C.J. Redwine's Blog, page 8

Ask C.J.

Because I get emailed or messaged questions throughout the week, I decided to start compiling them and answering them here twice a month in a column. It saves me time (I am already woefully behind on replying to things!), and gives others a chance to get answers to questions they might also have.

This week, I'm going to tackle 5 questions I was recently asked.

1. Miss Katie asked on Twitter "What do you do when facing writer's block?"

I determine what exactly is stopping me from writing. I don't believe true writer's block exists, but I do think our brains sometimes tell us a) something isn't working in the story, and we need to stop and search for the problem and a variety of solutions or b) our well of creativity is running dry, and we need to refill it.

If something isn't working, I retrace my steps to the last place where everything WAS working, and then start thinking through other possible scenarios until I see which way the story wants to go. Sometimes that means sitting down and listing every possible thing that could happen in the story until a clear picture forms. Sometimes that means calling one of my CPs and talking through the difficulty until the solution is obvious. (Side note: One of those convos is what lead me to decide to rewrite Defiance and include Logan's POV.)

If the problem is my well of creativity is running dry, I go fill it up. For me, that means watching a movie or a tv show in the same genre as my story, reading a great book, or just taking a break and running around with my kids. My brain is still working in the background.

I'm going to be honest, here, and you might not like it, but I think half of the time we say we have writer's block, what we're really saying is that the story is tangled up or the writing is hard now and the shine has worn off and we just don't want to make ourselves sit down and continue. Part of what separates those who've finished books and moved forward in their quest for publication and those who haven't is the discipline to write even when we'd rather light our laptop on fire and walk away. This is a really valuable skill to master early on because once you're contracted and under deadline, writer's block just can't raise it's ugly head for long at all.

2. Katie also asked: What advice do you have for those writing their first book?

I actually wrote a post on that, so I'll send you here. But in addition, I'm going to say that above all else, don't quit. Finish the book. Learn what you can from that experience. And start the next one. The only way you guarantee failure in this business is by quitting.

3. Aqsa Naveed asked: Do you like the good guy in a book or do you dig the bad boy?

Both! It all depends on how the character is written. I adore a well-written, fully fleshed out character. I love the ones who step up to be heroes and the ones who are twisted and scary. And if by "bad boy" you meant the angsty bad-boy-turned-reluctant-hero, I also enjoy those if they're done well. Character development is one of the things that can make or break a book to me. If I understand the character's motivations, and I feel like I'm under his skin, I will follow him anywhere.

4. Simon asked: How do you get all the physical description and personality about a character onto the page when you first meet that character?

You don't. If you try to, you'll have written what we call an "info-dump" and you'll be revising that right out of the manuscript. :) Don't worry, all of us did that when we started out. It's part of the learning curve. The best method is to weave in bits of description throughout the story, and to keep the description as minimal as you can without failing to deliver the character. You want just enough to let the reader have an idea of the character without putting in so much that it's a struggle to remember all of those details the next time the character enters a scene. As for personality, don't tell us anything. Show the personality through that character's dialogue and actions, and through the response of other characters.

5. Keli asked: How many wardrobe malfunctions have you dealt with during your release, if any?

No wardrobe malfunctions! No one is more shocked by this than me. It flies in the face of everything you've come to expect from me! After all, there is precedence for a clothing disaster while I'm up on a stage. And for me not paying close attention to my undergarments. Well, generally just not paying attention at all.

But luckily, no wardrobe malfunctions during an author event yet. However, I do have multiple events scheduled throughout the fall, so I'm sure I'll break my winning streak soon enough.

Pep Talk Fail & Other Things

1. Yes, I laughed myself stupid over that pic.

2. Yes, I've been a sucky blogger. Some days/weeks/months I have to make the choice between sucky blogger or sucky writer, though, and writing pays the bills.

3. I am going to try hard to do better.

4. I've even given myself a pep talk. It sounded a lot like YOU ARE GOING TO DO THIS THING, REDWINE. THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL. WITH GREAT GIFTS COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY. HE'S ONLY MOSTLY DEAD. ONE RING TO RULE THEM ALL. AVADA KADAVRA. FOR NARNIA!!!!

5. Clearly, I got a little distracted by the various EPIC movies I love ... so yeah, I am also sucky at pep talks.

6. At any rate, I'm here! Blogging! And also writing under another fast-approaching deadline, so we'll see just how well I can juggle the two.

7. As most of you know, Defiance hit the shelves on 8/28 and it was lovely and crazy and exhausting and fun. The local launch party was a blast, and I was so amazed at how many people showed up!

