Heather McCubbin's Blog, page 36

Wonderful Team Member Readership Award

 
Today while I had a chunk of free time, I was visiting some of my favorite bloggers sites and reading their recent posts. I was surprised and excited when I saw Lori MacLaughlin had nominated me for the "Wonderful Team Member Readership Award!" The Readership Award salutes bloggers who regularly visit and leave thoughtful comments on other blogs in support of the blogosphere community. I truly appreciate Lori thinking of me and encourage you to visit her blog "Writing, Reading and the Pursuit of Dreams" here.

This nomination came at a crossroads for me. I was feeling guilty I hadn't visited blogs in awhile so when the ISWG post happened last Wednesday, I made sure I read and commented on blogs that interested me. I truly believe that this network of readers and writers will be a web of support to anyone who wants to be published, is published or is trying to advocate for someone or something that pertains to the writing community. I am also working with someone on getting "Lane Changes" published and I know that once it happens, blogging will be very important to me and potential readers. So, thank you Lori for thinking of me!

One of the rules for accepting this award is to finish the sentence: A great reader is… To me, a great reader is someone who will share their love of books, whether through recommendations or conversing about what they've just read. Also, I think it's important to try reading something in every genre so you can make an informed choice on what you like and don't like. Being honest in your review or feedback is important, too. There is no need to attack the author, but to give a well thought out critique of the book you've just read. I have also learned the more you read, the better writer you become so to all the writers or fledgling writers out there...read, read, read!

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I would like to nominate for the Wonderful Team Member Readership Award the following great readers who have made my blogging life so much fun:

Donna K. Weaver: I recently began following her posts and found her through ISWG (I have found so many through that blog)! Her posts are unique, true and entertaining; she has posted on things from plagiarism to embracing your inner hotness.  I enjoy how she posts random videos that represent whatever she may be thinking about that day, which keeps her page fresh. Please congratulate her on the publishing of "Torn Canvas" and visit her blog here.
Elizabeth Mueller: I met Elizabeth at an LDS Storymakers Conference years ago and have stayed connected with her since! She regularly posts on Facebook and her blog and even introduced me to a "Blog Hop" which was great fun!  She always has a positive word or message to keep you writing, even if you've hit a wall. You can find her blog "Elizabeth Mueller, Author" here.
Sabrina Wolfheart: I met Sabrina via the Blog Hop I mentioned above. And while she says she is a teenager, don't let that cloud your view on what teens really think. Her posts are mature, insightful and fun. In addition to being a dog lover, she is a book reviewer as well. You can read her blog, "Books and Bark" here.
Jody Hedlund: I don't know her personally but I found her blog and have been hooked. She has insightful information that seems to be exactly what I need at this point in my writing. Currently, she writes about "Pet Peeves" and I urge you to visit her website/blog and her published works here.
Books Make Me Happy Reviews: Jennifer founded this website and once she established herself as a knowledgeable book person, she has had a backlog of writers asking her and her staff to review their works. Most of the books she and her staff review are Fantasy/Magic related but you can tell Jennifer puts a lot of thought into her site, works closely with her reviewers and also manages to run the Coastal Magic Convention in Florida as well. Visit her website here and you may find a whole new list of books you would like to read! (Disclaimer: I review for this site, but through her I have found some new authors that I love and am giving my Kindle a workout!)
                                                                               ***Here are the original rules if you wish to accept this award. You can follow them as they are, or follow them in your own way. :)
The Nominee of the Wonderful Team Member Readership Award shall display the logo on his/her post/page and/or sidebar.The Nominee shall nominate up to 14 readers they appreciate over a period of 7 days (1 week) – this can be done at any rate during the week. It can be ALL on one day or a few on one day and a few on another day, etc.The Nominee shall name his or her Wonderful Team Member Readership Award nominees on a post or on posts during the 7 day (1 week) period.The Nominee shall make these rules, or amended rules keeping to the spirit of the Wonderful Team Member Readership Award, known to each reader s/he nominates.The Nominee must finish this sentence and post: “A great reader is…

