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We need to talk. Sit down in that chair over there, the comfy one. I have something important to tell you.
Things have been crazy for me lately and I know that's not a good excuse for neglecting you, but you have to understand how much I've missed you. It may not seem like it, but I have. Unfortunately things aren't going to get any better for a while and I have to concentrate on writing my next novel, instead of spending all of my time with you.
This year things were great, weren't they? We spent a lot of time together. We held contests, we had great conversations with friends and I even gave up my vlogging virginity to you. Every moment of it was special.
Our time together was filled with stolen moments, mainly during my son's afternoon nap. But, Blogger, he stopped napping and I lost ten hours of productivity a week. I can't get away as much as I used to and unfortunately, our relationship suffered.
It's not that I don't love you, it's just that I have more demands on my time and fewer minutes to give away. So I was thinking that maybe we could take a break. Just for a while, Blogger, not forever. Maybe let me get through the holidays and then we can reevaluate?
Don't cry Blogger! There are plenty of fantastic writers who manage to make it all work in the time they have. How about the Teaching Authors? Or there's Elana Johnson - everyone loves her! Don't forget about my favorite writing buddies, Karly Kirkpatrick and G.P. Ching.
I promise this isn't forever - just for a couple months, maybe less. Sting says, "If you love someone, set them free." Let me go, Blogger, and I promise, I will come back!
As I mentioned earlier, Scattered Ashes has been in my mind for a few months. I've handwritten more than 20 pages of facts, ideas and backstory in a notebook. I'm not a plotter, per se, but I've definitely given this novel time to clarify itself in my mind. I'm dealing with some deep, and potentially controversial, issues and I need to make sure I have everything right.
On Monday I began my NaNo fury and yesterday I was pleased to discover that at 5,000 words in my novel had some surprises in store. I know my main characters, my themes and the ending. What I don't know are the details - and boy, are the details interesting.
What do I LOVE about writing? Discovering new details. Yes, writing can be a journey of discovery just as much as reading. When I find myself smiling as I'm typing, I know I'm working with something good, something promising.
You might be wondering why it's so exciting for me. It's coming from my imagination so how can I be surprised? I don't know where this shit comes from. My imagination? The universe? Divine inspiration? I have no freaking clue, but I'm grateful!
0 Comments on What I LOVE About Writing as of 1/1/1900
One day this summer, I was browsing through my iPhone NASA app. I once wanted to be an astronaut until I realized how much math was involved. I'm still slightly obsessed with outer space.
I found the photo to the right and I had the kernel for my current WIP, Scattered Ashes.
Makes you wonder what came to my mind, doesn't it? Just wait until you read this novel...you might be surprised.
3 Comments on Inspiration Comes From the Strangest Places, last added: 11/3/2010
Astronomy was one of the majors I looked at as a freshman, but I stopped at one class after the professor ruined the romance of astronomy by making us do so much math.
I do like math though, and my new script deals with the founding of calculus (in a romantic-comedy sort of way). (But I do need an actual physicist to help me with the math).
But that's one of the things I want to play with in the script: the romance of science vs. the hard numbers of science ... and how two people with these two different philosophies approach the same problem.
This will be my second time writing a book this year. I wrote The Sleepers in May, yes in May. I'm a one-month first drafter. I like to spit it out and then kick it around in revision for a while.
I wasn't going to participate in NaNoWriMo because I wanted to get started on my next novel in October. Due to my crazy life, it didn't happen. So I decided to enroll in NaNo for the hell of it (and for the 50% coupon for Scrivener that winners receive).
What's my problem? I can't pick which novel to work on. So far, I've focused on Scattered Ashes, a post-apocalyptic YA fantasy. It's gritty. It's raw. It's bound to be controversial because the story revolves around a holy war. But in the back of my mind Tabitha, the main character of a YA contemporary adventure novel I conceived of last year, has been screaming at me. Seriously - screaming. She doesn't like to be told to shut up or take the back seat.
I keep telling her gently, "Tabs, I do NOT want to be a YA contemporary writer. I want to write fantasy."
Her response? "Shut up about your stupid magic and tell my fricking story!"
GAH!
5 Comments on NaNoConflictMo, last added: 11/4/2010
You've just got to go with your gut. I probably should have used NaNo to write a sequel to Into the Shadows, but I had this fun idea for a new novel and figured what the heck. I'm going to adopt the one-month writing bit and apply it to December/January (maybe give myself a couple weeks off) to do the sequel. I'm like you, I seem to do well writing fast. It's the revisions that slow me down!
That is awesome about Scrivener! Glad I decided to participate. I buddied you! (DreamyCowgirl) Yes, I love having weird names, can't help it! Good luck!
Want to help out my rocking friend Karly? Ch-ch-check this out!!!
Help INTO THE SHADOWS climb the bestseller list at Amazon.com by purchasing your copy for $2.99 here http://amzn.to/c4QRzo November 1st. Even one day of great sales on Amazon helps push the book up the bestseller list, which makes the ebook more visible to other readers.
No Kindle? No problem! Download a free app at Amazon.com. Also available at www.smashwords.com, www.amazon.co.uk, and www.BarnesandNoble.com . Coming soon in paperback. Keep up with the latest at www.karlykirkpatrick.com .
