To Love Is Human, To Hate...Divine?

My dear friend Jackie said something to me yesterday that really hit home. I was complaining about Wonderland and bemoaning that I'm pretty sure I hate it. Not the premise of the story, no. That part I'm pretty confident in. But the characters, their actions, and heck, even the setting are grating on my raw nerves lately. But then Jackie said, "If you despise Wonderland, it's probably amazing..."

That stayed with me all day. I rolled it around in my brain, then over my tongue. I told my husband and he laughed, saying that Jackie must know me pretty well. I explored the idea of it all night (some things just stick with you) and I've come to the conclusion that, once again, Jackie is brilliant.

For some reason, I need to remain emotionally unattached to my characters during the first draft. If not, I get too close to see the errors in what I've written. With Vlad, I kept my distance for some time before falling head over fang for him. Distance is a necessity for good writing. And now with Dillon...well, I suppose I'm focusing on getting the story down--that after I get the first draft on paper (screen...whatever), Dillon and I can feel free to get a little more comfortable with one another.

It's just a matter of pushing through to the end and letting myself write crap. Because a blank page is hard to edit.

Is Copying & Pasting Cheating?

It may be. But I'm too drained to come up with a better description than Kim on the YA Books Central blog. So I'm stealing hers.

ANNOUNCING: A new community for children's book creators in the Central U.S.

The new community for children's writers living in the Central U.S. is LIVE! If you live in or near (or HAVE lived in) Kansas, Missouri, Iowa or Nebraska, check out kidlit_central.

It's a place where children's literature lovers can share ideas, network, and promote the work of other children's book creators in the region.

If you like what you see, please help spread the word.

Now, I know what you're thinking. "But I don't have a Live Journal account!" Well, neither did I, until about an hour ago...but getting one is worth joining this group while it's still all shiny and new, minions. Go forth, spread the word...and...do something else. My brain is mush this morning.

Points For Originality

Greetings, minions! Today I thought we'd discuss one of the key things that can get a novel published: ie, creating a unique story.

There are three types of writers:

1) Those who have to work for their originality
This is the category I most certainly fall under and, I'd say, most successful or semi-successful writers fit here as well. Speaking from experience, I can say that I've written a number of unoriginal, uninspiring things. I mean, come on...my favorite subject is the undead...it's quite a challenge to be unique where vampires are concerned. But I've managed, which proves it can be done in even the most overwritten genre. (Don't take my word for it...buy the book.) I worked hard to make Vlad stand out from the blood-drinking crowd and it most certainly wasn't easy.

2) Those who have originality thrust upon them
I (and many others like me, I'm sure) are insanely envious of these writers. They put pen to page (or finger to keyboard, as it were) and manage to produce completely unique, marketable, entertaining works of fiction without much thought on how to be original. Sickening, isn't it? We should all be so lucky...but we're not.

and 3)Those who mimic originality.

Sadly, there are a great many writers who don't have the ambition to produce the kind of originality that it takes to be published. So they take what others have done and copy it in one way or another. What these writers are missing are blood, sweat, and tears--it takes an enormous amount of work to be a novelist. Never, if you're considering this as a career option, never think for a second that it will be easy. It's quite hard. Especially when you factor in how terribly important it is to create a unique story. Don't copy what you've read and loved...recreate it into something entirely different. Do your best to become #1 on the list. Or go on copying others' ideas, accepting that you will never be published. Or stop trying. It's your choice.

So here's your question for today. Focus on it, get a clear, honest answer in your head. Because it can mean the difference between sinking in the unpublished waters and swimming in the pool of publishing.

Are you creating a completely unique tale...or just mimicking those who have?

All's Quiet on the Vampire Front

I can feel Vlad back there, in that place where he goes when we're not working together to tell his tale, and it seems dear Vladimir is becoming quite cozy and content with his situation. I'm not sure if I like it.

On a happy note (well, as happy as my notes can get being that I'm a dark, brooding creature of the night), I'm starting to really enjoy my time with Dillon in Wonderland and don't even feel like I'm cheating on Vlad anymore. I've got some direction now and I'm starting to think this book may just take off and be something great. Well, something good, anyway.

