I’ve noticed that I’ve changed a smidge since beginning this wee-little journey of becoming an author.  Some of the changes, I’ve decided to list.  You may question my sanity, but I have a feeling you will relate to more of them not.  So what does that say about us as a group? :D

1. You try to sleep, but the little voices inside your head won’t stop talking to you (try to keep this one to yourself if you don’t want to wind up in a straight-jacket).

2.  Instead of seeing the weird old man that wanders the streets as having a one-way ticket on the crazy train, you start wondering about his life story and how it would make an interesting novel.

3.  Before, you’d have thought buying a $20 book of blank writing paper to be a total waste of money, but now you see it as a sturdy investment.

4. You used to be able to ignore grammatical errors made by others, but now they drive you absolutely bonkers (even if you continue to make them yourself).

5.  You have a new appreciation for quality pens.

6.  You bore your family and friends with talk of the imaginary world running around in your mind.  Sometimes you get the blank, glassy stare, but other times, they get just as excited as you are.  That latter is a good sign. ;-)

7.  On the flipside of #6, you don’t talk to anyone about it because you grow tired of the dreaded: “When will you be published?” or just because it’s too personal to talk about.

I know there are a lot more, so do you have anything to add to the list?

I’m at the point in my WIP where I have to begin building a futuristic world and society.  I’m finding it difficult, even though I’m not making crazy changes (there are no snarlufugus furried beasts that I’ve created or anything).

I guess what I’m finding difficult is not so much describing what I’m seeing in my head, but I keep asking myself, “does this sound stupid?”

I’m sure it is because of my insecurities more than anything else, but I’m anxious about eventually giving it to betas and finding out that I totally blew it.

I think it’s making me even more nervous because I totally see this society building in my brain and I want to do it justice.

As if the blogging gods heard my prayers, I stumbled about Janice Hardy’s blog series specifically dealing with world building in your writing.

So far, she’s talked about (using construction metaphors):

The Foundation

Putting Up the Walls

Building Out the Rooms

Painting

Showing It Off

If you are having to world build, what are you finding particularly difficult?

So, I’ve hit the half-way mark of my WIP and have moved beyond that hump, so I’m starting to think about the end.  Not of my life, but the end of this draft.  I’m look forward to the editing sometimes and then sometimes, I’m not at all.

Reasons why I am looking forward to it:

A) I am going to buy a nifty corkboard and colored note cards.  I don’t know what I’m going to DO with said items, but I thought it would make me look cool.

B) I already know things that need to be changed, but I’m just waiting until I get to the end before I start messing with stuff.  But those things are nagging me, so I’m ready for that.  I just don’t want to spend a bunch of time messing with a scene just to have it cut later or something.

Now, why I’m NOT looking forward to editing.

A) I have eyeitis.  It’s all about the eyes.  When I do Find & Replace, it’s going to tell me there are a million ‘eyes’ in my story.  I just know it. 

B) I also have weak-verbitis.  Every time I type a ‘walked’ or a ‘looked’, I cringe because I know I’m going to have to go back and change it when I’m editing, but I’m trying not to focus on that stuff with the first run.

So what are your ailments that make you nervous about the editing process?  Or are you totally stoked and already have your colored note cards lined up on your nightstand ready and waiting?

And don’t forget about  the CONTEST!  I’m not a huge blog, so your chances of winning are pretty high!

I went through a spell the last few weeks where I had no motivation to write.   None.  Nada. 

My friend, Regan, hounded me relentlessly, but I just couldn’t seem to make myself do anything.  Granted, my twitching eyelid (that still hasn’t stopped, thank you very much) made staring at a computer screen…well…uncomfortable, to say the least. 

It’s weird what your mind can do.  I started doubting everything, wondering if it made sense to spend so much time writing when you hear such dismal discussions across the internet about the industry. 

I guess it comes down to just getting back to why I started – because I like it.

When I started to write, I didn’t tell anyone and did it simply for creative expression.  I needed to do it.  I needed to get the words out. 

Then I started learning about the industry, everything that goes into it, etc.  It got me really excited at first, but then I started seeing posts and tweets about how much junk is really sent to agents.  I questioned myself.  I admit it.  It’s hard not to when you are taking time away from family to pursue something.

But I had to have a come to Jesus talk with myself.  It just doesn’t matter!  I needed to get back to writing for the reasons I started – fun!

So, I’m back, Jack!  I know that I will have these droughts and struggles again, but hopefully, I can get back to my happy place. :-)

Ok, I’m a sucker for some romance and love.  I can’t help it.  Give me a chick flick over an Oscar winner any day of the week.

As such, writing about love is one of my favorite things to do.  I get a thrill out of watching a relationship unfold and go through all of the awkward and goofy stages, through the intense beginnings of a real romance, and then watch it settle into a mature and timeless love. 

