Mandy Is Writing... or Should Be

I'm like a kid going to summer camp!

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:08:50 GMT

I feel like such an excited little newbie :D but I am SO FREAKIN EXCITED to go to Vermont, I don't see how I'll POSSIBLY make it through the next 49 days!! UGH... I had finally settled my mind down a bit, and then today my Residency Guide showed up in my email with all the details and my packing list etc. and I just wanted to run upstairs and pack my suitcase RIGHT NOW!! LOL... I just can't wait! Apart from the writing camp fun, I am an east coast girl at heart and always will be, so my soul is already positively singing just from the knowledge that we are going back SOON! SNOW!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!

And our workshop material (up to 20 pages) is due TOMORROW! I am kind of bummed that I don't have something I'm more excited about, but I am going to send my old WIP rather than my current one, because I care 100x more about my current one AND it's far less polished. I know it can be in any stage, but I admit I don't want to look like a total know-nothing, and at the very least the writing in the piece in question is pretty tight and fixed up. In any case, I'm sure I'll get lots of helpful criticism that I can apply to anything, AND maybe (there's always a chance!) my fire for good old OP will get rekindled... I don't know though. We'll see. :/

Is it plagiarism...

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:28:10 GMT

To use quotes from a famous person as chapter titles of a novel? Credit is inherently given within the story, but I'm not sure if it's legal. Anyone have a clue?

Is it January yet?

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:44:33 GMT

I don't think ever, in the history of ME, have I ever been SO excited for Christmas just to be over and DONE with already!! On January 9 I'll be hopping a plane and heading for Montpelier, to enjoy a little snow, dorm life, and caf food for ten GLORIOUS days and to say I can't wait is an understatement. After five years of what has felt like a total life stall, something really, really good and exciting is FINALLY happening to me! It's been so long since I've felt so dang PROUD, so I'm going to brag a bit now. Feel free to stop reading if that will annoy you. ;) You had fair warning.

First of all, the cost of this program is what some people would consider "prohibitive". And I certainly don't have the money in my back pocket to pull out for it either, and will be relying 100% on student loans. I know some may consider it irresponsible to do so for a career that certainly holds no guarantees, but I am PROUD to be taking the risk, have confidence that I will do well, and (even though it may take my first published book or five to do it) when it comes right down to it, loans can be repaid. Somehow I don't think the same thing will be able to be said about the experience. So yeah, I am proud of being a risk taker and a cliff jumper and following this dream I've had since I was five years old, no matter the unknowns. And to add to the excitement, it's like I get two dreams in one... at the end of all of this, I'll be able to teach COLLEGE!!! :D Something I have wanted to do for a long time, and can hardly believe I'll really be qualified for in just two years.

Next of all ;) : I am almost 27 years old. As my fellow writer friend Sarah (author of THIS adorable book: http://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Matilda-Sarah-Hager/dp/0060514523/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257985875&sr=8-1 ) wrote to me, "I wish I had done something like that when I was your age, but I wouldn't have had the nerve -- in fact, at your age I didn't think I could be a creative writer." Now, as I wrote back to her myself, at somewhere in her forties (guess? that's always dangerous... :D), she is HARDLY too old to join me! But she made me really think- I have been feeling like I've done nothing with myself for the past five years, and I know there are published writers my age and younger, and it can be easy to just get discouraged and sad and feel hopelessly behind. But in reality, the fact that I am still in my twenties and am doing what I REALLY want to do and know I am meant to do is something I am really... here's that word again... oh thesaurus, help me out here...no? okay then... PROUD of.

And last of all, I confess to all of you here and now: I am still inwardly gloating and riding high on the fact that I even got in. :) I know it's not Juiliiard or anything, but it IS fairly competitive (around 25-30% acceptance rate from what I've been able to find)- and therefore my acceptance is such a huge validation. Especially for as little experience as I have, as un-prolific as I am, and as little as I've been formally 'educated' in writing. I just know in my heart this is the start of something really great, and I am finally (!) at peace with what I've chosen to focus all of my energy on for the next few years.

So... GO me! And COME ON January! BRING ON the fun and intensity and exhaustion!!! I'm ready. :)

bEST. nEWS. eVER!!! (so far)

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 06:09:29 GMT

Well, I can see by the little icon on the left of my homepage my last update was 8 WEEKS AGO... so much for stick-to-itiveness, eh? BUT... that is all going to change soon, and FOR REAL this time!! Why is that, you may ask? Well, that would be because the reality is that this little extroverted writer (NOT an oxymoron... right?) needs outside pressure, deadlines, and a group dynamic to do her best work. AND... (drum roll please)... I'm about to get it because:

I got word today from Vermont College that I have been ACCEPTED into the MFA in Writing for Children and Teenagers program!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!

I was so over the moon when I heard the news on my voicemail this afternoon I literally sat on my couch sobbing. I was so emotionally invested in this, and had no idea what I was going to do if I got rejected. There was no Plan B. Which I've always heard is a big life mistake, but thankfully, for ONCE this year, something has worked out in my favor. And 2010 is already looking bright... I'll be in Vermont 9 days after it starts!!!!!!!!!!!!! I seriously can't imagine being more excited.

