A Character Interview

Most of you know me as Ana, one of Sheri's master creations. *adjusting the suede satchel at my hip that Sheri insists I wear.


Don't get me wrong. Being a fictitious character isn't all about the ball-n-chain of my creator making me submit to scenes I'd rather not go through or dialog I'd rather not say. Trust me ~ I've had my fun with my so-called 'In -charge' master. *I'm laughing way to easily, right now. My bad, Sheri. It also has it's perks, like meeting other fictitious characters and comparing notes.

As in Sammy, my friend from Ciara Knight's newly published novella Loves Long Shadows. Sammy's pretty cool, for a fallen angel suffering from amnesia. 


So Sammy, what gives with the whole amnesia thing? 


I so wish I could remember Heaven and why I fell, but it isn’t meant to be. Every time I try to remember something I’m overwhelmed by human emotion. I hope to remember what my angelic gifts are so that I can help my brother fight demons, or figure out my purpose here on Earth.

Wow! That's pretty rough. And I thought I had it bad, being abandoned by my mom when I was six--well, not really abandoned, although that's the way I've chosen to see it. My amnesia is selective. I'd rather see things my way...but that was before I met Viktor. 

You live a pretty normal life with your Earthbound mother, Grace, right? Did you just 'wake up' and realize you were more than human, or did you always know?

I fell from Heaven only a few months ago. *shivers* The only memory I have of the fall is flashes of lights and feeling like I’m being suffocated by my own skin. Then, I’m waking in a cold grass field near Alex, my brother, in Montanta. It was rough until Grace found us. She’s great, been a caregiver to fallen angels for decades I believe.

Lucky Grace found you. She sounds amazing! I live with my dad, whose idea of care-giving is a sooty fireman's hug, and a hotdog and a beer while watching a baseball game. He does love me, though. Just misses my mom, which is totally lame in my opinion. I mean, she's been gone for ten years. And they say girls are dramatic. 

What do you long for the most?

To return to Heaven. Even though I don’t have my memory, flutters of emotion stir each time I try to think of my life before I fell.

Sounds like something more than no memory of Heaven and a reason for your Fall is keeping you from Heaven? Maybe a threat?

*Nods head. Forras, a local head demon. He’s powerful and full of evil. I’m still not that great at spotting demons but I can smell his sulfuric odor from down the beach.

It feels like there's more - a secret?

*Sighs, but answers anyway. I have feelings for someone who hangs out with demons. Alex warned me to stay away, that demons could easily manipulate me because of my new human emotions.

Oh. I guess Sheri and Ciara were right. We do have something in common: you have feelings for a dude, who hangs out with demons, which messes with your human emotions. So not in your best interests. And I have feelings for a guy who manipulates my empathic ability, making me feel, which is not the healthiest thing for me either. 

Let's lighten this up a bit. Signature Graffiti Wall question: Smoking hot demon trying to do good, yet you know he's bad; Do-gooder, always-follows-the-rules angel and wears a sweet expression. Or the scraggly haired human boy with amazing blue eyes, who has the average teenage problems. You remember Heaven and can take one of them with you. Which do you choose?

Wow, that’s a tough question. *Deep breath* I might be in love with a demon, but I know there is good in him. I guess I’d have to say a Smoking hot demon trying to do good. Whatever you do, PLEASE don’t tell Alex. He’s already on a rampage; he’d kill Boon if he knew. 

Your secret is safe with me.

Thanks so much for having me here today. Ciara and Sheri were right. We should Skype or FB. I just learned about them a week ago. Maybe you could help me figure out what SMH and JK mean. J

Haha...sounds great!! Maybe a blogfest, too!

Seriously folks, check out Sammy's story on Turquoise Morning Press | Amazon Kindle | Smashwords | Bookstrand | All Romance Ebooks/OmniLit, and her creator, Ciara on Facebook, Twitter, & Goodreads.

I've Been Keeping Something From You...

My personal writing road has seen it's fair share of hurdles, potholes, and ditches lately. Each time I take a step forward, something pushes me backward. I finally finished that total rewrite of Marked Beauty, went through all my beta reads (which were awesome), and polished a bit more. In between, I took my hiatus this summer from blogging and spent the rest of my time with my four kids and the hubby. I did, however, attend WriteOnCon. My goal was to explore my picture book fetish a bit and hobnob with other PB writers. That in itself was very informative--a great experience. But something else happened. 

