Since I'm still deep in the throes of editing, I've decided you might as well suffer along with me. With that thought in mind, I'm writing another editing-related post.
As far as I know, nobody likes revision. I mean, chopping up your manuscript and stitching it back together again isn't exactly most people's idea of a fun time. But somehow -- and maybe it's all just warped my brain or something -- I don't really mind editing.
Okay, so my brain's definitely been warped. Let me explain myself, though.
I really love every part of the writing process, and I figure all writers do. Obviously, it's not all fun -- I don't actively enjoy editing. But I do enjoy the results: a tighter, healthier, more reader/agent-friendly manuscript.
The same can be said for outlining, which I really need to get better at. (In fact, after I've got my huge sweep-through edits done, I'm going to have to sit down and figure out the official game plan for book two. If I'd only done that for the first book, I wouldn't be having these editing woes right now. Ah well.)
So really, I think it all works out for the best. Time consuming, maybe, and a total headache, but definitely worth it. But what about you? Any thoughts?
Showing posts with label General. Show all posts
Showing posts with label General. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Click This Link, Become a Follower
Here's the thing.
You've been amazing enough to read these posts, agreed? It was admittedly startling when I logged on this afternoon and saw that the total views had jumped from around 175 to about 230.
But hey, I'm not complaining.
Now Literally YA is taking advantage of your kindness and interest and all that, asking you to take that a step farther. 1) Look to the toolbar on the right, where it says "Google Friend Connect". 2) Notice that Literally YA needs some followers. 3) Aaaand lastly, become a follower and spread the word.
You'll be glad you did...but not as glad as Literally YA.
Now, for me to remember my manners and such.
Thanks!
You've been amazing enough to read these posts, agreed? It was admittedly startling when I logged on this afternoon and saw that the total views had jumped from around 175 to about 230.
But hey, I'm not complaining.
Now Literally YA is taking advantage of your kindness and interest and all that, asking you to take that a step farther. 1) Look to the toolbar on the right, where it says "Google Friend Connect". 2) Notice that Literally YA needs some followers. 3) Aaaand lastly, become a follower and spread the word.
You'll be glad you did...but not as glad as Literally YA.
Now, for me to remember my manners and such.
Thanks!
It's a Tiny...It's a Book...It's a Tinybook (Unofficially)
This. Is. Insane.
And, okay, slightly awesome.
But don't take my word for it. Check out this new book trend -- the coolest thing since ebooks -- right here.
And, okay, slightly awesome.
But don't take my word for it. Check out this new book trend -- the coolest thing since ebooks -- right here.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
The Ides of March, Just a Tad Late
All I can say is, this whole "Spring Break" concept is really messing up my sense of the time.
Trust me, I'm not complaining. But I missed my chance to blog on the Ides of March, and trust me, I wasn't too happy to realize that.
So we're just going to pretend like today is March 15th, and that the 16th never happened. Okay?
From Wikipedia:
Well, there you go. After having to read Romeo and Juliet for school, I wasn't overly impressed with Shakespeare. (Actually, he just seemed like the guy who inspired the basis for Twilight, which just gives me all the more reason to hate him.) But ever since I've read Julius Caesar, I've had more respect for the guy. After all, I kind of liked its story.
Anywho, that's all I had to say over the matter, oh-so-perfect timing and everything.
Trust me, I'm not complaining. But I missed my chance to blog on the Ides of March, and trust me, I wasn't too happy to realize that.
So we're just going to pretend like today is March 15th, and that the 16th never happened. Okay?
From Wikipedia:
"The Ides of March (Latin: Idus Martiae) is the name of March 15 in the Roman calendar, probably referring to the day of the full moon. The term ides was used for the 15th day of the months of March, May, July, and October, and the 13th day of the other months.[1] The Ides of March was a festive day dedicated to the god Mars and a military parade was usually held. In modern times, the term Ides of March is best known as the date that Julius Caesar was killed in 44 B.C. Julius Caesar was stabbed (23 times) to death in the Roman Senate led by Marcus Junius Brutus, Gaius Cassius Longinus and 60 other co-conspirators. On his way to the Theatre of Pompey (where he would be assassinated), Caesar visited with a seer who had foretold that harm would come to him not later than the Ides of March. Caesar joked, 'Well, the Ides of March have come', to which the seer replied 'Ay, they have come, but they are not gone.'[2] This meeting is famously dramatized in William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, when Caesar is warned to 'beware the Ides of March'.[3][4] "
Well, there you go. After having to read Romeo and Juliet for school, I wasn't overly impressed with Shakespeare. (Actually, he just seemed like the guy who inspired the basis for Twilight, which just gives me all the more reason to hate him.) But ever since I've read Julius Caesar, I've had more respect for the guy. After all, I kind of liked its story.
Anywho, that's all I had to say over the matter, oh-so-perfect timing and everything.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Book Art -- Literally
Obviously, books are works of art. If you're the kind of person that I expect to be reading this, then you already know that.
But this just takes that concept to a whole new level:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/burnred/books-are-not-just-for-reading-281t
Awesome, right?
Anyway, Happy Pi Day. (Yeah, that pi. 3.14 or whatever. Don't ask me -- I'm a writer.)
But this just takes that concept to a whole new level:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/burnred/books-are-not-just-for-reading-281t
Awesome, right?
Anyway, Happy Pi Day. (Yeah, that pi. 3.14 or whatever. Don't ask me -- I'm a writer.)
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Writing EOI: Do Teen Writers Really Have the Advantage?