Today will be full of a trip deeper into the wastelands that are now Wonderland, as well as a return to the asylum there...and an introduction of Dillon to the queen.

Too Fun!

You are

What Rejected Crayon Are You?

The Writing Process

It occurred to me last night, as I was coming to an important decision regarding Wonderland, that I have a writing process, of which I was not aware. It goes a little something like this:

1) Have fabulous idea, fall immediately in love with it, make several notes.
2) Write a few chapters, crumble to tears because there's no love there for the main character, and I'll never have a good idea, because all the ideas I have are CRAP.
3) Spend a few days varying between "This is crap" and "This is brilliant", still go on loathing main character.
4) Procrastinate, ignoring any further work on work-in-progress. It wasn't a good idea anyway.
5) Give up procrastination, write one fantastic, amazing chapter that restores hope and also makes me like my main character.
6) Decide that I should write a rough outline, even though I constantly insist that I don't write outlines.
7) Begin working seriously on manuscript, finish it, love it, love the main character, let readers check it out & watch in awe as they love it too.

I did this exact thing with Vlad, and last night, as I was deciding to begin an outline for Wonderland, it occurred to me that I'm doing it again with Dillon. The good thing is that I'm on number six and number seven is looming just ahead. The bad thing is that, if this is my process, I'll have to face this list again and again and again and again.

Writers are sickly masochistic.

Now...where's that outline?

A Few Favorites

Over at the Backspace forums we've been doing a lot of firsts lately. First lines of our work-in-progress, first words, etc. I started a thread calling for favorite paragraphs (as my favorite is so rarely my first). It's been eye-opening to the amount of exquisite talent I'm surrounded by there. (You should come play with us. You'll likely learn a lot.)

I thought I'd share my favorite paragraphs (of things I'm working on) with you.

From The View from the Wonderland Asylum:

It had been quiet before, yes, but the quiet had been filled with other sounds—the dripping liquid, the wind blowing the trees around outside, the thump of his feet against the metal stairs. But now there was nothing. The quiet had gone eerily silent, as if the building itself were holding its breath in anticipation...or fear.

And from Ninth Grade Sucks:

Vlad felt the looming shadow of grief sweep over him again. The death of a loved one is funny like that. It doesn’t matter how much time or how much grieving has passed, the littlest reminder of the person who died--a scent, an object, a word--can send you back to the moment you lost them, and before you can blink, you’re overcome by the aching sadness you worked so hard to leave behind.

My favorite from Eighth Grade Bites? Easy:

Deceased, croaked, departed, shuffled off his mortal coil, bought the farm, slain, fallen, bit the big one, dead as a doornail, gone, out of business, late, lifeless, taking a dirt nap, kapoot, worm food, cashed in his chips, finished, lapsed, pushing up daises, terminated, inanimate, kicked the bucket, past his expiration date, nonliving, checked out, left the building, bitten the dust, passed away, passed on, isn’t-coming-back-for-the-sequel dead.

Vampz

This was too good to wait until tomorrow.

I Think Neil Gaiman's Under My Bed

Yesterday I had the creepy pleasure of reading Coraline by Neil Gaiman. Minions, that book seriously gave me the skin crawlies. It wasn't the story so much, as the description. The other mother's looooong fingers and loooonger nails tapping against her black button eyes did me in. Bravo, Mr. Gaiman.

I also managed a hefty 1,300 words for Wonderland and, happy happy news news, I'm starting to really like Dillon. Yet another wonderful author has agreed to take a look at Eighth Grade Bites, so that brings my blurb list up to five. And as if those joys weren't enough, I noticed that we Americans have taken seven gold medals in the olympics so far. All in all, a good day.

Let's see if I can top it.

Twilight

Pay attention, minions. Because Stephenie Meyer, author of Twilight, has just achieved god status.

I picked up this book after a long period of back-and-forth with the voices in my head. See, I've been rather dissapointed by recent vampire books and I was looking for something that would sink its teeth in and never let me go. Turns out, I found it in this book. I read all 498 pages of it yesterday and loved every word.

I don't know why I was surprised that I loved it. Everything about it was delicious--from the cover art that hints at Eve offering Adam the temptation of the apple, to the star crossed romance of Edward and Bella, to the intense passion that veins its way through the entire book, with something as simple as a brief touch of finger to cheek. It was the best novel I've read in some time.

