I'm Not Here...

I'm over on Operation Awesome today talking about Pee Pee & Writing.

Pop over and say hi if you get chance.

But I'll leave you with a writing moment:

That WTF moment where you're writing and something happens you weren't expecting.

Pst... I Know About A Contest

It's Wednesday. It's June 1st.

A new month brings the possible glow of new projects to start. Old projects to finish. A summer eating ice-cream and enjoying lazy days in the park. Oh, yeah, I just remembered that we're also one step closer to the release of Harry Potter Part 2.

Sorry, I had to have dancing Dumbledore again. He makes me laugh.

Anyway, I bring you a contest to start the month (courtesy of Operation Awesome): We're Giving Away Critiques... Want one? . And you can win me. Well, not me personally, but I'm giving a query critique away.

And a huge *fist pump* for my awesome friend and CP, Amparo. Amparo finished the first year of her Masters degree yesterday.

I don't know about you, but today I've got some planning to finish for my WIP. What about you? Any goals for this month? Are you starting a SNI?

Island of ideas

In the middle of the ocean is an island. 

From above the island doesn't look like much. You probably wouldn't catch some celebrity sunning themselves while on a break from their box-office success. But, to me, the island is the best place in the world. 

Why?

Did you see the monkey? No? Look closer. You just missed it jumping from that tree. What tree? The big jungle over there to the left. Darn. Now the elephant's blocking my view. Hang on, I'll move around it. 

That's better.

If you squint (are you squinting?) you can see the golden temple in the distance. That's where the protagonist will have to go to find the treasure. But you know the villain will try to get there first.

Can you see the villain yet? I'm sure he's lurking around here somewhere. I can see his henchman behind that tent. What tent? The one on the beach. Did I mention the beach?

Why am I talking about imaginary islands? Because ideas are like an undiscovered island. There are hundreds of them, thousands, floating in the ocean of creativity. They might not look much from above, but your island can be whatever you want it to be.

You just have to look close enough. 

I Need Minions!

I need minions. Not minions in a 'I've got an evil plot to take over the word, but I need help' -- that would be wrong. No, I need minions to help me with the million things I don't want to do (like laundry, dusting, helping me plot clever ways to get cookies into every post). 

And if the minions were like the cheeky little dudes below -- double win.

(Image of Minions found here)

Why am I talking about minions? After watching Despicable Me, I got to thinking about the minions. This led me to thinking about minions on TV and, of course, in literature. 

Minions serve a variety of purposes:

1) They carry out the tasks we don't have time for. 

2) They are often expendable. Think of the poor, unidentified crew member who beams down to the unexplored planet with the main cast in Star Trek episodes -- they usually bite it first. 

3) They provide diversions before the hero/heroine gets to the main antagonist -- think James Bond. If it isn't a 7 foot guy with steel jaws... a woman with a knife in her shoe... it's a guy with a bowler hat that can take your head off! 

Here are some minions in books that came to mind: 

Harry Potter, Voldemort has his minions -- his Death Eaters and various other co-baddies. 

The Twilight Saga -- The Volturi have their followers/hench-vampires with powers. Heck, even Victoria has minion newborn vampires to carry out her plans. 

Dracula has Renfield and his vampire brides. Even Lucy is a bit of a victim turned minion. Van Helsing has to get past them before he can get to the Count. 

Some minions can even appear to serve the villain, but don't. Some see the error of their ways and turn to the side of good. Some are just there for comic relief, but they all serve a purpose. And, like them or not, the story wouldn't be the same without them.

What about you? Met any book minions recently? Do you have any in your WIPs? 

I'm also posting over on Operation Awesome today. I have some fantastic March Mystery Agent details that you won't want to miss. Check it out here.

I Swear I didn't Copy You!

This post over on Sarah LaPolla's blog, Glass Cases, got me thinking. The post title?

You Are Not Original (and that's OK)

We all hope that the WIP is fresh. We want agents to sit up and think, "OMG! I've never seen this before." Except they won't.

Why? Because most plots have been done to a certain extent. Even Shakespeare got inspiration for Romeo & Juliet from The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet by Arthur Brooke in 1562 (who was rumoured to have got that idea from someone else).

See, even the master drew from literature around him.

Before we all run and cry, I'm going to say I get it. I do. I'm like every other writer out there. I eat my cookies hoping my WIP is something agents haven't read a variation of before. But to do that I have to put a different spin on it. Make it mine. How?

It could be setting. It could be a plot twist. it doesn't matter as long as it's something that sets it apart.

