Somehow, the summer has disappeared and fall is in full swing. Have the kids really been in school a month already? I rather dislike how times seems to by flying by so quickly these last few years.
So… lots and lots of stuff is new! I’ll try not to ramble too much 
I’ve been super, crazy, insanely, sleeplessly, stressfully busy. Thanks to lots of chocolate etc and the occasional ‘crash day’ I’m still going strong… and still busy.
First off… In case you missed it I have a new book out! Whoo hoo! Broken Aro is the first in a young adult epic fantasy series (The Broken Ones). It is a full novel (abt 70k words) and is available at amazon (ebook) and amazon, BN, createspace (print). Happily it’s been getting fantastic reviews so far and I’m plugging along at the next book, Broken Prince, hoping to have it out early in the new year. Please check it out! (If you want to review, feature or otherwise spread the word please feel free to drop me a note)
Broken Aro by Jen Wylie
Book One of The Broken Ones Series
Young Adult Fantasy novel
Published: Sept 15 2012
2.99 Available at [Amazon] Available in Print for 12.99 at [Amazon][Createspace][Barnes and Noble]
Open your eyes to darkness. What do you see? Does the darkness frighten you? Now imagine the darkness being the cargo hold of a slave ship. Your city has fallen. Your family is most likely dead. You don’t know anyone around you, and some of them aren’t even human. Giving up would be so easy to do, but not for Arowyn Mason. Not after being raised in a military family with seven brothers. Every great story should begin with a plan. Aro’s was to escape and to survive.
Escape comes, but at a price. As they reach the shore, Aro and the other survivors learn that freedom doesn’t mean safety. The slavers want their property back and will do anything to get it. The party uses every ounce of their brute strength, a hearty helping of cunning, and even ancient magics to keep themselves alive. Sickness, danger, and even love surprise them at every turn. Dealing with danger becomes their way of life, but none of them ever considered that nothing can be quite as dangerous as a prophecy. Running turns into another race altogether as her world falls to pieces again and again.
On to the next thing new… Sean and I have a second volume of Flashy Fiction and Other Insane Tales coming out in a few weeks! We had so much fun writing the first one (and it was so well received too) we jumped into a second right away. Personally I think this one is even better than the first. My very first, and possibly only, psychological horror is included! I’m a scaredy cat to begin with-but just editing it freaked me out LOL. I hope you’ll all give it a read too! The release date for it is set for Oct. 23. Check out the awesome cover! It’s the other side of the spooky face!
Just to keep me even busier, Sean and I are gearing up for the World Fantasy Convention in Toronto Nov 1-4. We’re super excited to be going and having the opportunity to meet so many great authors that will be attending! I keep falling into ‘fangirl’ mode just thinking about it, which is probably good that I get that over with now…maybe I can act normal when I’m actually there. We’ll be in the Dealer Room selling our all of our books in print at the Untold Press table. If you’re attending be sure to stop by and say hello!
As always, lots of hugs and rainbows to you all! Your continued support and friendship are greatly appreciated and mean so much to me. Hugs hugs!
Hello, my sweets!
As it always seems to do, time is just flying by. I’ve no idea where the summer went at all. I think it was the shortest one on record. Then again, I had so much going on everything kept me very busy.
The kids had a great holiday and are now back in school. Lucky for me they love it. Getting up at 6:40 every morning will take some getting used to again though.
I’m still super busy with the kids and other personal Real Life stuff. I wish things would calm down a bit, but I doubt it. Writing-wise I had a summer full of edits. For now they are done and I’ve been trying to get back into the writing groove. Sean and I are working on a second volume of Flashy Fiction and Other Insane Tales. I’m happy to say I only have one more story to write for my part of that! (woot woot) We are hoping to have it out this winter. Once that is done I’ve a short story/novella to write for an anthology… and then I’m back to working on a new book!
The exciting news is I have a new book coming out super soon (as in hopefully this month!) Broken Aro (Bk 1 of The Broken Ones) is a YA fantasy. I’ll blog more about it soon. I’m still waiting on the cover (which is in the works now- being created by the most awesome cover designer who did Flashy and Ring Around the Rosie) The second bk in the series, Broken Prince, is my current book in the works. I have about 20k written so far. My goal is to get it done by Christmas and have the book out in the spring… however with my life as crazy as it is we’ll see how that goes.
In other news, I’ll be attending the World Fantasy Con in Toronto this November. I’m super excited about this. The list of authors attending has me SUPER bouncy. I hope I don’t make a fool of myself and fall into uber fan girl mode. Anyone else going?
Wishing you all a wonderful Fall!
Hugs & Rainbows!
Could it be? Could it be, I'm back? Nah...don't count on it, lol. I hope so, but then again, I seriously doubt it. But I'm closer. Ever closer. This past year has been incredible. I never imagined how difficult it would be to change jobs after 22 years. And to start in the summer during the busiest time of year for FLVS? Brutal. No other word for it. Many tears ensued. Mammoth doubts as to whether I'm made the right choice jumping on this train. But it was either that, or get run over.
Ok, so seriously, do I like teaching at FLVS? Yes. Yes, I do. It's sooo different. I talk to students every single day. And their parents. One-on-one conversations with students. Those were rare in the brick and mortar classroom. It took me a while to figure every thing out. To find a system for myself that worked. I'm sure I've still got more to learn. But at the same time, I think I've crossed a threshhold, that line of what-have-I-done to the I-got-this point. So summer is still our busiest time of year. I teach Algebra 1 only, and each summer there are scores of students who have failed the course who wish to retake it during the summer and cram 8 months of work into 2. Some manage to do it. But it's crazy. Four more weeks to go, and then I can really see if I made the right choice or not.
