Two Years On

I've wanted to be a writer since I knew what a writer was. That said, for most of my twenties, I packed the dream up and put it on a shelf. I wasn't interested in going after the dream, because it felt silly. Also, because I felt there was no way I could handle the stress of being published, and being "out there".

Well, two years ago, that all changed. It's almost as if my fairy godmother visited me overnight and whacked me upside the head with her magic wand. I changed everything about my writing process. Before, I would only want to have one draft. I would agonize over one chapter until ever sentence was perfect, and once it was done, I could finally move on. I also had a horrible time with others reading my work. I remember sitting in a college English class, and being paired up to critique each other's work. My partner said my story was amazing, and went on for a couple minutes, and then added on one thing he didn't like. You can bet I only remember the one thing he didn't like. If I couldn't handle that sort of criticism, how could I handle thousands of people reading my book?

But two years ago, I had a really good idea for a book, and while that book will never be published, it was the one that changed everything. I spent most of 2010 practicing, 2011 growing as a writer, and learning to take criticism from my first readers.

I didn't get the answer to everything overnight. I know I will still have a hard time being out there, for my name being a subject of Google searches, and my book the subject of reviews. That said, I continue to learn, from authors that have already achieved my dream. I'm strong enough to take it. Two years ago, I might not have realized that.

Not all writers need this time. Some can write a manuscript in two months, revise it in another three, query and get published all in a small amount of time. That's great for them, but not for me. I needed the time to work on my craft, but more importantly, work on building up the toughness of my skin. Prepare to understand that when people point out flaws in my work, it's to help, not hurt, and ultimately, that rejection won't kill me.

It's a long journey, and I'm not there, but a hell of a lot closer than I was two years ago.

How long have you been working to get published?

Tune In Tuesday (18)

Each week I participate in Tune in Tuesday, hosted by GReads!

So, there are some songs that I probably wouldn't be as into if I wasn't a writer of young adult fiction. I first heard this song when I was plotting my novel Anna Begins and it screamed that story. So much that I bought it immediately and listened to it over and over again while plotting.

Writing on More Than One Computer

I've been writing on more than one computer for some time now. Back when I had a job that was only slightly more interesting than watching paint dry, I would write stories for my own enjoyment. I put everything on my USB drive at the end of the day and carried it home with me.

Now, I do most of my writing on my trusty iMac, but for Christmas, I finally had enough money to buy my own Macbook Air. Why do I need both?

Well, you know the answer to this question. I don't. But, I will say a big reason was that I can only spend so many hours sitting in a desk chair before my back and other extremities start to ache. I used to call it a day at that point. Now, I give myself a break, and come back to writing later in the night on my Macbook. I sit on the couch with my cushions, pillows and laptop stand. It's WAY more comfortable for me. I also have portability, I can write in the car, (not when I'm driving, obvs) or when I'm traveling.

Before I got my computer, I checked a few things. The first was that Scrivener has an open license and I could put a copy on my laptop without paying again (yay!) then I researched the best way to write the same story on two computers.

The answer? Dropbox. It syncs my novel as I write, and it's just worry-free. I've only run into one brief period of downtime, but it lasted less than an hour. Long gone are the days of the USB drive, my friends!

Do you write on multiple computers?

What's Your Writing Speed?

Source

When I started writing, I was a 'pantser'. I had a general idea of my story, but I usually figured out as I went along. I'm still somewhat of a pantser, but now I'm an outliner. I can't live without my little note cards in Scrivener, and I plot out every chapter before I write. My inner pantser still lives, because major things usually do change along the way, though.

Now when I sit down to write, I have a general idea of what needs to be accomplished, and generally, I can type out a chapter in about 40 minutes. My chapters are on the short side, usually between 1,500 and 2,000 words, sometimes longer. I usually spend the forty minutes typing, then a further fifteen reading it over for clarity and typos. I don't set daily word counts, I set chapter goals. Once in awhile I'll write a partial chapter, but for the most part I write chapter to chapter.

Because I work this way, it usually means I spend longer revising, which is okay. I like getting a rough draft and adding and subtracting to it through several drafts. My style would probably drive some writers nuts!

What's your writing speed?

Don't Breathe a Word Tour Wrap-Up

The Don't Breathe a Word Tour is wrapping up, but it's not quite over. Here are the contest winners!

Indigo

Rose

Brandi

Lysette

Michelle

Congratulations to everyone that won!

Tune in Tuesday (17)

Each week I participate in Tune in Tuesday, hosted by GReads!

My fifth novel is a sweet romance that was so much fun to write. The characters are musicians, and meet at a local talent show. I was debating which songs they should sing at the talent show when this song came on Pandora. I love the original version, by Tom Petty, but John's version fit my vision perfectly.




What are you listening to this week?

The Writer's Path

 

Source

I've wanted to be a writer since I first found out that books don't just appear on shelves by some sort of magic. Despite that, it's only been since early 2010 that I've decided to go for my dream of being published. What made this time different? Well, in 2010 I was coming to the end of my last job. I wasn't happy, I spent four hours a day commuting, and I was ready for something new. I was all set to leave my job, when they tossed me a curve ball and asked if I would consider staying on part-time.  I said sure, but it was only temporary, and oh yeah, I wanted a three week break.

