Misc.

May 18

Let me preface by saying that the members of said pretentious book club called themselves a pretentious book club. Sadly, they waited to inform me of this until after I had joined. But let me back track.

A friend asked me to join a book club and I thought this seemed like a good idea. Why not expand my reading horizons? Not only would it help me as a writer, but it would also help introduce me to books I didn’t know existed. Just because I spend most of my time reading YA and MG doesn’t mean that’s all I read or all I want to read. Those just happen to be the books I most enjoy. So I set aside my YA dystopian obsession and my MG fantasy crush and picked up some good old fashioned grown up lit.

In the second book club meeting, we were trying to choose a new book. It was suggested that we pick something where stuff happens since books are supposed to be enjoyable (nothing happened in books 1 and 2). So I decided to offer up a suggestion. I was pretty sure YA would be rejected, but hey, I was there to venture out. I know some grown up books. I suggested The Help. It’s been sitting on my bookshelf for over a year and I just haven’t gotten around to reading it even though I really want to. And you know what the response was? A big fat No. Apparently this is a book club where they do not read books endorsed by Oprah, they do not read books that have been or will be turned into a movie, and they definitely do not read books people read on the T (that’s the subway for you non-Bostonians).

This seemed very close-minded to me. For starters, what about the classics that have been turned into movies time and time again? Are those not worth reading? And aren’t books generally popular because they are good? Now, I’m never one for jumping on the bandwagon. I resisted Harry Potter with everything I had until I decided to read it so that I could revolt against it intelligently. And you know what I discovered? The books were great. People liked them for a reason. They may not be high brow literature, but this series certainly had a huge effect on entire generations of readers and writers. But should we just ignore these books because they became a movie and a franchise and topped several best seller lists? I vote no.

I guess what this really shows is that there are two types of readers. There are those who read to get lost in a great story and there are those who read to be pretentious. OK, maybe I’m oversimplifying this, but if you are not willing to explore all that literature has to offer, if you are going to set such ridiculous standards on what you will and won’t read, are you really enjoying the books, or are you more interested in what you think the books say about you?

May 03

Today’s my birthday, which means it’s time to evaluate what all I accomplished last year. So here goes.

Published 100 blog posts

If my calculations are correct, this is blog post 101 for the past year. That seems almost as big as a birthday. Now if only I could get my subscribers that high…

My Middle Grade Plant Book

I almost finished the first book in the series, only to realize there were some plot issues. I set it aside and vowed to return when I was ready. I returned to the WIP last night, and I’ve got to say, the time apart was good. I’m falling in love with it all over again. Hopefully this love will continue as I work through the edits.

My YA Dystopian Book

This is probably my greatest achievement of the year. I actually wrote an entire first draft, start to finish. Of course, the plot has some issues and the writing is not where I want it yet. I’ve decided to set it aside while I return to my MG book. This book and I need a little space. But one of my goals for the year was to finish a first draft, and I did.

I won NaNoWriMo

That’s write, I wrote 50,000+ words in 1 month. And one of the shorter months at that.

I read, but not as much as I’d like to have read

Over the past year I read around 50 or so books. This year I’m aiming for 100. Ambitious, I know. We’ll just have to see what happens.

Redesigned my website

Web design is something I really wanted to get more involved in, and after successfully completing a web design class as a continuing ed student, I redesigned my site. If anyone has any questions about custom designing a wordpress blog, feel free to ask. I’m more than willing to share the information I got from countless hours spent yelling at the computer.

I ran a 5k and got engaged

OK, the 5k was one of my secret goals. I used to run and I wanted to make sure I wasn’t ignoring my health to write. Getting engaged was just a happy bonus.

Goals for the next year

It wouldn’t be my birthday if I didn’t come up with my goals for the next year. So here goes:

Submit a manuscript to an agent
Get an agent
Get signed with a publisher
Finish another manuscript and start soliciting it
Read 100 books
Run a 10k (yup, that’s right, 6.2 miles)
Win NaNoWriMo for the second year in a row
Have an amazing year spent doing more of the things I love and less of the things I don’t love

So can I achieve my goals for the coming year? You’ll have to keep checking back in to find out.

Mar 30

Meditation is all about clearing the mind and focusing your thoughts. So does it have a place in a writer’s toolbox?

The other night I was having dinner with an acquaintance who spent the last 7 months traveling around the world. He was telling me about this 10-day meditation retreat he did in Tibet. And what he got from the retreat? He said it made him a better (faster) computer programmer because he learned how to focus his mind.

This got me thinking. When I sit down to write, I often find my mind wandering every which way. That’s the curse of our super connected, internet-crazed society. There’s so much going on you don’t know where to look. So would meditation help me to stay focused on my writing? Or would meditation actually be a hindrance?

