All I'm Saying...

First Tries

2011-01-30T18:29:00.000-08:00

The story was titled SUMMER OF CHANGE. It was a heart wrenching coming-of-age tale involving a young girl with three brothers who were forced to readjust after losing their parents in a firey car crash. The brothers may have been older. And good-looking. And very, very protective. And the plot may or may not have borrowed heavily from S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders with a few necessary plot changes and the addition of myself--um, er...I mean, a thirteen year old girl as the lead character.

Of course, SUMMER OF CHANGE never saw the light of day. That is until Mom found it a few years ago when she and Dad were cleaning out the attic.

Even to this day I get embarrassed when I think about it. It's not just that the writing was so bad or the plot stolen--it was just so...so...

Melodramatic.

And so exactly what a thirteen year old girl who had no brothers but who had watched The Outsiders a billion times might fantasize about. I wrote it by hand on loose leaf paper and bound it with twist ties. The whole thing was probably less than ten thousand words.

Unfortunately, embarrassment got the best of me that day, and I threw it away without even rereading it. At the time I considered becoming a published author to be a childhood fantasy and had abandoned it for more solid pursuits like being a wife and teacher. I'd give anything to have it back though. Because, you see, that little thirteen-year-old writer-me had something this forty-year-old one doesn't:

Courage.

That's right-the thirteen-year-old me was BRAVE. She wrote uninhibited. She didn't worry about having a great opening line or believeable dialogue or whether or not she was revealing too much backstory. She wrote with passion, thinking only of how her story made her feel. Never doubting that the world would love it.

I miss that girl. I've been trying to revive her lately. Trying to write first and think later. It's hard. Fear is my greatest enemy.

What about you? What's the first "real" thing YOU wrote? Was it a short story? A novel? Did you let anyone read it? Or did you hide it away, embarrassed by its candor? Tell me. I'd love to hear about it.

In the meantime, I think YouTube's got a clip of Ponyboy and the gang getting ready for the rumble...

How-To Book Review: Make A Scene

2010-09-14T19:34:00.000-07:00

I must admit, I sometimes spend my writing time reading how-to books. I justify this by telling myself it's an investment. :) Actually, in this case, it was.

MAKE A SCENE by Jordan E. Rosenfeld addresses everything from architecture of a scene to core elements to scene assessment and revision. Most helpful for me is the section in which Rosenfeld discusses scene types. Here, she takes each type of scene (the first scene, suspense scenes, action scenes, etc.) and explains how to craft each one most effectively. These chapters end with a bulleted list of "muse points" that summarize the most important points. Perfect "pre-reading" material before you craft a new scene!

In case you're interested, here's a list of Parts and Chapter Headings:

Part I: ARCHITECTURE OF A SCENE
Chapter 1 Functions of a Scene
Chapter 2: Strong Scene Launches
Chapter 3: Powerful Scene Middles
Chapter 4: Successful Scene Endings

Part II: THE CORE ELEMENTS AND THE SCENE
Chapter 5: Setting
Chapter 6: The Senses
Chapter 7: Character Development and Motivation
Chapter 8: Plot
Chapter 9: Subtext
Chapter 10: Dramatic Tension
Chapter 11: Scene Intentions

Part III: SCENE TYPES (My fav!!)
Chapter 12: The First Scene
Chapter 13: Suspense Scenes
Chapter 14: Dramatic Scenes
Chapter 15: Contemplative Scenes
Chapter 16: Dialogue Scenes
Chapter 17: Action Scenes
Chapter 18: Flashback Scenes
Chapter 19: Epiphany Scenes
Chapter 20: Climactic Scenes
Chapter 21: The Final Scene

Part IV: OTHER SCENE CONSIDERATIONS
Chapter 22: Multiple Points of View
Chapter 23: Your Protagonist's Emotional Thread
Chapter 24: Secondary and Minor Characters
Chapter 25: Scene Transitions
Chapter 26: Scene Assessment and Revision

Enjoying the Write

2010-07-06T15:19:00.000-07:00

A few years ago as my husband and I prepared to take our children on a much-anticipated trip Disney World, we decided that instead of focusing on what WE wanted to do, we were going to simply “enjoy the ride”, meaning we were going to have a good time no matter what circumstances we found ourselves in.

I thought of this phrase the other day after I’d sat at my laptop a couple of hours stressing over a few lines of description. Why? Well, put quite simply, I wasn’t “enjoying the write”.

I don’t know about you, but often I try so hard to make my writing “right” that I forget it’s supposed to be fun. I have to stop and remind myself that, more than anyone else, this book is for me. I’m the one I’m writing for. Yes, I want to be published, and yes, I know that means considering both my audience and the market. But when it comes down to the nitty-gritty, if I’m not enjoying my story, no one else is going to, either.

So, you might ask, how exactly does one “enjoy the write”? Well, for me, enjoying my writing means that I quit obsessing over the words, and focus more on the story. When I study some of my favorite authors, I’m surprised at how simple their descriptions are. They aren’t worried about making their writing sound fancy; they simply tell their story. And that's why I need to do.

What about you? Do you find yourself sucking the fun out of writing, or are you able to cruise along "enjoying the write"?

Musical Inspiration

2010-06-25T13:57:00.000-07:00

I know it’s happened to you: You’ve been driving down the road, jammin’ to the radio (or if you’re like me, listening to your iPod) and all the sudden you get the BEST idea for a scene in your book. It’s called inspiration, and for me, it often comes in the form of music.

This week it’s Uprising by Muse. Not a group I usually follow, but I heard the song on a movie trailer and badaboom-badabing! Instant scene idea! I’ve probably listened to it a fifty times, and each time the details become a little more concrete.

When this happens, I usually grab my notebook and make some notes. If I'm lucky, the scene will actually fit somewhere in my story. If not? Well, it's still fun to imagine, and maybe the scene will work in another book.

So what inspires you? Is it music? Poetry? Sitting outside listening to the birds sing? Tell me what gets your creative juices flowing.

When Writing Is Hard

2010-06-12T15:05:00.000-07:00

This has been one of those weeks when I wish I could give up. I’ve spent hour after hour typing on the computer, only to come back the next day and delete every word.

Used to be when I hit a rough patch, I’d threaten to quit. I mean, this is just a hobby, right? Hobbies should be fun.

Now I don’t even bother. I’m not going to quit, bad as I want to. Why? I’m not sure. Maybe it’s because I’m stubborn, or maybe I’m just stupid. Either way, I know it won’t be long before I muster my courage, pick up my laptop, and try again.

Because maybe, just maybe, this will be the day I get it right.