Here's what I think:
I think there's an agent out there who's going to love my YA muted. I think if I expect them to fall in love with it, I have to get it in their hands. Must. Submit. More....check.
I think the idea for my next book is amazing! I think I can't wait to dig it. I think the flashback scene that I wrote to 'set it up' in my mind is a great start to figuring out what happened so many years ago. The life-altering event that changed my protagonist's life forever. Will that make it into the book? Probably....in some form...Maybe...well, maybe not. I can't wait to find out who she is. How this has impacted her. How she'll react to the new information about that event...and how that will again change her situation. I can't wait to write. Even more exciting, I think that time will come...after my students head back to school.
I had a wonderful time yesterday at a workshop put on by the wonderful Joyce Sweeney, author of multiple teen novels. I was pleasantly surprised to find I still sorta kinds knew what I was doing. I hadn't lost my touch...the flair, the writer in me. She's still there, waiting to be let out to play. I can still do this. I'm good at it. And I love it! The writing. The revising. The critting. All of it.
I can't wait to see what the fall brings. Life is good. Son is a Gator, started UF this summer as a freshman, daughter is a senior in high school, I have an awesome hubby who fixed my computer...wow. I truly am lucky. Life is good. Feel free to siphon off a little of my exuberance if you need some. Feeling great!
Wow--we're officially less than 3 months from KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES' release and less than 8 months from LET THE SKY FALL's release!!!!
Excuse me while I go FREAK THE CRAP OUT for a few seconds!!!!
*flail*
*floomp*
*twitch*
Okay. I feel better now. Sorta.
*twitches again*
But it's CRAZY, you guys. ARCs for both books are making their way into the world. Reviews and fan emails are trickling in. I'm being booked for launch parties and book fairs and other amazing things that I really don't feel cool enough for (probably because I'm not--shhhh, don't tell anyone!) and going to shows and conventions where my book(s) are being featured. I'm getting google alerts for people posting about wanting to read my books and stumbling across Twitter conversations where people are talking about how much they loved them (which always make me feel like I'm stalking myself when I read them).
And because of all of that, I've had a lot of people ask me some variation of the same question:
How does it feel having your dream come true?But honestly? I never know how to respond. Except maybe to blush and mumble: "
surreal" and change the subject.
Which is probably a giant Shannonfail. I'm betting they're expecting something more like this:
And I do feel that way. (though whoa--is anyone else getting dizzy, watching that?)
It's amazing and incredible and fantastic that my books are going to be on shelves for people to buy and read in the VERY-not-too-distant-future. (*twitches again*) It's even more unbelievable that some of you have already read them (and even more astounding that you liked them!) And it's all starting to feel very very real and soon and OMG THIS IS HAPPENING!!!!
But the funny thing is ... nothing's really
changed either.
I'm still the same nerdy, rambling, cupcake-obsessed girl I've always been. And other than those rare times when I have to go somewhere as "Author Shannon", no one knows who I am or what I do or cares that I write books for children (and even AT those "Author Shannon" places, the majority of the people are like, Shannon Who?). And I LOVE that. I didn't do this because I wanted fame or praise (not saying I'm OPPOSED to those or anything...) I did it because I love to write and I loved these stories and I wanted to get them "out there" because that's the thing about stories. They should be shared.
And that's HAPPENING. So it really is like this:
But it's also surreal and strange. Especially since most days I still live in my sweat pants and a frumpy Batman shirt, eating candy instead of foods with actual nutrition, wrestling with the imaginary people in my head WHO WON'T FREAKING COOPERATE FOR THIS REVISION. (ahem)
So basically... it's impossible to process. Which is probably why I keep reverting to my mumbled
Okay, I know I’m rather delayed in posting about this… but at least I did get around to it!
This year I headed off to Chicago, IL again to attended my 2nd year at the Printers Row Lit Fest. Last year I had a blast, met a lot of wonderful people and sold a bunch of books. This year didn’t disappoint either!
Let’s start at the beginning.
I flew into O’Hare Thursday evening (June 7th). Last year was great, but I didn’t get to see any of Chicago and was determined to fix that this year! My sweetie Sean Hayden was kind enough to pick me up (for those who didn’t know, we met for the first time at PR last year!)
Chicago!
We found our hotel, which I found using Expedia and got for an awesome 32$ a night. It was the Extended Stay American Chicago in Hillside. Considering the price, I was beyond relieved to find out it was not only easy to get to, but in excellent condition. Though not at all fancy (and no maid service though you could exchange sheets and towels at the front desk) it was VERY clean, the room was huge with a full kitchenette and everything worked. I would certainly stay there again.
On Friday we toured Chicago a bit, and visited the most awesome Navy Pier. It was a hot day, but we had a load of fun watching the boats, touring the shops and eating funnel cakes! We had dinner at the famous Bubba Gumps. Which was pretty neat, though I found my memories of the details in the movie Forrest Gump weren’t so great.
Saturday was the big first day of Printers Row! Which meant getting up at like 5am to have everything ready and loaded. Luckily traffic was awesome and we got to the site early and were able to drive in to unload. Everyone else started arriving and it was a flurry of hellos and set up. The weather was hot but otherwise fantastic. The crowd didn’t seem to be as big as last year, but they were buying! A lot of people stopped to chat, browse (and buy) books and get autographs. Luckily we had a cooler full of ice to keep us from melting in the heat. By 6pm we were closing up (and btw, yes that is a verrrrry long day) and packing our stuff into the center of the tent. We all had dinner across the street where we ate and chatted for a few hours and then I think we all went back to hotels for some sleep.
