A Big Rat, A Princess, and A Fairy

A short pudgy boy held his long slender gray tail and struggled to fit through the swinging doors of the high school entrance, but he made it and didn't even drop his math book in the process. He smiled and wiggled his whiskers at a princess dressed in a flowing butter colored gown. She didn't even notice him. Instead, she laughed loudly with her friends and waved her wand in the air.

The rat waddled away alone.

But, the princess' head did turn and she stopped talking momentarily when a tall brown-haired boy bumped into her. He apologized and explained he didn't see her because he needed to reach an itch between his wings. She offered to help. He turned, and the princess gently scratched underneath and then in between his translucent sky blue fairy wings. His body posture relaxed as the princess reached just the right spot. He thanked her and fluttered off to his next class. The princess smiled and caught up to her friends.

...

It's been "Spirit Week" at my kids' high school this week. And, the above story is mostly true. It was the scene I witnessed yesterday when I dropped my son off to school. He chose not to dress up yesterday, but a lot of kids did dress up in a "fairy tale" costume of sorts. Ha. It was pretty funny. I might have to figure out either a way to incorporate the scene into my work in progress or use it as a starting point for a fun fantasy. HA. Could you imagine? Monday was "neon" day; Tuesday was "hat" day; Wednesday was "fairy tale" day; Thursday "sports" day; and I don't know what tomorrow is, because I only take it one day at a time watching my daughter dress up and fully participate. My boys aren't as interested (with the exception of hat day).

Did your high school (or your kids') ever have dress up days like this?

What if you were blind?

If you were blind, would you still care about wearing brand name clothes and putting mascara on every day?  How much time each day do we spend on primping (ourselves, our houses, our cars, our children, etc.) with the INTENT of fitting in (or standing out) with society's standards?  Do you think it's important to put on make up and iron your shirt? Yah, yah, you can "say" you do it to make YOURself feel better... but is that really the reason? If you were blind, would you still do these things to make yourself feel better?  I wonder.

Also, if you're a writer, have you ever thought about how your book will be received by a blind person? Yes. Silly. They do read! Books are a great pleasure for the blind, just as they are for the sighted. My son has finally found a love for books. He's visually impaired. But, now he's listening to books through the Talking Book Service.

http://libraries.idaho.gov/landing/talking-book-service

And... I've been thinking about visual impairments a LOT lately.  Today, I read a blog post over on Lisa and Laura Write about line edits. They said their characters repeat a lot of the same actions in their writing. And, so then I wondered, how would my descriptions be received by a blind person? Do I describe the setting and the actions with enough detail to paint a vivid picture for the blind? Should that even be a consideration? Because, don't we want to paint the most vivid pictures for ANYone and EVERYone?

Of course! But, none-the-less... it makes me stop and wonder. During my next revision session, I'm going to imagine the story being read out loud to a blind person and see if my writing is good enough.

What do you think? Am I just a crazy person? Or do you think we spend too much time as a society on primping when we could be doing something more worthwhile with our time? Have you ever considered how your writing will be received by a blind person?

Do you remember?

Whether you're writing YA or another genre, do you remember what *it* felt like? *IT* could be anything. So many great stories make us FEEL. They evoke emotions in the very core of us as a reader; emotions like fear, joy, love, anxiety, etc.  As writers, we need to remember (or imagine) how circumstances caused us to feel and then translate that into words. Can you do that?

For example, today my sixteen-year-old son drove me around for the first time EVER! Okay, now as an adult, that was a pretty interesting experience, but as an AUTHOR, it was an amazing experience. Why? Because it was his first time driving a stick-shift.

Do you remember what THAT felt like? We can laugh about it now, but put yourself back into the shoes of the teenager stalling the car in the middle of the intersection for the first time. Talk about emotional! Then, don't just feel the emotions, but go further. Same intersection, and you stalled again! And again! Panic? Fear? Anxiety?

