Do you argue with your characters

I got into a fight with my protag the other day and after it was all said and done she won the battle...but I won the war!!

I realized the big tug-o-war match we were having was because I wanted her to react the way I would react.

I've been learning through a tedious process, that when we as writers really come out of our shell, one thing we will do, is let our characters go off into this big ole' world on their own and be who they were meant to be.

So yeah, I shed a few tears, but in the end, I think I grew a little more as a writer.

What about you, do you ever get into fist fights with your characters because you want them to do something they wouldn't really do?

***

Just a little update: I haven't forgotten about my agent spotlights. I will be starting them soon, so stay tuned!

Writers Butt--Update #1

Welp, this is my first Writer's Butt update and I really wanted to find the perfect picture for the occasion but I couldn't find one. If anyone knows of any hilarious pics (in good taste) that would relate to Writers Butt, I'd love to hear about it.

Now, onto the update....

As I said in my beginning of the year goals post, I am determined to get my tail in shape this year and rid my life of Writer's Butt. I am under the impression that being accountable to you all is going to help me reach my goal.

SO

It has been 26 days and here is what I've done:

- Joined Weight Watchers (I have actually been a member for awhile, but was horrible at doing it. Now I'm better!

- Started working out. I'm trying mix it up be doing some P90X, Dance 2 and Adventures on the Kinect and cleaning. And I do this BEFORE I start my writing.

- Eating smaller portions.

By doing those things I have LOST 8.2 POUNDS!!!

I'm feeling pretty good. Nope it isn't Biggest Loser numbers or anything, but it is coming off which makes me feel better every time my butt plops in the writing chair.

What about you? Are you trying to rid your life of Writer's Butt? If so, what are you doing? How is it going? What about other goals, how are they coming along?

***

Before I say adios for the weekend I want to thank all of those who helped me out and encouraged me through the crappy synopsis. I also want to give Sharon Bayliss and Robin Weeks a shout out and a big thanks for both giving me the Kreative Blogger award! You two are slammin' in my book:)

Now for 6 random things about me (some of these may be repeats so I'm sorry if you've heard them before...

1) When I was a child I lived in a tent with my dad for about 6 months.

2) I was attacked by my brothers big dog and my husband--then boyfriend--saved me and was attacked. To this day both of us have scars and nerve damage in our arms.

3) I've moved way more times than I can count. 30 times give or take is what I'm thinking.

4) A brown recluse bit me when I was a teenager and I almost lost my leg.

5) I was a baton twirler for the Tennessee Twirlers when I was a kid and made the state team in Tennessee and we got to travel and perform all over.

6) My great uncle was in the Guinness Book of World Record for pulling a train with his teeth. No lie!

And I'm passing this award on to just a few of my favorite bloggers out there (I wish I could pick you all!):

Meredith Moore

ER King

Angela Brown

Angie Cothran

Jasmine Walt

Jamie Ayers 

The Dreaded Synopsis

Well, I've ho-hummed about this for a week and I am still pulling my hair out. The synopsis shouldn't be this hard. But it is! For me.

But numerous people have given me this link so it must be a good one. So I thought I would share.

How To Write A 1-Page Synopsis

I've been working on some editing and today I am sending my kiddos off to school and will write this darn thing! Even if it kills me. And it just might.

Wish me luck:)

Free-For-All Friday! Contests! Bloghops! Awards!

What a week! I'm all about the hectic week though, because I kinda like to be frazzled. There I said it. It's a love/hate thing I suppose.

Here are some highlights:

-My van is a piece of junk. Did you know it costs over a $1000 bones to fix junk? And then, when I went to pick up the fixed junk, it wouldn't start. Darn batteries.

-I took my Grandmother to the doctor for a check-up on her skin cancer. It was gone. Yes! But a new place showed up. That woman is a fighter I tell you. She has dealt with years of Lymphoma and now skin cancer yet she still manages to curl her hair and put lipstick and jewelry on when we go out. Love her:)

-These two boys I don't know came to my house freezing and needing a ride, I felt so bad for them so I gave them a ride to their house. Now they are coming on warm days asking for rides. Umm....

In my writing world:

-I am still looking for two more betas, so if anyone is interested please let me know:)

-ER King (Get Busy Writing) has been brave enough to be a beta reader and she just sent me some fabulous suggestions!

