A Blast from the Past

I just found this picture of me after I was published for the first time. I think I was fifteen at the time and my family and I were so excited! I had a short story published in Young Writers of Canada, I think it was called 'Anna and the Whisperer.' If you look at the cake my mom made, it's in the shape of a book with the page sticking up. How cool is that?! I just submitted an excerpt of my novel to Glimmer Train today so fingers crossed that they accept it!
With December comes Christmas break and finals, of course, but I'm excited to be able to read non-school books and get tons done on my own book. I have no plans to travel, except to go home to visit my parents and then go visit my grandparents and I shall enjoy my break thoroughly. What are your plans, people?

No, I haven't been kidnapped by aliens.

Hey readers!

So sorry about the long silence, I've been busy with school and life in general. I don't have any news about my manuscript right now but editing is in progress and man is it hard! However, I have taken the advise given to me by Jai Joshi in my last post (thanks Jai!) and her method of revision is a lot better than mine! See here.
I'm taking a Shakespeare class in university and right now I'm writing an essay on Romeo and Juliet. Although I haven't read all of the plays on sonnets yet, I'd have to say this one is my favorite so far. Though I love a good happy ending, the tragic end to Romeo and Juliet is sad yet thrilling. Reading the play was like being on a roller coaster, and even though [Spoiler for those who haven't read it] you know that Romeo and Juliet both die at the end, it's hard to put down!

I should get back to that essay... Till next time!

Epic Fail

I must say that I did not reach my goal of finishing the editing of my novel this summer. Although I am disappointed in myself, I realized that I have a serious procrastination problem that needs to be dealt with. I have two excuses for my failure:
1: I had to work hard during the summer because I have no income during the school year, so a lot of my focus was on earning some moo-lah.
2: Frankly, I had a seriously hard time even getting started on the editing process!
The task seemed too huge and my brain kind of shut down. I didn't know where to begin or what needed to be done. It was like I was trying to climb these stairs and every step got a little bit bigger. I had a hard time moving forward because the step was too high. Hopefully that little metaphor made sense...
It seems like a task way too big for me to handle and even now I have no idea what to do... Any editing tips my faithful readers can provide would be much appreciated!

Oh boy...

So, I haven't be on blogger for quite some time, due to me working and trying to earn an honest dollar, so for that I apologize. I also looked at my blog and remembered that I have set a goal for myself to have revisions DONE for September! What was I thinking?! AHH! Can I do it? We'll all find out I suppose...

I think I should get to work on it...

Ah sweet brilliance...

I'm about halfway through reading my manuscript (which is sad, I know, but I've been busy trying to find work and then working... however that is a sad excuse) and I am really pleased with myself. Yes, there's more than a few parts that need reworking and cutting, but there are small moments of brilliance where I think, "Did I  really write that? Wow." So that's pretty cool.

So I thought I'd also mention that I'm setting another goal for myself, that I hope not to fail. I'm hoping to have revisions done by September, and I know a year ago I set a goal to have my 1st draft written and I didn't in time, but at least I'll be motivated, right?
Anyway, gotta go! Cheers!

1 year (belated) blogaversary and other news.

Hey all! I just realized today that I have officially been blogging for a year as of May 23rd, which is really cool! I'm glad that I've stuck with it (though sometimes, it's relatively on and off sometimes lol) because it serves as a source of inspiration for my own writing and I've met some great people who share my passion.
In other news, I haven't really had a whole lot of time to read or write lately. I've been doing some serious job hunting and though I finally got one, it's only part time and paying for parking to work there is costing me an arm and a leg. I gotta say, sometimes its scary being a grown up! I really hate worrying about finances... thank God I have such supportive parents who help me out when things get tough.
Anyway, cheers all!

Finished my First Year of University!

WOO HOO! Only three more years to go! I'm very excited because I finally can focus on doing the things I want to do! I have already crossed Shift, by Rachel Vincent off my Must Read list, and today I'm going to focus on editing Chapter four.

Shift was fantastic. I love Rachel's whole Shifter's series and I'm so sad that there's only one book left! I highly recommend her books, but start with Stray. It's a series with great characters and a fantastic plot in every book. Pick them up and read them, I guarantee you'll fall in love with them!

I'm wondering at how to go about this whole editing process now that I can actually sit down and do it. I've been reading my novel chapter by chapter and fixing it up that way, but I'm wondering if I need to read the entire book before I begin serious editing. Any opinions?
Till next time!

Books I am dying to read...

