I'm back, a little later after originally scheduled but sometimes that just happens, you know? Anywho I decided to get on here and post quickly just so everyone knows I haven't forgotten them, before I go and cyber stalk all my friends. Umm, I mean check up on. Duh. Hehe.
So lets do a quick round up. Over my vacation I read 15 books!
Beastly, and A Kiss in Time, by Alex Flinn I love fairy tale retellings, they like make my day.
Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey great, reminded me why I love vampires that don't sparkle *sigh* a good vampire romance always makes me smile.
Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers, it was good and even though the main character was a total jerk half the time and I've been bullied so I shouldn't be siding with a bullier (the MC by the way) I was cheering when she chipped the other girls tooth.
The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard, just as delicious as everyone made it out to be. And I loved the ending.
Hold Still by Nina La Couer, so good, and I didn't cry half as hard as I thought I would which is a good thing because I'm an ugly crier.
Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker, I liked it, not my normal venue but cute.
His Eyes by Renee Carter, it was a great read, I really liked it.
Fallen by Lauren Kate, I don't know about this one. Everyone was singing it's praises and so I couldn't wait to read it but I wasn't very impressed. That and Daniel didn't capture my attention like another certain fallen angel... *cough*Archer*cough*
Just One Wish by Janette Rallison, I bought this because I thought it was going to have a nice cute ending. Yeah didn't happen. I cried long and hard (In a good way), it was amazing!
Unclaimed Heart by Kim Wilkins, I really love old English writing and stuff stationed back in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries so this was a great read.
Ex-Mas by Kate Brian, I picked it up because I loved Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys and this one was just as cute, even though the main character was kind of obnoxious.
Far From You by Lisa Schroeder, I got this because I loved I Heart You, You Haunt Me that and I just like her style. I didn't think I'd cry, again I was wrong but I just loved the way it flowed and the character growth. If you haven't read it, you should.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. I LOVED this book, I'd meant to read it awhile ago and never picked it up. So when the movie came out and it looked really good I told myself I wouldn't see the movie until I'd read the book. So I read the book, and LOVED it. Then, less than 72 hours later, I saw the movie. Not as good as the book (movies never are) but a good adaptation none the less. And I liked that they aged Percy, because he as a 16 year old is very cute and I like Logan Lerman, a lot.
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, this book lived up to all the hype around it. I loved it so much. It was just *sigh* I wish my romance life was like that. Well without the whole debilitating diseases and such, but you know what I mean.
So yeah, I read a lot, was without internet (oh so painful) missed my kittens, and then when I got back returned to school. I did hear back from that writers program I applied for, thank you so much for your help by the way everyone who participated in the critique of my piece because it really was at the top of it's game when I went through and edited it after all your help and I was proud of it when I sent it out. So despite the fact that I didn't get in I'm very content in the knowledge that I did the best I could have. Besides rejections are part of the business. They only make me stronger.
How has everyone been? I've missed blogging and trust me, March will be full of most consistent posting. Promise.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
And Pause
I'm going to be without Internet for about a week and a half. And I have no idea how I'm going to make it. But once that week and a half is over I will be back to my regular blogging schedule, at least once a week, and will be able to keep a closer tabs on all the people I stalk, uh I mean follow. Because honestly you guys always manage to make me smile even on the worst of days.
This is brief because it's late and I'm supposed to be in bed, though I'm praying for a snow day tomorrow. Here's the deal, I have not finished my novel but I haven't given up and am still chomping at the bit to get it finished, but like you all said these things take time. I'm almost done betaing Surviving Reject High and that is all I plan on doing tomorrow pounding out my last little comments on it before I loose Internet completely so I can get it back to Jade. I would have it finished but all the testing I've had to do in the past two months has left me unable to finish it, two or three hours of sleep can only get you so far before it starts affecting performance *sigh*.
I will also be basking in the sun by a pool in less than four days and will be indulging myself in my newly purchased novels, Percy Jackson and The Olympians (1), The Secret Year, Sharing Sam, Something Missing, and about fifteen others I can't wait to sink my teeth into. (Not literally because I can't bring myself to break the binding of a book let alone desecrate it with my teeth.) So yep. I'm a year older by the way, 17 and still feeling like I should be 8. I've picked a college I want to go to(it is a reach school but that's what determination is for right? And at least I've picked one), decided I'm taking four English classes next year including an independent study for creative writing (I'm calling it CW^2) because my school cut their regular program, and should hear back from that extra curricular creative writing program I applied to back in the fall during the first week of March. *Phew* That's a lot. But that's it for now, I'll be back here in about well two weeks. I'm going to miss you guys. *tear*.
