Welcome to my blog! Why should you keep reading, you may ask? Because I am super interesting, of course! I'm writing to document my quest to be a published author and what could be more interesting (or funny) than that? Right?! That's what I thought.
Three things I am really, really looking forward to: Having more children, building our dream home on our land, winning the lottery (what? A girl can dream, right?)
I’m one of those people that keeps my writing a secret with a few exceptions Why? Well, there are a lot of reasons.
~ I don’t want people to think I’m an insane person or delusional or both.
~ I don’t want people to ask me questions about what I’m writing because it always sounds stupid when I try to explain it. This is why query letters scare the pee out of me, though I’m slowly getting better with summarizing. It’s a process, people!
~ I just don’t want to face the questions: When are you going to be done? When are you going to be published? And then not have anything to tell them if I don’t. I don’t mind if I only end up writing for myself, but I just don’t want beady, judgey eyes looking at me through this process.
I don’t know. Some times I think I should be more open about it, but I’ve had some unpleasant reactions when I’ve decided to share, so that draws me back into my turtle shell. But then, my husband, whom I love dearly, tells people all the time what I’m doing, and really, that’s what matters. The people I love are proud of me.
Still, it’s scary to put yourself out there. Granted, I use my real name and people see this that I know in real life and that’s okay. It’s just when I have to look at someone in the eye and tell them what I’m doing face to face, it’s scary.
I know I’m rambling, but this is just something I’ve been thinking about lately.
Sharing my secret feels like my ceiling and walls all turn into this:
Granted, now that I look at that picture, it seems as if they are all baby eyes. I don’t think my walls really turn into baby eyes judging me, but you get the picture. :-P
For dreaming purposes, let’s say you won $240 million in the lottery. What would you do with it? Invest, splurge, both, what?
A late night conversation prompted this.
Speaking of money…
The parenting forum I run is hosting a March of Dimes drive. A year ago, a few of our moms were hit with some devastating losses and to honor them and all moms that have lost children or had children born prematurely, we are trying to raise money. I’ve donated and it would be awesome if you would like to chip in. Here is the link if you are interested (it’s tax deductable):
So, after the winter fiasco of 2010, I FINALLY made it up to the mountains this past weekend.
It wasn’t really for writing, as it was just the hubs and me, but boy, oh boy. I SO am going back specifically for writing. It was so relaxing and something about the setting just made the creative juices flow. I’ve started a new WIP and I got so many ideas just sitting on the porch.
Here is where we stayed:
So, yeah. Going to the mountains is my prescription for all of you.
Also, I want to say that I was very encouraged by this past week. So many people took a stand against something they didn’t believe in. I think that’s awesome.
Oh, and if you want to read the summary for my new WIP (and the first bit, I have to add it later today as it’s not on this computer), it is under ‘what I’m writing’ and is titled DELILAH WAKES. It’s a rough summary, but it gives you the basic idea.
So, I was thinking about writers and how we are all really different brands of ninjas. I mean, think about it. Ninjas are made of awesome and so are we writers.
So here are the Amanda dubbed Ninja categories for writerly types:
Mr. Miyagi Ninja
This is the type that has been there, done that, and has all of the advice. The Mr. Miyagi Ninja does not throw their expertise in your face, but rather will provide you with excellent advice as needed. They will help you reach your maximum potential while also kicking a little ninja booty themselves while they’re at it.
Karate Kid Ninja
Keeping with the theme, there is the Karate Kid Ninja. This is the writer who is new, learning the ropes (read, filling their writing with adverbs, adjectives, and cliche waking up from a dream scenes), and seeking out advice from those who have been there and done that (see Mr. Miyagi Ninja above).
The 3 Ninjas – Rocky, Colt, and Tum-Tum
These are the writers who have progressed beyond the Karate Kid status of ninja-ing, but have not yet secured an agent or published anything. They do know that prologues are spat upon like the scum on your shoe (but that sometimes – SOMETIMES – they work). This is the pivotal ninja moment. Will they be able to move up the Ninja ladder? Only time will tell.
