School's Out

Remember how I mentioned I was taking a class, Writing and Selling the Young Adult Novel, taught by the incredibly talented Mandy Hubbard?  Well, I survived and it ended up being a great experience.  Made some new friends, met a whole bunch of amazing writers, and most importantly, I learned a lot.

First, I learned that I can work under a deadline.  I've talked about it before, but when it comes to writing, I channel the spirit of the turtle.  I don't do NaNoWriMo, I do NaNoSloMo.  It was a four-week class and for the first three weeks, we had to turn in 2,500 words every Friday.  That's approximately 10 pages, double-spaced.

Now I know plenty of people who can do 2,500 words in one day.  I've heard tales of some people being able to do that in a couple of hours.  Those people are cyborgs.  But I'm not that person, and that's OK.  The thing is, Beautiful Medusa is very much a work in progress.  As in, when I started the class, I had written 5 pages, and they were not good pages (you didn't have to have a completed manuscript to take the class, about a quarter of us had next to nothing when we started).  So while turning in 2,500 words once a week might not be a big deal to some, for me, it was terrifying.  I had to write it all pretty much from scratch and to make it worse, the way Beautiful Medusa is structured, most of the scenes I was afraid to write, the gut-wrenching scenes that utterly destroy the character, happen in the first few chapters.

In other words, it was a daunting task, but with a deadline hanging over me, somehow I got it done.  And by 'somehow,' I mean with the help of lots of caffeine and Noodles & Co.  I was worried the deadline would make me panic, but instead, it helped me focus.  I honestly believe it would've taken me months just to get up the courage to write those scenes, but I did it because I had to.

This is me standing atop Mt. "Yeah, I Rocked That"

Second, I learned to slow down.  I've been trying to 'hook' my readers by immediately diving into the action.  I was also afraid I'd lose their attention if I got bogged down in too much description of what my character was going through.  In the immortal words of St. Lolcat, "Writing.  Ur doin' it wrong."  If you throw an action scene at your readers too early, yeah, you'll have stuff happening, but your readers won't be able to connect with the main character.  And if you skip what your character is feeling, readers won't ever be able to connect.  With the help of Mandy and my awesome critique group, I think I got better at exploring my character's emotions, while not going overboard, and doing it by showing, not telling.  What really gets me is that I love to delve into what my characters are feeling, but I was convinced my readers would get bored, so I cut it out.  Yes, I am silly.    

There's so much other stuff I learned:  Tips on how to make characters more memorable.  What makes a really great opening, etc.  The good news is that I believe Mandy will be holding this class again in the fall, so if you were interested and missed it the first time, you'll have another chance.  I'd highly recommend it.  

PS-While I was writing this post, one of my friends tweeted, "Another 6,000 words today..."  Yegads!  What model of cylon are you???

You Haven't Gotten Rid of Me Yet

I'm sorry for yet another lengthy absence.  I admit, I've been in a blogging funk.  I had the time, just not the energy or inclination to blog.  The good news is that this funk hasn't extended to anything else.  Since finishing my latest revision of Knights of Avalon in December, I've been busy with a bunch of things:

Reading:  OK, well, I've been trying to read.  I've self-diagnosed myself with literary ADD.  I'll be reading a book I love and then...SQUIRREL!  I don't have a TBR pile, I have a TBF (To Be Finished) pile.  It took me six months to get through Catching Fire.  It's bad, y'all.   

 
I'm happy to say I actually finished Watersmeet and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Next up is Falling Under and then maybe Thief's Covenant, Witch Eyes, or Born Wicked.  

Writing:  I'm still querying Knights of Avalon.  To distract myself while I query, because querying isn't stressful, nuh-uh, I've started work on my next project:  Beautiful Medusa.  It's about Medusa, as the hero.  And yes, she still turns people into stone and has snakes for hair.  That's so inconvenient for her.  I've also signed up for this class  ------> Writing and Selling the Young Adult Novel, taught by the insanely talented Mandy Hubbard.  I've done workshops and attended panels in the past, but I'm pretty much self-taught and I'm hoping a class will help me with some of my problems with characterization and connecting with readers.     