INTO THE SHADOWS by Karly Kirkpatrick - YA Paranormal Paivi Anderson has it all—friends, a spot on the varsity basketball team, wonderful parents, and quite possibly, her first boyfriend. It was everything a freshman in high school could ask for. Her perfect life begins to crumble when she discovers her name on a list distributed by a power-hungry presidential candidate. How could anyone think of Paivi as an Enemy of the State? Could it be because of her special powers? No one was supposed to know about them, but the mysterious messages in her tater tots say otherwise. In INTO THE SHADOWS, Paivi quickly learns who her friends are and is forced into a reality she didn’t see coming.
0 Comments on Into the Shadows Release! as of 10/28/2010 1:20:00 PM
Sometimes I think I prattle on a bit too much on my blog, but everything I say comes from a well-intentioned place. When I saw I won the Honest Scrap Award from fellow writer Becky Levine, I was touched. Who wouldn't be? Without further ado, here's the award description:
The Honest Scrap Award: This award is about bloggers who post from their heart, who often times put their heart on display as they write from the depths of their soul. This means so much to me as that is the root reason of why and what I write about. I believe writing is your heart without a mask. My writing, whether it be a blog post, a poem, a piece of prose or a WIP is the truest part of my soul. To me writing is about honesty and truth-seeking. There is the saying that the pen is more powerful than the sword. I believe that writing is a way to challenge people and to speak often times for those who cannot speak.
As a recipient, I get to pass the award onto other bloggers who I think meet this description, and then you get to hear 10 honest things about me.
Step 1: Sharing the Award - I could go on and on and on about the many wonderful bloggers I know, but this post would be too long. Then I decided to choose my top blogger, but two ladies came to mind very quickly. Instead of choosing, I'm highlighting both of them.
Christine Fonseca - Her new book, Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students, recently came out. She gives so much of herself to the gifted community and to her fellow writers. I'm proud to know her.
Danielle Tauscher - I nearly met her at a conference last year (I keep telling her she should have thrown an apple at my head to get my attention), but we've been chatting online for a long time. She's raw, honest and such a sweetheart.
And ten things about me you may never have wanted to know:
1. I sustained an injury in high school that continues to trouble me today. My neck and shoulder and jaw frequently lock up, causing me intense pain and numbness. I've been in and out of doctors' offices and physical therapy, but I refuse to give up the fight. Unfortunately writing on my laptop for extended periods of time exacerbates the symptoms so I have to be careful.
2. You're wondering how I injured my neck? Um, it may have been, um, *cough*, in marching band. But I was one of the BEST in color guard, becoming a captain my sophomore year in high school. I was so damn good our guard instructor took me aside and begged me to train with him to get past my injury. I said no, which I sometimes regret. I mean, I could have had a career, baby, in marching band! (I'm a loser, it's okay, I know.)
3. I choose to never discriminate against anyone for religion (or lack thereof), race or sexuality. I may, however, discriminate against people who piss me off.
4. When my husband and I met, we spent an evening talking about the things we love. He was pleased to discover I adored computer games and bad scifi movies. We both loved the same TV show, Babylon 5, and neither of us liked to watch sports. It was a match made in dorkdom (though I am far dorkier than he).
5. My daughter is biological, my son is adopted. Yes, I have fertility issues (who doesn't these days?), but adoption wasn't a second choice. My daughter was a complete and total surprise, one that almost didn't make it nine months. I've wanted to adopt since I was little, long before I knew about my infertility. I'm not ashamed or embarrassed to talk about it. I usually don't bring it up because it makes other people uncomfortable, but I love, love, love talking to people about infertility & pregnancy & adoption.
6. Writing? I would shrivel up and die without it. I am compelled to write fantasy fiction. If I don't, I think my
6 Comments on The Honest Scrap Award, last added: 10/18/2010
#7. When I was 12 or so (AKA "old enough to know better"), my family was in Hawaii, and we were driving along a road and passed a patch of woods (jungle), and I knew...KNEW that there were menehune living in there. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menehune)
Better off dead is probably my all time favorite "cheer me up" movie. Actually, so many things about this post convince me we were separated at birth. :)
I see nothing wrong with self-publishing or releasing an e-book. I have friends who have done so and been really happy with the outcome. (Check out my friends at G-10.) Another good friend, Karly Kirkpatrick, is releasing her e-book, Into the Shadows, in November.
A couple weeks ago I spent a lot of time chatting with Karly at a conference. We'd listened to speakers, had authors sign books for us and attended breakout sessions. By the end of the day we found we'd had hardly any time to talk to each other so we claimed a couple of comfy couches and had a heart-to-heart about the publishing industry. Karly is strong, determined and confident, which is why her e-book will be a huge success. Me? Not so much. Not yet. I'm still too nervous to let friends read my books. I'm happy to send it out to other writers for crits, but friends? I'm not there yet.
I've been sending out queries and have had many positive responses. But every so often, I get a little sad that I haven't found an agent yet. Okay, maybe there are days when I resemble a T-Rex tearing through the jungle, biting every goat I can find because I'm so angry I haven't succeeded yet. I don't like failure. I'm incredibly competitive, particularly against myself.
Earlier this week, I thought if I don't find an agent for this book, I'm going to self-publish. Honestly, I felt like a three-year-old sticking my tongue out at my mom. Is that really the attitude I should have when approaching self-publishing? Probably not. I should be more like Karly - confident that blazing a new path in self-publishing is the best career move for right now.
The same night, I read a Facebook status update by Christina Mandelski. Her ARCs for her upcoming book arrived and she said this was a day she'd been waiting for since she was eight. I felt tears in my eyes and knew that's why I won't be self-publishing in the near future.I had that feeling once before when my first article was published.
