Phoebe North's Blog, page 9

Ms Vickers and the Final Girl Problem

This post contains spoilers for Prometheus.

I should probably do a post about BEA, but my big stack of books has yet to arrive in the mail, and my brain feels a little tired just thinking about it. So instead, let’s talk about stories–specifically, the story ofPrometheus.

Jordan and I saw it last night, and then grabbed dinner. We couldn’t stop talking about how disappointed we were. It was a premise filled with cool stuff–a prequel! Set on a sleeper ship manned by a robot who really wants to b...

BE(A) Excited!

Boy, I have sucked at blogging lately. I have, however, rocked at writing (evidenced by the many pages under which I have my lovely agent currently buried). I figure the universe would prefer books to blogs. Right, universe?

But I do want to post an update just to say that I’ll be at BEA next week, wandering the show floor from Tuesday through Thursday with my lovely friend Tarah Dunn. I’ll also be in the audience of the Teen Author Carnival at the Jefferson Market Library and the Rebel Writer...

5 Writing Lessons I Learned Late

I’ve been sick, so I’ve been using that time stuck in bed and hopped up on DayQuil to my advantage, fixing my latest project before I send it to my wonderful agent lady. Looking through these rough chapters, I realized how much I’ve grown as a writer–and how much of that growth has happened in the last year, through the process of agent revisions, going on submission, and revising my first book with my editor. Here are a few things that I only learned post-Starglass.

5. Plotting is a good thin...

Shining, gleaming, streaming, flaxen, waxen

I trimmed my hair tonight, made my bangs a little thicker, a little more Zooey-esque. If you’re keeping track–and I don’t know how you could!–my hair is currently red, layered, with face framing bangs.

And long.

It still feels odd to say that. I have long hair. I have long hair!Of course, it isn’t terribly long. Some people would only consider it about medium length. The ends, which I carefully and frequently trim both to fight off split ends and because my hair grows surprisingly fast, fall an...

Flowers and Seedlings and Other Spring Things

Hi, Internet!

I miss you lately, only, not really. You should know that even when I’m not blogging, I’m watching–reading, thinking, consuming. Watching–lots and lots of youtube videos, which are a balm to me when I’m revising. They strike exactly that sweet spot between passivity and inspiration. Especially Ze Frank:

I’m in round 2 of revisions, which have been challenging and have stretched my brain and my story and my conception of my story (and my conception of my brain?) in new ways. When I...

The War on Kipple

Good evening, Gentle Reader!

Today I’m going to teach you a word. It might be one you already know–if you read Philip K. Dick you undoubtedly do. That word is “kipple,” and I learned it back in 2005, when I read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?for the first time. The book is much better than the movie–Blade Runner–by the way, not in the least because of the kipple. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

This is what Dick has to say about kipple:

There’s the First Law of Kipple… ‘Kipple drives...

Why I Read (Even While Writing)

Every once in awhile, I come across advice from a writer to this effect:

Don't read. Don't read while drafting because it will screw up your voice. Don't read in your genre because then you might inadvertently steal. Don't read because you should be writing. Don't read while editing because your heart will be crushed by the superiority of finished prose. Don't read. Don't read. Don't . . . 

My first thought, when I read such statements, is always this: I have a choice?!

I was a reader long...

Coming Up for Air

Revisions have been sent to my lovely editor, and so I've spent the past few days reacquainting myself with books, with friends, with crafts (sewing! poorly . . . ). Yesterday, my high school bestie and her boyfriend came to visit and we hiked through Minnewaska State Park, over the Shawangunk Ridge. The ground below was made of grey stone. As we walked up and up, the air cooled. All we could see around us were conifers, the still-naked tops of trees below. As we stood on a cliff face...

Writing and Revising the Best of All Possible Books

Hey guys! First thing's first: there was a clear winner in the "pick my author photo for me decisions are hard" election. You guys loved photo #3, and so that was what I sent on to my lovely editor! This will be my face, FOR THE AGES.

 

Second of all, I know I've been quiet lately. That's because I've been doing that mysterious writer thing called revising. A few weeks ago, right after I got my big ol' edit letter (alongside a marked-up manuscript which bore a veritable and literal rainbow of s...

Help me choose an author photo!

I'm poking my head up out of my revision hole to ask you for some help, gentle reader! I've been asked to send a photo on to my editor for promotional purposes. You know, an author photo. Eep! Jordan and I went outside this weekend had had two separate photo shoots. He did a terrific job (I feel so cute now!), but took so many great photos that I just can't choose! I've already polled like six different groups of people, and there seem to be three clear winners. Which do you think should...