On finishing

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 07:32:43 GMT

I am at 10,000 words!!!! Maybe nothing to you tenaciously dedicated masses, but this is the farthest I've ever gotten on ONE work in progress before getting scared and starting another one! I am determined to finish this book, even if it totally sucks, just so I can get the whole "finishing" hurdle BEHIND me!! And I do think it might really suck. Although you never know what might happen, the reason I think so is this:

I read Stephen King's advice too late. In On Writing, he writes about the importance of keeping your story to yourself until you've gotten it all out of you. He cites several reasons for this... what really resonated with me was the fact that once you let someone else see what you've written 'so far' you will have their voice in your head while working on the story. If they think it is fantastic and the most exciting thing they've ever read, in the back (or forefront!) of your mind you're thinking: I HAVE to keep being fantastically witty and interesting. How do I do that?... And if your reader critiques or points out weaknesses, you'll be thinking 'Is this still too obvious? Is this character still unlikable? Is all this prose just rambling, or is it essential?' And in short, THOSE, my friends, are second draft questions, NOT first draft questions. First drafts, for me anyway, are really going to have to be zero questions, and pure energy. In my ideal world. And I'll be a lot closer to this without 50 different voices in my head telling me what's working and what isn't.

And now I have all those voices, raving, excited, critical, helpful... all in my head as I try to get the rest of my story out. Which is resulting in 1) a major drain of energy and thus, 2) major suckage. Who knows, maybe I'll get it back, maybe I won't, but I've convinced myself that for NOW, the important thing is to just FINISH... for the sake of finishing.

Question I forgot to ask

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 23:06:51 GMT

I forgot to ask those of you more experienced/agented/published writers something I have been wondering about since I came home from the workshop... we had the opportunity to have our work individually critiqued by one of the faculty. I chose the agent, since I figure that's the first step, right?

Well, he had several kind and helpful things to say and on the cover sheet there was a list of options: Not for me, May consider upon proposed revisions, or Yes, will consider. Send 3 chapters and synopsis. I am honored that the agent checked off the latter box... however, I am confused. He already read 15 pages which is roughly 3 chapters (my chapters are short). So what do I consider a 'chapter' in this case? Assuming he's saying he wants to read more, I want to send more, but I don't want to be overeager and send too much... how many pages is "3 chapters" usually in this instance?

Bathroom reading, John Green, and Capitola Book Cafe

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 21:44:52 GMT

It just occurred to me as I wrote a reply to a comment how much reading I do in the bathroom! Is this normal? Now, before you all start giggling like third graders, I mean apart from the obvious... I read in the bathtub until the water turns freezing cold. I read while I'm brushing my teeth. I even fanagle a way to prop my book on the sink so I can read while I wash my face! And then sometimes, if I have nothing left to do, I just sit on the edge of the tub and keep reading. Why I don't move on to a more comfortable place I just don't know...

P.S Why have I never discovered John Green until now??? I just started Paper Towns, and despite the fact that all I've read so far is a bunch of high school banter between boys (not USUALLY what draws me in to a novel!) I don't ever want it to end! His writing is so smooth and natural and funny and intriguing... after reading a string of mostly 'eh' YA and MG books, I am so excited to be sinking my teeth into something really top quality again! LOVING it...

I am sitting in the Capitola Book Cafe here in my sunny California neighborhood to do my writing (I'm getting there!). It is my FAVORITE place. I mean, I love it with a passion. It has the best coffee, the funnest people, the coziest atmosphere, a great selection of new AND used books (YEAH! I LOVE saving on used books!), and the tables in the cafe even have inspirational quotes by great writers on them... who could ask for more? See how super cute it is?? Come by and visit me! :) We'll have a write-a-thon.

MIA: Mandy Is Abominable... Atrocious?....Apathetic? Awesome? Choose one.

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 06:45:13 GMT

I am about as good at keeping up this journal as I am at keeping up with my writing. So I decided if I actually start writing in here several times a week, I will in turn be working on my actual writing, you got it... several times a week! We'll see how well this works out for me. I really don't know what my problem is with just getting it done. Perfection is the enemy of completion, that's my new motto. That, and the road to hell is paved with adverbs.

But I did do about 1,000 words tonight. Rough, sucky words... but for me, that's all the more reason to be proud. My writing process more often than not consists of: 1) writing about 6,000 words, 2) revising said words over and over until they are tight and shiny and squeaky clean (and 10% shorter than it started, and then finally, 3) spend many hours staring at the blank screen in a panic because I now can not possibly live up to all that great writing I've done so far. Yes, I finally realized it's my process that really needs work more than anything else. Well, maybe not more. But definitely BEFORE anything else!

Fun thing I did: I am writing a very realistic young YA fiction novel about 4 junior high girls. So for background writing music I went to playlist.com and formed a lengthy playlist of the Billboard hits that were burning up the charts my seventh grade year (same age as my MCs). BLAST from the past!!! I highly recommend this exercise. It seriously grabbed hold of my soul and dragged it backwards in time... very useful! I plan on using it every time I write. This will be great motivation too, since I really like these songs and am NOT allowing myself to purchase any on iTunes until I finish my book!! Clever, huh?? Well, if you love pop music as much as I do anyway.

