Mindi Scott's Blog, page 7
February 20, 2011
Blog: Revisiting "gratuitous" and an anecdote.
If you've read certain blog entries and/or my debut novel, you know that I don't have a problem with using profanity in my writing. And, in fact, I find it offensive when I feel that a writer is censoring her/his characters by not having them use the words that they really would use. It's kind of a hot-button issue for me. Oh, yes.
I'm still struggling to understand people's use of the word "gratuitous" in the context of describing profanity in writing. Despite my efforts, I have yet to come across an expletive in any book where I found it to be gratuitous. And so far, no one has shared examples with me to steer me in that direction. (Seriously, if you have examples, email me! I want to see this for myself!)
As I've said before, it seems to me that it all comes down to:
A) personal preference (e.g. "Certain words don't appeal to me, therefore, usage of them in any book is gratuitous")
or
B) poor writing (e.g. "It doesn't make sense that this character would use this word in this context, therefore, its inclusion is gratuitous").
Yesterday, I was revising a scene in My Current Manuscript. It's just past mid-point and the narrator, C, has been caught doing something that looks worse than it is. Instead of asking why she did it, her mother is just being all angry and accusatory. (Which totally makes sense in context since it appears that C deliberately did something that her mom didn't want her to do.) In frustration, C yells, "You aren't listening to me! We didn't do anything wrong, so get the f*ck over it."
I have to say, when I read that last line back to myself it was a very shocking moment. Tension galore! Oh, boy did it make me sit up straight and pay attention! But honestly? The eff word here? Totally gratuitous.
I think it's almost always a huge thing when a character in YA says "f*ck" to their mom. But with this particular narrator, it is in the realm of NOT EVER GOING TO HAPPEN. You see, I've established that she has a very certain way about her. She's poised, she's always in control (or can fake it when she isn't), she doesn't use expletives. It isn't a thing where she has a problem with those words or that she deliberately avoids them and/or substitutes different ones in order to be "proper." She isn't even fazed by other characters who cuss in front of her--unless it's in a situation where it's supposed to be shocking, obviously. Using those words just aren't a part of who she is and that's that.
It's already enough in the scene that she's raised her voice to her mom. Readers are seeing something very important there. But if she also were to cuss at her mom, it wouldn't be true to the character I've created.
Is the inclusion of That One Word gratuitous? Perhaps. Quite definitely, though, it is an example of B above: poor writing.
(FYI: I edited the sentence in the draft so that suckiness could be averted. Hooray!)
I'm still struggling to understand people's use of the word "gratuitous" in the context of describing profanity in writing. Despite my efforts, I have yet to come across an expletive in any book where I found it to be gratuitous. And so far, no one has shared examples with me to steer me in that direction. (Seriously, if you have examples, email me! I want to see this for myself!)
As I've said before, it seems to me that it all comes down to:
A) personal preference (e.g. "Certain words don't appeal to me, therefore, usage of them in any book is gratuitous")
or
B) poor writing (e.g. "It doesn't make sense that this character would use this word in this context, therefore, its inclusion is gratuitous").
Yesterday, I was revising a scene in My Current Manuscript. It's just past mid-point and the narrator, C, has been caught doing something that looks worse than it is. Instead of asking why she did it, her mother is just being all angry and accusatory. (Which totally makes sense in context since it appears that C deliberately did something that her mom didn't want her to do.) In frustration, C yells, "You aren't listening to me! We didn't do anything wrong, so get the f*ck over it."
I have to say, when I read that last line back to myself it was a very shocking moment. Tension galore! Oh, boy did it make me sit up straight and pay attention! But honestly? The eff word here? Totally gratuitous.
I think it's almost always a huge thing when a character in YA says "f*ck" to their mom. But with this particular narrator, it is in the realm of NOT EVER GOING TO HAPPEN. You see, I've established that she has a very certain way about her. She's poised, she's always in control (or can fake it when she isn't), she doesn't use expletives. It isn't a thing where she has a problem with those words or that she deliberately avoids them and/or substitutes different ones in order to be "proper." She isn't even fazed by other characters who cuss in front of her--unless it's in a situation where it's supposed to be shocking, obviously. Using those words just aren't a part of who she is and that's that.
It's already enough in the scene that she's raised her voice to her mom. Readers are seeing something very important there. But if she also were to cuss at her mom, it wouldn't be true to the character I've created.
Is the inclusion of That One Word gratuitous? Perhaps. Quite definitely, though, it is an example of B above: poor writing.
(FYI: I edited the sentence in the draft so that suckiness could be averted. Hooray!)
Blog: Revisiting "gratuitous" and an antedote.
If you've read certain blog entries and/or my debut novel, you know that I don't have a problem with using profanity in my writing. And, in fact, I find it offensive when I feel that a writer is censoring her/his characters by not having them use the words that they really would use. It's kind of a hot-button issue for me. Oh, yes.
