I love blogfests. I know some people hate them, but I like that they force me to write. And since I don't get to pick the topic, they force me to write outside my comfort zone. They keep me out of the writing-rut.
So go on down to Quinn's blog at Seeing, Dreaming...Writing to join in on this year's Boo-Fest on October 28th, in which I and a lot of other bloggers will be posting our real-life ghost stories. SpooOOOooky!
ALSO: Tahereh (who spills her amazing self on her amazing blog, GO READ IT) is running a contest from now until October 19th to win BOOK MONEY!!!!! It's easy to enter, so do it now before the contest ends!
ALSO: Check out the amazing BLOGIVERSARY ARC GIVEAWAY over at Sara McClung's blog, Babbling Flow. And make sure you tell her I sent you!
Good Luck, everybody!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Wisdom on Wednesdays: Read With Intention
I did kind of an odd thing a few weeks ago. It was one of those rare afternoons when I didn't have to worry about being anywhere or looking after anyone or even cooking anything, and I had no responsibilities whatsoever, and I had an assignment for this class I'm taking, so I holed up in the YA section of the bookstore and I just read. And read. And read. And took notes. And read some more.
The assignment was to write the beginning of a novel, so that's what I read - the beginnings. Seventeen Prologues/First Chapters in one afternoon. I made myself stop at the end of Chapter One every time, but I made a note of the books I wanted to get back to.
It was eye-opening, guys. Firstly, there is an actual formula to these things. Did you know this? I would never have picked up on it if I had read each novel in its entirety before moving on to the next one, but reading just the beginnings back-to-back like that it became really obvious. And there is a definite "tone" to the paranormal books. (My WiP is a paranormal, so I stuck to that genre.) And when I came across a book that had a really unique voice or a really unusual beginning, it jumped right out and grabbed me. It was awesome! Like reading extra-super-incredibly high-quality slush, except even better than that. The difference between the books that have that buzz surrounding them and the books that don't was really clear to me after reading their beginnings.
So, that's my wisdom. Read widely, but don't only read in the usual way. Read with the intention of picking out the hidden formulas, and of picking out those things that stand out, that are unique, and that break from the mold and are better for it. Read to figure out what makes these books work.
The assignment was to write the beginning of a novel, so that's what I read - the beginnings. Seventeen Prologues/First Chapters in one afternoon. I made myself stop at the end of Chapter One every time, but I made a note of the books I wanted to get back to.
It was eye-opening, guys. Firstly, there is an actual formula to these things. Did you know this? I would never have picked up on it if I had read each novel in its entirety before moving on to the next one, but reading just the beginnings back-to-back like that it became really obvious. And there is a definite "tone" to the paranormal books. (My WiP is a paranormal, so I stuck to that genre.) And when I came across a book that had a really unique voice or a really unusual beginning, it jumped right out and grabbed me. It was awesome! Like reading extra-super-incredibly high-quality slush, except even better than that. The difference between the books that have that buzz surrounding them and the books that don't was really clear to me after reading their beginnings.
So, that's my wisdom. Read widely, but don't only read in the usual way. Read with the intention of picking out the hidden formulas, and of picking out those things that stand out, that are unique, and that break from the mold and are better for it. Read to figure out what makes these books work.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
In Which I Bemoan My Schedule
I have tried to make myself into a morning writer. I have to get up at 6:30am anyway to get my kids onto the school bus on time, so I figured it would be the perfect time to get my daily workout in, grab a shower, and still have three solid hours to write, write, write. I scheduled my late afternoons for my kids, and my evenings for blogging and hubby time. Perfect, right?
WELL.
My body is sleepy in the morning; it doesn't like exercise at 6:00am, or 6:30am, or even 7:45am. And neither does my brain. I sit down in the morning to write and all I get is a long time of sitting and waiting for my brain to stop going, uuuuuuuuuuuuuhn. And then I surf the blogs, trying to wake up. And then my son gets home from preschool, and I still haven't really written anything.
