The Crazy Wonderfulness of #SonofaPitch

Tags

Believe, critique, feedback, reading, Son of a Pitch, thoughts, writing

Last week I participated in the writing event/contest Son of a Pitch. People submitted their entries, including their query and first page. This blog was a host for ten of them! Go #TeamRarity! I read and critiqued 51 entries. I read and critiqued I have no idea how many revisions. It took a long time. I enjoyed every moment.

Let’s talk for a moment about feedback. For Son of a Pitch, everyone gets some. Maybe one person dropped by your entry or five…but there was some. Better than none.

Aside: We, the feedback-givers, don’t have a set amount we have to critique. Some of the critiquers have more time to so this than others. Some people feel comfortable looking at certain categories or genres. We do the best we can.

We are leaving our opinions. Not directions. Not even answers. We comment, hoping one of those ideas will spark inspiration. That the author will have an AH-HA moment and know what is missing. If no AH-HA moment…then those comments weren’t for you.

I do know how critiques, especially if you get three or more, can mess with your head. Can make you feel like you’re failing. Can send you along the path of OH-MY-GOODNESS-WHAT-WAS-I-THINKING-I-CAN’T-WRITE.

This is NOT what we want. Yes, feedback is overwhelming…so many ideas, so many comments (some of which can contradict), so much you suddenly feel like you have to change. I HAVE BEEN THERE! WE ALL HAVE!

But, no. You don’t have to change anything.

I know that round three was fast approaching and if you were chosen to go on, then you had to have a pretty polished query and first page, so revisions were flying. But relax. Perfection is not a thing. What would be a great query for one person, isn’t for another.

Take all the information in. Let your creative brain chew on it, spit out the things that make no sense, and see what does. You have time. You can do this. In the end, listen to YOUR mind. This is YOUR story. No one knows it like you. Trust yourself. Believe in your process and in your talent.

No one will give you clear answers. We offer choices. You have to come up with the answers.

I know…’but please! Please just tell me what to do!’ The world of art is wonderful. And frustrating.

BUT WONDERFUL!

Last week was a blur. I hope you made friends. I hope you learned something. I hope you feel a little more confident. Because putting your work out there, not just in a query, but ON A BLOG, is incredibly brave. Listening to what others think is a big step.

I voted for seven, five to move on to round three and two as back-ups…for tie-breaking purposes. Voting is not my favorite thing.

I tried to vote for different genres and categories. To give the publishers looking at the entries a variety. Believe me, I wanted to vote for all the dark and weird ones. I did. Luckily other people voted for the ones I didn’t.

Let’s talk about the voting. Let’s remember how subjective this is. I had piles…yes…no…maybe…maybe leaning to yes…SO MANY PILES I WAS DROWNING.

Why were things in a no pile? Not for me…query was too confusing…I wasn’t pulled in…just not my thing.

Maybe piles…those were weird and numerous…I like the concept, but the query didn’t give me enough to know the story was there. I like the writing, but, once again, the query didn’t confirm the story arc. The query and writing were fine…and the author did revisions that improved them. Most of the time I was seriously confused. I could easily vote for all the things I wanted to read, but this wasn’t about me. This was about the publishers coming to look at them. They want different things than I do…last time they asked for more romance to get through. Romance…not really my thing. So I struggled. So I basically lined up all my notes and eeny-meeny-miny-moed it.

Not getting votes is heart-breaking. Just know that it could have been that the dart I threw landed on the one next to yours. Publishing is a strange place. So much depends on luck. So much is waiting and questioning. So much is just never giving up.

I hope everyone left last week with a stronger query. I saw a lot of them! NOW GO FORTH AND USE THEM!

Some of the people in round three will get requests. Some won’t. Some of the requests might go somewhere. Some won’t. All will go on to query. These contests help, but if you look at the number of people who get published because of them versus the amount published because of simple querying…I think querying wins.

Son of a Pitch is over…for me.

Kinda.

Round three of Son of a Pitch has begun. You can go see all the entries here, but do not comment! The comments are reserved for publishers and agents who want to request. AND I WILL BE WATCHING. I will be begging people for updates.

And I will be back for the next Son of a Pitch.

Until then…KEEP GOING! KEEP DOING YOU! KEEP LEARNING TO LISTEN TO YOURSELF! TRUST YOURSELF! And even though it’s hard…LOVE THIS CRAZY WRITING JOURNEY!

NaNoWriMo Craziness has Begun

Tags

Believe, goals, move forward, NaNoWriMo, possibilities, word count, writing

It’s November!

For writers everywhere that means National Novel Writing Month. People are sitting their butts in their favorite chairs with cups of their favorite beverage in hopes of having 50,000 new words staring from computer screens at the end of these thirty days.

