So it seems that Blogger has recovered everyone's lost posts. And it also seems as if I wasn't the only one freaking out (huge sigh of relief). It's not really like my posts were awe inspiring or anything, but it sucks having the thoughts you painstakingly wrote, erased.
On a happier note, I am totally in love with my new iPod the hubby bought me for Mother's Day! My brother Josh recently moved to Seattle, Washington taking with him Hope and my nephew Noam. This was a sad day, but Facetime makes it easier.
I get to talk to them while seeing their beautiful faces, and have Noam show me all of his toys. This will also allow Noam and Riley to talk, because they absolutely love each other! Can't wait to hear their 2 and 3yr old conversation. I have a feeling there is going to be a lot of Thomas the Train involved.
I Facetime my Mom almost everyday, and we love to laugh at how horrible we look some days. Also enjoyed a two hour convo with my youngest brother Jordan last night. We kept laughing and comparing Facetime to Back to the Future 2, where Marty gets fired and all the papers come shooting out of the faxes. Back then the concept seemed bizarre, and it still seems a bit bizarre to see and use it in reality.
But in my opinion, everyone needs Facetime. Go buy an iPod touch, Mac, or iPhone and convince everyone you know to do so as well. Believe me having a conversation will take on an entire new meaning!
On a side note, just as I was finishing this post my sister Amanda Facetimed me. Seriously, I think my family is getting spoiled by this feature. We rarely call each other on the regular phone anymore.
Have a great and non-scary rest of this Friday the 13th!
Friday, May 13, 2011
Friday the 13 You Suck!...
This morning I wake up, log in to check my blog, only to find that my last two blogs have magically disappeared! Along with all the changes I've made to my blog! What the HECK BLOGGER!!!! I'm so frustrated I could scream!!!!
Ok enough with the anger, now I have to write my entire blogs over again!
Stay tuned I'm sure I'll have them up in about 10 years. Thanks a lot Friday the 13th, I really appreciate you!
Ok enough with the anger, now I have to write my entire blogs over again!
Stay tuned I'm sure I'll have them up in about 10 years. Thanks a lot Friday the 13th, I really appreciate you!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Bummed...
Kind of bummed today. I entered a contest on Between Fact and Fiction a blog run by Natalie Whipple for a free 15-50 page crit and query crit, and I didn't win. I was really hoping I would. I really wanted to have an honest and unbiased opinion of my WIP. Oh well, I guess there is always next time.
On a different note I've hit 67,000+, and I have been finding myself reluctant to finish. I've noticed that in the time periods that I'm supposed to be writing, I've been allowing myself to be willingly distracted. It isn't because I don't want to write or that my WIP isn't still crystal clear in my mind, but that I've had this sub-conscious urge to delay. I have literally been dragging my feet. When I sat down and analyzed my behaviour, I can honestly say that I think my issues are deeply rooted in fear.
Fear of completing. Of the endless rounds of queries, and waiting, and queries, and waiting, only to receive rejection after rejection. I know that this isn't healthy or productive thinking, but the self-doubt is quick to creep up and launch its attack.
I need to just keep reminding myself that I believe in this story. That I think others will as well. It's at times like these, that I wish I could just switch my mind off. Even if this wouldn't be conducive to my story. I'm just going to try to keep a positive attitude and keep plugging along.
Until next time.
On a different note I've hit 67,000+, and I have been finding myself reluctant to finish. I've noticed that in the time periods that I'm supposed to be writing, I've been allowing myself to be willingly distracted. It isn't because I don't want to write or that my WIP isn't still crystal clear in my mind, but that I've had this sub-conscious urge to delay. I have literally been dragging my feet. When I sat down and analyzed my behaviour, I can honestly say that I think my issues are deeply rooted in fear.
Fear of completing. Of the endless rounds of queries, and waiting, and queries, and waiting, only to receive rejection after rejection. I know that this isn't healthy or productive thinking, but the self-doubt is quick to creep up and launch its attack.
I need to just keep reminding myself that I believe in this story. That I think others will as well. It's at times like these, that I wish I could just switch my mind off. Even if this wouldn't be conducive to my story. I'm just going to try to keep a positive attitude and keep plugging along.
Until next time.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Some Times It Feels So Good To Be Right...
So hearkening back to a previous post http://amberafterglow.blogspot.com/2011/04/jk-rowlins-sucks.html I was more than a little pleased and surprised when Kiersten White blogged along the same lines. Of course she did it a bit more eloquently and superbly, but more or less the same gist as my theory.
http://kierstenwrites.blogspot.com/2011/04/on-pacing.html
I do agree that sometimes as writers, we forget to take a step back and remember who we are writing for. Yes of course, first and foremost we are writing for ourselves. But if we are going to be completely honest, we WANT and NEED other people to read our work and enjoy it as well.
