Fairy Tales and Cappuccino

Random Musings: Productive Walks and Pinterest

2012-01-27T00:01:00.000-05:00

1. I went for a walk yesterday. Just because the weather was beautiful. I listened to a playlist I’d created for the protagonist in my new WiP and puzzled out some issues I’d been having with her character. And now I want to take a walk every day, because that was such a wonderful way to be productive.

2. I went to a debate among candidates for US Senate this week. It was part of my new resolution to become more engaged in politics and current events. And it was actually very entertaining (especially because several candidates…well, didn’t give the best performance).

3. The Museum of Fine Arts Houston is free on Thursdays. I love just wandering around the rooms for an hour or so, stopping on whatever catches my eye. A perfect way to spend an evening.

4. I now have a box for all the random sentences or ideas that I come up with, usually in the middle of the night. I write them down on scraps of paper and then throw them in the box, hoping they’ll be useful someday.

5. I made the mistake of looking at Pinterest.com. If I ever joined that site, I would never be able to stop reading—there are so many amazing posts on there!

Happy Friday, everyone! Anyone have any fun weekend plans?

Creep by Jennifer Hillier

2012-01-25T00:01:00.000-05:00

I'm continuing my Wednesday series of reviewing amazing books by bloggers I know and adore. Jennifer Hillier is one of the sweetest, funniest bloggers out there. And her book scared the living daylights out of me. :)

Dr. Sheila Tao, professor of psychology, is about to marry her boyfriend, but when she breaks off her affair with her grad student, Ethan, she becomes his target. He begins invading her life, and soon, all of her secrets start spilling out.

The tension in this story got to me right away. It’s one of those books that makes you hold your breath the whole way through, keeps you wondering what’s going to happen next. I loved the complexity of the characters, too. These aren’t your stereotypical heroes and villains, and that made them more real to me. Creep has definitely convinced me that I need to read more thrillers—this was so much fun!

You can find details on how to buy Creep by CLICKING HERE.

Hershey Kisses and Too Much to Read

2012-01-22T23:17:00.003-05:00

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. Finding new favorite music through TV shows. I’ve found some amazing songs through Gossip Girl and Grey’s Anatomy and all the other ridiculous/lovable shows I watch.

2. Hershey Kisses. Just the plain, simple milk chocolate ones. They’re just so good.

3. TV recaps. Sometimes they’re even better than watching the TV show. EW.com and Forever Young Adult recap some of my faves.

4. Patriots! Because if the Texans can’t win the Super Bowl, at least New England can! Sorry, Giants fans. :)

5. When my TBR pile is stressing me out. Like right now. Because, I’m sorry, but that’s such a wonderful problem to have.

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

Random Thoughts: The Bachelor and Apple Strudel

2012-01-20T04:00:00.000-05:00

1. The Bachelor is absolutely hilarious this season. SO MUCH DRAMA. I love it.

2. I read Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally this week, and it was so much fun! I loved the concept of a female football player who fights to follow her dreams, even when so many people don’t believe in her. And there’s some major swoon going on, too. :)

3. I haven’t started Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare yet, even though I’ve had it for a while. I know I’m going to love it, and I know as soon as I’ve finished it, I’m going to want the third book. So I’m saving it.

4. I think I’m going to attempt to make an apple strudel this weekend. With probably hilarious results. We’ll see how it goes.

5. It’s going to be a weekend of family and football, which is the best kind of weekend, I think. Oh, and lots of reading. I can’t wait!

Happy Friday, everyone! Anyone have any fun weekend plans?

Build a Man by Talli Rolland

2012-01-18T04:01:00.000-05:00

Continuing my Wednesday posts on books by bloggers I know and adore, I read Build a Man a few weeks ago. And LOVED it.

Serenity works in London at her boyfriend’s plastic surgery office, a place filled with insecure and insufferable women. She dreams of writing for the tabloids, so when a man comes in and wants a ton of surgeries to overhaul his entire look, she thinks she’s found her story. She begins to write an anonymous column for a tabloid about Jeremy—a column that will change her life in ways she never expected.

This was such a fun, hilarious read! Serenity has a snarky inner voice that makes you laugh out loud, and she’s one of those characters you start rooting for immediately. Her experience makes you wonder how far people are willing to go to find love and to attain the unattainable “perfect” body. I just loved the concept of this book. Oh, and the setting. Because you know I love London. :) I highly recommend it!

You can find details about buying Build a Man by CLICKING HERE.

Dream Vacations and Banana Pudding

2012-01-16T01:22:00.001-05:00

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. Making a list of dream vacations. The Scottish Highlands, Colombia, and Spain have been on there for a while now. Someday…

2. Golden Globes. I mainly watch it for the dresses, of course. I think Emma Stone and Tina Fey were my faves of the night.

3. New dessert attempts! I made a banana pudding this week that came out pretty darn well, if I do say so myself. I’m working my way up to cheesecake.

4. NFL playoffs. Even though the Texans lost (boo!), they still are such fun games to watch. I’m rooting for the Patriots to win it all.

5. Risk. I can’t win it to save my life, but a game of global domination is always a good idea.

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

Random Thoughts: Shatter Me and Art Galleries

2012-01-13T04:00:00.000-05:00

1. I read Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi this week, and I loved it! She’s created such a fascinating world and a captivating main character. As well as some truly swoonworthy scenes.

2. I really need to stop watching Grey’s Anatomy. I can’t stand all the gory surgeries, and half of the characters annoy me. But I still can’t wait to see who hooks up next. That’s a valid reason to watch a show, right?

3. I’ve been working on a schedule of 4,000 words per day this week, and it’s doing wonders for my new WiP. Turning the Internet off while I write has been a big help.

4. How have I not been watching Suburgatory until now? It’s a TV series about a girl and her dad who move from NYC to the suburbs, and it has one of the most authentic teen voices on TV. And crazy mean girls and their even crazier moms. I love it.

5. I’ve been wanting to go to an art gallery reception. One of my fave activities when I lived in New York was to go to Chelsea on Thursday evenings with friends and hop from gallery to gallery, sipping free wine and pretending we understood modern art. I miss that.

Happy Friday, everyone! Anyone have any fun weekend plans?

BECOME by Ali Cross

2012-01-11T04:00:00.000-05:00

So, I've been reading several books by bloggers recently, and I wanted to dedicate a few Wednesday posts to reviewing their amazing books. Ali Cross is one of the nicest, most genuine bloggers I've come across, and her book, BECOME, is such a fantastic read, I can't even tell you. But I'll try:

Desolation—she goes by “Desi”—is the daughter of Lucifer, sent to Earth to encourage a soul down the road to Hell. Haunted by memories of her first visit to Earth, when she indirectly caused the death of a teenage boy, Desi desperately tries to resist Becoming—manifesting into the demon her father believes she was born to be. But as she befriends the girl she’s supposed to corrupt and feels drawn to the boy she knows from random memories of another life, Desi begins to realize that she might have more control over her future than she once thought.

This story pulled me in from the beginning and never let me go. I loved Desi’s voice—even though she’s the daughter of Lucifer, she’s incredibly relatable as a teenager. Like most of them, she’s trying to find out who she is and who she wants to be, and that struggle translates to the contemporary world. Ali Cross has created a world amidst our own world that will leave you wanting more.

This is a wonderful paranormal read! You can find details about buying it by CLICKING HERE.

Nook and Sweet Home Alabama

2012-01-09T04:00:00.000-05:00

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. My new Nook! I may be obsessed. It’s just so easy to order a book and read it right away.

2. Coffee and cookies. Unbeatable combination.

3. Sweet Home Alabama. That movie never fails to make me chuckle. Also, Josh Lucas? Not half-bad looking.

4. Keeping the Christmas tree up for a ridiculously long amount of time. Yeah, that thing’s not coming down anytime soon.

5. Putting on pajamas still warm from the dryer. That always makes winter nights so much cozier.

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

Random Thoughts: Coffeehouses and Sunny Winter

2012-01-06T04:00:00.000-05:00

1. I’ve started telling people that if they want to find me, I’ll be at my favorite coffeehouse. It really is becoming my office.

2. Vampire Diaries is finally back! Thank goodness. I was going through Damon withdrawal.

3. I saw The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (the US version) over the break, and oh my. I had read the book, but I must have forgotten how intense it was. I watched most of it through my fingers.

4. I’m having a hard time remembering it’s winter, since it’s currently in the seventies and sunny around here. Seriously. One of the many things I love about living in Texas.

5. There are so many amazing books coming out this year! My TBR pile is going to grow exponentially, I think. What new release are you most excited about?

Happy Friday, everyone! Any fun weekend plans?

Love Actually and Texas Country

2012-01-03T18:54:00.003-05:00

Hi, everyone! I'm finally back from my long holiday break. I got lots of good writing and family time in, and I think I'm finally ready for 2012! Because I missed doing happy things this Monday, I thought I'd post some of the things that have been making me smile lately:

1. Watching someone’s face as he or she opens a present from me. Those are some of my favorite memories from Christmas morning.

