NaNoWriMo: NoNoMoi

I need to hand out a few Thank Yous and give some splats to a contest before I get to my post.

I want to give a major MERCI to Pk Hrezo. She has a smashing blog, Chronicle of an Author at Large. She highlighted me in one of her posts. I'm humbled and grateful, and she brought me a few new Alleywalkers! Welcome! Glad you've joined us. AND I must thank Shannon Mayhew of Random Thoughts for awarding Writers' Ally the Lovely Blog Award.

Make sure to check out my friend Susan's blog for her Back From Hiatus Contest. She's giving away some great books! And just a reminder about my short story contest. I have plenty who have entered but haven't received many entries. Please get those to me so my daughter and I can read them. If I don't receive enough, I'll award the entries I have.

NaNoMeConfus-o

Before I started Writers' Ally about nine months ago, I'd never heard of NaNoWriMo. I hadn't heard of NaNoBlogMo or Natalie Whipple's self-proclaimed NaNoReaMo, either. I remember the first few times I ran across the NaNo phrase and thought it was some sort of grammar no-no. Or worse. Maybe there was a special place for those grammar violators, like the naughty chair.

Come to find out it was neither, as most of you know I'm sure. Fully impressed by such a devoted process, I told myself that I would participate this year. I even set up one of those author pages and downloaded my cover and brief logline. You see it in my right sidebar. My next love: Disorderly Compact.

Then I attended MuseCon two weeks ago. It changed my mind. Not that NaNoWriMo is bad. On the contrary, it's a great activity to devote oneself. But from what I learned at a few of my workshops and from reading some wonderful posts online, a writer shouldn't just jump into NaNoWriMo with both feet. One should have a plan.

It's a valiant gesture to commit yourself to writing an entire novel (50,000+ words) in a month. To take a mere idea, formulate and nurture it in 25 to 30 days is a feat. But what happens if you fail? Is there some NaNo god somewhere who will hold you responsible? Will your peers NaNo you in shame?

Probably not, but will all that effort help you?

We write because we love it. You may decide to write a poem just for fun. Or maybe you want to write up a story for a young kid's birthday. Both of these have reasons; one is for fun, the other is a gift. Both have purpose. If you're participating in NaNoWriMo, I'm sure one of your purposes is to complete a manuscript. But I'm also sure by participating that you are serious about honing your craft.

From some of the posts that I've read, a lot of writers write like mad dogs during this event. Awesomesausesome! But more than not, writers end up doing nothing with the work they produced or they spend the next year editing over and over and over. There was no focus or rode mapped out before the writing began. Some get lost in the confusion of scenes and holes in the story and end up starting over anyway. I'm sure you don't want that. Your time and effort is valuable.

Now, I'm all for brainstorming or mind mapping. Just read my article HERE. But if I'm going to write for a month nonstop, concentrating on one story, than I better get something out of it. For me, everything I write, read, and observe is to hone my skills as a writer. And I want that for you, too.

I'm sure NaNoWriMo can be a great writing experience and learning tool, so here's some of the advice I've heard.

1. Brainstorm your ideas BEFORE you being.
2. If at all possible, write up an outline or at the very least a sketch of your ideas.
3. Envision scenes and jot them down.
4. Even better, write up a synopsis.
5. AND of course, eat chocolate!! You've got to do that.

AS you may have guessed, I've opted out of participating this year. I was fortunate enough at MuseCon to fully plot out DISORDERLY COMPACT; however, I still don't feel I have enough scene ideas to fill all the gaps and get to my goal of completion. 

So, during November, I'll be silently participating and keeping track right here in the Alleyway. If anyone wants to join me, sweet! Just head over to get a NaNoWordMeter and paste it on your site. (If you don't have a site, keep track at home.) Then, each of the four Wednesdays, we'll meet in the IMPETUS ROOM at the top of Writers' Ally and share our progress. 

Good Luck!

For those who are participating in this year's NaNoWriMo, I wish you the best of luck and productivity. For those who are not, let's just keep writing.

Sheri OUT! ~

Notes on Opening Chapters with Agent Natalie Fischer ~ Segment II

In SEGMENT I of my webinar with super literary agent, Natalie Fischer, we discussed The Query Letter. Today, I'm going to delve into her critique and advice on first chapters. By using myself as a guinea pig, I'm hoping to give you some insight into your personal troubled areas in opening up a story.

My opening chapter began with subtle action, encapsulated by a car accident. Although opening with an accident can sometimes be cliché, as she read she saw that I'd used it in a different way.

