The musings of a hopeful writer

It's been a long time, but it hasn't been wasted.

2012-02-21T16:23:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted in almost a month, and I didn't realize it was so long ago. I've been doing some reading, and writing, and parenting, and living, and so on. I probably have had time to do a post, but I haven't done it so now I'm setting a goal to do at least once a week. I did plan to post a couple times a week, and do some book reviews as I've completed books, but it just hasn't happened yet.

So I'm going to do a book review once a month, and do a post about writing once a week. Beyond that, we'll see what happens. Like I mentioned before, I am a mother. I have 5 kids that are more important than the extra things I'd like to do. Don't get me wrong, I'm not completely selfless. I will still do many things that make me happy. Some of that involves my kids and husband. Some of that will be writing related.

Writing does make me happy. The prospect of trying to get an agent, or have a publishing house makes me nervous. Putting my work out there for others to see isn't what gets me. It's the fact that the publishing industry is so subjective. My work might not be what they are looking for at the time, though that doesn't mean my story is bad, it just means it isn't for them.
That's okay. I still like it. And I'll keep writing more and more. Who knows, maybe someday, the whole world can read my thoughts.

Laura

So you've written a book... Now what?

2012-01-23T09:07:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I know I know, you sell it. Or publish it. Or so on.

But really, what do you do once you've written the final words and tagged on "THE END". Well, just because you wrote those final two words, it doesn't mean you are done. You have to go over it and over it and then over it one more time.

Once you've corrected every single little error you can find, then you give it to someone else to read to tell you whats wrong with it. And though family and friends are great at giving you positive feedback, or at least neutral feedback, you need someone who will tear it apart for you and tell you what is wrong. And not only what is wrong, but WHY it is wrong. Is there a problem with your plot? Is your character pretty boring, or irritating, or not likable enough to keep the reader engaged? Then you also hope this reader will tell you what is RIGHT about it. Every writer wants to hear praise, but it's the best when you can get praise for what you did well, along with suggestions on how to fix what is wrong with it.

My most recent manuscript was finished toward the end of July (just before my baby was born) I let it sit for about a month while I enjoyed my newborn. Then got back at it in September and worked on fixing what I could find wrong with it. I sent it out to about 5 readers who took the time to look through it and tell me what they liked and didn't like. Then I spent another month applying those edits. I sent it out again to 4 other readers and back to 1 of the first 5 to have another look. Now I'm in the process of fixing it again. And can I tell you this version will be so much better than the first one I had finished in July. Critique groups are so so so so so important.

Another thing to work on once you get the story written is to work on a query letter, and also a synopsis so when you start sending it out to agents or publishers they can get a quick look to see if it's something they want to see more of.

So I've written a book. And now I'm fixing it up. Writing a summary/synopsis of it. Writing a query. Daydreaming about how wonderful it is and how quickly it will sell and make me untold amounts of money. Feeling completely inadequate about the whole process and enjoying it all at the same time.

One more thing. If you've ever wanted to write a book. GO FOR IT! It's hard work, but it sure is fun. And the writing community is so wonderful.

A Book Review: Two Souls are Better than One by Karen E. Hoover

2012-01-10T11:02:00.000-08:00

This was a fun read.

It's quick and easy and entertaining. It's geared to younger teens and I think they'd love it. Those who like Harry Potter, the Percy Jackson stories, Fable Haven series and the Far World or 13th Realities would probably like this too.

Here's what the book says about itself:

Barely thirteen, Jeremy James Johansen has had more than his share of trouble. His father disappeared without a trace and the police believe he murdered his lab assistant, though his son knows it isn’t true. His dad can’t even handle a knife, let alone a bow and arrow.
A year later Jeremy stumbles across a portal to another world and gets pulled through—but not as himself. Somehow he swaps bodies with the man on the other side before the portal disappears.
Captured by a dragon and a man in black who insists on calling him father, he tries to escape, only to plummet to his death. He awakens in his own bed, believing it was all a bad dream. The problem is there are holes in his memory he can’t fill.
In time, he discovers that the portal holds the answers not only to his forgotten memories, but most importantly, points him down the path to finding his father.

Here's what I have to say about it.

Jeremy was a fun and believable character. He has hopes and dreams, but lots of flaws and problems too. When he ends up going to the other world and swaps bodies with a magician there, the description of a boy's soul or consciousness inside an old man's body really made sense. He couldn't run like he used to 'cause things hurt. Karen really did a good job making me believe Jeremy was really experiencing something completely foreign to him but possible nonetheless.
Then since he plummets to his death in that old body he returns to his own, but the soul of the magician (who was in Jeremy's body) has no place to return so he stays with Jeremy's body. I loved how Karen had the two struggle to come to terms with this yet it didn't ever get over the top or strange.

I loved the magic in this story. Magic in the other world is completely normal, and science is top order in our/Jeremy's world, but Jeremy begins to use magic in our world since the magician sharing his consciousness teaches him about the possibilities out there. It was fun to have two worlds to go back and forth between and Karen did a good job keeping me guessing on what was going on while still giving me enough information I could piece things together to understand what would come next. Besides dragons, there were shapeshifters, Pegasus, and other mythical creatures.

I'm looking forward to the next in the series since she left it off in such a way that Jeremy is still in some trouble, but I have hopes things will work out well for him.

Karen's website is HERE

Amazon link HERE

Barns and Noble link HERE

Book Review I Am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells

2012-01-05T13:59:00.000-08:00

Holy smokes this book was WOW.

I hadn't really heard a lot of this book other than it was really good. So I was listening to the podcasts Writing Excuses (you should totally go listen to them if you are interested in writing at all, great stuff) and Dan Wells is one of the authors involved on that podcast. I had to make a run to the library and I decided to see if this book was available. Miracle of miracles, it was (Though I had to get on the waiting list for the next 2 books)

I started reading it right there in the library while my kids browsed their section and played with the toys in the children's area. It started out so gripping, I didn't want to pack up my kids to go home. I would have stayed right there in the library reading it if my kids hadn't started to get a little bit noisy.

Here's a brief summary of it. John Wayne Cleaver lives in a small town in a small apartment above the towns mortuary. His mother and her twin sister are morticians and John has an obsession with dead bodies. He's also what you'd call a sociopath. He doesn't connect with living people at all, and is very aware of his faults and strangeness. He has another obsession with Serial killers, knowing the details of many cases throughout history. He worries he might become one so he sets up rigid rules for himself to avoid it. He studies people in order to try to blend in, but the way Dan Wells creates this kid and gets him involved in the strange murders that happen in his town make you at once disturbed and delighted in his evolution.

I don't want to give any spoilers, but I have to say that I was relieved when something about the bad guy made him less evil in a way and I even found myself caring for him. It's a gripping read and I'm not one to like horror novels. I stay away from things I worry will give me nightmares, but this book worked for me.

Pick it up today.

Dan Wells website HERE

Amazon HERE

Barnes and Noble HERE

or find it at your local bookstore

Book Review The Healing Crystal "Heir to Power"

2011-12-14T05:00:00.000-08:00

This book was huge, but I loved every page.

When it first arrived in the mail, my mom was visiting and picked it up. She scanned the back, asked me about it and when I told her I got it to read and do a blog review of it she nodded her head and put it down. Then she picked it back up and started reading. I haven't seen my mom read a book before. Sure magazines, kids books to me when I was little, medical journals. (She's a nurse recently retired) and maybe it's because I haven't really been home to see her reading, but she started one night at my house, stayed up late reading it and was about 1/4 the way through by the time she had to head back home. She asked if she could borrow the book and bring it back since she'd be coming back for Thanksgiving.

I was pretty busy with NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month)so I told her, "Sure. Take it home, but make sure you bring it back because I have to read it for the blog book tour." SHE LOVED IT! I kept asking her about it and she said things like it's interesting, it's good, it's fascinating. She never told me what happened, letting me discover it for myself but the fact she read it and didn't put it down after she began told me it was something good. She's even checked out the second book in the series on Amazon.

Now to tell you what I thought of it. It was great. It starts out interesting from the very beginning. The story is about a sixteen-year-old girl who is the next in line to lead a small colony called the Survinees. She will be the one to hold an ancient religious artifact called the Healing Crystal. She is also destined to marry a handsome guy who has been training to be the support he needs to be to her leadership. But... She starts to have feelings for someone else.
This book has so much going on in it that you'd almost be confused if I told you all about it, but as you read it, it is so clear and easy to follow. But let me try to sum it up.

Kairma is next in line to lead the colony, but since she had a childhood illness that left her looking like the race of almost albino looking men, the people in her colony almost fear her. She's nervous about what's expected of her, her younger sister Kinter wants to be the one in line for the power. Kairma is supposed to marry Naturi when she comes of age within the year, and he's willing, but then she starts to have feelings for a guy who happens to be her big brothers best friend.

Meanwhile, a traveling archaeologist from the outside world discovers their colony and is almost put to death since no one in the outside world is allowed to know the secret of their colony (The Healing Crystal), but the matriarch (Kairma's grandma) decides not to kill him, but hopes he'll bring his woman back to help increase the numbers of the colony since disease and infertility have wiped out the colony and they don't want to have inbreeding going on.

Some of the people go to the outer civilization and see what they've been missing in the hundreds of years since their colony has hidden themselves while those in the colony discover a hidden vault in the mountain near a monument with four faces carved into the mountain. (Yeah, that place) In this vault are things that you would recognize, but the Survinees don't know what it is and as they try to interpret what they find you begin as a reader to piece together what might have happened.

It's considered a science fiction book, but it reminded me of old west meets lost tribe that has remained unchanged over the centuries. It's science fiction because it takes you to the future but makes it feel like you've gone back in time or to an alternate universe.

Though they try to keep their life the same it has been for so long, the outer world can't be stopped from influencing their colony.

I like the last sentence of the blurb on the back of the book: "A battle is raging between insider and outsider and Kairma holds the power to bring peace, but is she strong enough to save the world she loves?"

Kairma is a great Main Character and I really liked how Michele Poague developed her. The interactions between characters are great. The story line is creative and complicated in just the right amounts. I really can't wait to read the next one in this series.

It's a wonderful read and I highly recommend it.

The link to buy it on Amazon is HERE

Michele Poague's website is HERE

A book review. Faithful Fit, and Fabulous

2011-12-06T04:00:00.000-08:00

A book review of Faithful Fit, and Fabulous by Connie E. Sokol

I saw this book on the authors blog a couple months ago and loved the title. I wanted it right away so when I had the chance to get a copy of it to do a review I jumped at the chance.

The thing that surprised me was that instead of it being a fix all right away kind of book, it flat out tells you not to try to do it all at once. I had a little bit of a hard time with that since I want answers, and results right away. (I just had a baby a few months ago and am still waiting for those last stubborn pounds to disappear) I know I know, I need to do the work and exercise to get it off, but I still want immediate results. But after reading this book, I think I have a better chance at success in weight loss, managing my life, fitness, motherhood and so many other things than if I tried to change things immediately.

Connie Sokol basically gives us 8 chapters of ideas to correspond to a particular issue or challenge or even developing particular habits. She recommends you read only one chapter a week so as to not overwhelm yourself by trying to jump right in and then burn out. I of course read the whole thing over the space of a couple days while holding a baby more often than not. The ideas in there are simple, yet sound. I've applied a couple, found I was already doing something similar to what she suggested, or thought my way of doing something worked just fine and that I didn't really need to change it since it worked.

She doesn't promise ridiculous results. She tells you what she did. How it worked for her, (or not) and what she wished she would have done differently. It's like learning how to do something along with someone who has been there, done that, but is willing to let you still do it your way.

I don't normally read self help books, but I really enjoyed this one. I liked the thoughts and quotes she used from respected religious leaders. I liked how she had it broken up into manageable chapters and sections so I can easily go back to the one I want to focus on at any particular time. By doing the things one by one, and adding the next one when I'm ready for it I'll be much better off than just wishing things were different for me.

This would be a good book to check out if you are interested in making some changes in your life. And by the slow and steady adage you will be more likely to find success than all the New Years Resolutions you can remember making over the years.

To find her website go HERE

To order her book go HERE

Author Interview with V. Lucien Maier

2011-11-18T12:22:00.000-08:00

I've been having fun with this blog and getting to know books and their authors. I've also run across different ways of publishing than the main stream of big publishing houses. V. Lucien Maier is a writer friend of mine who does things differently. Currently he has a Christmas story out that he produces as an audio book. By donating to the Charity or organization he picks the story for, you get a code to hear his story and see artwork that goes with it.

Go HERE to see three different Christmas stories and donate to a worthy cause.

ME: What makes you stand out as an author/storyteller?
V.Lucien Maier: Not sure that I am much different. But I do try to push the way we envision publishing. I have two things that are my main goals with my work. One is like most authors which is to get my experiences out so other may benefit from it.
And the second is to show that the old methods of publishing are not the only choices anymore. I love all my fans, but the best fan mail I get is from other writers saying that I opened their mind to other ways to get their messages and stories out.

