Aimee Carter's Blog, page 5

On Negativity

I believe in karma.

Not just the idea that if you put good into the world, it'll give good back to you – sometimes in ways you hope for, sometimes with the completely unexpected. But also the idea that positivity breeds happiness and success. It's all connected – how you feel about life, how you feel about the crap life spews at you (we all get spewed at, some more than others), and how you handle it all.

I find this is especially true about writing.

Jealousy and envy are two of the hardest emotions to exorcise, and they're also some of the most soul-crushing and embittering. It always seems like there's someone ahead of you. Someone whose career is taking off while you're stuck on the runway with a clogged toilet and a screaming baby in the seat behind you. You feel like a hamster on a wheel, always going going going but never getting anywhere. It's disheartening, and it sucks. Not just in the slangy way, but it can suck the happiness right out of you, leaving you with nothing but doubts. Except when it comes to how terrible you are. Now that you're sure of.

The thing to remember is that we all start on the same general level. Some learn faster, but in the beginning, we're all the same – head up butt, clueless, with that new writer musk that smells like coffee and hope.

But eventually that hope will almost inevitably turns to despair. It does for just about every writer at some point in their path – there is always someone ahead of you. When you're on completely different levels, their success seems to be unattainable, but when it's just one step, ugh. They have a completed manuscript. A good completed manuscript. A dozen good completed manuscripts. Agent interest. Partial requests. Full requests. An agent. A publisher. And let's not get into advances and marketing and reviews and sales. Someone will always have more than you. Always.

And while all of this is happening, you might be secretly wondering why they got signed (or published or critically acclaimed) when you didn't. You're part of the same critique group, after all, or you're signed with the same agent/editor, and you're all on the same level. Hell, maybe you think they're not such a hot shot. Why them and why not you?

I don't care how selfless, generous, and goodhearted you are, or how many orphans you foster. At some low point, these thoughts will creep into your head. How long they stay and how much of a hold they have on you, however, is completely up to you.

I've been there. I was signed with an agent for all of a day, and because of reasons that were not that agent's fault, she had to cancel my contract. It hurt like hell, and it made me doubt myself completely. I was eighteen years old, a freshman in college, and I was convinced I'd never get to do what I loved professionally. I was convinced I was a loser.

But here's a secret: whether you're a winner or a loser is completely up to you. You can decide to let that bitterness take hold and leech the life right out of you. It will if you let it, but in the end, the only person it'll hurt is you. You'll turn off the people in your life. They'll stop asking you how your writing is going. They'll stop returning your grouchy emails. They'll stop supporting and encouraging you. Negativity, like positivity, is contagious, and the happier they are, the less they'll want to be around you. And trust me, you want happy people in your life.

Or you can acknowledge that bitterness, realize it's doing nothing but hurting you, and tell it in a firm voice to leave. If it doesn't, you can kick it where the sun don't shine. Repeatedly if you have to, until it gets the picture and finds someone else to leech off of.

I didn't query agents for four years after that agent-for-a-day incident, and when I finally did, I was scared out of my brains. I was a loser. A reject. That black shelter dog no one ever wants. No way was I finding someone. Sometimes I still feel that way – well, okay, most of the time (self-confidence isn't my thing). But you don't need to feel like JK Rowling inside to smile when someone brings up writing.

If negativity has eaten you from the inside out and it feels like you're never going to find your rainbow, let alone the pot of gold at the end of it, you don't have to let it win. I know these feel like empty words from someone who's long past that stage, but they aren't empty words, and the only thing less secure than a writing career is Donald Trump's hairpiece.

Think positive. It might feel like rolling a boulder uphill at first, but like any habit, the more you practice it, the easier it'll become. Rather than green-eyeing that writer who's one step ahead of you, smile for them (remember that cliche about how many muscles it takes to smile vs. how many it takes to frown?). And when the initial wave of envy has passed, examine their situation as best you can. What is it that nudged them one step forward?

Maybe it's dumb luck – that does happen – but just because they got lucky does not take away from your chances of getting published. Someone else's success does not take away from yours. But what will suck you dry is bemoaning that one step. What will suck you dry is bitterly dissecting their work, looking for mistakes. Looking for reasons why they don't deserve success, as opposed to looking for reasons they got there in the first place – the very same reasons that you can learn from.