TODAY'S WORD COUNT: 563 (not counting the bajillion I deleted)

Summer Challenge: Day 5

2010-06-02T20:02:00.000-07:00

WORD COUNT: 7, 039

1. DID I WRITE TODAY? Yes, off and on for a couple of hours. I could've written more if my family didn't insist on eating. :)

2. DID I "LET IT FLOW"? No, to be honest I mostly edited. My critique group meets this Saturday, and I haven't submitted anything lately, so I want to get the first five pages as polished as possible. But I do feel like I made progress on these pages.

3. DID I QUERY ANYONE? Yes, I'm proud to say I queried two agents today.

What about YOU? Been writing lately or taking a break? How do you plan to spend your summer?

Summer Challenge: Day 4

2010-06-01T18:43:00.000-07:00

CURRENT WORD COUNT: 6,998

1. DID I WRITE TODAY? Yes. Not quite as much as yesterday, but that was due mostly to me spending 2 1/2 hours at the hair salon getting "blondified" then having to run errands.

2. DID I "LET IT FLOW"? Yes! This pleases me more than anything. Leaving a scene when I know I can make it better is really hard for me, but I seem to be making progress in this area. Knowing I only have two months to finish this draft serves as strong motivation.

THE BEST PART? I'm really enjoying writing right now. It's fun to discover new things about my characters, to find them saying and doing things I hadn't planned . Who knows? Maybe I've had a breakthrough!

Day 3: Where I Finally Lose the Self-Editor and Just Write

2010-05-31T19:54:00.000-07:00

CURRENT WORD COUNT: 6,014!!!!

1. DID I WRITE TODAY? You bet I did!

2. DID I "LET IT FLOW"? Yes!!! And it feels great! Let's just hope that feeling hold true in the morning when I read back over what I've written and realize just how bad it sounds. On second thought, maybe I won't reread, maybe I'll just keep writing...

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE summer?

Summer Challenge Day 2: What I Realize Now

2010-05-31T05:11:00.000-07:00

CURRENT WORD COUNT: 4, 706

1. DID I WRITE? Yes! Off and on for several hours, in fact.

2. DID I "LET IT FLOW"? No. It was all rewriting, which is what I've realized about myself: I don't like to WRITE; I like to REWRITE. Unfortunately, one can't rewrite without writing, so I'm going to have to work on this one.

Summer Challenge: Day 1

2010-05-29T20:37:00.000-07:00

Current Word Count: 4,876

1. DID I WRITE TODAY? Yes. Some. Okay, just a little. But it's my first day off, and technically, since it's Saturday, it's not officially summer yet, so I figure anything I did today was just "preconditioning".

2. DID I "LET IT FLOW"? No. I mostly edited. I know, it's a problem. But at least I'm honest.

3. DID I QUERY ANY AGENTS? Again, the answer is no. But I did enjoy a little redneck entertainment at the drive-in with my family. True, watching Shrek from a lawn chair in the back of a pick-up while eating microwave pop corn probably isn't going to further my writing career, but it sure was FUN.

I'm Back!

2010-05-28T18:32:00.000-07:00

Some of you may have noticed my absence from the blogosphere the last couple of weeks. I just wanted to let everyone know that I haven’t dropped off the planet; I’ve just been distracted by all that stuff people do when they’re not writing like refinancing houses, attending doctor’s appointments, and cleaning up the mess made when one’s washing machine overflows and runs into the living room, destroying one’s hardwood and turning their bedroom carpet into a gigantic sponge on a day when one has been already been imprisoned with 26 fourth graders whose end-of-the-year picnic got cancelled due to rain, forcing an all-day inside recess complete with popcorn and ice cream, and has to have their own child dressed and ready for a dance recital in the next town an hour after school lets out, even though the ServPro guys are there setting up ten jillion fans and forty-seven dehumidifiers and…

Oops, sorry! Didn’t mean to go THERE.

What I really want to talk about are my plans for the summer. With two unencumbered months stretching ahead of me, I’ve decided to make completing the rough draft of my current WIP my #3 priority. (Yep, that’s right: Number Three. Spending time with my family is #1, and overseeing the laying of new floors and construction of a new sunroom is #2, but only because it has to be.)

So here are my goals:

1.) WRITE EVERY DAY. This is hard for me. I get distracted very easily. Load the dishwasher, sweep , throw in a load of laundry… Before you know it, it’s afternoon, and I’m just not in “the mood”. Gonna overcome this. If I’m going to be a writer, I’ve Got. To Write.

2.) QUIT TRYING TO MAKE IT PERFECT. Again, a personal struggle. I KNOW I should quit trying to edit during the drafting process, but knowing and doing are two different things. This summer, I’m gonna do my best to let it flow.

3.) CONTINUE TO SEEK PUBLICATION. I didn’t spend six years writing that first novel just to stick it in a drawer after the first few rejections. (Okay, so maybe it’s more like 42 form rejections and 2 personalized, but who’s counting?) I'm going to get back on Query Tracker, research some new agents, and keep plugging. Who knows? Maybe my query just hasn't reached the right hands yet.

In an effort to maintain focus, I plan to document my progress with a daily blog entry. I’ll give you an updated word count, as well as a brief summation of how the writing went that day. And if I go a few days without posting, you have permission to shoot me an email and tell me what a no-good losing quitter I am.

Okay, so maybe you shouldn't be THAT harsh. But do encourage me to keep going, because as those of you out there who are teachers know…

Summer goes by FAST!

A Cheap Trick

2010-05-14T18:56:00.000-07:00

It happened again. I unknowingly read the first book in what turned out to be a series. I’ve examined the cover, front and back, and there’s nothing—NOTHING—to indicate that the plot problem isn’t going to be resolved by the end. And yet, it wasn’t. Worst of all, there wasn’t even a story arc. It’s like the story just stopped. Right in the middle.

Maybe this wouldn’t bother me if it wasn’t happening so often. Grant it, most of the “series in sheep’s clothing” I’ve been duped by lately have at least had some interesting plot points that got cleared up by the end of the first installment, but there’s still something irritating about not being told the truth upfront. It’s like climbing in the car for what you expect to be a ten-hour trip to another city, only to be told ten hours later that the city has been moved and it’ll be another ten hours before you get there. Okay, so maybe that’s not a great comparison, but you get the picture.

It's not fair.

What about you? Have you ever read what you thought to be a stand-alone novel, only to find 250 pages later that it’s the first in a series? How did you feel? Were you mad? Excited that the story would continue? Do you think publishers owe it to readers to let them know if a book is the first in a series?

I think my feelings are pretty obvious.