ME: This is the first time I’ve been exposed to storytelling like this. It’s fun and different. Why do you do your stories this way?
V.Lucien Maier: There many many benefits from working this way that I would be hard pressed to list them all. But mostly its the freedom. I have been in the paper world and if you want to be successful YOU WILL have to change parts of your stories. You will be forced into corners, and you will be underpaid. (At very least to start with, but most author throughout their entire career.)
I write and publish what I want and when I want.
Let me give an example, I have a good friend that is a Best Selling author, more than ten times over. But when he submitted a mystery to his publishing house they said no. Now this is bad enough for a author of his caliber but to insult it even worse because he is under contract he can't take the novel anywhere else....
And the most important reason. When I started writing I really had one big issue. If my silly little stories were ever really successful it would take a lot of trees to get them out there. with this method I don't have to harm any trees. I wrote a piece about it.
The Price of our Aspirations http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1GFNeMmNmI

ME: The one I watched was about Zion’s National Park. What types of organizations have you supported through your stories?
V.Lucien Maier: Well Christmas with Wet Fur is the newest and for Zion National Park .
I also have Woof which is done for the Utah Animal Adoption Center
and Lights out done for the Tooele Children s Justice Center. They are all on storiestohelp.com
and of course I have a novel on my site "OF The Wolf" (for free) and a ton of free stories and poems on my site LucienMaier.com. My other three novels The In The Blood series which I was most well known for have been taken down for now.

ME: Where do you get your ideas from?
V.Lucien Maier: Everything. I strongly believe that if you go to one well for your ideas you will always write the same story. I do love to take a very tired and used genre and breath a new concept into it. In fact when you open your mind you will never run out of ideas, and you like me will not be plagued by what do I write, but what do I write today???? I wrote a piece on that too.
Idle Pursuits: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yNWGcFfm4I

ME: Can your stories be listened to over and over?
V.Lucien Maier: If you can stand my voice... sure :D

ME: Who does the reading? How about the artwork? Is the format the same for each of your stories?
V.Lucien Maier: In the past I did it all, but as I keep going I have tried to expand into using others. I use friends to do voices in "Wet Fur" I wrote the story with Wendy's vocie in my head saying it. So when I convinced her to do the narration for me it worked out perfect. I try to use artists that have not been discovered so I can help with their exposure. But I do a project at a time so I can constantly work with new people. Feel free to contact me if you have a skill and want to be involved.
As for the format. I like to use audio, but for my free stories I use youtube. and for my novels they are just mp3 so you can throw em on your ipod or phone and listen everywhere. and For the charity stories I do it through a Flash so i can have a payment gateway to collect the moneys for the causes.

ME: What would you like new fans to know about you?

V.Lucien Maier: Nothing! I am hermit Get OFF MY LAWN! hahah
Because my first big outing was "In The Blood" a vampire series iT sure stirred a pot of very interesting fans. That first year or two I was sent some very.... strange questions. So I have shied away from my fans much more than I was before. However, over the years as my other more main line stories have taken hold I really enjoy talking to my fans.
I think fans are a double edged sword, they make you feel warm and fuzzy but it can also feel like they are taking a can opener to your head to try to figure out whats going on in there.
and believe me, no one should be digging around in there. (Talk about scary!)

Thanks for the interview
V. Lucien Maier

His website is HERE www.lucienmaier.com

An Author Interview with C. K. Bryant

2011-11-08T10:02:00.000-08:00

I had a chance to do an interview with Author C. K. Bryant. Author of Bound. To see my review of her book either explore my blog and check out the previous post, OR GO HERE. You can also click on the little button to the side about Dark C.A.R.M.A. Check it out.

Me: How do you pick the names for the characters in your book?

C.K. Bryant: It's so cliche, but this story started as a very vivid dream. Lydia and Octavion were in the dream, as was Toran, so their names came easily. As for Kira, her character was my friend, Kris, in the dream. I let her pick the name and I really liked it. As for Altaria, well. Here's a little trivia for my fans out there. Her original name was Alvataria, but I had so many people say it was too hard to pronounce, including the publisher I originally had a contract with. So I shortened it to Altaria. Even though I lost the contract, I kept that version of her name. I think it suits her. Shandira was a version of Shandra, a good friend of mine. She so wanted to be the antagonist in my book, so I added the "i" and a villain was born. Unfortunately, she passed away before getting to read it. The other names I found through searches online. Names have to resonate with me. They have to truly fit the character's personality.

Me: Do you draw on real life experiences you’ve had and incorporate them into your story?

C.K. Bryant: Sometimes. I think it depends on the situation. For the most part I draw on my crazy imagination. You'd be amazed at the places my warped mind has been.

Me: Have you ever made yourself cry or laugh out loud as you’ve read your work, or while in the process of writing it? How about uncontrolled giggling?

C.K. Bryant: Absolutely! If my writing doesn't move me when I create it, how can I hope to move my target audience. I like to call it my ZONE. It's when I have no idea what's going on around me and I'm totally into what's happening in my book. I think the scene I laughed the hardest was when Kira was shooting her bow. I love that scene. I giggled when she lost her apple. And I totally cried my eyes out at the end when Octavion . . . OOPS! I guess I shouldn't give that part away.

Me: What is the hardest part about coming up with a story line?

C.K. Bryant: Nothing. Seriously. I have so many ideas in my head that I have a hard time settling on one. The hardest part for me is getting the creative half of my brain to shut down at night so I can sleep. I keep a notebook by my bed so I can jot things down if my muse wakes me in the middle of the night. She's pretty insistent on getting her way.

Me: What is your favorite fruit?

C.K. Bryant: ROFL!! Great question. And totally caught me off guard. Hmmm. Let me think. I love all kinds of fruit, but I think I'd have to pick the apple as my favorite. I love sliced apples dipped in caramel. Also like apple pie and apple sauce and . . . you get the idea. Oh great, now I'm hungry.

Me: What is the most painful experience you’ve had as an author? Massive paper cuts from opening a pack of printer paper? Printers that have fallen off the desk and onto your toes? Writers cramp in all fingers except the pinky as you’ve torn through a story?

C.K. Bryant: So you're talking physical pain, not emotional? I guess it would have to be when I participated in a writing marathon with some writing buddies of mine. We were supposed to write from noon to midnight (12 hours) and the plan was to take scheduled breaks every so often. But I was stupid and pushed through so I'd get more done. About 8:00pm my back was on fire. I tried everything. I ended up having to take a 30 minute power nap and put ice on my back along with pillows to brace me up when I got back to writing. I made it to midnight, but barely. Took me a couple days to recover from that one. But I had fun and got a lot of writing done.

Me: What is something you’d like future readers to know about you?

C.K. Bryant: Ha! I have a whole list of things I DON'T want them to know about me.

Let's see. I guess it would have to be that I'm very approachable. I never want to be one of those authors who let their success go to their head and refuses to mingle with their fans. I love making friends and can't wait to meet new people who have enjoyed reading my books.

Hey, thanks for letting me hang out on your blog today. I've had a blast answering your questions and getting to know you better.

Christine

A Book Review of BOUND

2011-11-02T04:00:00.000-07:00

This book is fun! I had a chance to read this book early to give a review of it and here it goes.
BOUND by C.K. Bryant

Here is what the book has to say about itself.
BOUND (#1 in THE CRYSTOR Series)
by C.K. Bryant

YA Paranormal Romance

When a photo shoot ends in tragedy, Kira discovers her best friend, Lydia, has been keeping a secret. Knowing the truth, and accepting it, will change Kira’s life forever and thrust her into a world of ancient curses, magical objects, and savage enemies. What happens next will challenge everything Kira knows about her world, herself and the shape-shifting warrior she’s falling in love with. No longer the timid mouse her mother accused her of being, but a woman who finds the mental and physical strength to endure and survive.

BOUND is a heroic tale of true friendship, infinite sacrifice and untamed love.

Here is what I have to say about it.

Kira is a normal girl with a best friend who turns out to be something not quite normal in this world. She discovers her friend Lydia is a Royal from another world. Her stepbrother is here with her, and they are trying to fit in and live a normal life away from their older sister who wants them dead. Though they try to fit in, they just can't do it. The brother is a shape-shifter who craves human flesh since he is part animal. He has found himself a cave in the mountains to live in while watching over his sister through magical means. When the older sister sends her scouts to find Lydia things really get going. Kira gets dragged into the fight as Lydia shifts to protect herself and the truth comes out. She gets really involved when the only way to save Lydia's life is to be bound to her through magic. Kira discovers she's able to heal people, and herself with the help of the Crystor. Though the healing causes her pain, and her death is possible, Kira still does it to help her friend. Once she's bound to them, she can't get away from the situation.
Though older brother/bodyguard tries to stay away from Kira to keep her safe, he is still drawn to her. She learns about his secret, and accepts it, but is strong enough to call him on it when he crosses the line.

The fight scenes, the danger, the intrigue, the romance, and the secrets are all placed so perfectly it keeps you turning page after page to find out what happens next.

I really enjoyed it. It was new and refreshing. A clean romance with just the right amount of steam.

I would totally recommend this book to people who like Stephanie Myers Twilight books, and even to those who don't. C.K.Bryant has the talent to take something far fetched like space travel, magic, shapeshifting, healing, and telepathy seem real and believable.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I'm really looking forward to the sequel. Can't wait.

Go HERE to find information about the giveaways on the blog.

NaNoWriMo!

2011-11-01T13:58:00.000-07:00

What is that you ask?

NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month. For the month of November, thousands of writers sit before their laptop, or desktop or whatever and write write write. The goal is to reach 50,000 words starting on November 1st at 12 am and make it to the goal by Nov 30 by 11:59. To do this, they are supposed to write at least 1,667 words per day.

I got an email since I signed up for them through the NaNoWriMo website and this is some advice given.

1. Don't edit.
2. Do everything you absolutely can to make the minimum words, 1,667, for each day. Falling behind makes this task seem so much more daunting when you realize you're 5,000 words behind.
3. Don't try to force your imagination to bend (completely) to your will. Sometimes your story will go off in a completely different direction; don't worry about it. The entire thing will come together in the end.
4. Don't edit.
5. If you're halfway through and realize you just killed your main character don't panic. Pick minor character that you've grown attached to and run with them.
6. Don't edit.
7. Even if you decide to start over don't delete the words you already have. Add a few enter spaces and just keep going.
8. There is no such thing as the perfect novel and it definitely won't be what you wrote in 30 days. It's called a 'rough draft' for a reason. Just remember you can't edit the draft that doesn't exist.
9. Don't edit.
10. Seriously, don't edit.

I've just gotten off a long edit of my most recent manuscript, and so it has been a little difficult to not go back through and edit what I just wrote. I know the whole goal of writing that many words a day will mean alot of those words are just ready to be cut and are really embarrassing showing that I don't have any writing skills at all. But that is what a rough draft is for.

Once you get the story out onto the screen you can go back and fix it all later.
So here is to a fun and enjoyable month of writing, (or as my husband might say... "here's to a month where nothing else gets done")

But I sure am having fun already. I've only been at it for one day and I already have 3,724 words. With many more to come.

Hope you all have a great month, and if you are nano-ing, let me know how you like it.

Laura

A book review of Dark Threats

2011-10-26T20:24:00.000-07:00

This is a fun and entertaining book. It's a collection of short stories told from the perspective of a vampire child who lived through them. Scott Bryan has made up a fun history and incorporated different stories, myths and legends as well as some history into his book. Annabelle Foresight is a vampire child who has lived for more than three hundred years. During that time she has fought against witches, other vampires including the brides of Dracula, werewolves, zombies, the Invisible Man, and Mr. Hyde.

You can get it as an ebook, or order a paper copy if you prefer. Both are found on Amazon.

It's a fun story for Halloween, but it isn't just a once a year kind of book. It has lots of fun stuff to it, while hinting at bigger things and other experiences Annabelle and her brother Roland have had. Those stories are found in a full length novel called Dark Birth.

You can find out more about this book, the follow up books, and the author, and his blog HERE.

Gonna Gush

2011-10-17T12:17:00.000-07:00

I have to say that having beta readers is the best thing ever. Having a critique group to go over your work and tell you what they like and what needs to be fixed is so very very very important. See in the case of the previous sentence, a good critique partner would say, "You don't need that many very's you could do with just one, or better yet, use a stronger word like extremely".

That my friends is what I'm talking about. I've had a handful of people (Writers) who have read my recently finished manuscript, and while they did give me encouraging feedback on what they liked, they also pointed out things that I could work on improving.

I highly recommend you get yourself some readers if you are writing. I love mine. Thank you so much.

Laura

OCTOBER BLOG HOP!

2011-10-13T04:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the October Blog Hop, where you can visit new blogs, enter to win prizes, and have a great time!

At the bottom of this post, you'll see a list of participating blogs. Just click on each link, check out the prize, and follow the easy instructions to enter. You can enter on each blog, so it's possible to win multiple times. It's frighteningly easy.

On this blog, you can win ...
A signed copy of Night Children: DARK THREATS by Scott Bryan. Find his blog HERE or find him as a participant on the blog hop below.

To enter, all you need to do is:

1. Be or become a follower of my blog.

2. Leave a comment on this post and tell me why you'd like to win this prize. If your e-mail address isn't visible through your Blogger profile, please also leave it with the comment so I can notify you if you win. You can enter until midnight MST on Saturday night, October 15th.