Did your heart race? Throat tighten? Stomach sour? Teeth clench? Describe it. Show it. But, first, remember it.

What was your most emotional (or one of the top ten) moments of your teenage years? Can you still remember it vividly? Why?

Always Writing!

I'd really prefer to stay home in my pajamas today and write...but... I need to shower, get dressed, and head to work (selling Berninas today!).

However, I am always writing. In my head.

Right now, I'm considering the advice of two agents. One said my m.c. was "too babyish" and the other said the "tone was too adult." Okay. Let's take one at a time.

Main character too babyish: This feels like a whack upside the head (in a good? way, maybe?) because I *thought* I utilized techniques to show Thia as a strong character who makes bad (naive) choices. So, as I approach another revision, my eyes will be wide open to places where she came across "too babyish" because that was never my intent. I kept a notebook next to me while writing, and I used it to employ concepts from Donald Maass' book "The Fire in Fiction." But now, as I flip through the character pages, I have pages detailing Seth (the brother), Josh (one antagonist), Janie (the best friend), and Mike (the main antagonist); actually, there are several pages devoted to Mike.  Maybe I did let parts of Thia's character fall through the cracks. I'm going to go back through Maass' book and use his character building concepts solely on my m.c. during this revision.

So, while I'm at work today selling Bernina sewing machines, I'm going to be running through the ms in my head thinking of ways her character may have fallen short. I'm always writing!

I even dream about my characters and plot lines. ha.

How about you? Are you always writing? Where's the "strangest" place you've worked on your ms? What's the best character building tip you have to share?

to MFA or not to MFA ... that's today's question

I'm trying to decide if I should enroll in an MFA program (Master's of Fine Arts in Creative Writing).  If time and money were not an issue, I would simply enroll. However, I've got three teenagers who not only eat up all my money, but also eat up all my time. Love them...and they are my main focus right now.

However, I told myself a year and a half ago that if I didn't have an agent by now...I would enroll in an MFA program.

What to do?

Interestingly enough...as I've been contemplating this decision, I've come across a lot of blogs and magazine articles that point toward: NO don't do it.  Comments like, MFA programs only focus on literary achievement and not commercial publication; or MFA doesn't mean anything in a query letter to an agent; or MFA programs only focus on publishing short stories not how to get an agent; and so forth.

Opinions? Do you have an MFA? Are you going to pursue one? At a local university or online? Do you think it will help in the publishing process?

What to post?

WOW! The last several days have been a whirlwind! So, what should I post about today?

Should I tell you about the speaker I listened to on Saturday? How she described the heart breaking scene she witnessed as her brother's arms and legs were chopped off with a machette because he refused to join the rebel forces in her African town? Or how she waited in a line of girls and women to be raped and mutilated? She watched them torture her sister and was spared herself at the last possible moment when opposing forces came into the village. What a soul wrenching story. She now lives in the U.S. and speaks to groups of women about "HOPE." What an amazing woman. There is a DVD available with her story on it. I plan to purchase it (haven't had a chance yet...I've been so busy) and show it to my family.  She even retells how her sister broke one pencil into tiny bits so that each child in her small classroom could have a pencil to write with. I know, I am so wasteful. I will think twice before throwing things away. We are so spoiled and blessed to live in this country.  Buy her DVD here.

Or should I tell you about how my mother nearly collapsed in church on Sunday? Sheesh. She sat on the same pew as the rest of my family. I happen to glance her direction and saw her slowly droop forward. I swapped seats with my daugher, who had sat in between us, and touched my mom on the arm. She raised her eyebrows to look at me. Sadly, I know what she looks like when she's about to drop, and I recognized the signs. I told her I was taking her home, and she objected at first. But, then she began to droop again, and she conceeded. I took her out and drove her home. While I was getting her settled into bed, she said, "I wanted to just lay down on the pew for a minute, but I thought you'd get mad at me." Oh. My. Gosh. Well, she's doing much better now. She over did her physical activities Saturday and has been paying the price since.