Went to the PCCWW conference this weekend. It was a really good experience and I met some really awesome people. I love other writers! I got some uber-helpful peer critiques on the first 15 pages of OP. It was so cool to get to meet a real, live agent and editor for the first time too. Something just really clicked in my brain in a good way this past weekend, and I'm really hoping it stays that way. I am fired up to just keep pushing myself to write and write and write, no matter how bad I feel like it is when it first comes out on paper.

Also recently read Stephen King's On Writing, which, if you haven't read it and don't already know this, was an excellent life choice. The man is a genius. A frightful, funny, wise, reflective, fascinating and enthralling GENIUS. I will probably read it at least 50 more times before I die. Now I have done what I said I'd do tonight: 1000 words? CHECK. Blog entry? CHECK. And now I'm off to bed!

Because I'm a giddy fangirl...

Wed, 20 May 2009 01:36:28 GMT

Life progression as told by my diaries...

Thu, 07 May 2009 05:57:26 GMT

I am totally stealing this idea from someone and I don't remember who. Please do comment and tell me so I can credit you! :D It was quite awhile ago now, so... forgive me!

Now that I have all my old journals and diaries collected in one place, let's examine a decade of my "authentic" youthful voice in some highlights (complete with authentic punctuation and spelling errors! :).... anyone else want to share?? I love reading these!! (Keep in mind, that as a very young child, my diaries were friends, hence the frequent use of "you" ;)

Age 8
(10/10/91)

I kept my promise. I will try to write in you every day. I love writing, as I told you before. It is a typical Thrusday morning at my house. I get up, get dressed, fold my sleeping bag, (I'll tell you why I sleep in a sleeping bag later) go, downstairs, and eat breakfast, but today it was sort of different. My mom did'ent wake me up wich she usally dose. I woke up on my own. Also when I came downstairs I saw my brother doing his homework and Lightning, Twitchy and Tubby. They are our gerbils. They were not doing homework of course. But they were being very silly. Lightning drank water for a whole 12 or 15 minutes! My gerbils were being funny.

(10/12/91)

Well, there is something I frogot to tell you. Why I sleep in a sleeping bag every night. Well there really is no reason why exept that I hate and I mean hate making my bed! Dumb reason huh? More later!

12/22/91

I like today and hate today. Today I went to church with Michelle. Mommy let me. John Morgan the shrimp is over now. I hate him! He's a jerk. My brother thinks we like each other. When I look at him I don't know the difference between him and barf. (undated postscript: Now I like John a lot. He's become a close friend.)

Almost 10 (12/18/92)

Dear Diary,
Did I ever say we moved? Well we did. Into a big beautiful four floor house. I love it. Well Christmas is coming and I don't feel Christmasy. I don't know why I just don't. Oh well, maybe I just need to bake my cookies, go light sighting, and see presents and sing carols for WOW! day on Wednesday. I will make another list of presents in you this year. It is night, I am tired. I will write in you soon.

Age 11 (1/16/94)

Hullo. I have a lot of things happening so I'll start right now. On Friday Chelsea asked Shane out for me. He said no. Chelsea thinks it was because Dustin (Rusty, Peach Fuzz) was teasing him. I hope that was it. I love Shane. I've never loved anyone before. It's weird. You think it's love in second and third grade, but you know when it really happens. I have been thinking alot. I suck my thumb. I want to stop, but I don't. I could, if I really wanted to, but I've been doing it since I was born. I'm afraid to grow up. Boys, bras, your period, money, almost being an adult, fashion. Dropping all the childish things and going on to grow up, live and die. Anyway, since I just started this journal, I want to do a short bio. I love them! I am 11 years old, have shoulder length brown hair, blue (?) eyes, and glasses. I get contacts when I start junior high I can't WAIT! I have a MAJOR crush on Jason Shane Beeler, and I have no good Washington friends. I WILL get them though. I will!!! My best friend is Erin Moore. She lives in Pennsylvania. I used to live there. I was raised there. I hate it here. I want to go back! I cry alot. I deserve to grow up with my best friend. To graduate with her, to be there for her and share secrets with. Well more tomorrow. See ya!

Just turned 12 (let's see if it's not obvious!! LOL... cheer up emo kid!
(1/5/95)
Life is just a problem. You spend all your years tugging at a big ball of knots and problems. The last knot is untied when your eyes close in sleeping death, never again to worry about an obstacle or problem.

Age 13 (7/12/96)
Journal,
I decided you need a new name. I will call you Esmerelda, after the gypsy princess in "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". Anyway, sorry I haven't written in awhile. Been rather busy with the end of school. I am leaving for my dad's tomorrow (on good terms with Rochelle, I think). I have tons of letters to write! Mike and Rochelle are still going out- 3 months on the 14th! Mike is great. He called me day before yesterday just to talk, and we were talking about movies and I said I wanted to see Independence Day, and he asked what it was. I found it kinda hard to explain so I said it had Will Smith and aliens that blew up the White House. He's all "OKAY" and I I said, "No, that's not right, it looks awesome!" and he said "Does Chelle want to see it?", "I think so", "Now I REALLY want to see it." He cracks me up. :) Well, I'll write on the plane, if I remember.

