NaBloPoMo??

Blah blippity bloooo po moo-mooo....

Yeah. I don't know who decided these acronyms were a good idea, but I have strong suspicions they may have been on acid at the time. Just sayin'. 

So I'm assuming many of you writing lovelies have decided to participate in the mad rush of typing n' brain frying that IS the month of November. Also fondly known as NaNoWriMo. 

I... in keeping in line with my strict diet of "Staying Sane"... have decided to (once again) pass on this month of insanity. I considered it briefly. I really did. But I just got done training for AND RUNNING a half marathon.... [see documented proof]:

... which means I've just recently shed the dreary, saturating task of devoting long, unhealthy hours to an activity that really deserves to be implemented in one's life with more balance!

Not that writing is long. Or dreary. Per say. Nothing like my loathe of running, for certain. 

But like training for a half marathon of maddness, NaNoWriMo DOES take up a fair amount of one's time. And when one takes a step back and tries to balance writing a 50,000 word novel in one month WITH menial tasks such as bread winning n' such, well, that task becomes a bit daunting. 

Hence, I pass once again on the epic NaNoWriMo journey. 

HOWEVER, despite my passing, I must admit that I still enjoy a good frolic in the festivities. So, as a way of NOT participating in NaNoWriMo, while still PRETENDING that I am, I thought it might be fun to do NaBloPoMo. 

(Um. Yeah... am I the only one who feels like a small child with a mouth full of mashed potatoes when trythig to say that??)

Apparently in English, this stands for National Blog Post Month. Who knew?

As you can probably guess, this NaBlooooo bitty boppity boo boo schtuff is designed to promote the writing of a blog post every day of November. 

Easier than 1500 words? Methinks yes!! 

This is my NaNoWriMo cop out way of still participating in the madness without actually going mad hatter cray cray! If you'd like to try 'er out, the info is HERE. Also, you can find blog post prompts HERE (you know, if your'e like me and sometimes draw a blank as to what to write).

So good luck with the Nanos my lovely writing dears, be they WriMos or BloPos or something in between! May the force be with you, and all that jazz. I look forward to the end of this epic-ness, when we can gather in our introvert internet world and swap our writing war stories once more!

Vote for Constitutionalists!

Usually, I try to distance myself from party politics on my blog. Not because I don't have strong feelings and opinions about things...

[pshaw... YEAH RIGHT! ME... not have an opinion?! Ha!]

... but because my YA political thriller was purposefully constructed in a way to avoid that kind of drama! I wanted to focus on issues that we could universally agree on. Regardless of party affiliation.

(Or, at least MOSTLY agree on... since I suppose technically, it would be an impossible literary feat to write something EVERYONE agreed on...)

Still, despite its conservative angle, this was just too inspiring NOT to share...

I realize that many of my lovely friends--writing and otherwise--don't agree with me politically. And that's fine. I'm okay with that. Because I FIRMLY believe in EVERYONE exercising their right to vote, REGARDLESS of party affiliations. 

Truly, I believe that with all my heart.  

However, this reminded me of my story. Of my characters. Of their convictions. Of what they fight for. The importance of the sanctity of our Constitution and the rights it protects. It gave me goosebumps, and reassurances that--YES, JULIE--teens ARE interested in politics! Your book DOES have an audience! There is power in the youth of our nation. And I hope I've been able to channel some of that youthful power in the words I've written in my book. 

Nincompoop-y-ness

First off... writers block, anyone? No problem!

My dear friend Mandi, is providing lots of delicious novel writing tips HERE, on her blog, in preparation for NaNoWriMo. Not to turn any NON NaNoWriMo writers away, there are lovely tid bits and excellent advice for ANYONE with a WIP! I actually think I'm a few posts behind, but she's been delivering quite the showing of AWESOME SAUCE writing tips! So no excuses. Go check 'er out!

Secondly, I had an experience the other day that I wanted to get your oh-so-awesome opinions on, dear writers....