I want that feeling when I hold my first book in my hand. It's a moment I've been craving for longer than I can tell.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not writing just to say I published a book. I write because I have to or my brain will explode. But, for me, an extension of that is holding a traditionally published book in my hands. Maybe someday I will e-publish. I'm a never-say-never kind of gal, but for now I'm placing my bets on the traditional industry and hoping that I'll draw a full house.
8 Comments on My Thoughts on Self-Publishing, last added: 10/14/2010
Thanks for the shout out! And you're right, everyone has to do what's best for them. I think one thing that makes my experience so fun right now is that I went into it more for the adventure and the risk than out of frustration. And that's not to say I wasn't frustrated; introduce me to an aspiring author who isn't...hehehe.
My second book still hasn't worn out it's trad published welcome yet, so I *could* still go back to querying and whatnot. But I'm having so much fun doing this, I think this might just be what works for me. But in all honesty, I have no idea what tomorrow will bring our where my path as a writer will go. So who knows what we'll be saying in 6 months or a year!
It feels like you were in my and probably many other aspiring authors' heads when you wrote this.
So many times I have researched e-publishers or looked into self publishing out of frustration, but that's where it stops. For all of us who want our work to be published by a traditional publisher, there is no failure until we give up. I figure that as long as there are agents left to query, I haven't failed.
If this book doesn't get published, there's always the next and then the next. It's just so FRUSTRATING! Ah! So, I totally feel you. You are very talented and someday some agent will realize that, too;)
Oh, and I agree, more and more self published authors are getting published with traditional houses. Just got to keep at it.
The crazy thing about e-publishing is that I always looked at it as a place for those who couldn't get published traditionally. What I'm finding inspiring are the people who WANT to self-publish because they love the technology or feel it's the right outlet for a particular project.
I don't want it like that (not now at least), but I'm so inspired by the people who are giving it a whirl!!! :D
Although I have been published traditionally, I'm considering self-publishing.
But, I will say, that the confidence boost I got from getting that first 'yes' from a publisher is probably what gave me the confidence to do that.
You might look at smaller, indie publishers. There are some good ones out there, and they may be easier to reach than an agent. Because agents are working on a very small percentage, they're really only interested in blockbusters.
I am a recently self-published author. I did it because I was too impatient with the traditional publishing process. However, self-publishing has not stopped me from continuing to query for the same book! While I don't think traditional publishing should be necessary to feel "validated," I too want to hold my book in my hands. Ebooks are great, but there is something wonderful about a printed book.
Tell me, who decides if your writing is good? Who says it's worth publishing? Who says it's worth reading?
I think a writer's deepest insecurities come through after the writing is done. The little voice inside whispers, Are you sure you want someone to read this? What if they hate it and are afraid to tell you? What if you've wasted weeks, months or years on your book only to find out no one wants to publish it? When can a writer finally relax? When she nabs an agent? When the agent gets her a publishing contract? When her publisher throws a ton of money at promotion? When the book debuts on the bestseller list? When there's a contract for a second book? When the second book succeeds? At any moment there is the chance of failure. There is never a time when writing is a secure profession.
So that brings me back to my first question, who validates your writing?
I think only you can answer that question...
4 Comments on Who Validates Your Writing?, last added: 10/13/2010
This Friday, I saw Kate DiCamillo do a Q&A before the screening of her movie "Because of Winn Dixie". One child asked what she's working on now. She said, "In my better moments it's long and funny. In my worse moments it's long and funny and stupid." She makes a living from writing, has won several big awards, and two of her books have been made into movies.
For me, the "test" comes when I haven't looked at the book for a large chunk of time and then I read some of it. If it still makes me smile (or cry), if it still catches me up, then I feel pretty good. Obviously, this doesn't mean there aren't flaws or that the book is even publishable, but it does--as you say--validate for me what I did and my love/caring for the product.
Outside of that, my critique group, and--yes, hopefully an agent and editor eventually. :)
Well, honestly, I validate my writing. That said, when I finish a first draft, I don't quake in my boots, terrified that it's crap. I don't sing its praises, though, either.
Instead, I consider it to be phase-first-draft done. Or even draft five. Or ten. That particular phase is done, and it's time to get feedback.
And then there will be more work to do, because it's certainly not perfect. :)
Theresa - wow! What a great example. Thanks for sharing it. :)
Becky - That's a great way to approach your own work. I feel that way sometimes too. What I love is when I re-read and I think, "Did I actually write this? It's great!"
Tabitha - We should all be like you - that's fantastic. :)
I have a winner from last week's book giveaway: Becky Levine! She told me after I notified her that she'd been dying to read Will Grayson, Will Grayson so I'm thrilled she won. Nothing like matching a book with a reader. What boggles my mind are the sheer numbers of unique visitors who didn't enter last week. (Yes, I'm watching you...)
It took me so long to post this because I was sick again last week, this time with a stomach bug. Having young children is like living in a contaminated petrie dish. Nasty, I assure you. No, I wasn't sick for five days but once I did get better I had about a million loads of laundry to do. Then on Saturday we attended the funeral service of a dear friend of mine and I wasn't in the mood to blog yesterday.
Unfortunately I did no creative writing last week, which breaks my heart. I have this great new story in my head and I'm dying to get it on paper...and soon. Everyone has been whispering about NaNoWriMo, but I've decided not to participate this year.