2. Love Actually. I watch this movie at least once every Christmas season, usually with peppermint hot chocolate. One of my favorite holiday traditions by far.

3. New Years’ resolutions. I’m still compiling my list, but 2012 is shaping up to be a very productive, good year!

4. College football bowls! My family and I predict the winners of each game every year, and even though I’m doing horribly, I love it.

5. Running while listening to country music on my iPod. Eli Young Band and Wade Bowen are topping my list right now.

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season! Anything making you happy this week?

Holiday Break!

2011-12-11T23:32:00.001-05:00

Hi, everyone! I'm going to take a blogging break for the rest of the month and (hopefully) get some serious writing done! I hope everyone has a beautiful end to 2011, and I'll see you next year! :) Happy Holidays!

Random Thoughts: Online Shopping and Weekend Fun

2011-12-08T23:09:00.001-05:00

1. Yay for online shopping! That’s making my Christmas shopping this year so much easier. I get to avoid the perpetually crowded mall!

2. I love watching Sunday morning talk shows about politics. I always come away from them feeling smarter.

3. I’ve started frequenting the adult fiction & literature section of the bookstore and library, instead of the YA section. My new protagonist is older, and I want to read more books about characters my age—that’s what I’m leaning toward now, in any case. If anyone has a recommendation, I’d love that!

4. Stina Lindenblatt has been doing a wonderful blog series about what to give writers for Christmas (CLICK HERE to visit her blog). Considering I never have any idea what to ask for, I’m loving her recommendations!

5. It’s going to be a weekend of writing and hot chocolate and yummy Italian food for me! I’m so excited. :)

Happy Friday, everyone! Anyone have any fun weekend plans?

Educating Myself (or, Why I Need to Learn British Slang)

2011-12-07T00:01:00.000-05:00

My new WiP requires me to research poetry, art, and London, among other things. I’m reading books about the Romantic Revolution, asking my London friends for British slang, and trying my best to understand poetry (never that much of a strong suit for me). The pre-writing process was so much longer this time, as I tried to absorb as much as I could about these subjects before I started writing.

It’s a lot of work. But what made me so excited about this idea was actually the fact that it would force me to research all of the topics that have fascinated me for so long. My protagonist is educated in areas that I only have a passing knowledge of, and in order to write from her POV, I have to become at least proficient in these subjects. And so I’m growing as a person as I write. And I have a whole lot of random things to contribute at cocktail parties now, so there’s that.

I’ve never had to do much research for a book before, either creating a new world or writing about a contemporary one that was close to my own. But I may start doing research projects for my books from now on, because this is so much fun.

What about you? Have you ever had to research for a book? Got any British slang to share?

I'm Not Here!

2011-12-06T13:27:00.003-05:00

Just a quick note that I'm over at Alexa's amazing blog, Not Enough Bookshelves, talking about why Sean and Puck from The Scorpio Races are my fave couple of the year! CLICK HERE to swoon over Sean Kendrick with me. :)

Decorating the Tree and Rachael Yamagata

2011-12-05T11:05:00.001-05:00

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. Writing things down on my to-do list that I’ve already done, and then crossing them off. Makes me smile every time.

2. Decorating the Christmas tree. I do this with my parents every year, and even though our tree this year leans slightly forward, I find it endearing. Also, the smell of the tree just makes the holiday season for me.

3. Starbucks holiday mugs. Especially when they’re filled with Peppermint Mocha Lattes. :)

4. Cold fronts! It’s actually fifty degrees outside again, instead of being the seventies like it was earlier this week. Yay for real sweater weather!

5. Rachael Yamagata. I went to her concert this weekend, and she has the most amazing voice. Also, “Worn Me Down” was pretty much my anthem in college (even though the lyrics have no application on my own life, thank goodness).

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

Random Thoughts: Christmas Music and Chai Lattes

2011-12-02T00:01:00.001-05:00

1. It’s finally, officially Christmas season! One of the radio stations in town is playing only Christmas music, and my car rides are thus exponentially more fun.

2. I’ve developed a new method to ensure I reach my word count goals: I’ll go the coffee shop in the evenings, keep my laptop unplugged, and write until I run out of battery. Since I usually listen to music as I write, this means I write for about four hours straight. And since I’m not much of an evening writer, this is nothing short of a miracle.

3. For at least an hour of that four hours, though, I’m people-watching. I love my little hipster coffeehouse!

4. Chai lattes are my new favorite drink. They’re like pumpkin bread in a cup, only better.

5. I’ve become enmeshed in the Jessica Darling series by Megan McCafferty. How have I not read these books before? They follow Jessica from high school to the real world after college, and that is the perfect age range for me. Plus, Marcus Flutie? SWOON.

Happy Friday, everyone! Anyone have any fun weekend plans?

Falling out of love with your book

2011-11-30T00:01:00.001-05:00

Everyone does it. At some point or another, in the first drafts or the revisions or even the final read-through, you’re going to hate your book.

I do, at least. I wince reading paragraphs full of bad writing. I swear the plot doesn’t make any sense. I’m convinced my characters are bland and uncompelling. And I know—I just know—that I’m wasting my time with this one.

It happens with every single WiP I’ve ever worked on. And sometimes I’m right—sometimes the book just isn’t cutting it, and I have to shelve it. But most of the time, all I need is to step back. Take some time off from the book. Work on something else or take a full day and visit museums and go on walks and forget about the horrible book for a little while.

When I come back to the manuscript after a breather, I’ll realize that maybe it’s not so bad after all. There are always mistakes, but I can fix most of them. I can fall back in love with my book again, and there’s no better feeling than that.

Does this happen to you? How do you get through it?

Long Weekends and Downton Abbey

2011-11-28T00:01:00.000-05:00

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. Four-day weekends. That was pretty nice, I have to say.

2. Turkey sandwiches with cranberry and dressing. Thankgsiving leftovers are sometimes even better than the actual meal.

3. Case Keenum. He’s the University of Houston quarterback, and he’s the major reason we’re ranked #7 in the nation right now. I come from a family of big U of H fans, and we’re all so excited.

4. Those times when I can’t bear to shut my laptop because the words are just flowing. Such an amazing feeling (one I need more of).

5. Downton Abbey. I got hooked on this amazing historical drama from the UK about a house and all of its occupants, family and servants, in the early 1900s. And now I can’t wait for more episodes!

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

Turkey and Football (of course)

2011-11-21T00:01:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving week, everyone! I’m taking the rest of the week off to get ready for eating massive amounts of turkey (and, you know, get some writing done). But before I go, I wanted to list the five things that make me so very happy about Thanksgiving:

1. Turkey. Oooh, and stuffing. And cranberry sauce. And mashed potatoes (my mom makes them with bacon, and they’re sinfully delicious). Can you see why I need time to mentally prepare myself for all that food?

2. Chocolate turkeys. A delightful variation of regular turkeys (chocolate formed into the shape of a turkey, in case you are unaware).

3. Pumpkin pie. Um, obviously. I adore it. Especially with massive amounts of whipped cream.

4. Good company. Because that’s nice to have while I’m stuffing my face.

5. Football. Playing it, watching it—football is immediately associated with Thanksgiving in my mind.

What makes you the most excited about Thanksgiving?

Five Random Thoughts on a Friday

2011-11-18T00:01:00.000-05:00

1. We finally got a good day of rain here this week, so of course I spent the evening making brownies and cocoa and writing. Rainy days are my favorite writing times.

2. We needed that rain desperately. I went to Washington-on-the-Brazos (a state park about an hour outside of Houston) a few weeks ago and found that a lake (very large pond? I don't know water terminology) that had been there last year had completely disappeared. It was awful.
What it looked like before:

And now:

3. I’ve finally got a copy of Maggie Stiefvater’s The Scorpio Races, and I’m savoring it. Her writing creates this harsh, beautiful world on the edge of the sea, and I feel transported every time I pick it up.

4. Of course, reading her book has inspired me to look over my descriptions in my own WiP and try to make them as full and sensory as possible.

5. It’s going to be another weekend of college football and writing—I’m so excited. And I can’t believe Thanksgiving is almost here!

Happy Friday, everyone! Anyone have any fun weekend plans?

Ruining My Characters' Lives

2011-11-16T00:01:00.000-05:00

I’m horrible at bringing my characters to their lowest point. I know as authors we’re supposed to throw everything against our main characters, making it incredibly difficult for them to achieve their goals. But after spending so much time building a character and getting to know her, I hate putting her in harm’s way. Or even just hurting her feelings.

That’s why the moments of reversal are the hardest for me to plot and to write. I know I have to turn the plot around, make it look like my main character won’t get what she wants or do what she needs to do. I have to bring everything crashing down. But I have to separate myself from the book and from the character and look at it objectively to see what horrible things I can make happen. And that’s always ridiculously hard.

Thank goodness I don’t have to kill people in my books. I would be a wreck.

How do you find the strength to throw everything against your characters?

Armadillos and Hardcover Books

2011-11-14T00:01:00.002-05:00

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. Armadillos. I saw one "in the wild" this week, and they are the weirdest-looking animals ever.

