Nanowrimo

Yes! Finally! After two years in a row of wanting to participate in Nano but not being able to for various reasons, this year I'm taking the plunge.

Not that this year is super different. I don't actually have time. But...I've been wanting to write this novel and it intimidates me. So I figured Nanowrimo was the best way for me to tackle this. And whatever I have to do to do this, I'm in. I'm making the time.

And...I'm pantsing the whole thing.

*bites nails*

So there you have it. Who else is participating this year? And how scared should I be?

P.S. Come and be my friend.

Hanging out with Lauren Oliver

So last night Lauren Oliver stopped in Philly at Children's Book World to talk about her new middle grade novel LIESL AND PO. I love hearing Lauren speak about her writing. One of the things that always stands out to me is her view of story-lines, character arcs and deciding on projects. She doesn't confine herself to a genre, or even an age group--switching from YA to MG, and she said she's working on an adult novel... What draws her to story, or rather compels her to write each story is a journey her character needs to go on, one that is usually personal to her as well so she has an opportunity to grow with each character. I LOVE that!

Lauren Oliver (BEFORE I FALL, DELIRIUM, LIESL & PO) and K.M. Walton (CRACKED)

I really believe stories have a huge potential for healing and growth and have often found myself writing questions that not only do my characters need answers to, but that I need answers to as well.

3/4 of the First Novels Club and Lauren Oliver (Donna, Lauren, Sara, Me)

And the other awesome part of last night was hanging out with my some of favorite Philly writers and bloggers--we're really building such an amazing community here--I'm kind of in love with us. During the signing I hung out with Jamie who I adore from Perpetual Page Turner who also has a recap of last night posted, as well as Sara and Donna from the First Novels Club (SQUEEZE-LOVE), Jenna and Lillie (the greatest pair of sisters who write and blog), and I got to meet blogger Vi!

Me, Sara, Jenna, Donna, Lauren, Jamie, Lillie

Afterwards, Donna, Sara and I stayed looooong after Children's Book World closed to chat with our friend K.M. Walton (CRACKED, 1/12). We may have frozen a few of our outer limbs in the process, but the conversation was SO fun!

Creative Writing with Harry, Ron, and Hermione

I wanted to share a writing exercise that I tortured gave my students today. It's all about rewriting for revision.

I admit, I used to be one of those people who would write something and then go back and revise those written words and revise THOSE written words and then THOOOOSE written words.

And the thing is, when you keep reworking the same words over and over and over again, you tend to get this:

A HOT MESS

It took me a lot of frustration and time and a lot of mentoring from other writers to let go of this habit and just throw out my mess and start fresh.

With a blank sheet of paper.

And that is scary!

But that's why I create these exercises. To make them a little less frightening and easier to do.

So here's how this one works.

Step 1: I had my students watch this clip from the Deathly Hallows. (sorry, no embedding allowed)

Step 2: I then asked them to write the scene, choosing to tell it from Harry, Ron, or Hermione's perspective, using either 1st or 3rd person limited, or an omniscient narrator.

Step 3: They had a chance to clear their minds with a different writing exercise--write about your outfit. I wanted something simple and easy.

Step 4: Put ALL the writings away in a place you can't see.

Repeat Steps 1-4: With some variations...

Step 1: Watch the clip

Step 2: Write the scene using a NEW perspective. If you wrote as Hermione, pick Ron this time, etc...

Step 3: Cleanse! This time I made them walk around the room.

Step 4: Put ALL the writings away in a place you can't see.

Repeat Steps 1-4 (original)

After a third viewing of the clip, they then had to write the scene from the original perspective, hopefully this time with new insights, details, feelings, and most importantly New and Fresh WORDS.

And there you have it. So if there's ever a scene you're struggling with, it may be time to try the scene from scratch (trust me, I know this hurts, but it's worth it), and this may make doing so feel less severe.

Enjoy!

P.S. If any of you try this, I'd LOVE to hear how it goes, or even see what you came up with--you can paste into the comments.

Happy Monday!

Friday Five (or more) Dirty Dancing Edition!

