Well, a lot has happened since I've written on this blog. First of all, I had my baby on July 29th, about a week and a half early. Honestly, I was ready. This pregnancy was a little worse than the first one and it seems that she was as ready to get out as I was to have her. The delivery went much better than the first time. I handled the pain pretty well and actually did correct breathing without even taking a class to figure out how to do it. (I was basically breathing through my teeth like when you hit your knee against something...apparently that was 'great technique.') I only started screaming when they started pressing on my midsection to stop the bleeding afterward. That was excruciating in comparison. Anyway, she's very healthy and strong and was seven pounds. We named her Faith Alyssa. Another beautiful little girl. I'm a lucky Mom.
The reason this post is entitled "Achieving Zen," is because now I have to perfect the art of balancing two children, a two year old and a one month old. Luckily, I have a lot of help from my family, but I'm trying to figure out how to do it by myself. On some days, I feel overwhelmed, and on others I achieve a Zen-like state and feel like I'm Super Mom. On days like that, I manage to more than meet their needs and still have the time to write and take care of the house. I need to figure out how to do that on a regular basis...
I don't know how, but I've still found time to write, and so far it's working out well. My story "The Romance Star" is going to appear in the anthology "Game Fiction 2." It was heavily inspired by Katamari Damacy and possibly one of the strangest and most fun stories that I've ever written. Please, when it is published, check it out. If you like video games, you'll love stories inspired by them. There are probably plenty of stories inspired by video games that you've read that just don't advertise it. Anyway, it was a pleasure working with Gold Shader Publishing. They were very professional and prompt in their responses. I'm proud to be a part of the project.
Other than short stories, I'm still working on my "Junior Investigator's Club" series. I've reworked the first story and completed outlines for almost all of the first five books. I'm about halfway done with the third story "Big Bad Wolf" as well. I sent the second story, "The Scarecrow," to my contact in Penguin. Even if he doesn't feel the story is "for them" I might get more useful advice. My first contact at Penguin told me the first story "The Grim of Black Pond" was overwritten. Now that I started working on it, I can see what she meant. I fixed it and I think the changes make it a stronger story. I think after changing so many things about it, it's ready for a second chance.
Anyway, wish me luck. I've got a lot of things to balance now, but I know I can do it. I am very happy with my family, my house is more organized than it's ever been before, and I feel better than I have in a long time. I'm going to keep working hard and praying and I know that someone will want my young reader horror series. I just have to not give up. I don't plan to.
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
It's Been Awhile
Hello all,
Sorry to keep you waiting again. First of all, the holidays went well. I guess you could say I was taking a break from everything for a few weeks. There was no family drama, just lots of good food and overall things were pretty relaxing.
Since I'm practically done with the first trimester, I'll also go ahead and say that I'm pregnant again. It's very exciting, but I wish I didn't feel sick everyday. I'm almost over that, but every now and again I feel like I'm going to throw up for no reason...not much you can do. This pregnancy has seemed a little worse than the first one, but hopefully the delivery will be a little easier. So, needless to say, a new baby has been weighing heavily on my mind and all that entails. I'm happy about it, but it'll be a big adjustment.
I think that the biggest reason I haven't blogged in a long time is mostly that for about two months I've been in a writing slump. I didn't know if I should continue working on the middle grade horror books. I have plenty of ideas, but I still don't have representation for them. I could write ten of them, but if no one represents me, then I it's like they're just relics stored in my computer with no one to read them. I have two fully written and the outlines for three others. I've changed a few things around to make middle grade instead of young reader, mostly because kids tend to "read up." Anyway, I was waiting to see if I could get an agent before writing more of them.
Then, I thought about writing middle grade fantasy, but I just couldn't get inspired for it. I've written fantasy before, but not for a younger audience, and I just couldn't feel enthusiastic about the project. I would start to write something, decide that I wasn't feeling it, and then wander off to do something else. I was mostly going to write that genre because I thought it would be more marketable.
Needless to say, I've gotten a lot of rejection letters lately. Rejection letters always make me feel down. I was hoping that being a finalist in the Dark Crystal contest was really going to help my chances, but everything felt the same. It made me feel less confident and made me question if I should still be trying to get published. Everyone goes through this occasionally, but this time was worse than usual.
Anyway, I realized yesterday what the problem was, a problem I've had before that seems so simple that I should have been able to identify it sooner. I'm thinking too much about the future. I want an agent so badly that I'm trying to write things I think will be more appealing to an agent, rather than writing what I feel like writing. Thus, I wasn't really producing anything at all and what I did write wasn't worth sending to anyone. I know that sounds ridiculous, but that was the problem. Once I realized that I wasn't enjoying working on what I felt like people wanted to see, I felt much better.
