Jest Kept Secret

Making The Switch... Maybe...

2012-02-09T16:00:00.000-07:00

I've been working on redesigning the website for the company I work for, and the new site will be powered by Wordpress. I've pretty much fallen in love with their platform, so I'm thinking about moving my blog over there. I've already been planning a big redesign anyways and if I go through with this craziness, I will be using the wordpress.org version instead of wordpress.com so that I can take advantage of the do-it-yourself-ness. I do love to do things by myself. We even have a video of me as a 3- or 4-year-old climbing up on a balance beam at the playground and exclaiming, "Look, Mommy! I did it all by myself!"

But I digress. Basically, the purpose of this post is to ask if any of you have ever made the switch from Blogger to Wordpress.org, and if so, what advice do you have for me? I'd like to make the move as painless as possible, and I'd hate to lose any of you readers. I don't mean to say that I'm all about the numbers--not at all. It's just that I really enjoy and appreciate the feedback and opinions and thoughts and hopes and dreams and everything you all have shared with me over the past two years. It's the only thing that keeps me blogging, honestly. I don't want to lose my connection with all you lovely people.

Another thing that's holding me back a little is the fact that I don't have internet at home anymore, so my blogging time has been severely limited. Since moving away from the free internet access I used to have, I've found more time to write and do other creative things, so I'm not planning on getting internet at home any time soon. So while I'd like to keep blogging, it probably won't be nearly as often as I have done in the past. I hope you will all keep reading and leaving your mindbogglingly awesome comments, and please know that my absence is not without some regret. It's not you, I swear. It's me.

So do you think it's worth it? Should I go through the trouble of switching to a platform that I LOVE if I'm not going to be able to dedicate quite as much time to blogging? I've also considered looking at it as a website with an associated blog, so it wouldn't look quite so lonely if I can't post for a few weeks.

Your thoughts? As always, they are very much appreciated.

The First Friday in February Flikr Flash Fiction Fest (FFFFFFFest)

2012-02-03T00:00:00.063-07:00

It's here! It's finally here! Let the fffffffun begin!

The rules:

Visit Flikr's Last 7 Days of Interestingness and find an image that inspires you. You can hit that refresh page as often as you'd like until you find one that really speaks to your creative side.
Write a flash fiction piece (1000 words or less) based on said inspiration and post it to your own blog. Please try to keep it clean, since I'm a self-proclaimed prude. (Be sure to link back to this post so that your readers can enjoy the other entries, too!)
This is important: you may link to the image in your post, but please do not post the picture on your blog unless you have permission from the photographer.
Come back here and add your link to the Linky tool at the bottom. Make sure it's a permalink (link to the post itself, not to the blog in general) so that we'll always be able to find your entry.
Enjoy everyone's entries and have a fffffffantastic FFFFFFFFriday!

Here's my FFFFFFFest piece, inspired by this great picture of an abandoned hospital:

I punched him hard. He just laughed and rubbed his arm where my fist connected with his bicep and skipped—skipped—down the hallway like a little kid.

“That wasn’t funny!” I shouted after him, but my anger was half-hearted. My hands were shaking, and much as I hated him for scaring me, it did help to laugh.

Late afternoon sunlight slanted through the grimy windows, bathing John in gold and casting a long shadow on the broken tile floor behind him. I watched him lean into one of the rooms, his hands gripping the doorframe, and marveled at how out of place he looked here: the Golden Boy in the old public health hospital, the place where sick people went to get sicker. He was Adonis. This was hell. The juxtaposition amused me.

“Hey, Jaime,” he called, disappearing into the room. “Come check this out.”

I didn’t really want to check anything out, but I didn’t want to be left alone in the creepy hallway, either, so I hurried to catch up. The room was sparse and institutional. A single cot was pushed against the wall under the small window, and a pedestal sink stood under the clouded mirror of an old medicine cabinet.

“It’s like they just…disappeared,” John said, pointing at the old straight razor that sat on the edge of the sink with a bar of soap. The bed still had its sheets, thin grey things tossed aside like someone had just crawled out of them.

“My dad says they did human testing here during World War two. Really unethical stuff. But there’s no record of any of it, thanks to that ‘mysterious fire’ back in the 70’s,” he said, adding air quotes for emphasis. “Lots of people believe this place is haunted by the ghosts of the victims.”

He noticed the horrified look on my face and laughed again. “Relax, Jaime,” he said, brushing his hand down my arm. “They’re just stories.”

I shivered, not sure whether it was from fear or the fact that he had just touched me. We weren’t officially dating yet, and we seemed to be stuck in that awkward ohmygosghetouchedme phase.

“Oh, please,” I said, trying for humor. “You can’t tell me that you’re not thrilled that I’m terrified right now. It gives you an excuse to be the manly protector. Most guys take girls to see creepy movies. You brought me to the place where the people in creepy movies die.”

“Romantic, isn’t it?” he teased, grabbing my hand and pulling me closer to him. He rested his other hand on the back of my neck and leaned down. When he spoke again, it was a whisper. “And if I’m the manly protector, then I’m allowed to do this.”

This wasn’t exactly the place I had imagined my first kiss would take place, but I wasn’t about to stop him. I was trembling again and I worried that my lips were too dry even though I knew I had just put chapstick on, but his thumb caressed the hollow space behind my ear. I could feel the warmth of his lips so close to mine. Not close enough. Why is he waiting? Am I supposed to do something? Do I let him kiss me or do I—

Something crashed in the hallway and we leapt apart.

“What was that?” I whispered, not even remotely ashamed that I was hiding behind his shoulder now.

“Probably just a draft slamming a door shut,” he said, but I was secretly satisfied to hear a note of doubt in his voice.

There was something in the air, though, a sound I could barely make out above his voice. “Shhh… You hear that?” I asked.

He listened for a moment, then nodded, his lips pursed. “Is someone singing?”

The sound grew louder. It definitely was someone singing.

“Could your sister have followed us here?” he asked, taking a tentative step towards the doorway.

“She’s at her violin lesson,” I said, staying as close to his back as I could as he continued forward. He leaned out of the door and I peeked over his shoulder. “Hello?” he called. “Audrey?”

“It’s not her,” I insisted. “She left with my mom before—“

A woman dressed in an old fashioned nurse’s outfit walked across the hallway from one room to another, singing to herself as she checked something off her clipboard.

John swore and almost knocked me over as he stepped suddenly backwards. “That definitely wasn’t your sister,” he said.

“Okay,” I said. “Time to leave. You can play manly protector somewhere significantly less creepy.”

He nodded emphatically. I let him take my hand again and he led me cautiously towards the door. “We have to go back that way,” he whispered, using his free hand to point towards the open double doors at the end of the hall where we had just seen the girl. “It’s the only way out.”

“Just go.”

The light was fading now as the sun sank towards the horizon. The sight of our own shadows following us down the hallway made me quicken my step until I was walking faster than John and practically pulling him along. We had almost reached the doors when I tripped on the edge of a broken tile and fell, scraping the palms of my hands on shattered glass.

“You alright, Jaime?” John asked, real fear in his voice now.

The singing stopped. I looked past John as he helped me up and saw the nurse standing in the middle of hallway behind him. The last of the sun’s golden rays passed right through her.

“I’m sorry,” she said sweetly. “Visiting hours are over. Doctor Hames says everyone needs to go back to their rooms now.”

I glanced at John.

“We were just leaving,” I said, not quite believing that I was talking to an actual ghost.

“You don’t understand,” she said. “Visiting hours are over.”

And the doors behind us slammed shut.

Can't wait to read what you all come up with!

Add your own FFFFFFFest entry here:

(If for some reason, the Linky does not work, feel free to just post your links in the comments section.)

FFFFFFFest Reminder

2012-02-02T18:06:00.000-07:00

Just a quick reminder that tomorrow is FFFFFFFest day! (I meant to post a reminder sooner, but alas, this is what no internet does to a person...)

The general details are here, and more specific details will be in tomorrow's post. Just remember: please don't post the image you choose on your own blog unless you have permission from the photographer, as that would be stealing. A link to the image will suffice.

If you haven't grabbed your badge yet, here it is:

Spread the word, warm up those flash fiction fingers, and get ready for some fun! I'll have the linky tool up first thing tomorrow, so once you've posted your piece to your blog, be sure to enter your link so everyone can read what you've written.

See you tomorrow!

Sherlock Holmes: Game of (Fore)Shadows

2012-01-19T16:00:00.007-07:00

Confession: I honestly believe Robert Downey, Jr., has the corner on the market for “sexy”—especially when he portrays witty, eccentric characters like Sherlock Holmes.

*swoon*

Where was I? Oh yes. You wanted a blog post. So sorry about all that nonsense.

Anyways, when I went to see the latest Sherlock Holmes movie, A Game of Shadows, it occurred to me that not only is Sherlock smart and witty and so much fun to look at, he can also teach us a thing or two about writing. He is the king of dialogue, knows a little something about suspense, and I don’t think anyone can claim the stakes aren’t high enough. But the thing I think he—or rather, the writers—are best at is effective subtle foreshadowing.

Subtle foreshadowing can be a really tricky thing to accomplish. Sometimes, it’s okay for your foreshadowing to be obvious as it helps develop tension, but subtle foreshadowing can provide your readers with those oh-so-satisfying “I totally did not see that coming!” moments. This is where Sherlock’s writers really excel, and from them, we can learn some easy tricks.

Warning: Spoilers ahead. If you have not yet seen the latest movie, I highly recommend you do so before reading any further. I would really hate to ruin the surprises for you.

Make it an isolated event – When Sherlock and crew meet his brother in Switzerland, we see him toying with Mycroft’s personal and private supply of oxygen. Mycroft tells him to quit messing around with the contraption and that’s the last we see of it—or so we think. Later, we find out that that innocuous little contraption is the key to Sherlock’s eventual survival. By limiting Sherlock’s interaction with the oxygen to a grand total of 10 seconds, the writers introduce a moment of foreshadowing without drawing attention to it, and the resolve comes as a complete surprise.
Make it a reoccurring event – That’s right, folks, isolating and repeating events can both be a effective tools for foreshadowing. For example, Sherlock Holmes has a habit of “killing” Watson’s adorable bulldog—a habit that is well established in the first movie and carries over into the second. Towards the beginning of A Game of Shadows, Sherlock kills the poor pup and then revives him with a shot of adrenaline. Later, Watson must use the exact same technique to save Sherlock’s life.
Hide it in your dialogue – Idioms and turns of phrase can be an excellent way to disguise your foreshadowing. It works so well that I had to see Game of Shadows twice before I caught this one: while introducing Watson to the complexities of the current case, Sherlock tells him, “I will go to my death to solve this case.” Phrases like “I’m going to do _____ if it kills me” are such a normal part of real conversations that the viewer/reader probably won’t even notice the foreshadowing at all. (Another example: Rene’s letter to Sim states, “Remember my face because you’ll never see it again.” Later, we learn that a plastic surgeon had performed an operation that made him look like another man, so she really would never see his face again.)
Embed it into your world building – The first time Sherlock meets his nemesis, Professor Moriarty, is when he pays him a visit in his slightly unkempt office at the university. As they talk, Sherlock takes in the room around him: the chalkboard covered in numbers and equations, the books that lay scattered around, Franz Schubert's "Die Forelle" ("The Trout") playing on a phonograph, the box of dead flowers on the windowsill. All of these paint a vivid picture of who Moriarty is on the surface—a man utterly consumed by scholarly and cultural pursuits—but they also hint at his darker secrets. As Sherlock solves the case, the books, the chalkboard, and the dead plants all provide him with essential clues, and Die Forelle returns in a pivotal scene involving a particularly large fishhook.

Master the art of subtle foreshadowing and your readers will be stunned by your genius—and maybe they’ll hang your picture on their wall and spend the day drooling over it.

Not that I would ever do anything like that.

What effective foreshadowing tricks have used in your own writing or seen in books/movies?

And, as promised, here is the badge for FFFFFFFest:

Feel free to spread the word!

BTWP: Rachel Carlyon

2012-01-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the first BTWP interview of 2012. It's bound to be magic, folks, as today's interview is with a delightful young lady from New Zealand whose story sounds all sorts of fantastic. Please welcome

Rachel Carlyon

What is your earliest writing memory? What did you write about? Did it have a title?

Hmm, my earliest writing memory was probably when I first started school. I believe it was about dinosaurs taking over the world, or something like that. It was written in crayon, and in those beginner books, that has the dashed line in the middle of the lines so kids know how to size letters. I think the title was a generic “What if Dino’s ruled the world?”

When you were 6, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A vet, I had wanted to be vet for a few years. I just LOVE animals, always have, and always will.
If not a vet, then a teacher; I loved my kindy, and primary teachers enough, that they made me want to do the same.

What is the best compliment your writing has ever received?

A teacher from another school was shown one of my short stories, and he thought I was doing level 3 scholarship English, (Year 13) but I was only doing level 2 (year 12) and I’m not/wasn’t even in extension English. That really made my year. Being in Christchurch, New Zealand, my year had been really rough, what with the earthquakes, sleep deprivation, and site-sharing schools (meaning we missed out on 2hrs a day, 10hrs a week learning time) life was a bit shaky (no pun intended). When I heard that this English teacher thought I was older and better than I thought I was, I was beside myself with joy. My grin was from ear to ear; my math teacher thought I looked quite silly. ;)

Can you tell us a little about your current WIP?

My current story is a novel about a shifter named Aura-lee. She comes from a long line of shape-shifters, in her case Hawks. The title “Cry of the Avians” shows that they are in trouble and need help, which they are crying out for. Not only are they shape-shifters, but magicians as well. When Aura’s best friend, Alex (Shape-shifter wolf) is murdered, and a strange voice emits from the forest, things go downhill for the hawks, serpents, and wolves. Especially when the Emerald princess arrives and requests Aura’s help. Lakita is up to something, but no-one really knows what. Everyone but Aura and her mentors Zitora, Kunzite and Larimar believe her, they think she is up to something. Aura has to travel back with Lakita on horseback to the Crystal Iles, (a four day trek) and finds herself and more danger than she can handle.

Here is what I imagine the blurb on the back cover might say: "It's ugly today. My mind reordered this occurrence in life. It was beautiful but the clouds rolled in and dark memories followed not far behind. Soon a thing must die. And again, I'll be one with the road."

Do you follow a routine when it comes to writing?

Every story has different inspirations, different ideas, and different styles, that having a routine makes no sense to me. Sure planning, then writing, then proofing, then editing, then finalising etc, but other than that, none. But to be honest, I don’t plan, it just comes to me, I don’t remember planning a story, I just write. Think up something, and BAM, a page in under half an hour.

What do you find hardest about writing?

Honestly, finding words to replace “said”. There are many, yes, but you can only use them so many times before they become too repetitive, and sometimes they don’t work. Like “mused” can only work in some situations, Other than that, it’s not knowing when an idea will hit me. I have a notebook and pen with me all the time. Not so I can jot notes, (which is what it was meant for) but I actually start writing in this book, then transfer (re-write) it onto pad paper when I get home.

What is your favorite book (at least currently)?

It would have to be Maria V. Snyder’s “Study Trilogy” (Poison Study, Fire Study, Magic Study) then her following trilogy “Glass Trilogy” (Storm Glass, Sea Glass, Spy Glass). They are an extremely great read, with amazing plot lines.

Also Amelia Atwater-Rhodes “Keisha Ra” series is also amazing. P.C. and Kristen Cast’s “House of Night” books are also really great. And can’t forget J.K’s amazing Harry Potter. I really don’t have a favourite ONE book, more many series.

What non-writing hobbies do you like to participate in?

I play archery and squash. I read a lot, always have. Otherwise, it would be hanging out with friends, playing playstation, or singing (not that I’m very good, but that doesn’t stop me) .

If you had $1,000,001, what would you do with the $1?

Honestly, that would all depend on my day. If it was bad, I’d treat myself a Mc Donalds ice-cream. I would donate it to a charity, fighting cancer or something, but more than likely, I’d give it to my younger sister Laura.

Give us one random fact about yourself.

If I get one book in a series, I have to buy them ALL!!! I end up with way too many. Then I have to buy the DVD’s just to make the set complete.

To learn more about Rachel and her writing, visit her deviantART page, friend her on Facebook, or follow her on Twitter at @RachWrite4Life.

If you would be interested in being a BTWP interviewee, send me an email at jestkeptsecret (at) gmail (dot) com.

I'm Back, and It's My (Belated) Birthday!

2012-01-02T18:14:00.000-07:00

Happy 2012! As of Saturday, I'm one year older, and as of yesterday, so is Jest Kept Secret.

Whoa. A blog by Jess Byam that survived two years? Maybe the world really IS coming to an end...

Just kidding. Maybe.

Either way, 2012 promises to be an exciting year on all fronts. I've got some fun things planned for Jest Kept Secret, including finally coming clean about my love for Robert Downey, Jr. and his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes (so if you haven't seen it yet, go see it before you read that posts. Spoilers may be present), more BTWP interviews, a blog redesign (which should make things load a little quicker--I hear some readers have been having issues with that), and a blogfest in February.

That's right! Mark your calendars for the First Friday in February Flikr Flash Fiction Fest, or FFFFFFFest.

With a name like that, it's bound to become an annual tradition, don't you think?

The gist of it all is this: on the First Friday in February (the 3rd, though I wish it were the 1st or the 4th or the 5th, as then I could drag out this silly alliteration even further), FFFFFFFesters will visit Flikr.com and explore images from the last seven days. (If this reeks of one of those silly Facebook tag-your-friends deals, never you fear. It is where I found my inspiration for this fffffffest, but it's going to be less painful.) Find an image that really speaks to you (you can hit the refresh button as often as you'd like--none of that "last picture in the second row" nonsense for us) and write a piece of Flash Fiction (500 words or less) inspired by the image. Post your piece on your own blog, and we'll all have a grand old time enjoying each other's writing.

So, what say ye? Are you game for this game of mine? A nifty little blog badge will be coming shortly if you'd like to spread the word. The more, the merrier, right?

And what fun, exciting things do you have planned for 2012?

The Giving Season

2011-12-01T21:35:00.001-07:00

Back at the beginning of the year, I decided to participate in the I Dig Reading Challenge hosted by Katharine Owens (The Insect Collector). The challenge was this: pledge to make a donation to a charity of my choice for each book I read during 2011. I decided I could afford to pledge $1 per book, and with 40 books read during 2011, I owe one lucky charity 40 bucks.

Picking a charity to donate to can be difficult--especially with so many shams and scams out there. So I was very interested in the special report, Sharing in the USA, that came with the USA Today the hotel left by my door the other day. The section gave a long list of reputable charities (which I shall not repeat here because it is a very long list) and it also alerted me to the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance, which sets high standards for charities and evaluates "charity governance, finances, fund raising practices, website disclosures and donor privacy." Reputable charities can display the BBB Accredited Charity seal, so you know that your donations are getting to the people (or animals!) who need them. You can visit www.give.org for more information and to find a charity that needs your donation.

As for me, two of my close family members were diagnosed with cancer this year, so picking a charity to donate to was an easy choice. I'll be donating $40 to the American Cancer Society.

And just a heads up: I'll probably be taking a bit of a blogging hiatus for the next few weeks. Holidays, edits, critting, and hopefully drafting my new WIP will be keeping me on my toes, but I'll definitely be back in 2012 (egads!) with surprises and fun galore. Mark your calendars for February 3rd, because I'll be hosting a fun blog fest that just might have some awesome prizes attached to it.

In the mean time,
MERRY CHRISTMAS! I hope everyone's holidays are filled with love, laughter, and lots of books!

Warm Fuzzies Blog Fest: Worth It

2011-11-17T18:57:00.002-07:00

Writing is tough.

I always have an internal chuckle at people who think that they can just sit down a write a book someday. And technically, I guess they could. The act of writing itself isn't too hard: you sit down with a computer or a pen and paper and you start making words. Get 80,000 or so of those words collected into one place and HUZZAH! You've got a book!

So I amend my original statement: writing well is tough.

Writing well requires passion and sacrifice. It will make you bleed. It will make you lonely. It will keep you awake at night. People will start thinking you're crazy--and they'll probably be right.

Yep.

So why do we do it? Everyone who is passionate about writing has a reason--even if that reason is more of an abstract concept that you can't really put into words (which is ironic because we're writers and words are, you know, kind of our thing...).

I write because I love the world. I love life with all it's joy and pain and writer's block. I love colors and music and passion and people. I try to embrace all of that with my writing, to wrap it up like a gift for someone else to open and explore. This is the world, I want to say to them. I hope you'll enjoy it.

And sometimes, there are those golden moments where everything falls into place and your purpose as a writer meets genuine talent. Words flow through your fingers like magic--and they're actually, you know, good. You read back over what you've written and wonder who you've plagiarized because there's no way on earth you're that good at writing. And as long as you don't read anything you wrote yesterday, you think maybe, just maybe, I can do this writing thing.

I love those moments. My favorite was actually when I finished the first draft of the Last Daughter of Elhamair and everything just fell into place. The last two paragraphs are so stunningly beautiful that I must have had some divine assistance. I wish I could share them with you, but that would give too much away.

So instead, I'll share my 2nd favorite warm fuzzy moment. This is a scene that occurs after Sameen has learned the truth about the people's role in the rise of Narush and the downfall of her family. As always, it's a rough draft and constructive feedback is more than welcome.

