Okay, so at the risk of becoming the world's biggest hypocrit ever, I've sort of decided to move away from the blogosphere. I feel like a complete hack, having taught many (MANY) "how to blog" classes at conferences and conventions.
I love blogging.
Or at least I used to.
Over the past year, I've fallen more and more out of love with it. I find it so much easier to send a tweet, or update my Facebook status, and I can easily read through my lists and groups to find out what's going on with the people I care about.
I know. That makes me like, the worst blogger ever. I just can't keep up anymore (haven't been able to for a long time), and I've been wondering if blogging is a platform that I'm all overloaded on.
And I think maybe it is.
I've been hesitating from moving away from it -- though, let's face it, I've been emotionally detached for a while now -- because I used to love it so much.
But I also used to love cotton candy. Now I just find it sticky, and messy, and overpriced. I didn't worry about abandoning that sweet for something else I liked. I don't know why this move has taken so long or feels so... I don't know. Painful? Yeah, probably painful.
I will still be here, periodically, as I have things to say and contribute. But really, I'm spending more time on twitter and Facebook. Or writing -- definitely writing.
Have you ever gone through this? Leaving behind something amazing and good, hopefully in the pursuit of something better?
Find Me Online
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Winning Streak or Losing Streak
Okay, so I've been gone for a while! I swear I didn't mean to do that. But I was crazy-busy with planning and executing WriteOnCon (only the most amazing thing ever!) and then I moved right into work again. School starts TODAY, and I've been swamped with teacherly things, and motherly things, and well, when you stop blogging for a while, you sort of forget it's there... Tell me I'm not the only one who does that!
Anyway, I know I give you guys my professional development lectures every year. I just find them so inspirational, and I find that they almost always relate to how I'm feeling as a writer.
So we focus a lot on data at my school, because we're a Title I school and a lot of our funding comes from such things. One of our speakers was talking about winning streaks and losing streaks. He said something that resonated with me. He said that it only takes two (TWO) events to get on a streak, either winning or losing. Two successes to feel confident. To self-analyze how we're doing, and what we could be doing better. Two successes to feel like we know what we're doing. (He, of course, was talking about creating successes for kids, and I, of course, agreed and then applied it to writing/publishing.) Two successes to think, "Hey, I might be good at this."
Hopefully, you've been on a winning streak before. Maybe even in publishing.
Then he said that it only takes two disappointments or failures to be on a losing streak. Two failed tests. Two instances where a student couldn't perform what they were asked to. And this is the dangerous spiral. When you're on a losing streak, you want to give up. You criticize yourself mercilessly. You have no confidence and no motivation to keep trying. Not only do we start to think, "I can't do this," we continue that thought to "I can't do this, because I'm not good at it."
Oh, how I've felt this in writing. Two rejections in a row can get you there. Maybe my book is terrible. Maybe I'm not a good writer.
Two bad reviews. My book is lame. I can't plot. I should just give up.
The trick is to take the "failures" and make them into successes. Or ignore them. Or make it so you don't even know about them.
Or eat a lot of ice cream and have a writer's group to vent to. Ha!
No matter what, I felt that what our trainer was saying was true. I've felt it as I've pursued a writing career, and I know my students feel it as they try to learn math, science, and English. My goal is make sure EVERY interaction they have is a success, and I'm going to try to work through the losing streak in writing, anticipating a success just around this next corner...
Where are you right now? Winning streak or losing streak?
Anyway, I know I give you guys my professional development lectures every year. I just find them so inspirational, and I find that they almost always relate to how I'm feeling as a writer.
So we focus a lot on data at my school, because we're a Title I school and a lot of our funding comes from such things. One of our speakers was talking about winning streaks and losing streaks. He said something that resonated with me. He said that it only takes two (TWO) events to get on a streak, either winning or losing. Two successes to feel confident. To self-analyze how we're doing, and what we could be doing better. Two successes to feel like we know what we're doing. (He, of course, was talking about creating successes for kids, and I, of course, agreed and then applied it to writing/publishing.) Two successes to think, "Hey, I might be good at this."
Hopefully, you've been on a winning streak before. Maybe even in publishing.
Then he said that it only takes two disappointments or failures to be on a losing streak. Two failed tests. Two instances where a student couldn't perform what they were asked to. And this is the dangerous spiral. When you're on a losing streak, you want to give up. You criticize yourself mercilessly. You have no confidence and no motivation to keep trying. Not only do we start to think, "I can't do this," we continue that thought to "I can't do this, because I'm not good at it."
Oh, how I've felt this in writing. Two rejections in a row can get you there. Maybe my book is terrible. Maybe I'm not a good writer.
Two bad reviews. My book is lame. I can't plot. I should just give up.
The trick is to take the "failures" and make them into successes. Or ignore them. Or make it so you don't even know about them.
Or eat a lot of ice cream and have a writer's group to vent to. Ha!
No matter what, I felt that what our trainer was saying was true. I've felt it as I've pursued a writing career, and I know my students feel it as they try to learn math, science, and English. My goal is make sure EVERY interaction they have is a success, and I'm going to try to work through the losing streak in writing, anticipating a success just around this next corner...
Where are you right now? Winning streak or losing streak?