Encouragement For the Insecure Writer

2010-05-04T07:08:00.000-07:00

Today I thought I’d share a quote I came across recently in an old issue of Writer’s Digest. It’s from Sue Grafton, author of the bestselling alpha-murder mystery series-in-progress. Being a slow and insecure writer myself, I found what she had to say about her own writing process to be quite interesting. Here’s what she had to say about what she’s learned while writing the series:

“I’m learning to trust the process. I’m trying to remember that writing should be a form of play. I keep saying the fate of the free world does not hang in the balance. Even if I write a book that fails, nothing will happen. I’ll be mortified and embarrassed, but lives will not be lost over this. I take writing terribly seriously, and sometimes that just gets in my way.”

Also encouraging:

“I read other writers [and] I think, she does it the easy way, or he does it. It couldn’t be hard for him, for her. And I just think it’s good for people to know it’s always hard, at least for me, partly because I’ve never figured out how to do it quicker. I’m slow and I’m meticulous, and that’s just my nature.”

I don’t know about you, but something about knowing that even hugely successful authors sometimes struggle with the process makes me feel like maybe there’s hope for me after all. What about you? What helps you get over those hurtles of self-doubt?

WANTED: Suggestions for Beach Reads

2010-04-28T16:42:00.000-07:00

A week from now I’ll be traveling to Panama City Beach with my husband so he can compete in a 70.3 mile triathlon (I know…crazy!). Anyway, before I go, I plan to visit my local Books-A-Million to stock up on beach reads.

Any suggestions?

I’m not picky when it comes to genre. I mostly read YA, though I’m reading Harlan Coben’s Caught right now, and The Help is waiting on my nightstand (I keep putting off reading it b/c I’ve heard it’s somewhat “literary”). I’ve also recently read Beautiful Creatures, The Choice, When I Fall, and The Last Song.

I’d love to hear your favorites. What have you read lately that you really enjoyed?

An Encouraging Quote Regarding Writing

2010-04-27T19:18:00.000-07:00

"Writing is easy: All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead." ~Gene Fowler

I'm sorry. I said it would be encouraging, didn't I?

A Ray of Sunshine

2010-04-27T08:38:00.001-07:00

Thanks to author Delia Latham (Goldeneyes, Yesterday’s Promise, Adam’s Wings) for honoring me with the Sunshine Award. It’s a blessing to have so many fellow writers who take time out of their schedules to stop by and encourage!

The Sunshine Award is traditionally awarded to bloggers who inspire others and show positivity and creativity. With so many awesome bloggers out there, it was hard to choose. After much thought and consideration, I’ve decided to pass it along to the following:

Irene Latham (Leaving Gee’s Bend)
Live. Love. Explore!
(A very special thanks to Irene-Your encouragement means more to me than you know!)

Julie Jarnagin
Julie Writes

Elana Johnson
Young Adult Author Elana Johnson

Angela Greenlief
Everyone Has a Story

Shannon O’Donnell
Book Dreaming

Lydia Kang
The Word is My Oyster

Sandy Shin
Sandy Shin’s Blog

Karen Strong
Musings of a Novelista

Lindsay Morgan
Adventures in Writing

Pat Weaver (My fan-tab-u-lous critique partner!)
Writer on a Horse

The rules for accepting the award are as follows:

1.) Place the logo within your blog or post
2.) Pass the award onto 10 fellow bloggers
3.) Link to the nominees within your post
4.) Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog
5.) Share the love and link to the person you received the award from.

Take a minute to check these blogs out and see if they encourage and inspire you as much as they have me!

First or Third?

2010-04-25T17:58:00.000-07:00

Okay, guys. I need your help. I'm roughly two chapters into my latest project, and I can't decide whether to continue using first person or switch to third. I originally planned to tell the whole thing from one point of view-my 17 year old female protagonist-but now I've decided to use multiple points of view, so I'll be adding chapters told from my main character's mother's point of view, as well as her 18 year old love interest (the daughter's, not the mother's BTW!).

So how do I decide whether to use first person or third?

I'm pretty sure I want to use first person for my main character. It's more intimate, and I think that's what I'm going to need in order to help the reader make an emotional connection. But what about her mother and her on-again/off-again boyfriend? Should I use first person for them as well? Or might it work to switch to third?

Opinions, anyone?

Body Language 101: Eye Contact

2010-04-23T08:45:00.000-07:00

Here’s some info from Gordon Wainwright’s Teach Yourself Body Language regarding eye contact that I thought might be helpful when describing characters’ body language:

1. Liars tend to avoid eye contact, unless they are brazen.

2. People deliberately avoid eye contact when they are embarrassed or sad.

3. When people are scared, their eyes usually appear to be frozen open, as if they are on the lookout for danger.

4. When we see something interesting or something we are attracted to, our pupils actually dilate.

5. Too much eye contact tends to be unsettling and is usually regarded as communicating superiority or a lack of respect.

6. Too little eye contact is usually interpreted as not paying attention, insincerity, dishonesty, or being shy.

7. Withdrawing eye contact by lowering the eyes is usually taken as a sign of submission.

8. People tend not to look at each other when they are discussing intimate or difficult topics, when they are placed close together, or when the other person is of high status.

Body Language 101: Facial Expressions

2010-04-20T19:48:00.000-07:00

Often in my writing, I find myself searching for ways to describe a character’s body language so my reader can “see” the way he/she delivers a particular line of dialogue or to give a clue as to what they’re thinking. And since this is a challenge I figured all writers face, I thought I’d share some information I ran across in my research on the subject in hopes that it could serve as a good resource.

The six emotions expressed primarily by facial expressions are:

1. Happiness
2. Sadness
3. Disgust
4. Anger
5. Fear
6. Interest

Happiness

Happiness is primarily seen in the cheeks, mouth, and eyes. When people are happy, they often smile (though smiles can also be used to show aggression and sarcasm). When happy to the point of excitement, their eyes make rapid scanning movements. Happiness can also be characterized through speech by having your character raise his volume, use a sharper tone, use a breathless voice, talk faster than normal, and by stressing key words and phrases in their dialogue. An “eyebrow flash” and smile can be used to show pleasure upon seeing someone.

Sadness

Like disappointment and depression, sadness is often expressed by a lack of expression, turning down the corners of the mouth, looking down with the eyes, or by sagging features. There could also be tears, trembling of the lips, or attempts to hide one’s face.

Disgust

Disgust is often shown by a narrowing of the eyes, turning one’s face away from the source of disgust, a wrinkling of the nose, and a grimace.

Anger

In the face, anger is usually expressed by frowning or scowling, narrowing the eyes, and staring at the source of offense. Some people’s faces drain of color when they’re angry, or their face could go red or purple. The entire body is usually tense, as if ready to attack.