The scene was character driven with little focus on the accident itself and more about the innards of my lead female with a hint of what might be in store for her. I knew using an accident would trigger the fear and pain buried inside this girl--which remains hidden throughout most of the story--and would also afford me the opportunity to give the reader a glimpse into a special talent this girl possess but ignores. AND yes, a little of her past, but just enough to make the reader go Hmmm?

However, there was one point in the chapter where she went Whoa and question my reasons for not starting the chapter there.

I found it so interesting when she asked me that. Let me set it up for you: girl wakes up in backseat with unconscious friend + sees strangers just outside vehicle. At the end of the scene, the lead female (who's vision is blurred) senses someone near...too near. She hears his voice and exhales what she believes to be her last. Her world then fades to black. But the reader is privy to the fact that something is being done to her and it's not death taking her.

Originally, I hadn't included her waking, seeing someone outside the van, etc... It was simply her feeling someone near, not knowing who or what it was. This was the place Natalie felt the chapter reeled her in. I told her that I'd lengthened it because I was afraid someone would interpret the shortness of the chapter (which was only two pages double-spaced) for a prologue, which I didn't want. She assured me that it didn't read like a prologue as long as the story moved forward in chapter 2, which it does.

So here, I needed to either cut the beginning out entirely or take out some extraneous phrases and descriptions of the scene to speed up the intensity, tighten my prose, and completely hook the reader. Note: my Oasis Ladies had read the chapter prior and each of them had the same assessment as Natalie. Smart chickies. 

Natalie's advice was universal to all five of us writers who met with her.

The Breakdown

~Opening Chapter~

1. A chapter is a chapter despite the length. YOU may chose to keep it short - as I had originally - for impact. That doesn't necessarily make it a prologue. 
2. If you're going to start with a bang - start with a bang and keep it rolling.
3. Use shorter sentences to create tension and suspense.
4. Step inside the scene. Tell what you see, hear, feel, taste, and smell. Use it all.
5. The reader only knows what the writer tells them. Think carefully about what you want to reveal or keep hidden. That, right there, could be the hook which makes your story irresistible. 
6. Use adjectives and adverbs sparingly, especially in the opening scene. 
7. In any story, but especially young adult or middle grade literature, speed is a necessity. Keep your scenes and chapters moving quickly. In today's world, most readers between the ages of 11 and 19 could find an abundance of other activities to do other than finishing your book.
8. Shorter chapters work well for keeping suspense and attention spans. 
9. While editing after your first draft, be sensitive to tightening your prose by discarding extra details or repetitive details. (Yeah, we hate to chuck a beautiful sentence. But if it's not moving the character, scene, or story forward ditch it. But do create a folder for unused material. You never know when it could come in handy.)
10. This is my personal deduction: trust your instincts. I knew where I wanted to start the chapter and what I truly wanted to communicate, but was afraid to push the envelope, step out of the normal box, or take a risk. Ultimately, Be True To Yourself and someone will believe in you and your work. 

Overall and much to my delight, she was intrigued and wanted to read more. Yeah, that was way cool to hear. In the near future, I will share with you how I applied her advice and rewrote my opener. That will have to come after I submit it to our way-so-cool Query Kick-Around on YAlitchat. If you haven't checked out this amazing writing community, please do. You won't be sorry. *grins and bats lashes then chokes on her coffee*  Grace...yup, that would be me.

Please feel free to add to my list. I'd love to hear some of your experiences with first chapters.

PHISHING & a WINNER!

I have exciting sway to give away, today!! A few weeks back the wonderful Terry Lynn Johnson paid the Graffiti Wall a visit. She not only splattered the Alleyway with her wisdom and talent, but also left us some SIGNED bookmarks to give away.

Yes, life has been crazy over the last couple of weeks and I completely forgot to award the sway. I originally had offered three signed bookmarks, but Terry in her graciousness sent me a few more. And I'm passing them along to you!

 Natalie Aguirre

Shannon O'Donnell

Beverly

Riv Re

Jen Daiker

You've each won a SIGNED DOGSLED DREAMS bookmark!!

(Please email me your physical addies)


HERE'S Clue #3 to discover what really scares me: Very Hairy
In case you missed the others: 
Clue #1 It can cover a lot of ground quickly
Clue #2 They are mostly white, black, or brown, but some have been known to be purplish or red in color. 
(Remember, if someone guesses it, I'll post that horrendous Halloween picture of me.)

Now on to a more serious subject.