Sunday we were there early again, set everything up again, and kept on selling! Flashy Fiction and Other Insane Tales did absolutely fantastic! (Of course it does have a really cool cover ![](http://s0.wp.com/wp-includes/images/sm
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This is a scratch that just had to be itched. While I love the concept of deviantART, I hate the way it looks. I mean, I REALLY hate it.
First off, the colors. While green, in and of itself, is a lovely color—it's the color of grassy meadows and sunlit forests, after all—whoever "designed" this site chose the worst possible shades of green and them paired them together to create something grotesque enough to make Mother Nature throw up a little bit in her mouth.
Next, there's the icons. Icons that I'm sure were pretty cool and even "cutting edge" when people first started decorating their GeoCities websites with them back in 1997. Sure, the whole "retro" look is cool these days, but only as long as you're doing it ironically. In other words, by people who are actually cool, but choose to dress nerdy, and thus make the nerdy look cool.
This, however, is a case of a nerd who has no idea what cool is, can never hope to know, and still gets beat up for his lunch money even as an adult.
On top of all that, there's the sheer clunkiness of the site itself. Trying to find my way around that site is like trying to pilot the space shuttle.
All of that has driven me absolutely stark-raving bonkers for some time now, and I finally couldn't stand it anymore. It was like walking past a painting over and over that's hanging crooked: I just had to stop and straighten it. And then get a whole new painting, because the original one looked like ass.
Now, I didn't waste a ton of time on this; I didn't put the same sort of effort into the user interface, iconography, etc. that I would with a normal, paying job. I used buttons, textures and icons other designers have created and made available free online. Basically, I just wanted it to stop looking like ass. (Click images below to embiggen)
Home page:
Artist page:
Gallery page:
Lookit that. Seriously. So much better. Sigh... Okay, I can breathe now...
The funny thing about illustration is it's relationship to "fine art."
With fine art, we can express whatever's on our mind and in our hearts, and it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks about it. With illustration, however, our job is to communicate someone else's message or story.
 |
| This is a performance art piece in which I express Man's futile attempts to voice the essential transitional quality of life, juxtaposed with his struggle to rationalize the substructure of critical thinking in a meaningful way. |
The trick is, to do it in our "voice", with our attitude, even with our own beliefs and convictions. Which is presumably why a client hires one illustrator and not another—they're not just hiring our watercolor or vector abilities (which they obviously lack), but they're also hiring
our take on the message.
Unfortunately, we often fall into the trap of churning out whatever's asked of us like a factory worker. We all do it. If we don't ever spend time with illustration's sister, "fine art," and create for
ourselves, we loose track of what our own "voice", our attitudes, our beliefs and convictions actually ARE.
That's a major reason why Google encourages their employees to spend a percentage of their work time on their own personal experiments. Some brilliant ideas have come out of it.
And here's the kicker: all that evolves over time! What was important to me 5 years ago is not at all the same as what matters to me now. It takes routinely expressing what's going on inside ourselves for no one else but us to keep the flames burning.
And yes, get away from the computer once in a while (or whatever your media of choice is), but don't abandon it. Just try something totally new: collage, oil paints, pottery, music, poetry, dance—it's all self-expression, and sometimes it takes using a
different mode of expression to get it out, to unclog the mental log jam—especially one you haven't tried before.
I've had this post percolating for a long time, trying to figure out how to say what I want to say. And I'm still not sure I've figured it out, but I'm giving it a try.*
This publishing thing is ... a crazy business. Awesome and amazing and many other incredible things. But it's crazy too. For so many reasons. Deadlines. Pressure. The fact that you are putting something deeply personal to you out in the world for all to see and judge, knowing some of them won't like it. (and that many of them will express that dislike in very public places, flogging you for all the world to see. YAY REVIEWS!)
But I guess the weirdest part--for me at least--is that you're also putting YOU out there. Especially if you're active online. Then you are putting yourself on blogs, facebook, twitter, tumblr, pinterest, insert-other-social-networking-trend here and saying, "Here I am world, judge me!" And THAT is a crazy, crazy thing. Especially because so many of the people I'm interacting with online are my peers.
See... here's the thing about peers. Whether we've yet to sell a book or we've sold twenty, we're all writers. And we're all watching each other, seeing what we're doing, and we can't help seeing things from the standpoint of ... would I do that? Would I say that? Would I blog about that? Would I want my book deal announced that way? Would I RT that? Would I tell that story?
And naturally, a lot of times, the answer is, "No."
We're all different people. We all have different things we are and aren't comfortable with. So... we're all going to have different ways of handling things. ESPECIALLY when it comes to self promotion.
Oh, self promotion.
The words alone make me want to move to a wi-fi free cabin and curl up in a little ball for the next year while my books launch into the world. It is a big, mucky, icky gray area where EVERYONE has their own opinion on what is and isn't acceptable. There. are. no. rules. Except that it's pretty much a guarantee that SOMEONE will be bothered by SOMETHING you do. In fact, I'm sure it's already happened to me. I'm sure I've done or said something or not said or not done something or just... I don't know, the way I'm smiling in my author photo has rubbed someone the wrong way. Probably more than a few someones.
And that's okay. Personalities clash. Misunderstandings occur. Whatever. It happens. And it will keep happening.
