Three Things To Do

Status of my life: Put SHADOWS up for critique, I hope they don't tear it apart. Wait, I do hope they tear it apart, that's how it gets better!


I've been going over my notes from the conference last week, and I found these three gems. I can't even remember who said them, one of the presenters or something.

The Best Three Things To Do as a Writer:
1. Don't hurry.
2. Don't worry.
3. Don't stop.

I'm pretty impatient, so the "don't hurry" rule really struck me. The publishing world is super-uber-slow.

I've been known to stay up nights worrying, so #2 is familiar. I'm working on it. I also got some good advice about things I can't control in the publishing world, I'll post those later.

I don't think I could stop, even if I wanted to. A friend of mine asked me why I had to write stories. I told her that there were things in my head that I had to get out. She looked at me like I was crazy, which I probably am! :) But, sadly, it's true. Some things just have to be written down.

Reading: SO YESTERDAY by Scott Westerfeld

Later!
RedDuck

Uglies are Making me Ugly

Status of my life: I've been hard at work on ELITE. I'm up to 52,000 words now, it's getting close! If only I could get the climax just so... The Office starts again in 2 weeks!


I read Uglies by Scott Westerfeld today. I know I'm a little slow getting on the bandwagon, but we're reading it for book club this month, and I decided to bite the bullet and buy it. It's been on hold at the library for months.

Anyway, I highly recommend the book. It's a great YA Sci Fi/Fantasy read. I cursed Mr. Westerfeld for at least fifteen minutes about the ending though. It's totally not fair to end a book that way, Mr. Westerfeld. So what did I do? I bought Pretties. It'll be here soon!

Then I went to the library tonight and put Peeps and So Yesterday on hold. Hopefully soon...I love a good vampire book.

Thanks SW, for being a great writer!

I Won!

Status of my Life: Bogged down in critiques on SHADOWS, trying to revise and edit to make it just right.


I entered a "First Chapters" contest at the conference I went to last weekend. It's my first writer's conference, and I felt very out of my league around other people who'd actually, been, you know, published.

But it was a lot of fun, and I won third place in the young adult/middle grade category for the first chapter of my story, Red Hollow! Yea for me!

Reading: I'D TELL YOU I LOVE YOU, BUT THEN I'D HAVE TO KILL YOU by Ally Carter

It's Been A While

Status of my Life: Busy on ELITE and SHADOWS. I think I might query soon... Can't stop watching Enchanted with my three-year-old.

I went to a conference last weekend and learned lots of useful things. Tim Travaglini was there from GE Putnam Sons, and he gave some good advice on improving writing. One of the things he said was that every good writer must have three things.

1. Natural talent
2. Training
3. Persistence

Really, he said you can get by with just two of these things. I think I have some natural talent. I've taken some writing classes and am in a critique group, and I've got the gumption to go until the end. It's a recipe for success!

Reading: LOOKING FOR ALASKA by John Green

Tired Today

Status of my Life: Started a new book, ELITE. I don't know what I'm thinking. I have, like, 8 WIP's now. It's a good thing I can jump from project to project. Another great TV night.

I blame Laurie Halse Anderson for my zombie state today. I stayed up until midnight reading Twisted. All. Her. Fault.

But I had a couple of brainwaves as I drove my son to piano this afternoon. Some great critiques from a group on AgentQuery, Natasha Bettingfield's "Love Like This" and the sun shining all combined together to get my mind out of the funk it's been in for a couple of days. I had a good breakthrough for one of my novels. Gotta go write!

Reading: Too tired from reading TWISTED by Laurie Halse Anderson late last night.

New YA Author

Status: Revising, Re-writing SHADOWS AND RED HOLLOW. Dancing with the Stars and American Idol in one night? Good thing I can record two things at once with the DVR. Oh, and The Office on TBS...man, it's a good TV night.

I found a new author (well, she's not new, but new to me) to love. Laurie Halse Anderson! I just checked out her new book Twisted, and it's great. I put Speak on hold at the library. Waiting...waiting...waiting...

I am not a patient person.

RedDuck

Developing Characters

Status of my Life: Outlining, working on queries and synopsis, anything to not do some actual writing. I need a brainstorming session something fierce.

Here's something I saw this week that I really liked. It's at Redlines and Deadlines. I realized I don't have it on my list of blogs, but I check it everyday. This was on the Thursday Thirteen and is about developing characters.