Monday, August 5, 2013
The Domino Effect
Okay, so I took a little vacation last week. I've been around on Facebook and Twitter, but not much. I did buy a new car, and I've been slammed with WriteOnCon things. You do know about WOC, right? Because if you don't, you should get in on the fun! Go over to the WOC site to find out more.
Additionally, I'm working on a novel--hopefully the final polish! I've written, edited, and polished enough manuscripts now to name this stage "the domino effect."
This is the round where you're doing targeted fixes in character and plot. Seeding emotional ties you've missed before. Planting clues or details so you can earn the big payoff at the end. Ensuring the motivation is correct and strong. Those sorts of things.
It's not like adding a new scene or eliminating a chapter that isn't working and replacing it with one that does.
No, this requires a fine toothed comb, a careful eye, to find the exact location to insert maybe 15 words that will make your manuscript shine. You don't want to put in too many hints, or make them so few and far between that readers forget.
This round of polishing is really like playing dominoes. The details must be evenly spaced and perfectly aligned. The transitions must be strong so as not to give away where you've inserted said details.
For me, this is the toughest and most rewarding round of edits. The toughest, because one false move and the whole thing doesn't feel right. The most rewarding, because when you get it right... Ahhh.
Don't you think writing is like playing dominoes?
Additionally, I'm working on a novel--hopefully the final polish! I've written, edited, and polished enough manuscripts now to name this stage "the domino effect."
This is the round where you're doing targeted fixes in character and plot. Seeding emotional ties you've missed before. Planting clues or details so you can earn the big payoff at the end. Ensuring the motivation is correct and strong. Those sorts of things.
It's not like adding a new scene or eliminating a chapter that isn't working and replacing it with one that does.
No, this requires a fine toothed comb, a careful eye, to find the exact location to insert maybe 15 words that will make your manuscript shine. You don't want to put in too many hints, or make them so few and far between that readers forget.
This round of polishing is really like playing dominoes. The details must be evenly spaced and perfectly aligned. The transitions must be strong so as not to give away where you've inserted said details.
For me, this is the toughest and most rewarding round of edits. The toughest, because one false move and the whole thing doesn't feel right. The most rewarding, because when you get it right... Ahhh.
Don't you think writing is like playing dominoes?
Monday, July 22, 2013
Some Things...
Okay, so sometimes life comes at you full force. Last week was one of those weeks. In short:
Monday: Washing machine breaks down mid-cycle. I go to the laundromat. For any of you who have to do this regularly, my condolences. I realize how blessed and fortunate I've been for the past 15 years having my own washer and dryer.
Tuesday: Washing machine repairman says it'll cost $500 to fix the washer.
Also Tuesday: The ice maker goes on the fritz (again). Pull out fridge (I've actually cleaned behind it recently, so this isn't as disgusting as you might be thinking!), and inspect the line. Everything looks good, and things go well, if not a little wet because that water line wasn't all the way off...
Wednesday: Husband's car won't shift out of park. Watch YouTube videos. Go to automotive store and buy part. Begin drive home...
Then this:
Thursday/Friday: Talk to a billionty people about the car accident, the insurance, medical appointments, rental cars, etc. etc. We were in the car alone (no kids, thank goodness!), and we walked away. There's the normal aches and pains and stuff, but all in all, we are alive and healthy.
This week, we're going on vacation. I'm not quite ready for it because of the firestorm that was last week, but mentally, I'm already there. Ha!
Have you had weeks like this? And hey, isn't this what we do to our characters in our novels? "Hey, you think this is bad?? Just wait five more pages... *cackle*" I mean, seriously.
Monday: Washing machine breaks down mid-cycle. I go to the laundromat. For any of you who have to do this regularly, my condolences. I realize how blessed and fortunate I've been for the past 15 years having my own washer and dryer.
Tuesday: Washing machine repairman says it'll cost $500 to fix the washer.
Also Tuesday: The ice maker goes on the fritz (again). Pull out fridge (I've actually cleaned behind it recently, so this isn't as disgusting as you might be thinking!), and inspect the line. Everything looks good, and things go well, if not a little wet because that water line wasn't all the way off...
Wednesday: Husband's car won't shift out of park. Watch YouTube videos. Go to automotive store and buy part. Begin drive home...
Then this:
Thursday/Friday: Talk to a billionty people about the car accident, the insurance, medical appointments, rental cars, etc. etc. We were in the car alone (no kids, thank goodness!), and we walked away. There's the normal aches and pains and stuff, but all in all, we are alive and healthy.
This week, we're going on vacation. I'm not quite ready for it because of the firestorm that was last week, but mentally, I'm already there. Ha!
Have you had weeks like this? And hey, isn't this what we do to our characters in our novels? "Hey, you think this is bad?? Just wait five more pages... *cackle*" I mean, seriously.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
THE PLEDGE by Kimberly Derting
Okay, so today I'm showing some dystopian love to THE PLEDGE by Kimberly Derting. I realize I'm way behind the times on this one -- but I did buy it when it came out! Sometimes books have a way of getting lost around my house. There's just so much to read, you know?
But you should definitely add THE PLEDGE to your list! Let's examine.
About THE PLEDGE: In the violent country of Ludania, the language you speak determines your class, and there are harsh punishments if you forget your place—looking a member of a higher class in the eye can result in immediate execution.
