Natalie Bahm's Blog, page 3
August 1, 2012
Five Years
Five years ago, when I was eight months pregnant with my third child, I decided to write a novel.
My first book took me more than a year to write. When I finished, I thought it was AWESOME.
It wasn't.
Now, five years later, I've written five finished novels. Two of them are pretty darn good. Two are passable--meaning I could probably let friends and family read them without dying of embarrassment. And one, the one I wrote first, is really, really awful.
I don't regret writing any of them. Each one taught me something about my voice and how I build worlds and create characters. The hours I put into writing crap made me a better writer.
Have you finished a book? Five? Ten? What have you learned as you've transitioned from a clueless new writer to a less clueless older writer?
My first book took me more than a year to write. When I finished, I thought it was AWESOME.
It wasn't.
Now, five years later, I've written five finished novels. Two of them are pretty darn good. Two are passable--meaning I could probably let friends and family read them without dying of embarrassment. And one, the one I wrote first, is really, really awful.
I don't regret writing any of them. Each one taught me something about my voice and how I build worlds and create characters. The hours I put into writing crap made me a better writer.
Have you finished a book? Five? Ten? What have you learned as you've transitioned from a clueless new writer to a less clueless older writer?
July 24, 2012
The Conference That Got Away
Two years ago I planned to go to a writing conference in Orlando. I registered for the conference, bought airline tickets, had a place to stay. I was SOOO excited because I'd get to meet my agent, Sara Megibow, for the first time AND I'd get to hang out with one of my best friends, Karen Hooper.
I was 6 months pregnant and healthy and doing great. And then I wasn't. I had some major complications and had to cancel my registration a week before the conference, get my plane tickets refunded, and tell my roommates I wouldn't be coming.
It sucked.
Now, two years later, I'm finally headed to the conference that got away, RWA (in Los Angeles this time). Karen and Sara will be there along with many other writer friends.
I'm SOOOO excited!
You probably know that RWA is short for Romance Writers of America, and if you've read this blog for a while you know that I'm not a romance writer. I write books for kids. So why would a children's writer go to RWA?
Short answer: because I've heard it's the best.
I've been to a couple other conferences. They were super fun and I learned a lot at each of them, but everyone I've talked to says RWA events are on a different level. I can't wait to see if they're right!
Is there a conference you'd love to attend? Is there one you've been to that you highly recommend?
I was 6 months pregnant and healthy and doing great. And then I wasn't. I had some major complications and had to cancel my registration a week before the conference, get my plane tickets refunded, and tell my roommates I wouldn't be coming.
It sucked.
Now, two years later, I'm finally headed to the conference that got away, RWA (in Los Angeles this time). Karen and Sara will be there along with many other writer friends.
I'm SOOOO excited!
You probably know that RWA is short for Romance Writers of America, and if you've read this blog for a while you know that I'm not a romance writer. I write books for kids. So why would a children's writer go to RWA?
Short answer: because I've heard it's the best.
I've been to a couple other conferences. They were super fun and I learned a lot at each of them, but everyone I've talked to says RWA events are on a different level. I can't wait to see if they're right!
Is there a conference you'd love to attend? Is there one you've been to that you highly recommend?
July 16, 2012
On Traveling with Children
I always think summer will be some magical time when I finally catch up on everything, get back into blogging, and write outside while my kids play sweetly in the grass. Surprise, surprise, that's never the way it goes. :)
I'm still horribly behind and my blogging has been awful. I promise that someday I will be better--unfortunately, at this rate, "someday" might mean 10 years from now.
Anyway, here's my attempt at not letting the blog die.
We try to take our kids on some sort of summer vacation every year. This spring as my husband and I were talking about where to go we skipped over all the usual places and decided instead to take a road trip through the western U.S. and Canada. Why did we decide this?
Because clearly, we are insane.
Have you ever taken a long road trip with one child? Not fun. Now multiply that by FOUR. I cannot even tell you how many times we stopped to pee or how many times we didn't stop and wished we had...
Most of the trip at least one child was unhappy. Every twenty minutes someone was hungry or thirsty or had to pee or needed a diaper change.
But guess what? I'd do it all again. Because when my kids think back on the experience all they'll remember is this:
And this:
And most of all THIS:
Worth it.
What are your favorite family memories?
I'm still horribly behind and my blogging has been awful. I promise that someday I will be better--unfortunately, at this rate, "someday" might mean 10 years from now.