Age 16 (11/6/99)
My two daughters are going to be named Annabel and Annika. I don't about my boys because they don't have pretty names. Chance and Austin maybe. I want to go to a fancy seafood restaurant and free all the lobsters. Havae you ever noticed that all purple flowers smell really good? There's no such thing as a purple flower that doesn't smell. Lavender, lilacs, violets. All purple flowers are named after SHADES of purple too! How unoriginal. ******* is too hot to be alive. Lacey goes "He's way cuter than last year." Duh! he's way cuter than he was yesterday, and every day he gets hotter and hotter and pretty soon I am going to DIE!! Bye.

Age 17
I spent the weekend up at Holden...What I wanted to write about was this change in me that I'm starting to feel. I feel like I'm really starting to focus more outward than inward. It's an amazing feeling, I think, to be admired for what's permanent (whats inside) rather than whats not. It starts all the time with me on retreats. This time it was a kid named Andre I will never forget. He was in my small goup and in my affirmation he wrote that I had "a beautiful smile that lit up the room". Of course if he didn't mean that he could have easily thought of something else to write, but it's weird cause I've always hated my smile. "Martian chipmunk"...lol. But anyway, it really made me realize how someone's spirit effects their appearance a lot. More than a lot, it's like, a defining factor. And how you see yourself is truly how others see you. And you know what? It doesn't matter anyway. How many of my friends do I love for what they look like? How many boys have I fallen for because of how they looked? NONE! So, huh. How about that.

Age 18 (7/1/01)
Now that I'm moving for college next month I've figured a few things out and have the sense to know I still have a long way to go... Some things I've learned: Skipping school is not beneficial to the report card, never try to paint your fingernails before your toenails, doing things you're afraid of never turns out badly, men are all dogs but some are the friendly, faithful, cuddly kind (you have to look REAL hard though and they mostly all have owners already), Jesus loves me!, music is my soul, beauty really is a state of mind, models look ill in real life, it's good to be selfless, don't pull the film out TOO far when loading a camera. Nothing is ever certain, boys are so simple it doesn't make sense, when you write for too long your hand starts to hurt, financial aid makes no sense, Justin Timberlake smiled at me. Yes, that is true. Amazing, I know. I think that's all my wisdom for now. Plus, I don't want to run out of ink in my Joey pen! :D Night!

I Love My Books

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 05:46:56 GMT

Swiped from mandywriter ...

1. What author do you own the most books by?

Anne Lamott... I know she doesn't write for kids or YA, but she is the most AMAZING writer! I have every single one of her books.

2. What book do you own the most copies of?

Hmmm.... maybe the Bible? I don't have more than one of most...

3. What fictional character are you secretly in love with?

I have to be unoriginal and admit it. Edward Cullen.

4. What book have you read more than any other?

Emily of New Moon series. They are my heart books. I read them annually.

5. What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?

Behind the Attic Wall by Sylvia Cassedy... because I was brilliant! I still adore that book.

6. What is the worst book you’ve read in the past year?

The Luxe... I was very disappointed. The writing really got on my nerves and I didn't like ANY of the characters. The ending though, I admit, left me wanting to know what happens, which bugs me even more.

7. What is the best book you’ve read in the past year?

Apart from the Twilight series, which I obviously adored? TTYL by Lauren Myracle. Brilliant.

8. If you could tell everyone to read one book, what would it be?

Five People You Meet in Heaven. I was so moved by that story I can't even begin to express it.

9. What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read?

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. So depressing and heartbreaking.

10. Do you prefer the French or the Russians?

As in writers? I tend to lean romantic transcendentalism as opposed to stark realism so I vote French.

11. Shakespeare, Milton or Chaucer?

I have to admit I am only well acquainted with Shakespeare, though ask again in 2 years! I can't imagine anyone surpassing him though... we'll see!

12. Austen or Eliot?

AUSTEN. No question, no doubt.

13. What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?

There are too many to get into specifics about... but I am paying thousands of dollars to my local university to remedy this problem!!

14. What is your favorite novel?

I don't honestly think I can choose just one. Since I have to, let's say Roots by Alex Haley. That was some transcendental reading experience.

15. Play?

The Merchant of Venice

16. Poem?

Song of Myself by Walt Whitman

17. Essay?

Circles by Ralph Waldo Emerson

19. Non Fiction

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson AND Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

20. Graphic Novel?

I think I would like Watchmen, even though I hated the movie. Haven't read it yet though.

21. Science Fiction?

Interstellar Pig by William Sleator

22. Who is your favorite writer?

Can't choose one so won't try: Anne Lamott, LM Montgomery, Shakespeare, Emerson, Jane Austen, Amy Tan, Lisa See, Louisa May Alcott, Mary Downing Hahn, Caroline B Cooney, Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, Betty Ren Wright and many more who have escaped the top of my head "write now" lol... oh man... that's so bad I should really delete it....

23. Who is the most over rated writer alive today?

I wouldn't call anyone overrated. For every writer who is succesful they have obviously struck a chord with a large group of people, which is everyone who writes' dream. Just because someone doesn't resonate with ME doesn't mean they're overrated.