Why? I have no problem motivating myself to write, but I find when I'm forced to do so I only write total crap. Not even crap that can be shaped into something beautiful later, but mindless crap because I'm concentrating solely on word count rather than content. Can I write decent content that quickly? Absolutely. My problem is that I am highly competitive and can't stand to see other people beating me so I'll just type and type until I feel the satisfaction of being ahead of them. That's not what I want my writing to be about....not even my shitty first drafts.
Besides, I aim to begin this new book in October and I really don't feel like waiting until November to get going.
Are you participating in NaNoWriMo this year???
4 Comments on A Winner & My Thoughts on NaNoWriMo, last added: 10/12/2010
I plan on entering NaNoWriMo for the first time this year! I'm super excited about it, but a little apprehensive too. It's a whole novel in a month! I'm up for the challenge though.
Yeah, I wasn't gonna do it, but as you know, I got an idea and changed my mind. I'll just write every day and not worry so much about word count. The idea is to get the story I want down on paper. It may take all of December too, but I'm okay with that! Hoping it'll just keep me on track. :)
So last week I said I was going to start giving away signed books when I reached 307 Twitter followers. I've seen tactics like that used a billion times and thought, I should do that too. I did gain some followers, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it seemed like buying friends. That's really not something I'm comfortable with.
When awesome writer/blogger Angela Carlie asked to interview me on her blog, I was really excited and answered all of the questions as honestly as I could. She posted it yesterday morning (and if you're interested in reading more about me, you should stop by and if you're not interested in reading more about me, then you should stop by and meet Angela anyway because she's fantastic). I reread my answers and was struck by one answer pertaining to high school and dances. I didn't mope that I wasn't the most popular girl in school - in fact, I really could have cared less. So why, I asked myself, am I trying to buy friends with book giveaways?
Screw that. If you're here, it's probably because you've been here for some time. Thank you! So, I am starting my giveaways with a signed copy of Will Grayson, Will Grayson by Green & Leviathan.I'm going to tweet & Facebook this post, as I do with all of my posts, but I'm not mentioning the giveaway. This one is for those of you who've been here already. You're welcome to tweet or FB about it, if you want, but there isn't a requirement. No stipulations, no rules. Just comment below if you want to win. Entries close on October 6th noon CST.
5 Comments on To Be Perfectly Honest...., last added: 10/5/2010
Well, I'm in! Congrats for you for figuring it out. The one thing I can't "play" with on Twitter is the followers count--that part doesn't feel real to me. I get that it can/might pay off in many marketing ways, but, honestly, I like the conversations I'm having with people I actually TALK with there. :)
I appreciate the honesty. I can see why you're uncomfortable with that. I'm actually a recent follower and I'm staying here with or without giveaways. :)
Sounds like a good plan. I'm in for the giveaway, but I'll keep reading (or not) based on content, not whether you give stuff away. Good for you for recognizing that.
Ah, young love. We all experienced it, right? The gut-wrenching feeling when you're interested in a boy who doesn't know you exist. The hours you spend agonizing over the perfect outfit, knowing you may only have one chance to make the first impression. The sting of rejection when you realize he's not as interested in you as you are in him.
Luckily we eventually all grow out of that angst and move on....except for writers who are looking to be traditionally published.
Yeah, that's pretty much how it feels. Here's how it works for me: I research agents, trying to find the best fit for my work and for my personality. I want an agent who's interested in what I write as well as someone I think I could mesh with as a colleague. Once in a while I might even daydream about what it would be like to get the call or to work on revisions with someone who loves my book as much as I do.
Sounds familiar doesn't it? Kind of angsty? Kind of teenager-ish? That's the way it works for me.
Being a freelance journalist, I know writing is a business as well. It isn't just an emotional roller coaster of longing. Even though a guy was hot, if he was in major debt or was a total slacker he'd never make it past initial consideration. Same with an agent. I need someone who is dedicated to the business.
I've always been a girl who jumps in fully with my heart, but in the background there's always that analytical part of me buzzing, working out scenarios, trying to find the best path.
How about you? How do you approach your agent search?
0 Comments on Why Querying is like Finding a Boyfriend as of 1/1/1900
You may have heard. I have a few books signed by the authors.
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White. Firelight by Sophie Jordan. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan The DUFF by Kody Keplinger
....and I'll be collecting a few more in the upcoming weeks...
I might even snag a signed copy of Mockingjay. Ever heard of that book?
Perhaps I'll also give away some manuscript crits. I like reading your books!!!
I'm going to give them all away. Why? Because fall is my favorite season and I'm in a good mood. Because the holidays are coming and you'd probably like to get an awesome gift. Because I love all of you.
I haven't decided how, or when, I'll be giving them away. But soon, very soon I'll make a decision. My advice is to follow me on Twitter because it might be a scheduled giveaway or maybe a split second decision. We'll see....
2 Comments on Signed-Books-a-Palooza!!!!, last added: 9/27/2010
It's been two weeks since my last post. Why? I've been buried alive. Or so it seems.
My parents weren't rich. I don't think that's a big secret. We lived on a farm and while my dad worked as a tax accountant (in addition to farming full time) and my mom worked in the local elementary school library, we didn't have a lot of money to go around. There were some years we had nothing to spare beyond essentials.
While we didn't have money to donate, we did have time and my mom made sure I learned the value of volunteering. She even convinced me to dress up like a clown and with the Clown Troupe we traveled to local nursing homes and performed for them. Poor old people, being terrorized by us creepy clowns. I hope we didn't give anyone a heart attack. Anyway, my mom made it very clear to me how important it is to volunteer and I carried that through my life, volunteering even while I was in college.
