Fan, Dumb
Bring it in, people. There we go. A little closer. Closer. Ok, stop. I have another confession, but I'd like to keep this betwe...
Book Blog: WINGER by Andrew Smith
I'm not gonna lie...I'm pretty funny in real life. People are always laughing at me. Wait. You don't think they're laug...
You MUST Avoid the Between!
The time Between Christmas and New Years is probably the least productive time for all of humanity. There are several reason why: 1. W...
Blood Red Road is quite possibly my favorite book. EVER.
I love the main character so much that I've seriously considered getting her name tattooed on my butt. But I always end up asking myself the same question: why the hell would I do that?
Her name is Saba. You should get to know her. Just don't piss her off...
The setting is dystopian/desert/wasteland. I'm not a huge fan of dystopian stuff, but this story has an original feel that sets it apart from the noise.
The story starts with Saba's twin brother being kidnapped, then it moves quickly as Saba kicks just about everyone's ass in the book. Saba is extra mean to her whiny little sister (and everyone else that comes in contact with her), but this is part of why I love her. She's one of the most irritable, feisty, and driven characters I've ever known. As you hear her thoughts (first person), you can't help but root for her to find and rescue her brother.
She's so flawed. She's just so damn flawed.
There's a bunch of great characters in this story. Her love interest, Jack, is intriguing. Her little sister is a pain in the ass. Her new homegirls, the Free Hawks, are a teenage gang of warriors. The villain is a weird-ass dude that reminds me of that creepy king guy from those Burger King commercials.
There's also a crow named Nero. I'm never too excited about animals in stories, but Nero is pretty freaking awesome.
I know some peeps that have read Blood Red Road and have had trouble getting used to the writing. It's written in it's own sort of redneck dialect, so it does take a few pages to get the flow of the sounds, but it's SO worth it. The writing style is refreshing and really set this book apart.
I feel fortunate to have read this book early in my reading career. It set the stage for what was possible and pushed my imagination to the edge. It helped me see YA Lit in a new way and made me want to be a better writer.
Obviously, I recommend this book. Obviously.
"THEY CALL ME THE ANGEL OF DEATH. That's because I ain't never lost a fight. Every time they take me to the Cage, I let the red hot take me over an it fights till it wins."
-Saba
Book Blog: Blood Red Road by Moira Young
Blood Red Road is quite possibly my favorite book. EVER. I love the main character so much that I've seriously considered getting ...
Make a fist and hold it in front of your face...now try to punch your brain as fast as you can.
If you do this, you will successfully punch yourself in the face. You are also a moron.
Like all worthwhile activities in life, writing is tough. It isn't that it's tough to write something, it's tough to write something, see that it sucks, and then try again. It's more of a perseverance game than anything. A test of your will. It often feels like you're punching yourself in the face.
For me, writing is all about having the time...or perhaps making the time.
I get up very early to either read or write. I'd like to do both in the same day, but that's way too close to multi-tasking.
*Shudders
Guess how many times my alarm goes off at 4 a.m. and I jump out of bed with a smile on my face?
Exactly.
4 a.m. alarms are the same as getting punched in the face by Thor.
But, if I don't do it, I don't have the time to read, and I sure as hell don't have the time to write.
I get home from work and have three animals (children) anxiously waiting to blast me with requests, complaints, and questions. From the time I get home, to the time I pass out from overdosing on laundry, I have precisely zero seconds to read and write.
Punching myself in the face at 4 a.m. is the only way it's ever going to happen. Unless, of course, I marry Jessica Alba and she becomes my sugar mama.
That's how it goes, though. Right? When you set out to do something amazing, expect hardship. Writing a book ain't no trip to Chipotle.
But seriously...don't punch yourself in the face unless you want a three night stay in a nice white room with padded walls and a locked door.
Happy Thanksgiving
If you do this, you will successfully punch yourself in the face. You are also a moron.
Like all worthwhile activities in life, writing is tough. It isn't that it's tough to write something, it's tough to write something, see that it sucks, and then try again. It's more of a perseverance game than anything. A test of your will. It often feels like you're punching yourself in the face.
For me, writing is all about having the time...or perhaps making the time.
I get up very early to either read or write. I'd like to do both in the same day, but that's way too close to multi-tasking.
*Shudders
Guess how many times my alarm goes off at 4 a.m. and I jump out of bed with a smile on my face?
Exactly.
4 a.m. alarms are the same as getting punched in the face by Thor.
But, if I don't do it, I don't have the time to read, and I sure as hell don't have the time to write.
I get home from work and have three animals (children) anxiously waiting to blast me with requests, complaints, and questions. From the time I get home, to the time I pass out from overdosing on laundry, I have precisely zero seconds to read and write.
