Worst Cupcake Ever!

Have you ever coveted the most beautiful cupcake in the world only to have it be… well, yucky? (Yet another food fail!)

Have you ever had writers block or wondered how writers deal with that dreaded affliction?

Well guess what? Jacqueline Gardner is asking a bunch of writers (as part of her WAW–Writers Are We–series) all sorts of fabulous questions about inspiration, why people write, what a writer’s workspace looks like and… wait for it… cupcakes!

Jacqueline has me talking about the worst cupcake ever over on her blog and we’d really enjoy hearing your cupcake/cake stories or what you find inspiring. Best cupcake ever? Worst?

See you there!

Mud Vs. Finger Paints

Quick note: I’m over on Calista Taylor’s blog talking about It’s All Kid’s Play, the importance of play in childhood, and the crossover from fiction writing to nonfiction writing. We’d love to see you there–feel free to drop a comment and weigh in on mud vs. finger paints. That’s right. It’s on like Donkey Kong!

(And if you are wondering about this crazy Kid’s Play thing of mine and want a little crash course and missed Jemi Fraser’s mini tour of It’s All Kid’s Play, it’s still up on her blog.)
Thanks and happy Trails!

Jean Oram: Profiled

Hey, I got profiled!–in a good way. There were no hunky men at a police station trying to figure out the motivations and psychological rumblings behind the woman makes up the enigma Jean Oram. Nope, not this time.

Aspiring author and blogger, J. Lea Lopez of the blog Jello World asked me to fill out her writer’s questionnaire. Every month she shows off an aspiring darling, and as it happens, December is my month. Yes, you heard right. I am sharing words of wisdom, insider trading tips (okay, not really), what makes me tick (or write), as well as spilling the beans on my library boyfriend over on J. Lea’s blog. So pop on over, there’s free hot chocolate with marshmallows and maybe a little light entertainment.

P.S. Here’s a strange fact, speaking of Jello, I really suck at making Jello. Yes, it’s true. I don’t know why. I can make layered cakes and brownies and nanaimo bars (For my American readers, these are a three layer bar with chocolate, coconut and graham wafer crumbs for the bottom layer, thick pudding for middle, and chocolate for the top.) from scratch, but don’t ask me to make Jello (or Rice Krispie squares). There’s some weird force field around me and simple treats that most 5-year-olds can master.

See this? Yeah, I can’t do that. Now you know my deepest, darkest secrets and must share yours.

Like Phone Tag, Only More Fun

There’s something going around the Internet tubes. And no, it’s not a virus… it’s a game called (wait for it) Blog Tag! Yes! You can now play tag while sitting, and you won’t even spill your coffee. Does it get any better? (The correct answer is ‘no.’)

I have to admit, I was blindsided. Calista Taylor snuck up on me while I was drinking a chai latte with friends and tagged me. I just about spilled my chai, I was so surprised. I didn’t even know I was playing! (Aren’t those the best kind of games?)

So, having been tagged, I get to answer some writing questions that you didn’t even realize you wanted answers to. There are a lot of them, you might want to take a bathroom break first.

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1)What’s the last thing you wrote? What’s the first thing you wrote that you still have?

Well, I just wrote this. Oh! You mean… Okay, um, the last thing I wrote was part of a work in progress–that was

yesterday. The first thing I wrote that I still have is probably some stories in my grade one notebook.

2) Write poetry?

On occasion, if a poem comes to me.

3) Angsty poetry?

When I was a teenager, but I haven’t been one in awhile, so, no.

4) Favourite genre of writing?

Romance is fun because you get to toy with character’s emotions and bring them down and then ‘wham,’ give them the greastest gift of all–love. Aw. I dapple with other genres, but romance is high-speed fun with the top rolled down.

5) Most annoying character you’ve ever created?

Well, there’s a guy character who always wore his shoes in the house and left mud on his friend’s coffee table. That annoyed the character. I’m not sure about reader’s though. I try not to annoy the reader.

