What the Excerpt?!?!?!

I started thinking about why I put excerpts of Illusions on my blog.

It is intimidating to put your writing out for everyone to mock read. I've worked hard on my baby of a novel and sending it out of the nest, into the world, is difficult.

But it has been beneficial.

First, it has made me (usually) read those few sentences very carefully to see if I want to add or remove anything. I know that my work is going to be judged by just that, and nothing more. So each sentence needs to add punch. Sometimes I get the knock-out. Sometimes I hit, well, like a seven-year-old girl.

Secondly, it helps build up my tolerance for negative response (though my commentors have been very positive). I know that if when Illusions is published I will have to deal with the good, the bad, and the outright rude feedback. I guess it is better to start building up the thick skin now.

So that is why I do it even though it is scary nervewracking blood-boilingly terrifying. After all - no risk, no gain. Urgh...or so I've been told.

Why do you put your WIP out there? What benefits have you found from sharing it?

Illusions Mini Excerpt

Her foot lost traction, slipping from its foothold, jerking her right hand loose. Kate clung to the side of the mountain by the fingertips of her left hand, straining to hold on as she scrambled for purchase with her feet.

She refused to listen to the frantic thoughts that kept bubbling to the surface. She'd always known she'd die on a mission. But not here. Not on this stretch of dirt too far away for anyone to even hear the splat. Not like this.

Her right foot found an outcrop, then slid. Her fingers scraped against the rock, tensing with the exertion. Then, as if in slow motion, they slipped.

She fell.

Good To Know You

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To Save or Not To Save

My mother-in-law just had a big computer meltdown this past week. Dell Support couldn't help her breathe life back into the old PC, the family computer expert couldn't jerry-rig it to work.

So she bought a new PC, and external hard drive. Then, with those new boxes tucked in the office, the old PC felt threatened enough to raise itself from the dead.

The whole thing got me worried about my WIP. I'm good about saving while I write, but I mostly save it on my PC. When I remember, I'll bust out the flash drive and pop a copy on there. But I don't save in both places every day. I emailed a version to myself a couple months ago - but that is hours and hours of writing ago. I can't quite find a method that works perfectly for me.

I'd love some tips.

How do you save your novel?

Plugged Back In

I'm back.

I didn't get anywhere near the amount of writing done that I had hoped, but I did get to spend some quality time with the family.

Believe it or not, my to-do list for the current round of edits on Illusions has actually increased. Of course, that just makes the challenge of finishing all the more fun.

Good To Know You

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Unplugged

I'm jumping on the unplugged bandwagon (why do they call it a bandwagon anyway...do bands ever play on, near, or around wagons?).

I'll be incommunicado for the next week. Well...except for my Wednesday Good To Know You post. Hopefully I will be able to finish the list of changes I want to make on Illusions...a girl can dream.

The Sound of Inspiration

I know plenty of writers who must have music on while they write. They create playlists that go mesh with their WIP.

I am not one of them.

Most of you already know that I cannot think and listen at the same time. And my mind does not tune out the music the way so many others can. But that does not mean that I am not inspired by music.

Music can create a mood, a picture, an emotion that tugs at a very basic and raw part of our souls. Something all of us are striving.

I mean - what is Jaws without those two two notes played over and over again, building up the suspense? What is E.T. without that sweltering series of notes while they fly in front of the moon?

By the way, William Joseph is old friends with my husband. His style of music is the type that inspires me to write.

How has music inspired you? Do you use music to help you write?

Illusions Mini Excerpt

I'm really hoping you can help me with the punctuation on the second sentence since I am struggling with it. Commas, dashes, individual sentences....it is a dilemma for my grammatically challenged mind. And I know this is a first draft of my first chapter - so there is a bunch to fix, but tell me if this beginning works to pull you in.

Kate ran three steps and flung herself out the broken window. Crisp air slapped against her face as she fell five stories- ten, fifteen. Neon lights flashed as she rushed to meet the ground. The line caught her weight and her descent slowed.

Good To Know You - Guest Post

There is a guest blogger today for my weekly Wednesday Good to Know You post at If You Give a Girl a Pen. (Yes, that was an awkward sentence. No, I will not rewrite it.)

It is a seriously embarrassing story for everyone to enjoy provided by Angie Lee. Enjoy!

The Art of Inspiration

picture found here

I look through flickr often to find pictures that coordinate with whatever I'm blogging about. I'm continually amazed by the talent and creativity of so many photographers and artists.

Art inspires my writing more than anything else. Graffiti, billboards, photographs, landscapes, sculptures, whatever - I automatically create a story in my mind surrounding a piece of art. I have several WIP-in-waiting because of a piece of art I've seen. Hopefully someday I will actually get around to writing them all.

What pieces of art have inspired you lately?

Illusions Mini Excerpt

She looked at herself in the mirror. Specks of dried blood spattered her hands.

Greasy hair and frightened eyes – what a combo.

Good To Know You

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Fuchsiamania

I have a new novel idea percolating in my head. I've done an inital plot and some basic character sketches. I'm thinking about my theme and emotional arcs. I'm starting some basic research.

Essentially, I'm doing everything I didn't do when writing Illusions.

And I bought a new (as opposed to used???) bottle of nail lacquer. That's right, they don't call it fingernail polish anymore (because then they wouldn't be able to charge as much). It's called Fuchsiamania and it is the exact color my MC would wear. So, in the name of research, I am going to see if having my little piggies lacquered in candy pink will help me get in my MC's head.

What have you done in the name of research?

Don't Show the Crazy...Yet

One of my friends told me that you date for your entire life, it just morphs as you get older.

You start out as a teen, just dating for fun. Eventually, you take things more seriously and date to find that special someone. You become a couple, perhaps get married, but the dating doesn't stop. You begin to go on double dates with other couples.

Finding an agent is like dating. You want to make a good first impression. They don't need to know that you color-coordinate your closet, alphabetize your DVDs, or save jokes from the Reader's Digest in case you need an ice-breaker. (For the record - I don't do any of those things...I tried the closet thing and it lasted through one round of laundry.)

Wait until after the after the third date (they offer representation) before you let them see a glimmer of the crazy. So that means you follow their rules (you mean you didn't want that query on neon green paper and size 24 font?), be professional (no "Yo Agent, wuzup"), and don't act desperate (You like me...you really like me?).

Of course, I'm still in the stage of gazing adoringly from afar. I haven't even asked them out for a cup of coffee yet. So what do I know?

What is craziest thing you (or a "friend") have done in the attempt to land an agent? Or what is the craziest date you've ever had?

Post-It Love

I LOVED this and just had to share.

Illusions Mini Excerpt

“Not in this lifetime. Oh, please don’t tell me I dreamt about him.” Kate’s mouth dropped, horrified at the thought.

Tina laughed. “I didn’t mean to scare you. But you do need a solid bout of kissing. Preferably by someone who knows what he’s doing.”

“What?!?!”

"You're getting grumpy. A good make-out session would do wonders.”

Good To Know You

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