Fear

Fear can be shown with wide eyes, an open mouth, trembling, perspiration, and/or paling of the skin.

Interest

Interest is often shown by cocking the head, widening the eyes slightly, and perhaps even opening the mouth slightly. You could also use a raised eyebrow.

Of course, body language is only one way for your characters to communicate. But it does play an important role in supporting (or contradicting) what your character is saying, doing, or thinking.

Right now I’m making a happy face because this post is finally finished!

Heeeee’s Ba-ack!

2010-04-18T19:28:00.000-07:00

I thought I’d run him off, but this weekend Self-Editor showed up again, dragging along his good buddies, Perfectionism and Self-Doubt.

It seems I can’t bear the thought that what I’ve written is anything less than the best I can make it.

It’s a crazy problem to have, when you think about it. I mean, what am I afraid of? That if I wait to rewrite, I’ll forget what good writing sounds like and think I’ve written a Pulitzer?

Yeah, right.

I’m considering offering Self-Ed a compromise. A few quick “touch-ups” in exchange for his silence. At least until I’ve drafted the next scene.

Think he’ll go for it?

How-To Book Review: Between the Lines

2010-04-14T20:30:00.000-07:00

Being a small-town girl living on a teacher’s salary, I’m not often afforded the opportunity to attend big-name writing conferences. And other than a high school creative writing class my senior year in high school (we won’t say how long ago that’s been), I’ve never taken a formal writing class. Much of what I’ve learned about writing the last six years has come from various “How-To” books.

I tend to be picky when choosing how-to books. I’ve already mentioned the teacher-salary part;needless to say, I don’t have stacks of money lying around with which to satisfy my every whim. The books in my library are solid.

One of the books I’ve found especially insightful is Jessica Page Morrell’s Between the Lines.

The book is packed with information. Looking back, I see that I’ve highlighted sentences on nearly every page. It’s one of those books I planned to read again someday when I’ve grown as a writer and can better understand some of what Ms. Morrell is saying. Not too “textbookish”, but nearly. For me, that was a good thing.

For those of you who are interested, here’s look at the chapter titles:

Chapter 1: Art & Artifice: Keeping Readers Spellbound
Chapter 2: Backstory
Chapter 3: Cliffhangers & Thrusters
Chapter 4: Epilogues
Chapter 5: Epiphanies & Revelations
Chapter 6: Flashbacks
Chapter 7: Foreshadowing
Chapter 8: Imagery & Other Charms
Chapter 9: Pacing
Chapter 10: Prologues
Chapter 11: Sense of Place
Chapter 12: Sensory Surround
Chapter 13: Subplots
Chapter 14: Subtlety
Chapter 15: Suspense
Chapter 16: Tension
Chapter 17: Theme & Premise
Chapter 18: Transitions

I have nothing negative to say about this book. I paid less than twenty dollars for it, and I definitely got my money’s worth. If you're looking for a good "how-to" book, you might want to check it out.

Resisting...

2010-04-13T19:29:00.000-07:00

I will not edit the pages I wrote yesterday. I will not edit the pages I wrote yesterday. I will not edit the pages I wrote yesterday. I will not edit the pages I wrote yesterday. I will not edit the pages I wrote yesterday. I will not edit the pages I wrote yesterday. I will not edit the pages I wrote yesterday. I will not edit the pages I wrote yesterday. I will not edit the pages I wrote yesterday. I will not edit the pages I wrote yesterday. I will not edit the pages I wrote yesterday. I will not edit the pages I wrote yesterday. I will not edit the pages I wrote yesterday. I will not edit the pages I wrote yesterday. I will not edit the pages I wrote yesterday. I will not edit the pages I wrote yesterday. I will not edit the pages I wrote yesterday. I will not edit the pages I wrote yesterday. I will not edit the pages I wrote yesterday. I will not edit the pages I wrote yesterday...

Think it will work?

Query Challenge Tuesday

2010-04-13T05:20:00.000-07:00

It’s that time again! Query Challenge Tuesday.

The challenge is simple: Choose at least one agent from your prospect list and query them.

That’s it. Just one query. You can send more, but by sending just one new query, you’ll have proven to yourself that you’re not a quitter.

And you’re not a quitter, are you?

Oh, and don’t forget to come back and leave me a comment when you’re finished letting me know you did it so I can celebrate with you!

And when you're finished with that, check out Sarah Wylie's fabulous contest at Sarah With A Chance and register for a chance to win a partial critique and lunch with agents Suzie Townsend and Janet Reid!

Are You Writing Backwards? The Importance of Understanding Motivation/Reaction Units

2010-04-12T04:09:00.000-07:00

I recently ran across something in a writing book I’d like to share. Perhaps it’s common knowledge, but I’d never heard of it.

The subject is Motivation/Reaction Units (MRUs), the building blocks of the sentences that comprise a story.

Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines motive as “something that causes a person to act” and reaction as “a response, as to a stimulus.” Makes sense that when we’re building a scene, we’d want to place the motivation before the reaction, right? You’d be surprised how many times writers do it the other way around.

The difference is subtle. In fact, the average reader won’t be able to point it out. Yet the sentence doesn’t “read” right. It feels off.

For example, consider the following: She laughed at the frown on her sister’s face.

The reaction—laughter—is stated before the motivation—her sister’s frown. It’s a tiny mistake, but can you imagine reading a novel full of sentences like this? We need to “see” the stimulus before we “see” the response.

This information came from a book I recently purchased from Amazon titled A Novel Idea. After discovering MRUs and realizing this was something I needed to explore further, I did a little online research and found the following websites to be helpful:

http://www.bookmarket.ning.com/forum/topics/523145:Topic:66967

http://www.writing.com/main/books/entry_id/312813

http://www.bonniesnanowrimo.blogspot.com/2007/10/mrus-motivation-reaction-units.html

http://www.katieganshert.blogspot.com/2009/07/motivation-reaction-unit.html

Lots of great information and examples here, including a breakdown of what you should include in a response when you want to increase tension. Some of the most helpful information I came across was a series of writing lessons I found at Randy Ingermanson’s Advanced Fiction Writing website, which you can find at http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/09/30/mrus-lesson-4/.

Happy Writing!

Do You See What I See?

2010-04-06T19:52:00.000-07:00

One of the things I do to improve my writing skills is reread books I’ve enjoyed with the purpose of paying attention to how they go about crafting a good story. This week I’m rereading Sarah Dessen’s Lock and Key.