But I guess what I'm trying to say--after all of this rambling--is mostly... I KNOW I'm going to make mistakes as I muddle through this crazy year. I'm SURE I've already made some. But... I still need to do it. I still have to talk about my books sometimes. And me. And share good news. I'm going to try and balance it the best way I can. But I'm sure some of you will probably think... I wouldn't have done that--and you may even be right.
But... maybe some of you will enjoy sitting back and watching the last threads of my sanity unravel. Hey--maybe even a few of you will find it fun.
Whichever category you fall into, I hope you'll try to remember that I really am doing my best. I don't know what I'm doing and I'm not perfect so yeah... there will probably be faux pas. But I really hope that you'll bear with me anyway. Hey--if nothing else, there will most likely be a whole lotta Shannon Shame going on too. And prizes. I AM NOT ABOVE BRIBING YOU TO LIKE ME!**
And hey, if you have any tips or pointers or DO NOT DO THIS pieces of advice, feel free to share in the comments. I can definitely use all the help I can get.
*please note: this post was not inspired by any particular or specific INCIDENT. Just something that's been on my mind pretty much from the moment I accepted S&S's offer and I realized I would have to self promote.
Given the CHAOTIC week I just survived trying to crank through my copyedits, I've been thinking a LOT about balance lately. Most specifically: HOW will I make time for everything I need to do without letting anyone down and/or snapping-and-running-around-with-manic-hair-and-wild-eyes-and-scaring-small-children????
(Which *might* be a tad counterproductive being that I'm a children's writer and all.)
Cause I'll be honest. Lately, most days I feel like I'm doing this:
and like I'm doing this with my To Do List:
Seriously, I don't know how some authors do it. I don't have kids, I don't have a day job, and I am SLAMMED. (Mind you, my schedule has some SUPER insane things going on that I'm probably not supposed to reveal yet--but STILL) It. is. DAUNTING.
And while the awesome Jen Rofe (an agent friend of mine--ABLA FTW!) has been giving me some excellent tips on making "winning" to do lists and setting priorities and stuff, (btw, Jen will actually be interviewed on my blog tomorrow--make sure you stop by!!!) I still can't help feeling like there's this MOUNTAIN of things to do and clearly not enough hours between now and the release of my book to do them all.
But... I'm starting to realize that that's okay.
I'm pretty sure there ARE going to be things I don't have time for, and that it's not going to necessarily be so much about juggling and trying not to drop balls as it will be about learning which ones to set down for a moment and pick back up when I can.
Like last week, for example. I HATE taking blogging breaks. (I miss you guys!) But... it had to be done. So I set that ball down and picked it back up again this week when I had the chance. And when something else gets thrown at me that I need to make time for, I'll set it down again.
So I guess the point I'm trying to make (because re
Hello my sweets!
I meant to write a post on Oct 1…but the days seem to be just zipping by. My parents always told me this would happen, the older you get the faster times goes. I’m rather afraid to see what happens in a few years…but anyways.
I’d love to wish you all a super happy FALL season! The leaves are really turning here, and it seems to be raining every day. At least it’s not snowing 
My little monkey’s are both in school, and starting to actually enjoy it more. I picked up a little part time job there, just an hour a day, but the kids love to see me there and I really enjoy it. Of course the place is a germ haven, so now I not only get to deal with whatever the kids bring home, but pretty much what any kid might have. Currently I have a sore throat and I felt rather crappy all weekend. I might need to start taking some of those preventative cold things. Or wrap myself in bubblewrap… that would be cute 
Writing-wise, I’m currently working on first round edits for Broken Aro. The last two of my Tales of Ever short series are all edited and waiting to be published. #5 is supposed to be out in the next couple of weeks (yay!) A new Echo story is also all set to go, not sure when it will be out. When I get these Aro edits off I”m hoping to actually write something NEW. Woot woot! I’ll let you know how that goes.
I’m sure this month will just zip by, but I’ll try to pop on here more Lots of hugs to you all, and be safe!
I was looking at reviews on Goodreads the other day for a book I recently read. I was really just skimming them to see what the average star ratings were, when something jumped out at me. One reviewer mentioned that they enjoyed the book, but the ending was wrapped up too neatly and was a little too happy.
That got me thinking. An ending can be too neat and happy? Granted, I realize real life isn’t that way, but from my fiction, I think I prefer happy endings. Most of my favorite books have happy endings, or at least a hint that someday it could be happy. I like having the girl end up with the right boy, the orphan finding a new family, the quest coming to a successful end. I like all the questions to be answered, all the foreshadowing to be revealed, and to get a good idea about where the characters are headed next. I don’t always need a sequel, but at least give me an idea of what will happen next.
Perhaps that’s one of the reasons why I like retold fairy tales so much. Even the retold ones usually have some sort of happy ending; we expect it from the genre. And on the other side, I’m not a fan of many contemporary books. Real life is hard enough for me to live, I don’t enjoy reading about all the pain and anguish everyone else is going through. Some people like those kind of books because they can relate to the experiences the characters are going through. Me, I’m more of an “escape from reality” reader.
So yeah, sometimes a happy ending isn’t realistic. But I’ll take neat and happy over heartbroken or cliffhanger any day.
Sooooooooooooooo sorry for not blogging yesterday--I'm still struggling to catch up from being gone last week at the retreat.
And I had big plans to write a brilliant, inspiring, fabulous post for today (okay, fine, it was going to be random and rambly, whatevs). But then a friend of mine told me there was a red tide and that that I needed to drop everything and get myself to the beach--stat. And you know what? She was RIGHT!
These pictures really don't do it justice, but they give you a small idea of what it's like to see the ocean glowing red and flashing neon green and blue with each wave.
