tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58525830712414604962024-03-08T06:34:02.143-05:00Tangled Up In WordsTangled Up Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01472367693641187926noreply@blogger.comBlogger309125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5852583071241460496.post-23082839331263286992014-04-02T20:49:00.001-04:002014-04-02T20:49:37.331-04:00The In-Between<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.imgion.com/images/01/While-you-are-waiting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.imgion.com/images/01/While-you-are-waiting.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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I just recently turned in a manuscript to my agent for what I hope is her approval, and then for what I hope is soon to be a submission. I have a few ideas on the side that I could tinker around with, but I kind so stink at the in-between.<br />
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You know, that time period when you've completed one project, but may still need to tweak it, so you're not sure if you should start a new project or just "enjoy" the downtime. I say "enjoy" because I never really do enjoy it. I'm always waffling back and forth, trying to decide what would be best to do with my time. I usually read a few books, first. That part I actually do enjoy, but after that, after I get that urge to write again, I often end up talking myself out of it.<br />
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Why?<br />
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Well, mostly because I'm sure that the moment I really get into the new project I'm going to receive the old one back from my agent and then I'll have to drop it and somehow get myself back into my old character's heads again. That's not always easy for me. Or, at least, I tell myself it won't be. See what I mean about talking myself out of it?<br />
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So, tonight, that's where I find myself. I (not so) patiently wait for feedback, and I know at some point I'll give in and begin the writing process on the new idea. I always do, and yes, once I do begin, it's almost like clockwork that I'll hear back about the old one. Such is life. :-)<br />
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What do you do in the "in-between?"<br />
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<a href="http://s1279.photobucket.com/user/TangledUpInWords/media/Blog%20Signatures/bccb4dac-09ff-4edb-810b-0be0f8b11e82_zps9302c42b.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo bccb4dac-09ff-4edb-810b-0be0f8b11e82_zps9302c42b.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y525/TangledUpInWords/Blog%20Signatures/bccb4dac-09ff-4edb-810b-0be0f8b11e82_zps9302c42b.jpg" /></a> Cindy Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17136785151164769388noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5852583071241460496.post-58243795290462328732014-03-04T08:15:00.001-05:002014-03-04T08:15:19.003-05:00It's March 4th, Have You Purchased This Book Yet?I'm supposed to be posting an interview this month (all of us Tangled girls agreed), but I did my interview last month (scope it out <a href="http://tangledupinwords.blogspot.com/2014/02/interview-with-ever-awesome-erica.html" target="_blank">here</a> if you missed it) and think that you guys deserve to know that the book-baby is born.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sing-Sweet-Nightingale-Dream-Saga/dp/1937053962/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393896343&sr=8-1&keywords=sing+sweet+nightingale" target="_blank">Sing</a> <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sing-sweet-nightingale-erica-cameron/1116551195?ean=9781937053963" target="_blank">Sweet</a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16044329-sing-sweet-nightingale" target="_blank">Nightingale</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKx1qmYzpma-T1krcdF1MUiE2JEYwlFpyra4FkMx2h_6bEmCEWW7ssQWKPzsPp_atjDC17QzfKfFYTpEsGDtaAis1zGEvdEUbbw5EYalllqFIz4my5TUcH7x-7uxuNkOeql6lOLEyoLXE/s1600/bookcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKx1qmYzpma-T1krcdF1MUiE2JEYwlFpyra4FkMx2h_6bEmCEWW7ssQWKPzsPp_atjDC17QzfKfFYTpEsGDtaAis1zGEvdEUbbw5EYalllqFIz4my5TUcH7x-7uxuNkOeql6lOLEyoLXE/s1600/bookcover.jpg" height="640" width="416" /></a></div>
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(Isn't that a beautiful cover? Check out <a href="http://about.me/jeremywest" target="_blank">Jeremy West</a>. He's pretty awesome.)</div>
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Erica Cameron has taken a wonderful journey to birthing this book. And she's included a crap ton of extras. As of today here are all the wonderful things that you can do: buy the book! view all the "extras" <a href="http://thedreamwarsaga.com/" target="_blank">here</a>! review the book online after you've read it! So many options. </div>
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Personally, going on my editor's binge, I will be reading SSN again in bed. Before I sleep. Which could be the worst place to read it. </div>
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Is it safe to go to sleep?</div>
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Happy reading :)</div>
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<a href="http://s1279.photobucket.com/user/TangledUpInWords/media/Blog%20Signatures/e8d67f1c-5ab9-4926-9f0c-ce51cda1783f_zpsb4748010.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo e8d67f1c-5ab9-4926-9f0c-ce51cda1783f_zpsb4748010.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y525/TangledUpInWords/Blog%20Signatures/e8d67f1c-5ab9-4926-9f0c-ce51cda1783f_zpsb4748010.jpg" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03378389330299334603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5852583071241460496.post-91171754933539326192014-03-01T09:51:00.000-05:002014-03-01T09:51:13.571-05:00The Effects of Piracy <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*deep breath* As the last one to post in the month of free topics, I’m going to blog about a topic that is a pretty sensitive subject for me: ebook piracy. As a reader and writer, I feel it’s a pretty important topic. And it </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">does</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> have an effect on the industry. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFQWSrt10u2lzp1QfeIaJCffvCj8PJzb_oQcErPOHfuEp9zqQmMxBXm2kJ472FSfKHQsUmk5i4ALFHCPcniIpCFTZ_2cqSZFM1nSjBU7HjLbzN99Q8e6RxkLNJ_Y4zl8mg9Ceb2lGix8/s1600/Screenshot_2014-02-28-22-19-23_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFQWSrt10u2lzp1QfeIaJCffvCj8PJzb_oQcErPOHfuEp9zqQmMxBXm2kJ472FSfKHQsUmk5i4ALFHCPcniIpCFTZ_2cqSZFM1nSjBU7HjLbzN99Q8e6RxkLNJ_Y4zl8mg9Ceb2lGix8/s1600/Screenshot_2014-02-28-22-19-23_1.jpg" height="100" width="400" /></a></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-2021b115-7e19-b51f-0363-efce60ffff3f" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For those who don’t know, ebook piracy is “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the illegal uploading of digital copies of copyrighted works to a website, or the illegal downloading of such material.” So why is this bad? Well, skipping over the ‘illegal’ part as it pertains to copyrights, let’s look at some of the negative effects of piracy.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To start with, authors work tirelessly to write, rewrite, revise, edit, and publish these books. A lot of them are working full-time jobs on top of this because, well, let’s face it, writing books doesn’t make nearly as much money as some people think it does. Not everyone ends up being the next Stephen King or JK Rowling. Their time and effort is just as important as, say, that chef in the restaurant you’re eating dinner at. Would you think to just walk out without paying the tab? No, not usually. So why would an author be any different? </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When a book is pirated, it isn’t a one person, one download situation. It is done by the (tens of) thousands, as people keep passing it along. For every book that is pirated, that is a sale the author will never see royalties for. That is someone else reaping the benefits of an author’s hard work. For free. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Along with stealing sales, piracy also impacts an author’s future. If book sales are weak, it is less likely an author will continue getting contracts with publishers. And you know what else? It is less likely for books to show up in bookstores, as bookstores look at previous book sales for that author when ordering their new books. Some authors have even had to discontinue series because of this. So not only are authors not getting paid, their writing careers are at risk.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We all know an author’s time is precious. With ebook piracy on the rise, more authors are spending countless hours hunting out piracy sites offering illegal downloading of their books, reporting said sites, and sending cease and desist notices. This, of course, takes away from the task at hand: writing new books. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And here’s one for the readers- ebook piracy contributes to the rise in ebook pricing as publishers attempt to recover losses due to piracy. For all those people who are reading for ‘free’, they are screwing things up for those of us who <i>do</i> to support authors by buying their works. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I could go on and on. But because I am known to go off on tangents when it comes to such a sensitive subject, I’m going to link to a few other posts that have covered the topic from various angles. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.jenniferarmentrout.com/piracy-wtfery/">http://www.jenniferarmentrout.com/piracy-wtfery/</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.nelycab.blogspot.com/2013/04/i-bill-e-book-pirates.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.nelycab.blogspot.com/2013/04/i-bill-e-book-pirates.html</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.rachellegardner.com/2011/11/authors-and-book-piracy/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.rachellegardner.com/2011/11/authors-and-book-piracy/</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://clwilson.com/reader-resources/fight-piracy/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://clwilson.com/reader-resources/fight-piracy/</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.shilohwalker.com/website/readers-piracy/" style="text-decoration: none;">http://www.shilohwalker.com/website/readers-piracy/</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have you come across a great stand against piracy? I’d love to read it! </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://s1279.photobucket.com/user/TangledUpInWords/media/Blog%20Signatures/a66a1aa4-a08e-48a2-bfcd-efc2d4fd1687_zpse4db374f.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo a66a1aa4-a08e-48a2-bfcd-efc2d4fd1687_zpse4db374f.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y525/TangledUpInWords/Blog%20Signatures/a66a1aa4-a08e-48a2-bfcd-efc2d4fd1687_zpse4db374f.jpg" /></a> </div>
Brianna Lebrechthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07016979223017483176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5852583071241460496.post-63767589750861253952014-02-24T09:52:00.000-05:002014-02-24T13:53:35.511-05:00"So I accidentally wrote a book..."<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I can’t start writing a book on purpose. I only realised
recently that every single book I’ve written (twelve, counting my current WIP)
I never actually intended to start when I did – it just sneaked up on me. The
idea of actually sitting down at a blank page and starting a book terrifies me.
Starting’s the hardest part for me, because I spend so long planning and gathering
notes together on world-building that the idea of typing the first words
completely defeats me. It gets to the point where I have a fully detailed
outline just waiting for me to turn it into a book, but I still can’t do it! That
is, until I stop trying...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then, usually when I’m knee-deep in editing or
something equally time-consuming, I’m woken up at night by a scene demanding to
be written. Or sometimes it happens when I’m on the train. Whenever I least
expect it. The strange thing is, once I have that first scene – even if it
doesn’t end up being the first scene in the book, I’m fine. It’s the </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">actually starting </i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">part that makes me
draw a blank.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Another part of it’s a fear of running out of ideas, which is
completely irrational, but we writers are an insecure bunch. ;) I manage to
convince myself I’ll never think of a good novel idea again…and next thing I know,
I have another five clamouring for attention! So I write notes down, which sometimes
turns into a scene. Now I have so many projects on the go that new ones have
started invading mid-draft. I never really got struck by the curse of the Shiny
New Idea before last year, but I’ve actually written two whole books based on
ideas that came to me when I was working on a totally unrelated project, and
refused to let me go. Funny how the idea of starting can be so daunting, yet as
soon as I stop thinking about it, that’s when it happens!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So now I try to write all my books that way – I do all the
planning and then just let it go (*resists urge to sing the Frozen soundtrack*)
until the first scene comes into my head and I just <i>have </i>to write it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Am I the only one with this (rather strange) problem? How do
you start a book?</span></div>
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<a href="http://s1279.photobucket.com/user/TangledUpInWords/media/Blog%20Signatures/50565a9b-bd0f-4ae6-a77d-7aa0d3ec3cca_zps58c64d47.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 50565a9b-bd0f-4ae6-a77d-7aa0d3ec3cca_zps58c64d47.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y525/TangledUpInWords/Blog%20Signatures/50565a9b-bd0f-4ae6-a77d-7aa0d3ec3cca_zps58c64d47.jpg" /></a>ELAdamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11390894357209056149noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5852583071241460496.post-43689195337746131582014-02-19T17:23:00.000-05:002014-02-19T17:26:01.713-05:00You've been Con'd: Author & Reader Cons 2014Last month, I wrote a blog post about 2014 writer conferences worth checking out. This month, I decided to set my sights on some fun 2014 reader and author conventions. Many authors and fans know about the large conventions such as
Comic-Con and Book Expo America, but there might be some smaller
conventions that are perfect choices because of their location and cheaper registration
fees. After all, what could be better than meeting your favorite author or your number one fan? <br />
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<a href="http://utopyacon.com/" target="_blank">UtopYA Con</a>: Held in Nashville, TN from June 20th-22nd, UtopYA celebrates women writers of supernatural YA and NA, and their fans. There will be book signings, parties and write-ins. Tickets start at $75.<br />
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<a href="http://www.romcon.com/index.html" target="_blank">RomCon</a>: Held in Denver, CO from June 20th-22nd, RomCon is a big convention for fans and authors of romance. According to the convention website, RomCon is large enough to draw plenty of NYT bestselling romance authors and intimate enough for fans to engage with their favorite authors one-on-one. Registration costs $199. Indie authors might be interested in attending RomCon University on the 19th and 20th.<br />
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<a href="https://www.rtconvention.com/" target="_blank">RT Booklovers Convention</a>: Held in New Orleans from May 13th-18th, the Romantic Times Convention is a large romance convention celebrating all genres of romance and age groups. There are a ton of unique workshops for readers and bloggers such as the YA Spooky Sleepover and author chats, as well as craft workshops for writers. Although convention hotels are currently sold out, anyone interested can plan ahead for next year's convention in Dallas. Day passes for teens cost $30. A full convention pass costs $484. <br />
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<a href="http://www.malicedomestic.org/aboutmalice.html" target="_blank">Malice Domestic</a>: Held in Bethesda, MD from May 2nd-4th, Malice Domestic (the name is enticing enough) is a fan-favorite convention celebrating the authors of traditional mysteries (in the spirit of Agatha Christie). Basic registration starts at $270.<br />
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<a href="http://www.wwwc3.com/" target="_blank">Wild Wild West Convention</a>: Held in Tucson, AZ from March 7th-9th, WWW3 celebrates Steampunk. This year, the convention and festival will be held in a western-themed town. A three-day pass starts at $59.<br />
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<a href="http://www.yafest.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">YA Fest</a>: Held in Easton, PA on April 19th, YA Fest is a FREE event held at the Palmer Branch of the Easton Area Public Library. Books will be available to purchase and there's a long list of impressive YA authors in attendance including Jennifer L. Armentrout and Cyn Balog. <br />
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<a href="http://www.authorsafterdark.org/index.html" target="_blank">Authors After Dark</a>: Held in Charlotte, NC from August 6th-10th, AAD is a convention that celebrates the reader-author relationship and focuses on romance, fantasy and horror genres. There will be a 100 featured authors. This is an adult only convention for fans 18 and older. Registration costs $240 and includes some meals at the convention.<br />