24. What are you reading right now?

Amy Tan's memoir, Twelfth Night by Shakespeare and Billy Budd by Herman Melville

25. Best Memoir?

Ask again after I finish Amy Tan's. I love Anne Lamott's though! Bird by Bird, Operating Instructions, Traveling Mercies and Plan B... all AMAZING pieces of work!

26. Best History?

Is it bad that I don't really read history outside of history class? Although I am really enjoying the Bedford Companion to Shakespeare which is almost pure Elizabethan history. Interesting stuff.

27. Best Mystery or Noir?

Encyclopedia Brown!!!!!!!! LOL...... he's so noir.... Boxcar Children series is also AMAZING, classic kid lit.

I've been so lazy...

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 05:00:51 GMT

at blogging, because I've been so INSANELY busy with everything else in my life! Classes have gotten super intense as the semester winds down. Winds up is more like it... like a Shakespeare play, it gets the most intense in the last two acts! I have two finals, two hefty papers and one challenging Shakespeare performance coming up in the next 3 WEEKS. I am truly loving being back in class and using my mind in that way again, but as far as time consumption I am reeeeeeally looking forward to summer now!

In other news:
My cats continue to pee on everything. Most recently, as I found this morning, my adorable new pink OGIO backback.

We planted a lawn in the front yard that was previously torn up to bare dirt by the previous tenants two bull mastiffs. We have itty bitty baby grass coming up! I am so in love with Greg for tilling the whole lawn by hand... he took 4 whole days of his Spring Break prepping and planting! He is the love of my life... I certainly never would have gotten it done on my own!

The weather has been RIDICULOUSLY hot for April. I am sweating buckets over here. We're talking 90s. Obscene.

I actually got to take a vacation for the first time since August! Greg and I spent four days in Carson City, NV/ Lake Tahoe. We visited Virginia City (old Wild Wild West town, SO much fun!), took the Heavenly gondola up the mountain, went to the beach he would go to as a kid (he's from Carson), stayed one night at a nice place in South Lake Tahoe (the other nights we stayed for free at his dad's currently vacant condo in Carson), ate one fancy dinner out, played (and lost) in a poker tournament at a casino, watched Adventureland, cooked a few lovely breakfasts, and had an all around relaxing and adventurous time.

I baked mini cupcakes today flanked by two extremely excited five year old girls wearing adorable cupcake patterned aprons.

And that about catches you up. If you actually read this, I love you. You don't even know.

Teen critique... this should be fun!

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 23:17:53 GMT

So in the process of registering for the conference this summer, the coordinator emailed me and asked if I would be interested in having a real, live, trained teenager read and critique my WIP to which my answer was... "DUH!" :) In reality I used the manners my mother taught me and said something along the lines of "Yes, please! That would be thoroughly enlightening and extremely helpful!"

I have already sent it to a real teen, but the downside to that was that in spite of her intelligence and literary-ness, I strongly suspect she loves me too much to truly critique the writing. I am so excited to see what a real 15 year old girl who doesn't know me and who has been trained to critique has to say! Setting up the premise of the story is always the hardest part, and since the premise of my WIP is so unique (and, I keep worrying, just too awkward) I will be SO thrilled to see what she has to say and how it will help me restructure the beginning. I am starting with ten pages for now, but if I find it really helpful I may go back and do 35 pages once I have structured them to my liking. Isn't this program a GREAT idea?!?!? Check it out for yourself by clicking here: http://www.childrenswritersworkshop.com/pages/teencrits/start.html

Done!

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 08:30:57 GMT

I sent in my application about 2 minutes ago! It is a huge relief to have that worry banished from my mind... my 15 pages aren't perfect, but they are MUCH better than they were before I rearranged. Now there's nothing to do but wait to hear back! And keep on reading The Scarlet Letter and Richard III. Both of which temptingly have been made into critically acclaimed movies (I am SO kidding!!)...

In other news I have an annoying mystery infection that is giving me painfully swollen glands, fevers, aches and extreme fatigue... but do I get to take any time off?? Well, I took today off actually, but tomorrow I have no choice but to go back to work and school etc. I have missed 4 of each class already, and I promised myself I wouldn't miss any. Unlike in my undergrad days, I actually had shiningly perfect excuses, but nonetheless I can't afford to miss more. I LOVE class but I will be grateful to have a little time back to myself come May 26...

And lastly, a huge thanks to Carrie Jones for my signed copy of NEED!!! You are too generous, and I am so excited to have actually won something! I keep peeking at it longingly- it is definitely number one on my oh so tempting summer reading list!

Spit shine

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 05:44:50 GMT

I don't have the time or resources to really polish it up yet, but I have been spit shining my first fifteen pages of my WIP for the purposes of sending in my application for the PCCWW which is due on April 21! I really want to get it in ASAP so I get priority consideration for critiques... I am really hoping to be put in group one (personal crits from an agent AND editor), but will be happy with whatever I get. It is going to be so much fun just to go and network, meet some other local children's writers. Maybe I'll even find a local crit group for kid lit writers!!! That would be the high of my year... I've tried a few times to get one together through Craigslist and such, with minimal success. there are plenty of writers out there, but it just seems like not too many of them in the area are into children's books.

