Robyn Lucas, Writer.

Zombies are Real!

2011-10-28T07:28:00.000-07:00

You don't believe me? Then read on and I'm sure you'll recognize some zombies in your life.

Halloween season is here. While I'd like to complain about 'Thriller' looping 10 times in the grocery store, fighting my daughter over slutty kids' costumes (why manufacturers make them is another post), and wearing a rubber band to pop every time I think about candy corn, I'd rather leave you with a warning.

Zombies Are REAL!

For starters, let's clarify what makes a zombie, a Zombie?

1. They are not really alive

2. They eat brains

3. They want to infect the living

4. They're stronger in groups

5. According to the crazy CDC guy in 'The Walking Dead' the part of the brain that gives a person their personality and drive dies and is replaced by darkness.

Now, think really hard. Do you have toxic people in your life like this? People who want to crush the very essence of your soul, eat your brains and morph you into a shell of a person, left to shuffle around forever in life?

Are there "friends" who don't want you to write? Draw? Work? Live? "Friends" who mock your dreams? Family members who talk you out of being, well... YOU?

They are ZOMBIES! Run! Get out of that situation before you're infected.

Here are some "Rules" to survive a Zombie attack (Thanks to Zombieland):

"Cardio"- Guard your heart
"Double tap"- Smack some sense into yourself for listening to their BS
"Beware of bathrooms"- Watch out for their s---t
"Wear seatbelts"- Protect yourself
"Cast iron skillet"- Just in case you need to beat them
"Travel light"- Don't carry around too much baggage
"Get a kickass partner"- Whether it's a critique partner, a beta, or a should to cry on. Get someone who has your back!
"Bounty paper towels"-
"Bowling Ball"- Have some fun- go out.
"~~Don't~~ be a hero"- Rescue someone else from a zombie
"Limber up"- Don't take everything personally, but don't put up with everything.
"Avoid strip clubs"- Run from people who always have to share their issues
"When in doubt, know your way out"- End those relationships if necessary
"The buddy system"- If you have to be around a Zombie, take your kickass partner along for backup
"Check the back seat"- Too many cooks spoil a meal
"Enjoy the little things"- Celebrate small goals. (first draft, first rejection, first partial)
"Swiss army knife"- Cut some ties
"Clean socks"-
"Hygiene"- Take care of yourself
"Always have backup"- Find a safe place

If all else fails, call the CDC and alert them of your Zombie infestation.

One of those days

2011-10-24T10:39:00.000-07:00

It's just been one of those days.

And one of these days

And one of these...

How Badly Do YOU Want It?

2011-09-15T07:49:00.000-07:00

How badly do you want to be successful?

How badly do you want to finish your draft?

How badly do you want to be a great writer?

How badly do you want it?

Watch. Learn.

It's My Birthday!

2011-09-14T09:21:00.000-07:00

Today is my ___ birthday!

I jumped out of bed this morning expecting to be sad about getting older, but instead I was excited.

Excited about this year.

This is the year I will get an agent
This is the year I will get a publisher
This is the year I will hit my goal weight (hey, I'm down 28 pounds so far!)
This is the year I will see my critique partner's book-- the real, actual book (Fall 2012)
This is the year my husband and I will begin the adoption process and add to our family
This is the year I will limit my pity parties to 2 a month
This is my year.

In lieu of gifts, you can follow some uber-awesome bloggers:
Matthew- tons of great writing advice
Lynnette- she has a problem with exclamation points (we're in therapy)
Michael- 'cause Middle Grade is cool

Lovely Links

2011-08-22T07:24:00.000-07:00

I've had a ton of emails recently (okay, maybe 4 or 5) asking me about some of my favorite sites. Here are some of my favorite writer-friendly sites:

What does this pic have to do with this post? Nothing, he's just so darn hot.

First, if you haven't already discovered the awesomeness that is The Bookshelf Muse, take a moment. Repent. Breathe. Then click here
...now, you've been forgiven.

Then, of course there is WriteOnCon. Do it. Love it. Live it.

Next, if you're in query ~~hell~~ bliss, you NEED to be familiar with QueryTracker

Finally, two majorly (not sure if that's a word, but spell checker didn't catch it) sites from my NB Crew (NB- Nathan Bransforumers, if you're nasty... yes. paying homage to Janet Jackson. It's Monday, dagnabit and I haven't had any coffee yet.):

1. Quintessential Query Experiment (Matthew is awesome, just sayin')

2. Wicked and Tricksy

Hope these links brighten your day! Happy writing.

I'm Baaaacccckkkkk!

2011-08-15T04:55:00.000-07:00

Vacation is over. The kids are at school. The birds are chirping. My house is clean, er, well would be if I weren't preparing for WriteOnCon.

What's WriteOnCon, you ask?

Only the most awesome FREE online writer's conference!

Stop what you're doing.
Now go here.
Then here.
Now look at me, then look at your screen. Your computer can't look like me, but you can interact with me.
I'm on a horse.

(yes, I love the Old Spice guy!)

Write On Con, baby! Do it. Love it. Live it.

Cons and Costumes

2011-07-21T19:15:00.000-07:00

I'm pouting because I didn't go to ComicCon. Anyone else feel left out of the cool kids crowd?

In honor of all things nerdy, I'm sharing my family costumes for the past few years. It's our family tradition-- can't wait for this year's. It's going to be hilarious.

Hope you enjoy our sweet nerdiness!

Work it Out Wednesday- HALCYON BLUES

2011-06-21T22:24:00.000-07:00

First off, I have to offer my full apology to Elise. I am truly sorry for not jumping on this query last week. I was on a (last minute) vacation with the family. Don't worry. I paid dearly for angering the bloggods-- my 5 hour trip back home turned into an 8 hour slog through the NC mountains.

Now that's taken care of my thoughts. (Please add your comments as well):

Query-- HALCYON BLUES (original query, my revised version is below in blue and red)

Survival mode.

That's Francoise Rousseau's current condition. When you are from the war-ravaged Outer Cities of North America, that's all you can afford. A stark difference from the Inner Cities, a place they say is more technologically advanced and magnificent than other.

Francoise thinks it's whatever. Life may suck in the Outer Cities, but at least she's nobody's slave. Once you step into the Inner Cities, you become slaves to the Élans, a new strain of the human race that took control of North America after the virus began ravaging the population.

Then her brother contacts the Virus.

Looking for pimps, kidnappers, and drug dealers in the Outer Cities? Sure thing. There are lots of them floating around. Doctors? Don’t kid yourself.

To save Amaury's life, she must get him into the Inner City. Too bad, no one gets into the Inner City on their own terms, only on the Élan's.

Enter Ravel. The most enigmatic boy she's ever met. What does he do on their first meeting? Agrees to get her into the Inner City, but threaten to kill her if she betrays him again. Again?

Francoise soon gets her answers. The moment she steps foot into the Inner City.

Everything she's known her entire life? Kaput! Out the window. Apparently, she is the philosopher's stone, and oh, how easy it will be to brush it all aside as nonsense, if hoards of supernatural creatures and powerful organizations aren’t trying to kill her everywhere she turns.

Halcyon Blues, complete at 110,000 words, blends sci-fi, adventure, and romance elements with paranormal lore to create a cross-genre novel that follows Francoise's journey for sovereignty of her life, in a high-tech world filled with supernatural creatures invested in magic, alchemy, and science.

Wow! That's a mouth-full. How about we break it up into smaller chunks and hand feed it to the agent in a friendlier way. They see the long email and hit the "DELETE" button. Looking at what may be your major plot points, let's try something like this:

Survival mode.

That's Francoise Rousseau's current condition. At least she's no one's slave. A life in the wild and war-ravaged Outer City is better than being a slave in the technologically advanced and sleek Inner City.

But that all changes when her younger brother becomes infected by the very virus that wiped out most of North America decades earlier. With an abundant criminal element present in the Outer City and a scarcity of doctors, Francoise is forced to break into the Inner City on her own terms.

When an enigmatic boy offers to smuggle her into the City, her world is shattered when he threatens to kill her if she betrays him... Again.

Halcyon Blues, complete at 110,000 words, blends sci-fi, adventure, and romance elements with paranormal lore to create a cross-genre novel that follows Francoise's journey for sovereignty of her life, in a high-tech world filled with supernatural creatures invested in magic, alchemy, and science. <<<----- hmmm. First, trim. trim. trim. 110K for YA-- too long. Paranormal lore? Alchemy? You didn't mention any of this in your query. How does this play into your story? Is it more Steampunk or Dystpopian? Sci-Fi? Figure out your genre, then tailor your query to illustrate this.