I noticed the call for writers to post the first 250 words of their YA novel. That's not what I was there for but I figured What the heck? So I posted. And an agent noticed. She requested everything I had--query, synopsis, and the full manuscript. Needless to say, I was surprised. I visited her agencies website. They seemed fabulous, but my gut told me she wouldn't be for me. Her agency represented mostly spiritual stories aka the cancer suffering teen, etc... MB is about another realm within our own filled with supernatural creatures that are not so heavenly. But she asked, so I was sending.


My gut was right, but that was okay. She loved what I sent (actually read the entire manuscript) and seemed to believe I'd have no trouble finding representation or a publisher. She actually told me that. So I started querying--just two weeks ago. I have a full and a partial out, and one refusal (said it just wasn't her type of story). But I've heard absolutely nothing from the other nine queries I sent. 


Though I thought I'd be all cool about this, I'm not. Waiting has completely stifled my creativity. And with all this, I'm taking an online writing class. Last week, Dianne and Marcy posted my first page in their First Impressions segment. I received awesome suggestions on how to improve the piece. It was a positive experience and I felt really good about where it was going. Then I subbed the first paragraph from that same first page to my writing instructor. Let's just say she didn't have much good to say about it. That did it. I was crushed. Haven't written a thing since.

But then, as always seems to happen in my writing life, another writer came along and said the exact words I needed to hear. Susan Kaye Quinn gave me a new lesson in the lies we writers tell ourselves, how we beat ourselves down when all we should be doing is just keep writing. Dianne, my first connection on Twitter, sent me a private email with amazing encouragement and advice. 

And then I visited my friend Jen Daiker, and read her heartfelt words about her recent querying bout. I think she and I are lofting in the same pothole, except she's decided to drag herself out and start a new blog--if she can't find inspiration out there, why not find it within herself. For even more inspiration, Christina Lee reminded me to whisper my goals and let them take flight on the breeze of nature, always keeping in mind that there's room at the publishing table for me. Of course there's my Oasis Sisters, too. Heart them!

Lastly, Elana Johnson asked What skin I was wearing? Yeah, that rang a bell. I'm the mother of four and wife to one, and wear almost every hat imaginable. At that moment, I remembered my chunky bracelet with a heart dangling off one of the links. I also gave one to my daughter. Years ago, I had both engraved with the same words: To Thine Own Self Be True. Nothing more. Nothing less. I really CAN do anything. It's time for me to be true to myself again.

This is for those writer friends I've mentioned and
for all of you who visit and share yourself with me!!

So writer, if you can't find motivation next to you, surf cyber space. Inspiring advice, perseverance, and endurance is waiting for you...not to mention a cyber ((hug)).


Tuesday was another edition of WS4U! Progress Report. It's a great exercise in both support and accountability. Please take a moment to show support to some of our members, also writing posts today. You never know the similarities you might find to your own writing road to publication and beyond.

http://jc-martin.com/fighterwriter/

http://waibelworld.blogspot.com

http://NicoleZoltack.blogspot.com

http://susanfieldswriter.blogspot.com

http://skmayhew.blogspot.com/p/tuesday-wip-status.html

http://margoberendsen.blogspot.com

http://www.sherryauger.blogspot.com

 http://www.susanoloier.blogspot.com--in/ 

First Impressions: Page One

Not sure if you've heard what my good writer friends Dianne and Marcy are up to these days. They've joined forces, offering a critique of first pages a few times each month. Well, seeing how I finally starting writing my YA paranormal fantasy ~ GYPSY DOLLS: Carnival of Souls, I offered to be their guinea pig today! I'd love it if you'd head over to Dianne's Blog and/or Marcy's Blog and give me a shout-out. Your opinion is important to me. But before you do, here's my one-line pitch & blurb for the story:

One line pitch:

A wannabe witch knows nothing about gypsies or demons, until her sticky fingers lead her beyond a stint at Juvenile Hall and into a dark realm divided by two brothers.

Query:

A brutal home break-in leaves Jacquie Evans' mother partially-comatose, her father presumed dead, and this ex-juvenile hall resident needing someone to blame.

