Harry Potter

What is it about books that can calm a troubled heart? My five-year-old nephew moved in with us a few weeks ago. His parents are unable to care for him right now and so he is, with stubborn tenacity, settling into our family. I'm not going to lie, it's been rocky. And I know it's going to get harder before it gets easier. But I do have some help. I've been reading Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone to him; a chapter each night. At first he was confused, where were the pictures? But then he couldn't wait to find out what happened next. What does the letter say? When is Hagrid going to ride a motorcycle again? What is a sorting hat? And how do Owls deliver letters?

And suddenly the nights breathed easier around here because this little boy who'd been bounced around his whole life, had suddenly discovered a whole new world, that somehow grounded him. And while he hasn't seen the similarities of his situation to Harry's yet, he seems to find solidarity in Harry's drive to fit in. And I know it's still hard to bring a troubled child into my life, but there's something very calming about re-drawing a lightning scar on his forehead every morning with a washable marker, so he can get off to school Harry Potter style.

And while Harry Potter is about wizards and magic and dragons and secret schools, it's also about being human. About fitting in, growing, discovering. So I'll keep reading and crossing my fingers and breathing in and out each day.

And I guess the writing can wait. Right? Cause, right now, Harry Potter seems more important.

Moonrise Kindom and writing/not writing.

I've spent a lot of the last few (maybe six) months taking large breaks from writing. I've had to jump in with some serious mothering and house-wifing. Plus there was summer and sunshine and water. How can a person write when there's sunshine and water?

But I think it's okay. To take breaks, I mean.

For example, I haven't written at all this week. Instead I've been working my fingers to death on the sewing machine.

Here's what I've made:
Fairy costume
Black Widow costume (from the Avengers)
Bilbo Baggins
A Newsie! (Broadway version, of course)
And a Spiderman costume for my sixteen-year-old which involves a spidey skirt and kick-ass tee

My back aches and my eyes hurt almost as much as a good day of writing. So, it sort of feels like I was writing. Does that count?

Do you take breaks? Or, more importantly, what are you going to be for Halloween.

Dustin and I are going as this:

And yes, I'm wearing blue eye-shadow and Sunday school shoes.

Breaking

To be whole, let yourself break.

To be straight, let yourself bend.
To be full, let yourself be empty.
To be new, let yourself wear out.
To have everything, give everything up.

— Lao Tzu

Surfing.

This is what I'm doing right now. I wish it was actual surfing, but it's more like figurative surfing. I have decided not to fight the waves any more. I'm going to surf them. Cause, you know what, surfing's fun.

And maybe I should do some literal surfing as well. There's nothing like sand, saltwater and sun to cheer a girl's heart.

Work.

So my daughter, Alice (who is seven) thinks I have a job. I volunteer in the school library each week during her library hour. Here's the thing: every time she comes to the library, I'm there. So in her head, I must always be at the library.

So when we were having dinner with friends she said, "My mom has a job now."

"She does?" They seemed surprised I didn't tell them.

"Yeah, she works in the library." And then Alice runs off to play.

But the funny thing is, it is kind of like a job. It's the one time a week I have to be somewhere at a certain time. And I'm almost always late and my husband and the rest of my kids make fun of me that I can't be on time to my job, which--incidentally--is once a week at 10:00 am (volunteer, of course). So all week I gear up for that one hour. It's the one day that I worry about my wardrobe. Do I have the right shoes? Should I curl my hair? I know, pathetic.

This is not to say I'm not busy. I work really hard at home. But I guess at home, no one cares if your hair is curled or if your shoes work with the rest of your outfit. And I said to Dustin yesterday, "I like working in the library. I think I could do it as a job."

And he said, "Well, you could do anything for only an hour a week."

Sigh. "No, I mean a real job."

"Why would you want to do that? You'd have to curl your hair everyday."

"True."

This Sums up my Extraordinarily Slow Writing.

Writing Again.

So amidst the revelry that is December and the depression that is January, I somehow found a new writing voice. It is nice to be writing again, to be creating something other than folded laundry and mopped floors.

February is looking to be a nicer month. Maybe a little warmer, a lot greener and lots and lots of sweet oranges from the tree.

So I write a thousand words a day with my new voice and keep going. One word, sentence, paragraph at a time. Eventually I'll have a whole book. Right?

How bout you? Are you writing or cleaning or working or just living. Tell me what you're working on.

A Conversation with my Husband about Zombies.

 

 THE WALKING DEAD is freaking killing me. I was up all night thinking and dreaming about zombies. Here is an actual conversation I had last night with Dustin:

Me: "If I become a zombie, I'd want you to kill me. Cause, you know, I'm already dead."

Dustin: "So if you're going to become a zombie, kill you?"

Me: "No. Only kill me if I already am a zombie."

Dustin: "How would I know?"

Me: "Oh. You'd know."

Dustin; "Ok."

Me. "Just one shot to the brain, that's all it takes. But make sure you hit my brain."

Dustin: "Got it." Also he's distracted cause he's trying to watch the news and I'm all serious, because, you know, THE WALKING DEAD.

Me: "And make sure you teach the kids how to shoot guns."

Dustin: "Okay."