So good, in fact, that I yearn for a day when my daughter is old enough to delve into Edward and Bella's world and be swept away by it. This is the stuff of dreams, minions.

In short, thumbs up. Not one thing irritated me about it--and there always seems to be something with me.

Buy it. Read it. Love it.

Sick & Twisted

There must be something wrong with me. Either I'm seriously sick in the head or there's something jacked up in my DNA that makes me different from every other writer on the planet. I suspect it's a bit of both.

I'm currently soliciting blurbs for Eighth Grade Bites, and let me tell you, I'm totally enjoying it. How sick is that?? For years, I've been hearing how awful it is and how difficult, always followed by the writer's war story of collecting blurbs. So, rightfully, I was a bit freaked out about the idea of asking complete strangers (and amazing writers) to read my little book and, if they like it, maybe say something kinda nice that I can quote them on.

But apparently, I have a knack for it.

So far, (Not naming names here on the blog, minions) of the five (amazing, incredible, talented, oh-my-goddess-is-this-person-REALLY-going-to-blurb-me???) people I've heard back from, four have agreed to take a look. One said no, but gave me some wonderful advice on how to reach kids with my books (making that "no" a positive experience). I honestly thought that no one would be interested. I mean, I'm just me--boring, pale, writes-in-her-jammies me. What could they possibly see in me?

The answer, I think, is Vlad.

When I write to someone to ask for a blurb, I always include the description of EGB from my website...and I think it's working. At least, I like to think it's working. Maybe I'm just deluding myself, but I'm pretty proud of what I've managed so far. I also only approach people who I sincerely admire. I mean, hey, I'm not just going to go begging for blurbs all willy-nilly. (Well, I might have if no one responded after a while...)

Now, as long as I can avoid the blurbs I dreamt about last night (yeah, I dreamt about blurbs...how big of a geek am I?) I'll be fine. "This book makes an excellent doorstop!", "My table no longer wobbles--thanks!", "Eighth Grade may bite, but this book SUCKS!"

And now, minions, I'm off to pay homage to the blurb gods.

They take checks, right?

Have I Mentioned That I Love Vlad?

So last night I was working on Wonderland (read: I was staring blankly at the open file for an hour or so), when curiosity got the better of me and I decided, just for fun, to poke around Eighth Grade Bites and see if I still liked it. (Mostly because the moodswings we writers go through pretty much guarantee that I wouldn't)

And I did! It was more than like. I got so wrapped up in reading "just a paragraph or two" that, before I knew it, I'd read three chapters. I. Loved. It.

So pardon me while I stroke my own feathers...or fur...how does that saying go again? I'm totally in love with Vlad and miss writing him very much.

Dillon is coming around. I abandoned him in an asylum for a while and, wouldn't you know it, his attitude has changed. I think I might like him now, which is a good thing. Oh sure, he lacks the dark humor and sarcasm that Vlad loves...but all in all, he's not a bad guy.

This might just work after all.

My Website Sucks!

But considering the main character of my series is a vampire, I guess it's fitting, eh?

Lately, I've been reading everything I can find from anyone in the publishing industry concerning the best way for a new author to promote his or herself. The common thread has been three things. 1) a fabulous website, 2) a good web presence, and 3) getting to know your local booksellers and librarians.

Let's begin at the end and end at the beginning, shall we, minions?

#3 is going to be the most difficult for me, as I'm still pretty new to this city (and state) and, at last count, I believe there are more than 50 independent bookstores in St. Louis, as well as the usual chains (Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Borders, etc.). I'm hoping to map out the stores and hit every single one. (And maybe I could stick a giant map of St. Louis on my wall and use little red pins for every store, replacing each with a black pin once I visit...you know...kinda like those old war movies. No? Yeah, I'm not digging the idea either.) It'll take time and effort, but luckily, I have those things in abundance. And libraries? Hoo boy...there are a lot, but it'll be a joy to visit them all and get to know some great people.

The huge plus here is that I love bookstores and libraries, so this part ought to be a ton of fun.