Or should I tell you how my husband rearranged a TON of furniture in the house, and now it is all in total and utter disarray?  I figured if I have to go through everything and reorganize and clean out...I should just put some of it on eBay. Right? Well, so...Monday, I put my first six things up on eBay. Tuesday, I got an email saying it's illegal to sell a bear skin, so they pulled it from the eBay listings. Great. So, I asked around, and a friend told me it's illegal to even have a bear skin in your possession unless you have the original tags issued to harvest the bear in the first place. Harvest. You mean KILL? Sheesh. So, I could get arrested for having a bear in a box. Nice!

Or should I tell you about...well...the rest of my crazy event filled days?

Ha.

What's the craziest most significant thing that's happened to you in the last few days?

Cinnamon Roll French Toast

I won't be writing today (well, except for this post)... instead I will be enjoying the day with a friend (yes, I actually have ONE!).

First, we will go to breakfast at a little hole-in-the-wall cafe.

This cafe, always jam packed with people, makes the most delicious sugar-induced-coma-causing Cinnamon Roll French Toast.

They make the cinnamon roll from scratch (huge), and then they slice it, dip it into egg batter, and cook it up on the grill.

Oh. My. Heavenly. Food.

YUM!!

......

After the sugar high has been ignited, we will go shopping (maybe for a couch, maybe for nothing).

When the sugar high wears off, we will go to PF Changs for lettuce wraps. Can I tell you - I've never had one? Can you assure me they will be just as mouth watering as the breakfast?

Hmm.

We'll see.

Then we are going to see the new movie, "Easy-A."

Looks funny.

Hope it delivers.

.......

I'm certain we'll be hungry after the movie, so we plan to have an AMAZING sandwich from a restaurant that slow-roasts its own meat (go figure) and bakes its own bread (YAY!).

I love their sandwiches, but they're in downtown Boise, and I live in Nampa.

So, I haven't been there in a year.

To finish off the day, we are going to "Time Out for Women" because, clearly after a fun filled day, we will need a "time-out" - - right?

Ha.

.......

See ya later.

What are you going to do today? What's your idea of a great escape day?

Query Magic (or skill?)

Okay. So, one of my critique partners (shout out to Shannon) sent a query for critique to the A.MAZ.ING. Elana Johnson. I read the before and after versions, and could NOT click fast enough to get myself over to Elana's website.

Here's how it works:
Click Here to go to Elana's website.
Then download her book, From the Query to the Call, for $10.
With the purchase of the book, you then get to send Elana your query.
She critiques it and sends it back to you.

My critique pal sent her revised query out and lightning fast got a request for a full from a top-notch agent!

Wanna read my before and after queries?  Here ya go:

Before:

Thirteen-year-old Cynthia Reid (Thia) falls in love with an internet predator. Of course she doesn’t know Mike is a predator. She just wants a boyfriend, and her over-protective parents won’t let her date until sixteen. So, hooking up with a boy during an online game seems like the perfect solution…until Thia’s mom catches her emailing innocent pictures. Then she loses her computer for weeks. When Thia finally gets it back, she learns that Mike attempted suicide in her absence.


Out of fear and guilt, Thia gives Mike her cell phone number, because she doesn’t want to be responsible for his death. The burden becomes too heavy to bear, but she doesn’t know who to trust. She knows Mike would never lie to her, because he loves her, and she chooses to believe him over her friends and her parents. As her online relationship with Mike intensifies, Thia’s real world begins to crumble. Her friendships shatter, her lies come more easily, and her relationship with her parents teeters on the brink.

Thia’s life spins out of control when her mom calls the police after discovering text messages from Mike on Thia’s phone. But even after Thia is shown evidence of who Mike really is, she stills chooses to believe Mike…until he shows up on her doorstep as a forty-five-year-old man.

Inspired by actual events, The Education of Thia is a 62,000 word young adult novel.