I love the way Sarah Dessen brings a story world alive. Her characters and settings always seem so real. Consider the following passage:

“There, we’d shared a one-bedroom, our only window looking out over the back entrance to the J&K Cafeteria, where there was always at least one employee in a hairnet sitting outside smoking, perched on an overturned milk crate.”

Wow, she really sees through the eyes of her character, doesn’t she? She’s thought things through to the point where she even knows what kind of people work at the business behind her former apartment building. In the hands of a less skilled writer, this type of detail might come across as mundane, but by choosing specific and telling details Ms. Dessen creates an image in her reader’s mind that does more than just tell them the name of a business or the number of windows in a particular room. I don’t know about you, but I need to spend more time getting to know not just my characters, but where they are and what they’re seeing so I can help my own readers make these types of connections.

Rx for Rejection-Induced Depression

2010-04-04T20:31:00.000-07:00

Rejection-Induced Depression is a disorder in which a writer’s self-esteem plummets and his emotion well-being seems to rest entirely on his ability to secure the services of a literary agent. Symptoms include fear that you’re deceiving yourself and an overwhelming desire to give up. Fortunately, treatment is simple:

Start a new project.

I’m a living testimony to the effectiveness of this prescription. For weeks I moped around feeling discouraged about my prospects of becoming a published author. I’d spent nearly two years polishing what I believed to be a publishable novel only to find a total lack of agent interest. As the rejections poured in, I found my enthusiasm for the process waning. I needed something to take my mind off the waiting, so I decided to do something drastic—I started another book.

I know, sounds crazy, right? I mean, here I am unable to sell the first book, and I’m starting another. But you know what? I’m so excited. This book is so much better than my first. It’s got a stronger hook. More angst. The plot moves faster. I’m having so much fun; I’m actually getting up early to write before I have to leave for work.

Best of all, I’m not putting all my hopes for publication into that first novel. I’m still querying, and of course I’d like to see it published. But in the meantime, I’m enjoying the satisfaction that comes from creating a totally new story.

It's a crazy obsession, isn't it?

PS- I'd like to say thanks to Lindsay at Adventures in Writing for bestowing upon me the Creative Blogger Award. In the spirit of creative writing (which being in the public school setting, I see quite often), I give you my five lies and one truth:

Lie: Writing a novel is easy.

Lie: Ideas come to me in my sleep.

Lie: Words flow from my brain onto the page without effort.

Lie: I never doubt my writing abilities.

Lie: I never doubt that I'll be published one day.

The Truth: I couldn't quit writing if I want to.

Character Interviews

2010-03-31T16:40:00.000-07:00

I’ve finally done it! I’ve squelched the self-editor!

For five straight days I’ve been writing feverishly. Quite an accomplishment for someone who usually averages less than a hundred words a day!

The breakthrough came Friday night. After reading Suzette Saxton’s post on the QT blog in which she suggests writers interview their characters as a way to get to know them, I decided why not? I was in the outlining stage of a new project anyway, so I printed out her questions, grabbed a notebook and pencil, and settled in on the couch.

Two hours later I was still writing.

I couldn’t believe how helpful it was! I was discovering new things about my protagonist. Important things like motivation and connections between background and why she responds the way she does to story events.

The best part is, I’m still discovering.

After finishing Suzette’s questions, I got online and found more questions. It took three days for me to finish “interviewing” my new MC, but man, do I know her! Now I’m interviewing her love interest.

I think another thing that has helped free me up is that I’m doing all this writing by hand. Doing it this way eases the pressure to make it “right”. I’m just a girl thinking things through, brainstorming, answering questions.

I’ll be honest with you, some of the questions have been hard. I wasn’t sure how I’d answer them for myself, much less for this made-up character. But almost without fail, answering these questions has given me insight I doubt I would’ve found had I tried to explore them while writing the story. There were times when I’ve had an “Ah-ha!” moment and had to “stop” the interview so I could scribble a rough draft of a scene that had just come to me. I can’t tell you how valuable this process has been to me! I just had to share!

Other websites with questions for character “interviews”:

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976908598

http://www.writingclasses.com/InformationPages/index.php/PageID/106

http://storywrite.com/contest/6584

http://www.miniworld.com/adnd/100ThingsAboutUrPCBackGround.html

Ten Things About Me (Plus Five Others)

2010-03-25T18:02:00.000-07:00

I'd like to say a special Thank You to Zoe C. Courtman at No Letters on My Keyboard for bestowing upon me the "Sugar Doll Award". Thanks so much, Zoe! I appreciate your support!

In keeping with the "rules" of the award, I'm supposed to share ten things about myself and pass the award along to others.

Ten Things About Me (Plus Five Others)

1. I worry too much about what people think.

2. My hair is too thin and my nose is too long.

3. Sometimes I hide the good snacks so the children can't find them.

4. I read while I eat. Always.

5. I worry that my children will make the same mistakes I've made.

6. I love my husband more every year I'm married to him.

7. I absolutely, positively HATE to mop.

8. I teach an all-boy class and I love it.

9. If I like a song, I listen to it over and over and over and over...

10. I appreciate my mother more the older I get.

11. I never learned to drive a stick-shift.

12. I have never, ever, in my life, mowed the grass.

13. I like the smell of bleach.

14. I love to hear my children laugh.

15. I consider myself to be the most blessed person I know.

And who am I passing the award to? My picks are:

1. Karen at Musings of a Novelista for her courage in sharing her recent decision to part ways with her agent. I appreciate your transparency, Karen.

2. Pat at Writer on a Horse for her honesty with herself and with others. This lady can critique like nobody's business. And she's a Plot Queen to boot!

3. Elana Johnson who I'm sure has received every Blog Award ever conceived but remains incredibly humble. Thanks for being there, Elana!

The Name Game

2010-03-24T04:05:00.000-07:00

Last night I sat down to start a new project. As with any piece of fiction, I soon came to the point where I had to decide what I was going to call my main character.

I must confess, in the past I’ve been pretty nonchalant about this. I have a tendency to use whichever name happens to pop into my head at the moment (usually Johnny or Sam or something equally creative) with the idea that I can always go back and change it later. Well, guess what? It rarely gets changed. See, the problem is once I’ve used the name over and over it gets stuck in my head and, right name or not, it becomes who the character is. Or at least in my mind it does.

But not this time. This time I was doing it right. My main character was going to have a cool name. A meaningful name. A name that suited, well…his character.

So what did I do? I started searching. I spent over two hours scouring baby name books, baby name websites, the telephone book, and anything else that I thought might give me inspiration. And sure enough, I found it: The Perfect Name. Only this morning, I realize…

It isn’t.

What’s the deal? Am I obsessing? Is finding the perfect name for this character really this important?