-Monica (Love YA) just critiqued my first 1000 and again, more fab suggestions!

-I entered some contests and in Jamie Ayers agent contest, I got excellent feedback from Nicole Resciniti from the Seymour Agency. Can I just say she is soooo cool! She asked everyone who entered for a partial and a synopsis (except for two, who she asked for fulls).

-Which brings me to the next item on my writing 'to do' list. A synopsis. I would rather gouge my eyes out with red hot coals. Maybe.

-I blinked and went up a hundred followers! Not sure how that happened, but thanks so much to my new lovelies:)

-I was given the Versatile and Kreativ Blogger awards from the uber-fantastic Kelley over at Between the Bookends. I'm supposed to tell some things about myself, so I am going to call my bullet list above 'my things' and pass these awards on to...
ANYONE WHO COMMENTS ON THIS POST (because I seriously can't pick I love you all!)

And one last item of business for the Free-For-All

Writing Contests I've heard about:
Query Tracker Logline/100 words-Jan 30th
Cupids Connection Query/250 contest Ends today!
Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest Jan 23-Feb 5

Bloghops I'm Doing:
Flickerfest Bloghop - Can't find the link to this, but I wanted to do it. If anyone knows, I'd love to know.
The rest of the bloghops I'm doing are in the left sidebar under "Things I Love". I'm excited for them all!

Have a great weekend!

Debut Author, Tawdra Kandle Interview and Chance to Win a Kindle!

I don't usually blog on Wednesdays anymore, but one of my great friends, Tawdra Kandle, is starting her book tour today and I am super excited for her. You should really check out her book, Fearless and the tour because she is giving away a free Kindle, plus if you sign up for her newsletter you get a free e-book of her second book in the series, Breathless! Whaa...? Yup, I said it:) Check out the details HERE

Now, on to the interview...

DB: Tell us a little about yourself and your book? 

TK: I’m a wife and  a homeschooling mom.  Two of my kids are graduated, and two are still homeschooling. I’ve also been a mother-in-law since this past June! And of course, I’m a writer.  I’ve been creating characters and stories in one form or another since I can remember.  Those tales saw me through some tough times.  My first short story was published in the magazine “A Child’s Life” when I was twelve years old.  After I was married and had children, I veered away from fiction for several years to concentrate on non-fic work, mostly columns and articles on parenting and homeschooling. I also wrote some homeschool curriculum.  I began seriously writing fiction again in 2008, and that year I finished my first YA novel, FEARLESS, which grew into the King series.

FEARLESS tells the story of Tasmyn, a seventeen-year old girl who has spent her life hiding her ability to hear minds. When she moves to the town of King, Tas is faced with first love, a rumor of blood sacrifices and a chem. teacher who seems to be more than she appears. The King series follows Tasmyn’s journey from a shy and cautious girl to a young woman confident in and comfortable with her powers.

DB: Wow, published at 12! You are destined for great writerly things:) And having read Tawdra's work, Fearless is one you don't want to miss!

You recently went the indie publishing route and I think your story is one that many writers might resonate with. Could you share your journey and how you got to where you are now?

TK: Like most if not all writers, I began this journey fully confident that I would go the traditional publishing route.  Once FEARLESS was completed, I began querying agents.  In retrospect, I started that process too soon, burning contacts before the book was really ready to be seen. Querying can be  demoralizing, but I didn’t really lose heart.  I was encouraged by agents telling me that they loved my writing but that my story wasn’t quite what they were looking for at the moment. 

I attended a writers’ conference in New York in the fall of 2010, and it was there that I realized that the world of publishing was in the midst of a revolution. Agents and editors weren’t saying as much in their seminars, but privately, they were much more vocal. I also recognized that finding an agent was going to be much harder than I had anticipated, as our small group received directly contradicting advice from each new set of agents we met in the roundtables!

I began chatting online with some of my favorite well-known authors, asking their advice on the whole process.  Several told me that if they were new writers today, they would definitely go the route of indie publishing, because it provides more creative and financial control. It took a little time for me to accept that going this way was not giving up; instead, it’s just taking a different road to the same destination. It does require more work in the realm of promotion and publicity, but even those authors who are traditionally published are often on their own when it comes to that part of the business.  The days of book tours and readings for every new author are over!