2. Cooking shows. I have never made any of the recipes, but they’re inexplicably so much fun to watch!

3. Biographies. I’m on a nonfiction kick again. I love reading about people’s lives (especially English queens).

4. Hardcover books. Is there anything more wonderful than opening a new hardback and falling into a new story?

5. Honeycrisp apples. Oh my goodness, they taste divine. I'm currently obsessed.

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

Five Random Thoughts on a Friday

2011-11-10T22:58:00.001-05:00

1. Maureen Johnson’s The Name of the Star completely creeped me out this week. It’s an amazingly scary book about a Louisiana teenager who moves to a London boarding school just as someone is recreating the Jack the Ripper murders. I highly recommend it (but only for daytime reading—trust me).

2. For some reason, I’m craving an afternoon of watching black-and-white movies. I haven’t watched a good older movie in a long time. Does anyone have any suggestions?

3. I think I’ve gotten worse at multitasking. In college, I could watch TV, write a paper, and have a conversation with a friend all at the same time. I really can’t do that effectively anymore. I end up ignoring at least one of those things.

4. I love putting my iTunes on shuffle and seeing what comes up. There are so many songs on there that remind me of very specific points in my life, and I (usually) love reliving that.

5. I may or may not have found myself watching college football on mute while listening to French music last weekend. Gotta love my disparate interests.

Happy Friday, everyone! Anyone have any fun weekend plans?

The Problem with Skipping

2011-11-09T00:01:00.000-05:00

When I’m writing a first draft, I try my best to write linearly. I make a fairly detailed outline in my planning stages, and I want to follow it. But it’s so very tempting to jump from scene to scene. I’ll get a great idea for a line of dialogue or a descriptive passage for a later scene, and I can’t help but skip a few spaces down and type it in.

It sounds innocuous enough, I know, but it can really mess up my character development. I’m always concerned with communicating my main character’s growth and the evolving relationships between my characters, and when I skip around, it’s harder to keep track of these things. I end up spending a lot more time in revisions with reverse outlining all of these issues and correcting any discrepancies. My transitions between scenes become less organic, as well.

I’m trying to develop a system to get rid of this problem. When I have a spark of inspiration for a later scene, I type it into another word document. Then, when I get to that scene, I add it in only if it fits. I have to kill some darlings, but my story’s so much better for it.

Does anyone else have this problem? And all you NaNo’ers, how’s the second week going?

Saturday Afternoon Naps and Cream Cheese Icing

2011-11-07T00:01:00.000-05:00

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. Saturday afternoon naps. Especially while watching college football. Somehow, those are the coziest naps.

2. Discovering the song that just perfectly fits a character in my WiP or a scene. I’ll play it on repeat for hours.

3. Lemon spice tea. Makes my writing nights so much better.

4. The fact that instead of using air conditioning, I can now cool my apartment by opening a window. Yay for fall finally arriving in Texas!

5. Cream cheese icing. I made too much for my red velvet cupcakes a few weeks ago, so I just had to make pumpkin cupcakes so it wouldn’t go to waste. Such a terrible problem to have.

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

Five Random Thoughts on a Friday

2011-11-04T00:01:00.000-04:00

1. Lydia Kang is having a contest on her awesome blog to celebrate reaching 1,000 followers and getting a book deal! CLICK HERE to go to it. You could win books or a critique or gift cards—it’s an amazing prize list. And if you’re not following her already, you should be!

2. Ahh, I can’t wait for the Hunger Games movie! I don’t know if I’m going to like all the actors in their roles, but I want to see if the world they create is the same I saw in my head as I read the book.

3. I need to stay away from all libraries for a while. I keep coming home with piles of amazing books—my TBR list is way too long!

4. I have the hardest time coming up with last names for my characters. First names are fairly easy, but coming up with something more interesting than “Smith” or “Brown” gives me headache, for some reason. Does anyone else have this problem?

5. We finally got a real cold front! So for a few days, we’re going to have a high in the sixties, and I can finally wear some of my favorite sweaters! So excited.

Happy Friday, everyone! Anyone have any fun weekend plans?

Why I'm Not Doing NaNo

2011-11-02T00:01:00.000-04:00

I’m not doing NaNo this year, because it just didn’t work out with my schedule. But for all of you doing it, I’m rooting for you!

To be honest, I don’t think I would be the best NaNo candidate. When I’m writing a first draft, I tend to make word count goals for myself. Every day, I want to write 3,000 words. But a lot of times, this doesn’t happen. I just can’t write that quickly some days. Sometimes the inspiration doesn’t come, and I need to take a break—go for a walk, catch up with friends and family, something. If I’m working on a difficult scene, it’s hard for me to turn my inner editor off, and often, I don’t want to. I want to focus on my words and get down exactly what I mean to say, while I still have the inspiration to say it.

I understand the concept of turning your inner editor off, especially if you have trouble completing a first draft or just want to get it over with. Most, if not all, problems can be fixed with revisions. I guess my writing style is just different.

Overall, it usually takes me about three months to write a first draft. Which is not as impressive, but it works for me.

Any of you doing NaNo? Let me know so I can cheer you on!

Pajamas and Horror Movies

2011-10-31T00:01:00.001-04:00

Happy Halloween, everyone! Here are five things that make me happy about this awesome holiday:

1. Candy. Definitely number one. Especially the candy I get half-off at the store the next day.

2. Costumes. I don’t tend to dress up (in college, I mainly viewed Halloween as an excuse to wear pajamas to class and tell people “I’m asleep” when they asked what I was dressed as), but I love seeing the things people come up with. Literary costumes are the best.

3. Horror movies. I occasionally like being scared out of my wits, I guess. The scariest movies to me are the ones where humans are the villains, because I can more easily convince myself that it could happen to me. Have you seen The Strangers? DON’T.

4. The whole concept of trick-or-treat. Whoever came up with the idea that you can just go to someone’s house and demand candy is genius.

5. The fact that it’s the start of the whole holiday season. My season lasts from Halloween until the first week of January, and it’s the best time of year. Filled with baking and holiday shopping and pumpkin spice lattes and birthdays and all good things.

Have a great holiday, everyone!

A/N: I'm over at E.R. King's awesome Get Busy Writing blog talking about my blog process and why I want to be Anne Shirley today! CLICK HERE to see it!

Five Random Thoughts on a Friday

2011-10-28T00:01:00.000-04:00

1. I’ve become obsessed with The Big Bang Theory. Smart comedy with unapologetic nerds? Perfection. I may even have a crush on Sheldon. :)

2. Is it just me, or is Vampire Diaries getting better and better? Team Damon FTW!

3. Has anyone else read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern? It was not at all what I was expecting, but it enthralled me. It’s such a mysterious, captivating read.

4. I keep wishing they would make Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins into a movie. I think Darren Criss would make an awesome Etienne if he were British—thoughts?

5. I decided to make red velvet cupcakes this week, and though they turned out amazing, it took me two hours to make 24 of them. Mainly because the red food dye freaked me out and I was being so careful to try not to get it everywhere. Yeah. I might stick to pumpkin bread from now on.

Happy weekend, everyone! Anyone have any fun weekend plans?

Back from New England

2011-10-26T00:39:00.001-04:00

Hi, everyone! Sorry it’s been such a long blog break. I was chasing fall in New England towns and visiting friends in New York. And now I’m back in Texas, where it’s flirting with 90 degrees and has been overtaken by mosquitoes (seriously, you can’t go outside without performing some version of an awkward chicken dance trying to get the bugs off of you). So I’m staying inside and visiting all of your blogs to see how you’re doing! Anything new going on? Anyone have any awesome Halloween costume ideas? I’m drawing a blank.

For now, I’ll leave you with some photos of the fall color and small towns I found. Happy Wednesday!

New Orleans and The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

2011-10-12T00:01:00.000-04:00

Since I didn't do happy things on Monday, I thought I'd do them today. So here goes:

1. New Orleans! I went there this weekend for another wedding—a beautiful outdoor ceremony under an enormous oak tree with chandeliers hanging from the branches. Just breathtaking. And I got to explore the city a bit (and eat beignets!):

2. Pottery Barn catalogues! I got the holiday one, and oh my goodness, can my apartment look like that for Christmas? Okay, thanks. :)

3. Blue Bell ice cream. I’ve got a half gallon of Mint Chocolate Chip, and boy, is it making me happy. (For those who don’t know, Blue Bell is a Texas ice cream, and it’s AMAZING).

4. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin. I just started this one, and I could only put it down last night because I was exhausted. I may have to blow off some writing today and finish it.

5. Postcards. I tend to buy postcards wherever I go and just keep a pile of them. Looking through them always makes me nostalgic for trips I’ve been on.

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Anything making you happy this week? I'll be gone for the blog for a bit (yay for a fall vacation!) but I'll be back by the end of the month. Happy writing!

Kick A** 2011 Debut Author Spotlight: Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

2011-10-10T11:10:00.003-04:00

Okay, so first off, I know Laini Taylor is not a 2011 debut author. She’s written several books (CLICK HERE to see her website). But I loved this book so much, and it was the first one of hers that I had read, so it’s sort of like a debut, right? Right.