My wonderful author friend, Dianne - over on High Spirits, wrote an interesting post the other day about all the spam and email paraphernalia we receive on a daily basis. This got me thinking that I should share something with you. You know, for your safety.

Last week, I opened my inbox to find a message from Gmail. Here's what it said:

"Due to congestion of our services, your account has been selected to be locked down. If you would like to continue using this email account, please send us - as verification - the following information within the next 48 hours to insure your continued service."

Full Name

Phone Number

Physical Mailing Address

Why you use this account. 

Congestion of their services??? ~ What? Did they eat too much the night before? I've been selected? ~ Yeah, okay. I'm sure I had. As Verification? ~ Hah!! And the list of personal info they wanted? ~ My answers:

Full Name: Oscar the Grouch
Phone #: 666-666-6666
Mailing Addy: Just around the corner from Hell
Why I use the account: to hunt you down and become your nightmare!

The email didn't make sense and I did report it to Gmail as phishing. But...I have to be honest. I was nervous. What if they (or someone) locked my email account down? I'd lose access to my contacts and a ton of separate folders I have.

So be careful out there in cyberspace. Have you ever been phished??  

Notes From an Agent ~ Natalie Fischer

A while back, I had the immense pleasure along with four other writers to attend a private webinar with super literary agent, Natalie Fischer. She's with the Sandra Dijkatra Literary Agency. Bright and energetic, she definitely knows her way around the literary world. Through her unspoken words--yup, we had to type the entire conversation because our video blitzed out--her heart and passion for stories and storytelling beamed.

Prior to our meeting, each of us sent her a query letter and first chapter. I'll be honest. Before we began, I was a nervous wreck. I had never had a one on one with an agent, before. She delved into our work, individually highlighting good points and offering suggestions where she thought an idea or structure could be improved upon.

I want to make a note here. As writers we talk a lot about voice. How often do we explore voice when simply chatting with someone? Natalie's kind and genuine voice came through all her critiques. And seeing how she was writing her responses, that's saying something. She was quite interested in helping us all. It was refreshing and gave me a different view of what I thought an agent was.

What I'm about to share with you is what I observed and learned from Natalie's outward critiques and advice, plus her answers to some of our questions. For this post, I'll work with the Query.

For my query, I discovered that I had a strong hook. She thought the story was unique, and she liked the variety of immortal creatures I'd included in my world-building. I did learn, however, that I needed to strengthen my last few sentences. She felt I tried to cram in too much info, and in doing that, I kind of lost her. Lastly, she loved that I'd done research and included what books I felt my manuscript would fit nicely beside. NOTE: I did NOT compare my work, but highlighted that readers who enjoy stories such as these would most probably enjoy my story.

Publishing credits can be added, but kept to a minimum. The most they get from her is a glance. Devote more time to your pitch than to your credentials. What's most important is the story. The pitch is what sells the agent. The story is what sells in the marketplace. Remember that you (we) are not there to explain to the agent what the character is feeling, what they've already been through, etc... Leave it to the plot (which you pitch) to reveal that in your query.

The Breakdown  

~The Query~ 

1. Need a strong one-sentence opening that hooks. Create a question and drum-up curiosity.
2. Use concise sentence structure but also concise ideas. Use relevant information to convey important plot points.
3. Find where your work would fit into the market, but be cautious in comparing. 
4. Keep publishing credits to a minimum. Devote more time to your pitch.
5. The pitch is what sells.
6. Although this doesn't apply to queries, I feel it's important. Don't make assumptions about agents. Ingest what you read and hear about them, but don't pigeon-hole them into one description. 

  In segment II & III, I'll discuss Natalie's critiques of our first pages, her suggestions for hooking the agent to ask for more, and her overall advice about being a writer in today's market.

AND, there's still time to ENTER my writing contest to win awesome critiques, books, or sway!! I don't have as many entries as I'd like, so HELP!! Pass the word, pwwease....Check out another great book giveaway on BETH'S blog  and awesome Shannon's 500+ Followers Giveaway on Book Dreaming which closes today!

MY Name In PRINT!!!

So the most exciting thing happened to me Saturday morning.


I picked up my Mom from her hair appointment and drove her home. On the way we chatted about this and then about that. You know. She asked me about my writing, the kids, blah... Exciting stuff, I told you. I helped her into the house and got her settled in the kitchen. (She has Multiple Sclerosis.)


As I was about to leave, I noticed a local publication on the table. I pinched it between my fingers and flipped over my other palm.


