Why Reading's Stressing Me Out

I’ve become a terribly critical reader. Especially as I revise, when I’m looking for faults in my own writing, it becomes easier to see the faults in the books I read. Characters without clear motivations. Subplots that go nowhere. Awkward writing.

It’s making reading stressful. If I read fifty pages of a book and can’t stop grimacing over the weak character development or inconsistent voice, I put the book down. I used to pride myself on never quitting a book, even if I didn’t like it all that much. But now, reading a poorly written book is just too painful. Thankfully, there are tons of YA books out there with breathtaking writing and characters to die for, and I don’t usually have to search very hard for a replacement.

But my new critical reading style takes some of the fun out of reading. I read to escape, to be pulled into another world or at least a different scene of my own world. I don’t want to be hunting out problems.

What about you? Has being a writer altered the way you read?

Lovely Revolution and Moonlight Oaks

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly. One of those books to savor and marvel over.

2. A field of wildflowers. The bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush and buttercups are springing up all around town, and they give the city so much color.

3. The beach theme on Gmail. It changes with the time (sunrise and sunset) and even with the weather! Anything summery is welcome right now.

4. Falling into bed, exhausted after a good writing day. How can you not love that feeling?

5. Oak trees in the moonlight—so majestic.

Happy Monday, everyone! Anything making you happy this week?

Rebuilding a Burned Down Manuscript

The coffeehouse where I do most of my writing these days burned down a few months ago and has been rebuilt. The old junk/antique store next to it is still being rebuilt, though, and my favorite place to sit is by a window that overlooks the construction site.

Revising is a lot like reconstructing a burnt down building. You had that perfect first draft, and then you cut it down, burning out the parts that suddenly didn’t seem so perfect anymore. Now, with the charred remains (pushing the fire metaphor too hard?) you have to build up the manuscript again.

Hopefully, you still have a strong foundation: characters you love, a story arc you still think is worth telling. But the structure might be different. Some characters may be gone forever, and you may find new ones. Your main character’s voice may change. You might end up in a completely new place. Anything’s possible. And hopefully, at the end of revisions, you have a brand new manuscript, better than the first.

Basically, it’s fun seeing those people build a brand new building as I revise my own burned down manuscript. Everything feels connected.

What about you? How do you feel about digging into revisions?

Why I Write

Hi, all! I wrote an article for the online magazine Pluck explaining why I write and how I got started. CLICK HERE to read it. I talk about how ridiculous I find the Disney version of Snow White and (embarrassingly) how I scare off guys. You know you want to read it now!

Also, you can read my top five books (urgh! so frustrating to pick only five!) by CLICKING HERE.

Pluck is an awesome magazine about finding our lives and careers in these recession times. There are tons of inspiring articles--it's amazing reading all the different perspectives people have!

I'm still in the revision trenches these days and will be for a while. I'm basically at the point where I think it will never end, even though there has to be an end somewhere, right?

How's your writing progress?

Reading Slowly and Hazyness

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. Novels you want to read slowly because you never want to let go of the characters. That’s how all Sarah Dessen novels are for me.

2. Sending notes and postcards to friends just ‘cuz. I need to do this more often, because I love when someone sends me something.

3. Falling asleep while lounging by a pool. For some reason, this is the most satisfying sleep I ever get. So excited for summer!

4. Buying a new journal for a new project. It makes everything feel so fresh and exciting.

5. My current nailpolish. It’s Revlon Top Speed “Hazy,” and it’s a sort of blue-gray that makes me so happy every time I look at my hands. I mean, when you’re spending hours typing away at your keyboard, it’s important to have happy nails, right?

Happy Monday, everyone! Anything making you happy this week?

Five Random Thoughts on a Friday

1. Miranda Lambert gave one of the most energetic performances I have ever seen at the rodeo this week. She was spinning and throwing her pink guitar around and belting out the lyrics to so many of her amazing songs. The whole crowd just loved her, and she’s now firmly one of my favorite artists.

2. I hope everyone had a very lucky St. Patrick’s Day! I’m part Irish, and that holiday holds a special place in my heart. Green beer, however, freaks me out.

3. I have been completely ignoring cleaning as I’ve wrapped myself in revisions. Well, okay, I surface clean, and I try to keep everything sanitary, but my vacuum is practically getting dusty from misuse, and the laundry’s piling up. My celebration for finishing these revisions (which won’t be for a long time) will have to be a day of deep cleaning. Joy.

4. I discovered a playlist of mine from junior year of college, and oh my goodness, it’s like I’m reliving that time. So many fun and heartbreaking and beautiful memories. Songs so often do that to me.

5. Speaking of memories, I run by some kind of tree on my running route that has this sweet smell to it, and it always reminds me of Hawaii. Never mind that I haven’t been to Hawaii since I was about seven. But every time I smell that tree, I’m taken back to sandy beaches and sparkling blue water and luaus. Does this ever happen to you?

Have a great weekend, everyone! Anyone have any fun weekend plans?

How I Revise

I’m mired in revisions these days, trying to straighten out my plot and characters. Of course, because my revisions are always drastic, I’ve cut almost half of what I’ve written and am developing completely new scenes.

One of the best revisions tactics I have is to do a reverse outline: I outline all that I have written, and then look through it, seeing what needs to be strengthened and how I can streamline the plot. I track my plot points and reversals, and then it’s like I can see the whole book at once.