Let me just say, I’m not a big fan of angel books. I’ve just never really gotten the appeal. But this one was far from a typical angel book. It’s a world—one that appears to be our world—where angels and monsters fight for reasons they can no longer remember. Karou, a human taken in by the monsters, collects teeth for them and tries to live as normal a life as she can. When she begins feeling an undeniable attraction to a murderous angel, though, all bets are off.

I haven’t fallen so completely into a world like this since Hogwarts and The Hunger Games world. All the details are richly imagined, and Karou’s personality and story hooked me right from the beginning. Plus, with settings from Prague to Morocco to another world entirely, this book fulfilled my wanderlust perfectly. I absolutely adored it, and I can’t wait for a sequel!

If you want to hear more people gushing about awesome books, visit Christina Lee's website for a list.

Five Random Thoughts on a Friday

2011-10-07T00:01:00.000-04:00

1. I’m loving the new show Hart of Dixie. Summer from The OC, Jason Street from Friday Night Lights, and a soundtrack of country music? I’m sold.

2. I adore when I start a book and know that I’m going to love it after only a few pages. This happened when I started reading Mary E. Pearson’s The Adoration of Jenna Fox this week. The story just wouldn’t let me go—I couldn’t put it down at all.

3. So sad about Steve Jobs. He was such a visionary, and much too young. Have you seen his Stanford commencement address from 2005? If not, CLICK HERE. It’s more than worth your time, I promise.

4. On Monday, I’ll be participating in Christina Lee’s Kick A** Debut Author Spotlight. With an author who is not a debut author. But is still awesome. I know you’re excited!

5. I’ve bought a spiced pumpkin candle so that even if it doesn’t feel like fall outside, at least it can smell like it in my apartment! Baby steps.

Happy weekend, everyone! Anyone have any fun weekend plans?

Writing a Fall Book

2011-10-05T04:00:00.000-04:00

Yay for October! It’s my second favorite month (after December), mainly because it signals the start of fall. The (slightly) cooler weather and abundance of pumpkins everywhere has me thinking about the settings of my stories.

The WiP that I have been working on is firmly a summer book. Summer road trip, actually. That critical summer between high school and college. It’s filled with sunshine and the beach and heat and laughter. But I’m transitioning back to an old WiP, one that needs significant revisions. And it’s very much a fall book. A little darker, a little colder. A world on the edge, falling into a dark winter.

I’m loving it. I love imagining the leaves changing color, falling from the trees. The cool, crisp air swirling past my characters, raising shivers on their skin. The smell and sound of a crackling fire. As I watch my own world shift into fall, I feel like I’m adding more sensory description to my story, drawing from everything I observe. It’s just the perfect time to working on this WiP.

Do the seasons affect your writing? Do you have a favorite writing season?

Exploring Chicago and Lola

2011-10-03T00:28:00.003-04:00

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. Chicago! I went there this weekend for a wedding, and it was such a cool city. I have to go back and explore more of it.

2. This Marilyn Monroe statue in Chicago. Pretty awesome.

3. The waves on Lake Michigan. They were going crazy this weekend, washing way up onto the shore, and I felt like I was at the ocean.

4. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins. Oh my goodness, so much love for this book. You MUST read it.

5. Waking up to sunshine filling the room never fails to make me happy in the morning. Even before I’ve had my coffee.

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

Five Random Thoughts on a Friday

2011-09-30T00:01:00.000-04:00

1. I’m currently fighting off a shiny new idea. I need to be rehabbing an old WiP that I think has promise. But I can’t help compiling playlists and plotting out this new idea. Hey, at least I’m being productive, right?

2. One of the big reasons I can’t resist the siren call of this shiny new idea? It’s set here:

How can I resist that?

3. I may or may not have made chocolate chip brownies and had a Gilmore Girls marathon last night. And it may or may not have been awesome.

4. I finally got my copy of Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins! I’m waiting until I have three hours of uninterrupted time, because I know I’m not going to want to put it down.

5. This is the first year that I’ve used a planner consistently all the way through. I used to get tired of planners after a few months. Now I’m so scatter-brained that I’m completely dependent on it. Must be getting older. :)

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

Holiday Spirit and Building Tension

2011-09-28T00:09:00.000-04:00

I’ve already started holiday season. I couldn’t help it. I made hot chocolate and watched a Christmas episode of Friends, and I’m in the spirit for snow (well, there won’t be snow here, but you know, go with me on this) and gift-giving and winter decorations everywhere.

I’ve always loved the holidays. But my favorite day isn’t Christmas—it’s Christmas Eve. The night before the big day. It’s all about the delicious anticipation for me. I remember when I was younger staring out the window Christmas Eve night waiting for Santa to come, falling asleep listening for hoofbeats on the roof. Those are my favorite memories.

I thought about this a lot while I was writing my current WiP. My favorite books are those that build the tension throughout the story. For example, since I’m a sucker for a good romance, I love the books that show the two characters slowly becoming attracted to each other. Hand grazes, lingering eye contact, awkward moments. The building of all that tension makes the payoff—when they finally get together—that much sweeter. In a thriller, I want the mystery to build, the danger to become more threatening. I want the whole book to be leading to that climactic scene.

How do you build the tension in your story? Is anyone else ready for the holiday season?

Pea Coats and Productive Days

2011-09-26T00:11:00.000-04:00

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. A weekend of college football and reading good books. Can’t beat that.

2. Pea coats. And oversized, fluffy, comfy sweaters. And any fall apparel, really.

3. TED.com. There are so many amazing, inspiring talks on there—I never fail to find something interesting.

4. Leisurely grocery shopping. I love spending an hour in the store, planning meals (even though I never cook).

5. Days when I wake up and just know it’s going to be a productive day.

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

Five Random Thoughts on a Friday

2011-09-23T09:55:00.002-04:00

1. I’m reading The Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters by Natalie Standiford, and I can’t recommend it enough. I love the girls’ quirky but real voices, and the writing has me captivated.

2. Yay for the third season of The Vampire Diaries! I’m loving it so far. Team Damon FTW!

3. Also, my love of Vampire Diaries is getting me hooked on The Secret Circle. I’m okay with this.

4. Got woken up this morning by a fire alarm test. I did one of those classic “jump up in bed in abject terror” moves that you see on TV. Lovely.

5. I need to go shopping for clothes (it’s been a while), but I dread it. Am I the only one who finds shopping tiresome? I like having new clothes, don’t get me wrong, but the process of hunting through the racks and trying everything on wears me out. It’s silly, I know.

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

Finding Inspiration

2011-09-21T00:04:00.000-04:00

When I’m starting a new WiP, I look for inspiration pretty much everywhere. I use Pandora to hunt for new songs that weave a story in my head. I go for long walks and make sure I look at everything around me. I people-watch in coffee houses (first dates are the best to watch—so much amazing awkward tension and hope). I go to museums and movies and concerts and anything artistic that I find. I brew a mug of tea and free write. I go out with friends. I travel. I take photos of everything.

Every little bit of life can be inspiring, I’ve found, if you make sure you’re looking around. All it takes is an intriguing song lyric or a black-and-white photo on a museum wall, and all of the sudden, I have a vague whisper of an idea. There’s nothing more exciting than that.

Where do you find inspiration?

Apricot Tea and Emily DIckinson

2011-09-19T00:01:00.000-04:00

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. Apricot tea. The perfect drink for curling up at night with a good book.

2. Step Up. I have such a weakness for that movie (well, a weakness for Channing Tatum—same difference).

3. Pumpkin bread! I finally made it this weekend, and I think it turned out pretty nicely, if I do say so myself. You can find the recipe if you CLICK HERE.

4. Emily Dickinson poems. Even her darker ones make me happy. She has such an incredible way of choosing words.

5. Rain! It finally rained here this weekend, after months of drought, and it was absolutely awesome. I’ve missed rainy days more than I realized. There's no better atmosphere for writing and reading, don't you think?

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

Five Random Thoughts on a Friday

2011-09-16T04:00:00.000-04:00

1. I don’t really know how this happened, but I still haven’t seen the last Harry Potter movie. Even though I’m obsessed with Harry Potter. I have a serious problem with seeing the end of things (series finales, final books in a series). I’d rather just avoid endings altogether, thankyouverymuch.

2. Speaking of, do you think J.K. Rowling will ever write more Harry Potter books? About his kids or something? Or are you happy with the way she wrapped things up?

3. I’m so excited for this weekend! College football and the Emmys and finally finishing up my query letter—it’s going to be an awesome weekend.

4. As for the Emmys, if Friday Night Lights doesn’t win everything it’s nominated for, I’m going to be SO MAD.

5. It’s cooled down to the low 90s here, which has everyone excited. Seriously. Now if we would only get rain…

Happy weekend, everyone! Anyone have any fun weekend plans?