She starts working at the witchy Magick and Tattoo Parlor, suspiciously linked to evidence found at the crime scene otherwise known as Jacquie’s home. Snooping through amulets, Wisdom Cards, body paints and fabrics triggers memories of a time when her father took her there. What she doesn’t expect to find is the interest of Mick Lunt, reserved artist at the shop who specializes in demon art, envied master gamer, and hunky eye-candy to every girl in town.

Girls begin to disappear as Jacquie uncovers secrets about the crime and the town’s gypsy past.  Her snooping exposes her to a threat who’s been watching her---Mick’s younger brother and necromancer, Aiden who happens to be dead. Each time Mick shields Jacquie from Aiden, she peels away his protective layers to find more than her reticent savior—Mick's a rebel death dealer who carried out Lucifer’s sentence against his brother’s soul. Angered by Mick’s lies, Jacquie turns to Aiden for answers about her parents’ attack and becomes the mortal pawn between the two brothers. Both have developed a sweet and dangerous taste for her. And with Hell at her doorstep, her choices could cost Jacquie more than her soul. It could kill her mother.

GYPSY DOLLS: Carnival of Souls is a 75,000 word YA paranormal fantasy with World of Warcraft necromancers, x-Box-playing death dealers, mystical cumulus drops, and family ties that will blur the lines of Heaven and Hell.

Hope to see you over at Dianne and Marcy's blogs. Can't wait to hear what you think! Thanks for any and all suggestions.

~Hearts~

Sheri

Twisted Tuesday: REWRITING, Step 3

So it's official. I completed my rewrite.
Totally.
In full.
All done.
Finished.
Tout est fait. I typed: THE END.

Just over 76,000 words, successfully incorporating an added plot twist, upped the unique voice element, axed characters, a change from past tense to present tense, a few personalized descriptives enhancing character development, and new possibilities for book II and III.

Yeah, I'm pretty psyched. Now, I'll be looking over beta reads and edits, and have one amazing author friends (waves at AE) yet to read, but I'm on the homestretch, readying to send my baby out into the great beyond and excited to start work on both my MG fantasies and picture books.

That's my ROW80 PROGRESS report.  Please take a gander over to my ROW80 motivation partners and encourage them in their writing progress: Susan's PROGRESS, Margo's PROGRESS, C.Lee's PROGRESS.

I have more to say about completing my REwrite, but I did promise to continue the discussion on REwriting from where we left off last week. So here goes:

In STEP 1, we examined our reasons for choosing to REwrite instead of REvising. STEP 2, we chatted about breaking the process of rewriting into scenes, and I introduced my index card method. If you haven't read them you may need to because this post is simply moving forward with the next steps in the process. Feel free to take a peek. We'll wait.

So, moving on to STEP 3.

SPLIT SCREEN:

4. I already have a new document opened which I've entitled Workspace: 'Title of Book', and cut and pasted the existing scene into that blank space. Now, I open up another blank document and start the scene from scratch, always having the old scene there as a reference--aka SPLIT SCREEN. Yes, I know there are programs out there to do such things, but this is easy, right in front of me, and I won't have to convert any material to a Word doc. when it's time to submit to an agent, publisher, or editor. 


I want to note that starting the scene from scratch means physically writing a new opening line with new intrigue, pulling the reader into the scene & chapter. This also helps me switch gears to a new mindset for where I want this REwrite to take the audience.


5. After I've written maybe the first two 'ish' paragraphs, I start referencing the index cards I've developed--the ones with the important elements from the original draft I know must be in the scene as well as the index cards of new info I want to weave throughout the scene, chapter, and eventually the story.


6. As I utilize my index card notes, I'm constantly referencing my document labeled Workspace: 'Title of Book.' Sometimes I find a dialog tag or descriptive that seems perfect for where I am in the scene. Waste not want not, right? By doing this, I'm also analyzing myself as a writer. I see where I've been and watch myself edit my own material, giving it life in a more consistent and concise way.

7. Then, I layer voice and description and elements to enhance the scene just as I did when filling out my simple index cards.

Next time, I'll refer to #6 above more specifically. How through this complete manuscript REwrite I've seen myself grow through dialog. J

I've also decided to slow down on blogging so I can get these beta reads and edits completed. I'll keep posting on Tuesdays and probably sporadically. My best as always and tapping fingers and feet....

REwriting Vs. REvisions

You're a writer. You have an idea. Then another. Before you know it, you have too many ideas to keep track of. So you need to outline or write a mini-synopsis or even splatter your thoughts on index cards.