Sameen didn’t sleep well that night. Her mind would not settle to let her rest even when she grew weary of arguing with herself. When she did manage to get a few minutes of sleep in the early hours of the morning, her dreams were filled with Asreth. She saw him astride his tall bay stallion, riding across an unfamiliar wasteland under a baking sun. She woke unsettled and paced her bedroom floor until she grew tired again. When she returned to her bed, the vision repeated itself twice.
She abandoned her bed altogether before the sun even rose and wandered the hallways for several hours. Her pacing carried her to the Hall of Ancients, which she had purposefully avoided since her arrival. She walked slowly along the row of daises, reading the name inscribed on each throne. The thought of finding familiar names terrified her, but she felt compelled to look. If she could find the throne of someone she knew, perhaps things would be made clearer.
When at last she grew tired, she climbed the dais and sat on one of the couch-like thrones, curling into herself. She rested but did not sleep, and watched the light of the sun spread its way across the marbled floor of the hall.
Elhamair found her there well after dawn. He came as silently as a dream and stood at the foot of the dais for a long while before speaking.
“You will not find them here, Sameen,” he said gently, his voice like a memory in her ears.
Sameen had known this, yet to hear him say it brought a sense of sadness and regret. “Isn’t this where we can come for guidance and wisdom from those who have gone before?” she asked, surprised by how small and childlike her voice sounded.
Elhamair nodded. “Yes. But it is not from the dead themselves that we gain what we seek. We learn from their living acts—the legacy their lives have left for us. We gain wisdom by remembering.”
Sameen said nothing and looked down at where her hands were clasped around her knees, which she had tucked up under her chin.
“You’ve made your decision?” He said it like a question, but Sameen heard it as a confirmation of her own thoughts and nodded.
[Spoiler redacted]
Elhamair stepped onto the dais and joined her on the couch. “I am proud of you for this decision,” he said. “I know how difficult it is for you.”
“I’m so frightened. I just wish we could know for certain things will work out and that we’re not just fighting in vain.”
“When you fight for a worthy cause,” Elhamair said seriously. “You are never fighting in vain. Battles may be lost, even entire wars, but in the end, evil designs will fail and tyrants fall. The timing may not always be what you hope it would be, but good things have a way of working themselves out.”
“You know, that doesn’t really make me feel any better,” Sameen sighed.
Elhamair chuckled. “No, I suppose it wouldn’t. But know this: ignorance of the future gives you power. Great power demands great sacrifice, and sacrifice given with a perfect knowledge of the outcome is not a true sacrifice. Your efforts will be backed by strength and power beyond your own only when you willingly give of yourself with nothing more than the hope that it will be enough.”

Lately, I've been struggling to find the motivation to write--and mostly because I just don't think I'm all that good. But it's nice to have an excuse to pat myself on the back every once in a while and to know that sometimes I can string a decent sentence together. So I owe a big thanks to Juliana Brandt for organizing the blogfest. What a great way to embrace the challenge of writing with other people who understand. We really should do that more often.

What are your reasons for writing? And what is your favorite Warm Fuzzy writing moment?

(For the blog fest: +5 blog post)

BTWP: Ari Susu-Mago

2011-11-14T07:00:00.004-07:00

The Writer's Platform-Building Campaign wrapped up recently, and I am very sad to see it go. I've met so many wonderful bloggers and writers through the Campaign, and my First Priority folder in Google Reader has put on some serious weight. (I can't think of a better thing to be called fat, though. Seriously. Those bloggers are amazing.)

Today's interview is with a blogger who has earned herself a coveted spot in the aforementioned folder, and I'm sure you'll agree that she deserves it. Please welcome the fuzziest of flying mangos,

Ari Susu-Mago

What is your earliest writing memory? What did you write about? Did it have a title?

I don't remember the first thing that I physically wrote down, but when I was five, I fancied myself quite the raconteur. Most of these stories were dictated to my mother, who dutifully recorded them on a yellow legal pad and kept them in a three-ring binder that we have to this day. I don't think they had titles, but the characters were fairly specific. One set of stories (some of which were contributed by my younger sister) involved anthropomorphic aphids who lived on a flower. We'd just learned what aphids were, and I think we were rather taken with the pathos of having one's home literally uprooted in order to decorate someone's table. In the non-aphid stories, Disney's Aladdin and Princess Jasmine showed up with great regularity. As for the first story I remember typing on my dad's computer, it was about a pack of sentient, telepathic velociraptors. Yep, I was a weird kid. I guess I still am.

When you were 6, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A paleontologist. I decided this at age five and never wavered until the age of about twelve or thirteen when I started to consider writing as a potential career instead of a hobby. But I still love dinosaurs with a passion, and nothing can send me into giddy raptures like walking into the Mesozoic hall of a natural history museum. Naturally, going on a paleontological dig is one of the top items on my bucket list.

What is the best compliment your writing has ever received?

Ahhh, that's a hard one! I mean, sometimes compliments that might be smaller on an objective level mean more to you if you really love/respect the person who said them. Can I pick two?

One of my creative writing professors (himself a Pultizer Prize-winning author) once told me that he was "very impressed" by my work. "You are, it seems, an actual writer -- you have a strong, vivid voice, a good feel for character, that that most mysterious of all writerly qualities, authority. I hope you plan to continue writing." I was simultaneously really flattered and really confused because, while I got impression this was supposed to be a big compliment, I had no idea what he meant by "authority". So went to to look it up. In case it's an unfamiliar term for you too, it turns out that "authority" refers to (in the words of Hilari Bell), "prose that displays enough skill, professionalism and polish that it convinces the reader that the author knows what he's doing. The reader (subconsciously) takes in the easy grace of the sentences and says, 'This person can tell me a story! I'll trust him enough to suspend my disbelief and give him a chance.'" So yeah, hearing that from someone like him was pretty amazing.

The compliment that I treasure for more sentimental reasons was when a beloved high school English teacher earnestly told me (after reading a creative writing assignment that I'd opted to do instead of an essay) that I had a "a real gift" for writing. I'd been told that I was a good writer before, but it just meant so much more coming from him. I think I glowed for the rest of the week.

Can you tell us a little about your current WIP?

The thing about doing National Novel Writing Month all the time is that you're forever generating new WIPs, so I'm not sure which to tell you about! The one I'm writing right now for NaNoWriMo is about holographic racehorses and headstrong little brothers, among other things. However, the one that I usually mean when I talk to people about "my novel" is a quirky fantasy story about a teenage boy whose best friend gets turned into a parrot (and who then has to find a way to change her back). It's got mystery, adventure, parallel universes, vague hints of Norse mythology, and an excess of snark. I've been working on it since I wrote the first draft two years ago, and part of me is dying to just go ahead and query the damn thing already, but I know it's nowhere near ready to be sent out. So after NaNo this year, back to editing I go...

Do you follow a routine when it comes to writing?

Apart from procrastination, you mean? Well, I'm a tea addict, so having a warm mug by my side is pretty standard. Otherwise, I'm rather inconsistent about the regularity of my writing; it tends to be either when I'm inspired or whenever I have a deadline to write to. (This is part of why NaNoWriMo is so good for me.) Fortunately, I'm also pretty good at writing even when I'm not inspired, so as long as I have a free hour or two to devote to writing, I can usually get something done in that space of time.

What do you find hardest about writing?

Worldbuilding. Oy vey, the worldbuilding. I write sci-fi and fantasy, so worldbuilding is part and parcel of those genres, but it's not something that comes to me naturally! I have friends who love it and who sometimes get so involved in building their universes that they don't always get around to writing the stories set there. I'm the complete opposite. I always start with the characters and story, and the specifics of the world tend to grow up around that. There are definitely tricky aspects to this method. Often, I just want to flail my hands and go, "It doesn't matter! Who cares if they eat rice instead of barley? That's not important to this part of the story!" Sometimes I'm right about this, and sometimes I'm spectacularly wrong; I usually have to wait for beta reader feedback before I know one way or the other.

What is your favorite book (at least currently)?

Oh nooo! The awful question! I love so many different books for different reasons---how am I supposed to prioritize them?

Well, I'll go with my favorite book that I read recently: Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. It's a close call because I've read a bunch of amazing books this year (When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead and Goliath by Scott Westerfeld also come to mind), but Alexie's book was so emotionally moving while also managing to be laugh-out-loud hilarious. And it's one of those books that ends with this wonderful, satisfying resonance, the kind where you sit back and go, "Yes. That was the way it was supposed to end."

What non-writing hobbies do you like to participate in?

I've been singing about as long as I've been telling stories, so I'm very involved in my university's undergraduate choir. And I'm a card-carrying member of my school's nerd club (or would be, if we were the sort of club that had cards)---we get together and talk about movies, books, TV shows, games, and more. 'Tis awesome. I also really enjoy the fact that there's a lot of membership overlap between these two groups.

Outside of school, I enjoy reading (duh), hanging out with friends, people-watching, traveling, learning languages, drinking tea, baking scones and bread, taking walks, and performing random little acts of kindness (e.g. putting encouraging sticky notes on bathroom mirrors). And because I want to work in the publishing industry someday, I spend a lot of time on the internet reading the blogs and tweets of authors, agents, and editors. I hope this doesn't make me a stalker...I mean, that's what they're there for, right? To be read?

If you had $1,000,001, what would you do with the $1?

Hide it somewhere for some lucky person to find! I think taping it inside a book cover could be fun....

Give us one random fact about yourself.

I speak fluent lolcat. And I mean that literally---in spite of this general impression people seem to have of me being intelligent and well-spoken, I regularly revert to asking my roommate, "teh fone noms, i can haz dem?" (translation: "Can I borrow your phone charger?"). After spending several weeks in close proximity to me while on tour with our choir, a friend of mine remarked that he had "never met anyone who speaks more like the internet than [I] do." Iz tru.

To learn more about Ari and her writing, visit her blog, A Fuzzy Mango With Wings, and follow her on Twitter at @AriSusuMago.

If you would be interested in being a BTWP interviewee, send me an email at jestkeptsecret (at) gmail (dot) com.

Warm Fuzzies Blog Fest: No More Miss Nice Gal

2011-11-08T18:53:00.002-07:00

I'll admit it: I'm not very nice to my characters. I've written before about raising the stakes (here and here) and telling stories that are difficult to tell, and I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't try to do that in my own writing. I'm also a big fan of good villains, and you can't have a good villain without making your characters really suffer.

Sameen certainly needs to have tough skin if she's going to survive. Some of the things she has to deal with include

Losing both her home and the only family she has ever known in a single night
Finding out that it's her fault
Being right when nobody believes her, and bad things happen because if it
Getting captured by the "bad" guy and discovering there's more to his story than she's been told

And Asreth doesn't exactly escape the Wrath of Jess, either. In fact, he might even suffer more than Sameen does. He

Witnesses someone he is very close to betraying the entire country for selfish reasons
Feels guilty for having let said person get away with it
Loses his father, siblings, and multiple friends in a series of hopeless battles
Is uprooted every few months and lives on the run
Lives in abject poverty--but worse, sees others in poverty worse than his and knows he has no power to do anything about it
Watches the woman he loves get captured and tortured

Wow. Now I really sound like a sadist... But I promise it's all for a good cause! The characters are better for their suffering, and though things don't exactly have a perfectly happy ending, they end the way they need to (I hope...).

So what about you? What forms of torture do you inflict upon your poor characters?

And for the fun and games portion of the Blog Fest: based on the mean things I admit that I've done to my characters, what title would you give my book? The most outrageous/creative titles have a chance to win a cute handmade journal! There's also a chance to win a 1/2 hour phone call from Misty Provencher, a talented author and blogger. Go check it out, if you haven't already!

(Blog Fest total: 10 points for this week and last)

BTWP: Fabienne Seegler

2011-11-07T07:00:00.004-07:00

Das heutige BTW Interview ist mit einem süßen Mädchen aus Deutschland. Ich dachte, ich hätte Spaß daran das Intro ins deutsche zu übersetzten, aber leider kenne ich keine Deutschen. Ein Juhu für Google Übersetzung! Aber selbst mit, denke ich, dass die Übersetzung nicht genau ist, aber vielleicht kann Fabienne die Fehler für uns richten?

And for those of us who don't speak German, that says, "Today's BTWP interview is with a sweet girl from Germany. I thought I'd have fun and try to write the intro in German, but alas, I don't know any German. Huzzah for Google Translate! But even then, I'm guessing that this translation isn't accurate, so maybe Fabienne can fix the mistakes for us?" :) (Edit: She did!)

Herzlich willkommen (Please welcome)

Fabienne Seegler

What is your earliest writing memory? What did you write about? Did it have a title?

A poem written in grade 3. I think it was a poem for the Mother's day and it was in heart-shape and red. You know the poems written in lines and the words getting fewer and fewer until there is only one word in one line left? That was one.

After that I only wrote again in grade 8. It was a creative test in German form. We should write a short diary entry of a Jew boy. It was so much fun and and that got me an A.
Maybe that was the time I should have realized that I love to write stories. But I didn't. I was that clueless kind of girl.
It took me actually eight years to realize that I love to create stories. And two years to realize I want to become a professional author. Yeah, what a clueless girl.

When you were 6, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A detective, definetly. I thought I'd be awesome to solve cases - like finiding disappeared Barbies or how Santa Claus can come into a house without a chimney. (The Barbies, by the way, didn't have disapperead I just couldn't remember where I had put them). I also wanted those cool stuff, like a loupe, fingerprint powder and that stuff called invisible ink. Writing invisible messages to friends? You felt like Indiana Jones and James Bond at the same time. At that time I wanted to be a ballet dancer too.

Thinking about it, I could have been a ballet dancing detective ...

What is the best compliment your writing has ever received?

Ah, I don't know. All the compliments I got were the best.

Can you tell us a little about your current WIP?

'Course.

Akhenaten is rising again. Now he wants to collect all the scattered relics he needs to regain his power. If he finds all pieces of his sundial he will bring chaos and darkness over the world, enslaving every human being. Thirteen-year-old Violetta O’Shea and Egyptian boy Set Bekhit have to find the relics before the Pharao does. With much help of unforgettable friends and a wise-cracking snake bracelet, the two kids have to save the world before it’s too late.

Do you follow a routine when it comes to writing?

Normally, I start with brainstorming and plotting. After that everything depends on what came out of the plotting and brainstorming. Do I already like the story? Does the story need some refreshing thoughts, a new makeover? Do I need to start the whole story over? A lot of questions. But when I answered them I'm ready to write. While writing I change some things here and there and think some things over and over again. But I never write the book in different orders, it would just confuse me and I would end up changing everything I wrote until then. I also never write my story with pen on paper. It's just that I don't like to read my own handwriting. *laugh*

What do you find hardest about writing?

Seating my butt in chair.

What is your favorite book (at least currently)?

Honestly? All Rick Riordan and Suzanne Collins books. I just love Percy Jackson and Gregor the Overlander. Currently, I read "The Son Of Neptune" and adore it. Can't wait for the sequel to come out. But I also like some classical literature too, like Goethe's "Faust" or "Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf?" But I'm not that big of an adult literatur fan.

What non-writing hobbies do you like to participate in?

I draw and paint. And cook and back a lot. I love backing Cup cakes.

If you had $1,000,001, what would you do with the $1?

I'd buy myself a cool ice lolly. Or invest it in the sometime-pigs-will-fly technology.

Give us one random fact about yourself.

I am from Germany but only write my stories in English. It could have something to do with the fact that I will study in England next year, but I won't depend on that fact - I heard it from a not-flying pig and they're not trustworthy if you ask me.

Thank you for such a great interview, Fabienne! I look forward to reading about Violetta and Set Bekhit!

If you would be interested in being a BTWP interviewee, send me an email at jestkeptsecret (at) gmail (dot) com.

Warm Fuzzies Blog Fest: Guessing Games and Makeup Work

2011-11-02T18:53:00.002-06:00

If you've followed this blog for any amount of time, you've probably seen a little about my current revision project, The Last Daughter of Elhamair. Still, I haven't divulged too much of the plot (call me paranoid--you're probably right...), and things aren't likely to change much.

But today, Juliana Brandt's Warm Fuzzies Blog Fest is a celebration of secrets, of sorts. The point of the game is to post a picture that represents the theme of our WIPs, and then you can guess what our WIPs are about in the comments. The most creative guesses will win a cool hat, and there's also a chance to win a full blog makeover by the amazing Janice Foy.

So here you go:

Without cheating (I'm looking at you), what do you think the theme of The Last Daughter of Elhamair is?

And since I was sent on an unexpected business trip to Las Vegas last week and missed week 1, I hope y'all will indulge me as I answer that prompt, too.

Last week, Juliana asked us to share the best response we've gotten when we've told someone that we're a writer.

As a horsewoman, I find it really humorous when I tell people I ride and they say something along the lines of, "Oh, my uncle's brother-in-law's next door neighbor's dog's groomer's adopted son's biological mother has a horse."

"Yeah?" I ask. "What kind of horse?"

"A black stallion."

Mmmhmm...

And I find that telling people that I'm a writer risks a similar response: "Oh, my [extremely distant and much removed relation] is a published author. Maybe you've read his book? It's called The Dragonpheonix's Destiny, the Magical Ring of Norindooooorlox, and the Long Road to Paris*. I've never read it but I hear it's pretty good."

"Who published it?"

"Some place called Publish America, I think. It's sold, like, 100 million copies."

Mmmhmm...

But on the upside, sometimes it's not like that at all. Sometimes people show genuine interest. Sometimes they ask what it's about. Sometimes they even say they'd like to read it someday. I'm sure most of them are only being nice, but it still makes me feel like people just might read my stuff someday.

And to a writer, that's everything.

*My apologies if you have a book with this title. However, if you do, you may want to change it. My grandmother's second cousin's librarian's mechanic's daughter's 3rd grade teacher's girlfriend has one on sub with this title.

BTWP: Annalise Green

2011-10-24T07:00:00.000-06:00

Random fact: my father is an alien. Not the green kind, mind you, but he's a Canadian living in the US, so he has an Alien Registration Card. As a child, this fascinated me--and I'll admit, I still find ways to tease him about this. Now, I really think that today's interviewee should meet my dad. I think she would also find him amusing, and you'll see why...

Annalise Green

What is your earliest writing memory? What did you write about? Did it have a title?

In fifth grade, I wrote about an alien who looked like a dinosaur, whose planet got invaded by aliens who looked like bugs. The bug aliens killed pretty much everyone on the planet except for our dinosaur alien, and then at the end the dinosaur alien rushed the bug aliens and killed them. All of them. So, Shakespeare.

My teacher liked it so much that she read it aloud to the class, and my class liked it so much that they asked her to read it again. Their favorite part was when the dinosaur alien yelled “AHHHHHHHHH!” and killed the bug aliens in a bloody mess. So even at that age, I knew that my stories could touch an emotional nerve and resonate with readers.

When you were 6, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to own a bookstore. Then I actually worked at a bookstore.

It’s not bookstores that are the problem, really. It’s the cash registers. They hate me.

What is the best compliment your writing has ever received?

A couple years ago, a writing professor wrote in an evaluation (and I quote) that my “writing is bold, inventive, propulsive – again and again she finds new ways of fusing the popular and the literary, mixing elements of science fiction with psychologically and emotionally probing, literary prose.”

I was so amazed at his commitment to the lie that I taped that evaluation to my computer so that I could lie to myself too. I’m actually very good at it.

Can you tell us a little about your current WIP?

It’s about teenagers being abducted by aliens. It’s exciting because I get to write about aliens. And teenagers. There’s at least one obscene use of a ukulele, so that’s fun.

An important selling point for this WIP – when I told my mother about it, she said, “Annalise, no one will want to read that.”

Do you follow a routine when it comes to writing?

Sort of. For me, I’m not able to write every day. If I make that my goal, then I inevitably don’t write at all and feel guilty about it. But there are certain times every week when I have time to write, so I try to capitalize on that. I will say that I have to schedule my writing time at least a day in advance, or it won’t happen at all.

What do you find hardest about writing?

This is a huge cliché, but turning off my internal editor. I’ve often compared my internal editor to a fox, not the actual animal, but the children’s story kind. She’s crafty – she lures me into the woods with promises of perfection, then devours me whole. It doesn’t help that I’m an unrepentant perfectionist, which I think is probably true of most writers.

What is your favorite book (at least currently)?

There are so many books I could recommend, but my favorite book of all-time is Catch-22. There aren’t that many books out there that can make me laugh and cry at the same time. Reading that book, I had moments where I was laughing with tears running down my face.

What non-writing hobbies do you like to participate in?

Video games! Specifically, Bioware and cutesy stuff like Harvest Moon.

If you had $1,000,001, what would you do with the $1?

I would give it to my brother, because then he would have $1 and I would have $1,000,000.

Give us one random fact about yourself.

I have a huge crush on Patrick Stump. Both during the FOB days and his current look. He just strikes me as really sincere. I’m not even sure I want to marry him, just his voice. Conservatives will be aghast.

To read more about Annalise and her writing, check out her website. She also tweets as @Annalise_Green.

If you would be interested in being a BTWP interviewee, send me an email at jestkeptsecret (at) gmail (dot) com.

I'd Like To Thank The Academy...

2011-10-22T12:56:00.001-06:00

Or at least the Anime. That lovely girl has given me not one, but two blog awards. She spoils me. I love it. ;) Seriously, though, she is awesome, and you should follower her blog right now. Go ahead. I'll wait.

For the 7 x 7 Award, I'm supposed to look back at 7 of my favorite posts in various categories.

Most Beautiful - Home (Not a beautiful post, per se, but about the most beautiful place I've ever known)

Most Helpful - A Writer's Guide To First Aid

Most Controversial - A Is For Abstinence, That's Good Enough For Me

Most Surprisingly Successful - Villains are People, Too

Most Underrated - The "You Are So Totally Worth It" Jar

Most Prideworthy - Quirky (Featured on YA Highway's Field Trip Friday!)

And since the Writer's Platform Building Campaign is drawing to a close, I'd like to honor some of my fellow campaigners with these awards. These bloggers are among my favorites from the campaign, but there are so many more that I wish I could also give the award to. If you haven't done it already, go check out the list of campaigners and find some gems for yourself!