Getting to Know My Characters

2011-09-14T04:00:00.000-04:00

When I start planning out a new WiP (I’m a total plotter, not a pantser), I always try to get to know my characters as soon as possible. Over time, this getting to know you has become a list of questions. I cover the basics (How do you like your parents? What’s your favorite hobby? Favorite color? Current crush?). But the best way I get to know my characters is asking the questions that no one else knows the answers to. Questions about their secrets. Their dreams. Their fears. Their worst memory.

I don’t always reveal the answers in my writing. Some of that information just isn’t relevant to the plot. But I know it, and that helps me know my characters better. I can envision how they’ll react in certain situations and how they relate to other characters.

What questions do you ask your characters?

Horsehoes and Key Lime Gelato

2011-09-12T10:37:00.002-04:00

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. Browsing through the bookshelves at a store and finding that one of my fave authors has written a new book. This doesn’t happen all that often, since the blogosphere is great at keeping me informed about new books, but when it does happen, it’s so very exciting.

2. Horseshoes. I played a few games of it in Vail, and though I’m awful at it (throwing a heavy metal horsehoe at something just does not come naturally to me), it is ridiculously fun.

3. Ciao Bella gelato. I pretty much love all of the flavors, but right now, I’m savoring Key Lime Graham. Tart and light and just perfect.

4. Romantic comedies. I’m on a romantic comedy movie kick these days. Even if it feels like the plot’s been recycled a million times, I love watching two unlikely people have a happy ever after.

5. Pumpkin bread. I’m going to make some this week, people. It’s happening.

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

Five Random Thoughts on a Friday

2011-09-09T09:41:00.001-04:00

1. I’ve been taking my time reading Forever by Maggie Stiefvater. I’m such a big fan of her beautiful, lush writing that I don’t want this book to end!

2. I watched Thor for the first time recently, and I loved it. Just the right amount of humor. And Chris Hemsworth shirtless. :)

3. I bought Tiramisu coffee beans the other day, and I can’t wait to try it. Anything sweet, I’m going to be a fan of.

4. How is it that I still laugh insanely at every Friends episode, even though I’ve seen them all? Those jokes never get old for me.

5. Yay for college football finally starting! Thank goodness I don’t have a TV or I would be watching every game. Instead, I have to make family members and friends invite me over to steal their TVs. It works out well.

Happy weekend, everyone! Anyone have any fun weekend plans?

Mountain Sunrise and Pumpkin Spice Lattes

2011-09-07T00:01:00.000-04:00

Since I missed posting on Monday, I thought I would post happy things today. So here’s what makes me happy, even on a Wednesday:

1. NOT wildfires. They’ve been devastating central Texas, helped by winds from Tropical Storm Lee and the excessive drought that the entire state is in. So many people have lost their homes and their land. My thoughts and prayers are with them right now.

2. The fact that this weekend, I was here:

I was in Vail, Colorado for the holiday, and I really thought I might never leave. It was 60 degrees there, people! And gorgeous!

3. Waking myself up early so I could come out on our hotel balcony and watch the sun rise over the mountains. There has never been anything as peaceful as that.

4. Pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks! They didn’t officially have them on the menu in Vail, but when I asked, they made me one, and oh my goodness, that is heaven in a cup.

5. When I hear a new song and I know within thirty seconds that it’s going to be my new favorite. The one I’ll play on repeat all week.

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

Five Random Thoughts on a Friday

2011-09-02T04:00:00.000-04:00

1. It’s been a while since I’ve been to a concert. And I miss it. I’m not talking about big arena concerts—I’m talking about little concert halls that host indie bands, where you and the perfectly-sized crowd are right next to the stage, responding to the music. No pyrotechnics, no costume changes. Just music. I love that.

2. You guys! It’s September. Which means it’s almost October. Almost fall! I know I talk about fall way too much, but I just can’t wait. Pumpkin bread and apple cider time is coming, everyone.

3. I’ve become dependent on my afternoon cup of coffee. Without it, I’m so very tempted to take a nap and ignore work for a few hours. With it, I become an insanely hyper version of myself, and it’s amazing how much work I can get done.

4. I’m currently keeping up with only two shows, which has got to be a record for me. True Blood and Awkward. Kind of an awesome combination. Once fall shows start, though, that number is going to go way up.

5. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins is coming out this month! Cannot wait. Anna and the French Kiss is one my favorite books ever, and I know I’m going to love this new one!

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

Why I Actually Miss Revisions

2011-08-31T04:00:00.000-04:00

There are so many little things to be done after revisions are over. Deciding on a title (still haven’t done that yet—can’t find one that fits. Or makes any sort of sense, actually). Figuring out if I want chapter titles. Making sure everything’s spellchecked within an inch of its life and formatted perfectly.

And then, of course, writing the dreaded query letter. Boiling down that long, twisty plot into a paragraph of pithy sentences designed to intrigue and entice. Finding comparison titles. Deciding on a list of agents to send the query to.

There are these details to take care of, even though I thought I was done.

I’m starting to miss revisions.

Oh, well. Soon. Soon I will send it out there. And then I will get to experience all the awful nervous anxiety of waiting. Awesome. :)

Tailgating and Bright Umbrellas

2011-08-29T04:00:00.000-04:00

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. Being done with my WiP! Well, almost. I have to add some finishing touches. And title it. But otherwise, I’m done! Querying comes soon…

2. Tailgating! Definitely the best part of the football experience. I can’t wait until it’s not boiling hot here and I can go hang out in stadium parking lots. Which sounds weird, but is really a whole lot of fun.

3. Finishing up all the laundry I can. For some reason, this never fails to make me very happy.

4. The movie (and book) Something Borrowed. Because I cannot resist romantic comedies.

5. Cute, bright umbrellas that make rainy days just a bit more fun. We haven’t had rain here in forever, and I miss it so much!

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

Five Random Thoughts on a Friday

2011-08-19T04:00:00.000-04:00

1. Putting the final touches on the Birdie WiP this week. So. Very. Close.

2. And then it’s query time. Writing a query freaks me out, so I’m trying not to think about that until I absolutely have to. I also have to pick a title…minor details.

3. I’ve been recommending the movie The Romantics to everyone this week. Seven college friends reunite for a wedding, where all sorts of secrets come out. It was one of those movies I didn’t really expect to like, but it’s a beautifully shot and intellectual film.

4. It’s been crazy hot here. My air conditioning is working overtime. And there may be a ton of ice cream in the freezer now.

5. I’m reading Shine by Lauren Myracle, and I can’t get enough of it. The setting is the rural South, a small town of gossiping churchwomen and meth dealers, and I’ve never read anything quite like it. I highly recommend it.

Happy weekend, everyone! Anyone have any fun weekend plans?

Nothing. And a Music Video.

2011-08-17T04:00:00.000-04:00

Well, I’ve got nothing. I tried to think of a writing topic for today’s post. But I’m pretty much fried—deep into final revisions of the Birdie WiP. All I can think about is deleting the forms of “to be” as often as possible and watching out for clichés and making sure Birdie’s voice is as compelling and dynamic as it can be.

So, instead, I’m directing you all to a song I can’t get out of my head: The Civil Wars “Poison & Wine." I don’t know if I’ve ever heard a more beautiful duet: it’s like their voices were made to complement each other. Plus, the guy looks like Johnny Depp. So there's that.

Anyone else as fried as I am these days? Where are you in the writing process?

Tourist Traps and a Rodeo (of course)

2011-08-15T04:00:00.000-04:00

Five of my favorite tourists traps on my road trip:

1. The Indian Kachina statue in Gallup, New Mexico. Such a sweet welcome statue—you can see it very well from the road.

2. The Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona. Who wouldn't want to stay in a wigwam? They were booked, unfortunately.

3. The jackrabbit at the Jackrabbit Trading Post in the middle of nowhere, Arizona. I have no idea.

4. Buffalo Bill’s grave outside of Denver, Colorado. They have a whole museum about him, too. And an awesome view.

5. Cheyenne Frontier Days, a large outdoor rodeo. Not so much a tourist trap—it’s actually super awesome (you know how much I love rodeos). Here’s a bronc rider I saw.

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

Five Random Thoughts on a Friday

2011-08-12T04:00:00.000-04:00

1. In the middle of the epic road trip I took last month, I went to a wedding of two friends of mine in Kennebunkport, Maine. One of the most romantic, beautiful settings for a wedding I have ever seen (and the wedding was incredibly meaningful, of course). This is a view from the stone chapel where the ceremony took place:

2. I discovered two artists I love this week: Meiko and Ellie Goulding. Meiko has these beautifully lyrical, honest songs that I can’t get enough of. And Ellie Goulding has these interesting, fun songs that are perfect for getting ready for a night out.

3. Have you seen Awkward on MTV? I hadn’t heard of it until recently, but I caught up on it (four episodes have come out so far), and it’s hilarious. A good take on what it’s like to be a highschooler these days. So watching it is kind of like research for a YA writer, right?

4. I’m so ready for summer to be over. I actually don’t mind the heat and humidity (which has reached crazy levels down here), but fall is my favorite season. I want apple cider and pumpkin pie and crisp weather that makes me bundle up in my comfiest sweaters.

