Vlog: Pay it Forward Giveaways Galore WINNER Announced

HI! Please, please forgive me. This is my first vlog, I was EXTREMELY nervous. And I think I'm going to start a game where you guys get to punch me every time I say 'um'. But, yes that is Pink you hear in the background. I always have music playing =) Anyway, if you stick around for the next giveaway and bare with me as I get comfortable doing this, I promise to stop saying 'um' 'great' 'nice' and sucking me teeth. *head desk* But Congrats to the winner!!!!!! Thanks again joining my blog and participating in the giveaways!

I'm In Love, Again.

So I’ve decided not to chuck that old MS. My CP’s are awesome, and even though I thought they were just filling my head with nonsense about how they loved it, and I couldn’t set it on fire (how I’d originally planned in the past post) to see it in a form of some kind of blazing glory, I decided to listen to them. I love my CPs.

I stopped editing it, and just started from scratch. I just started writing the thing all over again but in a different tense, trying to really get inside my MC’s head. And it worked! Not only that, but it really felt fresh and new. My heart started pounding and I was in love with the story and characters all over again. I changed some scenes around in the first of the book, and now I have a brand, spanking new WIP!

So, to answer my question from my earlier post here, what do you do when you love something but you don’t think other’s will? Just have to give it its shot. If I finish it this time and it fails to see the light of day, at least I gave it my all, and really gave the characters their chance. But with the way the MS is looking now, I believe in it.  I love it. I want to print it up and snuggle with it at night and whisper sweet nothings in its ear. And of course I totally want to make out with Luke. Because the boy’s just hot.

Do you have an MS that you love, but you just don’t know what to do with? What has been your experience with your first novel? Did it get pubbed? If so, I hate you. No! Kidding, but you do make me kinda ill.

Pay It Forward Giveaways Galore

I just recently started my author blog, but I’ve been blogging close to a year now over at my YA book blog, YA Bound. Some of you didn’t know I was a book blogger? Yup. And I love it! I really got into the whole wanting to help promote authors, and it kind of just took off. I don’t have a HUGE following, but I love every last one of my followers and they are the greatest! And I’d like to think I’m helping to contribute in my own small way.

Anyway, I’ve been very lucky to receive awesome, amazing books for free over the past year for review. Some by talented authors themselves, others from wonderful publishers, and of course through Netgalley and other programs like Galley Grab. Now that I’m officially (and it’s still sinking in) an author, I really want to just pay back some of the kindness that I’ve received through book blogging. I’m going to be hosting giveaways on my author site every month! And I want to know what books you guys just can’t wait to get your hands on.

This month has some very cool releases. There’s so many I can’t even decide what to give away. So, I’m going to let you pick what book you’d like to WIN! Rules: (because there has to be some) You must be a follower of this blog to enter. Yeah, yeah, I know. But hey, I have followers who read my ramblings every week and comment and are loyal. I HAVE to think of the followers. It’s just fair. And besides, by following, you get all the scoops and teasers and future giveaway info on THE CRYSTAL PENDULUM as it gets closer to its release. And, you also get to enter all the giveaways coming up in the future months! (that’s probably a better reason ;p)  That’s it. That’s all I’m asking from you. If you decide to Tweet, blog, vlog, promise me chocolate (I don’t turn down chocolate) that’s great! I love you. But you can enter all the book and swag giveaways just by following my author blog! You rock.

I may get froggy and decide to do some contests with the other giveaways, maybe make you jump through some hoops or something, but that depends on the prize. 

I'm sorry this first giveaway is not International =( But, there will be some in the future! My pockets just aren't that deep right now.

This first giveaway will self-destruct on July 30^th. So please comment with the book you just HAVE to have, your email, and make sure I see your pick in one of the follow boxes! Good luck!

Chat with Lauren Hammond Author and Literary Agent on FAMISHED

For those who missed joining the chat with author and literary agent Lauren Hammond about the release of her new book FAMISHED on my YA Bound site, here is the chat =) Enjoy!

But, I love you!

I’ve been editing an old-er-ish? Manuscript for that past week now. And I’m seriously wondering if I’m wasting my time. I love the characters. I love the plot. But, I’m not sure it’s a story that should be out there, read by actual people, and/or possibly set aflame.