My peak time has always been the night time. In high school, I used to set up shop sometime after 10 or 11 at night, and work into the wee hours. In college, my absolute best ideas and best work happened sometime between 1 and 4am, and the sweetest time of the night for me was just around 3:45 or 4, when the first notes of birdsong would drift through the pre-dawn skies. The night is my time. The rest of the world is sleeping, but I am AWAKE.
But, you know, kids. Staying up until 2 or 3am. It's not the best combo. So I'm thinking I'll give it another month before I try to make any sweeping changes; maybe if I can make myself sleep earlier, my brain will be more ready to work in the mornings. Maybe.
How about you? What is your best writing time? How do you make it mesh with your non-writing life?
WELL.
My body is sleepy in the morning; it doesn't like exercise at 6:00am, or 6:30am, or even 7:45am. And neither does my brain. I sit down in the morning to write and all I get is a long time of sitting and waiting for my brain to stop going, uuuuuuuuuuuuuhn. And then I surf the blogs, trying to wake up. And then my son gets home from preschool, and I still haven't really written anything.
My peak time has always been the night time. In high school, I used to set up shop sometime after 10 or 11 at night, and work into the wee hours. In college, my absolute best ideas and best work happened sometime between 1 and 4am, and the sweetest time of the night for me was just around 3:45 or 4, when the first notes of birdsong would drift through the pre-dawn skies. The night is my time. The rest of the world is sleeping, but I am AWAKE.
But, you know, kids. Staying up until 2 or 3am. It's not the best combo. So I'm thinking I'll give it another month before I try to make any sweeping changes; maybe if I can make myself sleep earlier, my brain will be more ready to work in the mornings. Maybe.
How about you? What is your best writing time? How do you make it mesh with your non-writing life?
Monday, October 11, 2010
100 Followers Giveaway WINNERS!
Sorry for the late post, guys - today is Thanksgiving here in Canada, so we're taking it easy here at the Mercurio household today - blueberry pancakes for breakfast, cartoons, turkey wrapped in its bacon blanket in the oven... (Mmmm... Bacon-wrapped turkey...)
BUT, I promised you winners, and winners we have!
The WINNER of a query/first 5/full PB critique by Yours Truly is:
BUT, I promised you winners, and winners we have!
The WINNER of a query/first 5/full PB critique by Yours Truly is:
Kelly!!!
(YAY! Applause, virtual confetti!)
And the WINNER of a signed copy of SHADE by Jeri Smith-Ready is:
Jemi Fraser!!!
(YAY! Applause, virtual confetti!)
If you have email addresses linked to your profiles, then check your emails, ladies! If you don't, then EMAIL ME! My addy is up thar in that right-hand corner thar, under my lovely not-a-headshot.
And now it's time to get back to my family holiday-ing. Have a great day, everybody! Congratulations to the winners, and thanks to everyone for playing! And if you missed out on the great prizes this time around, have no fear! Stay tuned for my Halloween contest extravaganza later this month!
Friday, October 8, 2010
Friday Favorites: Picture Books
FIRST: This is your last chance to enter my 100 Followers Giveaway of Awesome - it closes tonight at midnight. So GO! Comment! WIN!
Back? Good, 'cause today we're talking favorite picture books. Yippee!
Not many people know this, but picture books are actually my favorite kind of book for pure joy. I have novels that I've read and loved, (more on that in a couple of weeks), and I re-read them when I can and talk about them with other people, but a great picture book can make me crack a smile so big it's a wonder my jaw doesn't just drop right off. So I thought I'd share some of my favorites, in no particular order.
THE GRUFFALO, by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler. I love this book - I love the story, I love the rhythm of three, I love that it's in verse, I love that it circles back on itself, and I LOVE the twist at the end. I also love reading it - the language in this book is superbly done. And don't even get me started on the artwork - it's perfectly pitched for this age group.