Writing in Airports

I traveled to Nashville and Huntsville, AL this weekend. On my way to my destinations I had a layover in Kansas City. Since I flew Southwest, I had my laptop and Kindle with me knowing that the two hour plus flight would give me time to read or write. 
However, as I pulled out my laptop on the plane and began to type, I realized that the guy next to me may be able to see what I was writing. The guy behind me could probably see, too, as I was in an exit row and there was quite a bit of space for him to look over my shoulder. I began to feel self-conscious so I closed down my laptop and read for the remainder of the trip.
Once I was in TN and AL (with Cindy who is co-writing "Sticks & Stones" with me) I was fine. She was reading/editing the story and making her suggestions the four days I was there. She lives in Huntsville, so we made sure we left early enough to get me back to Nashville for my 7pm flight. I arrived at 4pm, was lucky enough to have TSA Preflight Check-in and found a nice private corner near my gate, with an outlet.
So, I wrote and worked on my sequel to "Lane Changes".
I was by myself for about 45 minutes until someone came to charge their phone in the outlet…that was below a payphone (irony…or something?). Okay, I could still write as he was on the floor, on the other side of the payphone, and I was in a chair.
Then another person came and sat at the end of the row of chairs (only four chairs) and even though he was talking on his Bluetooth, I felt self-conscious enough not to be able to finish. So, I saved the document and figured this would be a good story post, kind of hinging on the ISWG post from last week.
So, the moral of this post? Maybe airports should have those old-fashion study carrels that the libraries have; their own power supply, softer chairs, and privacy. Maybe some of us writers would get a lot more written, in an airport, if there was some semblance of privacy!

How Much Do You Talk About Your Writing? #IWSG

Another post for #IWSG Wednesday! Please check out Alex's website about it here: IWSG Blog.

A few years ago, a group like-minded friends and I were talking about our writing. One of my friends, I'll call her Jane, had a bite from an agent on her story. When we asked her what her new story was about she only said, "I'm superstitious about giving too much away. I'll tell you when/if it gets published." Years later, I saw that a story of hers is going to be published, but because she remains mum about what it is about I don't know if it is the one from years ago or a new one. I respect her wishes and we find that there are still things to talk about: our writing process, editing, blogging/advertising your work, our characters antics and so on.

On the flip side, I have a friend who will tell you what she is writing and is very good about leading you into her social media, getting you hooked, then once her story is self published/on an e-reading site you are invested. It could be months of her talking about it. She may call me up and asked me to beta-read, or ask what I think of a cover she designed. I am in awe at how comfortable (she seems) in putting her work out there before it's really out there. She has always had the ability to put herself out there and is not shy about asking someone for help.

I fall somewhere in the middle. Writing is personal to me and I have a core group of writing/blogging friends I am comfortable talking about my work in progress (WIP) with other writers. I will tell others the summary of what I am writing, the title, how long I've been working on it, but only if they ask. Sometimes, I'll even ask my kids for a synonym or good fantasy name for something. However, neither them nor my husband has read anything that is currently a WIP. I only have one short story out there and while I have the book on my shelf, I don't know if they have read it. I don't need their approval but am afraid of what I'd feel like if they say "it's okay" or "I didn't really get it." (Hm, so maybe I do need their approval?)  So, I operate under the radar, they know I'm writing, they may know the genre but that is about it. I have a Facebook page where I will write posts within the subject area of writing, and obviously this blog page, but this is as public as I get with a work in progress.  I am working on it. I know in order for people to become invested in your work and WANT to read it, once it's available, you need to hook them. And you can't do it too early; you can't say, "I have a wonderful story about ____ coming, but not until next May!"

I'd like to know how much you talk about your writing/current WIP? While you are creating your story, do you share with a select few, like my friend "Jane"? Would you love to gather everyone around and discuss your characters endlessly? Are you comfortable advertising your work and characters AS you are writing the story, like my other friend?

Deadlines, Schmedlines!

Posts ago I bragged how I was going to get a rough draft of my current WIP "Sticks & Stones" finished by my trip next week. I was going to give it to the co-writer, Cindy, so she could add and edit. Alas, I'm only half way done. Life and vacation got in the way.

However, half done is not so bad! I just sent her what I had and hopefully when I arrive in Alabama next week she will have her thoughts and edits. Luckily, we are staying in a hotel, giving us time to  hash out the edits and maybe even write the next upcoming chapters--in between me playing tourist and visiting her family. I'm very pleased the way it's progressing and have reached that stage where I think of the characters half of the day. I put them in different situations, in my head, and if it doesn't feel natural I push it away. I even wrote a scene that is chapters ahead and saved it in a different folder. This usually means I am on a roll...fingers crossed it stays that way!

On a different note, I am every excited to see the "Outlander" series on STARZ. This is one of my favorite books and seeing real life actors portraying Jamie and Claire are a bit unnerving. They are nothing like what I had in my head. Claire was taller, bigger and had dark blond curly hair. Jamie was taller, bigger, broader and had longer straighter hair. However, the trailer and interviews I have seen lead me to believe that this could be a smash hit. Fingers crossed on this one, too!

