With the Kids Suite renovation nearing an end, I get to start planning how to repurpose the space to become my dream writing room. It’s a good sized room, so I definitely want to go with an “open” feel. I hate clutter, though it invests my house and my writing room needs to be a place where I can get down to work without a whole lot of picking up. It also needs to be a place that makes me feel relaxed and creative at the same time.
I’ll need a desk, and as luck would have it, I have a perfect writing desk I picked up when I was in grad school. The chair that came with it is nice, but it lacks wheels and since my wireless printer will be on the shelf behind me, I’m going in search of the prefect brown office chair.
Brown? Yes, brown. I’m going with teal walls, chocolate curtains and cream and lime green accents. In addition to the brown office chair, I’m also looking for an oversized brown chair. Before I select my exact shades, I’m going on a hunt for the perfect fabric on which to base my design.
I’ve also found enough Golden Book fabric to make a quilt and matching pillows, to keep me cozy on those cold Indiana nights. Don’t ask me when I’m going to find time to make said quilts, but someday, it will happen and the first books I ever read will remind me why I do what I do!
Once the room is done and the furniture has been found, I’ll move on to the TV. At first, I wasn’t sure I wanted a TV in my sanctuary, but now that some televisions are coming wireless-ready, I’ll be able to stream Pandora around the clock. Plus, since I was in high school, I find that having something on in the background actually helps my mind keep from drifting off. It’s a weird thing, but I know I’m not the only one with this little tick.
Two final touches that will make the room uniquely mine, as if it isn’t already, are a Scentsy warmer with Thunderstorm melting away and a Kurieg machine. I could keep the device in my kitchen. After all, that makes the most sense, but I have a coffee maker in there for all practical purposes and a tea kettle for boiling water for all other drinks. But the Kurieg is special. It’s like having my own little barista next to me. And believe me when I say nothing can tick off the muse more than finding SOMEONE has finished off the last of my favorite flavor. And we can’t have that now, can we?
What would your dream writing nook have in it? Whatever you choose, remember to BE PASSIONATE about the things you surround yourself with.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Friday, April 13, 2012
#NESCBWI Practice Elevator Pitch
Hello Fellow Writers!
Next week, I'll be attending the New England SCBWI Regional Conference and I'm excited to have the chance to learn from some of the best in the business, rub elbows with my favorite writers like Sara Zarr and A.C. Gaughen, to name two, and be surrounded by people who love books as much as I do!
I'm also excited to have a chance to talk about the new book. And, as every conference goer knows, the perfect elevator pitch is key. So, I submit to you my elevator pitch for The ACADA Chronicles. Let me know if it catches your attention or what you would suggest to make it better. Any and all comments will be appreciated... though some may take a day or two to get there! ;) Thanks in advance for your help and if you're going to the conference, I'll be the red head from Indiana!
The wind up and the pitch:
I have a completed 85,000 word YA thriller with a “pre-dystopian” slant titled The ACADA Chronicles about Emily Tate, a 16 year old high school student who, after surviving a cataclysmic world-wide outbreak, finds herself working on a genetics project that has far reaching political and moral implications.
When her mother is murdered, Emily discovers her assignment is part of a sinister plot of enslavement and world domination. She must find a way to protect the one thing that could alter the bleak future, even if it could ruin the new life she’s worked so hard to create.
Next week, I'll be attending the New England SCBWI Regional Conference and I'm excited to have the chance to learn from some of the best in the business, rub elbows with my favorite writers like Sara Zarr and A.C. Gaughen, to name two, and be surrounded by people who love books as much as I do!
I'm also excited to have a chance to talk about the new book. And, as every conference goer knows, the perfect elevator pitch is key. So, I submit to you my elevator pitch for The ACADA Chronicles. Let me know if it catches your attention or what you would suggest to make it better. Any and all comments will be appreciated... though some may take a day or two to get there! ;) Thanks in advance for your help and if you're going to the conference, I'll be the red head from Indiana!