Truly, truly breathtaking. And so worth the drive. (the pictures SO don't do it justice, but it was the best I could do). But, it meant I didn't have time to put together a proper post for you guys today. It also meant I lost a whole evening of writing time--and I'm already a little behind on where I need to be.
But... I actually think there's a lesson there too.
I am a BIG believer in pushing yourself hard and setting deadlines and sticking to them. But I also believe in "filling the well." If you never get out and experience anything, how will you find things to write about?
I may never write a scene with phosphorescent waves crashing against the shore. But watching them definitely inspired me. So really, I think it comes down to balance. Working hard and refining your craft and doing the butt-in-chair method is only part of it. You have to stop, and let yourself soak up life. And sometimes I forget that.
So I thought I'd pass that little reminder on to you. Push yourselves hard to get where you want to be. But don't forget to take some time for yourself too. Otherwise you might be missing out on amazing, inspiring things!
I've done lots of posts where I've given writing advice and publishing industry advice and talked about how to refine your craft or survive the ups and downs of this crazy "getting published" dream we're all chasing. But really, it all boils down to one thing:
You have to believe.
- that you are good enough
- that your writing is good enough
- that if you just keep going and don't give up you WILL get there
Does that mean that projects will never have to shelve projects or face rejection along the way? Sadly, no.
It takes time to pick the right project and really push yourself to get it right and then get it in the hands of the right agent who believes in it and gets it in the hands of the right editor who loves it and says I MUST HAVE THIS!
But in order for any of that to happen, you have to believe that it WILL HAPPEN. That's what keeps you going through the difficult revisions and the endless waiting and the heartbreaking rejections--believing that someday, with some project, it WILL HAPPEN.
So that's my motivational message for the day, I guess. BELIEVE.
I do. I hope you do too. :)
Also: how many of you now have that horrible
Cher song stuck in your head? *evil laugh*
So I was browsing through my facebook feed and came across a post by my friend Rusty Fischer. If you don’t know who I’m talking about you should swat yourself. Rusty writes some of the awesomest stories ever. Very soon I’m sure the whole world will know this, so you should be sure to check him out so you know who everyone else is talking about.
Sorry, went off on a tangent there. My point was Rusty did his very first vlog (video blog). (Click here to see it) on Valuing Relationships in Social Media. It rather struck a cord with me.
You see, I used to be awesome (and rather addicted) to chatting up a storm on facebook and twitter and helping others whenever I could. Then I started getting more and more followers on both, which made it harder. After a number of other things going on in my life, and getting behind with deadlines and writing and editing, I kinda rather dropped off the face of the earth for a bit. Well, more like I was bungie jumping back and forth, with occasional brief blog posts and stuff.
I’ve realized I need to make more time (or steal it from somewhere) to actually be out there and interacting with people. I’ve met soo many amazing people online and I really should get to know them better. So I have put my foot down and swatted myself … I’m going to work on it…and hopefully I’ll be able to stick to it. That said, look, I did a blog post. Aren’tcha proud?
So if there is anything you’d like to talk to me about, please comment or drop me a note! I’m coming back to the world and plan on getting back in the game and somehow manage not to fall behind again…that ’cause that just sucked. LOL
Hugs and rainbows my friends!
Talk to you soon
Most of my friends--and probably many of you--write in public. Maybe you need to escape your kids and find some quiet time. Maybe you need to break away from distractions like wifi and television and undone household chores. Maybe you just like a steady supply of overpriced caffeinated beverages. Whatever the reason, I seem to be in the minority in that I HAVE to write at home, for several embarrassing reasons (which I probably shouldn't share but what they heck, I'm going to anyway):
I'm vain. I mean, I'm not one of those girls who takes 5 hours to get ready and reapplies lipgloss every 2.5 seconds. But I'm also not going to leave the house wearing faded stretchpants and my husband's giant Batman shirt. And sadly, that's my writing uniform. (I'm totally killing the glamorous-writer-fantasy, aren't I?) I am allllllllllll about comfort when I'm spending hours pushing my creative muscles as far as they can go.
I'd prefer not to be committed. I'm what I like to think of as a "method writer." I feel what my characters are feeling as I channel it on the page. Happy scene? Yeah--I'm giggling like a schoolgirl the entire time. Sad scene? I am bawling. BAWLING. And if I get stuck? Well... sometimes I talk to my characters to figure out why they're being so uncooperative. All of which is fine when I'm sequestered in my bedroom with the blinds pulled shut so the neighbors can't see. But in public? I'm pretty sure it would only be a matter of time before they came to take me away.
I'm easily distracted. I know a lot of people find it more distracting to be at home, but for me--and maybe it's because I don't have kids (or because I'm EXCELLENT at ignoring household chores)--I find it almost impossible to not be constantly sidetracked by every person moving/tiny sound/door opening/ooo-shiny-things-that-give-me-excuses-not-to-write! (ahem) So the few times I've had to write in public (whilst traveling or whatnot) my productivity level is embarrassing.
So yeah, I have to write at home. Which is hard because my house doesn't really have a perfect "writing spot" for me--but I make it work for now.
But really, I can't be the only one, can I? Aren't there ANY other homebody writers out there? Or is it really just me?
Okay, I know what you're thinking:
No way, Shannon. You are far too sweet to be a dream crusher. Also, have I mentioned how fabulous you look today? Not a lot of people can pull off the giant t-shirt + stretchpants look, but YOU my dear ...
(Um, okay, you're probably REALLY thinking: why did I click on this blog link?)
