Vacation

I'm going on vacation Thursday. To Ireland. With a dear friend.

Am I excited?

Well, is the sky blue? Is the grass green? Do bears go doo doo in the woods?

SQUEEEE

And Friday starts the A to Z Blogging Challenge, which I've signed up for. I've already got A-D posts written and scheduled (since I won't have access to the Internet those days). This should be an interesting exercise to see how quickly I can bore people to death.

Or not. You'll have to be the judge. =D

If you're interested in a great article written by small publisher Linen Press you should check it out. She takes you through her day and the process of choosing what to publish. It's very enlightening.

Social Media

Today's post was inspired by a discussion going on in my writing group at Dave Farland's Writing Groups. One of our members, Justin Jeppesen, who is new to the Twitter thing (me, too) asked for some suggestions. I'm going to share Robin Week's response because it's so good:

For Twitter:

• Participate in the hashtag chats, like #yalitchat and #askagent (when you see one going, click on the hastag and it will take you to a screen where you can see what everyone else is tweeting with that hashtag)--everyone there will see your tweets and you'll pick up followers that way.
• Comment on others' posts, start up conversations, etc--don't just tweet about your books: be interesting
• Follow the people you'd like to have follow you--an email is sent to everyone you follow (well, depending on their settings) and a lot of people will auto-follow or will at least check you out for a possible follow if you follow them first
• DON'T connect Twitter to Facebook--it is annoying to those who follow you in both places. Use Twitter for little things and Facebook for larger things and, for huge things, post separately on both.

For the Blog:

• Have a regular schedule of posting, so your followers can anticipate your posts (I've just started posting Tuesday night and Saturday morning--if I can keep it up for a few weeks, I'll post my schedule on my blog), too.
• Interesting titles, to entice followers and others to read your posts
• Participate in blogfests--those are when you register your list your blog on the host's blog with the other participants and then do something specific with your own blog--there's an April A-Z blogfest going on in April, if you're interested: posting every day but Sundays in April--then everyone is encouraged to visit the other blogs in the fest
• Tweet about your new blog entries (this is where your interesting titles come in) with a bit.ly link to the blog post

In General:

• Social media is SOCIAL--you need to get out there, comment on others' blogs, comment on tweets, etc. Elana Johnson (who has almost 2000 blog followers) went through a period where she commented on 50 blogs a day!!
• Don't diss others--everyone can see your tiff and no one thinks you're cool when you're whining

And as Robin also suggests, you can check out Beth Revis' post on this topic here.




How comfortable are you with social media? Do you find it difficult to balance all the other aspects of your life--like writing--with the time it takes to Twitter, Facebook, Blog, etc.? How are you making it work for you?

Stretching the Moment

Laura Pauling's post today got me thinking. I know, scary, huh? I love the way she breaks down writing on her blog. Her dissection and analysis helps me to see things in a different light, frequently in a way I can use. Some of the books on writing I've read have been so philosophical they haven't always as practical as I would like. I need something I can take home and use. Laura's posts do that for me.

As I've been learning all kinds of wonderful techniques (through books, conferences, blogs, etc.), I've begun to feel like I did when I was first learning to drive a car and was taking my exam for my license. My heck! There were so many things to keep in mind. Not only did I have to remember which pedal was for the gas and for the brake (shut up--when you're nervous sometimes your brain gets left in the driveway), but you have to remember to look for hazards in front of you such as other vehicles, watch for hazards coming from the sides such as pedestrians, keep from over correcting when you turn the steering wheel (gotta watch that adrenaline rush). And definitely not be distracted by the wrinkled old man--with his dastardly pencil and pad--wheezing so badly in the seat at your side that you're sure he's going to die any minute.

I'm learning that writing is also bit like conducting an orchestra. Whereas with a car, you need to get from Point A to Point B safely, the going doesn't have to be pretty. But in writing, it does.

We've got to remember all the basics like sentence structure, grammar, avoiding overused words, handling dialogue tags and beats, but we've also got to make the readers feel like they're there with our main characters. We must use words that paint a picture not just of the surroundings but of what's going on in our characters' heads, their thoughts and emotions. We need to utilize all the senses in crafting this symphonic work of ours. But just so you know, writing about sensory things for me is hard. I just don't look at my world consciously dealing with my senses most of the time.

