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After a somewhat crazy two weeks, where I was either visiting someone or having someone visit me, I'm ready to get back into the writing groove. This year my motto is BUTT IN CHAIR! I have listed my goals below. They are actually pretty simple, and I totally think that they are achievable. I plan on writing both of my books before I start revisions. This will give me simmer time, and I also want to write them super fast. Super duper fast. I actually want to start my Werewolf/Zombie book in February. And yes the main character falls in love with zombie. Really. You'll see how it turns out. But this novel isn't quite as thought out, as my other one, but it is nearly there.
I'm nearly done rewriting my query, just a tweak here, and a tweak there, and then I will begin querying in earnest. Hopefully I will get an agent this year. That's a big goal, but it is not totally dependent on me, so I'm including the parts that I can do.
I've nearly got the logline for Twenty Years Later, but I really need a new title. Amyway, I've got to go so I can actually meet my goal. Two hours today. Have a great week and happy writing!
Writing Goals
1. Rewrite my query, and query to death.
2. Write Twenty Years Later and come up with a better title.
3. Write my Werewolf/Zombie book.
4. Revise both of my books.
5. Write my log line before I write the book.
6. Write for at least two hours a day, every day no excuses.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Kiss Scene
So many of the blogs I follow have posted kiss scenes today. And so I finally decided to give in and post mine. There are several near kisses that lead up to this particular scene, so a lot of anticipation has built up. I'm sorry, but I'm deleting a word because it totally gives away a huge (I mean huge) facet of my novel, and when it gets published it would be such a spoiler.
“I choose ------,” I whispered. I began to feel insecure. I wanted to add and I choose you.
He smiled at me and leaned forward brushing the hair slowly out of my face with one hand. I could feel his fingers trace along my skin. The other hand grabbed my shoulder and held it. He tipped my chin up as he leaned in and kissed me gently on the lips. I felt the hum of electricity between us build until all I was aware of were his lips on mine, and his hands on my shoulder and my face.
He pulled back and we looked at each other for a minute.
“Wow,” he said, and then he took my hand and held it. The hum vibrated through me.
And now I'm blushing. Kissing scenes and sharing them make me feel so exposed!
“I choose ------,” I whispered. I began to feel insecure. I wanted to add and I choose you.
He smiled at me and leaned forward brushing the hair slowly out of my face with one hand. I could feel his fingers trace along my skin. The other hand grabbed my shoulder and held it. He tipped my chin up as he leaned in and kissed me gently on the lips. I felt the hum of electricity between us build until all I was aware of were his lips on mine, and his hands on my shoulder and my face.
He pulled back and we looked at each other for a minute.
“Wow,” he said, and then he took my hand and held it. The hum vibrated through me.
And now I'm blushing. Kissing scenes and sharing them make me feel so exposed!
Friday, December 18, 2009
Friday Five: Snow!
1. When I first started writing this post it was snowing, but I've been distracted and now about ten hours later it is raining. The kind of rain with the occasional clinking of ice against the windows. I'm just hoping that it doesn't freeze. Ice storms aren't any fun. We all rand around excited when it was snowing, but by this evening everyone was pretty disappointed. I promised I'd wake them up if we got some actual snow.
2. Christmas is a week away. I don't get how time slips by so much faster now that I'm older. It doesn't make sense. But I'm excited for Christmas. We managed to get our hands on some Zhou Zhou pets for our kids, and we even paid normal price. But then the kids all changed their Santa requests. Fortunately they believe me when I tell them that production has ended at the North Pole and that they are in the packing stage of the operation. I can't believe that my eight year old still believes in Santa. I certainly didn't at that age.
3. 2010 is my year of the query. I just hope it works. I am so very excited about it.
4. I had a nice long conversation with my sister about books. Books are honestly one of my favorite things to talk about. I feel like I can learn a lot about someone by the types of books they read, and what they admit to reading and what they don't. I'm planning on mailing her a long reading list of books to read. Very long, very thorough, very YA focused.
5. I hope you all enjoy your holidays. I won't be posting on Christmas. It is a noncomputer day, though I may post in the next week with my writing goals, which are really just churning away in my head.
Happy Writing!
2. Christmas is a week away. I don't get how time slips by so much faster now that I'm older. It doesn't make sense. But I'm excited for Christmas. We managed to get our hands on some Zhou Zhou pets for our kids, and we even paid normal price. But then the kids all changed their Santa requests. Fortunately they believe me when I tell them that production has ended at the North Pole and that they are in the packing stage of the operation. I can't believe that my eight year old still believes in Santa. I certainly didn't at that age.
3. 2010 is my year of the query. I just hope it works. I am so very excited about it.