And that's the trick, really. No matter what stage you're at, changing the way you see the people who are more successful – putting that positivity into the world instead of gnashing your teeth with envy – will increase your own chances of success, if only because you stop looking for the bad and start seeing the good. You start learning from the good.

That writer who got an agent before you? You might have a better grasp on when to use a metaphor, but she created a character readers fall in love with. That writer who sells more books? You might have a plot with more commercial appeal, but his is so tightly paced that readers can't help but stay awake until the small hours of the morning to find out what happens next.

So if for no other reason than your own selfish desires, squash that ugly monster inside of you, the one who whispers words as sharp as knives during your darkest moments. Tell it to hit the road, because there's a new kid in town, someone who understands you in a way they never did. And frankly, you like his pillow talk better.

You deserve it. Because that new kid knows where your rainbow is, and he's going to do everything he can to help you find it.

Q&A Series #2 – Series Questions

I posted this weeks ago, but apparently WordPress ate my post. Either way, here it is! These questions mostly have to do with the overall series rather than things that happen specifically in Goddess Interrupted. And I also talk a little bit about Pottermore.

I kind of love the freeze frame YouTube used. Also, don't mind the weird lighting.

For the next vlog, we're looking at writing questions, and I may just write out a blog post for that instead. That'll be up shortly – thanks so much for your patience, guys!

Q&A Vlog Series 1 – Goddess Interrupted

The first of…five or six? We'll see how long it takes me to get through the three categories of writing questions. For now, here are the answers to your questions about Goddess Interrupted!

Contest winners!

My apologies times a million for this taking so long, guys! I had this whole spectacular plan to announce this via vlog, but then I had minor surgery that's trying to slowly kill me (seriously, one of the incision sites looks like it's trying to sneak into Gryffindor, all red and yellow). And I slept fifteen hours a day and got a bit loopy.

That's over now, and I have good news on two fronts!

1. The contest winners are below, and there are three of them.

2. That extra scene I owe you guys? There will be more than one. Which is why it's taking me so friggin' long. But I sincerely hope it'll be worth the wait. Consider it a way to tide you over until Goddess Interrupted comes out? Maybe? No? Sigh.

I will also be answering the questions you guys asked in a series of vlogs. I'll be breaking them up into topics (writing, publishing, TGT, GI, that kind of thing), so be on the lookout for that. I'm sorry for being so slow with everything–with potentially three books coming out in 2012 (Goddess Interrupted, Masked, and possibly the third Goddess Test book), things are a little busy around here.

Anyway, to the part you REALLY care about – the contest winners!

Congratulations to Shelby Ignacio, Rachelle H, and beckymmoe! Please email me at aimeecarter@gmail.com, and I'll send you your signed copies of TGT.

Keep an eye out for a new vlog coming soon!

Q&A Vlog #2 (plus a contest!)

Watch me make a bumbling fool of myself, complete with weird colors and lighting. Also, I self-edit while I talk. This is why I'm a writer and not a public speaker, and also one of the pitfalls of talking too fast sometimes. /insecurities

Now, for the contest! If you'd like to win a signed, personalized copy of The Goddess Test, watch the video and comment below with up to five questions for my next vlog. Each question will be one entry. There may be more than one winner, based on how many books I have to give away to readers, and at least one winner will be chosen at random. Others may be chosen on how creative/interesting/generally awesome their questions are. Don't forget to include your email address as well, so I can contact you if you win. US only this time, I'm afraid.

Just a note: you MUST ask the questions on my WordPress blog (http://aimeecarter.wordpress.com). Goodreads and Facebook comments unfortunately won't count. It's much easier to fairly calculate a winner this way.

You have until 12:01am EST on July 13. Have at it!

Q&A Vlog #2 – Questions

Hey all! Sorry for the radio silence lately. The good news is, that scene? It's coming. Along with another surprise.

In the meantime, I'm gathering your questions for a second Q&A Vlog. Anything goes, so if you're curious about the sequel (read the back of the book here), writing habits, ballerina ninjas…whatever you're interested in, go ahead and ask it. I can't guarantee I'll answer, depending on the volume of questions, but I'll do my best.