Punching myself in the face at 4 a.m. is the only way it's ever going to happen. Unless, of course, I marry Jessica Alba and she becomes my sugar mama.
That's how it goes, though. Right? When you set out to do something amazing, expect hardship. Writing a book ain't no trip to Chipotle.
But seriously...don't punch yourself in the face unless you want a three night stay in a nice white room with padded walls and a locked door.
Happy Thanksgiving
How to Punch Yourself in the Face
Make a fist and hold it in front of your face...now try to punch your brain as fast as you can. If you do this, you will successfully punc...
As a writer you can:
1. Stay True to yourself.
2. Be a scaredy cat (Boo!).
3. Be a Debbie Downer and think your writing is Poo.
Option #3 - Poo
Basically, most people fail at writing. They fail because they give up. They give up because they write something and it sucks. And the crazy part about it is that us writers often compare our first drafts (that do indeed suck) to our favorite books that have been revised a million times. Writing a first draft to ANYTHING is difficult.
Don't be a Debbie Downer. She sees the downside to everything. Everything is bad. Always.
As a writer you can't think this way. If you write something and it sucks, well, congratulations. You're like every other person in existence that has ever tried to write something. Just don't stay there. Keep going.
You're writing isn't Poo. It's fertilizer.
Option #2 - Boo!
It's Halloween today, so I should get bonus points for this one.
Don't let fear hold you back from writing what YOU want to write! You simply do not care what anyone thinks (unless you have an agent or editor...then you care). Don't fear what kind of feedback you will get from readers. Don't fear query letter rejection. Don't fear failure. Don't fear Edward the vampire.
Write what you want. Do it. Or else...
Option #1 - True
Stay true, yo.
Think of ALLLLLLL the books you love that have no comparison. The authors wrote what they wanted. They didn't try to copy someone. Think of a book you read and thought, "This book is amazing. I've never read anything like it!"
Now go do that.
True, Boo, or Poo?
As a writer you can: 1. Stay True to yourself. 2. Be a scaredy cat (Boo!). 3. Be a Debbie Downer and think your writing is Poo. Opti...
I read Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller and then I considered driving to Florida to find Trish so I could hug her.
It's that good.
I decided against the hug-trip since Trish and I have never met and she might call the police when I approach her with open arms doing the ugly cry.
Where the Stars Still Shine is an extremely realistic story of a girl named Callie. She's been through a lot and has had a pretty rough life, but the meat of the story is this: Callie was sexually abused by one of her mom's boyfriends.
Trish handles the subject of abuse carefully, accurately, and honestly.
We need more books like this. I think this book should be required reading for all human teenagers. Alien teenagers I'm not too worried about.
I know, I know...there's some sex in this book. Big whoop. Teenagers who have been sexually abused would find some hope in Callie's story. And exactly zero teenagers would read this book and then think, "Wow! What is this sex thing that they're doing? I'm gonna go try it!"
It's vitally important that teenagers are aware of sexual abuse and that there is hope and healing for anyone that has been abused. More teens have been abused than the world will ever know and a book like this might be their first step towards healing. It's easy to pick up a book and sit by yourself and read. It's not so easy to go to another person while feeling overwhelmed with unnecessary guilt and tell them what happened.
Books like this are important and can change people's lives.
As far as the plot, the characters, the writing stuff...they are all up to Trish Doller standards.
Amazing.
Trish is a gifted writer and I basically sit around all day mumbling over and over, "Trish write more books. Trish write more books."
So, Trish...WRITE MORE BOOKS.
If you've never read a Trish Doller book, you should. Her writing is smooth and easy to follow (Yay for me!), her characters are always realistic, and she'll make you want to become a rapper (trust me).
Also, Trish describes someone in the book as "wearing a Wisconsin Badgers sweatshirt." This is clear evidence that Trish thinks about me often. And by "often" I mean all the freaking time.
I give Where the Stars Still Shine 5 out of 5 hugs from strangers.
Now go buy it.
Book Blog: Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish "The Wish" Doller
I read Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller and then I considered driving to Florida to find Trish so I could hug her. It's ...
Inspiration is a Muggle
Sometimes I don't fell inspired to write...like...right now. But what am I doing? I'm writing. Yep. I feel nothing. No emotion....
"Thanks, Snape!" Writing Fuel for Insane People Like Me
Why do you write? No, really. Why? What motivates you to sit by yourself for hundreds of hours typing and playing make believe? What m...
Real People = Believable Characters
Image: Morguefile.com For me, writing about characters is sort of like the president going to a rock concert. I have no idea why, but ...
INTRODUCING New Thursday Muse - Aaron Bergh
So, a funny thing happened a few months ago. This sharp-tongued guy reviewed UTNS and TTEN. People read it and went bananas over his quick-...
