The Girl With The Green Pen

This post has to start with a story, cause isn't everything a story? This story is about a girl with a green pen. And her name is Taryn. And she is one of my critique partners. And she's a genius teen, you know, like a character in a novel genius.

I met her a year and a half ago at a conference and we hooked up soon after that. My other CPs and I are all about the same age and in the same stage of life. But Taryn was eighteen and her MS blew all of ours out of the water. Also, it was clear during our class, this girl KNEW HER STUFF. We latched onto her immediately.

Here's an example of why she's so great (this is besides her editing skills and perfect query pitches). A few weeks ago I sent my CPs an email in my teenage voice. It was supposed to be funny, and I kept using teenage slang, mostly incorrectly. I told this entire story with an overdose of the word 'toads' to replace totally (as in: "He's toads hot.") Only I used it a ton, because I thought it was soooo funny. And my CPs thought it was funny and they started tweeting 'toads' in, like, ALL their tweets. And we were all so smug and funny and TEENAGERY.

And Taryn must've been in class, cause that's what she does, and when she finally got out, I got one really short text that read: It's totes.

I peed my pants. That is one of the reasons Taryn is great for VOICE.

But you should check out her new Editing business, you can find it here. You should read the testimonials because most of her clients now have agents. She's just that good.

Also, did I mention that she's brilliant?

Here's her mission statement:
My mission is to guide writers through the daunting task of revision. From idea development to editorial feedback to general publishing advice, I love working with stories and those who create them. As a nationally ranked swimer, I know the value of time, so I believe in quick responses from the first email to the last.

I am not just another freelance editor. Beyond providing an experienced and thorough critique, my secondary goal is to establish a relationship with my clients. I want to support you throughout the stressful submission process and celebrate with you upon any and all good news. Writers may put pen to paper alone, but it is through a community that the book gets finished, polished, and submitted.

See how I did that? How I made it all green cause she's the girl with the green pen? I'm practically like an eleven-year-old the way I can work around the interwebz.

The Middle.

I've past the middle part. And, as Anne Shirley would say, I am in the depths of despair! The middle does that to you every time. It's like I've buried my adorable, capable, and funny characters into a pit so deep, I'm not sure that--even with a little C-4--they'll be able to dig themselves out.

I'm going to be honest with you, I have considered chucking the whole thing. But then I remember that with each word I write I'm learning something about this book, its characters and its plot. And I might not learn it until I write it all. So I'm going to soldier on.

I spent the morning taking notes on what's working and what doesn't work and drew a timeline map, which I think will help a lot. Just a note, I did have an outline jumping into this but am realizing that I am a true pantster and like any pantster, pre-determined plots and outlines don't work for me cause I stray. Or, rather, my characters tend to stray. (Bad characters!)

Also, time travel is a bitch.

How are you all doing? I hope better than me.

This post was brought to you by salty tears and diet coke.

NaNo Update.

So, it has been almost a week since November began. After a slow start (I was vacationing with my kids) I've caught up to where I need to be. I'm at 13,000 words, which is a little bit ahead.

 As I suspected, pantster that I am, my plot has changed....but only for the best.

I am in good spirits today. Happy the election is over, happy to be home and working, happy it is the last beautiful day of the season, happy that my kids are in school, happy that I'm making homemade pizza tonight. So many happies!

I hope you can all read BEFORE EARTH someday, cause I'm having a fun time writing it!

How are you all doing on NaNo?

Bonus: My family and our Halloween Costumes.

Also, we had a lot of people ask us what muggles were. Really?

BEFORE EARTH

It is almost November. And, yes, I'm doing NaNo again. I did it last year and, while it was a challenge, I learned so much and couldn't help but to do it again. The reason I'm doing it is exactly the same reason I did it last year. I love the community of it. I feel inspired by it. I mean, we're human and we need story to survive, so why not go crazy with story for one month. I love it!

I'd love for you to join me if you're doing it this year. Here's a link to me.