FUNNYBONES, by Janet and Allen Ahlberg. This is a book I read as a child, and although it is not in verse, it does have a rhythm to it which I love. I love the way certain words are repeated throughout the story, and it's wonderful the way the kid is the one who solves the problems. This is another book that circles back on itself at the end, which is great.
OLIVIA, written and illustrated by Ian Falconer. This book makes me laugh out loud every time. The contrast between the very, very understated text and the completely over-the-top illustrations really makes this book. And who doesn't know a little "Olivia"?
I could go on, but I think I should stop at three and hand the floor over to you guys.
What are some of your favorite picture books? What sets them apart from the rest?
Back? Good, 'cause today we're talking favorite picture books. Yippee!
Not many people know this, but picture books are actually my favorite kind of book for pure joy. I have novels that I've read and loved, (more on that in a couple of weeks), and I re-read them when I can and talk about them with other people, but a great picture book can make me crack a smile so big it's a wonder my jaw doesn't just drop right off. So I thought I'd share some of my favorites, in no particular order.
I could go on, but I think I should stop at three and hand the floor over to you guys.
What are some of your favorite picture books? What sets them apart from the rest?
Thursday, October 7, 2010
I Heart Thursdays
Thursday is my favorite day of the week. More accurately, Thursday night is my favorite night of the week. TV Night.
I know some writers shun TV - I used to do that. But you know what? My writing was stuck back in the '80s, and my dialogue was in the toilet. (Some of my writing is still stuck in the '80s, but #donttellmyteacher - I'm working on that, I promise.)
TV is a way for those of us who don't live with representative members of our target audience to get with the program in terms of our dialogue. Why pass up an opportunity like that? I say, pick a new show every week that your audience watches, make up a big bowl of popcorn, grab your notepad, and settle in. You just might learn something.
What do you think? Are you a TV lover, or a TV shunner?
I know some writers shun TV - I used to do that. But you know what? My writing was stuck back in the '80s, and my dialogue was in the toilet. (Some of my writing is still stuck in the '80s, but #donttellmyteacher - I'm working on that, I promise.)
TV is a way for those of us who don't live with representative members of our target audience to get with the program in terms of our dialogue. Why pass up an opportunity like that? I say, pick a new show every week that your audience watches, make up a big bowl of popcorn, grab your notepad, and settle in. You just might learn something.
What do you think? Are you a TV lover, or a TV shunner?
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Wisdom on Wednesdays: List Love
FIRST: If you haven't entered my 100 Followers Giveaway of Awesome yet, go and do it now. All you have to do is be a follower, and leave a comment to win either a signed hardback copy of SHADE by Jeri Smith-Ready or a critique of your work by me. Okay, now that you're back, we can move on to today's post.
I have major List Love today. Lists are great. Lists turn a daunting task into a simple achievable one. Lists have items that get crossed out. (And we all love sweeping our red pens through the completed items on our lists, don't we? YES, I have FINISHED you, my life is COMPLETE! Bwa-ha-haaaaa!) Lists are how we remember everything.
I'm talking all kinds of lists: shopping lists, to-do lists, character lists...
Yeah, I said Character Lists. When you get a piece of paper for each character in your WIP and write on it everything you know about that character, so you can refer to it as you write and make sure your character stays consistent and true to form.
You have those, right?
I have major List Love today. Lists are great. Lists turn a daunting task into a simple achievable one. Lists have items that get crossed out. (And we all love sweeping our red pens through the completed items on our lists, don't we? YES, I have FINISHED you, my life is COMPLETE! Bwa-ha-haaaaa!) Lists are how we remember everything.
I'm talking all kinds of lists: shopping lists, to-do lists, character lists...
Yeah, I said Character Lists. When you get a piece of paper for each character in your WIP and write on it everything you know about that character, so you can refer to it as you write and make sure your character stays consistent and true to form.
You have those, right?
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