Getting to Know Me!

I'm a big fan of Deanna Barnhart's 'Gearing Up To Get An Agent Blogfest' – GUTGAA, for short.

 

For those of you not familiar with it, it's a contest set up by Ms. Barnhart in which you can submit a few paragraphs or a cover letter into the contest and have your stuff read and critiqued by your peers in the blogging community (super helpful).

 

One year ago, I entered into a similar contest not really knowing what I was doing, but excited all the same. I came in SECOND, and an annonymous agent critiquer requested the first three chapters of my book. Well, long story short, she's now my brilliant agent extradinaire :) So, real life success stories really do come out of these kinds of contests!  

 

Here's a link to my interview on how the whole thing went down, if you're interested!

 

Meanwhile, GUTGAA is, well, gearing up right now, and I thought It would be great to participate in the site's 'Meet and Greet' where you all come around to different blogs and we all get to know each other – another great idea :)

 

Here are my answers.

 

-Where do you write?

I write first in my head, and I scrawl out my ideas into a notebook – a nice one from the Barnes and Noble journal aisle. Then, I sit on front of my computer in my work-from-home office and type it all out into a word doc.

-Quick. Go to your writing space, sit down and look to your left. What is the first thing you see?

HAH -- my fantasy football line-up, full of the cutest palyers I could draft. Also, my autographed copy of Mindy Kaling's book, and my Concise Oxford English Dictionary.

 

-Favorite time to write?

Just after lunch. It's such a quiet time, after all my morning work is done and before the afternoon truly begins.

-Drink of choice while writing?

Either scalding mint tea with a little honey, or one of those hard plastic cups that looks like a starbucks iced-to-go container filled with water+lemon+cucumber slices.

-When writing , do you listen to music or do you need complete silence?

Complete silence. That includes the darling voices of my children ... hence the best writing being while they're at school :) The only noises I can stand are the occasional bloody battles from my husbad's video games at night or on a Saturday afternoon.

-What was your inspiration for your latest manuscript and where did you find it?

For the book I'm revising now, I got my inspiration from a very famous female character who is weak and lets her feelings for a guy cloud who she is. I wanted to write a badass female who didn't need someone else to help her define who she is. Thus, Zellie was born :)

For the book I'm in the middle of, I wanted t owrite a ghost story that redefined the idea of why ghosts stick around. It's about a psychic girl who doesn't want her gift, but decides to use it to help two teenaged ghosts from the 1800s discover thier past. Inspirations: archeology, 'Midsummer Night's Dream,' and paranormal TV shows.

-What's your most valuable writing tip?

Just do it. The only way you're going to write something is if you do it. The only way to get better and gain experience is to do it. Try to make a little progress each day -- one word, or even one re-read, is progress.

'Hi ... Have We Met?'

People, I am on a bridesmaid-dress-saving diet for the next 6 weeks, I got up at the crack this morning just to have my equally unenthused running partner cancel, and my arms are tanned two different colors.

... I think I need a break from my first-world problems, please. Thus, I have created something wonderful to help me dive into my self-created realities – and to share with all of you!

(First, you have to imagine me talking like one of those elixer salesmen from the 1800s who pop up in dusty towns with little carts and ear horns, then dissapear overnight.) (Not that I'm one of those – my stuff actually works.)

Dialogue not working for you? Your characters getting muddled together? Want to throw a drink at that bubbly writer who keeps saying, 'I swear, sometimes they just write themselves!' ??

Look no farther! I offer you:

Amber Plante's 'Hi ... Have We Met?'

character development sheet!

I've scoured the Internet's best sources – acting coaches, English professors, even my own experience – and created the perfect personality profile for discovering who your characters really are in relation to the story you've created. I didn't re-invent the wheel here, folks. It's just a good alternative – or starting-off point – if you are looking to really get to know, remember and quickly recall who your characters are as you're writing. At least, it's really helped me.

The idea is simple: Other character sheets are, at their best, a list of questions. How boring and easily forgetable. Mine, however, is a printer-friendly (set yours to landscape, please) three-page packet that you can easily reference in the middle of a particularly difficult chapter where you desperately need some reminding who – and what – the hell you're actually writing.

And, the best part: It's completely free. Take it – distribute it – please! If it helps one person as much as it's helped me, then I've gained all that karma back from making fun of an Olsen twin for dating a 42-year-old Frenchman with a huge nose (I mean, come on now, girl) and maybe enough to stop wishing Beyonce would show a lipo scar.

Anyway, this character development packet includes detailed physical descriptors, adjective prompts, fun questions, emotional triggers, character arcs and fill-in-the-blank flow-type diagrams – and even an image space to paste or draw in a picture of exactly who you are writing, lest you lose track.

Wait, why the picture part? Because my muses (as explained here) are not to be triffled with. They come on hard, strong and vivid. Why should I (or you) deny it if that half-nekked lead with pants so low he needs to shave is Ian Somerhalder? Or if your heroine has long dark hair and bangs like Zooey Deschanel? Don't worry – I pretend I'm casting them in a film version of my book, and we all get along perfectly.

So please: download, print, peruse and enjoy. The only thing I'll ask is that you please tell me if it's helped you at all. And, if you have any suggestions, leave them in the comments!

Trust the process, writers. The universe knows.

YA vs. Adult: Cupcake, anyone?

I love a good book – one that I can enjoy equally in a bathrobe on my couch as in my heels during lunch breaks. I want to dig my fingers in and not be able to let go just as often as I want a casual read that's easy to slip back into after a few weeks.

My tastes vary from adventure to love, erotic to chaste (let's be honest where I lean here), and horror to mystery. I love a humorous Jen Lancaster memoir just as much as my DC Cupcakes cookbook.

It never really occurred to me to categorize the books I do and don't deign read based on their target age group, though. That's why this NY Times column by Joel Stein really rubbed me the wrong way. Go ahead and read it – since you're on my blog, you probably won't like it either.

I was an early reader. At five, I downed "The Little Prince" and never looked back. Like most voracious readers I know, I moved on to larger, more entertaining fare fast: pretty much anything by RL Stine and Christopher Pike, every one of the Babysitters' Club books and their "special" editions, Judy Bloom, Meg Cabot... If it was in the YA section in the 90s, I read it. Not one of these can be construed as "adult" in nature – and yet I still grew into a very accomplished editor and almost-published fiction author.

My skills with the written word most certainly did not come from reading adult fiction (since I didn't), but that doesn't mean you can discount any of my accomplishments. So why, oh why, does Mr Stein insist that I – and by extension, we – need to grow up and stop entertaining ourselves with books below our age group and, presumptively, below our intelligence level?