They agreed to  my terms, and during my time off, I was playing a lot of Left For Dead. So much that it started infiltrating my dreams. I had a really vivid dream about a girl and two boys living in an underground shelter at their high school. That idea sparked the idea of my first "real" novel, Positive Tension. That book changed everything for me. I was so in love with it, that I put aside my need to be "perfect" and just wrote through the crap. I finished the book in June, 2010 and since then I've been a writing machine.

Positive Tension is tucked away in a drawer, but I will never forget that book. I'll also never be able to thank my husband enough for agreeing that we could get by on just his salary. No, it's not easy, but I have time to write, and in the past year I've written five novels. I never would have been able to do that if I was working, so I'm hopeful that one day we'll be able to get a paycheck from my work.

When I started writing my first book, I was at the start of the writer's path, and now I feel that I'm a decent way down it. I've conquered several fears so far, and I know that in order to become published, I'll have to slay even more.  When I first started, I was jealous of people further along than I was, but that's no longer the case. I know some people might come behind me and get published before me. Everyone's paths are different. Some are paths through a park, with no obstacles, and other people's paths lead them through the fire swamp, yet they keep going.

The path doesn't end when we become published, though. That is the ultimate goal of any aspiring author, but you have to keep growing as an author and as a person in order to stay published.

Where are you on the writer's path?

New Year, New Blog

The Bodacious Pen as it once was, will be no more. Ooh, that sounds dramatic, doesn't it? What I really mean:

• I won't be posting many review posts. This is for two reasons. First: I really don't enjoy it anymore. Second: this year I want to focus more on writing and less on reviewing. I will occasionally post reviews of books I love, or the very few I will accept for review. I do believe that aspiring authors can still review books, but I just don't have the time or the desire to do so anymore.
• I'm phasing out my Visual Inspiration feature. If you're interested in seeing more of my finds, please feel free to friend me at Pinterest.
• I won't be posting that much anymore. I'm making it a goal to post three times a week, with at least one of those posts being original content, not a meme. I still love this blog, but I've got to keep my focus on my writing if I want to hopefully land an agent in the next few months to a year.

So, if  you no longer wish to follow my blog, I won't be offended in the least. I hope if you're an aspiring author, you'll stick around!

Review: Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala

Don't Breathe a Word-Holly Cupala
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: October 18, 2011
Source: Review copy provided for blog tour
Author website

Joy Delamere is suffocating.

From asthma, which has nearly claimed her life. From her parents, who will do anything to keep that from happening. From delectably dangerous Asher, who is smothering her from the inside out.

Joy can take his words—tender words, cruel words—until the night they go too far.

Now, Joy will leave everything behind to find the one who has offered his help, a homeless boy called Creed. She will become someone else. She will learn to survive. She will breathe…if only she can get to Creed before it’s too late.

Set against the gritty backdrop of Seattle’s streets and a cast of characters with secrets of their own, Holly Cupala’s powerful new novel explores the subtleties of abuse, the meaning of love, and how far a girl will go to discover her own strength.
(Jacket copy)

I am a HUGE fan of Holly Cupala's. I devoured her first novel, Tell Me a Secret in one sitting, and I read Don't Breathe a Word in a day. Her books aren't always easy to read, as the subject matter can be unsettling, but there is a sense of beauty that shines through. She writes characters that you care about. I read so quickly because I have to know what happens, as if it's a matter of life and death.

Joy's life should be happy enough, but she's got a huge weight sitting on her chest. The weight of her severe asthma, her parent's over protectiveness, and her possessive, creepy boyfriend Asher. She does what a lot of us only dream about in our darkest moments, she runs away.

She soon discovers that homeless life in Seattle's Capitol Hill is a lot rougher than she imagined. Joy's not naive, she knows she's not stepping into a production of Oliver or something, but surviving alone on the street as a female is nearly impossible. When she and Creed connect, she knows she'll be safe with him, but she soon discovers that safe is only a relative word when you're living on the streets.

Her new 'family' all have secrets and pain that they shield themselves from in various ways. The supporting characters were all interesting and completely believable.

If you love stories of fragile girls shedding their fears and finding their true strength, then you must pick up Don't Breathe a Word as soon as possible.

Holly's website / Official Book Site / Holly's Twitter / Read a sneak peak of the book!

Want to enter to win your own copy of Don't Breathe a Word? Enter here!

Tune In Tuesday (16)

I'm participating in Tune in Tuesday, hosted by GReads! This week's selection is by one of my all-time favorites, Matt Nathanson. I saw Matt open for Tori Amos like six years ago? It might have been seven. He was so charming, and funny, and oh yeah, his music is damned awesome too.

This song is on the playlist for an adult time-travel (light) romance WiP I hope to get to this year.

In My Mailbox (41)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren

I probably won't be doing IMM much in 2012 as I'm going to try to cut back on my book buying, but here's what I got for Christmas this year!

I got three books by Tessa Dare: A Night to Surrender, Twice Tempted by  Rogue & Three Nights with a Scoundrel. A Lady's Lesson in Scandal by Meredith Duran, Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt (not pictured) The Prisoner in the Palace by Michaela MacColl (already read this, loved it, wanted my own copy) Love is the Higher Law by David Levithan (already read and loved) The 2012 Guide to Literary Agents & The Writer's Digest Guide to Query Letters.

She wasn't a Christmas gift, but my cat Mia wanted to make an appearance in my IMM. :)

I also got my own copies of The Eternal Ones and All You Desire by Kristen Miller (already read and LOVED-one of my favorite YA series ever) & The 2012 Children's Writers & Illustrator's Market.

What's in your mailbox?