Tear it up Tuesday-- HALCYON BLUES

2011-06-14T07:37:00.000-07:00

Yay! It's another Teat it up Tuesday. You know what to do:
1. Leave a constructive comment
2. Check back tomorrow for my thoughts.

Query-- HALCYON BLUES

Survival mode.

That's Francoise Rousseau's current condition. When you are from the war-ravaged Outer Cities of North America, that's all you can afford. A stark difference from the Inner Cities, a place they say is more technologically advanced and magnificent than other.

Francoise thinks it's whatever. Life may suck in the Outer Cities, but at least she's nobody's slave. Once you step into the Inner Cities, you become slaves to the Élans, a new strain of the human race that took control of North America after the virus began ravaging the population.

Then her brother contacts the Virus.

Looking for pimps, kidnappers, and drug dealers in the Outer Cities? Sure thing. There are lots of them floating around. Doctors? Don’t kid yourself.

To save Amaury's life, she must get him into the Inner City. Too bad, no one gets into the Inner City on their own terms, only on the Élan's.

Enter Ravel. The most enigmatic boy she's ever met. What does he do on their first meeting? Agrees to get her into the Inner City, but threaten to kill her if she betrays him again. Again?

Francoise soon gets her answers. The moment she steps foot into the Inner City.

Everything she's known her entire life? Kaput! Out the window. Apparently, she is the philosopher's stone, and oh, how easy it will be to brush it all aside as nonsense, if hoards of supernatural creatures and powerful organizations aren’t trying to kill her everywhere she turns.

Halcyon Blues, complete at 110,000 words, blends sci-fi, adventure, and romance elements with paranormal lore to create a cross-genre novel that follows Francoise's journey for sovereignty of her life, in a high-tech world filled with supernatural creatures invested in magic, alchemy, and science.

Publishing News!!!

2011-06-06T07:15:00.000-07:00

Gennifer Albin has a deal!!! Just in case you missed the news:

Here's the official Publisher's Marketplace announcement:

Gen Albin's CREWEL, the first in a trilogy that is equal parts science fiction, adventure, and romance, this debut novel takes place in a world where women known as "spinsters" are able to "weave" the very fabric of existence, to Janine O'Malley at Farrar, Straus Children's, in a major deal, in a three-book deal, by Mollie Glick at Foundry Literary + Media (North America).

And the really awesome press release from my publishers at Farras, Straus Children's, which is an imprint of MacMillan:

FSG has won a hotly contested auction for North American rights to an extraordinary debut teen novel: CREWEL, by Gen Albin.

Equal parts science fiction, adventure, romance, and novel of ideas, CREWEL takes place in a world where women — known as “spinsters” -- are able to “weave” time, matter, and the very fabric of existence. Being selected as a spinster means power, privilege, and beauty—but it also means entering a world of secrets and lethal intrigue. CREWEL has a smart, resourceful, and rebellious heroine in 16-year-old Adelice Lewys, selected to become a spinster but gifted with a unique power that holds the key to her world’s future. It mixes elements of The Hunger Games, The Handmaid’s Tale, Elsewhere, Uglies, and Mad Men — and is completely original and compelling. “I devoured it over the Memorial Day weekend,” says FSG Senior Editor Janine O’Malley, who acquired the property. “I knew it was a project I couldn’t live without—a perfect blend of sci-fi, romance, and thrilling suspense—not to mention poetic writing and amazing characters.”

Author Gen Albin has a Masters degree in English from the University of Missouri, where she was an editor for Pleaides and The Missouri Review. She’s the founder of the popular parenting blog Theconnectedmom.com and blogs about writing at http://blog.genniferalbin.com.

CREWEL sold fast: it was submitted on the Friday before Memorial Day weekend and there were several pre-empts offered by Tuesday. FSG emerged as the winning bidder among five this Friday morning. The book was represented by Mollie Glick at Foundry Media.

Lenny Love Fest!

2011-06-03T07:13:00.000-07:00

Why? 'Cause he's awesome. So, show some love for one of the cutest little bloggers Lenny Lee. (really, click the link and head on over there)

I don't have a short story today for the Lenny Fest, but I have some pics of my kids who love helping people. Last year, my daughter saw the pain in Haiti and organized a blanket drive. She received over 1500 blankets from all over the US.

Giving is so much better than taking. Let's give Lenny lots of love!

Summertime!

2011-05-31T08:35:00.000-07:00

Summer has officially landed at our house!

Besides being the "special" mom who rolls up to the car line blasting High School Musical's "What Time is it?" (oh, yes I did!), I am also the "horrible" mom who gets summer workbooks for my children to get ahead for the next school year (Tiger Mom, sure...).

Unfortunately, between doing NaNoWriMo Camp in June, shuffling my daughter to gymnastics camp 15hrs/wk, my son to karate several hours/wk, and melting by the pool in the Georgia sun most afternoons, my posting will be sporadic at best.

**If you have a query you want worked, please email me: queries4robyn (at) gmail (dot) com

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!

It's Tangible!

2011-05-26T06:45:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard about something, but it doesn't seem real until it happens to someone you know? Like losing weight? Have you heard people say, "I've lost 100 lbs" but it seems so impossible until you actually know someone who's accomplished such an enormous feat.

Or, starting a business? Have you heard someone say, "I started a business x many years ago, and now it's worth $$"? It doesn't seem real until you personally know someone and have witnessed their ups and downs.

Or

Better yet. Aren't you tired of the writing/ publishing myths being perpetuated by authors that make publishing seem like you have to have some sort of magical touch from the writing fairy to break through the slush pile? You all know what I'm talking about. The "I had a dream, sat down and wrote this book. It only took me three months and then I sent off one query."

or even worse:

"The book just wrote itself"
"The characters flowed through me and I could not stop writing"
"My agent found me"

**Don't even get me started...

But it doesn't work like that. It really doesn't. I've seen, first hand, the hard work, sleepless nights, tears, pain, and once again HARD WORK my CP put into her book. I remember her hating it. Loving it. Loathing it. But she never gave up. I've witnessed her utter determination and steel will to finish it.

I saw her workshop her query until it was perfect.

It's TANGIBLE!

It really is. I've seen it. She doesn't have any fancy connections. She's a mom from the midwest who had not only a dream, but a goal.

... and you know her secret?

HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION!

All Good Things Must Come to an End

2011-05-23T09:41:00.000-07:00

I finally made the difficult decision to put MYTH to sleep. I've tucked her in tight and kissed her goodnight. Maybe one day I'll smack her around and resurrect her. Thankfully, Jesus didn't show up this weekend, so I have some time.

If you know me, you know I'm a huge fan of Nathan Bransford (teetering on being a stalker, but hey, I'm trying to chill a little). He wrote a blog post a few weeks ago giving the reasons to drawer a novel. I wrested with the notion for a little while, then yelled at my laptop-- which is a terrible thing to do at Starbucks btw... (just saying).

Then, I had a conversation with my uber-awesome critique partner, who is really more like my conscious, and she reminded me of the novel last year that she scrapped. While it was good, it was nothing like her current manuscript which garnered 7 agent offers and will most likely be a bestseller. (btw, she signed with Mollie Glick, who is only like the most awesome agent ever!!!!)

So, without any tears, I'm saying goodbye for now to MYTH.

Work it Out Wednesday- DUST TO DUST

2011-05-18T07:45:00.000-07:00

This query is a great example of voice! Don't forget to read the first chapter here and comment on the query. Do they match?

DUST TO DUST:

So, apparently Micah Braddock was Jack the Ripper in a previous lifetime. <-- I'm on the fence about this line, but it ties in so well with the next paragraph, I'd say leave it and see if you get any bites.

Maybe not Jack the Ripper specifically, but serious karmic debt <---Love this! is the only explanation he can think of for why his life sucks so much. Being the youngest in a family of nine kids is bad enough - now make those nine magical <--- I can totally hear the snarkiness kids, cursed to try and kill each other on sight.

Ever since the Braddocks were nuked with the granddaddy of all curses two years ago, they can’t even be in the same room without turning sibling rivalry into a Cain and Abel reenactment. For Micah, striking out on his own wasn’t premature teenage rebellion. It was common sense, and his magic and wits kept him fed and in swanky hotels instead of on the streets. Wouldn’t actually be too shabby a life, except turns out the family curse doesn’t handle rejection too well and his siblings keeps popping up at the worst possible times. Plus lately his own magic’s gone all Benedict Arnold on him <<-- love it! - sending him tripping through the past, reliving all his worst memories.