When I write, I have to let my mind wander. That is part of the creative process. I wander in and out of the plot, pulling at bits that work and don’t work. But I also feel my mind drifting to things like what to make for dinner or how nice the sky looks today or what will happen next in that book I’m reading.

I’ve decided to try an experiment. For the next month, I will devote time every day to meditation. Originally I thought I would do it before falling asleep, but that’s when I do my best brainstorming. Instead I will do it after work – a nice way to calm me down. Of course, since I don’t really know how to meditate, this might be slow going and I may need more than a month. But a month seems pretty doable. Being as I am in the editing stage of my writing, the part I always dread, this might actually be the best time to give this experiment a try. What do you think? Do you use meditation to help your writing? Or do you think writers should have minds full of ideas circling all around competing for attention?

Feb 07

A few weeks ago I read in a woman’s magazine (not sure which one) that it takes 66 days to make something a habit. The article was talking more about dieting, or exercising, or flossing your teeth. But in reading it, I couldn’t help but wonder if writing couldn’t also be applied to this.

I know I’ve talked about 750words.com before. Since my last post on the subject, I’ve been using it a lot – I’ve entered almost 20,000 words into the site. And I’ve got to say, it’s growing on me.

Making Writing a Daily Habit

Since February is the shortest month of the year, I decided to join the 750words.com 1-month challenge, where I will write 750 words a day for the entire month. I figure if I succeed, I will have reached day 28 in the 66 days needed to form a habit. And once I’ve hit my 28th day, what’s to stop me from writing for 38 more days? And if I manage to do this, will I have succeeded in making writing a daily habit? I hope so.

So far I am on day 7. Not long, I know. But I already feel the need to sit down and get my writing done. And it really is surprising how fast it is to write 750 words. My best time, earning me the Speedy Typist badge, is 12 minutes, but I average closer to 15. In 15 minutes a day, I can write 750+ words. Not too shabby.

My 750 words are not stellar, I know this. But I’m still on the rough draft stage of my book (and I’m almost done). My only concern with the 1-month challenge is that I will finish my first draft before the month is over. But then, is this really a bad thing?

Do you think I can finish the challenge? Do you think I can turn daily writing into a habit? Have you turned daily writing into a habit? How do you fit your writing time in? Is 15 minutes a day enough time? Or do you need more time to write a first draft?

Jan 12

What makes an ideal writing space? I’ve been thinking about this for a while because, until this weekend, I have been without one.

This weekend, I finally got to create my own writing space. No more sharing a desk with the boyfriend. No more being forced to write on the sofa, or the other sofa, or in bed. Finally, after almost a year, I got my own desk (or second desk since the one we were sharing is technically my desk).

What makes the perfect writing space?

Everyone is different. This is a very personal thing. Some people write best in crowded coffee shops late at night. Others find inspiration while listening to music or starting at 5 in the morning or staring at a television. For me, I work best when I’m in a familiar, distraction free place.

But I also need a space that inspires me.

What’s in my new writer’s space?

A desk that is just the right size – I needed enough room for my computer and a notebook. If it’s too big, I’ll just cover it with distractions. Too small, and I will feel cramped and uncomfortable
A drawer – a drawer is key. I need to be able to stash stuff away. Out of sight = Out of mind
Writing books – Last year I found these amazing bookends. They’ve been hidden away in my bookshelf, but now they are out on display, cradling my writing books. Seeing my writing books while I write helps inspire me
Natural light – I need natural light or I feel like I need to go elsewhere to find it
A comfortable chair – I’m still looking for the perfect chair, but for now, a chair from the dining room table will just have to do.
I’m also thinking about a bulletin board for posting ideas, but this might become too distracting.

Other than that, I’m pretty easy going in regards to what I need. Because when it really comes down to it, all you really need is an idea, a little bit of skill, tons of patience and persistence, and something to write the story on, whether its pen and paper, a typewriter, or a computer.

What goes into your writing space? Do you have certain things you need? Do you enjoy a stark space or do you prefer a busier one? Or are you one of those lucky people that can write anywhere?

My perfect writing space

Dec 23

With the holidays rapidly approaching (or having already passed depending on your religious affiliations), I’ve heard a lot of talk lately about eReaders. Mostly, the talk has revolved around people wanting to know which one is the best.

Like with a computer or a car or a mattress, I don’t think there is one BEST e-reader. It all comes down to what you hope to gain from your e-reader.

As you may have picked up, I love my Kindle. I got it last year for Christmas and I have not once regretted asking for it. I also have some experience with the iPad. As you prepare your holiday wish lists, I thought, why not provide my opinion on these two devices as well as some feedback I’ve picked up regarding the Nook.

The Kindle

Again, I love my Kindle. To understand my love for it, though, you need to understand why I wanted it.