Seventeen-year-old Charlaina (Charlie for short) can understand all languages, a dangerous ability she’s been hiding her whole life. The only reprieve from oppression is within the drug-filled underground club scene. There, she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy who speaks a language she’s never heard, and her secret is almost exposed. As the violent clashes between the totalitarian monarchy and the rebel forces escalate, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country’s only chance for freedom from the terrible grip of a deadly regime.
I loved Charlie as a main character. Writing a character that has a secret and can't tell is hard--trust me, I've tried! It always seems like there are people who know, or the MC tells someone randomly. Well, that didn't happen here. Charlie has a secret -- she can understand languages -- and she doesn't tell. Shocking, I know.
I liked that about her. I also liked that she was more than she knew, but she actively sought to discover the answers. Along the way, she meets Max -- who is also so much more than he seems. I liked that we got to see things from his POV too. I'm finding more and more that I liked multiple POVs in books, as long as they're done well.
And Kimberly does them well in THE PLEDGE.
If you like a little bit of magic mixed in with a very cool society, you'll like THE PLEDGE. I liked that it was dystopian (because I love dystopian!), but I also felt a lot of fantasy vibes in the book. I really liked that genre mixing.
Check out what the other Bookanistas are reading this week:
But you should definitely add THE PLEDGE to your list! Let's examine.
Seventeen-year-old Charlaina (Charlie for short) can understand all languages, a dangerous ability she’s been hiding her whole life. The only reprieve from oppression is within the drug-filled underground club scene. There, she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy who speaks a language she’s never heard, and her secret is almost exposed. As the violent clashes between the totalitarian monarchy and the rebel forces escalate, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country’s only chance for freedom from the terrible grip of a deadly regime.
I loved Charlie as a main character. Writing a character that has a secret and can't tell is hard--trust me, I've tried! It always seems like there are people who know, or the MC tells someone randomly. Well, that didn't happen here. Charlie has a secret -- she can understand languages -- and she doesn't tell. Shocking, I know.
I liked that about her. I also liked that she was more than she knew, but she actively sought to discover the answers. Along the way, she meets Max -- who is also so much more than he seems. I liked that we got to see things from his POV too. I'm finding more and more that I liked multiple POVs in books, as long as they're done well.
And Kimberly does them well in THE PLEDGE.
If you like a little bit of magic mixed in with a very cool society, you'll like THE PLEDGE. I liked that it was dystopian (because I love dystopian!), but I also felt a lot of fantasy vibes in the book. I really liked that genre mixing.
Check out what the other Bookanistas are reading this week:
- Rebecca Behrens leaps over THE MOON AND MORE by Saran Dessen
- Tracey Neithercott croons about CROAK by Gina Damico
- Kimberly Sabatini delves into THE INFINITE MOMENT OF US by Lauren Myracle
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Revising in the Digital Age
Okay, so I used to go through my manuscripts over and over (okay, I still do that!), and then finally when I thought I had it, I'd print it. The hard copy was the last version I went over to find all the little things I just couldn't see on the screen.
I mean, I couldn't print my 350-page novel every other day, you know?
But now, I find that I'm not printing anymore. The goal was always to see the manuscript in a different way.
I'm using my Kindle. I can email any document (PDF or simply a Word doc) to my Kindle email address and ba-bam! It shows up, ready to read. I can change the font, the size, the background color. And I can see it in a different medium -- anywhere!
Not only that, but I recently discovered that I can HIGHLIGHT things in the text. I used to keep a notebook with me as I read my manuscripts on the Kindle. I'd take notes on what needed to change/be fixed in each chapter.
Now I can highlight those things -- and it's easy to find those notes, because Kindle keeps them in a list for me!
It's a match made in heaven. Not only that, but I can email myself a new version of my book every day if I want! I even sent myself my launch day speech. No more printing for me!
Have you used an e-reader to actually edit before? Did you know you can highlight the things you need to fix in the manuscript?? I mean, seriously!
I mean, I couldn't print my 350-page novel every other day, you know?
But now, I find that I'm not printing anymore. The goal was always to see the manuscript in a different way.
I'm using my Kindle. I can email any document (PDF or simply a Word doc) to my Kindle email address and ba-bam! It shows up, ready to read. I can change the font, the size, the background color. And I can see it in a different medium -- anywhere!
Not only that, but I recently discovered that I can HIGHLIGHT things in the text. I used to keep a notebook with me as I read my manuscripts on the Kindle. I'd take notes on what needed to change/be fixed in each chapter.
Now I can highlight those things -- and it's easy to find those notes, because Kindle keeps them in a list for me!
It's a match made in heaven. Not only that, but I can email myself a new version of my book every day if I want! I even sent myself my launch day speech. No more printing for me!
Have you used an e-reader to actually edit before? Did you know you can highlight the things you need to fix in the manuscript?? I mean, seriously!
Thursday, July 11, 2013
DUALED by Elsie Chapman
Okay, so one of my favorite genres is dystopian. I love almost everything I read, and DUALED by Elsie Chapman is no exception. Not only is the cover great (that shadow!), but it's one of those books that makes you go, "Man, I wish I'd written this!"
About DUALED: Two of you exist.
Only one will survive.
The city of Kersh is a safe haven, but the price of safety is high. Everyone has a genetic Alternate—a twin raised by another family—and citizens must prove their worth by eliminating their Alts before their twentieth birthday. Survival means advanced schooling, a good job, marriage—life.
