Don't Freak Out, Just Read

As writers, we're allowed a moderate amount of neuroses. If stereotypes are to be believed, we're all just one glass of wine and an eccentric hat away from Bedlam anyway. What non-writer don't always understand, however, are the things that actually make us nuts. We can give ourselves ulcers, just debating whether or not to use an Oxford comma. (For the record, I'm #TeamOxComma.)

Personally, I've been spending a ridiculous amount of time lately thinking about transitions. Transitions from one chapter to another. Transitions from scene to scene. I've even been musing on transitioning my characters from ballroom to garden. They've just been feeling so unnatural lately.

I can only freak out for so long. Eventually, it starts making my left eye go all twitchy. That is not a good look for me. So, I read.


This time, I read the Curse Workers series by Holly Black. She's the queen of efficient prose and quick pacing. These books read like an urban fantasy homage to 1940s detective novels. Even better for this situation? They're full of brilliant transitions. Studying a master is like its own little mini-course in writing, don't you think? After a week immersed in Black's works, I felt worlds better about transitions. It was much easier to see where I was going wrong, in comparison.

This isn't the first time I've read a favorite writer for study.When I first started seriously writing, I would go through my favorite books and mark them up. They looked just like my old AP US History book - all highlighted passages and scribbled little margin notes. After all this time, I now have a favorite author or two, for each area of writing.

Setting: Deanna Raybourn, Libba Bray
Pacing: Lisa Lutz, Ally Carter
Dialogue: Julia Quinn
Characterization: John Green

I swear, these authors should get paid tuition, for how often I've sought their help.  It's amazing what a little close reading can do. Who would've thought it? My high school English teacher would be so proud.

Do you study your favorite authors? What are some books you go to, when you need a little jolt of craft inspiration?

Hello, Stranger!

Hello there, blog dear. It's been a long time.

Somewhere along the way, I stopped blogging about writing. I have been blogging about fashion & sewing, if it's any consolation. It wasn't you, it was me. It's just really hard to blog about writing, when you should be writing instead. Also - fun fact! - trying to get the letters "Dr." in front of your name is not conducive to maintaining a web presence.

Or a social life. Be warned, future students. 

Yet, here I am. Back in black pink! What could propel me from my blogging hibernation? Well, something very exciting. Something very, very, very exciting. Something that makes me feel like singing this song for days on end:

Oh, Glee. Is there any emotion you can't express for former choir nerds?

So, what happened, darling blog? This morning, I received a phone call saying...

THE SUSPICIONS OF CAIRO JONES is a 2012 Golden Heart^® Finalist!! 

That sound you heard was my head exploding, yes. Because, let's be real here, what just happened? I've actually had to check the website a dozen times this morning, just to make sure it's not a studying-induced hallucination. This happens to other people. Less ridiculous, more with-it people. People who actually make the recipes they pin on Pinterest. People who have not been in a writing slump of epic proportions these past few months. That said slump was brought on by actual real life complications is irrelevant. Real writers don't let slumps happen! Just don't tell RWA^® that, okay? I'm really excited about this. Blog, I'm already plotting what to wear. (Early 60's Mad Men inspiration, perhaps?)

What makes this even better is that one of my favorite fellow writers in all the world, Terri Osburn, is also nominated for a Golden Heart^® for her Contemporary Single Title. If you do one thing today, make sure it's congratulating Terri! A lovelier person couldn't have been nominated. She rocks. 

So, it looks like you and I may be seeing more of each other, blog. Hopefully, you're as excited about that as I am. I can't promise many writing-centric posts though. Downton Abbey gossip, however, is guaranteed. 

Congratulations to all of the 2012 Golden Heart^® and RITA^® nominees! You are all amazing! Cake for everyone!

The Typos Of Death

You write a book. You polish said book. You read said book 1003 times. Then, you make your best friend, mother, the cute guy at Starbucks, your fluffy white dog, and anyone else you can find also read the book.

So, it's perfect, right? Obviously, those passes took care of every little missed word or typo. That's why we do these passes, so everything is shiny, new, and error-free.

Or so you hope. If you're like me, this is the actual series of events:

1. Write your manuscript.
2. Obsessively edit it for months and months, not even letting your little sister or best friend take a peak.
3. Edit some more.
4. Finally let people read the book! Or, pieces of the book, anyway.
5. Edit a bit more.
6. Decide to enter a prestigious contest that you've always dreamed of winning!
7. Edit the book some more.
8. Read the book out loud to yourself, just in case the ridiculous editing didn't work.
   
9. Enter the contest, smug in the knowledge that after your crazed, excessive amounts of editing your pages are perfect.
10. Send the manuscript off to an agent whom you respect & admire. An agent who you would absolutely kill to work with, as long as the person whom you did in were really, really bad. An agent who has, miraculously, shown an interest in your work and whom you are very nervous about disillusioning.
    
11. Twiddle your fingers.
12. Decide to look over the manuscript one last time.
13. Find out that you: Forgot to change the name of a Very Important Thing in Chapter One, were fooled by automatic word replacement into committing a typo (Are, instead of at? Really Word?), Forgot to change the name of Another Very Important Thing in Chapter Three.

*watch dreams of contest win go up in smoke*
*try to resist e-mailing amazing agent with slightly revised copy, w/o the errors*
*die in fiery explosion of embarrassment*


So, typos happen to everyone, right? ...Right?

This Is War

[NaNoWriMo 2010: Day Two]

It's the second day of NaNoWriMo and I sincerely hope your word count is faring better than mine. After a few weeks of not writing, I'm finding it really difficult to get back into the groove.

But it's only the second day. Remember that hell or high water resolution? That's the spirit of today's soundtrack pick. Also, I just love any excuse to listen to fellow Austinite, Ben Kweller.



[As you've no doubt realized, this is not the official video for "This is War," but how could I pass up a mix of Ben Kweller AND Harry Potter? I couldn't, obviously.]

Don't Rain On My Parade

[NaNoWriMo Day One]

Happy November, everyone!

Okay, obviously what I really mean here is: HAPPY NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH, EVERYONE! Are you participating in the madness of NaNo this year?

I am. Again. Only, this time? I'm winning - come Hell, high water, or turkey-induced comas. To that effect, I have a secret weapon: a NaNo soundtrack.

Why I've never done this with NaNo is anyone's guess. For years, I've made soundtracks for everything from novels to major tests to sitting in traffic. Music is exceptionally helpful for getting inspired or letting loose emotions. Writing a book in a month calls for aid with both of those things. So, day by day, I'm picking one song that most sums up the particular joys or stresses NaNo is throwing at us.

Today's song is cheating a bit, I must admit. It's my general theme song for life - writing or otherwise. I dare you to find a more inspiring get-up-and-do-something-amazing song. 50,000 words in one month? Pretty damn amazing.

[I know it's heresy, but I do slightly prefer Lea Michele's version to Barbra's.]