I'm still struggling to understand people's use of the word "gratuitous" in the context of describing profanity in writing. Despite my efforts, I have yet to come across an expletive in any book where I found it to be gratuitous. And so far, no one has shared examples with me to steer me in that direction. (Seriously, if you have examples, email me! I want to see this for myself!)
As I've said before, it seems to me that it all comes down to:
A) personal preference (e.g. "Certain words don't appeal to me, therefore, usage of them in any book is gratuitous")
or
B) poor writing (e.g. "It doesn't make sense that this character would use this word in this context, therefore, its inclusion is gratuitous").
Yesterday, I was revising a scene in My Current Manuscript. It's just past mid-point and the narrator, C, has been caught doing something that looks worse than it is. Instead of asking why she did it, her mother is just being all angry and accusatory. (Which totally makes sense in context since it appears that C deliberately did something that her mom didn't want her to do.) In frustration, C yells, "You aren't listening to me! We didn't do anything wrong, so get the f*ck over it."
I have to say, when I read that last line back to myself it was a very shocking moment. Tension galore! Oh, boy did it make me sit up straight and pay attention! But honestly? The eff word here? Totally gratuitous.
I think it's almost always a huge thing when a character in YA says "f*ck" to their mom. But with this particular narrator, it is in the realm of NOT EVER GOING TO HAPPEN. You see, I've established that she has a very certain way about her. She's poised, she's always in control (or can fake it when she isn't), she doesn't use expletives. It isn't a thing where she has a problem with those words or that she deliberately avoids them and/or substitutes different ones in order to be "proper." She isn't even fazed by other characters who cuss in front of her--unless it's in a situation where it's supposed to be shocking, obviously. Using those words just aren't a part of who she is and that's that.
It's already enough in the scene that she's raised her voice to her mom. Readers are seeing something very important there. But if she also were to cuss at her mom, it wouldn't be true to the character I've created.
Is the inclusion of That One Word gratuitous? Perhaps. Quite definitely, though, it is an example of B above: poor writing.
(FYI: I edited the sentence in the draft so that suckiness could be averted. Hooray!)
I'm still struggling to understand people's use of the word "gratuitous" in the context of describing profanity in writing. Despite my efforts, I have yet to come across an expletive in any book where I found it to be gratuitous. And so far, no one has shared examples with me to steer me in that direction. (Seriously, if you have examples, email me! I want to see this for myself!)
As I've said before, it seems to me that it all comes down to:
A) personal preference (e.g. "Certain words don't appeal to me, therefore, usage of them in any book is gratuitous")
or
B) poor writing (e.g. "It doesn't make sense that this character would use this word in this context, therefore, its inclusion is gratuitous").
Yesterday, I was revising a scene in My Current Manuscript. It's just past mid-point and the narrator, C, has been caught doing something that looks worse than it is. Instead of asking why she did it, her mother is just being all angry and accusatory. (Which totally makes sense in context since it appears that C deliberately did something that her mom didn't want her to do.) In frustration, C yells, "You aren't listening to me! We didn't do anything wrong, so get the f*ck over it."
I have to say, when I read that last line back to myself it was a very shocking moment. Tension galore! Oh, boy did it make me sit up straight and pay attention! But honestly? The eff word here? Totally gratuitous.
I think it's almost always a huge thing when a character in YA says "f*ck" to their mom. But with this particular narrator, it is in the realm of NOT EVER GOING TO HAPPEN. You see, I've established that she has a very certain way about her. She's poised, she's always in control (or can fake it when she isn't), she doesn't use expletives. It isn't a thing where she has a problem with those words or that she deliberately avoids them and/or substitutes different ones in order to be "proper." She isn't even fazed by other characters who cuss in front of her--unless it's in a situation where it's supposed to be shocking, obviously. Using those words just aren't a part of who she is and that's that.
It's already enough in the scene that she's raised her voice to her mom. Readers are seeing something very important there. But if she also were to cuss at her mom, it wouldn't be true to the character I've created.
Is the inclusion of That One Word gratuitous? Perhaps. Quite definitely, though, it is an example of B above: poor writing.
(FYI: I edited the sentence in the draft so that suckiness could be averted. Hooray!)
February 11, 2011
Blog: Ruining your own memories
Dwayne told me about a thing he heard on NPR several weeks ago about memories. Now, I haven't heard the interview/report in question, but from what I remember of what he told me about it, memories change every time you recall them. You forget details. You add details. You change details.
So the memories that you recall the most often (say, your wedding day or a particularly wonderful or terrible experience) are the most tainted. Your memories of a person or an event that you haven't thought of in twenty years might be more pure and more accurate than those that are the most imporant to you!
Again, I haven't heard the NPR thing myself and this story has been on my mind, so I've recalled it many times already. It's possible that my memories of what he told me aren't quite right. Still, I think about it often now and wonder what I'm rememering incorrectly.