Me: "Even Jane."

Dustin looks at me like I'm crazy and also he's like, cool. Guns and kids. Me: "Promise." And I'm like practically crying cause I want our kids to learn how to shoot zombies in the eye.

Dustin: "Jeez. I promise."

Me: "I know it's like 8:15, but I'm going to bed now."

Dustin: *stares at fox news*

I lived here.

So, many years ago. Many. I lived in New Zealand for six months. Or, as I now like to call it, Middle Earth. THE HOBBIT comes out on Friday. It was my favorite book as a child. My mom read it to us many, many times.

I love it so much.

Part of me doesn't want to see the movie though. You know what I mean?

This is Hobbiton. (Matamata, NZ)

What do you think? Are you going to see the movie? Will the magic of my Hobbiton be gone?

Um. There's this.

You can check out my stats, here. Also, don't think I wrote like 10,000 words the last day. I already had some notes and alternate chapters in the document and I was too lazy to take them out, so it looks like I wrote more words than I did.

I'm not that talented.

I'll tell you all about my experience later. Right now, as reward and a day to spend selfishly on myself, I'm making a skirt for ME. Also, I'm going to read a couple of books, take a week off of writing and then dive right back in.

How did your NaNoing go?

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?

I Interrupt This Blog Silence With An Announcement...

I am World-building.

 

Here is a picture of my world. Sort of.

Why is the most exciting and fun and can't-stop-thinking-about-it thing also the most exhausting and crazy difficult?

I feel like I need a Panem movie to tell my world-building for me. I mean, seriously, Suzanne Collins with the mandatory clarifying movie before the reaping: brilliant. I have no way in my WIP to have a propagandist movie to explain my world. So...I guess I have to do it the old fashioned way: a little bit at a time, but smooth and flawless. Information that my readers don't even realize is information.

Why is this so hard?

Another thing I learned from The Hunger Games: Ms. Collins uses the even chapters in the first part of the book to world-build. The odd chapters are more action. Don't believe me, go read it again. It's quite a pattern and, pretty brilliant. Every time I started an even chapter and realized it was more world-building I whooped with excitement. I love patterns.

Tell me, what ingenious ways have you read or written to build your worlds?

Marine Layer

Might be covered by Ocean in my dream, or in the near Globally Warmed Future.

This morning, when I woke up early to go swimming, a thick marine layer of fog had covered our little valley. This happens, in the summer, every few days...but this is the first of the year. I love the fog. It's thick and smells of the ocean--and it acts like nature's air conditioner.

At swimming, one of the other swimmers said, "I love this marine layer. I feel like I'm in Santa Cruz." And we all laughed and smiled and were just being humans together. And then he said, "Whenever the fog comes, I feel like I'm on vacation. Like I'm living in a different place."

And...he nailed it. His observation is exactly how I feel about the fog, even though I'd never thought of it in those terms. And it reminded me of a dream I had. I dreamed that the vineyard, behind our house, had turned into the ocean. The ocean, right in our backyard. And instead of Shakespeare festivals in the grape vines, we sailed in the foggy gray waters. And it was like we were living in a vacation home, instead of our real home.

I love when people wax poetic, especially when they're not writers. I guess everyone has the powers of observation, but real people saying things that are meant to be written down and remembered is just magical.

Have you met a 'character,' out in the world. You know, one you didn't make up?

What I've learned at Writing Conferences

So. Last year I went to my first writing conference. It was this one and it was amazing. Here's what I learned:
My MS needed more work than I thought.
The hook is the hook, so don't introduce it thirty pages later. Introduce it on the first page.
My MS was better than I thought.
How to critique others' writing in a way that's helpful to them.
Published authors are very generous with their time and advice. Always take notes.
Also, published authors are people.
Editors and Agents are only slightly less scary than I imagined. (Okay, they're cool. And people too.)
How to bring a book full circle.
But the greatest thing about going to this conference, hands down, was meeting my critique partners. Meeting them has been the greatest thing for my writing since I learned how to write in first grade.

This conference put me six months to a year ahead of where I might've been if I'd only had books, blogs and articles to direct me.

I'm going again this year as a seasoned veteran and am so excited for what more I can/will learn.

Now, having said all this, it is possible to attend a conference that may not be as fantastic. I attended a different conference (which will remain nameless) that was not as helpful. The agents there were not as accessible and the crit groups not as useful. Also, there was a query session that was downright unprofessional and, well, rude. In fact, one of my contacts from this conference recently emailed me and told me she quit writing after the query session because it was "confusing and intimidating." And, if anything, conferences should encourage and teach, not discourage.

However, I also met some great writer friends (conference attendees and published authors) who were amazing people and generous with their advice. And for that reason alone, the conference was worth it.

Definitely my favorite part of both conferences was meeting people like me. People who understand what it's like to cry over made up characters and stay up until all hours of the morning to get that scene right. I loved that we would discuss for hours about people and situations that had found its genesis in one of our heads. That, to me, was priceless.

So, what are your conference stories? Have they been good experiences, not so good experiences, or horrifying? I want to know.

Meanwhile, can't wait to see anyone who will be attending WIFYR this year!!!