I'm on the board of my daughter's school's PTA and I run the fall fundraiser, which means I have been inundated with membership and the fundraiser. Why I agreed to both in one year is beyond me. Well, memberships have slowed and I put the fall fundraiser order forms in the mail today.
If allergies weren't kicking my butt I'd be twirling in circles singing Jon Secada's song "I'm Free." I may or may not have sung it at the top of my lungs the day my parents dropped me off at college.
Now that I have more time, I can start blogging again and I'm thrilled. No more days of spending 4 to 5 hours on PTA stuff. Yes, I still have duties but they are more than manageable.
I have some really exciting stuff coming up on the blog for the rest of the year. I hope you'll be joining me as I give away some signed books - some really popular signed books - and blabber on about my writing life.
You are so good. I've backed way off from volunteering at the schools. I'm doing a little mentoring for teen writers, which feels good, but I hit burn-out after a while on the other stuff.
If you've ever wondered why my blog is titled Reading & Writing by Candlelight, you don't have to wonder anymore. I'm spilling....
If you've read my bio, you know I grew up on a farm. Surrounded by fields on four sides, my house had witnessed great events in my family. My grandmother was born in that house - yes, born in it. You can just imagine the stories it could tell about my family. But today, it's my turn to share.
During March of my junior year in high school, we experienced an epic ice storm. It wasn't unusual for us to lose power, well, pretty much anytime someone looked at the power lines the wrong way they'd go out, but this time our power wasn't just out for a few hours, it was out for five days.
On the farm, the water comes from a well. No electricity = no water. No running water, no toilet flushing, no shower, no bath, etc. (Not pleasant, I assure you.) It also meant no lights and no heat.
Either our nearby town was shut down or we were on spring break, I don't really remember, but I was basically trapped at home. The country roads were impassable, turning into sheets of ice as if an iceberg had settled over us.
It was cold outside, so cold, and in our ancient house we had to take some drastic measures to preserve heat. My parents hung blankets over the doorways to trap the heat in our only interior room, the dining room. Since we couldn't turn on the heater (electric heat, people, no gas heat on the farm), my dad set up a kerosene lamp in the center of the room. It provided us with heat, light and we could cook soup on top of it.
I had assignments for school, but I dove head first into the one I was most excited about - reading The Hound of the Baskervilles. I curled up on the floor in front of the kerosene heater, my body wrapped in a fluffy blanket with only my head and arms exposed.
I read like that for hours. I shivered, not just with the cold but also with the horror of the story I read. To me, I felt I had created a literary movie theater. Total blackness, save the flickering light, and my imagination creating the movie screen in my mind.
Have you ever tried reading in near darkness with only the images dancing in your head?
Years later, when I was on my own, I translated that experience to writing with my laptop, sometimes with candles, other times only with the glow of the screen. It's my favorite way to write and read - immersed in my own thoughts with nothing of this world to distract me.
3 Comments on Reading & Writing by Candlelight, last added: 9/7/2010
Love it! That must've been one cold week but sometimes our most difficult childhood memories are the ones that change us the most. Sounds like it stuck with you for good.
Lovely story that shows the power of imagination! One of my favorite childhood memories is of my family gathered around a blazing fireplace during a blizzard blackout.
So I gave away Becky Levine's awesome book and then I fell off the face of the earth? Not quite. In Illinois we start school before Labor Day. I'm very involved at my daughter's school and things have been, well, a little chaotic. Then I got really sick...so here's a little something for you to enjoy until I get back to blogging....
2 Comments on Where Have I Been?, last added: 9/2/2010
Congratulations to Jessica Anne who won a signed copy of The Writing & Critique Group Survival Guide by Becky Levine!!! Contact me with your mailing address and I'll get the info to Becky.
Oh, this is so funny. I just went over & read Jessica's bio on her blog. She's a veterinarian with three daughters. My mom was a veterinarian back when not a whole lot of women were doing it, and SHE raised three daughters. And you pulled this on her birthday. Twilight-zone feel! :)
Hi, hope it's OK to contact you here. We would love to include your blog on our giveaway search engine: Giveaway Scout (http://www.giveawayscout.com). Have a look and if interested, use our online form to add your blog (http://www.giveawayscout.com/addblog/ ). thanks, Josh
There's a big debate in the YA community right now over book bloggers. Writers love to get great reviews, but there's always a question about whether aspiring authors should be critiquing published authors. Will they burn bridges before even getting an invitation to cross over? It's a valid question.
But that has nothing to do with why I don't write book reviews.
I've worked in multiple libraries and even managed a bookstore for a couple years. Part of my job was to give people book recommendations. I did so successfully for years and here's the secret:
Just because I love a book, it doesn't mean you will.
Think about it this way - you love chocolate chip peanut butter cookies. Your best friend hates peanut butter. Do you think she'll love your cookies just because you love them? Do the math.
Book recommendation is the same way. I adored The Mists of Avalon, but I wouldn't recommend it to everyone. In fact, I wouldn't recommend it to most people I know. It doesn't change Marion Zimmer Bradley's genius, but if I'm going to recommend a book to you, I want to have some inkling you might enjoy it first!