The wind up and the pitch:
I have a completed 85,000 word YA thriller with a “pre-dystopian” slant titled The ACADA Chronicles about Emily Tate, a 16 year old high school student who, after surviving a cataclysmic world-wide outbreak, finds herself working on a genetics project that has far reaching political and moral implications.
When her mother is murdered, Emily discovers her assignment is part of a sinister plot of enslavement and world domination. She must find a way to protect the one thing that could alter the bleak future, even if it could ruin the new life she’s worked so hard to create.
Monday, March 5, 2012
A New Page of Thanks
I've added a new page to this website. It's not my writing, at least, not exactly, but it is a place for me to revive an old world art with a new twist. Remember when it was customary to send thank you letters to people? Well, that's what I'm doing, but to people I don't know (most of the time) who do jobs I couldn't even begin to attempt. This started as a status update on Facebook but I wanted to share it with as many people as possible.
Words have power, and here's how I have decided to wield mine! Check it out and let me know what you think! Thank You
Words have power, and here's how I have decided to wield mine! Check it out and let me know what you think! Thank You
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Living in Query Hell
This is just a quick post. I would love to spend hours crafting the perfect blog entry, but honestly, I'm in query hell. I don't know anyone who loves writing this letter, and while it is a vital part of writing a book, I can do without the query migraine.
But as I'm scratching out this line and rewriting that one, I thought about the poor agents who have to read query after query after query and all I can do is laugh. At least my query hell occurs one book at a time. Weeding through the slush pile must be an agent's version of Groundhog's Day. And you know not all of the letters are perfect... or edited... so I was wondering what their ailment would be: query coma, perhaps.
That's all I've got today. Work is calling me. But I do have a post about writer's trading cards in the hopper, so be on the lookout. (Instead of tasteless bubble gum, my version would come with chocolate covered espresso beans.) And, even if it's a query letter, remember to BE PASSIONATE about every word you write.
But as I'm scratching out this line and rewriting that one, I thought about the poor agents who have to read query after query after query and all I can do is laugh. At least my query hell occurs one book at a time. Weeding through the slush pile must be an agent's version of Groundhog's Day. And you know not all of the letters are perfect... or edited... so I was wondering what their ailment would be: query coma, perhaps.
That's all I've got today. Work is calling me. But I do have a post about writer's trading cards in the hopper, so be on the lookout. (Instead of tasteless bubble gum, my version would come with chocolate covered espresso beans.) And, even if it's a query letter, remember to BE PASSIONATE about every word you write.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Tough Love
I’ve often said writing a book is the easy part. That is if you consider sacrificing time with your family and staying friends with people after boring them with your latest plot dilemma easy. Me, personally, I’m okay with my children being raised by Phineas and Ferb for extended periods of time. No, the hard part is the inevitable rejection every writer is destined to encounter.
I still remember my “first rejection”. I was a senior in high school and was working on my dialogue between two characters. I knew it sucked, but I was also smart enough to know it wasn’t ready for someone else to read. But it fell into the hands of someone I definitely didn’t want to reading it who then proceeded to publicly mock me. That was all it took to push me from budding writer to future college administrator. I wish I had been stronger then.
Writers are creative beings. We NEED to create worlds that are real and characters that won’t stop talking to us. But with creativeness comes a curse: we really don’t like anyone tearing apart our masterpieces. Even our closest friends are capable of the ultimate betrayal known as constructive criticisms. And, unlike the countless agents and publishers who have the power to judge our work, we can make our friends pay for days and months, years even. It took me a long time to get a thicker literary hide. If I’m being completely honest, there are still some worn thin that make it impossible not to take things personally. And those are dark days in my house, let me tell you!
