Reading like Crazy

I may not be writing like crazy, but I've been reading like crazy. I think I've read ten books in the last two months.

3 contemporary YA
6 Dystopian YA
1 paranormal YA

This past weekend, I picked up a book I've been stalking for a long time.

Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay



I love books set during WW2 and this book didn't disappoint.

It was a great break from all the dystopian novels, not that I don't love them, but I needed a break.

What about you? Do you find you need a break from certain kinds of novels?

PS: There's a great contest over at Monica's Love YA blog, all you have to do is follow her, go check it out.

Just wait five minutes

They have a saying where I live, "If you don't like the weather wait five minutes."

Last Wednesday my soccer game began with a bright sunny sky and a slight breeze (just enough to keep the mosquitos away). Then the wind started blowing and our bright sky became menacing black clouds. Right before half it started to pour. I'm talking, I have to wipe the water out of my eyes so I can see. My bra and underwear were both soaked. Next came the lightening, followed by the thunder. They decided to suspend the game until the weather cleared.

The other team ran to their cars, but my team huddled under a tarp in the middle of the field.(Yeah I know, in hindsight, not too smart). While under the tarp, the rain turned to hail, and then to our surprise just when we thought the sun was going to come out again, we saw funnel clouds to the west of us. A tornado was forming and being the novice tornado people that we are, we stood there and watched.

Eventually the clouds disappeared, the sun came out, and we were all ready to play, except our time had expired and the next two teams were waiting to play.

Just to be clear on the time line, all those weather changes happened in 30 minutes and a tornado did touch down just west of us.

What does this have to do with writing? Well, if you don't like what you wrote, step back and wait then try again and you might just have a completely different perspective, but don't wait too long or you might find yourself out of the game (so to speak).

Question: Does time away from your project make you like it more? And do you think that it's possible to take too much time away from a project?

5 reasons I know I'm reading a good book

1. My kids have to call me Patti to get my attention

2. My husband announces that the booklore monster is back

3. I suddenly have to go the bathroom a lot

4. I can't sleep at night because my neck hurts too much from reading

5. I sneak out of my mother in law's wedding reception to read a few chapters.

How do you know you're reading a good book?

Taking Your Own Advice

For the past couple of weeks I've had some major bouts of self doubt. I said to my husband that I don't think I'm progressing. I'm not getting any better as a writer or a soccer player or a cook (my baking just isn't what it used to be).

Then I taught my primary class on Sunday about the Parable of the Talents and we talked about how even though we're all given talents we have to work hard in order to develop them then it hit me. I've been burying my talent in the ground. (Please note: I use the term talent loosely) I often think that I'm not writing as often as I should be in order to get better. I'm not running as hard as I can in order to get faster. I'm not baking enough to . . . (well maybe that one is okay).My talents don't seem to be growing.

After Sunday I've tried to do better. Monday I went for a run and tried to run faster. I worked on my query today. Tomorrow I'm hoping to write another chapter of my WIP.

I guess all you can do is keep trying and dig up your talents when you feel like you've been hiding them for a while.

Good News All Around

Last week I took some time off and boy did I miss a lot. There was good news all around the blog sphere. Karen Hooper got a book deal, Natalie Whipple announced a book deal. Congratulations to both.

And here I thought things slowed down in the summer.

Both ladies are great examples of hard work paying off, which just gives me further motivation.

How about you do you get motivated when you hear about someone getting a book deal?

I had a thought which led to a question

As I was enduring my run this morning I was pondering about whether I should go back and fix a chapter on my current WIP or just keep writing. I know, it's the age old question. Then a thought occurred to me.

Since I'm a pantser I shouldn't go back and rewrite a scene, because I'm not sure that scene will even stay in the novel. So I decided not to rewrite sections, instead I write notes on what I should change or add.

This lead me wonder. If I were a planner would I be more apt to edit as I go?

So here's my question:

Do you think there is any correlation between being a pantser or a plotter and how you write your first draft?

BTW: Happy 4th of July