I've made a decision. I'm going to write whatever genre I feel like pursuing. It might be the middle grade horror books, or I might just pick up one of my unfinished novels and finish it. Either way, I'm going write again. I'll send out more agent letters and worry about that when when I'm done with more work.
In the meantime, I'm still trying to find representation for the middle grade horror books, but I'm not going to stress over it. There are a lot of agents out there. One of them is right for me. I just haven't found him/her yet. I know a few that I'm interested in, but if they aren't interested in my work, it isn't meant to be. I think when I finally find an agent that loves my work, things will really take off. I just have to have more faith in myself and that my prayers will be answered. The last time I was in a slump this bad, I became a finalist in a competition. I need to remember that.
Anyway, I'm back, and I'm writing. Keep reading and writing too.
Sorry to keep you waiting again. First of all, the holidays went well. I guess you could say I was taking a break from everything for a few weeks. There was no family drama, just lots of good food and overall things were pretty relaxing.
Since I'm practically done with the first trimester, I'll also go ahead and say that I'm pregnant again. It's very exciting, but I wish I didn't feel sick everyday. I'm almost over that, but every now and again I feel like I'm going to throw up for no reason...not much you can do. This pregnancy has seemed a little worse than the first one, but hopefully the delivery will be a little easier. So, needless to say, a new baby has been weighing heavily on my mind and all that entails. I'm happy about it, but it'll be a big adjustment.
I think that the biggest reason I haven't blogged in a long time is mostly that for about two months I've been in a writing slump. I didn't know if I should continue working on the middle grade horror books. I have plenty of ideas, but I still don't have representation for them. I could write ten of them, but if no one represents me, then I it's like they're just relics stored in my computer with no one to read them. I have two fully written and the outlines for three others. I've changed a few things around to make middle grade instead of young reader, mostly because kids tend to "read up." Anyway, I was waiting to see if I could get an agent before writing more of them.
Then, I thought about writing middle grade fantasy, but I just couldn't get inspired for it. I've written fantasy before, but not for a younger audience, and I just couldn't feel enthusiastic about the project. I would start to write something, decide that I wasn't feeling it, and then wander off to do something else. I was mostly going to write that genre because I thought it would be more marketable.
Needless to say, I've gotten a lot of rejection letters lately. Rejection letters always make me feel down. I was hoping that being a finalist in the Dark Crystal contest was really going to help my chances, but everything felt the same. It made me feel less confident and made me question if I should still be trying to get published. Everyone goes through this occasionally, but this time was worse than usual.
Anyway, I realized yesterday what the problem was, a problem I've had before that seems so simple that I should have been able to identify it sooner. I'm thinking too much about the future. I want an agent so badly that I'm trying to write things I think will be more appealing to an agent, rather than writing what I feel like writing. Thus, I wasn't really producing anything at all and what I did write wasn't worth sending to anyone. I know that sounds ridiculous, but that was the problem. Once I realized that I wasn't enjoying working on what I felt like people wanted to see, I felt much better.
I've made a decision. I'm going to write whatever genre I feel like pursuing. It might be the middle grade horror books, or I might just pick up one of my unfinished novels and finish it. Either way, I'm going write again. I'll send out more agent letters and worry about that when when I'm done with more work.
In the meantime, I'm still trying to find representation for the middle grade horror books, but I'm not going to stress over it. There are a lot of agents out there. One of them is right for me. I just haven't found him/her yet. I know a few that I'm interested in, but if they aren't interested in my work, it isn't meant to be. I think when I finally find an agent that loves my work, things will really take off. I just have to have more faith in myself and that my prayers will be answered. The last time I was in a slump this bad, I became a finalist in a competition. I need to remember that.
Anyway, I'm back, and I'm writing. Keep reading and writing too.
Friday, October 17, 2014
Ebola Scare...
I don't usually write about things that irritate me on my blog, but this time I'm going to make an exception. Let's talk a little bit about Ebola. I'm sure you're tired of talking about it, but I'm tired of hearing both extremes on this topic, so I have to get something off of my chest.