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This little list doesn't even scrape the surface of the number of conventions available to attend in 2014. If you know of a fun reader/author cons, please comment with the information. You never know which convention will be near you.<br />
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<a href="http://s1279.photobucket.com/user/TangledUpInWords/media/Blog%20Signatures/2c30eb61-8fa4-4bea-9fa9-ce06e0491553_zps3dd1863c.jpg.html" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 2c30eb61-8fa4-4bea-9fa9-ce06e0491553_zps3dd1863c.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y525/TangledUpInWords/Blog%20Signatures/2c30eb61-8fa4-4bea-9fa9-ce06e0491553_zps3dd1863c.jpg" /></a> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5852583071241460496.post-66228605539743049892014-02-17T07:30:00.000-05:002014-02-17T07:30:02.507-05:00Life Lessons from Geometry and Cookies!I was trying to figure out what I wanted to post today, and then I remembered this post. It's from a few years ago on my personal blog, but it really spoke to me. So I edited it (slightly) and reposted it here. It's funny how, even years later, you can be dealing with the same thing in a new way.<br />
<br />
And that thing right now is shapes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT2OhxBoKGJ6CX7Am_t5RLdcXIabQ9C4xzqEUV1WcgNAb8Lri5IZTF4TcKc1zDTz-RKYGnctCPuQl3OBBZ8z8iqkd0rp2AMYvBBbpNGCjX_ggLM4K0cqZEBwzC8WcMGTdB8v5P2vxNxQEh/s1600/geometry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT2OhxBoKGJ6CX7Am_t5RLdcXIabQ9C4xzqEUV1WcgNAb8Lri5IZTF4TcKc1zDTz-RKYGnctCPuQl3OBBZ8z8iqkd0rp2AMYvBBbpNGCjX_ggLM4K0cqZEBwzC8WcMGTdB8v5P2vxNxQEh/s320/geometry.jpg" height="320" width="293" /></a></div>
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Things are "simple" with shapes. Square. Triangle. Circle. Rectangle. Pentagon. What you see is what you get. Count the sides and there's no room for question. A square is a square is a square is a square...no matter the size or color or location.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zbLDdeCR2WAcKXa52gS08GVquPvplsm1CY3d7w7Y_jfElnEQ8iXNjTX6kEjqnF2IqabjYcb1wFrjNBiBGlLWFgp67W9TmA8tNqnEaCpRRAQRRCsV2v3smOEfYOqReR4b2u6bL1FIcC_T/s1600/rhombus-diamond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zbLDdeCR2WAcKXa52gS08GVquPvplsm1CY3d7w7Y_jfElnEQ8iXNjTX6kEjqnF2IqabjYcb1wFrjNBiBGlLWFgp67W9TmA8tNqnEaCpRRAQRRCsV2v3smOEfYOqReR4b2u6bL1FIcC_T/s200/rhombus-diamond.jpg" height="200" width="134" /></a></div>
But when you think about it--really think about it--<i>it</i> <i>does matter. </i><br />
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If you flip a rectangle over a few degrees, you get a diamond. If you make that loop in the circle a little too long, you get an oval. There are other types of triangles: obtuse, acute, right. I think math-people would say all those are very different things, even if they are essentially the same.<br />
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That's the whole point of this post: everyone is different. Every blog, every book, every writer is different. Even if they are essentially the same.<br />
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Why am I talking about this? A few reasons. (stick with me)<br />
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1) I overheard a customer talking about books. She said that all books are a formula in certain genres, so she was going to read that genre anymore. It stuck with me because even if there are similarities in the way things unfold, each story is different. The words and rhythm of Author A are different than Author B. The character has a unique story to tell.<br />
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2) I stumbled in a conversation that someone only needed to read one blog--because they were all the same anyway. This, of course, isn't true. Every blog is different. Sure, they may share meme's and review the same books, but the opinions, ideas and voices of each person are so incredibly different and the experience and connection with each blogger will be unique.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_U0AOYKBG0i66U2e_G52WbvNTRQ96tQUxUK18kHbXPgG8meyLsDF1QUXtJq1EnEtNKwNhGdQu_zvETEuu1gDOq3KZ9Z8-1EgWXXLF9FQDzns9lkS4BCfCQquPa29I9FXQ1mw1laczyL_/s1600/square_peg_in_round_hole_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_U0AOYKBG0i66U2e_G52WbvNTRQ96tQUxUK18kHbXPgG8meyLsDF1QUXtJq1EnEtNKwNhGdQu_zvETEuu1gDOq3KZ9Z8-1EgWXXLF9FQDzns9lkS4BCfCQquPa29I9FXQ1mw1laczyL_/s200/square_peg_in_round_hole_2.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>3) I'm an author now (ha, still weird to say) and that means people get to read my books. There are people who will love SALT, people who will like it, and others who will hate it. This is the nature of the beast. And I'm okay with that, because reading is subjective, but just because a reader hated SALT doesn't mean a reader who loved it was wrong. Or vice verse. We all have different tastes.<br />
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4) With NoVa TEEN Book Festival just weeks away, I'm getting down to all the nitty details. All the small moments that build into the big event. I'm not the best at the small details. I know them all, I see them, but I'm not always the best at implementing them. I'm a dreamer. In life, in writing, in editing, I like the big picture. But I have to do the small things, to be detailed, even if it makes me occasionally feel like a square peg that's trying to fit in a round hole. Does that mean I shouldn't do them? No, it just means I should know my weaknesses and find people who have those qualities in excess. (Which is what I've done in life, in editing, in writing and in event planning.)<br />
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I was thinking about ALL that. About how we put ourselves in these boxes. About how we make life this checklist and force all the things around us to fit into it. And it doesn't fit. But we shove anyway. We twist. We pull. We push. We trim. We shape. We want it to fit. And then we wonder why, in the end, we're tired and broken.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here's why: <span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: large;">a square cannot be a circle.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwS1CO6Kdl3EGK5hUxP5u6Y0w7GfDwtiSIZOQ6or6XNFCbml7ML6jmll8Q9BZZUDAg-WJ0yJ5smicgaGqKcuzEMpTCyCZSYpvq1UCAuGO5bRvjsZj4gufB55sGKW1Gq28iSawCjmdJzS6/s1600/square-peg-round-hole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwS1CO6Kdl3EGK5hUxP5u6Y0w7GfDwtiSIZOQ6or6XNFCbml7ML6jmll8Q9BZZUDAg-WJ0yJ5smicgaGqKcuzEMpTCyCZSYpvq1UCAuGO5bRvjsZj4gufB55sGKW1Gq28iSawCjmdJzS6/s200/square-peg-round-hole.jpg" height="200" width="168" /></a></div>
Well, &%^#! What now? What do we do when we can't be the fill the kind of need that exists? When we can't be the type of blogger who brings in 15 bazillion unique visits in a day? When we aren't the kind of writer that makes words flow and dance and hearts stop beating and tears fall because the lines are so good?<br />
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You're right. We quit. We don't try to find a place to fit. We don't create something new. We stop existing and disappear. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZ0XdbkO3xpL9EHG5PqBme0v8Bym1RJKQIJ9k-LFaKTg80Q778Vy81nWLnH-BpCfXjGfn7cvfFHnMS1lvHvC6-OdJTQKy4yv0vLazjm9HShGPV_m8DgcZFOOPeu3SA2-_xe8x_6g3CzWm/s1600/250px-The_Thinker%252C_Rodin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZ0XdbkO3xpL9EHG5PqBme0v8Bym1RJKQIJ9k-LFaKTg80Q778Vy81nWLnH-BpCfXjGfn7cvfFHnMS1lvHvC6-OdJTQKy4yv0vLazjm9HShGPV_m8DgcZFOOPeu3SA2-_xe8x_6g3CzWm/s200/250px-The_Thinker%252C_Rodin.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
I bet that's what Augustine Rodin did he got the idea for The Thinker--he laughed and threw away the design because it was too different.<br />
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I bet that's what Oatmeal Raisin cookies did when they couldn't be Chocolate Chip--just stopped existing because they weren't good enough. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSmi63cR1Y4VXh7gjbJIMbFB8j02tvGZNiOb2n2Gd8k0lVEFSnxYXcrv_GX27wGkxLnBNVZ_KwO2IHsFNJLGo7qJKbVtBqtw9B-4U2TRcdY6hWeZViGNwA9_j5LHDw0p-AVR_hz7BFwVM/s1600/2491647652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a> <br />
And when JK Rowling had an idea about a little magical boy named Harry with black hair, a scar and glasses, she completely scrapped that idea because it was too hard and too scary. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gqh-YpheI2puDfWF49FV6PXAAKADX3AgaN9jo2wN-OfjRn0lwerfqUDDDIx1HfL8o7NKpzl75e004P6wNAXed7Vj4lkFz47V0BNGBv1RtglRXxuczXXESeW4Yl8fw7Fj0LOkiewhcrTx/s1600/chewy-oatmeal-raisin-cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gqh-YpheI2puDfWF49FV6PXAAKADX3AgaN9jo2wN-OfjRn0lwerfqUDDDIx1HfL8o7NKpzl75e004P6wNAXed7Vj4lkFz47V0BNGBv1RtglRXxuczXXESeW4Yl8fw7Fj0LOkiewhcrTx/s200/chewy-oatmeal-raisin-cookies.jpg" height="200" width="153" /></a></div>
Oh wait. They didn't? You mean, The Thinker is one of the most famous sculptures of all time? And people actually <i>eat </i>Oatmeal Raisin cookies? And--what??--JK Rowling is like the twelfth richest woman and one of the most influential women in Britain? <br />
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Fine. But what does all this have to do with shapes and blogging and writing and event planning-- I'm so confused?!<br />
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It has to do with this: BE YOURSELF.<br />
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We're taught that in elementary school, but somewhere along the way we forget. We become so obsessed with fitting into the mold, we forget that we are supposed to be different! We <i>are </i>different. Every person has something about them that's unlike anyone else, even if sometimes it seems essentially the same. No two people are alike. And you know that saying, "Opinions are like noses. Everyone has one." And they are all uniquely different.<br />
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So what if your blog only has 200 followers--that's awesome! Remember when it was you and your best friend and some random kid who entered a contest? You've come far! And no one comments on your reviews? Oh well. The four people that are reading them are listening to you. And that post you wrote last week really affected someone. Don't stop speaking out.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC4Ia181b4ed20lWyD_EYHJMpyDTyfN4vPsVpwewZB6wKBIWdt2ojFivh2PKQVA-BKAGe1Qyc78NIH_FrSAlQmfaMgriNv0Y6HovYFkrQKobV4EQ6wBxDmBooFqAjwLvmjnsvugerycfTc/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC4Ia181b4ed20lWyD_EYHJMpyDTyfN4vPsVpwewZB6wKBIWdt2ojFivh2PKQVA-BKAGe1Qyc78NIH_FrSAlQmfaMgriNv0Y6HovYFkrQKobV4EQ6wBxDmBooFqAjwLvmjnsvugerycfTc/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
SO WHAT if the words in your novel don't make you want to cry at every line. Who wants to cry at every line? Just write the book! Just tell the story. Let it suck...and then fix it. And take criticism. And then fix it. And fix it some more. And make the words flow. EVEN IF it doesn't sound like author A & B. I'd say that's good! I don't want all my books to sound the same. I don't all my characters to have a dead mother or a dead sister or a crazy boyfriend. I want different. That crazy aunt who talks to the flowers in her closet--I'd read that. Write it. Find your voice---YOURS.<br />
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And so what if those ten people hated your book. Remember that email and that tweet from that girl who LOVED it? It matters. This story matters and the next one matters. Every story you write matters to someone so keep writing.<br />
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No one else can tell your story or fill your role. Only you. And if you don't do it--if you don't step up and be yourself and take a chance--then no one else will do it for you.<br />
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Not me because I can barely do it for myself.<br />
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Not that whole team of people who are helping you accomplish this big dream. They wouldn't even have a dream without you.<br />
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Not that girl who doesn't know there's an entire world of blogs out there and she's missing out and people who could be her friends for life because she won't even look around.<br />
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Not that girl who thinks all books are the same.<br />
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Not that agent who's waiting for a story just like yours. Or that editor who's been dreaming of your book and didn't even know it.<br />
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Only you.<br />
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Everything has a place it belongs. And eventually, even the square finds a place to fit.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01531900928082605133noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5852583071241460496.post-67431246087872910172014-02-10T11:03:00.002-05:002014-02-10T11:04:17.794-05:00A Confession: I Never Wanted to Be a WriterI love reading other people's path to publication stories. I love seeing how there are so many different paths and so many different types of writers out there. But I have a confession: sometimes, these stories make me feel like an interloper. Sometimes they make me wonder what I'm doing.<br />
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You've probably all read them, the <i>I've Always Known I've Wanted to Be a Writer Since FOR-EVER</i> stories.<br />
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Mine isn't one of those.<br />
<br />
The <i>I've Always Been a Creative Type/Artist/Marcher to the Beat of My Own Drummer</i> stories.<br />
<br />
Mine isn't one of those either.<br />
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Here's the thing--I never thought about being a writer. Even back when people learned that I'd decided to drop the poli-sci/pre-law major and only go with English, I'd get the question, "Oh, so you want to be a writer?" My answer was the same. "No," I'd tell them. Just no.<br />
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Because I was reading writers and didn't have enough self-confidence or ego or Chutzpah to even <i>think</i> "Yes, maybe."<br />
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Maybe once, back in eighth grade when I learned that S.E. Hinton wrote <i>The Outsiders</i> when she was a teenager, maybe then I thought about being a writer...for like five minutes.<br />
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I started writing fiction out of desperation. I'd spent 7 years getting a PhD that didn't net me a job. I'd spent 10 years reading literature and writing criticism. I'd always written. I loved the essay, never understood how someone could <i>not</i> finish a seminar paper in grad school. I was good at it. And never once did I think of myself as a writer. Not even knowing that to get tenure I'd eventually write a book.<br />
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But there I was, 7 years later, unemployed in a new city and I needed something to do with my brain, because singing to my 9 month old wasn't cutting it for me. So I tried writing. I'd been reading a lot of romance and YA and thought, <i>I could do *that*</i>. (Cue derisive laughter.) So I did it. I wrote a meh contemporary romance that got a couple of hits from publishers and then a YA that got me an agent.<br />
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And still, I didn't feel like a writer. Definitely not an author. I felt like an interloper. I felt like at any moment someone would discover that I had not slaved since I was 6 toward this one dream and call me out on it. Poser. Fake. Lucky Break.<br />
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I always thought <i>once I've finished a manuscript</i>. And then, <i>once I have an agent</i>. And then<i> well, maybe if my agent can sell the stupid thing</i>. And then...<br />
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Partially, this goes back to my own fear of owning up to what I can do well. I'm horrible at accepting a compliment. I'm horrible at admitting that I kick ass at something.<br />
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It is not false modesty. It is not fishing for compliments. It's fear.<br />
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Because it's beaten out of us, isn't it? You're not supposed to brag (especially if you're a girl). If you stand out in middle school and high school because you're smart, you get pushed down pretty quickly and often pretty ruthlessly. So little by little you learn not to have any ego about what you're doing. You fly under the radar. Do your work. Gather your successes like secrets. Keep going. Keep your head down.<br />
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Or maybe that's just me.<br />
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Because even two agents later and one sold book later, I still don't feel like I'm really there yet. Once I accept I'm a writer, I listen to these narratives of artistry. "We artists...." "We creative types..."<br />
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That doesn't feel like me either.<br />
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I think of myself as a worker. A laborer. Writing is a joy, yes, but it is also labor. I work at it, I whittle it away, I craft it. I don't feel like an artist. I feel like a craftsman. Some days, I feel like we should all start a union.<br />
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Craftsman. Laborer. These are not labels that bother me. These are labels that feel more real, more true to what I do for myself, for the craft.<br />