4. I had a nice long conversation with my sister about books. Books are honestly one of my favorite things to talk about. I feel like I can learn a lot about someone by the types of books they read, and what they admit to reading and what they don't. I'm planning on mailing her a long reading list of books to read. Very long, very thorough, very YA focused.
5. I hope you all enjoy your holidays. I won't be posting on Christmas. It is a noncomputer day, though I may post in the next week with my writing goals, which are really just churning away in my head.
Happy Writing!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Writing Meme
L.T. tagged me with this writing Meme. My very first. I need to choose three other writers and I choose:
Solvang Sherry
Patti Nelson
Jesse Oliveros
1. What's the last thing you wrote? What's the first thing you wrote that you still have?
A blog post for my writing job. The first thing I wrote that I still have is either a poem from high school or a personal narrative I wrote in high school and revised in college. I think I turned it in like three times. Hmmm, the things is I really don't know which one I wrote first. I might have a third grade story in a scrapbook too.
2. Write poetry?
Sadly not in ten or so years
3. Angsty poetry?
In high school, a little in college
4. Favorite genre of writing?
Young Adult Fantasy
5. Most annoying character you've ever created?
Steve
6. Best Plot you've ever created?
My werewolf and zombie one, and I've not started it yet, but it is awesome.
7. Coolest Plot twist you've ever created?
Werewolf one
8. How often do you get writer's block?
way too often lately. Not enough butt in chair time.
9. Write fan fiction?
Never even thought about it.
10. Do you type or write by hand?
Typing all the way, I type much faster than I write.
11. Do you save everything you write?
Pretty much, although some of the files are difficult to find.
12. Do you ever go back to an idea after you've abandoned it?
It depends on the ideas
13. What's your favorite thing you've ever written?
My Isis story currently is
14. What's everyone else's favorite story that you've written?
I don't know
15. Ever written romance or angsty teen drama?
That's what I write, more a story with romance than full on romance with heaving bosoms and stuff like that.
16. What's your favorite setting for your characters?
This world with paranormal elements
17. How many writing projects are you working on right now?
Three. Revisions wrapping up on one, writing intensely on another, and plotting and thinking about it and really wanting to write it.
18. Have you ever won an award for your writing?
Does Reflections in high school or elementary school count? If not, then no.
19. What are your five favorite words?
I went through a phase where I really loved a swear word. I loved the sound, and the affect it had on people.
Now I don't know if I have favorites.
20. What character have you created that is most like yourself?
Jessica
21. Where do you get ideas for your characters?
Dreams, I've dreamed several of my main characters, situations I'm in, people (mostly strangers) that I see
22. Do you ever write based on your dreams?
Yes. Several of my plots have come through dreams--I dream the situation, and then wake up and the entire plot comes to me.
23. Do you favor happy endings?
I like endings with hope--doesn't mean they are happy or that the main character didn't lose practically everything, but I want a bit of hope.
24. Are you concerned with spelling and grammar as you write?
Nope. I'll get to it later.
25. Does music help you write?
I don't really write with music on, but there are songs that make me want to write. Enya gets me through a block, and The Killers really help me when I'm not in the mood.
26. Quote something you've written. Whatever pops into your head.
His fingers brushed mine sending a jolt of something up my arm. It wasn’t the kind of tingly feeling that you get when you touch someone you like for the first time and it wasn’t a shock of static electricity. It was stronger than either of those things and a lot more intense. The world flashed brighter in that instant, and seemed to freeze. As soon as he let go, everything jumped forward for a second and the room spun around me.
Solvang Sherry
Patti Nelson
Jesse Oliveros
1. What's the last thing you wrote? What's the first thing you wrote that you still have?
A blog post for my writing job. The first thing I wrote that I still have is either a poem from high school or a personal narrative I wrote in high school and revised in college. I think I turned it in like three times. Hmmm, the things is I really don't know which one I wrote first. I might have a third grade story in a scrapbook too.
2. Write poetry?
Sadly not in ten or so years
3. Angsty poetry?
In high school, a little in college
4. Favorite genre of writing?
Young Adult Fantasy
5. Most annoying character you've ever created?
Steve
6. Best Plot you've ever created?
My werewolf and zombie one, and I've not started it yet, but it is awesome.
7. Coolest Plot twist you've ever created?
Werewolf one
8. How often do you get writer's block?
way too often lately. Not enough butt in chair time.
9. Write fan fiction?
Never even thought about it.
10. Do you type or write by hand?
Typing all the way, I type much faster than I write.
11. Do you save everything you write?
Pretty much, although some of the files are difficult to find.