Ari Susu-Mago from A Fuzzy Mango With Wings
Alleged Author
David Powers King
Bess Weatherby from It's The World, Dear
1000th Monkey
Shelley Koon from Dark Writes

I'd also like to honor my friend Katie Christine, whose blog, To See In All Directions At The Same Time, is one of the most beautiful, compelling things I have ever read.

Thank you again, Anime, and happy reading, y'all!

Third Campaigner Challenge: The Business Trip to Purgatory

2011-10-20T21:16:00.001-06:00

It's time for the third and final (sad face) challenge for the Writer's Platform-Building Campaign, and this time, the stakes have been raised: higher word counts, made up words, and the ever-elusive "show don't tell" (ever-elusive at least for me, anyway...). For all the details, check out Rachael's Blog, and be sure to read all the fabulous entries and vote for your favorite. (*cough cough* I'm number 84 *cough cough*)

The Business Trip to Purgatory

I check my watch out of habit and groan. The hands both dangle towards the six, their tips bobbing in a centimeter of sea water. I give the face of the ruined Synbatec a half-hearted tap with the tip of my forefinger. I spent an entire paycheck on that stupid watch because my stupid new boss wanted me to impress his stupid friends, and where the heck was he anyway?

“You wait here and watch for a rescue boat,” I say, mocking Louis’ voice. “I’ll go find wood for a signal fire ‘cause I’m a manly man.” My soggy shoes squelch as I kick at the sand. “Oh yeah?!” I shout towards the trees. “I hope you fall in your stupid fire because I never wanted to go to Fiji anyway!”

I plop down beside a palm tree and lean my head back against the rough bark. Halfway around the world, my son would be watching that show he watched every night before bed—what is it called? Wastopaneer? It’s some foreign cartoon about a guy stuck on an island and Jimmy will laugh and laugh as this guy tries to escape. Because apparently, being shipwrecked is hilarious. Har-dee-freakin’-har.

A breeze wafts past me, reeking of dank wood and…beer? I wrinkle my nose and turn to see Louis stumble from trees, each arm around a slender women in a bright sarong.

“Look what I found, Wallace!” His words are slurred. “Help!” He giggles—giggles—then turns serious as he shoves a sharp finger into my sternum. “Lisssten, you’ve been a real sssport. When we get back, I’m gonna give you a raisssse.” He pats my shoulder like he’s proud of me—and pukes all over my expensive Tacise oxfords.

Raise? Right. When we get back, I’m quitting.

BTWP: Nick Hight

2011-10-17T07:00:00.003-06:00

Today's interview is with our first male author and youngest participant to date. Personally, I think this young writer will go very far--there is no doubt that he has some serious talent. From the beautiful land of New Zealand, please welcome

Nick Hight

What is your earliest writing memory? What did you write about? Did it have a title?

Either when I was four or five, when I was just learning to write, I remember penning a "novel" based on the adventures of Peter Pan. And when I say "based on" I mean I copied the entire story. Anyway, this masterpiece was a full four pages long in a small yellow exercise book with hugely-spaced lines and a gap at the top of each page to draw pictures. I put one chapter to each page, so there were four chapters. And I remember encountering writers' block for the first time, too: my last chapter was simply, "They all flew home," because I had no idea what else to write. So, even though I claim to hate fan-fiction, it's actually where I started off ten years ago.

When you were 6, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A writer. I've almost always wanted to be a writer - ever since I learned to hold a pen, ever since I learned what writing was. It's interesting, I was looking back at some old files last week of things I wrote and bits of information about me that my mum collected. And one of the things I noticed was that around the time I turned five, my dream job changed from being a doctor to being an author. It's still my dream job.

What is the best compliment your writing has ever received?

This would probably have to be the time I accidentally let my dad read a poem I wrote. No, seriously, it was completely unintentionally. I was showing him something on my computer, oblivious to the fact that I had the poem up in the background. When I realised he was reading it I freaked out, because I used to be incredibly secretive about my work (and still am to some extent). The compliment, though, was that my dad was flabbergasted. He was speechless. Speechless, as in, couldn't speak for at least twenty minutes. And my mum observed the he was quieter over the next few days. Just remembering how utterly impressed Dad was with that poem encourages me and puts a smile on my face.

Can you tell us a little about your current WIP?

Yes! It's an epic fantasy, detailing the story of Zeth, a sixteen-year-old boy who has no memory of his life before the age of ten. When he discovers a magic crystal, strange things begin to happen to him, and he gains the ability to dream of the future. However, this comes at a terrible price: Zeth's home is destroyed by dark agents and he is forced to flee for his life. Little does he know that his emotional journey will lead him closer and closer to the inevitable truth: that his dreams of power are the key to unlocking his forgotten past, and a destiny beyond his imagination.

Do you follow a routine when it comes to writing?

I'm not sure if that's possible. Writing is pure creation, so it's different every time you sit down to do it. But, generally, I'll try to remember to pray before I start, and after that I'll simply get out my notebooks or my computer and work on whatever needs to be worked on. I'll just pick up from where I left off last time I did some writing. And if I get stuck, then I'll wander around in circles for a bit and see what happens. It's really subjective to whatever the task at hand is.

What do you find hardest about writing?

Jack London once said, "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." And, you might agree, this is probably one of the hardest things. Some days I feel like I haven't got the energy to keep going after inspiration. Other days I feel like I haven't got a club. I'll sit down to write and nothing will happen in my mind, so I'll walk in circles, then I'll climb outside through my window and walk in circles in the yard, then I'll climb back inside, more circles, sit down. Nothing. The truth is, coming up with varied, interesting and malleable ideas is difficult - and articulating those things can be even more so. However, I have to admit: the absolute hardest thing about writing, the thing I find most difficult above all, is stopping when the ideas are flowing like a river.

What is your favorite book (at least currently)?

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, possibly because it took me something like seven years to read it. But mostly because I whole-heartedly admire Tolkien's imagination and storytelling ability. He created a myth, a legend. The Guardian said it best as an endorsement of this story: "How, given little over half a century of work, did one man become the creative equivalent of a people?"

What non-writing hobbies do you like to participate in?

Although I don't actually take lessons any more, I still sit down rather often to play the piano. I'm not brilliant at it, but I'm not terrible either, and it's really good for relaxation and just helps me to take me mind off my writing. Which, occasionally, can be a good thing.

If you had $1,000,001, what would you do with the $1?

Pay the bus fare to a bookstore. Without a doubt.

Give us one random fact about yourself.

I don't like the idea of getting books out of the library - I would prefer to buy them. I think this is probably because my dad owns a lot of books, and one of my life goals is to one day have more than him. When you buy books, you can place them on your ever-filling bookshelves for admiring, quick referencing, reading, whatever. But they're there - accessible, available. And so, when someone tells you that they're going to the library, you reply, "Just come to my house."

To read more about Nick and his writing, check out his blog, Writing Fire. He also tweets as @nickhight.

If you would be interested in being a BTWP interviewee, send me an email at jestkeptsecret (at) gmail (dot) com.

BTWP: Kate Lineberger

2011-10-11T08:00:00.001-06:00

For me, the best thing about Rachael's Writer's Platform-Building Campaign is the opportunity to meet lots and lots and lots of really awesome fellow writers, and today's interviewee is no different. Please welcome

Kate Lineberger

What is your earliest writing memory? What did you write about? Did it have a title?

My brother has always been a bit of a prodigy. He was older than me and brilliant at an early age. When he was 10 years old, he already started writing very short fiction and all my family did was praise his genius. I had such a fit of jealousy that I sat at our Apple II computer and wrote a small story. It didn't have a title, quotation marks or even paragraphs. It was a story about four girls who were friends. I don't recall ever printing it out, but my first years of writing was in the attempt to write something better than my brother had. I just never stopped.

When you were 6, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A teacher. My mom had bought us a small chalkboard. Usually at the end of the school year, teachers would give out old workbooks, and sometimes textbooks, that they wouldn't be using. I would use these to pretend to be both a student and an instructor. This kept me entertained for most of the summer.

What is the best compliment your writing has ever received?

"I tried to hate this, but I couldn't." I know it's an odd compliment, but when I was in college, I took both English Literature and Creative Writing courses. In my introduction to creative writing, we had to write a short fiction. I chose to write what ended up being the first few chapters of an unfinished manuscript I have. There was one student in the class that did his very best to rip everyone's work apart. He had found something in every single student's work that was terrible. When it was my turn, I was ready -- I thought it would've been easy, since it was fantasy and featured a humanoid race of fairies -- and he looked at it and then at me, saying, "I tried to hate this, but I couldn't." He then went on to discuss what he loved about it. I was the only classmate he didn't tear to shreds.

Afterwards, we had to meet with the professor privately about it. I thought the story was done. He said to me, "This is not a short story. This is a novel. You have to make this a novel." It was the highest bit of praise between these two strangers that I could have ever asked for.

Can you tell us a little about your current WIP?

About two years ago, I was reading a lot of urban fantasy (Jim Butcher, in particular) and watching a lot of supernatural shows (Buffy: The Vampire Slayer). I was reading a lot about werewolves and vampires. I had always a fondness for ghosts; despite not enjoying horror movies, I always was drawn to ones about haunted houses. I had tried to find some urban fantasy that featured ghosts and couldn't find any. I decided I was going to write my own. Stages: A Survival Guide for Specters is a novel told by Quinn Landers, who has recently died and found herself roaming the earth with other ghosts. They surround the world of the living, but do not interact with them. Throughout the novel, Quinn speaks directly to the reader about being a ghost, showing its dangers and heartaches. There's a fair amount of action, friendships, love and a lot of betrayal that Quinn faces as she tells a ghost story from her perspective.

Do you follow a routine when it comes to writing?

I try very hard to have one, but it doesn't always work. I try to sit down, three times a week, for an hour. I find having a routine and being used to it is the only way writing works. When you step away from it, it's easy to put it all aside and forget you were even working on a novel.

What do you find hardest about writing?

Not being overwhelmed. As a novel writer, I find it's easy to see all the things you need to do and become buried in it. Since this isn't a paying job, there's lots of "what's the point?" moments or "I have better things to do." The first five minutes of writing tend to be grueling, almost impossible, but it's smooth sailing after that. You get to remember why you decided to devote your time to this in the first place.

What is your favorite book (at least currently)?

Dracula, by Bram Stoker. I know it's odd, being that I usually look down on all the vampire fiction out there, but this novel didn't really focus on the nature of a vampire. It focuses on the gothic better than I had ever seen done prior. It set the mood; the words itself engulf the reader, giving a constant sense of dread and hopelessness. I have always adored this book and will read it over and over again.

What non-writing hobbies do you like to participate in?

I'm a massive knitter. I picked up knitting about three years ago, when I was going through so hard times. Knitting became very meditative; when things go wrong, I pick up the needles and just go with it and I find it calms my nerves and clears my head. In the end, I get fun clothes to wear and I get a lot of compliments on my completed projects.

If you had $1,000,001, what would you do with the $1?

I would buy something from Office Max. I find sick joy in organization and desk equipment.

Give us one random fact about yourself.

I have a tattoo on my back that I drew myself that represents my creativity. The drawing occurred to me out of the blue, and the odd thing about it is that I can't draw at all. I grabbed a piece of computer paper and frantically drew until I got it perfect. I stared at it for days and knew I wanted this to become a part of me. I went to see a tattoo artist and had it drawn in black on my left shoulder blade. I always look at it when I'm suffering writers block or lacking creativity in some other regard and it always picks me up. This is why it is my current photo on twitter.

--

To read more about Kate and her writing, check out her website. She also tweets as @kllwrites.

If you would be interested in being a BTWP interviewee, send me an email at jestkeptsecret (at) gmail (dot) com.

I'll Make A Man Out of You

2011-10-10T07:00:00.007-06:00

In case it isn't obvious, I am a female. I see the world through estrogen-influenced eyes.

Because of this fact, all of the stories I have written to date have been told from a female POV. And while the novel I'm currently outlining could very easily be told through another female's POV, I'm kind of thinking it might be fun to tell it from the perspective of the male MC.

Trouble is, I don't know how to write from a male perspective because I've never experienced it for myself. I know it's possible--I've read plenty of books written by female authors but told through a male perspective--but I haven't got the foggiest idea of where to even start. And I'm afraid that if I try, Ace (the MC) will come across sounding like a pansy, which he is definitely not.

So I need some help. Ladies, how do you get into a male MC's head well enough to write from his perspective? And Gentlemen, do you have any advice for us female folk?

All Mixed Up Inside

2011-10-04T07:00:00.001-06:00

How can a person feel this excited and this sad all at the same time? I feel like there are too many emotions for tiny little me to handle and I might become a gigantic bit of nothing just so I can cope with it all.

That didn't even make sense. You see what the craziness is doing to me?

Big Things are happening in my life. I wish I could say that I finished revisions or got an agent or something writerly, but these other Big Things are equally good.

As of this past weekend, I have been offered a full time, permanent position with a wonderful company in Colorado. I'll have lots of room for creativity, I'll learn how to use big machines, and I get a really great deal on rent in my very first all-by-myself apartment. I feel like I'm finally an adult, and since I'm 25, I'd say it's about stinking time.

All sorts of excitement and thrills and little heart palpitations goin' on right now, folks.

But it means I'm leaving Philmont for good this time. Not like last summer, when I left thinking it was my last season and ended up back there 6 months later. This is for real. This is goodbye until we meet again a long, long time from now. This is don't look over your left shoulder at Arrowhead Rock to make sure you'll come back someday because if you don't see it, you'll start crying, and if you do see it, you'll still start crying, and if you cry, you can't see the road and you'll probably crash and then how will you get to Colorado, genius?

And it means that I have a nice fresh start and I can be whoever I want to be because hardly anybody knows me there. Not that I don't like the current me or anything. I'm just excited that all these things I wish I was--like braver or more positive or motivated to exercise or a hippie--I can be now because nobody there knows that I'm a chicken or that I sometimes complain too much or that running is really, really hard for me or that I'm too afraid to wear hippie clothes because I'm afraid I'll look like I'm trying too hard. I can be whoever I want to be.

But I'm also terrified. I hardly know a soul (thank goodness for the few friends who will be living within an hour or so of me), and sometimes it's hard for me to be myself around people I don't know. And then I freak out and think, what if I don't make any friends? What if they all think I'm weird because I prefer living in a tent or I over analyze every movie I ever watch because film school made me anal or I wear hippie clothes and oh my gosh, she is trying way too hard and she is so weird.

And then it hits me that I have NOTHING. Well, I have a lot of books, so that's not nothing. But I don't even have a bed to sleep on in my new apartment. Or dishes to make food in. Or a microwave to cook TV dinners in, or even a TV for that matter. What am I to do?

I must be crazy.

But then I think about how badly I wanted this job, and how there are things that happened to help me get it that can only be described as miracles. And I don't know what you believe, but I believe in a God who is a very real, very active part of my life, and if He has a reason for me to do this, then everything will be just fine.

And I can stop worrying.

And I can just be happy and accept whatever comes as part of the journey.

And I can remember that in the end, the journey is everything.

That's not so mixed up after all, is it?

What about you? How do you cope with big, scary changes in your life? And do you happen to know anybody with a truck near Denver who can help me move some furniture I'm going to get free off of Craigslist?

BTWP: Susan Barclay

2011-10-03T06:00:00.005-06:00

Today's interview is with another Campaigner. Her short story A Ray for Mary Jo was published by Highland Press in the 'No Law Against Love' anthology (2006), which raised money for breast cancer. The publisher's rights to the stories ended this year, so the story is now available for sale as an e-story (only 99 cents!) in many places online. Bonny Blue Christmas was also published by Highland Press in the 'On a Cold Winter's Night' anthology (2009). Please welcome

Susan Barclay

What is your earliest writing memory? What did you write about? Did it have a title?

The earliest memory I have of writing anything goes back to when I was about three or four. I was sitting on the front porch of the house my mother still owns, singing a song I’d made up. My mom came out while I was singing and told me that it was amazing and we should write it down. Unfortunately, by the time she got out the pen and paper, I couldn’t remember the words. I have no idea what it was about or if it had a title.

When you were 6, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Like every girl of my generation, I wanted to be a teacher. :) I actually did apply to teacher’s college after university and was accepted into the program, but I decided I didn’t really like public speaking very much, so it was probably better if I accepted the invitation to get my Masters of Library Science instead. If I’d had more confidence, I’d probably have gone for a Masters in Creative Writing instead.

What is the best compliment your writing has ever received?

It’s hard to choose. Really! Here are my three favourites, in chronological order:

• My grade 2/3 teacher remembered a line from one of my stories and years later could still quote it from memory (which is a heck of a lot better than I could do)!
• After reading part of the novel I’m working on, one of my critique partners said she could see it becoming an OBOC book one day (One Book, One Community – where “everyone” in the community is encouraged to read the same book)
• When Wayson Choy, author of the Jade Peony, provided feedback on 25 pages of my novel and told me “You are a writer.”

Can you tell us a little about your current WIP?

Which one?! I’ve been working on a novel for adults for quite a while – something I work on intermittently. It’s about a mother-daughter relationship that is strained for reasons that the daughter doesn’t understand (ie the mother has a secret the daughter doesn’t know about). Other WIPs include a chapter book for children that I’m revising for the umpteenth time, a short story for adults that is part of a trilogy and deals with the subject of suicide, and nature-themed poetry.

Do you follow a routine when it comes to writing?

Unfortunately, I have no particular writing routine. It’s something I’m working on. I do have writing goals for this fall – you can find out more about them at http://notesfrominnisfree.blogspot.com/2011/09/on-subject-of-lists.html.

What do you find hardest about writing?

Being disciplined. When I actually do write, most of the time I find it fairly easy to get my thoughts, ideas and words on paper (or more correctly, on the computer screen). One author (I forget who) refers to it as “bum glue” – you just have to apply the seat of your pants to the seat of your chair. I like that! In fact, I’m putting it on an e-post-it right now!

What is your favorite book (at least currently)?

My favourite book so far this year is The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Isn’t that what everyone is saying?!

What non-writing hobbies do you like to participate in?

I enjoy reading, photography, walking for exercise, camping, and reconnecting with long lost friends.

If you had $1,000,001, what would you do with the $1?

$1 doesn’t go very far. I’d probably just put it toward a coffee.

Give us one random fact about yourself.

I share my birthday with Emilio Estevez, Stephen Baldwin, Kim Fields and George Carlin, among others.

--

To read more about Susan and her writing, check out her website or blog.

If you would be interested in being a BTWP interviewee, send me an email at jestkeptsecret (at) gmail (dot) com.

BTWP: Jennifer Sulpizio

2011-09-26T08:00:00.002-06:00

Today's interview is with another Campaigner. (Have I mentioned how much I have really enjoyed participating? You get to meet so many talented people!) She is a self published author of two children's picture books, and she recently earned representation for her Women's non-fiction. Please welcome

Jennifer Sulpizio

What is your earliest writing memory? What did you write about? Did it have a title?

I've always loved to write. Nothing major sticks out in my head, just a regular love of it.

When you were 6, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Wonder Woman or maybe a veterinarian. Choices, choices! :)

What is the best compliment your writing has ever received?

Received a review that my children's picture book, "Mommy Whispers," provided special bonding moments for the reviewer and her sweet daughter. Awe.

Can you tell us a little about your current WIP?

Absolutely. Working on a number of things right now but currently have a Non-fiction Women's Christian MS floating around some publishers' desks. Woot-Woot!

Do you follow a routine when it comes to writing?

Like most events in my life...totally random.

What do you find hardest about writing?

Finding the time to do so. I have three kiddos, 2 dogs, one husband, a business, and a slew of responsibilities cuz I'm the mama.

What is your favorite book (at least currently)?

Any of the Harry Potter books. Love those.

What non-writing hobbies do you like to participate in?

Anything creative. I especially love to plan events, parties, seminars, anything that requires some type of creativity and order.

If you had $1,000,001, what would you do with the $1?

I'd love to give this huge chunk of money to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. That would make my lifetime for sure.

Give us one random fact about yourself.

There are a lot but I used to work at Hot Dog on a Stick and by and far, that was my most favorite job ever!

--

To read more about Jennifer and her writing, check out her website. She also tweets as @JennySulpizio.

If you would be interested in being a BTWP interviewee, send me an email at jestkeptsecret (at) gmail (dot) com.

Shifting ARC Tour

2011-09-21T13:26:00.001-06:00

Let's face it, I'm a sucker for anything set in New Mexico. I love this state more than any other, so it's a pretty good guess that if it even mentions NM in passing, I'm going to like it at least a little.

But really, even if I wasn't so fan-girly over my state, I still would have enjoyed Bethany Wiggins' debut novel, Shifting. It's fast-paced, thrilling, and original, and I couldn't put it down.

I was lucky enough to participate in the pre-release ARC tour Elana Johnson organized for Bethany, and I am so glad I only have to wait a few days until the official release. This is exactly the sort of book I like to have in my library.

In Shifting, we meet Maggie Mae, a foster child who has been shuffled from home to home--some good, some not so good. After yet another run-in with the law, she is sent to a different part of the state altogether to get a fresh start on before she graduates from high school and ages out of the foster care system. But Maggie is a shape shifter, and keeping that a secret might be the very thing that keeps her from having the normal life she so desperately craves.

The characters were each wonderful in their own rights. Mrs. Carpenter, Maggie's new foster parent, is lovable and hysterically funny. Bridger O'Connell, the love interest, is that perfect blend of endearing and frustrating that can make a well-written romance completely believable. The villains were absolutely terrifying--I'm not joking when I said I had nightmares about the Skinwalkers while I read the book. *shudder*

Maggie was such a beautiful soul--a flawed protagonist who tried so hard that I couldn't help but root for her. In my opinion, those are the best characters.