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There are words, and I know how to shape them. There are stories and I struggle to tell them. And little by little, I'm learning how to own that. Little by little, I'm learning that maybe that's enough.<br />
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I'm happy for those writers and authors who have known since the beginning of time, who have dreamed of the moment when their name is on a book-shaped thing since they were babes. But I'm equally happy for those of us who work because we don't know how not to work, who write because we're compelled to--even when we didn't know what we were working toward. Even when we don't know where that work will lead.<br />
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And I'm learning that's okay, too.<br />
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<a href="http://s1279.photobucket.com/user/TangledUpInWords/media/Blog%20Signatures/798ccdd4-c462-416c-b26d-f68f0f8e09d5_zpsd01d8713.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 798ccdd4-c462-416c-b26d-f68f0f8e09d5_zpsd01d8713.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y525/TangledUpInWords/Blog%20Signatures/798ccdd4-c462-416c-b26d-f68f0f8e09d5_zpsd01d8713.jpg" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05269078694879447845noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5852583071241460496.post-2411818503798618292014-02-07T22:29:00.000-05:002014-02-07T22:31:26.215-05:00Free topic : Writing Mistakes<br />
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Oh goodness. Today was my day to post and I completely forgot. Can I blame that on pregnancy brain? Yes? Well, I am. Apologies for the late post. Also, because I'm an unprepared slacker, this post may end up on the shorter side. Again, I'm sorry. <br />
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This month is a free topic over here for us Tangled Girls, so I decided to write a post about the top writing mistakes I see when editing.<br />
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1. Telling instead of Showing.<br />
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Here's an easy example of telling: <br />
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The thunder scared Sandy.<br />
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With a little tweaking, you can add depth to it by showing. Ex.<br />
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A loud <em>boom</em> reverberated through the sky, shooting ice down Sandy's back and freezing her in place. <br />
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2. Comma splicing. This is when two independent clauses are connected with a comma. Ex.<br />
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I dropped my phone, the screen cracked. <br />
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This should be: <br />
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I dropped my phone. The screen cracked. <br />
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Or you can add a bit to make it: <br />
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When I dropped my phone, the screen cracked.<br />
I dropped my phone, causing the screen to crack.<br />
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3. Nauseous/Nauseated. Most of the time, I see this: <br />
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Rotten eggs permeated the room, making me nauseous. <br />
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It should be: <br />
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Rotten eggs permeated the room, making me nauseated. <br />
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"Nauseous" actually means to cause the feeling of sickness, whereas "nauseated" means to feel sick. <br />
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4. British English vs. American English. A lot of times, I see British English and American English mingled together in one manuscript. Here are some of the more common words I see mixed together. <br />
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British spelling: Towards/Backwards American: Toward/Backward<br />
Grey Gray<br />
Colour Color<br />
Realise Realize<br />
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Since I work for an American press, I always change anything to the American spelling, however, regardless of which you choose, try to stay uniform throughout your m/s. <br />
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5. Dialogue tags. Now, this may simply be my personal preference, but typically, you'll want to keep your dialogue tags simple. Such as: <br />
"What kind of desserts do you like?" Dan asked.<br />
"I love macaroons," Christina said. <br />
"Anything chocolate," Hannah replied.<br />
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I say keep the tags simple because the more complicated your tags are, the more they tend to pull the reader out of the story, focusing on the tag rather than the dialogue. (Also, side note - try to keep your dialogue tags sparse, and when possible, use an action tag instead since they help to show more.) <br />
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There you have it. Those are my top five writing mistakes. I, myself, am so guilty of them, and it's the reason only my trusted CPs get to see my first drafts! :) How about you all? What are the top writing mistakes you see? What do you do to correct them? <br />
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And, since I couldn't find a gif to match my topic, here's one of Brett angry dancing. Enjoy!<br />
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<a href="http://s1279.photobucket.com/user/TangledUpInWords/media/Blog%20Signatures/2e8a0d9f-452a-4697-9e3e-b0adf99fd5d2_zps3a7b1f71.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 2e8a0d9f-452a-4697-9e3e-b0adf99fd5d2_zps3a7b1f71.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y525/TangledUpInWords/Blog%20Signatures/2e8a0d9f-452a-4697-9e3e-b0adf99fd5d2_zps3a7b1f71.jpg" /></a> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13363002478980684235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5852583071241460496.post-1225870752079504502014-02-04T09:06:00.001-05:002014-02-04T09:06:59.143-05:00Interview with the ever-awesome Erica Cameron!<!--StartFragment-->
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I’m excited to bring you a quirky, but awesome (always
awesome) interview with my good friend and basically my sister, Erica Cameron (me, with glasses; her, without):</div>
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She has a book-baby in ARC form right now that’s slated to come to press
exactly one month from this date (that would be March 4<sup>th</sup>!) called <i>Sing Sweet Nightingale, </i>book one in The
Dream War Saga series brought to you by the wonderful Spencer Hill Press. See
the picture below for the gorgeous cover or <a href="http://byericacameron.com/wp/books-and-stories/sing-sweet-nightingale/" target="_blank">click here for the cover AND a synopsis of the book</a>.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ve the immense privilege to see the many stages of
this particular book as well as its growth into a truly amazing book. Take my
word for it when I say that you will be addicted to this series!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Asja: First off,
congratulations! I know it’s been somewhat of a roller coaster ride, from the
beginning of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sing</i> up to now. Can you
talk about what this past year has been like for you? And please, do include
the juicy details.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Erica: Just the past year? Sure! I started the year out by
attending the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (aka, SCBWI)
Miami conference in January. This particular conference is amazingly well run
and I highly recommend it to anyone who can get down to Florida in January. It
was here that I met Michael Stearns of Upstart Crow Literary. I paid for a
critique and he read pages of a fantasy novel I had started working on. It was
called THE TRIAL then. It’s now titled DESERTED and I’m hoping someone buys it
because I love this world. Sword fights and magic and desert islands and
sarcastic boys and just omg. Anyway, Michael <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">loved</i> the pages and he introduced me to Danielle Chiotti, another
agent at Upstart. She signed me less than a month later. A couple of days after
our partnership was official, I received my first <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">official</i></b> edit letter for
SING SWEET NIGHTINGALE from my editors Danielle Ellison and Patricia Riley. I
emphasize <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">official</i></b> because I had already been revising the book for a few
months based just on conversations I’d had with my editresses. Still, this
letter was epically long. As in, I currently hold the record within Spencer Hill
for longest edit letter. It’s a dubious honor. With agent-Danielle’s help, I
only minorly freaked the eff out and managed to essentially rewrite the book in
six weeks. Then there was another round of edits. And another. And another.</div>
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In between all of that, my editresses were lovely enough to
invite me to attend the photo shoot for the cover of my book! The concept for
the cover changed quite a few times, but we’d finally landed on something the
Spencer Hill team, me, and photographer/designer Jeremy West were all pleased
with. Being there to meet the models and watch Jeremy and his team (aka his
twin brother Jeffrey and his girlfriend Lauren) work was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">so fun</i>! Even being there, seeing the final cover was still a shock.
His work is gorgeous! I am so pleased with how it all came together. I got to
share his work with the world at Book Expo America 2013 (with my Asja there to
be my entourage this time!). Spencer Hill set up a cool cover reveal, I did an
interview with Jeremy in Central Park where we talked about the cover (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lb3dB5hzBNA&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">click here, click here!</a>)
and the series, and I was able to read half of the first<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>chapter of the book without passing out, which
I felt was a huge accomplishment given how nervous I was about the whole thing.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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After that, guess what? More editing. In between all of the
editing on SING, though, I was also writing book 2 (title will be revealed
after SING releases!), writing the second book in a contemporary series I
co-authored with Lani, working on DESERTED, and bombarding my agent-lady with
more project ideas and drafts than she could possibly handle from one client. I
turned in the first draft of book 2 in The Dream War Saga in June right after
BEA. Edits for SING finished with a quick turnaround on copyedits in November
and then, with my brain firmly melting out my ears, I gave up for the rest of
the year and slipped into some kind of mental hibernation…. Until mid-December when
I got the first edit letter for book 2 and the process started all over again. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A: Can you tell the
story of how you got to where you are right now? You know, the one where you
pitch this epic story at a party and then magic happens?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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E: I swear this story will <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">never</i>
get old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A: It really, really doesn’t!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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E: So I was in Manhattan for Book Expo America even though I
had NO REASON to be there. I wasn’t an author (just a wannabe) or an agent or
an editor or even a blogger. I blogged, but not book reviews. And my number of
followers could be counted on my hands and feet. I was there to serve as
support and entourage for my friend Lani Woodland. One night after BEA, Lani
had this party to go to in Tribeca. Since she hasn’t spent much time in the
city and didn’t know the subways at all, she asked me to come with her to make
sure she got there all right. The problem was that I hadn’t been invited to
this party and there was a strict guest list because of fire code (the party
was being held in this rooftop solarium in a building right on the Hudson
River… which I should have seen as a sign considering my male MC’s name is
Hudson). I didn’t want Lani getting lost, so I decide to escort her down there.
Then when I got there I had to use the bathroom, so I talked my way past the
guard on the door and then I kind of just… didn’t leave. What can I say? The
sun was setting and the view from that rooftop was <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">gorgeous</b>. The first sign that something magical was in the air that
night was when Lani and I started talking to this girl from London, Lizzy, the
fiancé of a YA author whose first book was about to launch. Through a strange
conversation Lani and I discover that Lizzy is best friends with a girl I went
to middle school with. In Fort Lauderdale. Small world, right? <o:p></o:p></div>
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A bit later, while I’m trying very hard to stay to the edges
of the party so no one realizes I’m not supposed to be there and asks me to
leave, Lani starts up a conversation with Danielle Ellison on the other side of
the roof. She talks about her books and then, because she is the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">awesomest
best friend ever</i></b>, she starts talking about mine. Danielle is intrigued,
so Lani pulls me over to meet her and Danielle says, “So tell me about your
book.” And, of course, my mind goes completely blank. So blank, I swear I
almost asked, “What book?” I must have managed to say something interesting and
semi-coherent because Danielle gives me her card and asks me to send her the
manuscript when I have a chance and then drags me across the roof and
introduces me to Patricia Riley, her co-editor, she says. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“Tell Patricia about your book,” Danielle says. So I do. And
then I get this moment: <o:p></o:p></div>
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Patricia: “Oh my God!” <o:p></o:p></div>
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Danielle: “I know, right?!” <o:p></o:p></div>
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And that’s when I fell in love with both of them. I was
completely giddy for the rest of the evening and, of course, emailed them the
manuscript as soon as I had a stable internet connection. Less than a month
later, I had an offer. Very soon after that, I had a contract. All because I
crashed a party. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Even weirder? Though I didn’t know it at the time, also
present at the party that night were my future cover designer/photographer, my
future cover model, and my future editorial assistant. I swear there was
something in the air that night. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A: So, what are you
going to do on March 4<sup>th</sup>?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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E: What would I like to be doing? Somehow connecting with
readers who have just discovered my book! What will I actually be doing?
Working. Probably editing the sequel to SING and then heading in to the day
job. *sigh* Oh the glamorous life of an author! However, I will be attending
the NoVaTEEN Book Festival in Arlington, Virginia on March 8! I am very excited
to be taking part in that whole event and I think it’s a phenomenal way to cap
the official week of SING’s release. :D<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A: What was the first
book-like story you wrote? What happened to it and could it make a reappearance
as you come into your own as a full-fledged author?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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E: Well, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">first</i></b> first is the mystery novella I
wrote for a school assignment in eighth grade. And, no. That will NEVER appear
in public. Then I attempted a fantasy novel in high school that was really
well-disguised fanfiction of Tamora Pierce’s work, but I never finished it
because I really had no idea what I was doing. I wrote short stories in my
college writing classes, but didn’t attempt another book-length original work
until I had almost graduated. In 2007, I wrote a story about these beings of
energy who were where the mythology of angels came from. They were secretly the
guardians of humanity, but they followed a very strict set of rules concerning
what they were and weren’t allowed to do. My angel Xander broke all of those
rules with the human girl, Sam, he was guarding. I queried it and got a fair
amount of positive feedback from agents (one almost signed me), but in the end
it went nowhere. Which is a good thing. There were a lot of corners I’d written
myself into within that universe and I realized halfway through writing book 2
that I didn’t know how to get out of them and the whole thing needed to be
scrapped and restarted. This world will probably never come back in the form I
originally imagined it, however I have realized that I pulled some of the
concepts I’d pictured for this universe and incorporated them into The Dream
War Saga. So, in a way, we’re getting a version of the story now. A better one.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A:This is your first
full book (cue the happy dances and boy band fan teenager-like screaming).
