Nicole Zoltack's Blog, page 43

Weekly Progress Report

This week I haven't been as productive as I wanted to be. I only edited about 50 pages but I did finished judging entries for a writing contest. I love being a judge. My word count for my fantasy adventure story is only about 10K so finishing it before nano isn't going to be easy, but I'm still gonna try. I need to write about 2K a day. We'll see.



I'm not home write now. Hubby, the boys, and I are in Erie for a conference for hubby. Hopefully the boys will behave and let me have some time to write when they nap. The question is whether or not son #1 will nap. Normally he doesn't away from home.



In other news, I would love for you to check out my latest interview. I had a lot of fun answering Phil's questions.



I'm going to try to enter Miss Snark's BakerDozen contest for Elena's Pen. I would love to have some more feedback on my logline!



Also, Dear Editor is having a Free First 20 Pages Critique" Giveaway!



And the fabulous Shannon Messenger is having an equally fabulous contest. Check out the details here.



So what have you been up to this past week? Anything fun or new or exciting?







Check out some other great progress report this week:



http://www.writersally.blogspot.com/

http://jc-martin.com/fighterwriter/

http://waibelworld.blogspot.com

http://susanfieldswriter.blogspot.com

http://skmayhew.blogspot.com/p/tuesday-wip-status.html

http://margoberendsen.blogspot.com

http://www.sherryauger.blogspot.com

http://www.susanoloier.blogspot.com--in/

http://carrieannebrownian.wordpress.com/

http://lynneawest.blogspot.com

Pay it Forward Blogfest

 

Matthew MacNish at The Quintessentially Questionable Query Experiment and Alex Cavanaugh have created the Pay It Forward Blogfest. 

"Here is how the blogfest will actually work: The idea is to introduce everyone to everyone else. We want this to be an easy post that allows you to meet and follow as many other bloggers as you can. In your post, we would like you to please list, describe, and link to three blogs that you enjoy reading, but that you suspect may fly under the radar of a lot of other bloggers. Or they can be famous blogs, as long as they're awesome.



But don't stop there! Certainly visit and follow all the blogs that are featured in people's posts the day of the blogfest, but those don't have to be the only blogs you visit. You can visit everyone who enters in on the fun, and signs up on the linky list. In the interest of time you don't even have to leave comment. You can just follow, and come back another time. After all, we all know we don't have time to visit every blog we enjoy every single day."

---

So here are the three blogs I'm highlighting:

1. Linda Mclaren - I just started following this blog, and it's a great one. Linda does what she can to help other writers including opening it up to logline for critiques.



2. Cherie Reich - A good friend, awesome writer and great editor. She always knows the right thing to say.



3. David Powers King - A fellow fantasy writer, I love visiting David's blog.



So there you go, 3 blogs that I want to pay it forward with. What are some of your favorite blogs to visit?



I'm off to go find new blogs to follow![image error]

The Grief of Querying

Soon I'm going to start on that potentially long and arduous journey of querying. I haven't even started yet and it's already giving me grief so I decided to devote today's blog post to querying and the stages of grief.



Denial

I sent out one query letter an hour ago. Any minute now, my top agent will email and ask for the full. A few hours later, my top agent will email again asking when is the perfect time to call. To offer representation. Yeah, I'm that good.



Anger

I've sent out ten query letters so far and I've heard back from six already. All form rejections. Are you kidding me? What kind of hack agents are they that they don't know what a literary genius I am? Well, it's their loss. They'll be crying every night once I get a bazillon dollar deal.



Bargaining



A full request is a step in the right direction. Even if it does result in a rejection. Just ask for the full.



Ok, fine, a partial. Just read the first three chapters.



The first ten pages.



Read something besides the query letter.



Just respond to my query letter!



Depression

I'll never get an agent. I'll never find a publisher. I'm not a writer, I'm just a wannabe. I should cover my head with a paper bag. I couldn't even write my way out of a paper bag.



Acceptance

All I can do is write the best novel I can write. And tweak my query letter until it shines. Give myself every opportunity to shine. A lot of publishing requires perfect timing and luck. If I never put myself out there, I'll never become a writer.



Stratch that. I already am a writer.

Question of the Week

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I've been thinking lately (a dangerous pastime, I know) about science fiction. It's one genre I haven't written much in other than a half-finished short story. Anyhow, I was thinking about different alien races.



Why do all alien races have the same five senses as humans? Why aren't some blind or deaf and have a different sense instead? Maybe I haven't read enough in the genre.



So today's question - if you could create a new sense, what would it be?

Weekly Progress Report

Time for another progress report!



This week, I edited abot 200 pages for various editing jobs. I've also started writing a MG fantasy adventure story about a princess. This story has been so much fun to write! It's gonna be a lot shorter than some of my other novels, so I'm hoping to finish the first draft by the end of the month, before Nano starts.



I also had an online pitch session with an agent. She requested the first 10 pages so I'm excited about that.



In other news, I had an ultrasound on Thursday. With my first two pregnancies, we didn't learn the sex, but this time, we decided to find out. In mid-February sometime, we'll be welcoming Christopher James into the world. Yes, a third boy.