(BUT THIS IS MY BLOG SO I AM GOING TO PRETEND THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE THINKING AND YOU CAN'T STOP ME!)
(ahem)
(Can you tell I'm writing this a wee bit late at night?)
Uh... what was I saying?
Right! The dream crushing thing.
See, I have this pet peeve... (and this is not going to be one of those author-ranting posts, I swear!) (well... maybe a little) (just go with me here)
You know how sometimes you tell someone you're a writer and--after you go through the whole awkward part where they look at you like they're expecting you to say, "Sike!" and then tell them about your "real job" (if, yanno, it were the early 90s when people said things like "Sike!" and didn't immediately get made fun of for being lame)--they get a kind of dopey grin and say something along the lines of, "I've always thought about doing that, I should write a book too!" And then proceed to ask a ton of questions about how to get published.
Yeah ... that's the part where I become a big dream crusher.
But before you judge me--let me clarify.
I do not (repeat: DO NOT) mind when people genuinely, GENUINELY want to be writers, and ask me questions about the publishing process either in person, or via email, Twitter, FB, blog comments, whatever. Shoot--why do you think I help plan WriteOnCon? I love love LOVE helping other writers figure out the mysterious and frustrating publishing world. And I gladly answer any and all questions they may have.
But that's not what I'm talking about.
I'm talking about the people who seem to think I woke up one day and thought: I think I'll write a book today!!!!!!! And then they act like they can do exactly the same thing.
Those people I can't help but give a brutally realistic picture of the time, effort, and sacrifice that 99.9% of all writers have to make in order to get published. Shoot--we endure all of that just to finish a book, regardless of whether it's published or not. And for anyone to assume otherwise is just ... frustrating. So I can't help making it painfully clear that it's not a dream for the feint of heart and they need to be 100% committed if they're going to give it a try.
Hence, dream crusher.
But before you race to unfollow me (or grab the briny pickled things to fling at me *ducks*) for being such a big mean meanie and crushing people's publishing dreams, I'd like to add one thing in my defense.
I truly, TRULY believe that if being published is REALLY your dream, then nothing--NOTHING can crush it. Not revision. Not rejection. And certainly not curmudgeon-y blonde writers who launch into tirades about the publishing industry because you hit on their pet peeve.
So I guess I'm not really a dream crusher, so much as a fleeting-whim crusher. And THAT, I'm okay with.
Plus, I find it hard to believe I'm the only one with this particular pet peeve. Anyone else out there find this annoying?
Anyone?
*crickets*
Uh oh...
Come on in, have a seat. I'm about to lay some serious knowledge on you that a trained, qualified professional would charge you an arm and a leg and possibly a few goats for—for FREE.
Yeah, I'm generous like that.
Here's the thing. Us creatives may be a wildly talented bunch, and all those everyday, average lumps out there wish to Odin's eyeball that they could draw like we can or write like we can or dance the Argentine Tango like I can. But all that genius typically comes with a price: a rather cruel and persistant self-critic. (And maybe that's a good thing, to a degree, lest we allow our own inherent awesomeness inflate our egos to the point our heads begin to make us look like a Peanuts character.)
You know what I'm talking about: he's that little bastard that lives inside all of us and whispers to us about our work doesn't measure up, that we'll never get published or make it as a freelancer, that no one wants to read this slippery pile of bat poop. On one hand, that critic is also the one that often compels us to try harder, to work at our craft, to improve. Unfortunately, he's also the one that makes many of us want to throw in the towel and give up on our dreams. Or even if we're living our dream, we're not enjoying it.
So just what do we
do about that little twerp? Well, keep reading, Priscilla, 'cause here comes that knowledge I promised.
The official, technical name for that little Debbie Downer in our heads is "negative self-talk." This may sound silly, but in reality, the one who's telling us that we're no good is
not some little gremlin living inside our ears. (Well, almost always; there
are gremlins who do inhabit people's ears, but they're generally more interested in convincing their hosts to do ridiculous things that no one else in their right mind would do, such as base jumping, running a marathon or reading Sarah Palin's memoir.)
Nope, it's US. We're bringing
ourselves down. Why? Why would we do that? I'm not going to get into that here, but it has to do with what's called "mistaken beliefs", things we believe about ourselves—I'm lazy, I'm hopeless, I'm a bad mother, etc.—beliefs that are so deep-seated we don't even consciously realize they're there, nor do we question them. David D. Burn's books "
Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy" and "
Ten Days to Self-Esteem" are considered the best sources out there on this whole topic.
That negative self-talk can typically be broken down into a handful of types (most sources put it at about 10). Read through these, and then then spend the next week or so checking yourself to see if you ever think things like this about your work (or about any aspect of your life, really). But you have to
really be on your tippy-toes: these thoughts often zip through our heads faster than you might imagine, because we've made it a habit to think them practically our whole lives.
1.
ALL OR NOTHING THINKING: You see things in black and white categ
By: Laura,
on 6/17/2011
Blog:
Laura's Review Bookshelf
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So obviously I haven't been blogging or reviewing. However, I have been reading! And like Martha Stewart says, "It's a good thing!". I've just finished reading all of The Jessica Darling series. Loved, loved, loved, loved them! I've also read
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, and I did not like that one at all. It just didn't connect with me. It was an advance copy so there were some clunky passages. Hey, it happens. I'm not going to like every book I read.