Back from vacation and boy did I...

....read! I did not do any writing. Zip. Zilch. Unless you count the grocery list.
Instead, I read.
You need to read to be a better writer. That much is 100% true. I read Garden Spells, The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden, The Redemption of Callie and Kayden, A Dog's Journey (sequel to A Dog's Purpose), Second Glance by Jodi Piccoult and a book that I am reviewing for a site, here.

The upside to not writing, and being at the beach and not doing ANYTHING--except figuring out what is for dinner, watching dolphins and debating which Old Pro mini golf course we are going to play--is your brain is relaxed and accepting of new ideas.

For Lane Changes, my YA/New Adult novel, I came to the realization I am going to try to market it to an agent again. I had a few nibbles years ago and even after 20 rejection letters and two 'give me more' and one request for a 'full MS' that is enough to carry me through the last few years. I knew I could make it better. So, I tightened it up, added the advice an agent gave me, had another person beta/edit it and after one more read through, I'm going to prepare those query letters. Scary.

For Sticks & Stones, the YA Fantasy I am working on with my friend Cindy, I had about a bajillion ideas come to me. A few I tossed away like a shell into the ocean. The others I let percolate and two were so intense, I dreamt about them. After a day back at home grocery shopping, cleaning, picking up the dog from the kennel, I am hoping I will have time tomorrow to play with these ideas. It's time to get working on Sticks & Stones if I am going to have it to Cindy by mid-August.

Fingers crossed everything falls into place!

Need some crazy stories...

In talking to the publisher who has "Lane Changes" she has decided to wait a year in publishing my book in order to get her business more established, and work on the two projects she has right now, which is fine. This gives me a chance to take the sequel that is written and divide it into another book...the college years. I would love some real-life college stories from anyone out there that can be incorporated into the book. I have some from my own four years at college, but any others would be appreciated. I would not use real names, of course, or even the real college.

Thanks in advance! You can submit the story in the reply here or contact me directly.

#amwriting #amediting #amreading

Good ol' hashtags for Twitter. I found I did all of these over the 4th of July weekend. We were hit by the remnants of Hurricane Arthur yesterday and there was nothing to do but sit inside on that rainy day and edit. And write. And read.

"Lane Changes", my YA light mystery and romance book, is being reviewed at a small, start up publisher right now. It is 77K words. The publisher knows that there is a book 2, but it was in VERY rough shape. I wrote these two stories back in 2006 to 2008 and for some innane reason, I thought it'd be a good idea to have each chapter be an individual document. There are 30 chapters in the second book and according to the Word Count...it's over 111K words long. Me thinks that may be a bit too much for a second book? The second book spans six years; the first four are glossed over because there wasn't much happening pertinent to the main storyline. So, I'm toying with the idea of writing more scenes for the first four years and making this a trilogy. There is a natural stopping point, so it can be done, but it'll be a lot of work. I already have some ideas that are popping into my head that will make the storyline of Lane much richer.

So, this leads me to the question...how many words is TOO many? I know, upon researching for agent submissions, 60K is a good minimum amount of words to have for a novel. I feel 111K is too many, and it's not even fully edited yet. To give you an idea of how much I was writing and editing yesterday for Book 2, when I first opened the file on my laptop and combined all the Chapters into one document, there were 99K words. From July 4-5th, I wrote in 12K more.

Ugh, the Math is what is going to kill me here.

So, yeah. There we go. What do you readers and writers prefer? A three book series where you have to wait three years to finish reading it or a standalone book with a Part 1, Part 2 or Part 3? I guess I will have to wait and see what the publisher would like from me if "Lane Changes" gets picked up!

Picture below stolen from The Waiting is the Hardest Part Blog

IWSG--Encouragment via Reviews in Writing

It's the first Wednesday of the month and that means...IWSG time! Today, I'm talking about my thoughts on reviews and how they can encourage you, if done tactfully!

I know there are authors out there who have said they never Google themselves or read reviews about their newest book. I'm not sure I'd have that kind of self control, especially nowadays where most authors have numerous social media sites. You have to maintain them, so you will eventually come across a reader who tells you their thoughts on your work. So, unless you have the money and can hire someone to manage your website/blog/Facebook/Twitter etc accounts for you, you are bound to come across negative and, hopefully, positive reviews/comments.

