On Being Dumb

Lately, I've just felt so DUMB.

I don't mean dumb in the way of making mistakes while querying, ie: addressing my queries to Dear Agent(s), or telling them how much my kids really want me to be a published author. And I don't mean dumb in the way of mistakes while writing, ie: screwing up the grammar during dialogue or using way way too many adverbs.

I think by now I know MOST of those dumb things writers can do (I say most because I know I still do dumb things from time to time).

No, I feel dumb in a completely different way.

For the past year (or maybe more) I've felt like I'm in a blog slump. I just have nothing interesting to say. I read other people's blog posts, interviews, even tweets, and think, wow, they're so smart, so witty, so interesting... Meanwhile, I've got nothing. No new ideas to share, nothing wow-worthy. Nothing that will make people laugh or think. Nothing that hasn't been said before, and way better than I could ever do.

What's the cure for this dumbness? I'd really like to know. Until then, I'm determined to read even more blogs, rather than less. I'll keep reading like I always do, and get back to my writing routine. I'll live my life, and hopefully somewhere in there, I'll find out how to be interesting again. Until then... any tips?

Best Book of August

It's the end of the month and YA Highway wants to know:

 

What was the best book you read in August?

Although I'm not quite finished it yet, the best book of August is most likely Maid of Secrets (unless the ending turns out to be really crappy- which I doubt). I love historical, I feel right involved in the time period even though I don't know much about it. Meg is an interesting character- a confident thief but much less confident in her job at court. No confidence when it comes to men. There are plots and schemes, a murder to solve and nobody is who they seem. It's keeping me engaged and I can't wait to see how it ends. It made me really sad when I heard during WriteOnCon that historical just isn't selling in the bookstores. Buy it people! Historical is so good!

PS: If you thought I'd pick Siege and Storm for my fave, here's why I didn't. For some reason, it took me forever to get into it. I'm not sure why, but it wasn't until I was more than halfway through that I really wanted to read. As much as I loved Shadow and Bone (and the Darkling), this one didn't capture me as much. :(

Manic Monday

It's the last week before Back-to-School. I'm going to take every opportunity to sleep in while I still have the chance. Here's what I'm up to when I'm NOT sleeping:

 

Manic Writing

Oh the guilt. If I didn't start doing these Manic Monday posts, I wouldn't have to see how supremely pathetic August has been in the writing department. But once school starts and I get back into my routine, I'm going to kick my WIPs butt! Translation: finish it once and for all.

Manic Reading

Just finished Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo and just starting Maid of Secrets by Jennifer McGowan.

Manic Watching

I just finished season three of Merlin and boy was it awesome! I LOVE that show. It started out good for me in season one, but two and three are even better! I'm really anxious to get season four from my library. *bites nails, twitches legs, jumps up and down, paces, basically goes CRAZY*

Manic Listening

This song is adorbs! Love it!

Change of Plans

I was sitting at the computer yesterday, all set to write today's blog post. I even had a topic picked out (shocking). And then the hubs asks me for help. To do this:

Good times.

 

He decided to put underground sprinklers into our lawn which is all fun and games until I have to be out there refilling the trenches.

Now it's Friday morning and I have to hurry to take my kids to swim lessons. That post will have to wait for another Friday. So have a happy weekend and I hope you're all geared up and have your pitches ready for Pitch Madness tomorrow!

Memories and Popped Balloons

This week Road Trip Wednesday wants to know:

 

Memories are a big part of this month's Bookmobile selection, CHARM & STRANGE by Stephanie Kuehn. Did you ever have a childhood memory that you viewed differently as you got older? (Any memory! Good ones too! Be creative.)

I have very few childhood memories, which is a little sad. I just have a terrible memory in general. Some memories I think aren't actually my own memories but ones I've created based on stories my family has told me or pictures I've seen. Now that I'm older, I don't think I view any of them differently than I did before. I can't think of anything I look at a different way than maybe I saw it as a child. The only thing is now that I'm an adult, the sting of certain things that happened as a kid isn't there anymore.

