Participation

Whenever I have to teach, whether it be at church or at work, I always use the method of class led discussions. This method prompts a more interesting class and less work on my part. I'd like to think that I use this technique on my blog. You guys are a wealth of knowledge through either personal experience or study. I learn so much from each of your comments and your blogs. So don't think of me as lazy, but as mediator of debate.

On to other news.

My friend and fellow blogger Heidi had her launch day for her book "Some Kind of Normal" on Monday. Go check out her blog for more details.

I've always wanted to write a super hero book. I've been obsessed with them since I was a kid and watched the Wonder Twins activate. The other day I just started writing, had no clue what the story was going to be, but as I wrote it prompted ideas and now I have another project to work on. Funny how that works.

Voice

Every time, well not every time because rarely does anything happen in absolutes, but more often than not when people call my house they ask if my dad is home. I used to say you mean my husband, and the caller would get all embarrassed, so lately I just answer, "Yes. Just a minute."

Sometimes they clue into the fact that I answered the phone and say to my husband, "That was your wife, wasn't it?"

I think my voice is deep, but apparently when I answer the phone I sound like my seven year old daughter.

This got me wondering, as things usually do. What does my voice sound like when it can only be read?

Can you tell what kind of person I am just by reading my blog. Do you think I'm witty, shy, outgoing, whiny, or snarky? (That question was rhetorical)

I have a hard time reading my work out loud because I'm not entirely fond of my voice, but I think it's a must.

First you discover things that you wouldn't normally notice by reading your work in your head. Echoes is a big one for me, or awkward sentences. I can tell when I haven't read something out loud because it doesn't flow the way I want it to.

Second, it's so important to show what kind of person your characters by using just your words that sometimes when you read out loud, you get a better sense of your characters.

How about you are there any other reasons you can think of for reading your words out loud?

What would you refuse to give up...

A recent study asked the question, what would you refuse to give up even if it added five healthy years to your life?

Surprisingly people wouldn't give up TV, alcohol, or red meat.

Since I don't drink, giving up alcohol would be easy, but TV and red meat I'm not so sure, especially after watching last night's Glee.

I started making a list of modern conveniences and wondered if I'd be willing to give them up.

Microwave, dishwasher, cell phone (I think I could do that one), internet, DVD's, ipods, email, washer and dryer, spandex, and of course chocolate.

It's hard to think of giving up something we've become so accustom to using.

How about you is there something you'd refuse to give up, or something in this modern era you could definitely do without?

Waiting

We interrupt this blog with a scene from my favorite
movie. Can you name the movie?

Inigo: Hello there! Slow going?

Dread Pirate Roberts:

Look, I don't mean to be rude, but this
is not as easy as it looks, so I'd appreciate
it if you wouldn't distract me.

Inigo: Sorry.

Dread Pirate Roberts: [tersely] Thank you.

Inigo: I do not suppose you
could a-speed things up?

Dread Pirate Roberts: If you're in such a hurry,
you could lower a rope or a tree branch or find
something useful to do.

Inigo: I could do that. I still got some rope up
here, but I do not think you would accept my help,
since I am only waiting around to kill you.

Dread Pirate Roberts: That does put a damper
on our relationship.

Inigo: But, I promise I will not kill you until
you reach the top.

Dread Pirate Roberts: That's very comforting,
but I'm afraid you'll just have to wait.

Inigo: I hate waiting.
I could give you my word as a Spaniard..

Dread Pirate Roberts: No good.
I've known too many Spaniards.

Inigo: Is there not any way you'll trust me?

Dread Pirate Roberts: Nothing comes to mind.

Inigo: I swear, on the soul of my father,
Domingo Montoya, you will reach the top alive.

Dread Pirate Roberts: Throw me the rope.

Just reading that scene makes me smile. I love that movie.
What does it have to do with writing, you might ask.
Well, not much, except for the line “I hate waiting”.

This business is a true test of patience.
You wait each day for the perfect time to write.
When you’re done the first draft, you patiently
go through each chapter, editing each paragraph,
sentence, and word. When it’s done, you send it
to beta readers and wait for them to send it back.
Then you read through their advice and make further edits.

The waiting goes on and on and on.
Queries, partials, fulls….its never ending.

But I swear on my very own manuscript that if
patiently fix your manuscript and edit your work
there’s a much better chance you'll reach the top
with an agent and a book deal.

Here’s to waiting.

One Book Sold

I usually don't tell anyone I'm writing a book. Only a handful of people know. My family, my best friend, and my soccer team, and of course all of you.

So you can imagine my surprise when a lady at church today asked me when she could buy my book. "I want to buy it for my grand-daughter for Christmas," she said. How cute is that? After a short chuckle, and figuring out that my adorable nieces must have told her about my book, I patted her on the shoulder and said that it would probably be a couple of years before she could buy my book (hopefully). Then she said to me, "It's just so exciting, I've never met an author before", which totally made me smile.

Now at least I know one person will buy my book.

How do you decide?

I just read an excellent post by Natalie on the differences between YA and MG. Even though it was about the differences between the two genres, it got me thinking about why I chose to write YA. I love reading all genres, except horror and maybe mystery, although I've never really given either a chance.

When I look in my bookshelf I have my books divided into genres. Books on how to write, YA (mostly fantasy - but I'm trying to branch out), adult contemporary (Diana Gabaldon, according to my sister in law, saved her marriage), adult humor (love Nick Hornby and Larry Doyle is hysterical), and I also have a section of literary books.

So, since I love reading a lot of different books why do I love to write YA? I think it's because I fell in love with reading those MG and YA novels. Those books were my friends when I didn't have any at school. They helped me through some tough times in my teenage years, and since I'm the youngest child they were a good companion. I feel a connection to their stories and reading them makes me feel young because even though I'm inching closer to 40, I'm still 16 in my heart. Okay maybe not 16 that was a bad year, but definitely 17.

Why did you choose the genre you write in.

Life is getting busy - not that it wasn't already, but now it's really busy

So far December has been better. I got my root canal on Monday and my mouth already feels better, plus the dentist charged me $400 less than normal. I also received the go ahead to start practicing with my soccer team again. Good news all around,

Tonight I went to a parents meeting for my son's high school basketball team and we received his schedule for the next four months. Practice everyday for 2 hours, except on game days, which is once a week. Plus they're in six tournaments. We have one this weekend, and next.

I love basketball. I like playing it and I like watching it on TV (go Raptors), but I especially like watching my boys play. It brings me all kinds of joy. Now between my older sons games, my younger sons games, and my soccer games, it will be a busy winter. The thing is, I don't want to miss it. I want to be there for all of it, but I also know I need to find time to write.

So this post is actually a plea to my husband. Please buy me a laptop for Christmas and since my birthday and our anniversary are right after Christmas, you can consider it a combo gift.