Right now, I'm reading a beautiful memoir about French cooking, marriage and the cultural differences between living in Paris vs. living in NYC. It's dense, sweet and full of big words on decidedly deep topics. Do I feel smarter for it? Sure, maybe. I also just finished my third read-through of "The Hunger Games," with its themes on politics, trust and oppression. Do I feel smarter for it? Hell yes. The commentary on the probable future of our reality is palpable and, in all truth, scary.

But "YA vs. Adult" isn't the real argument here, is it? This all stems from the idea of "Peter Pan" childhoods – those adults who are refusing to grow up. Not in the serious psychological or social sense, of course – just in the playful idea that you don't have to be so serious all the time. Examples: Those like my husband, who has vintage Transformers proudly displayed above his expensive software-engineering desktop for all to see. Those like me, whose movie shelves are filled with Pixar films, sappy chick flicks and superhero movies. The idea: It's still just as fun to watch "Dr. Who" and "Vampire Diaries" with my family as it was to watch "Dawson's Creek" with my college roommates.

And, on that note, I for damned sure don't want my two little boys knowing a world full of cynics like Mr. Stein, who clearly grew up too early into that cantankerous old man down the street with 100 lost baseballs in his fenced-in backyard.

I'll take my Cinderella engagement stories, my sparkly vampires, my boy-wizards and my dystopic heroines, thank you very much – and I won't be made to feel guilty about it for a second, especially by a mean-spirited narcissist who's forgotten how to have fun.

Now, grab a delicious cupcake (extra frosting, please), a cup of honeyed tea and a classical music CD, and join me on the couch to read whatever the heck you want to read. This is a no-judge zone.

Tag, you're it!

Hey everyone -- who doesn't love a "getting to know you" chain letter? Don't lie, you know you do.

I've been "tagged" by the lovely Lora Riveria over at http://www.lorariverainsidewriting.blogspot.com/ -- she and I have a storied history, and how could I say "No!" to one of the most influential ladies my writing has ever had? Simply, I couldn't and wouldn't want to because, as stated before, I <3 these things! :)

Read and enjoy, internet friends!


1. What is the best meal you've ever eaten - what, when, and where?

I was with my husband (who was my fiance at the time) celebrating my 21st birthday in Las Vegas. Instead of drinking (because he doesn't drink), we went to one of Emeril Lagasse's restuarants and had the Tasting Menu. It was about a thousand courses of teeny portions of delicious foods -- toward the end it was mostly just sport to see how much of the next dish we could get down. Absolutely delicious. Another great meal: coffee and beignets at Cafe du Monde in New Orleans, last April for my 31st birthday. A dream come true. Food was good too :)

2. What is your earliest memory?

I remember running up the stairs with my dad to our tiny apartment in Euclid, Ohio. My mom was working the late shift at the hospital, and we were a little late for settling onto the couch to watch MASH. The stairway was yellow, and I was holding Dad's hand while he ran us up. Since we moved to Mass. when I was 2, I was somewhere between 12 and 24 months old. (Yeah, I didn't crawl; I walked when I was 9 months old.)

3. If given your choice of a secret rendezvous with any fictional hottie - who would you choose?

Ohhh good one. I have a three-way dead heat (lordy, what I would give...): bad-boy Damon Salvatore from the TV version of 'Vampire Diaries' (right), the demon Azazeal from the BBCA series 'HEX' (above, right), and hero Robin Hood from the BBCA series 'Robin Hood' (above, left)-- i.e. Ian Somerhalder, Michael Fassbender and Jonas Armstrong, respectively. Those men have been on my list for YEARS. Ahem, my muse loves them, too.

4. What is your favorite joke?

Q: If you're Russian to get into the bathroom, and you're American when you leave the bathroom, what are you when you're in the bathroom?

A: European! HAHAHAA (you might need to say this one outloud a few times, slowly.)

5. Pick three words to describe yourself (one is just too hard!)

Stubborn. Strong. Smart.

And now to tag my own victims!

1. Angela Cothran
2. Laura Barnes
3. Sarah La Polla

Tag! You're it!

No pressure ... but what's up?

Hello, strangers! It's been forever since I've written anything, but I promise it's for good reasons. I've had a busy few months tweaking and editing and rewriting and editing and cutting and finally holding my breath ... but I trust that the process works.

(BTW, this is the actual tea mug I use every day. Positive reinforcement works!)

In doing all these gut-wrenching-yet-ultimately-satisfying revisions, I discovered a few revising tips I wanted to share:

Read your book aloud. Pretend you are Lorelei King (currently my favorite reader) and really get into the story. Do the voices. Pay attention to the pacing. Feel the conflict. If you get bored, chances are your readers will, too. Does that line sound ridiculous coming out of that character's mouth? Are you left hanging and need another scene to keep the flow steady? It's a great way to catch those ridiculous typos that normal eyes don't see. I do this when I'm by myself in the house and have a hot cup of honey mint tea.

Short sentences are (nearly always) better. I love writing long, complex sentences. It stems simply from an egotistical desire to impress readers with my talent – which is the very honest way of saying that I like to show off. I'm not shy; I know my way around verb agreement, and I know how to undangle my participles and work some serious punctuation. Give me pen, paper and ruler and I could diagram every sentence on this blog. Alas, readers don't like this. Especially teenage readers. I blame Sesame Street.

When you're going through your revisions, look out for words like 'and,' 'but' and 'as.' Break up your sentences there and see how your flow is affected. Hopefully, you'll find that you really didn't need that extra prepositional phrase at all – it was implied.

Rethink minor characters. Be honest: Does that security guard really need to have a name and back story? It's great if you, as an author, have a vague idea. But trust me, the reader doesn't give a you-know-what. Unnecessary minor characters are a sloppy way to move the plot along. Can another character act out their conflict instead? Can anyone else ask that important question? If you took him/her out, would it really make a difference? Taking time to rethink someone slightly random might save you a rejection in the future.

That said, I chose to keep in the minor character of Odin in my story. But, I'm also confident that, if asked, I can defend my decision. Can you?

Don't be afraid to cut what you love. My agent recently told me to shorten a 16-page scene down to 2 pages. I delayed, cried, stamped my feet ... but she was right. Scenes that you loved writing aren't always the best vehicles to move your plot ahead.

Doesn't mean you can't keep them for something else (a sequel?). However, I'll bet you anything that, when all is said and done, you fondly look back on these as writing exercises – bridges that got you from Scene A to Scene B. You may not have needed them in the final draft, but you needed them to get to the final draft, which is, if anything, more important. Never, ever feel that your writing is being wasted on the cutting room floor.

In the end, did I shorten that passage by 14 pages? Well, honestly ... no, I didn't. But, I did cut 6 pages of excess that no one – not even me – will ever miss. The 10 remaining pages are much more succinct, smart and understandable. They fit the characters, the setting and the conflict, and they give all the necessary info without distracting tangents.