I don’t want to have to take lots of books with me on travel, or lug a heavy book on my commute to work. The Kindle lets me store tons of books, meaning I only have to carry the relatively light-weight kindle. I save on space and I save my shoulder.
My bookshelf is out of space. I tried to solve this problem by making myself go to the library. But let’s be honest. Sometimes I just don’t want to wait the 6+months it can take for a new release to become available. When I see that I’m #200+ on the wait list, I usually decide not to wait. The Kindle allows me to give into my impatience without overloading my already loaded bookshelf
Sometimes you find yourself in a position where you are not happy with your book choice, be it over your lunch break, during your commute, or when you are away on vacation. Because I can store all of my books on the Kindle and I can buy new ones in seconds, this is no longer a problem.
I don’t like reading on a computer screen. The technology the Kindle uses really does feel to my eyes like I’m reading paper.

The Kindle has answered all of the things on my list. I see the Kindle as a true e-reader. It doesn’t have tons of frills, but then again, neither does a newly purchased book from the bookstore. If you are looking for a solution to any of the problems I mentioned above, then this is the e-reader for you.

The iPad

When I think of the iPad, I do not think eReader. However, if you talk to my stepfather, he will try to convince you that reading books is one of the main selling points of the iPad. What do I think about the iPad as an eReader:

The back light gives me a headache if I read too long.
The back light also encourages skimming. Because it doesn’t feel like paper, I find myself reading how I would read a computer screen. I skip over sections and skim a LOT.
The screen gets gucked up. Because you touch the screen, it becomes littered with fingermarks. I want a nice clean screen to read from.

And what do I think of the iPad as a whole:

As an alternate laptop, the iPad is great. It is lightweight and small and can do more or less everything a laptop can do, unless you are looking for gaming capabilities (and by this I mean the old school massive games like World of Warcraft or the Sims) or have a fascination with Flash heavy websites
The internet is a lot better than the Kindle’s internet capabilities
If you get a portable keyboard, typing on the iPad is a cinch

To sum it up, if you are looking for an eReader, I say go for the Kindle. If you are looking for an alternate option for a portable computer, the iPad just might be your best friend. Of course, there are tons of other options out there, but I don’t feel qualified to comment on them.

What do you think of other eReaders you’ve checked out? Are you asking Santa for an eReader this year?

Nov 30

Phew. The last day of November. I just uploaded my 50K+ words to NaNoWriMo and received my winner badge. And now I can get back to a regular blogging schedule.

Since I’ve been a bit awol as of late, I thought I’d give a little summary of the things you’ve missed during the writing marathon I just underwent. So here goes:

I decided on the new design for my website. It should be up and running by the end of the year. Can you guess which design I went with?
I saw the new Harry Potter Movie. Review to follow, but just as a teaser, I was pretty impressed and now I feel like I have to reread the book. More on that though.
My work started blogging. Ok, I started blogging for work, but I’m roping in some additional authors from around the archaeology lab. If you have ever wondered what a real life museum person/archaeologist does, you should check out the NMSC Archeology Blog. It will also give you some insight into what I do when I’m not writing.
I went home for the first time in 2 years and met my niece for the first time (she’s 2 in February). I also saw my almost 4 year old nephew. Not only are they super cute, but they reminded me about the little things kids find fascinating.
I’ve read a lot. Hard to believe with all the writing, I know, but this month I’ve read: Magic Bites, Ilona Andrews; The Summoning, Kelley Armstrong; The Awakening, Kelley Armstrong; & The Angel Experiment, James Patterson. I’m currently reading The Duff, Kody Keplinger and School’s Out-Forever, James Patterson. As of this afternoon I will also be adding Matched, Ally Condie to my reading list, which came out today. So I’ve been busy and am now way behind on book reviews, but before you know it, I’ll be all caught up, I promise.
And, my biggest achievement – I finished NaNoWriMo! My first draft is not finished, but I’ve made pretty good progress. And, now that NaNo is over, it means I can return to my other WIP. The away time has been good and I’m ready to dive back in and get that sucker ready to go.

It’s been a busy month and I won’t lie. I’m kind of happy to see it come to a close. How was your November? Any exciting things happen? Did you catch any good books or movies? Come up with a new idea for a book? Any big plans for December in preparation for the start of another new year?

Nov 16

We have reached the second half of November. And you know what that means besides turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie and my mom’s birthday? It means that NaNoWriMo is half over!

The good news for me is that I am actually on schedule this year. Scratch that. I’m ahead of schedule. When I went to bed last night, I was at 34,365 words, well over halfway to 50,000. Of course, the bad news is that NaNo has made blogging a little more difficult. But that’s actually a good thing because there’s no point in building a platform if you’ve got nothing to show for it (i.e. a book).