How’s that feel?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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E:There are really no words, so: <o:p></o:p></div>
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Yep. That about sums it up. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A: Can you talk about
the color blue? I’ve read some of your rough work and we’ve spoken about your
tendency to have blue pens, blue notebooks, blue hair (yes, I’m talking about
Aisling, who makes her first appearance in the already published short story
“Whatever It Takes” from the anthology <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Doorways
to Extra Time</i> and then comes back for us in the Dream War Saga). What is
this default and how do you accommodate for it come editing time?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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E: Of course. You <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">would</i>
bring up the blue, wouldn’t you? ;) <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>A: I really couldn't resist.</b></div>
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E: Blue is my favorite color. Cobalt and cerulean and that
bright, brilliant turquoise-ocean-blue color top the favorite shades list, but
really any blue will do. I find it soothing and beautiful. What I didn’t
realize until my editors pointed it out is that it’s also my default color for
ANYTHING. Cars, pens, shirts, whatever. It all ended up blue. Now I’m more
careful about when I use the color, but the early draft of SING was incredibly
blue. Which is a bad thing because there is actual significance to the color
blue within the book and all those extra blue things totally diluted that. So
they had to go. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Aisling’s hair, however, stayed. :D <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A: What’s next?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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E: Well, I have a contemporary series and a fantasy series out
on submission right now, so hopefully one (or both) of those sell and THAT will
be what’s next. As for works in progress, that’s up in the air right now. I
pitched a few different contemporary ideas, a post-apocolyptic idea, a thriller
idea, and a co-written quasi-historical quasi-fantasy idea at my agent. I’m
waiting to see which one she goes for before I start writing. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A: What are you reading
right now?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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E: I just finished <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Phoenix
Island</i> by John Dixon and now I’m working on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Violet Hour</i> by Whitney A. Miller. Both of these are intense,
creepy, and beautifully written 2014 debut novels by other members of the
OneFour Kid Lit group. It’s a fantastic collection of young adult and middle
grade authors and everyone should check out the site to find some amazing new
talent! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A: Tell us a bit about
the editing process. What kills you? What makes you a happy writer? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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E: I actually enjoy the editing process a lot. The initial
shock of seeing a huge letter that explicitly explains all the things you did
wrong may still suck, but I really trust my editorial team and my agent. If
they say something isn’t working, it isn’t working. I start fixing it. As
opposed to drafting, when I’m editing, I already know the characters and the
world and where the story is going, so shifting things around and bringing out
some traits and subplots or maybe suppressing others is a lot easier. It’s
fine-tuning, adjusting, instead of trying to come up with everything from
scratch. The thing I hate most is getting rid of characters. Not necessarily
killing them (sometimes, that needs to happen), but cutting them out of the
book. Completely erasing their existence. I love my characters, so deleting
them entirely is even harder for me than killing them. What makes me happy is
getting through the revisions and seeing the book take a shape I didn’t even
realize was buried underneath, like my editors gave me a map and I found a new
place none of us had ever seen before. It’s a beautiful thing. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A: What are the perfect
writing conditions for you?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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E: Writing or editing, I like to be somewhere with just a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">little </i>bit of distraction. I tend to
work well in places like Panera or Starbucks, somewhere I can pick a chair,
plug in my Surface, and not worry about anything but getting as many words in
Word as possible in one day. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A: Do you keep a
journal or is there another way that you continue to practice your art?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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E: I am so bad at journaling. Really. I’ve tried several times
to make myself do that, but it just… doesn’t happen! I’ll start off okay but
then it trails off. For me, drafting a new book is practice and the editing
process is honing the craft. Reading is research and looking for inspiration
and real life is fodder for the rest of it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A: Who’s on your
wishlist for back-of-book-blurbs? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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E: For SING or my fantasy series, Tamora Pierce, definitely.
She’s one of the first authors I fell in love with and I’ve read almost
everything she’s ever written. Stephenie Meyer, too, because her books got me
back into writing during college and she’s just an amazing person. I’d also
love to have Dan Wells, Brandon Sanderson, Cinda Williams Chima, Suzanne
Collins, and Cassandra Clare. For my contemporary, Elizabeth Eulberg, Simone
Elkeles, Ally Carter, Jay Asher, and Libba Bray are all incredible. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A: How/Where did
Erica-the-writer begin? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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E: So early I can’t even remember. Although that mystery novel
in eighth grade, I’ve been a reader since before I realized there was any other
way to be. Books have always been my favorite pastime and writing my own
stories was a natural evolution of that for me. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A: What do you do for
the always dreaded writer’s block?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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E: My brain tends to work on a feast or famine system. I will
go through stages where all I want to do is write. Or read. Or watch TV on
Netflix while I’m making jewelry. And then, suddenly, I’ll be tired of that one
thing and I’ll want to switch to something else. Although there was a period of
a few years in between my first novel and SING (which is my third completed
original book) where I didn’t write much, I’ve never been so blocked that when
I sat down with the intention of working on something, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nothing</i> came out. It may be slow going some days, but the words are
still there. And every time I have an idea for a book, even if I’m not sure if
it’ll go anywhere, I write it down. Whatever comes in to my head with the
idea—whether it’s a scene or a basic plot or a character or whatever—I write
that down and stick it in it’s own folder in a file I have that’s called The
Back Burner. There are twenty folders in there right now with ideas in various
stages. And then I have my Novels folder which has the more fleshed out
projects. There are eleven folders in there, including The Dream War Saga
folder. And then I have the folder for my co-written projects. And there’s two
series and one standalone in that folder. In other words, if I get stuck, I go
through all of these folders until I find something that calls to me and I
start working. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A: Do you have a writing
routine? What is it and could you walk us through a typical writerly day in
Erica Cameron’s life?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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E: Right now I am working at a live-in rehab center for teens,
I teach English there, but because of the way their system is set up, I only
work two and a half hours a day. Plus extra time for tutoring if the kids sign
up for it. So in the mornings, I’ll wake up and go to Panera, work on whatever
my current project is (most recently it has been the edits on book 2), then
I’ll come home to have lunch and go to work. Now that SING is so close to
releasing, that time in the morning may be spent updating my website or posting
on Twitter about the contest I’m running right now (<a href="http://byericacameron.com/wp/contests" target="_blank">contest, yay!</a>)
or answering interview questions (like this insanely long one).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A: What are some of
your favorite books/authors?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
E: I’ve heard it said that asking a reader to pick a favorite
book is like asking a parent to pick a favorite child. It depends on the day
you ask. In general, though, I adore Tamora Pierce, Stephenie Meyer, Jacquelyn
Carey, Jim Hines, Dan Wells, A.R. Kahler, Garth Nix, Brandon Sanderson, Jasper
Fforde, Jay Asher, Laurie Halse Anderson, and… yeah. I could keep going and
going, so I’ll stop there. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A: Any last words of
wisdom or advice that you’d like to leave our readers with?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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E: Life advice? I’m not really sure I’m the one to offer that,
but…. Do what makes you happy. Life is too short to be miserable. Sometimes you
may have to make sacrifices you’re not thrilled with to get where you want to
go, but don’t let that cost outweigh the benefits of finally reaching your
goal. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As far as writing advice goes, ask questions of authors when
you get the chance to meet them, listen to what they have to say, and if
something resonates with you, try it their way. However, there is no correct
way to write and no one path to publication. The correct way is whatever way
works for you and gets the story you want to tell on paper. The path that will
get you published is the one you pave yourself. No one else’s will work for
you. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A: And finally, give us
the speal. Tell us the important details, how we can follow you and the
beginning to your wonderful series. Everything but your social security number.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
E: I am all over the interwebs! (seriously… you may regret
asking this question…) I have two websites, one for <a href="http://byericacameron.com/" target="_blank">me and all of the books I will one day write</a>,
one for only <a href="http://thedreamwarsaga.com/" target="_blank">Dream War Saga</a> related
things. You can also find me on <a href="http://twitter.com/byericacameron">Twitter</a>,
Facebook (again, for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/byericacameron" target="_blank">myself</a> and for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheDreamWarSaga" target="_blank">The Dream War Saga</a>),
Tumblr (on here I have three: <a href="http://byericacameron.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Mine</a>,
<a href="http://thedreamwarsaga.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Dream War's official page</a>, and
<a href="http://www.themysticaldemystified.com/" target="_blank">The Mystical Demystified </a> which will become my go-to place for fan questions on the Dream War Saga), and
also <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/byericacameron/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->
<br />
<br />
<br />
Annnnd there you have it! Leave a comment, follow Erica, buy her book when it comes out, <i>buy her book when it comes out. </i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">BUY IT...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
Thanks for reading friends, hope you enjoyed :D<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s1279.photobucket.com/user/TangledUpInWords/media/Blog%20Signatures/e8d67f1c-5ab9-4926-9f0c-ce51cda1783f_zpsb4748010.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo e8d67f1c-5ab9-4926-9f0c-ce51cda1783f_zpsb4748010.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y525/TangledUpInWords/Blog%20Signatures/e8d67f1c-5ab9-4926-9f0c-ce51cda1783f_zpsb4748010.jpg" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03378389330299334603noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5852583071241460496.post-60244541358718377602014-01-29T16:16:00.000-05:002014-01-29T16:16:46.470-05:002014 Challenge<br />
***Before I get started on my post, I just want to take a quick moment to make sure you've checked out Kimberly's <a href="http://tangledupinwords.blogspot.com/2014/01/bitchin-writer-conferences-of-2014-book.html">post</a>, which has a fantastic list of writer conferences in 2014, as well as an ARC giveaway of the highly anticipated Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith!***<br />
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For the past two years, I've participated in the Goodreads Reading Challenge. I haven't hit my goal yet. But this year, on top of my Goodreads goal, I'm also participating in a 2014 Challenge with my younger brother, who shall hereby be referred to as Sunshine. For anyone who has a brother--or a sister, for that matter--you know how big a deal this is.<br />
<br />
So here are the rules, in no particular order:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Books must be added to and tracked on Goodreads to count, with a special 2014 Challenge shelf.</li>
<li>Books must be published (so my critiquing doesn't count, nor do my read-throughs of my own drafts). </li>
<li>Only novels count toward the total read (no non-fiction, comics, graphic novels, etc.). </li>
<li>Every two audiobooks listened to equals one book read.</li>
<li>Only one book started before January 1, 2014 counts toward the total for 2014 (for me, this was Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, started December 30th). </li>
<li>Revamped books will only count if added to the 2014 Challenge shelf. </li>
</ol>
<div>
Simple enough, right? So far I think Sunshine is winning. But there are some books from 2013 or books being released in 2014 that I'm pretty excited about. I'm fairly confident my anticipation will help me pull this off. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Books I still want to read from 2013: </div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Champion by Marie Lu. </li>
<li>The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater.</li>
<li>Allegiant by Veronica Roth. </li>
<li>Deception by CJ Redwine. </li>
<li>Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
2014: </div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare. Enough said. </li>
<li>Veronica Mars by Rob Thomas. In case you didn't already know about this, you're welcome.</li>
<li>Breakable by Tammara Webber. If you haven't met Lucas yet (Easy), YOU MUST! </li>
<li>The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings. </li>
<li>Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith. </li>
</ul>
<div>
I'm sure I'm forgetting a few books and I'm sure many others will be picked up too. In any case, Sunshine is going down.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Are you participating in any reading challenges this year? What books are you most excited about in 2014? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s1279.photobucket.com/user/TangledUpInWords/media/Blog%20Signatures/a66a1aa4-a08e-48a2-bfcd-efc2d4fd1687_zpse4db374f.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo a66a1aa4-a08e-48a2-bfcd-efc2d4fd1687_zpse4db374f.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y525/TangledUpInWords/Blog%20Signatures/a66a1aa4-a08e-48a2-bfcd-efc2d4fd1687_zpse4db374f.jpg" /></a> </div>
Brianna Lebrechthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07016979223017483176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5852583071241460496.post-26508202205537556882014-01-26T10:54:00.004-05:002014-01-26T10:54:51.679-05:00Bitchin' Writer Conferences of 2014 (& book giveaway)Here's my dealio. I am 34 years old, the mother of two small boys, and I'm roughly six-months-pregnant (I also use the word, dealio, apparently), so I never get to attend writing conferences. But oh, at this point, I'd give my right arm to go to one. There's so much to be gained from attending a writing conference: connections, knowledge, inspiration, not to mention talking to fellow writers about craft!<br />
<br />
All major writer associations have regional and national conferences. So,
if you're not a member of RWA or SCBWI (for example), consider paying
the annual membership fee as it will get you a discount. Conferences can cost anywhere from $100 and up depending on the workshops and faculty in attendance. Some conferences are one-day intensives, others can be a month-long. Every author should go to at least one writer conference (I'm still working on that, myself). <br />
<br />
The following list is just a sampling of what's available. Hopefully, this list will give you the impetus to search for conferences that fit your schedule, budget and genre. And please, if you know of an awesome writer conference, mention it in the comments section, particularly if you are aware of small, cost-effective regional conferences. Share! <br />
<br />
And as a reward for sharing your knowledge, I'm giving away an ARC of one of the most highly anticipated YA novels of 2014 -- Andrew Smith's <i>Grasshopper Jungle</i>! Oh yeah, baby. You must comment to win (leave some way for me to contact you in your comment)! We love hearing from our readers. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.scbwi.org/event-15th-annual-scbwi-winter-conference-in-new-york/information-ny-2014/" target="_blank">SCBWI</a> (February 21-23 in New York) Registration is open. Cost: $435 for members; $535 for non-members<br />
SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) Plenty of networking and learning opportunities for writers of children's literature (PB to YA) are available here. Faculty include: Jack Gantos, Elizabeth Wein, Tomie dePaola, and Sharon Draper, just to name a few. If you seriously write children's literature and can afford to attend, consider signing up. If not now, definitely next year. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://atlantawritersconference.com/" target="_blank">Atlanta Writers Conference</a> (May 9-10 in Atlanta, GA) Registration is open. Cost: a la carte pricing starting at $30; $500 for everything<br />
The conference consists of several parts, everything from one-on-one critique sessions to pitch sessions to workshops and query letter critiques. The a la carte pricing means you need only pay for what you need. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.stonybrook.edu/southampton/mfa/summer/cwl_home.html" target="_blank">Southampton Writers Conference</a> (July 9-20; Children's Literature July 16-20 in Southampton, NY) Registration is open. Cost: $700+<br />
This is an intensive, writers conference. Applicants are admitted based on the promise of a writing sample. However, applicants who are accepted get to take workshops with famed authors such as Libba Bray, Peter Lerangis, and Julia Glass.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.writerspoliceacademy.com/" target="_blank">Writers' Police Academy</a> (September 4-7 in Jamestown, NC) Registration opens January 26th at noon. Cost: $290. Sisters in Crime members pay $135.<br />