Anyway, here's my attempt at not letting the blog die.
We try to take our kids on some sort of summer vacation every year. This spring as my husband and I were talking about where to go we skipped over all the usual places and decided instead to take a road trip through the western U.S. and Canada. Why did we decide this?
Because clearly, we are insane.
Have you ever taken a long road trip with one child? Not fun. Now multiply that by FOUR. I cannot even tell you how many times we stopped to pee or how many times we didn't stop and wished we had...
Most of the trip at least one child was unhappy. Every twenty minutes someone was hungry or thirsty or had to pee or needed a diaper change.
But guess what? I'd do it all again. Because when my kids think back on the experience all they'll remember is this:
And this:
And most of all THIS:
Worth it.
What are your favorite family memories?
June 25, 2012
What to do when you finish a book
In the past few weeks I have:
-Attended oodles of end-of-school-year activities and programs
-Refinished a dining room table and chairs
-Cleaned out my kitchen
-Traveled to a family reunion and slept in a yurt
-Painted a desk
That really doesn't look like a lot of things, but it was, trust me!
Anyhow, I'm sorry I've been away and haven't been focused on writerly things. Right now, I'm desperate to start a new book--two weeks away is about all I can handle. All the other things I planned to repaint and clean out will just have to wait.
How is summer treating you? Are you writing? Doing house projects? Vacationing in Maui?
-Attended oodles of end-of-school-year activities and programs
-Refinished a dining room table and chairs
-Cleaned out my kitchen
-Traveled to a family reunion and slept in a yurt
-Painted a desk
That really doesn't look like a lot of things, but it was, trust me!
Anyhow, I'm sorry I've been away and haven't been focused on writerly things. Right now, I'm desperate to start a new book--two weeks away is about all I can handle. All the other things I planned to repaint and clean out will just have to wait.
How is summer treating you? Are you writing? Doing house projects? Vacationing in Maui?
June 8, 2012
How to Write a Book in one CRAZY Month
In May I wrote a book.
(I'd started it in March, so I guess I didn't write a WHOLE book in May, just 150 of it's 180 pages).
And I revised it.
And I edited it.
All while planning Jayden's auction, working on another huge writing project, and doing all the regular stuff a mom of four does the last month of school.
IT WAS INSANE. I slipped writing into every spare minute, early in the morning, during nap times, and late at night. At the beginning of the month I didn't think I could even finish the first draft, much less get the whole thing done, but luckily this was a book that wanted to be written. It's a book I'm really proud of, and it's been a long time since I could say that about anything I've written.
Now I need a few weeks to catch up. My kids have their last week of school next week and there are about a million other things I let slip through the cracks during this crazy time. I promise to be back in a few weeks with a lot of exciting stuff to share.
Jayden's Auction finishes SUNDAY! All the stuff is posted now, so bid away! We've been so thrilled with how it's gone. This really is an amazing community and I know everyone's donations are going to make such a huge difference to Jayden's family. Thank you SO MUCH.
(I'd started it in March, so I guess I didn't write a WHOLE book in May, just 150 of it's 180 pages).
And I revised it.
And I edited it.
All while planning Jayden's auction, working on another huge writing project, and doing all the regular stuff a mom of four does the last month of school.
IT WAS INSANE. I slipped writing into every spare minute, early in the morning, during nap times, and late at night. At the beginning of the month I didn't think I could even finish the first draft, much less get the whole thing done, but luckily this was a book that wanted to be written. It's a book I'm really proud of, and it's been a long time since I could say that about anything I've written.
Now I need a few weeks to catch up. My kids have their last week of school next week and there are about a million other things I let slip through the cracks during this crazy time. I promise to be back in a few weeks with a lot of exciting stuff to share.
Jayden's Auction finishes SUNDAY! All the stuff is posted now, so bid away! We've been so thrilled with how it's gone. This really is an amazing community and I know everyone's donations are going to make such a huge difference to Jayden's family. Thank you SO MUCH.
June 2, 2012
Auction Starts TODAY
Come and check it out! We've got some awesome stuff up today and tons more to come.
Bid on agent and author critiques, art, crafts, jewelry, signed books and much more!
And Stephanie, Jessica and Keisha win a books! Email me to let me know what book you want and where I should send it. :)
Bid on agent and author critiques, art, crafts, jewelry, signed books and much more!
