Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Confessions

Last week, I took part in Write On Con, and one of the suggestions for building your social media presence was to take part in a "meme". One of the "memes" I discovered, that spoke to my love of lists was this one: Top Ten Tuesday from Broke and Bookish.

Every Tuesday there's a topic for bloggers who love books to write on. I love this for several reasons.

1. It gives me a topic once a week that I don't have to come up with on my own and still addresses my love of books.

2. It's a list. (Duh.)

3. There are many other writers around the world writing about the same topic. It's like a synergy of literary cohesiveness... wow... where did that come from? Must be all the mind melding.

But I digress.

So here is my list of my Top Ten Bookish Confessions 

1. I have a library fine almost every month, even though I'm at the library, on average 2-3 times a week. I should also add I admit to telling the library I lost the book because it was cheaper than paying the fine. (I really hope no one at the library reads this!)

2. I have dog-eared books in the past. However, since discovering a pattern for Corner Bookmarks, I've curbed this habit.  

3. I almost lost an inter-library loan book from my book club. (I found it the day before I was going to walk up to circulation, my head hung low.)

4. I've spent hours on fanfiction sites laughing at the amazingly creative people out there.

5. I have a couple signed books I've never read.

6. If I really like a book, I get the e-book, hardback and paperback version. The e-book it to have with me where ever I go, the Hardback is for the shelf and hopefully getting signed someday and the paperback version is to loan. I have four copies of the Hunger Games... two paperback editions: one to loan and another to do a plotting/pacing exercise with.

7. I am horrible about figuring out where commas go. My motto is it's easier to take them out then put them in, so I slap them in where ever I think it should go and let my writing partners slap me around during crits.

8. I have bought pop-tarts with the intent of staying up all night reading and telling my kids to have at it when they complain they're hungry the next morning.

9. Sometimes I post on FB that I'm writing, but I'm actually on pinterest. I know... I'm horrible!

10. If I only had one book to take with me on a deserted island, it would be Pride and Prejudice. Deep down, I'm an Austen girl all the way!

Agented or Bust

I have made a decision that can only end with me finding an agent. If history has taught me anything, it's that there is one phrase that will get me what I want.

I WILL NOT CUT MY HAIR UNTIL...

Since I was old enough to decide when it was time to get my hair cut, I've been a short haired girl. For my wedding, I grew it out just long enough to have an up-do and promptly cut it the next week. I like having short hair. My husband would prefer it long. I don't really care what he thinks, in this matter. It's my hair.

So, I've been growing it out for a while and was ready to chop it off when it occurred to me: I could use my hair as motivation. I know it sounds silly, but if it's fear of rejection that stops me from sending out my ms., then fear of having long hair is going to push me to get over it.

I know it may sound silly to you, but having longer hair is a constant reminder that only through doing the work can I actually accomplish my goal. Each strand that falls in my face is a challenge to take a risk, whether it's in the submission process or writing my next book.

And, it's a physical manifestation of my commitment to my career. So one of two things is going to happen. I am either going to have lots of hair to donate to Locks of Love OR I am going to have an agent.

So here it is, without further ado: I WILL NOT CUT MY HAIR UNTIL I HAVE SIGNED WITH AN AGENT. (I reserve to change this decision based on the fact that I have free-will, but not before one year has passed. What did you expect? There's always fine print,)

So, reader peeps, what goal are you working toward and what is the zaniest thing you would be willing to do to make it happen. All superstitions allowed. Leave a comment and follow this blog to enter. My favorite answer gets a signed bookmark from Erica O'Rourke, author of the amazing Torn Trilogy! 

No matter what you have to do to push yourself, BE PASSIONATE about the goal and the destination!

Write On Con 2012

Write on Con 2012 is about to begin. Having spent the last few weeks frantically getting the kidlets back to school while making revisions to the WIP before sending out requests, I am really looking forward to WOC and here's why:

1. The conference is free. (Hubby can appreciate that.)
2. The conference is online.
3. Since it's online, I am free to attend sessions in my PJs, hanging out in the hammock, or both.
4. I've told everyone I'm attending a writing conference, but I failed to tell them about facts #2 & 3.

I don't know much about the conference and I have a feeling what I think I know if probably off, but I'm glad to be taking part in it with my writing group and I hope to make more writer friends along the way. Look for more updates as the conference goes on. No matter what the next week has in store for you, BE PASSIONATE about everything you do!