Because I love NM so much, I do have to say that Wiggins' world-building was spot on. I especially loved the descriptions of New Mexico's natural beauty, its yummyummyummy food, and the interesting dynamics created by a society that mixes Navajo, Mexican, and American culture. I seriously need to go visit Silver City before I leave NM again.

And one of the things I loved most about Shifting was that it was clean. It's so nice to see that it is possible to write a good book without language or sexuality, and love knowing that I can recommend this book without reservation.

I look forward to reading more by Bethany Wiggins, and if you haven't read this yet, set your clocks for its release on September 27th!

BTWP: Sophia Chang

2011-09-19T07:12:00.000-06:00

Today's BTWP interviewee comes to us from Rachael Harrie's Platform-Building Campaign. She and I also share a crit partner (Juliana Brandt), a mutual friend (Anime) and a taste for boba (mmmmm!), so she is an automatic winner in my book. Please welcome

Sophia Chang

What is your earliest writing memory? What did you write about? Did it have a title?

3rd grade. A Halloween horror story about a haunted house. Now I'm a scaredy cat and can't read horror.

When you were 6, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A movie star.

What is the best compliment your writing has ever received?

"You WILL be published."

Can you tell us a little about your current WIP?

A YA fantasy in the style of Graceling/Poison Study series/Books of Bayern.

Do you follow a routine when it comes to writing?

I'm a Night Writer ::cue theme:: (please tell me I'm not the only one old enough to get that reference) and an "anytime I can grab a moment at home alone" writer.

What do you find hardest about writing?

The first time I found writing hard was this summer during Camp NaNoWriMo when I tried to finish a novel in verse. Luckily I met Ellen Hopkins at SCBWI the next month and she commiserated and gave me great advice.

What is your favorite book (at least currently)?

The Poison Study series by Maria v. Snyder remains my biggest inspiration and teaching manual. Love That Dog by Sharon Creech always has a place in my heart. I tend to fangirl authors more than individual books.

What non-writing hobbies do you like to participate in?]

I perform with the Harvard Yardbirds, an alumni a capella group and when I'm done with physical therapy, hopefully I'll be able to go back to dancing. I'm also a member of the Los Angeles Twilight Lovers group. Unashamedly. Team Jacob for life!

If you had $1,000,001, what would you do with the $1?

Put it in the boba fund. I drink boba 2-5 times a week. It's kind of disgusting.

Give us one random fact about yourself.

I've spent a cumulative 8 years with colored hair. Usually red or purple, but once blue to match my prom dress.

--

To read more about Sophia and her writing, check out her website. She also tweets as @sophthewriter.

As always, if you would be interested in being a BTWP interviewee, send me an email at jestkeptsecret (at) gmail (dot) com.

A is for Abstinence, That's Good Enough For Me

2011-09-14T08:00:00.001-06:00

Warning: Some of you may not like or agree with what I am about to say, but I think this issue is very important. Still, I will make every effort to be respectful of other opinions, so please know that no offense is intended.

Today, we're going to talk about Sex.

There. I said it. The "S" word. That's not something you'll see very often on this blog.

But after recently reading yet another "Sex In YA" article, I felt it was time to make an argument for abstinence in YA literature. Somebody needs to--and since I've already established myself as a prude, it might as well be me.

I have lots of different concerns about sex in literature, but since I know that not everyone shares my religious or moral views, I won't go into them here. What I will go into is why I personally feel that young adult literature is not an appropriate place for sexuality.

Not all teens are having sex, but literature often portrays it that way.

I'm one of those girls who believes in waiting to have sex until I'm married. That isn't an excuse or an apology. It's just a fact. I'm 25. I'm single. And I honestly believe that intimacy is a beautiful and important aspect of the relationship between two married people. (I don't judge or condemn those who feel otherwise. These are simply the standards I believe in.)

So statements like "all teens have sex" and "sex belongs in YA" really don't sit well with me. I am living proof that not all teens have sex, and I personally know plenty of teens who don't, either. In fact, the CDC released a report earlier this year that showed that less than half of teens aged 15-17 have had sexual intercourse, and the percentage is only slightly higher if you include 18 and 19 year olds[1].

Fictional teens that have sex are rarely held accountable for their actions.

I don't want to get preachy, but sexually active fictional teens set a bad example --and not just in a moral sense.

They rarely use protection because it takes too much away from the pacing of a passionate scene to talk about it. If they do, it's usually mentioned as an afterthought like, "We used protection, so we were safe"--right after a scene described in such detail that I know for a fact they didn't.

Sexually active characters also never get pregnant or contract sexually transmitted diseases unless it's a plot point, effectively convincing real teenagers that those risks are rare and "won't happen to me". But the risks are very real, and very scary. Some facts for you:

According to the Guttmacher Institute, almost 750,000 girls aged 15-19 get pregnant every year. To put that in perspective, Boston, Washington, D.C., Denver and Atlanta all have smaller populations.
"Eighty-two percent of teen pregnancies are unplanned; they account for about one-fifth of all unintended pregnancies annually." [2]
Teens who get pregnant often have trouble accessing important prenatal care, which puts them at increased risk for serious complications such as high blood pressure, premature birth, anemia, toxemia, etc. [3 and 4]
"Although 15–24-year-olds represent only one-quarter of the sexually active population, they account for nearly half (9.1 million) of the 18.9 million new cases of STIs each year."[5]

How can we as a society frown upon teen pregnancies while condoning literature and other media that ignores the very real risks associated with premature and often unprotected sexual conduct among teenagers?

Books with sexual content often give teens unrealistic and unhealthy expectations.

Fictional teen romances typically focus on the physical aspect of a relationship--and it's easy to see why. Holding hands, cuddling, and kissing are fun and exciting. The "chemistry" they create is an important part of building a relationship, and I'm not saying we shouldn't write about them. I love a good kiss scene as much as the next girl. There are one or two in my own books.

Yet far too often, literature in general tries to disguise "lust" as "love". Lust is entirely based on the physical aspects of a relationship. It develops quickly, it's blind to consequences, and it is entirely selfish. It's obsessive and controlling. It's often abusive. And it has no tolerance for challenges.

Love, on the other hand, is an emotion that builds slowly as two people get to know each other and care for each other. It's more than infatuation or physical attraction. It's commitment. It's selflessness and compromise. It's communication and patience. It's genuine concern for the well-being of the other. It's friendship at its finest. Which is more romantic? Which is more healthy?

And on a purely basic marketing level

Books that include sexuality automatically alienate a significant portion of their potential audience.

I'm not saying that every book should try to fit every person's taste--that would be ridiculous and impossible. I'm just suggesting that a book that could reach a broad audience severely limits its potential by including unnecessary sex. I know lots of teens who, like me, avoid books in which the characters engage in sexual relations--especially teenage characters. Regardless of how much I enjoy a book, a sex scene is often all it takes to ruin a book for me, and explicit sexuality will make me stop reading altogether.

And I promise, stories don't suffer for not involving sexuality. Look at Paranormalcy, Divergent, Percy Jackson, the Leviathan Series--all incredibly successful books with very real romances and characters who don't have sex. Do you ever hear anyone complaining that they don't? I sure haven't.

Looks like these Blue Footed Boobies have the right idea. According to this article from the Sunday Times, male Blue Footed Boobies that abstain from sex for a year develop brighter feet and thereby become more appealing to the females. See? Abstinence is attractive. ;)

[1] See table 7 on page 21
[2] Finer LB and Zolna MR,Unintended pregnancy in the United States: incidence and disparities, 2006,Contraception, 2011, doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2011.07.013 As quoted in the August 2011 Guttmacher Fact Sheet.
[3] WebMD
[4] US National Library of Medicine
[5] Weinstock H et al.,Sexually transmitted diseases among American youth: incidence and prevalence estimates, 2000, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2004, 36(1):6–10. As quoted in the August 2011 Guttmacher Fact Sheet.

Campaign Challenge #1: "Trial"

2011-09-07T00:04:00.000-06:00

I didn't realize that signing up for the Writer's Platform-Building campaign would be such a nerve-wracking thing. Geez.

It's time for the first Campaign Challenge, and there are so many good entries already. Seriously. If you haven't read them yet, please do--and read the details here if you want to enter for yourself.

*Deep breath*

Here's my entry (which is, by the way, my first ever piece of flash fiction):

Trial

The door swung open with a whine, and I put my hand out to stop it before the noise caught my husband’s attention.

I slowly let out my breath and reached into the cupboard to trace the edge of the envelope. I could just throw it away. Forget it ever came. I’m surprised Emerson hasn’t done that already, he’s so pragmatic.

296 days until Elsa’s fifth birthday, I think. The doctors like to remind us that we probably don’t even have that much time left. They also like to use words I don’t understand—cerebellar ataxia, hypotonia, microcephaly. But I do understand that no child in Elsa’s condition has ever been cured. Ever.

Yet the envelope hinted at a miracle, if you believed in that sort of thing—and oh, how I wanted to. The drug might give Elsa time and relief. It might even make her better.

But results couldn’t be guaranteed—it was a trial, after all. Research. What if something goes wrong and it takes her from us even sooner? How can we risk a life that is already so fragile?

I heard Emerson coming down the hallway and stepped back, watching as the door swung shut.

(200 words)

Greyhound Buses and The Art Of Creating Interesting Characters

2011-09-06T08:09:00.000-06:00

You know how they say that if you dream in a language you're learning, you're becoming fluent? Well, this morning, I had a dream about blogging and I woke up wondering if that meant I was becoming a fluent blogger. I'm not entirely sure what it means to be a "fluent blogger", but there you have it. Such is the brain of Jess at 3:00am while riding a Greyhound bus.

Riding the bus is always an adventure. You never know what you're going to see, and I find that it's a great opportunity to pick up some great characters for use in some future novel. Here are some of my favorites--or, at least, the really interesting ones--from my trip last night/this morning:

The young man who flirted with everything even remotely female. He was on his way to Hollywood, where he claimed to work for a special effects studio. He even showed me the specs the company gave him and said, "It's the first job I've ever had where they give you sunglasses!"
The young girl who cried in the corner as she talked to someone on the phone.
The guy with the scary tattoo on his face, right between his eyebrows. He also had brass knuckles on one hand. *shudder*
The two women who talked for 20 minutes about having children. One had adopted 2, had 2 of her own, and wanted more. The other wanted to get pregnant, but didn't want the children and offered to give them to the woman who wanted them. What?!
The smelly man who came to sit next to me and laughed creepily.
The woman who was absolutely convinced that someone had been shooting off a gun right before he got on the bus and kept insisting that we call 911--she even said it in her sleep.

Can't you see the potential for stories? Does Mr. Flirt actually work for a special effects studio? Why was the girl crying? What troubled past does Scary Tattoo Man have, and who can break through the tough exterior to help him feel love? Why can't one woman have more children, and why doesn't the other want them?

I once had a creative writing teacher who encouraged us to watch people--but not in a creepy way, I promise. "People watching" is a great opportunity to witness unique traits, reactions, and dialogue, which can help us create more realistic characters. She told us to write down the interesting things we saw and heard, and to not be afraid to use them in our writing.

What about you? Do you "people watch"? What interesting things have you picked up by paying attention to complete strangers?

Campaigns and Contests

2011-08-25T17:42:00.002-06:00

Jess is posting two days in a row? Wonders will never cease! (Actually, I'm on vacation and have a lot of time on my hands...)

But really, it's just a quick post to share two really awesome opportunities with you guys:

YA Highway is hosting a First Lines contest with some great prizes. Polish up that first line and go enter! I really shouldn't be sharing this one because I entered and if all of you talented writers enter, too, I'll never win... ;)
Rachael Harrie is gearing up for a third Writer's Platform Campaign. I've watched this from the sidelines twice, and this time I'm ready to participate. I think it might be just the thing I need to jump start Jest Kept Secret, which has been seriously lacking lately. Join the fun by August 31st for a chance to build your own platform.

Happy Thursday, everyone!

Cowboys, Aliens, and Too Much of a Good Thing

2011-08-22T16:00:00.003-06:00

Call me a nerd, but I went to see Cowboys and Aliens twice.

Say what you will about its plot holes and cheesiness*--which it certainly has in spades--but it definitely has entertainment value. My friends and I were snickering so hard I was afraid we would get thrown out of the theater by one of the other 6--six--people who were trying to watch the movie. (But I'm pretty sure they were snickering right along with us. How could they not be?)

I wrote recently about the importance of raising the stakes and how there must be a moment in every book where I seriously question whether or not the MC will succeed. If the author doesn't help me forget that the MC always wins, they haven't done their job.

But because I've turned into this crazy person who looks for ways to hone her writing craft even when she's watching a ridiculous movie, I learned that raising the stakes really is a fine art. Cowboys and Aliens got some things right and somethings really, really wrong. For the sake of being spoiler-free, I won't tell you which ones are which, but here are some insights I gleaned when I wasn't too busy appreciating handsome, manly men:

The motives must be believable. Give your characters a realistic reason to be risking their lives/relationships/whatever or the readers won't buy it. Like, literally. They won't buy the book. If Harry Potter had been fighting Voldemort to protect a colony of bunny rabbits, J. K. Rowling would still be riding trains. That's an extreme example, I know, but if your readers look at your MC's motive and think, "So what?" you need a different motive.
Raising the stakes usually requires balancing between "high enough" and "over the top". Trying to cram too many risks into one book usually results in a completely ridiculous story. Make things too difficult, and your readers really won't believe your MC can succeed. Any such success will look contrived and silly.
Establish the rules early and play by them for the rest of the book. If your MC has a special talent or tool that could save them, don't throw it in right before the climax and say, "Surprise! Look what so-and-so or such-and-such can do!" This reeks of deus ex machina, which is one of my favorite literary pet-peeves and worth a post all of its own.
Adding an extra layer of risk right at the climax is a cheap shot, too, and it's a pretty good indication that the conflict that has driven your plot all along isn't sufficient to build high enough stakes.

And finally,

It's okay to break rules if you're writing a comedy. Over-the-top stakes are the stuff comedian dreams are made of, so have at it.

Have you seen the movie? What did you think? And what insights into the art of raising the stakes have you learned from your own watching and reading experiences?

*And language and nudity, which I must warn you about if you are as prudish as I am.

Don't Interrupt Me, I'm Reading

2011-08-01T22:49:00.000-06:00

Forgive me if this video has already made the rounds, but I just saw it and laughed so hard I was crying. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did:

And while I'm into the whole sharing thing tonight, I thought I'd also mention that YA Book Diva Reviews is giving away a copy of Tahereh Mafi's SHATTER ME. You should go enter.

What Photography Can Teach Us About Finding Our Writing Style

2011-07-27T17:24:00.000-06:00

Just a quick post today before I put my nose to the revising grindstone for the evening. I just discovered this incredible blog post by Elizabeth Halford, an amazing photographer. It's about finding your personal style, and as I read the post, I kept thinking about how everything she said applies not just to photography, but also to writing and other creative endeavors. Enjoy the article, and be sure check out her work at Gracie May Photography, too!

What non-writing articles/blogs have you found that have helped improve your writing?

BTWP: Rachel Bateman

2011-07-25T13:05:00.000-06:00

Can I just say how much I adore today's BTWP interviewee? She is one of the sweetest people I have met on the internet, and she is a crazy good writer to boot. Her blog is super fun and full of lots of great information for writers, and her Raskolnikov Project is so much fun to follow. Once you're finished here, you should take a look for yourself, because one of these days, the whole world is going to know about the incredible

Rachel Bateman

What is your earliest writing memory? What did you write about? Did it have a title?

When I was about seven I watched the movie The Blob (because there's nothing quite like a good old horror flick for a seven year old - someday maybe I'll tell y'all about the time my cousin decided that watching Hitchcock's The Birds was a great idea for her sixth birthday party - and her dad let her). I'm pretty sure it was the original 1950s version, not the 1980s remake (and for the love of commas, I might cry if Rob Zombie actually follows through with his plans to remake it again but without the big pink blob thingie), but it was twenty years ago so my memory of the event is pretty fuzzy. Anyway, after watching that movie, I carried a spiral notebook with me everywhere I went. I wrote what pretty much amounted to really bad fan fiction, I am sure, though that can't be proven since I don't know what ever happened to that notebook.

When you were 6, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Honestly, I can't remember. Maybe a veterinarian? I really loved animals. Especially cats. I wanted to be a cat. Once I spent all day pretending I was a cat. Except in my world apparently cats walk around with their noses on the ground, because by the end of the day I had a huge, painful rug burn on my nose. Probably I was younger than six when that happened though. Oh man, I hope I was younger than six.

What is the best compliment your writing has ever received?

I think every time I post a chapter on The Raskolnikov Project and someone tells me how thrilled they are that there's a new chapter, or that they have been hoping I would add more soon, or that they enjoy reading it...yeah, that pretty much makes my day. Which reminds me - it's been WAY too long since I wrote a new chapter; I should remedy that.

Can you tell us a little about your current WIP?

Be excited, because I have been super tight-lipped about this one. I haven't told anyone what it's about: it's not been mentioned on my blog; I haven't told my sister, who is usually my first reader, or Geek Husband (I talk to Baby Caveman about it, but he's only six months old so he's not telling); nobody, nobody, nobody has heard what this book's about yet.

But I'll let you in on some little tidbits:

It's about a girl.
And about a boy.
It's about letting go and moving on.
It's about forgiving others, but more importantly it's about forgiving yourself.
It's about kissing.
And forks.

Do you follow a routine when it comes to writing?

I used to follow a pretty strict routine when it came to writing. But then I had Baby Caveman. So now my routine is pretty much squeeze in writing time whenever I get a moment. I write on an AlphaSmart and it has worked wonders for my creativity - the internet is not right there trying to distract me so I find it much easier to get a few words in when I only have three or four minutes.

I write a lot when Geek Husband is driving. And not just on road trips - Sidney (the AlphaSmart) goes everywhere, so I have been known to finish a chapter on the way to the grocery store before.

What do you find hardest about writing?

Turning off my inner editor. Sometimes I have a hard time remembering that books are made all pretty-like in edits, not during first drafts. That and finding the time, but since I am given the same 24 hours a day as everyone else, I feel like that's kinda a whiny answer. :)

What is your favorite book (at least currently)?

My favorite, favorite book is Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky. I also love East of Eden by Steinbeck. More recent works: I love anything by Sarah Dessen; Moonlight by Jessi Kirby is absolutely fabulous; and, like the rest of the world, I love me some Harry Potter.

What non-writing hobbies do you like to participate in?

If you can put the letters DIY in front of it, I like to do it: I love repurposing things, taking old things and making them new and fun; I've recently taken up sewing and I can't get enough of it; cardmaking; jewelry; you name it. I am getting things ready to open an ETSY shop in the near future, because I love doing it, but can't keep it all for myself.

I also love, love, big-puffy-heart LOVE baking and cake decorating. Yum!

Does reading count? Probably that's a writing-type hobby. I like swimming, too. I wish I lived somewhere warm and by the ocean. That would be heavenly.

If you had $1,000,001, what would you do with the $1?

Remember those old commercials that would go on and on about how you can't get anything for a dollar anymore but with this particular company you can have a 20-minute phone call for only 99 cents?!?! Yeah, I would get something way better than a 20-minute phone call. Cause, well, I have a cell phone with way better rates than that.

Probably I would fold it into a little origami penguin or something. 'Cause why not, you know?

Give us one random fact about yourself.

I have an extra bone in my right foot. True story.

--

To read more about Rachel and her fantastic writing, check out her website. She also tweets as @rachelbateman.

If you would be interested in being a BTWP interviewee, send me an email at jestkeptsecret (at) gmail (dot) com.

An Opportunity For Writers

2011-07-13T06:05:00.002-06:00

Some good friends of mine are starting a new speculative fiction journal called Cygnus. They are currently open to submissions for their October 2011 issue, so if you write any speculative fiction, you should check out their submission guidelines. I am working on a short story to submit (hopefully), and I'm really excited to see the other submissions, too!

Edit: I should also mention that they have been listed by Duotrope's Digest, if you'd like to check them out there.

The Truth About Adventures

2011-07-13T06:00:00.001-06:00

I love to read adventure stories. It's part of the reason I love YA literature so much--everything is an adventure. From first loves to first battles, every book in every YA genre seems to have adventure in spades. It's new! It's fun! It's exciting!

That's it. I want to go on an adventure, STAT.

Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa, Jess. Hold your ponies*. Do you even know what an adventure is?

Yeah! It's when you get to go fight bad guys or travel somewhere cool or fall in love with a cute guy and live happily ever after. Duh.

Nope. Try again:

Wow. Risky? Hazardous? Uncertain? That doesn't sound like fun after all. It sounds kind of... hard. And scary.

How do literary characters make adventures seem so cool?

"Come fight the Dark Lord! All the popular characters are doing it!"

It's that uncertainty, that sense of risk and the possibility of complete and utter failure that make adventures so much fun to read.

I recently read a book review that bemoaned the fact that the book was so utterly predictable that there was never any question that the MC would be victorious. Someone who disagreed with the review made a comment to the effect of, "Well, DUH. You always know the good guy is going to win."

I wholeheartedly disagree with that statement. If there is never any doubt in the reader's mind that a protagonist is going to be successful, then the stakes aren't high enough.

Sure, by the typical rules of story telling, the good guys generally win. But still, there should be a point in every story where the reader wonders if this time, things will be different. They should be sitting on the edge of their seat, biting their nails, and ignoring the phone or the pot of spaghetti boiling over on the stove or the whining dog at the back door as they continue to read in mortal fear that their favorite MC isn't going to pull through. If we know the characters are going to win/survive/get married/etc., what's the point in reading? Give us some uncertainty.