8. Of course, I did advertise the fact that my hubby would be making one of his infamously yummy cakes, so that helped. :) Defiance and cake! Destined to go together.

9. The online launch party was also tons of fun, and I really enjoyed the question and answer portion. Some great questions were asked! If you missed that chat, I have two more coming up in the next two months. Check my Appearances tab to see when you can talk to me either online or in person.

10. The weekend after launch, I traveled south to be on a panel at Dragon*Con and one at the Decatur Book Festival.

11. Both events were fun in different ways (very different atmosphere and audience but same intelligent, interesting questions!) and thankfully, I didn't eat anything while having to also be "on" because we all know how well that turned out for me last time.

12. When I returned home, I came into my local bookstore to sign some stock, and a man noticed me standing at a counter scrawling my signature across the title page to a stack of books. He got WELL into my personal space and the conversation went as follows:

Him: What are you doing?
Me: Um ... signing books.
Him: Why?
Me: Because the manager asked me to.
Him: Did you write this book?
Me: Yes.
Him: All of these books?
Me: *kindly does not point out that all of the books in the stack have the exact same title* Yes.
Him: So, you get to sign your name in books if you write them?
Me: Sometimes
Him: I mean, I guess if you're an author you could just sign any book, really, because your signature is what's worth money.
Me: No. No, that's not right at all.
Him: Think about it! You could sign this book *grabs Rick Riordan's latest* and someone would be excited because it's like getting two authors for the price of one!
Me: I just ... that's not exactly ... I don't think Rick Riordan would appreciate that. I'll just stick with signing my own books.
Him: Well, is your book any good?
Me: I'm done signing now. See you later.

And yes, I think maybe I do have a "crazies welcome" sign blinking over my head.

13. Coming this week:

Tues: Ask C.J. - in which I answer a variety of questions sent to me via Twitter and Facebook.
Wed: Author Interview and giveaway. (You're going to love this one!)
Thurs: Fast Five questions with a 2012 debut author
Fri: Weekend Reading Recommendations (I'll tell you what book I just read that I absolutely loved, and you share your latest book crushes with me as well!)

Want to order a signed copy of Defiance?

Wish you could come to one of my local events and get a signed book but live too far away? Want a personalized gift for the reader on your gift list?

I have great news! Jarrett, the manager of my local Books a Million (the store where I do most of my writing) has worked out a way to allow people to purchase signed copies of Defiance to be shipped to your home. You must have a U.S. shipping address, and be able to pay by credit card/debit card over the phone. Shipping charges will apply.

The offer is good from 8/29/12-9/7/12! Simply fill out the form below, and Jarrett will contact you to process your order. There's no limit to the amount of signed books you may order. :)

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Radio Interview!

This was fun! I'm not sure how long they'll keep the audio for this up, but here's a link to my first ever radio interview. Yay!

Blogging Again!

1. I know what you're thinking.

2. You're thinking "Holy cow, she's actually blogging?? Are they serving ice cream in hell today?"

3. If they are serving ice cream in hell, it's going to be orange sherbet which looks like it should be tasty ice cream but then turns out to be a whole lot more ice than cream and also tastes disturbingly like frozen Tang.

4. But, I digress.

5. There are some very good reasons why I haven't blogged much for the past two months. I'll give you the condensed version: Bad accident, hospitalized kids, long recovery, book deadline, book rewrite from the ground up (That's totally a euphemism for "fun," by the way), Defiance release plans, back to school shopping and fees and nights and angst, interview questions to answer, guest posts, teen in physical and speech therapy as he tries to manage going back to school with a TBI (traumatic brain injury) that will still take months to recover from, and my own brain which reached the end of each day and just sat there and drooled when I asked it for a blog post.

6. So, my summer did not go as planned, but I can't complain. My kids are alive, and I'm grateful for that. Every other stress comes in a far distant second.

7. I have been sort of mini-blogging on Twitter, though. If you don't follow me over there, here are a few gems you missed. Um. Okay, gems is probably overstating things a bit. But here you go:

Toddler now kisses the top of her shoes before she puts them on. I'm not saying she's her mama's daughter, but ... # shoesFTW

I'm having popcorn for dinner. Because I'm a grown up.

Besides my name, the 2 most common search terms for my blog last month: "Kittens on llamas" and "Squirrel Fight." # klassy

Wasabi candy powder? For the person in your life who deserves a throat full of fiii-yah??? niftycandy.com/weirdcandy.html

Hubby calls: Want to go to lunch since you're presentable? Me: $!%&^ and also *^$% Him: I just meant you showered! Me: KEEP DIGGING.