My writer’s group often begins each of our meeting by saying something along the lines of, “Let the shredding commence.” When we first formed, we had a couple of agreements: 1. everyone brings something every meeting; 2. everyone comes prepared to give each member feedback; 3. we are only supposed to answer questions about our work, not defend it (I suck at this rule) and 4. while we must be civil to each other, the only way we will ever be better than what we are is to get the brutal truth, so everyone has to give honest feedback. Truth time: we have lost a member, in my opinion, to the intensity of our feedback. We aren’t mean and I think everyone is careful to temper the negative with positive, but we don’t hold back either.
I once told a fellow member that I couldn’t connect with the MC, but if “she” was changed to a “he” and the story was written more like a bromance then it would make a better connection. The writer didn’t make the change and it’s become a running joke within our group, but the point I was trying to make is I wasn’t connecting to the character. I should add that I am now able to connect with the character better, but our relationship is still a work in progress (the MC, not the writer). With that said, I take it as much as I give it.
I had to miss our first November meeting due to a family commitment but my group mates were able to get me their notes. As I was going through them, one in particular crawled under my skin and laid eggs. The next day, the eggs had hatched into full on irritation.
Here’s the beauty: that comment forced me re-evaluate the way I had written the chapter and I realized the critique was right on. There’s something awesome about being a part of a group that wants you to succeed so much they are willing to make you mad in order to make you better.
So be creative writers, but realize that getting your worked hacked to shreds is a chance for you to pick up the pieces and put it back together six million dollar man style, without the dragging back story and characters that take you on a journey to the bridge to nowhere. But no matter what anyone says, no matter how much they think your “she” should be a “he”, BE PASSIONATE about everything you write!
I still remember my “first rejection”. I was a senior in high school and was working on my dialogue between two characters. I knew it sucked, but I was also smart enough to know it wasn’t ready for someone else to read. But it fell into the hands of someone I definitely didn’t want to reading it who then proceeded to publicly mock me. That was all it took to push me from budding writer to future college administrator. I wish I had been stronger then.
Writers are creative beings. We NEED to create worlds that are real and characters that won’t stop talking to us. But with creativeness comes a curse: we really don’t like anyone tearing apart our masterpieces. Even our closest friends are capable of the ultimate betrayal known as constructive criticisms. And, unlike the countless agents and publishers who have the power to judge our work, we can make our friends pay for days and months, years even. It took me a long time to get a thicker literary hide. If I’m being completely honest, there are still some worn thin that make it impossible not to take things personally. And those are dark days in my house, let me tell you!
My writer’s group often begins each of our meeting by saying something along the lines of, “Let the shredding commence.” When we first formed, we had a couple of agreements: 1. everyone brings something every meeting; 2. everyone comes prepared to give each member feedback; 3. we are only supposed to answer questions about our work, not defend it (I suck at this rule) and 4. while we must be civil to each other, the only way we will ever be better than what we are is to get the brutal truth, so everyone has to give honest feedback. Truth time: we have lost a member, in my opinion, to the intensity of our feedback. We aren’t mean and I think everyone is careful to temper the negative with positive, but we don’t hold back either.
I once told a fellow member that I couldn’t connect with the MC, but if “she” was changed to a “he” and the story was written more like a bromance then it would make a better connection. The writer didn’t make the change and it’s become a running joke within our group, but the point I was trying to make is I wasn’t connecting to the character. I should add that I am now able to connect with the character better, but our relationship is still a work in progress (the MC, not the writer). With that said, I take it as much as I give it.
I had to miss our first November meeting due to a family commitment but my group mates were able to get me their notes. As I was going through them, one in particular crawled under my skin and laid eggs. The next day, the eggs had hatched into full on irritation.
Here’s the beauty: that comment forced me re-evaluate the way I had written the chapter and I realized the critique was right on. There’s something awesome about being a part of a group that wants you to succeed so much they are willing to make you mad in order to make you better.
So be creative writers, but realize that getting your worked hacked to shreds is a chance for you to pick up the pieces and put it back together six million dollar man style, without the dragging back story and characters that take you on a journey to the bridge to nowhere. But no matter what anyone says, no matter how much they think your “she” should be a “he”, BE PASSIONATE about everything you write!