Fifteen-year-old West Grayer has trained as a fighter, preparing for the day when her assignment arrives and she will have one month to hunt down and kill her Alt. But then a tragic misstep shakes West’s confidence. Stricken with grief and guilt, she’s no longer certain that she’s the best version of herself, the version worthy of a future. If she is to have any chance of winning, she must stop running not only from her Alt, but also from love . . . though both have the power to destroy her.
I'm a big fan of alternate universes (think the movie The One with Jet Li), and cool names like West and Chord (the leading male MC). So automatically, DUALED had me by the throat.
West has to find and eliminate the other her. She's early in her training, and she's suffered a lot of loss in her personal life. So she's kind of messed up, and unsure about what she should do. So there's quite a bit of stumbling as she tries to figure out who she is, and if she should be the one to live at all.
And I like that kind of angst.
The action is intense and swift, with barely time to breathe between scenes. Yet somehow, Elsie manages to find moments to show West's vulnerability. I really liked her as a character, and I felt like she was exactly the person to take us on this journey. And that's what we want in a book, right?
If you liked THE HUNGER GAMES, I think you'll enjoy the action-packed plotline of DUALED (though I think West is more real than Katniss).
Find out what the other Bookanistas are doing:
Only one will survive.
The city of Kersh is a safe haven, but the price of safety is high. Everyone has a genetic Alternate—a twin raised by another family—and citizens must prove their worth by eliminating their Alts before their twentieth birthday. Survival means advanced schooling, a good job, marriage—life.
Fifteen-year-old West Grayer has trained as a fighter, preparing for the day when her assignment arrives and she will have one month to hunt down and kill her Alt. But then a tragic misstep shakes West’s confidence. Stricken with grief and guilt, she’s no longer certain that she’s the best version of herself, the version worthy of a future. If she is to have any chance of winning, she must stop running not only from her Alt, but also from love . . . though both have the power to destroy her.
I'm a big fan of alternate universes (think the movie The One with Jet Li), and cool names like West and Chord (the leading male MC). So automatically, DUALED had me by the throat.
West has to find and eliminate the other her. She's early in her training, and she's suffered a lot of loss in her personal life. So she's kind of messed up, and unsure about what she should do. So there's quite a bit of stumbling as she tries to figure out who she is, and if she should be the one to live at all.
And I like that kind of angst.
The action is intense and swift, with barely time to breathe between scenes. Yet somehow, Elsie manages to find moments to show West's vulnerability. I really liked her as a character, and I felt like she was exactly the person to take us on this journey. And that's what we want in a book, right?
If you liked THE HUNGER GAMES, I think you'll enjoy the action-packed plotline of DUALED (though I think West is more real than Katniss).
Find out what the other Bookanistas are doing:
- Lenore Appelhans adores THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US by Kasie West
- Christine Fonseca fawns over THE FUTURE OF US by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler
- Nikki Katz is speechless over UNSPOKEN by Sarah Rees Brennan
- Stasia Ward Kehoe flips for ALL THE TRUTH THAT'S IN ME by Julie Berry
- Katy Upperman WHERE THE STARS STILL SHINE by Trish Doller
Monday, July 8, 2013
It's A Matter Of Time
Okay, so I think I'm one of the most impatient people on the planet. This, mixed with the snail's pace of publishing, is not really the best mix.
Or maybe it's my snail's pace of revision that makes the months melt into years. Just when I think I've got the story figured out, there always seems to be something else suggested or discovered that makes total sense. You know those moments where you go, "Why didn't I think of that?" Especially after you've worked on a novel for several rounds.
Yeah, that's about where I am. I enjoy the process of revision. The tightening of character and plot, the re-imagining of scenes, the weaving together of story lines.
But every once in a while, there's a little voice in the back of my mind that whispers, "I wish you'd just gotten it right the first time. Then we wouldn't have wasted all these months."
Sometimes I listen to that voice. I feel a little bit anxious about the pace of publishing -- or my perceived pace of those publishing around me. I worry over things I can't control.
Sometimes I just tell that voice, "Sometimes it's just a matter of time." Sometimes I need time to think on a book, it's plot and character. Sometimes I need time away from a project. Sometimes I need time to work on a project. And none of it is wasted. I hope that in the novels I write in the future, I'll remember some of the lessons I've learned through really working on a novel for an extended period of time.
How about you? Have you ever spent so much time working on a novel that you're entertaining voices in your mind? (Ha!) Is it really just a matter of time until you get things right? (Please say yes!)
Or maybe it's my snail's pace of revision that makes the months melt into years. Just when I think I've got the story figured out, there always seems to be something else suggested or discovered that makes total sense. You know those moments where you go, "Why didn't I think of that?" Especially after you've worked on a novel for several rounds.
Yeah, that's about where I am. I enjoy the process of revision. The tightening of character and plot, the re-imagining of scenes, the weaving together of story lines.
But every once in a while, there's a little voice in the back of my mind that whispers, "I wish you'd just gotten it right the first time. Then we wouldn't have wasted all these months."
Sometimes I listen to that voice. I feel a little bit anxious about the pace of publishing -- or my perceived pace of those publishing around me. I worry over things I can't control.