Admittedly, this might seem like a random topic. But with the EOI for sophomores coming up, it's something I keep wondering: Do teen writers really have any advantage over the End of Instruction writing tests?
If you just give it a fleeting consideration, then yeah, it would probably seem like we do. But with a little more thought, it really doesn't seem like such a great situation.
The last time I took one of these tests was in the 8th grade, and the first was in 5th grade. I don't remember this being much of an issue in either of those tests, because my personal writing style didn't really develop until 9th grade(ish). Besides, it's pretty easy to just keep your head down and give the test graders what they want: Something that sounds like it's coming straight from a text book or newspaper.
But here's the thing -- text books and newspapers are boring. The writing's as flat as the paper it's printed on, completely soulless, and devoid of any personality whatsoever. (If you haven't learned yet, "professional" writing is just code for "yawn-inducing".)
Now that I'm an actual writer and take writing seriously, I'm pretty sure it'd kill me to give them something like that. My style is more conversational, casual, than what the people are probably looking for -- but at the same time, there's no way I'm going to sacrifice the writing for the sake of this test.
So where do you draw the line?
To be honest, I'm still not sure. I'm going to approach this thing my way, and write it my way -- but on the other hand, I'll rein in the fractions and slip in as many "expanded vocabulary" (show-off) words as I can bear. (Not too much of that, mind you, or you'll come off looking like a regular Christopher Paolini. Eek.)
By the way, thanks to 3rd-nine-weeks tests, blogging's probably going to be pretty spotty this week -- definitely on Thursday and Friday. Just a heads-up.
But what do you think -- are the EOI's in the bag for teen writers, or are we actually at a disadvantage? Feel free to sound off in the comments.
If you just give it a fleeting consideration, then yeah, it would probably seem like we do. But with a little more thought, it really doesn't seem like such a great situation.
The last time I took one of these tests was in the 8th grade, and the first was in 5th grade. I don't remember this being much of an issue in either of those tests, because my personal writing style didn't really develop until 9th grade(ish). Besides, it's pretty easy to just keep your head down and give the test graders what they want: Something that sounds like it's coming straight from a text book or newspaper.
But here's the thing -- text books and newspapers are boring. The writing's as flat as the paper it's printed on, completely soulless, and devoid of any personality whatsoever. (If you haven't learned yet, "professional" writing is just code for "yawn-inducing".)
Now that I'm an actual writer and take writing seriously, I'm pretty sure it'd kill me to give them something like that. My style is more conversational, casual, than what the people are probably looking for -- but at the same time, there's no way I'm going to sacrifice the writing for the sake of this test.
So where do you draw the line?
To be honest, I'm still not sure. I'm going to approach this thing my way, and write it my way -- but on the other hand, I'll rein in the fractions and slip in as many "expanded vocabulary" (show-off) words as I can bear. (Not too much of that, mind you, or you'll come off looking like a regular Christopher Paolini. Eek.)
By the way, thanks to 3rd-nine-weeks tests, blogging's probably going to be pretty spotty this week -- definitely on Thursday and Friday. Just a heads-up.
But what do you think -- are the EOI's in the bag for teen writers, or are we actually at a disadvantage? Feel free to sound off in the comments.
Monday, February 28, 2011
TeenInk
Today, I thought I'd tell you about TeenInk, in case you've never heard of it.
As you probably gleaned from the title, only teens can submit their work there. TeenInk puts up articles, poems, stories, you name it, onto their website. They even select some of the pieces to go into their monthly magazine; they'll print those works for free. Others can comment on your work and offer feedback, and it's a great way to start making little networks with others your age. Registration is free, by the way.
Check it out. http://www.teenink.com/
I think you'll like it.
As you probably gleaned from the title, only teens can submit their work there. TeenInk puts up articles, poems, stories, you name it, onto their website. They even select some of the pieces to go into their monthly magazine; they'll print those works for free. Others can comment on your work and offer feedback, and it's a great way to start making little networks with others your age. Registration is free, by the way.
Check it out. http://www.teenink.com/
I think you'll like it.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
We're All In This...Never Mind
If you're reading this, then chances are you're a teen writer.
Either that, or you're hopelessly Internet-lost. Moving on.
Assuming that you are one of those teenage writers, though, you're not alone. See, I am, too, and there are a lot more out there than just us.
That's a big part of what this blog is about. Hopefully, it'll inform, encourage, and support you. At the very least, you might be able to get a few laughs here and there.
So keep your eye on Literally YA. I don't know everything about the publishing process -- who really does? -- and I certainly don't pretend to, but I'm learning some interesting stuff along the way, and I'll always share whatever I learn. Oh, and if you have anything to share, then feel free. I hesitate to say "We're all in this together" because of, you know, certain Disney musical movies, and the fact that some of us happen to have standards. But you get the point.
Either that, or you're hopelessly Internet-lost. Moving on.
Assuming that you are one of those teenage writers, though, you're not alone. See, I am, too, and there are a lot more out there than just us.
That's a big part of what this blog is about. Hopefully, it'll inform, encourage, and support you. At the very least, you might be able to get a few laughs here and there.
So keep your eye on Literally YA. I don't know everything about the publishing process -- who really does? -- and I certainly don't pretend to, but I'm learning some interesting stuff along the way, and I'll always share whatever I learn. Oh, and if you have anything to share, then feel free. I hesitate to say "We're all in this together" because of, you know, certain Disney musical movies, and the fact that some of us happen to have standards. But you get the point.
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