And that's when I saw it.


My first freelance article in print!! FOR REAL!! And it was on the FRONT PAGE!

by Sheri A. Larsen

OMGosh!! It was really my name. I had to look twice...Okay, I think I looked it over ten times. Then I thought, They really wouldn't use the words I weaved together, would they?

I looked again. YUP, they did...Word for word for word. I couldn't believe it. I mean, I knew what I'd written when I'd sent it in. But here's the thing: SOMEONE took my writing seriously. Serious enough to believe it could be shared with others. 

Now granted, it's a piece of nonfiction. I write fiction for middle graders and young adults. But this proved to me that I CAN write. (Yeah, I'll feel that tingling elation until the next time someone cuts up my manuscript and I want to hurl.) But I have something to fall back on.


This feels different to me then the time I won honorable mention in that writing contest. That was wonderful, and, yes, it encouraged me. But this was freelancing!!

Validation is so important for a writer. It gives us fuel to keep trucking forward, readies us for what's ahead, and gives us value. WOW. Someone valued my work...just a short article, but it was mine. Hee...


If you're interested in checking it out, you can read it HERE. I'm also over on OASIS FOR YA, today, exploring the literary terms of Diction and Syntax.

I have one more important item I'd like to mention today.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LENNY!!!

You are a sweetie, and you make my heart smile.

For those of you who don't know Lenny, he's an amazing boy who has a BLOG that you just have to visit!

Have any successes lately, please share them with us!!

GRAFFITI WALL: Artist Arthur, author of MANIFEST

After a two-week hiatus, the Graffiti Wall is back!! Please give a warm welcome to a wife, mother, and novelist of both Adult and Young Adult fiction. She is represented by Christine Witthohn of Book Cents Literary Agency. Her YA books are published through Kimani TRU and her Adult romances are published through Kimani Romance, both are imprints of Harlequin Enterprises. She's been published in romance since 2003.

Artist Arthur 

author of MANIFEST and the upcoming releases MYSTIFY & MAYHEM.

Growing up, Artist enjoyed daydreaming to escape everyday life. Pen pal letters, Barbies, and thinking of future baby names all helped her expand her imagination. On road trips in the family car, she'd start a story in her head and by the time she returned home, she had an ending. 

How is writing adult romance different from the YA lovelife?
Understandably the sexual overtone is different in adult romance. I actually write pretty steamy adult stuff, while for the YA the relationships have a pure and almost idealistic tone. I have a sixteen year old and ten year old daughter, so I’m very careful in showing the beginning steps to relationships and not giving a teenager an adult love affair—even though I’m sure they may be happening in real life.

Do you think there's a connection between the two on a romantic level, and how racy do you think YA should be?
I think that romance is romance at any age. Sure it changes in how elaborate a romantic scene can be set, but at the heart of it, the romantic gesture comes from the same place within an individual.
I think any story written should fit the characters. If you’re writing about a teenager used to a racy lifestyle, then be true to that character. If the character is more of a homebody, shy and unsuspecting then thrusting her into parties and sex scenes is probably going to kill the reality of that character.

I know you sit in bookstores, sometimes, watch where the teens gravitate. How have you used what you observed?
During the summer months I saw a lot of friendships, teenage girls coming in groups. You could tell the different dynamics of the groups by hearing snatches of their conversation. There was usually one who did the most talking, another who kind of just hung around, sometimes a really exuberant one that the others were entertained by. I used all of these different dynamics to form the Mystyx, to create a bond between these different teenagers that would withstand whatever evil they needed to face.


What YA books did you pick up first when you were pondering writing it?
Art Geeks and Prom Queens by Alyson Noel, Need by Carrie Jones, Wintergirls by Laura Halse Anderson, Marked by P.C. Cast.


Tell us about MANIFEST, which was released on July 27, 2010. Where did you get the idea?
My daughter and I brainstormed one morning to come up with the idea of the Mystyx. She loves shows like Smallville and the X-Men. I love the weather channel and Greek Mythology. I think we came to a healthy compromise.

How would you describe your main characters?
Krystal is your average teenager dealing with divorced parents, feeling unwanted, feeling depressed and secluded in a new town. On top of these normal issues Krystal has to now accept her super powers and the other two kids at school that seem to share these powers with her. It’s a big thing she’s going through and as such I wanted to take readers through her turmoil as realistically as possible. Jake and Sasha are just meeting Krystal but are very open to a new friendship with her. In the end they each realize how much they need each other.