First of all, I hate the media. The media is blowing the cases that have happened in the US out of proportion. They're making it sound as though the virus is airborne (it's not), and are trying to make people panic. One thing about the US is that we're very good at making a crisis out of something that isn't one yet. We tend to pretend the world is ending because deep down, people like a crisis. I know that sounds weird, but it's true. Here's the problem, Ebola isn't a crisis HERE yet, so we need to stop making it into one. The political cartoons are true that the flu kills thousands of people a year and we don't worry over it, so worrying over five cases of Ebola is ridiculous. We can't shut down our lives because we might be unlucky enough to get exposed to something that, as far as we know, only five people have in the US. We need to pay more attention to common viruses and health problems that are dangerous before we start freaking out over something that we probably will never be exposed to in our entire lives.
HOWEVER, I am also tired of hearing the opposite extreme. There are political cartoons and lots of people ranting and saying that Ebola isn't something we need to worry about at all. That is just as ignorant and wrong as those that try to make this into a crisis. This virus has killed thousands of people in Africa. Granted, part of the problem in Africa is there are people who don't believe that it is a virus and have distributed blankets of the infected to healthy people. Also, the established governments of some of the areas there aren't organized, etc. But, out of respect for the thousands of people dying there, I really think those political cartoons are tasteless. "Tacky" is a good word for it. Don't make light of a virus that's killing thousands of people in a horrible way just because it hasn't happened here yet. It's a nasty virus that should be respected. And, even if only five people have Ebola in the US, I'd imagine that to them it's definitely something to worry about. Apathy over something horrible like this is just as bad as trying to incite panic.
I think the reason that we are so fascinated and terrified over this virus is because it is truly horrific. When the full symptoms set in, within hours the victim bleeds from every orifice and their organs practically liquefy. You could die tasting every organ in your body. Think about how horrible that would be and tell me, do you really want to die that way? Does anyone? That's why people are freaking out. The flu usually kills the very young and very old, or those with compromised immune systems. If you get Ebola there's around a 70% chance you won't survive. Please, please, have respect and stop saying it isn't a big deal.
I want to have faith that the CDC and our government will keep track of those exposed to the virus and keep the situation under control. I have noticed, though, that many hospitals are not prepared and some of the things that happened could've been handled in a better way. What I don't understand it is why there isn't a travel ban to and from the most affected areas. Most US citizens that are in Liberia exposed to that virus don't want to bring it back and infect their loved ones if they do have it. Those that want to administer aid to those areas could be an exception. Most of the cases, so far, that have made it to the US have been people coming directly from Liberia. But, I have to assume there's a reason that there hasn't been a travel ban yet, but it seems the first logical step.
I do, however, have plenty of nurses who are friends. I have faith in them and believe that with the help of highly trained nurses, we will get this thing under control somehow. Time will tell, but in the meantime, the best advice I can give is don't buy into the media propaganda and don't panic. Still, don't hide your head in the sand and pretend it isn't a problem either. Be vigilant, watch the news, stay away from sickly people, and use your common sense. And, get your damn flu shot.
And, that's my 2 cents.
First of all, I hate the media. The media is blowing the cases that have happened in the US out of proportion. They're making it sound as though the virus is airborne (it's not), and are trying to make people panic. One thing about the US is that we're very good at making a crisis out of something that isn't one yet. We tend to pretend the world is ending because deep down, people like a crisis. I know that sounds weird, but it's true. Here's the problem, Ebola isn't a crisis HERE yet, so we need to stop making it into one. The political cartoons are true that the flu kills thousands of people a year and we don't worry over it, so worrying over five cases of Ebola is ridiculous. We can't shut down our lives because we might be unlucky enough to get exposed to something that, as far as we know, only five people have in the US. We need to pay more attention to common viruses and health problems that are dangerous before we start freaking out over something that we probably will never be exposed to in our entire lives.
HOWEVER, I am also tired of hearing the opposite extreme. There are political cartoons and lots of people ranting and saying that Ebola isn't something we need to worry about at all. That is just as ignorant and wrong as those that try to make this into a crisis. This virus has killed thousands of people in Africa. Granted, part of the problem in Africa is there are people who don't believe that it is a virus and have distributed blankets of the infected to healthy people. Also, the established governments of some of the areas there aren't organized, etc. But, out of respect for the thousands of people dying there, I really think those political cartoons are tasteless. "Tacky" is a good word for it. Don't make light of a virus that's killing thousands of people in a horrible way just because it hasn't happened here yet. It's a nasty virus that should be respected. And, even if only five people have Ebola in the US, I'd imagine that to them it's definitely something to worry about. Apathy over something horrible like this is just as bad as trying to incite panic.