6) Best plot you’ve ever created?

I think I might be creating it in my work in progress, but I’m not sure. It’s too soon to tell.

7) Coolest plot twist you’ve ever created?

Uh… huh. Hmmm… ummmm. I dunno. It’s hard to answer these questions because it’s hard to pull it out of your own writing, because it just is. Either that, or I’ve never written a cool plot twist, in which case, that’s just sad and depressing and I thank you for bringing me down.

8 ) How often do you get writer’s block?

Never. There are times when I have to step back, go for a walk and let the next scene or move come to me.

9) Write fan fiction?

Nope. I’m not avid about a show or series enough to feel the desire to pen myself some fan fiction.

10) Do you type or write by hand?

I can type faster than I can write now, so brainstorming and here-and-there notes are by hand, the rest is a la computer.

11) Do you save everything you write?

Yeah, pretty much. I’m a natural packrat.

12) Do you ever go back to an idea after you’ve abandoned it?

Define abandon. These are my kids, they might get neglected, but never truly abandoned.

13) What’s your favourite thing you’ve ever written?

That would be The 15 Date Rule. Not because it is the best, but because it was the most fun to write.

14) What’s everyone else’s favourite story you’ve written?

What? It isn’t The 15 Date Rule? Come on! Seriously though, people seem to love Caviar and Lemon Drops. It is pretty good, but it wasn’t quite as much fun to write as 15DR. (It came after 15DR and plotting it, etc, wasn’t as ridden with challenges to keep me on my toes.)

15) Ever written romance or angsty teen drama?

Romance, yes. Teen drama, no.

16) What’s your favourite setting for your characters?

Honestly, I forget about setting a lot of the time. I’m more concerned with the mood, emotion, motivations, etc. I have to remind myself to add setting into each scene.

17) How many writing projects are you working on right now?

Of my own–just one. It’s a first draft, so everything else of mine gets to hang back for a bit. I am doing some editing work for other people’s projects. (You can contract me to edit, coach, critique, and more! I do queries, synopses, manuscripts, and proposals.)

18) Have you ever won an award for your writing?

Nope. I placed in a contest, but I’m not much of a contest hound. I won first in a province-wide art contest once, does
that count? No, no it doesn’t. I just wanted to feel special.

19) What are your five favourite words?

Leave me alone, I’m writing.

Not really–I don’t think I’ve ever said that. How about ‘pristine’. That’s a good word. Now, I need four more…

20) What character have you created that is most like yourself?

They all have pieces of me.

21) Where do you get your ideas for your characters?

They just show up, ready to kick a$$ (or whatever they are there to do).

22) Do you ever write based on your dreams?

Nope.

23) Do you favour happy endings?

Sure. If it fits the story. It has to be satisfying for the audience, that’s the number one requirement.

24) Are you concerned with spelling and grammar as you write?

Sorta. I’ll backtrack to fix spelling. Mostly, it’s full steam ahead in the first draft. My first concern is the get the idea down before it disappears. I can make it flow or grammatically correct on the second pass.

25) Does music help you write?

It depends. Sometimes music interrupts, which is really annoying.

26) Quote something you’ve written. Whatever pops in your head.

“Cynthia tossed her wavy hair, leaving it tousled, sexy, and perfect in a way that made Beth think of champagne and movie stars.” I wrote that line in one of my edits of Caviar and Lemon Drops and then forgot about it. I reread it months later and got all pissed off. I thought someone had been messing with my manuscript. But the worst part was that they were better than I was. It was an interesting moment when I figured out I wrote it.

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That’s it. You made it to the end. I hope I didn’t bore you too much.

Now… I get to tag another three writers!

I’m going to chase after Yvonne Osborne, snag TK Richardson, and grab J. Lea. Lopez because she posted an interview the other day with moi and some of these questions weren’t covered in her interview with herself back in June.

Hmmm… I’m noticing a trend here… I’ve been a guest on all three of these blogs! It’s tag nepotism at its best. Love it!