#2 isn't going to be that difficult. I post on many different forums and have friends and acquaintances around the world that will be happy to spread the word about (and hopefully buy) my book. Sure, my presence has shrunk while I've been hard at work with my writing, but that's easily rectified.

#1 is probably the easiest item on the list. And I've already got it covered. Recently, I hired a fabulous web designer to revamp (heh) my site. Shelley Kay of Webcrafter Designs is talented, incredibly nice, and I'm sure she'll be a joy to work with. So, come early June, I should be announcing my brand spankin' new website, in all its vampy glory. And it won't suck. Or...it will, but in that good slurp-up-the-blood kinda way.

This isn't all I'll do to promote Eighth Grade Bites, of course. There will be school visits, contests, and a zillion other little things. But for now...it's a start.

Notes To Self

Dear Heather,

1) The next time you're rummaging through a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, please remember that the pretty, speckled bean tastes like vomit. You'd think after eating three in this manner, you'd remember that.

2) After you've written an entry for your blog, don't close the window before posting it. That little X up in the corner there? Yeah, don't succumb to clicking it, no matter how much of a shiny object appeal it has.

3) Your printer is stupid. Together, you're a dangerous pair. Don't turn off your computer in the midst of printing something or you'll just have to turn it back on and reprint it. But I'll give you credit...at least you're remembering to turn the printer on in the first place these days, as opposed to grumbling at the printer for being a piece of crap, only to realize you never hit the power button.

4) Dillon is not Vlad. He never will be. Get over it and keep writing. Eventually, you'll love him too.

and finally,

5) That scene you wrote last night about Alice in the asylum? Fantastic. Keep up the good work.

Trouble in Wonderland

Uh-oh, minions. I have a problem. A problem that I can sum up in three little words.

I hate Dillon.

Dillon, as I may have mentioned, is the main protagonist in The View from the Wonderland Asylum. And I. Hate. Him.

It's not that he's a bad guy. He's nice and all. But he's not exactly special (not like Vlad is) and plus, he's got that poor-little-rich-kid thing going on. It's obnoxious. Seriously.

To rid myself of my ever-growing dislike for the boy I plan to spend much time with soon, I grabbed him and threw him headfirst into Wonderland. Hopefully, watching him deal with some of the horrid situations he's about to find himself in will give me a spark of respect for Dillon...and with any luck, that spark will turn into the flame of friendship. (Yeesh...can you believe I just said that? Now I feel nauseous.)

As someone dear to me mentioned this morning--maybe it's not who Dillon is that makes him special, but how he deals with the crap that's thrown at him. I hope so. Because writing about a character you don't really care about isn't much fun.

Plus, I'm totally cheating on Vlad...

Siiiiiigh...

I'm becoming quite the lazy blogger. I used to blog, what, once or twice a day? Now I'm lucky if I blog at all on the weekends, and blogging during the week is sporadic. The good news is that I have things (ie a budding new publishing career) to keep me busy and away from you, my minions. The bad news is that my brain is FRIED.

I think I need a vacation.

And not one of my mini-stareoffintospacewhilesittingatmydesk-vacations. I think I need a justrelaxandmaybegoseeamovie vacation. Nothing big...that is, nothing that involves travel by airplane. But some "me" time. Yep.

Last night I pounded out about 500 words on Wonderland. Not bad. (Not great, but not bad) Hopefully today I'll get a nice chunk in, so I can spend my weekend relaxing and pretty much forgetting all that is not Heather. (Realistically, I'll be back here tomorrow, staring at my screen and waiting for the muse to grunt in my direction)

Random Twitchiness

I'm not a patient person.

Well, strike that. I can be a patient person when I need to. You know, like when I'm waiting on anything publishing-related (okay...I pretty much fake this, but I like to appear patient, because it's professional to seem so). But when it comes to waiting in a doctor's office, waiting in a long line at the grocery store, or standing behind someone at the bank who insists on depositing $380 in one dollar bills (you know who you are)...I'm less than patient.

The worst of my impatience is directed at myself. See, whenever I'm working on a new project, I want to go, go, go, get it finished, get it done, so that I can bask in the happy afterglow of a newly created story. But when it doesn't come fast and easy, when I can't seem to reach that unreasonable daydream of 40,000 in two days (heh), I get crabby. And I start the woe-is-me routine that I'm sure every writer is familiar with.