This morning while putting cream cheese in celery sticks, I was reminded of a book I read in middle school. It had a bullying/trying to fit in theme. I remember that the girl's name was Melissa, but she went by Lissa. I remember that the most popular girl in her class had an exclusive lunch club called Funchies, which is a nickname for Fun Lunches. Funchies was invitation only and the girls took turns bringing something for all the girls in the group to share at lunch. Lissa was not cool enough to join, but when she FINALLY got the invitation, she brought celery with cream cheese.
All of these years, whenever I make celery with cream cheese, I think of this book. (Annoyingly, I can't remember the title!) But did she really make that? Was the group really called 'Funchies'? Wouldn't Funches make more sense?
Another thing. Everytime I think of Justine Bateman, I am reminded of the phrase, "You're such a f***ing adult!" In my memory, "adult" is pronounced like AD-ult. (When I say "adult," I always pronounce it, uh-DULT.)
Dwayne was watching the movie SATISFACTION yesterday. I asked, "Hey, did she tell Liam Neeson, 'You're such a f***ing' AD-ult!' yet?"
He said, no! What she actually said was, "For an AD-ult, you're really f***ing stupid!"
(At least, I think it's what he said that she said. That was yesterday, after all.)
That really blows me away. I remember being a young girl who admired Justine Bateman for her role on Family Ties. I was very surprised that she said what she said and it's always stuck with me. But, as it turns out, I only had part of it right.
It's just so bizarre!
So the memories that you recall the most often (say, your wedding day or a particularly wonderful or terrible experience) are the most tainted. Your memories of a person or an event that you haven't thought of in twenty years might be more pure and more accurate than those that are the most imporant to you!
Again, I haven't heard the NPR thing myself and this story has been on my mind, so I've recalled it many times already. It's possible that my memories of what he told me aren't quite right. Still, I think about it often now and wonder what I'm rememering incorrectly.
This morning while putting cream cheese in celery sticks, I was reminded of a book I read in middle school. It had a bullying/trying to fit in theme. I remember that the girl's name was Melissa, but she went by Lissa. I remember that the most popular girl in her class had an exclusive lunch club called Funchies, which is a nickname for Fun Lunches. Funchies was invitation only and the girls took turns bringing something for all the girls in the group to share at lunch. Lissa was not cool enough to join, but when she FINALLY got the invitation, she brought celery with cream cheese.
All of these years, whenever I make celery with cream cheese, I think of this book. (Annoyingly, I can't remember the title!) But did she really make that? Was the group really called 'Funchies'? Wouldn't Funches make more sense?
Another thing. Everytime I think of Justine Bateman, I am reminded of the phrase, "You're such a f***ing adult!" In my memory, "adult" is pronounced like AD-ult. (When I say "adult," I always pronounce it, uh-DULT.)
Dwayne was watching the movie SATISFACTION yesterday. I asked, "Hey, did she tell Liam Neeson, 'You're such a f***ing' AD-ult!' yet?"
He said, no! What she actually said was, "For an AD-ult, you're really f***ing stupid!"
(At least, I think it's what he said that she said. That was yesterday, after all.)
That really blows me away. I remember being a young girl who admired Justine Bateman for her role on Family Ties. I was very surprised that she said what she said and it's always stuck with me. But, as it turns out, I only had part of it right.
It's just so bizarre!
January 31, 2011
Blog: The characters in our heads.
Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia - E.L. Doctorow
Schizophrenia: a psychotic disorder characterized by loss of contact with the environment, by noticeable deterioration in the level of functioning in everyday life, and by disintegration of personality expressed as disorder of feeling, thought (as delusions), perception (as hallucinations), and behavior - Merriam-Webster
All right. So the definition of schizophrenia gives me the idea that the quote above doesn't apply to me. That fact is, though, that I am a writer and I do have imaginary people in my head all the time. And it's extremely interesting to me, the way they evolve and have complex histories and motivations even though they don't really exist.
In the spring of 2009, I outlined and hand wrote the first draft of a novel. One of the characters (I'll call him "R") was inspired by someone whom I've seen around and had a few conversations with, but I don't know at all. I find this person inexplicably endearing and friendly, and I wanted to use some of his essence (as I imagine it to be) for R.
Several months into that particular novel, I abandoned it (I have my reasons!!!!), but I took a character from it for the manuscript I'm working on now. The character was R and I am still learning new things about him in every scene he appears. His interactions with my main character are, by far, the most challenging for me to write, but I feel so accomplished whenever I'm able to pull them off simply because it is so hard.
Today, for the first time in many months, I spoke to the person who inspired R. He said something incredibly endearing as per usual (without suspecting that I would find it to be so, I imagine), and as he walked away, my first thought was, Never in a million years would R have said that.
