Jaye Robin Brown's Blog, page 17

Things That Are Wrong

I'm sitting here looking at a class of fifteen tenth through twelfth graders.

What's wrong is even having the worry that one might be a shooter.
I worry that a shooter might get to them.

I shouldn't have to worry about this.
They shouldn't have to worry about each other.

I shouldn't have to re-lock my doors when I come in so that if I must slam them shut and locked, they stay that way.

I shouldn't have to imagine which door a gun-wielding maniac might barge into.

I shouldn't.
You shouldn't.
We shouldn...

When IRL Friends Find Out You Sold A Book

What is it when people find out you’ve sold a book? I’m not talking about the aspiring writers I know who are studying the art of the query, researching agents, working with crit partners and writing groups. (Y'all get it. Completely)
I’m talking about childhood friends and acquaintances IRL (in real life).
Camp 1: Oh wow, you’re awesome, that’s great. I can say I knew you before you’re famous and all J.K. Rowling and shit. (ermmm, yeah, right, may I remind you she has a theme park?)
Camp 2: Oh....

How cool is that?

This morning when I got to school, there was already a student in my room. Don't know how or why the door was unlocked and all lights blazing, but sometimes it happens that way. Anyway, this girl had picked up artwork that had fallen in the hallway over night and was dutifully re-taping it to hang again. She's a cool kid. One of my faves and is in the know about my alter ego writer life.

I was excited about a passage I'd written before leaving for work and asked her if I could read it to her....

Are You Standing on the Precipice?

I've been thinking a lot the last couple of months about this dream of becoming a published writer. The thinking got amped up when I actually had the dream materialize.

Suddenly, here I was, the girl who'd been dreaming, who'd been dashed, who stood up again to chase the kite tail of an impossible dream, only to finally catch the damn thing. Exhilarating. Yes, indeed. And I won't lie, it's been all the awesome you would think it would be. The absolute pinnacle.

Yet, at the same time, it's broug...

All the Gratitude!!!!!!! SipSwap!

Several months ago, I signed up to participate in this cool blog hop called SipSwap. The idea behind Sipswap was for writers to exchange mugs with other writers. Most of us love a hot beverage when we write, so it was a perfect idea. The brain children behind this fun exchange were Jessica Love and Kelsey Macke.

Well, guess what?
Lucky me got picked by both of them!!
Jessica was my Sipswap person, having drawn my name for a mug. First I got a sweet card from her saying my mug was on its way from...

November #wipmadness Wrap-Up - December's Host - And a Final Winner.

So, lucky for us, Charlie Holmberg, has agreed to host the #wipmadness crew for the month of December. Starting next Monday we'll be checking in over at her blog: Myself As Written

Thanks Charlie for stepping in! Not sure who's up for January, February we'll be over at Ghost Girl's blog, and of course March is reserved for our founder, Denise Jaden.

All right - I know this is really the reason you're all here. The final winner as chosen by random.org is:

#2 - Angelina
I swear to goodness, there's...

WIP Madness Week 4- November Check-In #wipmadness

This week has flown by like the frenzied flight of a turkey escaped from the Butterball plant.


I hope my fellow Americans had great holidays with family and friends, or solo should that be your preferred way to roll. I went to a great "orphan" Thanksgiving with 19 amazing free thinking artist and entrepreneurial types, then had a visit on Black Friday from a high school buddy in town (Asheville, anyway) with her family. I've also written - a ton- am back up to 30k (more by the time this posts)...

WIP Madness Week 3 - November Check-In #wipmadness

It's time! For those of us down in the lower half of North America it's a week of feasting, family drama and joy, and best of all...turkey! (or tofurkey)

So, in honor of the holiday here's what I want to know. How's it going with your writing? What's your favorite family holiday dish? And third, does food or a family gathering feature in your manuscript?

For me, I've had a slow but steady week of writing. The manuscript I've been wrangling with is coming to life and I'm back up to 22k after scr...

WIP Madness Week 2 - November Check-In #wipmadness

Hello, my fine feathered friends. Right. You're not ducks. But I've always loved that phrase.

So last week we looked at what our main character's were thankful for - this week let's talk about you. Is there one thing that happened in your past week, writing life or personal, that made you say "Awww, I'm so grateful for that."



For me, it was a small group of fellow crazies who've formed the #5amwritersclub on Twitter. Our own @kiperoo is among this elite crowd of ugly-breathed, caffeine-chugging...

WIP Madness Week 1 - November Check-In #wipmadness

Hi WIPMadness Peeps and Tweeps - I hope your November has gotten off to a blazing start. I know many of you are doing NANO and this will be a great opportunity to shout and scream (or tear out your hair) about how it's going.

For the rest of us, what's on tap for November? For me, I just want words on the page. I'll set a goal of 20K and see if I can get there. Still struggling with this WIP.

So here's our game this week. It's Thanksgiving month here in the US of A - and there's loads to be tha...