Regardless of whether you write YA or NA, if you write about crime, this conference is for you. Learn the same material taught to EMS, paramedics, detectives and law enforcement while gaining writing insight from best-sellers Michael Connelly and Lisa Gardner. <br />
<a href="http://njromancewriters.org/index.php?/conference/put_your_heart_in_a_book_conference/" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="http://njromancewriters.org/index.php?/conference/put_your_heart_in_a_book_conference/" target="_blank">New Jersey Romance Writers Put Your Heart in a Book Conference</a> (October 17-18 in Iselin, NJ)<br />
Registration will open soon. Cost: $200 for members, $220 for non-members.<br />
Attendants will have an opportunity to network with agents, authors and editors in all romance genres. There will be writer workshops and a book fair. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://writeoncon.com/" target="_blank">WriteOnCon</a> (2014 TBD online) Registration: TBD Cost: FREE<br />
WriteOnCon is a free, online conference for children's literature writers (everything from PB to NA). Check out the archives page to see previous conference events. Follow them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WriteOnCon" target="_blank">Facebook</a> for updates on the 2014 conference dates and events. <br />
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<br />
<a href="http://s1279.photobucket.com/user/TangledUpInWords/media/Blog%20Signatures/2c30eb61-8fa4-4bea-9fa9-ce06e0491553_zps3dd1863c.jpg.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 2c30eb61-8fa4-4bea-9fa9-ce06e0491553_zps3dd1863c.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y525/TangledUpInWords/Blog%20Signatures/2c30eb61-8fa4-4bea-9fa9-ce06e0491553_zps3dd1863c.jpg" height="125" width="200" /></a> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5852583071241460496.post-71785907797264817352014-01-24T20:54:00.000-05:002014-01-24T20:54:58.048-05:00Books I can't wait to read in 2014One of the problems of being a reader is that for ever book I read, I add ten more to the to-be-read list. It never ends! But I'm here to talk about some of the books I'm most looking forward to reading in 2014 - some of which I've been waiting a long time for!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1366994000l/17449197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Unhinged (Splintered, #2)" border="0" height="200" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1366994000l/17449197.jpg" width="135" /></a><br />
Unhinged by A.G. Howard<br />
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<br />
Just look at that stunning cover! I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book in a giveaway, and am now impatiently waiting for it to arrive so I can dive back into A.G. Howard's sinister and warped version of Wonderland.<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Cress by Marissa Meyer<br />
<a href="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1379083526l/13206828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Cress (Lunar Chronicles, #3)" border="0" height="200" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1379083526l/13206828.jpg" width="132" /></a><br />
Another gorgeous cover here! I loved <i>Cinder </i>and <i>Scarlet, </i>and I'm intrigued to see how Meyer ties the Rapunzel fairy tale into the overarching story line. This series is without a doubt one of the most original fairy tale re-imaginings I've ever read!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1372458835l/14288998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Into the Still Blue (Under the Never Sky, #3)" border="0" height="200" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1372458835l/14288998.jpg" width="128" /></a><br />
<br />
Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi<br />
<br />
Another sequel here - I'm highly anticipating the conclusion to the <i>Under the Never Sky </i>trilogy!<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1378892134l/13618440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Dreams of Gods & Monsters (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #3)" border="0" height="200" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1378892134l/13618440.jpg" width="134" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor<br />
<br />
I suffer from an extreme case of writer's envy with Laini Taylor's work and am in awe of how beautiful her writing is. I have no doubt that the finale of the <i>Daughter of Smoke and Bone</i> trilogy will be as fantastic as the previous two books!<br />
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<br />
<a href="http://s1279.photobucket.com/user/TangledUpInWords/media/Blog%20Signatures/50565a9b-bd0f-4ae6-a77d-7aa0d3ec3cca_zps58c64d47.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 50565a9b-bd0f-4ae6-a77d-7aa0d3ec3cca_zps58c64d47.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y525/TangledUpInWords/Blog%20Signatures/50565a9b-bd0f-4ae6-a77d-7aa0d3ec3cca_zps58c64d47.jpg" /></a>ELAdamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11390894357209056149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5852583071241460496.post-13930042137309548652014-01-10T17:39:00.001-05:002014-01-10T17:39:05.249-05:00The Inarticulate List of the Best Books I Read in 2013In honor of a new year, here are the best books I found in 2013. These are mostly inarticulate reviews where I gush over how much I adore each of them and refrain from asking each author if we can please, maybe, you know, hang out or something.<br />
<br />
How did I make my selections? I read so darn much that it's not easy...except that it is. My best-of-2013 books are the ones I remember best. They're the ones that stayed with me long after I read. The ones I pressed into other readers' hands.<br />
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Here they are:<br />
<br />
1. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Code-Name-Verity-Elizabeth-Wein/dp/1423152883" target="_blank">Code Name Verity</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSM5gU_kgBKO67T6SDSegnFwClZQJZ6E_Mb0FwvKjqkeo5FWCRDHcSj7liBRBaK6zDiQyeyUvXdBrxzGfItZ4P-j_r7F0Hjx3S-vb87HLjxPzYdD3DzKFNUGPV3DH0uqTv4a_D2N0NA/s1600/verity.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSM5gU_kgBKO67T6SDSegnFwClZQJZ6E_Mb0FwvKjqkeo5FWCRDHcSj7liBRBaK6zDiQyeyUvXdBrxzGfItZ4P-j_r7F0Hjx3S-vb87HLjxPzYdD3DzKFNUGPV3DH0uqTv4a_D2N0NA/s1600/verity.jpeg" /></a></div>
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This book killed me, in all the best ways possible. The writing was gorgeous, the story was incredible. I'm itching to go back through and figure out what all the capital letters mean. Seriously. My favorite find of 2013, and one of the best books I've read in a long, long time.<br />
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<br />
2. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Raven-Boys-Maggie-Stiefvater/dp/0545424933" target="_blank">The Raven Boys</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqK1yM3J3OG_ibwawSgVDTwPv-hRMZMdGasX5L2KhtXYUfU8j0CdgB6AQPYlvChTGew25uilTieOEmmrXSSLKqYFWOprOeOz_yK0Smt9BOZ_Mp8HLHmo446Rp_vl92Le9ofD8IJ_rZzg/s1600/raven.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqK1yM3J3OG_ibwawSgVDTwPv-hRMZMdGasX5L2KhtXYUfU8j0CdgB6AQPYlvChTGew25uilTieOEmmrXSSLKqYFWOprOeOz_yK0Smt9BOZ_Mp8HLHmo446Rp_vl92Le9ofD8IJ_rZzg/s1600/raven.jpeg" /></a></div>
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I'll be honest-- I didn't love SHIVER enough to read the whole series. I wanted so badly to like SCORPIO RACES, but somehow I put the book down and never picked it back up (maybe it was just a bad time for me?), but this book blew me away. It was one of those up till 3AM reads. I just started on DREAM THIEVES this week, and the series...just wow. The world building is amazing. My favorite character is the vintage Camaro. *swoon*<br />
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3. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Good-Duke-Goes-Unpunished-Scoundrels/dp/0062068547" target="_blank">No Good Duke Goes Unpunished</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifaSP9H4ZPD-9SgTRYhSfa6Z_DkI-G2h3NWe3LrTGLIqhiacgCTIkYcihNfmmk0qtONOi99QC6QnNUK01PtYRB-pZ2rTy7WPH0KTe-KDMK_dBgcW06-SnDU6TYocB9l-uV2ojsNK0Cuw/s1600/duke.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifaSP9H4ZPD-9SgTRYhSfa6Z_DkI-G2h3NWe3LrTGLIqhiacgCTIkYcihNfmmk0qtONOi99QC6QnNUK01PtYRB-pZ2rTy7WPH0KTe-KDMK_dBgcW06-SnDU6TYocB9l-uV2ojsNK0Cuw/s1600/duke.jpeg" /></a></div>
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Yeah, I know it's not YA. I don't just read YA. Romance is what made me want to write, so I read a lot of it. I have dreams of being able to write a historical (I've tried, I can't--just not my voice), but this book. I LOVE this book. Love the whole series, but this one especially. Tortured Duke and a scene in a boxing ring... um...yes, please.<br />
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4. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Ruins-Novel-Jess-Walter/dp/0061928178" target="_blank">Beautiful Ruins</a><br />
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This book. I mean, it makes me want to write straight literary. It's just beautifully, beautifully done, and set in Italy. Which, let's face it, is my weakness. Again, not YA...so sue me.<br />
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5. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Little-Secret-Jennifer-Echols/dp/1451658036/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389393174&sr=1-2&keywords=dirty+little+secret" target="_blank">Dirty Little Secret</a><br />
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You guys, this book blew me away. I don't like country music, and I was hooked right from the very beginning. Hooked, I tell you. This book is wonderful, full stop. Go. Buy. Read.<br />
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6. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Blood-Keeper-Journals/dp/0375867341" target="_blank">The Blood Keeper</a><br />
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Last, but definitely not least, is Tessa Gratton's follow up to BLOOD MAGIC. This bad boy has been sitting on my shelf for WAY too long. I got it when it first came out and then set it aside, because I knew once I started, I was going to have to finish it. Gratton is a master, an absolute master of language. Her writing is just gorgeous--lush and tumbling over itself in a graceful way that makes me insanely jealous. One day we will meet and I will stand there for a moment, dumbstruck before I do the stupid fangirl thing and make an ass of myself. And that will ruin any chance of us ever being bffs. But I won't care. Seriously. She's that good.<br />
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<a href="http://s1279.photobucket.com/user/TangledUpInWords/media/Blog%20Signatures/798ccdd4-c462-416c-b26d-f68f0f8e09d5_zpsd01d8713.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 798ccdd4-c462-416c-b26d-f68f0f8e09d5_zpsd01d8713.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y525/TangledUpInWords/Blog%20Signatures/798ccdd4-c462-416c-b26d-f68f0f8e09d5_zpsd01d8713.jpg" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05269078694879447845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5852583071241460496.post-15013783193277896072014-01-07T10:48:00.002-05:002014-01-08T10:14:37.572-05:00Salt by Danielle Ellison Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">****And the randomly selected winner is: Amy Mays. Please check your email as your book should have arrive! I hope you enjoy it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Not a winner this time? You can buy the book here:</span> </div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Salt-Entangled-Teen-Danielle-Ellison-ebook/dp/B00GVRVESS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1389193779&sr=1-1&keywords=salt+danielle+ellison">Amazon</a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/salt-danielle-ellison/1117497519?ean=9781622663484">Barnes&Noble</a> </div>
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<a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/salt-19">Kobo</a> </div>
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One of our very own Tangled Girls has a book birthday today!!!</div>
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Danielle's book, Salt, is out today through Entangled Teen, and to celebrate, I'm giving away a copy (kindle version)! </div>
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Here's the beautiful cover:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qR9YuwlFvWqM65RbAvdZyEPOLHegyX8E2ce_I1jMuvj0Ef6FD6Od73-_fS-aXquenmsPxNAkKTVHiSGeXCnyE3bjwZEHRoQgZqq-oZs8Ce7T6H_ecP5l86qIDBIsKTmdhLukzQksSEI8/s1600/Salt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qR9YuwlFvWqM65RbAvdZyEPOLHegyX8E2ce_I1jMuvj0Ef6FD6Od73-_fS-aXquenmsPxNAkKTVHiSGeXCnyE3bjwZEHRoQgZqq-oZs8Ce7T6H_ecP5l86qIDBIsKTmdhLukzQksSEI8/s1600/Salt.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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Isn't it gorgeous and sparkly?! </div>
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And here's the description:</div>
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<span id="freeText6759132915066464072">"Penelope is a witch, part of a secret society protecting humans from demon attacks. But when she was a child, a demon killed her parents—and stole her magic. Since then, she’s been pretending to be something she’s not, using her sister’s magic to hide her own loss, to prevent being sent away.<br /><br />When she’s finally given the chance to join the elite demon-hunting force, Penelope thinks that will finally change. With her sister’s help, she can squeeze through the tests and get access to the information she needs to find "her" demon. To take back what was stolen.<br /><br />Then she meets Carter. He’s cute, smart, and she can borrow his magic, too. He knows her secret—but he also has one of his own. <br /><br />Suddenly, Penelope’s impossible quest becomes far more complicated. Because Carter’s not telling her everything, and it’s starting to seem like the demons have their own agenda…and they’re far too interested in her."</span></div>
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So here are the details. Enter by leaving a comment with your name and your email (use the one connected to your kindle account, please). You don't have to follow the blog (though feel free to!) and please share on Twitter or Facebook. I will randomly pick a winner TONIGHT and will update the blog with the winner's name tomorrow. Good luck and Congratulations to Danielle! </div>
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And now (because I'm incapable of posting without a gif) here's a random gif of a happy dance to help celebrate! CONGRATS Danielle!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4KwsgK2VDsdagzIqztMh7NXwtylOPDAALL0g96RFbUOArbCgVNquBa8QI0zof4_DxsZf4qcUfIJOl0cvEG17ThIy6eQ4oJcWp6ff_NdrohyphenhyphenaHw7NWl6-L7TzYO7iPDAZaQ6OgOrylVdE/s1600/tumblr_static_tumblr_mjaxq6xujg1qia0ero2_r1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4KwsgK2VDsdagzIqztMh7NXwtylOPDAALL0g96RFbUOArbCgVNquBa8QI0zof4_DxsZf4qcUfIJOl0cvEG17ThIy6eQ4oJcWp6ff_NdrohyphenhyphenaHw7NWl6-L7TzYO7iPDAZaQ6OgOrylVdE/s1600/tumblr_static_tumblr_mjaxq6xujg1qia0ero2_r1_500.gif" height="206" width="320" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13363002478980684235noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5852583071241460496.post-68195162029404060882014-01-04T13:23:00.004-05:002014-01-04T13:23:53.859-05:00The 13 I've Learned from 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRcZJXip7eGeLIvlcHXU3Mop-KQE0fE5ZBiBTb0skciF5ILDOQ9zxeLCZPkw75BnL6ZNn-OorCicxDKfhs6sPU667v9QuvUvrYTg_VwGbrUjnaEVhoiRGTBju0bNijd_dbIwaJ3xiumA/s1600/HNY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="477" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRcZJXip7eGeLIvlcHXU3Mop-KQE0fE5ZBiBTb0skciF5ILDOQ9zxeLCZPkw75BnL6ZNn-OorCicxDKfhs6sPU667v9QuvUvrYTg_VwGbrUjnaEVhoiRGTBju0bNijd_dbIwaJ3xiumA/s640/HNY.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Happy New Year Everyone! This month we thought that we’d do
our own countdown of things 2013-past. I decided that I would list the 13
things that I learned from 2013 (and hope to carry into 2014). Maybe some of
them will resonate with you! So here it goes:<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1. Say “yes” </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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This seems obvious, but there are so many times in 2013 that
I wanted to say “yes” but I didn’t, because of obligations, people’s reactions,
the guilt (oh the guilt!). There’s always a reason not to say “yes” to
something that you really want. It takes courage to look a situation in the
eye, recognize that you actually do want it, and say “yes” to it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Back in the beginning of 2013, my like family friend (and
fellow writer!) Erica Cameron was trying to convince me to go to BEA towards
the end of May. She told me that she thought she could swing getting me a
ticket with her publisher. This was a HUGE deal that I didn’t realize until
much later. I lamented missing work and the money that came with the missing of
work. I tried to justify taking off three days. I almost said “no” and actually
did a few times until almost the very last minute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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But I didn’t and so many great things have happened out of
that one “yes”. Erica’s publisher was Spencer Hill Press and BEA gave me the
opportunity to meet like-minded people doing the kind of things that I didn’t
think I could break into. From that one “yes” I got to see Erica’s debut novel
cover reveal; I befriended a whole slew of new and wonderful people (which
ended up landing me a place with Spencer Hill’s Contemporary imprint AND a
place here with the Tangled lovelies); I got to listen to and receive 2 signed
books from my favorite author, Neil Gaiman; I picked up an outrageous amount of
free swag (books, bags, glitter tattoos..) All of this I would’ve missed had I
said “no”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My life was changed by going
to BEA. Thank the gods I said “yes”!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2. Say “no” <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3FWCFm49Tri6OVNeWVAZzgUNfm1JXPFiOR9Fop_rgHh6r4a2dWPx2pkOzTc_UVakKqbbCLzE9dC8bs99FvguZkamjVPnO2GunT_PuDNcQODCmgl1lZlZYROKD6f7cvsX1ruQKZ0lDkxg/s1600/YesMan2008poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3FWCFm49Tri6OVNeWVAZzgUNfm1JXPFiOR9Fop_rgHh6r4a2dWPx2pkOzTc_UVakKqbbCLzE9dC8bs99FvguZkamjVPnO2GunT_PuDNcQODCmgl1lZlZYROKD6f7cvsX1ruQKZ0lDkxg/s200/YesMan2008poster.jpg" width="135" /></a>I know, this seems contrary to what I wrote above, but we
cannot follow Jim Carrey into the world of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yes
Man,</i> blindly saying “yes” to anything and everything. </div>
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There are moments when we just
have to say “no”. And as a perpetual people-pleaser I found saying “no” almost
as hard as saying “yes”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See my July
post about saying “no” by clicking <a href="http://tangledupinwords.blogspot.com/search/label/Asja" target="_blank">here</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Saying “no” for me became a survival thing in 2013. I just
kept taking on way more than I could handle including: insisting that I would
gain my MFA in two years, burning through semesters like wildfire; working
several part-time jobs at once making my week work upwards of 50 hours while at
school and then adding more work when I had breaks. I was doing too much.