Have other revision conundrums? Ask away in the comments and maybe I can help! :)

Remember the Flags: Where I was Sept. 11, 2001

Note: Sorry for going off topic – I just felt this was important to share. I'll be back to normal posts about writing soon :) Share your story with the group below. Cheers!

It was first semester of my senior year at UNH. The Tuesday morning was clear and breezy, with azure skies and that pleasant scholarly feel of the newly returned students bustling around campus in their pajama bottoms, UNH sweatshirts and satchel bags. I was an anthropology major with a journalism minor, enjoying the lazy start to my final year of formal schooling.

I was living off campus in Derry with Jason, who was my fiancé at the time (we’ve since been married for nine and a half years). I drove in for my 7-8:30 anthropology course on … well, I don’t remember exactly, but it had something to do with reading old anthropologists’ field reports – which, let’s be honest, I most likely didn’t.

My mind meandered while my professor, with his melodic African accent, engaged us in debate over which method of cultural observation was more valid in today’s time. Not reading the course material didn’t have any effect on my ability to talk fluently on the pros/cons of Marxism – imagine that. Encased in that sunny third floor classroom on the lower quad, we had no idea that our debate on cultural norms was changing, and that our perspectives were about to shift forever.

After class, I packed up and headed just outside to the bus stop. Campus seemed oddly quiet, and there weren’t a lot of those pajama-clad students milling about. After a minute, an old high-school acquaintance joined me. “Did you hear?” she asked. Since I hadn’t spoken more than twenty words to this girl in three years, I shrugged with an air of nonchalance. “The world is coming to an end,” she said as seriously as a former Miss Teen New Hampshire could.

Confused, I boarded the bus. Everyone was sitting straight on the edges of their seats, completely silent though the driver had cranked up the radio. In the three-minute ride, I ascertained that there had been a few plane crashes in New York City, and that people were being evacuated from some buildings. The student journalist in me saw the importance of the breaking story – for sure – but still wondered why everyone was freaking out. Plane crashes were awful, but they happen. Call it the lazy ambivalence of a student who’d gotten up at 7 am and had yet to have a cup of coffee, but I didn’t see the big deal.

When I got to my car, I called my mom to ask her what was going on. “Get home now,” is all I remember her saying to me. “I don’t care where you are – get home now.”

The next hour was a blur. I only remember snippets. Radio announcers crying. The announcement of the Pentagon crash. The dawning knowledge that these weren’t accidents.

Sometime between Manchester and Nashua, a Pentagon official mentioned that they’d evacuated everyone on his level to the basement – and a vague thought pinged in my head. Despite the numerous X-Files episodes and documentaries I’d seen alleging that the nation’s biggest secrets resided in a basement level in the Pentagon, the official line was that the Pentagon had no basement. Funny the things your mind chooses to remember during times of intense emotion.

When I got home, I called Jason. He was in Boston for the day working on a special project near Newbury Street. He told me everything was fine and that he was safe – I told him if they started evacuating buildings in Boston I wanted him home.

My parents and I were glued to the TV, horrified but unable to look away. People jumped out of windows from far too high. Black smoke roiled. The buildings swayed. The streets themselves seemed to scream in grief. When WTC 1 and 2 finally came down, I was inappropriately struck with how pretty in looked – the glass glittered. Beauty in destruction. Peace in so much tragedy.

The days that followed were a blur. TV blackouts. Shocking images. The first time I’d ever seen newspapers sell out in every single gas station and on every street corner. Overwhelmingly, I wanted to help. I wanted to volunteer at local newspapers, to report and edit and assist them in informing the public any way I could. Jason, a former ROTC boy, even toyed with the idea of joining the National Guard so he could go down there and help at the wreckage sites. But apparently we weren’t alone. Reports poured in about the nation’s generosity – about there being too many blood donations, too many people flooding in to volunteer.

Jason and I decided to do the only thing we could: When Jason was in college, he was a Senate aid in DC and acquired a flag that had for-real flown above the Capitol Building. It was one of his most treasured possessions. We unfolded the massive flag and duck-taped it to the balcony of our apartment. And we weren’t alone.

Don’t feel bad if you are depressed by this 10th anniversary of Sept. 11. These memories and feelings are a part of who we, as a nation and world, have become – and not every memory in life is meant to be happy. I choose to remember all of the flags. Hanging from every front porch. Waving from every solid surface. Whipping off every car. I’ve never before nor since felt more like I was a part of something truly great and larger than myself than I did seeing the togetherness this tragedy thrust upon us. It forced us to come together and to work together and to appreciate one another.

I felt like an American – and it was the proudest I’ve ever felt being identified as such.

I choose to remember the flags.

That which we call a Rose … OH! Rose?

No doubt, my favorite part of starting a new story is naming my main characters. I spend hours researching on BabyNames.com (which has its own ‘Tips for Writers’ section because, apparently, I’m not the only person who’s thought of this).

So far, I have a Rainy Baker, an Ivy Taite, a Sundae DeSilva, a Drew Morgan and twin girls Piper and Melina Cora. I have a Zellie, an Oliver Bexley and a female Emerson. I’ve created Dale Nasira, Wes Draiman and Elizabeth Bianca Fallon, not to mention Nick Sylvestre, Balthasar Harding and Dr. Paul Wilson.

… But for the love of JK Rowling I can’t come up with a name for the main character in my latest WIP.

Description: Character X is a young asst. curator at a museum. She has a boyish pixie, is cute and short with curves, and enjoys fashionable pencil skirts, Mary Janes, books about adventure, and tall roguish cable TV hosts with big egos … but she’ll never admit to that last one.

At first, her name was Alana Wendell. I liked this for the feminine flow of the first name, which worked well with the tough, almost working class last name. The sound worked, and there were quite enough syllables to feel right on the tongue (or, the mind’s tongue). But, I didn’t love it. It was a little too ‘floaty’ – a nonsensical term for how I describe a name that’s too girly, too angelic and too innocent.

It’s still a favorite for the position of ‘official name,’ but I’m keeping my options open.

Then, she became Leona Bennette – fierce, strong and interesting first name anchored by a classic, feminine last name. I tried this out at my husband’s suggestion (he’s a tremendous help), but I’m just not feeling it. The first name is too ethnic for a librarian-esque girl who works in a museum. All I can see is a little Italian woman with her gray hair pulled into a tight bun. If I changed the spelling to Liona, that helps a little …

Now, I'm considering Claire Melisandre. It's got the librarian esque first name with a distinct flair of adventure in the last name. But, I'm just not sure. I feel like I might be quoting 'The Breakfast Club' lines while I'm writing.