So when his older brother sends killer shadows after him on his sixteenth birthday, Micah has officially had it up to here with this crap. He’s going to hunt down whoever cursed his family and bash their brains in, then drag his siblings home and kick their asses until they all learn to play nice again and ~~then~~ t~~hey are going to~~ sit around the table like a normal family and eat some fucking birthday cake. <--- awesome!

And there had better be ice cream with it. HA!!!

Complete at 80,000 words, Dust to Dust is a YA family drama of epically dysfunctional proportions.

Family. Can’t live with ‘em – and apparently trying to kill them doesn’t work all that well either.

Kalen brilliantly allows his character's voice to come through. Without reading the name, I automatically "hear" an annoyed teenage boy through his word choices.

Well done, Kalen. Can't wait to hear a follow up!

Tear it up Tuesday- DUST TO DUST

2011-05-17T07:05:00.000-07:00

Today's query comes from a wonderful writer/ actor, Kalen O'Donnell, who hooked me with his amazing first chapter. Then I read his query and... well... hmpf.

So, read his First Chapter here, then read his query below and you tell me. Do they match?

As always, keep your comments constructive and I will add my thoughts on Wednesday.

DUST TO DUST: (**edit: this query is different from the original one I read initially.**)

So, apparently Micah Braddock was Jack the Ripper in a previous lifetime.

Maybe not Jack the Ripper specifically, but serious karmic debt is the only explanation he can think of for why his life sucks so much. Being the youngest in a family of nine kids is bad enough - now make those nine magical kids, cursed to try and kill each other on sight.

Ever since the Braddocks were nuked with the granddaddy of all curses two years ago, they can’t even be in the same room without turning sibling rivalry into a Cain and Abel reenactment. For Micah, striking out on his own wasn’t premature teenage rebellion. It was common sense, and his magic and wits kept him fed and in swanky hotels instead of on the streets. Wouldn’t actually be too shabby a life, except turns out the family curse doesn’t handle rejection too well and his siblings keeps popping up at the worst possible times. Plus lately his own magic’s gone all Benedict Arnold on him - sending him tripping through the past, reliving all his worst memories.

So when his older brother sends killer shadows after him on his sixteenth birthday, Micah has officially had it up to here with this crap. He’s going to hunt down whoever cursed his family and bash their brains in, then drag his siblings home and kick their asses until they all learn to play nice again and then they are going to sit around the table like a normal family and eat some fucking birthday cake.

And there had better be ice cream with it.

Complete at 80,000 words, Dust to Dust is a YA family drama of epically dysfunctional proportions.

Family. Can’t live with ‘em – and apparently trying to kill them doesn’t work all that well either.

Go the F**k to Sleep

2011-05-13T13:45:00.000-07:00

Wow. Talk about an "outside the box" book. Don't judge. If you've ever been a zombie late at night with a child who has mixed up daytime and nighttime, then you'll totally get this book.

Here's an excerpt:
The cubs and the lions are snoring,
Wrapped in a big snuggly heap.
How come you can do all this other great sh*t
But you can't lie the f**k down and sleep?

And later in the book:
The eagles who soar through the sky are at rest
And the creatures who crawl, run and creep.
I know you're not thirsty. That's bullsh*t. Stop lying.
Lie the f**k down, my darling, and sleep.

If not and you're planning to become a parent, get it anyway.

Now, if only the author would do one that says, "Shut the f**k up" for other adults. (sigh)

Spaceship Dreams

2011-05-12T06:05:00.000-07:00

I could not sleep last night. Wanna know why?

This video kept playing in my head. Then I jumped up several times reminding myself to get it today because my kids really want to read it.

Please, get this book today. Don't be like me. (or Jacob Wonderbar will haunt you in your sleep)

btw, my son has had a countdown for this book for the past 2 months!

Being a Cheerleader

2011-05-09T10:31:00.000-07:00

There are a ton of amazing blogs/ sites I'd love to show some support, so head on over and give them some love!

Gennifer Albin- She is going to have some pretty amazing news this week. Stay tuned.

Wicked and Tricksy- Launched TODAY, so run over there NOW!

The Bookshelf Muse- (I still can't believe this site is FREE) They not only have an Emotion Thesaurus, a Setting Thesaurus, Color/ Shape Ths, and Symbol Ths, but they just started a WEATHER THESAURUS!

Nathan Bransford Forums- I cannot begin to describe how useful this forum has been, but show Nathan some love this week- Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapow launches May 12th!

Hope you guys have a wonderful week!

Hugs!

C-O-M-M-U-N-I-T-Y

2011-05-05T05:39:00.001-07:00

COMMUNITY- Coming together in unity and support- that's the awesome concept of new website: Wicked and Tricksy.

Wicked and Tricksy was created by 4 Bransforumers out of the desire to make writing less of a solitary journey and more of a social adventure (doesn't that sound awesome!).

I've done my share of stalking Sommer, Margo, Claudie, and SB on the forums and I can tell you, these writers are a wealth of information and inspiration, not to mention they love bacon and chocolate (usually together) +10 cool points!

If you visit the site now, you'll see a count down clock because the site goes live on Monday, May 9th. But you can still follow them on twitter for updates and contests. (go, now. no, really.)

Embracing the Journey

2011-05-03T05:59:00.000-07:00

Now, don't roll your eyes at me. "I'll relax when I get 'The Call'" or "OMG, I just want that damn contract, then I'll be happy".

Will you?

Really?

When you get "The Call" it opens a whole other set of stresses. You think writing a book is tough? That's only half of the psychosis!

Wait until you have several agents fighting over you (that would be pretty cool, wouldn't it?). Then, you actually have to choose one. Will they be the right agent? Will they look at you with motherly affection or with $$ eyes?

Then, of course, there is publishing. Contracts. Deadlines. Sales. Negative Reviews. Second novel expectations.

"So, you're against the publishing system?"

No. I'm not. I have a wonderful friend going through it now and I'm living vicariously through her. I admire her iron will to push through her novel when she wanted to scrap it. The love and time she took crafting her amazing characters and now it's paying off.

I've been the one bitching about my novel. Complaining about my characters. Whining like a brat at almost every turn. I even nicknamed my novel:
Craptastic
Crapulus Maximus
The Great Crapsby
The Lord of the Crap
*hangs head in shame*

But it stops today!

I think I'm going to take more time enjoying this stress-free process of creativity. Craft the best story I possibly can. Create the most engaging characters. AND have a GOOD ATTITUDE throughout the process.

How about it? No more complaining about our manuscripts? Enjoying every late writing night? Every road block?

Would you, Could you?

2011-04-29T09:57:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to figure out how to approach this, so I'll start with a quote:

"A dream deferred makes the heart sick."

Earlier this week, Candace over at Candyland asked "What if your dreams never came true?". Can you imagine that? No, really. What would you do if your dreams never came true?

What if you're not published in 5 years? What if you're not thin in 5 years? What if Prince William marries someone else, oops, nevermind...

What would you do if things don't happen in your time frame? Will you quit? Give up?

Would you change your goals. Tweak them a little. Maybe go with a book packager instead of waiting for the almighty Nathan Bransford to sign you as a client (damn, missed that ship). Maybe, accept being a size 14 and rock the hell out of your sexy ba-donk-a-donk. Would you? Could you live with yourself?

Work it Out Wednesday- CREWEL

2011-04-27T09:12:00.000-07:00

I want to thank Jen again for being a brave soul this week. As always, if you have a query you'd like some help with, please email me query4robyn@gmail.com

Instead of pointing out what needs to be changed, I'm going to take this time to highlight what works.

CREWEL:

Incapable. Awkward. Artless. <<-- okay. You have my attention. I want to know more

That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail. <--- Why? This is a great hook. Why does she want to fail?

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, <-- okay, you're grounding me in your world being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary.<---- telling me some rules to your world. Giving me insight. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested. <<--- here, you've painted this beautiful picture of Arras, now your telling me that its all a farce. Not only do you tell me its controlling, but you give me an example (where they live, how many children are permitted)

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight. <<-- here's the story. tension

Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. <<--- great use of voice! One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.

Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.

Complete at 77,000 words, CREWEL is a YA dystopian novel that follows Adelice's fight for autonomy and redemption in a world of femme fatales, steel looms, and towered compounds. I follow Getting Past the Gatekeeper where I learned of our shared interests in Surge and Fantomina (18th-C represent!). You requested I send you the first 20 pages during last night's WriteOnCon live event. They are included below.