Seriously, I know. I'm currently working on a third revision of the same story. There are huge chucks of my WIP that I have gutted because they meant more to me than to the story. I had to cut two characters that I loved. Upon reviewing I realized they didn't add much to the story. Instead they took away from it. Did it kill me to do so? Yes, yes it did. In the end though, my WIP is the better for it and I call that a success!
Well that is the end of my ramblings for now. Need to stop procrastinating! Back to work Amber, chop chop!
http://kierstenwrites.blogspot.com/2011/04/on-pacing.html
I do agree that sometimes as writers, we forget to take a step back and remember who we are writing for. Yes of course, first and foremost we are writing for ourselves. But if we are going to be completely honest, we WANT and NEED other people to read our work and enjoy it as well.
Seriously, I know. I'm currently working on a third revision of the same story. There are huge chucks of my WIP that I have gutted because they meant more to me than to the story. I had to cut two characters that I loved. Upon reviewing I realized they didn't add much to the story. Instead they took away from it. Did it kill me to do so? Yes, yes it did. In the end though, my WIP is the better for it and I call that a success!
Well that is the end of my ramblings for now. Need to stop procrastinating! Back to work Amber, chop chop!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Forgot to mention.....
If you possess a Kindle, I highly recommend that you buy Eternal Eden by Nicole Williams. It is only 99 cents, and well worth the price. I literally could not put my Kindle down, it was that good. I nearly cried several times while reading it, and couldn't help but wonder "How in the world is this girl not formally published?" I am eagerly awaiting the sequel.
Here is the book description from Amazon.
"College sophomore Bryn Dawson is a self-proclaimed poster child for normal. However, the day William Hayward enters her life, normalcy is the last thing Bryn will be able to count on if she wants to be with him. Too mysterious and appealing to be good for a girl, Bryn feels drawn to him in a way that seems out of her control—as if fate is orchestrating it.
Despite every red flag and warning siren going off in her head telling her not to, Bryn falls hard for William, knowing he’s categorically different from anyone she’s ever met. She never imagined how right she was. When William takes her deeper into the rabbit hole of his world, Bryn must decide just how much she is willing to sacrifice to be with him, knowing no matter what, fate always finds a way to have the last laugh.
Spinning a new twist on star-crossed lovers, Eternal Eden will put Bryn through a gauntlet of turmoil, challenging her to find the power within herself to become the heroine in her own story."
Please read, I promise it will not disappoint. Let me know your thoughts if you do!
Here is the book description from Amazon.
"College sophomore Bryn Dawson is a self-proclaimed poster child for normal. However, the day William Hayward enters her life, normalcy is the last thing Bryn will be able to count on if she wants to be with him. Too mysterious and appealing to be good for a girl, Bryn feels drawn to him in a way that seems out of her control—as if fate is orchestrating it.
Despite every red flag and warning siren going off in her head telling her not to, Bryn falls hard for William, knowing he’s categorically different from anyone she’s ever met. She never imagined how right she was. When William takes her deeper into the rabbit hole of his world, Bryn must decide just how much she is willing to sacrifice to be with him, knowing no matter what, fate always finds a way to have the last laugh.
Spinning a new twist on star-crossed lovers, Eternal Eden will put Bryn through a gauntlet of turmoil, challenging her to find the power within herself to become the heroine in her own story."
Please read, I promise it will not disappoint. Let me know your thoughts if you do!
J.K Rowlins sucks....
Ok not really, but she makes me feel infinitely inferior. While I was watching the latest installment in the Potter world (Deathly Hallows part 1), it got me to thinking about the importance of descriptions. Now I want to state for the record, that I basically die a slow death every time I have to force myself to go back and flush out a description of a place or thing. My mind simply tires of having to illustrate every detail and nuance of a scene.
And if I'm being completely honest, in the majority of books I read, I sometimes find myself skipping over long drawn out descriptions. Some of them are ridiculous and mind numbing. Frankly who can stand reading two or more paragraphs describing the china, or the pictures on the wall, or the food on the table? I can't that's who. Do I really need a detailed list of every piece of food that a main character places into their mouth? No, no I don't.
So in my own work, I tend towards the theory less is more. Unless more is needed. If it isn't imperative to my story, I cut it out. This is a theory many writers, or would be writers for that matter, could stand to adapt. Too many times it feels as if an author is trying to fill up dead space.
But back to J.K. Rowling, she is superb detailer. She never over explains, and her descriptions pull you into her world completely. This is an example of the art that I strive to imitate. To give enough description to pull a reader into my world, but not too much to turn them off.
I'm sure many authors will disagree with me, maybe even label me a dissenter, but please remember this is only one lowly writer's opinion. I say write what works for you. After all if you don't follow my advice, I'll probably just skip over the boring overly described parts and still enjoy reading your book.
P.S I apologize in advance for any annoying overusage of the word description, but it couldn't be helped!