Part of me says yes. If my audience is going to get the right impression of him, I need a name that says all the right things. But another part of me (the sane part, I think) says maybe it’s not quite this obsession-worthy. And nagging me the most is the little voice that keeps saying it’s all subjective anyway. I mean, what I think of as a tough or cool or pretty name might give someone else a totally different impression, right?

So here’s what I want to know: How much time do you invest in naming your characters? Is it something you take super-seriously, or do you wing it and trust that your characterization will be enough to cause your readers to make a connection? What process do you go through? Do you ask others’ opinion, or do you trust your instincts?

How do you know when you’ve found the right name?

Me? A Perfectionist?

2010-03-22T04:43:00.000-07:00

I had no idea I was a perfectionist until I started writing. Believe me, it’s not a quality that manifests itself in other areas of my life. But give me a keyboard and a white computer screen and Wa-lah! I suddenly become Miss It’s-Got-to-be-Perfect.

I wish this wasn’t true. Perfectionist tendencies can kill a good story idea quicker than a dead laptop battery. I should know. I killed one just last night.

It started with a little “spot” editing. I changed a couple of words. Added a few details. Before I knew it, the whole thing had fallen apart. I just couldn’t handle it, the pressure of knowing that the words on the page weren’t my best. I knew editing at that point was a mistake, but I just couldn’t help myself. I had to try and make it better.

What about you? Are you like me--obsessing over each word before you can type the last letter? Or are you one of those enviable writers who are able to squelch the inner critic until you’ve finished a rough draft? If so, would you mind telling me how you do it? Are you naturally confident, or is it something you’ve worked at? I’m hoping someone will share their secret so I can crank out this novel floating around in my head.

Until then, I’ll guess I’ll go charge my laptop battery.

How-To Book Review

2010-03-18T15:52:00.000-07:00

Finding Your Voice: How to Put Personality in Your Writing by Les Edgerton
If you’re looking for a book to help you improve voice, this is the one. Les Edgerton does a superb job explaining not only what it is, but how you can overcome the “inner-critic” responsible for stripping it from your writing.

Chapters include:
Why Writers Lose Their Original Voices
Why Unpublished Writers Have an Inferiority Complex
It’s Okay to be Yourself. I mean-It’s REALLY OKAY!
Here’s Lookin’ at You, Kid…A New and Different Way of Looking at Your Audience
The Elements of Personality or “Voice”
Strategies for Getting and Keeping Your Voice on the Page
Undue Influence-Tuning Out the Masters
What Top Writers, Editors and Agents Say About Voice

One selling point for me was how Mr. Edgerton practiced what he preached and wrote this book in his voice. Pretty entertaining considering he’s an ex-con! I came away from the book with a much better understanding of what voice is and how important it is in hooking your reader.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I give it a 9. My only complaint is that the font is fairly small, and there isn’t a lot of “white space”, which can make it a somewhat exhausting read. Well worth it, though!

Great Resource for Writers

2010-03-17T18:19:00.000-07:00

FYI: Fellow writers Lydia Kang and Laura Diamond have started a twin blog series in which they'll be answering mental health and medical questions for for the purpose of fiction writing every Monday. Laura, a psychiatrist, will handle questions related to mental health, and Lydia, a physician, will handle questions related to medical issues.

Wow! It's like living next door to a doctor AND a psychiatrist!

Of course, both ladies have added disclaimers that this advice is for the SOLE purpose of writing fiction and not to be considered as treatment.

Isn't this a great idea? I've already emailed Lydia a medical question related to my current work-in-progress! Thanks, ladies!

Query Challenge Tuesday

2010-03-16T04:40:00.000-07:00

I did it! I started querying again!

I have to admit, after a long string of mostly form rejections, I’d developed what some in the querying stages refer to as “Query Phobia”. Simply put, I was afraid to query. But after some encouragement from my fellow-writers (including some amazingly humble responses to my “How Many Times Have You Been Rejected” post on Query Tracker), I decided to try again.

Maybe you’re like me-you take rejection hard. You’ve poured your heart into this book, and it crushes you when someone passes on it. Here’s a challenge for you: QUERY AT LEAST ONE AGENT TODAY. Pick that new agent you recently read about or that one you keep putting off because they’re from a big-name agency. It doesn’t matter who you query, the point is that you get back on the saddle and try again.

Last night I challenged myself to send out a single query. That’s all, just one. Guess what? Once I sent that query out, I found myself sending another. And then another. I ended up querying three agents! It felt so good to be querying again, I might just send out a few more!

What about you? Will you accept the challenge? Query at least one agent today then come back and leave me a comment telling me how good it felt. I bet you’ll be surprised how easy it is once you get started.

Awesome Contest!

2010-03-15T16:51:00.000-07:00

Lindsey Leavitt is hosting a super-cool contest on her blog this week to celebrate the release of her debut novel, Princess for Hire, which hits store tomorrow. Check out the prizes:

The Grandest of Grand Prizes (over $100 dollars in cash and prizes)
--$30 gift certificate to bookseller of your choice.
--$25 Chevron gift card to use in case your floating bubble is in the shop (and if you can’t drive, you can buy lots and lots of candy. I mean, HEALTHY SNACKS)
--A $15 MAC gift certificate so you can buy your own compact to match the one on my cover
--signed copy of PRINCESS FOR HIRE
--10 signed bookmarks to share with your friends
--a tiara (um, not real. But tis shiny!)
--Princess bubbles
--Princess mirror cling
--Princess wand
--candy necklace--the kitchen sink. Or a picture of my kitchen sink (Hey, remember how I said last week we lost my friend’s keys. In the garbage disposal. It’s always the most obvious place)
But wait, there is MORE. Check it:

--YOUR CHOICE OF...
-------- a 15 minute phone call with me
--------- an appearance by YOU in Princess for Hire Book 2 (meaning I either use your name, or you choose a name. I hope we don’t get too many Ebenezer's entering)
----------(for writers) a critique of your query letter or first three chapters

Still totally awesome prize...
--The other books that you’ll probably like if you like my book prize pack:
SCONES AND SENSIBILITY by Lindsay Eland
IT’S RAINING CUPCAKES by Lisa Schroeder
LEAVING GEE’S BEND by Irene Latham (signed)
--signed copy of PRINCESS FOR HIRE
--10 signed bookmarks
--a princess mirror cling
--a candy necklace

Hey, you still won something prize...
--signed copy of PRINCESS FOR HIRE
--a candy necklace
--10 signed bookmarks

From the looks of it, all you have to do to enter is do something to promo her book (like what I'm doing right now) then comment on her blog telling her what you've done. Pretty simple!

Submission/Critique Giveaway!