Sound like a lot? Cause it is.

For the last month, I have been reading tweets as those participating prepare. Some create extensive outlines. Others have general plans. A few are just going to wing it. Word counts run rampant on Twitter. Daily goals have been set.

And the fun began last Sunday. I am not a part of the craziness. I do not NaNo.

Why? Too much pressure. With daily goals and the looming deadline of 50K words… I would panic and fail. I know me. This would happen. At the end, I would be a quivering mass of blah with a bunch of words that make no sense. I choose not to be that. My writing process does not allow for this challenge. I’m okay with that.

For everyone who takes on this crazy challenge, I applaud you.

Whether you get to that magic number or not, BRAVO for giving it a go!

It’s been a few days and tweets are positive. Goals are being met. Stories are progressing. The general feeling is upbeat and numbers are high.

This trend probably won’t continue. In a week or so, tweets will begin to show panic. Goals slip away. Doubt nibbles at the positivity. Life throws strangeness into the mix. Exhaustion creeps in. Maybe the story gets out of hand. Suddenly everything that has been written screams that it doesn’t work. Maybe the ms would be better in a different POV or tense.

The questions multiply. The doubt grows. Will what exists at the end of the month be worth having?

YES! IT WILL!

AND I WILL BE HERE TO CHEER YOU ON!

I WILL BE HERE REMINDING YOU THAT YOU ARE…

To get through NaNo, there must be writing. Let the words flow. Maybe you can stick to the plan, maybe not, it won’t matter. Just keep writing. 50K in a month is not achieved through questioning.

You didn’t reach your goal one day? Relax, don’t sweat it.

Put it behind you and keep moving forward. This is not the month to focus on what might have been, what you should have done. This is the time to take what you have and build on it.

No showers for a month? No problem.

Kids are in charge of making their own dinner? They are learning to be independent.

The house becomes covered in a layer of dust? Adds cushion…comfort.

Your family forgets what you look like? They’ll remember eventually.

Because the month will end.

Will you hit that magic 50K number? Maybe. Maybe not.

But you will have words, new words. Words that will always be there for you to mold into whatever they decide they want to be, next week or next year. Whenever.

Hold onto that thought as you type away, reaching for the stars. You are creating possibilities, mixing the clay that will someday be brilliance.

Whether writing goes like this…

or more like this…

Whether you end the day in a state of…

or…

or…

or…

or…

I will be here to tell you to KEEP GOING! I might not be joining you in achieving 50K, but I will be striving to add as many words as I can to my WIP.

So, go forth my NaNo-ers as you NaNo and don’t look back.

 

The Right Moment… Wait for It!

Tags

Believe, critiqing, Critique groups, critique partners, dreams come true, have faith, just the right moments, thoughts, writing

I have spoken of all the people I met at Midwest Writers Workshop. Well, as I was talking to one of my Twitter, now in-real-life, friends at the conference, I asked about her writing… How’s it going? What are you working on? Typical nosy me questions.

Her friends had read it, but she wasn’t sure what to do next. I asked what her CPs said…

She didn’t have any.

A tragedy! THAT’S JUST NOT RIGHT! HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN? ALL THE WRITERS OUT THERE! WE NEED TO HELP EACH OTHER! I told her to send it to me immediately. And she did. And I’m reading it now… and because she might read this I’ll simply say that I am making tons of comments (all of which you can ignore)and there are so many things I LOVE about it. So relax!

I have become a strong supporter of critique partners, of having a few, of being an honest reliable one (I hope I am!).

We can only grow as writers if we have people asking us questions about our words, challenging us to make them better, catching all the stupid mistakes and plot holes that size of Jupiter.

However, there are moments…

Points in your writing life to do this. There are ways that work and ways that don’t. And each and every one of us must find our own path.

I wrote tucked in my dark corner for years. YEARS. If I had gone out and had someone critique my work when I had first started writing, I would have curled up in a corner and never stepped into the light again. I know me. That me would have given up. Dreams shattered into pieces. I needed my mom and sisters to read those terrible first manuscripts and say… I LIKE THIS! I admit it.

When I was approached to join a writers group, at first I thought NO WAY! These people will think I’m an idiot. After living with the thought of other writers reading my words… after revising the same words AGAIN and having no idea what I needed to do… I went to my first critique group. And came out alive and SO GLAD I WENT. The things I could learn! Cue choir of angels…

When I began to query, I entered another phase of oh-boy-I-have-no-idea-what-I’m-doing. No idea. I entered the darkness armed with my tiny bit of knowledge, like a spec of light, a single star in space. As we walk around in the dark, we learn. As we stumble and fall, we get up again with more confidence. The moments to take the next step will present themselves, if only we pay attention.