I'm currently reading
Chime by Franny Billingsley. It's an interesting book, the language and tone are gorgeous, but I'm only 1/4 of the way thru and it better pick up soon! I have also joined the gym!!!! I'm very happy with that and I've been pacing myself (I'm only in my second week) and I have good and bad days. I find that if I get on the treadmill and plug in my earbuds and have either my nook or a book with me, I can go to town for at least 45 minutes. I really need to lose the belly that I've had since the Lilygirl was born (almost 8 years ago!).
Hubby has been traveling like mad to Phoenix. He's generally gone for about two weeks at a time so life can get a bit hectic with him not around. Especially now that the school year is winding down, I'm going to be alone quite a bit with the Lilygirl. But thankfully she is such a great reader! We'll do some reading programs together through our local library.
I will be having a couple of giveaways soon. I just need to get my head on straight. I have to go to post office and I haven't and I keep kicking myself in the head for that (well not literally I'm not that flexible yet!)
I had a great time at BEA and met so many great people and had dinner with the cream of the crop too! I got to have dinner with Cindy Pon! Gretchen McNeil! Shana Silver! It was incredible. I also went to a SoHo Press party that was hosted by Daniel Ehrenhaft. It was an editors, agents and authors dream. I finally got to meet the lovely, if slightly, neurotic Bennett Madison! I love him. And he better be writing! ;p Of course Barry Lyga was there and I just love him too. He was with an editor from Scholastic and she was so sweet and funny.
I got to spend time with Janet Gurtler. I had dinner with her before the SoHo Press Party and it was so nice to just sit back and relax and talk about everything and nothing at the same time. I took her to this quaint little Irish Pub that I love in Times Square. She came up to my room at the Marriott Marquis and we waiting for Shana and Matt Blackstone. (Matt has a book coming out very soon and I encourage everyone to look out for it. It's called
A Scary Scene in a Scary Movie. Which I think is just about the coolest title in the world. I completely enjoyed meeting Matt and I wish him all the luck in the world with his debut novel. I have a feeling it will be a huge success! Just look at that cover!
I do have some reviews I have to write. I just haven't been feeling it lately. I mean I enjoy reading
By: Laura,
on 6/17/2011
Blog:
Laura's Review Bookshelf
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
life,
ramblings,
janet gurtler,
jessica darling,
cindy pon,
gretchen mcneil,
bks,
shana silver,
matt blackstone,
mara dyer,
Add a tag
So obviously I haven't been blogging or reviewing. However, I have been reading! And like Martha Stewart says, "It's a good thing!". I've just finished reading all of The Jessica Darling series. Loved, loved, loved, loved them! I've also read
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, and I did not like that one at all. It just didn't connect with me. It was an advance copy so there were some clunky passages. Hey, it happens. I'm not going to like every book I read.
I'm currently reading
Chime by Franny Billingsley. It's an interesting book, the language and tone are gorgeous, but I'm only 1/4 of the way thru and it better pick up soon! I have also joined the gym!!!! I'm very happy with that and I've been pacing myself (I'm only in my second week) and I have good and bad days. I find that if I get on the treadmill and plug in my earbuds and have either my nook or a book with me, I can go to town for at least 45 minutes. I really need to lose the belly that I've had since the Lilygirl was born (almost 8 years ago!).
Hubby has been traveling like mad to Phoenix. He's generally gone for about two weeks at a time so life can get a bit hectic with him not around. Especially now that the school year is winding down, I'm going to be alone quite a bit with the Lilygirl. But thankfully she is such a great reader! We'll do some reading programs together through our local library.
I will be having a couple of giveaways soon. I just need to get my head on straight. I have to go to post office and I haven't and I keep kicking myself in the head for that (well not literally I'm not that flexible yet!)
I had a great time at BEA and met so many great people and had dinner with the cream of the crop too! I got to have dinner with Cindy Pon! Gretchen McNeil! Shana Silver! It was incredible. I also went to a SoHo Press party that was hosted by Daniel Ehrenhaft. It was an editors, agents and authors dream. I finally got to meet the lovely, if slightly, neurotic Bennett Madison! I love him. And he better be writing! ;p Of course Barry Lyga was there and I just love him too. He was with an editor from Scholastic and she was so sweet and funny.
I got to spend time with Janet Gurtler. I had dinner with her before the SoHo Press Party and it was so nice to just sit back and relax and talk about everything and nothing at the same time. I took her to this quaint little Irish Pub that I love in Times Square. She came up to my room at the Marriott Marquis and we waiting for Shana and Matt Blackstone. (Matt has a book coming out very soon and I encourage everyone to look out for it. It's called
A Scary Scene in a Scary Movie. Which I think is just about the coolest title in the world. I completely enjoyed meeting Matt and I wish him all the luck in the world with his debut novel. I have a feeling it will be a huge success! Just look at that cover!
<
I originally posted this last September. But in honor of Beverly Cleary's 95th birthday a couple weeks ago, I'm reposting it because it's just as true now as it was then. Enjoy!
Why I feel like Ellen Tebbits . . .
I am a HUGE fan of Beverly Clearly. Apart from not reading Dear Mr. Henshaw, I've read nearly every book of hers out there (including her "teen" books - Fifteen, Sister of the Bride, etc.)
Some of my most vivid childhood memories involve her books . . . Like when I lost my 9th birthday party (don't ask why) but I still got a couple of presents and one of them was Ramona and her Mother. And then there was the time I cured myself of reading in the bathtub when I accidentally dropped my beloved copy of Ramona the Pest and made it 3 times its normal size.
I do have my favorites: Ramona the Pest, Socks, Fifteen, Emily's Runaway Imagination, Mitch and Amy, and my all time favorite . . . Ellen Tebbits.
