The Writers Helping Writers AMAZING RACE!

Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi at Writers Helping Writers (formerly The Bookshelf Muse) have added two more books to their Descriptive Thesaurus Collection: The Positive Trait Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Attributes and The Negative Trait Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Flaws. To celebrate, they are hosting a race, and not just any old race, either. It's the...

 
Writing is hard, isn't it? Create the perfect hook. Make your first page compelling. Craft an amazing 25 word pitch. Knock out a query that will blow an agent's mind. On and on it goes. And sometimes, well, you just wish someone would help.

WISH NO MORE!

From October 21st until October 27th, Writers Helping Writers is posting an OPEN CALL for writers. You can fill out a form, requesting help with critiques, book visibility, social media sharing, blog diagnostics, advice and more.

An army of Amazing Racers are standing by (ME INCLUDED!) waiting to help with your submissions. How many people can we help in a week? Let's find out! Did I mention there are Celebrity Racers too--amazing authors and editors who know their way around a first page. Maybe one of them will pick your submission to help with!

Each day this week, there's an AMAZING giveaway, too. So stop in at Angela & Becca's new Writers Helping Writers website and find out how to take advantage of this unique, pay-it-forward event for writers. I'll see you there! 

Photo Credit: Tharrin

GATED Launch!

I had the BEST SATURDAY EVER attending the launch for Amy Parker's debut GATED.

Do the gates keep the unchosen out or the chosen in?

In Mandrodage Meadows, life seems perfect. The members of this isolated suburban community have thrived under Pioneer, the charismatic leader who saved them from their sad, damaged lives. Lyla Hamilton and her parents are original members of the flock. They moved here following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, looking to escape the evil in the world. Now seventeen, Lyla knows certain facts are not to be questioned:

Pioneer is her leader.

Will is her Intended.

The end of the world is near.

Like Noah before him, Pioneer has been told of the imminent destruction of humanity. He says his chosen must arm themselves to fight off the unchosen people, who will surely seek refuge in the compound's underground fortress--the Silo.

Lyla loves her family and friends, but given the choice, she prefers painting to target practice. And lately she'd rather think about a certain boy outside the compound than plan for married life in the Silo with Will. But with the end of days drawing near, she will have to pick up a gun, take a side, and let everyone know where she stands.

GATED on Goodreads

A group of five authors from Orlando roadtripped over to Tampa to Inkwood Books for Amy's launch. We had so much fun. Tara Gallina drove. She could give Danica Patrick a run for her money. Heehee!

A couple of my favorite quotes from the road:

"You'll have to do the tuck and the roll because I'm not slowing down."

"Are you sure you're not Polish?"

"And why is he wearing a petticoat?!"

On the way, Sarah Nicolas made an Instagram video of us answering "How many spaces after a period?"

We arrived on time, thanks to Tara's driving, and even got a parking spot right in front. Christina Farley took some great pictures, so here are a few:

 Tara, me, and Jessica Souders making our purchases.

 Amy's gorgeous spread celebrating GATED!

 The group! Also including Vivi Barnes, Krystalyn Fowler, Joe and Lisa Iriarte, and Lucienne Diver!

 I took this one. :)

Plus, Christina made a video of the day, so check it out! And then go buy GATED! (Also, Christina and Tara are both hosting giveaways of GATED on their blogs, so be sure to click on their names to enter.)


 

Tuesday Whatnot

I only have a quick minute because I still don't have internet (it has now officially been a year.  WOAH), but I wanted to post about a couple of things.

First, I'm posting at the Oasis today, giving away Jaclyn Dolamore's Between the Sea and Sky!  You should go check it out!

Second, I'm a member of #WS4U (Writer's Support 4U), and many members do a weekly progress post.  Normally, I don't have much of an update, but today I can say YAY!  My manuscript is finished and with beta readers as I type!  (EEEEK!)  Cross your fingers that they LOVE it, and I can send that puppy out soon.

That's it!  Do you have any progress you'd like to share?  Tell me in the comments!

Setting (and WINNERS)

First, thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway and commented on the SCBWI FL post.  I love coming back and sharing tidbits with other writers.  :)

Okay, so Random.org helped me out, and the winner of the signed copy of Fancy White Trash is Rachel R, and the winner of the signed copy of Skin Hunger is Theresa Milstein!  I wish I could have gotten more books and stuff to give away!  Winners, please email me at lchardesty at yahoo dot com with your addresses.

Anyway, on to setting!

I’m on a family vacation. 

I’m both excited and annoyed.  I have three children, so it’s pretty exhausting.  Plus, the first stop is my parents’ house. 

I adore my parents, but my mom likes to go, go, go, and I’m really more of a homebody.  I don’t really like to go on outings, just to go somewhere.  Especially when I could be writing or something.  Plus, my kids tend to realize that my mom will be quicker to get them snacks or something they want, so they bug her.  If I do nothing but pay attention to them, I can nip that in the bud before she gives in, but if I’m, say, WRITING or READING and not paying attention, she will give in and then eventually get annoyed that I’m not doing anything.  *shakes head*  Needless to say, I don’t think I’m going to get much writing time on this trip.  *SIGH*

BUT, I am excited because I am visiting the places two of my novels are set in!  YAY!  My current WIP, That Succs, is set in and around Vegas, which is where my parents live (for two more weeks, and then they’re moving—lol).  Then we are all going to South Dakota to visit my grandmothers.  My completed novel, Lure, is set in Western South Dakota, basically where my mom’s mom lives (the middle of nowhere-ish).

