Oh Kindle, how I love thee. My dad gave me a kindle as a thank you present and I can't believe how much I love it. I thought I'd miss actual books - but it turns out - it's not been much of a problem. It's been especially wonderful since my local library started lending to the Kindle. I bought a little waterproof cover and I can read on the beach or in the bath, and then my dad gave me a cover with a light built in and that's perfect for the late night reading.
This is a little glimpse of what I've managed to read recently:
Loved:
The Dead-Tossed Waves and Dark and Hollow Places (Carrie Ryan)
Anna and the French Kiss (Stephanie Perkins)
Marcelo and the Real World (Francisco Stork)
Liked:
The Forest of Hands and Teeth (Carrie Ryan)
Matched (Allie Condie)
The Magicians (Lev Grossman)
Dreamland (Sarah Dessen)
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Ransom Riggs)
Beautiful Disaster (Jamie McGuire) (oh how I struggle with this one!)
Next on the shelf:
The Magician King (Lev Grossman)
Angelfall (susan Ee)
Crossed (Allie Condie)
Blood on My Hands (Todd Strasser)
Vida Nocturna (Mark Diehl)
The Demon Trappers Daughter (Jana Oliver)
So - what have you been reading?
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Friday, January 6, 2012
THAT voice
Here's the funny thing about writing. Sometimes you get too deep into your own head to find your way out to write about normal things. Like blog posts.
I find it amazing that I haven't posted in almost a year. Yet, when I look through my blog drafts, I actually write a couple of blog posts a month. I can't bring myself to post them. I think that's why I had to stop querying. I wasn't ready for the all the other parts that come with writing. I enjoy writing, I write to feel sane, I write to get the characters out of my head that follow me around. I tell their stories. When I started querying and those first few R's started coming - a big, red, flashing sign went off for me. I knew I would get R's. EVERYONE get's R's. It wasn't even as if I took it personally. I knew that they were judging my book based on 3 small paragraphs - not even the body of my work. What it came down to for me, was the fact that every single R's echoed this nasty little voice that lives in my head telling me that my writing isn't ready, it's not good enough, it's not worth it. THAT voice. It was me and my problem, not the rejection. I had already set myself up to fail this journey. I wasn't ready.
So, I've been taking some time. I took a break from writing, since I needed to get my own head on straight. I need to quiet THAT voice. Now that I have emerged on the other side with writing mojo back on my side, I re-evaluated my query process. I expected to find I had sent out dozens of queries. But no, 12. I sent out 12 queries to agents. 12!!! I received 6 rejections and 6 no-answers (which in my world are R's). I quit at 12. I shared this with some of my writing buddies lately and they laughed at me. Not because I have been rejected, but because 12 was the extent of my attempt. One friend has queried over 300 times, over three different books. Most of my other friends, (some pubbed even) said they queried a minimum of 50 for each book.
I don't know if I'm ready, I probably won't really know until the R's start piling in again. But I'm stronger. I quieted that voice, and I'm working on kicking it's ass and pushing it to the curb permanently. That part will take time. But the rest of me is in charge now. I'm writing again. I'm finishing my next novel, and then I'll go through the process to get it shiny and ready. Then I will try again.
I find it amazing that I haven't posted in almost a year. Yet, when I look through my blog drafts, I actually write a couple of blog posts a month. I can't bring myself to post them. I think that's why I had to stop querying. I wasn't ready for the all the other parts that come with writing. I enjoy writing, I write to feel sane, I write to get the characters out of my head that follow me around. I tell their stories. When I started querying and those first few R's started coming - a big, red, flashing sign went off for me. I knew I would get R's. EVERYONE get's R's. It wasn't even as if I took it personally. I knew that they were judging my book based on 3 small paragraphs - not even the body of my work. What it came down to for me, was the fact that every single R's echoed this nasty little voice that lives in my head telling me that my writing isn't ready, it's not good enough, it's not worth it. THAT voice. It was me and my problem, not the rejection. I had already set myself up to fail this journey. I wasn't ready.
So, I've been taking some time. I took a break from writing, since I needed to get my own head on straight. I need to quiet THAT voice. Now that I have emerged on the other side with writing mojo back on my side, I re-evaluated my query process. I expected to find I had sent out dozens of queries. But no, 12. I sent out 12 queries to agents. 12!!! I received 6 rejections and 6 no-answers (which in my world are R's). I quit at 12. I shared this with some of my writing buddies lately and they laughed at me. Not because I have been rejected, but because 12 was the extent of my attempt. One friend has queried over 300 times, over three different books. Most of my other friends, (some pubbed even) said they queried a minimum of 50 for each book.