For example: I had some rotten birthday parties. My poor parents tried so hard to make my birthdays as a kid special. But no matter what, something went wrong with every single one from when I was around 6 to about 13 (which was my last party). And it wasn't my parents fault. In most cases, it came down to that one girl who just couldn't be happy, or who had to complain about everything we did, or who wanted all the attention for herself. Unfortunately for my own kids, this has soured my feelings towards birthday parties and we don't really have them. I let my kids pick at most three friends, and pick an activity- movie, restaurant, swimming, skating, or one time my son wanted to play Wii. These are still birthday parties, but not the big blowouts like a lot of the other kids have.

In this case, I don't think I view these memories any differently. The sting has worn off, obviously. But the memory itself is intact enough that I don't want my kids to have the same birthday party trouble as I did.

You know, I kinda feel bad writing this. Like I'm not being fair to my kids. On the other hand, I try my best to make their birthdays special without it being a huge money-spending, every-single-kid-at-school-invited kind of thing. And I think that's okay.

So, I don't know if I really answered the question, but there you have it anyway.

Manic Monday

Well, I'm back from my family reunion and as tired as all get out. There was a lot of late nights, too many early mornings, and SO MUCH driving. I don't even want to get in a car for the next month or so, but too bad for me I have to drive to get pretty much anywhere.

Anyway... here's what I've been up to this past week.

 

Manic Writing

People way better than me probably still manage to get writing done even while away for a week and a half. I got nothing. The first thing I plan to do before I get back to my WIP is catch up on WriteOnCon. I'm totally bummed that I had to miss it this year but I plan to spend mucho time-o to read every word.

Manic Reading

I reread the first two Percy Jacksons and then had to quit because Siege and Storm was ready for me at the library. Unfortunately, I got about as much reading done this past week as writing so... *buries nose in book*

Manic Watching

I feel like manically watching So You Think You Can Dance since I'm so behind. Last night I watched the Top 14 episode and especially loved this number:

Manic Listening

My whole playlist! Because that's what I do when I drive. Listen to music and sing along badly. For me, that's better than an energy drink any day.

Tempermental

I'm off next week. I've got a family reunion and lots of driving going on. I wish I could say I was "attending" WriteOnCon but I'm gonna have to miss it this year. Boo. At least I'll be able to read through what I missed, I just can't take part in the live events. Double boo. If you're around, you should definitely check it out.

Another thing to check out? YA Highway is having their annual gigantic giveaway. Go here to enter. And trust me, you'll want to.

Have a great week while I'm in the middle of this:

Ha, just kidding. My family is awesome!

Check Out My Spots

So this week's Road Trip Wednesday question is a little random:

If you could be any animal, which would it be, and why?

That's easy. Since probably the second grade (same grade I wanted to be a writer- hmmm) I've always wanted to be...

A leopard.

Aren't I pretty

Why? No idea. I love cats, although I'm not some crazy cat lady, I swear. I don't even own a cat. But I've always loved the big wild cats. Leopards, tigers, lions, panthers, cheetahs. For some reason, the leopard has been top of the heap. Maybe it's their awesome spots. Maybe my grade two class did a spotlight on them or something and that's where my love came from. Who knows.

Either way, I'd be a leopard. Speeding through the forest, or lying out in the sun licking my paws.

Rawr.

Manic Monday

It's not such a manic Monday today since it's a holiday, but here I go anyway.

Manic Writing

I'm sending out queries for Sway right now and on Saturday I got my first full request! Yipee! Here's a Sway teaser:
 
“You going?” Lexi asked me.
“You know I don’t want to.”
“I know.” Her arm still linked with mine, she patted my hand. “But you should. Show Eric that you don’t care who he dates or what he does with his life.”
“But I don’t care.”
She arched a brow. “Uh-huh.”

