And One More Secret...

Guess where I've been for the last week?

Yay! (Happy Anniversary, honey!!)

One - No, Wait, Two - of my Best Secrets...

Last year, as I questioned my sanity for committing to write 25K words on my work-in-progress, I accidently hit on Secret #1 and had my first 5K day ever...

Cracking the Whip with Cherry Caramels.

Ok, so the caramels were great, but they weren't the secret. The secret is this:

I set the timer. For 15 minutes. With a modest goal, 300 words. I usually hit 400 or more, and within an hour, I had over 1500! By the end of the day, I'd hit 5K.

I've been singing the praises of this method ever since. I mentioned the strategy to a new Facebook friend, and here's what she had to say:

I did the egg timer thing and my goodness. It started slow with 96 words in my first 15. The second yielded 193 and so on and so on. My most recent in 15 minutes... 338 words! I was overjoyed.

My crit partner and I have started doing timed writing online at night and comparing counts before dueling again. It's fun for her and working wonders for me.

...Which leads to Secret #2: find a friend to crack the whip with you. For me, this happened accidentally. I posted about my 5k day, and the next day, Jolie decided to do it, too. The challenge was on!

Jolie is Better Than Bum Glue.

This is the exchange, by the way, that led to the Summer Revision Smackdown, where you will find all kinds of excellent tips from favorite authors.

If you try it, let me know how it works!

Guest Blogger: Annie Gage on NaNoGoGoFloMo

Today's guest blogger, Annie Gage, is a longtime friend and writing partner. We met years ago and teamed up with She-Smoke author Julie Reinhardt to form a powerhouse trio of critique and writing support. I'm especially excited for Annie's current project - she recently came upon her character's core emotional journey - not quickly, not easily, but Annie has persevered in ways that inspire me. Here, she talks about
NaNoGoGoFloMo: National No Goals Go with the Flow Month...

*****

"Don’t push the river, it flows by itself." - a saying from the Gestalt Therapy movement of the 1970s.

My childhood environment was full of ambitious and driven people. For years, I attempted to be ambitious and driven myself, but it always felt like I was wearing a bathing suit that was way too small and had awkwardly-placed leg holes. It was a horrible fit.

Flash forward many years. I started submitting stories. I sold a handful of them. Then my ideas got bigger- novel-sized, my critique group told me.
Golly. How do you write a novel?

I’m not sure, but I keep trying.

Establishing goals seems to work for lots of writers. All around me, writing friends set and achieve them. The Golden Coffee Cup, Summer Revision Smackdown, and NaNoWriMo are all wonderful supports for the goal-setting crowd. I’ve signed up for all of these, and almost immediately forgotten what I said I wanted to do. Stating goals seems to push my personal river. Repeatedly, I’ve learned that my internal current cannot be rushed. All efforts to speed it up just make me anxious or bored or otherwise unhappy.

It can be challenging to honor one’s ebbs and flows in this world where we are exhorted to Just Do It and told that If You Fail to Plan, You Plan to Fail. I remind myself that there are many definitions of success. My personal definition includes never again forcing myself into that ill-fitting bathing suit.

I love writing so much that I am pulled into its eddies. I’m still learning how to glide with grace when the going gets rocky but it’s worth the effort.

I rise before dawn several mornings a week so I can put in my time at the page. A year ago I decided to try writing in the evenings as well, because of a goal I hoped to reach. All I accomplished was missing my family.

Recently, I had an idea for a novel that excited me so much I spontaneously added evening hours to my writing time. Just because I wanted to and it felt right. The river caught me in its drift and I accepted the ride.

My writing probably won’t surge into book contract any time soon. But, honestly, that’s not my core ambition. I want to have a writing life, which I do by writing regularly, being in a critique group, hanging out with writers, and continuing to learn. And I want to have a balanced life by working and having time for friends, family, and exercise.

I want to have a life that fits.


*****

Thank you, Annie!

Conquering the projects, one anthill at a time...

So this week I'm delving further into current projects, both personal and professional...

This ant picture, which I find pretty fascinating, is from a NYT article describing how scientist Ann Dornhaus color-codes ants in order to discover their roles in the colony.

That's kind of like what I do when revising (green=good, yellow=needs help, orange= uh oh..., red=red alert!).

If you happen to be doing NANO-Revise-O, too, don't miss the amazing collection of Revision Tips Jolie and I culled from your favorite authors during Summer Revision Smackdown.

Stay tuned tomorrow for a guest blog from writer friend Annie Gage, and more NANO-whatever-O tips on Thursday!

Out of the Chute and Muse on the Run: great ideas from two insanely talented, busy people who were also generous and cool

Tuesday night I soaked in the good advice from two of Nevada's finest, Suzanne Morgan Williams and Terri Farley. If you weren't there, I'll give you a taste.