A Book Discussion About ‘The Giver’

A few days ago, Yvonne Osborne (aspiring writer) posed a list of questions to Jemi Fraser (aspiring writer and teacher) and me about Lois Lowry’s young adult book The Giver. Yvonne has posted our replies to her thought-provoking questions on her blog, The Organic Writer. I recommend you stop by her blog to read the discussion, say hello, and weigh in on what you think about The Giver. If you haven’t read The Giver, our discussion just might prod you to do so.

A bit of background on The Giver (taken from my book review):

This is a soft science fiction young adult novel that has been challenged and/or banned in schools due to some of its content. Jonas, a 12-year-old living in a Utopian society, is chosen to become a receiver of memories. In the past, Jonas’ community decided to go to ’sameness’ and to remove emotion and emotional memories from their lives in order to live pain-free. Naturally, that comes at a cost. As Jonas learns more about his new job (he accepts the memories of the past that include war, hunger, and much, much more in order to serve as an adviser to the community) the more the illusion of innocence slips from the way he views his world, separating him from his friends.

Five Minutes With Aspiring Author TK Richardson

TK Richardson is an aspiring author of young adult fantasy. Her favourite author is Leo Tolstoy as she says, “his writing and imagery take my breath away.” TK is currently seeking agent representation for her story Return to the Heart. She has always leaned towards the more literary, and more serious, thought-provoking stories. As a child her favourite story was Corrie ten Boom’s story about the Nazi occupation in Holland, In My Father’s House. If you read Richardson’s work, you will note how such writers may have affected her writing. You can learn more about TK on her website and blog as well as read some of her work.

A big welcome to TK Richardson. Thank you for joining me today.

*

Jean: Tell us a bit about your latest project.

TK: My current completed project is RETURN THE HEART, a YA novel complete at 95,000 words. The pitch:

Seventeen-year-old Lilly is determined to keep her gift of reading the heart a secret, but when that secret is exposed and sold on the black market Lilly discovers her gift is more than just the target of criminal obsession– it’s the fulfillment of an old, Russian prophecy.

*
Jean: What prompted you to start writing YA (young adult fiction)?

TK: I started writing a couple of years ago for my daughters. They had just finished a book they loved and I thought I could write one for them. When they read the finished product they were hooked. I have been writing novels ever since.

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Jean: What do you feel is your biggest writing strength?

TK: My biggest writing strength could be knowing what young adults want to read and trying, to the best of my ability, to write what interests them.

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Jean: How many novels/stories do you typically write in a year?

TK: A little over two novels per year, and that includes first draft to polished finish.

*

Jean: Publishers depend upon authors doing some of their own publicity or generating word of mouth. What sort of ideas do you have to create a following or create a book buzz when you get published?

TK: My audience is YA, so I intend to use the social networking sites they use. I have already created a book trailer, a web site, and have plans for other promotional avenues. Those are top secret, though. You’ll have to sign me to know the details.

*

Jean: Since you are seeking an agent, what is one thing you would like an agent to know about you that might not come out in a query letter?

TK: Well, I am pretty easy to work with and easy going. I am detail oriented and have a strong drive.

*

Jean: Do you believe in the Perfect Agent?

TK: No, because there are no perfect people. Things happen, and people make mistakes. To expect anyone to be perfect is unrealistic. I believe there are many agents that would be a good business partner with me, and I look forward to that.

*

Jean: Working with an agent/publisher is important –how well could you take editorial direction?

TK: I welcome it wholeheartedly! I am not so in love with my own words that I can’t see room for improvement– there’s always room to grow.

*

Jean: What are you reading right now?

TK: Right now I’m reading history books and doing research for another project. I try not to read in my genre while I’m writing, so I don’t pick up another writers’ voice, etc.

*

Jean: If we had more than five minutes, what would you like to add? Maybe share your rockstar writer superpower?

TK: I write stories that I believe young adults would love to read.