DB: I love hearing your story, and I think this is a great route. I commend you for it and can't wait to see your success:)

Time management seems to a big theme in a lot of blog posts I read lately. Can you tell us how you time manage writing with promotion, being a mother, wife, and all the many other duties you have?

TK: This is a huge topic of interest for me; I even have a page on my website called “How Writers Stay Sane” and post weekly about different strategies. I am blessed to have daughters who are very tolerant of my writing.  They frequently pick up the slack in the housekeeping and cooking department.  I try to keep running lists of what needs to be done when, different lists for each part of my life.  I have a wonderful friend, fellow writer and advisor who prods me to keep up the promotion end when I slack off.  And I don’t sleep nearly as much as I would like! It’s amazing the things you can accomplish after midnight.  Now having said that, I miss the amount of time I used to be able to give just pure writing—not editing, not promotion or anything else associated with books—just pure, wonderful writing time.  I have books that need to be finished, and I might have to run away for a week to make that happen.  But shhhh. . don’t tell my family that!

DB: Your secret is safe with me:)

What is the next step for Tawdra Kandle?

TK: Other than running away?    Once I’ve launched that, I am going to concentrate on editing RESTLESS and the final book in the series, which I think will be called TIMELESS (but that is a working title).   Then I have to finish the first book in my adult series, which is as yet untitled.  It’s much lighter than the King series, and I am having a lot of fun with it.  I think it has series potential, but we shall see.  After that. . .Nell wants her own book, and I have the work up of a sort of prequel to the King series, about Gravis King, the man who founded the town, and Sarah, the witch he rescued from being burned at the stake in Romania.  So many characters, so little time!

DB:Well, it doesn't sound like you are giving yourself any time to run away!  

Now let's have a little fun....

Favorite food?

TK: Aside from anything chocolate, I love beets with goat cheese and spiced pecans.  I know. . but it’s good for me and I love the juxtaposition of flavors!!

Favorite book?

TK: You might as well ask me about my favorite child. Gone With the Wind was the first real book I remember reading, when I was about 7 or 8.  I love Celia Garth by Gwen Bristow. Just about anything Anne Rice writes. . .and Stephen King. . .Diana Gabaldon. . .oh, I could just go on and on!

DB: Favorite author, and if you were trapped in an elevator with him/her, what would ask?

TK: My favorite author right now is probably Diana Gabaldon, just because I love her style and her unapologetic defiance of book length maximums! If we were trapped in an elevator, I would ask her how she keeps all her story strands straight. . .and how she integrates them so well.

DB: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?

TK: England. 

DB: Where do you see yourself in five years?

TK: Still writing, hopefully with more finesse and style, and also I hope with more understanding of the promotion and publicity process.  I would like to have a loyal readership who enjoy my books.  That,  a happy and healthy family, and I’ll be satisfied.

DB: Sounds like a perfect plan! Tawdra, thanks so much for visiting today!

And for all you potential Tawdra fans, go get her book HERE. It's awesome!

Is Blogging Important to Your Writing?

I've heard both sides of this question very thoroughly debated, and I have come to the conclusion that...well, it depends.

When I first decided I would try this novel thing out, I hadn't the first clue about blogging or websites...or writing anything for that matter. All I knew is I wanted to write. And I did.

As I wrote, I read. And as I read, I began to become more and more interested in the author behind the story, since I wanted to be one myself. I headed to the Internet to learn more, and low and behold, author blogs were born to me.

My eyes were suddenly opened to a whole new world of writing 'dos and don'ts', as well as the camaraderie I so desperately craved from other like-minded people.

So I began a blog of my own.

Did it make me famous? No.

Do I expect agents to come knocking down my door because they love my blog? Umm, no.

Do I expect my massive following of 468 (of which I may be lucky to get 30 or so of them to check out my blog daily) to push my sales through the roof when I finally do get a book deal (I'm an optimist, what can I say:)? That would be a big fat no as well.

BUT

Has it done those things for other authors? Well, sure.

Has it taught me oodles of information on the craft, the writing market, finding a critique group, what a beta is, finding an agent, getting published, not giving up, querying...and the list goes on? Heck yes!