It’s funny because I find myself giggling and getting giddy right along with my characters as they develop a crush or have that first kiss with someone.  It is challenging to try and make it authentic without being over the top. 

I write YA, so teenagers do get that intense, hormone-ridden attack when they first dive into a relationship, so it’s hard to show that without making the character seem vapid or immature.  By the same token, you have to give credit to teenagers and their emotions – they know how they feel and don’t want anyone to tell them otherwise.  I’ve had a crush on my husband since I was thirteen years old and we’ve been dating since I was sixteen, so at least I feel I can relate to a real teenage love.  I did have experiences that I thought were love at the time, but now realize belong in a different pocket, so I can use that, too. 

I also enjoy showing love in a nonromantic way too, such as between a parent and a child.  I think it’s an important element in a piece of writing and one that really needs to be done justice.  I think this has gotten a bit easier since becoming a parent because you don’t quite get a grasp on how much your parents love you until you are one yourself.  I know I didn’t, anyway. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

The rest of the AW Blog Chain:

Aimeelaine – www.aimeelaine.com/writing/blog
Harri3tspy – http://spynotes.wordpress.com
Charlotte49ers – http://www.amandaplavich.com
AuburnAssassin – http://clairegillian.wordpress.com/ <– Next!
Breddings – http://boozingear.com/blog
*RomanceWriter* – http://staceyespino.blogspot.com/
Claire Crossdale – http://theromanticqueryletter.blogpost.com
Collectonian – http://collectonian.livejournal.com
FreshHell - http://freshhell.wordpress.com
Lostwanderer5.blogspot.com – http://www.lostwanderer5.blogspot.com
David Zahir – http://zahirblue.blogspot.com/

So, seeing as how I’m new at this whole writing bit and all, there have been various things that have happened that I didn’t expect.

Here is the one that hit me in the last day or so: I don’t want the twist revelations to happen.

I have SO much fun building the suspense, tension, mystery, etc. that I don’t want it to end.  I mean, I have a bunch of twists and turns to still come about, but this was the first biggie that I’ve hit.  I didn’t write it for days because I just didn’t want to.  Isn’t that silly?  I’ll never finish a book if I don’t, you know, write it. :/

That’s it. 

You were expecting something mind-blowing, weren’t you?  Sorry to disappoint. ;-)

Why, yes!  Yes, I do!

Do you have anything else you’d like to know?  I signed up for my own Formspring page!  Woot!  You can ask me anything you want and you can even do it anonymously.  However, I won’t answer anything inappropriate, ya weirdos. 

And I also have some exciting news (for me).  I’m closing in on the half-way mark with my current WIP (the first draft, anyway).  YAY!!!!  And I’m finally figuring out some of the plot elements that were eluding me, so that’s a happy place for me.

And, in less than three days, I will be in the mountains with four other writerly friends for an all girls, kick booty, writing weekend.  I can’t WAIT!  Be prepared for pictures, silliness, and all around insanity.  Hopefully, we will actually get some writing done.  I need to focus.

Oh my goodness…that hurts my eyes so badly.

Let’s talk about a writer’s inner stalkerness.

I coined that phrase by the way. Totally copyrighted and trademarked. Trust me.

You stare with doe eyes at your object’s twitter feed. Most likely, this is a person whom you’ve never met before. You religiously click on blogs to gather as much information as you possibly can. Some of you brave souls even try to befriend on Facebook (which is a little weird…don’t do that – know your stalker etiquette).

What am I talking about? No, not trailing the smokin’ hot guy (or girl depending on your preference) that you check out at the gym every.single.day – though some of you may do this with them, too, but seriously…that’s clinical.

I’m talking about our agent obsession. We can’t fix what we don’t acknowledge, right (shout out Dr. Phil)?

So, in the way of Goldilocks, what is “just right” in terms of agent stalking?

From what I’ve gathered from various tweets, articles, etc. during my own stal…er…research, these are the acceptable (and encouraged) forms of stalking:

- Follow and comment on their blogs (because let’s be honest – more blog followers = more queries = increase in possibility of finding awesomeness)

- Follow them on twitter (you can see them, but they don’t have to see you): you can @reply them, but don’t expect a response (this means do NOT get your panties in a bunch and go all: @NathanBransford You dirty bum! Tweet me back!! Tweet me back!!) <– that is crossing the writer stalkerness lines

- Make sure you read up on their submission guidelines, likes, and recent sales on their respective websites or places like Publishers Marketplace (http://www.publishersmarketplace.com) before you query

However, DO NOT, under ANY circumstance pitch to an agent in any way other than how they’ve specifically stated. No one is going to magically pluck you from the world of Twitter stalkerdom and sign you. It’s just not realistic, so be responsible with your stalking.

And lastly, be nice. No one likes a pompous turd @replying them every second or just being a fungus to the world in general.