2010-03-12T14:33:00.000-08:00

Just heard about a great giveaway over on Suzette Saxton and Bethany Wiggins' blog. Suzie Townsend, an agent with FinePrintLit, has agreed to give a 40 page partial submission plus critique of those pages to the grand prize winner! Check it out here: http://suzettesaxton.blogspot.com/2010/03/fantabulous-followers-giveaway.html

Book Giveaway!

2010-03-11T07:56:00.000-08:00

For those of you who like free books (And really, now? Who doesn't?) check out author Elana Johnson's blog at http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com/ . While you're there, take a look at the great post she did on finding your "dream" agent. Lots of wisdom there!

Tips for Critiquing

2010-03-10T17:29:00.000-08:00

Critiquing is hard. You want to give honest feedback, but you don't want to discourage the writer. So how do you go about giving a good critique?

1. CONSIDER THE GOAL OF THE WRITER. What type of feedback is he or she looking for? Is the piece in the draft stage? If so, a line-by-line critique pointing out every missing comma and misplaced modifier might be overwhelming. Perhaps it's better to focus on the broader aspects of writing, such as plot, characterization, or pacing. Is the piece in its "final" stages? Maybe the writer wants to know which descriptions need polishing or suggestions for tightening the dialogue. Whatever the case, it helps if know what the writer is expecting from the critique so you know where to focus your attention.

2. READ THE PIECE IN ITS ENTIRETY. This allows you to consider the piece as it's meant to be read and is especially helpful when the writer is looking for feedback on the more general aspects of writing.

3. EXPLAIN YOURSELF. Every writer has his or her own writing style. Sometimes a negative reaction is due simply to stylistic differences. Other times, it's an indication that there's a problem with the writing. "I didn't like it when Leanna called Jeremy an ape" isn't helpful. "Based on what I've read in previous chapters, it seems out of character for Leanna to call Jeremy an ape" is helpful because I now know WHY you had a negative response, and that helps me decide if I need to make a change.

4. BE POSITIVE. Remember, the point of a critique is to HELP your fellow writer, not belittle him. Be considerate when giving feedback, and phrase it constructively. Be sure to tell the writers what you did like about the piece. Positive comments give the writer hope and let him/her know what is working, lest they lose it in a rewrite.

Writers need feedback. We need fresh eyes to read our writing so we know whether we're conveying the images we think we're conveying. But we need feedback that focuses on our current goals for the piece, and that feedback needs to be given constructively.

And that's all I'm saying...

Critique Group Basics

2010-03-05T11:15:00.001-08:00

What is a critique group?

A critique group is a group of people who read your writing and give you feedback. This feedback can come in various forms. It may address broad issues such as plot, characterization, and pacing. Or it may address specific areas such as grammar, mechanics, sentence structure, and details. The most important thing to remember about feedback is that it should be constructive and strive to meet the goals of the writer, not the critiquer.

How does a critique group work?

There are as many ways of organizing critique groups as there are critique group personalities. The two most common are meeting face-to-face and using email/Internet.

My critique groups uses a combination of these methods. Prior to meeting, each member "submits" up to ten double-spaced pages of our current work-in-progress to other members of the group via email. This allows us time to digest each others' writing and make notes before we meet. I like this method because it seems to maximize the effectiveness of our face-to-face time.

How do I find a group?

I connected with a critique group when I attended a writing workshop at a local college. You might also try contacting your local library to see if they have information regarding writing groups in your area. If you aren't able to obtain this information, use the Internet. The SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) has information regarding critique groups on their website, as do most major writing organizations. Here, you can find out if there's a group already meeting in your area, connect with critique partners online, or get information on starting your own group.

Shouldn't I be concentrating on my own writing?

Counter-productive as it may seem, the time you spend reading and evaluating the writing of others actually helps you improve your own. As you spot flaws in other people's writing, you become more sensitive to these mistakes, therefore more likely to spot them when you make them yourself. So not only do you receive direct feedback to your writing from other members of the group, you become a better "self-editor".

NEXT POST: HOW DO YOU GIVE A CRITIQUE?

What I Do: Get Feedback

2010-03-03T13:22:00.000-08:00

INK CARTRIDGE: $20

PACK OF PAPER: $5

GAS TO DRIVE TO LOCAL LIBRARY: $3

HONEST FEEDBACK THAT IMPROVES MY STORY: PRICELESS

Without a doubt, the single most helpful thing I've done to improve my writing is join a critique group. For more than four years I wrote alone. I'd never heard of a critique group and had no idea that there was a "system" for getting meaningful feedback on my writing. When I finally did find one, it took a few tries for me to appreciate the benefits.

I still remember the sting of that first critique. It was from a lady I'd met only once, and believe me, it was NOT sugar coated! By the time it was over, I'd made up my mind that I would never again share my writing with someone who was obviously insensitive and most deliberately trying to pick apart my writing! (Love ya, Pat!) But then I considered what she'd said. And you know what...?

She was right.

Not about all of it. Some of her suggestions were stylistic differences. But a lot of what she'd said was true. And when I revised based on her suggestions, I ended up with something much stronger.

Does this mean you need to use EVERY suggestion a critique member gives you? Of course not. But do CONSIDER it. And if several people make the same point, it definitely needs to be addressed.

It's been two years now since I joined "Southern Slang" (my crit group), and while it still isn't painless to hear that the description I thought I'd nailed still doesn't get the job done, at least I know there's a problem and I can get busy fixing it. And that mean lady who ripped my heart out?

She's the first person I send my work to.

And that' s all I'm saying...

NEXT POST:
CRITIQUE GROUPS: What are they? And how can I find one?

The Idol of Publication

2010-03-01T15:53:00.000-08:00

Most of the time when I get stressed about my writing, it's because I've made an idol out of publication. I've lost sight of the truly important things in life: my relationship with God, my husband, my children, other people...

In effect, I've become ME centered.

Truth is, I may never be published. I sure hope I do. I plan on giving it my best shot. But what if it never happens? Will I be okay with that?

I think the key is finding balance. There's nothing wrong with writing and trying to become a published author as long as I remember that writing is a HOBBY, and not MY LIFE. The minute I start putting my goal of becoming a published author above the relationships in my life, I have a problem. Writing stops being fun. It becomes burdensome because, like I said...it may never happen.

And even if it does, do I want it to be my life? Is ANY career really that important?

Don't get me wrong, I do want to be published. I wouldn't agonize over my writing so much if I didn't. But I don't want my happiness to depend on it. It's just too uncertain.

And that's all I'm saying...