So, I’m appealing to you all for some help, while also giving away some tips I’ve discovered for naming characters (because, despite what I’m showing here, I’m actually quite good at it and <3 it). Here are my best ones:

– Think of adjectives that describe the person. Write them down, and then look at the list. Maybe a few spark a memory of a girl you once knew, or a guy from a TV show you saw while clicking through the channels. Or, maybe if you’re feeling crazy, you can piece together the adjectives themselves – using letters to form names or maybe parts of the words themselves.

– Watch movie credits. Let your eyes skim the first names – or the last names. Whatever. But you’ll find a ton of interesting monikers you might never have thought of yourself. Also, the Disney/Pixar movies have a fun thing at the very end of the credits called ‘Production Babies,’ which shows all of the babies born during the making of the movie. HUGE wealth of info.

– Visit a graveyard. OK, this is not as morbid as it seems. A few years back I was unfortunate enough to be driving slowly past tombstones in a French-Canadian cemetery, and I was inappropriately struck with a desire to have my notebook.

…Which leads me to my last and best tip:

– Make a list. When you see a great name – someone being interviewed, a name in the news, an email from a PR person at work – make a note of it. Designate a page in the back of your writing notebook (I use the very last page) as a repository of great names. That way, whenever you get stuck, you have a starting point with notes you are giving yourself.

Remember, the name is a huge part of the character. Choose the one that will express something special about your character that you won’t ever have to explain yourself. A perfect name sets the tone, while an imperfect name detracts from it … and could cause a reader to stop reading.

Things I try to avoid:

– Names recently used in popular books. The world doesn’t need another Bella, Hermione, Clary or Juliet. Just. Say. No.

– Anthropomorphic names. Wren is very cool, but I’ll always think of a bird first instead of a hot blond with dreadlocks.

– Names the general populous can’t pronounce out loud. Russian names, while pretty to look at, are hard to read. So are some French names (gasp, mon amour!), Persian names, Irish names, etc. Exotic is great, but think of the poor audio reader who’s going to be reading this aloud.

OK, now that I’ve hopefully helped you, could you help me? Alana Wendell or Liona Bennette or Claire Melisandre – or something else entirely? : ) Do you have another suggestion?

It's an odd form of inspiration, for sure.

If the last few weeks have taught me anything, it’s that I’m not nearly as alone as I thought in the blogosphere. Thus, it stands to reason that I’m also not alone in wanting to wear ADORABLE t-shirts that show (in a clever way, of course) that I enjoy reading and writing.

… Or admitting that I sometimes have to look in strange places to find inspiration when my Muses take a late lunch.

I happen to find most of my inspiration in fashion – odd since I’m not a fashionista. I enjoy thinking about the clothes my characters are wearing and what they say about who my characters are beneath my words. The girl wearing a bold gem-colored jersey dress over crisp dark jeans and her highest heels has a much different personality than the woman in a lemony oxford, hounds-tooth pencil skirt and red patent-leather Mary Janes. Right?

So often it happens like it did today: I’m taking a break from (read: am thoroughly avoiding) editing my latest chapter in my fab WIP and browsing online. I become entranced by a pair of shoes, and a character springs to mind. What would she say? Could she wear these?

And that sets me off to explore more about the character than I otherwise would have given my normal writing schedule.

I was fustzing around on the web the other day (in similar pursuits of inspiration) when I came across this fun blog entry somewhere (I don’t remember where I was!) (please, if it’s yours, let me know and I’ll link!) that asked me to answer questions about my MC. Silly things like, 'What’s in her refrigerator right now?’ and ‘What’s on her movie shelf?’ Anyway, I loved it – what a great way to really get in touch with a character.

…But before I get too deep in the philosophical character-building techniques (it was done better by this mystery blogger I can no longer find, so I’m of no help whatsoever), let’s swing back to *my* main point: T-shirts.

Yes, that’s right. Welcome back :) Here are some of the images that are making me smile today. Also, if you’re in need of inspiration, I find that some of the designs are so clever that they actually get my mind back in writing mode – hence the title of this blog.

(All of these t-shirts are from www.Threadless.com, from which I’ve bought garments numerous times. They are inexpensive, true to size and original enough to garner many compliments. Needless to say, they come highly recommended.)

‘The Best Channel Since 1465’


‘Colorblind’

‘Word!’

‘The Cloud Menagerie’

‘The Woods Belong to Me’

‘Honey Moon’

‘Snow Globe’

‘Polar Gardening’

‘The Flow of Wisdom’

‘Why is an Owl Smart?’

What odd things give YOU inspiration?

A Small, Very Appreciative ‘Thank You’

Twice in the past week, I’ve been given a blog award from two extremely kind and talented writers – Angie Cothran and Laura Barnes. Both ladies are wonderful, and I highly recommend you visit their blogs when you have a free moment.

The ‘Libster Blog’ award is meant to highlight new bloggers and connect the online writing community even more through kindred spirits. You can see my tag displayed proudly along the right column.

While I’m not quite ready to bestow the award myself to five new and worthy candidates (since these ladies already have thoroughly earned Libster Awards of their own!), I just wanted to stop the presses long enough to say a very heartfelt and sincere THANK YOU to these ladies – and to all of you who leave comments and, in general, have made my last few weeks so much fun.

<3 <3 <3 Love, Amber

My humps, my lovely lady humps. Check it out.

OK, so that headline is a BIT of a stretch. But as long as you're tapping along the beat I've had stuck in my head for an hour, we're starting off in the same place.

I've hit a writing hump, and I'm not sure what to do about it: When is it really time to let go of a chapter and move on?

I'm working on a new book, which is totally exciting seeing as how I've finished three and still find myself with more stories to tell. (Isn't that always a big fear – thinking that you might not have any more stories left in you? ... Well, it is for me.) Anyway, I spent weeks outlining the first few chapters, detailing the characters and the multiple plots, and drawing out my clues, romances and philosophies.

And, I'm happy to say that it's paid off. It's about an awesome female anthropologist, Alana Wendall, who can see ghosts, told from the 3rd perspectives of the her, the ghosts and the ghosts when they were human. It's roughly based on a story I was told when I was a child about how my great-great-grandmother came over to the US from Austria when she was a young woman. And, it's SO FUN in the creepy, mysterious way! This particular story, my fourth full-length and third adult-ish novel (because I can see my 114/15-year-old self reading them happily) is two chapters in and shaping up REALLY nicely.

...Except that I'm becoming my own worst enemy. Now that I know what's coming (based on all my studious pre-work work), I've found myself content for the past 2 WEEKS going over ... and over ... and over that second chapter until I pretty much can't tell what I love about it and what I hate about it anymore.