I start to doubt my work, and that's a ridiculous thing to do. Just because I can't finish another book super fast and make with the happy doesn't mean I'm a crappy writer. It doesn't mean I'll never be able to write another book that anyone will like. It doesn't mean my entire career ends with Vlad. It means that I need to take a break, drink some peach tea, and forget about everything that's going on in my life, so that I can focus on Dillon and what he's trying to tell me.

It's funny, though. I feel such a loyalty to Vlad that it's difficult for me to open up to Dillon. He's a great guy, sure, but he's not Vlad...and I need to stop moping that he isn't.

Vlad's sitting on a moonlit beach, sipping a virgin (and quite literally) Bloody Mary, enjoying his short break and wishing me the best.

I just have to give Dillon a chance.

(It just occurred to me how completely insane I sound when I talk about my characters...huh.)

Biting, Sucking, and all things Asylum

I love Vlad.

Oh, with all my heart, I do. But he's being insufferable and I think part of the reason is that we're spending too much time together.

The final revisions for Eighth Grade Bites are due to my editor by May 15th. Which tells me that it is likely (and somewhat common sense-ish) that Ninth Grade Sucks won't be due until sometime next year. In short, Vlad has time for a vacation.

Well, a short vacation, until I drag him over to the computer and beg him to help me with EGB's revisions. (Which will likely begin in a week or two.)

So, due to the brilliant glow of the Lightbulb of Inspiration, I'm returning to an idea I had some time ago. The story of a boy named Dillon and how he stumbled into a little place called Wonderland, many years after Alice. It's dark. It's scary. It's an addictive notion. And I'm aching to get started. I'm calling it The View from the Wonderland Asylum.

Perception Perschmeption

Perception is a funny thing. How we see the world may greatly vary from how others see it. The same goes for writing.

A friend of mine recently gushed about The Historian, referring to it as "one of the greatest vampire novels ever written". "Now, tut tut, my dear," I said. "Greatest? Maybe longest...but not greatest by a looooooooooooong shot." She proceeded to use one of those you-are-in-dire-need-of-a-straight-jacket-if-you-don't-agree-with-me tones. "Excuse me," she remarked. "But just because you can't understand the complexities of it doesn't mean it's not brilliant." Granted. But, I tell you now what I told her: I understand the so-called complexities. I still didn't care for it and wouldn't be assumptive enough to refer to it as "one of the greatest vampire novels ever written". It may well be brilliant...to someone else. And heck, I'm first to admit that Ms. Kostova has an incredible gift for description. But...c'mon...greatest of all time? Somewhere, Bram Stoker is rolling over in his grave, I'm sure.

But then it occurred to me that, to her, The Historian is perfection. It's everything a vampire story should ever be. To me it's lacking, but who am I to stand in her way of loving what she loves? Just as I am certain that there are people who will love my books, I'm equally as certain that there are people who won't give a fig about them. It happens. I'm cool with that.

But it got me thinking about perception. And then, later, after a few friends directed me to some enormously hysterical twists on old movies, I realized that our perception of things can be easily altered. While watching the tongue-in-cheek spot for Sleepless in Seattle as a horror flick, I thought, wow...what a shame it wasn't a horror. At the same time, though I laughed at The Shining as a romance, I never would have seen it.

Anyway, the whole point of this blog entry is...

...huh...

I guess there is no point.

At least, that's my perception of it.

The Point Of No Return

I've finally reached that happy point of no return, that line in the sand, that cracked, spooky sign which reads HAUNTED FOREST WITCHES CASTLE 1 MILE I'D TURN BACK IF I WERE YOU!

I've completed the first half of Ninth Grade Sucks. *waits until applause dies down...or are those crickets?* The book is coming along much smoother than Eighth Grade Bites did. I don't think my second draft will be quite as daunting this time around. I set myself a goal that I'd complete the first draft by March 1st--a very feasible goal. Then, after setting it aside for a week or two, I'll dive back into revisions. After I finish (my readers will be happy to hear...I hope), it's off to my readers, and then one more draft before I send it on to my fabulous agent. I'm thinking I could realistically have this sucker (heh...) polished and in front of my agent before my revisions are due for Eighth Grade Bites (May 15th of this year), which I know I can have done in practically no time (in fact, I'm itching to get going on them already). But...I'm not pushing it. Eighth Grade Bites is about to become my top priority and if Ninth Grade Sucks takes a bit longer than I'd like, I'm fine with that.

