And the Plot Thickens

I have been working on EXISTENCE for the past seven months. I love time travel and I love a hero, so this was the perfect book for me to write.

Lately I've been struggling with my re-writes. I knew in the back of my head that something was wrong, but I couldn't pin-point it. It got so bad that I finally broke down and talked to my husband about it.

Normally I avoid the subject of writing with my husband becasue his eyes glaze over, but I just couldn't keep it in anymore. I'm so glad I said something becasue my husband pointed out a MAJOR plot hole. It's so major that I can no longer write EXISTENCE.

The entire premise of my book is that if someone were to change past enough the world would implode and basically become a different planet. The bad guys in my book want this to happen becasue they've been alive for 4,000 years (they are immortal) and they're sick of humanity. They think that they are the people who need to re-start the human race.

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In my book, they succeed in destroying the earth. My book is pointless without this happening. Of course, the story is also pointless if these immortals can't be killed. The only way to kill an immortal (in my book) is to kill them when they are still mortal.

These bad guys were going to destroy the earth by killing Adam and Eve, it's the only thing that makes sense for my story. But then my husband pointed out that if Adam and Eve die, everyone dies, even the immortals.

He's right. I have thought and thought about how to fix this. I have thought about it for three days, and I can't come up with a solution. The entire premise of my book is destroyed.

After moping around for a few more days I decided I needed a break from that book. I've started something new and I have all of those new story happy butterflies going on right now. The only thing that is holding me back is thought that I can't seem to finish anything. I want to be a published writer. I want to work hard and get my book polished and send off queries. But I can't seem to struggle past draft 1.

The thing is, I know it's possible. I've watched you guys be amazing, and send your books off, and get awesome deals, but it's going to be a long time before I get there myself.

Any words of advice for pushing through and editing your book?

Imagination Vs. Reality

I just finished a book I've heard endless praise about: Across the Universe. I gobbled the whole thing up in a day and it's still messing with my mind. When I finished, I read the acknowledgement page.

Before I got serious about writing I would skip that page and close the book, but now I read every line. It's always fun to see people I 'know' (via the internet) mentioned on acknowledgement pages, but I thing I really enjoy is getting a glimpse into how much work it takes to make a book.

I had to laugh when I read Beth's acknowledgements becasue her writing processes sounded a lot like mine. This particular paragraph stuck out to me.

"The best part about being a writer is having writing friends. Roybn Campbell and Rebecca Carlson helped me hammer out the first draft of Across the Universe, Heather Zundel and Christina Farley helped me break it to pieces and write it back better, and Erin Anderson, PJ Hoover, and Christina Marciniak told me Across the Universe was finally done and I should just submit it already."

Um, wow. Write it back better? Yeah, I'm there. I feel that. It's hard to believe that that Beth Revis ever struggled when all I've done is read this perfectly polished book. I mean, the story is brilliant! Wasn't it that way the first time she wrote it?

Here's the thing, in my imagination the book should come out on the page how it's suppose to be, but in real life it doesn't work that way. Writing is hard work. No one should expect to get it right the first time around.

It's a struggle where only the strongest survive. I have to ask myself if I am strong enough. If I've just given up then the answer will be no. The fact that I'm still here says something. I'm stilling trying and I'm not  going to give up until it's finished.

Playing With Numbers = Playing With Fire

When I first started the blog A Book, A Girl, A Journey, I had this vision in my head --a vision of mass numbers.

You see, I started blogging for a couple of reasons. A few years ago I was following this blog called Twilight Guy. It was a hilarious teenage boy who was reading twilight and blogging about it, chapter by chapter. He had thousands of followers who loved his posts, and he was also getting his middle grade series published. He didn't talk about his book much, but he did mention it. When the book went on pre-order it made the best selling list the first day.

I told myself that if I had that one I great idea that I knew could be an awesome novel, I would start a blog of my own. So that's what I did. Rest assured, that pipe dream of being on a bestseller list when the book is still on pre-order has been pulled back to reality, in fact, I really did not expect that to happen with A Book, A Girl, A Journey. However ...

The second reason I started blogging was becasue a high school friend of mine was running a very successful craft blog called Honey Bear Lane. I looked at her as an average person like me who had over 2,000 followers. I figured if she could do it, I could do it.

My blogging experience started out well, and I was focused completely on numbers. I hate to say it, but I was one of the new bloggers going to around to other blogs and saying "What a cute blog you have! Come find me at www....." shameful, I know.