Just lost track of how many characters are in this scene.  # mathishard   # apparently # sheesh

Son informs me his math teacher has Bieber & Twilight posters on the wall and wonders if sprinkling his tests w/glitter w/help his grades.

My mother just informed me that Jeremy Renner is from the town next to my small hometown. This irrevocably destroys his mystique for me.

Writing yet another action scene involving hot boys and swords. Have decided it's appropriate to yell FOR NARNIA! as I type.

If Word shuts down on me ONE MORE TIME while I'm trying to save these revisions, I will KILL IT WITH FIRE.

YOU GUYS. I was reading my manuscript & lifted my chai frappe up to take a sip w/o looking at it & STUCK THE STRAW UP MY NOSE. In public.

Just grateful I didn't accidentally snort some. THAT would've been cause for shame. Nobody likes a girl with frappe up her nose.

Me: This cd player won't work. *fiddles w/every. single. button.* WHY WON'T IT WORK? Friend: Is it plugged in? Me: *long pause* Oh.

@ Magnet4Books   @ nataliecparker  You're only saying that because I forgot the "no b00bs on the table" rule that one time at dinner.

I want a treadmill desk, but who wants to lay $$ on how fast I get distracted, belly flop, & fly backwards into a wall?

Pirated copies of my ARC on the webz. A couple significant changes between ARC and book. Thieves will be CONFUSED when they steal book 2!

Just spent two frantic minutes searching for the phone I was holding IN MY HAND. # sleepdeprived


Sorry about the weird black background. I copied and pasted from TweetDeck which has a black background and we all know I could never in  a million years figure out how to fix it, so ... there you go.

8. Coming up on the blog, I have some interviews with outstanding authors, along with some fabulous giveaways!

9. Also? Next week will be Dare To Defy week on my blog! It includes spoilers, behind the scenes info, and other goodies!

10. I leave you with this:

Defiance Trailer!

Since VH1's exclusive has expired, Harper posted the trailer on youtube so that the regions who didn't have access to view it on VH1 can see it now. Here you go!

Exciting Defiance Book Trailer News!

I am so excited to announce that today VH1.com premiered the DEFIANCE book trailer. I love love love what Harper did with the trailer (and how they let me make choices and be such a part of the process the entire way). Check it out! What do you think?

WINNERS of Defiance Pre-Orders

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Thank you to all who entered to win a pre-order of DEFIANCE! There were a total of 940 entries, and as always, I used random.org to choose the winners. And the winners are:

Hannah Taylor
Nikki Wang
Congratulations! You will receive a confirmation email from my assistant shortly. Thanks so much for entering and happy reading!

Defiance Reviews

It's been quite a while since I posted any kind of personal blog post. Some of that has to do with the fact that my personal life has been in a state of upheaval lately due to two of my kids having back to back serious medical issues. Some of that has to do with the fact that writing the sequel to Defiance nearly broke my brain. But I wanted to take a moment and talk about something that is important to me.

Reviews of Defiance and why I'm not reading them.

First of all, you should know that I wander around in a state of queasy wonder at the thought of so many people being excited to read my book. It's both thrilling and sort of scary. I've always believed that once a book goes out into the world, it becomes the property of those who read it. Defiance is no different. It's DONE. I did the best I could, sent it out into the world, and no matter what anyone says about it now, it's DONE. :) My focus is on the next book (Which may yet kill me. We'll see ...) because that's the story that needs my attention now. Defiance no longer belongs to me. Readers are interacting with the story, living in the world, and forming attachments to my characters. I am completely blown away by that. It's AWESOME.

But as awesome as it is, I choose not to read those opinions. I choose not to read any opinions, good, bad, or indifferent. I have a couple of reasons for this. One, the review isn't for my benefit. The book is out of my hands. Reviews are to give one person's opinion about the story for the benefit of other readers trying to decide if this is a book they'd like to read. There isn't any room in that process for the author of the book to interject her own opinion. Second, I function best with a high level of oblivion. I am determined to worry about only that which I can control. (Book two, I'm looking at YOU.) I love, love, LOVE that readers are passionately discussing Defiance, but I know myself. If I started reading reviews, it would derail my momentum on the next book. I'd worry that I hadn't put in enough X or I'd wandered too far away from Y or wow, someone really really hates Z. I can't do that. I write best in a bubble where nothing but me and the story exist.

I know other authors post about reviews and why they won't read them, and I'm honestly not saying anything new here. But because there are so many of my awesome online peeps reading and commenting about Defiance now, I wanted to respect that and tell you that I am GRATEFUL, and that I hope you understand why I'm choosing not to click on links or interact with your reviews. I hope you enjoy your time within Defiance's pages. In the meantime, I'm going to pull a few kung fu moves on Book 2 and teach it who's boss.