The struggles of being an editor trying to be a writer hasn't always been this difficult. In fact, I ROCK at my revisions. Normally, I write a long passage in a short burst, spend a few days fixing it, then move on and repeat the process. I have gotten stuck like this before – a damaged DVD stuck in pause while I relive the same set of scenes until my eyes blur up and I shut the document in frustration – but this time I'm really struggling to move on.

The beginning is so often the hardest part of the story to write. So many choices are open to us in those first few chapters. Should I introduce this character now, or later? Maybe a hint will do? Should I reveal the romantic inclinations or let it burst on the scene in a few chapters? How much it too much with teasing dialogue before the reader slams the book shut with an exasperated 'OK, sheesh! I get the point!'

There's so much story to tell at the beginning that we often dump it all out there as quickly as we can, figuring we'll sort it all out later on. No, the reader has to know the background. They need to know how much thought I've put into this. Right?

The only solace I'm taking is that every pass through makes this chapter stronger and more defined. But, is this foundation more important that moving forward? Perhaps the strength of the base will lead to stronger chapters later on?

The last issue: I'm not even done writing the chapter yet. GRRR.

I think it's time to forego Fergie and her toe-tapping beats, and set aside some quiet time for myself. Does anyone have any tips on how to move past my humps?

Does anyone have any tips for me?

PS-- Searching for 'my humps' on Bing for a good image = a bad idea.

Your Weekly Editing Tips

The cat's outta the bag. It's only in this writing lark that I moonlight, occasionally query and lose myself in my own worlds.

In the real world, I'm an editor. Not a book editor – a copy, line-by-line, find-your-voice-and-work-it editor who's passion it is to make other people look fabulous. Professionally, I have years of experience working in print and online media for newspapers, magazines, web sites – even elevators. I've (for real) been dubbed the tsarina of style and the queen of commas.

I won't compliment-sandwich you because I know that you need to hear the bad before you can really appreciate the good. This can make me a real pain-in-the-ass to write for, but at least I tell you what's wrong in a helpful way (if not tone) – give an agent/publisher a dirty manuscript and they just won't write you back at all.

...But I'm not that annoying kind of editor who sits back with a red pen (though I do unabashedly use a red pen) and dictates how things should and shouldn't be based on a set of arbitrary rules. I'm the kind who revels in letting the writer find his/her own voice. I love getting into the prose and writing suggestions with 'Is this what you meant to say?' and smiley faces. I love teaching people how to be better within the parameters of their own talent.

I've re-found this purpose recently with Deana's GUTGAA Blogfest (see side panel). Amist worry that I'd run out of constructive things to say with 30+ participating authors with their own ideas – or worse, making enemies with my honest critiques – I found bliss. And redundancy. And some very vibrant writing by very talented authors who simply need to find a willing, dust-free bookshelf.

Thus, I came up with a few tips that I seemed to write on every critique. Enjoy :)

– Adverbs aren't always terrible. I love a well-placed adverb. Constantly trying to replace them is just not a great use of your time. But, if you think you have TOO MANY, I found a blog recently that had a great idea on how to erase them while also making your writing more full: Angie's Adverb Charades. I’m totally going to use this trick myself.

– Be consistent. Want to use a series comma? Fine by me (even though it hurts my head), just make sure you always do it. If you're going to spell something oddly, then the least you can do is *always* spell it that way. You can make your MC totally annoying, and it'll always be OK as long as you do it consistently.

– Know grammar rules. Try to learn a new one every week. Here are a few just to break it down:

     -Capitalize the first letter of every sentence, the proper name of someone and, only when referring to them in dialogue, Mom and Dad. Otherwise, 'my mom and dad' stays lowercased.
     -Repeat after me: COMMAS ARE NOT PAUSES. Do not inject them into sentences because you need a mental pause.
     -Never EVER separate the subject and the verb of a sentence by a comma. You can, though, separate them with non-essential clauses, which are always set off by commas: 'Jack, who never liked fishing, dreaded the annual trip with his dad.
     -Put a comma before the word ‘but.’ Always. Just do it.
     -Finally, properly used commas are like good editors: When you use them, you won’t even notice they’re there. That’s the way they should be – unobtrusive yet completely fulfilling their roles as punctuation marks.

– Make sure your lists are concise, necessary and properly formed. One of the biggest issues I see with writers is that they don't understand the rules of lists. You can only group 'like' things: nouns go with nouns; verbs go with verbs.
     Example: For breakfast, I ate eggs, ham, and toasted a bagel. WRONG-O.
You should be able to take each individual item and refer it back to the start of the sentence: I ate eggs. I ate ham. I ate toasted a bagel. See how that doesn't work? When you're writing a list – even one with only two items – make sure everything matches up.

– Be concise. If you can say something in fewer words, you should.

– Show off your talent with your writing, not your words. I very recently gave this advice to someone. Writers often get caught up in the romance of writing. We all know it’s very exciting, but you don’t have to use huge, flowery words and descriptions to explain something that, in its essence, is simple. I call this ‘literary writing’ – and it’s a NO NO. You should be trying to impress us with the quality of the story, not the words you use to tell it.

Hopefully this was helpful  :) I think I might make this a weekly thing, where I share some of my previous week's finds with you all! Please feel free to add your own, offer up ideas I may have missed or even ask me a question. I really, REALLY love helping. If you'd rather, you can email me straight at amplante@gmail.com and I'll answer it offline.

BlogFest Week4: First 200 words

OK :) In the final week of the 'Gearing Up To Get An Agent Blogfest,' I'm going to post the first 200 words of 'MANAS.' It's a completely bad-ass YA spy/sci-fi adventure, and I'm fiercely proud of it. It's all packaged and ready to sell, I just need an agent willing to take a chance.

Name: Amber Plante

Title: MANAS

Genre: YA sci-fi adventure

Length: 77,000


Here's the pitch:

'Zellie, a prodigy spy with pink hair and a penchant for knitting, is sent to London to acquire Oliver, a smooth hacker with geeky good looks and access to genetics firm Pyxis. Zellie’s link to the ‘Project Manas’ data, hidden within the Pyxis mainframe, sends the pair on a speeding adventure through the bowels of London’s punk underground to romantic Paris streets and murky Venice canals. Can Zellie uncover the missing pieces of ‘Project Manas’ before a rogue agent with murderous intentions catches up?'

Here are the first 200 words. (247, actually -- I didn't want to break up a graph.) (I'm really nervous about this, btw.)

“Any time you’re ready,” I whispered into my headset. “I’m a go on your signal. Of course, I’m comfortable where I am, too, if you’d like to continue taking your sweet-ass time.”

Fifty stories below me, Trey grunted. “Keep your pants on, little one. You’ll get your shot. This isn’t as easy as it looks.”