And lastly, some of our readers might be wondering the same thing I was: is Artist Arthur a pen name?
Nope, Artist Arthur is my real, legal name. Most people call me Artist or AC (a lot of people in the literary industry call me AC).

Thank you, Artist, for taking the time to share your splats on the Graffiti Wall! Looking forward to your upcoming releases. 

Alleywalkers, take a peek at an EXCERPT of MANIFEST, or for more about Artist Arthur, visit her website or her Facebook page.

Me, Myself, & I: Grover's Way

When you're writing, do you look at yourself to gain insight into your characters?? Have you been taken captive by the Little Me Syndrome?

I fall into that trap all the time. Mostly, I don't realize it. I dream up someone I would like to meet or wish I could have been more like. As I develop the character, I slowly discover bits of myself threaded within the psyche of my paper playmate.

Is that bad? Is it good?

Who knows? What I do know is that it motivates me. I use it as a staring point, a familiar road map.

How?

Three aspects for healthily developing YA or MG characters using your 'little me'.

1)  Your past.
YOU have one, whether you want to admit it or not. You have lived. You have life experiences--some pleasant, some maybe not so pleasant. You may even have a few embarrassing ones. So what??

Claim them. They are yours.

Use them during your outlining, plotting, and developing stages. Depending on the story you're writing, think back to some of the places you've been and the people you've seen. I'm sure we can all dig up a strange dude from the county fair or that crazy aunt that made us cringe with her cooking. What was unique about them? How can you build upon your perspective of them to spice your story up?

2) Your present.
'K, that goes without explanation. See where you are today. Right now.

Um...where are you???

Think about it, and I'm not just talking about physically--although that can be useful in adding life to a character and their environment. Where is your heart? How could it change? For better or for worse. All characters don't have to be good, you know. Explore yourself and think out of the box. Use yourself--in this case, that's a good thing.

3) Your future.
Yes, you do have one. And so does that character you're breathing life into. REAL life. That character has hopes and dreams, fears and apprehensions. There is a minion of qualities, both good and bad, that you can use. And then there are their senses, but that's for another post. Think of the people you already know: that strange neighbor who only comes out between 5pm and 7pm to walk the dog, or that little blond boy who rides by on his scooter and wipes out on the same manhole cover every time. What about your mailman? How many have you had where you live? I know we've had like five or six. Any characteristic stick out about any of them? Combine them.

There is a cornucopia of ideas to developing characters if you just look at yourself. It's okay.

I thought it would be fun to let a special guest cue me out for the weekend. He really does have a valuable opinion on the subject. So, without further adieu, here's Grover:



Have you ever used this technique or one similar to deepen your characters, or do you find it too difficult to use yourself as a mirror? 

DON'T forget about the Writers CONTEST I'm hosting for the month of October ~ Seven Fangtastical Winners to be chosen by my hand--with a little help from my 11yr-old daughter. She knows what makes her laugh, cry, and surely what scares ME.

Clue #2: They are mostly white, black or brown, but some have been known to be purplish or red in color.
If you missed Clue #1 on the one thing that scares me, you can find it HERE.

Remember, if someone guesses correctly, I have to post a horrific picture of myself from high school, all dressed up for Halloween...or maybe it was 'Dress As A Freak Day'. Enjoy your weekend, and I promise to blog on Monday. Sunday is the last day of MuseCon!! I'm pooped. <3

BOOK REVIEW: Emma and the Vampires

I have a secret. I am a MAJOR fan of Jane Austen. M.A.J.O.R. Most peeps don't know that about me. I didn't carry her novels around with me during high school or covert the last copy in the library. No. Back then I probably bought the Cliff Notes. It was as an adult that I fell in love with her prose. The subtlety in which she captures her characters on the page totally floors me.

So for me, I was excited when I was asked to review this book. I'd like to thank Sourcebooks for supplying me with a copy to review.

Title: Emma and the Vampire

Author: Wayne Josephson - original story created by Jane Austen

Genre: catagorized as Adult
Publication date: August 10, 2010

Pages: 304

Favorite segment: Emma Woodhouse, cleaver, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition--had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress her. Until the vampire attacks began.

Go HERE to read a full excerpt. 

Description: What better place than pale England to hide a secret society of gentlemen vampires?