Edited to add: I may not be able to go to your blog and comment on your review, but I try my best to respond to Twitter comments and blog comments. :)

Cockroach and Cat Litter

Once again, I bring you a transcript of a very disturbing run while you can! chat I had with Jodi Meadows. Read at your own risk.



Jodi Meadows: AND NOW A BUG KILLED ITSELF IN MY ORANGE JUICE


C.J. Redwine: GROSS

Jodi Meadows: I have possibly the grossest story ever to tell you

C.J. Redwine: that is exactly the reason why I cannot drink without looking in my glass

Jodi Meadows: it does involve bugs

C.J. Redwine: OH NO

Jodi Meadows: (yeah, I always look)

C.J. Redwine: *gags preemptorily*

C.J. Redwine: bring it

Jodi Meadows: okay

Jodi Meadows: so it all starts on Thursday night

Jodi Meadows: at my mom's

Jodi Meadows: My brother and I are in the kitchen cleaning up

Jodi Meadows: and he jumps back

Jodi Meadows: and shrieks

Jodi Meadows: (my brother is not what you'd call a manly boy)

Jodi Meadows: because a GIANT COCKROACH just crawled under the ledge of the counter

Jodi Meadows: we both try to destroy it

Jodi Meadows: but it escapes into the crevice between the dishwasher and the counter

Jodi Meadows: we admit defeat

Jodi Meadows: but LATER

Jodi Meadows: one of the cats starts staring at the ceiling

Jodi Meadows: and I see THE COCKROACH on the ceiling

Jodi Meadows: fortunately I have an empty cup

Jodi Meadows: so I get on a chair, grab a napkin, and trap it in the cup

Jodi Meadows: and then toss it outside

Jodi Meadows: (I can't squash them. I can't take the crunch)

Jodi Meadows: and then I think all is well

Jodi Meadows: FAST FORWARD TO FRIDAY

C.J. Redwine: crunch is bad

Jodi Meadows: Mom and I are in her bathroom brushing our teeth

Jodi Meadows: everything is great

C.J. Redwine: oh please no

Jodi Meadows: my teeth are clean

Jodi Meadows: it's wonderful

C.J. Redwine: gag gag gag already

Jodi Meadows: and then I get the cup that I'd been keeping my toothbrush in (bristles down)

Jodi Meadows: and using to rinse with..

C.J. Redwine: GAG GAG

Jodi Meadows: AND THERE IT IS

C.J. Redwine: STOP

Jodi Meadows: IN THE CUP

C.J. Redwine: I'M BEGGING YOU

C.J. Redwine: OMG

C.J. Redwine: HOLY VOMIT

Jodi Meadows: SNUGGLING UP TO MY TOOTHBRUSH

C.J. Redwine: AIDOHEIOANIOEW8U3029UR09 J

Jodi Meadows: WHICH I'D ALREADY USED

C.J. Redwine: YOU JUST KILLED ME

C.J. Redwine: DEAD

Jodi Meadows: COCKROACH COOTIES ON

Jodi Meadows: MY

Jodi Meadows: TEETH

Jodi Meadows: ON

Jodi Meadows: MY

Jodi Meadows: TONGUE

C.J. Redwine: did you puke?

Jodi Meadows: YES

C.J. Redwine: because I would totally puke

C.J. Redwine: I'm puking NOW

C.J. Redwine: on your behalf

Jodi Meadows: me too

Jodi Meadows: gag

Jodi Meadows: gag gag

C.J. Redwine: aaaaahhhhhhh

Jodi Meadows: I YELPED

Jodi Meadows: and trapped it

C.J. Redwine: my tongue doesn't know what to do with my teeth!

Jodi Meadows: and took it outside again

C.J. Redwine: blech blech

C.J. Redwine: JODI

Jodi Meadows: and then rinsed with peroxide

C.J. Redwine: KILL THE COCKROACH

C.J. Redwine: KILL IT

Jodi Meadows: THAT IS WHAT MY MOM SAID WHEN I GOT BACK

Jodi Meadows: SHE SAID WHY DIDN'T YOU PUT IT DOWN THE TOILET

C.J. Redwine: see???

C.J. Redwine: drown the sucker

Jodi Meadows: AND I SAID BC AT MY HOUSE, ONLY POOP GOES DOWN THE TOILET

Jodi Meadows: I HAVE A SEPTIC

Jodi Meadows: AND I ALWAYS FORGET

C.J. Redwine: did it lay eggs on your toothbrush, do you think?