Saying “no” saved my sanity. And there’s a pleasure to saying “no” when you
really mean it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">3. Practice
positivity <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Behaviors are learned and then practiced. It’s very easy to
dwell on all the daily horrible that happens, but focusing on the positive,
insisting that the glass is actually completely full (equal parts air and
water) takes practice. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm45rmXBP_f9EtGakI6ypqovuzaY6c8BHc44rdLog8HW_1SkZkAxTINIGDIikmVMdoohGk9xP6MC7pQb_2TeOHhcEnckf3cnweKe1nDqsvGXrthTJ9Pk9LoEU2olG2P4I5uhiTrQvcvAs/s1600/positive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm45rmXBP_f9EtGakI6ypqovuzaY6c8BHc44rdLog8HW_1SkZkAxTINIGDIikmVMdoohGk9xP6MC7pQb_2TeOHhcEnckf3cnweKe1nDqsvGXrthTJ9Pk9LoEU2olG2P4I5uhiTrQvcvAs/s320/positive.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The end of 2012 and beginning of 2013 was very difficult for
me. I’d made some poor choices in friends and they were affecting my general
outlook on life. I was practicing negativity by gossiping, complaining about
what was happening around me, and generally just adding to the bad feel all
around me. It took many things to get me to see that positivity isn’t just for
the mythical “happy people”. It could be for me and it could be for you too.
You just have to practice it and know that it’s a journey. It will take time.
I’m still working on it into 2014.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">4. Say what you mean</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15QlPmfv1SFSYIsn8nKLvpKvL6toN5RrU9PyaDCiLwz9Xc7SVwXoOaQJID9MKPCCXyMkG_9QJRB3ZeaifANP1kiv9D4gLssQY0pArsi1QeHktdRpqaV-jNRMxjdxj5u-hTlNrCwXvky4/s1600/thinksay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15QlPmfv1SFSYIsn8nKLvpKvL6toN5RrU9PyaDCiLwz9Xc7SVwXoOaQJID9MKPCCXyMkG_9QJRB3ZeaifANP1kiv9D4gLssQY0pArsi1QeHktdRpqaV-jNRMxjdxj5u-hTlNrCwXvky4/s1600/thinksay.jpg" /></a>It’s so fun to get caught up in being ambiguous when you're a poet (or really anyone for that matter), but you’ll
soon find that the more you mask what you’re really saying in pretty words or
veiled actions, the less likely you are to get what you really want in life. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m a classic case of keeping my mouth shut until I explode.
Not a good thing to practice! I’m not advocating saying mean things (because
our brains do go to those places sometimes) but I am saying that we need to be
more clear<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in our intentions. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">5. Pressure is a
privilege <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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This is a favorite of mine. I wrote about it during NaNo
<a href="http://tangledupinwords.blogspot.com/2013/11/pressure-is-privilege.html" target="_blank">here</a> and still think that it’s a wonderful thing. Underneath all of my stress
(mostly self-induced) there’s a love for the deadline. It signifies an end to
something. And if it’s stressful, it’s nice to see the light at the end of the
road!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">6. Perfection is
ugly, what we really like are the imperfections<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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This might seem clichéd, but that doesn’t make it any less
true. There is a preoccupation with perfection, especially in this age of
photoshop. But when you look at the world that we live in, it’s the
imperfections, the inconsistencies that are beautiful. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">7. Creating bad art
is better than creating no art<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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This one’s also a little weird at first, but it’ll make
sense, I promise. When I graduated from my MFA program, I didn’t write
anything. I had this thesis with poems that I really cared about, but I didn’t
write anything else. I didn’t know where to begin. I went to BEA and met these
amazing writers and still I didn’t write. I was scared of making bad art,
scared of writing something that meant nothing. But this kept me from
practicing my craft. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Creating is important. It doesn’t matter whether it’s “good”
or not. “Good” is subjective anyway. If you let the fear of “good” and “bad”
eat at you, you will cease to create. So make art. Write a horrible poem about
candles and napkins. Doodle in your calendar. Sing in the shower. Create!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">8. Boundaries are
important<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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This is another continuous thing that I’m learning. Setting
and maintaining certain boundaries are necessary. We all have people in our
life (for whatever reason) that are takers: of energy, of positivity, of
creativity. Boundaries help so that we aren’t jerks by saying “I’m cutting you
out of my life completely”. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhon4cu_Q2C6LETR1CWEBVJhn4_wJ2DiGAzGvYx3WlIlCxj99e8vkzQZNa7RTPrI4ZgrMobPAfRkU-WI2N-h4SW3SZ9lel3Du0vcNl_-Ub8sCF5T4Z_lhfrQ-6HmXequ09BfElRWMQH6E8/s1600/boundary_instory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhon4cu_Q2C6LETR1CWEBVJhn4_wJ2DiGAzGvYx3WlIlCxj99e8vkzQZNa7RTPrI4ZgrMobPAfRkU-WI2N-h4SW3SZ9lel3Du0vcNl_-Ub8sCF5T4Z_lhfrQ-6HmXequ09BfElRWMQH6E8/s200/boundary_instory.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Living in New York City, it’s easy to just cut people out
for the smallest of reasons. It’s a small yet large city that has brilliant
hiding places. While I have had to cut some people completely out of my life
there are others who that’s impossible to do that too. So I created boundaries.
This could be useful for family members, your boss, co-workers—anyone that you
will remain in contact with but maybe need some boundaries with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t be afraid to draw the line—just don’t
go crazy with it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">9. Second chances are
great—fifth, sixth, and seventh chances are not<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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I try my best not to hold grudges. I give people millions of
chances when they do things that really hurt me and 2013 showed me that I don’t
always have to do this. I don’t have to remain friends with every ex-whatever
in my life. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Sometimes I can be a doormat and give out chances like free
candy, but I came to the realization that this isn’t necessary. What’s the
point in keeping someone around who generally makes you feel like crap? If you
have to deal with them, create boundaries (see above), but otherwise move on!
This is difficult and much easier said than done. But someone who requires
fifth, sixth, and seventh chances isn’t looking out for your best interests.
They are feeding off you and you don’t deserve that. I know I don’t. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">10. Actual
conversations are way better than text messages</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsMCl5YwBWO-Iw8TPkhAePhNCx_9HAPOOnLlV-rMqx9MuGnsa0UVXrCKUi35LQxbr7l0olg7pTNMX0_UrHc623MqU9r71X6ZSzPERWutD-kVDCpY1uOw0hPns1r5LsTrZp1g6gSnnfxA/s1600/phone.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsMCl5YwBWO-Iw8TPkhAePhNCx_9HAPOOnLlV-rMqx9MuGnsa0UVXrCKUi35LQxbr7l0olg7pTNMX0_UrHc623MqU9r71X6ZSzPERWutD-kVDCpY1uOw0hPns1r5LsTrZp1g6gSnnfxA/s200/phone.png" width="200" /></a><o:p> </o:p></div>
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I know. Text messaging is easier when you’re in a rush. I’m
a busy person, I get this. But an actual conversation—you know, that verbal
thing that enables us to relate to one another—are super important. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I can’t tell you how many romantic relationships I had that
never were because the guy just wouldn’t pick up the phone. This goes all the
way back to when I was 18. Text messages cannot convey tone. I know this. I’m a
very sarcastic person and you won’t realize that unless you talk to me—over the
phone, through Skype or in person. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This is important for friendships too!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">11. Making time for
you is vital<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKVzq6IFr0De16rTVU8nWqaXSXRONUV0Isx9RXDarteSaOTI2FTzS3AXX9uv0ygpTA5Z8WzOPLkWbgG8hRoIjbGpZdAMl7OPT9YWBUOcW_Bwz3Hontt6J-HWoryvL7Lys4uQBpgtkEwo/s1600/relax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKVzq6IFr0De16rTVU8nWqaXSXRONUV0Isx9RXDarteSaOTI2FTzS3AXX9uv0ygpTA5Z8WzOPLkWbgG8hRoIjbGpZdAMl7OPT9YWBUOcW_Bwz3Hontt6J-HWoryvL7Lys4uQBpgtkEwo/s200/relax.jpg" width="200" /></a>This seems obvious, but for me it’s difficult. It’s much
easier for me to focus on another person, to listen to their problems than it
is to deal with my own issues. It’s also easier for me to keep busy. But the
value of making sure that each day I do something that’s purely for me, is
immeasurable. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Here are some examples of my own just me things: grabbing my
favorite hot chocolate, taking a ballet class, going to the gym, picking up a
bottle of wine to enjoy at home in front of a movie, cooking dinner.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">12. If it feels
wrong, it probably is<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Some call it a gut feeling, others label it
intuition—whatever it is for you, LISTEN TO IT! There’s a difference between
being uncomfortable in a situation and feeling like it’s completely wrong.
You’ll know it when you feel it. If it feels wrong, get out of there. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">13. Don’t settle<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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This is a big one for me. It’s really easy to settle. For me
it would simply be going back to my family in Florida, getting an apartment,
leasing a car, having a random job. It would be so easy. I’d have my parents to
fallback on and an environment that I’ve grown up in. But my dreams would
vanish. By pushing on and challenging myself to leave my comfort zone, I’ve
made some amazing relationships, done some really fulfilling things, created
some truly expressive art and I know there’s still more to come. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If you want more, don’t settle. You’ll regret it every day. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hMYE4aTqACsnUwHrv1RQYRsLXyUpDW5IHThjsyAJoDkDj4ijsc522xvLdZqZpzkJHCl8y0SSEaiapvMsVNNTLiSbMMMOH1weNtkFobrYaX-CjrdcIU7wyDFPiw_zgrTfgBxLodGUmmk/s1600/i'm+just+sayin'.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hMYE4aTqACsnUwHrv1RQYRsLXyUpDW5IHThjsyAJoDkDj4ijsc522xvLdZqZpzkJHCl8y0SSEaiapvMsVNNTLiSbMMMOH1weNtkFobrYaX-CjrdcIU7wyDFPiw_zgrTfgBxLodGUmmk/s400/i'm+just+sayin'.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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Here’s
one additional thing that I’m doing to honor 2014: I’ve saved a jar from
2013 and every time that I do something that makes me happy, an accomplishment that I’m proud of,
I write it down on a scrap of paper, date it, and put it into the jar.