That's it! You are now entered. Now please go visit all my friends on the list below. It's almost like trick or treating!
October Blog Hop Participants

1. Tristi Pinkston
2. I Am a Reader, Not a Writer
3. Bonnie Harris
4. Michael D. Young
5. Misty Moncur
6. Debbie Davis
7. Mandi Tucker Slack
8. Mary Ann Dennis
9. Deanna Henderson
10. Laura Bastian
11. Kristy Tate

12. Kristy Wilson
13. Jennifer Debenham
14. Jenny Moore
15. Elizabeth Hughes
16. J. Lloyd Morgan
17. Close Encounters with the Night Kind
18. Billy Boulden
19. Scott Bryan
20. Maria Hoagland
21. Shirley Bahlmann
22. Shelly Brown

23. Marcy Howes
24. Lynnea Mortensen
25. Jaclyn M. Hawkes
26. Diane Stringam Tolley
27. Gail Zuniga
28. Betsy Love
29. iWriteNetwork
30. Canda's InkBlast
31. Stacy Coles

Learn more about October Blog Hop here.
View More October Blog Hop Participants
Get The Code

Book Review. INSIGHT, Beholders book 1

2011-10-11T08:55:00.000-07:00

A Book review of

Well, here it is. The book review you've been waiting for. I've posted a couple of times about this book, one was where it was the prize for my September Blog Hop. Another was a post for you to have a chance to win a Nook by entering the contest on his blog. So now I'm going to tell you my thoughts about this book.

First off, the cover... I have to say when I first saw it, I hated it. I didn't like the expression on the guys face. It looked too unhappy, stressed, irritable, and downright miserable. Then when I started reading the book and learned of the predicament the young man found himself in, I could totally understand the expression on his face. Not that he feels that way all the time, but since he is forced to leave his family and his fiancee in order to keep them safe from the threat he becomes to them when his ability to wield the long lost True Sight comes out, the cover now works for me.

The story is about a young man whose family had to leave their home in a rush five years earlier without being able to say goodbye to family or friends for a reason Lon and his twin sister Mellai never knew. It turns out, Lon is a Beholder, or a person who can use the power of True Sight, (a power where he can see the elements and manipulate them) The Rayders have been searching for a Beholder for centuries because they want to use his power to overthrow the King and the kingdom of Appernysia. The history behind the Rayders is interesting, but brutal. They are a very ruthless society, relying on exact obedience, and will kill without a second thought.

When Lon decides the only way he can learn about this newfound power of his, which is killing him every time it manifests, is to join the Rayders, we get to learn about the Rayders, and the terrible choices Lon will have to make. Should he stay with them and help them with their cause, or return to his fiancee and family?

I liked this book a lot, and enjoyed the world and magic Terron James created. I found myself really liking the characters and rooting for them. Terron did a nice job making me really know the characters enough that I actually felt sad for them, or angry with a particular choice, or happy if they got what they wanted. I did feel there were too many times the background information was just given to us in conversation between Lon and his dad Or Lon and another character. Sometimes those conversations dragged. Also, there were places where I really wished I could have experienced with the character, instead of having it summarized with the characters conversations.

Terron's style of writing reminded me of the Wheel of Time series by the late Robert Jordan. There were times when he broke away from one character to go to the others. This is a series, though I don't know how many books are planned for it, but he ended the story in a good spot, and made me want more right away.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes High Fantasy, or a clean romance, or even just a few hours in a faraway world.

Go to his website to order the book.

Book review. The Key of Kilenya

2011-10-07T09:27:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to receive a free copy of The Key of Kilenya to review for Andrea Pearson on her online book tour. Though the book was free, it did not effect this review.
The following is a summary of what the book is about.

When two vicious wolves chase fourteen-year-old Jacob Clark down a path from our world into another, his life is forever changed. He has no idea they have been sent by the Lorkon—evil, immortal beings who are jealous of powers he doesn’t know he possesses—powers they desire to control.

The inhabitants of the new world desperately need Jacob's help in recovering a magical key that was stolen by the Lorkon and is somehow linked to him. If he helps them, his life will be at risk. But if he chooses not to help them, both our world and theirs will be in danger. The Lorkon will stop at nothing to unleash the power of the key—and Jacob's special abilities.

So here are my thoughts about the book:

I have to admit that I didn't relate to the main character of the book very well, but that's probably because he was a 14 yr old boy, and I'm a 30 something mother, but he was still a likeable kid. He seemed a little too obsessed with the basketball tryouts that he missed when he finds himself transported to another world through some kind of passageway hidden in the forest near his home. I would have expected him to be too amazed at the idea of being in a new world for him to obsess about things back at home. There were also lots of times when something he said or did, didn't really seem like it would be coming from a 14 yr old, but again, I'm more than twice his age and can't really remember that far back. ;)

The book has lots of action and wonderful magical elements in it. The descriptions are fun and I could totally see what he was experiencing. My favorite part was when he had to travel through a dark tunnel by feel since using any light revealed people trapped in the actual stone of the mountain they had to pass through.

There is a lot of back story to this book that was delivered in a clever way through a journal Jacob had to read, (and I loved how the journal only showed one page at a time and wouldn't reveal more until you'd read the words shown to you first, making it impossible to skip ahead.) I did find myself wanting to read the journal myself and not worry about what Jacob was doing. But then Jacob would get into a predicament and I'd get caught up with his story again.

This is the beginning of a series and so there are many questions brought up that are left unanswered, which irritates and interests me at the same time. The parents and adults in this story seemed slightly shady to me. They wanted Jacob and his new friend Akeno to do something huge and important, but didn't give them much information. It's like they felt it would be better for them to stumble across things themselves. And a few times, magical things solved a problem that arose without giving me a real sense that it needed to happen other than to get them out of the predicament. Maybe in the following books, we'll learn how the magic works better since Jacob and Akeno didn't know and we were experiencing things with them.

Overall, it was an interesting book, and I would recommend it for kids who could relate to Jacob. My ten yr old and 8 yr old enjoyed the beginning that we've started reading together and we'll see how it goes with them.

To purchase her book go HERE, it's free for a bit.

To learn more about Andrea and her series go HERE

My friend is giving away something cool!

2011-10-03T12:52:00.000-07:00

I'm in the process of reading a book called Insight by Terron James.

It is pretty good. It was the prize I gave away for the September Blog hop and now I'm reading it to be able to review it. However, since Terron is a friend of mine, and I'm following his blog and hoping to help him promote his book, I'm going to tell you about his giveaway on his blog this month.

Go HERE to check it out.

Anyway, he is going to give away a Nook First Edition Wi Fi. It's pretty simple to enter into the drawing for his giveaway. Go check it out.

And check back here soon for my review of his book. I think you'll like it.

Dark CARMA and Good Karma

2011-09-27T09:33:00.000-07:00

Want to see what's coming soon?

Check out the button to the side about The Dark CARMA tour. You'll be able to see what kinds of books are coming soon, and even see reviews about these books.

These books soon to be released in November look fascinating. I can't wait to get my hands on them. Some are in the same genre I write, and all are ones I'm interested in reading.

And you can even blog about it and be entered into a chance to win some prizes. Prizes are always good. So go check it out. Either click on the Dark CARMA button to the side or go here.

Well that was fun.

2011-09-26T11:06:00.000-07:00

I had a lot of fun participating in the blog hop created by Tristi Pinkston. Check out the link on the side if you want to know more about it.

I also really enjoyed checking out other people's blogs and seeing what others are doing. So many fun things going on.

It got me thinking. I want to do more than just post my random thoughts or even more than just telling you about how things are going with my writing.
I'm going to try some different things to see what works for me and what will stick.
One thing I'm going to do is give book reviews. I've done one or two, but I liked reading other's reviews on their blogs because it gives me a good idea on what would be a good book to read, or what to pass on. So that will be coming.

On a side note, I still want to tell you about how my writing is coming along. I finished my second full manuscript in July just before my baby was born. I've got about 7 friends reading it to give me their feedback on it so I'll know what kinds of things I need to fix before getting it ready to query agents about. In the meantime, I've been doing some prework on a new idea for a new story I have. I must admit it's been a little difficult to let go of the persona of the main character in my just finished work and really get into the mindset of this new character. I think I'm almost there, but it is taking a bit of concentration.

I'll get there eventually. Can't wait to share my characters with you.

A blog hop and chance to win a Free Book.

2011-09-22T04:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the September Blog Hop! Celebrate the beginning of fall with me and my blogger friends by hopping around, visiting our sites, and entering our contests! There are no limits - you can enter the contest on every blog. With over 40 blogs participating, that's over 40 prizes you could win. Just click on the links below to move on to the next blog.

On my blog, you can win …

An autographed copy of INSIGHT By Terron James see his website here

Would you like to win this prize? You just need to do two things.

1. Be or become a follower of this blog.

2. Leave me a comment in the trail and tell me why you'd like to win this prize.

That's it! You are now entered. The contest ends on Saturday night, September 24th, at midnight MST, and the winner will be contacted shortly thereafter. Please either leave your e-mail address in the comment trail or make sure it's visible through your profile so I can contact you to tell you that you're the lucky winner.

Now go visit my other friends ...

September Blog Hop Participants

1. Tristi Pinkston, LDS Author
2. Joyce DiPastena
3. I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
4. Mandi Slack
5. Michael D. Young
6. Six Mixed Reviews
7. Pam Williams
8. Laurie Lewis
9. Kristy Tate
10. Marilyn Yarbrough
11. Stacy Coles
12. Kristie Ballard
13. Lynn Parsons
14. Pushing Past the Pounds
15. Sheila Staley
16. cindy Hogan

17. Jamie Thompson
18. Jaclyn Weist
19. Cathy Witbeck
20. Secret Sisters Mysteries
21. Tamera Westhoff
22. Tina Scott
23. Lynnea Mortensen
24. Danyelle Ferguson aka Queen of the Clan
25. Jeanette A. Fratto
26. Bonnie Harris
27. Melissa Lemon
28. Mary Ann Dennis
29. Stephanie Black
30. Jane Still
31. Janice
32. Laura Bastian

33. Tamara Bordon
34. Betsy Love
35. Maria Hoagland
36. Amber Robertson
37. Debbie Davis
38.
39. Christy Monson
40. Carolyn Frank
41. Rebecca Birkin
42. Melissa Cunningham
43. Emily L. Moir
44. Ronda Hinrichsen
45. Lisa Asanuma
46. Joan Sowards
47. Jordan McCollum
48. Diane Stringam Tolley

Learn more about September Blog Hop here.
Get The Code

This is a test

2011-09-19T17:00:00.000-07:00

THIS IS A TEST

I'm trying to see if I can set something to post on my blog at a particular time so I can write something when I have a minute, but let the computer do the posting at a particular time.

Won't that be fun.

Learning all kinds of new things for blogging.

What kinds of tricks do you know about blogs?

A book review of Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

2011-09-16T11:12:00.001-07:00

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book captivated me from the beginning. The only thing I didn't like about this book was that it ended too soon, and now I have to wait for the sequel to see what happens next. The story was fun and imaginative, the characters were real to me, and though they were based on Greek mythology, I found myself believing it all.

View all my reviews

Managing the time I have.

2011-09-13T07:53:00.000-07:00

Now that kids are back in school, and the baby is getting on a routine of sorts, I figured I needed to get myself into a routine as well.

Being a stay at home mom, and attempting to write novels makes for an interesting life. I still have to maintain my home, (though some days I do better than others) and I have to take care of my children, providing for their physical, emotional, and spiritual welfare. Yet to be a writer, they tell you to read lots (Something I'm very willing to do) and you need to be consistent in the time you write, (writing every day for some people) But with only so many hours in the day, and many of those occupied by a newborn that doesn't care if I want to spend some time writing since the muse is with me, it gets kind of hard to get much writing done.

I've decided that I need to come up with some realistic goals. As I've thought of them, I've come to some realizations:

#1. Remember that writing is fun and could be something important to me, but my family needs to come first.

#2. Realize that the house needs to be clean enough to live in, but I don't have to pass a white glove exam, and if anyone thinks I need to then shame on them.

#3. Even though writing isn't the MOST important thing, it is still important to have some ME time, and if writing makes me happiest, then the dishes can sit in the sink for a while.

#4. Facebook, and Email are helpful and useful to a writer,(and a mom starved for adult interaction), but they sure are time suckers.

#5. The goal of writing at least 500 words is easily doable even if I only have 30 minutes to spare so shut off FB and Email.

#6. Keep in touch with other writers who are in the same boat, and try to rub shoulders with those who have survived and conquered.

#7. Blogging about the journey is fun and should be done at least weekly.

So after all those realizations, here are my goals:

*spend at least 30 min a day writing, and do lots more if I have the time for it.

*spend at least 30 min a day tidying up, and make the kids do the rest. ;)

*spend at least 30 min a day checking Email and FB, but after that, leave them alone for at least six hours, then you can recheck it. (you know what I'm thinking, you have to go back and see if anyone "liked" your post, or if they've left you a comment)

*read at least 1 book a week to keep up with what is out there, and see how others did it.

So to you out there, how do you organize your time to get it all done?

I got a blogging award.

2011-09-04T18:54:00.000-07:00

Passing friendship to others...

A friend of mine, Scott Bryan gave me this award and now I want to share it.

The Liebster Blog award! "Liebster, for those of you who are not Nightcrawler or cannot speak German, means "friend" and is aimed at those who have fewer than 200 followers.

Right now I have less than 200, but some day I'll have more.

At any rate, here are the rules...

- Link back to the person who gave you the award.
Check out his blog here.

- Pick five other people to give the award to and notify them on their blog.

- Post the award on your blog.

- Bask in the camaraderie of the most supportive people on the internet—other writers.

- And best of all—have bloggity fun and spread the love.