Manic Reading

On the weekend, I really did read like a maniac. I read The Rise of Nine by Pittacus Lore, which was exciting at first but the ending was a little bit meh. Then I read Chantress by Amy Butler Greenfield which was good. Now I'm rereading Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightening Thief. I'm gonna reread The Sea of Monsters next, in prep for the movie which I'll probably be taking my oldest kids to this week. Here's a teaser from The Lightening Thief:

He was seven feet tall, easy, his arms and legs like something from the cover of Muscle Man magazine- bulging biceps and triceps and a bunch of other 'ceps, all stuffed like baseballs under vein-webbed skin. (page 50)

Manic Watching

The Bachelorette. Oh poor, poor Desiree. I was a bit behind and watched last week's episode last night and I'm still feeling sorry for Desiree, and Brooks too. I don't know how she could possibly pick someone now. Poor Chris and poor Drew, too. Sheesh. I feel bad and yet I can't wait to see how it all plays out tonight. (stupid TV)

Manic Listening

In honor of getting a full request (eeee!), here's Michael Buble singing Cry Me A River, just like Eric sings to Ava in my MS.

Impressionist

Last week I watched a movie called The Impressionists, which was about Impressionist painters (obvs) like Monet, Renoir, Degas, Manet, and Cezanne. I was struck by how hard these artists worked to get their art appreciated. People hated them! They thought Monet's work was unfinished, they didn't like how Manet painted women staring straight at you out of the canvas, they hated pretty much everything Cezanne did.

Now, I'm not comparing myself to Monet here. I'm not trying to usher forth some new wave of writing that's never been seen before. (I almost wish I was, then I'd stand out more in the slush.) But I really felt for these painters, struggling because they believed in their art. They didn't quit. They didn't (as far as I know) give in and paint what the masses wanted to see, what was popular of the time. They painted what they felt, how they saw the world.

I write because I love it. But I aim to get published because I BELIEVE in my writing, my art, like they did in theirs. I may never be famous. I may never have millions read my work.  It's likely I will never achieve anywhere near their level of success, even posthumously. But I write what I write because I BELIEVE in it. I believe in myself. That's what The Impressionists taught me.

Well, that, and a bigger appreciation for Monet.

Pick A Fave, Any Fave

It's the end of the month, so of course YA Highway wants to know for Road Trip Wednesday:

What's the best book you read in July?

It's been such an awesome reading month! Either something was wrong with me last month, or the books I read just weren't stellar enough (I'm betting the first), but this month I read so many awesome books that my faith in reading has been restored! Yay!

Seriously, how am I supposed to pick a fave out of this bunch?

Guess what? I can't.

I will say that Ally Carter is one of my fave authors so it was a given that I'd love Perfect Scoundrels (which I did). Same with Opal- I figured I'd love it and I did. Star Cursed and The Elite were both excellent sequels and they both end on total WHAT-THE-HEY?! moments that leave you wanting the third book yesterday. Dark Triumph was also a great sequel, just without the cliffhanger ending.

This is the first time I've read Rainbow Rowell and I absolutely loved both of her books. She's the kind of author where I'd pick up any book written by her now because these two (one YA, one adult) were both so so excellent. She does contemporary brilliantly. Her characters are the kind of people I want to be friends with. I devoured these books. If you've never read Rainbow Rowell, do it now! If I had to pick, her two books would definitely take the top spot. (Warning: there's graphic language in both, just FYI.)

PS. If you've noticed that I didn't mention Requiem, it's because I was a little disappointed with it. Lauren Oliver is a wonderful writer and the book was good in many respects, but the ending just killed it for me- in a bad way. It was very unsatisfying. :(

Manic Monday

It's just another Manic Monday... (I wonder how many times I'll use that line?)