So while I'm on Goodreads, I don't write up reviews. I don't want total strangers thinking a book I loved is for them if they don't like that kind of book to begin with. If you ask me for a recommendation, I'm first going to ask what books you already love. That helps me so much more than telling you what I love. For instance, there is an extremely popular children's series that I thought was terrible. In fact, I couldn't finish it. My husband thinks I'm insane because he loved it. Would my dislike stop me from recommending it to other readers? Absolutely not!
So let me take a stab in the dark with my blog readers. My crystal ball tells me most of you are writers, probably unpublished. You're looking for instruction and inspiration. Am I right? Then, how about giving The Writing & Critique Group Survival Guide by Becky Levine a try? I'm giving away a signed copy through Tuesday, August 17th at noon. Head over to my earlier post, an interview with Becky, to enter! Good luck!
4 Comments on Why I Don't Write Book Reviews, last added: 8/17/2010
This post reflects a philosophy similar to school librarianship: I have to buy and recommend books I don't personally favor in order to do my job well. Match the books to the reader! But therein lies the challenge and thus the fun...
I will recommend books I like, but if I don't like a book, I keep it to myself. I figure if I'm specific in my comments, it's enough for someone else to say whether they will like it for the same reasons. I suppose I just love books so much that when I've had a good experience with one, I want to share it!`
I've been thinking a lot lately about my writing technique. It's something readers are always interested in and I love to read the same about other writers, so I thought I'd share a bit with you.
Here's a little secret I've never told anyone - my articles, um, I only write one draft. Just one. What I write is what I turn in and I've rarely been edited. I've had more than 100 articles published in the last six years and nearly every single one is a first draft.
Imagine how humbling it was for me when I began seriously pursuing publication in fiction. My first drafts sucked. They were lifeless. A total mess. But I didn't quit. No, I revised and revised and revised and revised.
My revisions consisted of mainly of tweaking content. As an experienced journalist, I don't make a lot of intentional grammar mistakes. I do take liberties with grammar occasionally and so far, the agents I've spoken to understand what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. One went so far as to compliment it, telling me that's where my writing voices lies. I found that very interesting...but I digress...
Do you remember those physiology books that have clear plastic pages, each one with a new layer of the body? I always found them fascinating - and that's exactly how I look at my writing.
First drafts, in fiction, are like laying down the basic bones. Then, as I revise, I add layers and layers to the book. I don't know if it's my inexperience as a writer, or just my technique, but my books grow in word count as I revise. Each sweep I make has a particular goal in mind, whether it's story or description or characterization. I'm not good at doing everything at once, though I did notice in my current WIP (which is my second complete novel) that I was able to combine more of these into the first draft. Once I've added everything I feel needs to be added, then I make a sweeping revision pass to cut out all the unnecessary junk.
So, there's my process. You should use the exact same techniques as me.
Wait! What? If you believe that, then you really need to reevaluate your commitment to becoming an author. Writing is intensely personal. No one writes or revises in the same way. You can read all you want about how other authors do it, but until you figure out what works best for you you're just an imitator.
Be yourself. Find your unique voice. Don't be discouraged because it will come in time. Practice doesn't make perfect, but it does lead you to discover what works for you.
Interesting. Before I started writing, I was an accounting major, then a manager, and most recently a nurse. So, I've done a fair amount of academic and technical writing. I write the same way you do. My word count is always low on the first draft and usually I have very little setting or description. It's all action. I add that stuff in draft two. Most writers have to cut. You and I have to add. Must be from training ourselves to be succinct in our writing.
I do the exact opposite, so I guess I'm like most. I can write for hours at a time. Actually, it's happened. I wrote for 10 hours straight and drove my parents nuts. I didn't eat or drink either. I felt fine...oddly, but the next day I was crazy for food. Go figure. I just write what comes to mind and put myself into the story. Maybe that's a bad thing...maybe. But to each her own, right?
Anonymous said, on 8/13/2010 10:33:00 AM
I write in layers as well....But first I 'vomit on the page'. I write whatever comes to mind at that time, just let 'er rip. Then I go back and sometimes I have to cut down unnecessary garbage, sometimes I need to add things. I forget the reader can't see what I do, and I must describe it to them. Then I give it to my critique partner, and so on. Sometimes I find it tedious, but I know it's worth the time.
Usually my work gets longer as I revise, but I've been working on a project that is shrinking dramatically as I go. This could be, of course, because it's an older piece, and I used to repeat myself in descriptions and give a lot of stage directions or other nonsense.
I always love reading about how other authors work. Thanks for sharing!
When I asked author Becky Levine (it's also HER BIRTHDAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BECKY!) to answer some questions on critiquing for my blog, I never imagined she'd offer to give away a signed copy of her awesome book The Writing & Critique Group Survival Guide, but she did! After you've read her answers to my questions, you can find the info on how to enter to win a signed copy of her book! Woot!
Q: One of my readers asked, “I'm curious about how many readers you feel one should have in order to get a broad, balanced view of the manuscript without being overwhelmed by the amount of feedback?” It’s a great question. Sometimes I wonder the same thing myself. What’s your take on this question? A: I’ve seen groups work well in all sizes, but my personal preference is 4-6 people. Depending on how productive everybody is being, this size seems to leave time for members to write as well as critique. If you get too many people, you can spend all your “free” hours between meetings reading everyone else’s submissions and feeling like you can’t make progress on your own book. On the other hand, if a group is too small, it’s easier for a writer to ignore a critique (one they might really need to pay attention to). You can say, “Well, only one person thought that was a problem, so I don’t have to worry about it.” In a larger group, you’re more likely to get a few people pointing at stuff that isn’t working, and it’s harder to go into denial!
