So, you may have noticed that the blog looks a bit different, eh? Well, I did promise many months back that I would likely be ditching the chick-lit pink for something a touch more somber. I must admit, though, I loved that chick lit pink. Adored the way it brightened my day. And I would have kept it forever except... it was a huge jar when you linked over from my new website.
Yes, that's right - NEW WEBSITE. www.carrieryan.com. Click Here. Seriously, can't be too many links to my new website for carrieryan.com. Author of The Forest of Hands and Teeth.* Carrie Ryan. Her. That girl.
Of course, you eagle eyed viewers out there will recognize that the new website (carrieryan.com) is really only a placeholder. And that's very true. But it's a wonderful placeholder -- I LOVE it. It's very moody and slick and beautiful. I can't thank xuni.com enough for it! So I felt the need to change my blog so that it wouldn't be quite so jarring when you clicked over from the temp site. Oh, and I also updated my books read in 2008 list -- I'm up to 6!
Let me know if anything is amiss with the new blog template -- anything hard to read with colors and whatnot. And feel free to link to me (though the permanent page won't really be up until Aprilish).
I wish I could tell you that I found time to redesign my blog because I'm in that brief honeymoon period between turning in edits for one book before turning to the next book. But no. I have one last read through of FHT this weekend. (goal #1). My other projects for the weekend include writing the dedication (I already had that one), the acknowledgements (ack!) and the bio (ack!). I have a feeling I'm going to be spending a lot of time thumbing through the books on my shelves to see how they acknowledged all the people that helped support them. Maybe this will even necessitate a trip to the bookstore!
I'd love to hear any words of wisdom y'all have about the bio, dedication and acknowledgements. Anything in particular you like to see? Hate to see? Curious minds want to know...
*take that google search engines!
Friday, January 25, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Writing with Fear
Last night my local bar (the lawyer type of bar, not the drinking kind) had it's first ever writers meeting. JP is the one that saw the announcement for it and we were both really excited and really curious. I've been trying to figure out if there's a writing scene in my city for a while (to no avail) and suddenly, not only is there a writers group, but one specifically for local attorneys! JP and I weren't sure what we'd find when we showed up -- would it be just the two of us, the special guest (Salisbury NC author and NYT bestseller John Hart) and the organizer?
We were both surprised to show up and find that we had to move to a larger room because there was so much interest (maybe 15 people in all). The group is a collection of poets, short stories writers and novelists (both fiction and one non-fiction). Two had MFAs, a few had published short stories and I was the only contracted novelist. What was strange was to realize that I spend so much of my time around writers that are totally plugged into the community (you guys) that I'd forgotten just how much knowledge I take for granted about writing and the industry. All the writers I chat with on a daily basis know what a query letter is, how rejections work, how the process works, how long novels tend to be. Suddenly, I was in a group of people who had no idea and oddly, it was wonderful. Because I love sharing what I know and I realized that I can answer so many of their questions and be helpful!
But I ramble, that's not the point of this post. The point is that the main speaker, John Hart, was a very interesting speaker. One thing he talked about was writing with fear and faith. Fear that what you're writing may not be good enough and faith that it is.* He said that it's only when you're writing from a state of fear that you truly write -- that you truly dig in deep and get to the heart of things.
At first, I was skeptical of this. But then I thought about my own work. There's one scene in particular in FHT that when I was writing it I cringed. I thought "oh, this isn't going to go over well." Seriously, when I finished the scene I laughed in that "am I crazy?" way because I'd really pushed the envelope. I was afraid that readers would think it was too much -- I'd pushed too far, it was too out there. But they didn't, they all responded very well. Shocked maybe, but it worked.
And then I thought of another work I read recently. The author was worried that a scene might be too much. But when I read it was amazed -- shocked in that wonderful way you get when an author has truly nailed something. Encapsulated a scene in that perfect way, and in a way that is truly no-holds-barred.
In both instances, there were other ways to write those scenes. Ways that both I and the other author wouldn't have to worry, "is this ok? Is this too much?" But I don't think that would have been as powerful.
Yes, sometimes what you write can be too much -- too edgy. But I think it's better to overshoot and tone it down rather than not make the mark at all. Also, I agree that sometimes, if you write from a state of too much fear the opposite happens: you play it safe, fail to take the risks necessary -- scared into writer paralysis.
How to find the balance? No idea. I think that's sometimes why having CPs and early readers can be such a good help. You can take those risks, push the edge in ways that make you scared and then you can have others help to buoy your faith, to let you know if you've gone too far.
It's hard advice, I think. Essentially he was saying that if you're embarrassed by what you're writing, you're probably doing well. My problem with that is that it's no fun being embarrassed by what you write. But then again, I'm the one who wrote a literary zombie YA book and then sent it out to friends to critique -- talk about embarrassing! I was terrified that my CPs would write back with a pat on the head and a "better luck next time *coughfreakcough*" So maybe he has a point.
What do y'all think?
* This is the way I heard and internalized what he said. I really hope I'm not taking his comments out of context and if I did, I apologize.
We were both surprised to show up and find that we had to move to a larger room because there was so much interest (maybe 15 people in all). The group is a collection of poets, short stories writers and novelists (both fiction and one non-fiction). Two had MFAs, a few had published short stories and I was the only contracted novelist. What was strange was to realize that I spend so much of my time around writers that are totally plugged into the community (you guys) that I'd forgotten just how much knowledge I take for granted about writing and the industry. All the writers I chat with on a daily basis know what a query letter is, how rejections work, how the process works, how long novels tend to be. Suddenly, I was in a group of people who had no idea and oddly, it was wonderful. Because I love sharing what I know and I realized that I can answer so many of their questions and be helpful!