It will also be fun to follow the blogs back and join more than the other winners blogs who accompany yours.

The winners are...

Betsy Love an LDS author who is my online writing buddy.

Shanna Blythe another writer and teacher I met online

Stephanie Milner a friend of mine who likes to share her thoughts on movies and shows. She's got another blog for her writing so if you want to see it check her out.

Tamara Bordon This is a cousin of mine who writes, but also has a food blog and the dishes look delish.

Sprintwriters Central. (this one is kind of a bonus. There are many writers with blogs to link to on this site and you'll love the features here.) It's where I go to be online while I write and get support from others.

GO CHECK OUT THESE BLOGS AND FOLLOW THEM.

Pass on the love and lets see how many followers we can help others get.

Laura

I'm back

2011-08-26T17:07:00.000-07:00

Though there probably weren't many that noticed I wasn't on.

The reason for my absence was the addition of a new baby into my life. And boy was it a relief when he finally got here. I was obsessed with my pre/early labor. Contractions all the time, but no progress. Finally with some assistance in the form of pitocin, he made his entrance into the world measuring 22 inches, weighing 11 lbs and 7 ounces. No that isn't a typo, it is really ELEVEN pounds. And it wasn't by c-section by the way. Just think of me as super-mom

The funny thing is, I can't think of a word that encompasses his size, other than big. I have tried doing it in all caps BIG, but sometimes a simple word can be just as effective as a more elaborate word. I do refer to him as the monster baby, but that could make you think of him as a monster, and not just his size.

While waiting for his birth, I was able to finish my manuscript two days before he was born. It felt nice to write the words "the end" though I know it isn't finished. I have many edits ahead of me. I have finally been able to look at it again now that the not so little man is sleeping for 4 to 5 hours at least once a night.

I've also begun dreaming again, and it's been giving me ideas of what to work on next. It's exciting to be a mom again, though it is exhausting. But I'm also very excited to be working on my writing again. Even if it's only for a few minutes here and there between feedings, changings, naps, and taking care of my other kids and the house. It may take me a while to finish the edits, and get it ready to submit, but at least it's another manuscript done.

So what's a better word to describe my "big" boy?

Share them in the comments.

Wanna free e-book?

2011-07-23T10:29:00.000-07:00

Hi there. I've decided to offer you a chance to get a free book all on your own, just for making the effort to check out my blog.

I've got a writing friend that is offering her book for free as an e-book until July 31st. I've read it and loved it.

Here is the summary of the book I copied off her website.

It has been 3,000 years since a white image has been seen upon Rasann.

In the midst of a volcani eruption miles outside of her village, Ember discovers she can see magic and change the appearance of things at will. Against her mother's wishes, she leaves for the mage trials, only to be kidnapped before arriving. In trying to escape, she discovers she has inherited her father's secret - a secret that places her in direct conflict with her father's greatest enemy.

At the same time, Kayla is given guardianship of the Sapphire Flute and told not to play it. The evil mage C'Tan has been serching for it for decades, and the sound alone is enough to call her. For the flute to be truly safe, Kayla must find its birthplace in the mountains high above Javak.

The girls' paths are set on a collision course...and C'Tan will do whatever it takes to keep them from fulfilling their destiny.

here is the link to the free book

This is the link to her blogspot, you can also find a link to download her book from there.

This is the link to her author website.

The sequel in this series is almost complete. She's just putting some finishing touches on it and plans to reveal it in August. I can't wait to read it, and know you'll love it too.

And while you are on my blog here, move over just a little to the left and follow me. Thanks.

Laura

Though Author would be a cool title...

2011-07-13T20:00:00.000-07:00

I haven't written on this blog for a little too long, but I think I have a good excuse. Of course it is still just an excuse, but I must say family always comes first.

My daughter had and emergency surgery to remove her appendix and clean up her innerds after it had burst and poured way too much junk into her abdomen. She spent 9 days in the hospital recovering, and even though I took my laptop to the hospital with me, ( I stayed with her all day and night since she's so young) I only opened it once to try to write. And I couldn't get myself into the story I'd been working on so diligently before.

I was more interested in being with her, talking to her, taking care of her, and helping her whenever she needed it than with the imaginary world I had been so involved in before.

It doesn't matter how much I enjoy writing, it isn't nearly as important as the relationships I have with the real world.

Now she's home and doing really well. Still has to take things slow since she has a 6 inch scar down the center of her belly under her belly button, but she's been a trooper through it all.

Now I have some time to get back to writing and I'm rushing as quickly as I can before the baby I'm carrying now decides to join the family. I still try to take as much time as I can to write, but seeing the fragility of life makes me realize I need to stop writing sometimes for the more important things in life. If I never get a book published it doesn't matter.

If I fail as a mother, it does matter.

I cherish the title of MOM more than the abstract idea of author. (though that would be a fun title to add as well, I'll stick with Mom.)

PS I'm still planning on giving away a free ebook.

To have a chance to win the ebook, you just have to be a follower of my blog. To get two chances to win, get a friend to follow me too. Once I get to 75 followers, I'll do the drawing.

If you get the friend to follow me, let me know in the comments so I can enter your name twice. Or three times if you get multiple friends to follow.

E books. What are your thoughts?

2011-06-21T13:13:00.000-07:00

I don't have a nook, kindle, or other, but I do have an ipod touch that I was able to download the nook and kindle apps for free. Since doing that, I've tried out a couple of ebooks just to see if I like reading them on the ipod vs the actual book in my hands.

Verdict? So far, I'd have to say I still prefer the book, because my kids aren't asking for a turn on the book, but they do ask for a turn on the ipod. Plus, a book, I can borrow from the library, (but honestly, I don't make it to the library very often, and I've heard you can borrow ebooks from libraries now).

However, you can find lots of ebooks for relatively cheep. 99 cents for a few hours of vacation from your mundane life can't be beat. You don't have the physical book to find a place for on your shelves.

Of course there are more reasons than the ones I've given, but I think a book, in any form is a good thing. Reading is awesome.

I'm sure I'll be reading more books in both formats, but if the book is so outstanding I want it for a second read, then I'd probably do it in actual book form.

Speaking of ebooks. I'll be doing a contest for a free ebook, so check back for details and let your friends know so they can follow me too.

Laura

I love a good writing challenge.

2011-06-17T14:38:00.001-07:00

I totally rock at writing lots of words. When I have a motivation or a challenge, or when there is someone to check up on me.

For instance, a writer friend of mine started Sprint Writers Central. Check out the widget on the side. It's a place where you can go and write while other writers are in the chat room. They've got a timer where you can do little sprints of how ever long works for you. I just did 2 thirty minute sprints for a total of an hour. Guess how many words that produced. 1, 807. That's about 30 words per minute.

Now if I didn't have someone to race against, or even just the timer, or even just my imaginary writing friends when no one else is on the site at the same time as me, I wouldn't write nearly as much.

I'm also part of a Facebook group page that has challenged each writer to write at least 500 words per day for six months, and that would equal about a 90,000 word novel.

This might not work for another writer, but for me, it's been a great motivator.

So get together with a writer friend or two and challenge yourself.

Wanna join us? Let me know and I'll get you hooked up on the Facebook page. But just click that little sprint writers central widget to join the other one.

Laura

What is a writer?

2011-06-14T10:06:00.000-07:00

What is a writer? Really?

I just read an amazing thing from another writers blog. I'm hoping I can attach the link to get there from HERE It lets people know that writers are people too. Some are awesome, and some are in need of a few manners. But always remember, authors are people too.

Speaking of that. I'm not technically considered an author, because I have not had anything I've written published, but I do feel like I am one. Or a writer, or whatever you want to call what I do.

But I'm also a mom, a wife, a daughter, a neighbor, a friend, a volunteer, a cook, a cleaner, a teacher, a chaufer, etc... I have hopes and dreams. I fail and I succeed. I start and I stop. I laugh and I cry. I have ups and downs. Just like everyone else out there in this fantastic world of ours.

I know some writers are the kind who can start a book, finish it, send it in, and get it published all in less than a year.

Other writers spend years going through the process of planning their plot, and characters and slave over every detail and yet their books never see the light of day.

So many writers would love to have unlimited time to follow their muse, but it doesn't always happen. We have diapers to change, kids to feed, bath time to regulate, houses to clean, shopping to do, naps to take (or dream about taking) Many have full time jobs to juggle, and volunteer service to provide.

So I guess with all this random ramblings, I'm just trying to say that there are many more things about a writer/author than just their books.

BUT, we sure love our books, and hope the world out there will love them too.

Laura

It's great to be excited about writing again.

2011-05-30T10:19:00.000-07:00

I have been working on my second manuscript. Thinking things through, sending the first part through a critique group, enjoying the creative process, getting irritated that I don't know what should come next, or since I think I know what should come next if that is really what I want in that particular location, reading a book on how to make the best of your story by putting the right things in, in the right place, in the right amount. (boy that was a long sentence that my critique group would tell me to fix right away.)

Anyway, I have read over it and over it many times, and have discovered that printing it out and actually being able to see it on paper is so much different than just seeing it on the computer screen. I have been reluctant to print it since I don't want to waste the paper or ink on something I'll have to throw away eventually, but I must say, it has been really helpful.

I'm seeing the story with almost fresh eyes. And once I finish tackling the last 20 written pages, I feel like I know where to take the story again. I knew where I wanted it to end, but there are a few places throughout that have just sort of been cloudy to me. Now with the help of the book I read, (Larry Brooks, Story Engineering: the Six Core Competencies of writing) I know that it isn't in terrible shape, but with just a few tweeks and rearranging a couple of things, it has lots of potential.

My goal is to get the entire thing finished by June 15th. So I'm going to do that by writing every day for at least 30 minutes. And then I'll do the 15th through the 30th on an edit. Then I'll put the thing away for a month and work on something else so when I come back to it, I'll see it through new eyes, and do another edit.

It's great to be excited about writing again.

Laura

Writers need other writers.

2011-05-11T08:14:00.000-07:00

So I got to go to a writers conference last weekend. It was very good.

There were classes on all kinds of things relating to writing. Some were about the mechanics, plot, character development, conflict, and so on. Others were about blogging, (which I missed since I unfortunately couldn't be in two places at once). Some were about adding romance to your story, some were about how to get published. Some were about how to write the perfect villain, and believe me that was a fun class. There were panels from actual agents and editors who answered questions about what will get your manuscript out of the slush pile, and what will be thrown away before they even get past the first page.

The thing that amazed me the most about all the conferences for writers I've been to is that writers are normal people. Even the best selling ones. They are kind and want others to succeed so are very willing to share the tricks of the trade. They cheer for you in your successes, and also help you move past your failures, since they've been there too.

I really think every writer needs to have other writers to be their friends, mentors, supports, and even their critics. No one knows a writer like another writer. Family and friends are definitely important, but a writer needs more writers to associate with. I'm so glad I'm starting to meet more of them.

Laura

ps. here is a link to another writers blog who interviewed one of the presenters. Check it out here.

I'm on twitter.

2011-05-08T17:11:00.000-07:00

I really am.

So what does that mean? I don't know, but I'm going to find out. Maybe someone will teach me. Maybe someone will follow me. Maybe I'll be in the world of tweets without much to tweet about. Maybe I'll tweet too much and people will stop following me.

What ever it means, I'm ready to experience it all.

If you have advice, or knowledge or something else to share with me about twitter, like where and how to follow you, make a comment and let me know.

lauradbastian is my twitter name.

Laura

Waiting is hard.

2011-04-28T10:15:00.000-07:00

But finding out the answer to your question is a little terrifying.

I submitted some additional requested material almost 3 weeks ago. In the email reply from the agency, it said to give them about 2 weeks to review it before expecting to hear from them. So for 2 weeks, I was fine. Once the 2 weeks passed, I started to get a little nervous every time I'd go to open my email.

I still haven't heard from them, and will wait another week before sending an email asking about the status of my submission, but even then, I'd have no idea what to say. How do you sound professional when asking if they've had a chance to read your work that you've SLAVED over, and whether or not they liked it enough to read the whole thing. I only got to send them 3 chapters, and while I think those 3 chapters have greatly improved since the first draft of this story, I still wonder if they are good enough.

So anyways, I'm waiting to hear, but kind of not looking forward to the answer. I sure hope it's not a no. But if it was a yes, we'd like to read the rest of it, then I get to go through the whole process over again.

Baby steps is all I can think to call it.

What kinds of things are you waiting for?

Laura

How I feel when I'm reading a book.

2011-04-25T13:41:00.000-07:00

Click on this: I'm reading a book. You have to click on this link to see a hilarious video about how I feel when I'm reading a book.

Some times you just want to escape into a world where it is so different from your own real life. And some times you just don't want to come out of it either.

Not quite the same way I feel when I write in my "book" but it gets kind of close too.

What is your favorite type of book world to escape into? I love the fantasy.

Working on enjoying the writing process again.

2011-04-12T10:57:00.000-07:00

I had almost given up hope on the work I've sent out to agents when I get an email saying one agency is interesting in reading more.

Isn't it funny how things can almost seem hopeless, then you get a ray of sunshine that makes you think its still all worth while.

Now I have no idea what will come of this request for more material. Experience tells me to expect a thank you for sending this, but we regretfully must pass and good luck as you continue to send it out. But then hope tells me to have faith and say, they're gonna love it and ask for the whole manuscript.