I think the reason that we are so fascinated and terrified over this virus is because it is truly horrific. When the full symptoms set in, within hours the victim bleeds from every orifice and their organs practically liquefy. You could die tasting every organ in your body. Think about how horrible that would be and tell me, do you really want to die that way? Does anyone? That's why people are freaking out. The flu usually kills the very young and very old, or those with compromised immune systems. If you get Ebola there's around a 70% chance you won't survive. Please, please, have respect and stop saying it isn't a big deal.
I want to have faith that the CDC and our government will keep track of those exposed to the virus and keep the situation under control. I have noticed, though, that many hospitals are not prepared and some of the things that happened could've been handled in a better way. What I don't understand it is why there isn't a travel ban to and from the most affected areas. Most US citizens that are in Liberia exposed to that virus don't want to bring it back and infect their loved ones if they do have it. Those that want to administer aid to those areas could be an exception. Most of the cases, so far, that have made it to the US have been people coming directly from Liberia. But, I have to assume there's a reason that there hasn't been a travel ban yet, but it seems the first logical step.
I do, however, have plenty of nurses who are friends. I have faith in them and believe that with the help of highly trained nurses, we will get this thing under control somehow. Time will tell, but in the meantime, the best advice I can give is don't buy into the media propaganda and don't panic. Still, don't hide your head in the sand and pretend it isn't a problem either. Be vigilant, watch the news, stay away from sickly people, and use your common sense. And, get your damn flu shot.
And, that's my 2 cents.
Weddings and Walt Disney World
Hello Again,
Wow, two blogs in one day. I'm going to go for three, but let's talk a little about weddings and Walt Disney World.
First of all, I got to attend my friend Bob's wedding recently. Since this is personal to him, I won't spent too much time talking about it. It was a nice ceremony up in North Carolina. My husband was the best man and it actually brought together a lot of old friends that we hadn't seen in a long time as well. Bob is also our roomate, so now he has recently moved out. He seems very happy and I'm happy for him. He and Lynn are a nice couple.
A week after the wedding, Joel and I, along with our daughter, my sister and her boyfriend, and my Mom and Step-dad went to Disney World. It was Eva's first trip to Disney, and I wasn't sure how she was going to do, but she did great. She was wide-eyed on all the rides she could go on (she is only one and a half years old...), and she adapted well to seeing so many people. I was very pleasantly surprised. It's good to see that she's open to new experiences now. For a little while, she was going through a fear of strangers phase that I thought would never end. Even though she's still antsy about people coming over to the house, it seems she's more accepting of people in a public setting. Thank goodness.
We stayed at the "Art of Animation" resort. The rooms were very small, but we made good use of the space. The decorations were awesome. Our suite was done in a "Finding Nemo" theme. The entire resort was comprised of three different sections, Cars, Finding Nemo, and the Lion King. The main lobby was decorated in storyboard art for Disney Movies. I felt right at home. I love Disney World and Disney movies.
There's not much to say about Disney World that hasn't already been said. It is still the happiest place on earth. I had the best trip this time that I've ever had there. We got on almost all of the rides that we wanted to, and also somehow budgeted our time well enough that there weren't many long lines. It also really helped that we went on weekdays in October. If you want to go to Disney World, I highly recommend going in October because it's off season. We also got to go to two different restaurants that we had always wanted to try (the Crystal Palace and the VERY nice Hibachi restaurant in "Japan"). And, for once, I went on every thrill ride in each park. I decided that I wanted to go with Eva and Joel on thrill rides in the future, and I need to learn to be brave for my child (Though, some roller coasters I still can't do. Being brave has nothing to do with motion sickness...). Eva had the best time ever. I have so many good memories of her experiencing the park for the first time. My Mom also got to spend a lot of time with Eva when we occasionally split up the group, which was nice for her too.
The best part of all was that John proposed to Holly (my sister). It was very sweet. He gave her a rose and a bracelet at the "Crystal Palace" with a note that said to make a special wish at Cinderella's wishing well. Then, when we got to the wishing well, he proposed. I'm very happy for them and very excited about the upcoming wedding.
Anyway, it was a great trip, but we brought something back that we didn't intend...a very nasty cold. Eva had it first, then gave it to me, and then I accidentally gave it to Joel. So, the past week, we've been mostly sleeping and trying to recuperate. I haven't written anything in over two weeks, and it's driving me crazy. I'm hoping now that I have time again to change that. Anyway, I figured it would probably happen. There were just too many people there for us to be lucky enough not to catch anything. All things considered, a nasty cold is better than the flu, so I'm at least grateful for that.