I actually did have a real-life adventure last weekend. I won't bore you with all of the details, but when you're camping in the woods with a mama bear and three tiny cubs who have been chased out of their home by a forest fire, let me tell you, business gets pretty risky. And when that mama bear breaks into a cabin, eats some chocolate chip cookies, and then gets maced in the face, things get even more hazardous. Will I get eaten by a deranged black bear, or will I survive the night? If that's not uncertainty, then I don't know what is.

What makes the success of your characters (or the characters in your favorite book) uncertain? What real-life adventures have you had recently?

--

Thank you for your patience with my blog silence as I battled side projects, revisions, and a spotty internet connection. Thankfully, two of the three have been resolved, so now the only thing standing in the way of regular posts is my last push to get my MS polished by WriteOnCon (only 33 more days! EEEP!). But I have joined a really really ridiculously awesome critique group, so that crazy goal might actually be possible.

*Yes, they are doing quite well, thank you for asking! It is so good to be back at Philmont. Perhaps I shall do another Two by Two by Tuesday-esque post to introduce you to this year's critters.
** From Dictionary.com

BTWP: Juliana Brandt

2011-07-12T12:45:00.001-06:00

I am beyond excited to introduce you all to today's BTWP interviewee! She is a member of the critique group I was lucky enough to join recently (check out the others over there on the sidebar!), and her WIP, Guardians, has been so fun to read. Please put your hands together for

Juliana Brandt

What is your earliest writing memory? What did you write about? Did it have a title?

When I was little I had a drawing notebook that my Dad drew lines in. I used this as my first writing book. I opened it up this weekend and laughed because Dad had written in translations of my stories because my spelling was so aweful. From what I could tell, it was a mystery story about my sister.

When you were 6, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I was constantly changing what I wanted to be when I grew up, the top three being ballet dancer, teacher, and brain surgeon (I have no idea where that one came from). Surprisingly, none of them were writer even though I made up stories all the time.

What is the best compliment your writing has ever received?

I think the best compliment is just having people who genuinely want to read my writing.

Can you tell us a little about your current WIP?

My current WIP is about a brother and sister whose job is to protect the king's sons. If they fail, they will die. They

Do you follow a routine when it comes to writing?

Nope, but I probably should!

What do you find hardest about writing?

Editing! After a few weeks of being in the editing trenches my brain turns to mush and I find it hard to motivate myself. Thankfully, I have a great crit group who sends me wonderful commets that help overcome that lack of motivation.

What is your favorite book (at least currently)?

I have a few favorite books. I just finished Shiver by Maggie Steifvater and am extremely antsy to get my hands on Linger and Forever.

What non-writing hobbies do you like to participate in?

I love spending time outside with my dogs and boyfriend. We frequently go trail running together. Other than that, I love anything artsy. I stink at drawing but I do it anyway :)

If you had $1,000,001, what would you do with the $1?

I'd turn it into quarters and get bubble gum out of a bubble gum machine. Honsetly, what else can you do with a dollar?

Give us one random fact about yourself.

I have watched the movie Princess Bride hundreds of times and have never grown tired of it. It is my all time favorite movie!

--

To read more about Juliana and her fantastic writing, check out her blog, I Aspire To Be. She also tweets as @julianalbrandt.

If you would be interested in being a BTWP interviewee, send me an email at jestkeptsecret (at) gmail (dot) com.

Dun-da-da-da! Writers To the Rescue!

2011-06-22T16:00:00.000-06:00

Recently, I was standing in line at my favorite indie bookstore (Moby Dickens in Taos, NM) when a frazzled mother dragged her 9-year-old daughter towards the counter.

"Can you help us?" the mother asked, clearly distraught. "We would like to find something for her to read, but we need some recommendations."

The clerk smiled at the child and said, "Of course, dear. What do you like to read?"

"I hate reading," the girl said, curling her lip in derision. "Books are stupid."

All the book lovers within the store gasped simultaneously at the sound of such a brazen offense to our beloved medium, and the clerk--very much taken aback--cast about for someone to come to her aid. Upon noticing the YA and MG books in my hand*, she said, "You seem to know children's literature. Would you happen to have any suggestions for this girl?"

I nodded eagerly, and the clerk, the 9-year-old book hater and I walked to the wall of shelves overflowing with all of my favorites. Armed with the girl's one stipulation ("No girly books. Girly books are extra stupid."), the clerk and I hastily pulled out books by Roald Dahl, Rick Riordan, Shannon Hale, Jennifer Holm, Scott Westerfeld and others. As I gave the girl quick synopses of each book, I could see her apprehension wavering. Tales of adventure and intrigue softened her stubborn resolve against reading, and as she left us to rejoin her mother, I felt confident that we had just helped this child avoid a lifetime of boredom.

That, folks, is why I write.

*Janice Hardy's The Shifter and Meghan Whalen Turner's A Conspiracy of Kings, in case you were wondering.

** Well, more YA than MG, but close enough...

Horse Sense for Writers: Watch Out For Milkweed

2011-06-02T15:00:00.001-06:00

This is milkweed.

Milkweed is poisonous to horses and ponies, and there happens to be an abundance of it in my pony pasture.

So the other day, I set about to eradicate the nasty stuff. I walked around my pasture and whenever I found a clump, I'd pull it out by the roots and dispose of it--not the most effective method, I'm sure, but the only one I currently have at my disposal.

In my haste, I frequently scanned a large general area, looking for the tell-tale clumps of thick leaves. When I looked at such a broad area, it seemed that I had gotten the last of it. But then I would take a step back towards the barn, and there would be more right at my feet, almost overlooked entirely.

And because I'm a writing nerd, it occurred to me that hunting for milkweed is like writing and revising a novel. If we are so focused on the "big picture", we may overlook the "little" things that are poisoning our books--undeveloped MC's or *gasp* love interests, cliches, predictable plot lines, unfired guns, even bad grammar and punctuation mistakes.

It is so easy to miss these things--especially when we are caught up in the euphoria/relief of finishing a draft or big revisions. Sometimes we don't see them because we don't want to see them or we're tired of seeing things we have to fix. Sometimes we don't see them because we aren't looking hard enough. Sometimes we don't see them because we're rushing and haven't given ourselves enough time to really make sure we haven't missed anything.

So before you throw down your weeding gloves, be sure to look a little closer. It may seem tiresome and tedious and backbreaking, but your ~~ponies~~ book will thank you for it.

And just to let you know, my internet connection here has been especially sparse over the last several days, and I fear that I might not be able to post as frequently as I would like. I'm also pushing through revisions and trying to get my MS polished before Write On Con in August--weeding out the milkweed, hopefully--so if my presence is a bit lacking over the next couple of months, you know why. I still love you all, and I'll post whenever I can.

A Win Win Situation

2011-05-16T19:55:00.001-06:00

Guess who is back in New Mexico?

If you guessed me, you'd be right--and it is so incredibly good to be HOmE. I feel like I've been drifting for the past while, and coming back here has put the world back on its proper axis. I get my ponies soon, I have more time to write, and I got my old tent back. *sigh* Life is fantastic.

And I also have WINNERS to announce!

Drum roll please...

Kiersten White's Paranormalcy goes to TARYN

Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan goes to KATHARINE OWENS

The query critique by KM Walton goes to ELIZA TILTON

And the cover design (or other design service) goes to LORI EASTEP, ALICIA GREGOIRE, and PAM HARRIS

Winners, look for an email from me (jestkeptsecret at gmail) so I can coordinate prize delivery.

And a big thank you to everyone who entered the contest! You are all loved. :)

RTW: It's So Good to Hear Your Voice

2011-05-11T08:45:00.000-06:00

I love to listen to audio books. That's how I "read" books 1-5 of the Harry Potter series, Eoin Colfer's Airman (my favorite of the books I read in 2010), Karen Stockett's The Help, and other favorites.

And with all of that time spent listening, I've learned one important truth about narrators: they can make or break a book for me. A bad narrator (like the one from a book I recently listened to... *shudder*) makes the Stop button really hard to resist--and that's not fair to perfectly good books.

But on a recent trip to Utah, I listened to the audio book of Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan and I was absolutely enchanted by Alan Cumming's masterful reading. I knew him as the hilarious actor from Emma (Mr. Elton), Tin Man (Glitch), and X2 (Nightcrawler), but now I also know him as the actor I want to read my books for the audio adaptation.

What a voice. You can listen snippets here.

What about you? Who would you want to narrate your WIP or favorite book?

P.S. This will be my last post for the week (I am headed back to Philmont, and I'll be on the road for the next couple of days), so it's also my last chance to remind you to enter my 100 Followers contest--where you can win your very own copy of Leviathan! Alas, it is not the audio version, but the print version has amazing illustrations by Keith Thompson. And if you supported Help Write Now in any way, you automatically get 3 extra entries!

--
Road Trip Wednesday is a "Blog Carnival," where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

To participate, just answer the prompt on your own blog and leave a link in the comments at YA Highway.

Drop Your Stirrups (Or, Why I Need To Stop Thinking Up Horse-Related Writing Metaphors...)

2011-05-09T12:39:00.001-06:00

I think I'm going to start a new blog series called "Everything I Need To Know About Writing I Learned From My Horse".

I jest, but the sentiment is true. When you spend upwards of 7 hours in the saddle, as I am wont to do, you end up with a lot of time to think this stuff up.

So I'm going to do it again.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

I had the opportunity to go for a nice long ride last week. We saw an abundance of wildlife and rode through the river valley that inspired one of the scenes in my novel.

I had really been looking forward to the nice long gallop we usually take after climbing the long hill out of the valley, and I got down to check my horse's cinch before we started running. But when I tried to remount, the stirrup fell off in my hands.

We were an hour's ride from the trailer, and civilization in general was another hour further. This is not the sort of place you want to experience a tack malfunction.

Good riders don't rely on their stirrups. Riding instructors love to torture their young pupils by demanding that they drop their stirrups and ride in two-point position for an often unspecified length of time. It's a painful but productive tool for helping the rider develop balance, build stamina, and learn to ride from the strength of their core--and it clearly comes in handy when you lose a stirrup out in the middle of nowhere.

I can ride without stirrups, but I'm lazy. I don't practice it as often as I really should, and I have developed the bad habit of relying too much on my tack. My brilliant mother was able to jerry-rig the stirrup back together for me, but we had to forgo the anticipated gallop.

We all have our "stirrups"--adverbs and adjectives, recycled dialogue tags and excessive descriptions--little things we rarely notice while drafting but which make for lazy writing. Good writers learn to not rely on these things by "dropping their stirrups" during drafting and revisions. It's hard work. It takes a long time. ~~It makes your thighs burn like you wouldn't believe.~~

But in the end, your manuscript is better for it. It's stronger. It's more effective. It can jump triple combinations bareback.

What about you? What do you do to "drop your stirrups"?

Have you entered the 100 followers contest yet? Don't forget: if you have supported Help Write Now, you get 3 extra entries--and today is the last day to bid on my custom blog header/logo! Go forth and bid.

Help Write Now

2011-05-04T17:00:00.001-06:00

In the wake of the devastating storms in the southeastern United States, Kate Hart, Cleolinda Jones, Moira Rogers and the gals from YA Highway have organized the Help Write Now auction to raise funds for the American Red Cross general disaster relief fund. People from all over the writing community have donated some fantastic items for readers and writers to bid on, and bidding started TODAY.

If you would like to help, you can bid or donate directly.

Just so you know, I have donated a blog header or logo. I'm not sure when my item will be up for bid, but you can see a few samples of my design work at www.UrracaCreative.com. The site is still under construction and I haven't put everything up there yet, so if you'd like to see more, just let me know.

And since I'm all about bribery, if you support Help Write Now, you get 3 extra entries into my 100 followers contest! (If you can't bid or donate, spreading the word about the auction through tweeting, blogging, etc. also counts! Just be sure to tell me what you did.)

Contest Time!!

2011-05-02T12:27:00.001-06:00

I am a woman of my word.

I said that I would throw a contest once I reached 100 followers, and that time has come.

Huzzah! I cannot tell you how excited I am about this. You guys really are the best.

So without further ado, I would like to announce

The Prizes

Kiersten White's PARANORMALCY

Scott Westerfeld's LEVIATHAN

A query critique by K. M. Walton--I won a query critique from her a few months ago (Thanks Quita and Pam!) and it was incredibly helpful!

And a Mock Cover Design by Urraca Studios* for 3 lucky WIPs!

*Which is really just me, but it sounds more official and cool if I use my company name. ;)

And guess what? I know a lot of you don't live in the US or Canada and I really hate leaving people out, so THE CONTEST IS OPEN INTERNATIONALLY!

The Rules
- Get 2 entries for being an old follower, 1 for being a new follower
- Get 1 entry for each link to the contest (sidebar, blog post, facebook, twitter--up to 5 extra entries)
- Get 3 entries if you support Help Write Now, an initiative to help raise money for the American Red Cross in the wake of the disasters in the Southeast. Bid, donate directly, tweet/blog about it, whatever. It all counts.

Contest is open until midnight on May 16th (MST).

Enter by filling out this form:

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

Thanks, and good luck!

My First Guest Post

2011-04-29T12:28:00.000-06:00

Just a quick post today to let you know that I just posted my first ever guest post over at Annie Christina's blog, My Sweet Old Etcetera. Give it a read, if you'd like, and be sure to thank her for having me!

Happy Friday!

The Last Daughter of Elhamair: Starring Lots Of Really Cool People

2011-04-26T10:24:00.002-06:00

I don't think I've kept it a secret that my time in film school has had a huge impact on my writing. My book hasn't even been published yet, but I already dream about it being made into a movie. I block out scenes while I write just as I would block them if I were directing a moving. I do location scouting, costume research, and casting. I am not ashamed of this ~~hobby~~ obsession, so when I saw the fun "Now Starring" blogfest over at Alexis Fittinger's blog, Kore Averna, I knew I had to play along. (I know the blog fest was technically yesterday, but my computer was commandeered for the evening and I was not able to get this posted in time...)

I have yet to find the perfect actors to play any of the characters from The Last Daughter of Elhamair (and the author really has little say in that department anyways, so it wouldn't matter if I had), but these actors certainly have "the look":

Rachael Henley as Sameen

Rachel is best known for her role as the adult Lucy Pevensie in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe. She is the real-life older sister of Georgie Henley, who plays Lucy as a child, and while she only has a few seconds on screen, I thought she was adorable. Sameen is supposed to be innocent but smart and the sort of "plain" that can very easily be "pretty". I think Rachel's girl-next-door look is just right--except that she is far too fair-skinned.

Wes Bentley as Asreth

I've only ever seen Wes in the 2002 remake of The Four Feathers, but he's well known for lots of movies that I'll probably never watch. I fell in love with his rugged handsomeness, and he's got the corner market on the "conflicted" and "mistrusting" look. And he can do accents like you wouldn't believe, which is a key element of Asreth's character.

Pierfrancesco Favino as Elhamair

Y'all are going to think I'm a Narnia nut after this (and I totally am, so whatever), but I absolutely loved Pierfrancesco as General Glozelle in Prince Caspian. He plays serious very well, but I think this photo shows that he has the same gentle sense of humor as Elhamair.

And he's beautiful, to boot.

Cliff Simon as Narush

This South African actor is best known for his role as Ba'al, bad guy extraordinaire from Stargate SG-1. I hate to typecast him as a villain, but he's just so good at playing the good-looking bad guy. Narush is charming at times and terrifying at others, and Cliff can easily pull off both.

Zuleikha Robinson as Karena

Zuleikha is best known for her roles in Hidalgo and Lost, and she has the perfect look for Sameen's mother. I can't think of a way to explain how perfect she is without giving away too much of the story, so you'll just have to trust me on this one. I will say this, though: with Burmese, Indian, and Iranian heritage, Zuleikha is the only one on this list who actually has the right ethnicity. (If you know of any great actors from these regions, I'd love to hear about them!)

Jeremy Irons as Gerlin

I could listen to Jeremy Irons' voice for the rest of my life and never get tired of it, so it's a good thing Gerlin gets to do a lot of talking. He is Sameen's greatest mentor, and he teaches her history, language, and politics. He's also a soldier and incredibly good at it, but he's tired and ready for the war to be over.

What about you? If you could cast the film adaptation of your own book (or a favorite book, for those of you who aren't writers), which actors would you chose?

BTWP: Kelsey Leigh Kicklighter

2011-04-25T09:37:00.000-06:00

Today's interviewee is another fantastic author I met through YA Highway and their fun "Road Trip Wednesday" series. She is a talented writer, so after you read this interview, you should head on over to her blog and read the snippet she posted from her book, Beckoned. (And as extra incentive, she'll be giving a free book to someone who leaves feedback for her!)

So without further ado, please welcome

Kelsey Leigh Kicklighter

What is your earliest writing memory? What did you write about? Did it have a title?

My earliest writing memory is from when I was around five or six, I wrote a little ten page novella called 'Princess Kelsey.' Yeah. I was that kid. It did win some awards though.

When you were 6, what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was six, I wanted to be a ballerina. Specifically, the ballerina that danced the part of Clara in the Nutcracker. The farthest I ever got was Mother Ginger. I was tall and the other kids could run under my skirt. *sigh*

What is the best compliment your writing has ever received?

My literature teacher told me once that I "danced with words." I cried.

Can you tell us a little about your current WIP?

I'm in love with my WIP (Beckoned). I like to think of it as being somewhere between Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely series and Julie Kagawa's Iron King series (subject matter that is, not necessarily talent). Hold on.. I have a synopsis here somewhere... AHA!

Faye has spent her life babysitting her mother, which wasn’t such a bad thing, after all. Her mother was eccentric, to be sure, but she was also her best friend. But no matter how much she loved her life - the faded yellow house on the edge of the woods, the sweet simplicity of a small southern town, the unexplainably wondrous smell of the books in her mother’s store - she had always wanted more. She wanted to wander, to explore, to do things she had never done before……but worry for her mother had always kept her hanging back.

Until one day, a fight with her mother sparks a fire in Faye that commits her to one decision - leaving. Which makes it the perfect time for other forces to reach out and draw her in… When Faye is beckoned into another world by a royal rogue named Gage, she finds everything she ever wanted: adventure, magic, and freedom. But is it really as perfect as it seems? Can there be another motive for Gage’s unquestioning affection? When the magic surrounding her threatens to close in, Faye must rely on a deeper, more primal magic to get back home - her own.

Do you follow a routine when it comes to writing?

I've been trying really hard to write in order - you know, not bouncing around. But sometimes I just have to get certain scenes out of my head and onto the paper. I like to be somewhere quiet when I write, so I can blast my homemade Beckoned soundtrack. But I also write when I'm in class (I'm an English major at the University of Georgia). Not that I recommend that...

What do you find hardest about writing?

Confidence is a big issue. Is it good enough? That question haunts me.

What is your favorite book (at least currently)?

I love the Iron King series by Julie Kagawa, and it's my current favorite. But my all-time favorite novels are the Sevenwaters series by Juliet Marillier.

What non-writing hobbies do you like to participate in?

I love baseball, my kitten Binx, photography, and reading. Which may be writing related. *shrugs*

If you had $1,000,001, what would you do with the $1?

With one dollar, I would probably buy a book. Or a coke. Hmmm... decisions, decisions.

Give us one random fact about yourself.

My first car exploded in flames a few months after I got it. I was in it.

--

To read more about Kelsey and her fantastic writing, check out her blog, Take My Hand--Follow Me. She also tweets as @ladypirateking.

If you would be interested in being a BTWP interviewee, send me an email at jestkeptsecret (at) gmail (dot) com.

RTW (Sort of): First Kisses and Other Big Announcements

2011-04-20T20:33:00.005-06:00

The dust cloud drew nearer, turning golden in the sun. She had been spotted, and the rider had changed his course slightly to match hers. As he came ever closer, Sameen felt her heart quicken, but not out of fear. The evening light brought out the red in the familiar horse’s dark coat and formed a glow around the rider’s head and shoulders, and now she was sure it was him – really him this time.

Twenty feet away, Asreth reined in his horse. Tovan snorted impatiently, but Asreth made him stand as Sameen came a few more feet and stopped. She was vaguely aware that she had raised her hand to her mouth to keep herself from crying out, but other than that, neither of them moved for a long time.

Finally, and without saying a word, Asreth dismounted and walked over to her, relief showing clearly in his eyes as he placed one hand on her arm and with the other, gently pulled her hand from her mouth.

“You’re alive,” Sameen said, her voice barely a whisper. He nodded slowly, almost distractedly, and bent his head towards her. Before she knew what was happening, he kissed her. Startled, Sameen felt herself stiffen involuntarily, and Asreth pulled quickly away.

“I’m sorry,” he said, embarrassed. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

But Sameen stopped him, catching his arm as he stepped back. Her hand trembled where her fingers touched his skin, and she pursed her tingling lips to relish the sensation for a moment before saying, “I don’t mind.”

He looked surprised for a moment, then laughed and gathered her into his arms again, kissing the top of her head and then again on her mouth. The kiss was gentle and almost clumsy, but she welcomed his embrace. It made her feel safe and wanted, a strange contrast to the vulnerability she had felt in Narush’s court. She leaned into him, breathed in the familiar smell of leather and horses that would forever remind her of this moment, and felt closer to home than she had ever felt before.

Tovan snorted and stamped a hoof, impatient with the flies, and Sameen pulled back to look up at Asreth’s face. “Where were you going?”

“I was coming to find you,” he said, taking her hand and leading her to the stallion. “Keeping my promise.”

And now for the other big announcements.

First: I am going back to Philmont! I know that probably means very little to most of you, but Philmont is the greatest place in the whole world and I am so excited to be going "home"! If things have been and continue to be scattered here on the blog front, it's just because my life is full of craziness right now as I get ready to move again. I promise things will get settled soon.