5. I’ve been growing more interested in the mystery and biography sections of the bookstore lately, as opposed to my usual young adult haunt. I’ve read young adult almost exclusively for a year, but I’m starting to crave something different. If anyone has any suggestions, I’d love to hear them!

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

Thank Goodness for Other People's Problems

2011-08-10T04:00:00.000-04:00

Sometimes the best way for me to get the distance I need to critique my work is to critique someone else’s. I’m so much more objective when I look over someone else’s story: able to see characters who need a bit more fleshing out, plot holes, awkward phrasing, everything.

With my own work, I’m so close to it that it’s hard for me to see the details. And the more I revise, the more blind I am to my writing: I’ll have read the same paragraph so many times that I skim over it and miss the fact that my character said something that doesn’t fit with her personality, etc.

But after taking the time to critique someone else’s work, I come back to my own with fresh eyes. I know what problems to look for. What things will jump out at a reader. I read my work more closely and start to see the areas that need work much more clearly.

Does being a critical reader help you critique your own work? Any tips for how to see the problems I otherwise wouldn’t see?

New Mexico sunsets and Snow!

2011-08-08T04:00:00.000-04:00

Five things that made me happy on my road trip:

1. New Mexico sunsets. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that much color in a sunset (the picture doesn't do it justice).

2. The Grand Canyon. Of course.

3. Arches National Park. Strangest, coolest phenomena ever.

4. Monument Valley. Seriously, Utah, what is up with your crazy landscapes? They’re amazing.

5. Snowy Range in Wyoming. How could I not love playing in the snow in July?

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

I'm back!

2011-08-05T04:00:00.000-04:00

I’m finally back home! I went on a two-week road trip around the Southwest and saw some of the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen. I can understand now why so many people rave about the American West! I’ll be sharing lots of pictures in the next few weeks (I have about a hundred of the Grand Canyon alone).

On the writing front, I’m putting the finishing touches on my Birdie WiP (which, yes, still needs a title), and then I’m hoping to query it out by the end of this month. I’m so excited to finally be done with these revisions!

What’s going on in your lives? I’m going to be spending the weekend getting around to all of your blogs—I’ve missed hearing how everyone’s doing! Any fun weekend plans?

For now, I’ll leave you with am picture of the Grand Canyon. Because I just have so many.

Going on Hiatus

2011-07-01T04:00:00.000-04:00

I’m taking a blogging hiatus for the month of July. It’s going to be a month of revisions and travel (yay!), and so I’m not going to be posting. I am hoping to be a good blog visitor, though!

I hope everyone has a wonderful month! See you in August.

Revision Obsession

2011-06-29T04:00:00.001-04:00

Well, it’s official: I’m so obsessed with revisions right now that I’m actually dreaming about them. I woke up from a nightmare to realize that I had been reading it like a manuscript. I can’t really describe it, but as people were dying (it was a pretty bad nightmare), part of me was thinking that the scenes were out of order: I should have introduced this character sooner. I should have had this one batch of people die before another batch. It was seriously strange.

I think about revisions while I run, while I make dinner, while I get ready in the morning. All the time, really. I can go whole days trying to figure out how to fix one problematic scene. I’ve also become a terrible listener: as I talk to people, half of me is still mulling over what I’ve been working on that day.

I suppose it’s a good thing. I’m so close to the end of these revisions. The manuscript is almost there. But it’s just consuming me, and it’s exhausting.

Has this ever happened to you? Should I just give in and let revisions take over my life until they’re done? Any way I can at least stop dreaming about revisions?

Pelicans and Random Brownies

2011-06-27T04:00:00.000-04:00

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. Pelicans. Strangest looking creatures ever. This one was just hanging out with people in St. James’ Park in London.

2. Gardenias. They just have the most wonderful scent—strong and just a touch exotic and sweet.

3. Bookmarks. I have a pile of them in my desk, because I tend to lose them. But somehow it makes me feel so much more legit when I have a nice bookmark in a book. Strange? Probably.

4. Making random brownies. Yesterday I had to do a ton of revising, so I made a batch of brownies as a reward. Nearly ate my weight in them—they were so good! And they made revising much yummier.

5. When browsing through library bookshelves leads you to an amazing book you never thought you’d enjoy. This is why I bring home stacks of books from the library, even though I’m not as excited about some of them. You never know.

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

Five Random Thoughts on a Friday

2011-06-24T03:51:00.000-04:00

1. I’ve been dreaming of Paris. Of macaroons and early morning strolls through the Tuilleries and nights in a dimly lit café.

2. A lot of this dreaming is due to the fact that I went to see Midnight in Paris. Go see it, for the Parisian scenery if for nothing else! It’s breathtaking.

3. Revisions are making me a hermit this week. I’m so close, though—I’m hoping to be done by the end of this month (except for a few small additions I’ll make later). I can ignore my friends and family for another week, can’t I?

4. Per Kristin Rae’s suggestion, I’ve started watching the miniseries Lost in Austen. A modern London woman gets sucked into the Pride and Prejudice story and chaos (of course) ensues. I’m hearting it so much.

5. I’ve just finished Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly, and I absolutely loved it. It’s such a powerful story, with a protagonist who’s so real and amazing that you’ll be thinking about her for a long time after you finish the book.

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

Killing the Darlings

2011-06-22T04:00:00.000-04:00

I’ve been killing a lot of darlings this week: cutting scenes that I love from my WiP. I think it’s the worst part of editing. You write this really hilarious or beautiful or meaningful scene, and then as you revise, you realize it doesn’t fit anymore. It disrupts the flow of the novel, or it doesn’t stay true to the characters, and it just has to go.

I try to console myself by saving these scenes and telling myself I will put them, somehow, in the next WiP, but it’s still difficult. And I know I’ll forget all about that darling scene by the time I move on to the next novel (where it wouldn’t fit anyway). So I’m discarding these wonderful pieces of the novel, and I’ll never get to use them again.

It’s so much better for my WiP that I’m cutting these scenes. I know that. I have to keep my eye on the bigger picture and make sure every bit of the novel fits and is necessary. Eventually, it will all work out.

Have you ever had to kill a darling? How do you cope with the loss?

Eclairs and Movie Trailers

2011-06-20T04:00:00.000-04:00

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. Wither by Lauren DeStefano. She creates such a fascinating world with beautiful descriptive writing. A book to savor.

2, Eclairs. Especially very chocolatey ones. They're just the perfect dessert, and they make me feel all French and sophisticated.

3. When my TBR pile is overflowing. It’s not such a bad problem to have, really.

4. The ballet! Taming of the Shrew was hilarious and beautiful. I might have to subscribe to next season.

5. Movie trailers. For some reason, I think I could watch these for hours. Even though I’ll probably see maybe a couple of movies in the theater this year.

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

Five Random Thoughts on a Friday

2011-06-17T04:00:00.000-04:00

1. I saw this closed-down store on one of my random Texas road trips, and I don’t know if I’ve ever been more amused/horrified. Double Shot Liquor and Guns drive thru. Only in Texas…

2. My revisions have been going remarkably well this week. Mostly due, if I’m honest, to my Colbie Caillat Pandora playlist. It makes me happy and content to sit in front of my laptop for hours at a time. How’s your writing progress going?

3. I’m starting to miss New England autumn as the Texas summer heats up. I miss pumpkin spice lattes and comfy scarves and that little touch of cool in the air. But of course, once winter comes, I’ll be missing the summer heat. Vicious cycle.

4. I’m starting to become more interested in historical young adult. Jennifer Donnelly’s Revolution got me started off, and I just read Y.S. Lee’s The Agency: A Spy in the House, which is fabulous. A secret female spy agency in Victorian England? LOVE.

5. I get to go to the ballet this weekend! The Houston Ballet is doing a production of The Taming of the Shrew, and I can’t wait. I know I’ll be comparing it to the movie 10 Things I Hate About You as I watch. :)

Happy weekend, everyone! Anyone have any fun weekend plans?

Revising the First Page

2011-06-15T04:00:00.000-04:00

I’ve focused a lot recently on the first page of my novel as I revise. Trying to figure out what I’ve revealed about my main character and the conflict.

I’ve realized as I’ve read that I am drawn to the books that either introduce me to a strong, compelling protagonist or introduce me to a gripping plot. When I’m browsing books in a bookstore, I read that first page, and if it doesn’t hook me, I’m probably leaving that book on the shelf.

So I’m taking every sentence and trying to make sure it reveals something important. Something that will keep the reader engaged. I’m filling it with my MC’s voice and hinting at the initial conflict, but it isn’t easy. I want the writing to feel natural, not forced, not overanalyzed. It’s a very fine line to walk.

How important is that first page to you? What is your approach to revising it?

Possession and Wedge Heels

2011-06-13T04:00:00.000-04:00

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. Possession by Elana Johnson!!! Oh my goodness, how I love this book. I can’t decide if I’m Team Zenn or Team Jag, but I’m definitely Team Vi! This book is a must-read: one of those thrill-a-minute, can’t-put-down books with absolutely gorgeous writing.