Besides that, I've embarked on an epic quest to tame the roving hordes of dust bunnies living in my house and have been juggling rescue cats like someone straight out of Cirque du Soleil.          

And while I haven't been blogging, I have been attending author events, so keep an eye out for contests in the near future.  I've been hoarding signed books and it's time to get rid of them!

Dear Mom, My Name Is Not Beth Revis

Last year, I got my mother a copy of Beth Revis' Across the Universe. I knew mom would love it. She adores spaceships and sci-fi and when I met Beth during last year's Breathless Reads tour, I got the sense that she and my mom were on the same wavelength, so to speak.

I handed the book to mom and her face lit up. I was thrilled to see her so happy. She looked up at me. "Did you...did you write this?"

My face fell. I pointed towards the cover. "Is my name Beth Revis?"

Mom thought it over for a bit. "But what if that's your pen name? And you didn't tell me you had gotten a book deal because you wanted to surprise me."

I sighed. This wasn't the first time this had happened. The year before, mom had convinced herself that I was Kelly Gay, because apparently our writing styles are similar. "If I ever get a book deal, you'll know, because I'll be the one running up and down the street in my pajamas, screaming, 'Oh my God! Oh my God! I got a book deal!' Trust me on this, you'll know when it happens."

To re-cap:

This is Beth Revis, awesome author of Across the Universe and A Million Suns. She likes Futurama, Firefly, and things that explode. She also had this freaky painting in her hotel room the other night that looked like a bunch of carnivorous Pikachu on valium, which you can see here.



This is me:



OK, maybe this is me:



The point is: Despite our mutual love of Firefly, you'll notice we are not the same person.

As it turns out, Beth is going to be doing a signing in my area tomorrow. I wanted to bring mom with me, to prove I'm not Beth Revis so mom could meet one of her favorite authors in person. Unfortunately, mom's really into eating and paying her bills and had to work instead. I'm still going though! Besides Beth, Andrea Cremer, Marie Lu, and Jessica Spotswood will be there. I'll be sure to get books signed and have a giveaway.

As always, if you have anything in particular you'd like me to get, let me know in the comments.

Edits Are Like Shiny Objects...

...I get easily distracted by them.

First off, I'm alive!

Second, I finished my latest round of revisions for Knights of Avalon. It only took me over a year. I actually finished about a month ago, but then the holidays happened, and free time was not happening.

Now that I'm done and the mss. is out with my beta readers, I desperately need to busy myself with something else. Because when you're waiting for your beta readers to get back to you, it's like this:






Yes, I need to chill and just enjoy the puppehs. While I wait, I'm also going to try and update this blog and maybe do a giveaway. Is there any book in particular you'd like me to give away? I take requests! I love to get things for people. I live around the DC area, so if you know of an author headed my way, I can get books signed and hold a contest.

Update:

The always awesome James of Book Chic Club has put together a list of Mid-Atlantic book signings and events. Check the list out. If you see something on there that you want, let me know and I will do my best to get it and have a contest. I want to get you all books! Let me get you books!

Also, the Internet Famous Intern (IFI) has drawn a picture (several, in fact) of Justine, my MC from Knights of Avalon. That's my girl! In stick-figure form. I love it.

PAYA Giveaway, Week 4: The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin

Update: I've never had a contest with no entries before, but I really, really wanted to read this book myself. And it's signed, "Rock You Like a Hurricane!" I guess I'll keep it. Can I do that? I'm totally doing it!

Last, but not least, I'll be giving away a signed paperback copy of Josh Berk's The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin. At PAYA, Josh half-jokingly offered to sign it, "Rock You Like a Hurricane." I totally took him up on that, so think of the prize as an extra-special Hurricane Irene commemorative edition of the book.

Summary:



Will Halpin has ditched his former “deaf school” and is now trying to merge into the auditory-able mainstream at Carbon High in eastern Pennsylvania. As the new, overweight kid who has to sit off to the side during classes so he can try to read the lips of both his teachers and his classmates, Will—no slouch when it comes to reading human reactions—quickly downsizes his social expectations and retreats back into the soundless cocoon of his own skull. Luckily for readers, it’s darkly hilarious in there.