Sometimes I just tell that voice, "Sometimes it's just a matter of time." Sometimes I need time to think on a book, it's plot and character. Sometimes I need time away from a project. Sometimes I need time to work on a project. And none of it is wasted. I hope that in the novels I write in the future, I'll remember some of the lessons I've learned through really working on a novel for an extended period of time.
How about you? Have you ever spent so much time working on a novel that you're entertaining voices in your mind? (Ha!) Is it really just a matter of time until you get things right? (Please say yes!)
Monday, July 1, 2013
Characters Who Change Their Course
Okay, so I've been on the lecture circuit for a while now. I've taught many writing classes, and I've spoken to numerous book clubs and writer's groups. The thing I love most about doing these kinds of things is that I--me, myself--always learns something new.
Go figure!
So last week, I went to talk about query letters to a local writing group, Riveting Writers, and as we were talking, I said something like, "Isn't that what characters do? Change their course?"
And I had this little a-ha! moment. In all my beating out and revising and characterizing, I've never quite thought of my characters this way. But truly, every novel has a character who is choosing to change their course.
They're not coerced into changing their course. They're not dragged. It doesn't just mysteriously happen through plot devices, no matter how brilliant.
We love characters who choose to change their course.
So today, I'm renewing my effort to create and write characters who change their course.
Have you thought about your characters like that before? Are they changing their own course?
Go figure!
So last week, I went to talk about query letters to a local writing group, Riveting Writers, and as we were talking, I said something like, "Isn't that what characters do? Change their course?"
And I had this little a-ha! moment. In all my beating out and revising and characterizing, I've never quite thought of my characters this way. But truly, every novel has a character who is choosing to change their course.
They're not coerced into changing their course. They're not dragged. It doesn't just mysteriously happen through plot devices, no matter how brilliant.
We love characters who choose to change their course.
So today, I'm renewing my effort to create and write characters who change their course.
Have you thought about your characters like that before? Are they changing their own course?
Thursday, June 27, 2013
THIS IS W.A.R. by Lisa and Laura Roecker
Okay, so today's Bookanista post is for one of my favorite reads so far this year. THIS IS W.A.R. by Lisa and Laura Roecker will knock your socks off!
About THIS IS W.A.R.: This is not a story of forgiveness...
The mystery of their best friend's murder drives four girls to destroy the Gregory family. Emily Thorne would be proud.
Everyone at Hawthorne Lake Country Club saw Willa Ames-Rowan climb into a boat with James Gregory, the Club’s heir apparent.
And everyone at Hawthorne Lake Country Club watched him return. Alone.
They all know he killed her. But none of them will say a word. The Gregory family is very, very good at making problems go away.
Enter the W.A.R.—the war to avenge Willa Ames-Rowan. Four girls. Four very different motives for justice and revenge, and only one rule: destroy the Gregory family at any cost.
I really liked this mystery from Lisa & Laura. I've enjoyed their mysteries before, but this one had so many more layers in it that I found intriguing. Maybe because of the multiple narrators? I don't know. But I really enjoyed reading THIS IS W.A.R. and trying to figure out who did what, and when.
The plotting was masterful. Details were revealed right when they needed to be, and not a second sooner. I think my favorite character was Sloan, because she just wanted to do what was best for everyone, but that's hard for her. (No spoilers, but she's a great character -- doesn't fit any of the stereotypes.)
I liked the dynamics of the girls. One of them, Rose, doesn't quite fit in the social hierarchy, but Lisa & Laura made her essential. And that fact that she doesn't belong added one of those layers I was talking about. This little detail gave the book a sense of depth that I really enjoyed.
If you like a good mystery with some (a little, I promise!) YA angst, and fabulous characterization, you'll like THIS IS W.A.R. Be sure to pre-order your copy, because this book doesn't come out until July 2!
Check out what the other Bookanistas are talking about today:
The mystery of their best friend's murder drives four girls to destroy the Gregory family. Emily Thorne would be proud.
Everyone at Hawthorne Lake Country Club saw Willa Ames-Rowan climb into a boat with James Gregory, the Club’s heir apparent.
And everyone at Hawthorne Lake Country Club watched him return. Alone.
They all know he killed her. But none of them will say a word. The Gregory family is very, very good at making problems go away.
Enter the W.A.R.—the war to avenge Willa Ames-Rowan. Four girls. Four very different motives for justice and revenge, and only one rule: destroy the Gregory family at any cost.
I really liked this mystery from Lisa & Laura. I've enjoyed their mysteries before, but this one had so many more layers in it that I found intriguing. Maybe because of the multiple narrators? I don't know. But I really enjoyed reading THIS IS W.A.R. and trying to figure out who did what, and when.
The plotting was masterful. Details were revealed right when they needed to be, and not a second sooner. I think my favorite character was Sloan, because she just wanted to do what was best for everyone, but that's hard for her. (No spoilers, but she's a great character -- doesn't fit any of the stereotypes.)
I liked the dynamics of the girls. One of them, Rose, doesn't quite fit in the social hierarchy, but Lisa & Laura made her essential. And that fact that she doesn't belong added one of those layers I was talking about. This little detail gave the book a sense of depth that I really enjoyed.
If you like a good mystery with some (a little, I promise!) YA angst, and fabulous characterization, you'll like THIS IS W.A.R. Be sure to pre-order your copy, because this book doesn't come out until July 2!