12. Do you ever go back to an idea after you've abandoned it?
It depends on the ideas
13. What's your favorite thing you've ever written?
My Isis story currently is
14. What's everyone else's favorite story that you've written?
I don't know
15. Ever written romance or angsty teen drama?
That's what I write, more a story with romance than full on romance with heaving bosoms and stuff like that.
16. What's your favorite setting for your characters?
This world with paranormal elements
17. How many writing projects are you working on right now?
Three. Revisions wrapping up on one, writing intensely on another, and plotting and thinking about it and really wanting to write it.
18. Have you ever won an award for your writing?
Does Reflections in high school or elementary school count? If not, then no.
19. What are your five favorite words?
I went through a phase where I really loved a swear word. I loved the sound, and the affect it had on people.
Now I don't know if I have favorites.
20. What character have you created that is most like yourself?
Jessica
21. Where do you get ideas for your characters?
Dreams, I've dreamed several of my main characters, situations I'm in, people (mostly strangers) that I see
22. Do you ever write based on your dreams?
Yes. Several of my plots have come through dreams--I dream the situation, and then wake up and the entire plot comes to me.
23. Do you favor happy endings?
I like endings with hope--doesn't mean they are happy or that the main character didn't lose practically everything, but I want a bit of hope.
24. Are you concerned with spelling and grammar as you write?
Nope. I'll get to it later.
25. Does music help you write?
I don't really write with music on, but there are songs that make me want to write. Enya gets me through a block, and The Killers really help me when I'm not in the mood.
26. Quote something you've written. Whatever pops into your head.
His fingers brushed mine sending a jolt of something up my arm. It wasn’t the kind of tingly feeling that you get when you touch someone you like for the first time and it wasn’t a shock of static electricity. It was stronger than either of those things and a lot more intense. The world flashed brighter in that instant, and seemed to freeze. As soon as he let go, everything jumped forward for a second and the room spun around me.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Friday Five: The Leaves Skittered Across the Ground
1. So last night I was going out to get some food late, late at night and it was eerie and cold out. I was thinking about writing and how to set up the scene that I was in. It would be a very tense scene, because I get creeped out at night. The wind blew and the leaves skittered across the ground. It made me jump because I was sure that someone else was out there. I just had to share the word skittered, because it has been in my head ever since. Although my husband says that skittered isn't a scary word, and he may be right.
2. Many fellow bloggers have been sharing their writing goals in the last week for next year. I plan on doing that as well. I just want to make sure that I can really nail down the goals specifically. I think being specific, but flexible makes it much more achievable. One goal I know I will have for next year is landing an agent. That is something I want and I'm working towards right now.
3. It's cold here, but no snow, and really it is not cold enough for snow. I think I'm slowly changing from living in the south for the past ten years. I don't love the humidity in the summers, but I'm learning to survive the drab grey nothing that is winter here. The idea of snow used to excite me, and I'd scoff at those who were afraid to drive in it, but now I'm finding that I'm okay without white stuff on the ground for three or four months at a time. But I still love the snow days with my kids home from school, snowball fights and wet clothes everywhere.
4. I still haven't really started Christmas shopping. This is a serious thing. I refuse to go to the stores, so that means everything needs to be done online, with enough time to ship. I think my biggest hang up is that I'm anti toy this year. That is because after a serious struggle over the summer to keep the kids' rooms clean I reached my limit and I packed everything up. Well I left them two toys each and the blocks. The entire house has been cleaner. The kids have played better, used their imagination more and everyone has been happier. So how on earth do I justify or even consider introducing more toys to the environment.
5. I love that my husband is supportive of my writing. He really encourages me. Plus he really can write as well. He has the most awesome novel idea. I could see it really taking off. But he keeps insisting that he doesn't have the time or energy to write. I wish he did or that he wanted to write badly enough that he made the time, because he is a really gifted story teller.
Have a great week everyone!
2. Many fellow bloggers have been sharing their writing goals in the last week for next year. I plan on doing that as well. I just want to make sure that I can really nail down the goals specifically. I think being specific, but flexible makes it much more achievable. One goal I know I will have for next year is landing an agent. That is something I want and I'm working towards right now.
3. It's cold here, but no snow, and really it is not cold enough for snow. I think I'm slowly changing from living in the south for the past ten years. I don't love the humidity in the summers, but I'm learning to survive the drab grey nothing that is winter here. The idea of snow used to excite me, and I'd scoff at those who were afraid to drive in it, but now I'm finding that I'm okay without white stuff on the ground for three or four months at a time. But I still love the snow days with my kids home from school, snowball fights and wet clothes everywhere.
4. I still haven't really started Christmas shopping. This is a serious thing. I refuse to go to the stores, so that means everything needs to be done online, with enough time to ship. I think my biggest hang up is that I'm anti toy this year. That is because after a serious struggle over the summer to keep the kids' rooms clean I reached my limit and I packed everything up. Well I left them two toys each and the blocks. The entire house has been cleaner. The kids have played better, used their imagination more and everyone has been happier. So how on earth do I justify or even consider introducing more toys to the environment.