I hold a Masters in English Literature from the University of Missouri. I also served as a student editor for Pleaides and The Missouri Review and did some time teaching literature to college students.

This is a great example! I've had the pleasure of also reading this manuscript and it left me absolutely speechless! Keep an eye out for Gennifer Albin, and Crewel you guys!

Tear it up Tuesday- CREWEL

2011-04-26T07:18:00.000-07:00

Thanks for joining me for another Tear it up Tuesday!

If you have a query you'd like some feedback on, please shoot me an email: query4robyn@gmail.com

Today's query comes from Gennifer. It is close to perfection and at last night's Write On Con Live Agent Query Jennifer Sinsheimer specifically told her to "SEND MORE".

Tell me what you think about Crewel:

Incapable. Awkward. Artless.

That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.

Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.

Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.

Complete at 77,000 words, CREWEL is a YA dystopian novel that follows Adelice's fight for autonomy and redemption in a world of femme fatales, steel looms, and towered compounds. I follow Getting Past the Gatekeeper where I learned of our shared interests in Surge and Fantomina (18th-C represent!). You requested I send you the first 20 pages during last night's WriteOnCon live event. They are included below.

I hold a Masters in English Literature from the University of Missouri. I also served as a student editor for Pleaides and The Missouri Review and did some time teaching literature to college students.

Work it Out Wednesday- A WATCHFUL EYE

2011-04-20T07:35:00.000-07:00

I want to thank Kurt again for being a brave soul this week. As always, if you have a query you'd like some help with, please email me query4robyn@gmail.com

Now, onto A Watchful Eye:

Samantha Perry's secrets aren't like anybody else's <---- I wouldn't lead with a cliche. Try for a stronger hook, like:

Eighteen years old (hmmm, a little old for YA, teetering on the if-fy), ugly, limping, and years away from home, Samantha Perry embodies misfortune. No one knows that she ran away from home after blowing up her cousin’s house. No one knows that bad luck literally oozes from her pores. No one knows that Samantha Perry isn’t her real name.

Half-seen monsters started chasing her once she found the sundial? at thirteen years old. By the time she discovered it was the source of her bad luck and that she needed two other objects, a box and a pen,<-- from France? What makes these items so special? Can't she just pick them up from Staples? Did the box come from another world? Dig deep. make me want to read more! to make the bad luck stop, she couldn’t just throw the sundial away. A car accident smashed it into her face.

She can see the monsters when no one else can. She can throw her luck on the people and things that get in her way, and she’s found the box and the pen. To get back home <-- why can't she just take a bus? I need to know more about the story, she’ll have to steal them. To steal them, she’ll have to rob them from her closest friends. She’ll have to count her betrayal of them as a positive development, because that will mean that the monsters – and the malevolent boy who commands them – won’t have killed her first.

A Watchful Eye is a young adult urban fantasy novel within a series. The manuscript is complete at 158,000<-- like the comments have mentioned, this is a little long for YA. The first thing an agent is going to think, "I bet he didnt revise". I've seen it before. You may want to check out some of Donald Maass' books and really dig into your story and consolidate it a little more. words. I am a working playwright and this is my first complete novel.

Tear it up Tuesday- A WATCHFUL EYE

2011-04-19T05:23:00.000-07:00

Thanks for joining me for another Tear it up Tuesday!

If you have a query you'd like some feedback on, please shoot me an email: query4robyn@gmail.com

*As always, please give constructive criticism. I will give my thoughts on Wednesday.*

Thank you Kurt for being a brave soul:

Samantha Perry's secrets aren't like anybody else's. No one knows that she ran away from home after blowing up her cousin’s house. No one knows that bad luck literally oozes from her pores. No one knows that Samantha Perry isn’t her real name.

Half-seen monsters started chasing her once she found the sundial at thirteen years old. By the time she discovered it was the source of her bad luck and that she needed two other objects, a box and a pen, to make the bad luck stop, she couldn’t just throw the sundial away. A car accident smashed it into her face.

Now eighteen, ugly, limping, and years away from home, she embodies misfortune. She can see the monsters when no one else can. She can throw her luck on the people and things that get in her way, and she’s found the box and the pen. To get back home, she’ll have to steal them. To steal them, she’ll have to rob them from her closest friends. She’ll have to count her betrayal of them as a positive development, because that will mean that the monsters – and the malevolent boy who commands them – won’t have killed her first.

A Watchful Eye is a young adult urban fantasy novel within a series. The manuscript is complete at 158,000 words. I am a working playwright and this is my first complete novel.

Maass Monday- Villains

2011-04-18T10:40:00.000-07:00

I love Donald Maass! For the next few weeks, I'll dedicate my Mondays to the Maass-ter of tension, himself.

Villains

My favorite characters are the villains. The more complex, the better.

Maass, in The Fire in Fiction, talks about the highly motivated villain. He gives the following steps as a building point for your story's antagonist:

Who is your novel's principle antagonist?
What is the biggest wrong he/she must do?
List 12 reasons why someone in real life would not do that, or would be prevented by others from doing that.
Work out twelve reasons why, in this case, your antagonist is motivated to do the worst, and also why others are unable to prevent it.
Add everything listed above into your manuscript. Don't cheat! Put it all in.

Essentially, when you incorporate the anatag's motivation (not just surface level, but deep and dark), it builds a sympathy for the antagonist, in addition to producing more tension.

One of most layered villains in recent times was Ben Linus from LOST (lets all take a moment of silence in respect for such a kick-ass show). ***

Ben Linus had more layers than an onion (or parfait if you like Shrek). Ben Linus was evil. He was cruel. He was vindictive. But he was also wholly human. If you want to build an amazingly evil and highly complex villain, look no further than Ben Linus.

*public service announcement: LOST is on Netflix. Watch. Reminisce. Learn.

Tell me: What was your favorite Ben Linus moment?

Work it Out Wednesday- SYNESTHESIS

2011-04-13T06:35:00.000-07:00

I want to thank Gina for being a brave soul this week. As always, if you have a query you'd like some help with, please email me query4robyn@gmail.com

Now, to SYNESTHESIS:

~~Synesthesis~~ is a compelling novel about a group of teens, children, and adults, fighting to understand the depths of truth and expression in a government-ruled, post-nuclear-war community where neither are present. Move this to bottom and re-word

Peter is a fighter.<--- show me how he is a fighter He is willing to risk his life, his sanity, anything for his community to think and love and discover and be again. For the past ten years Question: If this is YA, then Peter is maybe 16. So the brainwashing began when he was 6 or 7. He'd be indoctrinated already. I'd cut this completely. Is there a catalyst (inciting incident) that makes Peter awake from the government rule?, he has submitted to the government’s torture and attempted brainwashing in order to one day be free of their rule.Same here, how has he submitted? Brainwashed? tortured as a kid?

Brigid, Peter’s strong but weary mother, wants the same changes as her son, but fears he will go too far and martyr himself for the cause. Though a rebel in her own right I understand the conflict, but is she the main character? , ~~Brigid is first and foremost Peter’s mother, and the thought of surviving without him is a painful potential reality~~. This is until Jade, the last surviving outsider Outsider from where? I don't know anything about your world. Is she from the ocean? (just an example.), arrives to finish the task her grandmother sent her to do: to save the people of the community from their ~~totalitarian leader~~. The years of being raised on the outside, away from all but her grandmother’s contact, have left Jade struggling to remember the voice she once had. Nevertheless, with the help of Peter and Brigid, Jade finds within herself the strength and humor she never knew she had. Together the trio form a group of rebels, each with questions of their own to ask, lessons to discover, and painful journeys to face. <------THIS is what I would concentrate on:

Your Hook: A group of ragtag rebels must battle their inner demons before they can work together to take down a corrupt government. (just a thought)

~~You once said you like strong protagonists, woman with a little sass who can be tough and soft at the same time, and most of all, a book that makes you feel.~~ My 96,200 word YA dystopian novel pretty long for YA. Maybe if you concentrate on one character and use the other ones in their own subplot/ character arc, you'll be able to tighten up your MS and cut maybe 20-30K. ~~will take you through every emotion and give you stubbornly beautiful characters with the sort of strength and sass you won’t soon forget~~ Don't review your own work. be the author, not book blogger

Synesthesis is a c~~ompelling novel~~ about a group of teens, children, and adults, fighting to understand the depths of truth and expression in a government-ruled, post-nuclear-war community where neither are present. Pretty vague. Can characterize any dystopic... Dig deep. What makes Synesthesis special? What would make is "unputdownable"? Why am I going to want to read it?