1. I've been taking salsa lessons with Donna Gambale, aka my writing wifey and they are SO much fun!

2. Except there is one guy in our class who is a leetle bit creepy with the eyes and the hands and... Well, he's not our favorite when we are dancing with partners.

3. But the goods news is if they EVER need to recreate this scene from Dirty Dancing, I can totes do it!

4. Is Hungry Eyes not the best dance sequence in a movie EVER? I mean seriously. Find me a better dance sequence.

5. No really. Find me one, because if there is something better than that--which I don't believe there is, but IF there is I'd be all over it.

6. I especially appreciate now how they are just doing the same step over and over again.

7. I used to think this sequence was very complicated.

8. But it's not.

9. True story.

10. Is there anything more fun than dancing? Because I find it SOOOOOO fun!

11. Also, I wear clothes.

12. Just saying.

13. What fun things are you doing this weekend?

Kick A** 2011 Debut Author Spotlight

Today is Kick A** Debut Author Spotlight Day! And this awesome day is the brain child of the fabulous Christina Lee! So head over there to see who else is participating and all the awesome debuts getting some well deserved attention today.

But right now you're on my blog.

This makes you SO cool! And I'm here to talk about....

UNEARTHLY by Cynthia Hand! Here's the description:

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Sigh...

This was one of my favorite debuts this year and it's one of those books that stays with you. I absolutely fell in love with Clara as the main character. Though she is part angel, she had a lot of concerns that I would have related to instantly in high school and can still relate to even now. 

Also the love story... This one is GOOD! There is a bit of a triangle but it is done RIGHT. And the love story that develops is so powerful and sweet and just realistic--which I love. I'm a sucker for epic life changing romances that shake the world--but I love them even harder when the romance feels real and is full of small moments.

If you want a fresh take on angel myths, a sweet love story, and an ending that will leave your mind reeling and in desperate need of book 2, then this is the story for you! Has anyone else read Unearthly? What was your favorite debut this year?

I Need Rehab...For a Book

So this week I read Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone. And all I have to say is can somebody please send me to rehab?

Seriously! I am in LOVE with this book. Like obsessed. Like I want to carry it around with me all day everyday and peek inside and listen to the audio (yes I have both versions) and hug it and squeeze it and ask it to have my babies. I can't get the story out of my head. I even dreamed about this book the night I finished reading. And even rereading certain sections that made me cry the first time, made me cry again.

Laini, I think I love you.

So am I the only one who felt like I needed rehab after finishing a book so amazing, I forgot how to return to normal life?

Anyone coming to rehab with me?

Tell The Truth Tuesday

Ye Gods, I've sucked at blogging lately. To which I say, I'm so so so sorry! You look really pretty today (or handsome if you prefer). I've been doing things. Lots of things and I won't make any promises about WHEN things will get back to normal, but rest assured, at some undisclosed time in the foreseeable future, they will!

But in the meantime, here's my truth for today.

This is going to make me sound like the biggest goody-two-shoes of all time, but whatever.

I can't stand it when people don't follow the rules! And I don't mean big rules, like driving 40 miles per hour in a 25 mile per hour speed zone. Unless you're driving behind me and I'm lost in which case I will probably drive even slower just to spite you.

And not rules like "no white pants after Labor Day." Say what? I never understood. But really it's more of a guideline than a rule. Am I right?

See, I mean, SIMPLE rules. Like when you're going to the Express Check-Out line at Whole Foods and it says "NO SHOPPING CARTS" but people continually bring their shopping carts.

Seriously! What is that? I'm a frequent Whole Foods shopper--love the fresh food, and I'm constantly on the go, so I'm there a lot but only for small purchases so their super express lane is like a big shiny rainbow to me.

Until people show up and start trying to push their carts down a row that was specifically designed for No Carts.

NO CARTS! There is a big fat sign and everything.

Or there used to be.

Yes. So many people were incapable of reading the sign and following the No Cart rule, that they took the sign away from me (not that I was possessive of it or anything) and now carts are technically allowed. Well, they're tolerated.

But I know the truth.

So there you go. What goody-two-shoe truth are you harboring beneath your white pants?