But I ramble, that's not the point of this post. The point is that the main speaker, John Hart, was a very interesting speaker. One thing he talked about was writing with fear and faith. Fear that what you're writing may not be good enough and faith that it is.* He said that it's only when you're writing from a state of fear that you truly write -- that you truly dig in deep and get to the heart of things.
At first, I was skeptical of this. But then I thought about my own work. There's one scene in particular in FHT that when I was writing it I cringed. I thought "oh, this isn't going to go over well." Seriously, when I finished the scene I laughed in that "am I crazy?" way because I'd really pushed the envelope. I was afraid that readers would think it was too much -- I'd pushed too far, it was too out there. But they didn't, they all responded very well. Shocked maybe, but it worked.
And then I thought of another work I read recently. The author was worried that a scene might be too much. But when I read it was amazed -- shocked in that wonderful way you get when an author has truly nailed something. Encapsulated a scene in that perfect way, and in a way that is truly no-holds-barred.
In both instances, there were other ways to write those scenes. Ways that both I and the other author wouldn't have to worry, "is this ok? Is this too much?" But I don't think that would have been as powerful.
Yes, sometimes what you write can be too much -- too edgy. But I think it's better to overshoot and tone it down rather than not make the mark at all. Also, I agree that sometimes, if you write from a state of too much fear the opposite happens: you play it safe, fail to take the risks necessary -- scared into writer paralysis.
How to find the balance? No idea. I think that's sometimes why having CPs and early readers can be such a good help. You can take those risks, push the edge in ways that make you scared and then you can have others help to buoy your faith, to let you know if you've gone too far.
It's hard advice, I think. Essentially he was saying that if you're embarrassed by what you're writing, you're probably doing well. My problem with that is that it's no fun being embarrassed by what you write. But then again, I'm the one who wrote a literary zombie YA book and then sent it out to friends to critique -- talk about embarrassing! I was terrified that my CPs would write back with a pat on the head and a "better luck next time *coughfreakcough*" So maybe he has a point.
What do y'all think?
* This is the way I heard and internalized what he said. I really hope I'm not taking his comments out of context and if I did, I apologize.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Tuesday Maven
Today I'm over at the Manuscript Mavens posting about beginnings and closing doors. Come join in!
Friday, January 18, 2008
About my book...
I'm leaving for a birthday weekend at the beach in about five minutes!
Before I go, may I present to you The Forest of Hands and Teeth, as told by kittens:
Before I go, may I present to you The Forest of Hands and Teeth, as told by kittens:
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
MUST Reads
Yay for turning 30 (I guess)!! I had all these plans for taking this time to look back and reflect blah blah blah. But instead, I wanted to take a moment to tell you, once again, how much JP rocks. Yes, he rocks for helping me edit and being all around wonderful (and for getting up early to look over some last minute edits for me), but he also rocks because he is an amazing writer and I don't talk about that enough around here. Seriously, his writing has made cry before because it is so beautiful.
One of his short stories, Elohim, was just published in Ideomancer. I have loved this story since he first read it to me -- it's so complex and wonderful. He brilliantly captures the Southern voice in the same way as all of our great Southern writers have -- yep, that's right, I'm comparing him to Faulkner (if Faulkner had more of a speculative edge). Best of all, other people are starting to find out what a great writer JP is. Elohim was reviewed recently and I don't want to post the whole thing since it gets into the plot, but here are some choice tidbits: "Davis skilfully brings his characters and their situation to life, such that I was compelled to keep reading to find out how it would resolve." and "I found the story morally evocative without being heavy-handed."*
Yes that's right -- JP's got rave reviews! If only I can get reviews like that!
Seriously, go read Elohim here.
And if you want a faster treat, he has another piece that was the Editor's Choice at Flashquake called The Pirate, Landlocked. This is also a very poignant story -- I've always been amazed at how he can capture so much character and longing and history in such a short about of space (whereas I need a whole novel to do that).
JP's also had a bunch of pieces up at SixSentences.blogspot.com AND even more of them have been accepted for the new Six Sentences anthology (the trick is writing a short story in six sentences -- again it's pretty impressive that he can say so much in so little space). Here's a link to the three published so far.
Go forth and read him! Seriously, you will not regret it. Everything I write, I hope to reach his skill level -- he's definitely been an inspiration to me.
*Excerpted from here.
One of his short stories, Elohim, was just published in Ideomancer. I have loved this story since he first read it to me -- it's so complex and wonderful. He brilliantly captures the Southern voice in the same way as all of our great Southern writers have -- yep, that's right, I'm comparing him to Faulkner (if Faulkner had more of a speculative edge). Best of all, other people are starting to find out what a great writer JP is. Elohim was reviewed recently and I don't want to post the whole thing since it gets into the plot, but here are some choice tidbits: "Davis skilfully brings his characters and their situation to life, such that I was compelled to keep reading to find out how it would resolve." and "I found the story morally evocative without being heavy-handed."*
Yes that's right -- JP's got rave reviews! If only I can get reviews like that!
Seriously, go read Elohim here.
And if you want a faster treat, he has another piece that was the Editor's Choice at Flashquake called The Pirate, Landlocked. This is also a very poignant story -- I've always been amazed at how he can capture so much character and longing and history in such a short about of space (whereas I need a whole novel to do that).
JP's also had a bunch of pieces up at SixSentences.blogspot.com AND even more of them have been accepted for the new Six Sentences anthology (the trick is writing a short story in six sentences -- again it's pretty impressive that he can say so much in so little space). Here's a link to the three published so far.
Go forth and read him! Seriously, you will not regret it. Everything I write, I hope to reach his skill level -- he's definitely been an inspiration to me.
*Excerpted from here.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Another Reason Why I Love JP
Reason number ten-gajillion why I love JP. This was his first totally free weekend in a looong time (no surgeries, holidays, family or day job to interfere) and he spent it reading The Forest of Hands and Teeth. For the third time. Giving excellent feedback and telling me again that it's great and allaying my fears.