Just a quick note on being overwhelmed: everybody gets this feeling. It’s one reason I recommend leaving at least a little time between getting a critique and revising on that feedback; I think this helps you see things more clearly (and calmly) and lets you process the comments and make choices for your story.
Q: Many writers are very nervous when they receive a critique. Can you talk a little about the difference between critique and criticism and how our feelings are impacted by both? A: Here’s an example I’ve been using in workshops lately—the differences between these two sentences:
-I don’t like your hero. -I don’t like your hero enough yet.
The first comment hits the author with a dead-end feeling. They’re working on their first, maybe second draft, and they’re still developing the hero’s character (along with a gazillion other things), and all they’re told is that they’ve failed. This pretty much shuts down their brain and sends them off with a big emotional hurdle to get over, when they sit down to write again.
The second comment contains all the potential for the thinking and writing and revising the author will be doing. The critiquer recognizes that the character and the story is in process and is just giving the author a heads up that they haven’t hit “done” yet. Which, honestly, the writer knows—they just need some help with hows and whys and what-nexts. The second comment lets them keep their brain open and listen to the suggestions this critiquer is going to follow up with.
The content of the critique hasn’t changed; the critiquer hasn’t avoided telling the author what isn’t working, but those two words make all the difference, I think, for the writer’s ability to think about what the critiquer has to say. And if we, as writers, can’t play with the words of our critiques, then we’re not
15 Comments on Interview & Book Giveaway with Author Becky Levine!, last added: 8/14/2010
Nice read, Michelle. As you know, I'm looking to start a writing group and there will be many different types of writers and the question about cross-genres was good.
Wonderful! :) This is inspiring and makes me realize even more how much I need a critique group of my own. One I can trust and have fun with!! Thanks for sharing this interview!
Nice interview. I'm always interested in reading about other authors. I especially like the nuances between critique and criticism. To help me find the right word in my writing, I use "The Thinker's Thesaurus": Sophisticated Alternatives to Common Words (author Peter E. Meltzer). This thesaurus modifies the “base word” to add nuance or clarification which yields a more exact synonym. I can't work without it!
We are having Becky speak on critique groups at our writers club in December, and everyone's invited. See www.trivalleywriters.org
My crit group is four SF/Fantasy writers and I wouldn't want it to grow more than one more because we would have to rush our critiques and rush our luncheon meetings. BTW, if you do SF or fantasy there are genre-specific things that only other SF/F writers will catch in your ms. Our group is totally worth the effort and I hope yours is, too.
Ed Miracle Programs Chair, Tri-Valley Writers [email protected] www.edmiracle.com
I'd forgotten there was a section in the book specifically for children's books. I have my own wonderful copy of this book, but I'd love one to give away.
When I began writing, I knew eventually I'd have to let someone see my work. I was scared to death. What if they hated it? What if my writing stunk so bad they couldn't find anything good to say about it?
Luckily I had an awesome coach in my corner, Carmela Martino, author of Rosa, Sola. She helped me gain the confidence to open my work up to critique and today, she will help you too. I asked her a few questions and she was gracious enough to answer them for us below!
Q: I think all writers have insecurities, but can you talk a bit about how important it is for us to share our work with other writers.
A: It’s important to share our work with other writers because we’re typically too close to our own writing to see what’s missing. For example, I know why my main character acts the way she does, but I may not have made her motives clear in the writing, or I may not have presented those motives in a way that’s believable for readers. Without feedback from others, I’m not likely to recognize such shortcomings.
On the flip side, there are times when I’ve included something in a manuscript that I’m not sure works. My critique group may either confirm my misgivings (which is usually the case) or reassure me that the piece does indeed work. Sometimes, it is the latter type of feedback that I need the most. I tend to be hypercritical of my own writing. I guess you’d say that my insecurity is that I tend to think my writing isn’t very good. So I need to hear about what IS working in a manuscript as well as what isn’t. Otherwise, I’m likely to cut even the “good stuff” in revision.
Q: Before giving my first critique, I was scared my critique would be terrible or uninformed. What advice would give to someone to calm their fears before giving their first critique?
A: In my critique workshops, I address this fear in several ways. First, I remind my students that you don’t have to be a writing expert to provide helpful feedback. The author of the piece is simply looking for honest feedback from objective readers. Of course, the way that feedback is delivered can make a huge difference. That is why I have a specific procedure I follow in class. (I learned this approach from Sharon Darrow, one of my writing teachers.)
We always begin a critique by sharing what we like and/or what we think is working well. It’s only after a significant discussion of what works that we turn to constructive criticism. I then ask my students to word their criticism in the form of questions. For example, what is the character’s motivation for this? How did the character feel when that happened? How old is the character? I also require the author to remain silent during this time. The combination of forming the feedback as a question and not allowing the author to speak helps to minimize the author’s defensiveness.
You're most welcome, Michelle. And thank YOU for helping to spread the word about my class. I'm going to email my students to suggest they enter to win a copy of Becky's book! I'm so excited to finally have a text to go with the class--I'd never found anything really appropriate before.
Great vlog, Michelle. I loved the text comments. You are so cool. :-) I'm thrilled that you consider me a mentor and I look forward to answering your questions on critiquing. Carmela TeachingAuthors
Girl, you were fabulous! Maybe we need to add some vlogs to YA Flash! I liked the setting, bookcase in the background, very writer-ly!
And when it comes to critiquing, I must be a glutton for punishment because I love it when people tell me what's wrong and what I need to fix. It does help if they liked a few things!
