc to know if everything is working like it should be.

So, check out the shiny new look and let me know if the post from today showed up for you, please!

Technical Issues on the Blog

So that you all know, I'm having some issues with Blogger.  I keep commenting on blogs, and they keep disappearing into the ether.  I have no idea what is wrong with this, but please know I'm not ignoring you all -- I'm just having technical issues.  That's also why my posts are showing up so late in the day in your feeds...stupid Blogger.  They're all posted first thing in the morning, yet they aren't showing up until hours and hours later.

I keep thinking about switching to a different host for my blog, but I haven't done it yet because I don't want to go through the crazyness of figuring out how to change my feed sources and everything (I have no idea how that stuff works).  That may be where we're headed though unless Blogger can get it's stuff straight.

But I love reading all of your blogs, and love that you take the time to visit mine.  And if you have any knowledge of how to fix this issue, I'd be happy to hear it!

Thanks guys!  <3

Road Trip Wednesday - Kick Me Into Shape!

This week on the YAHighway, the topic is:

What kind of writing coach do you need? What kind are you?(This is in relation to Sarah's post on Mentors)

As for me, I think I fit right into the gentle honesty category (and I happen to think Tim Gun is pretty fabulous).  When I critique I'm very honest.  I'm not going to let anything slide, but I'm also going to make my comments and suggestions in the nicest possible way.  I use lots of smiley faces when I crit, just ask my buddies.  ;)  They say it softens the blow, and I have to agree.

As for what kind of coach I need, I think it depends on the day.  Some days I need that gentle honesty -- some days I just need someone to say, "Hmm, I really like the idea of super space raccoons invading the supermarket, but I don't think I quite understand where they came from.  I thought we were in contemporary Kansas?"  lol

Other times, I need some Brutal Honesty.  And I'll ask for it when I'm ready.  I want to know point blank what is weak, and don't worry about my feelings, I can handle it.

Probably most people will agree that having more than one type of coach/feedback on your writing is necessary and preferred even.  Not only does it help improve your writing on multiple levels, but it also thickens your skin and readies you for what's to come down the road.

What kind of coach do you prefer?

It's NaNo Time!

 

Today is the official kickoff of NaNoWriMo!  Woohoo!  I have no idea how you add writing buddies on the NaNo website, but if you do feel free to add me (or clue me in lol) I'm hddodson.

I was thinking that even though I haven't done NaNo before, I have written a couple of novels in a month, so maybe I could share a few tips with you guys.  Things I've learned the hard way so you don't have to.  ;)

1.  First of all, when you're writing a novel at such a fast pace, you've got to trust yourself.  This may be the hardest part for me, but I feel like it's also the most important one.  I don't know about you guys, but when I get about 1/3 of the way into any story I start getting clammy.  My fingers freeze up and my mind grinds to a halt because OMG this SUCKS.  This will never be a good story, why am I even bothering?  THAT, my friends, is where you've got to put the breaks on.  Everyone has their own way of working through this feeling, but all in all it's about trusting yourself as a storyteller to work out the problems.  Trust that you can fix anything that's wrong with it later and press on.

2.  Know where you're going.  Writing fast is all about passion for me.  You've got this story in you and it NEEDS to come out rightthissecond or you may explode from the force of it!  Again, this is from my perspective, but if I don't have a clear goal for where the story is going, I'll meander my way right out of it.  It can be as simple as a log line or as detailed as a stack of worksheets.  Whatever works for you, but know your path.  For Happily Never After, I started with a log line -- a girl gets trapped in a fairy tale, and has to escape before she loses her memories -- that's it.  For Tate's Hell I used an outline (Boy was that a lot easier too!).  Whatever works.  I'll be using an outline again this time.

3.  Don't find time, make time.  This is true all the time for any kind of writing I think, but especially for NaNo.  You can't just hope you'll find the time to write 2k words a day, because it won't happen.  You've got to search it out, squeeze it in wherever it will fit, even if it's only in ten minute increments.

And because I know you're all just dying for more pics of Super Spawn...here he is as Captain Jack Sparrow last night.  ;)

Happy Halloween!

The day Super Spawn has been anxiously awaiting for about two months now is FINALLY here!  lol  My cute little kiddo is dressing up as Jack Sparrow tonight (complete with authentic dreads and pirate medallion lol).  He has been planning this costume since the beginning of September...seriously.

Oh, and this post is a 100% rambly about me kind of post, so fair warning.  :)

We spent the day yesterday baking (I had to make 2 dozen cupcakes AND 2 dozen sugar cookies for school!  Not to mention all the cupcakes and brownies for us to decorate. Gah! lol) and making fun concoctions for our annual Halloween get together.

Pinterest totally gets the credit for these. :)

Tonight we'll be having chili and hotdogs and trick-or-treating with some great friends.  I can't wait.

Do you guys have any Halloween traditions?  What will you be doing tonight?