I wrote FanFiction (Harry Potter) for two years or so. I read FF for longer and I saw some of the "flamers" and what they can write about a person's hard work. I could tell most of those "flamers" were just trying to get a reaction; probably bored teens or even adults who have nothing better to do than start an argument with someone they can't see. On the flip side, there are the gushing positive reviews. You can tell how excited they are to be reading something they connect with. They use numerous exclamation points, caps, or just tell you "I LOVE IT!!!!" Sometimes, you get some detailed feedback about specific scenes, characters or ideas that they liked. I've also seen this with reviews for published works on sites like Amazon, Goodreads and personal Blogs.

Personally, I like the positive feedback (who doesn't?) that comes with "why" they liked it. If they said YA Romance is their favorite genre and they identify with character "A"...why is that? If you loved a specific dialogue scene, "why" did it stick out to you? Negative feedback has it's uses, too. If more than a handful of readers tell you they think that <insert scene here> is "unreal" or "fell flat" it may just have done that, but getting a "why" is helpful. I find it encouraging to hear this kind of feedback as it helps me refine and chisel away at my story, trying to make it better and more appealing.

Knowing what works and what doesn't is encouraging in the long run. You will find that handful of people who just don't like what you wrote, but I chalk that up to the fact this story just isn't their cup of tea. If you can back up your positive and negative reviews with "why", it means alot more to the author than just "This was great" or "I couldn't get into it."

What kind of encouragement helps you as a writer? What do you think of some reviews that you have stumbled across?

My Writing Process and How to Meet Other Authors!

Elizabeth Mueller, a fellow author that I met at a conference years ago,  emailed me one day and asked if I wanted to do a Blog Hop. I had never heard of one and after a flurry of emails, with many questions from my end, I finally figured it out. I was to introduce a few authors on my blog, maybe write how I met them, and then have a link to their blogs in a list to the right. I set out to find some of my favorite bloggers and authors and that's who you will see down below. It's a great way to discover new talent, new friends and enjoyable blogging. Elizabeth told me I was to write about my "Writing Process" in this blog so here you go. You can see her thoughts on this over at her blog. 
I write like I think: free-flowing, brainstorming, different thoughts coming out at the same time but eventually weave together to tell the whole story. Sometimes, I write the end first then backtrack to the beginning. Other times I will cut an entire scene I wrote and place it in a different "file" knowing it'll never fit back into the story but since I created it, I don't feel right deleting all those words! There really is not set way, no outline or notes that I follow. Occasionally, I will do research because I don't know enough about the subject. This can range on anything from the military to fairies.
I am not one of those people who always have a pen and paper at the ready, either in my purse, in my car or on my nightstand. I can only remember one time that I had such a vivid dream I wrote it down and made note that it would make a great story...at some point. Usually, plot structure or scenes come to me as I'm writing--my characters lead me to certain points--or as I'm doing something fairly relaxing like driving or watching TV.
So, there really isn't any structure to my writing process except to write almost every day wether it's one sentence or a few thousand words. I find I do this better when I'm in a place where nothing is expected of me: son's instrument lesson, babysitting, waiting in the car for pick up at school etc. 
Do you have a writing process or rules that you follow? I think everyone has their own way of doing it, just like everyone has a unique blog quite different from yours! You will meet three authors below. Feel free to click the links at the right and find their blog. See what they have written, ask a question or just read their blog and see if you connect to anyone. You may just find someone who would be a great writing partner or even beta reader for your Work in Progress (WIP).

Sabrina is a blogger I found just recently. Admittedly, her picture and title of her blog drew me in. Her posts are witty, mature and intelligent. You can tell she is passionate about her writing craft and dogs! I'm so happy I stumbled onto her.

Sabrina Wolfheart  is a teenage writer and blogger, who has loved to write ever since she can remember. She has been published in several short story and poetry anthologies, including Lekha's Young Wordsmiths anthology, and Poetic Power's A Celebration of Poets Anthology in Spring 2013. She is a NaNoWriMo enthusiast, and finished her first novel-length manuscript, a YA science fiction, in April 2014. She's currently working on her first YA realistic fiction novel, and hopes to get both of her manuscripts published once she revises and finishes them. She has been blogging about writing since August 2013,  and is thrilled with the positive and supportive community she has met.
Other than writing, she enjoys reading any type of science fiction, watching science fiction TV shows, and volunteering with dogs. She also enjoys science, and, strangely, school (when it's interesting). She also started a campaign for pit bull advocacy, called Pits4PEACE. When she is facing Writer's Block, Sabrina spends her time identifying every font in Microsoft Word.
She lives with a soon-to-be-six-year-old Border Collie/Pitbull mix, and spends the majority of her time waiting for the hours in which she can write.