The rejection letters will come. If we persist, so will that one acceptance we crave. If my acceptance had arrived years ago, I would not have been ready. I had a bit of knowledge to acquire and the Universe knew it. I remember gazing at the initial letter from my editor, thinking that a couple of years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to answer her questions, I wouldn’t have known all the terms and writerly stuff.

And the Universe says, “See? Trust me. I know what I’m doing.”

Yup. You got it, Universe. I bow to your wisely-ness.

For those who are new to writing, who are still in the alone phase, maybe scared to have people look at their words… don’t sweat it. You will be able to tell when you need help, when you want help. Look for critique partners (CPs), look for writers groups in your area or put out feelers on Twitter (worked for me!). The search won’t be easy. You’ll find some, lose some, find others. Eventually, you will connect with just the right people. And you should connect, when you are ready. At the speed my friend sent her ms to me, I think she was ready.

As we go through each day, needing to reach our goals RIGHT THIS MOMENT!

Relax.

Things will happen just when they should, if you have a bit of faith and put in a lot of work. Dreams are made of 100% believing and 100% sweat.

 

 

Rediscovery of Childhood Joy… Part 6 “The NeverEnding Story”

Tags

Believe, book, dreaming, fantasy, movie, The Neverending Story, wish

The NeverEnding Story, a German film directed by Wolfgang Petersen and distributed in the USA by Warner Bros in 1984. Based on the book by Micheal Ende.

The movie covers about the first half of the book, which is really great, so if you love this movie, read the book.

Once again, I don’t remember where or when I first experienced the magic of this story. All I know is that it changed my world.

We meet Bastian and his dad on a normal morning, before work and school.

Having lost his mother, Bastian is having problems and his father is trying to tell him to grow up. But Bastian doesn’t want to let go of the magic of believing.

His dad gives him a great speech about the blah blah real world… blah blah and sends the kid to school. Where we meet more of Bastian’s problems…

Bullies. Fabulous. Bastian escapes and jumps into a dumpster to hide. When he decides the coast is clear he climbs out and brushes himself off and continues to school. But the boys reappear. Bastian ducks into a book store.

The grumpy bookseller gives him a hard time, expressing that if kids would read instead of playing those video games maybe they would be better off. *cue eyeroll* Bastian proclaims that he loves books.

“Safe books,” the old man counters.

Bastian eyes the curious book the old man holds in his hands.

“That book isn’t safe?”

The shop owner chuckles and tells him to forget it.

Books can’t be dangerous, but the boy is intrigued. So when the man turns his back, he takes the book and runs, leaving a note that he’ll return it.

At school, the bell has rung… kids huddle over their desks engrossed in a test. No fun. Bastian sneaks up to the school attic and begins to read The NeverEnding Story.

We are transported to the land of Fantasia a place created of dreams and wishes. But it is in trouble, threatened by The Nothing, the lack of dreams that has come to destroy the land.

The ruler, the Childlike Empress is ill. Her advisor calls for Atreyu, the bravest warrior of the Plains People.

Cute, right? I had such a crush on him as a girl.

He travels to the Ivory Tower to learn why he is summoned.

They give him the task of finding a cure for the Empress. He is given the Auryn, the symbol of their land to help him.

However, The Nothing doesn’t plan on losing, so sends out the Gmork to kill Atreyu.

Atreyu rides off on his horse Artax in search of Morla a wise one, hoping he will know how to cure the Empress.

He meets a few strange, but wonderful denizens of Fantasia along the way. The man and his racing snail.

The sleepy bat and his friend.

And a Rock Biter, who you guessed it eats rocks…

They are all going to the Ivory Tower to spread the word of The Nothing’s devastation. Atreyu wishes them luck, as he sets off with new knowledge of this evil and with a stronger desire to help.

Morla lives in the Swamps of Sadness, where the marsh will claim any who let the sadness overtake their minds. As they struggle through, not sure if they can even find him, Artax gives up.

Atreyu can’t save his horse, his best friend. And is left in tears and alone. I cry too! But he continues and finds Morla.

Yup. A giant turtle, who sneezes all over him.

“For we are allergic… ah, ah… to… ah, ah… YOU! CHOO!”

Ew.

In the end, Morla can’t help, but says that “if it matters” he can go ask the Southern Oracle.

Which is 10,000 miles away.

Atreyu has lost his horse and has failed on his quest and loses hope, nearly sinking into the swamp. As he blacks out, a something swoops out of the sky and pulls him free.

Atreyu wakes in a strange place next to a sleeping creature.

Falkor, a luckdragon,

who has carried him almost the entire way to the Southern Oracle.