Through our camtacts – nanobot technology built into contacts – I watched Trey lunge again at the metal backdoor in the subway station. My viewer, attached to my wrist, showed four quadrants with different locations. Each contained a direct link to the rest of my team – Trey, Jace, Marienne and Emerson. Altogether, a deadly quintet.

The reception on Trey’s quadrant fuzzed as he made contact with the rusted metal. “Have you even broken a sweat?” he asked, most of his attention focused on busting down the back door into the building to use as our escape route.

“I am a sniper, not a strong-armed brute,” I said sweetly. I was teasing him, but part of me wanted action, which I wouldn’t get unless something went wrong. Such is the role of the mission lead – boring.

“Never send a woman to do a man’s job.”

“Will you two shut up? You’re interfering with my feed,” Marienne snapped. Our resident hacker, she sat in the café across the street. Through the camtacts, I watched her orange fingernails click across the laptop’s keyboard. “OK, I’m waiting at the gates of the system mainframe. Your word and I’ll get the door.”

Thoughts, critiques, wildly enthusiastic compliments? :) Thank you in advance for every single one (even the mean ones). See you all on the other side of this contest! Good luck, and keep on writing ...

BlogFest Week 3: Query Critique Contest -- PART 2

Hey everyone! Thank you so much for your attention to detail and suggestions! I definitely took them under serious consideration, as you can (hopefully) see below. Here's the latest copy:

Dear [Agent],

[HOOK HERE?]

After having visited your site, I see that you are looking for paranormal romance and adventures, and I’d like to show you GLOW, complete at 80,000 words.

Sundae has accepted her high-society life as a publishing exec, living out her father's dreams while giving up her artistic ambitions. Until, that is, she meets Brendan, a superhero-ish bartender who makes her question her choices. He’s statuesque, strong and confident – and could quite possibly be the first real man Sundae has ever dated.

But he’s not a real man at all. Brendan is an alien sent from another realm to adjudicate whether Earth is worth saving from a dark entity taking over the universe – and that's just the cherry on top. Beneath his human guise, Brendan and his crew must decide whether to allocate the Council’s protective powers – but, in order for Sundae to convince him her world is worth the risk, she must first convince herself.

With a dollop of humor, a drizzle of danger and a sprinkle of sweet-and-salty supporting characters, GLOW is a paranormal romance with depth, adventure and intrigue sure to satiate readers’ appetite for a unique voice and a compelling page-turner.

In addition to years of professional magazine, newspaper and online editing with Gannett-owned Captivate (those cool elevator screens), the Pulitzer-Prize-winning Eagle Tribune Newspaper in Mass., and multi-media technology company TechTarget, I have also published writing in both traditional print and online media.

Attached below is [requested materials], as per your request. I would be honored if you would consider representing GLOW.

Thank you for your consideration and attention,
Amber Plante

As you'll see, I left some things from the original, ditched others and embellished the teaser.
 
Reasons: I do think it's polite to not only show you did research on the agent by looking at his/her site before shooting off an email, but to also thank them for spending the time reading the query. Agents' time and attention are valuable, and not acknowledging their effort seems rude. Also, I like starting with an introduction – again, it's a polite factor – even though I know it's not standard.
 
I'm really hung up on the hook, though. I've never used one before, and I'm not really sure 1.) that I need one with the expanded description and 2.) that I want to be redundant. ... Any suggestions?

Thank you all so much, and good luck with your own queries! :) There's room on bookshelves for us all, and I can't think of nicer people to share them with one day!

BlogFest Week 3: Query Critique Contest

Hi to all my new followers! Let me just take a minute to thank you all -- I don't get many visitors out here on the outskirts of Blogging Land, so your support and attention is much appreciated! I had fun participating in Week 2 festivities!

Moving on, it's Week 3 -- and I'm joining in on the Query Critique contest. Below is a query letter for my 80,000-word adult(-ish) paranormal romance titled GLOW. Please, share your scathing comments -- every mean, honest thing helps get me closer to the perfect query! ... Niceness, though, is always smiled upon :)

Dear [Agent],

After having visited your site, I see that you are looking for paranormal romance and adventures, and I’d like to show you GLOW, complete at 80,000 words.

Sundae is content with her boring life as a publishing exec, living out her father's dreams while her artistic ambitions are all but forgotten. Until, that is, she meets Brendan, a superhero-ish bartender who makes her see her world differently. ... That he's an alien sent from another realm to adjudicate whether Earth is worth saving from a dark entity taking over the universe – well, that's just the cherry on top. Can Brendan make Sundae honor herself in a world so full of hate? Can Sundae convince him that Earth is worth saving?

In addition to years of professional editing, I have extensive experience writing professionally in both traditional print and online media.

Attached below is [requested materials], as per your request. I would be honored if you would consider representing GLOW.

Thank you for your consideration and attention,
Amber Plante

....SO? Thoughts? Comments, feedback? The book is a spectacular romp with surprisingly deep emotions and lots of humor -- and a cast of characters that I really want to be friends with in real life. I've always said (to myself) that this is the best novel I've ever written -- so hopefully I conveyed enough to make an agent want to read it, too!
 
In advance, I love all of you for your help -- it's truly invaluable.
 
PS_- Lora Rivera is a rock star. Whoever wins this prize -- well, you're damn lucky.

The Rocky Tale of Dio Franklin (...my part...)

OK, Web visitors from far and wide, here is my section of the Dio story:

Assignment: Have the MC understand something they didn't before – using the words: Texas, flip flop, argue

Want to see where I pick up the story? Click over to Christina's Writing Buzz.


"What have you done to me?" Roddern asked, his smirk making her cheeks burn. Slowly, the markings on his chest faded. "It's just another trick of the forest. Faeries and Space Leapers don't often get along, so they make sure I'm marked in their territory. C'mon, give me the torch – we have to keep moving."

Dappled moonlight lit a faint path ahead as the pair walked in silence, their breath making little puffs of white though the air was warm.

Something was wriggling in her mind, and it took the better part of a silent hour for it to burst free. When it did, Dio's feet kept moving but her mind came to a screeching halt – the resultant crash sent her flip flops sailing in different directions and left a bloody scrape down her shin.

Too late, a fluffy yellow pillow manifested by her side. "Very funny, Roddern," she muttered as she pushed up from her belly onto her shaky feet. Neither the late gift nor the injury could shake this idea flashing in her mind like a billboard on a Texas turnpike.

Her hands sought the neckline of her shirt. Under the frayed pink cotton spattered with sweat, Dio found the chain of her necklace – the same one she'd worn forever. The silver was cheap, and the setting wasn't exactly pretty, but the real treasure had always been the penny-sized green stone. In sunlight, her namesake crystal glinted like a faceted emerald, but now, under the moonlight, the familiar multi-hued dioptase winked ominously.