I--ahem--OBVIOUSLY spend a lot of time on the computer these days.

Shocker, I know.

But I'm sure you ALL can relate. I mean... I know we secretly share this romantic notion of one day using a quill and ink pot to pen our lovely novels out in pretty scroll-y letters on thick, creamy parchment paper like Jane Austen (wait... did she even do that?!)... but lets be honest...

We'll never ACTUALLY do it. 

Why? Cause its just too stinkin' easy to type-a-roo away on the ol' Mac... complete with spell check and Scrivener.

BUT... being on the lap top brings its own extra baggage. Like email. And social media. Both of which I share a love/hate relationship with. But I digress... 

If you are anything like me--despite your best intentions--you leave said email and social media sites open and logged-in while your attempt to navigate the depths of your imagination. And I learned, this week, that APPARENTLY, SOME people keep track of how much time said applications are open. 

Last week, a friend of mine--who shall hereto forthwith be referred to as Nincompoop (holla, Mandi!)--informed me that "I spend too much time on the computer," and "should find a new hobby that doesn't involve a Mac."

I proceeded to tell said Nincompoop that "I get paid to take pics and edit photos of people," AND that "I consider writing a part time job." Both activities, you know, BY THEIR VERY NATURE, involve a lot of computer time. 

To which Nincompoop--in not so many words--replied, "You're dumb. Writing isn't a job. Its a hobby."

This was me:

Closed Caption: MEH????

Obvious creep-tastic-stalker nature of his knowing EXACTLY how much time I spend on the computer aside, his comment sorta stumped me. 

A hobby? As in... like... a hobby? You mean... like FUN?

For a moment, I starred at my computer, thinking I'd read my chat bubble wrong. Like... did he REALLY just say that?? SEEEE-RIOUSLY?!

What. An. Idiot.

My knee-jerk reaction was to yell "OFF WITH HIS HEAD!" And proceed to man the witch-hunt for his ignorance. Because... um, I have never ONCE considered my writing as mundane as a simple "hobby." That word is SO watered down... so simple... such an incomplete description of what I--what WE--do as writers. It honestly baffled me that he would call it that.  

I proceeded to tell him such, when Nincompoop, in all his nincompoop-y-ness, argued that since I wasn't ACTUALLY GETTING PAID to write at this point in my life, that I couldn't call writing a job. 

Which, got me thinking...

Does an actor attending auditions consider themselves at work... EVEN IF THEY AREN'T PAID TO AUDITION?

Does a professional athlete consider a VOLUNTARY extra work out "play time," or part of their job?

What about an UNPAID intern... is that technically just a "hobby"?

How 'bout a PRO BONO lawyer? 

Or a musician working the local bars for FREE, just so they can get that first foot in the door?

Because these people are not getting paid... does that mean what they do is not "work." That their activities are any LESS a job than someone like my marketing Nincompoop? 

MY opinion is obviously a bit fatty NO on that one... 

Writing is not always fun. Sometimes? It just plain sucks. I don't spend countless hours revising and revisiting and pounding the freakin' H-E-double-YOU-KNOW-WHAT out of each and every word because I ENJOY it. Because its a HOBBY. 

Lets be honest... if I wanted to relax, I'd read someone ELSE's work. 

Writing is work. Trying to get published, IS WORK. Writing synopsis's and queries and going to conferences and nail-bitting over whether or not that agent is ACTUALLY going to respond SOMETIME in my life, IS WORK. 

Nincompoop CLEARLY has never actually TRIED to get published if he thinks its all fun and games.... if he thinks writing is just a HOBBY.

A hobby? For real? 

Yea... NO.

*steps off soap box*

I'm curious, though. What do YOU writers think? Do some of you agree with Nincompoop? Or do most of you (as I suspect) valiantly stand behind the idea that an OUT OF WORK writer, is still a WORKING writer?

P.s. I promise that if you agree with Nincompoop I won't think you're a nincompoop too ( : I really am curious as to the general consensus here!

