What’s Up Wednesday is a weekly meme started by Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk that allows us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what's going on in our crazy writer lives.
What I'm reading
Three words, you guys: THE DREAM THIEVES. Oh man. So, I'm not sure if I've talked about my favorite book that I read last year, but it was THE RAVEN BOYS by Maggie Stiefvater. Following at a close second was THE SCORPIO RACES by Maggie Stiefvater. As you might be able to tell, I have a thing for Maggie's books. I've never read something and been so overwhelmed with how pretty the sentences and paragraphs are but these books do it to me every time. I actually took a picture of one paragraph and saved it in my phone as "What Character Descriptions Should Be Like!" Maggie just has a way with words and THE DREAM THIEVES, which is the follow-up to THE RAVEN BOYS is everything I hoped it would be. I'm a little bit obessesed. Just in case you couldn't tell.
Read them!
What I'm Writing
I'm still working my way through edits, trying to strengthen it wherever I can. I love this book so much, but honestly, I'm not sure I planned for anyone else to read it when I wrote it. I just wanted to write something different from what I normally do. I grinned and giggled a lot while drafting it and it's probably the most fun I've had writing a book. Which says something because there is probably nothing else in the world I love doing more than writing the first draft of a new book. I need to get it done though because The New Idea was ok'd and I'm ready to roll with it for NaNoWriMo!
What Else I've Been Up To
I probably picked the wrong season to do this, but I've been dragging myself back to the gym these days. Maybe it's because all I want to do is eat and bake and bake and eat, and if I don't go to the gym I wont be able to fit through the front door, but it's happening. I'm not one of those people who loves the way I feel after the gym (normally just tired) or feel a runner's high (I'm convinced it's a myth made up by personal trainers) but the big 2-9 is coming up, so that's motivation enough.
What Inspires Me Right Now
I think writing is what's really inspiring me right now. As I've mentioned here, I'm working a lot and last week I didn't have a chance to write or edit at all until the weekend. When I was finally able to sit down and put words together, it was almost like I exhaled. It just feels right, which sounds cheesy but it's true. Hell, I'll take my Writer's High over a Runner's High any day. ;)
What's up with your Wednesday?
Showing posts with label authors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label authors. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
What's Up Wednesday
What’s Up Wednesday is a weekly meme started by Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk that allows us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what's going on in our crazy writer lives.
What I'm reading
Okay, so ... I gave into peer pressure (from non-writer friends) and read the Fifty Shades series. My friends thought I would need to know what they, and everyone else, are talking about when the movie comes out and so on. So I did. And it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Now, obviously the writing is ... not fantastic, but I actually found the characters kind of complex and interesting and while some of the scenes were cringe-worthy, I liked the questions it raised about relationships and what's "wrong" and what's not. One of my favorite actors, Charlie Hunnam, signed on to play Christian Grey in the movie and I figure that if he's in it, I'll watch it. I normally don't feel apologetic about anything I do but I went into reading these books almost in secret because of the hubub that surrounds them, but I enjoyed them. Now I'm going to read Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead (who I love!) and get back to my normal reading material.
What I'm Writing
Working on revisions and kicking around new ideas for my next book. As always, exciting and terrifying.
What Else I've Been Up To
Work, work and more work. Seriously, if I'm not writing and I'm working and if I'm not working, I'm writing. Which is better than not writing. Oh! I did get a new vacuum cleaner this week which is way more exciting to me than it should be. What can I say? My life is crazy.
What Inspires Me Right Now
The weather! I know I mentioned Fall in my last WUW, but man is it fantastic outside! It's nice to brainstorm with the windows open and pumpkin scented candles lit!
What I'm reading
Okay, so ... I gave into peer pressure (from non-writer friends) and read the Fifty Shades series. My friends thought I would need to know what they, and everyone else, are talking about when the movie comes out and so on. So I did. And it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Now, obviously the writing is ... not fantastic, but I actually found the characters kind of complex and interesting and while some of the scenes were cringe-worthy, I liked the questions it raised about relationships and what's "wrong" and what's not. One of my favorite actors, Charlie Hunnam, signed on to play Christian Grey in the movie and I figure that if he's in it, I'll watch it. I normally don't feel apologetic about anything I do but I went into reading these books almost in secret because of the hubub that surrounds them, but I enjoyed them. Now I'm going to read Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead (who I love!) and get back to my normal reading material.
What I'm Writing
Working on revisions and kicking around new ideas for my next book. As always, exciting and terrifying.
What Else I've Been Up To
Work, work and more work. Seriously, if I'm not writing and I'm working and if I'm not working, I'm writing. Which is better than not writing. Oh! I did get a new vacuum cleaner this week which is way more exciting to me than it should be. What can I say? My life is crazy.
What Inspires Me Right Now
The weather! I know I mentioned Fall in my last WUW, but man is it fantastic outside! It's nice to brainstorm with the windows open and pumpkin scented candles lit!
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
What's Up Wednesday
What’s Up Wednesday is a weekly meme started by Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk that allows us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what's going on in our crazy writer lives.
What I'm reading
I've been so excited to answer this question because I've actually been reading! It struck me the other day that I hadn't read DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth yet and I figured it was time to remedy that. I think the reason I kept pushing it back is because I wasn't a huge fan of THE HUNGER GAMES series and the two had been compared SO MUCH. But I really, really like these books. I'm halfway through INSURGENT now and so far, so good.
What I'm Writing
My latest edits are done, so now I can move on to semi-major revisions on another WIP. I luuurve this book and it always makes me happy to go back and hang out with characters when I've been away for a while. Is that weird? Don't answer that.
What Else I've Been Up To
My sister and my niece were in town from Delaware this past weekend for a big softball tournament my niece was invited to play in. I've talked about her before on here, but she's going into her senior year of high school and she's just such a good kid. I don't know where that came from because both my sister and I were hellions, but she's great.
We also ate a lot because all of our will power combined totally disappears when we're together, so it's back to the gym for me tomorrow.
What Inspires Me Right Now
Everything! I think it's the fact that I can feel Fall coming and I want to create and knit and write and create all the time. Work gets in the way, but I'm happy my brain is working this way right now. Hopefully this will be my best fall yet!
So. What are YOU up to?
What I'm reading
I've been so excited to answer this question because I've actually been reading! It struck me the other day that I hadn't read DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth yet and I figured it was time to remedy that. I think the reason I kept pushing it back is because I wasn't a huge fan of THE HUNGER GAMES series and the two had been compared SO MUCH. But I really, really like these books. I'm halfway through INSURGENT now and so far, so good.
What I'm Writing
My latest edits are done, so now I can move on to semi-major revisions on another WIP. I luuurve this book and it always makes me happy to go back and hang out with characters when I've been away for a while. Is that weird? Don't answer that.
What Else I've Been Up To
My sister and my niece were in town from Delaware this past weekend for a big softball tournament my niece was invited to play in. I've talked about her before on here, but she's going into her senior year of high school and she's just such a good kid. I don't know where that came from because both my sister and I were hellions, but she's great.
We also ate a lot because all of our will power combined totally disappears when we're together, so it's back to the gym for me tomorrow.
What Inspires Me Right Now
Everything! I think it's the fact that I can feel Fall coming and I want to create and knit and write and create all the time. Work gets in the way, but I'm happy my brain is working this way right now. Hopefully this will be my best fall yet!
So. What are YOU up to?
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
What's Up Wednesday
What’s Up Wednesday is a weekly meme started by Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk that allows us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what's going on in our crazy writer lives.
What I'm reading
I think I'm at that point in my edits where I can't be bothered with someone else's story, because I've had no interest in reading books this past week, which is soooo not like me. Although, late last week I read Being Friends with Boys by Terra Elan McVoy, which was a really cute book. I felt like I was left with some unanswered questions and the ending was wrapped up really quickly and I would have liked to dig into that more, but still, super cute. And it nails that whole boyfriends and friends that are boys dilemma that is so common with teen girls.
What I'm Writing
I'm dotting the I's and crossing the T's on my latest edits. A few minor, tiny changes and feedback from betas and I'm all set. Yikes.