So is blogging important to your writing? I can't answer that for you. But, for me, I would have to say a big resounding, YES! I have learned so much through the outlet it provides, I don't know what I would do without the blogs I browse to teach me. I wasn't lucky enough to get a degree in Creative Writing...or even finish college for that matter (though I hope to one day). So I consider what I learn through blogs, sites and helpful links, my schooling. Of course the occasional writers conference doesn't hurt either. And when I go there and meet people, I go home and check out their blogs if they have one.

I love blogging.

I know it isn't for everyone. And even if it is for you, there is a fine line between blogging to help you write and blogging taking away your time to write. We all have to learn our limits.

What about you? Is blogging important to your writing? And if so, how?

On the Horizon

Now that my 2012 goals are in place, I thought I would use my blog as way to help me achieve them. So I've got a few new things I'm going to be doing that I'd like to share with you.

Writer's Butt Updates:
You may remember a post back in September about how sitting in my computer chair day-in and day-out has done a number on my tail? I called the dilemma, Writer's Butt. Well, this year, I am bound and determined to remedy this issue. To help, I will be doing a monthly post on the last Friday of every month, about what's working, what's not, and my progress (or lack thereof), to keep me accountable. Feel free to join me on these Fridays. Together, we can rid the world of Writer's Butt! Or at least have fun trying:)

Friday Free-For-All:
On Friday's I'm going to give myself permission to have a free day. I'll talk about my life, my writing updates, how my cat (Totally flubbed that up. It's my dog. That is what I get for writing this post at midnight:) wears booties in the snow because she doesn't like her feet to get cold. No joke. Anything and everything will be up for grabs on Fridays.

Agent Spotlight:
My other blogging day is Tuesday, and I am going to try to keep that centered around writing. I'm talking, the craft, getting published, marketing, the ups and downs of the journey, you name it. And since I'm going to be querying soon, I thought it might also be nice to add in some spotlights for new agents, or ones I've come across in my research that I think are super cool.

Are any of you bloggers out there changing things up in your neck of the woods? I'd love to hear all about it.

Baby Got Back

And by back, I don't mean a big ole booty that jiggles when you walk. Though I do have one of those too.









Nope. I mean, one sturdy, iron steel back bone. Because it's what you must have in this writing world right?



I'm getting mine nice and chiseled for next week, because I'm going to send my manuscript FOR THE FIRST TIME to a group of beta buddies.
Edit: Okay, scratch the "very first time" bit. I just realized that I have had a beta buddy before with the very first manuscript I ever wrote. Jordan McCollum (who is going to have her debut novel out in 2013!) She was one who thrashed me...in a good way, she was very kind through it all. But it was the most helpful thing I think I've had on my writing road thus far. I will be ever grateful for her:)
For those of you just starting out on your writing journey, a beta is basically a reader with fresh eyes. They haven't critiqued your work line by line, like your critter group. They haven't read any of it really. They're there to pick up on plot holes, pacing, the real nitty-gritty kind of stuff. The stuff that makes a book a page turner vs a dusty old thing forgotten on a book shelf.

So yeah.

Gulp.

I'm four days away from sending my baby out into the world. Am I scared? Heck yeah! But you know what? I'm more excited than anything else, because I'm ready to get the thrashings I need in order to make my book the best that it can be. I can't believe I've finally made it to this point. It feels sooooo good!

So what about you? Are you tough as nails when you send your blood, sweat and tears out into the world? Or are you so protective over it, that one negative slash to your pages will send you in a downward spiral? Maybe your somewhere in between? I'd love to know how the beta process works for you all.

That was Then, This is Now

That was Then

Last year I had a couple of solid goals:

1) Finish my novel

2) Get in shape

Did I meet them?

For the first goal. I did. But in a way totally unexpected. Mid-year I decided to shelve the novel I was working on, for an idea that had been swimming in my brain for a couple of years. I will be sending it out to beta buddies in the next two weeks. So YES! Goal met.

As for the second one, getting in shape. Did I meet it? Not so much. I digress.

This is Now

There is something about this year that has me giddy with hope and excitement and anticipation. It could be because my plan is to begin querying in February, and I haven't yet experienced the drudgery of waiting, accompanied with utter rejection. Over and over. But I'll tell you something, even with that notion on the horizon, I'm still totally pumped up for 2012!