Opposition

As I was perusing the pins and likes and posts of the online world the other day, I came across a blog post about some poor, dystopian-burned-out soul, who was begging writers everywhere to--PUH-LEEEASE--put him out of his dystopian misery, and accept the challenge to.... 

...wait for it... 

... write a utopia. 

I admit. I sat there for a moment, contemplating the possibility of actually taking on said challenge myself, before realizing it would be a complete failure from the beginning. Because, lets be honest. It would. Be a failure, that is. A TRUE Utopia would be nigh near impossible to write. 

Don't get me wrong. I admit, someone probably COULD write it. No doubt. 

But it'd be like warm milk and Xanax for an insomniac. Five pages in and every reader would be tossing back some serious Zzzzzzz's! 

The World English Dictionary describes a Utopia as being "any real or imaginary society, or place, state, etc. considered to be perfect or ideal."

Sounds nice, right? But for the purposes of story telling? Mmmm... not so much. Stories NEED conflict. They THRIVE on unrest. And FEED off of discord. Its the truth. You know it. Because there a fight isn't a fight without a bad guy. No one grows without a challenge. Strength isn't achieved without opposition. And lessons can't be learned if everything is always perfect. 

Harry? Katniss? Luke? Frodo? What would these stories BE without their evil counterparts? The Voldermorts, Snows, Darths and creepy, swiveling, all-seeing eyes of doom? 

Well certainly not best sellers, that's for sure!

Same with real life. Everything needs a conflict. Its how we grow. Learn. And push ourselves to achieve greatness. Even something as simple as a football game just wouldn't be the same without an arch rival. EVEN IF it means enduring a heartbreaking loss--prepackaged with rookie mistakes, an incompetent kicker (well, several), six turnovers, a stadium filled with too much red, and a blown overtime--nursing some serious wounds, and enduring another year of humility until the next great battle... even if accepting conflict means all that? 

Totally worth it.

[Who, me? No! Not bitter at all!]

Because, lets be honest... doesn't it make the story THAT much better? The reward THAT much greater? The victory THAT much sweeter? The blood, sweat and tears THAT much more worth it? 

Conflict, people. THAT's what its all about. 

But don't let me be your Johnny Raincloud. Go ahead. Write your Utopia. Good luck. May the focre be with you, and all that jazz. I'm ready with my fuzzy socks, warm milk and comfy blanket. Bring on the nap! 

Until then? I'm off to nurse my wounded BYU pride... I appreciate conflict. But I still hate you, Utah. 

The proverbial question...

So recently, my sister talked me into training for--AND RUNNING--a half marathon with her. 

...[cricket, cricket]...

Now that I look back on our conversation, I'm actually convinced there was some kind of trickery or black magic involved, since...

I. Am. Not. A. Runner.

Lemme lay it down for you....Musician? Yes. Marching band? OH YEAH! Drama? Absolutely. Mock Trial Team? You bettchya. Dancer? All the time. Hiking? Yay! Snowboarding? Every weekend. And although, yes, I DID do track, I was a vaulter. Not a runner. 

In fact, until last week, the longest consecutive run I'd ever done IN MY ENTIRE LIFE, was less than two miles. 

You pickin' up what I'm puttin' down?

But as I've been training for this half marathon of death, I've noticed something. Not my shrinking waistline, or the lessening of the unsightly cottage cheese cellulite on my legs (although those things are--admittedly--nice!)... what I've noticed is an OUTPOURING of support from people. My sister for one, but also complete strangers that I've never met! I'll be trudging along, dragging my broken body down the street at a half trot/crawl that I call like to call "running," when all the sudden a guy taking the trash out will give me a thumbs up. The lady weeding her garden will turn and say "Good for you!" And a neighbor will tell me he wishes he could be like me.  

Now, although I question the mental stability of ANYONE who actually WANTS to be sweaty, sore and limping within an inch of death like me, I do think its incredible how much support I've gotten from complete, random strangers. All just from pushing myself to try a challenge I've never been able to do before. 