I have to admit that I don't really like outlining and developing and doing all that research stuff that has to happen before writing. But I do it, and it's really hard work. But when I am ready to sit down and write, it's easier for me because I have names and likes/dislikes, birthdays, siblings, family dynamics, etc. already established. Without those things, I find myself stalled in the writing anyway.

Reading: THE TITAN'S CURSE by Rick Riordan (I love Percy Jackson!)
RedDuck

Adoring Harry

Status of my Life: Chapter Ten, Red Hollow, SOOO glad Chet's gone on Survivor, up too late on a school night. :)

But here's today's big news. The final book of Harry Potter will be made into two films! That's right TWO! I adore Harry Potter. Yea! Check it out here.

Reading: THE 13TH REALITY by James Dashner

RedDuck

Writing Excuses

Status of my Life: Sick. Enough said.

I remembered about a really cool site that I learned about at a writing conference about a month ago. It's Brandon Sanderson, Dan Wells, and Howard Taylor and they do a weekly podcast on writing. It's awesome, check it out.

Reading: VAMPIRE ACADEMY by Richelle Mead

RedDuck

Good Advice

Status of my Life: Struggling with SHADOWS, need a break. Survivor on DVR, spaghetti, ahhh...

Here's a great post I saw this week. It's great advice and I'm going to take it.

Reading: MIRA MIRROR by Mettie Ivie Harrison

Later!

What I'm Reading Right Now

Status of my Life: Had to work yesterday, ugh. I normally don't work Mondays. It was awful. But I finished my MG fantasy novel. First draft. Now I need to edit and revise. Double ugh. At least American Idol is on tonight...


I love to read. I always have a stack I'm working through. Here are some of my favorites I'm currently working on.

Looking for Alaska by John Greene (has some sex and swearing, don't read if this offends you.)
I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have To Kill You by Ally Carter
Mira, Mirror by Mette Ivie Harrison
Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson
The 13th Reality by James Dashner

Cool Fantasy Critique Site

Status of my Life: Chapter 15, Get This Pea Off Me!

"If I had a Million Dollars" by the BareNaked Ladies

Nothing good on Monday night - good thing I have stuff on my DVR.

I found a cool site for Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers where you can post your writing and get critiqued. I found the link while browsing Colleen Lindsay's blog, so check out both!

Reading: ALCATRAZ VERSUS THE EVIL LIBRARIANS by Brandon Sanderson

Happy writing!
RedDuck

Nathan Bransford Rules

Status of my life: SHADOWS, Chapter 24, Iron Chef America on FoodNetwork, Survivor tonight! Go Ozzie!

Okay, I don't have anything to add today. Nathan Bransford says it all. I read all of the blogs he has on his today, so you should too.

My other favorite site to check out is Guide to Literary Agents Blog.

Reading: My mail. Will get to a book tomorrow...

Happy reading!

Just Admit It!

Status of my life: Chapter 18 of my novel, SHADOWS, Law and Order, SVU on TNT, American Idol tonight. Girls, baby!

I'm a writer. That's the most important thing to admit. Yes, I say admit. I've been a closet writer for years, amidst my teaching career and regular life. But I decided to open the doors and write!

I am not a published author--yet. But I will be. I love to read young adult novels, fantasy, and science fiction. My husband teaches 6th grade and I read everything he gets before it goes in his classroom library. I recently found re-tellings of fairy tales and find that I love those.

I've been researching the road to publishing for the past six months. Check out the list of websites I visit everyday. That's right, every single day. The market changes, I gotta keep up.

I recently went to a writing conference and got some great advice. It seems basic, but take it for what it's worth.

1. Write everyday. Set a goal. My goal is 3000 words a day. That may seem like a lot to some people, but I type extremely fast. If I have an idea and the plot already in my mind, this only takes a couple of hours.

Even if it's bad, dedicate the time to writing.

2. Write what you like. I like fantasy, so that's what I'm working on right now. I read a lot in this genre too, so I'm familiar with the aspects of it.

This was a big tip: Read what you write. I try to read a new book every week. Sometimes I can get through three or four, depending on the length and how interested I am.

Reading: BEAUTY by Robin McKinley

My First Three Pages of RED HOLLOW

CHAPTER ONE
The funeral for Captain James Hook was a short and dry-eyed event. The remaining pirates threw his belongings overboard and laughed. But it was short-lived, for their own lives teetered on the brink of extinction as well.

Now that the old captain was gone, the council could do what they wanted. As William Depth looked around the table, he wondered why they didn't overthrow that overstuffed, snooty self-server a long time ago. He sucked on a lizard bone and leaned back into the shadows, as the second-in-command, Smelter Seas took control of the meeting.

