It's RAINING Today!

And you know what that means...I'm in an excellent mood, my Minions.

After receiving the big thumbs-up from my fabulous agent (Michael Bourret of Dystel & Goderich, in case you were wondering) on the latest (and there have been many...) synopsis for DEVON'S PLAYGROUND, I've been trudging forth--no, that's not at all the right word...but "skipping merrily" isn't right either--and so far, I'm about half way finished with the first fifty pages he's requested. SQUEE! (Don't get too excited--that was a matter of brushing up some pages..the next thirty will be far trickier)

And speaking of skipping merrily...many people have mentioned that I'm awfully chipper for someone who describes herself as goth. Well...that's true. I'm a perky goth. In short, we're the ones who dance gleefully around in a shower of blood rather than reflect mournfully on the tragic end of life. (Or...something less morbid, maybe) Perky goths are so dark, so dismal, so gloomy that we've punched through to the other side. However, there are dangers to being a perky goth.

Speaking of goth...it's almost that time of year again, where I put away my yummy accessories and go corporate goth for The Man. The Man is this case is the annual Backspace Conference! I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone again (and meeting new people). It rawks. You should go. Cuz...well, cuz I'll be there. And I'm awesome. I'm a total perky goth diva geek. You'd love me. Promise.

It Never Ends

That's the first thing you need to know about revisions. There will always be changes to make, sentences to tweak, better word choices to make. It never, ever ends. It's just that eventually, they put the book on the shelf and won't let you make changes anymore...but you'll still want to. Sick, isn't it?

I just turned in my revised revised version of NINTH GRADE SUCKS, so revisions are on my mind. Oddly, I've become one of those people who love doing revisions. You probably can't tell through all of my moping and complaining, but it's true. Writing makes a good book. Revising makes a great book.

So how do you know where to start? Well, the first thing you need to do a lot of is read. Read, read, read. You don't want to copy the stories or styles of other authors, but reading will give you a sense of what works and what doesn't. But don't just read. Study those texts, read passages aloud. If a phrase, or scene work, find out what makes them work. If they don't, ask yourself why. The most important thing a writer can do is to study other's crafts in order to perfect their own. I wish I had more time to read currently, but I'm well-prepared for any unscheduled reading time that might pop up with stacks and stacks of books I've been adding to for that "some day". Which brings me to my next, somewhat Boy Scoutish, piece of advice.

Be prepared. Don't think you're the first, or that you're a crappy writer after all. Revisons happen to EVERYBODY. When the happy day comes that you connect with an agent and sign on with him or her, they may ask for changes. Be true to yourself, but keep an open mind. If the changes will be better for the book, make them. And then, when you sell...and garner an amazing editor at a fantastic publishing house...be prepared to make even more changes to your manuscript. It's really so much easier if you realize ahead of the game that there WILL BE changes. Don't fight it. Roll with it.

Am I saying to follow your editor blindly? Oh heck no. I'm just saying that to write is human, to edit divine--most editors are pretty sharp and can pick out things you otherwise might not have noticed. Keep and open mind, and be prepared to make changes.

As for me, I'm breaking for the weekend. And reading a good book.

Ten Things

Happy Friday, Minions! Whew, I've been a busy ghoul lately. But there's always time for my Minion Horde. And today, I though we'd learn and have fun (next week will be more writing-based, I swear). So, without further ado, I give you two lists of extreme importance.

Five Things You Don't Know About Me And Probably Don't Want To

1. I'm madly in love with Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance fame...and even moreso since he chopped off his locks and bleached what was left.

2. I used to chew my nails. Strike that. I used to gnaw my nails down to the bloody knuckles. But I'm better now.

3. I have such a strong aversion to speaking on the phone that I don't answer it unless I know who's on the other end (thank you, caller id) and know that if I don't pick up, I'm just going to have to call them back to discuss something Important. And I hate calling people more than I hate talking on the phone...so I may as well answer.

4. I can't sleep with my closet door open, nor can I sleep with any part of me hanging over the edge of the bed. Namely because Something Sinister lurks in my closet (near my shoes, I'm almost certain) and It's cousin lives under my bed, just waiting to snatch me away and eat my eyes. Or...something less crazy-sounding.

5. I despise the taste of peanut butter (unless it's Reese's).

And...

Five Things You Don't Know About Vlad And Probably Do Want To

1. Vlad struggles with insomnia. Of course, it may be because, down to the cellular level, he's more of a night person.

2. Vlad sucks down Pepsi almost as much as he sucks down blood.

3. The blood that Vlad eats? It comes from bagged donated blood nearing its expiration date...not that he doesn't find humans rather tasty looking.

4. Vlad doesn't just suck blood. He sucks at video games too. (Just ask his best friend, Henry)

5. Despite wearing black, hanging out at night, and drinking blood...he's not goth.

My Lips Are Sealed

Do you Minions ever catch Rosanne reruns? Well, there's one episode in particular I want you to think about. It's the one where Dan moved Darlene into the basement to keep she and Becky from fighting, but then Darlene says that it's cold down there. Rosanne, this entire episode, has been trying to give up control of the household and let Dan make some decisions. Well, when Darlene asks if she thinks it's a good idea for her to move back with Becky, Rosanne all but hyperventilates and says in a shrieking, panicky voice, "I'm just over here breathing with Aunt Jackie!"

That, my Minions, is exactly how I feel about my career lately. I'm just over here breathing. I can't say a word to any of you about the wonderful, wonderful things that are happening right now (and there are a few different squee-worthy items), because...well, because I'm not supposed to. So I'm just over here breathing with Aunt Jackie. (Which, if you know how much I adore Jackie Kessler...is really funny)

On the Vlad front: I'm almost finished with the revisions of NINTH GRADE SUCKS--yay!!!
On the Devon front: My fabulous agent has agreed that a synopsis is the way to go (rather than the dreaded outline), so...I may be on submission soon--double yay!!!
On the contest front: three weeks left, so enter!!!
And on the blog front: Yikes. I've been a terrible blogger lately. A word of warning, I'm dropping this down to a once-a-week kinda blog, just to allow myself time to put some serious work into Vlad and Devon. (and yes, I still love you--you're my favorite Minion! Shh..don't tell the others...)

And that's it, folks...I'm getting back to work on DEVON'S PLAYGROUND...and breathing.

Welcome to Dorkville, Population: Me

Ugh. I am such a geek. And not in that uber cool g33k way. I mean geek with a capital dork.

I just did my first ever radio interview type thing--just a short blurb about the scariest book I've ever read, with XM Satellite Radio's Kim Alexander. Kim is super nice, an excellent interviewer/radio host, and I am the BIGGEST DORK ALIVE.

Have I mentioned that I tend to ramble when I get nervous? Honestly, I'm not even sure what I said. I hung up and thought, "What did I just say? I said somethin'."

Anyhoo, it'll be on XM in about two weeks and then all of you Minions can listen to me ramble and then maybe let me know what I was talking about. :)