To top that off, we went for a walk on Sunday and he let me spend the whole time asking about things in my book, AND he helped me solve the FINAL three plot twinges I had. These were the three things that I knew needed changing (actually they were huge questions that needed to be answered and just... weren't) but that I didn't know how to fix and was just going to see if I could let them slide by.
Yep, he fixed them.
Plus, he only groaned a little when I told him he'd get to read the whole thing all over again once more before it is actually published.
I've said it before and I'll say it many times over: this book wouldn't be where it is without JP and I thank him and love him for it.
ps: No, I'm not quite done yet with the edits. They're all made, but I'm typing from the hard copy into the computer. And I have those aforementioned three things to change, but they're all so small.
To top that off, we went for a walk on Sunday and he let me spend the whole time asking about things in my book, AND he helped me solve the FINAL three plot twinges I had. These were the three things that I knew needed changing (actually they were huge questions that needed to be answered and just... weren't) but that I didn't know how to fix and was just going to see if I could let them slide by.
Yep, he fixed them.
Plus, he only groaned a little when I told him he'd get to read the whole thing all over again once more before it is actually published.
I've said it before and I'll say it many times over: this book wouldn't be where it is without JP and I thank him and love him for it.
ps: No, I'm not quite done yet with the edits. They're all made, but I'm typing from the hard copy into the computer. And I have those aforementioned three things to change, but they're all so small.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
And Yet Even More Fun with Goals!
Yes, it's been blog light around here. I'm starting to think that just might be my MO. During the week I think of all these fab things to write and then I get home and it's like white noise in my head. Plus, with the start of the year I've had billable hours to contend with and editing to do and all that fun stuff. There's something cruel about starting the year off with a holiday so that your first day back at work you're already down billable hours for the year...
ANYways, my 30th birthday is on Tuesday. And I've had great plans to write my 2008 goals post and my "where am I now that I'm turning 30" post, but unfortunately I still have these edits to contend with. I would think that turning 30 would make me feel more like an adult, but no. Just yesterday I got sick (fever and everything!) and I called my older sister and asked her about it because, as an adult and a mom, she is now an expert on these things (ie: do I need to be worried because I feel like I've been knifed). Nothing makes you feel more like a kid than that :)
So this weekend I have yet that same everlasting goal:
ANYways, my 30th birthday is on Tuesday. And I've had great plans to write my 2008 goals post and my "where am I now that I'm turning 30" post, but unfortunately I still have these edits to contend with. I would think that turning 30 would make me feel more like an adult, but no. Just yesterday I got sick (fever and everything!) and I called my older sister and asked her about it because, as an adult and a mom, she is now an expert on these things (ie: do I need to be worried because I feel like I've been knifed). Nothing makes you feel more like a kid than that :)
So this weekend I have yet that same everlasting goal:
- Finish edits on The Forest of Hands and Teeth.
At this stage, both JP and I are reading it, trying to look at it through readers eyes. This means that JP is currently playing a video game while I read the same paragraph over and over and over again trying to determine which word choice is better. Actually, JP is editing on his computer (this is like the 3d time he's read this book and not the last, bless him) and I'm editing on hard copy and then I have to put my edits into his version. Hopefully, taking the day off yesterday due to said illness (still recovering) has given me enough distance that I don't obsess quite as much.
Once this sucker is turned in on Tuesday (yes, that would be the same day as my 30th birthday), I'm done! For a while. And JP and I celebrate!
And then it's on to the next book...
Sunday, January 06, 2008
52 Books a Year
So, let's not talk too much about those goals and what I've accomplished. Let's just say there were naps and it was a good weekend and boy do I still have some work to do!
Anyways, I was just about to update my profile to add my first book read in 2008 (it's over there in the right sidebar) and I realized that I have yet to toot my own horn for reaching my goal of reading 52 books in 2007! Hurrah! I have to say, I really enjoy keeping a list of all the books I've read, it's so interesting to see my habits. Of course, I would say that about 80% of what I read these days is driven by my being a writer -- I read YAs not only because I love them, but also to keep tabs on the market. I also used to read a lot of books of authors whose agents I was interested in; now I read the books by my agent and editor's authors. I still read a lot of friends' books and books recommended by my friends. Then there's the odd book that my mom or sister suggests, something different when I'm feeling like none of my current books on the TBR pile will do. This year I started reading graphic novels and am really enjoying them, though I haven't branched too far into that field.
Anywho, kinda cool to take a trip down memory lane with that list. And unfortunately, I know I've missed a book or two because I'm pretty slack about updating that part of my blog. And usually when I do update I have to scramble around the house (normally the pile on the floor next to my bed) to see what's there. It's sad and ironic, but I have a terrible memory for most books -- often I can't even remember what I've read. In fact, I was looking at a list of the classics, bemoaning how few I'd read when suddenly I started to get vague memories from high school and college -- turns out I'd read tons of those books, just could barely remember! So very sad.
I've heard many people say that in order to be a good writer you have to read. I know that reading has helped me tremendously -- the pacing of plot, how much backstory to drop and when, POV, structure. These are things I feel like I absorb from reading. At the same time, because I pretty much limited myself to romance (and classics, apparently) growing up, I feel like I'm missing some things -- big group inter dynamics and journeying that you get from Fantasy, the tension you get from Horror, the details from SciFi. I know I should branch out more and I'm getting there. I know C.L. Wilson's books are shelved romance, but to me they're very fantasy and I loved them -- and learned.
Anyway, I started this challenge two years ago because Diana was writing down the books she read and I think she challenged us to read 52 books a year. I'm sure I'd read just as much anyway, but it's still a great goal and one I'm going to stick to!
So here's to another 52 books in 2008 -- who's with me?