As if it were keeping a secret.

Her mother had always said the necklace was special. "Whisper your most precious wishes into it, and the stone will keep them safe until you're ready to make them come true." It had been a sweet lullaby for a precocious little girl who didn't like bedtime, but now Dio wasn't sure.

Had her mother been preparing her for something special? Certainly her silly necklace couldn't be the key to reversing all that had gone so very wrong? ... Could it?

Without arguing the point aloud, Dio knew. She now felt armed against whatever waited for them in the depths of the faerie forest with this – her most secret weapon.

She tucked the pendant back under her shirt. Leaving the fluffy yellow pillow on the forest floor, she gave Roddern a coy smile and began walking again, her barefeet smacking the dirt and her mind set on the task ahead.


Continue the story thread on Jamie Ayers blog.

Want to start from the beginning? Here's Deana Barnhart's list of blogs and assignments – and you can skip formalities and start reading at this chain's first link: Zero At Heart

(PS – Sorry I made this so long. It kinda just took off on me.)

(PPS – I'm on Twitter if you are. @KnitOneWriteToo)

Project: Gearin' Up to Get an Agent

I've recently join a chain of blogs for an event that is geared to help other writers out.

I know, it feels OOC for me, too. Normally, I like to keep to myself (a brief stint at a writer's group notwithstanding). And, it's not that I don't play well with others – far from it, actually – but that I am an editor by trade. It's *my job* to critique others' writing every day ... not to mention the rigors I put myself through when re-reading my latest chapters.

And, while I highly enjoy offering up my services to other authors – helping writers become the best they can be is so rewarding – it's not something I do often for two reasons: 1.) I don't get paid for it and my life is much busier now; and 2.) Well ... as an editor, I don't mince words.

A while ago, I beta-read for a very popular fan fiction site on which I helped would-be authors develop their own voice and point of view ... Of course, this was back before I became an author myself. Being on the receiving end of my own critiques these days, I can't *exactly* say I'm a nice editor. Actually, I'm downright harsh at times. But, I am good. ... At least, that's what I tell myself as I delete 5-page scenes from books I previously cared for with the tenderness of a gardener pruning her prized roses.

Anyway, it's with slightly trepidatious delight that I announce I will be using this blog for a bit to participate in an event with other writers who, like me, want to make themselves better. We really are a community of creative minds who need other creative minds to foster our own success.

Included in the pack? My ex-agent and current friend ... who I've made up with since my last post where I (possibly, unwittingly, underhandedly) wished she'd get squirted in the face with lemon juice. Uh, just kidding, Lora! :) You're a true inspiration and very talented editor, yourself, and I'll always cherish your input!

Check back here for updates, and feel free to also check out the original blog written by Deana Barnhart here.

Lemonade, Here I Come.

It's been said (probably just by me) that happiness and compliments don't show you who you are – to truly test your mettle, you need tough times, setbacks and speed bumps. But before you roll your eyes at this seemingly classic 'the poor life of a struggling writer' mentality, I'm talking more about the blocks that are beyond your control.

In other words, how exactly are you supposed to make a tasty summer beverage when those lemons life gave you keep squirting you in the eye? How can you sweeten up news that sour – and, should you even try? Maybe it's a better lesson for us all to slice up that yellow citrus and, sans sugar, give it a big ol' suck.

Because that face? That puckered-lip Renee-Zellweger face? Is pretty much the mask I've been wearing since my agent last week decided (out of the blue) that she no longer wanted to be an agent anymore. And, in doing so, left me dangling with five open-ended submissions to big-name publishers – one so promising it's been dusting my every thought for the past eight weeks – and no direction in which to turn.

Yeah, that's a pretty bitter lemon. But I'm going to be just fine, and here's why:

In college, I was pre-med. It was short-lived and, despite a thoroughly earned B+ in Organic Chemistry, I tweaked my major into the much more interesting forensic anthropology (just like 'Bones') after two years of tedious memorization, pointless labs and slightly-above-average grades in the core subjects that weren't impressing anyone. Bottom line: My college weeded me out – and thank goodness for it. Not everyone is meant to be a doctor.

Similarly, in the world of writing, there are processes in place to weed out writers who just don't have the disposition to cultivate their natural talent (assuming they have it) while entertaining rejections from up, down, sideways and backward. And you know what? Not everyone is meant to be a writer.

But I am.

It took me two and a half years to revise my novel, find that agent-in-the-rough to take a chance on representing the no one from nowhere – all while working full time, writing two other completed novels, raising two kids and getting a hot, delicious, creative meal on the table for Husband and I to enjoy every night.

My determination to become a successful, published author is stronger than that. Though I deserved not even an inkling of this fate -- I can guarantee you that it's not going to be my fate.

So, I'll take those lemon slices, life – and I'll make the most kick-ass drink you've ever had. I'll call it the Zellie Special ... or the Drew Dew ... or the Sundae Surprise. Because it for damned sure isn't going to taste like something made by someone who gave up when she was close enough to smell the freshly published pages of her first novel.

My mettle is stronger than, well, metal (teehee) and to prove it I've broken ground on my fourth novel as of this weekend.

And you can take that right to the lemonade stand.

PS -- for faster updates to this blog and to keep in touch with my daily thoughts, follow me on twitter: @knitonewritetoo

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Sequel ...

Writing the sequel to my spy novel has been a lot like trying to refuel a plane in mid-air: There are so many things at work simultaneously; one wrong move can lead to a fiery explosion. Or re-write. Whatever.

The characters might be mine, but they think for themselves more than I think for them. I picked out this totally cute outfit for Zellie the other day – a flouncy black skirt, teal tights and shiny red ballet flats – and she dissed me in favor of a black running suit. What a bitch, right? Nah, she’s just being the kick-ass girl I wrote. And still love, no matter how many times she makes me crazy.

Case in point: Chapter One of ‘Nero.’ It’s been nearly two months since I put aside my partial, 60,000-word, almost-done alien love story in favor of the sequel to ‘Manas’ – and I promise you that two months has been spent deciding how to start. I have my adventure, I have my new characters/love interest, I have my clues and subplot and more than 36 pages of random scenes from future chapters. But, that darn beginning had me stumped for 8 solid weeks.

Everything’s OK now; I capped the chapter with a killer one-liner over the long weekend, and I’ve plowed forward at a dizzying pace into Chapter Two. But, I feel the need to examine why in the name of JK Rowling it took me that damn long to write 14 pages, double-spaced.