Wow, two blogs in one day. I'm going to go for three, but let's talk a little about weddings and Walt Disney World.
First of all, I got to attend my friend Bob's wedding recently. Since this is personal to him, I won't spent too much time talking about it. It was a nice ceremony up in North Carolina. My husband was the best man and it actually brought together a lot of old friends that we hadn't seen in a long time as well. Bob is also our roomate, so now he has recently moved out. He seems very happy and I'm happy for him. He and Lynn are a nice couple.
A week after the wedding, Joel and I, along with our daughter, my sister and her boyfriend, and my Mom and Step-dad went to Disney World. It was Eva's first trip to Disney, and I wasn't sure how she was going to do, but she did great. She was wide-eyed on all the rides she could go on (she is only one and a half years old...), and she adapted well to seeing so many people. I was very pleasantly surprised. It's good to see that she's open to new experiences now. For a little while, she was going through a fear of strangers phase that I thought would never end. Even though she's still antsy about people coming over to the house, it seems she's more accepting of people in a public setting. Thank goodness.
We stayed at the "Art of Animation" resort. The rooms were very small, but we made good use of the space. The decorations were awesome. Our suite was done in a "Finding Nemo" theme. The entire resort was comprised of three different sections, Cars, Finding Nemo, and the Lion King. The main lobby was decorated in storyboard art for Disney Movies. I felt right at home. I love Disney World and Disney movies.
There's not much to say about Disney World that hasn't already been said. It is still the happiest place on earth. I had the best trip this time that I've ever had there. We got on almost all of the rides that we wanted to, and also somehow budgeted our time well enough that there weren't many long lines. It also really helped that we went on weekdays in October. If you want to go to Disney World, I highly recommend going in October because it's off season. We also got to go to two different restaurants that we had always wanted to try (the Crystal Palace and the VERY nice Hibachi restaurant in "Japan"). And, for once, I went on every thrill ride in each park. I decided that I wanted to go with Eva and Joel on thrill rides in the future, and I need to learn to be brave for my child (Though, some roller coasters I still can't do. Being brave has nothing to do with motion sickness...). Eva had the best time ever. I have so many good memories of her experiencing the park for the first time. My Mom also got to spend a lot of time with Eva when we occasionally split up the group, which was nice for her too.
The best part of all was that John proposed to Holly (my sister). It was very sweet. He gave her a rose and a bracelet at the "Crystal Palace" with a note that said to make a special wish at Cinderella's wishing well. Then, when we got to the wishing well, he proposed. I'm very happy for them and very excited about the upcoming wedding.
Anyway, it was a great trip, but we brought something back that we didn't intend...a very nasty cold. Eva had it first, then gave it to me, and then I accidentally gave it to Joel. So, the past week, we've been mostly sleeping and trying to recuperate. I haven't written anything in over two weeks, and it's driving me crazy. I'm hoping now that I have time again to change that. Anyway, I figured it would probably happen. There were just too many people there for us to be lucky enough not to catch anything. All things considered, a nasty cold is better than the flu, so I'm at least grateful for that.
Dragoncon Shenanigans...
Hey Everyone,
Sorry that I've been pretty inactive on the blog lately. This has been a really busy time for me. I went to Dragoncon, my friend's wedding, and Disneyworld. (I also just recently recovered from a nasty cold.) So, needless to say, I've had an eventful couple of months, but I'm going to try to catch up on the blog.
Let's start with Dragoncon. What I remember most about it was that it was more crowded than it has ever been before. I attribute that mostly to the fact that Patrick Stewart was there. Before you ask, no I didn't go to that panel or get to have his autograph. He was untouchable. We waited in line for his panel and then were told the place was filled up after we waited for thirty minutes in a line that stretched around the building. There were other actors there, but mostly the same ones who come every year. I think that we've decided that the next time someone like Patrick Stewart is there, we're just not going to go. There were so many people there, that there were actually lines to get into vendors. Most of the panels were hard to get into unless you lined up two hours early.
I did, however, get into two very helpful writing panels and got to see and talk to Todd McCaffrey again. One was about Young Adult Fantasy and the other was about World Building in Young Adult Literature. I learned quite a bit that I intend to incorporate into my own writing, and I have a few books that I'll probably be buying to read in the near future by the authors participating in the panel. So, I felt Dragoncon was worth my time, but I hope they handle the crowds better next time we go.