Anyways, I was just about to update my profile to add my first book read in 2008 (it's over there in the right sidebar) and I realized that I have yet to toot my own horn for reaching my goal of reading 52 books in 2007! Hurrah! I have to say, I really enjoy keeping a list of all the books I've read, it's so interesting to see my habits. Of course, I would say that about 80% of what I read these days is driven by my being a writer -- I read YAs not only because I love them, but also to keep tabs on the market. I also used to read a lot of books of authors whose agents I was interested in; now I read the books by my agent and editor's authors. I still read a lot of friends' books and books recommended by my friends. Then there's the odd book that my mom or sister suggests, something different when I'm feeling like none of my current books on the TBR pile will do. This year I started reading graphic novels and am really enjoying them, though I haven't branched too far into that field.
Anywho, kinda cool to take a trip down memory lane with that list. And unfortunately, I know I've missed a book or two because I'm pretty slack about updating that part of my blog. And usually when I do update I have to scramble around the house (normally the pile on the floor next to my bed) to see what's there. It's sad and ironic, but I have a terrible memory for most books -- often I can't even remember what I've read. In fact, I was looking at a list of the classics, bemoaning how few I'd read when suddenly I started to get vague memories from high school and college -- turns out I'd read tons of those books, just could barely remember! So very sad.
I've heard many people say that in order to be a good writer you have to read. I know that reading has helped me tremendously -- the pacing of plot, how much backstory to drop and when, POV, structure. These are things I feel like I absorb from reading. At the same time, because I pretty much limited myself to romance (and classics, apparently) growing up, I feel like I'm missing some things -- big group inter dynamics and journeying that you get from Fantasy, the tension you get from Horror, the details from SciFi. I know I should branch out more and I'm getting there. I know C.L. Wilson's books are shelved romance, but to me they're very fantasy and I loved them -- and learned.
Anyway, I started this challenge two years ago because Diana was writing down the books she read and I think she challenged us to read 52 books a year. I'm sure I'd read just as much anyway, but it's still a great goal and one I'm going to stick to!
So here's to another 52 books in 2008 -- who's with me?
Saturday, January 05, 2008
More Weekend Goals!
Hello all! Yes, it's that time of the week again -- time for some goals! But first, let me tell you about the fast and free-wheeling lifestyle that JP and I lead. Last night, I left work a little early, came home and camped on the couch in front of the fire. JP came home shortly thereafter, we cooked dinner and then partied like mad! If you define partying like mad as laying on the couches in front of the fire and falling asleep no later than 8PM. Seriously folks -- we both feel asleep by 8PM on a Friday night. Woke up around 11, went to bed and read, and back to sleep by 2AM. Laaaammmee.
In my own defense, I've been trying to give up caffeine for new years and have had a MONSTER headache since Friday afternoon. Seriously, I thought sleep would cure it, but it was still there this morning and has been getting worse. Hurts to even move my head now (and I've been drinking tons of water and tried taking Advil). Anyone have any suggestions? How do I get rid of this pain?
So, the pain might interfere with goals, but I'm hoping it will go away by the end of the day. Thus, I will be optimistic:
In my own defense, I've been trying to give up caffeine for new years and have had a MONSTER headache since Friday afternoon. Seriously, I thought sleep would cure it, but it was still there this morning and has been getting worse. Hurts to even move my head now (and I've been drinking tons of water and tried taking Advil). Anyone have any suggestions? How do I get rid of this pain?
So, the pain might interfere with goals, but I'm hoping it will go away by the end of the day. Thus, I will be optimistic:
- Must read FHT like a reader. Straight through (still haven't accomplished this yet). I'm hoping substantive edits will be done Monday so we can send this sucker into copy-editing.
- Clean the house. We fried up a few things on NYE and cooked bacon this morning. Since we can't open windows (all painted shut right now), it's like walking into a grease pit. Plus, there's just stuff everywhere (including wrapping paper still under the tree).
- Maybe take down tree. Maybe.
- Get rid of stupid headache (that should be #1).
- Maybe take a walk if headache goes away and it's not too cold outside.
- Maybe some random errands, maybe a trip to the grocery store.
- Write goals post I promised.
See, this is the jet-setting life-style I lead! We all know I'll probably end up playing on the internet for another hour, napping, and then whining about my head some more if it's not better (stupid diet coke -- I only ever had one glass a day, that shouldn't have been enough to trigger withdrawal!!).
Monday, December 31, 2007
Books Read in 2007
Books read in 2007:
1. Rumble on the Bayou
2. Into the Forest
3. World War Z
4. Foul Matter
5. The Rest Falls Away
6. Life As We Knew It
7. Twilight
8. Magic or Madness
9. It's a Wonderful Lie: 26 Truths About Life in Your Twenties
10. 28 Days Later: The Aftermath
11. Twilight of the Dead
12. Angel's Choice
13. Under the Rose
14. Magic Lessons
15. Marley & Me
16. Dying to Live
17. The Road
18. The Bermudez Triangle
19. Damsel Under Stress
20. Devilish
21. Magic's Child
22. On Writing
23. Love You to Death
24. Undead and Uneasy
25. Xombies
26. Red Handed
27. Wicked Lovely
28. On Chesil Beach
29. The Golden Compass
30. The Subtle Knife
31. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
32. The Handmaid's Tale
33. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
34. Ironside
35. The Amber Spyglass
36. The Barefoot Princess
37. Millennium
38. The Ghost Map
39. Between The Tides
40. Parallel Attraction
41. The Christopher Killer
42. Chasing The Dead
43. A Great and Terrible Beauty
44. American Gods
45. Extras
46. Prom Dates from Hell
47. The Walking Dead Vol. 1-4
48. 30 Days of Night
49. The Walking Dead Vol. 5-7
50. Golden
51. The Squad: Perfect Cover (ARC)
52. The Squad: Killer Spirit (ARC)
53. Happy Hour of the Damned (ARC)
54. Spin
55. The Giver
56. Lord of the Fading Lands
57. Lady of Light and Shadows
58. Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy
59. The World Without Us
60. The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever
61. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
The Last Night of the Year
For some reason, I've been much more aware of the end of the year this year. I know that sounds crazy, but I feel as if everyone I know is taking stock and making plans for the coming year. And of course I am too. I'm just too lazy to post about them yet. As usual (you'll note my 2007 goals post was a bit late this year. Ahem).