I know that some of my 34,365 words are duds, destined to be erased, but isn’t that the nature of a first draft? To spew everything out of your head onto paper? At least that’s what NaNoWriMo is about. And so far, it’s working. By getting everything down, I am able to clear my head. I already know some of the bits that will get cut in my next draft, but in the spirit of NaNo, I’m not cutting yet. I’m going to finish my first draft and then we can talk about the second draft.

So why is it that I can suddenly get my story down?

Part of it is discipline. The discipline of NaNo is something I’m benefiting from and something I’m hoping to be able to take with me into the coming months. I think the other part of it is keeping my focusing, working hard to get my story down in full before it starts slipping away, before I start losing momentum. With my other work-in-progress, I dragged it out, allowing doubt to seep in.

The other part of it was my planning. While I’ve deviated from the outline in some aspects, the general outline has not changed. I know where my story is going and how to get there. I think this is key.

How are you doing with the NaNoWriMo challenge? Are you on track? What’s working for you and what isn’t? And, if you haven’t donated to NaNo this year, what are you waiting for?

Nov 10

Yesterday morning I was heading to work on the T (the subway, for all you non-Bostonians), reading the Metro and I saw a story about Jeff Kinney. I am sure you can imagine my surprise and joy. To see a writer of kids’ books featured in the subway paper that usually displays stories about corrupt politicians, murders, and the Boston Red Sox made me feel like kidlit is truly on the rise.

The story was not long, but what it lacked in stature, it made up for in impact. The article looked at Jeff Kinney’s career, at the struggles he had trying to make it as an illustrator. It also looked at the struggles he still has. And I found it inspiring.

Jeff Kinney did what many author’s today are doing. He turned to electronic media, in his case a website, to pave his way, to create his own audience. And it paid off.

But what I also liked was that Jeff Kinney admitted that writing is hard. So often I hear stories of the writers who can complete a book in a few months. While this is encouraging, it can also become frustrating since I’m not yet at that level. To read that it takes him 9 months and that he doesn’t always find it easy to come up with his jokes was refreshing.

As an author, how are you paving your way? Do you have any special tricks? If you’re still trying to find your way, try checking out this article, 17 Ways for Writers to Publish their Content for some ideas. And which do you find more inspiring: authors who can crank out content or authors who are a bit slower?

Nov 07

One thing that has been bothering me while trying to redesign my site is audience. Who is my site intended for? Future fans? Other writers? Agents and Publishers?

The Elements of Web Design

In designing a site, there are two things you need to consider: function and audience. We covered function in the last post, but here’s a recap since it’s been a while. The point/function of the site is to create an online presence that should be professional while also showing my personality as a writer. Ideally it will be something I can build off of once I am a published writer.
So what about audience? Since the main feature of my site right now is my blog, that would suggest that my main audience is other writers and maybe (one can hope) agents and publishers. But I don’t want to design a site that will become obsolete once I have something ready to submit and then ready to publish. So I would like to create a site that is also accessible to agents, publishers, and future fans.

Mock-ups: The Building Block of a Successful Design

In thinking about the audience, I have come up with some mock-ups, or sample designs. To create these, I used Photoshop and made a sample web page. The purpose of a mock-up is to provide a sense of what the site would look like – how the colors and images and layout will all work together. Creating a mock-up saves time and gives you samples to run by other people. In this case, I decided to share my mock-ups with my current audience (yes, that would be you) and see what you think. Let me know which is your favorite or if you hate them all. If you do hate them all or if something bothers you about any of them, please let me know. I won’t be offended and you will reap the benefits by getting to visiting a site that is aesthetically pleasing.

Mock-up 1

This Mock-up uses the blog as the home page. The stars and font add a playful, whimsical element to the website.

Mock-up 2

The second Mock-up aims for a more professional, but still fun feel. The colors are a bit more serious and the graphics are a bit more mature.

Mock-up 3

The final mock-up uses a true Home page. I haven't decided if the boxes will contain text excerpts from the pages or graphics or a combination.

And here's an example of the blog. The other pages would incorporate the color from their home page blocks.

Page 2

Attack of the book snobs – a.k.a. in which I accidentally join a Pretentious Book Club

It’s my birthday! So what’d I do with the past year?

Published 100 blog posts

My Middle Grade Plant Book

My YA Dystopian Book

I won NaNoWriMo

I read, but not as much as I’d like to have read

Redesigned my website

I ran a 5k and got engaged

Goals for the next year

Can meditation make you a better writer? – The Meditation Experiment

750 words revisited – making writing a habit

Making Writing a Daily Habit

Creating a Writer’s Space

What makes the perfect writing space?

Choosing an eReader

The Kindle

The iPad

November Roundup

NaNoWriMo has reached the half way point – where do you stand?