Rob said, on 8/7/2010 7:49:00 AM
Great job, Michelle! I like your subtitle comments!!
I spoke last week about why it's important to hand your work over to a beta reader without fear. One of my writing friends, DT, asked me a really important question, "How would you recommend finding a beta reader?"
My first recommendation is to start with your local SCBWI if you write for children. I hooked up with my critique group this way and I've had a great experience with them. But critique groups tend to move slowly, concentrating on small portions of your book at a time. It could take a long time to get through a critique of your entire book.
If you're writing, hopefully you're networking with other writers. You can meet them on Facebook, Twitter, at conferences, etc. It's inevitable you'll talk about your work and at some point just ask, "Hey, I could really use another opinion on my work-in-progress. Would you be willing to take a look at it? I'd love to help you out with your work too!"
It's that simple really.
Chances are she will be interested and if she's not, don't take it personally. It may be that her book isn't done yet so she has nothing to share, or maybe her time is very limited or maybe she isn't comfortable with her critiquing skills yet.
Keep your eyes open for another opportunity. I've been surprised by my beta readers. One, in fact, Kathy Fenton White, used to taunt & tease me when I was little. She's my older sister's best friend, but now I can call her my friend too. So see, you never know!
I want to cover critiquing more - so if you have any questions, please post them below. I happen to know some critiquing experts and I plan on picking their brains for you.
4 Comments on Finding a Beta Reader, last added: 8/2/2010
I'm curious about how many readers you feel one should have in order to get a broad, balanced view of the manuscript without being overwhelmed by the amount of feedback?
Hmmm. I find the term "Beta" reader curious. Obviously the author is the Alpha and a Beta is secondary. Also beta means testing in the computer world. Or does it mean beta readers are something obsolete - for example Beta vs VHS war... something you are too young to remember I think. Sorry - obsessing on a word.
Just to answer the question about the word, the term "beta reader" is derived from the phrase "beta tester." A beta tester, in software development, is when someone outside the software team tests the software. First, it goes through alpha testing, when the programming team themselves test for bugs. Then, they give it off to someone else to find bugs they themselves wouldn't because the real operators use the software differently than the programmer could predict. A similar philosophy applies to beta readers.
So far, six people have weighed in on my WIP. Three more beta readers AND my crit group have it in their grubby little paws, okay, well, on their computers and I'm eagerly awaiting their input.
Eagerly? WHAT?
How can I say that? After all, I sent them my manuscript - something I poured my heart into for two months, weaving in my hopes & dreams of becoming a published fiction author (I'm a journalist by trade, publication itself doesn't make me sweat, but the thought of seeing my name on a book does). I should be scared. It's my baby, my beautiful tiny baby, and I sent it to people to have them rip it apart, mark it up and tell me what's ugly.
It's like sending my children out into The Forest of Hands and Teeth (by Carrie Ryan - if you haven't read it - you should).
No, really, it's not. Yes, I worked very hard - but I didn't work that hard to rest on my laurels and assume it's perfect. The book isn't from my DNA, it's from my twisted mind, and maybe my warped sense of logic needs to be reined in once in a while.
Back in the olden days, I took an online course with a very prestigious author through a very prestigious program. I paid hundreds of dollars for what I thought would be a chance to have my manuscript raked over the coals...and back. Instead, all I got was praise.
That pissed me off. Why? I didn't spend that money to be patted on the back. I wanted criticism. I wanted to be told what I was doing wrong! I don't have trouble taking compliments, but I do have trouble be coddled.
Moral of the story? Share your work! You cannot get better without critiques from your peers. There are some amazing people out there willing to do beta reads of your work. They want to help you succeed. They want to help you get better. (They probably also want to be thanked in your acknowledgments when you get published.)
So find some awesome beta readers and let them take a sweep of your manuscript. You might be surprised what they have to say and it just might make you a better writer!
5 Comments on Beta Readers....Why You Need 'Em, last added: 8/1/2010
Wow - I haven't written a Links I Love post in two months! Slacker!!!!
I've been blogging a lot about inspiration and not giving up, so I was thrilled when a link to Jodi Meadow's guest post on Corrine Jackson's blog showed up on Twitter this morning. Just goes to show we should never give up!
This weekend is the SCBWI national conference in L.A. A big part of me wishes I was there, but realistically I don't have the money to attend, I have too much going on at home and I hate flying so here I sit in Chicago. But a blog post by Kathleen Peacock made me feel better about staying home.
Luckily for those of us who can't attend, we can still hear about the awesomeness of the conference through Trina Sotira's blog. She's regifting the conference to all of us and I can't wait to see what she has to offer!!!
And since an agent has my full, an offer of representation is on my mind. No, I'm not reading too much into the request, I'm simply doing what I always do - getting prepared. Just in case. You know, like if all my dreams start to come true. So, here is an awesome blog post on what to ask an agent before signing with them from Book Ends, LLC's blog.
Happy writing & reading!
2 Comments on Links I Love July 28 2010, last added: 7/29/2010
These are super awesome links! Let's hope you'll need those questions for the agent!!!!! And Jodi's guestblog was totally a pick-me-up that I needed this week!
Enjoy your break!
Hang in there. I remember that nap disappearing--yikes! We'll be here, waiting...and patiently. :)
Relax and enjoy some writing on your break! And many thanks for the shout-out!
Yeah, I don't know how you kept up with it all. You deserve some rest.