What Else I've Been Up To
My ::cough:: 29th ::cough:: birthday is in 91 days. The reason I know this is because I put a countdown clock on my phone with those stressed out little emoticons around the number 29. Now, I'm sure most of you think this sounds like a crazy idea, but I have a plan! If I have to look at the days dwindling down to the big 2-9, then I am much more likely to get my lazy butt back to the gym. And so far it's worked. So working out again is what I've been up to. I'm also maybe, probably making myself crazy, but whatever.
Also, I've become obsessed with the show Twisted on ABCFamily and I've been catching up with that OnDemand. Ugh. So good.
What Inspires Me Right Now
See above, folks. I'm one of those Five-Year-Planners and a Do-This-This-and-This-Before-a-Certain-Age people and it's making me nuts. But right now, I'm inspired by trying to accomplish things that I've always wanted to do. Putting a time table on it isn't very smart, but it's something.
So. What are YOU up to?
What I'm reading
I think I'm at that point in my edits where I can't be bothered with someone else's story, because I've had no interest in reading books this past week, which is soooo not like me. Although, late last week I read Being Friends with Boys by Terra Elan McVoy, which was a really cute book. I felt like I was left with some unanswered questions and the ending was wrapped up really quickly and I would have liked to dig into that more, but still, super cute. And it nails that whole boyfriends and friends that are boys dilemma that is so common with teen girls.
What I'm Writing
I'm dotting the I's and crossing the T's on my latest edits. A few minor, tiny changes and feedback from betas and I'm all set. Yikes.
What Else I've Been Up To
My ::cough:: 29th ::cough:: birthday is in 91 days. The reason I know this is because I put a countdown clock on my phone with those stressed out little emoticons around the number 29. Now, I'm sure most of you think this sounds like a crazy idea, but I have a plan! If I have to look at the days dwindling down to the big 2-9, then I am much more likely to get my lazy butt back to the gym. And so far it's worked. So working out again is what I've been up to. I'm also maybe, probably making myself crazy, but whatever.
Also, I've become obsessed with the show Twisted on ABCFamily and I've been catching up with that OnDemand. Ugh. So good.
What Inspires Me Right Now
See above, folks. I'm one of those Five-Year-Planners and a Do-This-This-and-This-Before-a-Certain-Age people and it's making me nuts. But right now, I'm inspired by trying to accomplish things that I've always wanted to do. Putting a time table on it isn't very smart, but it's something.
So. What are YOU up to?
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
What's Up Wednesday
What’s Up Wednesday is a weekly meme started by Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk that allows us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what’s up.
What I'm reading
You guys. I read SPEECHLESS by Hannah Harrington last week after seeing the cover while shopping in my favorite bookstore and I HAD to read it. I mean, look at it! I'm a cover junky anyway, but the crisp whiteness of the book and it's amazing textured pages had me at hello. Luckily, the book totally holds up to the cover. The story is about a girl whose gossip leads to someone almost being killed, so she takes a vow of silence to stop causing trouble and to think before she speaks (or writes on a white board, in her case.) This was just so, so good. Not only did the main character grow on me drastically from the first chapters but her personal growth is so natural and the friends she gains, who connect with her without actually "talking" to her are awesome. I thought it would be weird to have a book told by someone who didn't actually speak but it helped show her thought process even more and the white board was just cute. Ugh. Anyway, go read it, guys. Seriously.
What I'm Writing
E-D-I-T-S. 2013 is the year of editing all the things. But it's cool because seeing a book get better is awesome.
What Else I've Been Up To
I'm on this I-need-to-clean-out-my-closet kick this week and I'm hoping to tackle that tomorrow after I work on edits. I just have so. much. stuff. that I don't wear anymore. I moved to North Carolina with only a car full of belongings and now there's stuff everywhere. It's time to clean house. Or closet. Whatever, same thing.
What Inspires Me Right Now
Other writers. Whether it's reading fun publishing news from people on Twitter whose careers I've been able to follow from the beginning or talented beta readers. Maybe I'm being nerdy but there's kind of this feeling that writers are in this together and I'm inspired by all of them.
Also, I've had so many teenagers come in to where I work and they're holding books and reading while waiting for their parents and it takes everything in me not to hug them. So readers are inspiring me too.
So, what's up with you guys?
What I'm reading
You guys. I read SPEECHLESS by Hannah Harrington last week after seeing the cover while shopping in my favorite bookstore and I HAD to read it. I mean, look at it! I'm a cover junky anyway, but the crisp whiteness of the book and it's amazing textured pages had me at hello. Luckily, the book totally holds up to the cover. The story is about a girl whose gossip leads to someone almost being killed, so she takes a vow of silence to stop causing trouble and to think before she speaks (or writes on a white board, in her case.) This was just so, so good. Not only did the main character grow on me drastically from the first chapters but her personal growth is so natural and the friends she gains, who connect with her without actually "talking" to her are awesome. I thought it would be weird to have a book told by someone who didn't actually speak but it helped show her thought process even more and the white board was just cute. Ugh. Anyway, go read it, guys. Seriously.
What I'm Writing
E-D-I-T-S. 2013 is the year of editing all the things. But it's cool because seeing a book get better is awesome.
What Else I've Been Up To
I'm on this I-need-to-clean-out-my-closet kick this week and I'm hoping to tackle that tomorrow after I work on edits. I just have so. much. stuff. that I don't wear anymore. I moved to North Carolina with only a car full of belongings and now there's stuff everywhere. It's time to clean house. Or closet. Whatever, same thing.
What Inspires Me Right Now
Other writers. Whether it's reading fun publishing news from people on Twitter whose careers I've been able to follow from the beginning or talented beta readers. Maybe I'm being nerdy but there's kind of this feeling that writers are in this together and I'm inspired by all of them.
Also, I've had so many teenagers come in to where I work and they're holding books and reading while waiting for their parents and it takes everything in me not to hug them. So readers are inspiring me too.
So, what's up with you guys?
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
What's Up Wednesday
What’s Up Wednesday is a weekly meme started by Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk that allows us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what’s up.
It's also the best way for me to update what I've been doing because, you guys, my brain is a little broken between a very busy June and edits on MISFITS. I'm hoping July will be a nice relaxing month where I finish the edits and my agent still loves the book. *fingers crossed*
What I'm reading
Sadly, I haven't really had a chance to read in the last few weeks. Between edits and work and traveling to Delaware to visit family, (my new nephew is the cutest boy EVER, by the way) I just haven't had time. When this happens, I'll normally grab a book I've already read a few times and read my favorite scenes, just to have something to read before I fall asleep, but I haven't dug into anything new. I plan to change this very soon.
What I'm Writing
Still working on edits. This is going to be a theme for the rest of the year, just in case you were wondering. I have lots of things to dig through and I'm preeetttty excited about it.
What Else I've Been Up To
As I mentioned above, I went to Delaware to see my family this past week. I got to spend time with my sister, who just moved up into the Vice Principal position at her local elementary school. There is one of my WIPS that I really hope people get to read (okay, I'd like people to read all of them) because I not only named the school principal after my sister but the whole character is based off of her. I also got to watch my niece play softball and she's still not only a great kid but an awesome softball player. And then I saw my new nephew (via best friend, not my sister) and niece, who are so cute it hurts. It's funny that my best friend's kids call me Aunt Brandy but when my real niece was born, I was younger and didn't want to be called Aunt anything because it made me feel old. Go figure.
What Inspires Me Right Now
Music! I've always listened to music while brainstorming. It helps me set the mood for whatever scene is coming up. I can't listen to music while I'm writing though, because it distracts me. Recently, I've been trying to find songs that match up to the feeling I need for big scenes in my current edits, just to help with the punch of emotion I want to deliver. I don't know if it's helping, but I do know that if I hear a certain song on the radio, it makes me want to re-read whatever book I'd matched it up to.
Writing is weird.