Once I’ve organized the plot, I’ll do different rounds of revisions focusing on voice (the voice of my main character and all supporting characters), language (I rely way too much on adverbs and “to be” verbs), details (they all have to matter), and other points. I also read the work aloud, which helps me distinguish character voices and fix language. My new tactic for this work is going to be tossing the pages up into the air and taking them one at a time. I want to make sure every page is significant and filled with voice.

It’s a long and involved process, but I know in the end, I’ll have a finished book. And that keeps me going.

Does anyone else use these tactics? Anyone have some great revision tricks I need to steal?

Lady Antebellum and Winning

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. Lady Antebellum. They put on a great show at the rodeo this weekend. Their voices are just phenomenal, and even more phenomenal together.

2. Rereading favorite books. I love revisiting favorite characters and plot points. I’m currently rereading Sarah Dessen’s The Truth About Forever, and I can’t get enough of it!

3. Coconut sorbet. I’m pretty much obsessed with anything coconut, and sorbet is just perfect for the warmer weather we’re having!

4. Watching TV while cooking. I feel guilty if I just sit and watch TV, but if I watch it while cooking, I’m totally not wasting time! This is the only reason I don’t have microwave soup for every meal.

5. "Duh! Winning!" Sorry, I had to.

Happy Monday, everyone! Anything making you happy this week?

Five Random Rodeo Thoughts on a Friday

1. I went to the rodeo for the first time in several years this week, and oh my goodness, I’m in love with it. Bronco riding was awesome.

2. So was bull riding.

3. But my favorite sport was definitely mutton busting (or bustin’, I’m not sure). Little kids ride baby sheep, and you’ve never seen something so adorable in your life.

4. And then Tim McGraw sang. And I love him.

5. I’m going back to the rodeo tonight! Can’t wait to see more cowboys.

Creating Writing Time

I’ve been diving into another round of revisions on the Birdie WiP this week, but there are so many more fun things to be doing! The rodeo’s in town and I’m going three nights (How could I not go to the rodeo? Best thing ever!). Friends are doing fun things on weeknights and weekends. People I haven’t seen in a while are coming into town. The weather is so beautiful that all I want to do is go on day trips and have picnics.

All I’ve cut down on so far is sleep and some family time, but I’m still not spending enough hours on my manuscript. Not as many as I would like, anyway. I wake up early and go to bed late and try to spend every free minute writing, but it still doesn't seem like enough. Life needs to become less interesting, I guess, which isn’t too awful of a problem.

I need to learn to say “no” to all these things, I know. But I hate missing out, and I try to reason it all away by saying that I’m doing research for my writing. Because if I don’t go to that talk on Nigeria or that museum or that gathering of friends in Austin, maybe I’ll miss an amazing story.

How do you balance writing with all your other obligations and social life?

Weird Austin and Candid Memories

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. Austin! I visited a friend this weekend, and had an awesome time exploring the weirdest city in Texas. Summed up by this first picture: hard to see, but it’s a man playing a didgeridoo and two men riding by on horseback. So very Austin.


2. Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins. Her book event was amazing—she’s just as funny as you’d expect! And I’m loving Demonglass so far. Sophie’s voice keeps me hooked.

3. Meeting blogging people in person. It was so great to meet Kristin Rae and Heather on Friday at the signing!

4. Taking candid pictures. Annoys my friends and family to no end, but I always love quickly snapped photos more than carefully posed ones.

5. Gobstoppers. My new favorite writing snack!

Happy Monday, everyone! Anything making you happy this week?

Five Random Thoughts on a Friday

1. I went to see The Walkmen last night in concert. They’re an amazing indie rock band, full of energy and emotion. Such a great show.

2. Speaking of concerts, how awesome would it be to be in a band on tour? You get to travel around the country on a bus and perform in front of screaming fans. It sure makes an author’s life seem tame.

3. I also got to see Billy Elliot, the musical, this week. Funny and emotional and intense in the best possible way. Just an amazing production—if you get a chance to see it, I recommend it.

4. I’m going to a Rachel Hawkins signing tonight at Blue Willow Bookshop! I absolutely fell in love with Hex Hall, and I can’t wait to read the sequel, Demonglass. Hilarious, snarky witches? Yes, please!

5. I need to start keeping a dream journal. I’ll wake up and remember awesome snatches of a dream when I wake up, but minutes later, it’s gone. Has anyone tried keeping a dream journal? Does it work? It just seems like it would be fun.

Have a great weekend, everyone! Any fun weekend plans?

Finding a New Idea

I was hit by two amazing shiny new ideas this week. Actually, in a 24 hour period. And of course, I want nothing more than to jump right into one of them and working on that first draft, because they both have me so excited. But considering the fact that I’m in the middle of revising two manuscripts, I have to put those ideas on the backburner.

When I started writing, I worried that I would have trouble coming up with good ideas after the first idea. I knew I wanted to write a Snow White retelling, but beyond that, I didn’t know if I would be able to find something else new and fresh.

I had no idea how random inspiration can be. Some of my ideas have come to me on walks or drives (as I’m singing along the radio, naturally). Some have come when I’m on vacation, sitting in a new place and dreaming of a new setting. I can be thinking about nothing other than the weather, and then BAM. My mind follows some random tangent, and I end up with an SNI. A character I can’t get out of my head. A plot idea that just begs to be written. Some of these SNIs I leave behind, or a I write half of the first draft and decide I’m just not excited by it anymore. But I no longer have that fear that I won’t be able to find another idea to get my fingers flying across the keyboard again.

Where do your ideas come from? Do you have trouble finding inspiration sometimes?