*

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Thank you TK. Best of luck in finding your agent. Check out TK’s Website and Blog.

*

‘Me’ Offers an Exclusive Interview On The Touchy Subject of Writing Problems

Today, I would like to welcome Me to a mini-interview. She is an aspiring author who has graciously agreed to take a little time away and sit down (in all confidentiality) and discuss her writing problem. As some of you may have heard in the news, writing problems are becoming more and more common with the advent of word processing and the spread of home computers.

Me as a super-hero

I: Me, how did you break it to your significant other that you wanted to write a novel?

Me: I actually took my laptop into the TV room, plopped it on the desk and giggling like a crazy lady said, “I’m going to write a story. And get this, it’s going to be a romance!” That was followed by maniacal laughter. I don’t recall my husband’s reply.

I: Was this when you first realized you had a ‘problem?’

Me: No, actually. This just set the stage. It was experimental, really. The real problem came about a year later.

I: How so?

Me: Just small things. Things that are easy to ignore, overlook or explain away. It began with things like me saying, “just a minute” to my family and then taking fifteen minutes to finish writing or editing a scene. Gradually, it turned into more noticeable things such as over-steaming broccoli and burning things in the oven. That progressed to the inability to go on vacation unless I brought my laptop, a severe interest in accessing webmail. And finally, the inability to focus on things other than my writing. I find I lose hours at a time without completely understand where they went.

I: Were there other signs?

Me: I haven’t admitted this to many, but sometimes I catch myself speaking in tongues. Things like, ms, POV, WIP, query, hook, YA, and denouement. They just pop out. That can be a real conversation stopper when I’m on what I call ‘the outside.’

I: What are you doing about this problem? Have you sought help?

Me: They say the first step is admitting to having a problem. And I don’t really see this as a problem. It makes me happy. The demons are at rest when I write. While it can be a compulsion that keeps me up at night, it can also be incredibly therapeutic. The real problem is with people who don’t understand writing. We need to educate the people. Education is the key. Writers will never enjoy full membership in society until that society is educated. In education comes understanding.

I: Okay, I can see we’ve touched on a soft spot here. But again, have you sought help, such as a support group?

Me: Yes, I have. It’s called Agent Query Connect. I speak with other writers several times a day. We have discussions and once a week, real-time chats. I find it very helpful to know that I am not alone.

I: And is this support group helping alleviate your problem?

Me: I have to chat after my family has gone to bed, so, no. Not really. I feel guilty if I spend more time with my laptop than with them.

I: Do you feel as though you have to hide your problem?

Me: No, but sometimes I feel as though I am merely managing it. I make bargains with myself. If you wash the dishes, then you can write. But I’m not hiding my problem.

I: How are you symptoms today?

Me: Today’s not a good day. In fact, November is not a good month. The problem is NaNoWriMo is going on right now and that always increases my symptoms. Sometimes, it seems as though the more I gain in understanding and support from other industry insiders, the stronger the compulsion becomes.

I: Have you considered getting outside help? Outside your support group?

Me: Yes. I am currently seeking an agent. I hope that finding a literary agent will provide my family and friends with the legitimacy they need in order to accept me the way I am and to see the other side of my problem. Writing is something that will not go away. They can’t turn a blind eye to this. They need to learn to cope with having someone in their circle who has a writing problem.

I: Have you considered–

Me: Sorry to interrupt, but I just got this fabulous idea on how to pull the plot lines together for my WIP. I need to go write it down. It’s the answer to all my progression and pacing problems. Thanks for the interview. Bye.

I: Well, thank you for your time with us today. If you would like to donate to the Writer’s Cause, you can–

Me: I said, I gotta go.

I: Wow, it seems like you’re really jonesing. You’re bouncing like a 4-year-old who’s had too much apple juice. Do you find that when inspiration strikes you need to work immediately or will the muse come back later? Is a muse real?

Me: I said… forget it.

Interview subject opens her laptop and disappears.