So anyway, I changed up the whole first four pages, realizing I wayyy frontloaded the backstory- though there isn't much, since it's kind of a "tell as you go" kind of story. But what there is was all in the first few pages, and there wasn't enough dialogue or action, so I moved stuff around and eliminated some chunks of blahblahblah altogether. I feel a lot better about the general format of the first chapter now, although it definitely still needs some work. But tonight I am proud of myself for putting in the time at all, so I give myself three cheers for that.

I'm still here

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 06:21:51 GMT

I've had one of the worst weeks of my life this week, but I am still here and slowly getting back into normal life. The good news is I FOUND my notebook with my WIP outline. Reading it over and reminding myself where I was going made me a little happier. I need lots of sleep now so I'm going to get some. Hope you all had better weeks than me (I'm quite certain that you did) and that your weekends are even better.

Five Character MEME

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:14:42 GMT

Well, I wasn't tagged but thought this would be fun. I love reading others because I think this is really enlightening about someone (esp. online friends who you don't really 'know')

Which five book characters are you most like (including, if you want, one of your own)?

1. The easiest and most obvious: Emily from the Emily of New Moon series by LM Montgomery. These books are like my writing bible. I read them once a year at least. Sometimes I wish I were more like Ilse, but I am mostly just 100% Emily. Her way of thinking, being, writing, her sensitivity, her sense of humor, the things that annoy her ("There is nothing quite so pretty as nature.")... I felt so understood when I read these books for the first time in fifth grade.

2. Madeline- I think we share a sense of adventure and a take charge attitude. As well as compassion for others and an acute awareness of our surroundings.

3. I am painting a pretty flattering picture of myself here, so I have to add Alexander (of Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day fame). I tend to make everything a little bigger than it needs to be and fall into a funk when things don't go my way. A childhood nickname of mine was Sarah Bernhardt.

4. Zoe from TTYL...mostly because I am smart, stayed out of trouble in school, and have always had a thing for older men.

5. Meg from A Wrinkle in Time. I loved Meg as a kid because of her insecurity, her desire for stability that seemed so elusive, her crush on an unattainable boy... I think her character progresses through the series a lot like mine did in real life.

Writer's Block: Taking It Personally

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:03:16 GMT

Have you ever taken a personality test like the Myers-Briggs or Enneagram? If so, did you agree with the results? And what was your type?

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My husband is a certified Myers-Briggs test giver/explainer/etc. whatever you'd call it. And I am soooo ENFP it's not even funny. It is me to a T. I am extreme on all four parts, no middle of the road results for me. It has been this way since forever. In high school when I first took it I think the E might have been an X (equal score for both sides), but that was because... hello, it was high school. Anyone worth knowing had security issues in high school. It's hard even for a natural extrovert to be extroverted and put themselves out there. Here is the portrait of an ENFP, for those of you who care to know:

The Inspirer

As an ENFP, your primary mode of living is focused externally, where you take things in primarily via your intuition. Your secondary mode is internal, where you deal with things according to how you feel about them, or how they fit in with your personal value system.

ENFPs are warm, enthusiastic people, typically very bright and full of potential. They live in the world of possibilities, and can become very passionate and excited about things. Their enthusiasm lends them the ability to inspire and motivate others, more so than we see in other types. They can talk their way in or out of anything. They love life, seeing it as a special gift, and strive to make the most out of it.

ENFPs have an unusually broad range of skills and talents. They are good at most things which interest them. Project-oriented, they may go through several different careers during their lifetime. To onlookers, the ENFP may seem directionless and without purpose, but ENFPs are actually quite consistent, in that they have a strong sense of values which they live with throughout their lives. Everything that they do must be in line with their values. An ENFP needs to feel that they are living their lives as their true Self, walking in step with what they believe is right. They see meaning in everything, and are on a continuous quest to adapt their lives and values to achieve inner peace. They're constantly aware and somewhat fearful of losing touch with themselves. Since emotional excitement is usually an important part of the ENFP's life, and because they are focused on keeping "centered", the ENFP is usually an intense individual, with highly evolved values.

An ENFP needs to focus on following through with their projects. This can be a problem area for some of these individuals. Unlike other Extraverted types, ENFPs need time alone to center themselves, and make sure they are moving in a direction which is in sync with their values. ENFPs who remain centered will usually be quite successful at their endeavors. Others may fall into the habit of dropping a project when they become excited about a new possibility, and thus they never achieve the great accomplishments which they are capable of achieving.

Most ENFPs have great people skills. They are genuinely warm and interested in people, and place great importance on their inter-personal relationships. ENFPs almost always have a strong need to be liked. Sometimes, especially at a younger age, an ENFP will tend to be "gushy" and insincere, and generally "overdo" in an effort to win acceptance. However, once an ENFP has learned to balance their need to be true to themselves with their need for acceptance, they excel at bringing out the best in others, and are typically well-liked. They have an exceptional ability to intuitively understand a person after a very short period of time, and use their intuition and flexibility to relate to others on their own level.