So what have you been up to this past week? Anything fun or new or exciting?







Check out some other great progress report this week:



http://www.writersally.blogspot.com/

http://jc-martin.com/fighterwriter/

http://waibelworld.blogspot.com

http://susanfieldswriter.blogspot.com

http://skmayhew.blogspot.com/p/tuesday-wip-status.html

http://margoberendsen.blogspot.com

http://www.sherryauger.blogspot.com

http://www.susanoloier.blogspot.com--in/

http://carrieannebrownian.wordpress.com/

http://lynneawest.blogspot.com

Kick A** 2011 Debut Author Spotlight

Christina Lee is hosting a 2011Debut Author Spotlight so you'll find a lot of debut author spotlights around the blogsphere today.



I picked Elana Johnson for her awesome novel, POSSESSION.



Blurb from Goodreads:



Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn...and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.



But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one of them...starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi can't leave Zenn in the Thinkers' hands, but she's wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous--everything Zenn's not. Vi can't quite trust Jag and can't quite resist him, but she also can't give up on Zenn.



This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.



Now why did I pick Elana's POSSESSION?



There's a lot of reasons why but I'll be brief and say the top 3.



1. The characters - there are so many wonderful characters that you fall in love with in this book. The MC, Vi, is playful and defiant, and likes to do things her way. In a world where you're controlled, doing things your way is never the easy road, and you can't help but cheer her along as she strives to figure out who she is. And the supporting cast is just as great, especially Jag. I'm big on characters - if I don't care for them, I don't like the book. With POSSESSION - I cared for the characters and loved them and the book.



2. The twists - this book is a roller coaster. So many times you're left breathless and begging for more, especially with the ending! The ending just about killed me! It's definitely worth reading the book just to learn what happens in the end.



3. Greatness - what makes a book great in my mind, when I can't get it out of my mind and think about it long after I've finished reading it. With POSSESSION, that was definitely the case, especially with that ending!





So there you go, my top 3 reasons why POSSESSION is a must-read book and why I choose to spotlight Elana Johnson in my 2011 Debut Author Spotlight. If you aren't following her awesome blog, you should definitely go rectify that right now.



Thank



To check out some other awesome spotlights, visit these blogs:





Rachele <http://www.freckle-head.blogspot.com/>  raves about IMAGINARY GIRLS

Susan <http://www.susankayequinn.com/>  is featuring RIP TIDE

Robyn <http://robyn-campbell.blogspot.com/>  spotlights ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

and WITH A NAME LIKE LOVEMatt <http://theqqqe.blogspot.com/>  loves SOLSTICE

Nicole <http://nicolezoltack.blogspot.com/>  wants to tell you about

POSSESSION

Janet <http://janetsumnerjohnson.blogspot.com/>  tells why she loves LIAR

SOCIETY

Kate <http://skateorbate.blogspot.com/>  talks about MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME

FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN

Sheri <http://writersally.blogspot.com/>  admires IRON WITCH

Jen <http://jennifer-daiker.blogspot.com/>  would like to tell you about

WITHER

Shannon <http://shannonkodonnell.blogspot.com/>  celebrates DARK PARTIES

Jon <http://jonathonarntson.blogspot.com/>  loves MY VERY UNFAIRY TALE LIFE

Michelle <http://michellemclean.blogspot.com/>  tells you about SHIFTING

Susan <http://susanfieldswriter.blogspot.com/>  admires WITH A NAME LIKE

LOVE

Natalie <http://caseylmccormick.blogspot.com/>  gives a shout out to

AUDITION, THE FAERIE RING, and MY VERY UNFAIRY TALE LIFE

Katie <http://creepyquerygirl.blogspot.com/>  loves THE UNBECOMING OF MARA

DYER

Stina <http://www.stinalindenblatt.com/>  gives you a taste of BAD TASTE IN

BOYS

Jessie <http://jessie-harrell.blogspot.com/>  spotlights SPELLBOUND and

BIRTHRIGHT

Willow <http://willowcross.blogspot.com/>  admires DESTINED

Christine <http://christinefonseca.blogspot.com/>  raves about POSSESS

Kristin <http://www.kristincreative.blogspot.com/>  really really likes

CLARITY

Anne <http://writersquandary.blogspot.com/>  features READY PLAYER ONE

Meredith <http://meredithmoorebooks.blogspot.com/>  wants to shout about

DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONEAmy Rose <http://www.wordluster.blogspot.com/>  loves THE NEAR WITCH

Theresa <http://theresamilstein.blogspot.com/>  talks about DIVERGENT

Kelly <http://kpolark.blogspot.com/>  focuses in on EARTHLING HERO and A

SCARY GOOD BOOK

Christine <http://christinedanek.blogspot.com/>  gears you up for THE

LIPSTICK LAWS

Laura <http://laurapauling.com/>  is wild about GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS

Patti <http://www.blogger.com/%20http:/pattinielson.blogspot.com/>  tells

you about HEREAFTER

Portia <http://portiasisco.blogspot.com/>  admires THE SECRET OF SPRUCE

KNOLL

Ali <http://www.alicross.com>  has plenty to say about POSSESSION

Guest blog with Theresa Milstein - Fangtales

Theresa Milstein, a wonderful blogger, is joining us today to talk about Fangtales. If you aren't already following her blog, you should! Take it away, Theresa!