Every time I learn something new, I'm finding I need to go through my ms and check to make sure I've been doing this new thing. It makes me wonder if I could lose the story while I'll working on all these technicalities. But my one encouraging thought is that my new knowledge will eventually become second nature, and as I move on to my two uncompleted projects and start work on my two new projects that it won't be such an arduous process.

Kinda like driving.

What about writing comes easily to you? Is there anything that you really struggle with?

Blogging Challenge

I've been seeing a lot of the blogs I follow with this picture:

I considered doing it, but I was hoping to take a trip with a friend to Ireland sometime in April, so I figured I would pass. Well, I found out on Sunday that I'll have Internet access at least a part of the trip, so I'm going to give it a try after all. Arlee Bird was hoping for 300 participants this year, and nearly 600 have already signed up. This should be interesting.

I'm leaving on March 31st, so I may need to make a couple of posts at a time and skip a day. I hope that's not cheating.

Querying

I've been dreading the process of writing a query letter almost since I first heard of it. Some of it is because I've never done one. I've tried to get prepared and been following Query Shark and BookEnds, LLC, who post real queries and break them apart to discuss what works and what doesn't (thanks, you guys). I've even joined QueryTracker.net, assuming that I will at one point know who to send the query letter to.

But my worry also goes back to my ms. It took me a year to come up with a title, because it has three distinct parts, and what title would fit the whole story? So how the heck am I going to write a query (in 250 words) for the dang thing?

So, I'm not there yet, not ready to write a query letter. Or so I thought until I read this post by Robin Weeks, and it got me thinking. Perhaps, as Robin suggests, the exercise of writing the query will help improve my final work. *sigh* Be sure to check her post because she makes some excellent points and because she includes a link to Elana Johnson's ebook called From the Query to the Call. I took a wonderful class from Elana at LTUE. She must be a nerdfighter because they are made up of sheer awesome.

Seems querying is on the mind of lots of folks. Ian Bontems posted about it today, too. He has some great suggestions as well.

Now that I finished Edit 8 and am ready to begin proofing (using a process Ian suggested, btw), perhaps I should consider writing a query.

For the experience.

You know. Just in case.

Answers to St. Patrick's Day Quiz

1. Who was St. Patrick?
The patron saint of Ireland.

2. What did he do to become associated with Ireland?
Brought Christianity to Ireland & was supposed to have driven the snakes from the island.

3. What is the language in the expression "Erin go bragh"?
Gaelic.

4. What does the expression mean?
Ireland forever!

5. Who was Molly Malone and what was her profession?
A pretty Irish girl who sold fish.

6. What city did she work in?
Dublin.

7. What is another name for the "little people"?
Leprechaun.

8. What happens if you catch one?
You'll have good luck.

9. What is at the end of the rainbow?
A pot of gold.

10. What is the Blarney stone supposed to give?
The gift of flattery/ability to speak well.

11. What must you do to it to receive it?
Kiss it (the Blarney Stone).

12. Why are there so many rock walls in Ireland?
They had to put them somewhere in order to farm. (According to John Wayne in "The Quiet Man.")

13. Who directed “The Quiet Man” in 1952?
John Ford.

14. According to the Irish, what should one do at a wake?
Sing a song.

15. What color must you never wear on St. Patrick's Day?
Orange.

16. What is Ireland’s official color?
Blue—for the color of the field in the Irish coat of arms.

17. What is the capitol of Ireland?
Dublin.

18. What is the predominant religion in Ireland?
Catholism.

19. What disaster in Ireland resulted in so many Irish emigrating to America?
Potato famine.

20. What food did the English purchase from America to help feed the starving Irish?
Indian corn.

21. "You can search everywhere, but none can compare to my ----, ----- ----."
Wild, Irish rose.

22. What is the Irish name for a clover leaf?
Shamrock.

23. Is the potato native to Ireland?.
No. It was originally brought to Ireland from the American Continent.

 24. What percentage of U.S. presidents have had Irish ancestors?
40 %.

25. Is Ireland the only place Gaelic is spoken?
No. It is also spoken on the Isle of Man and in Scotland.

26. Where was Michael Flatley (of Lord of the Dance & Riverdance fame), Irish dancing superstar, born?
Chicago, Illinois

JOKES
Why did St. Patrick drive the snakes from Ireland?
Because they couldn't fly.