My music teacher once told me that there are only a certain number of notes you can use. Sooner or later a composer will repeat the melody or phrase of another composition. The thing that makes them different is what they do with it after.

So the next time you get an idea about two teenagers from different sides of the tracks who fall in love, but the odds are against them, don't worry. Don't worry that Romeo & Juliet, Twilight or Wuthering Heights did it before you. Do it, but make it yours.

If it's good enough for Shakespeare, it's good enough for me.

Will Write For Food.

Deep in revision land is a place I like to call 'the motivation station.' It isn't much, just a small place I like to visit once in a while. You know, after I get over a major wip stretch.

But what can be found in the motivation station? Anything you like. It's kind of like the donkey chasing the carrot on a stick. We see something we want, we keep going till we get it.

But how do you figure out when to use this reward method? I have a few levels.

Level 3: Comfort food. There is nothing like finishing that tricky chapter (or 1k), rewrite, edit session and indulging in a cookie treat.
Level 2: Relaxation. This is when I'm taking a break. You know, when your eyeballs are ready to explode after reading your MS. That time is movie time, sleep, a hot bath, a walk -- whatever you like to do to relax is good.
Level 1: New books/music. Now I know books are something to buy at anytime, but finishing a first draft/major revisions means reward. That reward, for me, is a book or a track off iTunes. This works 2 ways. 1) I get inspiration from the music. 2) Reading a book helps with my own writing.

I love writing, but there's something fun about reaching the end of a stage with something to look forward to. A completed MS is a wonderful thing (and the achievement that comes with it), but I've learnt it's the little things can help push me that little bit further.

How about you? How do you reward yourself for a major writing achievement?

P.S. I'm also over on Operation Awesome today. Feel free to come say hi. :)

I Knew Harry Potter Was Educational!

Yes, Harry Potter is a writing tool. Why? Well all I can say is check out Nathan Bransford's post on writing tips from reading Harry Potter.

Also today is my post day over on Operation Awesome. Feel free to pop by and say hi. Now I have to go and play, I mean write with the new Scrivener Beta edition for PC. If anyone uses Scrivener, please share your shortcut knowledge with me. I'm a newbie to it.

Finally I leave you with these thoughts. There are some things in life that puzzle me.

Why is it that when I spend an hour looking for something, I've been sat on it the entire time? Hello pen...my you're warm.

Why do ideas for scenes pop in your brain just before you are going to sleep or wake you up at 3am?

Can you answer my pondering? Any other thoughts you want to add to the list?

Happy Wednesday!

Repetition Is Delicious

I love that toddlers are like human sponges. I also like that they are kind of repetitive when the talk, especially when they find a few words they like.

Some words I've heard on repeat last week:
Delicious. Wow (which said by a toddler with curly hair and big brown eyes is adorable). Gosh. Yay.
No. I'm ready (said as soon as she's in the car seat before I've clipped her in). No. Clever girl. No. Hot dog, hot dog hot diggity dog. Mickey Mouse.

And it's the same in writing (come on, you knew I was going somewhere didn't you!) We all have our crutch words, favourite descriptions and phrases (I myself am having an excess word vomit of 'skin,' 'lips' and 'mouth' at the moment). We pepper them into our manuscripts without thinking because they feel natural to us.

It's kind of like word poop, but repeated a few times a chapter.

There's nothing wrong with repeating words. Sometimes it is an effective tool, sometimes it's just a mistake or a habit -- like stuffing in that extra cookie in your mouth while watching TV, or eating the crusts you've cut off your goddaughter's sandwich (I really need to stop that habit, btw). But the best thing about being a writer is finding new ways to describe or write things. Like a toddler sponge in the quest for the new, next time I find myself going for the tried and tested crutch word I'm going to stop, think and write something else.

Oh, and even though I'm sure you know it already, here is somewhere I love to visit for inspiration: The Bookshelf Muse

Because learning something new is just as delicious.

Remember, Remember It's NaNo November

There's been something in the air this weekend...and I don't mean NaNo starting today.

Nope, I spent the weekend in bed with the stomach bug from hell. I've pondered the reasons for illness. Maybe it was over-excitement from the query chat, finishing my first draft or getting ready for my first NaNo. But I'm ready, rested-ish and (hopefully) excited to face the task of 50k in a month.

Can you hear my brains seeping out from my ears?