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Challenges, challenges
I have a new blog entry I'll be posting in a day or two, but I just wanted to say I hope I survive 2012. It has nothing to do with the end of the Mayan calendar... if I keep at the pace I've set for myself, I might be wishing for the end of the world by December. I've added a new tab on the menu called 2012 Challenges and it outlines my reading and writing goals for the year. Let's just say I'm in an optimistic mood today.
So if you see me at pick up and you're wondering if I was wearing the same outfit yesterday, there is a slight chance you may be correct. For the record, I have an almost infinite number of black yoga pants and long sleeve black t-shirts.
For my local followers, enjoy the sunshine and I'll see you at drop off tomorrow.
So if you see me at pick up and you're wondering if I was wearing the same outfit yesterday, there is a slight chance you may be correct. For the record, I have an almost infinite number of black yoga pants and long sleeve black t-shirts.
For my local followers, enjoy the sunshine and I'll see you at drop off tomorrow.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Debut Author Challenge
As if I needed more things to do on a regular basis, I have signed on to take part in the Debut Author Challenge, hosted by The Story Siren. There's a couple reason why... and here goes the first list of the year:
1. I'm always looking for great reads from people who have made it through the slush pile and are living the dream.
2. My "To Be Read" (henceforth known as "TBR") pile isn't very big. (First sarcastic comment of the year... it only took 11 hours.)
3. It makes it easier to plan my 2012 reading list if someone else has already done the leg work for when new YA/MG releases are coming out. I can get them on the hold list at the library or pre-order them (to help debut author's prove they're viable to the publishing house) earlier.
4. Everything's linked to good reads, which I'm a member of, but don't use often enough.
5. I want to start adding reviews to my blog so why not help a sister/brother out by spewing my opinion, which is another favorite thing I like to do.
6. Since I would love to find myself on the 2013 debut list, it never hurts to build up a little writing karma.
That's it. My list of why I'm taking part in the Debut Author Challenge. 12 books in 12 months... please... I'm so in. Are you? Sign up at the link above if you think you can handle it!
If you have any suggestions on upcoming debut YA or MG book (in the US), post below... I want to get started reading ASAP!!! Check back for my reviews!
Oh, and Happy New Year, everyone! I hope it was a safe celebration! Here's to a productive and enjoyable year of prose, red pen edits, coffee, success stories, and amazing milestones! No matter what the year has in store for you, remember to BE PASSIONATE about everything you do! Happy Reading, friends!
1. I'm always looking for great reads from people who have made it through the slush pile and are living the dream.
2. My "To Be Read" (henceforth known as "TBR") pile isn't very big. (First sarcastic comment of the year... it only took 11 hours.)
3. It makes it easier to plan my 2012 reading list if someone else has already done the leg work for when new YA/MG releases are coming out. I can get them on the hold list at the library or pre-order them (to help debut author's prove they're viable to the publishing house) earlier.
4. Everything's linked to good reads, which I'm a member of, but don't use often enough.
5. I want to start adding reviews to my blog so why not help a sister/brother out by spewing my opinion, which is another favorite thing I like to do.
6. Since I would love to find myself on the 2013 debut list, it never hurts to build up a little writing karma.
That's it. My list of why I'm taking part in the Debut Author Challenge. 12 books in 12 months... please... I'm so in. Are you? Sign up at the link above if you think you can handle it!
If you have any suggestions on upcoming debut YA or MG book (in the US), post below... I want to get started reading ASAP!!! Check back for my reviews!
Oh, and Happy New Year, everyone! I hope it was a safe celebration! Here's to a productive and enjoyable year of prose, red pen edits, coffee, success stories, and amazing milestones! No matter what the year has in store for you, remember to BE PASSIONATE about everything you do! Happy Reading, friends!
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