So without further ado (and praying I don't bore you because this is quite possibly your 100th goals post you've read for the new year) I give you my goals for 2012:

-Query 10 agents at a time until I decide whether my query and/or manuscript is working, or is a total bust and in need of a rehaul.

-Land my dream agent (yep, I said it)

-Write another book and outline a third
-Get my dang finances in order

-Get organized--like, every junk drawer, and closet cleaned out. For real this time.

-Get my writers butt in shape. I know, I know. I said this one too. But seriously. I'm going to do it this year.

-Develop more meaningful relationships with my kids. Not just talk to them while my face is glued to the computer screen.

-Throw an even bigger 'Gearin' Up to Get an Agent Blogfest' (Oh yeah, it's coming back!)

-Get a website

-Do something new with my blog, or possibly start a group blog with like-minded writers (If anyone reading this has been thinking the same thing, let's talk:)

-BE PATIENT

That's it. You think I can do it? What about 80% at least? I'm shooting for 95%.

What about you? If you haven't worn this topic into the ground, what are your goals for the new year?

Happy 2012!!

Happy New Year my peoples! I sure hope whatever holiday you've been celebrating has been wonderful!

I can't tell you how happy I am to be back in the saddle, so to speak. I've had a terrific little break and I've spent a lot of it reflecting on this past 2011 as well as picking my New Year resolutions for 2012.

This week I'm going to be sharing those because, like most of you, I think it's important to see where I've come in a year, and where I'm headed...or at least, would like to be headed.

Before I get into that, however, I would be remiss if I didn't first rattle off some of the many blessings I received over the holiday break. And as I share them, I think it's important to note that before some of them became blessings, they started out as nightmares. Thats' life though, I suppose.

My Blessings

1) I realized how completely supportive my family is about my writing when, for Christmas, I received not one, but two laser printers and a trip to the LDS StoryMakers conference in May!

2) Twenty pages from finishing the third edit of my novel, my computer crashed. I didn't know what I was going to do...until a new lap top showed up on my front porch. Literally! Querying agents in February is still a go!

3) The night before Christmas Eve, my seven year old daughter woke me up with the 24 hour puking bug. I spent the entire night holding her hair back and rubbing her back. In those wee hours of the morning, I realized how completely blessed I am be able to love and comfort my children when they need me.

4) This is the first year, in many, that we live close to family and didn't have to kill ourselves travelling from one place to another with loads of luggage.

5) I love my family and they love me. Probably the best blessing of all!

What about you? Amidst the goal setting, and reflecting on the past, have you taken the time to count your many blessings? If so what are some of them?  

Blog Slob

I've been a major blog slob as of late.

Who am I to worm my way into the blog-o-sphere and make great blog buddies only to leave boring blog posts once a week? No way! This isn't me, not normally. I love to blog, and I love all the wonderful...and I seriously mean WONDERFUL, people I've met so far.

So why, you ask, have I treated my blog like it's a dirty kids room that I would rather shut the door on than clean? Well, I'll tell you...

IT'S THE HOLIDAY SEASON!!!

As I type this I have a Christmas tune buzzing in my head and cookies baking in the background.

I love me some Christmas, and I want my kids to love and cherish it as much as I do, so the hubs and I pack tons of holiday, Christmasy, wintry goodness into each day, which, sadly, has left me giving my blog world the shaft.

So instead of scooting by with random posts about nothing for the next couple of weeks, I'm going to go on Christmas vacation. Meet me back here in the New Year (January 3rd to be more specific), if you will, and we'll get this party started 2012 style!

Until then, if you're searching high and low for a great book to give as a gift this Holiday, I would like to suggest the debut novel of one of my Critter partners (she's been there since I started on this crazy writing journey). She is a seriously excellent writer, and I couldn't be more proud of her and her work.
She's that awesome!

So pick up Fearless if you get a chance.

Tasmyn Vaughn didn't expect much when her dad’s job moved them to a small town in Florida; it was just another new school. But there is more to King than meets the eye, and soon Tasmyn’s ability to hear other’s thoughts is the least of her worries. Entangled in a web of first love, quirky and secretive townsfolk, magic and blood rituals, she discovers the town’s secrets aren’t just bizarre, they’re deadly.

And on that note, I'm out!

I'm On the Prowl

You may recall a couple months ago I attended one of the SCBWI Regional conferences. Among the slew of helpful tidbits I crammed into my brain, were some things to do to get query ready.

