Getting to Know You: What Would You Do if You didn't Write?

I've mentioned before that writing is my outlet. It is what helps me to remain sane, even though I rarely get out and some days my kids are the only people I talk to. If I didn't write I would have to have another outlet.

Maybe I'd take up pottery. I've taken a few pottery classes, and even though I am incapable of making any piece taller that 5 inches, I like it. I believe in getting my hands dirty--it's therapeutic. I might also get more involved in vegetable gardening (sometimes I sound like an old woman even to myself!) We had a fun little vegetable garden this year, but I didn't spend enough time on it--writing was always higher priority (as my frostbitten melons and tomatoes can attest).

What would you do with your free time if you didn't write?

Getting to Know You: Who is your writing hero?

Thanks for all the comments on yesterday's post! I thought it was so interesting that some of you read mostly the genre you write (it helps to keep you in the right mindset, helps to keep you current) and some of you avoid the genre you write (don't want to be influenced by it, don't want it to affect your voice). I think it's great that we're all so different.

So today I thought I'd ask about your writing heroes. I think most of us decided to write because we loved something we read. The author I was obsessed with when I decided to try writing (2 years ago) was Shannon Hale. She writes YA fantasy (and some other stuff too but her fantasy is the best, in my opinion). I read THE GOOSE GIRL and her Newbery Honor winner, THE PRINCESS ACADEMY, and thought they were so much fun. They reminded me of books I'd loved when I was a kid. I wished I could write something so great, so I tried to write YA fantasy--and failed. But at least it got me started.

I'd love to meet Shannon or just see her speak (apparently she's hilarious). Maybe someday.

Did your writing journey begin with a book or an author you loved? Who is your writing hero?

Getting to Know You: What Do You Read?

Wow, we write a lot of different genres! YA was the winner (I think more than half of us write YA-- at least sometimes), but there were a few other MG writers, some non-fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, picture books, contemporary fiction, steampunk, chick lit, women's fiction, sci-fi, Christian, and paranormal. I'm glad we aren't all writing the same thing! And I'm glad to know such an interesting mix of writers.

Today I thought I'd ask, what do you read?

I like almost all fiction. I love 18th and 19th century English and American literature (Dickens, Austen, Hardy, Bronte, Twain, James etc.). I read a lot of children's, MG and YA. I like fantasy, women's fiction, memoirs, and a little bit of science fiction/dystopian.

I don't read much romance, non-fiction, chick lit or paranormal, but when I do I'm usually surprised by how much I like them.

What do you read? Do you do read a lot of books in the genre you write?

Getting to Know You: What do you write?

I thought it might be fun to get to know you all a little better this week. So everyday I will tell you a little about myself and then ask for you to do the same. And I'll share some fall pictures, because some of you live in places where leaves don't change colors-- places that I will be incredibly jealous of come December. :)

I have written two books. The first was a fantasy for young adults--the result rests in a desk drawer, never to see the light of day again. The second, the book that my agent read and loved, is middle grade set in the real world (no vampires, fairies or wizards-- just regular kids).

I have ideas for stories in many different genres including, women's fiction, dystopian YA, YA and middle grade fantasy, picture books, and plain old middle grade.

I'm feeling like middle grade is the place for me right now because no matter how hard I try, my voice comes out eleven-years-old. So for now I think I am going to stick with middle grade, though I might try out YA again in a few years.

So my questions for you today are: What genre do you write? Have you written books, or do you have ideas, in other genres?

I Love Fall

It's supposed to be in the seventies all weekend. Perfection.

What do you love about fall?

Story Tantrums

Last night my son threw the craziest tantrum of his life (he's only 2, so you might thing this isn't saying much, but believe me, it is). For no particular reason he screamed, kicked and flailed for 30 minutes straight. It was ugly.

To make matters worse halfway through his tantrum it was bedtime, so I (foolishly) tried to get him into pajamas. He didn't want to put on pajamas.

Five minutes later, my arms bruised from his constant kicking, I handed my still un-pajamaed toddler to my husband. Using his magic daddy skills, he managed to coax the boy into jammies and bed--a small miracle.

Sometimes my story throws tantrums too. I just can't get it to do what I want it to do no matter how hard I try. I'll rewrite and rewrite again and still the scene won't be right.

That's when I have to make myself step away--spend some time on another part of the story (or even a different project). I come back when I've had a few days to think it over and I try again. Sometimes it works and sometimes I have to step back again (and again, and again).

When it's finally right it feels good to have faced the challenge and come out victorious.

Does your story throw tantrums sometimes?

Taking Criticism

(There's something wrong with this post, so if your comments got deleted I am so sorry!)

Criticism can be a really great thing for our writing. I love getting my manuscript back from my writing group (or my family members when they aren't being too nice) covered in red marks. It reminds me that they care.

I'd feel bad if my story was so awful they didn't bother pointing out that I used "your" when I should have used "you're," or that Chapter 25 felt rushed, or that the third paragraph in Chapter 14 was confusing. Criticism is almost always a good thing.

Except when it isn't that good.

I once got a comment from someone in cyberspace that he/she thought my idea was stupid and that my book was sure to be a "dud". OUCH!!! But, even though that criticism was NOT constructive, it did help me to see some of the weaknesses of my plot and work to compensate for them. It also served as a reminder not to take criticism personally, and never to say such a thing about anyone else's work.

I think I've gotten better and better at taking criticism and incorporating the good and throwing out the stuff I don't totally agree with. With every beta read my manuscript gets better, and I am convinced I never would have made it this far with my writing if I trusted entirely on my own skills.

Do you take criticism well? How have good critiques helped your writing?