But today there is awesome abound. We have a Mystery Agent contest over at Operation Awesome and, get this, the agent accepts YA/MG and Adult fiction. So head on over and add your one-sentence pitch. There are fifty spots up for grabs and the winner gets to submit their full MS. In case you didn't know, one of the October entrants to the agent contest (who submitted thir query and first five) was offered representation by Mandy Hubbard. Woot!

Keep your eyes peeled for the tweet announcement when the post is live! Good luck.

Writing, Writing, Writing...Ooh, Today's The Day

I've finally got the Hot Dog song out of my head from goddaughter sitting yesterday. Woot. So today I'm writing. Yes, I shall be in my happy space tapping on the keyboard. I've got blogs to read, a plot twist to finish, my ending to complete; I'm swamped.

Okay, I'm paraphrasing Prince Humperdinck from The Princess Bride there, but you get the idea. :)

One question though? Can you hear me squee? Yes, today is the Operation Awesome query chat with Elana Johnson. In case you need it, Kristal has posted a handy reminder form over on the OA blog. 

My love of spreading the awesome means I am to sacrifice my cookie/plot dreaming sleep to be awake at 2am. Fear not, I'm prepared. I've saved my writing procrastination episodes of this weeks The Vampire Diaries and Criminal Minds to keep me busy. Although you've seen where I write so I don't have to go far. I'll be the one moderating in my PJ's. I promise I'll brush my hair though. :)

There's also only three days to get your entry in for the beautiful UK edition white Twilight covers (bought and sent by yours truly). Contest closes at Midnight GMT.

And now other things.

Over the last month the goddaughter has started the copying phase. I rested my chin  on my hand, she did the same. I stood in the doorway...so did she (she even looked how my feet were positioned and did the same). If she had any sense she'd copy someone less of a klutz than her auntie, but I guess she's learning other actions. Other ways of expressing herself by watching me.

Then I realised that I do the same when I write. We all do.

We take our notebooks and jot down actions, moments and reactions we've seen and twist them to use for our own literary purposes. We magpie various tones of voice, facial gestures, traits and ticks for characters. We are the ultimate developing children who use our experiences to layer into our richly created worlds.

And that's got to help us learn to be better writers, right?

Hope to see you at the chat. :)

My Writing Process.

Yesterday I shared my bookcases with you. Today I thought I'd share something else. Yes, today I'm giving you a peek at my writing process.
And I'm including pictures!

Step one: Get my writing space ready.

Step 2: I need to have my essentials -- my wip playlist and snacks. I have a cup of tea as well.

Step 3: Think about writing by staring at the keyboard. Tapping my fingers is crucial during this. I like to think of it as limbering up.

Step 4: Procrastinate. Today was a Criminal Minds episode. Until Supernatural season 6 comes to the UK it's either Criminal Minds or The Vampire Diaries. How I love my Sky+ recorder.

Step 5: Write.

Sorry no photo. It's hard to write and take a photo and I forgot how to set the timer on the camera. LOL.

Step 6: Have a 'why did my character just do that?' moment.

Step 6: Delete the disaster from step 6.

Step 7: Nap time? No, I'm thinking about my scenes with my eyes closed for visualization.

Okay I was napping.

Step 8: Wake up/brainwave. Repeat step 5. Lather, rinse, repeat.

So that's my handy guide to writing. I missed out the drinking tea, eating cookies and toilet break photos. As much as I <3 you all, I think that would be sharing a little bit too much information. lol. But I hope I made you smile. :)

Interview Alert. Interview Alert.

Oh, here I am. Yes, I'm back after a rather weird few days where my poor little blog baby went unloved and abandoned. Sorry blog baby, I was with the wip baby.

Okay, it wasn't just the wip. I had another friend's birthday, an evil cold, and (like I mentioned) the wip that stole me away. Yes, even with a cold, my word rampage continues. I was also arranging some awesome things for here and over at Operation Awesome.

So. Excited.

So today you don't want to hang out with me. Nope. Nope. Nope. Why? Because Amparo, Katrina and I have joined forces to interview some awesome debut and published authors, and we're chatting with some of their MC's! So head across to Amparo's blog and check out the interview with Bianca from THE DUFF by Kody Keplinger.

Oh, and later this week we'll have the sexy demon from hell, Luc (from Personal Demons by the fantastic Lisa Desrocher's) on this very blog. Woot. Squee. Yay.

P.S. Don't forget the All White For Twilight contest is still rocking over on Operation Awesome until 12pm (BST) on the 31st of October. Click here to find out how to enter.

Cakes And Queries.

Today I am making cakes. Not writing cakes, a real birthday cake for a friend.

So, while I'm roasting in the kitchen, I started to thing about creating things/doing things for others.