Check out what the other Bookanistas are talking about today:
- Lenore Appelhans is bewitched by CHARM AND STRANGE by Stephanie Kuehn
- Shelli Johannes-Wells gives cover love to FAKING NORMAL
- Stasia Ward Kehoe delves into DANCER, DAUGHTER, TRAITOR, SPY by Elizabeth Kiem
- Nikki Katz adores THIS IS W.A.R. by Lisa & Laura Roecker
- Gretchen McNeil is wowed by THE WIG IN THE WINDOW by Kristen Kittscher
- Katy Upperman praises WORST CASE OF PASKETTI-ITIS by Kris Asselin
Monday, June 24, 2013
When in Doubt, DELETE
Okay, so if there's anything I've learned over the past five years, it's this: The delete key is your friend. There's nothing "darling" about words that don't work, and if you're not sure if they're working or not, chances are, they're not.
My philosophy in this situation? Delete.
When my critique partners start asking me questions about a specific sentence or passage, and I can't answer? Delete.
When my plot is feeling too heavy and convoluted? Delete.
When a chapter needs to be rewritten? Delete it all, and start from blank pages.
I have deleted entire portions of many of my novels in the past. In POSSESSION, I completely wiped out several chapters, creating a Point A and a Point B. I then rewrote a new way to get from A to B.
And you know what? It was better. It worked.
In another of my as-yet-unpublished novels, I deleted about 25,000 (that is not a typo) words--the last 1/3 of the novel. I can hear some of you going, Why? Why would you do that? Didn't you save some of them? What if there was a particularly brilliant sentence?
The truth is, the ending wasn't working, and I couldn't see how it could work with all that black on the page. So I deleted it.
As for combing through the work to find that one awesome piece, I guess I just don't care. I suppose that if I did write one brilliant sentence that might be worth saving, I could write another equally fantastical sentence to take it's place.
In fact, I'm not going for just one sentence. I'm looking to make each word the right one, each sentence more compelling, each scene vital to the overall workings of the book.
And if it's not working... Delete.
So yes, whenever I'm in doubt, I delete. Have you done this? How do you feel about the delete key?
My philosophy in this situation? Delete.
When my critique partners start asking me questions about a specific sentence or passage, and I can't answer? Delete.
When my plot is feeling too heavy and convoluted? Delete.
When a chapter needs to be rewritten? Delete it all, and start from blank pages.
I have deleted entire portions of many of my novels in the past. In POSSESSION, I completely wiped out several chapters, creating a Point A and a Point B. I then rewrote a new way to get from A to B.
And you know what? It was better. It worked.
In another of my as-yet-unpublished novels, I deleted about 25,000 (that is not a typo) words--the last 1/3 of the novel. I can hear some of you going, Why? Why would you do that? Didn't you save some of them? What if there was a particularly brilliant sentence?
The truth is, the ending wasn't working, and I couldn't see how it could work with all that black on the page. So I deleted it.
As for combing through the work to find that one awesome piece, I guess I just don't care. I suppose that if I did write one brilliant sentence that might be worth saving, I could write another equally fantastical sentence to take it's place.
In fact, I'm not going for just one sentence. I'm looking to make each word the right one, each sentence more compelling, each scene vital to the overall workings of the book.
And if it's not working... Delete.
So yes, whenever I'm in doubt, I delete. Have you done this? How do you feel about the delete key?
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Cover Reveal!!! SALLY SLICK AND THE STEEL SYNDICATE by Carrie Harris
Okay, so *muppet flailing* (You can imagine that inside your own head however you want.) Today I'm bringing you the FABULOUS Carrie Harris's cover for her new novel SALLY SLICK AND THE STEEL SYNDICATE.
Woo hoo!
This book is coming on December 3, from Evil Hat Productions and you don't want to miss it!!
About SALLY: Every hero has a story. This one starts with a girl and a racing tractor.
Sally Slick knows she’s meant to be more than a Midwestern farm girl. What she wants more than anything is to be an inventor when she grows up—and she has the custom-built racing tractor to prove it. But good girls in 1914 don’t go off to the city in search of adventure. Everything changes when Sally’s big brother comes back from Chicago with a robot in hand and mobsters on his heels. With the help of her friend, wannabe hero Jet Black, Sally will risk everything to protect the people she loves.
Those bad guys are about to get a giant wrench thrown right into their plans.
And now... The cover!!!
See what the other Bookanistas are talking about today!
What have you read recently that you loved?
Woo hoo!
This book is coming on December 3, from Evil Hat Productions and you don't want to miss it!!
About SALLY: Every hero has a story. This one starts with a girl and a racing tractor.
Sally Slick knows she’s meant to be more than a Midwestern farm girl. What she wants more than anything is to be an inventor when she grows up—and she has the custom-built racing tractor to prove it. But good girls in 1914 don’t go off to the city in search of adventure. Everything changes when Sally’s big brother comes back from Chicago with a robot in hand and mobsters on his heels. With the help of her friend, wannabe hero Jet Black, Sally will risk everything to protect the people she loves.
Those bad guys are about to get a giant wrench thrown right into their plans.
And now... The cover!!!
Isn't it shiny and beautiful??! Yes, yes it is. And you can PREORDER IT HERE. Do it. You won't be disappointed.
See what the other Bookanistas are talking about today!