Manic Writing

Another line from the WIP I worked on NOT AT ALL this past week (yikes):

     Mark is lying. I know it, and by the way he stares ahead without meeting my eyes, the way his hands grip the steering wheel as he drives, he knows I know it. But I don’t push him. If he can’t talk to me, or won’t, I won’t force him. Even though it hurts. 
     I’m getting used to this pain that Mark unknowingly inflicts on me.
Manic Reading

From The Elite by Keira Cass:

 

"You're lucky my father had the cameras barred from the palace, otherwise there'd be hell to pay for your actions." He ran his hand through his hair, exasperated. "How am I supposed to defend this, America?" (page 114)

Manic Watching

I saw The Wolverine over the weekend and thought it was great! Hugh Jackman is always good, and there's something so COOL about when he whips those claws out. (And a bit sexy too. Don't know what that says about me.) The action and stunts were awesome, of course. My only complaint is that there weren't enough MUTANTS. That's one of the best thing about any X-Men movie- the different mutants and their fantastic powers. This movie was lacking just a tad.

Manic Listening

I've liked Clarity ever since I heard it on Glee. Lately it's been WIP-inspiring.

Cuz you are the piece of me, I wish I didn't need
Chasing relentlessly, still fight and I don't know why
If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?

So what are you doing on this Manic Monday? Link up in the comments and I'll come check you out!

A Proud Pantser

I've always felt a little... guilty... that I'm a pantser. Like, I want to be a GOOD writer so I should outline like a GOOD writer does. When I went back to my WIP after leaving it for like, a year, I promised myself I WILL OUTLINE THIS because I am a responsible, GOOD writer. I wrote a few notes on character, different plot points, and... that was it.

And then I read an article in Writer's Digest (a few months ago? I can't remember when exactly) that talked about why being a pantser can be a good thing. He advised writers to toss their outlines and write organically.

I applaud all writers who can outline before they start writing. If I was you, I'd ignore that dude. If outlining is necessary to you then do it! What the article made me realize is that it's also okay to be a pantser. That I can still be a GOOD writer when I write organically without a set plan in place.

Before I wrote the scene I just finished, I had no set plan of what was going to happen next, just a vague idea. As I came to the end of the scene, what should happen next came to me easily. I never thought I would go in that direction, it never occurred to me to have this next thing happen, but it was SO OBVIOUS. That's the brilliance of being a pantser. When I try to outline, I just don't get these ideas. It's only when I'm writing that the story reveals itself to me.

So I'm a pantser and I'm proud. Even if that means I might have a few extra rounds of revisions later.

The Great Escape

Here's today's Road Trip Wednesday question:

In this month's Bookmobile selection--OVER YOU by Amy Reed--the main character and her best friend try to escape their problems with a summer trip to Nebraska. If you could escape somewhere (anywhere!) for the summer, where would it be?

As if I could pick. Sheesh. Um, ANYWHERE?

Okay, not anywhere. Europe would be my first choice. I've been to France once (a small town in the south) but never Paris. Yeah, Paris. And then Rome. Venice. Madrid. London. Prague. Amsterdam. Glasgow. And everywhere in between. But not in that order. I want to see stuff like this, but in REAL LIFE.

source

source

source

Where would you go?

Manic Monday

Lately I've been posting on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and sometimes Friday's. I've always felt a little weird about this schedule, like it's wrong somehow (is that a little OCD or what?). So I'm gonna switch things up a bit.

 

I've decided to start my own thing. Every Monday I'm going to post a teaser of what I'm reading (bye bye Teaser Tuesday), a line or two from what I'm writing or revising, a quote from what I'm watching (movie or TV), and a song lyric that I'm loving or that's inspiring me that day. I'm calling it Manic Monday (thank you to The Bangles) because as everyone knows, Monday's can be totally crazy, which is why I'm all about the one-liners. And besides, I tend to do things a little manic-ly (maniacally?) so the word just works.

So here we go, my first Manic Monday. If you want to participate, link up in the comments and I'll come check you out.