5. I love that my husband is supportive of my writing. He really encourages me. Plus he really can write as well. He has the most awesome novel idea. I could see it really taking off. But he keeps insisting that he doesn't have the time or energy to write. I wish he did or that he wanted to write badly enough that he made the time, because he is a really gifted story teller.
Have a great week everyone!
Friday, December 4, 2009
Friday Five: Going Again
1. December is such a hectic time for everyone. For some crazy reason we had all three of our kids within five weeks of each other, and put Christmas in the middle of it. So that means planning three parties, squeezing Christmas in the middle and juggling all of the other great Christmas type activities as well. I love the season, but stopped doing Christmas cards several years ago. Maybe I'll start doing a spring letter or something later. It's just too much right now.
2. Writing is something I love. It's how I personally identify myself and I've started telling new acquaintances that I write. Not only am I working on my novel(s), but I also supplement my husband's income by writing at home for online sites. It's nice to finally own up to the fact that I'm a writer. I always get embarrassed when people tell me they found something I wrote online. I'm not ashamed of it, I guess I'm just a private person. I don't know.
3. Querying is happening. That is all I'm going to say. I'm not going to share stats or anything. I think it's too personal. When I get my agent I'll share, and if I retire this project (and I don't want to and that's months and hundreds of agents away) then I'll announce that. But I'm officially in query mode. And basically I feel like it is time to just get on with it. I'm planning on starting with groups of five agents at a time to see if I need to tweak my query anymore.
4. Titles. I really hate titles--well at least coming up with decent ones. I'm just no good at it. There are people who are so gifted at titles. I really like Ally Carter's titles for example, but I'm not one of those people. I'm just not. So I'm trying different title in my query letters, well not really. I sent out one title, and then sent out a different one. We'll see if it makes a difference.
And I need a title for my dystopian.
5. I've often wondered at how people come up with book ideas and marveled at the people who have a lot of ideas lined up in a neat little row. I've usually got one or two vague ideas floating around in the back of my head. Currently I have my dystopian novel, and a novel I've had the outline for for over five years (sad I know), but then in October I got the funnest cute idea for a total fluff romance novel (still young adult) and then I've been piecing together this novel about zombies based on this dream I've had three times (I think my subconscious is trying to tell me something). And then in the last week I've had two dreams that were the best novel ideas ever! Really I'm super excited. One is with werewolves/shapeshifters, but it is totally awesome, beyond awesome actually. I've had a thing for werwolves for awhile. And another kind of regency/paranormal idea. And the outlines are both down for them. Wow! I need to get busy because really the characters in these stories are super strong.
Happy Writing!
2. Writing is something I love. It's how I personally identify myself and I've started telling new acquaintances that I write. Not only am I working on my novel(s), but I also supplement my husband's income by writing at home for online sites. It's nice to finally own up to the fact that I'm a writer. I always get embarrassed when people tell me they found something I wrote online. I'm not ashamed of it, I guess I'm just a private person. I don't know.
3. Querying is happening. That is all I'm going to say. I'm not going to share stats or anything. I think it's too personal. When I get my agent I'll share, and if I retire this project (and I don't want to and that's months and hundreds of agents away) then I'll announce that. But I'm officially in query mode. And basically I feel like it is time to just get on with it. I'm planning on starting with groups of five agents at a time to see if I need to tweak my query anymore.
4. Titles. I really hate titles--well at least coming up with decent ones. I'm just no good at it. There are people who are so gifted at titles. I really like Ally Carter's titles for example, but I'm not one of those people. I'm just not. So I'm trying different title in my query letters, well not really. I sent out one title, and then sent out a different one. We'll see if it makes a difference.
And I need a title for my dystopian.
5. I've often wondered at how people come up with book ideas and marveled at the people who have a lot of ideas lined up in a neat little row. I've usually got one or two vague ideas floating around in the back of my head. Currently I have my dystopian novel, and a novel I've had the outline for for over five years (sad I know), but then in October I got the funnest cute idea for a total fluff romance novel (still young adult) and then I've been piecing together this novel about zombies based on this dream I've had three times (I think my subconscious is trying to tell me something). And then in the last week I've had two dreams that were the best novel ideas ever! Really I'm super excited. One is with werewolves/shapeshifters, but it is totally awesome, beyond awesome actually. I've had a thing for werwolves for awhile. And another kind of regency/paranormal idea. And the outlines are both down for them. Wow! I need to get busy because really the characters in these stories are super strong.
Happy Writing!
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