And second: I now have 101 followers (*waves*), which can only mean one thing: It's time for a contest! Stay tuned for the details later this week.

And in the mean time, tell me about your first kiss. :)

Youth Resilience and What It Means for Writers, Part III: Self-Efficacy

2011-04-18T22:27:00.000-06:00

In Part II, we looked at some of the different factors that can affect a particular character's resilience when exposed to trauma, but perhaps the greatest indicator of how that child or teen will react is their self-efficacy.

Self-Efficacy

n. One's perceived ability to perform a given task or achieve a certain objective

Why Self-Efficacy Matters

Self-efficacy is the key to a character's behavior. If they believe they are equal (or greater than) the task of overcoming whatever conflict they suddenly find themselves facing, they are more likely to approach it willingly and confidently. If they don't think they will be successful, they will be less eager, and may only attempt the task if they feel obligated.

For the most part, antagonists fit into the first category and protagonists into the second. Part of the excitement of a story is the risk of the unknown, and if a protagonist knows that they are going to win, there really isn't any point in watching them do it. If it is glaringly obvious that your protagonist is more capable than your antagonist, you need to up the ante.

But what about those characters who perceive that their ability is greater or worse than it actually is? This concept is known as the Dunning-Kruger effect (and Nathan Bransford wrote a really great blog post about this and how it relates to writers), which essentially claims that people have a tendency to overestimate or underestimate their abilities. Compelling stories can--and have--centered on heroes who believed they could win and lost, and most good protagonists doubt themselves at some point along their journey.

How Characters Develop Self-Efficacy

Experience - Characters develop self-efficacy through exposure to past traumas and conflicts. Remember that resilience chart from Part I? If they fit into the categories of those who "rise above" or "return to equilibrium", they gain confidence that they can do so again. If they never fail to succeed or recover, their confidence suffers a serious blow. Their resilience level establishes a new equilibrium and the entire process repeats.

Let's look at Harry Potter again. Because he successfully faces Voldemort in The Sorcerer's Stone, he has more confidence in his abilities when he faces him again in The Chamber of Secrets, This in turn gives him more confidence to face a convicted murderer in The Prisoner of Azkaban. Then he faces Voldemort and the Death Eaters in the graveyard in The Goblet of Fire, and while he survives, a friend does not. The grief and the guilt that he feels affect his morale--and, consequently, his confidence. Harry's equilibrium continues to change with each challenge, and as the stakes are raised, the results are more dramatic. Each experience has a direct income on his perceived ability to perform the next task in his quest to defeat Voldemort.

Vicarious Experience - Sometimes, a character doesn't have to experience the conflict themselves to develop efficacy. If they see another character complete the same task, it improves their confidence that they will also be successful--especially if they feel that they are as or more capable than the other individual. (But don't forget the Dunning-Kruger effect--do they really have the same abilities, or do they only think they do?

It's also amazing what a little peer pressure can do for a character's self-efficacy. If everyone else has been successful at a given task, the pressure to perform is extremely high.

What This All Means For Your Writing

As you write, considering the following questions may help you create more interesting characters and stories:

How do your characters react to trauma in their lives? How do age, gender, etc. affect their reaction?
What kind of relationships do your characters have with other people? How does this affect their desire and ability to overcome obstacles?
How do your characters perceive their ability to complete the tasks you have set for them? How does this compare to their actual ability?
How do your characters develop the confidence to overcome these challenges?
How do past experiences affect the choices your characters make?
How does peer pressure affect your character's self-efficacy? Who are they trying to impress?

I'd love to hear your answers! Leave me a comment to share.

Youth Resilience and What It Means For Writers, Part II: Attributes and Associations

2011-04-14T00:29:00.001-06:00

I don’t think it’s any secret that to write truly authentic characters, we have to know them first. I’ve written before about the importance of research, and that doesn’t just apply to the things our characters do. It should also apply to who our characters are. If we aren’t familiar with the way certain elements affect the lives of real human beings, we will never be able to create characters that feel as if they are real, too.

Yesterday, I wrote a really long, probably boring post about resilience in youth. Essentially, when youth experience trauma or conflict of some sort in their lives, their recovery—or sometimes, the lack thereof—usually puts them into one of three categories: those who exceed expectations and grow from the experience, those who simply return to a state of equilibrium, and those who never truly recover and continue in a mode of reduced functioning and low morale.

But what is it that causes individuals to fit into one category over another? And how can we, as writers, use those elements to create realistic characters who would behave as real people would? Characters who face every single challenge they encounter with courage, wisdom and maturity are simply unrealistic. If we want our readers to relate to them, we have to show them reacting in realistic ways.

Many of us are fans of Harry Potter, and I've always felt that J. K. Rowling did a pretty good job of making the characters realistic. Let's see how well Harry and his friends stack up against real-life youth resilience statistics.

AGE

The age of the child/youth at the time of the traumatic event has a significant impact on their internalization of symptoms and/or external behavior. Harry is 11 years old when we first meet him and he learns the truth about his parents, but the battles between Harry and Voldemort continue until he is 17.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)[1], adolescents (ages 12-17) internalize things like younger children (feeling guilt or anxious, becoming depressed, withdrawing, developing sleep problems and having nightmares), but may also experience flashbacks and confusion, much like adults. They avoid stimuli by isolating themselves, and may start to entertain thoughts of revenge or become outwardly aggressive. (ETA: For a really great list of the differences between how different age groups react to trauma, see pp. 8-9 of Responding to Childhood Trauma by Gordon R. Hodas, MD.)

Harry carries a lot of guilt throughout the series, and he is certainly no stranger to flashbacks and nightmares. He often tries to isolate himself from others, but thankfully, Ron and Hermione refuse to be pushed away. He does entertain thoughts of revenge, and when things are especially difficult, he can be aggressive and combative.

GENDER

In general, males tend to exhibit externalized and often aggressive reactions to traumatic events. Females, on the other hand, more often internalize and take a more passive approach (Schwartz and Perry, 1994)[2]. This is pretty typical of the characters in Harry Potter, too, as Harry and Ron are both more aggressive than Hermione.

ASSOCIATIONS

I don't think it's a coincidence that many YA novels include "side kicks". Oftentimes, the challenges the MCs face would be nigh unto impossible to surmount if faced alone, but with the assistance of friends or other positive relationships, they are manageable.

Research shows that youth who enjoy positive pre- and post-traumatic associations with adults and peers are more likely to show resilience after a traumatic event (Hodas, 2006)[3].

Look at the difference in Harry's behavior between when he is at Number 4, Privet Drive and when he is at Hogwarts. While with the Dursleys, Harry lacks any real support system, and he withdraws and isolates himself from the rest of the world. On the other hand, when he is in the presence of his friends and mentors in the magical world, he is much more confident and happy. Just like real youth, the support Harry finds in his positive relationships are integral to his eventual success.

Another important association to consider is the child or character's relationship with the perpetrator of the trauma. Hodas points out that "maltreatment by a stranger is less devastating to a child than similar maltreatment by a family member or other trusted adult." Imagine how different Harry Potter's story might have turned out had Voldemort been his father.

Think about your own favorite characters--both those you've read and those you've written. How do they compare to these statistics? How does it/can it affect the story?

Part III: Self-Efficacy will be posted on ~~Friday~~ Monday.

Please forgive my citations if they are wrong--I haven't done this in years...
[1] National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)(2001): Helping children and adolescents cope with violence and disasters. Washington, DC: Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Institute of Health. As cited by Hodas (2006).
[2] Schwartz, E., and Perry, B. (1994): The post-traumatic response in children and adolescents. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 12 (2), 311-326. As cited by Hodas (2006).
[3] Hodas, G. (2006): Responding to childhood trauma: The promise and practice of trauma-informed care. Pennsylvania: National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors.

Youth Resilience & What it Means For Writers, Part I: The Resilience Chart

2011-04-12T16:00:00.036-06:00

As MG/YA writers, we are always getting our young characters into trouble.

We would have no stories without conflict, and for many characters, conflict comes in the form of some traumatic event. For Harry Potter, Voldemort murdered his parents. In Beauty and The Beast, Beauty is imprisoned by a monster after her father picks a rose from the Beast's garden. And in Lois Lowry's The Giver, young Jonas learns the startling truth about the world he lives in.

These are not low-risk situations. These are serious, these are scary, and these push our characters to the very limits of their abilities. If they weren't, no one would care.

In one of my university classes, we had a fascinating discussion about resilience among youth, during which, the professor shared a chart much like this (click to enlarge):

The progress of the individual youth is indicated by the blue line. As illustrated, life continues on a plane of equilibrium until a traumatic event or conflict causes their morale to fall. Depending on the individual and the situation, they typically return to a state of equilibrium, rise above the challenge, or remain in a state of low morale and decreased functionality.

It occurred to me recently that this is a great way to look at character development, too. How your character recovers--or doesn't--determines what kind of character you have, and consequently, what kind of story you have.

Rising Above - Not only do these characters survive the challenge, but they learn and grow and generally come away feeling like a better/stronger/smarter person. Psychological resilience studies tell us that these individuals "function better than expected"[1], so these characters have to step out of their comfort zone and overcome personal inhibitions to conquer challenges. This is the most common outcome of trauma and conflict in literature, and for obvious reasons: it usually makes for an exciting, unpredictable read. Some of my favorite examples include Ani in Shannon Hale's Goose Girl and Percy Jackson

Returning to Equilibrium - This is a tough category to give examples for because it's hard to imagine not learning something from adversity, but books like Gary Paulsen's Hatchet and Louis Sachar's Holes could arguably fit the criteria. In both of these books, we meet characters whose lives are turned upside down by situations beyond their control, and their only desire is to get their lives back to normal. They certainly change as a result of their challenges, but that growth is a byproduct of the process of restoring equilibrium rather than of an intentional effort to change.

We also see this a lot in serial literature like K. A. Applegate's Animorphs or the Thoroughbred series by Joanna Campbell.The overall themes (fighting the Yeerks or racing Thoroughbred horses) stay the same, but each book introduces a new challenge that upsets the equilibrium of the world. Each conflict is solved, and each book generally returns to a state of relative normality.

Continued Low Resilience - This is the rarest of the three, as very few books have truly bummer endings. I just recently read a book that I would say fits into this category (and I won't share the title for fear of being a spoilmonger), and it was about a girl loses all of her confidence after becoming a teen mother and being abandoned by her husband. She is never able to recover, and eventually, she takes her own life. While these stories are often real downers, when written well, they can also be poignant and powerful. Sometimes the sad stories are the most empowering stories of all.

When thinking about which categories our characters fall into, it's important to consider our supporting characters and relationships, too. Just as in life, the actions of one character often affect the actions of another. Does a character that struggles with low morale inspire another to do whatever it takes to regain control of their life? Does the improved confidence of one character make another feel inadequate? Do two characters inspire each other to push harder and defeat the odds?

Take a look at your own characters. Which resilience category do they fit into? How does that affect their actions? Their relationships? The story as a whole?

Part II: Age, Associations and Attributes will be posted on Wednesday, and Part III: Self-Efficacy will be up on Thursday.

[1] Masten, A. S. (2009). Ordinary Magic: Lessons from research on resilience in human development. Education Canada, 49(3): 28-32. As quoted in the Wikipedia article, Psycological Resilience.

The Humane Approach to Darlings

2011-04-05T06:00:00.001-06:00

I love most things about writing, but recently, I have noticed an alarming trend. I don't know how this crisis has gone on for so long, but I think it's high time we did something about it.

I'm talking, of course, about the incredibly high numbers of murdered literary darlings.

These poor characters are just trying to find their place in the literary world, yet they are far too often attacked by murderous authors--and what's worse is that this practice is actually encouraged in many writing circles.

This travesty must stop, and it is for this reason that I have decided to start the Hope for At-Risk Darlings (H.A.R.D.) Foundation--because when you're a literary darling, life is H.A.R.D.

Our mission is to provide opportunities for darlings struggling to make it in this hostile world. We partner with open-minded authors to foster safe, healthy environments where these darlings can reach their full potential.

H.A.R.D. Work Pays Off

One of our many services is job training. We believe that with the right tools, darlings can make many valuable contributions to world building and plot progression. Why murder them when you can make them important instead?

Take Sekay, for example.

Sekay is an elephant rider. She and her plucky pachyderm, Padia, stumbled into the world of Almora from author Jessica Byam's upcoming novel The Last Daughter of Elhamair and instantly became the author's favorite darlings. But the fame and fortune came with risks, and pretty soon, Sekay and Padia were running for their lives.

Byam took pity on the poor souls, however, and partnered with H.A.R.D. to find them a job.

"I needed to find a way to get Sameen [the MC] from point A to point B, but I couldn't seem to figure it out," Byam says. "The job required that I put someone at risk, and it needed to be someone Sameen cared about so that she would be motivated to act. It quickly became clear to me that Sekay and Padia were better for the position than any of my other characters, and I am 100% satisfied with their performance."

When asked whether she would use a H.A.R.D. Foundation darling again, she said, "Absolutely! It amazes me that so many authors stick with so-so characters when they need a job done when there are perfectly talented, capable darlings available. Why not fire the duds and give the jobs to the characters you actually like?"

To learn more about the H.A.R.D. Foundation, be sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter, H.A.R.D. Times. You can support H.A.R.D. by visiting our gift shop, which has popular items such as H.A.R.D. hats, H.A.R.D. cover books, and games like H.A.R.D. Questions.

When I Actually Write A Book [Blog Fest]

2011-03-30T19:38:00.001-06:00

I just heard about this awesome blog fest (When I Actually Write A Book) hosted by The Blue Lipstick Samurai, but I am oh so glad I didn't miss it! If you want to participate, hurry on over to her blog and enter your own link.

If my poor little book actually gets published, my acknowledgment pages will probably rival the length of the book. Seriously, how are we expected to narrow it down?

But if I had to keep it shorter, my list would definitely include the following*:

My college buddies Heidi and CheriKay, who humored me with late night readings of early drafts and whose encouragement never wavers.

My grandmother, whose colorful stories fill my earliest memories, and who was generous enough to pass on her talent for writing. I can't chat with her on the phone without learning something new, and I will someday base a character on the feisty tom-boy I imagine she was as a child.

My other grandmother, too. I did not know her well, and really only have one vivid memory of her before she died, but that memory is happiness to me. She taught me to blow bubbles on wands made from bent pipe cleaners, and that moment of sweet peace still inspires me to this day.

Sandy (Emy) Shin, who was the first stranger to follow my blog. It blew my mind then that someone who didn't know me actually wanted to read anything that I had written, and it gave me hope that maybe someday, lots of people will feel the same way.

My Twitter Support Group, ThatGirlAni and Karenof4, who are always good for a laugh and don't mind talking to me about ginormous bugs and reindeer on the side of the road. Thank you, WriteOnCon, for bringing us together.

My future agent, who will have to take a leap of faith for me. I hope I don't disappoint.

The girl behind the desk at Borders on Christmas Eve 2009, who saw the stack of notebooks and journals that I was buying and asked if I was a writer. For the first time in my life, I felt like I could say yes and mean it.

Mom and Dad, who both encourage me in their own way. They indulge my creative insanity at times and tease me at others, but I know they love me and I'm grateful for their influence in my life.

And finally, to C. S. Lewis, whose words are like air to me. I doubt that I will ever come close to his level of talent, but he is the standard I strive for.

*And if you think you should be on this list, trust me--you should be.

BTWP: Sarah Kay Steele

2011-03-28T06:00:00.007-06:00

Today's interviewee and I go waaaaay back: we were roommates during our Freshman year at BYU. (I won't tell you how long ago that was...) She introduced me to Brian Regan, window markers, and the soundtrack from A Walk To Remember, and I still think of her and her husband every time I listen to Ben Folds.

Please welcome my former roommate and awesome writer pal

Sarah Kay Steele,
who was warned that I would dig up a blackmail picture for use with this interview, but I liked this one better and used it instead... ;)

What is your earliest writing memory? What did you write about? Did it have a title?

I know I used to write a lot of poetry. When I was like 5, my family had a frozen foods company that delivered to our house and our delivery guy's name was Stan. Well, he told us one day that his route was changing and I was heartbroken (I may have had a crush on a 50-year-old man...) so I wrote him a poem to tell him how much I would miss him. And I believe it ended with, "Stan, Stan the ice cream man. If he can't bring it to us, no one can."

When you were 6, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Oh, veterinarian. Hands down. That's pretty much all I wanted to do, up until I found out that you had to put animals to sleep. Then after a trip to Florida, I settled on Marine Biologist/Dolphin trainer. And somewhere along the way, I stumbled into a creative writing class and, well, here I am. (I never really liked science, anyway.)

What is the best compliment your writing has ever received?

My second creative writing class I took in college was taught by Brandon Sanderson. The first time he critiqued my submission, he praised it. I was shocked...I was expecting a ton of harsh critiques like a few of my peers had gotten. I still have his final critique email. Hang on. Here we go: "There’s little to say about this that I haven’t said before, I’m afraid. You’re strong at dialogue and have an excellent YA voice for your heroine. The writing is very easy to read, and motivations--in this section--all made sense. Your descriptions are good, though spotted with empty sections. Nothing a little revision couldn’t fix." Boo-yah. Brandon Sanderson thinks I'm awesome. Not perfect, but awesome.

Can you tell us a little about your current WIP?

Well, it started as a Paranormal Romance. Then it started to lean more toward Sci-Fi. And it seems to be shaping up to be a pretty good Contemporary Fantasy. Here's the pitch I've been working on: Em Perkins never expected much more from her annual summer vacation than two parental-free weeks and a decent tan. But an unexpected summer fling changes her life... and her world... forever.

Do you follow a routine when it comes to writing?

I try! I LOVE using "Write or Die" (writeordie.com) because I can set a goal and am really driven to meet it. I also have a Pandora station that I pretty much HAVE to listen to when I write. It just puts me in the mood and helps me get inside of my character's head. Isn't technology wonderful?

What do you find hardest about writing?

It's a toss-up between finding the time and fighting my inner-perfectionist. I still haven't completely finished my first draft because I keep revising what I've already written. I think I've revised and re-written my first five chapters a good 15 times. So I'm really trying to just get that entire first draft written and not revising until it's done. So holding off that perfectionist part of me is exhausting. And the time thing, well who doesn't have that problem?!?!

What is your favorite book (at least currently)?

Hum. Well, I don't know. I'm currently reading "Gone," by Michael Grant, but it stresses me out enough to not make it a favorite. I also just finished "The Scorch Trials," by James Dashner which was pretty great (though not as great as the first one, so also off the favorite list). "Enna Burning" by Shanon Hale was also pretty good, but second to "The Goose Girl." So I guess "13 Reasons Why" by Jay Asher tops my list for the last month. It's one of those books that just stays with you. But I have yet to read "Matched" by Ally Condie, and I have a feeling that one will top my list when I get around to it.

What non-writing hobbies do you like to participate in?

I change diapers. Not my first choice as a hobby, but it's part of that Mommy-Thing that I love so much. I also sing and I used to participate in musicals and such...but I still haven't found a community theater since we moved. Oh, and I'm a Netflix junkie.

If you had $1,000,001, what would you do with the $1?

I'd probably buy a lotto ticket to see if I could win another million.

Give us one random fact about yourself.

I'm an only child who married a guy with eight brothers and sisters. A friend and I made up a game called "Name that Steele" when I was trying to learn all of their names, middle names, and birthdays. We still play it, but I'm a pro now.

To read more about Sarah and her fantastic writing, check out her new blog, Wife, Mother, Chef, Writer.

If you would be interested in being a BTWP interviewee, send me an email at jestkeptsecret (at) gmail (dot) com.

RTW: You're So Vain, You Prob'ly Think This Post Is About You

2011-03-16T15:01:00.003-06:00

Road Trip Wednesday is a "Blog Carnival," where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

To participate, just answer the prompt on your own blog and leave a link in the comments at YA Highway.

I always get a chuckle out of the disclaimer on the copyright page of many books that says, "All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental." *

To me and my overactive imagination, that has always hinted that the villain or some other nasty character has been based on someone that the author doesn't care for, and they include that disclaimer to cover their tracks in case the real-life villain reads the book and says, "HEY! That's ME they're talking about! I'm gonna sue their pants off!"

Because really, who would sue an author if they suspected the most wonderful character had been based on themselves? I don't know about you, but I'd find that quite complimentary--it'd be right up there with having a horse named after me (which is a true story, by the way, but one I shall save for another time).

I don't have very many characters that are based on real people. In fact, there is only one in The Last Daughter of Elhamair: the diminutive elephant rider (er, the rider is diminutive, not the elephant...) with a firecracker personality is based on a very dear friend of mine.

Mostly, though, I base characters on how people--or groups of people--make me feel. Asreth, the love interest, is based on relationships I have had with truly wonderful male friends. His mother, Ada, reflects the love I feel from my own parents and other adult friends and relatives. Sameen's tutor is an homage to the many teachers that have influenced my life, the humorous characters draw on the humor of my funniest friends, and the horses, of course, are inspired by horses I have known or wish I had known.

I wish I could say that the villain was purely fictional, but when I wrote him, I did draw on past experiences of betrayal and pain--which is why I am especially grateful for the love of the people I have based the rest of my characters on.

Because if the real villains ever catch wind of that, I might need to borrow some pants.

--

P.S. I'm going to host a big contest once I reach 100 followers. As of this writing, I have 94. *wink wink*

* The Wikipedia article on the disclaimer's history is actually quite interesting, too.

Doing Vs. Being

2011-03-10T08:00:00.001-07:00

I have a great job. I work for a great company, make enough money, and thoroughly enjoy my boss and coworkers. I really can't complain--especially not right now when I know that so many people can't say the same.