2006 was the first year that I began to take writing seriously (again). And it was a pretty big year for me even though I didn't have a ton to show for it. As I said in my 2006 round-up post, 2006 was the year that I made writing friends, re-learned about the market, got my feet wet all over again. I ended the year having written 171,701 words on at least 7 projects. It was the year I queried Dead Bodies and Debutantes (and go rejected).
It was the year I started writing The Forest of Hands and Teeth.
It was a building year. In 2007 I may have written less (prob about 90k words give or take). But boy have I accomplished a heck of a lot more. I signed with an agent. I sold a two book deal for more than I dreamed possible for a debut. But even more than that, I learned how to follow through, how to polish -- I mean REALLY edit -- my own work. I learned how to take criticism and work with CPs.
I gotta say, 2007 was a helluva year for me :)
It's also the year I did a ton of substantial legal work for a pretty complicated trial. It's the year I changed jobs, moving into a practice area that I'd always dreamed of working in (and for more money to boot!). The year we learned our dog had brain damage and learned how to deal with that (update on that coming soon -- we found a new home for her!). JP made his first pro-sale and sold some other (amazing) stories as well. We took a trip to Belize, JP won a slew of his own cases (including one today). I became a Manuscript Maven and learned how to use livejournal.
I'm really looking forward to 2008. I still can't believe it's here already, but it should be full of interesting twists and turns. I really have to thank all of y'all for making my 2007 so special -- it's meant the world to me to have y'all to talk to every day (er... every week maybe?).
Soon I'll start looking towards 2008 (it is the year I turn 30 after all... ahem...). But for tonight, I think I'll continue to revel in what 2007 brought. JP is cooking up a storm in the kitchen for New Years Eve... I think I'll go join him :)
2006 was the first year that I began to take writing seriously (again). And it was a pretty big year for me even though I didn't have a ton to show for it. As I said in my 2006 round-up post, 2006 was the year that I made writing friends, re-learned about the market, got my feet wet all over again. I ended the year having written 171,701 words on at least 7 projects. It was the year I queried Dead Bodies and Debutantes (and go rejected).
It was the year I started writing The Forest of Hands and Teeth.
It was a building year. In 2007 I may have written less (prob about 90k words give or take). But boy have I accomplished a heck of a lot more. I signed with an agent. I sold a two book deal for more than I dreamed possible for a debut. But even more than that, I learned how to follow through, how to polish -- I mean REALLY edit -- my own work. I learned how to take criticism and work with CPs.
I gotta say, 2007 was a helluva year for me :)
It's also the year I did a ton of substantial legal work for a pretty complicated trial. It's the year I changed jobs, moving into a practice area that I'd always dreamed of working in (and for more money to boot!). The year we learned our dog had brain damage and learned how to deal with that (update on that coming soon -- we found a new home for her!). JP made his first pro-sale and sold some other (amazing) stories as well. We took a trip to Belize, JP won a slew of his own cases (including one today). I became a Manuscript Maven and learned how to use livejournal.
I'm really looking forward to 2008. I still can't believe it's here already, but it should be full of interesting twists and turns. I really have to thank all of y'all for making my 2007 so special -- it's meant the world to me to have y'all to talk to every day (er... every week maybe?).
Soon I'll start looking towards 2008 (it is the year I turn 30 after all... ahem...). But for tonight, I think I'll continue to revel in what 2007 brought. JP is cooking up a storm in the kitchen for New Years Eve... I think I'll go join him :)
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Weekend Goals -- the update
So... my one weekend goal was to finish substantive edits on FHT. Right now, I'm on page 201/282 -- not too bad. Sure I'd love to be done, but thankfully I also have a day off on New Years to finish things off. What's surprised me the most with these edits? My ability to spend 10-20 minutes stressing over the most minute word choice. Seriously, in previous rounds I could cut whole swaths of work, re-write entire sections. Now? I've become iffy over the difference between "choice" and "free-will." Seriously, these are the things impeding my process.
But at least I'm in the home stretch right now. What's funny is that I still think of this manuscript as being less than 250 pages. I forget that I've added over 16k words in revisions -- crazy, eh?
Thus, I still have goals to meet over the next few days:
But at least I'm in the home stretch right now. What's funny is that I still think of this manuscript as being less than 250 pages. I forget that I've added over 16k words in revisions -- crazy, eh?
Thus, I still have goals to meet over the next few days:
- finish substantive edits
- read FHT as if I were a reader and not a writer/editor
- get JP to read FHT (again)
- critique CP's chapters pronto!
I'd wanted to clean my house so I could start the new year off right... but... well... that's the problem with having 2 full time jobs (or, as one of my day-job co-workers pointed out, I really have 2.5 full time jobs since our day job is about 1.5 jobs).
JP has an AMAZING menu planned for New Year's Eve and wines to go with each dish. It's going to be a blast. What are everyone else's plans to ring in the new year?
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Weekend Goals!
For those of you who may be recent readers of my blog (waves to LJ peeps), a while back I started posting my weekend goals in order to clarify for myself what I wanted to accomplish and also to hold myself accountable (that's where y'all come in!). I've not only found it to be really helpful, but it's also pretty cool to go back through my archives and see all the goals I've set (and met!).
So, without further ado, my goals for this weekend:
So, without further ado, my goals for this weekend:
- Finish substantive edits on FHT.
Yep, that's it.