And finds more friends. Two gnomes.

The little man shows him the Oracle, warning the boy of the trials he will face.

He watches as a brave looking knight in armor rides up to the statues. The statues’ eyes open and blast the knight, killing him. For they see into the hearts of men, any self-doubt makes a person unworthy to pass.

Atreyu, eager to finish his quest, rushes to face the test, leaving the poor little man screaming warnings about the second gate.

Atreyu’s confidence wavers as he passes the guards, watching their eyes to see if they will open. And they do! *holds breath*

Yet he doesn’t let fear freeze him, he gathers his courage and runs, successfully clearing the first trial and going on to face the second. A mirror.

One that shows his true self. In this mirror Atreyu sees Bastian, a boy reading a book.

Bastian can’t believe it! He throws the book across the room. How can it be? How can he be IN the book? But even though he is afraid, the story draws him back, his desire to see Fantasia saved grows. And Atreyu passes through the mirror gate to find the great Oracle.

The gigantic statues tell him he can save the Empress by giving her a new name.

“Is that all? I can give her any name she wants!”

The name must come from a human child, which he can find beyond the boundaries of Fantasia.

The Nothing grows stronger and the statues crumble under its power, telling Atreyu that he must hurry.

Atreyu flies through the air on Falkor’s back intent on reaching the boundaries of their world. But The Nothing is everywhere and attacks. Atreyu falls from the luckdragon, landing in the Sea of Possibilites and losing the Auryn.

He crawls onto the beach, devastated, and finds a cave with pictures drawn on the rock walls, images of him, of his journey, coming finally to a picture he doesn’t know… a black wolf creature.

Turning he comes face to face with the creature from the picture. The Gmork.

The wolf growls, happy to have a last kill before he is lost. For he failed and The Nothing will finish him.

Atreyu asks what The Nothing is.

It is the loss of dreams. It is the apathy and cynicism eating away at humanity’s imagination. And there was only one person who could have stopped it and the Gmork had been tasked with killing that person… Atreyu.

Atreyu draws his stone knife, a bit of fight left. “Then come for me, Gmork. I am Atreyu!”

The boy stabs the creature and kills it.

Falkor finds the Auryn and returns it to Atreyu. Together they fly into the sky, only to find Fantasia gone.

Yet the Auryn guides them to the Ivory Tower, still standing. He meets the Empress, where, through tears, he admits, “I failed.”

“No, you didn’t…” She explains that the human child is there with them that Atreyu brought him, “listening to every word we say.”

“Then why didn’t he show himself?”

“Because he doesn’t know it’s him.”

“Then we will disappear.”

Of course, Bastian is freaking out. It’s just a book. How can this be happening?

The Empress pleads with him.

“Say my name!”

Bastian struggles. He needs to grow up, but he wants to believe. Finally, he decides and throws open a window. Into the storm raging outside, he screams…

Now, as a kid, I never understood what he said. I figured that meant I could add what ever name I wanted, that we all could. I have learned that he calls “Moon Child”, so that works too. And he finds himself in the dark with the Empress.

He asks what happened to Fantasia. She tells him it’s gone.

A tiny light shines in her hand and asks what it is. It is all that’s left of Fantasia.

But he can save it. It can be reborn through his wishes and dreams.

“What are you going to wish for,” she asks.

“I don’t know.”

“Then Fantasia will be no more.”

Bastian gazes at the glowing light. “How many wishes do I get?”

“As many as you want.”

“Then for my first wish…”

And the sweeping music plays! And I laugh and cry and feel generally awesome.

Of course there are those bullies…

Who end up in the dumpster.

Cue cheering as Bastian flies over Fantasia, everything back to how it was. He waves to Atreyu riding on Artax over the plains.

*happy sigh* And then I sing the end song, which they would play on the radio and I did a spectacular lip sync version for my friends. Not my finest hour, but that song spoke to me.

The entire movie did. Who wants to be told they have to stop believing in magic? No one. Who wants to be told who to be and what to think? No one. This movie showed me that I didn’t have to “grow up”. And so far, I have done a pretty darn good job at holding onto my dreams and wishes.

This is why I write YA, because somewhere in teenage-dom a change happens. The magic fades. If I can write something that keeps the magic alive for just one person, then I will be happy.

So… what do you want to wish for?

I have two movies left. Two more movies that became a part of me. But next week I will be on vacation. No blogging. It’s spring break and we are doing the rounds, visiting all the family. I’ll be busy chatting with my mom, dad, sisters, and nieces. And after we leave there, I will be sadly without wifi at my in-laws. I’m bringing books.

Until I return. Happy wishing!

