Dumplin's and Dark Forests

Ho Ho Ho, reader and writer friends!  Hope this holiday season finds you surrounded by family and friends and, of course, a big pile of books!

What I've Been Reading:  The last two books I read were fantastic.  

DUMPLIN' by Julie Murphy was about a Dolly Parton fangirl trying to figure out what kind of person she wants to be.  I thought the character arc in this one was amazing.

And Dear Sweet Holly Black, every time I read one of your books I don't want to ever write anything ever again because it will never be as good as your words.  THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST left me with a book hangover.

What I've Been Writing:  Wait, I'm supposed to be writing???  I am currently suffering from idea paralysis.  I got 30 K into my Nano project before abandoning it.  It was eww.  I have had some wild dreams though, and in the wee hours of the night they seem like brilliant book ideas.  I will wake up in the morning with a text from myself with cryptic reminders such as "Donald duck, but in space and with lemongrass."  *scratches head*  Most of these gems are still in the brainstorming phase...

What Else Has Been Going On:  MANNY is still on submission, but it seems like publishing comes to a grinding halt for the holidays, so nothing new to report.

Hope that you have a Holly Jolly Holiday!

Nanowrimo: Middle Grade Style

Happy Fall Y'all from the Fountain City!

What I'm Reading:

I just finished a whole pile of middle grade books to get me in the mood to write my next MG adventure (see below).  AL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTS was a fun read.  It was a historical that still felt very relavent.

THE YEAR OF BILLY MILLER was recommended to me at a conference as an example of great MG voice, and it did not disappoint.  The voice and emotions portrayed by the kids in this book were brilliantly done.

What I'm Writing:  

IT'S NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH!  I love me some Nanowrimo.  In fact, I participated in Nano in 2013 kind of on a whim, and now I am almost a real writer with an agent and everything!  I love the spirit of Nano, and all the in-real-life events.  Our local library has write-ins every Monday night in November and I love hanging out with other writers!  This year, I am writing a middle grade geocaching adventure.  Here's my progress so far:

What Else is Going On:

Tonight kicks off our SCBWI conference weekend!  I can't wait to mingle with other authors, listen to some great sessions, and get some signed books!  Woo Hoo!  November is the best writing month EVER.

How I Got My Agent

It has been an exciting few weeks, and I am happy to announce that I have signed with the talented Kate Testerman of KT Lit!

How I Got My Agent:

This story is not as dramatic as some.  I queried her.  She requested a partial.  She liked the partial and requested the full.  She liked the full and emailed me that she wanted to talk.

Here are the thoughts that ran through my mind when I read that email:  Where's the BUT???  (I really loved your story...BUT....)  And then I thought, "OMG.  I have to talk on the phone."  Because I really am not so good on the phone with the talking and the words.  My next thought was that she was probably going to give me an extensive list of revisions to complete before she offered representation.  I braced myself for the worst.  Would she want me to cut characters?  Add in subplots?  Change the beginning, middle and end????

But the phone call happened, and I managed to speak intelligently and not babble too much and Kate was super nice and told me how much she loved my book (Where's the BUT????).  She had one suggestion for revision that was so easy I almost cried, and when I sent it to her a few days later she said it was "Perfect.  Exactly what I was talking about."  Whew.  And then I had an agent!

Kate is a whiz with YA and MG sales.  Her clients that I spoke to had nothing but awesome things to say about her, so I really feel good about our mutual togetherness.  So here's to The Manny and the Motorcycle going on submission... May the Odds be Ever in our Favor!

(And here is my Fancy-Schmancy really real author head shots taken by the amazing Calle MacGregor)

A Swap, A Plot, and A Workshop

Hey Writer Friends!  Hope all is well on your end of the bookstore.  I thought I would catch you up on what's going on over here.

What I'm Reading:   I just finished THE SWAP by Megan Shull.  This was a fun take on a Freaky-Friday-like switch.  The concept was interesting enough to keep me reading, but the dialog...  was lacking.  I am around middle school kids frequently and I have NEVER heard anyone talk like they do in this book.  So bad.

I also just finished STORY ENGINEERING by Larry Brooks.

This was a GREAT guide to story planning, but pants-ers beware; Mr. Brooks is pretty vocal about how you are wrong.  LOL.  Since I am an outlin-er myself, I liked the thorough explanation of story beats.  It got my gears turning, that's for sure!