C.J. Redwine: is helpful*

Jodi Meadows: GROSS

C.J. Redwine: you're going to unfriend me on FB now, aren't you?

Jodi Meadows: I PUT PEROXIDE IN MY MOUTH

C.J. Redwine: it whitens teeth!

Jodi Meadows: yes!

C.J. Redwine: and kills cockroach eggs!

Jodi Meadows: and then I brushed again with a new brush

C.J. Redwine: darn it, now I'm all gaggy and pukey

Jodi Meadows: I warned you

C.J. Redwine: I will tell you a story in return

C.J. Redwine: BRACE YOURSELF

Jodi Meadows: oh man

C.J. Redwine: this is worse

C.J. Redwine: because of the insidious nature

Jodi Meadows: (the cup was dark blue, otherwise I would have seen the sucker)

C.J. Redwine: of my parental unit

C.J. Redwine: well, there's your problem

C.J. Redwine: CLEAR CUPS, JODI

Jodi Meadows: YES
C.J. Redwine: ok, so

Jodi Meadows: your story

C.J. Redwine: my parents have multiple cats

C.J. Redwine: and after I moved out to go to college, somehow the cat box ended up in our bathroom

C.J. Redwine: right below the window against the wall

C.J. Redwine: which is fine

C.J. Redwine: my sister was the only one using the bathroom and she could use my counter

Jodi Meadows: oh

C.J. Redwine: my mom told me this story YEARS after it happened

C.J. Redwine: which is disturbing

C.J. Redwine: because WHAT STORIES ISN'T SHE TELLING ME?

C.J. Redwine: anyway, she told me she was cleaning the bathroom

C.J. Redwine: and she accidentally knocked my sister's toothbrush INTO THE CATBOX

Jodi Meadows: ...

Jodi Meadows: WHAT

C.J. Redwine: what would you do with said toothbrush?

Jodi Meadows: THROW IT AWAY

Jodi Meadows: THROW

Jodi Meadows: IT

Jodi Meadows: AWAY

Jodi Meadows: IT IS TAINTED

C.J. Redwine: of course!

C.J. Redwine: NOT MY MOTHER

C.J. Redwine: she WASHED it and PUT IT BACK

Jodi Meadows: DEFILED

Jodi Meadows: NOOOOOO

Jodi Meadows: NO NO NO GROSSSSSS

C.J. Redwine: and didn't tell my sister!

C.J. Redwine: !!!!

Jodi Meadows: D:

C.J. Redwine: so of course, I begin to scroll back through my ENTIRE CHILDHOOD

C.J. Redwine: and wonder

Jodi Meadows: RIGHT???

C.J. Redwine: how many times did MY toothbrush get washed and put back?

C.J. Redwine: HOW MANY, JODI?

Jodi Meadows: AT LEAST FIVE

C.J. Redwine: the bathroom grout was always clean

C.J. Redwine: now I find that suspicous!

Jodi Meadows: probably a reason for that

C.J. Redwine: I finally told my sister

C.J. Redwine: she didn't take it well
Jodi Meadows: seriously

Jodi Meadows: GAG

C.J. Redwine: now I don't know what to do with my mouth

C.J. Redwine: if I open it, I gag

C.J. Redwine: this is your fault

C.J. Redwine: this is like the time I felt a spider on my face at night

C.J. Redwine: and panicked and slapped it GOD KNOWS WHERE

Jodi Meadows: AGAHHHH

C.J. Redwine: and then I was terrified to sleep because where did it go?

C.J. Redwine: those suckers hold a grudge

Jodi Meadows: INDEED

C.J. Redwine: what if it crawled into my mouth?

C.J. Redwine: up my nose?

Jodi Meadows: we know how those things go

C.J. Redwine: oh yes

Jodi Meadows: O__O

C.J. Redwine: lay eggs in my brain
Jodi Meadows: OMC

Jodi Meadows: that's where defiance came from!

C.J. Redwine: one day I sneeze and BAM! spiders

C.J. Redwine: ahahahahaha

C.J. Redwine: yes!

C.J. Redwine: spider in the brain

C.J. Redwine: Incarnate came from cockroach in the mouth

Jodi Meadows: BRAIN SPIDER

C.J. Redwine: *pukes*

Jodi Meadows: GAHHH

C.J. Redwine: *gags*

C.J. Redwine: revisits dinner*

C.J. Redwine: why do you do this to me?

Jodi Meadows: I don't know

Jodi Meadows: I'm sorry
C.J. Redwine: this is a blog post

C.J. Redwine: you realize this
 
There you have it. That's what I did with my Friday night ...