Also, one last note on Dragoncon. It is well known that Dragoncon is a party con, but I was very disappointed in the behavior of certain people there. At around 8:00pm, things get kind of crazy and people start dressing in very little clothing, etc. This is just a well known fact about the con. I don't have a problem with that, because after eight most small children are not present. However, at two in the afternoon, you don't expect people dressed as scantily clad "My Little Ponies" to start posing in suggestive ways for pictures in the most populated areas. It was a train wreck, one of those things where you really want to look away, but you just can't do it. They also probably were about eighteen, so not even old to drink, though they were clearly drinking as well.
I realize now that being a parent has changed me. Normally, I don't care about that sort of thing, not anymore, but I was downright offended by the whole display because it was done in front of children dressed as characters in a children's show. The parents of the children present were trying to steer them away, but the thing was taking place in the middle of the hotel thoroughfare. Unfortunately, there was no one really moderating the con, so they probably did this for about an hour. People with "daddy issues" are kind of sad.
Long story short, it was an exhausting weekend. I enjoyed the writing panels and shopping (I got a plush Umbreon which is kind of awesome), but I probably won't go back next year. I might actually be having another baby next year. We'll have to wait and see. Who knows?
Anyway, I've rambled enough about the con. I'll talk to you again soon. I'll probably be posting another entry about Disneyworld today. Bye!
Sorry that I've been pretty inactive on the blog lately. This has been a really busy time for me. I went to Dragoncon, my friend's wedding, and Disneyworld. (I also just recently recovered from a nasty cold.) So, needless to say, I've had an eventful couple of months, but I'm going to try to catch up on the blog.
Let's start with Dragoncon. What I remember most about it was that it was more crowded than it has ever been before. I attribute that mostly to the fact that Patrick Stewart was there. Before you ask, no I didn't go to that panel or get to have his autograph. He was untouchable. We waited in line for his panel and then were told the place was filled up after we waited for thirty minutes in a line that stretched around the building. There were other actors there, but mostly the same ones who come every year. I think that we've decided that the next time someone like Patrick Stewart is there, we're just not going to go. There were so many people there, that there were actually lines to get into vendors. Most of the panels were hard to get into unless you lined up two hours early.
I did, however, get into two very helpful writing panels and got to see and talk to Todd McCaffrey again. One was about Young Adult Fantasy and the other was about World Building in Young Adult Literature. I learned quite a bit that I intend to incorporate into my own writing, and I have a few books that I'll probably be buying to read in the near future by the authors participating in the panel. So, I felt Dragoncon was worth my time, but I hope they handle the crowds better next time we go.
Also, one last note on Dragoncon. It is well known that Dragoncon is a party con, but I was very disappointed in the behavior of certain people there. At around 8:00pm, things get kind of crazy and people start dressing in very little clothing, etc. This is just a well known fact about the con. I don't have a problem with that, because after eight most small children are not present. However, at two in the afternoon, you don't expect people dressed as scantily clad "My Little Ponies" to start posing in suggestive ways for pictures in the most populated areas. It was a train wreck, one of those things where you really want to look away, but you just can't do it. They also probably were about eighteen, so not even old to drink, though they were clearly drinking as well.
I realize now that being a parent has changed me. Normally, I don't care about that sort of thing, not anymore, but I was downright offended by the whole display because it was done in front of children dressed as characters in a children's show. The parents of the children present were trying to steer them away, but the thing was taking place in the middle of the hotel thoroughfare. Unfortunately, there was no one really moderating the con, so they probably did this for about an hour. People with "daddy issues" are kind of sad.
Long story short, it was an exhausting weekend. I enjoyed the writing panels and shopping (I got a plush Umbreon which is kind of awesome), but I probably won't go back next year. I might actually be having another baby next year. We'll have to wait and see. Who knows?
Anyway, I've rambled enough about the con. I'll talk to you again soon. I'll probably be posting another entry about Disneyworld today. Bye!
Monday, July 28, 2014
Blog Tour Entry
Writing Process Blog Tour Entry
I just got tagged to write this by my friend Joseph Lee who is also the winner of the Dark Crystal Author Quest contest. So, here we go...
What am I working on?
My current project is a horror young fiction story about a group of children who form a "junior investigator's club" to look into supernatural incidents involving the other children of their school. The first book consists of the back stories that have made the main characters interested in the supernatural. All of the stories are connected in a subtle way and the last chapter is about them coming together to form the club. Subsequent books will be from the perspective of one of the main characters involved in the club about what they are currently investigating. All of the books will feature some sort of supernatural element and a child brave enough to confront their fears and the fears of others.
How does my work differ from others of its genre?