Here is a brief example of how to possibly tighten up this query (I have not read the book, just going off of what you have):

Forced to write the laws of SOCIETY (just made up a name here) until his fingers were bloodied and numb in elementary school, starved for days at a time in middle school, and whipped for crying when his father died last year, Peter grew up loathing everything about BIGGER SOCIETY.

With an escape foiled by his overprotective mother, Peter is about to give up and submit to the cruelty surrounding him. Until Jade, an OTHERWORLDER shows him how to escape. Together, they .....

Hope this helps, Gina, and thank you for allowing us to workshop your query!

Hugs.

Tear it up Tuesday- SYNESTHESIS

2011-04-12T06:34:00.000-07:00

Thanks for joining me for another Tear it up Tuesday!

If you have a query you'd like some feedback on, please shoot me an email: query4robyn@gmail.com

Our next ~~victim~~ participant is Gina (Gina send me a linky if you'd like) **Please remember to give constructive criticism**

Dear Awesome Agent,

Synesthesis is a compelling novel about a group of teens, children, and adults, fighting to understand the depths of truth and expression in a government-ruled, post-nuclear-war community where neither are present.

Peter is a fighter. He is willing to risk his life, his sanity, anything for his community to think and love and discover and be again. For the past ten years, he has submitted to the government’s torture and attempted brainwashing in order to one day be free of their rule. Brigid, Peter’s strong but weary mother, wants the same changes as her son, but fears he will go too far and martyr himself for the cause. Though a rebel in her own right, Brigid is first and foremost Peter’s mother, and the thought of surviving without him is a painful potential reality. This is until Jade, the last surviving outsider, arrives to finish the task her grandmother sent her to do: to save the people of the community from their totalitarian leader. The years of being raised on the outside, away from all but her grandmother’s contact, have left Jade struggling to remember the voice she once had. Nevertheless, with the help of Peter and Brigid, Jade finds within herself the strength and humor she never knew she had. Together the trio form a group of rebels, each with questions of their own to ask, lessons to discover, and painful journeys to face.

You once said you like strong protagonists, woman with a little sass who can be tough and soft at the same time, and most of all, a book that makes you feel. My 96,200 word YA dystopian novel will take you through every emotion and give you stubbornly beautiful characters with the sort of strength and sass you won’t soon forget.

Maass Monday (yes, I have a small problem with alliteration)

2011-04-11T05:36:00.000-07:00

I am a huge fan of Donald Maass. His "Writing the Breakout Novel", "Fire in Fiction", and "Breakout Novel Workbook" are part of my writing arsenal.

So when a good NB forum friend, Margo (love her blog!), posted that she was going to attend one of his conferences and report back to me, I squeed like a little girl. Going to one of his conferences/ workshops is right up there with meeting Oprah.

So, before I get all fangirl and start ranting, I'll let Margo take it over:

No Novel Is Ever Finished

Now that’s a comforting title for a blog post, isn’t it?

Actually, it should be a comfort. The fact that there is always room for improvement goes hand in hand with the fact that there are many methods out there for improving a novel. And it should make it a little easier to let go when it’s time to try submitting the novel to an agent or an editor, assuming we’ve polished it to the best of our ability. Yes, there is always something that could have been stronger, but every writer feels that about every book, and many of them still get published and touch readers and become classics.

I should mention that the quote about no novel ever being finished comes from writer/agent Donald Maass, who specializes these days (when not selling books for the likes of Anne Perry , Todd McCaffrey, and many others) in writing books to help novelists take their work to a breakout level. I offered to write a guest blog post for Robin about my experience attending the March 2011 session of Maass’s Fire In Fiction Workshop, offered through Free Expressions seminars for writers.

The overarching topic of the workshop is greatness in fiction, a greatness that Donald Maass believes every writer can learn. Unfortunately, I can’t relate everything I learned at the conference in one blog post. This was my third Maass workshop, and I still came home with 18 pages of notes. What I can do it share an exercise I thought was particularly useful in illustrating that a good passage can always become a great passage – it’s all a matter of technique.

I suggest finding a section in your story or novel that involves a page or so of dialogue. For the sake of trying out this exercise for the first time, I suggest trying to find an example that involves only two speakers.

The first thing to do is take out everything that isn’t dialogue. Take out the dialogue tags. Take out the incidental action. Take out everything that isn’t set between quotation makers. Everything.

Take a look at your dialogue. Does it still make sense? Are there nuances of meaning now missing? Never fear. We’re not done.

Next rewrite the dialogue as a blatant exchange of no-holds-barred insults. Again, leave out tags and incidental action. This technique should only be a problem if the selected dialogue already suffers from one of two problems: either it’s idle chit-chat (and should be cut) or it’s a lovey feel good exchange utterly lacking in conflict, even in subtext (and should be cut). If you can see how the dialogue could turn into an exchange of insults, we’re in business. Rewrite the dialogue to reflect that over-the-top conflict.

But wait! We’re not done yet! Now rewrite the original dialogue in short, clipped sentences. Try to limit each speaker to one or two short hard sentences before the other speaker takes over. This should make for rapid-fire tat-tat-tat-tat dialogue.

Now – no, not finished yet! – look back at that incidental action. Look at the visual details that make up what’s happening during the dialogue. Rewrite the passage with just the incidental action and one line of dialogue from one speaker.

And finally, look back at each of these alternate forms. Does any of it stick out as having greater impact? Can you combine aspects of the alternate version to come up with a strong, hard dialogue scene?

When I tried this in class I ended up with a passage that started with one of the short, clipped statements, then just the incidental action, then one of the last insults included as a thought instead of a line of dialogue, and ended with that one-liner from the last step in the exercise. The tension level (which was already passable) shot up dramatically.

I’ll wrap up by saying I would recommend Donald Maass’s writing books – in particular Writing the Breakout Novel, Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook, and Fire in Fiction – to anyone. I feel the same way about the seminars offered by Free Expressions. The common theme to all these books and all these seminars, the thing I hope I’ve illustrated just a little with this exercise, is that good writing doesn’t need to be a matter of innate talent. Writing is a skill that can be learned and honed and polished until every scene, every line of dialogue, every sentence is a fine piece of art performing a very specific function, eliciting a specific and intentional reaction from a reader.

No novel is ever perfect. No novel is ever really finished. But it can still be quite the adventure trying to get there.

***

Margo Lerwill is a recent convert from epic fantasy to urban fantasy. Her work has appeared previously in Deep Magic, Leading Edge, and numerous local newspapers and periodicals no one has ever heard of. She has refused rehab for her addictions to templates and outlining tools. You can follow her descent into darkness at urbanpsychopomp.blogspot.com.

Work it Out Wednesday- FRACTURED

2011-04-06T07:45:00.000-07:00

First of all, I want to thank Brandi for being my first ~~victim~~ participant. If you have a query you'd like some feedback on, please shoot me an email: query4robyn@gmail.com

Now, to FRACTURED:

Seventeen year old Meredith has learned the rules for survival: never be late, ~~call home secretly~~ need something a little stronger, maybe: never use the phone and above all, keep Kaden happy. Opened with tension! Makes me want to continue reading.

Seventeen year old Meredith wants to be cherished, to fill the void that her father’s death left in her life. When she meets Kaden, a charming engineering student, she’s swept up in her first love and feels like she can be whole again. feels like too much backstory. You may want to try:

After losing her father, Meredith dives head first into a relationship with Kaden, a charming college boy who makes her feel whole again. But soon, Kaden's darker side emerges, usually followed by his fists.

When her friends begin to ask questions, Meredith quickly makes excuses-- that is, until a plus sign appears on the pregnancy test. While

As the weeks pass, a darker side to Kaden emerges. She makes excuses for his mood swings and eventually his fists as she clings to the boy that made her laugh and feel normal. But when the plus sign on the pregnancy test gives her the results she fears, Meredith is desperate. Kaden promises to never hurt her again, and wants a happy family together. Meredith doesn’t know if she can trust him, but is also afraid to be a single mother and the thought of adoption turns her stomach. She’s making decisions for two now, and it’s harder than ever to keep Kaden happy. <--- I like this

Complete at 65,000 words, FRACTURED is a YA Contemporary that will appeal to fans of Holly Cupala’s Tell Me a Secret and Sarah Dressen’s Dreamland. While FRACTURED is a work of fiction, I've been in an abusive relationship, so some of Meredith's actions and thoughts come from experience. Thinking... not sure if you should include this in your query. Definitely share when you get "the call", but don't think it's needed here. May even raise some red flags in the agents mind.