- Shari Arnold marvels at THE MOON AND MORE by Saran Dessen
- Tracy Banghart is thrilled by 3:59 by Gretchen McNeil
- Christine Fonseca shivers over SHATTER ME by Tahereh Mafi
- Carrie Harris reveals the cover of SALLY SLICK & THE STEEL SYNDICATE by Carrie Harris
- Corrine Jackson is nuts for AU REVOIR, CRAZY EUROPEAN CHICK by Joe Schreiber
- Jessica Love joins the BY BLOOD by Tracy Banghart book blitz – with giveaway
- Shannon Messenger raves about JELLICOE ROAD by Melina Marchetta
- Tracey Neithercott adores THE ARCHIVED by Victoria Schwab
- Kimberly Sabatini is touched by OUT OF REACH by Carrie Arcos
- Katy Upperman gushes over THE GIRL GUIDE by Christine Fonseca
What have you read recently that you loved?
Monday, June 17, 2013
BY BLOOD Blitz!
Okay, there were so many B-words I could've put in that title. "By" and "Banghart" also start with B! So today is the BY BLOOD by Tracy E. Banghart Book Blitz!!
Doesn't that sound shiny? That's because it is!
Tracy is releasing her book today for the first time in paperback! I know how awesome of a moment that is, so I wanted to celebrate with her.
First, the amazing cover!
About BY BLOOD: For 17-year-old Emma Wong, spending a summer in England should be a dream come true. Gorgeous scenery? Check. Lots of hot guys with accents? Yes, please.
Throw in an estranged mom, annoying new stepdad, and drooling baby half-brother, and it’s a disaster even her favorite cherry red leather jacket can’t fix. Even worse, there’s (hot) live-in research assistant Josh to contend with. The only thing more embarrassing than drunk-kissing him hours after they meet? Knowing he’ll be witness to her family’s dysfunction all. summer. long.
But when Emma meets a mysterious girl who happens to be a Druid, her vacation suddenly promises to be far more intriguing than she anticipated. Powerful rituals, new friends, an intoxicating sense of freedom...and Simon, the sexy foreign stranger she was hoping for. It’s all a perfect distraction from dirty diapers and awkward family dinners.
Trouble is, intriguing doesn’t often mean simple. And Emma is about to discover just how not simple her life really is.
I'm reading BY BLOOD right now, and I can tell it's going to be a page-turner. Susanne Winnacker (author of IMPOSTOR -- one of my favorite reads of 2013!) said this about BY BLOOD: “By Blood effortlessly transports you to the cobblestone streets and small pubs of Oxford, and Emma’s sassy voice pulls you right into the story with its hot British boys and touch of magic. A must read!”
So far, I agree with her. So if you haven't put BY BLOOD on your radar, do it today!
Tracy E. Banghart is a cheesy movie–loving, fantasy football–playing (go Ravens!), globe-trotting Army wife who began “practicing” her craft at the age of five, when she wrote her first story. She loves visiting the international friends she met while pursuing her MA in Publishing and spends a portion of every summer at her family’s cabin in Canada, where she finds inspiration and lots of time to relax on the dock. She lives with her husband, son, two lazy dogs and one ornery cat. When not writing or spending time with her family, she is on a mission to bake the perfect cupcake.
Tracy’s next novel, Moon Child, a companion to By Blood, will be available this August!
Tracy is running a giveaway with the Blitz! She's giving away a signed paperback of BY BLOOD and a whole slew of hardcover books (US only), and a signed paperback of BY BLOOD + a $50 Amazon gift card to an international winner! Enter in the Rafflecopter below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Doesn't that sound shiny? That's because it is!
Tracy is releasing her book today for the first time in paperback! I know how awesome of a moment that is, so I wanted to celebrate with her.
First, the amazing cover!
 |
| Add to Goodreads Buy on Amazon |
About BY BLOOD: For 17-year-old Emma Wong, spending a summer in England should be a dream come true. Gorgeous scenery? Check. Lots of hot guys with accents? Yes, please.
Throw in an estranged mom, annoying new stepdad, and drooling baby half-brother, and it’s a disaster even her favorite cherry red leather jacket can’t fix. Even worse, there’s (hot) live-in research assistant Josh to contend with. The only thing more embarrassing than drunk-kissing him hours after they meet? Knowing he’ll be witness to her family’s dysfunction all. summer. long.
But when Emma meets a mysterious girl who happens to be a Druid, her vacation suddenly promises to be far more intriguing than she anticipated. Powerful rituals, new friends, an intoxicating sense of freedom...and Simon, the sexy foreign stranger she was hoping for. It’s all a perfect distraction from dirty diapers and awkward family dinners.
Trouble is, intriguing doesn’t often mean simple. And Emma is about to discover just how not simple her life really is.
I'm reading BY BLOOD right now, and I can tell it's going to be a page-turner. Susanne Winnacker (author of IMPOSTOR -- one of my favorite reads of 2013!) said this about BY BLOOD: “By Blood effortlessly transports you to the cobblestone streets and small pubs of Oxford, and Emma’s sassy voice pulls you right into the story with its hot British boys and touch of magic. A must read!”
So far, I agree with her. So if you haven't put BY BLOOD on your radar, do it today!
 |
| Tracy on Facebook Tracy's blog Tracy on Twitter |
Tracy’s next novel, Moon Child, a companion to By Blood, will be available this August!