Well, my current project is similar to the "Goosebumps" series, but different in that it focuses on the same five main characters throughout the series. Also, I've created my own mythos about where the creatures come from, and my monsters are my own. Some are born from the fear of the children, some are in essence "evil fairies" and some are from a sort of "realm of shadows."
Why do I write what I do?
I write because I enjoy it. Writing is something that I hope to establish my career in, and even if I never got anything published (which I have), I would still do it because it is a great exercise in creativity and is a fun way to spend my spare time. I write fantasy, horror, space opera, urban fantasy, steampunk, and cyberpunk because these are all genres that are interesting to read.
How does my writing process work?
First I start with a rough idea of what I would like to write. Then, I devote a paper notebook to it and began to write the main idea and subsequent ideas that come to me within it. I write a detailed description of the setting, the main characters, and their general backgrounds. Then, I transcribe my notes to my computer and attempt to outline my entire story. At times, I start writing before the outline is finished, but generally I try to finish the outline first to increase my chances of finishing the project. At times, I get a good idea while writing that changes the outline slightly, so sometimes it is a dynamic process.
Moving On...
I tag Diane Riggins, my friend and a writer of many genres, but currently mostly urban fantasy. She also works with publishing companies, writes articles, and designs video games.
I also tag Sara Taylor Woods. A writer of erotic fiction, Sara has recently found representation and we should be seeing some of her work on bookshelves in the near future.
I just got tagged to write this by my friend Joseph Lee who is also the winner of the Dark Crystal Author Quest contest. So, here we go...
What am I working on?
My current project is a horror young fiction story about a group of children who form a "junior investigator's club" to look into supernatural incidents involving the other children of their school. The first book consists of the back stories that have made the main characters interested in the supernatural. All of the stories are connected in a subtle way and the last chapter is about them coming together to form the club. Subsequent books will be from the perspective of one of the main characters involved in the club about what they are currently investigating. All of the books will feature some sort of supernatural element and a child brave enough to confront their fears and the fears of others.
How does my work differ from others of its genre?
Well, my current project is similar to the "Goosebumps" series, but different in that it focuses on the same five main characters throughout the series. Also, I've created my own mythos about where the creatures come from, and my monsters are my own. Some are born from the fear of the children, some are in essence "evil fairies" and some are from a sort of "realm of shadows."
Why do I write what I do?
I write because I enjoy it. Writing is something that I hope to establish my career in, and even if I never got anything published (which I have), I would still do it because it is a great exercise in creativity and is a fun way to spend my spare time. I write fantasy, horror, space opera, urban fantasy, steampunk, and cyberpunk because these are all genres that are interesting to read.
How does my writing process work?
First I start with a rough idea of what I would like to write. Then, I devote a paper notebook to it and began to write the main idea and subsequent ideas that come to me within it. I write a detailed description of the setting, the main characters, and their general backgrounds. Then, I transcribe my notes to my computer and attempt to outline my entire story. At times, I start writing before the outline is finished, but generally I try to finish the outline first to increase my chances of finishing the project. At times, I get a good idea while writing that changes the outline slightly, so sometimes it is a dynamic process.
Moving On...
I tag Diane Riggins, my friend and a writer of many genres, but currently mostly urban fantasy. She also works with publishing companies, writes articles, and designs video games.
I also tag Sara Taylor Woods. A writer of erotic fiction, Sara has recently found representation and we should be seeing some of her work on bookshelves in the near future.
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Cheer up, Charlie...
Hey everyone,
Well, the results are in and I didn't win the Dark Crystal contest. J. M. Lee, the finalist that I became friends with, won instead. I was debating about opening this blog with an "Oompa Loompa" song, keeping with the "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" theme, but none of the finalists (myself included) did anything wrong so it wouldn't be appropriate. All of us wrote very good stories, but Joseph's concept was what the Jim Henson company liked the best.
I'm very, very happy for Joseph, but I have to admit I'm a little bit sad that I didn't win. Mostly, I'm disappointed because I really liked my characters and they did have a story to tell. While I could still write the story as a fanfic, I don't want to sink that much time into it. So, I'm afraid they won't get to tell their story. Still, they're my characters. Perhaps I can recreate some similar characters in another story one day. It won't be anytime soon, though. Right now, I'm trying to focus on working on my "Goosebumps" styled story and I have another concept for a young adult fantasy novel that I'm writing notes about in my spare time.