One of the rules agent Tina Wexler threw out there was to READ in your genre. So for the holidays I am looking for some great Young Adult Dystopians. Even better, I would love to lay my little nubblies on a killer time travel book.

So I need your help. Can you all recommend some great Time Travel or Dystopian books?

And who has asked Santa for some novels this year???

What I've Learned About Myself

Another Turkey day has come and gone for those of us in the US and I have learned a few things about myself this go round.

1) I am horrible at estimating how many people will actually scarf down my orange jello/cool whip salad (umm...not near as many as I thought:)


2) I am all about Black Friday shopping at like 5AM until ? but when it starts at 10PM Thanksgiving night and goes until 5AM...not so much. I'm still trying to catch up on my sleep from that one.
(for the record this is not an actual picture of me fighting in the lines:)


3) Editing is near impossible for me to get done with days jam packed full of family fun. (again this picture is so not a picture of me or my family:)




4) Last but not least, once I stop editing for a few days, starting back is like starting to work out after you quit for a month. I know it's good for me, I actually love it when I begin again, but man, actually making that first move is like pulling teeth. (Now this picture, it's the real deal:)

So here I am entering the writing world after a weeks vacation. I'm starting simple with a blog post. Next, I will try to take a hunk out of my 300 plus emails and then I'm jumping back into my editing head on. I'm so close to being done, I can't quit now!

What about you, is it hard to get back into the grind of writing/editing after taking a break? If so I'd love to know what you do to pump yourself back up.

What I'm Thankful For

You may have noticed my blogging has been sporadic this week. It's because I've been away visiting my dad for Thanksgiving and he lives on this great farm...with zero connection to the outside world. Well, I say zero and that is stretching it a bit, but it is turtle slow. I have to say, sometimes that disconnect from the craziness of the world is pretty great. I can understand why my dad and his family live on their sprawling farm full of goats, horses and dogs. While I love that life, I love the city life as well. There's nothing like needing a gallon of milk and the store being a minute away. Being able to appreciate both ends of the spectrum this week has me feeling very grateful for the things I have in my life and with Thanksgiving right around the corner I thought I would share a few of those things with you.

- My family and the overwhelming support they've given me after I told them I'm on a mission to become a published writer. If they think I'm a loon, they're keeping it to themselves and for that I'm grateful.

- The tremendous outpouring of love and support I've received from my writing buddies I've met through blogging. I mean seriously, who knew you all would be so wonderful!

- My children, my home, my dog, an abundance of what I need. So many out there don't have any of that.

- My husband and his patience with me when I forget to grocery shop or clean the house because I can't stop writing.

- The knowledge I have that I am special and unique in my own way and that God loves me. No matter if the above blessings were wiped away I would always have someone by my side leading me, guiding me and rooting me on.

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Whatever you are doing around the world, whoever you are sharing it, I hope you can count you many blessings:)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Another Lie

Yep, I lied again. Lines got crossed with my Firsts Fridays gal for today so last week really was the end of the line for that fun series.

So instead of that I'm going to gush for a second about Breaking Dawn the movie. I was able to see it early yesterday and...I loved it! (Please imagine me singing this at the top of my lungs:)

I am very aware that the Twilight books, movies and even Stephenie Meyer have gotten some major flak over the years, but as for me, I'm a fan and I'm not afraid to say it.

Like it or leave it, Stephenie Meyer has done an amazing thing with all this and I can easily say she is an inspiration to me.

If you get a chance, grab your friends, husband, wife, whoever, and go see Breaking Dawn part 1. They just keep getting better and better:)

Also, while I was preparing to watch the much anticipated movie, The Hunger Games trailer popped up. This is another one I am counting the days until.

What books would you love to see made into movies or which ones have you seen that you absolutely love?

Warm Fuzzies: Week 4 and a Mix-Up

Before I get into the Warm Fuzzies Blogfest...
Last week was my final Firsts Fridays post, at least for the time being. Well...sike! I realized yesterday that I have one more lovely writer to interview so join me Friday for the real last Firsts Fridays with author, Damyanti.