Then comes scenes which breed chapters and complete Act I, II, and then II. You're at the Climax or Black Moment *wink, Stina* Then the wrap-up, until finally you write the two most precious words: THE END.

When I finished my first manuscript (which is technically my second, I just can't think of my first ms attempt as anything but yuck...) I was elated. Awe is probably a better way to put it. I really did it. From start to finish. I had characters, a plot, sub-plots, and scenes that moved a real story forward. There were even people that read it and were impressed. I remember thinking, "Geez...really??"

Then I met other writers, ones more experienced than me. They read. They critiqued. They guided me to the knowledge that writing the script was ONLY step one. Now I was like, "Geez...really??" But down deep, I knew I wasn't finished yet.

So I took all their advice, edits, and suggestions and did what every serious novelist does--I started to revise.

According to Dictionary.com, a REVISION is: a corrected or new version of a book, article, etc... So during revisions of a manuscript, the writer corrects errors in grammar, syntax, mood, voice and so on. He/she also might discover inconsistencies within the story which need fixing. Writing another paragraph or tightening up some prose can sometimes fix those aliments. What's most important to note here is that the story or theme remains the same. Basically, revising takes what you've already created and makes it shine and sparkle to the point where it's irresistible to an agent, editor, or publisher. 


Now rewriting is a bit different. REWRITING (same source) is: to write in a different manner or form. One will find revising within rewriting but not the opposite. If you REwrite, you REwrite and change/alter a part of the story. Rewriting can be as dramatic as completely axing a manuscript or article and starting over or cutting out parts and re-creating those. Character development (including backstory, emotional gauges, physical appears and basic arc), main plot, and sub-plots can all be recreated, which can alter the original idea of the story itself creating a totally new tale.

During the ROW80, I've been REwriting my YA manuscript. After wonderful advice and interest--and two months waffling about what I should do--I decided to weave in another plotline, giving depth and adding mystery to the tale. It's also given me a deeper insight into my characters, which is making me a better character arc writer.

I completely REwrote the first four chapters--every word, altering some backstory which changed my MCs perception of her life at the beginning of the story and in turn is changing her character arc throughout Act I, II, & surely will in Act III. Then slowly and methodically, I've REvised scenes that still worked in moving the story forward, while REwriting others, intensifying action and mystery as well as my characters inner growth. Then there are scenes I've been writing brand-spanking new. Can you see how I'm applying these two terms?

Since last Tuesday, I've REvised or REwritten 8 chapters for an approximate total of 18,500 words. I'm excited, because I should be entering Act III by next week.

Please visit these other lovely ladies who are joining me in all this REvision and REwriting.

Susan's PROGRESS
Margo's PROGRESS
C.Lee's PROGRESS

AND I've highlighted a new YA book over on Oasis for YA!!

Can you answer my question. Can you see how I'm applying the differences between REvising and REwriting? Have you done the same?

Don't forget to enter my Signed MG book giveaway!!

UNEXPECTED Progress

Those who visited the Alleyway yesterday know I took the last few days off to participate in a few dance shows and to recover from the exhausting weekend. Missed it? Interested? Scroll below. :) However, being gone for three days has left me with a mountain of emails and to-do's, so I might be a bit scarce this week. TY for understanding.

I wasn't available to give the A-Z Challenge the proper adeu! *Waves, eyes glaze over and a tear trickles down my check* I enjoyed the challenge far more than I thought I would. Giving me a letter to focus my ideas on helped to collect my thoughts more readily and write more concisely. *HOTHEADS!!* 

Before I move on to my Tuesday Progress Report, I must give a huge shout-out to Author Elizabeth Mueller for giving me this:

Too cool!! I'm sure lots of you received it, too. *Round of Applause!*

Just as helpful as the alphabet challenge was for me, so now is the ROW80. Setting goals is important; something I'm constantly pointing out to my kids. And joint-pledging with three other writers has made it that more pleasant and meaningful. Not to mention, I've gained an amazing new CP out of it. :)

Goal #1 ~ I am making serious strides in my rewrite of MARKED BEAUTY. I've even reposted my brand new opening on a separate page.