And Stephanie, Jessica and Keisha win a books! Email me to let me know what book you want and where I should send it. :)
May 29, 2012
Jayden's Auction Starts Soon
Just wanted to remind everyone about the auction starting Saturday, June 2.
You'll find the usual must-haves like agent and author critiques, signed books, and jewelry, and also some fun new things like original art, customized portraits, and even a special little something from the new HOBBIT movie. Yeah, it's going to be super cool.
Make sure to follow the Help Baby Jayden blog (where the auction will take place), Facebook, or Twitter so you can get all the updates.
And if you'd like to help us out by tweeting or posting about the auction (you can let me know in the comments), I'll add you to the drawing to win a 2012 debut of your choice! I'll pick 3 winners Friday.
You'll find the usual must-haves like agent and author critiques, signed books, and jewelry, and also some fun new things like original art, customized portraits, and even a special little something from the new HOBBIT movie. Yeah, it's going to be super cool.
Make sure to follow the Help Baby Jayden blog (where the auction will take place), Facebook, or Twitter so you can get all the updates.
And if you'd like to help us out by tweeting or posting about the auction (you can let me know in the comments), I'll add you to the drawing to win a 2012 debut of your choice! I'll pick 3 winners Friday.
May 21, 2012
Is Blogging Dead?
Most of you know I'd been away from the blogosphere for a while before I started up again a few weeks ago. It's been at least a year since I've done a decent job of it.
Over the past three weeks as I've read blogs and tried to do a bit of blogging myself I've noticed some interesting things.
1. 75% of my old blogging friends are no longer blogging.
2. When I visit the blog pages that I used to frequent, I notice that blogs that got 10-20 comments per post a year ago now get only a handful, and blogs that used to see 50-100 comments per post now receive only 10-20.
3. Even BIG POSTS, like agent and book deal announcements, seem to be getting way less attention than they did a year ago.
4. Last Thursday, I posted a little book giveaway. I promised to send three commenters ANY DEBUT NOVEL THEY WANT if they spread the word about a charity auction that will start in 2 weeks. I got almost no response--even when my rock star agent, Sara Megibow, retweeted the post. A year ago I'm pretty sure a post like that would have had at least a little interest. I've noticed that giveaway posts on other blogs seem to be light on readers and commenters too.
I'm not going to lie. I kind of get it. Blogging takes an incredible amount of time if you're going to do it right (thus the year long blogging vacation). There are many easier ways to keep in touch with other writers. But at the same time it's sad to see blogs I used to love close up shop. I felt like I actually got to know people through their blogs in a way that really isn't possible through other social networks. If blogging writers really are becoming a thing of the past, I'm going to be sad.
Am I missing something here, or did blogging become a dying art during my year away? What has replaced it? Twitter? Tumblr? Facebook? Pinterest? I do a decent job on Twitter, but I don't have clue about how to use any of the others. I guess I'd better figure them out.
And feel free to comment on my book giveaway post if you'd like a free book! Right now you have a 100% chance of getting one, as there are only 2 comments and I've promised to send books to 3 winners! :)
May 17, 2012
Win a 2012 Debut OF YOUR CHOICE!
Hey everyone!
Since Jayden's auction is just 2 weeks away and we're still hoping for a few more donations, I thought I'd try something fun.
We need to make sure everyone hears about all the awesome things that will be offered at the auction. You can stay informed by:
-Liking Jayden's Facebook Page
-Following him on Twitter
-Following his Blog (this is where the auction will take place)
We also need to spread the word. You can do this by:
-Tweeting or retweeting about the auction
-Blogging about Jayden
-Posting something about Jayden and the auction on Facebook
And we could use a few more donations. You can help by:
-Donating a book, critique or art item (you can email me donations at nataliebahm (at) yahoo (dot) com)
-Passing this along to a friend, agent, or colleague who might be willing to donate
Anyone who does two of these things (you can pick ANY two) and tells me about what they did in a comment below is eligible to win a 2012 debut of his/her choice. I'll even pre-order one for you if the book of your choice doesn't come out until later this year. There are so many awesome debuts this year. I know there's something for everyone. I will pick THREE winners on Thursday, June 1, the day before the auction begins. And yes, I am happy to ship internationally.
Thank you SO MUCH for helping. I'm hoping the auction will be a great success and take a little bit of the financial pressure off Jayden's family, so they can focus on helping him get well.