2. Nights when I’m fried from doing so much writing. Because even though I’m exhausted, I’m so very pleased with myself.

3. The fact that I’m currently keeping up my French knowledge by reading the Harry Potter books in French. Best. Idea. Ever.

4. Wedge heels. They really are the best invention ever—so much more comfortable than regular heels, and so adorable!

5. Olive oil. I use it in almost every meal I make, it seems like. It’s my secret cooking weapon or something.

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

Five Random Thoughts on a Friday

2011-06-10T09:43:00.003-04:00

1. I took a walk around a park here in the city this week, and it’s just gorgeous! I want to spend every pretty day out there, writing or picnicking or just people-watching. If only it weren't so crazy hot.

2. Revising by the pool might be the least painful way to do revisions I’ve ever found. I love taking a stack of papers out there (I print my manuscript out to revise it) and getting lost in the words. It’s sort of like being on vacation…only not.

3. Revisions continue to eat my life, but I get to go have dinner with Jen tonight! I must catch up with all my YA book gossip. :)

4. I’m loving the last season of Friday Night Lights! I just don’t want it to end. I always hate series finales.

5. I want to read more poetry. There’s something so creative and beautiful about a good poem, and I think I need that in my life. Does anyone have a favorite poet I absolutely must read?

Happy weekend, everyone! Anyone have any fun weekend plans?

I'm Totally Fangirling Out Over Here

2011-06-08T09:57:00.002-04:00

You guys! Possession by Elana Johnson is finally out!!! I'm so excited!

Alright, I'm off to buy my copy. Hope everyone's having a great week!

Random Road Trips and Literally Smelling the Roses

2011-06-06T09:22:00.002-04:00

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. Spur-of-the-moment road trips. I went to a state park this weekend in Central Texas and found an old brewery in ruins: random, but awesome.

2. When you recommend one of your favorite books to somebody, and they end up loving it. I can’t get enough of connecting my favorite people with my favorite books. I think my dream job would be literary matchmaker.

3. Waking up and feeling like having a productive day. I do my best writing in the morning, and if I wake up energized to get to it, it’s that much better.

4. Also, there are some morning where I’m actually excited to go for a run, as opposed to the mornings where I have to drag myself out the door.

5. Taking a couple of minutes in the grocery store to look at and smell all of the fresh flowers. I never buy any, but I like to appreciate them.

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

Five Random Thoughts on a Friday

2011-06-03T09:42:00.001-04:00

1. I’ve become so involved in revisions that I’m even staying up late to keep working, which rarely happens. Usually, by nine o’clock, I can’t write anymore, but I’ve become so productive from nine to midnight now. It’s a little bit scary.

2. Is there anything better than a big mug of coffee in the morning? Well, yes, probably, but it sure is awesome.

3. I’m hoping to have a cultural month this June. I want to go to art galleries, the ballet, the theater, and museums. There are so many amazing things to do in Houston, and it always helps my creativity when I see other art forms.

4. It got to 100 degrees yesterday. I might have forgotten the power of this whole Houston summer thing…

5. On the bright side, I’m transitioning into summer food, and I’m loving it. Tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella, spinach salads, tons of berries—basically, anything I don’t have to cook.

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

Sporadic Revisions

2011-06-01T04:04:00.000-04:00

I’m a very sporadic cleaner. I find it way more fun to run around the apartment, finding one job after another. For instance, I’ll put some shoes I’ve left out in the living room in my closet, and then, instead of continuing to clean the clutter of the living room, I’ll clean my closet. I really do go around in circles as I clean, just picking out what needs to be done.

I can be the same with revising. After that first draft is written, with all of its inconsistencies and plot problems, I’m tempted to read through it, fixing each little issue as I come to it, without looking at the bigger issues.

I’m trying not to do that this time. This time, I’ve focused on the bigger issues, and now I’m taking the book chapter by chapter, focusing on one issue at a time. It’s making the process much more streamlined, and I know the end result will be a clean, fully revised manuscript.

Do you do revisions piecemeal, or do you try to focus on the bigger issues first?

Pool Lounging and Bowler Hats

2011-05-30T04:00:00.001-04:00

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. Lying out by the pool. There was a lot of that this weekend. And it was glorious.

2. Travel guides. I tend to read them practically cover to cover before I go on a trip.

3. Yoga. Well, the idea of yoga. I’m always awful at it because I have terrible balance, so I end up falling on the floor and laughing. Which is its own kind of fun.

4. Death by Chocolate. It’s this mousse brownie thing with hot fudge sauce at my favorite restaurant, Carrabba’s, and you’ve never tasted anything so sinfully good in your life.

5. Random British parades. I saw a few of them when I went to England a few weeks ago. I want those hats!

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

Five Random Thoughts on a Friday

2011-05-27T10:05:00.001-04:00

1. Oh my goodness, you guys. I finally read Divergent by Veronica Roth, and I love it! I love the world she’s created, I love the tension and the action, and most of all (of course), I love Four. You have to read it!

2. Getting back into writing after a vacation is harder than I thought. I keep finding myself daydreaming or wishing I could go outside for a walk. Sigh. Must keep working.

3. I did manage to get addicted to Game of Thrones on HBO, though. I haven’t read the books, but I’m loving these crazy characters and beautiful landscapes, and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

4. I keep forgetting it’s only May and that summer hasn’t officially begun. It’s already in the 90’s here every day, and I’m starting to remember what a Texas summer is like—thank goodness for air conditioning and pools!

5. Also making summer more bearable is the fact that the new (and last!) Harry Potter movie is coming soon! Ahh, I’m so excited! Can’t wait to see how they show all that action from the last half of the last book. It’s going to be epic, I know it.

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

Why I Love Watching First Dates

2011-05-25T04:01:00.000-04:00

I don’t know if there’s anything more entertaining to watch than a first date. Especially a really awkward first date (and, let’s be honest, most of them are). At the coffee house I tend to go to, I see a ton of them: girls talking quickly with big gestures, boys leaning across the table, the ever-so-crucial struggle over the bill. You can always spot a couple of people who are just getting to know each other, sizing each other up. Figuring out if they want to spend the rest of their lives with this person.

I’ve become such a better people-watcher since I’ve become a writer. Which is both good and bad. Good because I have learned so much more about relationships and human behavior and the subtle movements and expressions that define so much of daily life. I feel like my writing has become much more true to life as I describe my characters and how they react. Bad because I tend to people watch instead of paying attention to the person I’m talking to or the book I’m supposed to be writing.

First dates are definitely my favorite. Every move is so important, every word. Because the person across the table is going to notice all of those things and judge accordingly. It’s one of those moments where you’re painfully aware of everything you do, and it’s a wonderful way for a writer to observe nervousness and hope and a million other emotions all at once.

Also, side note: telling your date about the girlfriend who used to beat you up is really never a good idea. Yes, I actually saw this happen on a first date the other week. He also recited poetry to the poor girl, who had the best strained smile on her face EVER.

Fascinators and Glee Songs

2011-05-23T04:00:00.000-04:00

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. Hours of curling up on the couch and getting lost in a good new book. Sarah Dessen’s What Happened to Goodbye is the most recent one.

2. Hats and fascinators. Ever since the royal wedding, I’ve wanted one. How cool are they?

3. Bachelorette/hen parties. Best. Parties. Ever.

4. That royal blue that comes over the world sometimes at sunset.

5. When Glee covers one of my favorite songs. Darren Criss singing Keane’s “Somewhere Only We Know” made me so incredibly happy.

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

Five random thoughts about my England trip

2011-05-20T07:55:00.006-04:00

1. London was amazing. I mean, AMAZING. I’d been a few years ago and had done all the touristy things, so I was free to just wander around the streets and parks and people watch.

2. The reason for the trip was the hen party (bachelorette party) for one of my closest friends, who lives in London. We went to York, a city full of ancient and medieval history. I.E. a place tailor made for me.

3. Hen and stag parties, the British equivalent of bachelorette and bachelor parties, are apparently a super big deal. And they involve costumes, which is excellent. I don’t have any pictures, but we saw a group of girls dressed as Disney princesses, and one poor bachelor dressed as an old woman (spectacles and bonnet included).

4. The Lake District had the most amazing scenery, and tons of literary history. I saw the home of John Ruskin, a few of William Wordsworth’s homes, and Beatrix Potter’s Hilltop farm—complete with little cottontail bunnies hopping around the garden.

5. Also, what trip to London would be complete without a visit to the Globe? We saw Hamlet, which was just perfect.

All in all, I had the most amazing time. I hope everyone has a great weekend! Anyone have any fun weekend plans?

Hi again!

2011-05-18T20:28:00.002-04:00

Hey, everyone! I’m (finally) ready to come back from my blog hiatus—I’ve missed you all! I’m hoping to visit everyone’s blogs in the next few days, since I’ve been such an unsuccessful stalker this past month.

I didn’t finish my revisions yet (so close!) but I did go to England! I traipsed around London and York and the Lake District and returned with some awesome inspiration and ready to get back to work. Sometimes that break can make all the difference.

