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!

A Sad Farewell to WUW

Hello, friends!  Let's play another round of What's Up Wednesday!  WUW is a writerly blog hop started by Erin Funk and Jaime Morrow.  And sadly, this week's is the last one!  You can find out more here.  I will still be posting every week though, if I can remember!

What I'm Reading:

 WHEN YOU REACH ME, a super fun MG time travel book.

 JAKE AND LILY, Twins with a special connection have to learn to have lives apart from each other. LOVE Jerry Spinelli, and this book didn't disappoint.

WHEN AUDREY MET ALICE, First daughter Audrey is inspired when she finds an old journal of Alice Roosevelts.  I liked the concept of this one (and I love anything that makes me feel like I learned something about history) but I just didn't feel like the voice was very authentic.

What I'm Writing:  Query letters and an Editing Plan for Nano in April.

What Works for Me:  I have seriously loved being a part of What's Up Wednesday and I really want to stay connected to you all through writing challenges and Twitter!  Thanks for all the encouragement and advice!

What Else is Going On:  Spring break is next week, and I could not be more excited.  I love having a week wide open with just me and the kiddos and nothing  on our schedules.

I am going to be attempting to follow your blogs by email or subscription so that we can stay in touch.  Would you mind doing the same?  I have had this blog for over a year and I believe I have one follower... LOL.

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.

Ghosts, Camp, and Forts

What's Up Wednesday is a writer's blog hop created by Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk.  You can find out more about it and how to play along by clicking here.

What I'm Reading:  This week I read LIESL and PO by Lauren Oliver.  She is just an amazing writer and this MG Ghost story dealt with death and grief so beautifully.  I am trying to read more MG since that is what I most enjoy writing, so I would love any recommendations that you guys have.

What I'm Writing:  I worked on a two page synopsis for my MG Sci-Fi that I am about to query.  You all know that those two pages are sometimes more challenging than the whole damn novel.  But I think that it is probably ok enough now that it could be sent out if absolutely necessary.

What Works for Me:  I think I've mentioned before that Nano events really work for me.  I have written 3 out of my 5 finished works during some sort of National Novel Writing event.  My goals are to finish querying UNDER THE BLUE and get my next WIP outlined before April, so that I can draft during a Camp Nano session.  It is just super motivating for me to have a deadline and group of people that I am competing with... Uh, I mean encouraging.

What Else is Going On:  We are going a little batty around here.  The weather has been wintry and bleak.  The kids have made a fort out of the entire basement.

The sun is shining today, so I have plans to kick the kids out in the backyard for some much needed vitamin D!

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!