The idea is to have a reflection of the positive of 2014 come January 1<sup>st</sup>
2015. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And that’s my 13. I was really happy to say goodbye to 2013, but I learned a lot and hope to take these lessons into 2014 with me.</div>
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Anything on this list resonate with you? Want to share what
you gained from your 2013? Please comment! I’d love to hear your stories.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->
<a href="http://s1279.photobucket.com/user/TangledUpInWords/media/Blog%20Signatures/e8d67f1c-5ab9-4926-9f0c-ce51cda1783f_zpsb4748010.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo e8d67f1c-5ab9-4926-9f0c-ce51cda1783f_zpsb4748010.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y525/TangledUpInWords/Blog%20Signatures/e8d67f1c-5ab9-4926-9f0c-ce51cda1783f_zpsb4748010.jpg" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03378389330299334603noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5852583071241460496.post-55987986646402288842013-12-29T14:10:00.003-05:002013-12-29T14:10:53.104-05:00The demons are watching -- Interview with Emma Adams!<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our resident-Brit and very own Tangled Girl, <a href="http://emmaladams.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Emma L. Adams</a>, just released her second novel, <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18657107-darkness-watching?from_search=true" target="_blank">Darkness Watching</a></i> this October (Curiosity Quills Press). Darkness Watching is set in fictional Blackstone, a small, isolated town in England. The novel centers on university freshman, Ashlyn, who has an unusual connection to demons and the Darkworld from which they come. Blending magic and sorcery and good old-fashioned college shenanigans, <i>Darkness Watching</i> is the first book in this clever, fantasy NA series. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Read the interview below to find out about Emma's inspiration for her work, her ability to balance writing and college (she's only 22) and her thoughts on the controversy surrounding new adult literature.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_ZMwbbk62GlIqGblCJVw7hL1tqL96yct1soQVgCI6cxuULTZmtpLdMKmhCIikVDQ5aE8Vtr-EyG_TPt3MHQzYmO_PswWPg7g1AQ-3FxlRokA6b_an2LFAZc44oywBdjmrE_GJ7e-fcw/s1600/Darkness+Watching+Cover+(Updated).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_ZMwbbk62GlIqGblCJVw7hL1tqL96yct1soQVgCI6cxuULTZmtpLdMKmhCIikVDQ5aE8Vtr-EyG_TPt3MHQzYmO_PswWPg7g1AQ-3FxlRokA6b_an2LFAZc44oywBdjmrE_GJ7e-fcw/s320/Darkness+Watching+Cover+(Updated).jpg" width="211" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span>Ashlyn is a young
woman who learns she has an unusual supernatural connection to the Darkworld, a
demonic spiritual realm. What inspired this concept?</span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>I thought of the idea of the demons years ago. I
wanted to write a magic-and-monsters story but do something totally different
with it, and I thought of the idea of a creature that can terrify people
without even touching them. As for Ash’s particular connection…there will be more
on that in the next book. ;)</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span><span>Ashlyn begins
university as a timid, insecure freshman but as she learns about her connection
to demons and sorcerers, she becomes empowered. Do you see Ashlyn's character
arc as a metaphor for most college freshmen? </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span></span></span><span><span><span>Interesting question! I suppose I wanted to tie Ash’s
journey into the idea of university as a time of self-discovery and a first
chance at independence - at least it certainly was for me! </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span><span><span><span>You really
developed a dynamic cast of characters from fun Claudia to lascivious Pete to
enigmatic David. Who was your favorite to write and why?</span></span></span></span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span><span><span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Tough question! With <i>Darkness Watching,</i> I enjoyed writing the
scenes with Ash and her fellow magic-users the most – I like Leo, Cyrus and Claudia
and the strange dynamic the group has. We’ll be getting to see a lot more of
them in the sequels!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span><span><span><span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span>I really enjoyed
the mythology surrounding the Venantium (the sorcerers' governing body). Did
you plan out this world before starting the series or did the mythology develop
as you wrote the novel?</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span><span><span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span><span>The background was
actually part of a different story originally, the first novel I wrote. Two
years ago, I had an idea for rewriting the original story and turning it into something
completely different. But the background and mythology is more or less the same
as it was in the first book I wrote (and which is permanently trunked!).</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span><span><span><span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span><span><span><i>Darkness Watching</i>
is also considered a new adult novel. Are you excited about the trajectory of
new adult in publishing and also slightly surprised by the controversy surrounding
it?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span><span><span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span><span><span><span style="line-height: 115%;">I love the idea of New Adult as a
category, though I may be slightly biased as I’m in the target audience and it’s
sometimes nice to read about characters a little older than YA protagonists. With
that being said, I’m disappointed with the way many people – including some
media outlets – have misinterpreted it as being ‘sexed-up YA’ or just ‘college
romance’. Although the NA books that have gained media attention have been
contemporary romances, I’m hoping that speculative NA will get more of a
following.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span><span><span><span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span><span><span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span>Readers may not be
aware that <i>Darkness Watching</i> is your second novel. You published your debut
novel, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16107853-the-puppet-spell?from_search=true" target="_blank"><i>The Puppet Spell</i></a>, in 2012. While most college kids could barely get
through exams, you were writing novels. How were you able to balance writing
with your course work? </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span><span><span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span><span><span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span><span>I actually wrote my
first published novel as part of my creative writing course, which I guess gave
me an excuse to work on my own projects! :P When I came to my third year, I’d
written two novels (completed over the 3-month summer break) and had a contract
for <i>The Puppet Spell.</i> I was lucky in
that I had only 4 hours of contact time a week, which gave me a lot of leeway
to organise my spare time so that I could balance both course work and writing.
But I still skipped out on a lot of sleep…</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span><span><span><span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span><span><span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span><span><span>How many books are
planned for the Darkworld series? And can you give any hints on what's to come?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span><span><span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span><span><span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span><span><span><span style="line-height: 115%;">There will be five books in total – I’ve
actually completed all the novels in draft form, as the series was pre-planned.
The second book, <i>Walking Shadow,</i> will
be coming out next year. It involves a murder mystery, psychic vampires and a
doppelganger. ;)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span><span><span><span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span><span><span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span><span><span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span><i>Darkness Watching</i>
is published by Curiosity Quills, a small press. Can you describe your
experiences working with a small press and what advice would you give authors
seeking to submit to small presses?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Curiosity Quills has been wonderful to work with and I’d
highly recommend them. The best advice I can give is to do your research before
deciding which path to pursue. I submitted <i>Darkness
Watching</i> directly to publishers rather than seeking an agent. At the
time, agents weren’t really accepting New Adult but it was making quite a
splash in the epublishing world. Small presses are often the best bet for niche
genres and for books in hard-to-sell categories – for instance, YA paranormal
and dystopian are hard to pitch to agents at the moment because of the over-flooded
market, but small presses are often more willing to take chances.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">When submitting to agents, make sure you’ve got a
finished, polished book and tailor your cover letter to each individual
publisher. If you get a small press offer, I’d talk to other authors published
with them and try to find out as much as possible before signing the contract. I
did consider self-publishing the Darkworld series before I got the offer, but I
knew signing with CQ was the right decision. In addition to editing,
proofreading and formatting, you’ll get more say in things like cover design
when working with a small press than with a bigger publisher. It’s like being
part of a family, and I highly recommend looking into CQ if you write
speculative fiction of any kind!</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span> </span> </span> </span> </span> </span> </span> </span> </span> </span> </span> </span> </span></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://s1279.photobucket.com/user/TangledUpInWords/media/Blog%20Signatures/2c30eb61-8fa4-4bea-9fa9-ce06e0491553_zps3dd1863c.jpg.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 2c30eb61-8fa4-4bea-9fa9-ce06e0491553_zps3dd1863c.jpg" border="0" height="125" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y525/TangledUpInWords/Blog%20Signatures/2c30eb61-8fa4-4bea-9fa9-ce06e0491553_zps3dd1863c.jpg" width="200" /></a></span> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5852583071241460496.post-64862755342609509772013-12-19T11:03:00.001-05:002013-12-19T11:03:06.444-05:00The Writer Flip-Flops<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Being a writer is hard. I am revising my first MS and I’m not doing too well with it. It’s a frustrating venture for me as something I don’t really have experience with. And because of those frustrations, I sort of just want to focus on another WIP instead. This is part of one of what I’m calling the Writer Flip-Flops. The other part is the love/hate relationship with what I’m trying to revise. </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-22aae2b9-0b95-0f81-0318-cf118b141844" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have such an easier time creating something new. For whatever reason, a blank page that needs to be filled in is so much less overwhelming to me than 90K+ words that need to be altered, pruned, reduced, expanded on, clarified, reworked, rewritten, etc. The story idea is in that stage where all I really have to do is figure out how to put it into the correct words, which is actually a bit more complicated than that sounds. But I don’t have to figure out how one seemingly small change is going to impact every single word that follows it. I know I need to revise. It has to happen, even if just to clarify the story for </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>me</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. And more than that, how else am I going to get better at revising if I don’t actually </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>do</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> it? </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While I’m pushing myself to keep going through this slow-going process, I’m struggling with another flip-flop and I really hope I’m not the only writer experiencing this. Some days I absolutely love my work and other days I can’t help but think my storyline is stupid, silly, and full of plot-holes. I've been very fortunate to have some great friends and family read my MS and give their support and valuable input and honestly, some days it’s that support and input alone that keeps me going with it. That’s usually the point in which I step away from my computer or binder and give it a few days or weeks before attempting more progress, waiting until I’m back in that I-love-my-characters-and-their-story-has-to-be-told mentality. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like I said, being a writer is hard. But I’m working through the Flip-Flops and hoping that at some point, it will get easier, even if that only means the flip-flop periods get shorter. </span></div>
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<a href="http://s1279.photobucket.com/user/TangledUpInWords/media/Blog%20Signatures/a66a1aa4-a08e-48a2-bfcd-efc2d4fd1687_zpse4db374f.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo a66a1aa4-a08e-48a2-bfcd-efc2d4fd1687_zpse4db374f.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y525/TangledUpInWords/Blog%20Signatures/a66a1aa4-a08e-48a2-bfcd-efc2d4fd1687_zpse4db374f.jpg" /></a> </div>
Brianna Lebrechthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07016979223017483176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5852583071241460496.post-14127431393480778712013-12-17T09:16:00.001-05:002013-12-17T10:29:37.433-05:00It's coming!!!!<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">
<i>(I'm posting this from my phone so I apologize if the formatting is weird!!)</i></div>
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SALT comes out in 20 days.</div>
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The sequel is due in 33 days & I have 18.5k words.</div>
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I baked cookies for 3 hours last night. </div>
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Now you've has insight into the life of an author.</div>
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But in all seriousness, SALT comes out in 20 days and I'm thrilled. (Mostly. Sometimes I'm scared.) </div>
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There are a lot of reasons we write books: for a friend, for a deadline, for a character, for publication, for fun, for themselves. SALT was completely for myself; I honestly never thought it'd ever be published. </div>
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I wrote SALT after finishing a major revision on FOLLOW ME THROUGH DARKNESS. I'd spent two years with FMTD and that book is my heartbeat but the MC is lost, the subject heavy and the world intense. I was so tired when I finished that revision and then I heard Penelope's voice. </div>
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She made me laugh. Her story made me smile, left me feeling joyful and light. It rejuvenated me, and I wrote it. It was fun to write and read, even while drafting and rewriting and building. That was why I wrote SALT. It was fun. It was never meant to be this beautiful piece of literary genius. It was relief and escape and happiness and kissing. </div>
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As other people read her story, they fell in love with Penelope and her voice. That's how Entangled ended up with it. It's a fun story. And even when I was doing page proofs a few weeks ago, it made me laugh. It always makes me laugh. :)</div>
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As SALT comes out in 20 days, I hope it beings you happiness for a moment and makes you laugh. (I mean the cover is purple and sparkly I think that's pretty self-explanatory for the tone of the book.) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRG2KvOrtfTxtYmkztDuwkYakIOYvAYZibTtGHf7lVzBIF_I_yA34r1x5XQ8rlCRMZmbimlDIYmsRGjHT5vIW9ZIxyscISkiM2lwr7OABUXQbvCnmlTP8coi_qcRxqNCbitB7C5J78pM/s640/blogger-image--997943579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRG2KvOrtfTxtYmkztDuwkYakIOYvAYZibTtGHf7lVzBIF_I_yA34r1x5XQ8rlCRMZmbimlDIYmsRGjHT5vIW9ZIxyscISkiM2lwr7OABUXQbvCnmlTP8coi_qcRxqNCbitB7C5J78pM/s640/blogger-image--997943579.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Find it: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17250657-salt" style="text-decoration: none;">Goodreads</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Salt-Entangled-Teen-Danielle-Ellison-ebook/dp/B00GVRVESS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385498495&sr=8-1&keywords=Danielle+Ellison" style="text-decoration: none;">Amazon</a>,<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/salt-danielle-ellison/1117497519?ean=9781622663484" style="text-decoration: none;"> Barnes & Noble</a></span></div>
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I hope SALT is as fun for you as it was/is for me! </div>
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And now, back to my sequel. And the cookies. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01531900928082605133noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5852583071241460496.post-12072168336733361952013-12-04T08:05:00.000-05:002013-12-04T08:05:43.772-05:00We are Limitless <br />
December is the season where we tell our babies and toddlers and youngsters that magic exists, it's real and you can have it if you believe in it enough. When do we all stop believing in that magic? I hope the answer is <b>never. </b><br />
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Imagination is our greatest tool and it has carried humanity to impossible shores and beyond. And I think that we need to use it more, or we'll all grow zombie-like.<br />
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Here's what one of my favorite author's has to say about the topic of imagination:<br />
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<span class="long" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px;">“I think most people’s imaginations don’t have limits. Imaginations get limits forced on them. You know, it’s really interesting, with kids. Kids just imagine stuff. They make stuff up. They think up stuff. They daydream. As we get older, we stop daydreaming. As we get older, we stop letting our mind wander, and it’s when your mind goes wandering that it comes home with really interesting things that it found on the way. I think what’s most important is just remembering the value of imagining. The knowledge that, if you look around, everything you see was imagined at some time, by somebody.”</span></div>
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— <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Gaiman" style="color: #555555;" target="_blank">Neil Gaiman</a>, in an interview with Cosmopolitan Philippines</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #555555; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://amiquote.tumblr.com/post/1401741759/neil-gaiman-on-imagination-i-think-most" target="_blank">See the original location of this quote</a> </span></b></span></span></span></div>
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I watch the little ones I teach everyday and there's a wonderment that I try to tap into with my own artistic endeavors. We are never too old to daydream. We are never too old to dream. We are never too old for imagination. We are limitless.<br />
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What have you been imagining lately?<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03378389330299334603noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5852583071241460496.post-39965042846590373252013-12-02T13:06:00.000-05:002013-12-02T13:06:40.190-05:00I'm Such a NaNo Liar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://blog.lib.umn.edu/vanm0049/psy1001section09spring2012/liar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://blog.lib.umn.edu/vanm0049/psy1001section09spring2012/liar.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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In my Tangled post last month I admitted that I was planning to give in to my desire to participate in NaNo. And I really did have all intentions of doing so. My plan was to modify the demands a bit and spend the first two weeks of November revising my last manuscript so that I could turn it into my agent by the 15th. Then, I was going to spend the second two weeks writing my newest manuscript idea. I had hoped to hit 25K in the new one by the 30th.<br />