Tear it up Tuesday- FRACTURED

2011-04-04T21:47:00.000-07:00

I guess you've already guessed that every Tuesday (or at least thats the plan) I will have a query critique. Please give constructive criticism. I will leave it up and post my ideas on Wednesday.

Our first query comes from Brandi:

Meredith has learned the rules for survival: never be late, call home secretly, and above all, keep Kaden happy.

Transitions

2011-03-23T10:48:00.000-07:00

Like I said earlier, I have some wonderful changes to this blog. Starting with a guest post from the amazing Angela Ackerman over at The Bookshelf Muse (one of my favorite websites!). This site stays open every time I write.

Hope you enjoy!

Transitioning in Fiction

Writing itself is change, and within story structure, transitions are key to keeping things moving.

It isn't just about getting your character from scene to scene, it's also is about communicating ideas and making sure there's a smooth flow from one piece of information to the next.

Without deft transitions, the manuscript flow becomes herky-jerky. Characters seem to leap about in time and space, plot points can get dropped and instead of riding down the flowing river of the writer's consciousness with a pina colada in hand, the reader is riding shotgun in Monster Truck Crash Rally Death Match with an icy beverage all over their lap.

So how do we kick ass and take names as far as learning to transition well? MOVEMENTS.

The plot and characters should always be in motion. Every action, every thought, every emotion should all draw the reader forward, deeper into the story. As you write, always think movement. Are the stakes rising, are the characters acting? Does each piece of information deepen the reader's understanding of what is at stake, and what the character must face? Each sentence should form part of the picture, contribute and naturally lead to the next. I'm not just talking sentence structure here, I'm talking about substance. Each word, phrase and idea must not be wasted. Select each one carefully, with intent. This will create a natural and compelling flow.

Transitioning Between Scenes

Not every scene ends with a chapter break, so we need to have a little bag of tricks to get characters from one place to the next. First and foremost, always know where the ending point of your scene is. Every scene should have a natural beginning, middle and end...the end being where the character resolves to take a new action or where he finds himself in worse trouble than at the start. We don't want those characters taking it easy, no sir. Bring on the hot irons of conflict & consequence!

TIP: When starting a new scene, be quick about anchoring the reader in the setting and let them know who's viewpoint it is, especially if your book has two or more POV characters. Nothing turns a reader off faster than not knowing where they are, and who is speaking/narrating. A new scene should never feel like Musical Chairs--the reader should always know which POV they are experiencing.

Angela's Tricksy Bag of, erm, Tricks

--Keep a Weather Eye on Your Story: This is an excellent way to show a passage of time and get the character moving. No one can hang out at the park for long on a wintery January morning, not unless hypothermia is on the menu. Ditto with a character noticing how the cloud cover is stealing the sun's heat, a storm is brewing or how the sun's position changes as it crosses the sky. When your character takes note, the reader does too. Time is fluid.

--Thinking Ahead: The character's thought process can easily allow you to skip ahead to a new scene. By letting thoughts (or worries!) drift to a later event (getting off work, meeting up with someone for a date that night, a ball game on the weekend, etc) at the end of a scene, it allows you to jump to that event without causing a ripple in the story's flow.

--A Nice Fish Slap to the Face Remember those high stakes we talked about? Well, action and pressure often leads to mistakes, which leads to nasty, sticky consequences. A great way to transition to a new scene is to show the character having to face the result of an earlier bad choice.

--Routine, Routine, Routine No matter how wild and crazy things get, some routines are rarely broken . The responsibilities of school and work, waking up, going to bed, mealtimes...if you need to, you can use these (but don't slow the pace!) to show a leap forward to a new scene. But remember some routines can be overused--starting a chapter with the character waking up--why not start them off brushing their teeth or heading out the door to school, instead? Don't let transitions become long coffee breaks, either. Each setting choice should contribute directly to story and character development and have meaning.

--Tick Tock There's nothing wrong with having a good old-fashioned ticking clock to get a character out of one scene and onto the next one. If your character is on a schedule (man, who isn't?) they will be self aware of the time and can easily communicate this. No one likes to be late, right? Again, just be aware of not overusing this to get in and out of all your scenes.

--Changing POV Obviously, this is only one to use if you're using multiple POVs. If you're at a loss over which POV to use in a scene, it should be told by the person with the most to lose or gain from the action & events of the scene.

Need some more ideas on how to use the world around your characters to transition? Check out The Bookshelf Muse's Symbolism Entry on The Passage of Time

Beware the Ides of March!

2011-03-15T16:55:00.000-07:00

New Blog Launch is Here!
So, its the end of the day... But its still MARCH 15th.
New Blog Launch= CONTEST

Who wants an awesomely awesome contest? Who? Anybody? Bueller, Bueller? Ferris?

You do, don't you?

With every cool contest, you need an equally cool prize.

Who can use a MANUSCRIPT EVALUATION?
by yours truly. + $25 Gift Card to Amazon + $20 Gift Card to Starbucks.

So, I'm not a published author or anything, yet, but I've had my MS ripped apart by some amazingly brilliant folks in the past year. I'll evaluate your MS for:
1. Voice
2. Pacing
3. Tension
4. Plot

Here are the rules:
1. In the comment section, post your best elevator pitch. (we're in an elevator going to the 3rd floor, so make it precise)
2. It has to be YOUR WORK
3. Your MS should be at least 75% complete
4. I will read up to 100K. (Hey, I have a life too...)
5. Contest ends March 21st. Then I will chose the top 3 and you'll vote on the best.

PS. Tell your friends (and enemies) I may name my next goldfish in your honor.

Hugs!

New Blog Launches March 15!

2011-02-16T07:35:00.000-08:00

It has been so exciting thinking up ways to make my blog better!

Why March 15th, you ask. Because I've always wanted to have a reason to say "The ides of March" :)

I'll have some Vlogs, so you can see my pretty face and hear my sqeaky voice, some awesome prizes that I've been shopping for, and guest bloggers who are way smarter than me!

So, if you think you'd like to participate as a guest (no, I will not make you repost in Twitter, jump ten times and turn around) drop me a note or leave a comment and I will get back with you.

Hugs and lots of chocolate!

Oh, and I love The Rock, so here are some of my favorite phrases. Enjoy!

Day 227-Blog is a Changin'

2011-01-25T08:21:00.000-08:00

Wow. 227 Days into my year of change and I've realized something-- Change happens in the small moments in life. It shouldn't take me a year to change my life, it should happen: NOW!

So, my blog is a changin' starting...... Now!

Here is what you can expect from my new blog:

1. A Cool New Title (see new post)
2. More blogger interaction: guest posts, interviews, contests
3. Consistent posting: at least every Monday, Wednesday, Friday
4. More details about my top secret novel.

I hope you'll join me and we'll rock out this year together!

Hugs.

Day 207-- When I grow up

2011-01-06T07:57:00.000-08:00

No, this is not me.

I don't know if I'm writing this because I'm in a funky mood or because its the beginning of a new year, or even because I'm pms-ing. But I'm annoyed and I need chocolate (and something deep fried would be nice as well).

I've been thinking about my childhood recently and my children's future. A few days ago someone asked my 9 year old daughter what she wanted to be when she grew up-- it pissed me off. Hell, I just figured out what I wanted to be last year! Don't put that kind of pressure on my freakin' kids.

My job as a parent is to identify their God-gifted talents and give them every opportunity to succeed in whatever they choose. Currently, Charlie (6) is showing promise in technology. Heck, what other 6 year old is learning how to program in Java? But I will not pressure him to tell me "Mommy, I want to be an engineer." Last time his abuela asked him what he wanted to be, he said "The next Avatar".

Yes, he tries to water bend on occasion.

If you'd have asked me at 6 years old, I would have said I wanted to be a dolphin when I grow up because I loved swimming.

Really.

As adults, or kids trapped in adult bodies, what did you want to be when you grew up? Has it changed now that you're older?

If you haven't reached your goal, think on this: "Hope deferred makes the heart sick." Now, get off your a$$ and do it!

Hugs and chocolate, stat!

Day 204- Writing Mojo

2011-01-03T11:06:00.000-08:00

So, where do you find your writing mojo?

Does it come from a song? A picture? A person?
For me, its an adorable little mouse my son got me for Christmas- The Writer Mouse.