What teens wouldn’t want to have Will’s skills as he, notebook in hand, monitors the school bus mirror and pieces together what all the cool kids are talking about? Most, Will discovers, as he deftly dissects personalities and devilishly deconstructs high school culture, are slavishly focused on being invited to an exclusive party being thrown by popular jock Pat. But when Pat dies during a field trip to a defunct coal mine, under suspicious circumstances, the story morphs into an engaging mystery as Will reluctantly accepts the unsettlingly friendly overtures of a quirky classmate bent on enlisting him as a partner in some amateur sleuthing.

How to Enter:

1. Respond to this post and you'll automatically be entered into the contest. The winner will be chosen at random.

2. For extra credit (and one extra contest entry), please answer the following question: If money, time, and materials weren't an issue, what would be your ultimate Halloween costume?

3. If you're my little brother, you can't enter.

4. You must follow my blog. You're also more than welcome to follow me on Twitter (@LiteraryMouse), but you're not required to. But it would make me happy.

5. Deadline to enter is Monday, October 31, at 11:59pm EST. At midnight, I turn into a pumpkin and no more entries will be accepted.

6. The contest is open to everybody, US and International.

If you have any questions about contest rules, please leave them in the comments!

PAYA Giveaway, Week 3: A Touch Mortal - Winner Announced

Update: And the winner is...Maidenveil! Woohoo! You go, girl!
I'll be in touch via e-mail, or quite possibly messenger dog (it's like a messenger owl).

Check back Monday for my last giveaway, Josh Berk's The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin.

--
Next up, a signed copy of Leah Clifford's A Touch Mortal. Not only is this book a great read, it teaches us a valuable lesson: Don't date fallen angels. Seriously, you want something cute with wings? Get a cockatiel.

Book Summary:



Eden didn't expect Az.

Not his saunter down the beach toward her. Not his unbelievable pick up line. Not the instant, undeniable connection. And not his wings.

Yeah.

So long happily-ever-after.

Now trapped between life and death, cursed to spread chaos with her every touch, Eden could be the key in the eternal struggle between heaven and hell. All because she gave her heart to one of the Fallen, an angel cast out of heaven.

She may lose everything she ever had. She may be betrayed by those she loves most. But Eden will not be a pawn in anyone else's game. Her heart is her own.

And that's only the beginning of the end.

How to Enter:

1. Respond to this post and you'll automatically be entered into the contest. The winner will be chosen at random.

2. For extra credit (and one extra contest entry), please answer the following question: If you were dating a Fallen Angel, where would you go for your first date? I understand Skeeball is very popular with the winged set.

3. If you're my little brother, you can't enter.

4. You must follow my blog. You're also more than welcome to follow me on Twitter (@LiteraryMouse), but you're not required to. But it would make me happy.

5. Deadline to enter is Thursday, October 20, at 9pm EST.

6. The contest is open to everybody, US and International.

If you have any questions about contest rules, please leave them in the comments!

A Brief Intermission, and Contest Alert

I'll be posting my next giveaway tomorrow, but to tide you over, I wanted to share some cool contests and links:

1. Have you ever wanted to visit Japan? How about getting a free round-trip ticket to go there? To bring back tourists after March's deadly earthquake and tsunami, Japan will pay for your airfare if you're willing to blog about your adventure. You'll have to provide your own funds for food, hotel, and anime though.
2. Are you a fan of Jimi Hendrix? Sirenz co-author Natalie Zaman is giving away a rubbing she took of Jimi Hendrix's grave. I have to say, of all the prizes ever given away in a contest, this is definitely one of the coolest and most unique.
3. Over at Scribing Shadows, it's Sandy's second blogoversary. There's still time to enter and get the chance to win books and other goodies!
4. Best dog costume of the year? Quite possibly.
   

Feel free to leave any contest links you might know of in the comments.