Tracy is running a giveaway with the Blitz! She's giving away a signed paperback of BY BLOOD and a whole slew of hardcover books (US only), and a signed paperback of BY BLOOD + a $50 Amazon gift card to an international winner! Enter in the Rafflecopter below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Cover Reveal: THE SOUND OF LETTING GO by Stasia Ward Kehoe
Okay, I am so excited to be bringing you a fabulous cover from one of my Bacon sisters, Stasia Ward Kehoe!
Her second novel, THE SOUND OF LETTING GO, is coming out next winter (February 1, Goodreads says), and it is a must-read! Trust me, I know. I've read it!
About THE SOUND OF LETTING GO: For sixteen years, Daisy has been good. A good daughter, helping out with her autistic younger brother uncomplainingly. A good friend, even when her best friend makes her feel like a third wheel. When her parents announce they’re sending her brother to an institution—without consulting her—Daisy’s furious, and decides the best way to be a good sister is to start being bad. She quits jazz band and orchestra, slacks in school, and falls for bad-boy Dave.
But one person won’t let Daisy forget who she used to be: Irish exchange student and brilliant musician Cal. Does she want the bad boy or the prodigy? Should she side with her parents or protect her brother? How do you know when to hold on and when—and how—to let go?
And now for the gorgeous cover!
Stasia is celebrating the release of this cover with a giveaway! You could win a signed hardcover of her first book, AUDITION, or an ARC of THE SOUND OF LETTING GO! Not only that, but me and my Bacon Fabulousities are giving away swag packages! Enter in the Rafflecopter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
OH -- and there's only two more days in the Possession series scavenger hunt! Get caught up here (all direct links), and today's posts are:
You can ENTER today's CITY OF THE DAY here, and be sure to enter for a chance to win a daily swag package in the Rafflecopter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
What do you think of Stasia's cover?? Isn't it fabulous?!
Her second novel, THE SOUND OF LETTING GO, is coming out next winter (February 1, Goodreads says), and it is a must-read! Trust me, I know. I've read it!
About THE SOUND OF LETTING GO: For sixteen years, Daisy has been good. A good daughter, helping out with her autistic younger brother uncomplainingly. A good friend, even when her best friend makes her feel like a third wheel. When her parents announce they’re sending her brother to an institution—without consulting her—Daisy’s furious, and decides the best way to be a good sister is to start being bad. She quits jazz band and orchestra, slacks in school, and falls for bad-boy Dave.
But one person won’t let Daisy forget who she used to be: Irish exchange student and brilliant musician Cal. Does she want the bad boy or the prodigy? Should she side with her parents or protect her brother? How do you know when to hold on and when—and how—to let go?
And now for the gorgeous cover!
Stasia is celebrating the release of this cover with a giveaway! You could win a signed hardcover of her first book, AUDITION, or an ARC of THE SOUND OF LETTING GO! Not only that, but me and my Bacon Fabulousities are giving away swag packages! Enter in the Rafflecopter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
OH -- and there's only two more days in the Possession series scavenger hunt! Get caught up here (all direct links), and today's posts are:
- Book Passion for Life
- Basia's Bookshelf
- The Fairy Tale Nerd
- The Irish Banana Review
- The Book Cellar
- Electrifying Reviews
You can ENTER today's CITY OF THE DAY here, and be sure to enter for a chance to win a daily swag package in the Rafflecopter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
What do you think of Stasia's cover?? Isn't it fabulous?!
Monday, June 10, 2013
On Quitting
Okay, so I'm sure I've talked about quitting before. Probably something about how you shouldn't do it. You should stick with it. Work hard. All that jazz.
But today, I'm actually quitting. I'm quitting it all! Social media, blogging, and writing. I've taken a "break" before, sure. But today, I'm quitting.
Sometimes I just think a person's brain can get overloaded with All The Things, and it needs a break. If you don't give it one, it'll simply take one on it's own. And since I prefer to decide when I get to check out, I'm going to quit.
I might un-quit tomorrow, but I'm going to enjoy the freedom of quitting today.
There is still the ABANDON scavenger hunt going on! This week only. So be sure to check out today's stops.
And if you were gone last week, you can get to all the stops from last week here.
You can ENTER today's CITY OF THE DAY here, and be sure to enter for a chance to win a daily swag package in the Rafflecopter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Have you ever quit something before? Did you un-quit later?
But today, I'm actually quitting. I'm quitting it all! Social media, blogging, and writing. I've taken a "break" before, sure. But today, I'm quitting.
Sometimes I just think a person's brain can get overloaded with All The Things, and it needs a break. If you don't give it one, it'll simply take one on it's own. And since I prefer to decide when I get to check out, I'm going to quit.
I might un-quit tomorrow, but I'm going to enjoy the freedom of quitting today.
There is still the ABANDON scavenger hunt going on! This week only. So be sure to check out today's stops.
- The League of Extraordinary Writers
- Kissed By Ink
- Romancing the Dark Side
- Books Complete Me
- Fire and Ice
- Girls in the Stacks
And if you were gone last week, you can get to all the stops from last week here.
You can ENTER today's CITY OF THE DAY here, and be sure to enter for a chance to win a daily swag package in the Rafflecopter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Have you ever quit something before? Did you un-quit later?
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