Thank you for hosting me, Nicole.  You've been such a supportive blogging buddy.  Your dedication to writing is an inspiration.

When I asked Nicole if I could do a guest post on her blog, she suggested vampires or what inspired me to write the short story that was accepted in the Fangtales anthology. 

Before I saw the call for submissions for the YA vampire anthology, Fangtales, I'd never written a short story before.  That's not entirely true.  I'd never written a short story from scratch, from beginning to end.  Before I wrote seriously, I made two miserable attempts.  Once I wrote seriously, I thought I could take the first chapter of a manuscript and turn it into a short story.

I had A LOT to learn.

A few years later, after writing a few more manuscripts, I was a better writer and had a better sense of what it took to write a short story.  I liked the rules for Fangtales:

"The editor (Berni Stevens) of Fangtales prefers traditional vampires as in Bram Stoker's Dracula (this means no walking in the sunlight, eating garlic, or laughing at the sign of the cross...the traditional vampire truly is a creature of the night and not a day-walker with sparkly skin). However, she is looking for a fresh new look at an overworked genre and wants to be scared!"

I liked the idea of using the old rules in a modern setting.   Wyvern Publications had already published Dragontales and Mertales (Nicole is one of the authors in Mertales), so I know the stories can vary widely and are well done. 

But I didn't know much about vampires.  I had seen the old Dracula movie as a teen.  I read the first two Twilight books and Tantalized.  But I haven't read any other vampire novels.  There were vampires in Hex Hall and Paranormalcy, but they were one of many paranormal creatures. 

I needed to do some research on Bram Stoker's Dracula.  The original vampires were shut out from society due the limitations of their vampireness.  I wanted my vampire to have constraints, but live with humans.  And I was happy not to keep my vampires sparkle-free.  I wanted them to be monsters, but to humanize them at the same time. (I know that's an oxymoronic sentence.)

Who was my vampire? How did s/he become a vampire?  What did s/he want?  (Blood is an obvious answer, but I wanted to tap the vein of my character - sorry).

My YA vampire short story is called "Allured".  Shalom is a new student who has been trying to snag the most popular boy in her high school.  A couple of people in her new town have been murdered, one in a graveyard.  She's trying to convince this popular boy to visit the graveyard with her. 

That's all I can say… 

This is how it begins:  "I twisted a golden curl in my usual alluring way. Guys loved it when I did that. I lowered my voice, so Reid had to lean in to hear me, his elbows propped on his knees."

It was fun to write.  I loved having license to be mysterious and scary.  When you read it, I hope you're scared too. 

Fangtales is available for purchase at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

Question of the Week

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 Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some? And what would your treasure consist of?





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Weekly Progress Report

It's Tuesday so it's time for my weekly progress report.



I proofread almost 400 pages this week.



I wrote two short stories, and wrote and submitted three more flash pieces to Pill Hill Press' Daily Frights anthology.



I also finished editing Elena's Pen! Final word count - 65,574! Woot!



So what's on the agenda for this week? Editing for Muse, attending the online Muse conference (my pitch session is today - wish me luck!). I've been sending chapters of Elena's Pen to a critique partner, so it's not completely finished yet, but it will be soon!



I'm looking for a few beta readers for it. If anyone knows MG, specifically upper MG, and loves fantasy, please let me know if you're interested! I'll gladly reciprocate!



Other than that, I'm going to get back to work on Hidden in Shadows and try to make my assassin more sympathetic.



How's your progress going? Whatcha reading/writing/editing?



Check out some other great progress report this week:





http://www.writersally.blogspot.com/

http://jc-martin.com/fighterwriter/

http://waibelworld.blogspot.com

http://susanfieldswriter.blogspot.com

http://skmayhew.blogspot.com/p/tuesday-wip-status.html

http://margoberendsen.blogspot.com

http://www.sherryauger.blogspot.com

http://www.susanoloier.blogspot.com--in/

http://carrieannebrownian.wordpress.com/

http://lynneawest.blogspot.com

Creature of the Week - Phoenix

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Last week's creature was the Firebird. Today's is the Phoenix.



The Phoenix is the most well-known mythological creature of the air. It originated in Egypt where it was known as Bennu, which means "rise" or "shine". It was a long-legged gray heron with a two-feathered crest. Some hieroglyphics show Bennu wearing the headdress of Osiris, the god who dies and is reborn.



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In the mythology of Heliopolis (the city of the sun), Bennu was the soul of Ra, the sun god. Bennu was linked to the rising and setting of the sun, the yearly Nile floods, and the cycle of life and death and resurrection.



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In the Middle Ages, it was believed that only one Phoenix lived at a  time. It would live for 500 years and then build a pyre of twigs, face the sun, fan the fire by beating its wings, and is consumed by the flames. From the ashes, a new Phoenix is born.



Next week, I'll talk about the Chinese version of the Phoenix - Feng Huang.