HOW MY WRITING'S GOING:
I'm working on the first fifteen pages of my new wip for a local SCBWI Advanced Writers Retreat in April. The first fifteen pages will be critiqued by Viking Children's Books editor Kendra Levin at the retreat. I can't wait to hear what she has to say!
A GIFT:
My hubby got me a Kindle for Valentine's Day. It was quite a surprise - I hadn't even asked for one. I haven't bought any books for it yet because I have such a stack of previously purchased books already waiting for me. I did put my own manuscript on it, though, and it was so cool to read my book on my Kindle! Which brings me to...
A VERY HELPFUL POST: I found this post on agent Vickie Motter's Navigating the Slushpile blog about formatting your manuscript for an e-reader. The changes are so easy to make, and make such a difference on an e-reader. I downloaded both my original manuscript and my manuscript after making the changes, and it was so much easier to read after following Vickie's instructions. If you aren't reading Vickie's blog, you really should! It's packed with practical and easy-to-follow querying advice.
HOW ABOUT YOU:
Are there any extra-super-helpful blogs you'd like to give a shout-out to?
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Lotsa Links
HAPPY NEWS:
I recently won a signed arc of May B by Caroline Starr Rose on Terry Lynn Johnson's blog and a copy of Sh*t My Dad Says on Medeia Sharif's blog. I can't wait to get started on both of them!
WHAT I'M READING:
Right now I'm reading TickTock by Dean Koontz. Sometimes I'm just in the mood for horror, and you can't go wrong with Koontz.
HOW MY WRITING'S GOING:
I'm sorry I didn't post last week - I ended up taking an unexpected break to finish up a project. I promised I'd tell you how I did finishing the rough draft of my wip the week before, and I did it. I didn't even have to totally neglect the treadmill - bonus!
AN AWARD:
I was honored to receive the Great Comments Award from Cynthia Chapman Willis. I'm to pass this on to 20 great commenters. I'm so thankful to all who regularly (and even not-so-regularly) visit and comment that I really would love to share this with all of you, but I'll go ahead and follow the rules and just pick 20:
Sharon Mayhew
Jackee Alston
Dezmond
Old Kitty
Talli Roland
Amy Sonnichsen
The Happy Whisk
Brian
D.L. Hammons
Golden Eagle
Kelly Polark
Lenny Lee
Lydia Kang
Sheri Larsen
Stina Lindenblatt
Robyn Campbell
Lynda Young
Theresa Milstein
Medeia Sharif
Joanne DeMaio
HOW ABOUT YOU?
How is your writing going? Have you won any blog contests recently? Any other horror fans out there? If so, who is your favorite horror author?
Friday, February 10, 2012
Tumble For Ya Blogfest
Today I'm participating in the Tumble 4 Ya Blogfest hosted by Nicki Elson, Suze from Analog Breakfast, and M. Pax from Wistful Nebulae.
Do you recognize the guy in the poster? He was the very first love of my life - John Taylor of Duran Duran. Man, I loved him! I mean, look at that poster - it's larger than life size! That, by the way, is my sister standing in front of it, not me. You think I'd put a picture of myself in the 80s on my blog? I'm not that brave!
I never got to see Duran Duran in concert (it's a good thing, I probably would have had a heart attack), but I watched their videos practically round the clock. My BFF and I used to spend hours and hours in front of MTV, back when all they showed were videos. At the top of the hour, they'd show teasers of three videos they were going to show that hour, and Bestie and I would squeal like, well, preteen girls whenever they showed a clip of Duran Duran. That's one of my favorite 80s memories!
So there you have it, I've confessed my 80s crush. Who was yours? And if you weren't the right age to be crushing on celebrities in the 80s, which 80s celeb would you have crushed on?
Be sure to visit the other blogfest participants here.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
The Home Stretch
WHAT I'M READING:
I just started Paranormalcy by Kiersten White, and I'm really enjoying it so far. This one has been on my TBR list for a while - I'm so glad it finally made it to the top of the list!
DON'T MISS:
The Tumble 4 Ya Blogfest on Friday! I'll be doing a special Friday post this week, and I can't wait to show off my 80's crush!
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:
I WILL finish the first draft of my wip this week, even if it means letting my treadmill collect a little dust. I'm in the home stretch now - time for some marathon writing sessions! Okay, now that I've made my goal public, I have to do it, right? I'll let you know next week how it goes.
HOW ABOUT YOU:
Are you signed up for any blogfests? How's your writing coming?
I just started Paranormalcy by Kiersten White, and I'm really enjoying it so far. This one has been on my TBR list for a while - I'm so glad it finally made it to the top of the list!
DON'T MISS:
The Tumble 4 Ya Blogfest on Friday! I'll be doing a special Friday post this week, and I can't wait to show off my 80's crush!
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:
I WILL finish the first draft of my wip this week, even if it means letting my treadmill collect a little dust. I'm in the home stretch now - time for some marathon writing sessions! Okay, now that I've made my goal public, I have to do it, right? I'll let you know next week how it goes.
HOW ABOUT YOU:
Are you signed up for any blogfests? How's your writing coming?