However, this job is not my dream job. I hope to have that job someday, but I noticed recently that I have started thinking about myself as the embodiment of my job, as if I am what I do. I am Jess. I am an Apartment Leasing Consultant.

That thought stopped me in my tracks the other day, and my very independent dreamer's heart said, "Absolutely not. You are NOT a leasing consultant. You DO lease apartments, but that is not who you ARE. And don't you ever forget that, fool!"

What am I? I am a writer. I am an equestrian. I am a Mormon, an artist, a musician. I am an aspiring archaeologist. I am outgoing and happy. I am opinionated and stubborn, but I'm a fiercely loyal friend and a good listener, too. These are (some of the) things that define me. This is who I am.

Leasing apartments is something that I do, but I don't identify myself by that any more than I would identify myself by what I eat for breakfast*.

This isn't to say that if you absolutely love leasing apartments, that's not who you are. The point is to find your own identity.

And our characters must do the same. The things that our characters do don't always define them. They create depth and give readers something to read, but that's not who they are.

Knowing who they are vs. what they do can open doors for the conflict and tension that are so vital to storytelling--because, let's face it, we all have to do things that we don't want to do, things that go against our personal standards or challenge our dreams and goals.

Imagine the moral dilemma of a religious pacifist who is drafted during a war, the aching of a musical prodigy who waits tables to make a living, or the potential hilarity of highly trained bodyguard assigned to protect a professional escape artist.

And what happens if they fall into a rut and start letting what they do define who they are? Do they even notice? Do they fight it, or do they give in? What does it do to them? Is the change a good thing or a bad thing?

And whether or not all of these details make it into your story or novel, they can help us identify motives, strengths, weaknesses, dreams, fears, etc. in our characters--all things that add depth to our characters and turn them into people our readers can relate to.

What about you? What do you or your characters do that doesn't define who you/they are?

*Yeah, that whole "You are what you eat thing" is a bunch of bologna--I have yet to turn into scrambled eggs and a toasted bagel.

Your World. Your Chance To Make It Better.

2011-02-23T12:15:00.000-07:00

My dear friends and readers,

If you have been reading my little bloggity thing for any length of time, you'll know that I am not of the politically minded sort. Normally, I like to keep my opinions on such matters to myself, but today, I need to make an exception. I need your help.

Back in 2004, I took a break from my university studies to complete a 10-month service term with AmeriCorps*National Civilian Community Corps (*NCCC). During that time, I was part of a team of 11 individuals (that's me, 3rd from the right) who lived together and served together. We completed over 1,700 hours of service in communities around the southeastern United States. We helped organize Christmas for 5,000 underprivileged families, built houses for 10 more, tutored students at a struggling elementary school, kept habitats healthy at an outdoor education center, cleared invasive species from a state park, painted rooms in a home for unwed teen mothers--and the list goes on.

Needless to say, those 10 months are full of experiences that helped shape who I am today, and it opened my eyes to the need for service in communities around our country and the entire world. The time we put in was invaluable, but there is so much more that needs to be done.

But last Saturday, members of the House of Representatives voted to eliminate funding for all AmeriCorps programs. The entire program could be shut down as soon as March 4th.

THIS MUST NOT HAPPEN.

Without the contributions of thousands of AmeriCorps members each year (this year alone, 85,000 individuals are serving all over the US), our communities will suffer.

So what can we do about it?

AmeriCorps alumnus Caleb Jonas of Massachusetts has started a petition on Change.org, asking Congress to save AmeriCorps. From the site:

Why does Caleb care so much about AmeriCorps? Because he spent a year improving the quality of tutoring programs for low-income kids in Minnesota -- and witnessed AmeriCorps members build houses for Habitat for Humanity, help political refugees start new lives, improve reading test scores for elementary school students, and help disadvantaged high school students get into college.

As Caleb told us over the phone, it breaks his heart that this vital national service program could be shut down at a time when people in the most marginalized communities in America need it the most. That’s why Caleb was inspired to start his "Save AmeriCorps" petition -- and why AmeriCorps supporters are sharing it on Facebook and forwarding messages like this to their friends around the country.

With AmeriCorps on the chopping block, it’s time for all of us to stand up for Caleb and thousands of other volunteers who have committed years of their lives to community service.

If you do nothing else today, please sign the petition to keep this program alive. Ten seconds of your time will earn you the gratitude of millions whose lives have been and will continue to be blessed by the existence of the AmeriCorps programs.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Jess

Honorary

2011-02-18T22:57:00.000-07:00

100 is a really special number for me.

I was the last baby born in my hometown's centennial year, and because I was awesome right from the start, everybody gave me all sorts of cool prizes. I don't remember most of them, but judging by my amazing fauxhawk, I must have known they were pretty rad.

Did that actually just come out of my fingers?

Anyway, one of the prizes was the assurance that if I live to 100, I will get to be the Honorary Chairwoman of said hometown--or, as my dad (that strapping fella on the right) puts it, "You'll get to be the lady in all the parades who is so old she has to have someone else wave her hand for her."

I have lofty goals.

Pssst... Guess what!

What, Jess?

This is my 100th post.

And judging by my awesome pants

this post must be pretty rad!

And because Quita and Pam were awesome right from the very start, they surprised me yesterday with this little beauty:

EGADS! I may be known for many things, but I never expected style to be one of them!

Gee, Jess. As if the pants weren't a dead giveaway.

The rules for accepting this award are thus:

- Thank and link back to the fantastic people who honored you.
- List 7 things about myself
- Pass the award on to more stylish bloggers

So...

Thank you Quita and Pam! You gals are rock stars!

7 Things You Probably Wish You Didn't Know About Me

1. I'm really really really anal about pencils. I hate those recycled plastic pencils with the awful rubber erasers that do very little in the way of actually erasing and mostly just smear everything on that page AND the next. *Shiver* It's worse than death, in my opinion.

2. I have only met three people in my life who have moved more often than I have.

3. I know almost every word to "Carrying the Banner" from Newsies - both lyric lines. Sad, isn't it?

4. I once spent an evening chasing 400 pound black bears up trees with nothing but a flashlight.

5. I don't react to poison ivy. I learned this when I accidentally knelt in a patch while wearing shorts and nothing happened.

6. I have branded the saddle bags on a Harley Davidson.

7. I once had a fight with a tree. I lost, and ended up in the ER having a splinter the size of my pinky removed from my face.

As for the more stylish bloggers part, these people and their lovely blogs are 100x more stylish than me:

- Amanda Hannah
- Hope Junkie
- Idea Bottle
- Kaitlin Ward
- Kate Hart
- Rachel Bateman

Go check them out--and Quita and Pam, too, while you're at it!

And if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go practice my parade wave.

Will You Bee my Valentine?

2011-02-13T06:00:00.134-07:00

It's Valentine's Day! Huzzah!!

And that means that it's finally time to reveal who I've been ~~stalking~~ getting to know for the last couple of days.

Drum roll please....

Bee from The Dreamcatcher's Lair!

Happy Valentine's Day, Bee!

RTW: Bess and Manly, Sittin' in a Tree

2011-02-09T17:58:00.000-07:00

Percy and Annabeth from Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians

If swords and angry gods aren't a romantic backdrop, I don't know what is. And *spoiler alert* Percy gives up the chance to be a god because he can't imagine living forever without Annabeth ~~giving him a hard time~~ standing at his side. How's that for committed?

Monty Becket and Susannah from Leif Enger's So Brave, Young, and Handsome

While their story kind of takes a back seat to the major events of the story, I love that it's Susannah's love and support that really drive Monty's actions and choices. He is motivated by his desire to become a man that she can be proud of, and that just warms my heart.

And my current absolute favorite literary couple...

Evie and Lend from Kiersten White's Paranormalcy

Oh. My. Heart. I love them, and I love that Kiersten wrote about their budding romance with such tender detail--it really made me feel like I was falling in love, too.

What about you? Who are your favorite literary couples?

And while we're spreading all the literary love, you should check out the Valentine's Day Blogosphere Love Fest hosted by Kristin Miller, Kate Hart, Sarah Enni and Tahereh Mafi. Today is the last day to sign up, so hurry quick!

Straight From the Horse's Mouth

2011-02-03T08:00:00.002-07:00

I love books, and I love horses. In many cases, these two loves work really well together. A good number of my favorite books are about horses or at least have horses in them--and many a book has been saved from the "meh" pile by exceptional passages related to equines. I'm relatively easy to please.
But I recently read a book that had it all wrong. The author's heart was in the right place and the horses played a major role in the story, but the author clearly wasn't an equestrian and the inaccuracies were a huge distraction.

Now, I don't expect everyone to be horse crazy, but if you aren't, I would encourage you to do your research. Talk to horsey people. Visit horse farms. Take a riding lesson or two. Have a beta reader who knows horses tell you whether or not you've gotten things right.

This goes for everything in writing. If you are writing about something you are not familiar with or have no personal experience with, make sure you get your facts straight. I don't know anything about astrophysics, so if I were to ever write a book about an astrophysicist, I'd need to do my research: I'd read a lot of *GASP* non-fiction books about astrophysics, watch a buttload of Stargate because I'm a big nerd and I'd be watching it anyway, and try to pick the brain of a real-life astrophysicist if I can find one willing to talk to little ol' me.

The best source of information will always be someone who has experienced what you want to write about. They're called "primary resources" for a reason, and without them, acknowledgment pages would be mighty boring.

But with them, you'll be able to fool us all into thinking you're an equestrian.

Giddyup.

On Giving Up

2011-01-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, settle down. I'm not talking about giving up on writing. I would never give up on writing. I would rather go crazy first--and chances are, I will.

I'm talking about giving up on a book you're reading.

I recently finished reading Shannon Hale's fantastic novel, The Goose Girl. I found it inspiring and fun, and I was full of hope for all literature as I started the next book on my library pile.

I fell off that mountain very quickly.

The next book was incredibly bland and weird and I was bored to tears. I had to force myself to keep reading--I told myself that I only kept reading because I was waiting for my hold on Paranormalcy to come into the library and I didn't have anything else to read.

When I expressed these sentiments to a friend, she asked me if I ever don't finish a book. To be quite honest, I very very rarely don't. And if I don't, it's thanks to immoral subject matter or excessive language (call me old fashioned, but that's the way I roll). Even if I don't like a book, I find that I can't stand not knowing how it ends.

But with this particular book, I seriously considered giving up. Right up to the last page, my mind wandered to all the many things I would rather be doing: cleaning my room, shoveling manure, studying statistics--and I'm not even in a stats class.

So my question for you, dear readers, is this: do you ever stop reading a book? What are your reasons? How do you cope with not knowing the outcome--or do you cheat and read ahead?

In My Library Bag

2011-01-21T22:41:00.000-07:00

The lovely Story Siren hosts a regular feature called In My Mailbox. Lots of bloggers participate, and you can, too--just visit the Story Siren's blog for more info.

Since I rarely actually get books in the mail, I thought I'd call my version In My Library Bag. And the most recent goodies are:

If you're interested, you'll be able to read my reviews on Goodreads once I've read them.

BTWP: Marquita and Pam

2011-01-17T06:00:00.004-07:00

To commemorate the first BTWP interview of 2011, I thought we'd do a double feature! This dynamic duo has achieved near-celebrity status in online writing circles--and they deserve it. They are talented authors whose contributions are always insightful, humorous, and humble.

Please welcome

Marquita Hockaday and Pam Harris

What is your earliest writing memory? What did you write about? Did it have a title?

Both of us have been writing ever since we could hold a pencil. We wrote stories, poems, and even plays!

Pam: My earliest memory doesn't involve physical writing. I re-wrote Green Eggs and Ham as my mom read it to me when I was three years old . Sam I Am became Pam I Am. Clever, huh?

Marquita: My first writing memory was actually a poem about Rosa Parks in fourth grade. The title was: The Brave Woman. The title wasn't that great, but I was only nine okay?

When you were 6, what did you want to be when you grew up?

We both kind of wanted to be everything when we were younger. I think at that age we wanted to work at a library, be teachers and maybe candy bar taste testers. We loved candy bars.

Pam: I just knew I was going to choreograph music videos for Janet Jackson. I'm actually still waiting for that call.

What is the best compliment your writing has ever received?

Marquita: Well, that poem I mentioned got me a $50.00 cash prize, that was pretty neat. And I do have two fulls out with agents, I guess that's a compliment!

Pam: A couple of people told me that my dialogue is pretty authentic. I guess it pays to be nosy! :)

Can you tell us a little about your current WIP?

Marquita: I have a historical young adult manuscript, In Limbo, that I'm currently querying. It is about a fifteen year old during the time of the Spanish Influenza epidemic in 1918. He struggles with missing his older brother fighting in World War I and getting his parents to accept his feelings for an African American girl. My WIP right now is a contemporary YA murder mystery.

Pam: Right now, I'm working on agent-requested revisions for my contemporary YA manuscript, Wants (wow, it's still so strange writing "agent"). It's basically about a love square in high school--two girls who find out that their boyfriends are on the "down low." After that, I'm finishing my second contemporary YA which is a little lighter, and hopefully a little funny.

Do you follow a routine when it comes to writing?

Ugh, we wish we had a routine. Pam has started setting quotas, which we both tend to follow. These consist of writing or revising a certain amount of pages/words a day to earn some kind of incentive. The incentive is usually edible...or alcoholic.

What do you find hardest about writing?

The commitment of "butt in chair" is pretty hard--especially considering that we both have bouts of adult ADHD.

Marquita: I find it hard to get words and various scenes to come out exactly how they sound/look in my head. Action scenes are pretty hard to get right on the first, or second, or third try.

Pam: I'm not very good with imagery. Since I usually skip over descriptions when I'm reading (I know, I'm impatient), the details in my setting seem to be pretty much non-existent.

What is your favorite book (at least currently)?

We have severe issues with picking out one favorite book. The others will feel like the red-headed stepchild. Therefore, we will tell you a few of our faves. Three of our shared faves are Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott, Room by Emma Donoghue and Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver.

Marquita: My favorite books at the moment are Linger by Maggie Stiefvater, Wintergirls by Lauie Halse Anderson, The New Rules of High School by Blake Nelson, Liar by Justine Larbalestier, and Stolen by Lucy Christopher.

Pam: I love, love, love The Absolute Value of -1 by Steve Brezenoff. Also, Ellen Hopkins and Courtney Summers can do no wrong in my eyes.

What non-writing hobbies do you like to participate in?

We love TV and movies. We love them so much that we also write teleplays and screenplays every now and then. So a big hobby of ours is watching TV and movies--especially scary ones. Also, we both enjoy being educators...seriously, what's so funny? We do.

Marquita: I love studying history, also.

Pam: I love making fun of Marquita for studying history.

If you had $1,000,001, what would you do with the $1?

Ha! Is this $1 each so now we have $2?? If it is then I'm pretty sure we would use that money to buy the new Wendy's sea salt home fries. OR we just might join one of those book clubs that say you can get five books for a $1. We could get TEN!

Give us one random fact about yourself.

Pam: I probably know most of the lines to most of Leo DiCaprio's movies, especially Romeo and Juliet. And Titanic. And The Departed...

Marquita: I can roll my stomach and I have a fish shaped birthmark on said stomach.

Also, we're actually the same person.

To learn more about Quita and Pam and their writing, visit their blog at Y(A)? Cuz We Write! or follow them on Twitter (@KeeKeeHockaday and @Pamharris81). They are also hosting a 100 follower contest starting tomorrow and ending Jan. 28th, 2011 at midnight EST, so GET THEE HENCE.

If you would be interested in being a BTWP interviewee, send me an email at jestkeptsecret (at) gmail (dot) com.

RTW: Playing Favorites

2011-01-12T19:17:00.003-07:00

This Week's Topic:
What is your favorite line from your WIP (or from a book you read recently)?

My favorite line from WIP #1 (The Last Daughter of Elhamair) is hidden in a little corner between a major battle and a turning point in the character's journey. I feel like it's a little too much detail, but I really really hope it doesn't get cut in this round of revisions. I know it's hard to know whether it really works or not without more of the book, but what do you think?

Click to enlarge

I have another favorite line, too, but it's the very last line of the book so I won't spoil it for you. I don't write in chronological order, but it did turn out to be the last line I wrote when I finished the first draft and it just worked. It was in that moment that I realized that I had written a book, and that it was actually kind of good.

What about you? What are your favorite lines?

RTW: 2010 in books

2011-01-05T14:04:00.001-07:00

My 5 Favorite Books from 2010

(in the same order I read them)

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan (we'll just count it as one book)

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Airman by Eoin Colfer

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

If I summed up my year in a book title, it would be:

What about you? What were your favorite books of 2010, and how would you title your year?

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T14:06:00.000-07:00

In case you hadn't noticed, it's 2011 now.

*Throws confetti*

And that means that Jest Kept Secret is officially

ONE YEAR OLDER AND WISER, TOO!

Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear blooooooggggggy, happy birthday to you!

It also means that it's time to make some resolutions. I went a little overboard last year (no one can say I have no ambition...), so this year, I'm keeping it simple:

- Read 25 books
- Start querying for The Last Daughter of Elhamair - which means I'll needs some betas soon. If you're interested, let me know!
- Make significant progress on the new WIP. I'd like to say "Finish the new WIP", but we all know that I'm the world's slowest writer and it most likely won't be finished by December.
- Take the GRE
- Go somewhere I've never been
- Post at least one BTWP interview each month. As always, if you'd like to be interviewed, send me an email at jestkeptsecret (at) gmail (dot) com.

That's it--or at least, that's it for the ones I'm sharing with the general public. Ha!

What are your resolutions for 2011?

Then and Now, Part II

2010-12-31T14:48:00.002-07:00

Ten years ago today, I sealed a time capsule.

It wasn't much more than an old Tang container filled with silly trinkets my 14-year-old self thought might be significant in the year 2010. Nevertheless, on December 31, 2000, I turned 15, sealed my time capsule and tried to forget what I had put inside.

I have moved three times since then, and the time capsule has (miraculously) survived the journey. I turn 25 today and this morning, I opened the time capsule.

Turns out, I did a pretty good job forgetting.

A miniature horse, bouncy ball, marble, pennies (one squished, one not), an elephant charm, a shrinky-dink pin from camp and my first piece of swag--a pin for K. A. Applegate's Animorphs series--represented my passions, memories and collections.

Random clippings and ticket stubs painted a picture of events both personal and more widespread. I developed my love of ornithology and Matthew Broderick that year, apparently. Zoo Atlanta got their pandas, Lun Lun and Yang Yang. The Palmyra temple was dedicated. I ate a lot of Chinese food. BYU's Young Ambassadors performed at my rival high school, and Susan Butcher earned a spot on my heroes list.

There were pictures I had forgotten I had taken, comics I used to think were funny, and autographs from friends I met during my first year of high school. Out of all of those signatures, I still keep in touch with a grand total of 2. I appreciate them now even more than I did then.

I thought I was very globally aware.

This makes me happy: "Aquamarine & lavendar", Lisa Frank stickers, and gel pens.

It amazes me that I could have changed so much in just ten years.

At least that hasn't changed.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-23T06:00:00.002-07:00

Hey, guess what!

I got you a present!

It's not much, but it's all I can afford. And it's homemade--and I had to learn html to make it look all fancy and stuff.*

I hope you like it.

It's right over there in the links list. It says "Resources".

Clickity click.

Merry Christmas, y'all. I hope it's fantastic!

*As fancy as someone who doesn't know the first thing about html can manage, at least.

BTWP: Anime

2010-12-20T06:00:00.004-07:00

If you ever read my twitter feed, you'll recognize today's BTWP interviewee as one of my tweet-besties. She, @Karenof4 and I frequently engage in gut-busting conversations about bugs or reindeer. The things we can come up with on those those two topics alone are unbelievably ~~ridiculous~~ awesome.

So when you're done reading this awesome interview, you should forget that it's Monday and #FF the amazing

Anime

What is your earliest writing memory? What did you write about? Did it have a title?

My earliest writing memory was probably in kindergarten. It was mostly short poems and stories about my family. As I moved into the teenage years, I kept writing poetry, but geared more towards love and heartache. After all, what's 16 (or in my case, 13, 14, 15, etc. ::laughing::) without love and heartache? I had always enjoyed writing, but had never thought that I'd one day aspire to be a writer. I still don't think of myself as one, seeing as I don't really think about it when I write, it just kind of is. My earlier experiences with writing were just thoughts and ideas that I had, nothing ever really concrete, with most never having titles except for the mandatory stuff they made me write in school. I do get nostalgic sometimes because I can still remember sitting in my room, lost in my own thoughts, penning words on paper and trying to figure out words that rhymed with purple (is there such a thing? Ha!).

When you were 6, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Hm, this is a hard one. You're asking me to go back a million years to dredge up this memory. ::laughing:: I can't really pinpoint what I wanted to be at 6, but it was around those years that I, at one point, wanted to be a computer engineer. Don't laugh. No, really. ::laughing:: I saw my cousin, who was a few years older than me, tinkering around with them. He was the one I followed around all the time because I wanted to be just like him and this time was no exception. I used to tinker with computers back when people didn't know any better than DOS. For the longest time during my childhood and into early adolescence, I was putting some serious thinking into getting a computer engineering degree. By the time I was 10, I knew how to input programming language into DOS so that the computer would talk back to me in question form. Ha! The crazy things kids used to do...

What is the best compliment your writing has ever received?

"I can totally see myself buying this at a bookstore."

Can you tell us a little about your current WIP?

My current WIP is a fantasy/romance YA novel about a boy who learns that he is a descendant of some very powerful mythical beings. Mythical beings are kept secret for now, but it's something that hasn't been seen a lot in mainstream literature. There are a few romantic conflicts in there because let's face it, I'm a total girl about those things. I'm at about 55K and about three quarters done with the whole thing, currently in the middle of setting up the climax.