Real posts will start on Friday. For now, I’ll leave you with this picture from the Lake District. Hope everyone’s having a great day!

Surrender

2011-04-15T16:43:00.000-04:00

Alright, I concede defeat. Revisions are eating my life, and so I’m going on blog hiatus until they’re done. Hopefully next month!

I’ll still be lurking around the blogosphere, I’m hoping, so I won’t get too far behind in what’s going on in your lives. But I haven’t been so good about that lately, and I’m sorry for that.

I hope everyone has a productive month!

Moonlit Nights and Like Mandarin

2011-04-11T04:03:00.000-04:00

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. Nights where the moon is so full and bright that the whole world is illuminated.

2. Finally remembering that one item I’m supposed to get at the grocery store that I’ve forgotten the last five visits. Stupid stamps.

3. The fact that I have about twenty pens in my purse right now. Always prepared.

4. Perfect hair days. You know, when your hair falls exactly the way you want it to? Hopefully on a day you’re going out and being social.

5. The fact that my copy of Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard finally came! So many good books trying to distract me from revisions.

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

Revisions Are Eating my Life and Other Random Musings

2011-04-08T04:02:00.000-04:00

1. I’ve given myself a deadline for finishing the revisions of my current WiP: the end of this month. Which means I have to do several rounds of revisions in the next few weeks. Which may possibly kill me.

2. Because I’m mired in revisions, I haven’t been the best blogger lately. I’ll be cutting my posting down to Mondays and Fridays this month, and I’m hoping to catch up on all of your blogs soon!

3. I absolutely devoured Where She Went by Gayle Forman this week. It’s the sequel to If I Stay, which broke my heart (and actually made me cry on a public bus—super embarrassing). I love Forman’s writing style, and her characters stay with you long after you’ve finished the books. All of this to say, I highly recommend it.

4. Speaking of new books, I can’t wait for my copy of City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare to arrive! I have to find out what happens with Jace and Clary. Revisions may be put on hold while I read that one.

5. Thank goodness for coffee! I’m relying more and more on it as revisions take over my life, which I guess I should be worried about. But it’s just so nice to sit at my laptop with a mug of good coffee and mull over my manuscript. It makes me feel like a real writer, I guess. :)

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

Kings of Leon and Car Washes

2011-04-04T04:08:00.000-04:00

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. Kings of Leon! The concert this weekend was so much fun, even though it was a muggy day and people next to me decided smoking cigars in a crowd was a great idea. Lots of energetic guitar playing, and I love the lead singer’s voice.

2. Sweet tea. Really, I’d be a fan of anything with a ton of sugar in it. Perfect summer drink.

3. Lazy Sunday afternoons with family. Chatting and watching sports and reading and napping—you can’t beat that.

4. Getting my car washed. I don’t know why, but I’m always fascinated watching my car roll through the water and soap and crazy brush things. One day, I’m going to have to try one of those car washes where you stay inside the car—that has to be amazing.

5. College basketball. Come on, Butler! You can do it!

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

Lemon Ricotta Pound Cake and Other Random Thoughts

2011-04-01T04:03:00.000-04:00

1. Oh my goodness, you guys. I made a lemon ricotta pound cake this week, and it may be the best thing ever (it’s not my recipe, so I can say that and not be bragging, right?). CLICK HERE to see the recipe (I substituted lemon zest for orange because I’m such a lemon fanatic).

2. The Final Four (college basketball, for those who don’t know) is coming to Houston this weekend. Just in case you care, I’m rooting for Butler to win it all.

3. Because of the Final Four, Kings of Leon is giving a free concert in a park downtown this weekend, and I am so there. I don’t know much about Kings of Leon, but I like the two songs of theirs I’ve heard. And hey, it’s free. And outside. Perfection.

4. I watched the Keira Knightley Pride & Prejudice movie last weekend and totally remembered why I love it so much. So much emotion and passion and beautiful cinematography! I bought the soundtrack a long time ago, and I’ve been listening to it this week as I write, trying to funnel that same passion into my work. Plus, the music is just gorgeous.

5. Do you ever meet people in real life with your character’s name? It’s so disorienting!

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

Why Reading's Stressing Me Out

2011-03-30T04:01:00.000-04:00

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

2011-03-28T04:01:00.000-04:00

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

2011-03-25T09:44:00.000-04:00

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

2011-03-23T04:00:00.000-04:00

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

2011-03-21T04:03:00.000-04:00

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

2011-03-18T04:00:00.000-04:00

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

2011-03-16T04:04:00.000-04:00

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

2011-03-14T04:04:00.000-04:00

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

2011-03-11T04:03:00.000-05:00

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

2011-03-09T04:06:00.000-05:00

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

2011-03-07T04:00:00.000-05:00

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

2011-03-04T09:07:00.000-05:00

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

2011-03-02T03:50:00.000-05:00

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?

Deep Fried Cheesecake and Christmas Music

2011-02-28T03:26:00.000-05:00

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. The rodeo cookoff I went to on Saturday. Amazing barbeque, miles of carnival rides, and deep fried cheesecake (yes, really). SOOO much fun.

2. The Oscars! Did anyone else love Jennifer Lawrence’s whole look? And Cate Blanchett’s quirky dress looked stunning to me.

3. Chocolate chips. Perfect in cookies and brownies and by the handful all on their own.

4. Christmas music. Yep, I’ve already started listening to it again. What can I say, it makes me happy!

5. Everyone's book recommendations from Friday. Thank you all so much! I have some great new books to check out.

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

Five Random Thoughts on a Friday

2011-02-25T03:55:00.000-05:00

1. Spring is here! It’s in the 70s and gorgeous outside, which of course means I want to be out there and not inside writing.

2. How is it that I can love pretty much every song by Joshua Radin? He’s just perfect for weekend mornings in pajamas with big cups of coffee.

3. I’m in a bit of a reading slump. Nothing is really holding my attention or tempting me these days. Anyone have a book I absolutely need to read?

4. If I had one superpower, I would definitely choose the power to fly. I mean, you get to travel anywhere you want for free, and what could be better than that feeling of soaring through the air?

5. Is anyone else crazy excited about the movie Little Red Riding Hood coming out? It looks beautiful and fun and perfect for a new guilty pleasure.

Happy weekend, everyone! Anyone have any fun plans?

The Journey

2011-02-23T04:08:00.000-05:00

One of the things I know I need to revise in the Birdie WiP is to focus more on the journey. My characters, just out of high school, go on a road trip around the country. I’ve written a lot about the different points they stop at, but I don’t spend all that much time in the car with them. I don’t write about the music they listen to, the landscape out the window, the ways they pass the time. And in a book that basically espouses the idea that it’s about the journey, not the destination, this is unacceptable.

It got me thinking about writing as a whole. We all focus, of course, on getting published. On getting that book on the shelf. We want to be able to tell people that we’re authors, that we have a second book coming out soon, etc. But there’s something so valuable about the journey, too.

Right now, I write for myself. I write because I have to. Because it’s something akin to a basic need. I can’t imagine a life without writing. So I carve these stories out of my imagination and pour my soul into them because it’s my calling. I take the time to perfect my writing, revising it again and again until it’s something I can be proud of.

Maybe someday I’ll be published. I’ll have that book on the shelf to point to. But deep down, I know that incredible feeling won’t compare to the lessons this journey has taught me. I’ve learned so much more about myself and, really, about life from this writing process, and that’s invaluable. It really is about the journey.

Writerly Moments and Strong Coffee

2011-02-21T04:00:00.000-05:00

Things that make me happy, even on a Monday:

1. Those moments where I absolutely have to write something down—a story idea, a sentence, even just a word. You know, when you have to drop everything, sometimes literally, to find pen and paper? Those moments make me feel like I’m a real writer.

2. Spur of the moment baking. Chocolate chip brownies were a great idea.

3. Damon Salvatore from the TV show The Vampire Diaries (I don’t read the books). I didn’t think I would like a murderous vampire, but, well. He’s awesome. You just have to watch.

4. Singing along with the radio in the car, even when I know people can see me.

5. Super strong coffee. A whole big mug of it.

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

Five Random Thoughts on a Friday

2011-02-18T08:46:00.002-05:00

1. Welcome to all my new followers! You guys are awesome. I'm hoping to make it to all of your blogs soon!

2. I have a new TV obsession (I know, like I needed another one): Bones. Does anyone else watch this show? It's about a forensic anthropologist and an FBI agent. The gory bits--they identify dead bodies and find killers--make me squeamish, but I love the characters. They're all distinct and quirky without being too stereotypical.

3. Speaking of Bones, it's produced by and based on the life of a real forensic anthropologist and writer, Kathy Reichs. I have to read her books now, especially her new YA novel, Virals.

4. Can I just say that I love Vanity Fair? Reading that magazine, especially its articles about world economies and the economic collapse, makes me so much smarter.

5. I've started reading through and revising my first WiP, Broken Mirrors. I haven't looked at this one in months, so it's amazing to come back with fresh eyes and see some new ways to improve it and make it the best it can be. Hopefully this whole "I love writing" kick will last a while longer. :)

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