I don't know if this makes sense to anyone else, but it was a really cool moment for me, realizing that my character is not at all like the person who sort of, kind of was the very, very loose inspiration for him almost two years ago. R is totally his own person!
Schizophrenia: a psychotic disorder characterized by loss of contact with the environment, by noticeable deterioration in the level of functioning in everyday life, and by disintegration of personality expressed as disorder of feeling, thought (as delusions), perception (as hallucinations), and behavior - Merriam-Webster
All right. So the definition of schizophrenia gives me the idea that the quote above doesn't apply to me. That fact is, though, that I am a writer and I do have imaginary people in my head all the time. And it's extremely interesting to me, the way they evolve and have complex histories and motivations even though they don't really exist.
In the spring of 2009, I outlined and hand wrote the first draft of a novel. One of the characters (I'll call him "R") was inspired by someone whom I've seen around and had a few conversations with, but I don't know at all. I find this person inexplicably endearing and friendly, and I wanted to use some of his essence (as I imagine it to be) for R.
Several months into that particular novel, I abandoned it (I have my reasons!!!!), but I took a character from it for the manuscript I'm working on now. The character was R and I am still learning new things about him in every scene he appears. His interactions with my main character are, by far, the most challenging for me to write, but I feel so accomplished whenever I'm able to pull them off simply because it is so hard.
Today, for the first time in many months, I spoke to the person who inspired R. He said something incredibly endearing as per usual (without suspecting that I would find it to be so, I imagine), and as he walked away, my first thought was, Never in a million years would R have said that.
I don't know if this makes sense to anyone else, but it was a really cool moment for me, realizing that my character is not at all like the person who sort of, kind of was the very, very loose inspiration for him almost two years ago. R is totally his own person!
January 30, 2011
Blog: So, hey. I knitted some stuff. For reals!
Remember when that contest was going on in December 2010 (all the way back then) where two lucky entrants won copies of Freefall and scarves knitted by the author of Freefall?
Yeah, so, what the author failed to mention is that she isn't much of a knitter and hadn't even picked up needles in, like, six years. And, in fact, she was promising stripes even though she'd never knitted a scarf that wasn't a solid color.
What was she thinking?
Anywho. Her first attempt at a Hufflepuff scarf fell apart. Literally. It was a sad, sad day because she had spent SO MUCH time making that thing and it was totally done and then very bad things happened. As it turned out, though, its purpose was to have been a practice scarf. It taught her how to do several knitting things she'd never done (such as changing colors and removing messed up rows). Hooray!
And now new scarves have been made and will be sent away to the winners:
Oh, and look! Here are those same scarves modeled by the author's husband and resident Gryffindor type as well as the Hufflepuff-ish author who happens to be mixing stripes with polka dots with more stripes.
What a time, what a time.
Yeah, so, what the author failed to mention is that she isn't much of a knitter and hadn't even picked up needles in, like, six years. And, in fact, she was promising stripes even though she'd never knitted a scarf that wasn't a solid color.
What was she thinking?
Anywho. Her first attempt at a Hufflepuff scarf fell apart. Literally. It was a sad, sad day because she had spent SO MUCH time making that thing and it was totally done and then very bad things happened. As it turned out, though, its purpose was to have been a practice scarf. It taught her how to do several knitting things she'd never done (such as changing colors and removing messed up rows). Hooray!
And now new scarves have been made and will be sent away to the winners:
Oh, and look! Here are those same scarves modeled by the author's husband and resident Gryffindor type as well as the Hufflepuff-ish author who happens to be mixing stripes with polka dots with more stripes.
What a time, what a time.
January 26, 2011
The video I did for Simon & Schuster
I already posted the link on Twitter and Facebook, but I thought I'd just talk a tiny bit about the interview I did at Simon & Schuster here on my blog.
As you might or might not know, I visited New York four days after Freefall came out. During my first few days there, I did my first-ever book signing at Books of Wonder with ten other authors, hung out with my editor and agent, visited the Simon & Schuster offices, and did this interview thingy.
I'd been making vlogs all summer with my intern, so by October, I felt like I was getting somewhat better at speaking in the direction of a camera without wanting to die. I have to say, though, that answering questions in an all-black room with four people watching me was a different vibe than chilling with my intern at the park. When I'd lose my train of thought mid-sentence, I still had the urge to laugh and/or curse, but I think I held back from the latter, at least. Mostly. I actually found myself sweating at the realization that my answers weren't flowing as easily as I'd expected. And I think I even apologized to my editor a couple of times in the middle of the interview because I'd wanted to be smoother on the first try at talking about my own book.
Luckily, the video editing guys are good (and so's the lighting, am I right?). I watched the video once and I feel like I pronounced the word "and" strangely. Like "ant"? I don't know. Do I always talk like that? And why do I have the urge to go all behind-the-scenes like this and reveal what you really didn't need to know? It's all part of my charm, yes?