Rediscovery of Childhood Joy… part 3 “The Last Unicorn”

Tags

be happy, Believe, fantasy, fear, journeys, magic, movie, the big scary world, The Last Unicorn

“Unicorns? I thought they only existed in fairy tales?”

“I tell you, there is at least one unicorn left in the world…

Good luck to you! For you are the last!”

And from in the forest the beautiful Unicorn wonders… “Am I the last?”

OMG! This movie.

“The Last Unicorn”, by Rankin and Bass Productions in 1982. Based on the book “The Last Unicorn” by Peter S. Beagle… the screenplay written by him as well, so the movie is pretty much the same, but buy the book anyway! Gorgeous songs written by “America”.

One summer while visiting my grandma up in St. Paul, Minnesota, my sisters and I befriended the neighbor girl, whose parents had rented this movie. I think during our stay I must have watched it a bajillion times. Something about it.

Magic. Beautiful, wondrous, fantastical magic. For as Molly says, “If you have been waiting to see a unicorn for as long as I have…”

The Unicorn longs to discovery what has happened to the other unicorns and asks a passing butterfly, who finally tells her to listen, that she can find them if she is brave… that the Red Bull has chased them, covering their footprints.

 

So she journeys out into the world, for her friends might need her help. But as we all discover when we leave our homes and enter the world, we don’t know as much as we think. We face fear, doubt, danger.

Men can’t see the Unicorn for what she is… they don’t believe, not anymore. WHICH IS THE SPOT IN THE MOVIE WHERE I CRY OUT… “I BELIEVE IN YOU!!!!!”

A witch finds her, sees her true form and captures her. Mommy Fortuna and her traveling show. Cages are filled with animals magicked to look like fantastical creatures, but the unicorn is real, but so others will believe, the witch gives her a false horn.

Except there is another who sees her. Schmendrick the Magician, though not a very talented one.

He helps her escape because she is true magic, something he desires to have. They meet a band of robbers, use magic to get away from them, and add Molly to their number.

Together they travel to find the other unicorns at the castle of King Haggard and the Red Bull.

Because quests are better with friends, with support.

But as they reach the castle, the Red Bull senses the unicorn’s presence and attacks. to save the unicorn, Schmendrick magically changes her into a woman, a form she can use to search for the answers, to complete her quest.

She becomes the Lady Amalthea. However, a being a unicorn trapped in a human body isn’t good.

She begins to forget as she falls in love with Prince Lir. Molly and Schmendrick keep her focused, reminding her of who she is, of why she is there.

The Red Bull. Save the other unicorns. But how?

When the wine drinks itself. When the skull speaks. When the clock strikes the right time. Then will they find the Bull. Then they can save the others.

And the King knows, guessing what she is… enjoying the fact that she is within his reach.

“There they are. They are mine. They belong to me.”

The Red Bull drove the unicorns into the sea.

For the King. For he had to have them all, because they made him happy.

She must choose. Forget, be human, and leave her kind trapped. Or fight.

They discover the entrance to the cave of the Red Bull. Yet Lady Amalthea barely remembers who she is… why she is there. If she remains human, she can escape the Red Bull, she can stay with her Prince.

But her Prince is a hero and heroes don’t let the quest fade and die. Happy endings only come at the end.

Yet Schmendrick says, “There are no happy endings, because nothing ends.”

They come face to face with the Bull, who now recognizes Amalthea for what she truly is. Schmendrick transforms her back into a unicorn. And the Bull chases her to the sea, to fulfill his purpose.

Now it’s up to her, to choose.

And she fights, finding her strength to free the unicorns, and drives the Red Bull into the sea. Once again, unicorns roam the world. And there is one, who regrets, who keeps a bit of what it is to be human, to love, tucked in her soul, forever changed.

Life is tricky. We set out on our journey. We hold onto dreams. Yet, things happen. Life happens, we’ve all said it or thought it. Eventually, we face choices. Each decision adds to who we are, either pain or joy, fear or excitement. We question. We doubt. Our dreams change. We change.

Sometimes we let what is easy distract us from what we want.

Never let fear keep you from listening to where dreams will lead. Never fear a new journey. The quest for who we are, for who we want to be doesn’t ever end.

“Unicorns are in the world again. No sorrow will live in me as long as that joy.”

 

All we can do is try to be happy with where the paths have taken us.

Dare to Dream Showcase *jazzhands*

Tags

aliens, apocalyptic catastrophe, Believe, Carys Jones, Dare to Dream, dark, fantasy, Reuts Publications, Stonehenge, survival, YA

I know… I have more movies to share and I have been tagged in another blog hop, but FIRST…

Carys Jones released her book Dare to Dream on February 17th!