Speaking of goals, though, pretty soon I'm going to be doing a 2007 goals recap and writing down my goals for 2008. This is really the first year that I ever wrote down my goals, so I'm pretty excited to be able to look back and reflect on them.
I once heard and author -- I think it was Debbie Macomber -- say that you should go ahead and write down those crazy goals, those goals you think are almost impossible. Things like "NYT Bestseller" and "selling X copies of my book" or "selling a book for a Y figure advance." She said that she'd done that once and now, looking back on it, she's reached so many of those goals. Which I think is pretty cool!
As for me, I make a few sets of goals. The first follows Erica's rules of goal-setting, for me the most important that they should be within your control (things like "I'll aggressively query my finished novel" rather than "I'll get an agent"). Then I write things that I'd like to achieve, that I think are possible, but are outside my control (that's where I put "I'll get an agent"). Finally, this past year I laughed and had fun and wrote my "wildest dreams" list, things like "I'll sell a book for X figures."
Soon, I'll share what all those goals were and whether I achieved any (hint: the answer is yes!). But for now, I have edits calling!! However, if it's goals talk you're looking for, JP has already posted his recap of his 2007 resolutions -- I highly recommend reading it, very funny!
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Revisions and edits and revisions
There's a great article in the RWR (Romance Writers Report) this month on revisions. Essentially the author reviewed a bunch of writers about their most memorable/painful revisions and essentially all the writers talked about how revisions are a part of the process. And it's true, they are.
Recently, I've had a few people ask me about revisions. Usually it's them saying "you're still editing? I thought you turned those in last week?!" And usually my answer is "yes and yes."
I've heard some true horror stories about revisions -- people asked to add characters, arcs, 20k words or to cut characters, arcs, or 20k words. Michelle Rowen once changed a book from third person to first person (or was it vice versa?) and she re-typed the whole book in order to do it. I think Jackson Pearce changed a book from third to first (or vice versa?) and from past tense to present too (or vice versa?). I know someone else who's written the same beginning from three (or was it four) different POVs multiple times -- very hard core!
Clearly, I was anxiously awaiting my own editor letter, wondering what her prognosis for my book would be. And I have to say, so far so good. Right now we're on the third round which may seem excessive, but seems about right for me. We started two days after my book sold when Krista sent me an email with a few major points she wanted addressed, things like making one character more sinister or clarifying a relationship. All in all, things that I thought were addressed in the book, but clearly were better established in my head rather than on the page.
And that's something the RWR article makes an excellent point about -- wait a day or two before defending yourself to your editor. Because inevitably, the first words out of your mouth will be "But...." and that's not necessarily the way you want to approach your edits. I'll always remember a blog post Justine Larbalestier wrote about how writers are very often way too subtle in the first few drafts... that's a lot of what your editor will be pointing out to you: things you think are very clear but just aren't on the page.
Anyway, so I went through that first round of revisions and handed them in. Seriously, I felt like I was back in law school where you take one exam to cover the entire semester's worth of work. I had no idea if I was going to pass or fail -- if my edits addressed her issues, were too heavy-handed or too light.
A few weeks later, Krista sent the second round of edits (I passed!) -- this time an editorial letter and the manuscript marked up to delete repeated words (I hate repeated words), streamline parts, and questions written in the margin. This is the round I took with me to Belize and the round it felt like my eyes were bleeding with at the end. I became so tired of my manuscript I didn't care what happened to it!
Thankfully, I had a few days off to regroup while Krista read through the edits (I passed again!). I already knew there'd be another round, hoped there'd be another round. Because I knew that by the end of that second round I wasn't giving the best I could. I knew I needed another read with a clear mind. And to me that's the scariest part of finishing the big edits: the end of your chances to make substantive edits. That's it. The book is done. Finished. Any lingering issues need to have been addressed or they shall linger forever (or until you write a sequel :)
But I'm not there yet. Right now I'm on the third round, clearing up those lingering issues, trying to spot anything that needs tightening, explaining, etc. Once I'm done with this, the book shall wend its way to copy-editing where the poor editor will inevitably have a heart-attack at my grammar (yay! commas as decoration!).
So, that's why all the edits and lack of blog posts and sporadic emails. That and the fact that the end of the year is THE busiest time at my day job. I definitely have my hands full right now!! Anyone who thinks that revisions are done once you sell the book -- ha!
Recently, I've had a few people ask me about revisions. Usually it's them saying "you're still editing? I thought you turned those in last week?!" And usually my answer is "yes and yes."
I've heard some true horror stories about revisions -- people asked to add characters, arcs, 20k words or to cut characters, arcs, or 20k words. Michelle Rowen once changed a book from third person to first person (or was it vice versa?) and she re-typed the whole book in order to do it. I think Jackson Pearce changed a book from third to first (or vice versa?) and from past tense to present too (or vice versa?). I know someone else who's written the same beginning from three (or was it four) different POVs multiple times -- very hard core!
Clearly, I was anxiously awaiting my own editor letter, wondering what her prognosis for my book would be. And I have to say, so far so good. Right now we're on the third round which may seem excessive, but seems about right for me. We started two days after my book sold when Krista sent me an email with a few major points she wanted addressed, things like making one character more sinister or clarifying a relationship. All in all, things that I thought were addressed in the book, but clearly were better established in my head rather than on the page.
And that's something the RWR article makes an excellent point about -- wait a day or two before defending yourself to your editor. Because inevitably, the first words out of your mouth will be "But...." and that's not necessarily the way you want to approach your edits. I'll always remember a blog post Justine Larbalestier wrote about how writers are very often way too subtle in the first few drafts... that's a lot of what your editor will be pointing out to you: things you think are very clear but just aren't on the page.