No?
Oh.
Anyway! Here's the video! In case you missed it last week and don't want to continue missing it There are some insights to be had. My own mother said that she learned new things from watching it, so there you go!
As you might or might not know, I visited New York four days after Freefall came out. During my first few days there, I did my first-ever book signing at Books of Wonder with ten other authors, hung out with my editor and agent, visited the Simon & Schuster offices, and did this interview thingy.
I'd been making vlogs all summer with my intern, so by October, I felt like I was getting somewhat better at speaking in the direction of a camera without wanting to die. I have to say, though, that answering questions in an all-black room with four people watching me was a different vibe than chilling with my intern at the park. When I'd lose my train of thought mid-sentence, I still had the urge to laugh and/or curse, but I think I held back from the latter, at least. Mostly. I actually found myself sweating at the realization that my answers weren't flowing as easily as I'd expected. And I think I even apologized to my editor a couple of times in the middle of the interview because I'd wanted to be smoother on the first try at talking about my own book.
Luckily, the video editing guys are good (and so's the lighting, am I right?). I watched the video once and I feel like I pronounced the word "and" strangely. Like "ant"? I don't know. Do I always talk like that? And why do I have the urge to go all behind-the-scenes like this and reveal what you really didn't need to know? It's all part of my charm, yes?
No?
Oh.
Anyway! Here's the video! In case you missed it last week and don't want to continue missing it There are some insights to be had. My own mother said that she learned new things from watching it, so there you go!
January 19, 2011
Vlog: The Evolution of a Title
You guys! There's a vlog that's been sitting on my YouTube channel for almost two months, which I forgot to make public! Oops. (And by "forgot," I mean that I kept putting it off and then I forgot.) But that has all been changed now!
Fun facts about this one:
1. It was filmed at a park near my house at the end of the summer. Summer! *sob*
2. Once again, there was street traffic, which kept making me have to stop and start over again and oh my goodness why do pretty places have to be so noisy???
3. I didn't watch this one until today. Because you know how I feel about seeing myself/hearing my voice. Auuuuuugggggghhhhhhh!
Fun facts about this one:
1. It was filmed at a park near my house at the end of the summer. Summer! *sob*
2. Once again, there was street traffic, which kept making me have to stop and start over again and oh my goodness why do pretty places have to be so noisy???
3. I didn't watch this one until today. Because you know how I feel about seeing myself/hearing my voice. Auuuuuugggggghhhhhhh!
January 13, 2011
Blog: Negative reviews don't matter.
Okay, so my subject line. That's laughable, right? Especially if you know me. Or if you're married to me. In that case you're laughing really hard right now.
My relationship with other people's books has always gone something like this: I become intrigued by a book after stumbling upon the book jacket description somewhere or having the book recommended to me ---> I read a short excerpt to see if I connect with the writing ---> I sometimes check out reviews to see what other people think, and if there are ratings across the board, I'd be more interested than if there are all 5s and 4s; I'm contrary like that ---> I obtain the book in some fashion, be it buying it new or used or borrowing from the library or a friend ---> I read the book.
When the book that I wrote sold and there was suddenly this idea that people out there were going to one day read and review it, I was nervous, but not that nervous. I hoped people would love it. I didn't hope that people would hate it, but I figured that some would and that would be fine, too. I know that a 1-star review can sometimes inspire me to read a book (especially if the reviewer sounds like a tool or likes books that I hate), so maybe a 1-star review could have that effect on someone else. Hooray and yay!
And then it started happening. Reviews, I mean. From the get-go, FREEFALL got bunches of 5-star reviews and a few 4-star reviews. I was happy about it, but I was bracing myself and actually ready for some less-than-stellar feedback from a stranger. And then that happened.
On Friday, October 1st -- two days before my 33rd birthday and four days before the release of That Book I Wrote That One Time -- I happened upon a 3-star review that KICKED ME IN THE FACE. It wasn't even so much that the review was negative. It was that it was just so blah. This person discussed about how the book just wasn't memorable and [a whole bunch of other stuff that I just realized I've blocked from my mind. Thank you, brain defense mechanism!]. I then clicked and saw comments like, "Wow. Thanks for the warning. I was looking forward to this one too. Oh, well."
And I was like, !$#@%^&&^%$#^%&^*!@$^&()*%^$* =%$#
Because, I mean, WHAT? This book had dozens of good reviews and suddenly these people were just going to give up on it and not even give it a chance because of this ONE review?
ARE YOU SERIOUS?????????????????????????????????????
I won't lie. I kind of . . . shut down. And freaked out. And shut down. And freaked out. I spent the rest of that day eating popcorn and ice cream and watching some of my comfort movies while alternating between having panic attacks and wanting to cry. Then my husband came home from work and we went to the $3 theater in keeping with my do-nothing-but-eat-junk-and-watch-movies-all-day plan.