There are so many steps to the whole process of writing and becoming published. When I first started out, it was just for fun to see what I could do. Then I started to imagine how fun it would be to become published that the fun of writing left me. I've been working on ignoring the things out of my hands and just trying to write for fun again. Those times I can do that and forget about the whole publishing thing is when I enjoy my writing.

I do enjoy writing, and someday hope you can enjoy reading what I've written, but until then I'm just going to write for me.

Laura

What is stopping me?

2011-04-01T07:57:00.000-07:00

I have been stuck on a portion of my work in progress for some time now. I feel like the whole story line is a good one, and it's something that I don't think has been really done before, so I'm anxious to see what will come of it, but man, I just can't get myself to buckle down and write the next part.

I've been working on this and sending it through my fabulous critique group so I'm really encouraged by their responses and have found their suggestions very helpful and I have a good idea of where I want it to go and I know how it needs to end, but just the part of getting it down on the page is what is stopping me.

This one is taking me much longer than the first manuscript I wrote. That one was done for fun to see where it would lead, but this one I know so much more about the writing process, and yet I'm struggling more with it.

It also doesn't help that I'm allowing myself to be distracted by other things. Yesterday I even forbid myself from opening up netflix or hulu. However, the fabulous spring day called to me and my children came first so we played outside.

Today I'm having my crit group, and once we are done. I'm going to sit at this computer and get cracking. I only have a few more months until we add a baby to the mix so I'd better have all the story written so I can focus on raising a newborn and only have to do some editing instead of the whole shebang of writing it.

So what is stopping me????

Just myself. I'm gonna stop stopping me and start starting me.

Wish me luck.

Laura

A book review. KiTE by Bill Shears

2011-03-30T10:29:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been a long time since I posted, but I have another book I read that I'd like to share with you.

It's called KITE: A Novel in Earth Orbit.

written by Bill Shears.

This book is science fiction set at a time when Earth has advanced to the point where space travel is a common thing. They've built casinos in space, developed more advanced space stations, have space motels, and rich people can go cruising space in their own personal spaceships. With all of the space travel came lots of space debris and so KITE, and other Orbital Maintenance ships were created to clean it all up so some hapless space traveler didn't crash into the junk.

Kite is the last one up there, piloted by one person at a time for three month stints. Mason Dash is the pilot who we follow in this book. His wife Janet is a computer genius and Dash is more of a glorified garbage man, but he loves it. He even gets to shoot lasers at the junk that's too big for the sweeper so it can fit nicely into the compacter to be disposed of as it burns through earths atmosphere.

Dash is more of a happy go lucky kind of guy, who just wants to finish up his years and get that pension he's been working for so he can retire with no worries. He has a computer simulated woman named Sheila, who started out as a "toy" to keep him occupied and talk to on his long days, but when his wife Janet adds some of her own personal touches, Sheila begins to change. She gets a personality, and makes choices on her own.

Unknown to Dash or any other pilots or maintenance employees, the computer system on Kite begins to develop consciousness on its own. He_Ra as he finally calls himself (he changes names every time you read about him) begins a hostile takeover and eventually gains control of Kite. Sheila, who has actually stowed away this time instead of just talking to Dash from Earth is key to preventing He_Ra from making a mess of Kite. Dash is working on figuring out who is on the space station that has been empty for years, and what they are doing there so secretly.

I must admit that when I began reading this, it took awhile to get into. I didn't like Dash at first, because he just didn't seem likable, but as I progressed through the book, he started to become more interesting.

Sheila, though she was only a computer program was the one I really liked to read about as she began to change and morph into her own being instead of just a computer simulated woman.
The parts in the book where it talked about how things were progressing inside the main computer system on Kite were somewhat confusing, but eventually became easier to understand when I just let myself know I would never understand it fully, and just tried to get a clue as to what He_Ra was doing.

Anyway, to put it simply. It was an interesting book, but I did take longer to read it than many other books I've had in my hand. The second half moved much faster than the beginning. I wonder if it was because there was very little real life action happening. Just some speculation and wondering as Dash tried to figure out what was going on. Once things got moving, I finished it within the day.

If you're into entertaining Sci-Fi, and have some time to kill, I'd tell you to go for it. If you are looking for something deep and moving, this probably isn't the book you're looking for.

For the authors website click here

If you'd like to order it, click here

BOOK REVIEW Star Scout Rising First Trail. Vol 1

2011-03-09T08:01:00.000-08:00

I am branching out on my blog and trying something new. I received a book from a new author, and I get to tell you all about it.

STAR SCOUT RISING First Trail vol 1 by Gary Darby

This book was interesting to say the least so I'll start at the beginning and tell you first impressions. I know you aren't supposed to judge a book by the cover, but I had mixed feelings about it. I loved the top half, but the creature depicted on the cover really bothered me. I had to actually cover it with my hands to ignore the awful animal. But then, I couldn't keep my eyes off it trying to figure out what it was.

Once inside the book, it got much better.

Some things I noticed as I read it. There was a strong relationship to the way the Boy Scout program, and this Junior StarScout program, the main character Del Baldura was a member of, work. There were also hints and references to some events hundreds of years into our past.

Del is a Jr. StarScout team leader over a group of five Jr. StarScouts doing one of their final field exams before they are sent on their no notice final exam in a remote area of Earth in the year 2433. Del joined the StarScouts to try to find out what had happened to his father who had mysteriously disappeared on a mission and was thought to have turned traitor, though Del doesn't believe it.

There are good guys, bad guys, bad guys pretending to be part of the good guys, and so on. At first it was hard to keep track of who was what, but at the end, it becomes clear. (you'll have to read it to know)

The weird creature on the cover? Well it does come in to play. It is the creature the Jr. StarScouts are supposed to track on their field assignment, but come to find out, it sure packs a punch and those fangs are dangerous. As they are tracking it, and almost come close to capturing it, a band of Extra Terrestrial Poachers nab the creature, and kidnap one of the Jr. StarScouts who had been recording it. The other Jr. StarScouts sneak on board the ship to try to rescue her before it takes off and end up captives as well.

They travel around the galaxy, doing things the poachers want them to do in order to earn their freedom and learn a lot about themselves and how their training in the StarScout program has helped them manage what comes at them. There is even one place where Del has the chance to leave the poachers behind and save himself, but he remembers the oaths he took as a StarScout and saves them, even though it means he's still under their control.

Interspersed through the story is a back story and information about Del's missing father, his Uncle Jak who is a decorated StarScout himself and a group called the Gadion Faction who are an organized crime group headed by one mean and ruthless man who just wants more power, though he's considered the most powerful man in all the galaxies.

At times this back story confused me since I was just getting into the flow of the story, especially during some really action packed sequences, then the author did a few flashbacks to explain, throwing me off for a moment until I realized what had happened.

Mr. Darby has great story telling skills, got me really involved in the story, got me to care about Del and really want to know what happened to his father, though I still don't know for sure. There is some comic relief, a little bit of romance, some danger and intrigue, and life defining moments. Though it isn't resolved in this first book, he did a fantastic job making me want to know what comes next. The end of this book isn't the end, just a pausing spot and I'm a little irritated I have to wait for the rest, but I've felt that way about many books in series. It is science fiction, and not what I normally read, but I don't regret the time I spent on this book and look forward to what comes next.

If you'd like to buy it you can click here for more information.

If you prefer the kindle, click here.

The authors blog is here where you can see other reviews of this book.

Hope you enjoy it.

Laura

In which you'll learn about my personality from my TV shows

2011-03-08T10:56:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to share a little bit about me and what I'm like by telling you some of my favorite TV shows.

I love Psych. I'm watching it on netflix, episode after episode when I have free time. (And even when I don't) I love how Shawn and Gus have such a fun friendship and solve all kinds of quirky crimes and murders.

I love Bones. About a forensic scientist who helps the FBI solve murders when all that is available to the crime is bones. Dr Brennan makes me laugh at how she's so logical, and all things of common sense go over her head, but over the years she's become more human thanks to Agent Booth.

Castle is another favorite. Castle is a crime novelist who shadowed a New York City detective and has developed a crush on her. She was the basis for his latest heroine. Castle ends up bringing some help to the force since he looks at crimes in a different way since he writes in the minds of the bad guys.

(though I like these shows, I am in no way capable of writing about crime or solving murders or anything, but it sure is fun to watch.)

And on to other shows. I love Phineas and Ferb. It's a cartoon on the Disney Channel about 2 step brothers who have a pet platapus, (Who happens to be a secret agent that fights against the Evil Dr. Dufensmirtz) and the brothers come up with all kinds of things to keep them occupied during the long summer days and really annoy their older sister with their antics since they so such outrageous things, but never get caught by their parents.

These shows are currently not showing, but can't wait to find them on hulu again: Warehouse 13, and Eureka. Hope they come back soon.

Some more I enjoy occasionally: Lie to Me. Monk. .. but don't want to go on and on.

Now I'm curious to know what you like to watch. And what fantastic shows out there am I missing???

Dr. Seuss = Genius

2011-03-05T14:46:00.000-08:00

I know I'm a little late on this, but it was Dr. Seuss's birthday this past week. My kids enjoyed some Dr. Seuss related activities at school and on Friday they were invited to bring their favorite book to school for a read-a-thon.

My daughter took a library book she had, but my son in 1st grade took Hop on Pop. That is his favorite one since he can read it all by himself without feeling like he's struggling on every other word. He read it every day for weeks for his reading homework. I must say Dr. Seuss was definitely a genius. I know he wrote other books besides the common ones you hear about for young readers, but I haven't read any of them. I may be simple, but I love his early reader books. Especially the rhyming ones.

Fox in Socks, and Oh Say Can You Say are some awesome tongue twisters, but I love the "Oh the Places You'll Go." He gives such good advice and fun reads with such simple words. No one will ever be able to write like he did and be as loved.

As a side note, I saw a post on Facebook, though I don't remember who posted it. It said something about how their child's school was doing a week long Dr. Seuss week, but with Presidents day the week before, not much was said about two of the most important Presidents of the United States history. I totally understand her concern, but I think I also understand the reason Dr. Seuss is so celebrated. Just seeing my own son love reading when he pulls out a Dr. Seuss book makes me have hope that he'll find success in school. Learning about the Presidents will come, but for now, I'm totally in favor of schools doing something in honor of an amazing author.

What is your favorite Dr. Seuss book?

Back from vacation, and I'm so glad.

2011-02-28T08:52:00.001-08:00

Do you ever need a vacation after a vacation????

I do. We took our family and Mark's dad to Disneyland and Sea World last week and had a good time, but I'm sure glad it's over and I'm back home.

I tried to do some planning and thinking about my book, but every time I tried to write something down in my note book, I kept thinking I wish I had my laptop to just write the story instead of trying to plan it out. I have to have the story in front of me for it to really work.

I know the basic skeleton of my story, but I'm no good and writing down all the scenes and plot points and such on a notebook. I want to let the story develop as I go with the main end in sight.

So now that I'm home, I'm going to be catching up on some things and getting into the writing full force again.

Do the Characters dictate the story?

2011-02-14T11:44:00.001-08:00

Time for some more deep thoughts on writing. I have been struggling lately because the story I had been so gung ho on has started to cause me problems. I have been stuck on a certain plot point that I just couldn't figure out how to over come. The kicker is, it isn't until the end of the book that my idea I had would be implemented, but since I'm in the middle working toward the end, I am afraid to work on it since I "might" not know what to do once I get there.

I had an idea the other day that will help me in my progress toward the end. Wanna know what that fantastic idea is?

I am going to write and see where it leads me. I tried that the other night and the 2 main characters did something I wasn't expecting, but loved. So I figured if I just let them get to the end, where I have a general idea where it needs to lead, I'll let them help me know what comes next and how they will solve the problem I throw at them. I know these characters well enough that when I throw that end at them, they'll handle it very well. Probably even better than I could.

Now I've heard that some people think letting your characters control where your story goes is the sign of a bad writer, but for me, I don't think so. I'm still ulitmately in charge, but I'm allowing some freedom to come since that will help me get past this stuck portion that has slowed me down for the last few months.

I'll let you know how it goes, but I would like your opinion on whether letting the characters have a say in the way your story progresses is good, bad or in between writing.

I wanna talk about books.

2011-02-09T09:35:00.000-08:00

I just read a book and wanted to share it with you. It's called: "Wolves, Boys, and Other Things That Might Kill Me" by Kristen Chandler.

I loved it. It made my hands tingle with the emotions I was feeling on behalf of KJ. She's a 16-year-old girl living in West End Montana near Yellowstone National Park. She lives with her widowed dad who is a guide for fishermen, hunters, and rich people who want to get a feel for the park. She struggles with knowing her father wants her to do well enough in school to have a better shot at life than West End Montana can give, dyslexia, not being popular, and thinking her dad would have been better off if she'd died in the car crash that killed her mother when KJ was 3. Or thinking he'd much rather she were a son and not a daughter.

She meets a new boy that moved to town with his single mother who has come to study the wolves that had been reintroduced into the area. The ranchers, and hunters are very angry that "Washington" has brought the wolves back since they attack the sheep or cattle the ranchers raise, or have lowered the population of the Elk (even though the Elk had overgrazed the area causing problems with the vegetation, aggravating the erosion, and even effecting the fishing.)