I don't know if I'm ready, I probably won't really know until the R's start piling in again. But I'm stronger. I quieted that voice, and I'm working on kicking it's ass and pushing it to the curb permanently. That part will take time. But the rest of me is in charge now. I'm writing again. I'm finishing my next novel, and then I'll go through the process to get it shiny and ready. Then I will try again.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Pole Dancing
So, my oldest daughter just asked me if she could take Pole Dancing lessons.
She's 10.
Let's just say that my mouth couldn't have opened any wider if I was getting a cavity filled.
After I collected myself, I asked her what the heck she was talking about (OMGHOWDOESSHEKNOWWHATTHATEVENIS????).
Turns out she saw a Groupon coupon for 1/2 off Pole Dancing lessons when looking over my shoulder at my email. She thought it sounded great, because pole dancing is like the jig right? Like the dancing Polish people do?
Let's just say it took me about ten minutes before I could breathe between fits of laughter.
sigh...
She's 10.
Let's just say that my mouth couldn't have opened any wider if I was getting a cavity filled.
After I collected myself, I asked her what the heck she was talking about (OMGHOWDOESSHEKNOWWHATTHATEVENIS????).
Turns out she saw a Groupon coupon for 1/2 off Pole Dancing lessons when looking over my shoulder at my email. She thought it sounded great, because pole dancing is like the jig right? Like the dancing Polish people do?
Let's just say it took me about ten minutes before I could breathe between fits of laughter.
sigh...
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Writing for Dummies
My muse just up and went. Left. Gone. Hit the Road.
I think we dun broke up. Surely she would have left a note right? Something?
I'm not sure whether to submit a missing "persons" report or just wait it out. I know she'll come back. Right?
I pick up my laptop and just look at the screen. It's kind of pathetic.
I spend hours listening to the music we used to write to. Sometimes, I go back and torture myself and read what we wrote when we were still together.
I'm so desperate I went down into the dark alleyways to get help. Writing prompts and spew writing (ya know, where you just write to write in hopes that at some point the words will work themselves into something worth reading?). I know, I know. Amateur. I just needed a fix. Something to get me through until she comes back.
So far, no muse. She hasn't even called.
I'm left questioning myself and my past. Was what we had even real at all?
Told ya. Pathetic.
I think we dun broke up. Surely she would have left a note right? Something?
I'm not sure whether to submit a missing "persons" report or just wait it out. I know she'll come back. Right?
I pick up my laptop and just look at the screen. It's kind of pathetic.
I spend hours listening to the music we used to write to. Sometimes, I go back and torture myself and read what we wrote when we were still together.
I'm so desperate I went down into the dark alleyways to get help. Writing prompts and spew writing (ya know, where you just write to write in hopes that at some point the words will work themselves into something worth reading?). I know, I know. Amateur. I just needed a fix. Something to get me through until she comes back.
So far, no muse. She hasn't even called.
I'm left questioning myself and my past. Was what we had even real at all?
Told ya. Pathetic.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Hello.
I'll tell ya, this business of writing is funny. Not so much ha ha funny as strange funny, but ya get my point. Once I wrapped up Normal and started querying (and I'm doing a terrible job at that... I haven't even sent out 12 queries in 9 months. LAME!), I've been bitten by the Shiny New Idea bug (SNI) over and over and over. I have noted, fleshed out and even gotten 10-20K in on some of these ideas (I think I've had at least a dozen since October?), but none of them have really tempted me to write.
Partly the problem is these inspirations come to me in a flash, a character or of a scene, but not the stuff of a full out novel.
So, although the inspiration well was dry, I've been forcing myself to write. I've also been doing a lot of reading.
Ghosties is close to my heart, but I'm torn because I have two roads in front of me, two separate paths I really like for it - but once I decide on one and start writing that way, I'm suddenly convinced the other path is THE path. I think I'm going to write both and see which one I end up loving. I admit it's also hard to write because I'm a giant scaredy-cat, and once I get into some of these scenes, they stay with me and freak me out. That's good though, right?
Then, my hockey chick novel, which originally was 3 SNI's that combined into one, took a crazy turn and has finally captured my full attention. The characters are rounding themselves out and speaking to me, sometimes even shouting. Mac (the MC) had a huge secret she finally revealed to me, and now I have hope for her - and her story. There is a playlist, there is a cast... and it's moving along. I just hit 12K on it, and have very, very loosely outlined the rest of the novel - so there is somewhere to go.
So, here I am finally settled into a manuscript. Enjoying writing it. Getting wordage in.
Low and behold it hit me this morning after a crazy dream, a new SNI. An epic story - with an actual plot attached. The characters are so real to me that I instantly was able to search out actors that fit the physical descriptions. It's full of action and romance so I'm loving it. I wrote a four page outline (I'm still a pantser, I promise, but I had to get it out of my head and on paper while I had it!!) and then about 2K!