Afterward, he suggested that we go to Barnes & Noble because their website indicated that Freefall was now in the store. I had another panic attack. I didn't want to go. I didn't want to see my book in a bookstore because I couldn't handle that people were going to dismiss it, because I was afraid that all the positive reviews up to that point were a fluke, and that EVERYONE moving forward was going to say that my book just didn't matter.
But we went. And afterward I posted this picture of me looking as if a-less-than-stellar review had KICKED ME IN THE FACE earlier that day. And now you know why.
Life went on. I got really busy with traveling and book events in October, but when I had time, I still read more reviews when the Google Alerts came in. There were a couple of kind of brutal ones that bothered me enough that I can still quote back lines from them if I really wanted to, but none have affected me as badly as That First One. For the most part, I've stopped having totally flip-out reactions when I think about negative reviews of my book.
It's all weird, right? I never expected to feel so vulnerable and persecuted by some people's opinions. Because as a reader, there are times when I definitely see value in negative reviews. As an author, though, I can tell you that there is not one negative review of my book that has helped me out in any way. I've now learned that lesson about myself. I accept it. I embrace the concept that reviews of an author's book are for readers, not for that author.
But how best to move forward having made that realization? Well, it all boiled down my having to decide whose opinion of my book matters TO ME. Do I care about the criticisms of a big-time paranormal fan who gave Twlight five stars and my book two? Do I care about the dude who complained that there was too much flirting in my book and that it reminded him of something that should be on a CW show? (By the way, CW peeps! Make my dreams come true and call my agent. PLEASE!)
Or do I care more about the woman who once suffered a tragedy similar to what happened in my book and let me know that it gave her comfort and helped her process what happened? Or the teenage boy who thanked me for writing something so real that he could relate to? Or the teenage girl who has already read it multiple times and says it's changed how she thinks about people and made her less judgmental? Or the other writers out there who say that Seth makes them strive harder to find an authentic male voice in their writing? Or the man in his 40s who wrote to me to tell me that he really connected with the love story? Or the dozens of readers who admired Seth, Rosetta, and/or Kendall and really enjoyed spending a few hours of their lives with them?
I can't please every reader. It isn't possible. But I'm pleased to have have the opportunity to please some people. I'm also pleased that some of those pleased people have taken the time to contact me and let me know that my book pleased them.
It truly means everything to me. ♥
My relationship with other people's books has always gone something like this: I become intrigued by a book after stumbling upon the book jacket description somewhere or having the book recommended to me ---> I read a short excerpt to see if I connect with the writing ---> I sometimes check out reviews to see what other people think, and if there are ratings across the board, I'd be more interested than if there are all 5s and 4s; I'm contrary like that ---> I obtain the book in some fashion, be it buying it new or used or borrowing from the library or a friend ---> I read the book.
When the book that I wrote sold and there was suddenly this idea that people out there were going to one day read and review it, I was nervous, but not that nervous. I hoped people would love it. I didn't hope that people would hate it, but I figured that some would and that would be fine, too. I know that a 1-star review can sometimes inspire me to read a book (especially if the reviewer sounds like a tool or likes books that I hate), so maybe a 1-star review could have that effect on someone else. Hooray and yay!
And then it started happening. Reviews, I mean. From the get-go, FREEFALL got bunches of 5-star reviews and a few 4-star reviews. I was happy about it, but I was bracing myself and actually ready for some less-than-stellar feedback from a stranger. And then that happened.
On Friday, October 1st -- two days before my 33rd birthday and four days before the release of That Book I Wrote That One Time -- I happened upon a 3-star review that KICKED ME IN THE FACE. It wasn't even so much that the review was negative. It was that it was just so blah. This person discussed about how the book just wasn't memorable and [a whole bunch of other stuff that I just realized I've blocked from my mind. Thank you, brain defense mechanism!]. I then clicked and saw comments like, "Wow. Thanks for the warning. I was looking forward to this one too. Oh, well."
And I was like, !$#@%^&&^%$#^%&^*!@$^&()*%^$* =%$#
Because, I mean, WHAT? This book had dozens of good reviews and suddenly these people were just going to give up on it and not even give it a chance because of this ONE review?
ARE YOU SERIOUS?????????????????????????????????????
I won't lie. I kind of . . . shut down. And freaked out. And shut down. And freaked out. I spent the rest of that day eating popcorn and ice cream and watching some of my comfort movies while alternating between having panic attacks and wanting to cry. Then my husband came home from work and we went to the $3 theater in keeping with my do-nothing-but-eat-junk-and-watch-movies-all-day plan.