In this hilarious retelling of Jane Austen's Emma, screenwriter Wayne Josephson casts Mr. Knightley as one of the most handsome and noble of the gentlemen village vampires. Blithely unaware of their presence, Emma, who imagines she has a special gift for matchmaking, attempts to arrange the affairs of her social circle with delightfully disastrous results. But when her dear friend Harriet Smith declares her love for Mr. Knightley, Emma realizes she's the one who wants to stay up all night with him. Fortunately, Mr. Knightley has been hiding a secret deep within his unbeating heart-his (literal) undying love for her... A brilliant mash-up of Jane Austen and the undead.

NIGHTSTAND WORTHY

This mash-up is written in the air and flair of Jane Austen, and follows the ever-charming Emma Woodhouse on her endless endeavors of matchmaking. She's confident, witty, and just as bright as in Ms. Austen's original telling of the tale. But here, the author adds the electric spice of vampire slayer to Emma's personal bio. Her outer strength carries her through wild and vicious vampire attacks where she gracefully lifts her dress--not too high of course--tugs on the satin ribbon securing her wooden stack to her inner thigh, and kills the beasts. She's also quite good with a sword. However, as in the original story, Emma is blinded by her desire to make things as she'd like them. She not only blithely misses Mr. Knightly's love for her but also the fact that he's a member of the undead.

For those who've never read Jane Austen's EMMA, the original account lends to a smorgeboard of colorful characters. In this mash-up, the author keeps the persona of the characters relatively intact, with the exception of most of the males being vampires, of course.  

The immortal zest of gentlemanly vampires and Emma's obliviousness to their existence is quite funny and is another detail used to point out Emma's internal struggles. Even funnier is when she incorporates the help of her poor friend, Harriet--the girl whose life Emma foolishly misdirects.

I would recommend giving this book to your teen as an introduction to Jane Austen. It has the paranormal flare of today's literature, while keeping in tact the beauty and poise of yesterday's storytelling.

About the Author

Wayne Josephson received his BA from Emory University and his MBA from Wharton. After twenty years on Wall Street, he decided to pursue his long-delayed desire to write, becoming a successful screenwriter. Emma and the Vampires is his first novel. He resides with his wife and three children in Charlottesville, Virginia. (as stated HERE)

Check out what Wayne had to say about writing this on Teenfire. 

Purchase the book at Barnes and Noble and Amazon. 

Muse Online Conference 2010

I've never been to a writer's conference. *hangs head, shame shadowed disgracefully* I've only been involved with one writer's group that could meet in person. I live in the freaking willywacks luscious fields with all the Fall foliage and deer prancing in the backyard, my friends.

(Really, I do. My house sits in a nice neighborhood, but our lot has a wooded area behind it. Yeah, the deer like it.)

Over the past eight months, I've had a way cool crit partner, and a few who weren't so cool ~ not that I'm any prize. :( I've become involved with awesome organizations like SCBWI and writing communities such as YAlitchat, Teenfire, and Inkwell.

But I still haven't made it to an illustrious writer's conference. I've heard about BEA and SCBWI Summer & Winter conferences. And then there was all that talk about ComicCon and God knows what else. I actually was registered for the awesomesauecesome WriteOnCon--it's initial unveiling. Yeah, life happened and I had to miss the entire week. Blah.

But guess what???? Guess, guess, guess!!

I'm FINALLY attending a conference. Yay!! Online at bat. The Muse Online Writers Conference. I hear it's been running for a few years now,  *winky* and that it's pretty sweet.

I registered like, um...forever ago. I'd almost forgotten about it until the gracious lead moderator emailed me some info and a password I guess I need to 'get in'.

Yeah, I'm thinking online is a good thing for me. At least the presenters and my other class hordes won't have to see my paling face. Hey, I can pass-out because of my skittish nerves and no one will be the wiser. *teeheeing*

So, wish me luck this week and if you don't see me around this is the reason. I'll miss you all. I have a great book review I wrote for Sourcebooks, coming out on Wednesday, and another post on Friday. We're taking another week off for our Q & A with a YA.

Have you been to a writers conference? In person or online? What was your favor element about it? 

GET NAKED! SEGMENT 2

Okay, so it's really not part II of my Get Naked series. I had intended on getting that post written forever ago but the Alleyway has been taken over by author interviews and book reviews. It's been great, but time for a break.


So instead of my using my original road map for exposing my otherwise private parts, I'm implementing a tagged session. Yeah, I've been asked to join in on 4 THINGS by Kari over on

 Under the Fairy Dust. *Sigh* I must oblige. *cheeky grin, hoping you all aren't bored with the goodies about me*

4 THINGS

...in my purse: sm. notebook, pen, lipstick, & mini flashlight--don't ask.