And here is your chance.

The awesome Katie Mills (a.k.a Creepy Query Girl) has her query for her novel, FOSSEGRIM up for comments at Matt's blog, theqqqe.

So feel free to hop over and help Katie get her query filled with more sparkles than a cupcake with sprinkles.

I promise it will be just as yummy as cake.

1k A Day Challenge

I've been getting together on gmail chat with my CP's for daily write-a-thons. Since we've been having so much fun kicking our current wip word count into submission, Kristal had an awesome thought -- a 1K a day challenge.

I'll let her explain it:

I did a little math. If I write a little over 1k a day, I can finish my current project's 1st draft by the end of October, right in time to plung into NaNo again. And, even though I dislike NaNo, it is a great platform to START a book. I'm not sure if I would've gotten the jump start I needed without it last year. And, like I said, I want to continue in the habit of creating something new. If I finish the first draft of my current project, I want to have something prepared to write, so I can create while I edit the current book--which is where this NaNo idea comes in.

So I start today, writing at least 1k a day. Starting October 1st, I'd like you all to join me. I will post daily updates on my personal blog, and on Tuesdays, I expect you all to check in on the Operation Awesome blog and tell me how you're doing. And, as long as you are on that writing horse, join me also in November for NaNoWriMo. You can join me for one or the other, or both goals.

This coming Tuesday I will post code for the cute little button on Operation Awesome, so you can put it on your blog. Use it as a way to commit yourself to this goal. And, like me, tell everyone else. Perhaps by putting it out there, we will be more likely to achieve our goals.

If you can't do 1k a day, try a page a day. Let's get in the habit of creating something new.

Who is with me?

*Holds up hand*

So that's the challenge...anyone care to join us?

The Great Blogging Experiement: Writing Compelling Characters

Today there is awesome happening around the blogosphere. Elana Johnson, Jen Daiker and Alex Cavanaugh have teamed up to create The Great Blogging Experiment.

Why an experiment? Because with one topic to discuss the theory is that each post will be unique.

The topic: What makes a compelling character?

For me it's a combination of two elements -- voice and flaws. I want someone who is human.

Sure, they can be a million miles away from who I am, but I want to open the page and connect with them. Why would I spend 300 pages with them if I didn't?  

I mean, I don't live in a world where teens kill each other on live TV to satisfy the government like in The Hunger Games, but I cared about Katniss. Why? She's sarky, feisty, loyal, confused, tough but vulnerable. She sacrifices herself to protect her sister and, despite coming out the other side alive, has to live with the nightmares.

And the best thing? I get to know her as the story progresses.

I'll admit I never know everything about my characters when I start a new wip. For me, reading a new book/writing a new wip, is like making a friend.

The voice comes first, giving a flavour of who they are. But there needs to be something there to make me want to stay talking/reading them. There may no be a magical ingredient, unless you are Harry Potter, but the one thing I find compelling is this -- they are human.

I don't want perfect. Sure, it would be nice if we lived in a world like that, but we know we don't. I want to see their flaws. Show me weakness, fear, the odd little habits that make no sense to anyone but themselves. I want to see them evolve as a person. A character never shows who they are straight away, it's waiting to be discovered in the time you take to get to know each other.

Just like making a friend, it's knowing there is something else there. That, for me, is what makes them compelling.

Happy Friday. :)

Writing Reviews

While I live in the word of my imagination for a good portion of the day, I also venture out into the real world once in a while.

Even though the bright light hurts my eyes, and turns me into a slimy monster if a drop of water even touches me. Oops, sorry that's what I get for watching Gremlins last night.

Anyway...today I am off to the land of the bank for an account review. I've been putting it off for a while. Sorting out my current/savings accounts is not something that fills me with glee. I'd rename it "Book Funds" rather than savings if I had the chance.

But then it hit me...a review is an awesome way of checking in as a writer.

During the account review they ask you loads of 'useful' questions like "What do you want your money to do for you?"

What I want to say is "Buy books and pretty things." Instead I mumble something like, "Grow."

And that is what I want to do as a writer -- grow.

- Am I investing time in learning my craft?
- Am I returning my debits from the writing community with interest? By this I mean do I contribute to the writing community enough?
- Do I push myself hard enough to make my money/wip) grow (with a word count)?

So far I hope I'm meeting all my goals. Because, like money, writing only works for you if you invest in it.

P.S. Today is also my day to post over on Operation Awesome.

Write. Write. Write.