I'm in the middle of Act II, threading in a new plot twist and discovering even more about my two main leads but also, myself--THE WRITER. I've come leaps and bounds in communicating my thoughts more concisely and recognizing my errors in my first completed manuscript of MB--probably the reasons the three agents in January who pursued the manuscript eventually passed. Editing and structure of ideas. Collectively, each mentioned that I could write and the story was quite unique. I think it was the amount of restructuring and the time it would take which gave them pause.

I've been very sensitive to that, careful what, where, and when I feed the reader back story or internal thought information. I've spread it out, giving crumbs through dialog and ponderings from secondary characters, and even at a few points a piece of a character's internal revelation in hopes to reveal it all at the climax.

I mentioned yesterday that I've had great progress. But I've also had some unexpected interest in my rewrite from one on the original agents who passed. Once I complete my rewrite, said agent would like to take a look at it. *Another round of applause!* But those claps aren't for me. They are for you and all who've stuck by my side in spite of the last few months when I was less than a blossoming flower of enthusiasm. Thank you. I am determined not to disappoint. :)

Goal 2 & 3 ~ Basically, I'm putting plotting and outlining my other three stories on the back burner because of the interest in my rewrite. As far as my picture books, I haven't worked on them but I've been lead to an amazing PB critique group who I can't wait to start working with.

Please take a peek at the three lovelies who are in this ROW80 with me.

Susan's PROGRESS
Margo's PROGRESS
C.Lee's PROGRESS

Do you have WIP PROGRESS to share? 

Trading Fading Sparkle for Emerging Glimmer

Through the diminishing sparkle, new glimmer is being forged. Have patience. Be observant. And ready yourself to share your light.

So the other day this came to me. Call it wisdom. Label it ignorance. Tag it a desperate attempt to hold on. Despite how you choose to see/read it, what truly matters is how I do.

How much value do you put in others' opinions? How do you see yourself? Your life? Your writing?

Interacting with other writers, reading and critiquing others' work, and writing on a consistent basic is ultimate to our success in the publishing industry. But so is our mirror-image, the way in which we perceive ourselves.

That diminishing sparkle in my quote has been me lately. I've shared a bit about the encouraging movement MARKED BEAUTY has had over the last few months. Still in limbo with a few agents, and waiting on another publishing houses verdict. I know my agent is waiting in the wings; it's only a matter of time before a match is solidified.

In the meantime, I've been hammering out line-edits for close writer friends and a few fellow YAlitchaters. I've been reading a ton. Some for personal pleasure, some for reviews asked of me, and some for inspiration with my two current WIPs. Honestly, I've been up to my eyebrows in research.

One is a YA dystopian/paranormal, GYPSY DOLLS. Way back three years ago when I started writing, I wrote a full script, went through the typical newbie stuff, and realized I needed to improve myself. As I took writing classes, I started on a sequel to that first book, (just for the heck of it). It turned into quite the story, just over 50,000 words with a strong plot, sub-plots, and plenty of characters and world-building. But it was written in 3rd POV. So recently I decided to start converting it to 1st POV, which I write more strongly.

Great! Yay me!

Garf! NOT. The story was a continuation of the first one, so there's lots I need to change. I wrote the first two chapters, then had a very talented writer crit for me. I like this new start...BUT...I became stumped, not sure what direction I wanted to take the story. I wanted to diviate from paranormal romance, spreading my wings. But I LOVE paranormal romance and my heart tends to lend that way no matter what I write.



So I set it aside and began a new MG series titled MOTLEY EDUCATION: 1st Assignment. Looky, I even cranked out a cover. It's quirky and fun, even a bit silly. I've got Ebony Charmed--the unsure-of-herself 12yr-old lead with her cat Midnight that can see the same ghosts she can but can also talk with them (something Ebony as a apprentice witch is suppose to be able to do), Fleishman--her BGuyF who's anything but a jock and is constantly hurting himself, Cain--simply put 'the arrogant jerk' with an ax to grind, and the mysterious guy who's, well...still a mystery to me; haven't written him in yet. I love the younger characters, only the same thing happened. After the first chapter, I got stumped. Grrr....


Throughout all my stumptness, I've deepened a belief I've always had.

When it seems as though nothing is happening with you, when you feel stagnant and dry, change is calling, luring you to bigger and better things. Your future is brighter than your weak mortal eyes can handle. Just believe.

So yeah, something miraculous is happening in me, through me, and around me right now. Perseverance is my key.

How about you? Is something secretly happening with you that you may have been overlooking? 