I am proud to showcase this new book… give you a taste (an excerpt from the book appears later!)and my thoughts.

Yes! I have read it! And you might just want to too!

The world was going to end. Of that, Maggie Trafford was certain.

Fourteen-year-old Maggie Trafford leads a normal life. Well, as normal as being crammed in a three-bedroom house with four siblings and a single parent can be, anyway. But despite being somewhat ignored at home, Maggie excels, earning top grades, a best friend who would do anything for her, and stolen looks from a boy in Maths.

It’s not until the dreams start that Maggie realizes “normal” is the least of her problems. Every night, she lives the same nightmare—red lightning, shattered glass, destruction. But nightmares are just that, right? No one believes her when she says it’s an omen. At least, not until the already mysterious pillars of Stonehenge start falling.

No longer alone in her fear, Maggie and the world watch with bated breath as one after another, the historic stones tumble, like a clock counting down. But only Maggie knows what it means: when the last stone falls, destruction will reign. And when the world ends, there’s only one option left—survive.

Horrifying and raw, Dare to Dream is equal parts tragedy and hope, detailing the aftermath of apocalyptic catastrophe, the quest for survival, and the importance of belief.

Buy DARE TO DREAM by Carys Jones today!

Carys Jones loves nothing more than to write and create stories which ignite the reader’s imagination. Based in Shropshire, England, Carys lives with her husband, two guinea pigs and her adored canine companion Rollo. When she’s not writing, Carys likes to indulge her inner geek by watching science-fiction films or playing video games. She lists John Green, Jodi Picoult and Virginia Andrews as her favorite authors and draws inspiration for her own work from anything and everything. To Carys, there is no greater feeling then when you lose yourself in a great story and it is that feeling of ultimate escapism which she tries to bring to her books.

Find more of Carys Jones on her website, like her on facebook or follow on twitter.

And here is an exclusive Dare to Dream Excerpt!

Maggie just couldn’t settle as she sat in registration. She didn’t hear her teacher drone out the names of her classmates to record their afternoon attendance. Her mind was racing, her eyes focused on the ebony skies. Her unusual behavior went unnoticed by everyone except Andy Greene, who watched her from across the room. Maggie was oblivious to his attention. She knew she had slowly been falling apart for a while; she was starting to get accustomed to people eyeing her warily. Maggie wasn’t even pretending to listen to her teacher; she had given up on conducting a charade of interest.

“I just have a few things to go over with you,” Miss Foley, their form tutor, began. She was young, barely out of school herself.

“I need to talk to you all about the girls’ toilets out by the sports hall,” Miss Foley continued. No one was really listening; people were subtly playing with their mobile phones, which were contraband. Others were whispering amongst themselves, delivering the latest lunchtime gossip. All of these Miss Foley ignored, as they were acceptable levels of disruption, but when Maggie Trafford abruptly got up from her seat and proceeded for the classroom door, she had no choice but to challenge the girl.

“And where do you think you’re going, Miss Trafford?”

Maggie stopped and sighed in annoyance before turning back to face her teacher.

“I’m leaving.”

“Leaving?”

“Yes, I’m leaving school, right now. I can’t stay any longer.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’ll be doing no such thing—now sit back down,” Miss Foley said as sternly as she could. Though her eyebrows bunched together, her tone lacked the true conviction to make Maggie take her seriously. Miss Foley was the kind of teacher who cared about being liked by her students, but Maggie was in no mood to appease such a desire. Maggie would be mean to Miss Foley if she had to be: there was too much at stake to waste time being pleasant and obedient.

“No, I’m leaving.”

“Maggie Trafford, you will do as I say! Now sit back down.”

“The world is about to end!” Maggie cried, gesturing to the black sky beyond the classroom windows. “And I for one am not going to sit here and wait for it to happen!”

“The world is not ending. Don’t be absurd. Now, sit down.”

“No, I told you, I’m leaving. Expel me if you like—it makes no difference. Tomorrow, none of this will be here.”

“You’ve clearly lost your mind, Margaret. Please stop disrupting the rest of the class with your insane ramblings.”

“She’s not insane! She’s right, and I’m going with her!” Dawn declared, rising to her feet and heading over to her friend.

“Miss Brady, your loyalties to your friend are only going to land you in trouble. Both of you, sit down.”

“No, we are leaving,” Maggie said calmly, turning away and opening the classroom door.

“Then leave,” Miss Foley said from behind gritted teeth, her patience wearing thin. “But walk through that door, and I promise you—”

“Wait!” a male voice called out from the other side of the room. The other students had now ceased to text or gossip, transfixed instead by the drama unfolding before them. Everyone turned and stared at Andy Greene, who was now on his feet, his eyes locked on Maggie.