I'm deep in first draft land on the wip. My mind is full of moving chapters around, scenes pop in my head at inopportune moments. I'm getting what I call "the look" from my friends and family. You know, the one where you go all quiet as a scene/idea/dialogue pops into your head.

I'm lucky my friends and family have gotten used to me disappearing into imagination land. I tend to re-appear once the first draft is written and I begin to edit. Until then, I'm there, but I'm prone to wander into my world of write, write, write.

Last week I had a huge writing week...a 7k writing week. I'm hoping to get something similar done this week, but (while I know the family/friends won't disappear -- thankfully!) I'm worried that the words will disappear from my head.

I know it's a weird thought to have, but I can't help it. Each thought that flutters in could be the key scene in my book, a turning point, an emotional high or low. Each thought could be the one I need to close/open the new chapter.

To combat this, while I'm out and about, I type notes into the notepad on my phone. Or, if I'm a bit more stationary, I'm getting out my note pad, trapping the thoughts on paper so they can't flutter away. Anything to make the words stay put. :)

How about you? How do you cope with the inconvenient writing prompts popping in your head?

Learning To Swim

The toddler goddaughter loves water. She used to hate it, and I mean screaming hate it, until about three months ago. Now 'splash splash Auntie' is her favourite bath time game when she comes to stay (my friend only has a shower at her house). So with her being more comfortable in water now I'm starting to take the monkey swimming a bit more.

She's an independent little girl and, despite her age, always tries to let go of my hands when she's in the shallow pool (even though I don't let her - I'm a soft touch, not insane. lol) But her confidence always makes me smile.

And it got me thinking about writing (come on, you knew I'd take this to some writing level. heehee). Leaning to write and learning to swim are very similar.

There's the trepidation of dipping your toe in the pool or, in the writers case, the idea. The rush of cold shocking your body from your comfort zone as you move into the pool, or start to type.

You take your time at first. You stay in the shallow end, maybe you hold someones hand (in my Goddaughter's case that's me) -- for a writer it may be a mentor, a writing book, a forum. The hand holder helps you. They build up your confidence and teach you some of the skills you need to learn to swim/write.

You practice. Sure you may swallow some water/ delete lots of words, but you don't give up. Over time you gain the confidence you need to push out on your own. Dip your head underwater/start a new idea. You gain strength. Keep yourself afloat.

Sure, the lifeguard/crit group, mentor, writing book is always there. Always watching, waiting to jump in and help if you need/ask for it. You know you are never alone.

But you are stronger. You are braver.

It won't happen overnight. It may take weeks, months even to learn to swim/write. But you never give up. Because practice makes perfect.

Go With The Flow

We all know some days the words come more natural than normal. Some days the words imbed themselves in your brain and refuse to budge.

So how do we coax those sentences free?

Here is my discovery. My CP's call it a write-a-thon. We set a time to be online, load up Gchat and start the timer. When twenty/thirty minutes is up we recoup and give each other our word counts.

I'd never done this before, but I'm starting to find it useful. Maybe it's the pantser in me, but I've always worked better under pressure. Knowing that I've got to tell the others my progress really seems to spur me on.

But what about the days when I'm not doing a write-a-thon?

I suppose it's a little similar to the write-a-thon. I sit down and force myself to spend an hour writing. Even if it's just sketching out a couple of chapters, I feel it all counts.

What do you guys do to get the words flowing?

Six Months In Blog Land

It hit me this morning that it's been six months since I started blogging. Wow. Where does the time go?

I remember how scared out of my pants I was to start. Would anyone care what I had to say? Now, when I think over everything blogging has opened up for me, I'm so happy I took the first step.

Blogging has helped me learn, connect with others, make friends, and helped me find the best CP's in the world. Yes it's hard work, but I love it. I feel the guilt when I can't get round my blog roll. It's like having no credit on a pre-pay mobile phone and not being able to text a friend back!

I've sometimes spent my writing time trying to catch up on what I've missed. But it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make considering the awesome out there. Although, in the next six months, I'm determined to get some sort of schedule in place for my blogging.

With that in mind the awesome Elana Johnson, Jen Daiker, and Alex J. Cavanaugh have teamed up to do a blogging trifecta special all this week. I know I'll be checking it out. :)

Oh, and in the spirit of more awesome. The fabulous Justine Dell is back on the blogosphere from her work imposed absence. Yay! Missed you JD.

Finally, Amparo's debut post is up on Operation Awesome today. Feel free to show her some love. :)

Happy Monday everyone. And to my US friends...HAPPY LABOR DAY!