Now, on to Warm Fuzzies. This week is the final week of Juliana Brandt's super fun blogfest. Here is our assignment:
This week, post what makes writing worth it for you and most importantly, post one of your Warm Fuzzy moments. It can be a scene from a WIP, short story, poem, anything that strikes your fancy. Visit one another’s posts and enjoy the writing you find there.

This assignment for me is like taking a sneak peak at Heaven and then being asked to describe it in detail. What words have we possibly invented on this earth to describe something like that?
That's how it is for me when I try to explain why I wake up every morning revelling in the thought of sitting down to a blank screen with just my imagination. It's why I go to bed at night reworking scenes in my head. It's why I wake up in the middle of the night to scribble dreams down or better yet, the perfect words that had eluded me until three in the morning.
It's a whirlwind romance and a long lasting marriage. It's that itch you can't ignore and when you find the spot and scratch it's bliss, but when you can't find it you drive yourself mad searching.
What can I say? I love to write and I love to hate writing. I wish it were more eloquent and fantastic than that, but its really a manic obsession, an obhorent addicition that I can't get get my fill of but I will keep trying.

What about you? If you're a writer what is it about the craft that keeps you doing it? If you aren't a writer, what is your passion you can't go on living without?

Juliana would also like us to post some work and since I am a big baby about posting my stuff I'm going to make mine short and sweet. One line from my current WIP, Ripple Effect:

Her eyes are ablaze and I don’t know who she is in that body of hers, but she wants a piece of me, and not in a good way.

Croddle and the Missing Hat

Today it's time for Jenny Morris' Holiday bloghop! Here are the rules:

Since the holidays are just around the corner, we thought it would be fun to write holiday stories. To participate, just pick your favorite holiday (any will do) and post a story around 250 words. We are going for short and sweet so we can all read each entry.

If you are interested in signing up or reading the other entries go HERE to do so.

I have had so much fun doing this because it got me all kinds of excited for my favorite holiday, which is Christmas. And without further ado here is my story about:

CRODDLE AND THE MISSING HAT 

Mackenzie lay in bed, her heart beating so hard against her chest she could see it raise her fuzzy red and green Christmas pajamas. Tomorrow Croddle, Santa’s elf, would finally be here again to watch over her until Christmas morning. She couldn’t wait to see what tricks he had up his sleeve this year.

Mackenzie’s favorite part about Croddle visiting was when her and her family went on their holiday trips. She was giddy thinking about getting to watch out the car window for a glimpse of that sneaky elf flying through the clouds as he rushed ahead to hide from them.

She giggled at the memory of the year before when she jumped out of the car on the heels of her dad (he always wanted to find Croddle first) in search of her elf, and found his tiny red hat in the hotel lobby.

Croddle was such a trickster. Mackenzie’s mom told her he was probably playing one of his silly games and to go look in the bathroom for him, but when she went to check he wasn’t there. Her mom never was very good at finding Mackenzie’s elf.

When Mackenzie walked out of the bathroom she spotted him right away. Would you believe that goofy ole' Croddle was hiding in plain sight on the lamp right next to her parents? They must have looked so hard they’d fallen into a heap on the bed and didn’t notice Croddle right there. And he’d found his hat too.

Firsts Fridays: Author, Elizabeth Sharp

I’m excited and sad for today's Firsts Friday. I’m happy because I am getting to interview Elizabeth Sharp, author of Natural Selection. Let me tell you, I read this book in one day…page turner for sure, and it’s her first published book! Yay for Elizabeth!

I’m sad because I have decided to close the door for the time being on Firsts Fridays. I have gotten to know so many wonderful people through it and learned even more. But all good things must come to an end and with the holidays around the corner I feel its time. This isn’t to say it's gone forever, but it is gone for now.

 Enough of that, lets get to know Elizabeth Sharp and see what 'First' writing magic she can teach us.

DB: Hi Elizabeth, thanks so much for stopping by Firsts Fridays while you’re doing your blog tour!

ES: Thank you for having me. I’ve been overwhelmed with the positive experience this tour has been. J

DB: For starters could you tell us about you and how you became a writer?

ES: I was always a storyteller, so when I learned to read and write, it was a natural progression to start writing. I suffered with self-esteem issues in high school (and really, who doesn’t?) and through my writing I was able to express things I never could have without it. It took a long time to get serious about writing though, and I don’t know precisely what changed. Maybe it was a combination of having a really good idea at the same time I was invited to join an amazing writer’s group on Facebook. From then on everything just fell into place and my dream of publishing became a reality.