I'm actually taking this really well. I thought I would go to pieces if I lost, but I didn't even cry. I was just relieved to finally know. I think I was more stressed out from waiting than I would've been from even writing the book. I think that stress might have also been the cause of my stomach issues. I lost about five pounds over the course of June because I didn't feel like eating and when I did I was ill from it (of course, that had something to do with my antibiotics as well, but I digress). I don't think the stress of writing is the same as the stress of waiting. I've dealt with deadlines before and never had any medical issues from it, but something about the not knowing was much worse.
I heard the news at the beach and was having such a great trip, I wasn't about to let a little bad news spoil it. I didn't feel sick (and I was ill throughout almost the entire month of June), I didn't have any stomach issues, I got to spend lots of time with my family, I ate home cooked meals nearly every night, and I got lots of mid afternoon naps. (Naps at the beach are the best, by the way, with that mid afternoon sun pouring in, the gentle breeze, and the sound of gulls and gentle waves on the inlet...) Anyway, I feel very refreshed now. Getting out of town was just what I needed. I also feel like writing on new projects again now that I know that I'm not going to be working on the Dark Crystal novel.
Long story short, despite being a little disappointed, I feel like this is a win. The whole experience has been a good one. I gained a contact in the writing industry, I made a new friend, and I even got to be in a very fun anthology with a group of very talented writers. No one needs to feel sorry for me because I couldn't be happier. I legitimately feel happy for J. M. Lee. Since we became such good friends, I was hoping that if I didn't win then he would win instead. It made me feel good to see his name announced as the winner.
I'm convinced, one day my lucky day will come along as well. Now that I was a finalist of this contest, maybe, at the very least, that will make finding an agent easier for me. I have a lot of books that need to be published and a lot more ideas that need to be written. I'm confident now that I'll have a novel published soon. I just have to keep writing and working hard. I'm almost there...
Well, the results are in and I didn't win the Dark Crystal contest. J. M. Lee, the finalist that I became friends with, won instead. I was debating about opening this blog with an "Oompa Loompa" song, keeping with the "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" theme, but none of the finalists (myself included) did anything wrong so it wouldn't be appropriate. All of us wrote very good stories, but Joseph's concept was what the Jim Henson company liked the best.
I'm very, very happy for Joseph, but I have to admit I'm a little bit sad that I didn't win. Mostly, I'm disappointed because I really liked my characters and they did have a story to tell. While I could still write the story as a fanfic, I don't want to sink that much time into it. So, I'm afraid they won't get to tell their story. Still, they're my characters. Perhaps I can recreate some similar characters in another story one day. It won't be anytime soon, though. Right now, I'm trying to focus on working on my "Goosebumps" styled story and I have another concept for a young adult fantasy novel that I'm writing notes about in my spare time.
I'm actually taking this really well. I thought I would go to pieces if I lost, but I didn't even cry. I was just relieved to finally know. I think I was more stressed out from waiting than I would've been from even writing the book. I think that stress might have also been the cause of my stomach issues. I lost about five pounds over the course of June because I didn't feel like eating and when I did I was ill from it (of course, that had something to do with my antibiotics as well, but I digress). I don't think the stress of writing is the same as the stress of waiting. I've dealt with deadlines before and never had any medical issues from it, but something about the not knowing was much worse.
I heard the news at the beach and was having such a great trip, I wasn't about to let a little bad news spoil it. I didn't feel sick (and I was ill throughout almost the entire month of June), I didn't have any stomach issues, I got to spend lots of time with my family, I ate home cooked meals nearly every night, and I got lots of mid afternoon naps. (Naps at the beach are the best, by the way, with that mid afternoon sun pouring in, the gentle breeze, and the sound of gulls and gentle waves on the inlet...) Anyway, I feel very refreshed now. Getting out of town was just what I needed. I also feel like writing on new projects again now that I know that I'm not going to be working on the Dark Crystal novel.
Long story short, despite being a little disappointed, I feel like this is a win. The whole experience has been a good one. I gained a contact in the writing industry, I made a new friend, and I even got to be in a very fun anthology with a group of very talented writers. No one needs to feel sorry for me because I couldn't be happier. I legitimately feel happy for J. M. Lee. Since we became such good friends, I was hoping that if I didn't win then he would win instead. It made me feel good to see his name announced as the winner.
I'm convinced, one day my lucky day will come along as well. Now that I was a finalist of this contest, maybe, at the very least, that will make finding an agent easier for me. I have a lot of books that need to be published and a lot more ideas that need to be written. I'm confident now that I'll have a novel published soon. I just have to keep writing and working hard. I'm almost there...
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