Anyway, so I went through that first round of revisions and handed them in. Seriously, I felt like I was back in law school where you take one exam to cover the entire semester's worth of work. I had no idea if I was going to pass or fail -- if my edits addressed her issues, were too heavy-handed or too light.
A few weeks later, Krista sent the second round of edits (I passed!) -- this time an editorial letter and the manuscript marked up to delete repeated words (I hate repeated words), streamline parts, and questions written in the margin. This is the round I took with me to Belize and the round it felt like my eyes were bleeding with at the end. I became so tired of my manuscript I didn't care what happened to it!
Thankfully, I had a few days off to regroup while Krista read through the edits (I passed again!). I already knew there'd be another round, hoped there'd be another round. Because I knew that by the end of that second round I wasn't giving the best I could. I knew I needed another read with a clear mind. And to me that's the scariest part of finishing the big edits: the end of your chances to make substantive edits. That's it. The book is done. Finished. Any lingering issues need to have been addressed or they shall linger forever (or until you write a sequel :)
But I'm not there yet. Right now I'm on the third round, clearing up those lingering issues, trying to spot anything that needs tightening, explaining, etc. Once I'm done with this, the book shall wend its way to copy-editing where the poor editor will inevitably have a heart-attack at my grammar (yay! commas as decoration!).
So, that's why all the edits and lack of blog posts and sporadic emails. That and the fact that the end of the year is THE busiest time at my day job. I definitely have my hands full right now!! Anyone who thinks that revisions are done once you sell the book -- ha!
Monday, December 24, 2007
Happy Holidays!!
I hope no one is reading this blog and is instead enjoying time off with friends and family :) I'm in Atlanta with my mom, step-father, and sister Chris's family. We've been having a wonderful time with last-minute shopping, hanging out watching movies, tracking Santa through NORAD, and enjoying the holiday spirit.
To me, Christmas has always been about family and tradition and I've been having a wonderful time starting new traditions and passing on old ones to a new generation. Tonight two of my nephews sang carols while the new baby girl smiled and tried to chase the patterns on the carpet.
Times like this make me miss my other sister and her boys up in the tundra, but I know they're also having a wonderful time with even more family and traditions.
I'll be back blogging soon enough with goals and reflections on the past year. Until then, enjoy the Holidays!!
To me, Christmas has always been about family and tradition and I've been having a wonderful time starting new traditions and passing on old ones to a new generation. Tonight two of my nephews sang carols while the new baby girl smiled and tried to chase the patterns on the carpet.
Times like this make me miss my other sister and her boys up in the tundra, but I know they're also having a wonderful time with even more family and traditions.
I'll be back blogging soon enough with goals and reflections on the past year. Until then, enjoy the Holidays!!
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Finish the #%$ Book!!
This week, I posted at the Manuscript Mavens about what I've learned from the books I've written and set aside. One of the lessons I learned is to finish the #%$& book.
Recently, there's been chatter on one of my loops about finishing books. Because of edits, I freely admit that I haven't had time to read all of the postings, so I could be totally misjudging the discussion. But the gist of what I read has essentially been: why finish the book when you don't have to?
Generally, the reasoning behind this thought is that it takes forever for agents and editors to respond to queries and partials, so why not send the partial when it's ready and then finish the manuscript while waiting for the response or not at all. As the argument goes, this can cut down on the amount of time wasted working on an idea that just might get form rejected at the partial stage.
Trust me, I understand how this is a compelling argument. Remember, I was there. I accidentally pitched my project when it was just a partial and I was stuck wondering whether to finish the book or just send the partial.
I'm here to tell you: finish the book! There are tons of reasons why: because you won't know if you can finish a novel until you write the words The End; because you don't know what may come up in your personal life keeping you from writing (for me it was a new dog with a broken leg); because you don't know if your plot outline will work or if you'll be able to tie everything together until you do; because you don't know how long it will take to edit, or how long it will take your CP to read and get back to you.
These are all good reasons to finish the book before querying, but for me, the ultimate reason is that you want to be able to send the book -- in the best possible shape you can make it -- the day you get a request for it.
Take my experience with The Forest of Hands and Teeth: I started querying that book in mid-August and had a two book deal in mid-October. The day any agent requested the full, I sent it, hoping to capitalize on their momentum. My first request for a full came within 1-2 weeks of querying, I had requests for pages even before that.
What I'm saying is that requests can come quickly and you want to be able to capitalize on them. You don't want to put the agent on hold and let them forget you while you scramble to finish your book and skimp on the editing and polishing. Furthermore, you want to take the time to really polish your book not only because it makes a better impression, but also because it can speed the process. Because I spent so much time editing before querying, my agent was able to submit the book rather quickly and my editor has bumped it up in the publication schedule.
I know how hard it is to spend a big chunk of time working on a book when you're not sure if it will sell or grab the attention of an agent. I've been through that tons of times with various abandoned projects. But as I said in my Manuscript Maven post, with each book that you write and finish, you're learning skills that will make the next book that much better.
Recently, there's been chatter on one of my loops about finishing books. Because of edits, I freely admit that I haven't had time to read all of the postings, so I could be totally misjudging the discussion. But the gist of what I read has essentially been: why finish the book when you don't have to?
Generally, the reasoning behind this thought is that it takes forever for agents and editors to respond to queries and partials, so why not send the partial when it's ready and then finish the manuscript while waiting for the response or not at all. As the argument goes, this can cut down on the amount of time wasted working on an idea that just might get form rejected at the partial stage.
Trust me, I understand how this is a compelling argument. Remember, I was there. I accidentally pitched my project when it was just a partial and I was stuck wondering whether to finish the book or just send the partial.
I'm here to tell you: finish the book! There are tons of reasons why: because you won't know if you can finish a novel until you write the words The End; because you don't know what may come up in your personal life keeping you from writing (for me it was a new dog with a broken leg); because you don't know if your plot outline will work or if you'll be able to tie everything together until you do; because you don't know how long it will take to edit, or how long it will take your CP to read and get back to you.