You see, sequels are funny things – much more so than a regular novel. With a regular novel, you are the master of the world. You make up the rules, dress your characters in clothes and personalities, and make them say anything. (Even if it’s corny and dumb; I’m looking at you, SK). But now … well, those things are already done for me. I’ve been confined to a mold I lovingly created, edited and honed to this ferocious, fast-paced novel, and now I have to navigate my way out of it without writing myself into a stereotyped corner. (I’m looking at you, Friends.)

But, if Zellie has taught me anything it’s this: When one door closes, you have to break out your lock-pick set and brute-force crank that sucker open.

In the two years since creating ‘Manas,’ I’ve changed as a writer. The original ‘finished’ document is similar only in its bones to the beauty now being submitted to publishers. What used to take me 5 or 6 drafts (spaced months apart) has translated into 3 drafts written under a much shorter time frame. I’m honing my craft and impressing my husband along the way.

So, what’s the hard part? The recap. If you’ve ever picked up a sequel, you know what I’m talking about. There are plot points introduced (and lived) in the first novel that the reader needs to be reminded of before the sequel can really begin. And, what about those poor people who picked up No. 2 first? They need to know what’s going on if they’re keeping pace – and, with my Zellie novels, that’s dizzying even when you know what’s going on.

It’s all about distilling relevant information – much like a real spy would, actually. You have to think ahead and realize that this chapter will most likely evolve the deeper you get into the story. Be OK that your first draft (no matter how many goosebumps it gives you) is a *first draft* and will only get better.

Keep moving forward, and I’ll see you back here soon! ; - )

Meet My Newest Tricks and Treats

Halloween is almost here, and while I dread passing out my 3 Musketeers Dark Chocolate Mint bars to all the adorable princess and superheroes (who just won't experience the same enjoyment from those little minty pillows of heaven as your truly), I would like to tell you a real a scary story ...

Imagine, if you will, a girl. She's quirky, cute and highly opinionated. One day, she decides to can it with her snark and try her hand at writing a book -- after all, she can't keep saying 'I could've written that better' when she'd yet to actually try.

So, she writes cet book – and it's not half bad. In fact, it's *so* not half bad that, after 18 nauseating months of cold email attempts (with some shudderingly horrible rejections), she secures an fabulous agent to represent this book to publishers.

(Cue angelic music as sunshine bursts through the clouds.)

But, here's where this story gets scary. Our girl must face down the dreaded nemesis of .... HER OWN IMAGE! Dun-dun-duuuuh!

..... OK. Let's pretend that wasn't so thinly veiled as I reveal this pink-haired lass is in fact me. The climax, though, is absolute fact: I don't know what the hell to do with myself now that I'm sorta kinda half-way to being a published author.

Here's hoping a few paragraphs explaining what I feel has become my MANIACALLY large ego clears up the confusion. But first, from where does all this scary proselytizing stem? Actually, a very happy announcement:

(Cue confetti bursting from cannons in a shower of brilliant, sparkly paper bits.)



MY NEW WEBSITE IS LIVE. http://www.amberplante.com/ is totally open to your viewing pleasure! My fabulous web designer, Shawn Koczarski, has come up with an elegant, playful and clean design that I will be filling with delicious little bits of info about me in the coming months – including playlists of songs that have inspired me, my favorite quotes and, of course, this blog on the homepage.

But back to my slightly awkward explanation: I'm not an expert when it comes to Facebook and Twitter. In fact, as recently as a month ago I was publicly (and professionally) denouncing 'tweeting' as the second coming of the apocalypse. My teetering with social media most likely stems from the fact that I'm shy.

GASP!

No really, I am. I've always prided myself on my ability to exist quite happily *not* in the spotlight. So, imagine the unbelievable burst of pink satin HORROR when I realized there is this whole PROMOTING thing you have to do when you want to be a successful author!

Think I'm being dramatic? Have YOU ever created your own fan page on Facebook and had to have your personal site 'like' your professional one? Have YOU ever created a Twitter feed whilst weighing the simply unbelievable notion that people are going to want to read your posts? Have YOU ever carefully considered how to craft and propagate a professional image for a profession you don't even have yet?

Then back off and let me apologize for seeming like a ego-maniac who is CLEARLY tooting a very large horn that she hasn't quite learned to play.

However, please don't confuse this personality trait with any lack of confidence or arrogance on my part. I'm a true triple writing threat: I'm cute and marketable, I'm clever and intelligent, and I can write better than most people can think. So there.

... I just don't know what the hell I'm doing. :-D And, it's kinda fun being so low on totem pole, knowing that one day I'll look down at these days and think, 'You were such a n00b back then.'

Because, *trust me*: I know I am.

Drive slow and have a safe Halloween with all your tricks and treats ... and here's hoping you enjoy mine!

Two years ago this week ...

... I decided I was going to write a novel. I'd always thought the idea was intimidating -- worth bragging about, for sure -- but YIKES. Talk about a daunting project, but I was determined to prove to myself that I could do this. I'd read too many poorly executed books, and said too many times, 'I could have written that better.' Well, here was my chance.

I started with an empty paper sack and tossed in everything I love to read about: hackers, knitting, pink hair, adventures, European travel, British accents, geeks, romance, genetics ... I figured if I was going to put in the time and effort to write a book, I was going to make the process totally fun and, at the least, create something that I was proud of.

Six months (and many personal revelations) later, the rough 'dirty stone' (as Naomi Campbell refers to them) was 90,000 words of a mess, but it was my first finished novel and I loved it. I even went out and got fucshia highlights like Zellie in my hair to celebrate.

Without wasting a beat, I started in on ARCANE, my second novel, and five months later had completed that one as well.

... But MANAS fought it's way back to the foreground of my brain again. Now, knowing a little more of what I was doing re:writing, I retackled the novel, cutting 15,000 and adding back in another 10,000. I reworked passages so they read more smoothly and polished. Then, I gave it to very dear and very honest friend who ripped it to shreds -- and I actually found that I appreciated the criticism. Who was I becoming? I read, revised and edited until my eyes just couldn't take any more.

That fall, I gifted copies of the book to family -- they loved it, but once again I found I was unhappy with the final product. MANAS needed something, but not before I started my third novel (and current WIP) GLOW.

This spring, while taking a break from GLOW's Sundae and Brendan, the MANAS bug hit me again. I woke up one morning and realized I'd just dreamed up the opening to the sequel -- which means that my heroine, Zellie, had more story to tell. It then became my job to make sure her first story was the best I could make it. I read and re-read, and eventually subjected myself to the possibility of another heinous review from my friend. Thankfully, this time around, she loved it.

So, now it was time to show the new and improved MANAS off a little. Agents were contacted, copies were requested and here we are, back at present day.

I'm not sure exactly where this little-book-that-could is going to take me in the future, but I can tell you that it all started two years ago this week.