Manic Writing

From my super secret WIP. And keep in mind, this is still in 1st-draft form:

I flash back to that time in the alley, when I screamed and people came. No one would come now. No one listens to screams anymore. Only Dad—he would come. And instead of two murders tonight, there would be three.

Manic Reading

From Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell:

"And you look like a protagonist." She was talking as fast as she could think. "You look like the person who wins in the end. You're so pretty, and so good. You have magic eyes," she whispered. "And you make me feel like a cannibal." (page 113)

Manic Watching

I've been rewatching Spooks (also knows as MI-5 in the States) and this quote spoke to me:

"If you are valuable enough to someone, you can never be free."

Manic Listening

My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light 'Em Up) by Fall Out Boy- a song that inspires me while writing my WIP.

I've got the scars from tomorrow and I wish you could see
That you're the antidote to everything except for me
A constellation of tears on your lashes
Burn everything you love then burn the ashes
In the end everything collides
My childhood spat back out the monster that you see

So what are you doing on this Manic Monday?

An Enchanted Lucky Jar of Kisses

Ooh, I love this week's Road Trip Wednesday question:

What song would you love to see a book based on?

Sometimes I hear a song and think, that song is perfect for my WIP, or this or that manuscript. Other times I hear a song and think, wouldn't that make a great scene in a book?! I can't think of one song that I can imagine a WHOLE book based on, but there have been plenty of songs that inspire different scenes to play out in my head.

Enchanted is THE perfect song for that first-glance, first-touch, first-meet moment. It just screams YA to me. (BTW, this is a fan-made video- a mash-up of her other music videos)

Recently I was listening to this song and thought, now THAT would be fun to write about. 1940s, a young girl trying to break into Hollywood, the glitz, the glamour, the name in lights... I'm sure someone has already done this, but it would make an awesome book!

 

FYI: I could pick pretty much every TaySwift song. One of the things I love about her music is that each one of her songs is a story. It's easy to visualize the scene in my head because her lyrics paint the perfect picture.

 

I don't know how much I WANT to write about a jerk who uses and abuses girls. I like me a good guy, not a bad one. But this song makes me want to read a story about it. Someone else get on that, 'k?

 

I don't think a whole book could be based on this song, but listening to it- I just want to write a kissing scene.

(Excuse the Spanish subtitles, but I loved the pics in this video)

 

 

What song could you base a book on?

 

Perfect Scoundrels

Have I ever mentioned that Ally Carter is one of my favorite authors?

Well, she is, because she's awesome, and she gets the honor of sole teaser today for Teaser Tuesday.

Angus gave an exaggerated sigh. "The Henley picked up the desk three days ago."

Gabrielle nodded, then hopped onto the counter and crossed her long legs. "And so that means..."

"We have to rob the Henley," Simon said.

Kat sank onto a truly uncomfortable sofa. "Again." (page 70)

This teaser comes 'atcha from Perfect Scoundrels, the third Heist Society novel. If you like kick-butt heroines, spy gadgets, twisty twists, and even a smattering of romance, then you MUST try out these books. They are so much fun and really should be made into movies someday. (That goes for her Gallagher Girls series as well.)

What are you reading this week?

Go After It

I'm multitasking today. The Road Trip Wednesday question over at YA Highway is this:

Quarterly Check-In: We did one back in March, so now that we're just past the halfway point of the year, how are you doing on your goals?

This goes right in with What's Up Wednesday so why not do both?!

What I'm Reading
I'm reading Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood which has been great so far. I love her world of witches and forbidden magic, although I would like her to pinpoint a year. I always assumed it was mid-1800s, but then something I read earlier in the book made me think it takes place closer to the turn of the century. Anyone know what year it takes place?