Though KJ the Main Character has her faults and her weakness, I never felt like she was overly whiny or that she was stereotypical. She was awesome. She overcame her dyslexia by studying hard, she became the editor of the school paper, and caused a stir in the community when she began writing about the wolves and not just in a way that made the ranchers happy. She told it like it was and got a lot of crap from it, but still made friends along with her enemies.

She had guilt, but also stood up for herself and did what she thought was right. Though there were adults featured in the story, she held her own and pulled off something fantastic. Plus there is romance, even though it wasn't the happily ever after kind. It was real and fun and special, and I felt happy for what she learned and accomplished.

Kristen Chandler wrote a fantastic debut novel and I really really can't wait until she writes another one. I want to learn how to write like her and give other people the chance to feel about my characters the way I felt about hers.

If you've read it, I'd like to hear what you thought about it. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it.

Laura

Soaring with the Eagles.

2011-02-04T19:06:00.000-08:00

Tonight my husband brought home five huge stacks of paper for work that looked a lot like a printed manuscript my kids have seen since they are in the same kind of folders. My son said to me when he saw them sitting on the table "WOW Mom, you've written a lot of books."

I smiled, actually I grinned, ear to ear wishing it was true.

When I explained they were for Dad's work he nodded his head, and said, "Well, they look a lot like your books. Some day you could write that many."

To which my daughter said, "Yeah Mom, you write a lot and are working hard on your dream. It's like you don't want to be hanging around with the chickens and you want to soar with the eagles."

Oh, the wisdom of youth. I'm excited again for the ideas I have since I know my kids are routing for me. They think it's pretty cool that I'm working on my dream and I am going to do what I can to show them hard work and perseverance can make good things happen.

Thanks kids.

Queries Queries Queries

2011-01-31T14:23:00.000-08:00

I am sick to my stomach because I'm so nervous. I've been researching agents, reading their websites, scanning their blogs, trying to find my perfect match, and then offering myself to them.

It's crazy how something as short as 250 words can make or break it on whether an agent is interested in reading more about my finished book.

I really want to reward myself for putting myself through this nerve wracking experience, but I don't know what to get for me.

Any suggestions?

Onward and hopefully Upward

2011-01-28T08:16:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I crafted the best query letter I could, (I'd actually written it long before, but tightened it up and polished it til it shined) I corrected my synopsis, and made double sure my first chapter had absolutely no problems and then I did something scary.

I sent them out to AGENTS! Now I've been told that agents really are nice people and that I really want to have one of them on my side, helping me get my manuscript in the hands of the people in charge, but I must say it was a scary thing. I was pretty nervous about sending them since the last time I sent out my submissions resulted in all no's. I did get a few who said, Hmm, sounds interesting, please let me see some sample pages... To which I eagerly sent them. Then still came back as no thank you's but it was encouraging that I got to the next step of them requesting pages.

I have yet to have anyone request a full, but since I have spent the last year really improving this story, I'm hoping that this round will result in a few of those.

Who knows, I may even have someone say they like it. That is what I'm hoping for, but now that the submission process on Eye on Orion has begun, I'm really going to dig back into the next project. I've got a great idea for a fight scene with knives. Gonna go play with that.

Until next time.

Laura

More of those fun edits.

2011-01-18T08:15:00.001-08:00

I've been slowly but surely getting the last little changes made in my manuscript, but it seems to be taking a long time.

I must say the editing part isn't as fun as the rush you get when you write a new scene, or get a fantastic idea of what to write, but it is also important. More important than the original words you write because they are the last ones. The ones that other people will see.

I want them to think I'm much better at this than I really am. And to do that, I've got to make those fun fun fun edits.

That is what is on the plate today. I will do it.

Where is my mind?

2011-01-13T09:44:00.000-08:00

My mind is not on my manuscript that it should be on. Instead it is on the one I "finished" that I need to go over one more time and do some fixes that were suggested to me by a good friend who read my story.

I've got one of those dreaded sagging middles. Luckily, it is only about 2 chapters that need some help, and just a couple of things to tighten places up. But now I have to decide if I focus my creative energy on the old manuscript so I can get it ready to send out, or to work on my Work In Progress since I kind of have the idea of where to go on it. Plus my goal was to get it done by the end of February. Seriously, I should have time to do both of them if I'd organize my time better, but I sure do a lot of other "Important" things that take away from my writing time even though it is my special time I set asside just for me and writing.

HMMMM things to think about.

BUT I also want to work on a totally different thing that I had written the first chapter to about a year ago before I got the brilliant idea of the current WIP took over my mind.

Oh the horror. So many options and so much time and such a lazy me.

Gonna get on it right now. (as soon as I post this link to FB so I can have everyone know that I can't motivate myself to write.)

2011-01-04T09:14:00.000-08:00

WOW, so it has begun again. Another year, another round of goals and resolutions. I don't plan to do anything so silly as lose weight, infact, I plan to gain some. :) More on that later.

Anyway,
My goal for myself as a writer is to send out my finished manuscript. To do that, I must first send out awesome query letters and get fabulous agents interested in looking at my manuscript.

My second goal is to finish the project I have in the works. I'm figuring I'm about halfway done with it now, so I plan to get the first draft done by the end of February. To do that I must take the time to write in it every day, and instead of beating it to death after each chapter I write, I'm going to just write it out and finish the dang thing. Then I'll do some massive readings and edits and fix all the stuff that needs it.

I also have a goal to still be a sane person and make it so my husband who supports me in all this won't regret supporting me. I love that man.

So there it is. It's writen down for all the vast world to see. Those are my beginning writing goals this year. I'll add more as I get these done, but I think they are doable, and that is the first step in being successful. Pick something you can do.

Laura

An Awesome Writers Conference.

2010-09-28T11:35:00.000-07:00

Awesome Awesome Awesome. It was my first writers conference ever, and I loved every minute of it. I learned so much in one day. I wish I could have been there for days and days and days. And the food was fabulous. Totally worth all the calories in it.

I took pages and pages of notes, and had such wonderful ideas and inspiration come to me and was so excited to come home and just write and write and write. But, I had to do some preserving of delicious jelly and juice and fruit. It took me days to do it all. And now this week, I've had a nasty head cold and have been trying to help my house recover from a week of neglect while I bottled grapes and peaches. So needless to say, I haven't written a thing. I've edited a little, but I haven't done much. And now in 2 days, I'm going to another 1 day writers conference and I'm hoping to get as much from it as I did the other one. And this time, when I come home, I'm going to make the time to write.

I should have taken the class offered in the first conference about how to fit writing into your busy life. I know the summer is harder for getting writing time, as well as the fall, but once winter hits, and we've got no place to go, I'm going to get at least 10 times as much done as I have lately.

I will. I promise. You check on me.

How to exercise while writing.... That is the question.

2010-09-16T09:28:00.000-07:00

My gluteous maximus hurts. (spell check tells me I spelled it wrong, but I didn't want to be vulgar and say my butt hurts.) Its all because of the time I've been spending on the area previously specified while I'm sitting on it working on my laptop.

I've been trying to figure out how to incorporate exercise into my schedule, but its only half hearted. So I'm just going to have to make a goal to stand up, stretch, do some squats and leg lifts to get that area in question a little happier. So here is my goal. After every page edited, or written, I'm gonna get up and move around and do some exercises. (or maybe I should do it after every 3 pages if I'm really on a roll, cause if I stop working, then I'm tempted to check email, FB, other blogs, or waste my time in other ways.

Now, I'm going to get off this blog and do my exercises, then get back to the WIP and kick some writing butt, then exercise my writers butt.

So easily distracted.

2010-09-08T16:29:00.000-07:00

Man it is too easy to get distracted from writing. I had a golden opportunity to spend some quality time with my laptop today. And I did. Except for I didn't do the revisions I had planned. Instead I watched some shows on Hulu. Love hulu by the way.

I have been changing one of my stories from 3rd person point of view to 1st person point of view. I believe it will really enhance the story, yet I've discovered it is difficult to change it since I did so much of it in 3rd person. I have to cut out whole sections, since my main character wasn't there to see what happened, but it is still fun to see things from her eyes, instead of from the eyes of an all knowing narrator.

So as I'm going, I start to think of something else, go research it, or go check email, or FB or other blogs, and then realize. Oh crap! I've only got a few more minutes before the kids get home from school, and then its homework time.

I really need to stay focused, but so far I've been able to return to my focus and do some more revisions. I'm halfway there, with the revision of 3 to 1, but then I have to write the rest of it from 1st Person and that will sure be fun. I know where I'm going with it at least.

I'll let you know when I get there.

Home construction and writing?

2010-08-31T11:06:00.000-07:00

We've been working on finishing our basement for a while now. It has taken longer than I thought it would, but is actually coming along faster than I thought as well.

How is that possible? Well, when we first got started, I had in mind what it should look like at the end. We only have a half basement, filling the underneath level between our kitchen and front room, since we have a sunk in family room that isn't a basement, but isn't on the main level either.

SO I knew we'd only have two rooms, a bathroom, and a storage room with a small utility room there as well. My image of it and my husbands image were similar, but until we actually got to the framing, and building, of it, it was just an idea.

After the frame took shape, then we could tweak the little things, like the wall texture, the paint, the lighting, the flooring, the molding, the fixtures, the cabinets, and such in the bathrooms, as long as they fit within the frame of our rooms. (sometimes it took a little force and some shoving, but we made things fit when we really wanted them in there.) In the bathroom, I picked a color I loved, but the honey didn't like it as much, so we tweaked it a little by splotching it with some white paint and a loofah sponge. Easy fix, and I could see the change made a big improvement.

It came together little bits at a time, with a lot of hard work and effort going into it. We (and I mostly mean he) worked on this and did most of the work by our(him) selves, but on things we knew we needed help on, we went to a professional, or one who knew exactly what to do and how to do it.

Don't ask me why, (I'm a writer, I couldn't help applying what I learned to writing a book) but I started to think how the writing of my story followed a similar pattern. I have a basic idea of a story. The size is determined by the genre, and the age range I'm writing for. The frame is what I have to work with and relates to my plot. The little things I can tweak are easy to do for a bit, and I have a lot of options, but once I pick them, I need to stay true to them and their abilities, strengths weaknesses, and so forth unless I want to go to a lot of effort to redo them, so the thinking things through before I commit comes in handy.

There are times when I needed the opinion and a fresh view of someone else to tell me how to fix my problem, and make it work. Other times, I pushed and shoved and edited, and changed things until it fit.

Thankfully I never had to completely tear out anything, in either situation, but this thing called writing sure takes longer than I thought it was. Once I had the frame and the walls set up, I thought I was done, but now I'm going through, fixing the dings, making sure the cement holding it together is pretty and smooth, the paint needs to go on evenly, and the accents are being worked on to make it all a beautiful finished product. I'm still working on it, but I sure have come to understand that it takes more than just the framework to make a good story or a beautiful room.

I sent my kids to school today.

2010-08-24T21:06:00.000-07:00

School has started up again, after a fun and busy summer. I used to always think summers were easier to deal with, and the school year was hard.

That must have been because I was a student for a lot of those years, and a teacher for a couple more. I looked forward to summer and couldn't wait for all the late nights I'd enjoy (and growing up in a small town, it probably doesn't resemble the late night that may come to mind for some people).

I loved working in the little mercantile for my dad while growing up. Having a built in job was awesome, plus, I could always have whatever kind of snack I needed or wanted and just put it on my tab. Somehow, my income was always sufficient to cover my wants. Plus I even had money for school shopping just before school started. We'd load into an old green van, and head to the BIG city. Of course, Salt Lake City is a big city, but to me from my grass valley roots, it was humongous. What fond memories are mine. I even sat on a bucket in the van, because there weren't enough seats, or seat belts, cause my parents took the back bench out to make room for all the supplies they'd pick up at the bulk stores. Good thing we never were in an accident or I'd be dead by now.

Then when school would start, everything came rushing in. After school activities, drama club, musical productions, drill team, and keeping good grades made for a busy life. I LOVED school, but always felt excited when summer rolled around again.

However, now that I'm a mom, I still keep thinking summer will be easy and laid back. It so isn't. We go on vacation, usually a couple of trips to our favorite lake. Lake Powell is awesome. And we do some other things, with busy nights, and weekends, and trying to keep a handful of kids occupied and entertained. No wonder moms start the month of August looking forward to shopping for their kids back to school needs, knowing that soon, they will have a few hours a day of peace and tranquility, or in my case a lessening of the fantastic chaos since there are still two at my house who aren't in school yet.

But just the difference of having two in the house instead of four, plus me of course, allows for more time to write. I'm excited for my new project and have been happily banging away at the keyboard, and making some adjustments to the beginning I'd done on it months ago. We'll see if I use my time wisely, or not.

Probably some of both.

It is DONE

2010-08-21T19:31:00.000-07:00

I may have said this before, but I am done with the first one, and I'm putting it away for a month and focusing on something else entirely. I'm not gonna look at it at all. I found the first time I put it away for a few months, and came back to it later, I saw all kinds of ways to fix it. I'm hoping it wont need fixing again, but it feels nice to know I can put it away.

Now onto my next project. I really want to start on it right this second, but my battery is low, my energy is low, and my mind is tired. (sort of) Maybe I can dream about what all I want to do with this next one.

On a side note, I got to meet another published author a few days ago. It is so amazing to meet other people who have accomplished what you want to. And such a nice feeling to know that others succeeded and it is possible that you can too. Such a kind man too. I met J. Scott Savage, the author of the Farworld Series, and the Covington mysteries. His sister also came and told us about her experience in breaking into the publishing world. It takes more than just a little work, but it has been worth it so far.