Do you follow a routine when it comes to writing?

I actually don't do well with routines, at least when it comes to writing. I do have music on constantly to help me stay in my characters' heads when I'm writing a scene. I have different songs for different characters and different genres of music for each scene I write. I do almost all of my writing at night (late, late night) and have been known to pull all-nighters when I really get going. I also believe in writing in the moment. By this, I mean I never write just because I need to or set a time to do it. I've tried to do that and the scene didn't come out the way I imagined it. So I just let the music flow and hope that I get hit by some magical inspiration!

What do you find hardest about writing?

The hardest thing during the writing process is the urge to edit while I'm trying to write new material. It is ridiculous how much I have to mentally slap my hand and tell myself not to fix those sentence structures from chapter 2 that never seem to look right. I know that in order for me to get this story out of my head, I need to focus on getting the story out, but instead I keep longingly glancing at old chapters, wanting desperately to fix them while I'm in "new material" mode. ::laughing::

I also think that being my own worst critic is up there in the hardship department. I'm only halfway certain that other writers get as self critical about their WIP as I do. I'm always thinking to myself, "No one's going to want to read this but me. Okay, maybe not even that." Ha! It's hard to pull myself out of that mode once I'm in it. Ergo, the reason it is taking me so long to finish my WIP (2 years and counting!).

What is your favorite book (at least currently)?

I have loads of favorites, actually. It's hard to pick just one because they're all so different and bring their own influences to my writing and my life in general. I absolutely love LOVE the Harry Potter series. I think that everyone should read it! Many new and aspiring writers will not only get the pleasure of having gone through a life-changing journey via its main characters, but will also see first hand what exceptional writing looks like. Rowling is KING (or in this case, QUEEN!). Another book I usually keep close is my collection of Shakespeare's sonnets. I'm a total sucker for that kind of old poetry, mainly because the old language was far more expressive than how we speak today. I like going through and interpreting what they mean. I know, I'm weird. Ha!

What non-writing hobbies do you like to participate in?

I have loads of those, too! I've been known to hole up in our guest bedroom and sketch. For hours. People have to knock on the door and ask me if I've eaten. Ha! I also read a lot, mostly re-reading favorite books unless someone recommends something that piques my interest. I'm an avid gamer (PC and console) and am actually in the middle of trying to finish Final Fantasy XIII. I'm also a movie and music fanatic. My movie collection alone would probably be enough to pay my rent for about a good year or two! ::laughing:: I'm one of those that will usually go see multiple movies in a weekend because they all seem to look really, really, REALLY good. LOL!

If you had $1,000,001, what would you do with the $1?

I'd probably buy a lotto ticket or something. Oh! Or take a trip to the 99cents store. But I'd probably end up spending some of that leftover $1,000,000. Ha!

Give us one random fact about yourself.

My last name is 19 letters long. ;)

--

To learn more about ThatGirlAni and her writing, follow her on Twitter at @ThatGirlAni. She also blogs at http://animesmusings.blogspot.com.

If you would be interested in being a BTWP interviewee, send me an email at jestkeptsecret (at) gmail (dot) com.

Villains Are People, Too

2010-12-16T09:20:00.002-07:00

Confession: I'm a sucker for a good villain.

In my honest opinion, a villain makes or breaks a book. Even if you have The Best Hero That Ever Walked The Face of Literature, they are NOTHING without a good villain. Woohoo. You're awesome. So what?

But pit that Best Hero Ever against The Best Villain Ever, and you've suddenly got yourself a match worthy of my short attention span.

So what makes a good villain great?

Source

History

Our MCs aren't the only ones deserving of a back story, and a good one can give a villain just the edge he/she needs to catapult them into greatness. Whether it's a lousy childhood, unrequited love, traditions and culture, an experience where they feel they have been wronged, etc., these back stories have a direct impact on the future actions of our villains.

Consider how un-scary Voldemort would be if he had had a normal childhood and had grown up in a home with kind and loving parents.

Source

Motive

Back stories need to lead naturally to the villain's acts of... villainy.... Someone who gets shorted on change at the grocery store isn't going to suddenly decide to aim for world domination. What is the motivation behind the villain's actions? What do they hope to accomplish by being dastardly? Do they want money, revenge, power, love?

My motive for writing this post was so that I could post a picture of Edward Norton on my blog. *swoon*

It's interesting to note that villains don't typically think they're bad guys. Think about real life--in a war, both sides are going to be fighting for what they honestly believe is right. Who would fight for a cause they were morally opposed to?

Source

Unless they feel obligated, that is. One of my favorite characters is General Glozelle in the 2008 film adaptation of Prince Caspian (played by Pierfrancesco Favino). Not only is he so pretty, but he is full of all sorts of internal conflict. Even though he knows that the Telmarines are bad guys, he fights on their side out of loyalty and patriotism. On the surface, loyalty and patriotism aren't inherently bad, and they can be a great source of conflicted motivation for our characters--both villains and heroes.

Source

Flaws

Just as heroes are boring and unrealistic if they are perfectly good, villains are boring and unrealistic if they are perfectly bad. Give your villain a weakness--an Achilles heel--but let that flaw feed your villain's passion for being bad. In A Knight's Tale, Lord Ademar (played by Rufus Sewell) has a bad case of insecurity. But does he sit around feeling sorry for himself? NO! He does his darnedest to make life miserable for poor ~~Heath Ledger~~ Sir Ulrich, who threatens to expose him for the loser he really is. If Ademar was confident, he wouldn't have any *cough* motive for destroying Ulrich.

Want to really scare your readers? Make your villain's flaws easy to relate to. No one likes being reminded of the Mr. Hydes sneaking around our own psyches, and there's something really terrifying about realizing that you share something in common with the Best Villain Ever.

Source

Instigating Event

I don't know about you, but I don't know anyone who has ever woken up in the morning and decided, "Today, I'm going to start hurting people." There will be a moment in every villain's life when they step over the proverbial line in the sand and become a bad guy, a moment when your good guys and bad guys suddenly find themselves enemies.

If Peter Pan had not cut off Hook's hand and fed it to the crocodile, Hook might never have been anything more than a good natured captain of a pay-by-the-hour Neverland Bay tour boat.

Source

Appeal

Bad hygiene doesn't win you any followers unless you have something to reward your minions for putting up with your grossness.

What I'm really trying to say here is that your villains must have some sort of appeal, or no one would have anything to do with them. And really, how intimidating is that?

Hero: Oh, yeah? And who's gonna stop me? You and what army?
Villain: Uh... Well, there's me. And there's Bob here.
Bob: No way! You leave me out of this!
Villain: Hey, I paid you five bucks to stand by me on this one! Where's your loyalty, man?

Villains often dole out power, money, "safety", social status, etc. to encourage--or force--loyalty among their followers. Luke in Percy Jackson and the Olympians (played by Jake Abel in the 2010 film) amasses a following by promising recognition and power for the lesser gods and demigods. Kristin Otts has a really great post over at YA Highway on the value of "sexiness", which can attract sycophantic characters and screaming fangrrls.

When your hero meets the villain, how do they feel about each other? Is it instant loathing, or is there a moment where they think, "Hey, maybe they're not so bad after all?" Maybe that doubt/conviction comes later after continued interaction. Does your MC want to feel one way and find themselves feeling differently? These interactions and impressions add depth to the relationship and can make the battle between characters even more interesting.

Who are your favorite villains, and what makes them so?

RTW: Memoirs

2010-12-08T14:54:00.004-07:00

This week's prompt:

Write Your Six-Word Memoir
(Inspired by I Can't Keep My Own Secrets)

One thing I really love about YA Highway is that their prompts always seem to be so timely. They always fit so neatly with what I've been pondering or they provide the perfect inspiration for my writing.

This prompt comes just as I'm nearing my 25th birthday. In twenty-three days, I will have lived for a quarter of a century. This calls for some serious reflection, man--and that's exactly what I have been doing. (Not that turning 25 makes me any more reflective than usual. I'm tend to go a little overboard with the whole "what does it mean?" thing. After all, life is rather bright. And vibrant.)

Seriously, though, my life is awesome. I've done some really, really crazy things, been to places too beautiful to exist, and made incredibly good friends along the way.

But how to sum that all up in six words? I'd love to steal the motto off my favorite brand of active wear ("Life is Good")*, but that would be 1. stealing, and 2. three words too short.

So here is what I came up with instead:

Always ready for the next adventure.

What about you? What is your six word memoir?

*Favorite even if I don't actually own anything from them... I just drool over their shirts and hats any time I see them at the store.
P.S. OH MY WORD. I cannot spell "memoirs" tonight to save my life. I have had to respell my post title 3 times... Oi ve...

BTWP: Abby Stevens

2010-12-06T08:00:00.065-07:00

You know that YA Highway site I keep talking about? The one that's full of really awesome advice for YA writers and which gives me lots of fun prompts to write about? Well, the thing I really love most about YA Highway is the chance it gives us to "meet" other YA writers as we read each other's Road Trip Wednesday posts.

Today's BTWP interviewee is one such writer. Her answers are always so thoughtful and fun, and she likes cats so she is obviously awesome. Please welcome

Abby Stevens

What is your earliest writing memory? What did you write about? Did it have a title?

My earliest writing memory is of writing a 'book' in third grade. It was about a mean slice of pizza and had something to do with the Stinky Cheese Man story. I remember being mad because my teacher corrected the dialogue, but I knew that even if it wasn't strictly correct, Pizza Dude talked like that. The book, which I 'bound' myself with cardboard, ended up on display at a city-wide Young Authors event, though I couldn't tell you where it is today.

When you were 6, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a paleontologist or an archaeologist (seriously, at 6). To this day, l love dinosaurs and ancient civilizations.

What is the best compliment your writing has ever received?

My 12th grade AP Lit teacher told me that I knew how to say the most with the least number of words of any student he'd ever taught. That was a pretty great compliment, and one I still think of often.

Can you tell us a little about your current WIP?

PRODIGAL MAGGIE is an 82,000 word YA contemporary fantasy. I'm quite secretive about the plot, but it is currently out to betas and I hope to query this winter.

Do you follow a routine when it comes to writing?

I'm not a morning person, so I usually start writing in the afternoon and stop when my husband comes home from work. Occasionally, I'll get on a roll and pull an all-nighter. I almost never write on weekends. I'm a much slower writer than many of my contemporaries (it took me almost 2.5 years to finish MAGGIE), but as Popeye would say, "I yam what I yam."

What do you find hardest about writing?

Myself, honestly. I am a confident person in most respects, but I judge my writing very harshly. The good news is, if I think something I've written is decent, it probably is. The bad news is I get in my own way because I freak out and decide everything I've written is garbage.

What is your favorite book (at least currently)?

My standard answer is GONE WITH THE WIND, HARRY POTTER, and WORLD WAR Z. I also love anything by Jennifer Weiner or Lauren Willig. Recent favorites include SISTERS RED by Jackson Pearce and NIGHTSHADE by Andrea Cremer.

What non-writing hobbies do you like to participate in?

I read (if you want to consider that non-writing), paint, draw, sing, scrapbook, and play Rockband (Band Hero is my favorite, actually, because of the Taylor Swift songs). I don't do any of those things at any kind of professional level or quality, but I enjoy them all.

If you had $1,000,001, what would you do with the $1?

Hmmm... I so want to say what I'd do with the million, but the question is about the dollar. Darn you, Jess, with your original questions! ;-) Honestly, the dollar would just go into my bank account with the rest of it. I'm OCD about some things, but odd numbers aren't one of them.

Give us one random fact about yourself.

I got stuck at the top of the Washington Monument in 2003. The elevator broke and my husband and I had to walk down about 1,000 steps to get to the bottom. Cool in that hardly anyone gets to see the inside of the obelisk, which is lined with memorials donated by the states, but not-so-cool in that my calves felt like they were going to fall off my legs the next day.

--

To learn more about Abby and her writing, hop on over to her site, The Tabby Catt. She also tweets as @thetabbycatt.

If you would be interested in being a BTWP interviewee, send me an email at jestkeptsecret (at) gmail (dot) com.

A Writer's Guide to First Aid

2010-12-03T08:30:00.002-07:00

I've been a little under the weather lately. Don't worry, it's nothing contagious--or, at least, I don't think it's contagious.

Oh gosh, I hope not. You might want to stop reading now, just to be safe.

You still here? Goodness, you're brave...

My symptoms included

lethargy
forgetfulness
sore fingers
carpal tunnel
headaches
mild irritability
talking to myself
sudden outbursts of elation followed by periods of frustration

I checked WebMD and the results were overwhelmingly positive for Brachyscritturapexy*, otherwise known as "Common Writer's Block".

*Sobs* How long does my book have, Doc?

Chill, wouldya? Writer's Block doesn't have to be fatal for your novel. In fact, like broken bones and chicken pox, brachyscritturapexy can actually make your novel stronger and healthier.

Promise.

All you need to do to recover is to remember that old axiom for fixing a strain--you know, that whole "R.I.C.E." thing.

Rest - Give your mind and your body a break. Read a book. Take a nap. Go for a walk. When I was working as a Post-Production Audio Editor at KBYU-TV, my boss taught me to take occasional breaks because, as he put it, "your ears get tired, too." When your ears--or your brain--are tired, you are less effective. You miss things that you normally wouldn't, and you will get frustrated more easily.

Ice - Let it cool. Take a break from the manuscript. Stick it in a drawer and try to forget about it. Think about anything but your book. By the time you come back to it, you will have a fresh perspective. That subconscious of yours is pretty good at working things out without you. Trust it, and give it a chance to prove itself.

Compression - Put a little pressure on it. I started writing another book and the first one got jealous and started cooperating again. But if you don't want to start another book, pick up a new hobby. Learn to crochet. Start a charitable foundation. Get married. Have some kids. Do whatever it takes to make sure you don't have any time for the book and then it will practically force itself into your brain. I can almost guarantee it.

Elevation - Work on improving your manuscript without actually working on the manuscript itself. Do some research. Hone your craft. Read blogs and websites and books about writing books. Participate in other endeavors that stretch your mind beyond writing. Have someone else give you constructive criticism. I like to read more polished sections of my book out loud to friends and get their feedback. The things that they say often trigger other ideas that help me get past the block and start writing again.

But just as there are a hundred bazillion different pieces of "medical" advice for every malady, there are a hundred bazillion different ways to overcome brachyscrittur--Writer's Block. The R.I.C.E. method worked for me. What methods have you found effective for overcoming Writer's Block?

P.S. Funny story: When I was conducting the mini photo shoot that produced that photograph at the top, my dad walked in and saw my whole set up. He just shook his head and laughed when I said, "There is a purpose behind this, I swear." By now, he knows better than to ask what that purpose is...

*That is my highly uneducated attempt at making up a latin word by combining the roots for "slow" (brachy-), "writing" (scrittura) and "fixation" (-pexy).

Gratitude, Belated As It May Be

2010-12-01T17:07:00.002-07:00

I had initially wanted to post this on Thanksgiving, but you know how holidays go... Nevertheless, I have so much to be grateful for. I'd list them for you, but I know you have a life to live, so I'll just sum it up with this (even though this doesn't even cover it...):

And in honor of this holiday season, I'd like to get into the spirit of giving by finally passing on the award that the lovely Christie from Wright Wild gave me a few weeks ago (Thanks, Christie!).

When thinking of who I'd like to pass this onto, several individuals immediately came to mind. These new friends and writers are full of grace and wisdom and humor. Not only are their blogs lovely, but they are quite lovely themselves! I am truly grateful to be able to associate with them in the writing circles of the internet.

Katharine Owens of The Insect Collector

Kathy Johnson of Catching Happiness

Meadow of Meadow of Words

Rachel Harrie of Rach Writes

Asheyna of Musings of a Scattered Mind

Karen Hansen of My Weight Loss Journey

I highly recommend getting to know these bloggers. They are fantastic!

Badreads: In Which I Rant About the Inalienable Right to Review Books

2010-11-27T00:26:00.003-07:00

I have been a member of Goodreads for several years now. I have hundreds of books on my "read" list, and I have written reviews for many of them. I believe in being honest in my book reviews. If I don't like a book, I won't pretend that I do.

Enter the Hunger Games.

I know that I am in the minority, but I hated the Hunger Games so much that I haven't finished the series. I feel that I have valid reasons for not liking it and that I have every right to express that. If you want to read my reasons, you can read the review here.

And while you're at it, take a look at the 37 comments. I didn't even know they were there until tonight, and they left me feeling numb and angry. I hate hate hate myself for being so upset over the words of strangers, but I am.

Let me set one thing straight: I don't mind that people disagree with me. When I wrote the review, I knew that mine would be one of very few negative reviews of the book. I know that many people love the books, and it is their right to do so. I am happy to engage in thoughtful, mature discussion on the merits and faults of the book when both sides maintain respect for the opposition. The first two comments you will see are from friends of mine. I don't have any problem with what they said--and they both disagreed with my review.

What absolutely kills me is that people think that the anonymity provided by the internet leaves them unaccountable for their hurtful and ignorant words. Or that if someone disagrees with their opinion, they're an idiot. A few of my favorite examples:

"I wonder if you read a lot of young adult novels. The writing is simplistic but that's typical of the genre."

"You're probaly [sic] just not into good books"

"Obviously, your taste in literature is somewhere around a dull, g-rated, educational, non-fiction, picture-book. Get back to me when you've learned yourself up about the Montgomery Bus Boycott."

It's one thing to disagree with what I say, but it's another thing entirely to call me "crazy" or to imply that I am uneducated or unread. I have read scathing reviews of my favorite books, but I would never even dream of telling them that their opinion is invalid just because we happen to disagree.

I think it's ironic that the civil rights movement made its way into this discussion. While I am in no way trying to imply that what happened on Goodreads comes anywhere close to the level of the atrocities suffered by Civil Rights activists, I do find the comparison interesting. The opinions of the Montgomery Bus Boycott participants was unpopular, and I'm sure many called them "crazy", too.

Many who commented made remarks on how frighteningly realistic they found the premise of the book. While I was originally inclined to disagree with them, I am willing to admit now that the polarizing affect this series has on readers is testimony to its terrifying truth: anyone who fosters an opinion that differs from the majority (*cough* rebels against the Capital) is publicly humiliated. (For the record, I don't think that everyone who likes the Hunger Games is bad. Just those who belittle my opinion.)

I am so so so so grateful for the voices throughout history who have refused to be silenced by the popular opinion. The Civil Rights Movement activists. William Wilberforce. Sir Thomas Moore. Joseph Smith. Martin Luther. Susan B. Anthony. Galileo. Aristotle.

In the grand scheme of things, our various opinion on the Hunger Games doesn't matter--but our right to those opinion does.

And if we don't stand up for that right, will we have the courage to stand up when it really counts?

Then and Now

2010-11-18T23:41:00.001-07:00

I recently got an email from Forbes.com with the subject, "Remember me? I'm you, 5 years ago."

Whaaaaat?

When I opened it, this is what I found:

Greetings from your past. In the fall of 2005, you agreed to receive this message, which has been preserved in the Forbes.com E-Mail Time Capsule.

Here is the text of your message:

So, how the heck are you? This is kind of weird. I'm picturing myself in Jim Caviezel's spot in "Frequency", only I'm talking to myself, not my dad. Crazy, eh?

Anyways, let's play a little game. Let me tell you where I am now and where I think you (er...me) are.

NOW -
Age: 19
Occupation: KBYU Post Production Audio Editor
Year in School: College Sophomore
Marital Status: Interested in a really really cute boy. His name is [SECRET]. Remember him? What a dumb question. How could you forget him? He's amazing. Hey, maybe he's even reading this over your shoulder.
Address: Provo (Good ol' Campus Plaza. Gosh I love it here!)
Attitude: Happy happy happy.

THEN -
Age: 24
Occupation: Assistant Director under M. Night Shyamalan
Year in school: DONE AND FREE
Marital Status: This is dangerous... Maybe you are, but maybe you're not. Either way, don't feel bad about it.
Address: Somewhere in California. With horses in the back yard.
Attitude: Happy happy happy.

Yeah. Sounds good.

See ya in 5 years!!
Jess

Wow. How 'bout that?

Actually, this article tells you exactly how. Pretty fascinating.

It's Not You, It's Me

2010-11-15T22:32:00.002-07:00

I'm breaking up with you.

*Gasp!* Whaaaaattt?

Yes, NaNo. I'm sorry. I really wanted to make it work.

Don't give me that. You don't even care.

I do care. I do!

If you really cared about me, you wouldn't give up so easily.

I'm not giving up.

Mmmhmm...

I'm not! I just not ready to...

To WHAT? It's that other book, isn't it? You're still not over him yet?

Well...

OH MY GOSH. You're pathetic.

Hey now! See, that's exactly what I'm talking about! HE never puts me down. He encourages me to keep doing what I love. You don't do anything but make me feel bad and useless and silly. I never should have left him for you.

Yeah, good luck getting back together with him. He's never going to take you back now.

Yes he will. He loves me.

So why were you drifting apart recently? Why did you start thinking about writing other books? HMMM?

I... er...

You know what I think? I think you're afraid of commitment.

HA! Me, afraid of commitment?! I gave the best years of my life to him!

Whatever. "Wasted" is more like it. That book is such a loser.

He's twice the book you'll ever be!

Na-na-na-na! "He's twice the book you'll ever be!" You know what? BITE ME.

Oh, grow up. Like, seriously. Figure out your problems and come talk to me when you can be mature.

*Sigh* You're right. That was out of line. Forgive me?

Hmmm.... Okay, I guess.

Can we still be friends?

Of course! I still think you're a really great book, and I'd love to keep hanging out. Just not, you know, as anything more than just friends.

Purely platonic?

Purely platonic.

So you don't mind if I ask your best friend out?

YOU WOULDN'T.