It's also the best way for me to update what I've been doing because, you guys, my brain is a little broken between a very busy June and edits on MISFITS. I'm hoping July will be a nice relaxing month where I finish the edits and my agent still loves the book. *fingers crossed*
What I'm reading
Sadly, I haven't really had a chance to read in the last few weeks. Between edits and work and traveling to Delaware to visit family, (my new nephew is the cutest boy EVER, by the way) I just haven't had time. When this happens, I'll normally grab a book I've already read a few times and read my favorite scenes, just to have something to read before I fall asleep, but I haven't dug into anything new. I plan to change this very soon.
What I'm Writing
Still working on edits. This is going to be a theme for the rest of the year, just in case you were wondering. I have lots of things to dig through and I'm preeetttty excited about it.
What Else I've Been Up To
As I mentioned above, I went to Delaware to see my family this past week. I got to spend time with my sister, who just moved up into the Vice Principal position at her local elementary school. There is one of my WIPS that I really hope people get to read (okay, I'd like people to read all of them) because I not only named the school principal after my sister but the whole character is based off of her. I also got to watch my niece play softball and she's still not only a great kid but an awesome softball player. And then I saw my new nephew (via best friend, not my sister) and niece, who are so cute it hurts. It's funny that my best friend's kids call me Aunt Brandy but when my real niece was born, I was younger and didn't want to be called Aunt anything because it made me feel old. Go figure.
What Inspires Me Right Now
Music! I've always listened to music while brainstorming. It helps me set the mood for whatever scene is coming up. I can't listen to music while I'm writing though, because it distracts me. Recently, I've been trying to find songs that match up to the feeling I need for big scenes in my current edits, just to help with the punch of emotion I want to deliver. I don't know if it's helping, but I do know that if I hear a certain song on the radio, it makes me want to re-read whatever book I'd matched it up to.
Writing is weird.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
On Queries...
Querying is weird, okay? Let's just get that out of the way. I've been thinking about this since I wrote an e-mail to the Super Amazing Beta and Human Jennifer Pickrell in which I was whining complaining updating her on my query situation, and I finally decided I needed to get it out.
Querying is weird and hard and awesome and the most hopeful and devastating thing a writer can do. It's the time where we all at once decide that we've written something good enough for an agent to read and also when we know that we're horrible writers who deserve all of those rejections. It's just weird.
And yet, here we are, years, months and days into this torture because we want somebody to love the voices in our heads that fought to get out as much as we do. Weird.
I can remember my first partial request and my first full request. I also remember my first rejection. I like to think of myself now as a seasoned querier who lets rejection roll off her back like a duck with water... unless I get a few in a row, because then I know I've been fooling myself with the years I've put into writing. Of course, two days after I decide to quit and join a circus or something, I get a full request and I remember that there might, just maybe, be some skill left in me, and so what do I do?
I send out more queries.
I'm actually querying two books right now, which is a little weird and involves a lot of organization and e-mail folders, but I'm getting good feedback, despite still getting rejections right along with it. I've decided with these though, and especially MISFITS because there has been more interest in it than any other book I've written, that I'm not going to give up on it. I've got a Touch 'Em All mentality with this book that I'm going to send it out to every single agent that will read it (within their guidelines, obviously) and I just have to put up with all of those rejections until someone loves it.
In the past, I feel like I've given up pretty quickly because, let's face it, rejections suck. And it's very easy to get beaten up by all of them and assume that since X number of agents didn't like it, no one will. I'm not going to do that this time, so at least I'll know I've done everything I can to find the person who loves my books before I move on.
In the meantime, I'll keep writing, which is actually the most blissful thing I do on a daily basis, and also querying. Because I like weird, apparently.
Anybody else out there need to vent? Go for it.
Querying is weird and hard and awesome and the most hopeful and devastating thing a writer can do. It's the time where we all at once decide that we've written something good enough for an agent to read and also when we know that we're horrible writers who deserve all of those rejections. It's just weird.
And yet, here we are, years, months and days into this torture because we want somebody to love the voices in our heads that fought to get out as much as we do. Weird.
I can remember my first partial request and my first full request. I also remember my first rejection. I like to think of myself now as a seasoned querier who lets rejection roll off her back like a duck with water... unless I get a few in a row, because then I know I've been fooling myself with the years I've put into writing. Of course, two days after I decide to quit and join a circus or something, I get a full request and I remember that there might, just maybe, be some skill left in me, and so what do I do?
I send out more queries.
I'm actually querying two books right now, which is a little weird and involves a lot of organization and e-mail folders, but I'm getting good feedback, despite still getting rejections right along with it. I've decided with these though, and especially MISFITS because there has been more interest in it than any other book I've written, that I'm not going to give up on it. I've got a Touch 'Em All mentality with this book that I'm going to send it out to every single agent that will read it (within their guidelines, obviously) and I just have to put up with all of those rejections until someone loves it.
In the past, I feel like I've given up pretty quickly because, let's face it, rejections suck. And it's very easy to get beaten up by all of them and assume that since X number of agents didn't like it, no one will. I'm not going to do that this time, so at least I'll know I've done everything I can to find the person who loves my books before I move on.
In the meantime, I'll keep writing, which is actually the most blissful thing I do on a daily basis, and also querying. Because I like weird, apparently.
Anybody else out there need to vent? Go for it.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Thoughts on a Friday
Okay, so you know you haven't blogged in a really long time when your blog host changes the entire layout of things and it took you five minutes to figure out how to post something new. Whew!
Anyway, the Semester That Will Probably Kill Me did not, in fact, kill me, but it was hairy there for a while. I was hoping to graduate this summer but due to mix-ups and the universe's hobby of making my life more complicated, I have to make it through the fall semester. The bright side is that the classes I have to take are fun, besides one math, but I'm in denial about that right now, and it won't be as intense as this one. Look who is focusing on the positives! *pats self on the back*
So I plan on finishing up revisions on HOOD now that I have a little more free time along with beta reading and reading new books because, you guys, I haven't read a book in over a month! I know. I flew through the last two books of the Hunger Games when the movie came out (my feelings on that series would take another blog post, maybe two) and since then I haven't touched a book. I'm remedying that this weekend.
Since I do have more free time, I'd looove some book recommendations. I have a small pile that I need to get through right now, but I'm hoping it won't take long.
So, what should I read?
Anyway, the Semester That Will Probably Kill Me did not, in fact, kill me, but it was hairy there for a while. I was hoping to graduate this summer but due to mix-ups and the universe's hobby of making my life more complicated, I have to make it through the fall semester. The bright side is that the classes I have to take are fun, besides one math, but I'm in denial about that right now, and it won't be as intense as this one. Look who is focusing on the positives! *pats self on the back*
So I plan on finishing up revisions on HOOD now that I have a little more free time along with beta reading and reading new books because, you guys, I haven't read a book in over a month! I know. I flew through the last two books of the Hunger Games when the movie came out (my feelings on that series would take another blog post, maybe two) and since then I haven't touched a book. I'm remedying that this weekend.
Since I do have more free time, I'd looove some book recommendations. I have a small pile that I need to get through right now, but I'm hoping it won't take long.
So, what should I read?
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Go hard or go home.
So as it turns out, I'm not very good at leisurely writing a book. If I'm not putting myself under constant pressure to finish something, I get all, "I'll get right on that! Tomorrow." This actually is totally unsurprising to anyone who has ever met me, because I'm a works-well-under-pressure gal. Yay, Scorpio! I've always said I'm awesome when things go to crap. It's when things are going good that I get suspicious. So anyway, the moral to this story is that if I'm going to write that sequel, I'm going to do it in a month with a hard deadline. Plus side, I'll be awesome when I'm finally published and am put on deadline. ::Hear that agents?!::
So now I have to decide what I'm going to do. Do I put my nose to the grindstone and finish the sequel or try to think of a new idea? It's silly, but I feel weird putting the amount of energy needed to write a book into a sequel of a book that hasn't been picked up by an agent or sold yet. And writing for me is cool, but am I missing out on My Next Great Idea (yes, I capitalized it. It felt right.) because I'm working on something for fun?