...on my desk: magnet about great women, Dove chocolate wrapper, Withering Heights, & wooden blocks that spell out WICKED ~ Oh, yeah.


...I've always wanted to do (but haven't yet): gone white-water rafting, jumped out of airplane, swim in the Pacific, & visit Greece ('hi' Jess!!).


...I enjoy very  much at the moment: the quiet, catching up on blog posts, seeing Kate--knowing her surgery was a major success, & thinking about sleeping.


...song I can't get out of my head: 
Lips of an Angel
Lay Your Hands On Me
The Crow and The Butterfly
& that old McDonald's song: Big Mac, Filet-o-fish, Quarter pounder, French fries...


...you don't know about me: 
I was a Catholic school girl
I had two nicknames in high school: Meech & Sherbear (gosh, I always hated that one)
I was Homecoming & Prom Queen (I've got a great YA story about this one) 
I've been bitten in the face by a dog--twice. (Yeah, pretty similar to the nose thang I still have to come clean about.)   


Was that a tad too BARE for you? LOL. 


So, here's the deal: I'm tagging any of you reading this post who have not yet been tagged or want to share info about yourself. Have at it...You're on the honor system and the Alley has eyes.....

Ooh, and enter my Scare Me writer's contest for October!! And go check out iggi & gabi for their Weekend Blog Party!!

ME, a Guest Blogger?

Morning all! I'm breakin' out of the Alleyway, today, doing my first guest blog ever over on iggi & Gabi. I'm really excited about it. Take a gander over and see what I had to say about participating in Gabi's brainchild, iggi U ~ her month-long study event.

Don't forget to enter my writer's CONTEST for the month of October. Tons of cool crits to win!

A few of you have inquired about what REALLY scares me: a little boost for your story.

Okay, clue #1: It can cover a lot of ground quickly....

Tapping Feet & Fingers,
Sher~

(photo courtesy of deviantART)

Freaky Fright Writers Fest!!

Put ME in your story!!
I want you to SCARE ME!  I mean Freaky Fear Flippin-out Fright!
(Say that ten times fast. I dare you.)

Most important elements of a writing contest first: said PRIZES!!

• a SIGNED copy of WE HEAR THE DEAD by author Dianne Salerni
• a 'PIMP MY SCENE' critique by Stephen M. Giles, author of THE ADVENTURES (and further...
• SWAG from New York Times Bestselling Author Kiersten White, author of Paranormalcy
• FIRST FIVE PAGE critique by Terry Lynn Johnson, author of DOGSLED DREAMS
• FIRST CHAPTER critique by Susan Kaye Quinn, author of LIFE, LIBERTY, and PURSUIT
• a QUERY critique by the author of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, Beth Revis
• a FIRST FIVE PAGE critique by Helen Ellis, author of THE TURNING: What Curiosity Kills

HALLOWEEN brings goblins, ghouls, bats, and cats. I see vampires (& no, not Edward or Jasper). I mean the real deal, and mangy werewolves--although, I do dig the sexy chested ones. 

There's zombies and witches, skeletons and skulls. A zombie wearing skeletons and skulls with a witch on the back of a bad@$$ motorcycle would be great! 

I want you to think about what truly makes your skin crawl. What makes the hairs on her arms salute, where fear turns your mouth into a waterless wasteland? 

Show me; Don't tell me. I want to SEE. 

And don't chicken out and use something like this: Greg Brady...oh, those were days.

Take me for a drive on a lonely abandoned road. We could share a candlelight dinner together. Show me that gravestone you've been meaning to share with me. Tell me about your crazed Uncle Zeek, who only visits when the fog comes out.

Put Moi in your story with you. Describe me however you choose. Where will we go? What will we do? Will be live or will be die?

Serenade me with a poem, essay, or short story. Please keep it under 700 words. Feel free to use humor, sarcasm, or any other element that will hook a reader. Top three entries will get posted on Writer's Ally. (with your permission, of course)

Leave a comment and any personal question you'd like to ask me about my feelings about Halloween and scary stuff to help you on your journey. I won't tell you what MOST terrifies me, but I'll give you clues. And if one of you gets it correct, I'll unveil a photo of the horrendous costume I wore my senior year in high school. 

CONTEST runs from October 4th to October 29th. Email your entries with FRIGHT FEST typed in the subject line to: salarsen71@gmail.com.

Feel free to resize, cut, and paste the contest logo for your site.

Just fill out the FORM to enter. 