And if I'm being completely honest, in the majority of books I read, I sometimes find myself skipping over long drawn out descriptions. Some of them are ridiculous and mind numbing. Frankly who can stand reading two or more paragraphs describing the china, or the pictures on the wall, or the food on the table? I can't that's who. Do I really need a detailed list of every piece of food that a main character places into their mouth? No, no I don't.
So in my own work, I tend towards the theory less is more. Unless more is needed. If it isn't imperative to my story, I cut it out. This is a theory many writers, or would be writers for that matter, could stand to adapt. Too many times it feels as if an author is trying to fill up dead space.
But back to J.K. Rowling, she is superb detailer. She never over explains, and her descriptions pull you into her world completely. This is an example of the art that I strive to imitate. To give enough description to pull a reader into my world, but not too much to turn them off.
I'm sure many authors will disagree with me, maybe even label me a dissenter, but please remember this is only one lowly writer's opinion. I say write what works for you. After all if you don't follow my advice, I'll probably just skip over the boring overly described parts and still enjoy reading your book.
P.S I apologize in advance for any annoying overusage of the word description, but it couldn't be helped!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
So It's Been a While...
What can I say? Life lately has been one crazy, hectic, and basically out of control roller coaster. I've been up writing in the quiet hours of 11:00pm - 6:00am, trying to bust out the last 65-70 pages of my book. Yes, I am that close to finishing! This is being made possible by my amazing hero of a husband who has been waking up with the kiddos so that I can finally sleep. That is not to say that I will be anywhere near done polishing The Beast. Unfortunately, that will not end until it shines with a pearly white complexion. And then comes the process of writing a query...argh my head hurts thinking about it.
So anyway, since my brain is usually the consistency of mush when it comes to writing anything during the daylight hours, I've decided to list the top authors that have intrigued me in the last let's say year. Yes, I know that is a huge stretch of time, but give a girl a break! Plus I wanted to stretch it that long so I can include a favorite that I keep rereading. The following are in no particular order. Feel free to let me know if you agree with my choices, or for that matter disagree.
1. Suzanne Collins- The Hunger Games trilogy (I finally got around to reading these and they blew me away!)
2. Kiersten White- Paranormalcy (I love love Kiersten and freely admit that I stalk her on her blog, facebook, and twitter)
3. Cassandra Clare- The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices series (Honestly, these books could go on for years and I would continue to read them)
4. Maria V. Snyder- Poison Study trilogy and Glass Study trilogy (If you haven't read any of her work you should, they are amazing!)
5. Lauren Kate- Fallen & Torment (I really think that her series on fallen angels are the best in the angel genre)
6. Julie Kagawa- Iron King, Iron Daughter, Iron Queen (Her fairy books are superb)
Now I want to add two Kindle Authors that I found on Amazon that I really liked. What I would like to add it that they are self-published authors, therefore there are numerous grammatical and punctuation errors within both. But if you can get around this fact, both of these series have original ideas and really pulled me into the story.
1. Imogen Heap for her Portal Chronicles
2. Amanda Hocking for her Trylle Trilogy (I wouldn't really recommend any of her other work, as I was seriously disappointed in her other series. They felt rushed and unoriginal)
Back to the grindstone, as I leave you with a little something that helps to inspire my writing.
So anyway, since my brain is usually the consistency of mush when it comes to writing anything during the daylight hours, I've decided to list the top authors that have intrigued me in the last let's say year. Yes, I know that is a huge stretch of time, but give a girl a break! Plus I wanted to stretch it that long so I can include a favorite that I keep rereading. The following are in no particular order. Feel free to let me know if you agree with my choices, or for that matter disagree.
1. Suzanne Collins- The Hunger Games trilogy (I finally got around to reading these and they blew me away!)
2. Kiersten White- Paranormalcy (I love love Kiersten and freely admit that I stalk her on her blog, facebook, and twitter)
3. Cassandra Clare- The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices series (Honestly, these books could go on for years and I would continue to read them)
4. Maria V. Snyder- Poison Study trilogy and Glass Study trilogy (If you haven't read any of her work you should, they are amazing!)
5. Lauren Kate- Fallen & Torment (I really think that her series on fallen angels are the best in the angel genre)
6. Julie Kagawa- Iron King, Iron Daughter, Iron Queen (Her fairy books are superb)
Now I want to add two Kindle Authors that I found on Amazon that I really liked. What I would like to add it that they are self-published authors, therefore there are numerous grammatical and punctuation errors within both. But if you can get around this fact, both of these series have original ideas and really pulled me into the story.
1. Imogen Heap for her Portal Chronicles
2. Amanda Hocking for her Trylle Trilogy (I wouldn't really recommend any of her other work, as I was seriously disappointed in her other series. They felt rushed and unoriginal)
Back to the grindstone, as I leave you with a little something that helps to inspire my writing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)