Friday Fives -- A World Away

1.  Of course this would have to be Harry Potter, because -- it's Harry Potter.  I mean, you guys know me well enough to know OF COURSE I want to live in the magical world.  :D

2.  Perhaps the world of Once Upon A Marigold would be fun -- I mean, as long as I wasn't the one on the evil witch's bad side.  


3.  For the most part, I would not want to live in the worlds Juliette Marillier creates (even though they rank among my all-time favorites).  Let's face it, they're kinda evil.  Except maybe Wildwood Dancing...which that's really all about the choices you make.  Sorta.  No?  Well...still...I can't have a list without one of her books at least.  


4.  I'm realizing most of the books I read are either set in the real world or in REALLY SCARY other worlds.  Hmm...


5.  Dr. Seuss.  Maybe I could live in Oh the Places You'll Go...




Can you guys name five book worlds you'd like to live in?

WIP Reveal

I know I've been kinda secretive about my WIP, and...well...I'm not sure why.  Maybe because I love it so much.  :)  One of those times where you're scared to show someone a photo of your baby because OMG what if they think it's ugly?!  (Plus, secrets are kinda fun.)

But, I'm bucking up.  Mostly because it's getting too hard to be secretive with another project in the works that I'm bursting with excitement about.  Ha.

Therefore, I'd like you to meet TATE'S HELL, my YA thriller.

What's it about?  Well...

A legendary waterfall in the swamps of Florida isn't supposed to exist, but Delia Ray and her friends find it.  People aren't supposed to become possessed, but Delia watches in horror as her friends lose control of their own minds and bodies.  Riddles that mean the difference between life and death aren't meant to be solved, but that's the challenge Delia faces if she wants to escape. 

This isn't a query or anything, just a little blurb I came up with that I think is a fun way to describe the story.  What do you think?

Source: None via Holly on Pinterest

I lovelovelove this story, and I'm excited to share it with you.  Remember that post about the Legendary Forest?  Yeah.  This is my own personal twisty tale woven around that legend.  :)  Maybe one day I'll get to share it with you.

Building a World

So, something that has happened in my new project is leading me down a path of a whole bunch of world building.  Now, I've written my share of fantasy, but usually my stories have a firm basis in the real world even if there are crazy fantastical things happening to them.

With this new story, which I'm calling OLEA (Oh-lee), the world building is going a little further.  It's set in a sort-of alternative future, where an event in our history going very differently changed the shape of the world they live in.  (And not in a little way, like in HUGE ways.)

Since I was home with a sick kiddo yesterday, and got zero time to write, I pulled out my box of drawing supplies and decided to try my hand at creating the images in my head on paper.

Well, I kinda suck at drawing.  I mean, I took some classes back in the day, but...yeah.  An artist I am not.  (No matter how much I'd like to be. lol)  Proof:

The dress is *supposed* to look like a flower -- the top being the stem.  See?  Yeah, not very good, but now I have at least got a good visual for writing.  :)  I've also started drawing out the layout of their city, and as plants play a really big roll in this story, I've started sketching some of those too.

Now, I think you all know by now I'm a big fan of pinterest and photo inspiration, but this is the first time I've set out to create my own images of what my world is like.  Have any of you done this before?  Do you find it helpful?  I'd love to hear what you think.

By the way, this is the NaNo project, not the WIP I keep mentioning.  :)  In case you're curious.

On Paper Hangover Today...

Sometimes I Fail, so You get a Recommendation!

So, obviously I fail today.  Because it's 1pm and I'm just now realizing I was in charge of the Teen Scene post today.  Sorry, guys!  I'll blame it on the sick kid I'm home with.  ;)

In spite of my obvious lack of teen topic, I thought I'd share a book I read with you guys.  It's an ARC from Simon Pulse, the novel will be released January 3, 2012.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO SURVIVE THE APOCALYPSE

By Lucas Klauss

 

Continue Reading...

A Successful Weekend

So...I finished another round of revisions Saturday on my WIP.  What did I learn?  That with five hours of uninterrupted time a day I could rule the world.  For real.

It was lovely, Super Spawn went to the movies with grandpa and the house was so deliciously quiet.  I sat at the dining room table and worked and worked and worked.  It was the most focused I've been in a long time, and it was so nice.

In fact, as backward as it seems, it's exactly what I needed to recharge my writing batteries. 

Now I'm kinda in this weird limbo place where the WIP is waiting for more feedback and I really, really want to write something.  But I was going to do NaNo so I should wait.  But I really, really want to write.  ;)

So maybe I'll just write and not count the words toward my NaNo goal.  lol  I mean, if the muse is there, why tell her to hold on, right?  Write!

I'd love to hear how all of your projects are coming.  Who all is doing NaNo this year?  I personally feel a little insane for attempting it since I just did this a month ago, but hey, whatever.  Nobody ever accused me of being normal.  ;)

A Little Inspiration

I'm not quite sure why this week has seemed particularly dreary (maybe it's the gray skies that won't let go around here), but I'm feeling the need for a pick-me-up.  So I give you, quotes of inspiration thanks to Pinterest.  I hope you find them as uplifting and encouraging as I do.