So as a student, the only reading I get to do is textbooks. I think I got to read a book that I wanted to read way back in first term, but as I remember, it put me behind in my text readings. I can't wait till school and exams are  over so I can finally crack open these books that I've been dying to read:

 Shift by Rachel Vincent
My Soul To Save by Rachel Vincent
Hard and Fast by Erin McCarthy
The Taking by Erin McCarthy
Fire Study by Maria V Snyder
And I'd love to reread the Harry Potter series

There are are a hundred more books on my shelves that I'd love to get to, but those are the ones on my mind right now...
What books are you dying to read?

My truth revealed!

Okay, so I guess I should tell you my one truth from the list of lies.  No, I do not wear high heels for everything. I wish I could, but if I did, I would have stumps for feet. I did not elope on my grad night, though I do think it would have worked, with the white dress and his tux :P. I hate writing essays. They take me away from the writing I really want to do and put me behind in all my other homework. I can use public bathrooms, I'm the least organized person on the planet and all the socks in my underwear drawer belong to my sister (sorry Jill!). My one truth is number four: Homer's make up shotgun. While I am sure that it's not every girls dream to get shot in the face every day, it sure would give me a lot more time to work on homework and other stuff. I'll make it clear though that I don't really want a make up shotgun.... only some days.

My First Award!

So Jai from Jai Joshi's Tulsi Tree gave me an award for "Creative Writer" and it's my first one, so I'm very proud of it, so thanks Jai! Also, there's a little game type thing that should be fun:



1: Thank the person who gave you the award and link to them.
2: Add the award to your blog
3: Tell six outrageous lies about yourself and one truth.
4: Nominate six creative writers and post links to them.
5: Let your nominees know that they have been nominated.


Okay, so six outrageous lies and one truth...
1) I make supper in high heels because it makes me feel very 'Bree Hodge' (you know, from Desperate Housewives). I also wear them to do homework, to work out, to do laundry, to write my book...
2) I eloped on my graduation night with my boyfriend because my dress was white. It seemed convenient, so why not?
3) I love writing essays. I get to learn all about a subject and put it down into 2000 words... Go Pepin the Short!
4) You know that make-up shotgun from the Simpsons that Homer invented? You can put on all your make-up with the simple pull of a trigger. Sometimes I wish I had one.
5) I can't use public washrooms because they're gross.
6) I am always organized and never lose a damn thing.
7) I have never EVER stolen socks from my sister. Never.

And my award nominees:
1) Dorraine Darden at Free Ice Cream
2) Elyzabeth M. VaLey at In a dream beyond...
3) Jeanne Tomlin at Writing and More
4) Megan Rebekah at Megan Rebekah Blogs... and Writes
5) Wendy at On the Front Porch
6) KatieBabs at Babbling about Books and More

Cheers all!

Reading my manuscript in wonderment and horror...

Hey all,
I've been going through my manuscript (slowly) and at times I'm amazed at how FANTASTIC some scenes are. However, other times I want to take my lap top and throw it across the room to destroy the terribleness that some chapters have turned out to be. I know how important the first few chapters are in a novel - especially in a debut novel! They're supposed to be the hook that makes my readers never want the book to end, yet when I read the fourth and fifth chapters, I was highly unimpressed. They lacked the darkness and action they needed and I know that any reader would roll their eyes and drop my manuscript in a second if I didn't do something about it. Luckily, I've been struck by a muse! Fantastic (and frightening - which is what the chapters call for) ideas are rolling through my head and onto my computer screen.
That's the beauty of editing! You can get ideas that you didn't have before that will make the storyline better and cut the crap that's holding the story back.
Well, time to get back at it!

Hello All

I have nothing new to report on the novel front. I've had some changes in my personal life that have left no time or energy for writing. I'm getting back into the swing of things university-wise after a month of holidays. Back to doing a billion readings, essays and other homework... Sorry folks! Hopefully once things settle down, I'll have some news for you.

Happy New Year!

Hello all! I hope you had a great holiday, I know I did. It was so nice to spend time at home with my family and relax. I've had tons of time to work on revisions and I've come up with all sorts of new ideas to improve the story. I'm really excited about it and I can't wait to rewrite those scenes that need some extra spice and get rid of the ones that, well, suck. Yesterday, I worked on it all day until I was mentally exhausted, but it felt really good to get a lot of work done.
My New Year resolution is to have my book completely finished and mailed out before 2011. It's a lot of time, but with school and life in general, who knows where I'll be in a year.
What are your resolutions?