Afterward, he suggested that we go to Barnes & Noble because their website indicated that Freefall was now in the store. I had another panic attack. I didn't want to go. I didn't want to see my book in a bookstore because I couldn't handle that people were going to dismiss it, because I was afraid that all the positive reviews up to that point were a fluke, and that EVERYONE moving forward was going to say that my book just didn't matter.
But we went. And afterward I posted this picture of me looking as if a-less-than-stellar review had KICKED ME IN THE FACE earlier that day. And now you know why.
Life went on. I got really busy with traveling and book events in October, but when I had time, I still read more reviews when the Google Alerts came in. There were a couple of kind of brutal ones that bothered me enough that I can still quote back lines from them if I really wanted to, but none have affected me as badly as That First One. For the most part, I've stopped having totally flip-out reactions when I think about negative reviews of my book.
It's all weird, right? I never expected to feel so vulnerable and persecuted by some people's opinions. Because as a reader, there are times when I definitely see value in negative reviews. As an author, though, I can tell you that there is not one negative review of my book that has helped me out in any way. I've now learned that lesson about myself. I accept it. I embrace the concept that reviews of an author's book are for readers, not for that author.
But how best to move forward having made that realization? Well, it all boiled down my having to decide whose opinion of my book matters TO ME. Do I care about the criticisms of a big-time paranormal fan who gave Twlight five stars and my book two? Do I care about the dude who complained that there was too much flirting in my book and that it reminded him of something that should be on a CW show? (By the way, CW peeps! Make my dreams come true and call my agent. PLEASE!)
Or do I care more about the woman who once suffered a tragedy similar to what happened in my book and let me know that it gave her comfort and helped her process what happened? Or the teenage boy who thanked me for writing something so real that he could relate to? Or the teenage girl who has already read it multiple times and says it's changed how she thinks about people and made her less judgmental? Or the other writers out there who say that Seth makes them strive harder to find an authentic male voice in their writing? Or the man in his 40s who wrote to me to tell me that he really connected with the love story? Or the dozens of readers who admired Seth, Rosetta, and/or Kendall and really enjoyed spending a few hours of their lives with them?
I can't please every reader. It isn't possible. But I'm pleased to have have the opportunity to please some people. I'm also pleased that some of those pleased people have taken the time to contact me and let me know that my book pleased them.
It truly means everything to me. ♥
January 2, 2011
Winners for my Spread the Word about Freefall Contest!
My contest ended over a week ago and here I am, posting winners NOW? I know. I'm blaming the delay upon food poisoning, Christmas, a cold that kept me in bed for days, and New Year's traveling.
But now! Without further ado! The two winners of the Harry Potter-inspired scarves as well as signed and personalized copies of Freefall for themselves and for a friend are:
Julia C.
and
Krystal O.
Yay!!!!!!!!!!!! The winners have been notified by email and now I need to get to work on making those scarves!
Oh, and in case you're curious, for those who entered via my form (versus Tweets only) here's the breakdown of Hogwarts Houses selected:
Gryffindor: 39
Hufflepuff: 6
Ravenclaw: 22
Slytherin: 13
Thank you so much to everyone who entered, and especially to those of you who took the extra steps and Tweeted the contest and linked to your reviews! I know there were several of you out there who RTed almost every day and I had so much fun checking out all your posts. You're awesome!
And since I haven't said it yet, Happy New Year, everyone. ♥
December 15, 2010
Tenners Library Giveaway
ATTENTION LIBRARIANS!!!
To celebrate the end of our debut year, The Tenners will be holding a special giveaway just for librarians. One public or school library will be selected to receive a set of 54 books by 2010 MG and YA debut authors. How do you enter this massive giveaway? So easy. All you have to do is capture one of our books in the wild.