What I'm Writing:
I am still planning a story that I hope to start drafting next month.  It will be a MG contemporary (a first for me).  So far so good!

What Else is Happening:  Last weekend I went to a one day intensive workshop with my local SCBWI branch.  It was all about MG and chapter books, and taught by Candice Ransom (author of over 120 children's books).  I love getting to spend a day with other writers learning new things!

Gods and (MG) Godesses

Hello, my lovelies!  I promise, I wasn't just slacking off the last few weeks.  I have been uber-busy with Nano (see below)!

What I'm  Reading:  I finally finished AMERICAN GODS by Neil Gaiman.

This was the first adult book I've read in a really long time, and boy were some parts adult.  Haha.  But it was a great read.  Awesome characters and mind boggling research.  I give it the Niki seal of approval.

What I'm Writing:  Editing up a storm over here, and I should have a polished MG Fantasy by the end of the week.  I had some major plot bunnies to fix, and I am really happy with the structure the story has now.  I'm going to let it rest while I draft my new shiny, and then send it off to CP's.

What Else is Going On:  On Saturday I am going to a SCBWI one day intensive on writing MG!  It will be taught by Candice Ransom, author of over 100 children's books.  I am REALLY looking forward to this day of talking about methods and plotting.  I'm reading FINDING DAYS BOTTOM right now, to familiarize myself with Ms. Ransom's work.

My Guest Speaking Debut

It's Wednesday (although, there isn't much left of it), so here's the update on me!

What I'm Reading:  Well, I just reread Harry Potters #1-3.

 They are, of course, some of my favorite books of all time, but I hadn't reread any since I began my writing journey.  I am deep in editing mode (see below), so I actually got pretty excited whenever Jo used the word "was" or accidentally word echoed, or (gasp!) used multiple exclamation points per page!!!  It just goes to show that telling a great story trumps all!

I am also reading BIRD BY BIRD by Anne Lamott for my Reading for Writer's group.  We will meet up and discuss this awesome book about writing in a few weeks.

What I'm Writing:  I am RE-writing.  My goal is to finish revisions for my MG Fantasy by the end of the month.  I am also querying my MG sic-fi on the side.  I like to have several pans on the fire, so to speak.

What Else is New:  On Monday night I got to be the guest speaker at my local library's writer's group (with my CP Jennie helping me out)!  I talked all about query letters.  It was fun and scary, but well received.  I just love being a part of the writing community.

(This is my local library.  It is seriously so beautiful.  I want to live there.)

Happy Reading and Writing to you!

Sunshine and SCBWI

Hello there, Wednesday Warriors.  Welcome to another installment of What's Up Wednesday, a writerly blog hop created by Erin Fun and Jamie Marrow.  Click here to learn how you can play along.

We need a springy-er button...

What I've Been Reading:  This week I read two terrific MG books.  First, The Magician's Elephant, by Kate Dicamillo.  This story is told from a whole bunch of different character's perspectives and all the different story lines tie together neatly.  I was going to give it three stars because I kept getting tripped up by the flowery language, but then one scene totally made me cry, so I bumped it up to four!

Next, I read Freaky Fast Franky Joe by Lutricia Clifton.  I loved this book.  The story was so heartwarming, and the pacing was great.  It's about a trailer park kid who moves to the country with his dad and half sibs.  A really fun contemp MG.

What I'm Writing:  All I've really been writing this week are pitches for #pitmad, which is today, and so far no love for Braya (UNDER THE BLUE, MG Sci-fi).  I guess the day is not over yet, so I should keep my chin up.  

What Works for Me: I love going to my local SCBWI conference in the fall.  The speakers and classes are so helpful, and you get to meet some agents and editors in person.  I highly recommend if you have never gone before.  It is also a great place to meet other writers and potential CPs.

What Else I've Been Up To:  SUNSHINE ON MY FACE.  Yay for no more snow drifts.  At least not this week.  In Missouri, you are not really safe until June. 

Pickles and Barf

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly blog hop for writers created by Jamie Marrow and Erin Funk.  Click here for more information or to find out how you can play along.

What I've Been Reading:

This week I read PICKLE by Kim Baker.  What an amazing example of middle grade voice.  And it is super funny and cute.  This is the tone that I am going for in basically all of my MG books.