Suzanne, who I've had the pleasure of meeting on a number of occasions, just came out with BULL RIDER, a novel about a boy dealing with loss and war and tough things as he pursues his passion, bull riding. I'm all about pursuing passion, and Suzanne's novel sounds exactly right for a boy 10-14 who is looking for something adventurous and real.

Suzanne talked about promotion ideas for writers, and I have to say how impressed I was with her industriousness as her own publicist as well as her ingenious strategies - things like grouping multiple events on a trip, keeping a Plan B in your pocket, and banding together with others. Suzy is all about the positive: creating win-win situations as well as the best rule I know in this industry: Be Nice. Right on, Suzy.

Then Terri Farley, author of SEVEN TEARS INTO THE SEA and the PHANTOM STALLION series came on scene, and I got a little exhausted just thinking about how many books she has written (she embodies the mantra, "If you want something done, give it to a busy person"). Fortunately, she shared one of her hard-earned secrets: Clustering. I haven't heard of this technique before, but it's essentially getting your left and right brains to work together by connecting stream-of-consciousness ideas until you hit something. She led us through a cluster drawing, which was fun (Nucleus word: SECRET, I kid you not...).

Terri also talked about working against stereotypes in your writing, external and internal character obstacles, and the big C in the writing life: committment. I hadn't really done a fill-in-the-blank character analysis for my current WIP (on draft 5 here...), and I found it incredibly useful to see which places I knew my characters well (my characters' goals) and the places where I didn't know them so well (strongest emotional trait, esp main character, who begins at a breaking point).

Good stuff - especially since work life is esentially divided along these lines right now between book one and book two. If you want something done...right? Well, time to cluster about this revision!

Imagine writing in a place like this!

From Laurie Halse Anderson:

How is it going?

I've noticed a quietude among blogs lately - perhaps a sign of industrious creating, or at least a healthy anticipation of giving thanks?

This month is a mixture of many pursuits for me, both personal and professional. While many Washington writers attended the SCBWI WWA Professional Retreat, I went to one of a completely different kind with two of my best friends and came back all filled up. I feel a quietude within my own heart which is just right.

If you are pursuing your creations right now, here are a few links to consider:

Molly Blaisdell is offering daily inspiration and goal-setting at the Fourth Annual Golden Coffee Cup. Her post on becoming real and deep calling to deep spoke to my heart.

For a daily NaNoNuj (that's "nudge," for the trans-illiterate among us...a.k.a. me...), visit Deb Lund.

Jolie Stekly continues to post thoughtful, personal, and often very funny writing prompts to oil your writing machine every Monday at CuppaJolie.

Gail Carson Levine is brilliant and generously shares her writing wisdom on her blog.

If you are overflowing with encouragement, here are some people who would love some as they run the race:

• Miss Erin and Maya Ganesan collaborated on a truly stunning poem.
• Suzanne Young gave up Twitter to finish her novel draft. I think she's finally emerging from withdrawl.
• Karen Ann is sick and could use a virtual hug.
• Laini and Jim lost a best dog friend and could also use a hug.
• Cinde deserves a high five for getting Fargo excited about NaNoWriMo.
• Stop by and tell the Golden Coffee Cuppers how awesome they are.

And if you yourself need a hug (or a good laugh), check out Carrie Jones' grocery store misadventures #1 and #2.

Cheerio!

A Date with Me!

Did you ever do the Artist's Way? One of the ideas I took to heart from that book was going on the occasional Artist Date - a creative appointment with oneself with the sole purpose of recharging your creativity.

I don't do it too often now, but I'm going on one tonight! And I'm going to break the rules and invite you to join me at the SCBWI WWA meeting (7pm at SPU, Demaray 150):

Program 1: OUT OF THE CHUTE — BOOK PROMOTION TIPS FOR COWPOKES AND THE REST OF US with Suzanne Morgan Williams. The author of BULL RIDER (Margaret K. McElderry, 2009) and 10 nonfiction books for children, Suzanne talks about the best ways she’s found to promote your books. Suzanne traveled to seven states and Ontario, Canada, between March and June of 2009, completing 14 events—signings, school visits, writers’ presentations, library events—in her home town and 23 out of state. She is Co-Regional Advisor for SCBWI Nevada and a member of the Class of 2k9.

Program 2: MUSE ON THE RUN, FINDING THE 25TH HOUR TO WRITE with Terri Farley. The author of 35 books in nine years emerges in relative sanity to help you use left/right brain techniques to make writing part of your real life. Terri’s popular workshop has been given to national writers’ conferences from New York to Los Angeles. Warning: this one is hands-on and fast-paced. Terri is the author of the PHANTOM STALLION series as well as a YA novel, SEVEN TEARS INTO THE SEA, which was nominated for the American Library Association’s Best Books for Young Adults list.