You can follow my progress there. Last year I wrote THE ART OF MAKING STARS, which is a contemporary YA romance. This year I'm going with a YA science fiction. I'm really excited about this new book. It's called BEFORE EARTH. Here's the pitch (which will, I'm afraid, probably change a lot because I'm a pantster):

Seventeen-year-old Meg Williams is totally pissed off when her dad invites a vagrant named Damon to live above their garage. It doesn’t help that he ends up in her physics class at school the next day. Although, she has to admit, his army green Chuck Taylors are pretty hot. But when Damon tells her he’s from Mars, she knows he’s more than weird, he’s psycho.

 Then NASA discovers something on Mars, something that freaks the world out: An exact replica of The Statue of Liberty, lying on its side, half covered in rusty Martian dust. While scientists, militaries and world leaders scramble to find answers, Meg goes to the only person who actually knows the truth: Damon.

 Damon explains he is an ancient Martian from a prehistoric green Mars, which is slowly turning to the silent red-desert-planet we know. In desperation, the advanced inhabitants of Mars have opened up portals through time and space and are slowly emigrating to different time periods on Earth.

 To convince Meg, Damon takes her through a portal to the dying Mars and, while there, she sees something strange. Something that could change the history of Earth, erasing her existence and everything she knows.

 It’s up to her and Damon to figure out how to save the Martians while attempting to maintain the now fragile history and population on Earth.

Doesn't it sound exciting! Unlike THE ART OF MAKING STARS, this book actually has a plot! We'll see if I can pull it off!

 Here's an image that is TOTALLY part of this book:

Isn't it dreamy! I LOVE it.

Here's a tentative cover:

So. Are you doing NaNo? If so, why are you? I'd love to hear! Also, let's be NaNo buddies!

 

Another One Down...

My amazing CP, Robin, just signed with an agent. I am over the moon about this (whatever over the moon means, I think it's a good thing). You should go here or here to congratulate her. She absolutely deserves this. Her novel, LOVESENSE, is unique and funny with great voice and characters that I care about.

Robin also works harder than anyone I know. She wrote LOVESENSE last year during NaNoWriMo just a few days after the birth of her fourth child. I know, I could barely function with a newborn, she wrote a whole book while taking care of a newborn! She's extremely inspiring. You should go read her story. While it was a stressful, nerve-wracking week for her, it was delightful for me to watch agents battle for her awesome story.

In case you're keeping count. That is four of my CPs who now have agents. And, yes, I am the lone wolf still, barely, standing. But I have learned great things from these girls and their agents. And I'm so thrilled for all of them and am their biggest fan.

I'm curious, what are your stories to agent-hood? I love to hear the different ways people find their agents.

The Light is Changing.

Wow. It has been too long. I'm just realizing I'm not very good at this blogging thing. I want to be better, really, but I'm not.

I will try harder.

In the intervening months since I last posted a lot of LIFE has happened. You know, the kind outside of writing. It's been mostly wonderful and exhausting at the same time. I've also been doing some writing too, which always makes me feel good, even if the writing isn't.

School is back in. Mornings are misty with a tiny chill. Afternoons are warm and breezy. Crows caw. Grapes are pregnant. The house is silent. ALL the kids are gone. I miss the kids sometimes...and sometimes, I don't.

It is the same season here as the season in my book. This makes setting easier. All I have to do is look out my window and describe what I see.

The chickens are laying again and we got eight new chicks.

I got some lime green sandals in the mail.

We began planning our Halloween party last night.

Summer must be over.

Also, I've been doing this.

What have you been up to?

All I Want is to write a Really Good Book. That's all.

 I'm sorry I've been out of the office. I had an existential breakdown. For reals.

Don't worry, I'm better now.

It's been a month long process of figuring out who I want to be as a writer. I've had some serious breakthroughs and made some heart-wrenching decisions (like re-writing my WIP COMPLETELY). You know, stuff like that.

I had amazing help with my emotional state at WIFYR with my critique partners, my incredible author instructor and all my new writing friends from boot camp *waves to bootcampers*

Right now I feel in control of my writing life again. I'm taking it slow and allowing myself the time to write a really good book.

Also, I've mixed in some serious summer things like a lot of swimming, sunshine, and camping with watermelon and bears. Oh yeah, and I've been busy being a mom. You know, little stuff like that.

How bout you? Have you ever had existential crises related to your writing? And if so, what has the outcome been?