What is green and stays out all night?
Patio furniture (Paddy O'Furniture)

Why can't you borrow money from a leprechaun?
Because they're always so short.

Why did God invent whiskey?
So the Irish would never rule the world.

How many Irishmen does it take to change a light bulb?
Five--one to change the bulb and four to remark about how grand the old bulb was.

St. Patrick's Day

I'm of Irish descent on my mother's side, and everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day. Aren't the Irish generous?

I submit this quiz, so you can figure out just how Irish you are.

1. Who was St. Patrick?
2. What did he do to become associated with Ireland?
3. What is the language in the expression "Erin go bragh"?
4. What does the expression mean?
5. Who was Molly Malone and what was her profession?
6. What city did she work in?
7. What is another name for the "little people"?
8. What happens if you catch one?
9. What is at the end of the rainbow?
10. What is the Blarney stone supposed to give?
11. What must you do to it to receive it?
12. Why are there so many rock walls in Ireland?
13. Who directed “The Quiet Man” in 1952?
14. According to the Irish, what should one do at a wake?
15. What color must you never wear on St. Patrick's Day?
16. What is Ireland’s official color?
17. What is the capitol of Ireland?
18. What is the predominant religion in Ireland?
19. What disaster in Ireland resulted in so many Irish immigrating to America?
20. What food did the English purchase from America to help feed the starving Irish?
21. "You can search everywhere, but none can compare to my ----, ----- ----."
22. What is the Irish name for a cloverleaf?
23. Is the potato native to Ireland?
24. What percentage of U.S. presidents have had Irish ancestors?
25. Is Ireland the only place Gaelic is spoken?
26. Where was Michael Flatley (of Lord of the Dance & Riverdance fame),Irish dancing superstar born? 

 Jokes

1. Why did St. Patrick drive the snakes from Ireland? (When the Irish say that St. Patrick chased the snakes out of Ireland, what they don't tell you is that he was the only one who saw any snakes!)
2. What is green and stays out all night?
3. Why can't you borrow money from a leprechaun?
4. Why did God invent whiskey?
5. How many Irishmen does it take to change a light bulb?

I'll post the answers tomorrow.

A Comment to Make Your Day

It's a hard thing to finally let someone read your work. I have a coworker I trust and consider a friend (though we don't socialize). She was the first one to see it, and she was kind and encouraging about it. However, all she wants from her recreational reading is to be entertained, and she said I succeeded in that. So I can take that for what it is.

That was a year ago. I'm on Edit #8. I was able to visit one of the places in the story, and that really helped me to picture it and also change some things to reflect the reality of the locale. Hopefully I'm making it better. I've been working furiously to get it ready to submit to my most active critique group in April. I've been a little worried because my piece is an adventure/romance, and this group is YA fantasy. One of the things that came out of the LTUE conference was the need to have critiquers who read and enjoy your genre. My friend Robin Weeks gave me some advice on how to proceed, so I'm going to be brave and actually do it. I hope.

I'm also part of another critique group in the same forum, this one writes romance. But there's only one really active member right now. The other two normally active people are dealing with horrible real life issues. I've submitted parts 1 and 2 to the active member, and she made my day today. Here's what she said:

Okay, two things. WOW and damn you!

I'm thoroughly sucked in. You're killing me with that cliff hanger. I will refrain in case others haven't read it. I kept tensing, I laughed and at the end I was in shock. God, I wish my writing were half this good! I have a few comments. Can't wait for the rest.

That's probably the nicest thing I'll ever hear about it, but it still thrilled me to read it. The closest thing I can compare it to is when someone honestly walks up to you and looks at the mottled, swollen, bruised face of your newborn baby and tells you your child is beautiful.

*sigh* This mother is flyin' high.

Now to get ready for the b*itch slap next month. Ah, the pain we endure to bring a creation to life.

*heads for the pain reliever*

Stuck

Have you ever had one of those weeks where you sit down for 1-2 hours everyday as you work through an edit ... but at the end of the day, you've hardly moved any further in the manuscript?

(The picture of the woman in the mud is NOT really me.)