But Vlad is working over time. Last night I had a dream about the third book, which I'm toying with calling Tenth Grade Kills. Just like that, I was in the river again and the entire thing rushed over me. After some rough notes this morning, I'm anxious to begin.

Patience, Heather. Patience. Let's work on getting this first book out the door before you dive into the rest of the series fangs-first.

As Luck Would Have It...

Now that Eighth Grade Bites is being published by those fabulous folks at Dutton, I've opted to change the blog a bit. Above, you might notice that it once read, "One writer's journey to publication and, with any luck, beyond." But things change. Luck changes things.

Luck is a funny thing. And wonderful--the stuff of dreams.

I'm writing today, so this is a short entry. Come to think of it, shouldn't you be writing too?

Fang-tastic News!!!

I'm happy (heh...that's putting it mildly) to announce that my book, Eighth Grade Bites, as well as the second book in the series, have been sold to Dutton Children's Books of Penguin Group by my amazingly fantastic agent, Michael Bourret of Dystel & Goderich!

It's celebratring time, minions. Break out the bottles of blood! :)=

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

I was sitting here last night, musing about my favorite thing...which is, of course, myself. I love me. Seriously. It's a sickness. During the last decade, I've gone from wearing all black, loathing who I was, and, frankly, revelling in the pain of being me...to wearing all black, loving my quirks, and embracing the weirdness that is I. It's a good change. I like it.

I also like stuff. You know...stuff. My stuff. Stuff that screams "Heather". So I thought I'd clue my minions in to some of my most cherished objects. (These are listed in no particular order)

1. My black quill and ink well. (The ink is gone, having been drank by a certain mini-minion some years ago. She was fine, but for the stain of blue on her lips for several days.)

2. My rubber duckie. He's dark gray, with a black, pierced beak. And yes, I put him in the tub with me. In fact, he's an excellent conversationalist and loves the works of Edgar Allen Poe, but thinks people jump to too many conclusions based on fear and misunderstanding. Duckie is very insightful. Plus he has a wicked temper. Don't get him started on that 'Marlowe was really Shakespeare' nonsense.

3. My Motorola Razr phone. It's black. It's uber cool. I (heart) it big time.

4. My purse collection. I have a purse that looks like a corset, a little black leather backpack purse, several little burgundy/beaded purses, a purse made out of a bra (it's SO cool!), and my sights are set on this coffin purse I found. (They also have a sweet coffin suitcase that I...must...have.)

5. My mirror. No, no...nothing so vain as that. I don't care to stare at myself. But I love this mirror. It's huge...about three feet by four feet...and hangs on the brick wall over my couch. The frame is kind of antique gold-ish and a series of twists & turns. It's so beautiful. I just love it.

6. My coasters. They're made of black slate, with black velvet on the bottom. YUM.

7. My black wool trench coat. It keeps me warm and I love how it looks. Especially when I wear it with one of...

8. My hats. I can't help it. I have about twenty. One reminds me of Mary Poppins. One is a beret. I have so many hats. They're an expressive piece that really defines an outfit. Plus...they're COOL!

9. My writing area. My computer is about as ugly as they come, but it runs fast and stores everything I need (along with things I don't need). An adorable little oriental rug mousepad lays under my (surprise!) black mouse. My desk is cherry and a dream come true. My chair...well, it's hideous, but I'm still looking for the right chair. Some day I'll have to snap a pic and let you all see where I write.

and last, but not least...

10. My stamp of death. One Halloween several years ago, I bought this candy tube and on the end was a stamper that looked like Death, complete with sickle. When you removed the bottom and pressed Death onto an object, it left behind an ink stamp shaped like a lil Death. Well, I ditched the candy, but kept the stamper. It still works. And occasionally, when the mood strikes me, I'll stamp someone's hand and tell them they've been marked by Death. :)

Now, if you'll excuse me, Duckie wants to discuss the beauty of Michaelangelo's David...