There's also something to be said for that buzz I get when I have a new idea. It's when I know that I'm operating on all cylinders and doing what I'm supposed to be doing with my life when I get an idea that I know I can turn into 50-80 thousand words. And I miss it. I haven't worked on anything new since NaNoWriMo and I miss the rush of it.
Maybe I will write something new. I guess it's time to hit up my ideas list to see what comes up. If nothing does, then I'll finish the sequel. A plan!
Before that though, I have finals and revisions for HOOD to finish in the next few weeks. Then I'll put myself on an intense deadline and stress myself out. Good times.
Brandy
So now I have to decide what I'm going to do. Do I put my nose to the grindstone and finish the sequel or try to think of a new idea? It's silly, but I feel weird putting the amount of energy needed to write a book into a sequel of a book that hasn't been picked up by an agent or sold yet. And writing for me is cool, but am I missing out on My Next Great Idea (yes, I capitalized it. It felt right.) because I'm working on something for fun?
There's also something to be said for that buzz I get when I have a new idea. It's when I know that I'm operating on all cylinders and doing what I'm supposed to be doing with my life when I get an idea that I know I can turn into 50-80 thousand words. And I miss it. I haven't worked on anything new since NaNoWriMo and I miss the rush of it.
Maybe I will write something new. I guess it's time to hit up my ideas list to see what comes up. If nothing does, then I'll finish the sequel. A plan!
Before that though, I have finals and revisions for HOOD to finish in the next few weeks. Then I'll put myself on an intense deadline and stress myself out. Good times.
Brandy
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Taking it easy.
So I think we've covered here before that I'm kind of an obsessive writer. When I'm writing, I'm completely (okay, pretty much) incommunicado from my friends and family, and I normally knock out a first draft in about a month before I crawl back out, cringing from all of that natural light from the sun.
I'm trying something different right now. I am casually writing a book. Normally I shadow box, stretch and pump myself up for a knock down, drag out sort of experience but I'm going to see how this goes. I think I look silly shadow boxing anyway.
What I'm working on is actually a sequel to one of my other books and I'm really only writing it because I woke up the other day with basically the whole plot in my mind, and that's not really something I can ignore, is it? So I'm writing. I haven't had to alert everyone that I'm writing a book with everything that means (read: don't call, don't visit. I'll call you when I'm done) I'm just... writing it. If I finish it soon, cool. If I don't, that's fine too because I'm only writing it for me. Which is actually what I do with all of my other books too, now that I think about it.
I'm also working on revisions to HOOD from NaNoWriMo, so this whole casual thing is breaking that up nicely.
Hey! If I can finish the casual book, write a new story this summer and then another for NaNo, I'll hit my three book goal for 2012! Of course I'll be starting grad school in the fall and that might slow me down, but still! I'll be close!
So, what are you working on?
I'm trying something different right now. I am casually writing a book. Normally I shadow box, stretch and pump myself up for a knock down, drag out sort of experience but I'm going to see how this goes. I think I look silly shadow boxing anyway.
What I'm working on is actually a sequel to one of my other books and I'm really only writing it because I woke up the other day with basically the whole plot in my mind, and that's not really something I can ignore, is it? So I'm writing. I haven't had to alert everyone that I'm writing a book with everything that means (read: don't call, don't visit. I'll call you when I'm done) I'm just... writing it. If I finish it soon, cool. If I don't, that's fine too because I'm only writing it for me. Which is actually what I do with all of my other books too, now that I think about it.
I'm also working on revisions to HOOD from NaNoWriMo, so this whole casual thing is breaking that up nicely.
Hey! If I can finish the casual book, write a new story this summer and then another for NaNo, I'll hit my three book goal for 2012! Of course I'll be starting grad school in the fall and that might slow me down, but still! I'll be close!
So, what are you working on?
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Getting back on track.
I'm not going to lie... I slacked off on my writing duties in December. I was VERY busy baking and eating and Christmas-ing. Also normal life stuff, but mainly eating.
I've made some headway into my revisions but the tough stuff lies ahead, so I'd really like dive back into those very soon. Like right after I write this.
After that, my plan is more revisions! I have huge, huge revisions to do on KC (secret title laugh here). I'm looking forward to them but they also feel really daunting at the same time. They'll take a while, for sure.
Then I need to do another round of revisions on my NaNo book. There are plot holes-a-plenty in that one but I find myself thinking about it all the time, so I feel like I'm on to something with it. (Random: I've written whole instead of hole so many times today! What's the deal, brain?! Also, why am I typing hole so much?)
So three books and three sets of revisions! Yippeeeee.
I'm going to be SO READY to write something new by spring. Which is good because my December to Remember, write-every-single-idea-I-had-down thing worked and my notepad on my phone has a lot of titles of Book Idea 1, 2, 3 and so on, in it. If I'm being honest, after I finish the MISFITS revisions, I'd really like to write one idea I came up with in December, but I can't just stick to the fun stuff all the time. In theory, these revisions could be done by March-ish and then I can write like a crazy woman into the summer.
My writing goal this year is to write three books, which is actually the same goal I had last year. I came up one short in 2011 though, so I'm determined to make it happen in 2012. I actually want one of them to be the MISFITS sequel just for my own enjoyment, so we will see!
Do you make writing goals? And if so, what are they?
Brandy
I've made some headway into my revisions but the tough stuff lies ahead, so I'd really like dive back into those very soon. Like right after I write this.
After that, my plan is more revisions! I have huge, huge revisions to do on KC (secret title laugh here). I'm looking forward to them but they also feel really daunting at the same time. They'll take a while, for sure.
Then I need to do another round of revisions on my NaNo book. There are plot holes-a-plenty in that one but I find myself thinking about it all the time, so I feel like I'm on to something with it. (Random: I've written whole instead of hole so many times today! What's the deal, brain?! Also, why am I typing hole so much?)
So three books and three sets of revisions! Yippeeeee.
I'm going to be SO READY to write something new by spring. Which is good because my December to Remember, write-every-single-idea-I-had-down thing worked and my notepad on my phone has a lot of titles of Book Idea 1, 2, 3 and so on, in it. If I'm being honest, after I finish the MISFITS revisions, I'd really like to write one idea I came up with in December, but I can't just stick to the fun stuff all the time. In theory, these revisions could be done by March-ish and then I can write like a crazy woman into the summer.
My writing goal this year is to write three books, which is actually the same goal I had last year. I came up one short in 2011 though, so I'm determined to make it happen in 2012. I actually want one of them to be the MISFITS sequel just for my own enjoyment, so we will see!
Do you make writing goals? And if so, what are they?
Brandy
Monday, November 28, 2011
December to Remember.
So I haven't blogged lately, even if I do have a lot to blog about. I haven't told you guys about YALLfest yet, which I still plan to do. I haven't blogged about what I've read, which is just bad because I think we now know, if I don't blog it, I don't remember it. Lots of things.
And we'll still have to wait another day for those because I have December on the brain today.
See, now that I've all but finished the first draft on my NaNoWriMo book, which is titled HOOD, by the way, I feel like I'm kind of floating in the land of unknown. I always feel lost when I finish a book anyway but after writing one in a little over three weeks, I feel like my center of gravity is off. You know how when you've been swimming for a while and then you get out of the water and suddenly you're all, "Why is walking so hard?!" That's how I feel about stepping back into the world after being hunched over my laptop for a month.
It also just so happens that my life isn't going to be very busy in December. My semester ends this week, NaNoWriMo is over... hell, even Sons of Anarchy's 4th season ends in two weeks. Besides normal life stuff, my schedule is significantly lighter. Which would be an awesome time to write a book, except that I just finished one.
So I plan on making December The Month Of Creativity! First off, I want to do a few rewrites on HOOD before putting it up for a little bit. Then I have revisions to do on MISFITS and some pretty big rewrites on KILLER CUPCAKES. I'm literally going to be up to my eyeballs in my own books! I'm pretty excited about it.
I also plan to brainstorm a lot, listen to a lot of music and write down every single idea that pops into my head for the new year, in which I'm hoping to write three books and jump back into QueryLand. That's right. Bring it, 2012!