If you haven't figured it out yet, we are a huge Starbucks family. My kids can down a latte with the best of them. I usually go a few times a week because no matter how I brew coffee at home, it doesn't taste the same.

We picked up this handsome little mouse from the 'Bucks this weekend and he has inspired me to write like a crazy woman. Really, if a little mouse can crank out stories, so can I, damn it!

So I challenge you to find something that gives you hope, inspiration, diligence to crank out great stories, and I look forward to reading them.

Hugs and chocolate!

Excuses Aside: Day 203

2011-01-02T17:33:00.000-08:00

IT'S A NEW YEAR! And I am ready to kick some serious writing a$$.

I wish NaNo was in January instead of November. Everyday from 9am to 2pm, I plan on writing at the library.

Hopefully, by the end of January I will have a solid first draft ready to be ripped apart like a corset in a trashy romance novel :)

Wish me luck and happy writing!

Tell me: What are your writing goals? Do you have any resolutions?

Hugs!

Day 203- Gotta Make It Count!

2011-01-02T17:16:00.000-08:00

Wow, I haven't posted since September and I am so ashamed, but don't fear, I have great excuses:

1. I didn't want to get all political (top reason)-- with the looming Nov. elections, I found it difficult to keep my opinions to myself, and I didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings.
(But if you're dying to know my political thoughts, email me.)

2. I moved! Alas, we are building a house and will move again (for good) in July!

3. NaNoWriMo sucked all my free time in November, and I had to recover in December.
(look at my pretty trophy)

4. We went on a Disney Cruise!!! Yes, I am a huge (did I say HUGE) Disney fan!

Side Note- amazing contest for writers

2010-09-20T18:10:00.000-07:00

While my blog is supposed to be about my journey this year as I create a better me, I want to share with you an amazing opportunity from one of my favorite websites: The Bookshelf Muse.

They are offering some pretty amazing prizes, including a 3 month mentorship to include:

--A three month partnership where I will help you in any manner I can toward stronger writing, publication, increasing your online platform and helping you with agenting questions/search

--I will help you build or improve your query (if needed)

--A full read of your manuscript, offering advice on improvements and helping to brainstorm solutions if desired.

--An in depth look at your web presence and suggestions to hone your blog, increase followings and make suggestions with other social media to strengthen your online exposure

--Emails to answer any questions you have about writing, blogging, getting an agent, leaving an agent or how the agent relationship works

Thats pretty awesome!!

Enter now!

Day 67- I've Done Something for Ten Years!

2010-08-19T07:03:00.000-07:00

Sixty-seven days in and I feel lighter. Both physically and mentally. I can't think of anymore honest revelations, so I'g going to veer off topic for a moment.

Yesterday, I celebrated my 10th wedding anniversary. I've been married ten years. TEN YEARS!!

Eleven years ago, I met my Prince Charming. Ten years ago, we made a commitment. Celebrating our anniversary yesterday was an applicable lesson in perseverance for me. To actually realize that I've gone the distance and didn't quit when times got tough made me see that I was capable of following through with something.

No, our marriage hasn't been perfect. But the takeaway here is that I didn't quit. I didn't run when I couldn't see the rainbow in the clouds.

I love traveling, but hate to fly. There have been a few times when I've flown and the weather was terrible. After suffering through the turbulence, the horrid pressure and the thoughts of plummeting, the airplane always seemed to break through the cloud cover at a certain height revealing the blue sky and shining sun. Its the storm clouds that were hiding the beauty of the day.

I am proud to say that I am looking forward to another ten years with my husband. Like flying, I've got to get to a certain altitude (and attitude) to break through the nasty weather and see the glorious day.

Make it count!

Day 58- Fear is the Mind Killer

2010-08-10T20:06:00.000-07:00

Yes. I am a sci-fi nerd. I love Frank Herbert's Dune. (The spice must flow!)

Anywho, back on topic, in Herbert's Dune, there is a quote:

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when my fear is gone I will turn and face fear's path, and only I will remain.

Like Paul Atredis, I had to face my fear. But not of worms, or traitors: Fear of succeeding.

Honest Revelation #4: Fear of Success.

Not quite sure how to deal with this one yet, but yes, I am afraid to fully stand up and give 100% effort in my writing and in my weight loss journey. I think I am mostly afraid of being disappointed more than anything.

For those of you who may not know, a few years ago I launched a consumer product. I gained a ton of traction and was on an amazing path-- I was on national television, national magazines, knew producers and major marketing people... I even had dinner with the Senior Editor of a ginormous magazine (at his bequest) at a trade show. He and his staff gushed about my product and invited me to a Phat Farm party afterward as their guest!!

At the trade show, I was able to land a licensing deal with a multi-million dollar company and they were going to push my little product as one of their own. I was going somewhere...

then

Out of left field my husband got sick and was hospitalized for his heart. I had to release me dreams and everything that I'd worked so hard for. I felt like I was at a crossroads-- my family or my career. My family won, but something inside me died. A little internal fire went out. I felt like I wasn't Robin anymore.

Thankfully, my husband recovered. But it was like I was standing still, silently screaming. I was lost.

Part of me is afraid to fully pursue writing and publishing. I don't want to get 3/4 down the road only to have the carrot dangle in my face again. I am afraid to become successful. Afraid that it won't last. But how will I know if I don't try? Right??

I would like you all to hold me accountable. I do not want to become a prisoner to my fear and have it be "the mind killer".

Day 49- Seeing the Good

2010-08-01T16:36:00.000-07:00

I want you to take a look at this video:

Honest Revelation #3: Looking at the Negative

I came across this recently and just had to apply it to my little journey. Did you see the bear immediately or did you only find it after the announcer mentioned it? Well, I found it only after it was pointed out to me.

Hmmm. Why is that?

Intentional Blindness. A friend of mine explained the concept as how our minds actually see and process information. Its what we are focused on and what we lend our attention to.

I've been guilty of focusing on the bad and negative. For instance, I wrote over 40,000 words in 2 months for my novel, then decided it was crap and tossed it. I was depressed for a few days because I failed to fully see that I had written over 40,000 words in 6 weeks!!

Or some more examples:
A. I lost 26 lbs, but gained 10 back. Dude, I LOST 26 lbs!!
B. I have 2 kids, and they keep me so busy and crazy some days. Really, I have 2 HEALTHY KIDS!

Or something simple:
C. I hate cleaning my house and doing laundry. Seriously, I have a house and don't have to live out of my car (no brainer)...

**Here is a thought: When God created the earth, He knew it was going to take more than one day. But everyday that he worked, he didn't focus on what was incomplete, He looked at the finished product and said "It was good."

This is one honest revelation I can break just by assessing the entire situation and then getting over it.

Cutting the crap can be so freeing :)

Make it count!

Day 44- Quiters Suck!

2010-07-27T18:44:00.000-07:00

This one bit me in the butt when I actually accepted it as truth. (ouch):

Honest Revelation #2: Giving up too Easily (ie. QUITTING).

Hello, my name is Robin. And I am a quitter.

... But it stops here. It stops NOW!

Growing up, I never quit. I actually would look at every roadblock as a challenge. I think that was the rebellious side of me. For every "no", I'd push it until it was a "yes". I just refused to give up.
I guess thats why in high school I was a beauty queen (several crowns- won everything I entered), a JROTC Battalion Commander (yeah, I was in charge of over 300 students), and an honor student. I got an appointment to West Point and also received an ROTC scholarship (turned them both down).

I'm not sure where the self-doubt crept in. Or when the urgency left. I can probably pinpoint the event that changed my outlook on the shiny, happy, I-can-do-anything life (deep breath): I was date-raped in college. (I cannot believe I just typed that!). In going back to that moment, I know now that my life changed. My veiwpoint became skewed for the worse. Reality and fear took up residence and hung up thier coats.

Twelve years later, and I am just now realizing that it had such a profound effect on my life. But that is all I am willing to give that S.O.B. Not only did he take my rose-colored glasses away, but he stole twelve years of life. Twelve years of truly living.

From Day 44 (today) on, I refuse to give anymore ground to being a quitter.

While one negative event may have detoured my future, I am back on the right path. My rose-colored glasses are back on and I refuse to take anything. I will not quit. (i said it)

I will NOT quit. I will not quit on my weight loss. I will not quit on my writing. I will not quit on radically transforming my life!

Day 45, I am looking forward to greeting you!

Day 43- Ripping the Bandaid Off...