“Miss Foley, Maggie’s just sick. She’s been unwell for a while. Don’t be so hard on her.”

“Since you’re also intent on being so vocal, perhaps you should leave too.” Miss Foley scowled, angered by the growing disruption in her class. “And I’ll see all three of you in detention later.”

“What?” Andy looked both horrified and devastated at the same time.

“Well, let’s go, then,” Maggie ordered, not quite knowing what to say. She had not anticipated followers.

“There’s the door.” Miss Foley pointed fiercely at the exit. “Anyone else who has a desire to leave before the world ends can see me in detention at three.”

Andy slowly stood up and placed his bag on his shoulders as, around him, some of his friends made teasing sounds. He never got in trouble—his record was as golden as Maggie’s.

“Today, Mr. Greene!” Miss Foley said cruelly, her eyes still narrowed. “Apparently, you don’t have time to waste.”

Andy reluctantly navigated his way through the maze of desks and joined Maggie and Dawn at the door.

“I’ll see you all at three, since the world won’t be ending, but your bad behavior will be!”

“I’d say go to hell, Miss Foley, but you’ll be there soon enough,” Maggie said, her voice deadpan. Then she turned and left the classroom, feeling empowered.

 

 

As I mentioned, I have read this! I was given a eARC, for my chance to read and review.

I am giving this book four stars.

After reading this excerpt, you wonder… does the world end? How does Maggie know?

It began with a dream, Maggie’s dream, of red lightning flashing from a dark sky, turning buildings to ash. A dream that shook her to her core. It began with the falling of the massive structures of Stonehenge, one by one.

The image of the dream will stay in my head forever. Just so cool.

Warning… spoilers may appear…

The book is told through Maggie, but switches point of view, nearly omniscient POV. We end up in the mind of the therapist, the news reporter, Maggie’s mother, and friends. The switching did bother me a little, keeping me from really connecting to the characters, leaving me wondering why I needed to see into the mind of the therapist for that one moment, or get a view from the head of the news reporter a few times. However, when we move into her father’s mind, I was intrigued!

I enjoyed the interaction between the characters. Maggie’s family life, the chaos of five kids and a single mom living in a small house felt true. The need Maggie had to find her absent father, certain that he could fix everything, made my heart ache. Maggie’s struggles in school, and not grade-wise, people, she’s a smarty-pants, but with her peers made me remember high school (and not fondly). Her best friend, surprisingly a popular girl, hung by Maggie’s side, even believed her when she spouted crazy talk of the end of the world.

And when the world ends, cause it does… she saves her friend and one other, a boy who has had a crush on Maggie forever. The dreams give her an image, a place to go, lead her to safety. They walk miles and miles, slowly realizing what has really happened and the impact it has on their lives. Their reactions are all different and believable.

And the alien orbs flying through the wreckage… completely creepy and awesome.

The way Maggie immediately connects the falling of Stonehenge to her dreams seemed fast to me. Her certainty that they would be safe at the caves, which she had seen in her dreams, bothered me a bit. I guess I needed more there.

However, I continued to read, because I needed to know. What had happened? Why? The scene with her father… well, he better not be dead, because I need more of him)… yeah.

And the final scene. The final line of the book sent my heart a flutter. I love it when books do that. And when she publishes the sequels, she has told me there will be (cause I asked), I will read them.

Because there are things I need to know.

Happy reading, everyone!

 

Let’s Talk about Stress… Bay-bee

Tags

Believe, friends, hope, self doubt, stress, support, thoughts, writing

So… yesterday, I kinda freaked out.

No biggie, I do this every once in a while when life seems impossible, when what I want is an inch (or a million miles) too far out of reach, and I begin to doubt my ability to grab hold of it and make it more than a dream, but a reality.

This goes for everything, not just writing. Everyone has dreams. Everyone has self-doubt, whether a tiny speck or a mountain stretching into outer space. We all struggle. Some of us might explode in rage. Others will curl up in a dark corner and throw M&Ms at themselves (my chosen method of “dealing”). Tears will roll. We will attempt to comfort with food, or perhaps working out (I suppose those people do exist).

But what we should do is talk. Let it out into the world. Somehow, when all our worries and fears are set free into the universe they lose their power. So after I sobbed hysterically, draped over the arm of my couch, I turned to my friends on Twitter and FB. I tried not to unload all of my fears, keeping my pity party to a minimum, but got enough out there that I got responses. Really, when we say things out loud, we want someone to say something back, kind words of encouragement or an acknowledgement that we are not the only ones struggling.