What I Do: Capturing Voice

2010-02-28T07:35:00.000-08:00

As an unpublished author, I hesitate to insinuate that I am an expert on anything related to writing. Yet, nearly all the feedback I've gotten on Walking the Line had something positive to say about my voice, so today I thought I'd share what I do to try and capture the voice of my main character.

The first thing I do when trying to capture voice is get to know my main character. It helps if I can think of a person, either someone I know in real life or from television or film, who has similar qualities to those I envision for my MC. For my current work-in-progress, I used a character from one of my all-time favorite television shows, The O.C. (Alas, it only ran four seasons.) While the character in my book doesn't share all the same qualities as the television character, I liked her spunkiness and her tendancy toward self-centeredness served my story line well. This helps me "see" my character, how she moves, how she might react to certain situations.

The next thing I do is write a character biography. This is where I imagine my MC's backstory, including things that are relevant to the story and some that are not. What is her family life like? What does she value? What are her likes and dislikes? More importantly, WHY does she like or dislike these things? Not all of this information ends up in the sotry, but characterization and motivation are enhanced when you know what made this person who they are.

Last, but not least, I find a picture of my main character. For this project, finding a picture was easy since I patterned her from a television personality, but with the Internet there are countless ways to find pictures. You can also look through magazines. Walking the Line was in the "rewrite" stage when I happened to see a battery commercial featuring a boy who reminded me of Chance, my main character. Even my husband commented "Hey, he looks like Chance!" I Googled the commercial and wha-la! A picture of Chance!

So what did I do with it?

I printed it out, taped it to an index card, and kept it beside my computer. Now when I needed help deciding how a fourteen-year-old boy might express a certain idea, I stared at my picture and imagined him saying it. Sounds corny, but it works!

And that's all I'm saying...

What I Do: Study What Others Do

2010-02-27T06:05:00.000-08:00

It seems I've always loved to read. In my lifetime, I've spent literally thousands of hours with my nose stuck between the pages of a book. Because of this, I assumed writing one would be easy. Uh-uh. I couldn't have been more wrong.

One of the hardest parts of writing for me is description. I'm not talking about setting details, though that part is hard for me also. I mean describing what's happening. What the characters are doing in the story. I have the picture in my head. I can see them moving from place to place, picking up objects, manipulating them as they carry on conversations essential to the plot. But when I try to relay this image to the reader, the description often reads as awkward and inadequate.

So how do I fix this?

One of the most helpful revelations I've had since I started writing is that I read too fast. If I'm into a book, I want to know what's going to happen, and I want to know NOW. But reading just to find out what's going to happen doesn't allow the brain to take note of the craft of writing. And believe me, writing IS a craft! So here's what I've started doing:

I've started reading like a writer.

What does that mean? It means I slow down when I read and pay attention to how the author has gone about painting a picture in my head. Let me give you an example.

Last night, I was reading from Denise Hunter's Sweetwater Gap, and I came across this passage:

"Laurel led her toward the dining room, through the butler's pantry, and into the kitchen where Aunt Lola's backside protruded into the room as she pulled a pan of biscuits from the oven. She slid them into the bread basket and turned, coming up short."

Why did this passage catch my eye? Because it's exactly the type of descrition I have trouble writing. It's one of those paragraphs that, before I started writing, I would've glossed over. So this time, instead of scanning it just to get the gist, I slowed down and paid attention. I noticed how Ms. Hunter moved her main character swiftly from one side of the house to another by using three consecutive prepositional phrases- toward the dining room, through the butler's pantry, and into the kitchen. Simple, right? But something I often have trouble with. I also noticed that she used the word "where" to transition into a description of what her MC saw when she entered the kitchen. And she starts the next sentence with "she", referring to Aunt Lola, even though the subject of the first sentence appears to be Laurel. This is something I would've questioned had this been my own writing, but now I see that it works because of the structure of the first sentence. And I especially loved the phrase "coming up short". What a great, yet simple way to describe what you do physically when you turn around and someone is unexpectedly standing in front of you. Am I the only person who has trouble conveying this type of image?

I'll have to admit, reading like this takes considerably more time than speed reading, and there are books that are just so good, I can't help but devour them. But now when I finish, I go back and REread. So far, it's the most effective method I've come across for learning the craft of writing. Well, that and actually writing. Which I really need to be doing instead of blogging right now.

So that's all I'm saying...

What I Do: Starting a New Project

2010-02-25T13:59:00.000-08:00

I must confess, I'm not one of those creative types who's constantly coming up with new story ideas. For me, deciding what I want to write about feels similar to buying new living-room furniture or chosing a new paint color for the kitchen: I want to make sure I like it a LOT, because at the rate I write, I'm going to be living with it for a long time. When I do finally come up with an idea, this is what I do to get started.

First, I buy a three-ring binder, loose-leaf paper, and divider tabs with pockets. (For my current work-in-progress, I chose a "girly-looking" binder because it seemed to fit the personality of my 17-year-old female protagonist, and I want to "connect" with her any way I can.) Then I catagorize the various ideas I have floating in my head and type them up as headings for my dividers. The tabs in my current WIP binder have the following labels: OUTLINE, CHARACTER BIOS, SCENE IDEAS, REALLY ROUGH DRAFTS, ?S 2 B ANSWERED, THINGS 2 REMEMBER, BRAINSTORMS, and NAMES. You'll want to use what works for you. What I like about this system is that it gives me an organized way to keep track of my ideas, as well as pockets in which to store anything I come across that might help me as I'm writing my story, such as song lyrics, poems, pictures, etc.

Is this the only way to organize a story idea? Of course not. I'm not even claiming it's the best way. I think the important thing is that I have a system for recording my ideas because, as anyone who's tried to write a novel knows, there are a lot of puzzle pieces that need to come together if the finished product is going to have the effect you're hoping for.

And that's all I'm saying...

Why I Write

2010-02-24T15:34:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about why I write. I've heard people say that writers write because they can't NOT write, and to a certain extent, I believe that's true. In the six years it took me to complete my first novel, I must have tried quitting at least a dozen times (my critique partners would argue that this number is closer to a thousand). But I think there's more to it than that. I write because I have something I want to say. I want to share my take on the world. My opinions. My feelings.

It's not that I think my thoughts and ideas are better than anyone else's. I realize I'm just a small-town girl with an average I.Q. and extremely limited experiences. I don't have gradiose plans to change world with my writing.

What I would like to do is share it with you in hopes that the two of us will find common ground. Perhaps we both like to root for the underdog. Or maybe we've had similar experiences and share the same sense of humor. Perhaps, like me, you're fascinated with relationships. Whatever it is, I look forward to sharing it with you because, to me, making a connection is what writing is all about.

And that's all I'm saying...