An Excerpt...

Over the past few weeks, I've explored Queries, Opening Chapters, and Platforms. Monday, I gave you a more personal feature of how I axed a character. (For those of you who missed it, it's whacked not wacked as I so brilliantly typed out. THANK YOU, Matt!!)

Celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday along with my daughter's b-day last week got me thinking about all I'm thankful for. On Friday, I wrote up a little snare about the teeny grips I have while I'm blogging/writing.

Today, I decided to embrace the positive and share a brief excerpt from MARKED BEAUTY with you, because I truly am grateful to be writing. But also because my BBB Leigh decided to join me. She's also posting an excerpt, concentrating on POV. Head over to That's Write and check it out.


Now, for my sneak peek:


While you read, note the dialog, how the two main characters feed off each other.

This is part of the 2nd scene I ever wrote for MB. Here's the setup: 

Ana is working at the library. When she goes to leave, she finds that her motorcycle won't start. Viktor--the guy she is suspicious of and she recently had a spat with during a history class debate--shows up and offers her a ride.

The low rumble of an engine surfaced above the glossy atmosphere. The lightning blue Charger turned into the parking lot. The whirl of his window lowering startled me.

“You look like a wet dog.” 

“Why, Mr. Butler, you do know just what to say to a girl,” spoken in my best Scarlett O’Hara flare.

“I meant you’re dripping. Do you need a ride?” Droplets the size of quarters fell between us, my lips and nose a launching pad like paratroopers diving from an airplane. “Is there something wrong with your bike?”

Mashing my forehead into a mangled highway of lines, I bobbed my head up and down.

“Do you need help?” he asked me, but why should I answer him? I didn’t owe him Jack. “I’ll give you a ride,” Viktor said.

“And leave my bike here?”

“I’ll get it later. You’re going to get sick. Now get in the car.” 

“My dad said no strangers.”

“I’m not a stranger. You know me.”

“Are you sure?”

“Anastasia….” His voice was still, and he mumbled something about me being stubborn. “Are you going to make me get out of the car and get wet, too?” 

My obstinacy outweighed rational thinking. Through my water-logged lashes, I watched him fold his arms on the roof of his car, drum his fingers, and get dowsed by the storm. Rainwater beaded his raven strands, clinging until the last possible moment and then dripping to the ground. Chomping on the inside of my cheeks barely kept me from laughing.

He stood firm, his blue eyes coating me in his gaze. I couldn’t deny his appeal—steamy and even erotic in this setting. He was male model in-a-magazine-perfect I’d secretly want to hang on my wall but would never admit out loud. At this point, he was still the orange cone in the parking lot to avoid.

“Will you get in the car, now?” Viktor asked.

“I’m going to get your leather wet.”

“So am I.”

“Are you sure you want to be seen with me?”

“What is that supposed to mean?” he blared.

“You know, disposable soldier and all?” 

The drumming of his fingers on the roof halted. “I’m not leaving you here. Please get in the car.”

 After lingering a moment, I conceded and shimmied with a squeak into the dark seat. My jeans were drenched, and stuck to the leather. My teeth trembled.

As Viktor arched his spine and reached in the backseat, the leather of his jacket fell from his chest, showing it firm and lean. It contracted gloriously and stretched each seam of his six-pack abs. The tendons in his neck tightened. I grinned at the familiar scent of mint and mocha and then tensed as he lowered back into his seat. The shock of being so close to him caressed my face tender and slightly embarrassed. As nervous energy exhaled from my mouth, Viktor’s thick lips parted and he inhaled. I turned away. The softness from the night of the bonfire came back to me; it was that blanket. 

“Keep it this time. I mean it, and buckle up.” He handed me the blanket, his voice cashmere. “The heated seat is on.” 

As you can probably tell, my girl Ana is not all that trusting of Viktor...not yet. As a matter of fact, right after this, she causes him more trouble. BUT that will be for another day. Thanks for reading.

So tell me, what elements did you notice stringing these two characters into a web? How do you write electric dialog between characters?

My WIP

I had intended on sharing more of my picture book experience with you, today, but I've been diverted--in a good way. Christine over on Christine's Journey had a great post on Monday. She was feeling under the weather--hope you feel better--so she decided to ask her followers about their WIPs.

I thought, "What better way for me to leap into sharing more of myself as a writer/mom/crazy lady with my peeps than this?"