I always email copies of my ms to myself, so I've got another copy out there (well, multiple copies actually). And in the subject line I note the page number, so I know where to begin in my next session. It was very discouraging this week as that number seemed to spend a lot of time lingering around page 71 (that 's out of 191 pages, single spaced with 1/2" margines). I wasn't wasting my time. I wasn't letting myself be distracted with the Internet. But getting past that dang page 71 felt like trying to walk through mud.

Yesterday the breakthrough finally came, and I've been flying ever since. I'm on page 108 now. Do you ever have situations like this come up? What do you do to help pull yourself past the mudhole?

Those Dratted "ly" Words

It's funny. Before I started this writing thing, I used to think adverbs were good things. You know, those nice little modifiers that describe verbs. Great tools provided by the creators of the English language.

Like fouls in basketball, they're there to be used.

But then I started reading about the craft of writing in books and blogs and webpages ... and from what I read you'd think those nifty little adverbs were bad. I was surprised because I remember exercises in school where we were taught to use them.

Oh, and then I remembered that what they teach you in school isn't necessarily the best way to do things in the real world. So, I did a search of my completed WIP, and guess how many "ly" words I had?

1,801.

Uh oh.

As I've gone through in this edit, I noticed that using "ly" words is easy. They do the job so well, in fact, that they're a little too easy--because there are other ways to phrase sentences, and sometimes those other ways result in much better writing.

But should I conclude that all adverbs are bad? What do you think? Is this concern mostly an American issue? Do you other English speakers have issues with adverbs? Rowling used them liberally. Should we cut them out completely as one of the articles below suggests, or should we just use them with discretion? Are they okay to use but not in dialogue?

What's your philosophy?

Following are some articles I've read these tools little devils:

Those "ly" Ending Words

Seriously, What's So Bad About Adverbs?

Maybe Not All Adverbs Are Bad Guys

Jenn's Query Craft / Critique Giveaway

Jenn Johansson is having a Giveaway! From her post today:

So, I thought perhaps I could have a giveaway and lend my meager assistance to those of you in the land of Query-hater-dom. The winner can send me their 1 page query (whenever they have one ready) and I will help them polish it up until it hooks, gleams, and all other good things.

Here is what I'm thinking. To enter, just comment. If you would like extra entries (entirely optional, of course) you can get an extra entry for any tweets, posts, links, or signs you wear around your neck to let people know about the giveaway--provided, of course, that you let me know you did it in the comments section of this post.

If, you are lucky enough to exist instead in Query-love-land or I-Have-An-Agent-So-Queries-Can-Bite-Me-Ville, then you can choose between a book from my magical, mystical bookshelf... or a beautiful orange silicon Kindle cover (because I'm all about the Kindle these days).

This giveaway will be open until Sunday at 2:41pm Mountain Time (because I want to, that's what) and I'll post the winner in my post next Monday, March 14.

So check it out -- unless, of course, you're one of those in the "I-Have-An-Agent-So-Queries-Can-Bite-Me-Ville".

What I've Been Reading Lately

What with all the traveling I've been doing since the new year, I've managed to get in some decent reading time. I was trying to keep track of everything I read in 2011 but when I was messing with the format of the blog I lost that list. I hope I can remember them all.

The Way of Kings

by Brandon Sanderson

Sanderson is one of my favorite authors. I read the book the first time in November, when it came out. I'm reading it again now--and taking notes.

So, you say I'm a geek? Fine. It's certainly not the first time I've done that for a book series. One of the things I loved about the Harry Potter books was Rowlings' ability to write in layers, providing clever clues for diligent readers. Reading those books is like a treasure hunt. The picture to the left is a page from my copy of Half Blood Prince.

Well, Sanderson's got that suble, clever style as well. When I read this book the first time (and it's a tank folks--1,001 pages. Significant number anyone?) I read it just to see what happened next. I can only compare this book to looking at a painting from a far distance and seeing the overall beauty. Then as you come closer it to it, you begin to pick up the intricate details and realize there's so much more going on than you originally thought. Several members of my family have read the book and a few friends as well. Our conversations usually run like this:

"Did you notice ...?"

"Yes! But what do you think this means?" or "No! You're kidding!"