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
A Blogfest, a Buddy, and a New Blog
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Carol Riggs of Artzicarol Ramblings. Carol took me under her wing this week and helped me get started on Twitter. I've had an account for months but never understood enough to use it. Thanks so much, Carol! If you haven't met Carol yet, be sure to check out her amazing blog - she offers writing tips and critiques.
DON'T MISS:
The I'll Tumble 4 Ya Blogfest! On February 10, post a picture, video, or whatever of your favorite 80s crush. I don't sign up for a lot of blogfests, but this one I couldn't resist. Hope to see you there!
A SHOPPING SPREE:
I took my daughter to Barnes & Noble last weekend. We bought Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, Deadly Little Voices by Laurie Faria Stolarz, and The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson. I also bought several books of comic strip collections for my 14-year-old son. Those are all he'll read at the moment, but at least he's reading.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:
Be sure to check out the new Cupid's Literary Connection blog. In Cupid's own words: "Where an undercover cupid brings writers and agents together to form magical literary connections..."
Last month Cupid hosted the Love Triangle Contest, where two fantastic agents selected from 25 entries (query and first 250 words) and awarded a total of thirteen partial and full manuscript requests (my manusript KILLING KESSLER was one of them - yahoo!) In February, Cupid's going to host Blind Speed Dating. You do NOT want to miss this...
YOUR TURN:
Have you ever had a fellow blogger go out of his/her way to lend you a helping hand? Care to give them a shout-out?
Carol Riggs of Artzicarol Ramblings. Carol took me under her wing this week and helped me get started on Twitter. I've had an account for months but never understood enough to use it. Thanks so much, Carol! If you haven't met Carol yet, be sure to check out her amazing blog - she offers writing tips and critiques.
DON'T MISS:
The I'll Tumble 4 Ya Blogfest! On February 10, post a picture, video, or whatever of your favorite 80s crush. I don't sign up for a lot of blogfests, but this one I couldn't resist. Hope to see you there!
A SHOPPING SPREE:
I took my daughter to Barnes & Noble last weekend. We bought Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, Deadly Little Voices by Laurie Faria Stolarz, and The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson. I also bought several books of comic strip collections for my 14-year-old son. Those are all he'll read at the moment, but at least he's reading.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:
Be sure to check out the new Cupid's Literary Connection blog. In Cupid's own words: "Where an undercover cupid brings writers and agents together to form magical literary connections..."
Last month Cupid hosted the Love Triangle Contest, where two fantastic agents selected from 25 entries (query and first 250 words) and awarded a total of thirteen partial and full manuscript requests (my manusript KILLING KESSLER was one of them - yahoo!) In February, Cupid's going to host Blind Speed Dating. You do NOT want to miss this...
YOUR TURN:
Have you ever had a fellow blogger go out of his/her way to lend you a helping hand? Care to give them a shout-out?
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Finding Your Voice
WHAT I'M READING:
I'm still working on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It's a long book, and I'm not nearly as fast a reader as I would like. I just watched The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest on DVD. Lisbeth is such a fascinating character! I'm sure I'll end up reading those books as well.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:
I recently finished reading Finding Your Voice by Les Edgerton. I loved Edgerton's book Hooked, so I decided to give Finding Your Voice a try. I'm so glad I did! It seems I've read so many writing how-to books that rarely do I find one that's really different. This one is. It addresses a topic that's very difficult to explain or teach, but it does so beautifully. I highly recommend it.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you read any good writing how-to books lately?
I'm still working on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It's a long book, and I'm not nearly as fast a reader as I would like. I just watched The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest on DVD. Lisbeth is such a fascinating character! I'm sure I'll end up reading those books as well.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:
I recently finished reading Finding Your Voice by Les Edgerton. I loved Edgerton's book Hooked, so I decided to give Finding Your Voice a try. I'm so glad I did! It seems I've read so many writing how-to books that rarely do I find one that's really different. This one is. It addresses a topic that's very difficult to explain or teach, but it does so beautifully. I highly recommend it.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you read any good writing how-to books lately?
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Martin Luther King Day
WHAT I'M READING:
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. I've seen both versions of the movie, so I decided it was about time I read the book. I'm enjoying it so far, but it's much longer than the YA I'm used to.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday yesterday. In honor of the occasion, here are some quotes from Martin Luther King Jr.:
“I have a dream that one day little black boys and girls will be holding hands with little white boys and girls.”
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
“Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.”
“Those who are not looking for happiness are the most likely to find it, because those who are searching forget that the surest way to be happy is to seek happiness for others.”
“Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude.”
“No person has the right to rain on your dreams.”
“If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way”
What an amazing man! Have a great week, everyone!
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. I've seen both versions of the movie, so I decided it was about time I read the book. I'm enjoying it so far, but it's much longer than the YA I'm used to.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday yesterday. In honor of the occasion, here are some quotes from Martin Luther King Jr.:
Image: digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
“I have a dream that one day little black boys and girls will be holding hands with little white boys and girls.”
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
“Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.”
“Those who are not looking for happiness are the most likely to find it, because those who are searching forget that the surest way to be happy is to seek happiness for others.”
“Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude.”
“No person has the right to rain on your dreams.”
“If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way”
What an amazing man! Have a great week, everyone!
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