* Take a photo of yourself, another librarian, a patron, or even an adorable library pet posing with one of our 2010 debut novels. Send it to us at 2010debuts@gmail.com from your institutional email address. Tell us your name, your library's name and mailing address, and who's in the picture. Again, only librarians are eligible for this giveaway. Not a librarian? Encourage your friendly neighborhood librarian to enter! The contest will be open until February 15th and the lucky winning library will be chosen and announced on February 16th. Until then, we'll be periodically posting your pictures. The Tenners would like to thank you all SO VERY MUCH for your support this year. It's been an amazing adventure and we're looking forward to sharing more books with you in 2011 and beyond. Books included in the giveaway are: The Absolute Value of -1 by Steve BrezenoffAll Unquiet Things by Anna JarzabAnna and the French Kiss by Stephanie PerkinsBirthmarked by Caragh O'BrienBleeding Violet by Dia ReevesThe Body Finder and Desires of the Dead by Kimberly DertingChange of Heart by Shari MaurerThe Cinderella Society by Kay CassidyThe Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh BerkThe Dark Divine and The Lost Saint by Bree DespainThe Deathday Letter by Shaun David HutchinsonDirty Little Secrets by Cynthia Jaynes OmololuEighth-Grade Superzero by Olugbemisola Rhuday-PerkovichEverlasting by Angie FrazierForget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount-WhiteThe Freak Observer by Blythe WoolstonFreefall by Mindi ScottThe Ghost & The Goth by Stacey KadeGuardian of the Dead by Karen HealeyHarmonic Feedback by Tara KellyHunger by Jackie Morse KesslerHush, Hush and Crescendo by Becca FitzpatrickInconvenient by Margaret GelbwasserIron King and Iron Daughter by Julie KagawaKids vs. Squid by Greg van EekhoutLeaving Gee's Bend by Irene LathamThe Life and Opinions of Amy Finawitz by Laura Toffler-CorrieThe Line by Teri HallLosing Faith by Denise JadenMagic Under Glass by Jackie DolamoreThe Mark by Jen NadolMistwood by Leah CypessNice & Mean by Jessica LeaderOther by Karen KincyPalace Beautiful by Sarah DeFord WilliamsParanormalcy by Kiersten WhitePrincess for Hire by Lindsey LeavittPrisoners in the Palace by Michaela MacCollProphecy of Days by Christy RaedekeThe Red Umbrella by Christina GonzalezThe Reinvention of Edison Thomas by Jacqueline HoutmanThe Replacement by Brenna YovanoffThe Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea CampbellSea by Heidi KlingThe Secret Year by Jennifer HubbardShooting Kabul by N.H. SenzaiThe Snowball Effect by Holly Nicole HoxterThree Rivers Rising by Jame RichardsTortilla Sun by Jennifer CervantesWildfire Run by Dee Garretson *No purchase necessary, so posing with a photo or artistic interpretation of a book's cover is just fine too.
To celebrate the end of our debut year, The Tenners will be holding a special giveaway just for librarians. One public or school library will be selected to receive a set of 54 books by 2010 MG and YA debut authors. How do you enter this massive giveaway? So easy. All you have to do is capture one of our books in the wild.* Take a photo of yourself, another librarian, a patron, or even an adorable library pet posing with one of our 2010 debut novels. Send it to us at 2010debuts@gmail.com from your institutional email address. Tell us your name, your library's name and mailing address, and who's in the picture. Again, only librarians are eligible for this giveaway. Not a librarian? Encourage your friendly neighborhood librarian to enter! The contest will be open until February 15th and the lucky winning library will be chosen and announced on February 16th. Until then, we'll be periodically posting your pictures. The Tenners would like to thank you all SO VERY MUCH for your support this year. It's been an amazing adventure and we're looking forward to sharing more books with you in 2011 and beyond. Books included in the giveaway are: The Absolute Value of -1 by Steve BrezenoffAll Unquiet Things by Anna JarzabAnna and the French Kiss by Stephanie PerkinsBirthmarked by Caragh O'BrienBleeding Violet by Dia ReevesThe Body Finder and Desires of the Dead by Kimberly DertingChange of Heart by Shari MaurerThe Cinderella Society by Kay CassidyThe Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh BerkThe Dark Divine and The Lost Saint by Bree DespainThe Deathday Letter by Shaun David HutchinsonDirty Little Secrets by Cynthia Jaynes OmololuEighth-Grade Superzero by Olugbemisola Rhuday-PerkovichEverlasting by Angie FrazierForget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount-WhiteThe Freak Observer by Blythe WoolstonFreefall by Mindi ScottThe Ghost & The Goth by Stacey KadeGuardian of the Dead by Karen HealeyHarmonic Feedback by Tara KellyHunger by Jackie Morse KesslerHush, Hush and Crescendo by Becca FitzpatrickInconvenient by Margaret GelbwasserIron King and Iron Daughter by Julie KagawaKids vs. Squid by Greg van EekhoutLeaving Gee's Bend by Irene LathamThe Life and Opinions of Amy Finawitz by Laura Toffler-CorrieThe Line by Teri HallLosing Faith by Denise JadenMagic Under Glass by Jackie DolamoreThe Mark by Jen NadolMistwood by Leah CypessNice & Mean by Jessica LeaderOther by Karen KincyPalace Beautiful by Sarah DeFord WilliamsParanormalcy by Kiersten WhitePrincess for Hire by Lindsey LeavittPrisoners in the Palace by Michaela MacCollProphecy of Days by Christy RaedekeThe Red Umbrella by Christina GonzalezThe Reinvention of Edison Thomas by Jacqueline HoutmanThe Replacement by Brenna YovanoffThe Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea CampbellSea by Heidi KlingThe Secret Year by Jennifer HubbardShooting Kabul by N.H. SenzaiThe Snowball Effect by Holly Nicole HoxterThree Rivers Rising by Jame RichardsTortilla Sun by Jennifer CervantesWildfire Run by Dee Garretson *No purchase necessary, so posing with a photo or artistic interpretation of a book's cover is just fine too.
