Category: Writing

Chatting with Brittany the Book Slayer

Today Darcy and I are over at Brittany the Book Slayer’s blog. Brittany is a senior editor at American Cheerleader Magazine and an aspiring YA author.

Why, you may ask, are we chatting with a senior editor from American Cheerleader? All will be revealed soon. As in tomorrow. Pretty much tomorrow is the day.

But in the meantime, enjoy the interview at Brittany the Book Slayer. This interview contains some in-depth information on just how we go about writing as partners, which may convince you never to attempt to write with a partner.

It warms a writing mom’s heart

So Andrew is reading the Vladimir Tod by Heather Brewer (he likes vampires of the non-sparkly variety).

He finished Ninth Grade Slays last night and was paging through Tenth Grade Bleeds this morning before he tucked it into his binder. He looked up at me and said:

“These books are written in third person point of view, but it feels like first.”

Ah, the observations that make a writing mother’s heart flutter.

I see myself in this …

Courtesy of Lara Zielin, one of the fantabulous 2009 Debs, comes this video:

While I haven’t knocked on anyone’s door … yet, I’ve been known to sing the praises of “The Donald” more than once. Okay. A lot. All the time. Actually, I probably need a 12-step program, the one where I promise not to annoy my writing friends.

But, but, but … their (writing) lives would be much more fulfilling if only they listened to Donald Maass. Try the gateway drug Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook. Just one exercise. Or two! How could it hurt? It’s an exercise, silly, not a way of life.

That comes later.

And look, he’s going to be in Madison, WI in November! I may have to make a pilgrimage.

Seriously. I used Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook extensively with Geek Girl. But you know, writing craft books are just like any other book–they work for some people and not for others. For me, voice and tone go a long way in whether I simply enjoy a writing craft book.

But, yeah. I’ll try to stop curb the proselytizing.

On writing partners

I’m always fascinated by how other writing partners work. I wonder if it’s like being a twin–you have a connection with someone most people don’t have.

So naturally, I loved every minute of this interview. I don’t think the process Darcy and I go through is quite as bloody. But we do trade scenes back and forth, and write over each other, and we do have sentences where I’ve probably written two words and she’s written three (and vice versa).

And we do talk about the characters as if they’re real people. (You mean they’re not? Oh.) We’ve been know to spend copious amounts of time shopping for the perfect prom/homecoming dress/shoes etc. for them.

And … we’re doing a lot of that right now, which is why the blog content has been a little thin.

Amazing news of the amazing variety

So last night, about 5:45, I’d been home about five minutes or so. Here’s what was going on:

  • I was on the computer, trying to order pizza* online, while fielding “suggestions” from the kids.
  • The dog was leaping about, wanting to go outside.
  • The cat wanted her food.
  • Other noisy things.

The phone rang. Andrew picked it up without answering it. He said, “Mom, this Birmingham number’s been calling all day long.”

He thought it might be one of our relatives from down south trying out a new cell phone. Why he thought this and didn’t answer the phone is one of those mysteries forever locked in the mind of a thirteen-year-old boy.

So. I’m not sure what to expect when I answer the phone. It turns out to be the contest coordinator from the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence contest. And yeah, I wondered: Why is she calling me? They already announced the finalists.

Turns out, this is why:

Yeah, Geek Girl won the young adult category. I know. I can barely believe it either. But what a great way to start out a long weekend.

* We went with half pepperoni, half sausage and mushroom and some cheesy bread.

A little writing humor

Here’s a joke I thought up in the shower this morning (yeah, brace yourself):

Why is the manuscript cold?
Because it’s a draft!

Oh, I slay me. Seriously, I think this may be a symptom of someone who has been spending far too many hours with a manuscript draft (and in case you’re wondering, that would be me).

I’ve been putting a lot of words into the manuscripts, and not a lot (obviously) here. The bonus: unintentionally funny typos, such as:

If I’d been the sort of girl to crunch on Jason …

Crush. I meant crush, because there is not even a hint of a zombie in our book. Although Jen did suggest a Geek Girl’s Guide to Zombies, but I think we’ll save that for another day.

Jasper Fforde on writing and publishing

This is a great five minute or so interview with Jasper Fforde. He talks about the long haul of writing and publishing. And if you hear a little cheer at the mention of ten years and six and a half manuscripts, that’s just me.

Because … ten years … six manuscripts. Wow. Sounds like someone I know. Wait! I do know her. That’s me.

Enjoy!

Miles to go

I have one thing to say today:

It. Is. Finished!!!!!

Okay, what is actually finished is this round of revisions. Unfortunately, “It is revised!” doesn’t have the same ring to it.

I still have miles to go before I sleep–or rather, before it’s ready to go. But I think/hope I have the main restructuring slog out of the way. This is really a “my reach may exceed my grasp” kind of story. So for now, I’ll let The Fine Art of Holding Your Breath compost.

Even with the all the work ahead of me, I can’t help feeling a little bit like this:

This leaves me free to revisit Dating on the Dork Side, which I’m also very excited about. Although, I accidently opened one of its files yesterday. As I told Darcy: it reads like I downed half a bottle of NyQuil before I sat down to write.

So. Miles to go there as well.

Think I’ll go list to Ode to Joy one more time. 

Because really, when you finish any draft of a manuscript, the skies should open, light should pour down, and all the animals of the forest should burst into song.

And the Berlin Philharmonic should personally come to your house.