 DB: Ugh, high school can be so hard, but it sounds like your struggles ended up being a real blessing for you.

Natural Selection is your first book you’ve had published. Can you tell us a little about it?

 ES: It is my first published book. It follows the story of Amelia, a girl who isn’t the normal human she’d always thought. As she starts to discover who and what she is, things start changing very quickly for her. While she comes of age, she is thrust into the center of a terrifying mystery that could cost her and her whole family their lives.

DB: I had so much fun reading this book! I can’t wait until you release Second Nature, the second book in the series.

You published it through 4 Corners Press, a small publisher. Why did you decide to go that route and do you see yourself sticking to this method?

ES: Honestly, I am one of the founding members of 4 Corners. I had intended to self-publish, but after some casual joking one day about how some of us with different talents should band together to create our own publishing company, things started to fall together and that’s exactly what we did. I am the cover artist. As a part owner of the company, I have a feeling I’ll be publishing through them for a while. ;)

DB: Well isn’t that cool! And what a big endeavor!

As you mentioned above, you are also an artist having done your cover and others. For those interested are you available to do more and if so how can someone reach you about this?

ES: I honestly couldn’t tell you whether I love creating covers or writing more. I have a website for my cover designs, including some premade covers and some samples of others I’ve done. Anyone who’s interested can contact me through the contact form on the site, http://sharpcovers.blogspot.com

DB: Where do you see yourself taking your writing in the future? Let’s say the next five years.

ES: Honestly, I just hope the world loves what I create as much as I like creating it. I would like to expand myself, write a little darker, maybe master suspense. But I’d be content in five years to just still be putting out quality work and have a reliable fan base who love to read it.

DB: Sounds like some great plans!

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by! You rockJ

ES: So do you. J

If you’d like to learn more about Elizabeth Sharp, her publishing company and/or her cover art, go HERE.

And that’s it folks. Firsts Fridays outJ

Warm Fuzzies: Week 3- Poor Poor Characters

This week on Warm Fuzzies brought to you by the luverly Juliana Brandt, we are talking about how lucky we are to be writers and not our characters. Sure they often walk away with this new appreciation for life, love and happiness but the CRAP they have to go through. Come on! Are we sick and sadistic or what?!

These are the rules for week 3 in Juliana's words:
This week, take a moment to look at the trouble you get your MC into. How do you kick them while they’re down? Without revealing too many secrets about your WIP- take us through your MC’s arch.
The challenge for this week is to visit as many blogs as you can and based on their exert/summary, come up with a title for their WIP. Your title can be funny or serious, whatever you’d like. The best title will win one of my hand-made journals.

It's not to late to be a part of it, just click on the Warm Fuzzies button above to get started:)

As for my character and the you-know-what I put her through....
-She is born into a society where time travel is as common as flying in an airplane. Cool right? Except when people travel back in time and change things (namely the government who's all about changing the past to make a Utopian future) she is the only one who remembers the way things were before the change.
-Not only that but when these Ripples in time occur they make her all kinds of sick and they alter long time friends and loved ones personalities or make it as if they don't exist at all.
-Her world is blown up, killing everyone she ever loved.
-She discovers she can travel through time on her own but can't navigate too well in the beginning so has some pretty bad spills. Lucky for her she heals fast.
-She keeps running into a totally hot guy when she travels through time but for some reason he doesn't want to have anything to do with her
-She's attacked by wolves
-Thrown into a mental hospital
...and all that is just in the beginning.
I guess the saying we hurt the ones we love the most can apply here. Because I love my protag like she's my best bud. So I'll say it again. We are some sick sadistic people us writers.

What about you, do you put your main character through the crapper only to have them better for it in the end?

(This is for Juliana's eyes) +20 points:)

#wipmadness

I have just joined up with the ever inspiring #wipmadness group. The mastermind of it all? Angelina Hansen.  You may have seen the hashtag on Twitter, if not you should check it out!
Amazing goals are set and a host is picked every month to have Monday accountability posts. This month Lora Rivera is hosting on her site so if you are needing some major motivation with your WIP, I highly suggest heading over there.

What about you all? Where are you at with your WIP goals?