"Brethren! Order!"

The chattering ceased instantly and many of the men removed their ornate hats to reveal greasy, long, braided, black, brown, blonde, even some red-haired heads. William himself desperately needed a bath, but usually only allowed water to touch his skin when he was thrown overboard against his will.

"We have convened this council to decide our next move," Smelter continued, his hat still in place. Several of the men started shouting at once. Smelter let them continue for a moment before banging his hand on the table, rattling the mugs, coins, and other odd collections of loot.

"Shut it!" he commanded, slipping from his formal demeanor. "One at a time. Let's raise hands, shall we?" He adjusted his collar as every hand except William's flew into the air.

"Mister Shark."

"Listen, mates. We got rid of that there old cap'n. It's time to do what we've always wanted."

"I agree Sharky!"

"Mister Reef! You did not raise your hand!"

The Reefer heaved a huge sigh and glanced at William, who had a small smile playing on his lips.

"Smelt, come on. The time is now. The boys has left, all that's here is us. We needs us some more boys!"

A chorus of agreement followed the Reefer's statement, followed by a loud clattering of mugs as the men clanked them against other mugs and then the table. William remained cloaked in a half-shadow, the lizard bone bouncing in his mouth.

Smelter held up his hands. "Okay, okay. But we have a problem, my friends."

The men wiped dirty hands across their foamy lips and looked back to the head of the table. They all knew what the problem was.

"We don't need 'em," the Shark said.

"Yes, we do!"

"Don't!"

"Do!"

"What fer? We can convince a few lads to come without 'em!"

"Shut it!"

"You shut it!"

"Men! Men! Everyone SHUT IT!" Smelter finally banged his proper English cane on the floor, and the men did indeed, shut it.

Smelter stood breathing heavily and adjusting his shirtsleeves. Some of the other men had stood during the exchange and they flopped back into their chairs. None of them adjusted anything, but took another swig from their mugs instead.

"A little democracy seems to be in order. How about a vote?" Smelter looked around the table with his eyebrows raised. Several of the men shrugged and in the shadows, William suppressed a huge sigh.

"Good. All in favor of finding more boys?"

Every hand went up, including Mister Depth's.

"It is unanimous. Now the question comes from the method."

"Would you speak normal?"

"I am speaking 'normal' Mister Barracuda! It is you who speaks improperly!"

"What did ya say? Improper?" Mister Barracuda stood and unsheathed a dagger. The kind with two blades, that he polished everyday even though there were no boys to use it on. He took a step toward the head of the table.

"Whoa there, Bucky. No swords at the council," Reef said, blocking Bucky's path.

"This ain't a sword, Coral!"

"Don't call me Coral!" And Reef flashed out his own impressive knife.

"Men! Men!"

"Get 'im Buck!"

"You can take him Reefy!"

Smelter backed up to the far wall, shaking his head. He knew he couldn't continue the meeting until the duel was done. Once swords were drawn, the challenge was on and nothing stood in the way. Most of the other men got up and made room for Reefer and Bucky as they carefully held their weapons out, circling.

William flipped the lizard bone into the trash can and reached for another. He watched the fight without any interest, but the other men had started chanting.

"Reefy! Reefy! Reefy!"

While others tried to out-do them with "Buc-keeee! Buc-keeee! Buc-keeee!"

Reefy and Bucky both smiled at the same time, one long and slow, the other quick and blinding. Reefy struck first, a quick attack that Bucky barely had time to deflect.

"Ah, ha! Nearly gotcha there!"

Bucky growled, his brilliant smile vanishing. He regained his position in the circle dance and twirled the hilt of his dagger in his hand.

Then he lunged, and the two men engaged in full swordplay. They parried, thrust, and spun. The clang of metal on metal rang throughout the cabin, even above the shouts of the other men. In great flashes of movement, roars and laughter, stomping and swearing, the duel only lasted for half a minute.

Then the action stopped with the tip of Reef's knife poking into the flesh under Bucky's chin.

"Gotcha," Reef said in an extremely superior voice, his slow smile spreading again.

Bucky twisted and raised his weapon. "Get off me!"

"Alright! Men! Order!"

Having completed the challenge, Reef pulled his chair back to the table while pocketing his knife. Bucky mumbled some unintelligible words under his breath and regained his seat too.

"Pirates," Smelter muttered under his breath and the whole table erupted into a cheer, with more clanging of cups and battering of fists.