Source: tealcheesecake.tumblr.com via Jen on Pinterest

Road Trip Wednesday -- Why do You do it?

This week's topic over at the YAHighway is:

What's your numero-uno reason for writing?

Honestly?  I write because I have to.  

I'm sitting here trying to pinpoint just when in my life I haven't been writing *something* (even if not a novel), and I guess the only time I wasn't was...when I couldn't write.

I've always had these words swirling around in my head.  Before I wrote novels, I wrote a lot of really bad poetry, and I journaled like it was nobody's business.  Nothing felt better than ending the day by spilling all of my thoughts and emotions out on the page, and I guess that's just it.

I write because I need to, because I want to, and because I love it. 

If I didn't write, I'd be missing a piece of my heart...

Confession Time

I have a confession to make:  I'm scared.

Yep.  Scared.  I said it.

I'm scared that my WIP isn't good enough.  I'm scared that no book I write will ever be good enough. (For me, that is. I am my own toughest critic.)  I'm scared that even if it is, I'll screw it up somehow.  I'm scared that I won't ever reach my dreams.  I'm scared that I'll get discouraged.  Scared I'll give up.  And scared that if I do, Super Spawn will never reach for his dreams.

But you know what else?  I'm not going to let fear stop me or define me.

I've been struggling with my WIP because of the fear, but I also realized something yesterday.  Maybe it's okay to be scared, as long as you don't let it take over, don't let it dampen your love for the craft.  The fear is only as strong as I allow it to be.  All it takes to put it back in its little box is me deciding to shove it away and not allowing it to sink its claws in.

Easier said than done, I know.  I just feel like I need to be honest with you guys.  I always try to put on a positive face and think positive thoughts and SUNSHINE AND RAINBOWS FOR EVERYONE!!!

But the truth is, we all struggle with fear, and so I wanted to let any of you out there feeling the same way know I'm right there with you.  I know talking to my writer friends and hearing them express the same feelings always puts things in perspective. 

This whole blogging thing is about sharing a journey I'm on, and I feel sure plenty of you experience the same things, the same fears I do.  Blogs are a great source of inspiration for me, and when I get stuck in a rut, you all are the first ones I turn to for those inspiring words you post every day.  That's all I want to be for you all, and I hope you know that.

Do any of you deal with this kind of fear?  What do you do when it tries to get the best of you?

Links Galore

So today I'm going to join in on the fun of the 7x7 award that is circling which is supposed to highlight some of my past blog posts. I hope you'll enjoy the links I've included! :)

 
Most Beautiful: I think I have to choose Behind the Mask

Most Helpful: I'd say my Using Analytics - An Overview was a pretty helpful post.  Lots of diagrams and general awesomesauce.

Most Popular: Well, the post with the most pageviews (according to my Google Stats) is Frazzled Mom Brain.  That kinda makes me giggle.  The next most popular, aside from contest posts, is from the Query Letter Blogfest that Alicia, Erinn, Pam, Quita, and I hosted together.  You can read the query I used for Happily Never After there.  :)

Most Controversial: Have I ever written a controversial post?  Maybe Adverbs count.

Most Successful: Define successful.  lol  This is HARD!  Maybe my Outlining Your Novel Part 1 and Part 2 series of posts.

Most Underrated: Blerg, I don't know.  I really like this post, Sometimes it Doesn't, which was very sincere and has an important message.

Most Prideworthy:  I'm really proud of my post, This is for YOU.  It stands true to this day, and I hope you all know that writing this blog is about so much more than splattering my randomness on the internet.

Whew!  That was tough, but that's a pretty cool compilation of blog posts (many of which I had forgotten about).  Thank you, Miss Cole for sharing the meme with me!

Now I expect you all to go complete this meme as well, because I want to know what kind of awesome posts I've missed on your blogs!  ;)

Friday Fives -- I had strange taste

Admittedly, I had wide-ranging (and somewhat strange) reading tastes as a kid.  (We're gonna go with stuff I read in elementary school here.)  Want proof?  Here you go:

1.  One Last Wish (series) by Lurlene McDaniel -- I read every one of these books, plus anything else she published.  I think I was eight when her first book landed in my hands (about a year after we lost my sister) and seeing as her books are about dealing with death, I was hooked.  For total honesty -- I still have them all tucked neatly in a trunk in storage. 

2.  The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner -- This is another one of those I loved so much I still have the book at home.  


3.  Black Beauty by Anna Sewell -- How many times did I read this book?  I could never count them all.


4.  David Copperfield by Charles Dickens -- My mom bought me all the illustrated classics by the time I was in 3rd grade.  I loved them all.


5.  Rudolph and Me (I don't know who wrote the story though) -- This was a book my grandmother had made for my cousin and me (one each, of course), where we were the main characters in this tale of us setting off with Rudolph to save Santa and Christmas.  I thought it was THE most awesome thing on the planet to have my name in a book.  :)


What about you guys?  What were your favorite childhood books?