This is a multiple submission, and three agents are currently reviewing the full manuscript. Thank you for your time and consideration.

After:
 
Thirteen-year-old Cynthia Reid desperately wants a boyfriend but her parents won’t let her date until she’s sixteen—so she turn to the Internet, where she finds Mike. When Thia’s mom catches her hooking up with Mike during an online game, and then finds out she’s been emailing him innocent pictures, Thia loses her computer. When she finally gets it back, she learns that Mike attempted suicide in her absence.


She’s convinced Mike loves her, and would never lie to her, but as her online relationship intensifies, Thia’s real world begins to crumble. Her friendships shatter, her lies come more easily, and her relationship with her parents teeters on the brink.

When Thia’s mom finds text messages from Mike on Thia’s phone, she digs for answers. Even when Thia is shown evidence of who Mike really is, she doesn’t believe her mom—until Mike shows up on her doorstep.

He’s a forty-five-year-old man.

......
So... what do you think? Which one do you like better? I vote for Elana's version, and I can't hardly wait to send it out. I've had to use massive amounts of will power to not send it... but I really want to make a few additional revisions to the ms before I send it. I don't want to "waste" any full requests!!

Go visit Elana's website and buy her book! Purely amazing critique.

Write On Con - - Amazing!

WriteOnCon (link on the lower right of this blog) is an amazing resource for writers. A.MAZ.ING! Check them out, and while you're there - (go today) - sign up for all the super cool prizes they're giving away, everything from critiques to books. YAY. Prizes = Good.

Also, check out the separate prizes on:
Elana Johnson's website
Shannon Messenger
Jamie Harrington
Casey McCormick
Lisa & Laura

What does this mean?

Okay... so yesterday, I burned the tip of my finger because I had to iron a "no ironing necessary" shirt.  The label on this shirt says to not put it in the dryer, but instead, take it from the washer, twist it into a rope and let it dry. This results in fun crinkly wrinkles all over the shirt. If you'd like to see a close up of the shirt visit the Lane Bryant website (link below). But, see here's the problem. Yesterday, I was selling Bernina sewing machines, and I didn't want customers to think I was too lazy to iron my shirt. Seriously. Now, give me some credit... I didn't iron the whole thing. I only ironed the collar, the cuffs, and the pocket flaps.  But still. Do you think it's wrong to wear a shirt all wrinkly?

Lane Bryant's website

Jaded? or Guarded? or Concerned?

Saturday, I received another request for a full manuscript from an agent. YAY! Right? Then why am I not jumping up and down for joy?

Have I become jaded already from the number of rejections I've received (but... I've *only* received one rejection on a full... so far).

Or am I guarded because of the rejection I received on the full ms. Does a rejection on a full mean the writing isn't good enough and I should stop sending queries and revise and improve more? Or does it just mean the one agent didn't like it? Oh my.

Or am I concerned because what if this agent likes it, really really likes it? And she offers me representation? Then what? I've worked so long and hard to get an agent... do I know what to do if one actually offers me representation? Should I start researching and planning for THAT big event?

Or do I just have a chemical imbalance... a mental disorder... hormone swing?

Ack. This waiting. Not knowing. Hoping. Revising. Writing. Hoping. And not knowing is taking its psychotic toll on me today.

Maybe I should just go take a shower and then go sell some Bernina sewing machine at Quilt Crossing today.

What do you think? Do I need to be medicated?

Food Descriptions in Manifested

My daughter arrived home from school just now and sliced right into that delicious blueberry thing I bought last night. As she licked her lips, I continued to work on my ms, Manifested. Strangely enough, one of the characters in the ms jumped forward and described how he wanted his breakfast cooked.

I had to stop and chuckle (yes, really, I chuckle!) as I thought about how many food scenes there are in this ms! Ha. I love food.

And, so, yes... I've decided to rewrite Manifested... Doing everything I can to make it more marketable. So, I've decided to change the entire ms to third person and modify the chapter formats. It's been a fun and interesting process so far.  I love writing maybe more than I love food. Maybe. Let me think about it for awhile...