2010-07-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

(Do it fast)
I always thought the saying, "The Truth Hurts" was so cliche until I had to be brutally honest with the one person who holds the key to my future- MYSELF.

For the next few posts, I'm going to share my recent honest revelations and we can all laugh and cry together:

Honest Revelation #1: I don't want to be like my mother (Ouch)

This is not meant to be hurtful. I love my mother. But, I want a different life when I turn 60 years old. My mom has been working on a novel for the last 10 years. She has over 500 pages (single spaced) and will not go any further. She refuses to learn anymore and hates the word "Change".

I'm not getting into politics here, but change is important for success. The word Change means more than "become different" (Websters). It means to adapt, to grow, to convert, to transform radically.

Wow! Transform Radically!! That has to be my favorite definition. It encompasses the the very soul of what "Change" is.

So, the lesson of this harsh reality is that I must change. I've got to continue to learn and grow. I've got to take the constructive criticism of my critique partners to heart and use it as a tool for improvement. I refuse to still whine about my weight and my life goals when I'm sixty years old. Hell, I refuse to do it next year.

I will change, transform, and grow, so I can be different next year.

I almost forgot my status updates:
Body: To date, I've lost 26lbs, but gained 10 back during a 2 week break (Thanks, 4th of July)
Mind: See above
Goal: I've rewritten my first section and am gaining a clearer plot to work with.

Day 8 Down, 357 remaining

2010-06-21T19:38:00.000-07:00

Had a great weekend. Woke up this morning and discovered that I hadn't lost any more weight. (grr!) Its a frustrating feeling and usually I'd let it ruin the entire day (week) for me, but not today. I refused to let my results dampen my mood and derail my efforts.

Stats:

Body & Mind:
As of Saturday, I'm down 11 pounds, but I've gained perspective and hope.

Perspective in that food is to be used as fuel. I always thought it was cliche, but not so. Food is meant to power our bodies so we can have the energy to do what we are supposed to do in this world.

It tastes great for the minute we're chewing, then it goes through our digestive system and about 14 hrs later, we flush it down the toilet. That's it. Quite nasty when you think about it.

The hope that I've gained this week is a direct result of knowing that I am able to say no to food. That idea was foreign to me. It pained me to think that a brownie loaded with fudge, warm enough to melt the vanilla ice heaped on top in delicate mounds kissed with chocolate fudge, would be anything but delicious- without consequences.

But I know that I am strong enough to decide not to partake, because in the end its not worth it.

Goal:
I've been slacking in this area. I am so ashamed to admit that I'm focusing on eating clean and taking care of myself, that by the end of the night I am exhausted.

I have got to pull it together. If I cannot write, then I will focus the next few days on reading about the craft and practicing.

First Weekend- Success!

2010-06-20T19:43:00.000-07:00

I had an awesome weekend! So excited to get on the scale in the morning. I was able to look my arch nemesis in the eyes (movie theater popcorn) and chew my stick of gum without pause. I also declined: brownies, pizza, Fuddruckers (oh, the onion rings).

I am so overjoyed with myself right now! I feel a sense of breakthrough. That its fully possible to deny one's self "in the moment food".

One thing I've got to work on for the upcoming week-- my manuscript. I've been slacking, so I'm going to need all of the pushing that I can get.

No stats for the weekend!

Day 4- Time to get transparent

2010-06-17T19:23:00.000-07:00

This is going to be difficult to admit, but as a mom I feel like I've been doing things in autopilot for the last 6-8 years (omg, that sounded like a prison sentence: 6-8 years... lol!).

When I decided to stay home and raise my children, I got so much flack from my family and my husband's family, which of course made me want to do it even more. I thrust myself into it- The play dates, parties, volunteering for mom's groups. I didn't have an example of what an at-home mom was, so I wore myself out trying to be perfect.

By the time I realized I would never be that perfect mom with the always-clean-house, homemade everything, organic vegetable garden, and perfect little children who say "please" and "thank you" constantly with neat little bows and clean, pressed clothes; I began to resent my children, my husband, and my decision.

I quickly realized that I wasn't fulfilled as a person. You see, I've always been a very creative person and have always stuck out in a crowd, but I allowed being an at-home mom to suck the very essence of who I am from me.

I love my children. I love my husband and I thank God everyday for the beautiful life He's blessed us with. In doing so, I've also realized that I was given certain characteristics and talents that are special. They shouldn't be put in a box and shelved only to be taken out when the PTA needs me or the Mom's group has a craft day.

This is why I am trying to reclaim my life. My personhood. My God-given purpose and talents. The very essence of Robin.

Day 4 Stats:

Body and Mind are going to be combined today:
I'm down 2 more pounds this week for a total of 9 pounds since Saturday. I feel great. I have not cheated and will not. Dr. Chopra was on Dr. Oz's show today talked about how important one's thought pattern and process it. I am going to make a concerted effort to reinforce the fact that I WILL NOT CHEAT! I AM WORTH MORE THAN CHEATING WITH FOOD!
(that felt good to say)

Goal:
I found an editor who is rock star in her own right who will whip me into shape. I'm open to learning how to improve my craft and be a great writer.

Here's Dr. Chopra video:

Day 3, 362 Days to go

2010-06-16T17:59:00.000-07:00

Five words:
Pool. several hours. Georgia heat!

Tired would be an understatement. But nevertheless, here's today's wrap up.

Body:
I did not break my diet for pizza today at the pool. The minute the pizza was delivered, I jumped into the water and let my friends look after the kids while they ate pizza.
It smelled divine. I really do believe pizza will be served in heaven!
That said, I'm proud of conquering one of my biggest challenges to date- pizza!

Mind:
As I take these baby steps physically, I am re-learning my strength. Mentally, I am becoming more aware of my thought process. I can do this!

Goal:
While I was unable to crank out any words last night, I did have the pleasure of chatting and getting inspiration from another writer-friend. I will, however, crank out those 1000 words tonight. No excuses!

Day 2- 363 Days Remaining

2010-06-15T17:23:00.000-07:00

Day 2 down and I still feel great! I'm going to need to re-read these initial posts whenever I feel like I want to quit. But, I know I can do this!

I feel like if I can conquer 42 days, then I can accomplish ANYTHING! Who's with me?

Stats:

**Body:
Feel energetic. 500 calories hit today, having a little hunger pangs, but they go away when I drink water- I've drank about 140oz so far today.

**Mind:
I can do it! I am so worth this! I was so proud of myself this afternoon when I got the kids Chic-Fila and ice cream after 3 hours of gymnastics. I usually pick a little, but not today. With the yummy smell tempting me, I simply cut the sandwich for the kids, passed it to the rear, and told myself, "Robin, you are worth more than cheating with chicken."

I felt like I jumped over a little hurdle (I LOVE those blasted sandwiches).

**Career:
Haven't done anything with Chapter 3 yet, but I plan on staying up tonight and cranking out 1000 words- no less!

Theme for the week: I AM WORTH IT!! YOU ARE WORTH IT!! WE CAN DO THIS!!

1 Day Down, 364 Days Left...

2010-06-14T18:04:00.001-07:00

Body:

What an interesting day... 500 Calories is do-able. I feel strong. I actually feel more like I'm taking control of my body when I don't give into a craving. I wanted to sample the kids' dinner tonight, but took a deep breath and told myself, "Is it worth it? Are you worth it?"

Perspective, I guess. "Am I worth it?" Yes. I am worth saying no to extra food. I am worth a healthy, sexy, toned, energetic body! I feel so liberated to actually admit that I AM WORTH IT!

Mind:
My denial of extra calories is in part making my mind and thought process stronger. I have to make conscious decisions on what to do now instead of going into "automatic mom" mode.

I used to feel like I was on auto pilot some times with the kids and everyday activities, but now I feel like I have a purpose. If its nothing more than beating this 500 calorie diet.

Career:
Before I was a mom, I was a college student and then I worked in a professional environment in an engineering firm. I got to dress nicely and talk like an adult. I've been accused of talking to my children like adults. It will help them in the long run.

I am finishing chapter 3 of my work in progress and feel a sense of purpose.

Looking forward to Day 2!

Tomorrow is Day One!

2010-06-13T19:19:00.000-07:00

I am preparing myself for my year-long journey of self discovery. I almost sound like a new age speaker or something :)

Here it goes:
Body: Begin HCG 500 calorie diet
Mind: Re-read Battlefield of the Mind, Joyce Meyer
Career: Write chapter 3 this week and finish outline with Snowflake.

Wish me luck!