So here, is yet another pause.
This is brief because it's late and I'm supposed to be in bed, though I'm praying for a snow day tomorrow. Here's the deal, I have not finished my novel but I haven't given up and am still chomping at the bit to get it finished, but like you all said these things take time. I'm almost done betaing Surviving Reject High and that is all I plan on doing tomorrow pounding out my last little comments on it before I loose Internet completely so I can get it back to Jade. I would have it finished but all the testing I've had to do in the past two months has left me unable to finish it, two or three hours of sleep can only get you so far before it starts affecting performance *sigh*.
I will also be basking in the sun by a pool in less than four days and will be indulging myself in my newly purchased novels, Percy Jackson and The Olympians (1), The Secret Year, Sharing Sam, Something Missing, and about fifteen others I can't wait to sink my teeth into. (Not literally because I can't bring myself to break the binding of a book let alone desecrate it with my teeth.) So yep. I'm a year older by the way, 17 and still feeling like I should be 8. I've picked a college I want to go to(it is a reach school but that's what determination is for right? And at least I've picked one), decided I'm taking four English classes next year including an independent study for creative writing (I'm calling it CW^2) because my school cut their regular program, and should hear back from that extra curricular creative writing program I applied to back in the fall during the first week of March. *Phew* That's a lot. But that's it for now, I'll be back here in about well two weeks. I'm going to miss you guys. *tear*.
So here, is yet another pause.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Goal Fail
So I was supposed to have He’s With Me done by yesterday. I failed, miserably. Midterms did get in the way, even though I professed they wouldn’t, then my characters decided to be jerks (yes I blame Kali, she’s so stubborn), and I asked myself a question that I should have asked way back in what 2008 when Kali walked into my head. Why would Darren continue to pursue her after she’d been a jerk to him? And why would she even consider forming a bond (of any sort) with him? See just a few kinks (a.k.a. big plot holes) that need fixing. Oh joy! You can already tell that this is going to be on my mind for the next few days. I see a few loud lunch periods in my future, brace yourself Kathryn.
I am going to own this, it is going to be finished.
I had seriously contemplated working through the night last night and into the early hours of this morning working on this novel, even though I knew it wouldn’t be finished. Yeah I decided sleep was important, especially because maybe dream me will have an answer to my plot problems.(She didn't *sigh*). Also all nighters are a pain in the ass to deal with, because you feel drowsy for days afterwards, not worth it unless you actually finish whatever you were working on.
Now I’ve reset the goal for by Valentines Day. I have nothing better to do that day anyways so why the heck not? So this will get done. On the upside despite my goal fail, (by the way do you guys have any self punishment ideas, obviously nothing you know too torturous but I did let myself down and need to do something to avenge my unfinished novel) I did successfully complete an outline, mostly that is. Of course there were a few blank note cards in the mix for TBIS (to be inspired scenes) but nothing too drastic, until I had to face the Kali/Darren predicament (that I’d stuck into the bowels of denial in my subconscious). So yep. I’m not seventeen yet, just a few more days and then well I’m so looking forwards to the chocolate and books and a surprise gift from my friend Sashi and it’s killing me that I don’t know what it is.
Also it may be a few days or a week or two before I get back up on the blogsphere which really upsets me. But my absence is because 1) school is such a pain and 2) I’ve got a lot of stuff that needs to get done around here this month. Sadly I am unable to participate in the fight fest going on today, even though I really want to. Like really really want to. But I don’t have any good fight scenes written, and was much to tired to pound one out last night, but you should stop by and check out all the blogs who are participating because I bet it’s going to be kick ass (pun intended). So have a great week and hopefully (fingers crossed) next time I get on here and blog I’ll be a year older, and have my second novel finished.
I am going to own this, it is going to be finished.
I had seriously contemplated working through the night last night and into the early hours of this morning working on this novel, even though I knew it wouldn’t be finished. Yeah I decided sleep was important, especially because maybe dream me will have an answer to my plot problems.(She didn't *sigh*). Also all nighters are a pain in the ass to deal with, because you feel drowsy for days afterwards, not worth it unless you actually finish whatever you were working on.
Now I’ve reset the goal for by Valentines Day. I have nothing better to do that day anyways so why the heck not? So this will get done. On the upside despite my goal fail, (by the way do you guys have any self punishment ideas, obviously nothing you know too torturous but I did let myself down and need to do something to avenge my unfinished novel) I did successfully complete an outline, mostly that is. Of course there were a few blank note cards in the mix for TBIS (to be inspired scenes) but nothing too drastic, until I had to face the Kali/Darren predicament (that I’d stuck into the bowels of denial in my subconscious). So yep. I’m not seventeen yet, just a few more days and then well I’m so looking forwards to the chocolate and books and a surprise gift from my friend Sashi and it’s killing me that I don’t know what it is.