Plus I heard there might be gingerbread cookies...see you there?

Tell Me a Secret Bookmark!

Ok, ok, so I know you've been dying for a TMAS bookmark, right? (Or at least, I've been dying to make one!)

Luckily the amazing HC graphics people made it super easy to design one based on the book cover, and here it is, for your downloading pleasure. Double-sided, even! I'm planning to have some printed up for the ARCs, coming soon to a contest near you...(!!!)


Side A...


...and Side B...

You like?

Funky Friday: The GF Donuts that Are No More

Because they really were that Amazing.

(Note: GF = gluten-free, but that doesn't mean everybody won't love them. Trust me on this.)

A Book for All Seasons

A couple of weeks ago, husband and I went on a little trip into the Cascade Mountains to Leavenworth, WA, a community that rather ingeniously saved their town from recession after the Great North Railroad relocated by restyling the entire town into a Bavarian village. It's an odd weekend that Leavenworth doesn't have something going on, from Oktoberfest to Maifest to the Christmas Lighting Ceremony.

Here we are in front of A Book for All Seasons, and you can tell we haven't quite emerged from the Seattle cloudcover unscathed (wow, so THAT's the sun!).

Going into the store was even better - my friends' books on display! Like...

Janet Lee Carey's Dragon's Keep:

And Justina Chen's North of Beautiful:


And Lorie Ann Grover's Loose Threads:


And Dia Calhoun's Firegold (did you know the cover is by Adam Rex?):


And Deb Caletti's The Secret Life of Prince Charming:

And lots more, too many to document! Everyone, give a shoutout to the teens of Leavenworth, who are reading some excellent books in between all of those festivals. Tag, alles!

A Writing Contest from Beth Kephart

Beth Kephart, the first Author-in-Residence over at readergirlz, is running her second writing contest. Prize? A signed copy of NOTHING BUT GHOSTS (which I loved!).

Here are the contest rules:

"In this readergirlz challenge, the premise is simple (and does not involve a video). Find a photograph of yourself as a young child on the verge of some new knowledge or turning point. Write a paragraph about that photograph/that moment in present tense, as if you are experiencing that moment for the first time. Then write about that photograph/that moment in past tense, with the gift of retrospection. Ask yourself what you gain from working in the present tense, and what is gained by reflection; include your thoughts on this with your submission.

Send your entry to kephartblogATcomcastDOTnet by November 25, 2009. Spread the word!

readergirlz in November

We have an exciting month of chats and more over at the readergirlz blog. For the full roundup of readergirlz activities this month, check out the newsletter! Here are some of the highlights:


Are you salivating over the next Twilight movie, New Moon? Then come chat with the readergirlz about it (and have a chance to win one of Gypsy Wings' amazing Twilight necklaces, which were featured in the first movie!) on 11/21 at 6PDT/9EDT at the readergirlz blog:



rgz celebrates Native American Heritage Month by featuring Marlene Carvell and her beautiful novel, Sweetgrass Basket, all month, including a live chat on 11/24 at 6PDT/9EDT:

Then come out for the rgz RAVE Homecoming, in which our alumni featured authors (henceforth known as the Circle of Stars) will return to the readergirlz blog for one big online party on 11/30 at 6PDT/9EDT:

Some of the participants include...Coe Booth, Dia Calhoun, Janet Lee Carey, Cecil Castelucci, Justina Chen, Rachel Cohn, Holly Cupala, Liz Gallagher, Nikki Grimes, Lorie Ann Grover, Ellen Hopkins, Sarah Miller, Mary Pearson, Mitali Perkins, Dana Reinhardt, Laura Resau, Melissa Walker, Ellen Emerson White, Rita Williams-Garcia, Sara Zarr...and lots of others!

Hope to see you!

November: time to dig deeper

Whew, that was a lot of food. Thanks to all of the Book Cooks! All of you helped make readergirlz' Teen Read Week celebration (and the many associated graphics) possible in the yummiest way!

So what is happening in November? NANOWRIMO, for one. Anyone participating?

As for me, I'm knee-deep in NANO-Revise-O and will be all this month. (Well, hopefully not ALL this month...I do have some critical recreation planned to celebrate the 10 year anniversary with my best friend and partner in life and crime!)

So aside from quality time with my sweetheart, there will probably be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth as I work through the painful (for me, anyway) revision process of novel #2.

Luckily, I won't have to go it alone: I'm participating in Molly Blaisdell's Golden Coffee Cup, and I also invite all of you to hang out here at my blog to give me a little licorice lash now and then!

(And by the way, did you know there is a National Red Licorice Day? Well, you do now.)

Together, we can make it through NANO-Whatever-O. Lash on!