So while I am kind of staring wide-eyed at December, I'm also really excited. It will be nice to not have major goals and to just let the creativity flow.
So, to other NaNo-ers and No-NaNo-ers, what are your plans for December?
Brandy
And we'll still have to wait another day for those because I have December on the brain today.
See, now that I've all but finished the first draft on my NaNoWriMo book, which is titled HOOD, by the way, I feel like I'm kind of floating in the land of unknown. I always feel lost when I finish a book anyway but after writing one in a little over three weeks, I feel like my center of gravity is off. You know how when you've been swimming for a while and then you get out of the water and suddenly you're all, "Why is walking so hard?!" That's how I feel about stepping back into the world after being hunched over my laptop for a month.
It also just so happens that my life isn't going to be very busy in December. My semester ends this week, NaNoWriMo is over... hell, even Sons of Anarchy's 4th season ends in two weeks. Besides normal life stuff, my schedule is significantly lighter. Which would be an awesome time to write a book, except that I just finished one.
So I plan on making December The Month Of Creativity! First off, I want to do a few rewrites on HOOD before putting it up for a little bit. Then I have revisions to do on MISFITS and some pretty big rewrites on KILLER CUPCAKES. I'm literally going to be up to my eyeballs in my own books! I'm pretty excited about it.
I also plan to brainstorm a lot, listen to a lot of music and write down every single idea that pops into my head for the new year, in which I'm hoping to write three books and jump back into QueryLand. That's right. Bring it, 2012!
So while I am kind of staring wide-eyed at December, I'm also really excited. It will be nice to not have major goals and to just let the creativity flow.
So, to other NaNo-ers and No-NaNo-ers, what are your plans for December?
Brandy
Monday, October 31, 2011
Happy NaNo Eve! Oh, and Halloween too!
So while everyone else is eating candy corn and celebrating Halloween, I am completely focused on NaNoWriMo. I'll go ahead and admit that I did all of my Halloween things this weekend, which mainly included watching documentaries on Vlad the Impaler and eating WAY too much candy, so it's not like I wasn't festive.
My NaNo idea is bubbling over the top of my brain, so I'm ready to write, but as always, I have to walk the fine line between letting the story play out in my head to plan a little bit and letting it play out so much that I don't feel like writing it anymore.
I'd love to say my pantser quality is all about letting the story flow freely from my brain, through my fingers and out into the world but that's not entirely true. While planning stories does make me jumpy in a way that only a person with commitment problems can, my main problem with plotting is that if I let the ideas flow too much and I see the whole story in my head, I don't feel like writing it anymore because, to me, it already happened. I know that's probably weird but that's just how I am. My very first book took me a year and a half to write and I firmly believe that it's because I, trying to plan like I saw so many awesome writers talking about online, got tired of that story and it slowed me down.
Knowing exactly what happens in my story takes me out of the game very early, so I try to keep the planning to a minimum (who the main characters are and the conflict), which is what I'm fighting right now waiting for NaNo to start. I actually think I'm going to jump in at midnight because these characters are screaming at me!
I'm ready! And nervous.
I didn't do my regular blog posts last week, because I was trying to take a break from the computer in preparation for NaNo as well. I developed a really awesome eye twitch while writing MISFITS, so this time I'm trying to be really careful with my eyes. But I do plan on keeping the blog updated in November to document mybreakdown experiences during NaNoWriMo.
Happy Halloween/NaNoWriMo Eve!
Brandy
My NaNo idea is bubbling over the top of my brain, so I'm ready to write, but as always, I have to walk the fine line between letting the story play out in my head to plan a little bit and letting it play out so much that I don't feel like writing it anymore.
I'd love to say my pantser quality is all about letting the story flow freely from my brain, through my fingers and out into the world but that's not entirely true. While planning stories does make me jumpy in a way that only a person with commitment problems can, my main problem with plotting is that if I let the ideas flow too much and I see the whole story in my head, I don't feel like writing it anymore because, to me, it already happened. I know that's probably weird but that's just how I am. My very first book took me a year and a half to write and I firmly believe that it's because I, trying to plan like I saw so many awesome writers talking about online, got tired of that story and it slowed me down.
Knowing exactly what happens in my story takes me out of the game very early, so I try to keep the planning to a minimum (who the main characters are and the conflict), which is what I'm fighting right now waiting for NaNo to start. I actually think I'm going to jump in at midnight because these characters are screaming at me!
I'm ready! And nervous.
I didn't do my regular blog posts last week, because I was trying to take a break from the computer in preparation for NaNo as well. I developed a really awesome eye twitch while writing MISFITS, so this time I'm trying to be really careful with my eyes. But I do plan on keeping the blog updated in November to document my
Happy Halloween/NaNoWriMo Eve!
Brandy
Monday, October 24, 2011
Monday Meme, except not really.
I was going to do my normal Monday Meme about writing today, but my mind is totally, and completely full of NaNoWriMo. So I thought that instead of answering questions about writing, I would talk about my game plan for writing 50k words in thirty days. *deep breath* No, I'm fine. Totally fine. Not overwhelmed at all. *deep breath*
So last night I realized that there was not only a week left in October but that November, does in fact, come after October. You do the math, people. NaNoWriMo is coming up fast. So, being the list person that I am, I sat down with my planner and figured out, with my schedule for November (which is nuts) what I'll have to write to make my goal.
November is the month where school work piles up in preparations for finals in early December. It's also the month of my birthday and my mom's birthday. It also includes a trip to South Carolina for YALL Fest and my niece's softball tournament, Thanksgiving and a midnight showing of Breaking Dawn. Plus ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS. But I figured it out!
All I have to do is write no less than 2k words most days, and on non-busy days, crank out 5k words, which I did every Wednesday while I was writing MISFITS. That will help make up for the days, like the SC trip, where I highly doubt I'll write at all. If I keep up with my schedule, I should actually hit around 60k before the end of the month, which is pretty much my norm for first drafts.
Besides being overwhelmed to the point of dizziness, I'm still SO excited. This is my first NaNo, and it's something I've always wanted to do but my work schedule never allowed. This year though, I'm in!
So, is anyone else around here doing NaNoWriMo? I'd love to have a few people to keep up with, and hopefully help keep each other motivated.
-Brandy
So last night I realized that there was not only a week left in October but that November, does in fact, come after October. You do the math, people. NaNoWriMo is coming up fast. So, being the list person that I am, I sat down with my planner and figured out, with my schedule for November (which is nuts) what I'll have to write to make my goal.
November is the month where school work piles up in preparations for finals in early December. It's also the month of my birthday and my mom's birthday. It also includes a trip to South Carolina for YALL Fest and my niece's softball tournament, Thanksgiving and a midnight showing of Breaking Dawn. Plus ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS. But I figured it out!
All I have to do is write no less than 2k words most days, and on non-busy days, crank out 5k words, which I did every Wednesday while I was writing MISFITS. That will help make up for the days, like the SC trip, where I highly doubt I'll write at all. If I keep up with my schedule, I should actually hit around 60k before the end of the month, which is pretty much my norm for first drafts.
Besides being overwhelmed to the point of dizziness, I'm still SO excited. This is my first NaNo, and it's something I've always wanted to do but my work schedule never allowed. This year though, I'm in!
So, is anyone else around here doing NaNoWriMo? I'd love to have a few people to keep up with, and hopefully help keep each other motivated.
-Brandy
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Reading.
So apparently I've been in one of my I'm-just-going-to-watch-TV-instead-of-reading-a-book moods, because up until a few days ago, I hadn't touched a book all week. I blame this on a few things: Number one, I was busy and using my brain to read felt like a huge deal and I wasn't into the idea of it, and Two: I'd been plowing through a lot of books and I think I burned out a little. Either way, I've made a nice recovery the last few days and this was helped by really good books.