I'll be filming this sometime early next week, so keep an eye out for that!

A Shift in Release Dates

We all know publishing is ALWAYS changing, from industry standards to trends to covers to titles to…well, everything. It's hard to keep up sometimes, and even harder to pinpoint a reason why, but in the end, a publisher does what's best for the book.

So, with that being said, I have a bit of good news/"bad" news.

The good news is that Masked, the first book in my new dystopian series, will be released in Fall 2012 (as it stands right now, it's an October 2012 release, which translates into late September). I am SUPER excited about everyone getting to read it – I wrote it right after The Goddess Test, and I've been antsy ever since to get it out into the world. I love the characters in this story like nothing else, and I can't wait to have the opportunity to share their story with you.

The not-so-good news is that the release of Goddess Interrupted has been pushed back to April 2012 (a late March 2012 release). I know, I know, you have to wait another two months, I'm sorry! I have zero control, and I'm eager for you to get the chance to read it too. In this case, however, it was done because the powers that be believe it to be the best scheduling for the sequel, and some great opportunities come along with it. Vague, but bottom line is, this is actually a good thing. A really good thing.

Your comments and tweets and emails all expressing your excitement for the second book are amazing, and it's tough to wait for something you're really excited to read. I know how that goes, believe me – I started to read the Harry Potter series in 1998/1999. I'm sorry to put you all through another two months of waiting, but I very much hope it's worth the wait. And remember, like I said, as frustrating as it might be, this is actually a really, really good thing for the series.

And, because this is publishing, everything is still subject to change.

I owe you an extra scene, and with revisions and the third Goddess Test book out of the way, that will be up for you very, very soon. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your support and enthusiasm, and late March 2012 is only eight and a half months away! Just think of all the terrific books that come out in the meantime.

 

If you missed the reveal of the back of the book for Goddess Interrupted, check it out.

Goddess Interrupted – Back of the Book Time

I'm so excited to get the chance to share with all of you the summary that's going to be on the back of GODDESS INTERRUPTED (January 2012). This is my favorite book in the trilogy, and I have all my fingers and all my toes crossed that the dreaded Sophomore Slump doesn't hit it.

Since you're probably not reading this part anyway, or if you are, you're skimming it for keywords like 'Henry' and 'Kate', I'll get right down to business. This IS very much subject to change, and all of the typos are because the air conditioner blows straight onto my keyboard and my fingers resemble popsicles at the moment.

Drumroll, please.

Kate Winters has won immortality.

But if she wants a life in the Underworld with Henry, she'll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry's first wife, Persephone.

So that's that. And if you haven't already seen pictures from the cover at BEA…

Taken by the amazing Alex Bennett.

Quickies: Signing, Contest Results, and Teasers!

A quick drive-by post here!

1.) I'll be doing a signing with the amazing Leah Clifford (A TOUCH MORTAL), Lisa Desrochers (PERSONAL DEMONS and ORIGINAL SIN), and Courtney Allison Moulton (ANGELFIRE) on Thursday, June 2nd at 6pm in Lansing, Michigan at Schuler Books & Music. Be there! If not for THE GODDESS TEST, then to meet those awesome writers. You know you want to. Plus it's my first signing, so bonus points for getting to see me make a fool of myself.

2.) The "Have A Character Named After You in TGT3″ contest results! Woo. I wound up having two character names to fill, and after picking names out of a hat, the winners are…

EMMY and ANNA!

So when the third Goddess Test book is released, be on the lookout for those names.

3.) I'll be releasing the back of the book for GODDESS INTERRUPTED, the second book in the Goddess Test series, very, very soon! And in the meantime, if you follow me on Twitter, you may have already seen this, but if you haven't, here's a little teaser – the part that's going to be in the big letters on top, like "Every girl who has taken the test has died. Now it's Kate's turn."

Without further ado…

Kate Winters has won immortality. But if she wants a life with Henry in the Underworld, she'll have to fight for it.

Not much, I know, but the rest will be following very soon. Keep an eye out for that in the next week!

Q&A Vlog #1

Don't watch if you haven't read The Goddess Test! It does have some spoilers for both TGT and the rest of the series (nothing to major, but hints and little bits here and there), so consider this your warning.