Also it may be a few days or a week or two before I get back up on the blogsphere which really upsets me. But my absence is because 1) school is such a pain and 2) I’ve got a lot of stuff that needs to get done around here this month. Sadly I am unable to participate in the fight fest going on today, even though I really want to. Like really really want to. But I don’t have any good fight scenes written, and was much to tired to pound one out last night, but you should stop by and check out all the blogs who are participating because I bet it’s going to be kick ass (pun intended). So have a great week and hopefully (fingers crossed) next time I get on here and blog I’ll be a year older, and have my second novel finished.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
A Quickie!
So here we go, I've been absent for about two weeks today, or at least I think it's two weeks. Maybe it's one, I'm not sure, my brain is fried midterms just ended (not that I studied that hard as seen by my grades, but it's very draining!). So I've been working on my outline (OWNED by the way it's done, now to meet that goal, I have what six days? Five because I already know writing isn't going on tonight, because uh NCIS is on and I'm not only a devoted fan but a devoted Tiva shipper and the episode tonight is supposed to you know give us A LOT of Tiva innuendo so, I'm excited. It. Will. Not. Be. Missed. Don't Judge.). Maybe four because I've got to finish a beta I started, and I'm so close and it's so good so I may not even pick up my own novel tomorrow...but back on topic. This is a quickie post because I may be absent until after my birthday, something about maybe getting my permit (a year later) and you know celebrating being a year older. And stuff. Oh and that little thing about finishing off my novel, yeah. I can already see about four all nighters in my future. God Bless Coffee. And Chocolate, lots of chocolate.
So Bethany gave me this great award, which made me seven different kinds of happy and flattered, and made me feel special (all awards do. but this one especially!).
So Bethany gave me this great award, which made me seven different kinds of happy and flattered, and made me feel special (all awards do. but this one especially!).
I'm supposed to give this to all my blogging friends. But I love all you guys, you're all extra special in your own way, and because this is a friendship award, and you're all my friends. I'm not going to choose. Because I can't. So here is to all my friends on the blogsphere, I now give all of you reading this post,(which hopefully hasn't been too spaztastic so you're able to finish it) this award!
So I'll see you in a couple weeks, maybe less if my plan of finishing doesn't fall through. Fingers crossed.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Happy Blogging!
I was recently given this award by V.R. Barkowski, and Heather for having a happy blog! Which makes me seven different kinds of happy! Two people? I'm honored! So first, before I list the ten things that make me happy, I just want to say, thank you very much for my award, I'm flattered. And guys, If you haven't you should head over to their blogs, because they're fun to read and both have fantastic backgrounds. Now this award is awesome because I get to list ten things that make me happy.
So here we go... (the list is not a ranking, just so you know, it's exactly what it appears to be, a list. Random, and unorganized :P)
1. Snow Days, who doesn't love a surprise day in the middle of the week where you can sleep in and be a slug? They're the best, especially when they happen on a Monday or a Friday, or on a day of a big test you haven't studied for.
2. Family and friends, I have the biggest family, and the best friends. They're one in the same to me. I love them so much, and they always manage to make me smile despite the fact that sometimes they annoy me.
3.My animals, Mac, Finn, Seamus and Midnight are the cutest, and Bear was the best dog I could have ever asked for. Besides, I don't think a human could get away with waking me up at two a.m. because they're awake and I'm not, so they tap their cold wet nose to mine. I taught them to kiss me like that when they want something.
4. My writing, whenever anyone asks me about my characters, my story, I just melt.
I smile big and tell them about the crazy people bouncing around in my head, telling me stories.
5. Reading, I love being able to open a book and jump into a new world. To turn each page and have an adventure and have other peoples characters in my head.
6. Drawing, or just other creative outlets through art. I love painting too. But something that ties into this pick, would be the picture Brain drew for me, see the sidebar, for the most fantastic drawing ever. I mean I've had it in my possession for months but still every time I look at it, I squee!
7. Sinking into a deep sleep, and having long drawn out dreams. I love dreaming, and whenever I wake up and I can still remember the dream even better. Dreaming is fun, like my creative side has grabbed hold of everything and runs free, no conscious to tell it no. And even better than that is when I dream of my characters. Talk about awesome.
8. Chocolate. Seriously, it has to be one of my worst habits, but no matter what mood I'm in chocolate always manages to make me feel better. Unless I'm sick, but then no one really like chocolate then. It is so nice to come home and open up a nice tub of chocolate ice cream and sit down with a spoon and eat it after a really bad day. Like I said, it's a bad habit and you're all probably shaking your heads thinking I'm so unhealthy, but this is only occasionally, promise.