Honestly? I completely imagine you all groaning and clicking the red X every time I mention the Vampire Academy series because it's all I talk about, but I can't help it this time! I finally gave in and read Bloodlines by Richelle Mead this week, which is a companion book to the VA series. I'd put off reading it because, while every book in the VA series was out when I started reading them, this book is brand spanking new and I knew I'd have to wait for the next one. And I also knew what the last line of this book was and understood that I would be in physical pain if I read it now and had to wait until summer 2012 to read the next book. But I'm a masochist, so I read it anyway.
Fantastic. Just fantastic. I was worried that I wouldn't enjoy this book as much because I was never a huge fan of Adrian in the original series and thought I'd be bored with him, but not so! I mean, sure every time I saw the name Belikov, I giggled and Adrian isn't giggleworthy for me, but it's still very, very good. Can't wait until The Golden Lily comes out next summer.
Last night I sat down to read the first few chapters of Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick just to see what it was about and whether I should be excited to read it. I. Read. The. Whole. Thing. Granted, I got very little sleep last night, but still. I'm pretty interested in the whole nephilim/angels thing being a big fan of The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare but I haven't actually read that many books about them. This was good. Yes, it's very Twlight-esque, and some things the main character's best friend did made me want to slap her very hard, but in the end, I read the whole damn thing in one sitting. That says something. Also, this book probably has one of the most kick ass covers I've seen in a along time. And of course the next book in the series, Cresendo, doesn't come out for another year. *forehead slap*
Soooo, what are you reading?
Brandy
Honestly? I completely imagine you all groaning and clicking the red X every time I mention the Vampire Academy series because it's all I talk about, but I can't help it this time! I finally gave in and read Bloodlines by Richelle Mead this week, which is a companion book to the VA series. I'd put off reading it because, while every book in the VA series was out when I started reading them, this book is brand spanking new and I knew I'd have to wait for the next one. And I also knew what the last line of this book was and understood that I would be in physical pain if I read it now and had to wait until summer 2012 to read the next book. But I'm a masochist, so I read it anyway.
Fantastic. Just fantastic. I was worried that I wouldn't enjoy this book as much because I was never a huge fan of Adrian in the original series and thought I'd be bored with him, but not so! I mean, sure every time I saw the name Belikov, I giggled and Adrian isn't giggleworthy for me, but it's still very, very good. Can't wait until The Golden Lily comes out next summer.
Last night I sat down to read the first few chapters of Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick just to see what it was about and whether I should be excited to read it. I. Read. The. Whole. Thing. Granted, I got very little sleep last night, but still. I'm pretty interested in the whole nephilim/angels thing being a big fan of The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare but I haven't actually read that many books about them. This was good. Yes, it's very Twlight-esque, and some things the main character's best friend did made me want to slap her very hard, but in the end, I read the whole damn thing in one sitting. That says something. Also, this book probably has one of the most kick ass covers I've seen in a along time. And of course the next book in the series, Cresendo, doesn't come out for another year. *forehead slap*
Soooo, what are you reading?
Brandy
Monday, October 17, 2011
Monday Writing Meme
Which words do you use too much in your writing? "Just" haunts me. I probably use "anyway" waaay too much. And in the latest WIP I'm revising, I wrote the word "alien" like it was my job.
Which words do you consider overused in stuff you read? I've noticed a lot of "startled" lately. Characters startling all over the place.
What’s your favourite piece of writing by you? I can't really choose. I love all of them differently.
What blog post do you wish you’d written? Oh, I don't know. I'm sadly not up-to-date on popular blogs.
Regrets, do you have a few? Is there anything you wish you hadn’t written? I wish I hadn't taken so much time off from writing a few years ago.
How has your writing made a difference? For my life, writing kind of keeps me sane. My head starts to get very jumbled when I don't write. I don't sleep well and am just in general not fun to be around. Although, I've been told I'm not fun to be around when I'm really into a WIP either, so who knows...
Name three favourite words Any curse word, asshat and fantastic.
…And three words you’re not so keen on I'm not really sure. I'm not big on all of the startling, that's for sure.
Do you have a writing mentor, role model or inspiration? Everyone who writes is an inspiration to me. I like knowing everyone's stories and processes.
What’s your writing ambition?
Which words do you consider overused in stuff you read? I've noticed a lot of "startled" lately. Characters startling all over the place.
What’s your favourite piece of writing by you? I can't really choose. I love all of them differently.
What blog post do you wish you’d written? Oh, I don't know. I'm sadly not up-to-date on popular blogs.
Regrets, do you have a few? Is there anything you wish you hadn’t written? I wish I hadn't taken so much time off from writing a few years ago.
How has your writing made a difference? For my life, writing kind of keeps me sane. My head starts to get very jumbled when I don't write. I don't sleep well and am just in general not fun to be around. Although, I've been told I'm not fun to be around when I'm really into a WIP either, so who knows...
Name three favourite words Any curse word, asshat and fantastic.
…And three words you’re not so keen on I'm not really sure. I'm not big on all of the startling, that's for sure.
Do you have a writing mentor, role model or inspiration? Everyone who writes is an inspiration to me. I like knowing everyone's stories and processes.
What’s your writing ambition?
Just to make people not want to put my book down, to meet readers and write books until I run out of ideas.
Friday, October 14, 2011
When big ideas don't work and NaNoWriMo
So I've had this BIG IDEA rumbling around in my head for a while. I've talked and talked and blogged and blogged about The New Project over the last month and yet every time I sit down to write it, I feel a little... weird. I still love the idea and really love the characters but something is just off about this book, which I planned to write before NaNoWriMo in November. Then, seeing how little progress I was making on figuring out what's wrong, I figured that I would just write The New Project for NaNoWriMo and spend this month planning. I normally don't plan at all but this kind of idea needed it, mainly because I had no idea what I was writing about and there was a little bit of a historical background that I planned on using... and none of this has helped. The idea feels lost.
I really hate that because I'm normally one of those, If You Start It, You Finish It, kind of people but I'm thinking this idea needs to go to the back burner for a little bit. Or maybe it needs to marinate! Or maybe I should stop watching The Food Network! Either way, it doesn't feel like the right time to write this story. I will write it someday, but now apparently isn't the time. Does that happen to anyone else? How do you deal with it?
So with all of that said, I think I've finally settled on what I'm going to write for NaNoWriMo. This is another idea that I've had for a while, with a folder on my phone and all, for when I think of something while I'm mid-conversation with someone, or when I'm grocery shopping. It's growing in my head every time I think about it, so I'm taking that as a good sign. For NaNoWriMo, you just kind of have to GO and this is the kind of idea I can jump out of the gate with.
And quickly, can I just tell you how excited I am for NaNoWriMo? It's my first go round, although I've always wanted to participate. With my last job, November was entirely too busy to dedicate to writing a whole book, but this year is different, so I'm going for it. Is anyone else participating this year?
Have a good weekend!
Brandy
I really hate that because I'm normally one of those, If You Start It, You Finish It, kind of people but I'm thinking this idea needs to go to the back burner for a little bit. Or maybe it needs to marinate! Or maybe I should stop watching The Food Network! Either way, it doesn't feel like the right time to write this story. I will write it someday, but now apparently isn't the time. Does that happen to anyone else? How do you deal with it?
So with all of that said, I think I've finally settled on what I'm going to write for NaNoWriMo. This is another idea that I've had for a while, with a folder on my phone and all, for when I think of something while I'm mid-conversation with someone, or when I'm grocery shopping. It's growing in my head every time I think about it, so I'm taking that as a good sign. For NaNoWriMo, you just kind of have to GO and this is the kind of idea I can jump out of the gate with.
And quickly, can I just tell you how excited I am for NaNoWriMo? It's my first go round, although I've always wanted to participate. With my last job, November was entirely too busy to dedicate to writing a whole book, but this year is different, so I'm going for it. Is anyone else participating this year?
Have a good weekend!
Brandy
Monday, October 3, 2011
Monday Writing Meme
Hey everybody! I hope you had a good weekend. Mine was spent with words, so obviously it was fantastic. I swear, what drives me to work so hard throughout the week is to simply make time to read or write. And I'm totally fine with that.