So.... I crank up The Clash and force myself to decide... "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"
I'll tell ya, this business of writing is funny. Not so much ha ha funny as strange funny, but ya get my point. Once I wrapped up Normal and started querying (and I'm doing a terrible job at that... I haven't even sent out 12 queries in 9 months. LAME!), I've been bitten by the Shiny New Idea bug (SNI) over and over and over. I have noted, fleshed out and even gotten 10-20K in on some of these ideas (I think I've had at least a dozen since October?), but none of them have really tempted me to write.
Partly the problem is these inspirations come to me in a flash, a character or of a scene, but not the stuff of a full out novel.
So, although the inspiration well was dry, I've been forcing myself to write. I've also been doing a lot of reading.
Ghosties is close to my heart, but I'm torn because I have two roads in front of me, two separate paths I really like for it - but once I decide on one and start writing that way, I'm suddenly convinced the other path is THE path. I think I'm going to write both and see which one I end up loving. I admit it's also hard to write because I'm a giant scaredy-cat, and once I get into some of these scenes, they stay with me and freak me out. That's good though, right?
Then, my hockey chick novel, which originally was 3 SNI's that combined into one, took a crazy turn and has finally captured my full attention. The characters are rounding themselves out and speaking to me, sometimes even shouting. Mac (the MC) had a huge secret she finally revealed to me, and now I have hope for her - and her story. There is a playlist, there is a cast... and it's moving along. I just hit 12K on it, and have very, very loosely outlined the rest of the novel - so there is somewhere to go.
So, here I am finally settled into a manuscript. Enjoying writing it. Getting wordage in.
Low and behold it hit me this morning after a crazy dream, a new SNI. An epic story - with an actual plot attached. The characters are so real to me that I instantly was able to search out actors that fit the physical descriptions. It's full of action and romance so I'm loving it. I wrote a four page outline (I'm still a pantser, I promise, but I had to get it out of my head and on paper while I had it!!) and then about 2K!
So.... I crank up The Clash and force myself to decide... "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"
Monday, December 20, 2010
Tis the Season....
.... for generic headings....
Hahahahahaha haha ha ha.
Did I mention that I love just about everything about this time of year? It's true. Busy stores, long lines, late nights, flour handprints on my jeans... love it all.
I think however, like everything else I do - I may be gathering a few too many traditions. So far it's manageable, but if I keep picking up 1-2 new ones every year, in about 10 years we'll be spewing Christmas from Labor Day to Valentine's Day.
I've been writing, so that's wonderful, but I'm sort of stuck in a world of WIPS (works in progress). There aren't any that are calling my name at night and begging for attention, so I'm just plugging along waiting for one to scream to be written or a new SNI (shiny new idea) that will grab me.
Hahahahahaha haha ha ha.
Did I mention that I love just about everything about this time of year? It's true. Busy stores, long lines, late nights, flour handprints on my jeans... love it all.
I think however, like everything else I do - I may be gathering a few too many traditions. So far it's manageable, but if I keep picking up 1-2 new ones every year, in about 10 years we'll be spewing Christmas from Labor Day to Valentine's Day.
I've been writing, so that's wonderful, but I'm sort of stuck in a world of WIPS (works in progress). There aren't any that are calling my name at night and begging for attention, so I'm just plugging along waiting for one to scream to be written or a new SNI (shiny new idea) that will grab me.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Banned Book Week
So, the Banned Book Week party is over, the crepe paper is still clinging to the ceiling by a random piece of Scotch tape. The dishes are almost washed and the helium balloons are bouncing around the room at eye height now.
Did we all have a fun Banned Book Week? I still can't believe some of the books that get banned - or challenged. I try and live in my little world bubble most of the time - here we have good food and can read anything we want to.
Enough rambling and on to the good stuff... I have a winner for my little contest. I was so excited to have 10 comments!! ( Little things people... little things! ) Thanks for sharing your favorites with me - and commenting! I love you all!
The winner of the contest is MELANIE! Congratulations!! Email me at hddougherty at att(dot)net with your shipping info and choice of book and I'll get it out to you by the end of the month!!
Thanks again for participating!
Did we all have a fun Banned Book Week? I still can't believe some of the books that get banned - or challenged. I try and live in my little world bubble most of the time - here we have good food and can read anything we want to.
Enough rambling and on to the good stuff... I have a winner for my little contest. I was so excited to have 10 comments!! ( Little things people... little things! ) Thanks for sharing your favorites with me - and commenting! I love you all!
The winner of the contest is MELANIE! Congratulations!! Email me at hddougherty at att(dot)net with your shipping info and choice of book and I'll get it out to you by the end of the month!!
Thanks again for participating!
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