Early Morning Thoughts Before #MWW12

The air conditioner in my hotel room sounds like a Geiger counter and the internet is, at best, spotty. The humidity is 140% and I’m afraid to look at the heat index for the day, which really is irrelevant because the classrooms at the Alumni Center are going to be freezing. Yeah, it’s great to be in Muncie!

While sitting around a huge wooden table last night with friends I haven’t seen in exactly a year, a pint in front of all of us except Kelly who went for a bottle, I, one who normally doesn’t shut up, found myself at a loss for words for a while. The conversation about writing was flowing and the laughs were coming one after another, but I was caught up in a feeling I rarely experience: Contentment.

I don’t know what it is about the Midwest Writer’s Workshop, but it feels like coming home to a lot of cousins with great personalities and jaw-dropping imaginations. I know Hoosier’s take their hospitality serious, and perhaps that’s part of the charm of this conference. It’s intimate and yet highly energized. (I think those who have been here for more than a year will concur that is in large part a result of our fearless director, Jama Bigger… SHOUT OUT!)

Now, perhaps I am a little bias. MWW was my first writer’s conference and you know what they say: you never forget your first. For those participants who took a chance on a little Midwest Conference, I know you won’t be disappointed, but I would offer a few words of wisdom… mainly because I like to make lists and this post is REALLY short.

1.  Ask questions, even the ones you think are “silly”. If you’re wondering about it, chances are, someone else is, too. 
2. Don’t be afraid of a pitch session. Turns out, as I have stated in other posts, agents are just people and a pitch is just a conversation between two people. (Kathleen Ortiz… SHOUT OUT.) Oh, and if you see me hanging out, feel free to practice your pitch on me. Someone did that for me my first year and it made all the difference!
3. Bring a sweater or jacket. I’m not kidding about how cold it can get in the classrooms.
4. Go to breakout sessions that aren’t in your “genre”. You can learn a lot by looking at things “upside down”. (Kelly Stanley… SHOUT OUT.)
5. Take advantage of the social media drop-in sessions… MWW likes to blow up Twitter (#mww12)… one day we will be trending… maybe only in the Indianapolis area, but oh yes, we will be trending.
6. Don’t be afraid to say hello to the person next to you. Who knows… maybe next year you’ll be sitting around a huge wooden table with a few really awesome “cousins”. (Joe, Irene, Terri, Kelly, Kelsey… SHOUT OUT.)

That’s all I have time for… breakfast awaits! Regardless of whether you think MWW is the best conference in the world or not, BE PASSIONATE about the time you have around other writers. Without each other, we could never become better than we are!

And Now the Fun Really Begins

The first book of The Acada Chronicles is about half way over and I'm thrilled to say I love this book more and more each day. My main character, Emily Tate is really evolving, becoming a better version of her previous self.

This is what I love about being a writer: revisions. I know so many people who dread this stage of the game. It's like they finish the book and they can't wait to move on to the next story. But there is an old saying that goes, "Good things come to those who wait."

This phrase got me distracted enough to send me on a tangent of what I could compare the writing and revising process to. I already compared this time to poison ivy, but that might have been a little harsh.

And, since it is summer, a season of food and drinks and letting life slow down just a while, I thought I would  use that for inspiration.

1. The writing and revising process is like drinking a good wine. Writing the novel is the pulling (or in some cases, the unscrewing... hey... there are some good wines that now come with a twist top. I have a bottle in my fridge right now) of the cork. That's the grunt work. But the revision is the part where you pour the wine into the decanter, letting the fullness of the wine take effect. And of course, looking at your completely polished manuscript is like kicking back in a hammock on a cool summer evening with a glass of liquid perfection.

2.  The writing and revising process is like a good steak. In the beginning, just like writing, the first step is when everything is raw. You can see the ribbons of fat that need to be trimmed and once that's done, you are ready to marinade, letting the seasoning get absorbed into the meat/story. Next you toss it on the grill and let the flames lick at the cut, darkening it, bringing out it's natural (and marinade induced) flavor. The hard work is keeping the fire from getting too high or too. You need to find the perfect blend of heat and timing. Once you have mastered this and dropped just a tad of seasoned butter on the top, it's time to dig in and enjoy the taste of patience.

No matter how you view the writing and revising process, I hope you remember to BE PASSIONATE about everything that goes into your story. Make each word count. If you want, leave a comment comparing your writing process to anything. I'm always interested to know how other's see their work!