Anyway, here are some random questions for the Monday Meme. You know the rules: there are none. Just let me know if you post it so I canstalk you check it out.
1. When did you decide to take a real swing at writing? Or have you yet? I have. I remember writing my first book, finishing it and being all, "Well, no one's allowed to read that mess!" But then I wrote my second book and thought I should let someone read it. The safest person was my best friend and she demanded to read more and I thought maybe I was on to something. I've been dedicated to writing ever since.
2. Who is your writing role model? Any one who writes everyday while living and working like a "normal" person is my hero. It's so hard and so admirable. Also, J.K. Rowling. She wrote these little books that I'm sure you've never heard of and I remember reading the first chapter and hoping someday I could take someone to another world like she took me.
3. If you've been published, what is your favorite part of your job? If not, what do you look forward to? Not published YET. :) I would love, love, love to sit and talk to people about books, mine or others. Since I write mostly YA, the idea of sitting down with teens who love reading makes my heart grow like the Grinch's. Also, just holding my own book would blow my mind.
5. What inspires you? I love finding out how people deal with weird things. I'm a people watcher and, even when I was little, I would watch people and wonder what their lives were like. Then I would think that maybe they looked normal but really they were a secret superhero or a government agent and wondered how they dealt with that. This explains all of my books so far.
6. What traits shows up in all of your characters, if any? Hmm, they all have secrets and I put them in odd situations. And most of the guys are tall. That's a personal preference from the writer. ;)
7. Biggest pet peeve in books? Probably cliffhangers that don't answer the questions that are posed in the beginning of that book. Some loose ends are fine but... we'll just say that there have been times I've read the first book, didn't have any answers and refused to finish the series because of it.
8. Have you ever based a character on a real person? Not totally. I take little traits from people I know and use them sometimes. The mom is KILLER CUPCAKES reminds me a lot of my mom. All of my guy friends had a crush on my mom and she thought that was awesome. ha!
9. Do you tell people that you're writing a book? Sometimes. I still feel a little silly telling some people what my books are about or that they are YA. I hate that, "Oh, so you're writing another Twilight?" question because A) I wish, and B) People that ask those questions are helplessly ignorant.
10. Pantser or Plotter? And why? Pantser and mainly because writing an outline makes me feel itchy and committed, and I hate that feeling.
Anyway, here are some random questions for the Monday Meme. You know the rules: there are none. Just let me know if you post it so I can
1. When did you decide to take a real swing at writing? Or have you yet? I have. I remember writing my first book, finishing it and being all, "Well, no one's allowed to read that mess!" But then I wrote my second book and thought I should let someone read it. The safest person was my best friend and she demanded to read more and I thought maybe I was on to something. I've been dedicated to writing ever since.
2. Who is your writing role model? Any one who writes everyday while living and working like a "normal" person is my hero. It's so hard and so admirable. Also, J.K. Rowling. She wrote these little books that I'm sure you've never heard of and I remember reading the first chapter and hoping someday I could take someone to another world like she took me.
3. If you've been published, what is your favorite part of your job? If not, what do you look forward to? Not published YET. :) I would love, love, love to sit and talk to people about books, mine or others. Since I write mostly YA, the idea of sitting down with teens who love reading makes my heart grow like the Grinch's. Also, just holding my own book would blow my mind.
5. What inspires you? I love finding out how people deal with weird things. I'm a people watcher and, even when I was little, I would watch people and wonder what their lives were like. Then I would think that maybe they looked normal but really they were a secret superhero or a government agent and wondered how they dealt with that. This explains all of my books so far.
6. What traits shows up in all of your characters, if any? Hmm, they all have secrets and I put them in odd situations. And most of the guys are tall. That's a personal preference from the writer. ;)
7. Biggest pet peeve in books? Probably cliffhangers that don't answer the questions that are posed in the beginning of that book. Some loose ends are fine but... we'll just say that there have been times I've read the first book, didn't have any answers and refused to finish the series because of it.
8. Have you ever based a character on a real person? Not totally. I take little traits from people I know and use them sometimes. The mom is KILLER CUPCAKES reminds me a lot of my mom. All of my guy friends had a crush on my mom and she thought that was awesome. ha!
9. Do you tell people that you're writing a book? Sometimes. I still feel a little silly telling some people what my books are about or that they are YA. I hate that, "Oh, so you're writing another Twilight?" question because A) I wish, and B) People that ask those questions are helplessly ignorant.
10. Pantser or Plotter? And why? Pantser and mainly because writing an outline makes me feel itchy and committed, and I hate that feeling.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Monday Writing Meme.
1. Tell us about your favorite writing project/universe that you’ve worked with and why.
I really love the world in the WIP I'm revising, MISFITS. I think it's because there are SO MANY possibilities. I actually started MISFITS as a creative exercise by just throwing everything at it and it turned into a book!
2. How many characters do you have? I normally have one MC and a group around her. I think the people around an MC make them who they are, so friends and family are important to me when creating characters.
Do you prefer males or females? I've only written from the female POV but I think a lot about writing a male.
3. How do you come up with names, for characters (and for places if you’re writing about fictional places)? It's a big deal. I'm very picky about names, although in MISFITS the names are so silly and obvious that I just kind of went with it. I also tend to give my female MC's names that could also be male. I don't know why but there it is. As for places, I pick a place that makes sense for the story.
4. Tell us about one of your first stories/characters! My first story, which I found not long ago, was about me and a lot of danger. Like, chocolate was dangerous. I was five-ish. I've written kind of dramatic my whole life.
5. Where are you most comfortable writing? My couch. I try other places but no matter where I go, I get the most done on the couch. At what time of day? Whenever it hits me, although I make an effort to write during daylight times because if I write too late, I can't sleep.
6. Do you listen to music while you write? What kind? Are there any songs you like to relate/apply to your characters? I need quiet to write. Or if the TV is on, it's very low and on something that I won't pay attention to.
7. What’s your favorite genre to write? YA contemp, or fantasy-ish YA. To read? Same. Although I work in non-YA too.
8. How do you get ideas for your characters? I start with their personality and quirks. Charlie, my MC in KILLER CUPCAKES is very driven by what goes on around her and how she wants to change that. Ali, from MISFITS, doesn't deal with emotions well and uses jokes to lighten things up. My new MC is a complete headcase but I think I love her.
9. What are some really weird situations your characters have been in? Hell. One has woken up spooning with a guy in front of her grandmother and almost shot a raccoon. Another has ridden a were animal. It's complicated.
10. Who is your favorite character to write? The group of life-long friends in INHERENTLY DANGEROUS is really fun to write. They have so much complicated history and there really aren't many secrets between them, so the dynamic is fun.
11. In what story did you feel you did the best job of worldbuilding?
I kind of suck at worldbuilding, so I'm not sure. It's definitely not my strongest suit. I'm working on it.
12. What’s your favorite culture to write, fictional or not? Any and all.
13. How do you map out locations, if needed? Honestly? I've never felt the need to. I take creative liberties while trying to be realistic about everything around my characters.
14. Midway question! Tell us about a writer you admire, whether professional or not! Richelle Mead but I'm not talking anymore about it. If she finds out (doubtful), she'll think I'm obsessed and I'M NOT.
15. Do you write romantic relationships? Sure do. How do you deal with those, and how “far” are you willing to go in your writing? Well, I write mainly YA, so I try to be smart about it. Interestingly enough, if I ever write my second books to KC or MISFITS, I'll have to deal with this more head on, I think.
16. What are your favorite character interactions to write? I lurrve awkward scenes.
17. Do any of your characters have children? No, but boy would that complicate things!
18. Tell us about one scene between your characters that you’ve never written or told anyone about before! Serious or not. Not sure what this means, but we'll go with I don't have one. :)
19. How long does it usually take you to complete an entire story—from planning to writing to posting (if you post your work)?
First draft takes about a month, revisions take MY WHOLE LIFE! Kidding. But that takes longer. I would say the whole process takes three months before betas get it.
20. How willing are you to kill your characters if the plot so demands it? If it needs to happen, then it does. What’s the most interesting way you’ve killed someone? I don't know if I can answer this.