So here goes. I've pasted her questions directly from her blog post.

Christine asked, "For your current work in progress..."

What inspired you to write it?

Ooh, there are so many elements that inspired me to write MARKED BEAUTY. I'll list them in phrases.

- my first attempt at writing a YA novel, TYMELESS, was so hideous. 

- a desire not to give up on Tymeless, but the brains to know I needed a fresh start.

- I'm a love sap. Period.

- everything about the paranormal excites me, and I wanted to prove that a story encompassing a paranormal idea could be humanized. I believe I've done that with MB. (Um...it's a good thing I didn't name it Beauty Marked. The acronym would be silly, not to mention embarrassing.)

What stage are you at (developing, research, outline, first draft, revisions, etc.)?

- she's off in the hands of two amazingly talented pubbed-up author friends who are both line-editing for me. 

- My query and first pages are posted over on my other home, YALitchat. So any yalitchatters here, I'd love it if you'd take a gander over there and take a peek at my work. You're opinion and advice is invaluable to me.

- I'm in synopsis hell. 'Nuf said.

How long have you been working on it?

- hum...wrote first draft in 5 months, put it away and started two other projects. (You can see them in my sidebar.)

- revised for about three months, and then I made that decision to convert the ms from 3rd to 1st POV, remember. That took me three weeks. I spent the last two weeks combing-through the ms.

- I guess that would be a total of around 9ish months.

Any word counts you would like to share?

- sure, 73,000

Are you having fun with it?

- a blast!! My 11-yr-old daughter (soon to be 12 on the 25th) is my biggest advocate. She's at that age where the idea of love and prince charming has started to grab her. She's enthralled with my male lead. Sharing with her has really brought us closer.

Anything else you would like to add?

- next week, I'll be taking a week-long hiatus from writing and probably blogging. I'll be concentrating on reading two novels for blog tours I'm involved in, beta reading for two awesome authors who I'm learning a ton from, and critiquing over on YAlitchat. I'll also be hammering out two solid outlines for the works in my sidebar.

So Alleywalkers, want to share your WIP with me?? I'd love to hear where you are.

SPLAT: I posted some cool links over on Oasis for YA, yesterday. 

Treat Your Writer Like A Parent: DON'T LISTEN

Psst...

Yeah, you. Look here.

No, not literally at the word here. (I know a lot of bloggers do that, but I'm no blogger.) It's me: Ebony, lurking closer to the laptop screen, whispering in a raspy tone. Shhh...Sher~ told me no more talking to you guys, at least not yet. And no, she hasn't drawn me a set of sexy legs yet, or a smack-worthy butt either.

Relax. Don't be too hard on her. (Really, it's my fault.)

If you tell her I said that I will SO deny it! I've been messing with her.

What? * ogling my undecided teenage eyes*  It's all about HEAD GAMES in junior high and high school, don't you know. Young Adult and Middle Grade literature, isn't that what you folks write? If you're not one of those, no worries. This wisdom will apply to you too. And hey, on behalf of Sher, tanks fo dah vee-sit. (She is going to put me in some awkward, embarrassing scene for that one. *sigh*)


Did you like the opening of my story found HERE. Yeah, you can click that one. Well, there's more where that comes from only I won't let her write it. I've decided I'm regressing back to junior high. Ninth grade will not cut it for me.


Batting my overly-large emerald eyes--if you forgot those, check them out HERE. Again, Yeah. It's my life. Sure, she's writing me, but it's my story. I don't think going back one year is going to kill her. What is the big deal? She has to come up with my back story, right? Well, I'm giving her more to use, more books to write about me and my coming-of-age experiences. Granted, it's not your average coming of age. 


Did you really expect her to write something normal? She can't help herself, and for that I'm thankful. Without her quirky slant of the 'Unseen' and 'What Lies Beneath', I would not exist. 


You think I'm being too hard on her? Okay. Not really. The Powers That Be say MG is roughly from age 8-12. But YA beings around 14 or 15 through 18ish. Where does that leave my favorite and most eerie number, peeps???


For all you YA writers out there, how do you decide what age to give birth to your characters? 


And for those who write YA and MG, where do you draw the line? How do you begin with a character of MG age, let's say bordering 13, and age that character through the YA years?


Don't forget to head over to Oasis for YA. They've got a great contest going on!!