2010-08-17T09:44:00.000-07:00

I have such crazy dreams. I rarely go a night without having a dream of some sort.

The other night, I dreamed that my husband came home from work with a family following him, and he informed me that he had just sold the house and these people would be moving in immediately.

I had to start packing my stuff (I have a lot of stuff) and moving it out while the new family started moving their stuff in. I was making good progress, and wasn't panicked at all (which is so NOT like me.) I need to have weeks or months of prep time to wrap my mind around a concept, so in my dream I kept wondering why it didn't bother me that he had sold the house out from under me, and that I was packing everything up so well.

He was even so kind as to get a horse trailer to use as our moving van/truck. They even put up some nice blankets to keep the messy horse droppings from getting on our stuff.

The thing that did concern me, was that we didn't really have a house picked out that we were moving to. I asked my husband where we would be on Sunday (the next day) because I had to teach sharing time in Primary. I also started wondering which of my neighbors I could go ask to help haul out the heavy furnitures and stuff.

I woke up before we moved, or even finished loading the horse trailer.

The thing that cracks me up about this dream is that we have no intention of moving from our home. At least not anytime soon.

Ahh, I just love my subconscious mind. Gives me such interesting insight into myself.

Learning as I go.

2010-08-16T14:45:00.001-07:00

GAHHHH.

I'm getting so tired of going over and over and over my story. Isn't it done yet? I've revised it many times, and still find little mistakes here and there. It is helping to read through it out loud and see how the sentences flow.

I'm seriously considering paying someone to do a massive critique edit. Make sure it is a great as it can be. It's not bad, but it's not perfect yet.

I still have other stories running around through my head, but until I can get this one where I want it to be, I've put the other ones on hold.

I've also been having fun doing "research" by reading other stories in my genre and age range. It is amazing how many authors can write so many books and do such a good job on them. This first one of mine has been fun, but very difficult as I have learned all the things I've done wrong and had to correct them. Hopefully as I improve in my craft, the following stories won't take as long to do. Hope I learn from my mistakes and avoid the same types of things in the future.

Who gets motion sick?

2010-08-10T12:50:00.000-07:00

We went to Lagoon yesterday, and I've realized I'm getting old.

I used to be able to ride each ride, multiple times without ever getting motion sick at all. This time, I didn't get sick on the rides, but did feel like I got a bit of whip lash a couple of times, and when I got in bed that night, I started to feel sick from the remembered motions. My brain just couldn't cope I guess. Lucky for me I was so exhausted I fell asleep within 10 minutes instead of the 30 to 40 it usually takes me.

How bad is that when you get motion sick lying in your own bed? (it's not a water bed by the way)

I haven't been for about nine years, because my kids were always too little, but we tried it with 4 kids ranging in age of 2 years to 8 years. It was a lot of fun, and the kids had a blast. They've really improved their options for young kids. Even the parents can ride on some of those rides too. I begged my fabulous sister to come with and to be another adult so we could take turns going and riding the big people rides, while one adult stayed with the kids.

It was a lot of fun, and now that I'm home the day after, I have a head ache, sore muscles in my neck and a tiny bit of motion sickness. I feel embarrassed to admit that, but it's true.

And we are gonna try to bounce back in a few days. Maybe I'll come home and sleep soundly, but I doubt it. I'll be motion sick again, once I lay down on my king size bed.

No title really, just thoughts.

2010-08-05T14:45:00.000-07:00

This has nothing to do with writing, but a little to do with reading.

I know how to read a recipe and follow it. And sometimes, it turns out AMAZING. I made a real honest to goodness cheesecake and it was so rich and creamy and delicious, that you can only stand to eat one slice. But lucky for me, that means I get to have it for many days in a row.

I love to cook. I HATE to wash the dishes afterwards. However, there have been times while I'm standing at the kitchen sink, staring out the window and looking at the Great Salt Lake in the distance, and enjoying the fantastic colors God painted the sky with that I just think of how wonderful this life experience is.

I can do anything I want to (within reason, morally, ethically, emotionally, and financially) I live in a free country with so many rights and freedoms and opportunities. I truly feel blessed.

I love reading about different things. Some in the type of genre I attempt to write in, but I have always loved reading. The first book I remember reading is "The Best Nest" I memorized it and quoted it to my mom as she sat on the couch next to me. She'd have to point out places where I'd skipped entire paragraphs, but that joy of sitting on the couch with my mom and having her attention while I read was priceless (any time a mother can give to one child in a family of seven children is precious) Makes me wanna go pull one of my kids into my lap and read with them.

Its always nice to be able to escape into another world when I read a book, but I am so thankful to be able to return to my world and my life, because it is definitely a great one.

When I write, I write.

2010-07-25T19:59:00.000-07:00

When I get the urge to write, that is all I want to do. Eating is essential, but I bring my plate to my laptop and take bites in between my flow of 'brilliant' ideas.

Housework takes a back seat, and I get irritated that my dear husband prefers a clean house over the thousands of words I crank out during the day. Silly man. :) Good thing he's such a wonderful man, and can clean up after himself, and even the kids so I don't have to do it all. (don't you wish you were as blessed as I am?)

One thing I've noticed about myself is that I don't like interruptions. When my kids need something or have to talk to me or just want to make sure I'm still alive and not some zombie banging away at the keyboard, I get annoyed at them. How terrible is that? I love my children dearly, and cherish the fact that I am a Stay at Home Mom, but some days I can't wait until they grow up so they can go to school, (all day) and let me have some focus time on the computer.

Then I freak out that I thought that terrible thing and go snuggle them while they are still young enough to want me to. (plus, my plan is to go back to teaching once my youngest is in school)

I discovered that the best way to avoid those problems is to either stay up into the wee hours of the morning while they are asleep, and end up cranky all day, or go visit my parents in my hometown, and write there. DH isn't there to be irritated that the housework isn't done, and I can get the flow out with minimal interruptions since the kiddos can play with Grandma or Grandpa.

I've also put off writing at times when I've had something else I should focus on since I know if I did even a little, I'd get so into it, I couldn't quit. (It's seriously like an addiction.)

I must praise my DH for his support in this obsession of mine. He even tells me he likes my writing. Bless him for cleaning up for me when I just can't drag myself away from all the verbs, nouns, adjectives, em-dashes, parenthesis, and so on. Thanks lover.

2010-06-23T17:50:00.000-07:00

I'm really trying to get more time to write, or I should say, take more time to write instead of all the other things I spend my time on. I've been trying to do it during nap time for my youngest, first thing in the morning, before dinner, after dinner, just keeping the computer on the table all day long and getting to it every second I can. But then I discover something else to distract me and I don't do my writing.

So the other night, I went to bed around 11 and couldn't sleep. Deciding to come downstairs and work on my writing, instead of tossing and turning in bed and accomplishing absolutely nothing, I worked and worked and worked on revising my story.

Things were going great. Finally at about 3 am, I started to feel tired, so I went to bed. I was so proud of how much I got done in those 3 hours after midnight. So much more than all the work I'd tried to do for more than a week before. Thinking I should do it again the next night, I almost did, but felt too tired. I went to bed, and was awakened by my 6 year old at 3 am. He was puking his guts out. (so glad he made it to the bathroom first though.)

I must say I prefer staying up until 3 am over being awakened at 3 am. Vomiting aside, staying up is easier on my mind and body than waking up.

The funny thing about it was listening to the comments my son made about how he hates to go bluhh (our code word for vomit, puke, or throwing up)

Well, enough with the distractions. I'm going to go back to my editing. Gave myself a deadline, and by golly, I'm gonna make it.

2010-06-17T10:28:00.000-07:00

I'm in one of those slumps again, where I just can't bring myself to write what I should. Instead, while I'm on the computer, I check my blog, check other writer's blogs, check email, watch hulu, or check Facebook. I really think I need to ground myself from the internet during my writing time. That is what I will do today. Once I'm done with this, I'll shut down the internet and write. Then I'll be so proud of getting something done with my computer time. It will be writing time.

The thing I'm struggling with now is that I've received some awesome feedback from some critique group readers that has really opened my eyes to what is wrong with my writing. I'm not a bad writer, but I'm not a great writer, YET! I will get there through hard work, and lots of revisions. I kind of want to take a vacation from my real life, and just go somewhere with no distractions to be able to focus on my work. I know that will not happen, and if I ever want to get my book ready to be published, I've sure got to do the work, around the other things that happen in my real life. I doubt any author out there is able to close themselves away from the real world to write. At least not for very long.

Gonna make a goal to get some real writing done every day. I WILL SUCCEED!

What I love about writing.

2010-06-11T21:39:00.000-07:00

What is it about writing that I love the most? I don't know. Sometimes I think it is the sound of the keyboard as the words just flow. Sometimes it is the way I feel about how I expressed one particular thing in just the right way. Sometimes it's the way I go back over something I wrote, edit it, and make it so much better than the way it originally was. Sometimes it's just breaking away from my real life, and escaping into another world of my own creation.

Other times its reading blogs of agents, editors, and other writers and feeling validated about what I'm going through. And how about doing all the 'research' reading to see how another author tells the story.

It is having other people read what I've written and tell me what they like and dislike about it. (After I've put my pride in my pocket of course.)

It's also about doing something that is hard, and painful, and awful, and terrible, and amazing over and over again, and getting different results depending on what kind of mood I'm in. I mean, how many people can go to work and come out with something different at the end of each day. Either the birth of something wonderful, or the death and destruction of something awful, and feeling good about just having done it.

Its the thought that I'm doing something that lots of people really wish they could do, and knowing that even though its hard, I'm still making the attempt.

So AMAZING, yet exhausting at the same time.

Love it!

2010-05-24T17:14:00.000-07:00

It has been awhile since I've written on here, but I have been thinking of writing most every day. I've attended my writers group, on a Thursday, where we learned about self publishing. (not something I'm really interested in, but it was very informative) It was hosted at a small independent bookstore here in Tooele "the Purple Cow" I bought Fablehaven 5, showed it to my husband that night, told him I wanted to read it, but I should work on my own writing, and he said, "You should do some more research reading to see how it's done." So I did. Finished it in a day and a half.

Then on Saturday, I went to a book signing by an author. I bought her book that day, and read it within 8 hours. (more than 300 pages too) Loved it (called the Hourglass Door, by Lisa Mangum.) Some day I'm going to write a book that just can't be put down.

I've written 16 pages in the last week. Much better than the weeks before that. I had been doing some editing, and reading work by others in my critique group. The story is often in my mind, but real life does interfere with my imaginary ones.

On a personal note, I lost my dear mother-in-law the first of this month. Attending her funeral the day before mothers day was heart breaking, but still such a spiritual and refreshing experience to know how much she was loved and how much she influenced and touched the lives of those who knew her. I hope I can live my life to be respected and loved as much as she was.

Tell those you love how much you love them. Take time in your life for the most important things. Go give someone a hug right now. :)

Can't say enough about the critique group

2010-05-05T08:53:00.001-07:00

I finished my book and thought it was fabulous. Having my family and some friends read it gave me some feedback, but it was mostly its nice, I like it, sign me a book when it's published. But none of the agents wanted anything to do with it. Then I joined a critique group and have gotten such good advice on how to improve it that I can't believe I thought it was good when I first finished it. I believe it was a good idea to let it sit and simmer for awhile and then come at it again with a new look and new advice.

I'm getting excited to see how to make it improve with each time I read through it.

1/2 way through the big edit.

2010-04-20T14:35:00.000-07:00

I'm more than half way through the thorough edit of my manuscript. Have been really enjoying it and making some minor, and some major changes.

However, I'm fighting the urge to go write something else. Work on another project that I started a few months ago and then put away because I was in the mood to work on this one. I've told myself once I make all the corrections I need to on my first project, I'll do another round of sending it out and work on my next idea while I wait to hear back. I'm still hearing back from agents that I queried back in mid January.

Feeling like it's mostly positive.

So enough rambling. Back to work I go.

I've been at it for a year now.

2010-04-17T15:53:00.000-07:00

I've been getting some great feedback from my critique group. It has been unbelievably helpful to get insights from other writers. LOVE IT!

I have been spending a lot of my time reading other people's work, and seeing how they do it. Getting to work on mine and improving as I go. I am 1/3 of the way through a more in depth revision and edit. I know it is helping it to be a much better book.

I have now been working on being a writer for a full year now. It has been a wonderful learning experience, and I can't wait to see what this next year brings.

Lots of fun stuff out there, I'm sure.

A bump in the road.

2010-04-01T08:57:00.000-07:00

I've hit a snag. I was going so great. Got 3 chapters done with no problem, the fourth was a little harder, and now I'm stuck. Don't know if that means I've gone the wrong way and need to do a detour or what. I know where I want to be at the end of the road, the journey is what is hard. Gotta make it entertaining and exciting stops along the way before we reach the end, but it's beginning to get boring.

Maybe I should take a break and work on my other one.

Read the types of books you want to write.

2010-03-27T15:11:00.001-07:00

I have been told from many different sources to read the types of books you are wanting to write. Get a feel for what is out there. See how other writers did it. Learn how to do it by seeing how it was done.

There are many books out there I've read, just because I happened to come across them in the Young adult section of the library.

Other books have been suggested to me by others who have read them.