22. Do any of your characters have pets? Yes, and they're cats. Always. This says a lot about me.
23. Do appearances play a big role in your stories? I think so. In MISFITS especially there are a lot of small details that I thought were important.
24. Have you ever written a character with physical or mental disabilities? I think there is something a little bit wrong with all of my characters but nothing that I would classify as a disability.
25. How often do you think about writing? All. The. Time.
Whew! That was longer than I thought it would be. Fill out at your own risk. :)
Brandy
I really love the world in the WIP I'm revising, MISFITS. I think it's because there are SO MANY possibilities. I actually started MISFITS as a creative exercise by just throwing everything at it and it turned into a book!
2. How many characters do you have? I normally have one MC and a group around her. I think the people around an MC make them who they are, so friends and family are important to me when creating characters.
Do you prefer males or females? I've only written from the female POV but I think a lot about writing a male.
3. How do you come up with names, for characters (and for places if you’re writing about fictional places)? It's a big deal. I'm very picky about names, although in MISFITS the names are so silly and obvious that I just kind of went with it. I also tend to give my female MC's names that could also be male. I don't know why but there it is. As for places, I pick a place that makes sense for the story.
4. Tell us about one of your first stories/characters! My first story, which I found not long ago, was about me and a lot of danger. Like, chocolate was dangerous. I was five-ish. I've written kind of dramatic my whole life.
5. Where are you most comfortable writing? My couch. I try other places but no matter where I go, I get the most done on the couch. At what time of day? Whenever it hits me, although I make an effort to write during daylight times because if I write too late, I can't sleep.
6. Do you listen to music while you write? What kind? Are there any songs you like to relate/apply to your characters? I need quiet to write. Or if the TV is on, it's very low and on something that I won't pay attention to.
7. What’s your favorite genre to write? YA contemp, or fantasy-ish YA. To read? Same. Although I work in non-YA too.
8. How do you get ideas for your characters? I start with their personality and quirks. Charlie, my MC in KILLER CUPCAKES is very driven by what goes on around her and how she wants to change that. Ali, from MISFITS, doesn't deal with emotions well and uses jokes to lighten things up. My new MC is a complete headcase but I think I love her.
9. What are some really weird situations your characters have been in? Hell. One has woken up spooning with a guy in front of her grandmother and almost shot a raccoon. Another has ridden a were animal. It's complicated.
10. Who is your favorite character to write? The group of life-long friends in INHERENTLY DANGEROUS is really fun to write. They have so much complicated history and there really aren't many secrets between them, so the dynamic is fun.
11. In what story did you feel you did the best job of worldbuilding?
I kind of suck at worldbuilding, so I'm not sure. It's definitely not my strongest suit. I'm working on it.
12. What’s your favorite culture to write, fictional or not? Any and all.
13. How do you map out locations, if needed? Honestly? I've never felt the need to. I take creative liberties while trying to be realistic about everything around my characters.
14. Midway question! Tell us about a writer you admire, whether professional or not! Richelle Mead but I'm not talking anymore about it. If she finds out (doubtful), she'll think I'm obsessed and I'M NOT.
15. Do you write romantic relationships? Sure do. How do you deal with those, and how “far” are you willing to go in your writing? Well, I write mainly YA, so I try to be smart about it. Interestingly enough, if I ever write my second books to KC or MISFITS, I'll have to deal with this more head on, I think.
16. What are your favorite character interactions to write? I lurrve awkward scenes.
17. Do any of your characters have children? No, but boy would that complicate things!
18. Tell us about one scene between your characters that you’ve never written or told anyone about before! Serious or not. Not sure what this means, but we'll go with I don't have one. :)
19. How long does it usually take you to complete an entire story—from planning to writing to posting (if you post your work)?
First draft takes about a month, revisions take MY WHOLE LIFE! Kidding. But that takes longer. I would say the whole process takes three months before betas get it.
20. How willing are you to kill your characters if the plot so demands it? If it needs to happen, then it does. What’s the most interesting way you’ve killed someone? I don't know if I can answer this.
22. Do any of your characters have pets? Yes, and they're cats. Always. This says a lot about me.
23. Do appearances play a big role in your stories? I think so. In MISFITS especially there are a lot of small details that I thought were important.
24. Have you ever written a character with physical or mental disabilities? I think there is something a little bit wrong with all of my characters but nothing that I would classify as a disability.
25. How often do you think about writing? All. The. Time.
Whew! That was longer than I thought it would be. Fill out at your own risk. :)
Brandy
Monday, September 19, 2011
Monday Writing Meme
Just like last week, a writing meme! I swear I won't only have memes on the blog from now on, it just ended up that way this week. Pinky swear.
You know the rules: there are none. If you end up doing the meme, let me know. If not, just comment and say hi, okay? Because I'm fragile like that.
1. List one of your writing goals for the upcoming month and how likely you are to accomplish it.
Well, I have two goals for the next month. The first is to FINALLY, FINALLY finish revising MISFITS. I would also, in a really happy world, like to finish my first draft on The New Project. MISFITS will happen, for sure. I'm not sure about TNP. It's taking a while to form in my head, so it may end up being my NaNoWriMo project. Not sure yet.
2. What genre or subject would you like to write about that you aren't currently?
I don't know. I'd love to write something like The Mortal Instruments series by Cassie Clare but I don't know if I can put myself through that. If I still hung posters, Cassie Clare's pic would SO be up there. Also, a book like Beauty Queens by Libba Bray. She is insanely amazing.
3. What is your writing lifestyle, habits? How do you manage the interruptions with your writing? How do you stay positive? Believe in your writing success?
a) Writing lifestyle - I'd like to say that I'm really structured and sit down from 9-5, or whatever, to write but I don't. If I wanted to work from 9-5, I'd go get a real job instead of trying to write books. I do, however, like to give myself wordcount goals, so I try to write 2k words a day. On Wednesdays, I like to double the word count, a day I've dubbed Double Up Wednesday.
The only real habit I have is that I make notes after writing for the day, so I know what my thought process was when I start the next day. It keeps me on track.
b) Interruptions - I mostly glare at people. Is that wrong?
c) How do I stay positive - Oh boy. I don't know about this one. I think I go back and forth between thinking my stories rule to thinking I suck at life. One day I'm all, "Working on my future best seller right now!" and the next I'm all, "I should just go and get a factory job and never write another word!" So I really don't know. I have people who tell me I don't suck. That helps.
d) Believe in my writing success - I've gotten good feedback, even with rejections and that helps. It lets me know that I'm close but still need to work harder. So I keep working.
4. Are you a pantser or plotter? - Pantser. I love the idea of planning while it also gives me hives. I feel that if I plan out the whole book, I won't feel like writing it anymore. I also worry that I'll plan myself into a box. In general, I know who my characters are when I start and within the first few chapters I have a basic idea of what's going to happen and that's all. This is the problem I'm having with The New Project right now. I have NO IDEA what's going to happen and don't want to write more until I do. *shakes fist at ceiling*
5. Who are two of your favorite current authors and why? - Oh my. This is a ridiculous questions to ask me! Or for me to ask myself! Okay, okay, OKAY!
I'm going to go with Richelle Mead first because of my obsession with The Vampire Academy. Also because she is so ballsy, and let me be honest, the person who created Dimitri Belikov deserves a poster on my wall.
Second, I'll go with Stephanie Perkins because she is just GOOD. I read Anna and the French Kiss in one day, put it down, sent texts to all of my friends telling them to read it, and then picked it up and read it again. So cute. I just gave it to a friend as a birthday present, actually.
6. How does your family feel about your writing? - My mom is my biggest fan. She's Person Who Tells Me I Don't Suck #1. My sister thinks it's cool but is still silently waiting for me to grow up. My niece hopes I'll make tons of money so I can buy her a new wardrobe and softball gear. My dad's side of the family doesn't really know that I write that much.... I kind of never told them. Don't worry! I'll send them a book when I get published! *crosses fingers*
Okay, that's it! Happy Monday!
Brandy
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