What I'm Writing:  I have been using the amazing website Fiction University to help edit my Mary Poppins re-imagined MG.  This site is awesome, you guys.  I gives you step-by-step, day-by-day ideas for editing, and lots of information if you are a newbie like me.

I have also been working on my outline for my April WIP, which is currently titled SMALL TOWN HERO, which will be a contempt MG.

What Works for Me:  I would like to preface this section by saying that really none of this works for me yet, or I would have an agent and a book deal.  So lets call this section "Stuff Niki has tried".  I was struggling this week to get all the points on my outline.  I usually try using beat sheets, but for whatever reason, I was having a hard time getting the scenes to flow.  Soooo....  I watched a comp movie.  Granted, reading a comp book and taking notes would have been better, but I can watch an entire disney movie during my kiddos nap time.  All I needed was a middle grade, fish-out-of-water story.  It didn't have to be too close to what I plan to write, I just wanted to analze the story structure.  So I watched the cult classic (don't judge me) CADET KELLY staring Hillary Duff.

While this movie was by no means a literary classic, it did the trick.  I now have an outline with all the scenes scribbled out.  What I need to do now is to go back and make sure that they are all good, move the plot along, tie together, blah blah blah.  But just like writing the actual novel, the outline comes in several different drafts.  At least for me.  So I have a good idea where that one is going now.

What Else is Going On:  We have the pukes here.  Specifically my children have, and my husband and I have been under the weather as well, so NO BUENO.

The Love Post

Is it Wednesday already?  That must mean it's time for another addition of What's Up Wednesday, a blog hop created by Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk.  For more info click here.

What I'm Reading:  I just finished A MAD WICKED FOLLY by Sharon Biggs Waller.  I had everything that I love in a great YA Historical Fic.  Love, Love, Love.

What I'm Writing:  I am in the fun and exciting part of writing wherein you don't actually write that much.  I have a shiny new idea, so I have been Pintresting, Wikapedia-ing, and daydreaming.  So far, I think I have a pretty good start.  This one is gonna be another MG, because me thinks that is my strong suit.  

I am also editing my MG Sci-Fi Adventure, UNDER THE BLUE.  I am waiting for comments from one more CP and one beta reader, and then that one should be ready to query.  

What Works for Me:  I am really trying to come up with a better way of outlining.  For real.  I don't like using Scrivener for it, because I need MORE ROOM.  I want my outline to be more detailed this time so I don't end up with 1500 words I am supposed to write about "Something bad happens..."  LOL.  

What Else is Happening:  My kiddos were some pretty sweet valentines.  Hope you had a day full of love as well!

Bootlegger's and Balls

What's Up Wednesday is a writer's blog hop created by Jaimie Morrow and Erin Funk.  To find out more and see how you can play along, click here.

So, I missed you all last week!  I was without the internets for THREE WHOLE DAYS.  It was like a third world country around here.  I just took naps and used my phone's 4G like it was going out of style!

What I'm Reading:  I read two great books in the last two weeks.  

 I thought WE WERE LIARS was beautifully written.  The story was touching and horrifying at the same time.

I am a huge groupie of anything Rainbow Rowell writes, and this book did not disappoint.  She has a way of creating these characters that are so darn real you'd swear you'd met them before.  This one would probably fall under the category of magical realism, but that's not why you'd want to read it.  The relationship between the married couple is raw and amazing, so that's why I gave it a million stars.  

What I'm Writing:  I finished THE BOOTLEGGER'S LETTERS!!!  WOO-HOO!  I think it might be a hot mess, but at least it is first-draft-done.  I worked on editing my MG Sci-Fi UNDER THE BLUE, and have passed it on to another round of Beta readers, including my BFF's 5th grade class!  Truth: That scares me more than sending it off to agents!  LOL

I am in the super fun brainstorming portion of a shiny new idea.  I think it might be MG for me from here on out.  I just really hate writing kissing scenes.

What Works for Me:  For my last three novels I have written the query letter before I started drafting. That is an easy way to tell if your stakes are high enough, and if your hook is strong enough.  Always start a new WIP by asking yourself.  Who is my MC?  What does he/she want?  What will happen if he/she doesn't get it?

What Else is Happening:  My handsome husband took me to the Policeman's Ball last weekend!  It was amazingly fun, and I looked super hot, if I do say so myself.  LOL.