It reminds me of the kind of support I get from fellow writers in the blogsphere... you awesome people who I have NEVER met, but regardless, never fail to give the most amazing support whenever I need it. 

This all got me thinking--and, though I might be totally naive for even SUGGESTING this--I really want to believe that people are generally... GOOD. 

I've been wondering about this question, as I've been blowing through just about every dystopian novel I can get my hands on. I love these stories and am completely FASCINATED with how society gets to the "point of no return," so to speak, when things just start going BAD. 

Reading about these post-apocalyptic, struggling societies, and comparing it to my own experiences with people who are so supportive and GOOD, I'm always struck with the question of: 

What ARE we at the core? What is the true nature of human beings? 

Are we GOOD? Or really just BAD?

When stripped of the familiar, secure world in which we live in, most dystopian authors imply that people become savage. Without feeling. Selfish. In a sense: BAD. 

And don't get me wrong, it makes sense. These stories are believable. The characters' reactions to these situations are realistic. 

But am I so wrong for wishing... thinking... hoping... wondering... if, perhaps, they're wrong? If maybe--just maybe--we are all secretly GOOD in our hearts? That the dark side REALLY WOULD loose.... that Lord V and his Death Eaters really DO fail in the face of love... that the President Snows of the world are in the minority?

I dunno. Maybe.

What do YOU think, the faithful throng of readers and writers of the world... 

Are we GOOD or BAD?

Channeling my Inner Yoda

Hello blogger dear ones! 

I recently had a rather humbling knock up the side of the head. A shame-on-you-you-should-be-better-than-that kind of a deal. Which, yeah, no one likes to get. Especially me. 

All the same, I thought I'd pass the wisdom on. Or rather, the pie. Its called Humble. EVERYONE take a slice... its yummy!!

So, the other day, I was listening to a speaker. The topic completely unrelated to writing, I might add. And the wise one, whom I shall fondly refer to as Yoda (for his bald head and fountain of knowledge), said something to the effect of:

"The good fortune of someone else does not take away from your ultimate end success. Don't dwell on what others have. Enjoy the reward YOU have been given." 

Or, to be more authentic...

"Take away from you, the good fortune of others, does not. Dwell on success of others, you should not. Rewards given you, should you enjoy." 

When I heard this I kind of did a double take with a big "Ohhhhhhh!"

Cause, this is what my little writer mind heard:

"Stop being a piss ant because SOMEONE ELSE got published before you. Stop complaining because WORSE WRITERS THAN YOU are published. Stop focusing on the success of SOMEONE ELSE. Instead, focus on YOURSELF, dummy!"

Because, I'm not the ONLY one who does that, right? Secretly think bad thoughts about other people who get published. ESPECIALLY the ones whose books I think are TERRIBLE?

Okay, not all the time... 

But sometimes? 

Well maybe I AM the only one ( ;

ARE there completely terrible writers out there? Sure. 

Ones that seem to have success coming out their hide quarters, DESPITE said terrible-ness? Absolutely.

I won't pretend to know how this phenomenon happens. If I did? I'd be published already. 

But, like my wise, Yoda speaker so eloquently pointed out... what the H-E-double you-know-what does that have to do with ME? With MY success as a writer? With MY own pitfalls? MY shortcomings? MY irritating writing quirks that are holding ME back?

I shall tell you Young Skywalker...

NOTHING. 

I like to complain about them, those writers who I have deemed far inferior to me. I like to throw my hands in the air. Pull out my hair. Kick a tree. And stomp my foot, when I see them with with success  that should--OBVIOUSLY--be mine. 

Cause, guys, I'm the goddess of all things writing, okay?!

But in reality, shouldn't I just be HAPPY for them? They've DONE IT! They're published... and THAT'S AWESOME!! Regardless if I don't like their taste. Hate their prose. Think their story is completely unoriginally. Or think they only got published because their daddy knows so-and-so...

THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH MY SUCCESS!

I need to be better at this, dear writers. I need to be excited for those who have made it to the proverbial writer's paradise: publication. And not worry that somehow THEIR success is keeping ME back. 

Because its not. 

That's no one but me.

Mmmmm... wasn't that pie good? 

And since I can't say it any better than the Wise One, himself....

Fabulous-o!

Another great reads, peeps! Seriously. I read it in like a day. Okay two. Still. Preeeetty excited there's another one out in--like--five days...

[happy dance]

Read it. Love it. You'll be glad you did.

Humanity is all but extinguished after a war with partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the world’s population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island. The threat of the partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to the disease in over a decade. Humanity’s time is running out.

When sixteen-year-old Kira learns of her best friend’s pregnancy, she’s determined to find a solution. Then one rash decision forces Kira to flee her community with the unlikeliest of allies. As she tries desperately to save what is left of her race, she discovers that the survival of both humans and partials rests in her attempts to answer questions of the war’s origin that she never knew to ask.

Fan Club

So... I just got my first fan. 

I don't REALLY mean my "first" fan, because, well, I have a plethora of die-heart family members and AMAZING critique buddies that would gladly walk the plank for my book. 

But as much as I love those "I-was-with-you-from-the-start-and-will-love-you-no-matter-what" fam n' friends (and, lets be honest here, my confidence and quality of writing would be EVEN FARTHER from top notch than it already is without 'em!), there is something to be said about a ridiculously and overwhelmingly passionate fan who has absolutely no obligation to give you warm fuzzies about your future as an author. 

Let me tell ya... its like a Red Bull/Expresso cocktail to your confidence!

This girl, whom I shall fondly refer to as "Rose," read my book TWICE in two days, and tackled a third reading within a week. She has sections of it memorized that I don't even remember writing (I know, right?), a fantasy cast list all picked out for the future movie, and a gigantic fictional crush on Shawn, one of my boys! Rose even went so far as to make herself a Starburst bracelet, on account of that's what Shawn always wears in my book:

She wants to chat about character development all the time. And is practically dancing with excitement every time the topic of my book comes up. When Rose timidly asked me if I was "totally weird-ing her out" with all her "nerdy-ness" I gave her a big, huge, GIGANTIC HECK NO!!

I've never had a fan club before. But if this is what it feels like? Sign me up for ten, please!

Now, I don't say this to brag. Cause, I mean, one measly fan? Hardly bragging material for the likes of the J.K.'s and Meyer's of the world! 

No, no. I only bring this up because of what a confidence boost it has been to me, knowing that SOMEONE out there (besides my devoted group of plank walkers) is excited about my writing! Its intoxicating! Exhilarating! And has done wonders for my writing!

So THANK YOU, dear Rose, for your unbridled enthusiasm. Your giddy-ness. Your casting lists. And your Starbursts bracelet. You make me want to write. All the time. And have breathed new life into the stuff I DO write. You're the best!

Favorite Schmavorite

Sooo... I've been wanting to write this blog post for a WHILE now, but due to my lazy-ness (or rather, lack of blogging enthusiasm) as of late, I have not done so. 

Obviously. 

But, dear readers, in an attempt to draw you back to the life of ME (haha), I've decided to finally buckle down and post another entry, just so that I can rant for a tad bit on something I've noticed lately... and I'll bet you're just dying to find out what it is, aren't you?

...[Its okay, you can lie to me]...

Heehee. ANYWAY, I've noticed, dear bibliophiles, that authors have a tenancy... wait for it:

Be redundant. 

Don't worry, its totally subtle, though. 

Because, of course, if pages were filled with redundancies, we--as bibliophiles--would all throw our books down, and stomp on them in outrage! (Or maybe not). Point is, I didn't even notice many of  these redundancies until I started LISTENING to audio books. Which--as a total side note--I resisted for the longest time, because it just wasn't ink and paper gosh darn it! 