Having Poison Ivy is A Lot Like Being a Writer

Kidlet #1 managed to get one of the most severe cases of poison ivy I’ve ever seen. His right eye was swollen shut and walking was painful due to the rash covering the back of his legs. He missed three baseball games and a pool party. Needless to say, we’ve been home a lot the last week. Thank goodness we’re on the recovery end of this ordeal and with plans to basically kill our entire yard to ensure we don’t have a repeat occurrence in the works, I’ve been thinking about how having poison ivy is a lot like being a writer.

1.       Like poison ivy, once writing gets under your skin, it’s impossible to ignore. Even if you’re stumped on where your story goes or you’re on “hiatus”, you can’t stop thinking about it. Everything you see or experience is fodder for future works.

2.       A bad case of poison ivy requires a prescription of steroids, much in the same way that being a writer requires massive amounts of caffeine, though the delivery method varies from person to person.

3.       In order to handle the itching of poison ivy, we’ve had to apply countless layers of hydrocortisone for days on end, kinda in the same way I go about rewriting/revisions: one pass at a time until I have all the plot issues worked out.

4.       When it’s a kidlet that has poison ivy, the situation requires patience on the part of the mom… me, much like the patience I must show when waiting in alpha readers, beta readers and agents. Getting frustrated only makes the situation worse.

5.       When progress is made and the rash is finally under control, it makes me think of how I feel when I realize the book is as good as I can possibly make it: relief followed by the realization that it’s time to get back to the real world and figure out what’s next.

And that’s it. I know it’s a short post and perhaps one of my less insightful ones… did I mention I’ve been dealing with a whining, poison ivy infested six year old for a week? Did I forget to mention Kidlet #2 has complained about not getting together because of Kidlet #1 since Friday? This would be why it’s short and sweet. At least I’m posting. I count it as a win! No matter what challenges fall on your path, BE PASSIONATE about possibilities that wait for you as you make your way around them.

Inspiration from Quiet Grace

Like so many, I have a list of people who have inspired me over the years. I have friends that have read countless revisions of my pages, crit partners who have shredded them and famiy members who have praised them. But there is one person who has always, no matter what I’ve done, supported me like few others.

In a few days, I’ll be flying to Kansas to see my Grams one last time. I know death is a part of life, but I would be remised as a writer if I didn’t acknowledge her in prose. 

When I was little, Grams was a constant in a crazy world. She was this calm force who never got worked up, never really raised her voice and always had the canned Del Monte pudding in the cupboard.

When I got older, she was the voice of reason when I wanted to rebel against my parents. She carefully made me look at life from my mother’s point of view and validated my feelings of wanting independence while encouraging me to take time to consider my options.

When I was in high school and going through a rough time, she was a silent angel working behind the scenes, helping to pave the way for me to finish high school with my friends and even though I never really thanked her, being the selfish teenager, she never stopped giving.

When I graduated and was lost, unsure of which way to go or how to swim, she was the kick in the ass I needed to go to college. I joke that she practically wrote out my application for me, but in all seriousness, without her, I don’t know if I would have made it.

While I was in college, I’m sure she worried about the choices I was making but came to my rescue on more than one occasion. She never gave up on me and while I took that fore granted, I don’t know where I would be without her.

When she first met my to-be husband, I could see the look of relief on her face. I think she knew I had broken my cycle of damaged “boys” and had grown up enough to accept the love of a good man.

When I called to tell her I was FINALLY getting married, I could hear the sadness that she couldn’t make it to the wedding, but I also heard love. Not just for me, but for the man who is now my husband.

When I called to tell her she was going to be a great-grandmother, pure joy flooded the phone line. And when she met my oldest and a year later, my youngest, I watched my grandmother fall in love.

When I told her I was going to be a writer, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But like everything I had done in my life, I was greeted with support and love and acceptance that has never faltered but grown greater.

When she is gone, I will have to carry on in a world that is just a little less bright and remember the values she instilled in me. I can only hope to be a third of the woman she is. She is a constant reminder to work hard, do my best, and pick myself up with life knocks me down. For those lessons and so many more, I will be eternally grateful.

I am so blessed to have a woman in my life who sees the good in so many people and never gives up on those she loves. I know the days and weeks and months and years will bring with them moments of sadness, but I will strive to remember the great times we’ve had and BE PASSIONATE about those around me who make me better.