Last week, during quiet reading time at school, I pulled out a copy of Ellen Tebbits from our class library and suddenly I was 9 years old again. And I realized that of all the Beverly Cleary books I have read, Ellen Tebbits is the only one I could probably recite, part and parcel, the entire story from beginning to end.
And that made me wonder . . . why is that?
After mulling this question over and over in my brain this past weekend, I figured out it probably has to do with how much I identify with Ellen. Then as much as now.
Ellen tries her best to be perfect . . . to do her best at everything. Obey her mother, desperately wants her teacher's approval and is devastated when things don't work out the way she plans.
For better or for worse, that was me as a kid. And to a certain extent, that's me now. The great thing about Ellen is that she does learn from her mistakes.
And just like Ellen, I like to think that I do too. :)
My name is Raenice and I am a goofaholic.
This is a pic I text my sis. Don't ask me why I took it. I was bored. Crazy, I know.As you can tell from the pic, goofy would definitely be on the list of my characteristics. Ask anyone who knows me - who REALLY knows me - and they'll tell you. Sometimes, when life gets too hectic or serious, I get goofy. It helps me blow off steam...keeps me from going crazy. Guess that's why I work well with kids. I'm not afraid to go a little cookoo. Hey they appreciate it. That pic of me is the epitome of my goofiness. My goofiness knows no bounds. Oh the text messages I've sent my family members...the pics I've taken of myself (sadly, this is but one in a myriad of others)...the voice mails I've left! Why? Cos I'd be in a goofy mood. I like to see people smile. I bet when you looked at my pic, you smiled; probably laughed til your stomach hurt (you're laughing
with me, not
at me, right...RIGHT). Either that or you gasped in horror.
I can't stand to be around people who are so doggone serious all the time; people who never smile or who are always griping. It's quite stifling, if you ask me. And nothing saps my energy more than being around negative people. Ugh!
I get it, there's a time and place for goofiness. Sometimes, life calls for seriousness. I can be serious, believe me. But, come on! What's that saying? "All work no play makes someone a very dull person." So yeah. Guess what. This is one addiction I don't plan to get rid of. ALL MY GOOFY-LISCIOUS PEOPLE STAND UP AND BE PROUD! Heehee.
I leave you with the main goof himself, Mr. Goofy.
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This post is amazing, because I can totally relate on the "I'm still me but this is totally surreal" feeling, and also because it uses exclusively "Enchanted" gifs. This is why we're friends. ;)
LOVE the Enchanted clips - and big congrats! freak out all you want as long as you are celebrating every minute! dreams don't come true every day so you need to pay attention when they do!!!
Living vicariously through you...love that you're so thrilled. I mean, of COURSE it is but your enthusiasm is fabulous. Oh, and I can totally see you twirling your way across a field in a lovely spinny dress (you know the kind), your hair whirling around you. Heh. YAYAYAY!
Such a great movie! And you give me hope. I know, that probably makes you feel uncomfortable, but it's true: dreams do come true. It's beautiful to see it happening to someone. You've been so incredibly open. Thanks for the glimpse.
Congratulations.
Enchanted!!!! <3 Can't wait for LTSF!
So excited for you! I hope you're managing to fit in some fun amidst all the stress and twitching! :)
What an amazing time for you! So excited for all the blessings to just keep pouring out.
I also LOVE Enchanted! :)
Oh my gosh, the Enchanted clips made my day!!! And I can totally relate. Surreal. And exciting. Congrats!!!
That's exactly how I think of you...surreal, but nice :)
My 3-yo came over while I was reading this post and yelled "LOOK MOMMY IT'S GISELLE DID YOU SEE IT'S GISELLE I LOVE GISELLE!"
Also, I love that you referenced Notting Hill. Not enough people manage to work that movie into everyday conversation.
Congratulations on your dreams coming true! I'd imagine it WOULD be "surreal but nice"!
Congratulations on everything. I can't wait to read Keepers!
This is how I felt getting an agent, I can't imagine how it would feel to actually hold the book and send it out into the world. Such an amazing accomplishment! Congrats, and your covers are so awesome. I would read based on those alone:)
So happy and excited for you! Just try to enjoy this time. You've worked hard for it, and while every release is exciting, the time before your first novel is extra special.
The Enchanted gifs are PERFECT. :) And I totally get you on the not-knowing-what-to-say thing. That's me. I'm always like, "Uh, thanks! Yeah..."
Congrats on both your books! I can't wait to read them!
How does she know (she's a published author?) How does she know (her book is fantastic?)
Was that a NOTTING HILL reference at the end there? Love that line. Surreal. But nice. Congratulations. I've got KEEPER pre-ordered on my Nook. Can't wait to read your stories. I've been following your blog since you got an agent and it's been cool to read about your experiences. CongratS!
Your excitement is infectious! I'm so looking forward to both your books coming out and people knowing how cool you are :)
Terrific!!!
Hi would you mind sharing which blog platform you're working with? I'm going to start my own blog soon but I'm having a difficult time deciding between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design seems different then most blogs and I'm looking for something completely unique. P.S My apologies for being off-topic but I had to ask!
Visit my page : Good Page
I think Enchanted GIFs should be incorporated into everyday conversation. (I'm not sure how yet, unless we all have computer chips implanted in our brains like in Feed, and that's mostly just creepy. But whatever.)
I've preordered both of your books, and I can't wait to read them :)
Sure. My blog is a blogspot blog, so it's powered by blogger. The reason it looks different is because I had a friend customize a template for me, so it's all an original design.