Because ENFPs live in the world of exciting possibilities, the details of everyday life are seen as trivial drudgery. They place no importance on detailed, maintenance-type tasks, and will frequently remain oblivous to these types of concerns. When they do have to perform these tasks, they do not enjoy themselves. This is a challenging area of life for most ENFPs, and can be frustrating for ENFP's family members.

An ENFP who has "gone wrong" may be quite manipulative - and very good it. The gift of gab which they are blessed with makes it naturally easy for them to get what they want. Most ENFPs will not abuse their abilities, because that would not jive with their value systems.

ENFPs sometimes make serious errors in judgment. They have an amazing ability to intuitively perceive the truth about a person or situation, but when they apply judgment to their perception, they may jump to the wrong conclusions.

ENFPs who have not learned to follow through may have a difficult time remaining happy in marital relationships. Always seeing the possibilities of what could be, they may become bored with what actually is. The strong sense of values will keep many ENFPs dedicated to their relationships. However, ENFPs like a little excitement in their lives, and are best matched with individuals who are comfortable with change and new experiences.

Having an ENFP parent can be a fun-filled experience, but may be stressful at times for children with strong Sensing or Judging tendancies. Such children may see the ENFP parent as inconsistent and difficult to understand, as the children are pulled along in the whirlwind life of the ENFP. Sometimes the ENFP will want to be their child's best friend, and at other times they will play the parental authoritarian. But ENFPs are always consistent in their value systems, which they will impress on their children above all else, along with a basic joy of living.

ENFPs are basically happy people. They may become unhappy when they are confined to strict schedules or mundane tasks. Consequently, ENFPs work best in situations where they have a lot of flexibility, and where they can work with people and ideas. Many go into business for themselves. They have the ability to be quite productive with little supervision, as long as they are excited about what they're doing.

Because they are so alert and sensitive, constantly scanning their environments, ENFPs often suffer from muscle tension. They have a strong need to be independent, and resist being controlled or labelled. They need to maintain control over themselves, but they do not believe in controlling others. Their dislike of dependence and suppression extends to others as well as to themselves.

ENFPs are charming, ingenuous, risk-taking, sensitive, people-oriented individuals with capabilities ranging across a broad spectrum. They have many gifts which they will use to fulfill themselves and those near them, if they are able to remain centered and master the ability of following through.

Jungian functional preference ordering for ENFP:

Dominant: Extraverted Intuition
Auxiliary: Introverted Feeling
Tertiary: Extraverted Thinking
Inferior: Introverted Sensing

I am curious, do any of you LJ friends know your Myers-Briggs personality type?? I am really interested to know if a lot of writers have similar types, or if we are all over the board. You can take a quick version of the test here: http://www.personalitypage.com/pq_help.html

Writer's Block: And the Oscar Goes To

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 06:08:18 GMT

What movie, whether it was nominated by the Academy or not, gets your personal vote for Best Picture of 2008?

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I gotta say, after tonight's event,I really think the right winners were chosen in almost everything. I was a little sad to see Mickey Rourke lose out for his AMAZING work in The Wrestler, though I'm sure Sean Penn was equally awe-inspiring (as always... though I have yet to see Milk). But as for best picture... yes, I do think Slumdog Millionaire was the best picture hands down of 2008. In my opinion that is one of those movies that comes along once in a decade and stirs your soul right up into your brain so that as you're leaving the theater you're thinking What am I DOING with my life???? To me that is the mark of a truly transcendental film, and I disdainfully thumb my nose any movie snob who writes off Slumdog as a "feel good" film, as though that were the kiss of death. As if for a film to be REALLY worth watching it has to be a "feel totally crappy" after watching it movie. I was thrilled to see the entire cast of this beautiful, wonderful, inspiring little movie stand on that stage tonight and got teary eyed (again...) to see that those amazing kids were even there and get to have this memory for their whole lives. They 100% deserve it... in my opinion, it was the work of those child actors that bumped this movie up just one notch above what it might have been otherwise. This is a movie I know I will love more and more each time I watch it. Well done, Danny Boyle, cast and crew- and thanks for sharing this piece of truth and hope with the world.

Five Things on a Friday

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 22:05:42 GMT

1. I have sooo much reading to do that I can't ever READ anymore (for fun I mean). I started the first Luxe novel about a month ago and haven't picked it up in weeks. Not only do I have a stack of "to-reads" beside my bed, but every time I go into B&N I start drooling over even more... I tell myself no more new books until I read the ones I already have, but at THIS rate, that won't be til Summer.... oh, to trade in an hour of Shakespeare for even ten teeny minutes of guilty Luxe pleasure...

2. Other than that I am so in love with school. I am a complete and total word dork. I may complain, but really I get SO excited reading the great works of literature and awakening the intellectual part of my brain that has been semi-dormant for the past 3.5 years.

3. After hearing my 19th century lit prof announce before returning our first papers that a "B" from her was an awesome grade (and thinking to myself: oh NO, one of THOSE!), I was (a little pridefully) pleased to then see I had earned an A-. Sweet!! Her only real criticism was my paragraph construction (I have a bad habit of always wanting to start a new paragraph after a quote). "It makes your ideas seem choppy and unorganized- when they are anything but." Yay!!!! :)

4. I STILL have not found the notebook where I sleepily scribbled my outline one inspir'd night. This frustrates me to no end.