Lani is a personal friend of mine. We met in 2007 on a Twilight Fan Club Board. She was planning an "I Love Edward Cullen Party" and I offered to help. From the moment we talked on the phone, we licked! I flew out to Utah, from the east coast, and met her in person and we immediately greeted each other like old friends! She writes like a madwoman and can go all day; I envy the amount of concentration she has and her creative mind. She has numerous books you can read, listed below.

Lani Woodland: I've been an avid reader since elementary school. In sixth grade I began writing stories and recruiting (with force when necessary) my friends to act them out.
I've always loved scary stories, and have a hard time enjoying any book without at least a little romance in it.
I live in Southern California with my husband, our two children and a large collection of board games.
I have worked as a spot-welder, babysitter, janitor, photographer, gymnastics coach, and movie extra. I enjoy bonfires at the beach, hole-in-the-wall restaurants, speed talking, chocolate as a cure-all, and the word "precisely". I have written: The Yara Silva Trilogy: Intrinsical, Indelible, Inevitable. Pirates of Orea, Pieces of Jade, The Pom Pom Periodicals: That’s The Spirit (The Pom Pom Periodicals, Book 1) Give Me A C (The Pom Pom Periodicals, Book 2). Short Stories include Enchanted: Love Stories of the Paranormal (Kiss of Death and The Kiss of the Siren). These two short stories originally appeared in Transcendent: Tales of the Paranormal.
Please visit my website & blog


I stumbled upon Lori's blog from the "Insecure Writer's Group" Blog that Elizabeth Mueller pointed out to me. Lori mentioned swords, kids (not kids running with swords), had a castle on her blog and talked about self-publishing--she had me hooked! Her posts are informative, consistent and there is always something you can learn from reading them!

Lori L. MacLaughlin traces her love of fantasy adventure to Tolkien and Terry Brooks, finding The Lord of the Rings and The Sword of Shannara particularly inspirational. She's been writing stories in her head since she was old enough to run wild through the forests on the farm on which she grew up.She has been many things over the years – tree climber, dairy farmer, clothing salesperson, kids' shoe fitter, retail manager, medical transcriptionist, journalist, private pilot, traveler, wife and mother, Red Sox and New York Giants fan, muscle car enthusiast and NASCAR fan, and a lover of all things Scottish and Irish.When she's not writing (or doing chores), she can be found curled up somewhere dreaming up more story ideas, taking long walks in the countryside, or spending time with her kids. She lives with her family in northern Vermont.Lori will soon be publishing her first novel, a romantic fantasy adventure entitled Lady, Thy Name Is Trouble.

Stuck like glue...

Have you ever had a book that sticks with you days, weeks or longer after you've read it?

As a child and teenager I remember re-reading the same books (and this may give away my age) but books like: Stranger With My Face, Sweet Valley High, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, Meet the Austins, A Wrinkle in Time, Dicey's Song.  Honestly, I haven't picked them up since early high school, but I do have all but the SVH on my shelf. I loved them; they were comforting, familiar and well used like your favorite blanket or toy as a young child.

Nowadays, I find books that stick with me for other reasons. An example are two books written from a dog's POV: A Dog's Purpose and Racing In the Rain. If you have a dog, love a dog or just work with them, these books will definitely change how you relate and view them. I tend to give my cat and dog voices (think Doug in the Pixar movie "Up") and notice other animal lovers do this, too. When reading them you can't help but think of your own dog. Or, even cats! I read Dewey, The Library Cat years ago and couldn't help but think of mine in some of those chapters. As an adult, we have seen and heard more about animal abuse or neglect than many children so these kinds of book can strike you at your deepest, emotional level.

Some of my other favorites like: Outlander, The Language of Flowers, A Certain Slant of Light, Harry Potter and The Fever series I love because of a 'lighter' side. These books were different enough to catch my interest and had characters that were real and vivid to me.  The storyline was unique and I hadn't read anything like it before which is why they are on my bookshelf and will be some of the first books I recommend to people if I am asked.

Sometimes, though, especially when on vacation I just want what I call a "beach read"--you sit back, read and don't have to think or feel sad. My go to books for this occasion are Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series or some Nora Roberts books (I recently read Chasing Fire by her and thought it was very well researched and less romantic than her others.) I did read Stephen King's Under the Dome while on a cruise two years ago but it was so riveting and different I didn't mind that it made me think at the end!

So, what are your go to books? Do you have favorites on your shelf that are the first ones you'd recommend to a friend? Are there books that you've read and you could not stand for whatever reason?