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Yeah...that totally did not happen. Not even close. It's now December 2nd and I am <i>still</i> not done with revisions on that first project. I won't lie. I'm a bit disappointed I haven't yet gotten to my new idea, but I'm honestly not <i>that</i> disappointed.<br />
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The reason why? I'm finally back to enjoying this book. Somewhere in the middle of all the revising, I fell in love with my characters and their story all over again. I am connected to them again and that feels soooooo good. Like, omgpleaseforgivemeforeverwantingtoabandonyou good. I'm happy I stuck with them and will be proud of what I turn into my agent in just a few days.<br />
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So while I didn't achieve my original NaNo goal, I'm still grateful for NaNo because it got me recommitted. It helped me focus and, really, what's better than falling back in love with a story that you haven't felt connected to in months?<br />
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<a href="http://s1279.photobucket.com/user/TangledUpInWords/media/Blog%20Signatures/bccb4dac-09ff-4edb-810b-0be0f8b11e82_zps9302c42b.jpg.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo bccb4dac-09ff-4edb-810b-0be0f8b11e82_zps9302c42b.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y525/TangledUpInWords/Blog%20Signatures/bccb4dac-09ff-4edb-810b-0be0f8b11e82_zps9302c42b.jpg" /></a></div>
Cindy Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17136785151164769388noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5852583071241460496.post-79411702690863897662013-11-29T10:58:00.003-05:002013-11-29T10:58:33.224-05:00NaNo Makes Me Jealous <br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had planned to participate in NaNo this month. Really, I did. I knew from the time I signed up for July’s Camp NaNoWriMo that I wanted to participate in November. However, like most of my plans, there was a kink: we were moving. Between getting everything out of our old house and getting things set up in our new house, I just didn't have the time--or brain power--to get organized and ready to spend a month writing as close to 50K words as I could manage. Even knowing that, I still started off the month being jealous of my friends who </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>were</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> able to participate. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjabUkDg1SyKm9hlVEe7v5O6U-fnT8Js83yplbErWfyuYhC9l9OsyHMm1b-huFAt57oXG3GIl4W6fByCGoUwBkRwbwFGrOdZSmrLH2JkTXacw7KEVrlxO7zGOIKoQEox6TtroeQM8UJSQ/s1600/1184913_639383759413951_1651854504_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjabUkDg1SyKm9hlVEe7v5O6U-fnT8Js83yplbErWfyuYhC9l9OsyHMm1b-huFAt57oXG3GIl4W6fByCGoUwBkRwbwFGrOdZSmrLH2JkTXacw7KEVrlxO7zGOIKoQEox6TtroeQM8UJSQ/s200/1184913_639383759413951_1651854504_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">NaNo makes me jealous because I </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>want</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to be able to write 50K words in one month. And because I </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>want</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to have the motivation and nagging sensation that I </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>need</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to sit down and write. Between homeschooling activities, my crochet/knitting/sewing business, and general life happenings, writing takes the back burner. Always. But having that goal and deadline--like I did back in July--I actually get stuff accomplished. It’s just about the end of November and I’m </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>still</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> jealous that I didn't’t get to experience that. I’m also jealous that my word count is no higher than it was when November started. *sigh*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because I’m trying to find an optimistic way to look at NaNo (while keeping the green at bay), I’m going to try to mooch the last of the NaNoWriMo vibes over the last two days of November and try to hit a goal of my own: rewrite the first chapter of the MS I’m revising. Maybe that will help me get past my envy. And more than that, maybe it will remind me that I’d rather not be jealous of all my friends next year. I’d rather be one of them and participate in my first actual NaNoWriMo. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you participated in NaNo this month, how did you do?</span></span><br />
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Brianna Lebrechthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07016979223017483176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5852583071241460496.post-66946148246914360842013-11-24T12:00:00.000-05:002013-11-24T12:00:01.887-05:00Sometimes the universe says, 'No!'<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It’s that time of year – thousands of would-be-wordsmiths
across the globe are scribbling away, aiming to write 50,000 words of a novel
in a month. Every year, I intend to take part but something, somewhere, stops
it from happening. For the past three years, it’s been university work. This
year, I’ve already fast-drafted four novels, so I thought I’d have a chance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The universe said no. First, the start of NaNoWriMo
coincided with the review tour for my book, <i>Darkness
Watching,</i> so I began as a neurotic mess with a tendency to over-analyse
every sentence to death. My inner self-critic was in overdrive, and I fell
behind on my WIP within a day! <i>I can
always catch up later, </i>I thought…then I planned an impromptu weekend away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I’ll write on the train!” I told myself. Two hours is
plenty of time to get some words down, right? Unfortunately, the universe
decided to intervene and make my train late, so I ended up with no seat and had
to stand in the corridor for two hours. Even I’m not crazy enough to try and
type on my laptop whilst standing in a moving train…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And then my boyfriend bought me a 2DS. Gaming is my biggest
weakness, and try as I might, I couldn’t resist the lure of Pokemon. So I got
absolutely nothing written over the weekend. I tried to catch up on the train
back, but only managed to fall asleep. Then, the next day I woke up with flu. The
universe strikes again! I battled the fog in my head for a week, forcing myself
to get words on the page, but I felt sluggish and uninspired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then came the thing I’d waited for – and dreaded – for
months. The Editorial Email of Doom, from my publishers, for the second
Darkworld novel. I’d known it was coming at some point in November, but one
look at the long list of things to change told me I’d have to put my NaNo
project aside if I ever wanted to get it done. When I edit, I need to be fully
immersed in the story’s world to the exclusion of everything else. So I locked
myself in the editing cave for a week. I got no new words on my WIP done, but rewrote the
best part of a 63,000-word novel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By now, there was no chance I’d be able to catch up. So I
willingly let myself get distracted, first by shiny new ideas, then by editing
old projects, then by Pitch Wars. I had a YA fantasy that was <i>almost</i> ready to query (except I’d been
putting it off due to my fear and hatred of query letters and synopses…). So I
did the final polish and drafted the query. Once again, my poor NaNo WIP took a
back seat!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And now I’m facing the last week of NaNoWriMo, and unless I
get possessed by some crazy writing muse, I’m unlikely to ‘win’ this year. Strangely,
I don’t mind. The main goal of NaNo is to get into the habit of writing, and
for writers, every month is a writing month. The important thing for me is that
I’m always working on something – be it drafting, revising or editing. Maybe
next year NaNoWriMo will coincide with starting a draft!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://s1279.photobucket.com/user/TangledUpInWords/media/Blog%20Signatures/50565a9b-bd0f-4ae6-a77d-7aa0d3ec3cca_zps58c64d47.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 50565a9b-bd0f-4ae6-a77d-7aa0d3ec3cca_zps58c64d47.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y525/TangledUpInWords/Blog%20Signatures/50565a9b-bd0f-4ae6-a77d-7aa0d3ec3cca_zps58c64d47.jpg" /></a>ELAdamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11390894357209056149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5852583071241460496.post-24475415902773386542013-11-19T07:40:00.000-05:002013-11-19T18:07:25.382-05:00#NaNoWriMo isn't the enemy -- I am: Why I've never won NaNoWriMo<br />
I've been participating in NaNoWriMo (which up until last year, I'd been mispronouncing as nan-o-wreeemo) for five years-ish. And I've never won. Well, maybe I've technically won once. During Camp NaNo, I set the goal at 20K words. And that was totally doable by the skin of my teeth.<br />
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Here's the thing I've learned about myself all these past NaNos -- I need a plan. For me, writing 50,000 words on the fly is gut-wrenching horrendous because I have no idea where I'm going. Every word is a struggle because I feel like I'm just spinning around in circles and yet, I've made a commitment. I need to finish these 50K words because I signed up for NaNo and I'm part of a community, dammit.<br />
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The other thing I've learned all these years is that I love NaNo. I love signing up. I love meeting fellow NaNo buddies and participating in write-ins. I love the race against time and the promise of a brand new work. I love being part of the community. Writing can be such a lonely business. Being apart of NaNo makes it so much less lonely.<br />
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And yet, for me it's an incredible struggle. I've never come into NaNo with a plan, and by plan, I mean a detailed scene list because that's how I like to work. It's not NaNo's fault I've never won. It's my own. I should've spent October outlining, but November has this crazy way of sneaking up on me.<br />
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This November, I am out of the NaNo game. I'm working on edits on my debut novel and I'm writing my second book (with my scene list) at a pace that works for me. So, perhaps this is my breakup letter to NaNo. It's been a fun five years, but I've got to move on. No regrets. I've learned so much about my writer self from you. So, thank you. <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5852583071241460496.post-11851772057784343872013-11-17T08:00:00.000-05:002013-11-17T08:00:06.555-05:00#NaNoWriMo: The Key to SuccessWhat is the key to success for NaNoWriMo?
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This is the second biggest question in the universe!! (The first is "Doctor who?" -- and okay, it's really only the biggest question in the months of October and November, and for writers, but go with me.)<br />
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Here's my answer. Ready. It's going to change your life! CHANGE YOUR LIFE I SAY. To show it the best, let's turn to this lovely picture:<br />
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There are thousands of people who write books daily -- and none of these people write the same way. Some of us are plotters and some pantsers; some analyze every single sentence before they move on and others power through a whole entire book filled with crappy words. There is <b>no one single right way </b>to write a novel.<br />
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And while we know this, there's something about NaNo (especially if you are like me and hate failing at a goal that you want to achieve, and even more so if a prize is involved and everyone else is doing it!) that makes us feel like less of a writer if you don't try to write 50k words. Or worse, you try and fail.<br />
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This is wrong. And that's taken me a long time to come to grips with.<br />
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Even though there is one 'rule' of Nano -- which is to write 50k in a month -- that's not an actual requirement for success. I've done NaNo four times (this is four right now) and I've only won once. Only once. But does that mean the other times I tried and didn't write 50k words I failed? No.<br />
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That's because I do NaNo my way.<br />
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I know what works for me, my life, my schedule, my strengths. I know how best to achieve the goal before me. I often feel like the years I didn't win were more important to me as a writer than the one I won.<br />
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The first time I did NaNo I wrote a lot of words, but not 50k. I was a brand-new baby writer and this seemed like a great idea. I learned a lot about my writing process that year, and even though I failed, I gained something useful. It was a very big learning experience--and now that book lives in a closet (It's so bad!) but the things I learned from that year changed the way I did the next book, and the next year of NaNo.<br />
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The second time, the year I won NaNo, I was a rebel and started a book that I was rewriting. (<i>Follow Me Through Darkness,</i> actually, revision 2 or 3 of 8!) I had an extraordinary amount of time to devote to it. I had clear direction with that story. I wanted to win and I had something to prove (mostly to myself) and so I dove in with everything I had. It was really hard, but I did it. I was so proud of myself that year, not necessarily for winning a prize (though it helped) but for accomplishing what I set out to accomplish.<br />
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The third time (last year) I tried NaNo and I had just started a new job, and I was in a new place and working on the sequel to FMTD. I'd already had 20k words before NaNo, and I was going to finish it. I didn't. In fact, I wrote 30k but they were so bad. I failed NaNo. Was I sad? Yes, because I really wanted to finish that book. But later I ended up sending that 50k to my editor --and she made me through that whole sequel out because it wasn't working. It was the wrong side of the story. So in the end, I was happy that I hadn't wasted even more time trying to force a book to work just so I could win NaNo.<br />
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This year, I wasn't going to do NaNo.<br />
Even though I wanted to.<br />
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I didn't have time. I didn't want to lose myself in it. I didn't know what happened in <i>Salt 2 </i>so how could I write it? I made it exactly seven hours into Nov 1 and then I signed up. Why? Because I love NaNo because I like the other people involved. It makes me feel like I'm not alone. Plus, I'm competitive, so I watch all the other charts go up up up and I want mine to go up. (It brings out an ugly side of me.)<br />
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But this year I went in with my own goals: write 25k words.<br />
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That's all I want. 25k.<br />
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Realistically, I knew I didn't have that much time to devote to getting 50k words, but I needed the words and, again, I like the charts/competition/community feel of it. So I went into NaNo wanting that.<br />
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It's day 17 when you're reading this (day 14 when I'm writing it) and I have almost 16k words. Good words. Words that I will probably get to keep! And I still have half the month to get the other 10k words. The best part is that when it's over, I'll have a portion of my book. I didn't have that 14 days ago. I didn't even have an idea 14 days ago.<br />
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I say that's success.<br />
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What's the key then? Do it <b>your </b>way.<br />
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<how doing="" i="" it="" like="" m="" makes="" me="" things="" this="" those="" time="" what="" why="">Screw the rules! Use this time to reach your own goals. Write an outline. 10k words. 25k words. That revision of the book that you had to finish a month ago...whatever it is for <b>you. </b>Set a realistic goal and then</how> be okay that goal. Be proud of what you accomplish because you know yourself, your life and your schedule more than those organizers of NaNo know it. <u>Use NaNo as an excuse to write and then write! </u><br />
<how doing="" i="" it="" like="" m="" makes="" me="" things="" this="" those="" time="" what="" why=""><br /></how>
<how doing="" i="" it="" like="" m="" makes="" me="" things="" this="" those="" time="" what="" why="">I really think there's something magical about doing NaNoWriMo. It's a powerful thing to think about how many people participate (a lot) and that for this 30 days every single one of us are connected, driven and working toward the same goal with the same passion. </how><br />
<how doing="" i="" it="" like="" m="" makes="" me="" things="" this="" those="" time="" what="" why=""><br /></how>
<how doing="" i="" it="" like="" m="" makes="" me="" things="" this="" those="" time="" what="" why="">Being part of that community?</how><br />
<how doing="" i="" it="" like="" m="" makes="" me="" things="" this="" those="" time="" what="" why=""><br /></how>
<how doing="" i="" it="" like="" m="" makes="" me="" things="" this="" those="" time="" what="" why="">That's success.</how><br />
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Danielle Ellisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03167700889656538592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5852583071241460496.post-43256483156325436122013-11-10T05:00:00.000-05:002013-11-10T05:00:09.325-05:00Dear NaNoWriMo....Dearest NaNoWriMo:<br />
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Oh, NaNo, you bright, shiny tease of a possibility. It pains me to write this, but <i>alas</i>, it must be done.<br />
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We first met back in 2011. I had been writing for hardly a year. With my shiny new agent and shiny new idea, I was pulled in by your siren's song. And I wrote--oh, how I wrote! The crap that poured forth from my fingers, over the keyboard, and is forevermore a part of my computer's now-rusty memory was prolific. Dear, sweet NaNo. What a flurry of words!<br />
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What an ever-loving mess.<br />
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Every year since, you've tempted me. Every year I swore I would write.<br />
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And for the past two years my promises have been for naught. Last year, I had a new job--two, actually--and not even the temptation of "winning" was enough to sacrifice the luxury of sleep. This year, I promised, <i>promised!</i>, things would be different. I touted your brilliance near and far. I made <i>plans. </i><br />
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Oh, how I've failed! You are now one-third past, but I have written nothing new.<br />
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Do you know what I have done, gentle NaNo? Do you know what I continue to do?<br />
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Yes, that is exactly right--I continue to work on that bit of temptation that I first began two years ago with you.<br />
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It is time for the truth my lovely--but the fault does not lie in you. No, those wild nights of flailing words, those days of walking through a land of dreams instead of, say, feeding one's children--what luxury! What temptation! But it is simply not for me.<br />
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No, my dear NaNo, mine is not the path of words vomited onto paper (or screen). No, neither the call of your public declarations nor the shame-induced productivity your progress bar portends tempts me this year.<br />
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So I will continue on, as I have done for many a day now. And I will write, not words in the thousands, but words with enough weight to stick on my page.<br />
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And when you come again next year....<br />
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Oh, who am I kidding? I'm TOTALLY doing NaNo next year.<br />
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<a href="http://s1279.photobucket.com/user/TangledUpInWords/media/Blog%20Signatures/798ccdd4-c462-416c-b26d-f68f0f8e09d5_zpsd01d8713.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 798ccdd4-c462-416c-b26d-f68f0f8e09d5_zpsd01d8713.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y525/TangledUpInWords/Blog%20Signatures/798ccdd4-c462-416c-b26d-f68f0f8e09d5_zpsd01d8713.jpg" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05269078694879447845noreply@blogger.com5