9. A great movie, you know the kind that you could watch a thousand times but still gives you shivers, still makes you jump or cry. Those kinds of movies always make me happy, they're so great.
10. Blogging, I love getting online and being able to open up my blog, and read about other writers, to have this support system. It's so nice to get on here, and have help from you guys and share my passion for writing with so many people. Thank you. ^_^
Now, I have to give this award to ten other blogs that make me happy, here they are:
These are the blogs I adore, they always make me smile, so I hope everyone has a nice day, I'm off to continue outlining. Fun. But I'm pretty far, shh...don't tell my muse he might get upset.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Contest! Well, More of a Give Away...
So Shannon is having this awesome contest over at her blog, she's giving away books. Books by Lisa Schroeder, who wrote I Heart You, You Haunt Me, a book that I adore. And Shannon is interviewing her right now. You need to go over and check this out. And I need to get back to that ridiculous outlining...ick.
Questions....?
I started outlining, and yes I got a whole, hold on let me count…8 lines and 85 words in, and I’ve run into a predicament. Can you tell I’m stalling? Okay, here’s the deal, so I’m sitting here going over what I already had to incorporate it into the outline, you know the stuff I’ve already written. Not that much *bad Hayley*.
So as I’m going over this I keep running into a lot of dialogue, now it may just seem like a lot because when I write I have my document set at: a size ten font, single spaced, negative 4 or 7 (depends on how I’m feeling) margins, so more fits onto the page and I’m paying less attention to how much has been written and more attention quality. It also saves paper, and I like trees, don’t judge. But so as I’m going over this, and I had this conversation briefly with Kathryn during the wasted writing lunch period, I keep running into dialogue. Now normally this isn’t a problem, I’m good with dialogue, because I talk, a lot. (Okay well not right off the bat but if you know me you’d know I never shut up, ask Sara, I don’t know how she deals with my ramblings. You can even see in my blog posts that I rarely have a quick to the point post. I ramble.) I’m not displeased with the dialogue, it just seems to be everywhere, and I worry. I mean worrying is what I do I’m good at it, so now I’m looking over He’s With Me, and worrying. I love the prologue and first two chapters. But once we get to chapter 3 on, it’s never ending dialogue (that may be a slight exaggeration, but that isn’t stopping the worry). This is very bad, and I am in freak out mode. Okay not freak out mode, but close. Then there are parts that I’ve written with no dialogue and I love them. Those bits make me feel better.
This begs the question how do you know if there is too much dialogue? Too much telling and not enough showing? I used to pride myself on knowing both, but now it seems that I can only tell when there is too much telling, but am still have trouble with dialogue.
And of course, because my outlining sucks, massively, any outlining advice out there? Because I need it, methods, tricks, sneak attacks on your characters? Anything?
I’m going to see if another lunch period can be successfully spent on this task, if not, I will not give up. Outline, I will own you.
So as I’m going over this I keep running into a lot of dialogue, now it may just seem like a lot because when I write I have my document set at: a size ten font, single spaced, negative 4 or 7 (depends on how I’m feeling) margins, so more fits onto the page and I’m paying less attention to how much has been written and more attention quality. It also saves paper, and I like trees, don’t judge. But so as I’m going over this, and I had this conversation briefly with Kathryn during the wasted writing lunch period, I keep running into dialogue. Now normally this isn’t a problem, I’m good with dialogue, because I talk, a lot. (Okay well not right off the bat but if you know me you’d know I never shut up, ask Sara, I don’t know how she deals with my ramblings. You can even see in my blog posts that I rarely have a quick to the point post. I ramble.) I’m not displeased with the dialogue, it just seems to be everywhere, and I worry. I mean worrying is what I do I’m good at it, so now I’m looking over He’s With Me, and worrying. I love the prologue and first two chapters. But once we get to chapter 3 on, it’s never ending dialogue (that may be a slight exaggeration, but that isn’t stopping the worry). This is very bad, and I am in freak out mode. Okay not freak out mode, but close. Then there are parts that I’ve written with no dialogue and I love them. Those bits make me feel better.
This begs the question how do you know if there is too much dialogue? Too much telling and not enough showing? I used to pride myself on knowing both, but now it seems that I can only tell when there is too much telling, but am still have trouble with dialogue.
And of course, because my outlining sucks, massively, any outlining advice out there? Because I need it, methods, tricks, sneak attacks on your characters? Anything?
I’m going to see if another lunch period can be successfully spent on this task, if not, I will not give up. Outline, I will own you.
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