I will announce the 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place on November 5th. These three entries will have first come first serve on the prizes, but the top 7 entries will WIN! your chances are FANGTABULOUSLY STEAMING!!


P.S. SLAT: I'm blogging over on Oasis for YA today, too!!

Characters: Like A Deck of Cards

Sometimes life hands us an unexpected card in our deck. The same holds true for our characters. We dream, think, imagine them: their faces, preferences, and attitudes.

Not sure about you, but I have a few real-life cards myself. A few are battered and stained, and a few are strong and bold. Yeah, I have a few embarrassing ones, too. All of these make me who I am. The same is true when we develop our fictional characters.


Their life experiences--the infamous back story--plays an intricate part in your plot line and probably your subplots. They mold, highlight, and set boundaries encompassing your book. 


So similar to real life. However, there are always those cards in the deck that are different. Look at your characters. What cards would they covet and cherish? What's important to them? What makes them deeper than the next paperweight?

Using myself as an example, my other cards would  be the ones that represent my titles in life, what defines me: one being - motherhood.

My eleven-year-old daughter, Kate, is having major surgery this morning. No panicking. She'll be fine.

About a year ago, she started complaining about foot pain. Being ten years old at the time, we figured it was growing pains. Remember those? 


I was told that when I was ten and my legs wouldn't stop aching, and then at age thirteen when I kept passing-out...'It's that time in a young girl's life' was what my parents were told. (Great MG character flaw. Just sayin'.)

Kate's a very active girl. Can you blame her? She has THREE brothers. Have mercy. You want to talk about survival of the fittest; live in her world for one day. Point being: she's one tough cookie. But finally, her pain couldn't be brushed off as the natural stretching of limbs or the onset of the numerous tween body mortifications. And when I noticed bunions forming on the knuckles of her big toes, I knew something was up. 

(Bunions - what a nasty word, and I love words.)

After waiting three months to finally get into the specialist, we discovered that her bunions were a result of a more serious issue. Katelynn has what are called Kidner Feet.

Here's the medical diagnosis that will bore you to pieces: Kidner procedure includes surgical removal of an accessory navicular bone and then re-attachment of the attentuated ("loosened")posterior tibial tendon, by drilling a hole through the navicular bone and re-routing the posterior tibial tendon through the hole and then "plugging" the hole with a piece of bone. This will now keep the tightened tendon in place and help support the arch. (as written by Dr. David S. Wander, 10/27/06 on an online forum.) 

Sounds gut-wrenchingly painful and disgusting, doesn't it?? 

So basically, she has an extra bone on the inside of each foot which inhibits the tendon that runs along her shin to the top of each foot. This tendon supports a proper arch, but because it can't do it's job properly her feet are flattening out and her knuckles are separating = bunions.


She also has to have another procedure performed, and I won't bore you with the technical term. ('K, so I couldn't figure out how to spell it. Sue me.) Anyway, during this procedure a 'donor piece of bone' will be inserted into her foot structure.


You heard me correctly: a DONOR bone...yup, from a previously deceased soul.


Now remember, she lives with guys. Not much grosses her out. Well this did. Her face was priceless when the surgeon told her. She's now had time to digest this fact. 

The doctor will perform all three procedures and sling her up in a cast, which she'll be a prisoner to for approximately eight weeks. This should be fun. Hah. Haha. She'll miss at least TWO weeks of school, so just imagine the work we'll she'll have to make up. Oh, and she has to have the other foot done, too!! 


Lucky us. 


The left foot will be done within the next year. The two procedures need to be done at least six months apart to give the first foot time to heal properly. She'll need that foot fully recovered to support her body weight while the second foot heals.

Now back to those cards of life or your characters lives I mentioned earlier. 


The scenario describe above or a similar one could apply to any fictional character. One of your characters could stumble onto or be hit with such an obstacle that their deck of cards jumbles, becomes unrecognizable to them or changes them dramatically.

Have you ever given any of your characters a physical or psychological handicap that challenged your writing? 


Challenged you to think outside yourself? Any famous characters you can think of? 


I immediately thought of RAINMAN. How brilliant was that?

Major BTW: I've also reviewed Eight Grade Bites, by Author Heather Brewer  over on Oasis for YA, today.

Sheri Splatter: Although I will continue to post next week, I may not get the chance to surf the blogosphere and visit you. I apologize. I have no idea what condition she'll be in after surgery. Know you are in my thoughts, and for gosh sakes would someone keep track of the things I miss. I hate missing your posts!! 

Tapping Feet & Fingers...<3