I plan to do posts when I get back, highlighting both places, but I wanted some advice first.  What kinds of things do you think I should look for/at?  If you have a novel or novel idea set in either of these places, what information would you want about them?

Larissa :)

Young At Heart

Do you ever feel like you can't possibly be as old as you are?

I often have a sort of flashback to high school feeling, where, even though I'm an adult, I feel like I'm not in control of my life.  Like I still have a bunch of people older than me telling me what to do.

Do any of you ever feel that way, or am I just weird? 

I'm not sure what it is.  It could just be normal, but I wonder if that feeling is part of why I write for teens.  In a way, I still kind of feel like one.

For example, the other day I had a friend telling me about problems she was having with her teen.  Now, this person is close to my age, and I'm a parent, too (though my kids aren't teens yet), so I should have sympathized with her.  I did, a little, but I mostly found myself feeling bad for the teen.  Now, I don't know this teen personally, and I don't know the whole story.  But it was weird.

So I wonder, is it just me, or is this normal, or is this what makes us successful at writing for teens/children?  A sort of eternally youthful outlook, or something.

Are you young at heart?

Back to School Monday: Whining edition

*Heavy sigh*

Today was the first day of school. The preschool I teach at goes 9-12 this first week, so it's not long ... except when you have a child who doesn't stop crying THE ENTIRE TIME.

Then, as of last Tuesday, I was going to be working Tuesdays and Thursdays, so I'd have three days to myself (for writing, mostly, but also keeping up with housework, grocery shopping alone, okay, so I'd probably only use it for writing). Anyway, by Wednesday, I was working Mondays, too, and today they added Friday. I have no doubt that Wednesdays will be added within the month.

What to do? I could do what my hubby suggested and tell them that I can only work three days. There is another teacher that could pick up Tues/Thurs, but then I might not be able to send youngest on Tues/Thurs, which sort of defeats the purpose of not teaching on those days. Plus, we need the money, pitiful as it is.

My other option is to try to regement my writing time. I could try to do all email/blog/twitter stuff between the end of preschool and picking the older two up from elementary, focus on the house and the kiddos from then until after dinner, and then forego my beloved tv shows for evening writing time.

So, what do you think? When do you find time for writing?

Also, prayers for this kid to get comfortable in school and stop screaming in my ear are greatly appreciated. ;)

Larissa

P.S. Don't forget that I am in desperate need of donations for the FWF Silent Auction. See this post for details.

Best Writing Compliment So Far

I just got the biggest compliment I have had so far in my writing career! I'm so ridiculously excited!
One of my critique group members told me that she was so into reading the first three chapters of my story, she almost fell out of her chair when the phone rang!

Hooray!


(How pathetic am I?) LOL.

Off to write more gripping stuff! :)

The Muse

So, someone on the blueboards posted this link to a speech by Elizabeth Gilbert:

I watched it last week, and really enjoyed it. Then, it happened to me!

Last night, I went to bed around midnight. I had to get up at 7am for the first day of school for everyone (me included - I teach 2 year olds). Suddenly, As I was trying to fall asleep, full portions of text and dialogue for my wip popped into my head. I'm not talking about a quick idea or something. I mean two full on word-by-word passages in the story.

Are you kidding me?!?

I seriously contemplated getting up to write, but then I wondered if I'd ever get back to bed. So, I tried what Elizabeth had said in her talk. I actually addressed my muse/inspiration/whatever directly.

"Now is not the time. I appreciate the great ideas, but if you could hold that thought and come back tomorrow afternoon, that'd be fantastic."

I'm about to hit my wip now, so here's hoping it listened! LOL

What do you do when the muse/inspiration appears at an inconvenient time? Do you give in and write? Ask it to come back later? Ignore it and hope you remember the ideas later? Other?

Win a 10,000 word Edit from Tara M!!!

Win a 10,000 Word Edit

I know that many of the people following this blog are fellow writers, and I’m excited to be a part of this online community. So, I’m going to offer my first contest. That’s right. I’m giving away a 10,000 word edit, which equates to a $300 value. I’m going to host this for an entire month, so I’ll draw a winner on September 1, 2009.

Here’s how you enter:

1. You must sign up to follow my blog. (If you’re already signed up—a huge thankful for finding me interesting, and consider this step done.)


2. Leave a comment on this blog stating that you’d like to be entered.

This will get you one entry into a drawing to win a 10,000 word edit.

Want a second entry?
Post about this contest on your blog, and I’ll enter you a second time. If you don’t have a blog, but can post this on a forum, leave me a comment, and I’ll include you for a second entry. (And yes, I’m working on the honor system, so don’t disappoint.)

Rules and Qualifications:

• The 10,000 word edit applies to one work in progress. (A WIP less than 10,000 words can qualify, but the edit will be for the word count of the work.)


• Please no poetry. (I love to read it, but it isn’t my forte as an editor.)


• I have the right to refuse the edit based on content. If a replacement work isn’t available, I’ll draw another name. Examples of work that would fall into this category include Satanism and erotica.

To see my qualifications as an editor, feel free to visit my bio at Inspiration for Writers.