These are all good reasons to finish the book before querying, but for me, the ultimate reason is that you want to be able to send the book -- in the best possible shape you can make it -- the day you get a request for it.
Take my experience with The Forest of Hands and Teeth: I started querying that book in mid-August and had a two book deal in mid-October. The day any agent requested the full, I sent it, hoping to capitalize on their momentum. My first request for a full came within 1-2 weeks of querying, I had requests for pages even before that.
What I'm saying is that requests can come quickly and you want to be able to capitalize on them. You don't want to put the agent on hold and let them forget you while you scramble to finish your book and skimp on the editing and polishing. Furthermore, you want to take the time to really polish your book not only because it makes a better impression, but also because it can speed the process. Because I spent so much time editing before querying, my agent was able to submit the book rather quickly and my editor has bumped it up in the publication schedule.
I know how hard it is to spend a big chunk of time working on a book when you're not sure if it will sell or grab the attention of an agent. I've been through that tons of times with various abandoned projects. But as I said in my Manuscript Maven post, with each book that you write and finish, you're learning skills that will make the next book that much better.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Tusday Maven
Hey everyone -- today is my day to blog over at the Manuscript Mavens. I posted about the lessons I've learned from previous writing (you know, like all those novels under the bed... or on a really really really old computer). Come on over and tell me what lessons you've learned from past writing experiences!
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Edits, Christmas Trees, and Slush Piles
So I turned in my edits -- hurrah! Of course, there will be another round starting next week which I actually think is great. I feel like the manuscript is *this* close to being the best I can make it and I really do believe that another round will get it there.
Because of my new-found freedom this weekend (amazing how having edits do just hangs over your head at all hours of the day) I spent yesterday cleaning, moving around furniture to make room for the Christmas tree, and pulling decorations down from the attic. Today, JP and I got our tree and I'm sitting here in front of the fire listening to X-mas music, waiting for the tree to dry out (it rained last night) before putting on the lights and decorating.
Growing up, decorating the tree was always a big deal. We'd have a nice dinner, listen to Christmas music, and enjoy the time together as a family. My dad used to give my sisters and I an ornament every year with our names and the date on them with the intention that when we grew up and had our own trees we'd already have a nice collection of ornaments. Which of course means that all the ornaments for our tree have my name on them. We call it the Carrie Tree :)
So later today I'll throw a roast in the oven and we'll open a nice bottle of wine and we'll laugh at all the Carrie ornaments while the cats lounge in front of the fire. To me, that's what Christmas is all about.
In other news, The authors of Fangs, Fur & Fey have been posting their stories of how they rose from the slush pile. Now that my edits are done and I get to play on teh interwebs again, I've added my own story here. I have to say, I'm pretty proud of my story. I feel like more and more people these days want to know the short-cuts, how to get there faster.
I've always believed that the first step is to write the best book you can, the second step is to query, and the third is to start on the next book. Now I'd add a 1.5 step: polish the manuscript to a shine -- I definitely had a lot of agents and editors commenting on how polished my manuscript was and that can only work in your favor.
So for those who think that you need connections or a special hand-shake, I'm here to tell you that you don't.
Finally, because I promised and because it was an amazing trip, here's a picture of the view from our place in Belize:
Because of my new-found freedom this weekend (amazing how having edits do just hangs over your head at all hours of the day) I spent yesterday cleaning, moving around furniture to make room for the Christmas tree, and pulling decorations down from the attic. Today, JP and I got our tree and I'm sitting here in front of the fire listening to X-mas music, waiting for the tree to dry out (it rained last night) before putting on the lights and decorating.
Growing up, decorating the tree was always a big deal. We'd have a nice dinner, listen to Christmas music, and enjoy the time together as a family. My dad used to give my sisters and I an ornament every year with our names and the date on them with the intention that when we grew up and had our own trees we'd already have a nice collection of ornaments. Which of course means that all the ornaments for our tree have my name on them. We call it the Carrie Tree :)
So later today I'll throw a roast in the oven and we'll open a nice bottle of wine and we'll laugh at all the Carrie ornaments while the cats lounge in front of the fire. To me, that's what Christmas is all about.
In other news, The authors of Fangs, Fur & Fey have been posting their stories of how they rose from the slush pile. Now that my edits are done and I get to play on teh interwebs again, I've added my own story here. I have to say, I'm pretty proud of my story. I feel like more and more people these days want to know the short-cuts, how to get there faster.
I've always believed that the first step is to write the best book you can, the second step is to query, and the third is to start on the next book. Now I'd add a 1.5 step: polish the manuscript to a shine -- I definitely had a lot of agents and editors commenting on how polished my manuscript was and that can only work in your favor.
So for those who think that you need connections or a special hand-shake, I'm here to tell you that you don't.
Finally, because I promised and because it was an amazing trip, here's a picture of the view from our place in Belize:
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Tuesday Maven
Hey everyone! Today is my day to post on the Manuscript Mavens. I wrote about subjectivity in agenting and how one agents form rejection may be another agent's sale.
I promise more here soon... but first I must finish edits!!
I promise more here soon... but first I must finish edits!!
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Goals!
Yes, I'm back and yes I had a fabulous time and yes I have pictures and stories to share.
But not today. Today is all about The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Today, my only goal is to finish edits. This means starting from page one and reading the whole thing through making sure everything works. And there's one relationship that needs a fair bit of tweaking and a few things that I have to check for consistancy.
Start your engines, we have a lot of ground to cover before the end of the day...
But not today. Today is all about The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Today, my only goal is to finish edits. This means starting from page one and reading the whole thing through making sure everything works. And there's one relationship that needs a fair bit of tweaking and a few things that I have to check for consistancy.
Start your engines, we have a lot of ground to cover before the end of the day...
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