It's entertaining to compare notes with other fans to see what they picked up that you did not. I guess it's obvious that I loved this book and highly recommend it. A coworker who read it commented that it could serve as the curriculum for a college class on ethics and values. I wish all college text books could be this fun to read.

The book is the first in a series of ten, and it does take a while to get into because Sanderson builds the world and shows its rich history and many cultures. The tale centers around three main characters Kaladin, Dalinar, and Shallan. Some of the storylines (Kaladin especially) are more compelling right now than others. But they're all tied together, and Sanderson drops all kinds of oh, so casual comments that seem to scream of bigger things to come. Each chapter begins with a little blerb, and they make you wonder what's going on and sometimes seem a little creepy. And they are creepy, when you find out more about them at the end. I can't wait to read the next book--which he hasn't written yet since he's finishing up the Wheel of Time series.

Star of the Morning

by Lynn Kurland

This is the first book of a romance fantasy series, and I really enjoyed it. I kept reading this morning even though I had other things I needed to do. Grrr. It left me hanging. But it's got magic and fighting and likable characters. I laughed a lot. I love strong, brave heroines, and Morgan doesn't fail in that. I love that she's absolutely forthright in her comments to everyone but especially to an unwanted traveling companion (who happens to be a King incognito). She thinks he's not a very good fighter and an idiot besides--and she has no guile in telling him exactly what she thinks of him. She's such a blow to his inflated ego. You go, girl.

Poison Study,

Magic Study,

and

Fire Study

by Maria V. Snyder

The story begins with Yelena, who at 19 has been a condemned prisoner for nearly a year awaiting her execution for kill her torturer. In her society, no killing is allowed for any reason unless they are at war. Hauled out of her rank cell, she is dragged before Valek, assassin to the Commander (ruler). Valek tells Yelena the Commander's food taster recently died (hazard of the job), and he needs a new one. Since the food taster must be someone condemned to die, Valek offers her the job. So she must decide...death now or may death later. Seems like a pretty easy choice to her. The story becomes more complicated when Yelena discovers she can do magic, something that is expressly forbidden by the Commander. Everyone found able to do magic is executed. Yelena's adventures continue in Magic Study and Fire Study. I had to keep reading to find out what happened.

The Diva Runs Out of Thyme

by Krista Davis

I'm not normally a mystery genre reader, though many of the books I read have mysteries that must be solved. I downloaded this to my Nook while in Hawaii. Sophie Winston is a wonderful cook and runs an event planning business (her life is more complicated than that). She's invited to be part of a Thanksgiving Cooking Event put on by a wealthy entrepreneur. After getting supplies at the store, she discovers a body--a private investigator who had a picture of her. Then at the event, she stumbles over the murdered entrepreneur. Now the police are looking at Sophie as a possible suspect in both killings. And then things really get complicated. It was a fun, entertaining read. Since the main character is an incredible cook, it made me hungry. I will be looking for more books in the series.

  Masques

by Patricia Briggs

This is the first book Patricia Briggs ever wrote. I'm a big fan of her Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega series. Masques is set in the same world as some of her other books (Steal the Dragon and When Demons Walk). I enjoyed the book and have already purchased Wolfsbane the sequel that was released recently.

My Fairy Fair Godmother

and

All's Fair in Love, War, and High School

both by Janette Rallison

I read Godmother to my granddaughter, while I was in Hawaii. She loved it as much as I did. You can read a detailed review here.

War is about Samantha whose lack of attention to her studies has resulted in dismal SAT scores. To beef up her resume, she decides to run for student body president. Her journey (and a competition with her enemy/friend Logan) provides her with a different view of people and their motivations, including herself, and how thoughtless words and actions can hurt others. One of the things I really enjoy about Rallison's characters is that they're good people at heart. But even good people can be mean and thoughtless at times. You don't have to be a "mean girl" to be mean.

Anna and the French Kiss

by Stephanie Perkins

I'm reading this again as part of a reading group. I loved it, and you can see my previous review here.



Courting Miss Lancaster

by Sarah M. Eden

Loved this book. For a detailed review, you can click here.

Second Kiss

by Natalie Palmer

I loved this sweet little story. Click here for the review.

There are just so many books to read. I seriously need a clone!

Tribute

My dad died yesterday.