Maybe sugar wasn't a good choice for breakfast?

So, last night there was an employee meeting at the Quilt Crossing. We have a dinner buffet during these meetings, and these ladies KNOW how to cook. YUM! Me? Not so much. When I learned I needed to bring a side dish or dessert, I thought, crap. So what did I do? Stopped at the store on the way and bought an $8 muffin-blueberry-almond-icingtopped-bundtcake-thing.

I took the plastic cover off before I set it on the table, so it would look homemade. Several people told me I was wasting my time. Go figure.

Anyhow, when I finally got a taste of it last night, I thought, Oh. My. Yum. And, I hoped hoped hoped nobody would want any because it was "store bought." Fine. By. Me. 

Hardly any was eaten. YAY!

So, I brought it home, and did not let myself have anymore last night. Talk about self-control.

But, I had dreams about it! Mmm.Hmm.

As soon as I got the kids out the door for school, guess what I did? Yup. That's right. Cut myself a BIG ol' piece and sat down and ate it. Most of it. I kinda feel a little woosey (is that a word) from it. I think I might have a sugar buzz.

Does that means I'm going to have a sugar crash in 30 minutes? I hope NOT. Because I've got a book to write/revise today. I have goals to accomplish.  Maybe not in 30 minutes. I think I feel a crash coming already. I can hear my bed calling me... Margo. Margo. Margo.

I. Will. Fight. The. Urge.

What did you have for breakfast? Healthy? Not Healthy? Jealous of my cake?

Finding Your Voice

Many writers discuss the topic of "voice." Many agents say they will only sign a writer with a strong "voice."

What is "voice" and how do you get it?  Well, the answer to that is quite vague, and you could spend days blog hopping and researching to find a "maybe" kind of answer.  However, after reading one issue of Glimmer Train from cover to cover, I understand much better what "voice" is. And, I think I'll start reading the next issue right away, because I've learned more about voice from this one issue than I have from any other form of reading or research I've done on the topic.

While I was impressed, confused, and moved by the first story in the issue, I was even more influenced as I went from one story to the next. The stories in this issue each have an obvious and distinct voice. It's been a great lesson to read one story and immediately go into the next story and see, read, feel, the distinct change in voice. Amazingly, Glimmer Train provides not only a great demonstration of voice, but it also gives examples of impressive language, word choices and sentences, which leaves the reader considering the images long after setting the story down.

If you want to read great stories, buy a copy. If you want to improve your writing craft, buy a copy. :)

http://www.glimmertrain.com/issue74spring.html

Straighten Up!

Did your parents ever tell you to "Straighten up!" ... ??  Mine must have, because those words easily come to mind. heh, heh ((insert awkward smile here))

Anyhoo... received some GREAT "legal" advice regarding my previous post. (Uh, yah, the one I just deleted - so don't go looking for it.)

I'm so silly... it didn't occur to me that the whole world could read my blog. (OF COURSE IT DID! I just pretended not to care.)

So, if you're an avid follower of this blog (which I know you are) - I thought I'd let you know why a couple of posts disappeared. Now, you know. I don't really want to get sued. ((insert sincere but kinda fake smile here))

A big thanks to the kind soul who gave me great advice via email. Remind me - and when my book gets published, I'll send you a signed copy! :) FOR REALS!

'Cause we all know it WILL happen.

If I straighten up!

Sneak Peak

Hey - would you like to read the first chapter of The Education of Thia? (Say YES!) Visit my website (link below) and click on the Novels tab and then the tab for The Education of Thia. There you'll find the first chapter! Be sure to come back here and leave your critiques!

Click here to visit Margo's website!

Hang in there!

Be of good cheer. Do not think of today's failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult task, but you will succeed if you persevere; and you will find joy in overcoming obstacles. Remember, no effort that we make to attain something beautiful is ever lost.

Helen Keller