Writers united yesterday to give me a bit of a pep talk. One I desperately needed. One I will need again, I am certain. My wonderful CP even sent me a love-filled e-mail (WHILE ON VACATION, so I felt special). Twitter. Facebook. A day with my writers’ group allowed me to have fun and not think about all the problems spinning in my head.

So, when I sat down to revise last night, I got through two chapters and the problem chapters lurking in the beginning of the manuscript, well, I had enough faith to know that I would get to those and do the best I could.

That’s the magic… believing, doing the best you can. It works every time. And when it’s too hard to believe in yourself, others will carry you for a moment, allowing you to drink of their faith, of their joy. I hope I add as much magic to the lives of others as they have given to mine.

Will my dream ever come true. I honestly don’t know, but I HOPE, and will always hope. Thanks to all my friends… my cheerleaders, without them I would still be tossing chocolate at myself, muttering incoherently, while curled up in a corner. I hope you know who you are. I shall bake you all a cake.

When stress hits, find your support. It’s out there. Always believe.

 

 

When the Magic Began

Tags

Believe, celebrate, life struggle, magic, revising, thoughts, writing

Ten years.

Ten years ago I announced that I wanted to write a book. And I did.

The joy. The fear. The overwhelming emotions of finally discovering what you want to do with your life, what you’re meant to be.

And I had two kids at the fabulous ages of two and three. I didn’t need to pay attention to them. Pfft.

But I was also 31 years-old and ready to be me, to find my passion. Life as a mom was great, but I wanted more.

Back then I had no idea what it took to write a book, well, writing it was easy, finding out that you have to edit it four hundred times and then trying to get it published would threaten to destroy my soul.

With several finished manuscripts, short stories, and a brain full of ideas, I know I chose the right path. Writing, making up stuff is what I love.

I want to celebrate the years of learning, of discovering a lot more courage buried deep within me than I ever thought possible. Any artist who has offered their work to the world, braving the critiques and rejections for those moments of acceptance, deserves to be celebrated.

Maybe I’ll bake a cake. I like cake.

Ten years ago, the magic began. Who knows how far I will get. My stories have done okay. I am working on getting a book published. Will it happen? I honestly don’t know. I can do the work, revise, write, listen to comments. I can control where to send queries. I can’t control whether or not my voice and my stories connect with agents or publishers and I will try not to let that affect me.

Even though sometimes it does. Even though there are times I want to quit, seconds where I stop believing. But the stories never lose hope, because they keep talking to me, forming in my mind.

So I write what speaks to me, what lives in my heart.

I love what I do. I will keep doing it, forever searching for that someday when someone else loves it too.

I will not worry about what I can’t control. The market. What people read. What agents want to see. All that will keep me from being me, from finding true joy.

To all of us out there struggling to find our place in the world (not just writing) I raise a big glass of chocolate milk.

To us! Be happy in the life you have chosen and don’t let the great, unforgiving world steal your joy.

Just be.

 

Believing

Tags

Alice in Wonderland, Believe, deadlines, fantasy, magic, thoughts, writing

For … a whiiiile now, I have been editing a manuscript that I wrote years ago. I have never forgotten it. I still love the idea, the characters, the worlds I created. But it needs help.

My YA fantasy ‘Doors’ takes sixteen-year-old Bryn through a door that leads her to all the worlds. She becomes a friend, a hero, a slave, a leader, and a storyteller, but most of all she becomes someone she can love. All it takes is a bit of believing.

Believe. One of my favorite words. A couple of syllables that hold a ton of magic.

Well, I believe that this editing business is going extremely slow. So I gave myself a deadline! I know! Seems extreme, but if I don’t, I’ll keep going … FOREVERRRRRRR.

Seriously. I have a problem. I wish I could love me.

The work can always be better. Always. Don’t stop! Keep editing, changing, adding, subtracting … until it becomes pushing the words around. And who does that help? No one.

I want to be through this WIP by the end of the month.

Now. Now. *puts up hand*

Yes. I do realize that this date is closer than I think. I also know that I am halfway through the WIP, not far enough. I also keep rewriting after receiving critiques, which digs me deeper into my revision hole. And after my critique group yesterday, I will have to go back to chapter 6 … again.

WILL I MAKE IT? I will! Eventually … if my dream comes true … I will have to work with real deadlines, not just my own, but from a publisher. I should practice.

I have to BELIEVE!

Alice in Wonderland believes six impossible things before breakfast.

1) Someday I will see a fairy, ghost, or witness an inexplicable event.

2) My hubs has emotions.

3) I can fly.

4) I will read everything on my TBR list. (It just keeps getting longer!)

5) I will have a pet dragon.

6) I am a writer. Someday people will buy and read my books.

Believe in anything and everything, just do it! Anything is possible.

So? What do you believe?