What do you do, authors, when you love something and, in your heart, you just don’t want to let a story and characters go, but it’s probably something the readers don’t want and will likely clutter to-be-read lists and never make it to the read file with five star reviews with hearts and unicorns?

Hmm. Keep working and at least have a newly edited version for yourself? Or, toss it out there for publishers to decide its fate?

Crafting My Own Writing Education by Rachel Harris

I love learning. I have an obsessive personality, so I have a tendency to throw myself completely into a new project, often to the detriment of previous projects. 

When I started contemplating the idea of writing again—I'd always loved it as a child but stopped around the same time I discovered boys—I researched a ton of MFA programs. But, realistically, it wasn't an option for me. At this time, my place is here at home, homeschooling my girls and taking care of my family, along with following my passion for reading and writing.  

So what's a thirsty-for-knowledge novice writer to do? Craft her own writing education!  I am in no way implying that my attempts are on the same level as higher level universities, but for now, I am learning a lot and also focusing it for my own needs. And I’m having a blast.

Here is a quick breakdown of what I have done/am doing:

• First, I put all the knowledge I gained in my obsessive wrapping-my-brain-around-the-homeschooling-thing learning phase into practice again. I hopped on my computer, found a ton of blogs and websites by industry professionals (my favorites are listed on my blog’s sidebars) and took A LOT of notes. I organized these into pre-writing, writing, editing, and publication. 
• I researched what books were recommended in the university programs and ordered my favorites now, and put the rest in my Amazon cart. To begin with, I ordered Noah Lukeman's The Plot Thickens: 8 Ways to Bring Fiction to Life and The First Five Pages, along with Browne & King's Self-Editing for Fiction Writers. 
• I looked up local writing groups. I joined the Yahoo groups for all of these and started attending the free local YA/MG writer's group that meets once a month. This group is a huge source of inspiration, as it consists of published and unpubbed authors, all talking about our passions. I’ve made amazing friendships in this group!
• Speaking of friendships, I jumped on the social network bandwagon and along with my blog, joined Facebook and Twitter. Through Twitter, I met three of my critique partners and joined the Kappa Delta Writer’s group, a small, close-knit group of YA authors who meet weekly for an internet chat on all aspects of the business. I have met so many other talented authors and if I’m not careful, can spend all day surfing links on craft and the industry they provide. On Facebook, I joined the YA Sisterhood, which is an education in itself. What an amazing group of authors, all in one place! That is also where I found my fourth critique partner.
• My favorite trick that has taught me the most is book dissections. Grab your favorite novel, or one that is similar in style and genre to your work in progress, and break it down. I mean REALLY dissect them. I analyze each chapter to see how many scenes are in each, how they use dialogue vs. narrative, how and when back story is introduced, how many characters are in a scene, how time evolved, etc; This was a HUGE education in itself. For a more in-depth dissection on story structure, you can see my post on my Book Dissection of Prada and Prejudice 
• I also keep up my reading. Reading widely in my genre, Young Adult, is like a master's course in writing. But I'm not just a passive reader. I make notes on what really works, what I'm really drawn to, how they use characterization, what I don't like and why, what worked particularly well, etc;  I try to not leave any book without taking away something I can use in my own writing.  Most recently, I started dog-earing any page with strong verbs or descriptions of movement that I like so I can add it to my own growing list for inspiration. 

Of course, I apply all this information and knowledge into my own writing, which gets better and better the more I learn, which is just icing on the cake. One day, I do hope to get my master's so I can then go on and teach. Part of my retirement plan in the WAY WAY distant future. But, for now, I am learning and growing and digging deeper, which is all I could ask of any educational endeavor. 

Off to class . . . I mean, reading my latest "text book,” What Happened to Goodbye? by Sarah Dessen.

What about you? Do you have a degree in writing? Do you think it is essential? What are your favorite self-education tricks, tools, or resources?

Rachel Harris is a YA writer and the creator of The Ending Unplanned. She's also my critique partner and just plain out amazing! Check out her blog for great writing tips, spotlight reviews, and a wealth of knowledge on YA. And follow her on Twitter. She's one to watch!