It was sudden. Two weeks ago he was working in his garden. Last Thursday he was hospitalized from a doctor visit, and Wednesday we found out he had one lung almost completely full of cancer. My brother and I were able to fly home to be there when they took him off the respirator.

I wish to pay tribute to my dad. Who was he?

• He was the oldest son of a "Missouri Puke" -- that's the term Dad said they called people from Missouri who made the migration to California during the Dustbowl (like Okies for the folks from Oklahoma). He was born in 1930, so he entered the world when the economic times were horrible and it took a decade and a world war to recover. (Dad's the little guy on the left--his twin is on the right.)
• Dad grew up in southern California before the L.A. River was cemented, when it was a river to swim in and not a place to shoot Terminator and Transformer movie action scenes in.
• As mentioned above he was a fraternal twin--one of those sets where what one doesn't think of the other one does. The kind of kids who really give their parents a run for their money.
• I honor him especially for a major life choice he made--not to carry on the family tradition of spousal abuse. My grandfather used to knock my grandmother around, and that behavior was their model of manhood. One time my grandfather had been drinking at a bar and brought home a woman he met there. Yes, he brought a woman to the home where his wife and children were at. My 16-year-old dad decked his father and laid him out, telling him that he would never do something like that again. You go, Dad!
• At 17 the twins decided to join the Navy. Dad made a career of it, serving for 24 years.

                                 (Dad's on the right)

• My dad was a man to go after what he wanted. Because he was tall (6' 3 1/2"), people always thought he was older than he was--which meant he was able to get into bars before he was 21. He celebrated his 19th birthday at a bar ... and saw my mom. She was 21 and thought my dad was celebrating his 22nd birthday. He didn't correct her. They met in August and married in November, and Mom was more than a little dismayed to discover Dad had to have someone come and sign for him to get married (that was when you had to be 21).  She said she wouldn't have dated him if she'd realized how young he was, and my dad informed her that was why he hadn't told her.
• I have an older brother, but my folks had a hard time getting pregnant again after him--and when I was born they discovered a blood inconsistency in the RH factor. I nearly died, and they gave up the thought of having more childrenfor a while. But they decided to risk another baby. Unfortunately this little girl was strangled by her umbilical cord and is buried in South Korea. A year later my little sister was born, and she was the same blood type as my mother. No problems.
• My father was highly involved in my brother's sports events and willingly coached the teams as needed. When no one would be a scout master for the local Boy Scout troop, my father stepped up. Many of the boys he coached became involved in Scouting as well. A couple of the boys went on to play professional ball.
• He was so proud when my brother was accepted to the Naval Academy, but my brother's leaving  for the Academy came at a tragic time. My mother had been ailing for a couple of years and technology finally advanced enough to identify the problem. A brain tumor. It wasn't malignant but in a dangerous place and swelling after the surgery killed her. We went from Mom's funeral to my brother's high school graduation. Dad remarried a couple of years later and worked to pull two families with teen children into one family. When I was 19, they had a daughter together. She's been wonderfully supportive of them in their old age, and this week we were all able to talk about how many of our standards came from Dad.
• Dad was supportive but also firm. We'd just moved to a new military base a week before Mom died. I knew no one, and school had just gotten out. I was desperately lonely and thought summer school would provide me with a chance to meet friends. But it included taking 6 buses each day into San Franciso and back, and then I found out it wasn't even the school that fed the one I'd attend in the fall. I wanted to quit. My dad strongly discouraged me from doing this, citing his own experience in high school (he was a dropout). He didn't want me to be a quitter. I trusted in him and persevered, and that lesson has helped me throughout my life when I was tempted to give up. I'm proud to say this daughter is not a quitter.
• He was the perfect kind of father and father-in-law (to me). We were raised to be independent, and he stayed out of our adult lives as much as we wanted. He was supportive and willing to do whatever we needed, but he was not one to tell us what to do or to offer unsolicited advice (or sometimes any advice--as in me joining the Army). He knew there were some decisions only we could make.

Years ago I heard a saying that I've always taken to heart:

The father is wiser than the son because

the father was son before he was father.

I'm fortunate in the father I had. He observed the mistakes of others and had the sense to learn from his own. He had a high code of conduct and built and preserved family traditions to be proud of.

It was an honor and a privilege to be his daughter and to call him my "Dad."

Love you, Dad.