What I'm Writing
Here's where YA Highway's question comes in. Goals. Yay. I haven't really set concrete goals for myself this year. My main goal is to do a bit each day. If I'm writing, I aim for a thousand words. If I'm revising, I try to do a few chapters, a couple of hours, whatever I can fit in my day. Unfortunately, I haven't been reaching that 1k a day goal. Last summer, I took a break from writing/revising completely so that I could spend time with the kids. I felt guilty sometimes that I wasn't writing and had to keep reminding myself that my kids should be my priority anyway. This summer, I didn't want to take a complete break from writing, but I still think my kids should come first. They're home with me all day, and they want to do things with me. Of course, this makes it hard for me to fit any writing time in. During the school year, my writing time is usually after lunch until the kids get home from school. Now though, that's the worst possible time of the day to try and write which is why I think I'm getting nothing done. I'm also critiquing two manuscripts, and I've been putting that above working on my own. I've promised myself that as soon as I'm done those, that time will go to my writing. Here's hoping,

What Inspires Me Right Now

I couldn't think of anything that's inspiring me right now, and then I found this in my file of blog photos:

Enough said.

What Else I've Been Up To
As you can tell from above, I've been busy with the kids. Today I'm taking them to the beach. Yesterday we had a Just Dance 4 marathon. Tomorrow it's the library and spray park. Hot days seem few and far between here so I try to take full advantage of them.

What have you been up to?

Requiem and Star Cursed

It's Tuesday, which for me means laundry, bathroom cleaning, and more enjoyably... a Teaser or two!

I finished Requiem by Lauren Oliver, the final book in the Delirium Trilogy. I really liked the book, although I wanted a little bit more wrap-up at the end of the series. It really didn't END. But maybe that's just me. Also, I loved that she did Hana's POV, but I wanted more from her too. I wanted Hana to do more, and she just didn't. I really really really want to tease with the very last few paragraphs of the book, but OF COURSE I can't do that. But they're brilliant. Here's my real teaser that doesn't give away the end:

Maybe they're right. Maybe we are driven crazy by our feelings. Maybe love is a disease, and we would be better off without it.
But we have chosen a different road. And in the end that is the point of escaping the cure: We are free to choose.
We are even free to choose the wrong thing. (page 23)

And my second teaser from the book I'm reading now- Star Cursed, the sequel to Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood:

I cannot imagine a life without books.
Without Father's stories of the ancient Greek gods and goddesses, without pirate stories and fairy tales and poems. Without the hope of another way, of freedom and adventure beyond what we have here and now. How dark life would be. (page 39)

How dark indeed. What are you reading this week?

What's Up Wednesday

I'm switching it up this week. Instead of answering the usual Road Trip Wednesday question, I'm going to join Jaime Morrow's What's Up Wednesday.

What I'm Reading

I'm STILL reading Opal by Jennifer Armentrout. It hasn't been a slow or hard read, I've just been too busy with other things. Up next is Requiem by Lauren Oliver and Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood.

What I'm Writing

I'm STILL plugging away at my YA Urban Fantasy WIP. It's been slow going, which is discouraging sometimes. Even though it's been a tricky WIP, I'm not giving it up. I know I'll finish it someday. I've also been beta-ing two manuscripts- a contemp YA by a wonderful critique partner, and an adult historical by a lady who goes to my church.

What Inspires Me Right Now

I'm always inspired by other writers. Sometimes I feel like I move so slowly compared to others, but on the other hand, they push me to keep at it. Another thing that's inspired me with a Shiny New Idea is this:

What Else I've Been Up To

I mentioned yesterday I spent the Canada Day long weekend in Vancouver with my 9-year-old. We saw Taylor Swift's Red Tour concert which was just amazing. The only prob was I got us floor seats which is a major mistake with a child. She couldn't see a thing once everyone stood and so we had to go stand in the back. Next time, I'll get seats around the sides like we had when we saw her Speak Now concert. We did get up close when she came and sang on the little stage at the back, so I ended up with a couple of okay pics like this one.

 

 

What have you been up to? Link up on Jaime Morrow's blog and browse around to see what everyone else has been up to this week.