5. Watched the Kenneth Branagh version of Hamlet after reading this week. O.M.G. Freakin' AMAZING.

"Lord, we know what we are, but know not what we may be."

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 06:17:14 GMT

This is both hopeful and frightening. Perhaps by the time she uttered it, Ophelia could think only of the latter, but right now I am hopeful. Even with my endless to-do lists piling up on my procrastinating, internet addicted, self doubting, life wasting sorry ass, I hope that I may be something better than I am right now. I hope I may soon become a (somewhat) organized and (reasonably) tidy wife (and maybe mother?) who finishes projects (mostly on time), follows her self-imposed net surfing regulations (on weekdays anyway), spends more thriftily (after I get my new rug... and paint the living room... and get my new UGGs...) and cooly logs in her time with her notebook and/or laptop until that novel is DONE (mostly). Yes, I know not if I can be that person. But I also know not if I can't be.

Quote of the Day

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 07:13:53 GMT

"For a long time I was a reporter to a journal, of no very wide circulation, whose editor has never yet seen fit to print the bulk of my contributions, and, as is too common with writers, I got only my labor for my pains." -Thoreau, Walden

Now if that corny little wordplay didn't make you even crack a smile... then I don't know about you...

Friday Five (an hour and a half late)

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 09:41:45 GMT

1. Financial aid was processed in the nick of time! Let the hallelujah chorus begin... I am SO relieved.

2. Since it now officially IS the day- I have to say, I LOVE Valentines Day!! I never dated in school, but I have always loved Valentine's Day. I grew up in a house where Valentines Day meant cards and big heart-shaped boxes of Russell Stover from Mom, so how could I possibly hate it? I decided in high school I would never get sulky on Valentines day and I wen't out and bought a thrift store VALENTINE OUTFIT which consisted of: bright red elastic waist highwater pants, red converse, red sweater with white teddy bear on it holding a heart that says "Merry Me" (I know, how awesome is that!?!?), and red and white striped knee socks. I would sprinkle my hair with those heart stickers that come in the little kid Valentine boxes to seal the cards, and walk around school all day with a huge bag of Valentines and ever more candy, spreading Valentine cheer wherever I went... even to kids I didn't know! Ridiculously fun.

3. I have started working on my application for the PCCWW (http://www.childrenswritersworkshop.com/index.html) and it is fantastically fun. It's like filling out a myspace survey about my WIP... only harder! Check it out and come hang out with me (and lots of other people, to be sure) this summer in California!!

4. I was saddened to find out today that my favorite sweater EVER that my mom got me for Christmas came from Costco. I was only sad because I was thinking I needed to get it in five other colors, and the fact that it came from Costco (in December!) means that that will be quite impossible.

5. I squealed to see yet ANOTHER Twilight themed Entertainment Weekly cover waiting for me in my mailbox today. Catherine Hardwicke is releasing a (super awesome, judging from the sneak peek in the mag) "Twilight Journal", which promises to be everything the 'Movie Companion' book was NOT (I fell asleep reading about camera angles and the intricacies of the CG process for the van sceeeee.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz) Yippee!!!!!! Twi-hards, check it out!!!!!!

Another Emerson nugget (for writers!)

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 07:13:00 GMT

To this passasge I think we can all relate. The opening line especially made me smile.

"Our moods do not believe in each other. To-day, I am full of thoughts and can write what I please. I see no reason why I should not have the same thought, the same power of expression to-morrow. What I write, whilst I write it, seems the most natural thing in the world: but, yesterday, I saw a dreary vacuity in this direction in which now I see so much; and a month hence, I doubt not, I shall wonder who he was that wrote so many continuous pages. Alas for this infirm faith, this will not strenuous, this vast ebb of a vast flow! I am God in nature; I am a weed by the wall." RWE

See guys, even Emerson had those days!!

Joining the Friday Five bandwagon...

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:09:42 GMT

1. I am sooo stressed about paying for school right now. If I can't come up with half my tuition (from where, I ask you?) by next Friday, my classes are going to be dropped. I then have to wait 4-6 weeks for my loan to be dispersed to pay for the other half (and so we can buy groceries... if you want to come over for dinner right now you can have your choice- canned soup or frozen burrito! Yummy!) I had a rather sleepless night over this last night.

2. I have officially turned my house inside out looking for the notebook where I scribbled my hasty OP outline. To no avail. I am just going to have to go forward with as much as I can remember and hope I come up with new plot twists that will be as good... or better! (trying to be optimistic here)

3. In more cheerful news, I am LOVING being back in school. Reading Emerson and Shakespeare and being in a classroom atmosphere again fills me up with energy! I have great professors too, which always makes a huge difference. I'm feeling like my old self again!

4. The baby I'm taking care of is on a new sleep schedule. She just woke up (again) after taking 10-15 minute micro-naps all morning. She doesn't want to sleep, but when she's awake all she's doing is rubbing her eyes, yawning and crying. Speak of the devil, there she is now. Number five will have to wait a minute... ah yes. She had to burp and now that she did she has the hiccups and is (still) tired. Oh the joy of babies.

5. I need coffee. Badly.