But I finally caved. (Its amazing what a long commute to work will drive you to do!) 

And what I noticed from LISTENING to a book, rather than READING, is that authors totally use favoritism in their word choices. For example.... Brandon Sanderson? He loves the word petulant. Like, a LOT. Julie Kagawa? "Her blood turned cold" or "Her blood turned ice." Seriously, its all over the Immortal Rules. Nancy Drew? Novice. And then there is the word cacophony, which I'm beginning to loathe, because too many writers use it...  and my ears and eyes have been assaulted by this word so many times now, it's not even clever. Just irritating. 

Sometimes I wonder, though, if writers even REALIZE they're doing this...

I suspect not. 

I feel like its some kind of cardinal rule for Writing 101... the high law of the literary class: Don't be redundant! You'll bore your reader! You know, that kinda thing? 

Actually, now that I think about it, its probably a striving for creativity and uniqueness that actually draws writers to use these particular words in the first place! I can just see them typing away on their lap tops, mulling over the possible word choices for LOUD NOISES.... "Aha!"--they say--"I shall use CACOPHONY instead!" 

Doh! *slaps forehead*

Then again, who am I to judge? I probably have my own list of oober annoying words and phrases that drive my readers nuts-o. Words I habitually cling to in my moments of writer's block crises.

Like saying "oober" instead of "uber," which drives my ultra-Gernamny-inclined-Auntie absolutely batty. 

Haha.

How about you, dear readers... Do YOU have any near-and-dear, overly-used favorite words?

P.s. Also, you should all read this book. Because it's fabulous:

A life-sucking, productivity-quashing, page turner? Yes. But fabulous all the same. 

UN-Insecure Writer's Post

Hello, fellow writer-ites! 

First of all, I feel I deserve major pats-on-the-back for ACTUALLY remembering that today is the first Wednesday of the month, our lovely, designated, all-sacred, insecure writers day.

*Accepting back pats now*

But secondly, I feel the need to make an amendment to the "Insecurity" aspect of this, our Insecure Writer's Day posting. Instead, fellow Ladies and Gents of the Pen, I officially nominate this "first Wednesday," as the UN-Insecure Writers Day. 

Here's to writers with nerve.

To writers with conviction.

To writers with vision.

To writers with courage. 

To writers who act.

Here's to the power of ink and paper. 

Heres to you, Mr. Thomas Jefferson. To you Mr. John Adams. And you, Mr. Benjamin Franklin. Robert R. Livingston. Roger Sherman . . . 

. . . Samuel Adams. Josiah Bartlett. Carter Braxton. Charles Carroll. Samuel Chase. Abraham Clark. George Clymer. William Ellery. William Floyd. Elbridge Gerry. Button Gwinnett. Lyman Hall. John Hancock. Benjamin Harrison. John Hart. Joseph Hart. Joseph Hewes. Thomas Heyward. William Hooper. Stephen Hopkins. Francis Hopkinson. Samuel Huntington. Francis Lightfoot Lee. Richard Henry Lee. Francis Lewis. Philip Livingston. Thomas Lynch. Thomas McKean. Arthur Middleton. Lewis Morris. Robert Morris. John Morton. Thomas Nelson. William Paca. Robert Treat Paine. John Penn. George Read. Ceasar Rodney. George Ross. Benjamin Rush. Edward Rutledge. James Smith. Richard Stockton. Thomas Stone. George Taylor. Matthew Thornton. George Walton. William Whipple. William Williams. James Wilson. John Witherspoon. Oliver Wolcott. And George Wythe. 

Here, is to the power of words. 

To the power of UN-Insecure writers. 

On the 4th of July, the first Wednesday, of the seventh month, of the year two thousand and twelve, here's to you, signers of the Declaration of Independence. To your pens. Your thoughts. Your words. And for being thoroughly and unfailingly Un-Insecure. The pen truly is mightier than the sword.