About three months into the blogging experience, I realized something. I was following a whole bunch of blogs I wasn't interested in. In fact, I wasn't following a single writing or reading blog. Every blog I found was through my successful blogging friend. Every blog was about crafts, or clothing, or motherhood, and I wasn't making any connections becasue I wanted to talk about writing.

It took me a few more months and some writer friends to figure out the truth. Playing with numbers = Playing with fire. If all you want is numbers that's not hard to do, but if what you want is people who come to your blog faithfully, than you need to make friendships.

If all have you have is numbers you can expect your blog to crash and burn. But if you make real friendships and relationships you can expect your blog to flourish. And seriously, who doesn't want friendship? I know it's just about the only thing that's kept me sane this past year.

So I guess I'll end this post with a thank you to everyone who has become my friend, regardless of whether or not we have met in person. Thank you for being awesome and always coming back to hear my mindless dribble. Thank you for being there for me.

Why did you start blogging?

Mood Swings

As I sit here and write this post, I should be writing my book. I had all these grand intentions. My time was plotted out and everything. But then I tried to go to the store and my daughter had a complete meltdown. I mean, screamingatthetopofherlungsandnotstopping kind of meltdown.

I had to leave my crap in the cart and rush home to put her to bed. I was little angry and most defiantly frustrated. When she finally settled down to sleep (and my son went outside to play) I thought it was my chance to write.

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I opened up my document and stared at the screen. I couldn't write becasue I wasn't in the right frame of mind. I think I'm typing this now as a way to get myself back to that point. My poor characters have been sitting in the shadows just waiting for action, and I'm here waiting for the action to come to my brain.

Everyone, breathe deep with me. Close your eyes and make a humming noise and send good vibes my way.

Ah, that's better. Time for me to get back to writing.

What do you do when you aren't 'in the mood?'

*** Update: I wrote 1,200 words. Writing this post helped :) ***

Summer

I love spring. I have been especially loving this spring with so many days of good weather. Happy sunny days make me happy. I guess I should call spring my favorite season becasue I'm a huge fan of those blossoming trees and flowers.

Then again...

Today my son asked if spring was over (becasue I told him Easter was over, which he was very sad about) and I explained that spring wasn't over. Somehow that lead to me telling him all about summer.

Days so hot you could almost melt. Water fights, camping trips, barbeques, and playing in the sand. Sweet watermelon and corn right off the cob. Popsicles.

Oh man, maybe summer is my favorite season.

The fact remains that I am having a very difficult time staying indoors which means very little writing is happening right now since I only have a desktop, and I can't read my own handwriting.

However, I am justifying my lack of writing with all the relaxation and inspiration I am receiving from the great outdoors. Oh well, I can finish my book in the fall, right? Except, I'm having a baby then so...

Geez! You don't have to twist my arm -- somehow I will get to it. I guess it's time to buy a laptop.

What are you planning on doing this summer?

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P. S. I was going to write a totally awesome tutorial on how to enable email so that we could have lovely in-box chats, but Peggy Eddleman beat me to the punch. Everyone go take a look. Now!

March Mini-Reviews

I really got down and dirty reading this month. There are so many good books out there and I just could not get enough. To exceed my goal of a book a week I read seven books this month, and they were all excellent!

I have been anticipating this book since I first saw the cover a good seven months ago. little did I know the author would leave us with a huge cliff hanger! I would say that I should have waited until the next book, but I'm glad I didn't. I like speculating on what could be :D

Did it take me long enough to get around to reading Possession? Apparently not becasue the next book (surrender) comes out in June and this one has a serious cliff hanger as well. Needless to say, I per-ordered my copy. Love the teen angst in this book.

Both excellent books and way funnier than I thought they would be. Both books had me laughing hysterically from line one. Do not miss out on these clever little gems.  The last one comes out in July and I can barely contain my excitement!Seriously some of the best paranormal book I have ever read.

I've been blogging friends with Jessica for awhile now, and although I knew she was amazingly awesome, I had no idea how amazingly awesome her book would be. I love the premise of the girl who lives five times longer than your average person. Too cool!

 If you want to know how awesome I think Artemis Fowl is, read this post. Another fantastic read by Eoin Colfer, and I loved the time travel in this one!

Last, but certainly not least, is Matched by Ally Condie.  I'm halfway through the second book - Crossed. This is one of those books that you just cannot put down becasue you get so caught up in the lives of the well developed characters. One of the best reads of my year so far!






That about covers it folks. Hope you all are reading something fantastic as well. If so, tell me about it in the comments!