Robot Eye Editing

Hello, writerly friends, and welcome to another installment of What's Up Wednesday.  WUW is a blog hop created by Jaimi Morrow and Erin Funk to keep writers connected and encouraged.  For more information, check this out.

What I'm Reading:  This week's read was UNDER THE NEVER SKY...

I gotta say, while I love a good dystopian, this one just felt a little too familiar to me.  There isn't enough that's different about it to grab me.

What I'm Writing:   Last week-

This week-

So, not the 5K I dreamed about, BUT I did A LOT of editing on my MG Sci-Fi UNDER THE BLUE, which I entered in Sun vs. Snow.

What Works for Me-  I thought of something!  When editing, I like to copy and paste a chapter at a time into www.hemingwayap.com.  That way robot eyes can check for passive voice, adverbs, and super long sentences. Just yesterday I learned about www.editminion.com, which is the same sort of thing but checks for even more stuff.

What else is going on:  I entered Sun Vs. Snow this week, so I have been editing HARDCORE.  

This is my FACE after removing  70+ instances of the word FACE from my MS.  Look out JUST and APPARENTLY.  I'm coming for ya.

Hope you had a great week!

Upside Down and Drafting

Hello, writerly friends, and welcome to another installment of What's Up Wednesday.  WUW is a blog hop created by Jaimi Morrow and Erin Funk to keep writers connected and encouraged.  For more information, check this out.

What I'm Reading:  I stayed up late last night finishing UPSIDE DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.  It is about a family who endures Hurricane Katrina.  This is a heartbreaking read.  Like, I got real tears.  And amazing MG voice.  I highly recommend.

What I'm Writing:  Last week I was about here:

And today I am here:

You will note that the progress bar has turned green, so that is exciting!  But the ending to this thing is getting out of control.  I see some major rewriting in my future.  But maybe it will be one of those things where I put it away for a while and when I come back to it I find that it is bloody brilliant???  Maybe???  We shall see.  Oh, and my goal would be to get to 50K by next week.

What works for Me:  

I am running out of things that work for me.  And right now I am not entirely sure any of it is working for me.  Blah.  Sometimes writing is like, super hard.  :/

What Else is Going On:

We got a break from arctic temperatures here in Kansas City this last week, and my kid enjoyed some time outside.  

So what's up with all of you???

An Editing Checklist

Hello, writerly friends, and welcome to another installment of What's Up Wednesday.  WUW is a blog hop created by Jaimi Morrow and Erin Funk to keep writers connected and encouraged.  For more information, check this out.

What I'm Reading:  I am currently reading AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES, by the masterful John Green.  If you have ever watched Mr. Green's vlog and thought to yourself, "THIS is the guy who wrote THE FAULT IN OUR STARS???  All heart wrenching and romantic???  This guy is a goof ball!"  

Well, I'm not sure what happened there... but my point is AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES has had me laugh-snorting every other pages.  Some of that John-Green-Quirkiness made it into the book this time, and I am loving it.  

What I am Writing:  My WIP (THE BOOTLEGGER's LETTERS) went from this:

To This:

But you will notice that I haven't worked on it today yet, so I hope I can add another 1K.  I did have one afternoon where my three-year-old was having a birthday party so writing went out the window.  So my goal for next week would be to add another 5K.  That would be good... yeah I'll try that.

I did get a few chapters of my MG Sci-Fi edited.  Some more.  Again.  I am hoping to have that thing ready to query sometime this year.

What Works for Me:  I haven't actually tried this yet but I think I need to develop some sort of editing checklist, because my biggest problem with editing is that I don't really have a plan.  I need to be able to check things off the list (like you can with drafting).  Problem is, I don't really know what that list should have on it.  Here's what I got so far:

1- Fix obvious mistakes (spelling, grammar, parts where I forgot people's names...)

2.  Go back and check for "to be" verbs, was, were, ing

3.  Check to make sure each scene is important and in the right order

4.  Voice check- make sure each characters voice remains constant

5.  Overused words- In scrivener you can go to Projects and then Text Statistics to see what words you use the most.  This is an important tool!

What else should be on my editing list?  Help a noob out!

What Else is Going On: My baby boy had his third birthday party at Legoland.  It was epic.