Many times a best seller was enjoyable to me, but I have loved others that weren't nearly so popular. I do think having others recommend a book is a good thing, but I can't tell you how many times I've been disappointed by something because it didn't meet the expectations I had from the glowing praise given it. Kind of like movies that same way I guess.

I also know the kinds of books I have loved and told others to read, haven't met their expectations. There are so many opinions on books. Good thing there are so many books out there. At least each one should be loved by at least one person.

But I must say I really love the "research" part of this writing business. I can't wait to open another book to read while I "research" how that author crafted their story.

Critique groups ROCK!

2010-03-24T11:37:00.000-07:00

I participated in my first critique group last night. It was so nice to get input and suggestions from other writers.

I love having other people who know what I am going through as a writer "get" what I'm talking about when I say that certain things were hard or easy for me to write.

And its great to get input from others on what they notice about my work that needs help because I'm so close to my story I don't see it as individual words any more.

So I must say again. Having a critique group is wonderful. So many different viewpoints really helps.

So many ideas. So little writing time.

2010-03-11T11:34:00.000-08:00

I have so many ideas going on in my head. All of them have great potential. But I just got a new one that I want to run with instead of my other ones.

How do I choose. I'm writing down all the ideas that come to me as I get them so if one doesn't work, then I have a few others to play with. It is definitely hard to choose which one to spend my time on.

Revise my first?

Work on my middle grade?

Work on my end of world fantasy?

Start my contemporary fantasy?

How about all of the above at different times depending on my mood.

Multi tasking is where its at, but I hope I can multi task and get at least something done.

Old BABIES and New BABIES (babies=words)

2010-03-01T09:43:00.001-08:00

So I'm trying to get more informed about my blog. I've added a few things and tried to add a picture to it. I can't figure out how to make a picture show up on the blogs I've become a follower of. If anyone out there knows how to do it, I'd sure love some instruction.

My ideas have been churning in my mind and I'm getting excited to flush them out onto my page. It is so fun to create something new. Makes you feel proud and brilliant.

Kind of like a new mom.

Then when people tell you your work isn't so good, you get a little angry at them. Of course no one will love your babies like you do. (Babies referring to your words. every single one of them.) Some will even tell you to kill your babies (words) or cut them apart, or find whole new ones and throw away the first ones. I'll always love those first babies, but I'm now understanding that some of those babies need work. Not because they are completely bad, but as a new parent (writer) I sure didn't know how to shape them to their very best. But with work and patience, I can mold them into better words.

Now I'm looking forward to producing and giving birth to new babies. LOTS AND LOTS of them.

2010-02-26T14:59:00.000-08:00

For the last week I've been sick and not felt up to doing much toward writing or even much toward living and doing my regular stuff as a mom of 4, and a wife of 1.

I have been able to read however. I've devoured 6 books in the last week since I got them at the library for a grand total of 2,502 pages. Man were they delicious.

I have discovered lately though, that ever since I started seriously writing, I've noticed a change in my reading.

I've noticed errors in published books, like some small punctuation, or an extra word thrown in that may have been missed in the many edits and revisions that writers, and editors do. It gives me a bit of hope to know that other writers are just regular people too.

I also notice things more than just the story. I look at descriptions, the way the words make me feel, how much dialogue there is compared to another book I've read, whether I like first person or third person point of view. I still love to read and escape into another world, but I think I have a little bit of understanding of how much reading agents and editors do and how good something will have to be to catch their attention.

Got lots of work to do.

I'll sure enjoy doing more "reading" research for improving my craft. See how others do it, and how to make mine work too.

More rejections.

2010-02-18T07:45:00.000-08:00

I have received word back from the agent who requested my partial. It's not right for her. I also got an email rejection too this morning.

I'm not too worried about that. I know other great writers were rejected many times. Some more, some less than me. And now some of them have best sellers. Maybe I won't be as successful as they, but I will have success. I will get a book out there and people will read it.

Maybe it won't be this first one. Maybe it will be my second, third, forth.....or later, but one day I will get one out.

Wanna know why???? Cause I'm not gonna quit. I'm gonna keep on going. You'll see. I'll show you. :)

Being the ref of your own mind is weird.

2010-02-17T08:10:00.001-08:00

I have 2 stories that are in my mind fighting for attention.

On is a lighthearted middle grade written from the viewpoint of an 11 year old boy. I'm working on getting his voice just right. Gotta do some remembering and observing of boys that age. I'm also going to the library tonight to get some books written about or for boys.

The other is a little more dark about what the world is like for a few teenagers after their world is mostly destroyed.

I know totally opposites. But they are both in there demanding their due. At least I'm not obsessing about the first book I've been querying about.

So trying to referee two stories will be interesting. Hopefully they will keep in their separate pages and not try to join each other. That wouldn't flow very well.

I've always been pretty good at multi-tasking. We'll see how well I can do it when it comes to writing.

I feel like a writer.

2010-02-15T20:47:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine just announced that a publishing house has asked to publish her book!!!!

That is so exciting. I'm glowing with excitement for her accomplishments. I feel valued as a writer because someone else I know is being recognized as a writer.

I know someone who will be published. I'm making connections with other writers, I've joined a writers chapter here in my town, I've had other writers read some of my work and offer me feedback. It is improving me every day with everything I do related to my writing.

I AM A WRITER! I always knew that I wanted to be a teacher, ever since 2nd grade. The reason I started writing was because I wanted to get credits to renew my teaching license. But never did I think I'd become a WRITER. I have hopes and aspirations to become a published author, but for now, I feel great about being a writer.

I'm a dreamer.

2010-02-11T11:55:00.000-08:00

I dream about things that have been on my mind. I figure its a way for me to sort through my thoughts even when I'm asleep. I never stop over thinking things.

The dream I had last night was about the partial I've got out to an agent. I dreamed that she sent me an email with video in it about all the things that were wrong with my story. She gave me some great pointers and told me how to fix it all. When I woke up this morning, I was ready to come down and get right to work on fixing my errors. Then I started thinking about what she had told me and realized that the problems she pointed out, didn't exist in my story. She told me that my main characters love interest was evil and all wrong, but that isn't the way it is at all.

I haven't gone back to the story yet today, but I will go to it again with new eyes and see if my dream is telling me I've got to fix it somehow, or if it was just one of those dreams that get your worries out so you can move on.

Moving on to the next project is hard.

2010-02-09T11:44:00.000-08:00

I've been trying to write. I really have. I started on a new project so I could let my first project sit and simmer while I'm waiting for responses from some agents I've queried. But I can't leave the first one alone.

When I finished it in October, I spent a week or more going over it and over it making sure I didn't have any errors that were so obvious it would prove me to be a lousy writer. I found a handful, fixed them, read it again, fixed some more, then again and got so tired of my story I didn't want to read it again for awhile So I put my pride in my pocket and queried away.

Got lots of rejections, enjoyed the holidays, and ignored my story for 2 months. When I came back to it in January, I read it again with fresh eyes. At times and in parts of the story I alternated between really loving it and knowing that I'm a genius, to thinking who in their right mind would want to read this crap.

The crap parts were always the same, so I'm working on fixing them, but trying to do it slowly to make sure I don't take out any good parts.

I also have 3 or 4 other story ideas I've been toying with, and one I've actually started on not to mention the sequels that could follow my first, because it could definitely be extended. But as I get going on the one I've decided to work on, I keep wanting to switch to another idea and see where it goes, while at the same time wanting to focus all my attention on perfecting my first.

I've just got to get going on the second one I've begun and let the others flow when the time is right or I'll never get anything done.

I sent out my first partial!

2010-02-04T14:32:00.000-08:00

I went to the post office today to mail the first 30 pages with a synopsis and SASE.

It was a little butterfly in the belly inducing. I have submitted the first 10 to 15 pages before that were pasted in the email with my query letter, but somehow doing it snail mail made it feel so much more intimidating.

I wonder if that was because she said it sounded interesting and requested it, whereas the other ones wanted the 10 to 15 in the initial contact.

I've read on other blogs and comments from writers that its hard to send out your pride and joy, your baby, if you will, to someone who won't love it as much as you do. I agree with them. I hope she loves it, but know it won't be the same way I love it.

She'll be able to see all the flaws I have there. Me on the other hand. I'm like a mom that can't see the misbehavings of my precious children (who are mostly perfect by the way). I've gone over that manuscript so many times, I know it by heart.

Even though she'll see it's flaws, I hope she can also see it's potential, and want to work with me to help me perfect it.

Here's hoping

I've got someone kind of interested!

2010-02-01T12:31:00.000-08:00

I've been sending out query letters to many many agents. One at a time of course. I've looked up what they like on their web pages to make sure my book fits into one of the genre's they represent. Most of the replies have been a polite "no thank you" or "I'm not the right agent for your work," or "This is not a right fit for me."

I'm ok with all of the rejections, The very first one hurt, the second... not so much. By the 30th or more, its more of "I knew that would be coming, lets see what the next one says."

Now, I've come across something I'm not familiar with. I've got an agent that said: "Sounds interesting, Send me the first 30 pages and a synopsis."

NOW I'M PANICKED.

I've been looking into finding the right format for submitting the work. What size font? Do I need headers? or footers? If the sentence isn't complete on the 30th page, do I leave it unfinished? or add the rest of it??

I want to make it the best I can in appearance, but I've also been going back over it and reading it over and over and over again to make sure I don't have any stupid little errors. I'm also trying to make sure it catches her attention so she'll ask to see page 31 and on....

I'm hoping for the best, but I'm also being realistic about it.

Each one of these little steps will make this the best project I can get it.

Hope I've got a good start.

Getting past the block.

2010-01-29T12:33:00.000-08:00

I'm in a block. It's pretty big. I have room to move, I have life to live, I have things to do in this block, but I can't get past it.

I tried writing in my newest project, but it just wasn't going where I wanted it to go. I started having all these thoughts about how terrible of a writer I am because I can't get past it. That I can't think of a story other than the one I finished that I'm querying about.

I gave up last night and started watching one of my favorite show on hulu.com. Then I went to bed without having progressed at all in my story. As I lay in bed trying to fall asleep, (I can lay there for hours and still not fall asleep) I started thinking of all the books I've loved. How great they were and how I wished I could do something as amazing. Then I realized, I'd never get something amazing out there if I quit. I began thinking of all the stories I'd had churning over and over in my head over the years. None that I had ever thought of writing down, because I only decided to give writing a try about 9 months ago. I also thought of continuing my first completed book because I left it open enough to go forward if I wanted to.

I still don't think I'll be able to just pop out a book in the next couple of months, but I will get something out there in the next little while. And will all begin with me opening up a blank page and starting to type.

Imagine me climbing out of a box and walking away from my block.

Here I go.

Why don't you want to read an unfinished story???

2010-01-28T12:03:00.000-08:00

When I first started writing, it was mostly for fun. I wanted to see where the idea I started with could go. As I got more and more into it, I had delusions of grandeur thinking that of course as soon as I finished it, I'd just have to send it to an editor and they would immediately want to publish it. Then I could start work on the story that would follow it. (That isn't how it works BTW)

As I was working on it, I had my husband read it. I talked it over with my sister and begged her to read my newest chapters and give me feedback.

They were both helpful, but my husband would get a little irritated when I'd ask him to read what I had just written. At first, I was bothered that he wasn't begging to read my newest sentences and tell me how wonderful they were. Because of course they were all wonderful.

When he explained that he didn't like reading what I wrote because I hadn't gotten any further than that most brilliant of paragraphs I had just stopped writing to show him. He wanted a finished product. He wanted to know what happened next.

It never dawned of me that that would be an issue. I of course knew what I wanted to happen next and we had even discussed different ways for that to happen, I didn't have a problem with the rest of the story not written down. It was always available to me.

I wouldn't want to start reading a book and only have part of it there. I suppose it is even more irritating than when you finish a book in a series and have to wait for the next in the series to be released.

So this time around, I've been working on my next project and have asked my sister some questions about where I could go with my idea, but I promise not to be too pushy in asking for feedback as I'm going. (Unless of course they want to read my genius words.)

And speaking of series. Here are a few of my favorites (in no particular order) that I had a hard time waiting patiently for the next installment.

Harry Potter, The Wheel of Time, Twilight saga, Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, Fablehaven....

What are some of yours?

My first attempts at blogging!

2010-01-27T09:07:00.000-08:00

Nine months ago, I started a writing course trying to get some writing experience, and some credits to renew my teaching license. I let it expire while I was raising my 4 children. (Currently ranging in age from 20 months to almost 8.) One of my first assignments just kept going and going and eventually a Young Adult science fiction story of approximately 81,000 words just appeared.

I couldn't believe how much I LOVED writing. I would write late into the night. Avoid doing housework until I had a block that I couldn't write through. Many times I would be washing dishes at the sink and I'd get a great idea for something in the story, or some great dialogue to move the story forward. I couldn't wait to get done with the dishes. (I never left them undone once I started, cause I didn't want to come back to a sink full of cold dirty water.)

After 6 months of writing, I finished my book and eagerly looked into getting it published.

What did I discover? Writing is easy. Editing, revising, changing, cutting, and revising again is hard. Looking for an agent to be interested enough to want to represent you and contact an editor (Who seem to be only interested in listening to an agent who is interested in your book) is also hard.

So I'll be blogging about my journey from idea to published (Hopefully sooner rather than later, but someday I will be.)