Donatello, Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo – Otherwise known as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
These are the new writers that have found success and might think they know everything (read, MIGHT, not all of them – Leonardo had his head on straight…or was it Donatello? I can’t remember). Which, they do have cred, don’t get me wrong, but they occasionally need a Master Splinter or Mr. Miyagi to knock them back down to reality. No chillin’ and eating pizza for these Ninjas! They have too much awesome ninjaing to do! And some lessons to learn, as well. :-) But who doesn’t love the TMNT? Exactly.
The Ninja Agents
You know who you are. We are afraid. We are very afraid.
If you feel you do not fit into any of these categories, you may need to go to Ninja school, which I am providing for you free of charge. You might be able to think of another type of writing ninja, which I’d hope you’d add to the comments section! Or you can simply go to: http://www.entertheninja.com and take a test to see if you have what it takes. Ninji star!!!
Oh, and I added the Google Friend Connect thing wwwwaaayyyyy at the bottom of the blog, if you want to add yourself to it. I’ll admit, I don’t have a clue how it works.
So, I was talking to @Sparrowbug on twitter the other day about the responsibilities of YA writers in terms of content.
She was voicing her opinion about the fact that underage drinking and even drinking and driving seem to be given the ‘okay’ in some YA novels. The characters seem to not care and/or there are no consequences for the behavior.
I agree that is pretty crappy, but at the same time, is it authentic? Where do you draw the line? If it fits your character to drink or do other naughties and not face consequences, do you forgo that for your own sense of moral obligation?
I really don’t know the answer. On one hand, I know that my parents were very present and waiting up for me when I got home every night. Therefore, I didn’t drink in high school despite my friends doing, seeing it on TV, reading it in books, etc. So that side of me thinks you write what is right (fun with homophones) for your story.
On the other hand, I know my parents were awesome and not everyone has that. Also, some kids are just more rebellious by nature and will do what they want to do regardless (though I still think parenting comes into play). This side of me thinks we need to be very cognizant of the words/ideas that we are passing on to our readers.
So as writers, how do we approach these subjects? Do we strive for complete authenticity or do we try to work in some personal responsibilities (not preachy) into our writing?
My old laptop died a slow death at the hands of a Coca-Cola a few months back (which I now realize was October – I can’t believe I’ve gone this long without a personal computer), so my husband and I decided to bite the bullet and get the 27″ iMac for both writing and photography purposes.
It’s large. It’s in charge. It’s awesome.
Let me count the ways of its awesomeness.
First, the monitor is HUGE. Gargantuan. Massive. Did I mention huge?
This is great for a lot of reasons. Number one, I can edit pictures a lot more effectively as I can actually SEE all the details. Love it.
Secondly, I can really get a better picture of what my WIP looks like on a larger scale. Example:
Lastly, I can do this (please ignore the messy room):
I really haven’t had a lot to say lately. *hears collective gasps from anyone who knows me in real life*
But, I AM writing, which is a yay moment. Can I get a woot-woot? Bueller? Bueller? Anyone?
I really do see light at the end of the tunnel and I can’t wait to start editing! I sent my first ten pages to Weronika Janczuk and I kind of had to laugh when I read it back over. Apparently, I was a fan of adverbs when I started writing VINTAGE. So yeah, I’ll be fixing those.
Lastly, be sure to enter my friend Regan’s contest!!!!!!! The book she’s offering up to the winner is a great help. She bought it for me at the vveerryyy beginning of my journey and I really have appreciated it.
I had an awesome picture of a blue ribbon winning pickle (contest, get it?) I was going to add, but Getty Images is being dumb. Try to get a mental image because it was an awesome picture.
So, you know my fabulous writing weekend I was talking about? Well… (the other) Amanda and I got iced in before we even left Georgia. As to avoid this:
we decided to cut our loses and stay home. There will be tears tonight once it all sinks in, I promise. At least the other three made it okay and will have a good time. Make a toast for us, ladies!
